Thank you Senator McCain

Two years ago I was certain Hillary would be our next president. Certain.

The war in Iraq was the issue of the day and in spite of what I know about his good works President Bush was and is still getting hammered in the press. That did not bode well for any future GOP nominee. The republicans had just been dealt a decisive blow in the '06 congressional races and the democrats were in control of both houses. Sen. McCain almost on his own advocated what has come to be known as "the surge" and some stability has been restored to what was a lawless nation.

While this was happening, the months were going by and HRC and BHO were scrapping it out across the country. The Clinton’s had the most feared political machine in decades; but President Elect Obama was building a field team in almost every vital state. In contrast, Senator Mcain was in the middle of a fractious GOP campaign with the various schisms of the party vying for control.

By last summer "the wheels had come off the straight talk express" was practically the subtitle of every campaign article. This while HRC and BHO were not only raising record amounts of money and airing their own ad’s; they were garnering the precious "free air time" as the media covered their neck and neck race. Invaluable.

Switch the channel and see John McCain dragging his own luggage off the conveyer at baggage carousel 4. That sort of imagery was not going to inspire the same groundswell of enthusiasm. Then he won the New Hampshire primary and his competition dropped away. Yet our party still did not unite behind him. At the same time, things were only getting heated up on the democratic side… more money raised more commercials in states where Sen. McCain did not even need to compete. Not that he could if he wanted too. Lost of local interviews and appearances by both candidates from one party nothing from the other.

When Senator Clinton withdrew I sensed an opportunity. Could it really happen? I began to hope (ironic isn’t it?). Fast forward to the conventions… Sen. Joe Biden is chosen to complete the Obama ticket.

When Sen. McCain chose the Governor from Alaska Sarah Palin, I thought it was a masterstroke. I ignored the fact that I knew nothing about her. With time I believe we will know more and be able to further dissect what could have been done better for the losing side, for now let us respect the national treasure that is John McCain.

Here was a man who if not for dirty tricks in SC in 2000 could be our president today (why anyone who knows what happened there could let themselves believe if elected it would be "4 more of the same"; two more different people/life histories I could not imagine).

Here is a man whose family has sent a son to every war America has ever fought (yes that includes the Revolutionary War). Here is a man who after 5 ½ years in a windowless Vietnam prison cell returned, recovered, and continued to serve his county, first in congress then the Senate. Here is a man who when his party needed a candidate to run against a juggernaut, did not flinch but did his duty.

For his party. For his country. For history. The schoolbooks are already being rewritten; Senator McCain will not be a footnote.

My hopes for my party can wait for another day. Today I want to say "Thank You Senator McCain". At 72 you kept up a pace that few of us could at any age. In spite of the hundreds of millions of dollars more spent by your opponent, you kept it much closer than it should have been.

Semper Fidelis,

Michael Castaldo

ONE’s Marine