NH INSIDER

Then I added, "But, this man is an American hero. A genuine one. He fought for us. He defended us. I wasn't a fan of the Vietnam War no more than I am of the Iraq War, but when a man or woman goes to war in answer to a decision of our government -- right or wrong -- he or she deserves respect and appreciation. He went. He fought. He suffered. Many other heroes went, and didn't come back. Fortunately, John McCain did."

And I continued, "One speech does not make a candidate or a campaign -- although one given by Barack Obama in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention certainly got some attention. So, here's hoping we'll see John McCain catch his breath and become a star again in the Republican Party.  Let's hope his campaign reinvigorates and reinvents itself. His party needs him in the debate. And the Democratic candidates need to be challenged by quality opposition as well. The election season of 2007-2008 will be all the better with John McCain as an important player, whether or not he goes all the way."

NOW FOR MY UPDATE:  Until about a month ago, John McCain's career was hitting the high point.  He had "...become a star again..." that I wished for him in my April 25th, 2007 Blog post.

But now, with his over-the-top personal attacks on Barack Obama -- and that's what they are -- he has gone into gutter politics, raising the question about whether he's really worthy of being on the same platform with Barack Obama.  He's embarrassing himself.  Sometimes American politics brings the best out in a person.  Sometimes, it brings out the worst. 

It's so sad to see this happen to a basically very good man, but too often those who are around a politician -- his consultants, his pollsters, and his hangers-on who want to secure power and influence for themselves -- bring the man on the top down to their level.  Nevertheless, John McCain has allowed this to happen to him, and he's to blame for letting himself be manipulated that way.

I still think John McCain is better than that.  Since he is the one responsible for his campaign, only he, in the next three or so weeks, can tell his handlers and backroom benchers to stop it, and let John McCain be John McCain.  If he did, he actually could stand a chance to win -- or at least leave this campaign with his head held high.