John McCain: One of the main reasons I was prompted to write this piece was a bizarre experience I recently had while visiting a neighbor with my family and Mother-in-Law (who, BTW, is a card carrying follower of Move-On). In the middle of a breezy discussion of the issues of the day, which of course included the upcoming presidential election, of course, my Mother-in-Law reiterated something that I had read before in some of the more lunatic-populated blogs, but never expected to hear in person. "Oh, John McCain and that POW thing! I wish he would just let it go!" It took me several seconds to even process the sentiment. I mean, this is a woman who still complains about childbirth some thirty-odd years removed from the experience. Don't misunderstand me here, I realize that childbirth is a painful process, but I also know that, while medical science has made great strides during the past three decades, the birthing process almost certainly didn't involve the breaking and re-breaking of arms or vicious beatings with wet bamboo reeds even back then. Oh, and I'm certain that the experience took considerably less than six years. I guess my point here is more of a request of the reader than anything. If you find yourself tempted to make a similar comment, please reflect for a moment on what you are dismissing and ask yourself how easily you would be able to "let it go."

As an aside, I recently read that, due to injuries suffered in ‘Nam, since his release, McCain hasn't been able to type, comb his hair or tie his shoes without experiencing excruciating pain. You know what I would do if that was me? Nothing. And by nothing I mean give up. Pack it the fuck in. War hero - check. Rich wife - check. Okay then, let's call it a life; maybe dictate a few books or something. You most certainly would not find me dragging my ass into my office every day, let alone campaigning seven days a week for up to twenty hours a day. But then, I suppose that's why I'm not John McCain.

Also, regarding the whole earmark issue: I may not be a political scientist but, aren't those contained in Congressional legislation? If I lived in Alaska, I think that I might actually be kind of pissed-off that my governor was anti-earmark. Get what you can, right? When I was in college, one of our senators (Barbara Mikulski (D) MD) snuck in some BS pork-barrel grant that sent a load of cash to my private school to build a computer lab. As hard as I try, I just can't remember anyone being furious about it. All I'm trying to say, is that it's one thing to be the person approving these things and swearing them off and quite another to be on the receiving end. I'm not even sure why this is an issue. I mean, four out of the past five presidents were state governors - did any of them take any Congressional largesse while in the state house? The closest I can come to equating this issue to my own life is with the following scenario: If my four year-old daughter asks me for a hundred dollar-a-week allowance, and I give it to her, is she guilty of supporting $100 allowances for four year-olds? Or would I be considered an idiot?