Randy's Views

It is not even Labor Day and the 2008 Presidential race has already reached fever pitch. Interestingly, recent polls suggest that Senator John McCain may have fared a little better than anyone could have reasonably expected in these early skirmishes.

In a noticeable turn, the center of gravity in the Presidential race has changed and changed rather dramatically.

Heading into the General Election, Senator Barack Obama and Democrats had hoped the 2008 election would be a referendum on President George W. Bush with a core message of “CHANGE.” After all, no one doubts that an election centered on the Bush Administration would yield another big Democratic election year.

Buoyed by pre-election coronations by the media, and polls suggesting an Election Day blow-out, Senator Obama moved more recently toward a different kind of referendum election. With a world tour and a larger than life “Obama centric” message, Senator Obama seemed to be comfortable with a referendum election on Senator Barack Obama.

Senator McCain’s team, content with an Obama referendum election, immediately engaged on the topic of “Obama” with two different attack advertisements. First, the Republican nominee highlighted Senator Obama’s decision to pass on visiting troops in the hospital during his world tour. Then, there was the advertisement grouping Senator Obama with well known vapid celebrities Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Notably, the ensuing political firefight in the media centered on Senator Obama and not on “change” or George W. Bush. Since Senator McCain has no option now but to spend his campaign war chest before the Republican National Convention, Senator McCain got his bang for his buck. Every newscast and cable news program replayed the advertisements repeatedly.

So, the gap between Senator Obama and Senator McCain in national polls, and more importantly in key battleground states, narrowed and narrowed considerably. (For Senator McCain, just avoiding the fate of Senator Bob Dole in 1996 - i.e., left behind with no chance to catch up - has been a victory of sorts.)

But no one should kid themselves. Senator Obama’s campaign will be the most formidable in American history. Oprah Winfrey; Hillary Clinton; Bill Clinton; Senate Democrats, House Democrats, Hollywood stars; network television; professional athletes; musicians; and a ground operation the likes of which the United States has never seen will all combine in October 2008 with a single message of political correctness capable of stifling even the strongest dissent.

And, this is just the start. On top of these resources, Senator Obama has his two greatest assets. First, he is himself a formidable man. He is charismatic, eloquent, and smart.

Second, Senator Obama has virtually limitless resources available to communicate his message. His campaign fundraising machine can literally raise more money than he can spend.

Against these odds, Senator McCain will have to take some bold steps in order to have a meaningful chance in November - and bold means BOLD!

First, Senator McCain will never convince Americans that he is young or “hip” (using a word from a different time). After all, he would be the oldest person elected as President. Convincing Americans that he is the “future” is a near impossible task. On the other hand, he could genuinely argue that he is the bridge from the last generation to the next. It would require that he make clear his commitment to serve only one term. As a one term President, he could be the bridge from the past to the future.

Second, Americans love the opportunity to make history. Senator Obama offers that opportunity in a real and meaningful way as the first African-American President, if elected. Senator McCain can afford that opportunity as well. To do that, Senator McCain should select forty-four year old mother of five, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate. She is a pro-life, reform minded, big game hunter who is telegenic, energetic, eloquent and smart. If selected as Senator McCain’s running mate, Governor Palin would take the issue of making history off the table. Americans would make history regardless of whether they voted Democrat or Republican.

Finally, Senator McCain must offer bold solutions to old problems and even bolder answers to the worries of the next generation. More of the same will only mean an almost certain Election Day defeat for the Republican nominee.

Candidly, absent these kinds of bold actions, it could be a long year for the Republicans.

Cancer. Just the word sends shivers down the spine. It is a cruel and heartless disease. Both those who survive, and those who do not, are its victim. Every American has been touched in some way by this villain.

Tony Snow was one of those people. His story is one of courage and character. Cancer could not take either away, but, it did take his life. On Saturday, July 12, 2008, the former White House press secretary died after a long and difficult fight with colon cancer.

The cruel part of cancer is the devastation that it leaves behind long after it has inflicted its injury. At age seventeen, Tony Snow lost his mother to cancer. Anyone who has lost a parent or grandparent to cancer knows well the fear it leaves behind for the generations to come.

Like many people with a family history of cancer, Tony Snow was vigilant in watching for warning signs that might touch his life as it had his mother. He had regular check-ups and tests, yet, he was not paralyzed by fear.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Tony Snow emerged as one of the most articulate conservative media personalities in America. Having worked his way up from an editor’s position at a Detroit newspaper, in 1996 Tony Snow appeared as an anchor on the new start up FOX News. His magnetic and energetic personality attracted viewers. His infectious optimism made him popular and entertaining. Unfortunately, he never got to fully enjoy either the financial or professional rewards from such success.

Cancer never comes at a convenient time. In 2005, just as Tony Snow was reaching the pinnacle of his career, he was diagnosed with colon cancer, the same cancer that had taken his mother’s life.

While the survival rates for colon cancer have improved dramatically in recent years, it is still a deadly killer. Based on the most recent statistics, it remains the third most common form of cancer. With approximately 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, it remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

Undaunted, Tony Snow faced cancer bravely and optimistically. He opted for aggressive treatment which included the removal of his colon and six months of chemotherapy. After eight weeks of treatment, things looked promising. No victim is ever free from the physical and emotional scars left behind by cancer, but, he was given a clean bill of health and subsequently accepted the position of White House press secretary. It was his dream job.

