Of the four major speeches delivered across the two major conventions, I have the least to say about John McCain's speech, though perhaps that's because it was the speech in which the least was said. In a sense, the digitized backdrop behind McCain was a perfect symbol for the address: It began with a generic American house, moving quickly to a generic American flag, ending with recorded fireworks. Clip art for the nationalistic set, but moving if you've rarely seen such images before. And so too with his speech.Of course, you must say this much: McCain's recounting of his experiences as a prisoner of war remain powerful. But that was 40 years ago. He has now been campaigning for president for the better part of a decade. He needs more than a story. He needs a vision. Yet tonight's speech was all about him. The policies are his qualities, the vision is his story, the vice president is his understudy. For all that he mocks Obama for being "the one," it is McCain who has rested the weight of a presidential candidacy atop his person. He is skilled at deflecting that perception, recasting one man's candidacy as an expression of every man's patriotism. But the common denominator in these humble asides remains McCain himself. "I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always," McCain says. "My country saved me," he recalls, "and I cannot forget it." The signs wave. "Country First," they read. And then, below: "John McCain." Such public declarations of patriotism are not about why John McCain loves this country. They are about why this country should love John McCain. When you stepped outside of McCain, however, there was very little to the speech. Over the course of nearly an hour, he managed to detail exactly three policies. Taxes, which he will push lower. Education, which he will make more competitive. And high energy costs, which he will solve with a drill and a dream. Where policies would ordinarily have gone, McCain instead substituted qualities. He's a fighter, he said. He's a patriot. He admitted to being humble and selfless and tested and independent and confident. Maybe that will be enough. Those are, undoubtedly, some good qualities. But no man is an agenda. No past is profound enough to stand in for the future. McCain didn't look self-assured on that stage. Not in comparison to Barack Obama or Joe Biden or even Sarah Palin. He looked fragile. And tired. And understandably so. John McCain's whole campaign rests atop his shoulders. And it is a heavy load.Image used under a Creative Commons license from Newshour. JOHN MCCAIN, ALONE.
Of the four major speeches delivered across the two major conventions, I have the least to say about John McCain's speech, though perhaps that's because it was the speech in which the least was said. In a sense, the digitized backdrop behind McCain was a perfect symbol for the address: It began with a generic American house, moving quickly to a generic American flag, ending with recorded fireworks. Clip art for the nationalistic set, but moving if you've rarely seen such images before. And so too with his speech.Of course, you must say this much: McCain's recounting of his experiences as a prisoner of war remain powerful. But that was 40 years ago. He has now been campaigning for president for the better part of a decade. He needs more than a story. He needs a vision. Yet tonight's speech was all about him. The policies are his qualities, the vision is his story, the vice president is his understudy. For all that he mocks Obama for being "the one," it is McCain who has rested the weight of a presidential candidacy atop his person. He is skilled at deflecting that perception, recasting one man's candidacy as an expression of every man's patriotism. But the common denominator in these humble asides remains McCain himself. "I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always," McCain says. "My country saved me," he recalls, "and I cannot forget it." The signs wave. "Country First," they read. And then, below: "John McCain." Such public declarations of patriotism are not about why John McCain loves this country. They are about why this country should love John McCain. When you stepped outside of McCain, however, there was very little to the speech. Over the course of nearly an hour, he managed to detail exactly three policies. Taxes, which he will push lower. Education, which he will make more competitive. And high energy costs, which he will solve with a drill and a dream. Where policies would ordinarily have gone, McCain instead substituted qualities. He's a fighter, he said. He's a patriot. He admitted to being humble and selfless and tested and independent and confident. Maybe that will be enough. Those are, undoubtedly, some good qualities. But no man is an agenda. No past is profound enough to stand in for the future. McCain didn't look self-assured on that stage. Not in comparison to Barack Obama or Joe Biden or even Sarah Palin. He looked fragile. And tired. And understandably so. John McCain's whole campaign rests atop his shoulders. And it is a heavy load.Image used under a Creative Commons license from Newshour. 
