Well, There's Always The Republican Option

And given the candidate, perhaps it doesn't auger so ill at all for the United States. The calibre of the man is self-evident in his presentation, his record, his obvious love of country, his dedication to the theatre of politics. No one seems to have too much to criticize him for - other than the hard right-wing element.

He's not overtly religious and that gains him no credit with the evangelicals. He doesn't engage in bashing any elements of society, and that too puts him at a disadvantage with the religious right. He has that personable attribute, a sense of humour, including the capacity to laugh at himself.

And he is refreshingly humble in a very un-American way. "Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed", he delivered in a foreign policy address.

An unabashed admission that the United States has too long considered itself a law unto the international community, requiring no permission from any other administration other than its own to act in ways that have proved inimical, on occasion, to the world at large.

Perhaps this can be attributed to the wisdom and the leavening that comes with age. Now there's a criticism that has been levelled against his candidacy, that he's too long in the tooth for a president. Ah, but with age comes experience and a greater understanding for the human condition. Patience, compassion, and a willingness to listen.

No, age does not in and of itself confer wisdom; there is that old adage: "we grow too soon old and too late smart". But, not necessarily. It is an individual thing, and John McCain is some alert and capable individual.

Mr. McCain describes himself as a "realistic idealist". Now there's a contradiction. But as a concept, it's quite a good one, and I, for one, am willing to accept, even to laud it. I most certainly do agree with his declaration that "we cannot wish the world to be a better place than it is".

The fact is, people of good will must strive to do their utmost to help the world hobble along to achieving a state of being better than it is.

"I detest war. It might be the worst thing to befall human beings, but it is wretched beyond all description", said he. Bravo, he knows of what he speaks. And he speaks truly, and he speaks well.

"Leadership in today's world means accepting and fulfilling our responsibilities as a great nation. One of those responsibilities is to be a good and reliable ally to our fellow democracies."

It's undeniable that whoever takes over the helm of guiding the United States into the future has a grave responsibility, not only to that country, but to take into account that decisions made by the United States impact heavily upon the rest of the world.

Over to you, John McCain. Or not.