Monkey Wrench Central

Three things that might derail Barack Obama’s chances to become President:, presented with my tounge well in cheek.

1. A Democratic Congress

Americans seem to like it when the White House and Congress are controlled by different parties. Maybe it’s because we don’t entirely trust the people we elect; maybe this is our way of ensuring that the system of checks and balances stays in force. Whatever the reason, we (as a group) seem to like things that way. And with the Democrats set to ride a tide of Presidential dissatisfaction into a wider margin of congressional control (I love typing stuff like that) the future does not look entirely bright for Obama.

Mind, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but it’s true more often than not. And when we do elect the same party to both the White House and Congress, we generally regret it by the next congressional election. Is that going to mean less-than-enthusiastic support for Obama as the election draws near? I doubt it; if we didn’t forget previous lessons we’d have nothing to re-learn.

2. We Don’t Believe in Change

As a rule, the American electorate fears change. However bad things may get, at least we know the faults and weaknesses of the current Republican administration. We’d have to learn all about Obama’s weaknesses as we go along. "Better the devil you know..." and all that (R. Taverner, 1539). Change threatens to take us out of our comfort zone, and if there’s one thing that Americans can’t stand it’s a threat to our comfort zone. Obama’s campaign as the Candidate of Change (that is, this year’s Candidate of Change) could take Americans uncomfortably close to somewhere they don’t want to go.

3. War Movies

Ronald Reagan showed us the value of a well-stocked library of film. John McCain has learned that lesson at the feet of the master. Just look at all the snapshots from the Viet Nam era that ran on the Really Big Screen last night. The images of McCain the War Hero were powerful; regrettably, they didn’t have footage of him actually in the Hanoi Hilton, but they had "homecoming" stuff to make up for it. These are powerful images; images that shots of Obama growing up, Obama going to school, Obama meeting with lawmakers and dignitaries and Important People in general, cannot compete against.

Conclusion

Do I actually believe any of this? Of course not. (Not much, anyway.) But since I’m not watching convention coverage tonight (the premere episode of Sons of Anarchy is on; a guy’s got to have priorities) and thus can't comment on it, I thought I’d post something pro-McCain...and I couldn’t post anything pro-McCain with a straight face.

What, me biased?

The Blues Viking

The opinions here expressed are mine and if you don’t like them you can get your own damn blog.