Cancer has little regard for dreams. Just seventeen months later, Tony Snow had his second bout with cancer. As a result, Tony Snow would have little opportunity to fully enjoy life or reap the financial rewards of having succeeded at his profession. Cancer drains financial resources, wears down families, and weakens even the most confident spirits. Yet, even as his battle grew tougher, Tony Snow was ever the optimist. His emails were priceless - always upbeat, always positive, and always looking to the future - even to the end.

Because Tony Snow touched so many people in such a positive and uplifting way, there were many folks who wanted to help. In response, the Tony Snow Family Trust was set up to help Tony Snow achieve his ultimate dream of securing his children’s future including their college education. (Information about the Trust can be found at www.healthtransformation.net.)

There is no way to thank the many folks from every state in the country who have pitched in to help his family. Americans loved Tony Snow, and they have shown it by helping Tony Snow’s wife, Jill, and Tony’s kids (Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi).

But the battle against cancer goes on. There is reason for hope. With every passing day, the possibility of eliminating cancer as a cause of death improves. Some have even said that with the appropriate resources for research, education, and early prevention, this goal could be achieved by as early as the year 2015 – less than a decade away.

The American Cancer Society estimates that over one-half million people in the United States will die of some form of cancer. While the news of well known cancer victims like Tony Snow serves as a harsh reminder of the reality of cancer, it is truly the individual life stories that make cancer so real.

The time has come when Americans should accept NO excuses from their public officials for not committing the resources, developing the policies, and making the decisions necessary to win this battle. Every day, many, many Americans fight individual battles with cancer. The least we can do is provide them the resources they need to face the villain, and win the fight.

This is not rocket science. To quote a famous line, “they’re back.” This is not good news for anyone in the world except for Russian military officers. Once again, it reaffirms the importance of the United States of America in the world.

Of course, all of this relates to the Russian response to the country of Georgia’s efforts to reestablish control over the breakaway region South Ossetia on the Russian/Georgia border. (When news first broke that the Russians were moving into Georgia, some responded by saying “they will never get down the connector - even with tanks, especially on the weekend.” The Georgians were not so “lucky.”)

No doubt Russia has been itching for an excuse to flex its military might and to send a message to its neighbors and the world that the old Russia is back. That moment presented itself with Georgia’s tepid maneuvers in South Ossetia. Having baited Georgia’s President, Russia mobilized its waiting armed forces in an overwhelming (and punishing) military response aimed at sending a clear and loud message to the rest of the world.

In the face of tanks and arrogant power undeterred by rhetoric and threats, the self described new world power in the European Union shriveled away into virtual irrelevance. In the end, it was once again the Americans who had to stand up and protect its allies. The entire crisis proved some important rules for international situations which seemed to have been forgotten during the years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

First, there are some situations where “talking” just does not get the job done. Somehow, in true Rodney King fashion (“can’t we all just get along”), there arose this idea that every crisis can be fixed by sitting down and talking. Certainly, diplomacy is a critical component of lasting world piece. No one questions that. However, there are some situations where talking is not enough.

In the face of the tanks rolling across the Georgia border, this was such a situation. As the European Union whined, and the United Nations convened its emergency meetings, Russian tanks, personnel carriers, and warplanes moved toward Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. If the Georgians had relied on their European friends, the Russians would have been in Paris before anything meaningful happened, and even then it would have likely been a white flag accompanied by a desperate call for American help.

Arrogant power absorbs rhetoric on its way to achieving military objectives.

Second, promises mean nothing to aggressors. One day after Russia agreed to stop, Russian military forces moved further into Georgia taking over the Georgian city of Gori. Words mean nothing in these situations. After all, President Dmitry Medvedev (the President of Russia) agreed in writing to end its attacks in Georgia and to withdraw Russian forces. Just hours later, overwhelming Russian military forces moved deeper into Georgia to within forty miles of Georgia’s capital. No one seriously doubted its objective of capturing and occupying Georgia.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution with the Russians proved worse than meaningless - it was actually detrimental to peace. After all, negotiating from a position of weakness never works.

Taking advantage of the dire situation its disproportionate military response created (basically the Russians used a sledgehammer to swat a fly), the Russians adopted a “take it or leave it” approach to negotiation. The key part of their imposed agreement was a provision that “[w]hile awaiting an international mechanism, Russian peacekeeping forces will implement additional security measures.” President Sarkozy, desperate for an agreement, played along and insisted that the Georgians accept whatever terms the Russians demanded or else. When the Georgians acquiesced, the Russians used the provision they inserted as the justification to further invade Georgia.

Arrogant power plays on misplaced confidence in the words of men.

Third, actions speak louder than words. In the end, it was only the strength to actually do something that caused the Russians to back down. President George W. Bush gave meaning to the commitments that the Russians had so easily disregarded. He placed the United States side-by-side with its ally on the ground through humanitarian aid distributed by the United States military in Georgia. He also dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the capital of Georgia - Tbilisi. If the Russians had plans to capture and occupy Georgia, it would have to do so over a decided U. S. presence in Georgia. This was more than the Russians were willing to bite off.