From my vantagepoint, it is inconceivable that the presidential candidates, U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Democratic Barack Obama (D-Ill.), are today in a virtual dead heat in their quest for the "brass ring" and the privilege of sleeping in the White House. How can anyone who embraces the ill fated foreign policy adventures of President George W. Bush win the presidency of this great nation? McCain is a war hero from another generation, who is older than "Tippecanoe" (another war hero) when he sought the presidency in 1840. McCain is from my generation, which was belatedly named the "silent generation." Our heroes were JFK, Neil Armstrong and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ten-inch televisions and huge IBM computers filling warehouses were the rage while we were growing up. We are now pushing into our seventies and although I keep on running, I know that I have slowed down. I "ran out of gas" trying to run up and down the Franklin Mountains over the years.
While the Arizona senator has a youthful appearance, cardiovascular diseases, prostate problems, the big "C" and mental alertness are issues that begin to beset one as they approach the so called "golden years." Senator Obama is a young man in his 40s, who is more a reflection of America in the 21st century. He is Internet savvy, a world traveler and knows how to use My Space to his advantage. He compares favorably with JFK when he decided to run for the presidency in 1960. Kennedy was a ground breaker, being the first Catholic to become president of our beautiful country. I remember political advertisements leading up to the election saying that the Massachusetts' politician would be taking orders fron the Pope if he were elected. We all know that that scenario did not come to pass. Barack Obama is also a ground breaker, who if elected, will have a difficult time trying to keep up with all of the hype surrounding his campaign. He is not just a national leader, but for some inexplicable reason, a budding hero around the world.
Looking back to the 1960 presidential campaign, one would have thought that Kennedy should have had a landslide victory over then Vice President Richard Milhous Nixon. Nixon brought inordinate "baggage" to the table when he tossed his hat into the ring to run for the presidency. His ties to the infamous U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his vicious crusade to weed out communists in American society, an economic recession, and a number of scandals including a rap on his dog "Checkers" made it appear that Nixon had no chance. Nevertheless, if it hadn't been for Mayor Daley, Cook County and the Chicago Democratic political machine, Nixon might have won the election.
If any other Republican party leader had been chosen to be the presidential candidate, I would have said that the race was over. Basta! No way could Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney have stood up to the overwhelming opposition to the Iraqi morass. However, because McCain has an impressive record representing the good people of Arizona, he has an outside chance of giving Obama a run for his money. His stance on both immigration and the environment works to his advantage. Time will tell whether the American people will continue to pursue a policy of "jingoism" or "take the high road" as the Scottish poet Robert Burns once said and bring a change that will reestablish America's image as the beacon and lighthouse for the world.
In closing, it should not be forgotten that President William Henry Harrison, who was given the nickname of "Tippecanoe" for defeating in 1811 "the Prophet" also known as Chief Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe, was elected president in 1840. On Jan. 20, 1841, he took the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol on a terribly cold, snowy morning. He caught pneumonia the next day and died 31 days later. He had just turned 69 years old. If McCain wins, let's make sure that his swearing in is held indoors, especially if it is a cold snowy day.
Bill Tilney was mayor of El Paso from 1991-93.
