The Jet Pilot vs. The Professor
As we watch the campaign count down to the final days there have been clear indications as to the personalities of the two Presidential candidates, and how they’ll react to crisis as President.
John McCain is the classic fighter pilot. He has shown time and again that he quickly makes a decision and then moves forward, like a bull to do what he thinks is right. He doesn’t seem to listen to advisors, or if he does, he chooses to go another way, in spite of their guidance. Case in point is Sarah Palin.
It was clear to all that McCain wanted to reach to the other side and put in Joe Lieberman, or to go with Gov. Tom Ridge, who didn’t toe the line on all of the Conservative ideals, but he and McCain are friends. The brain trust says no, you can’t do it, a fight ensues and then McCain says O.K., let’s go with Sarah Palin. The Hail Mary pass of a Conservative woman who will ignite the base. Does John care if she’s ready? Of course not, he’s said all along that a VP has two jobs in any administration, to ask about the health of the President, and to attend the funerals of foreign leaders. He’s got total control of the situation and he doesn’t a Vice President. The financial crisis again shows McCain’s temperament. His first swing is to try to paper over the situation, the basic economy is sound, and it’ll all work out. Second swing is to fire the people who were in charge when things went bad, strike three is to rush to Washington to solve the problem, and then get blindsided by his own party, who have another idea and haven’t even shared it with him.
Obama is the classic intellectual. Any time there’s a problem he calls a group of experts around him, seeks their guidance, works with them to formulate a plan, and then presents that plan. As we saw, his VP was chosen by a committee which vetted all the candidates and then presented their info, and out pops Biden. On the financial bailout, Obama calls together his experts, holds meetings and then they came forward with a plan. Obama stays above the fray in Congress, he calls Paulson and the White House and monitors the situation waiting for the final plan to come to the Senate, and then he goes to vote. Of course, he was called in to the White House meeting, and attended but said little.
I think this is probably the best way to decide on who is going to be the President. We have seen both styles in former Presidents and we have seen how that picture comes out. Think back and make your decision.
GOOD LUCK
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