Koch's Comments: McCain's terrible campaign

The week that was, was a homerun for Senator Obama. Like Eva Peron of Argentina and Julius Caesar of Rome, it was for him, Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered). Obama was lionized by 200,000 Germans when he addressed them, applauded by French President Sarkozy who made it clear he approved of the young American whose speeches apparently reminded his listeners of Jack Kennedy and Camelot, and received a warm reception from the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. 

Earlier in Iraq, Obama received a serious boost from Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki by agreeing with Obama's timeline of 16 months for a US troop withdrawal. Adding to Obama's good fortune was the over-the-top description by Senator John McCain of Obama as someone who "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign."

McCain is running a terrible campaign devoid of any intelligent chess moves. The New York Times pointed out "All three network news anchors are traveling to the Middle East and Europe for interviews with Mr. Obama. In contrast, no anchors and only two network correspondents traveled to Colombia and Mexico with Mr. McCain earlier this month, and no network anchors traveled for Mr. McCain's trip to the Middle East and Europe in March."

The McCain response reported by The Times: "when aides handed out luggage tags to the traveling press that read 'McCain Press Corps: JV Squad, Left Behind to Report in America.' The words were translated into French on the opposite side." A foolish rejoinder.

While Obama was traveling internationally, McCain should have talked up his efforts to deal with the major domestic economic issues that will decide this election. For example, he should have announced support for a Manhattan Project to deal with the energy crisis. T. Boone Pickens, who has made billions in the oil industry, has broadcast commercials pushing wind power and natural gas. The Manhattan Project cost $2 billion in developing the nuclear bomb.  In dollars today that would be $21 billion. Pickens says we are spending $700 billion on importing foreign oil.  I think a correct figure is closer to $400 billion. 

Even if the Manhattan Project came up dry, at least we tried. In World War II, Nazi Germany hoped to conquer the Soviet Union's Caucasus area and take over the Soviet’s oil fields and fortunately, failed. But, it learned to use coal to make its cars operate. 

The sub-prime and bank crises are causing major damage to our economy. The Congress has dealt with it in its recently-enacted 800-page legislation. I hope it works. The legislation was pushed through by Congressman and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, who is an honest legislator devoted to protecting the public. But I've heard no discussion regarding those who engaged in fraud in seeking mortgages and those providing the mortgages. Shouldn't there be lots of people going to prison for having engaged in fraud? Shouldn't John McCain be pressing punishment?

Everyone talks about "bubbles" in the stock market. How many people in the past went to prison for creating the bubbles that caused the stock market to crash, wiping out the retirement funds of innocent Americans and causing enormous raids on the US Treasury to save savings and loan institutions, banks, etc? McCain should have talked about that, and other abuses of the public. If necessary, he should borrow Ralph Nader's material.

Finally, McCain could have talked about the lack of availability of universal health care in the United States. We are the only industrialized country in the world without universal health coverage. McCain's current plan to provide subsidies so everyone who wants health insurance will have the means to get it, won't work. Why doesn't he grab the bull by the horns and urge the appointment of a top-notch commission that will examine all of the existing national health plans, pick the best, propose improvements and let Congress consider it in an up-or-down vote.

Now back to Barack Obama. With his current successes, why isn't he a shoo-in? On July 24th, the Wall Street Journal examined this question and provided its answer -- "Voters want to answer a simple question: Is Barack Obama safe?"

Despite his triumphs abroad, the jury is still out.