History Repeating Itself

Did you ever feel like you were in a time loop? You see the same thing happening over and over again and you know the results are going to be exactly the same yet you are powerless to stop it? This election, at least as far as the Republicans are concerned, feels exactly like 1996. If you remember, Bill Clinton had beaten President Bush I in 1992 mainly because Ross Perot jumped in the race and the president had one of those brain freeze moments when he forgot all the economics he learned at the knee of Ronald Reagan. Senator Dole was the experienced politician whose turn had finally come in '96. His only real competition came from conservative Pat Buchanan and Rev. Pat Robertson. He ended up being the oldest candidate ever to run for an initial term. Compared to the still young looking Clinton, he seemed more like a candidate for the nation's grandpa than the leader of the free world. Bob Dole was known as a Senator who could reach across the aisle to Democrats. Of course, this would come back to haunt him as both right and left had ammunition with which to bombard the embattled senator. Even with these disadvantages, and also facing an incumbent president watching over a strong economy, Sen. Dole might have still won had not Ross Perot jumped back in the spoilers row.

After yesterday's results John McCain looks to be well on his way to the nomination for '08. The similarities are striking. McCain will be 72 at the convention, the second oldest candidate to stand for the first time for his party's nomination. He is being hammered over and over by the Republican right for his wont to "reach across the aisle". His main competitors are conservative Romney and Baptist preacher Huckabee. He very possibly will be facing a very young and energetic Barack Obama. Sound familiar?

What lessons can John McCain learn to ward off another case of history repeating itself? First, he must start now to mend fences with the conservative side of the party. And that doesn't mean showing a video with him and President Reagan. My goodness, Ann Coulter is threatening to campaign for Hillary if it comes down to her and McCain. That's kind of like Billy Graham saying he would support the devil over the Pope! He must seriously reach out to the conservative base that right now really has nowhere to go. Second, he has to take an aggressive initiative from the start of the main campaign. From here on out, McCain has to start focusing not on Romney, but Obama and Hillary. And not even so much on them personally, but on the issues and politics for which they and the Democrats have come to stand. Tax, tax, and tax some more. Take from those who have earned it and give it for the most part to those unwilling to do so. Belittle the United States at every opportunity. John McCain cannot come across as wishy-washy or me-too. He must have strong ideas and show he can exert strong leadership. Only then can we see a result different from that in 1996.