Real Pundits

McCain has made his time as POW, his fearlessness his moral righteousness a central part of his political persona and one of the reasons he should be elected president.

When Wesley Clark called into questioned the relevance McCain’s military experience of being a fighter pilot to being president earlier this year, he was slammed by all, including the Obama campaign.

However Clark’s point deserves some examination in the light of McCain’s decision making and what it tells us about a potential McCain’s presidency.

Fighter pilots make decisions in a split second and need to follow their gut; presidents need to consider evidence and opinions carefully before committing the country to a course of conduct.

In a number of cases recently McCain has revealed an impulsive streak of decision making that is more suitable to a fighter pilot than a president. He seems to think in absolute terms of friends and foes and puts nearly all people in either category.