His dream will be our nightmare.

I think John McCain thinks of his life as a melodrama. He's the hero. The guy who spent 5 years as a prisoner of war. But had the grit and determination to survive. To feel he was being a patriotic American. And then he went on to participate in making America a better place. By serving in the U.S. Senate. And now running for president. What a story. What a hero. And through this all, McCain sees himself as a maverick. Someone willing to buck the system. Willing to castigate his fellow senators. Doesn't matter whether they are Republicans or Democrats. Because he fancies himself to be independent in so many, many ways. Yes, the maverick. McCain likes that image. He covets it. He's his own man, or so he thinks. And McCain likes the idea that he's often been counted out. By the sideline observers. By the media. He wasn't supposed to have had a chance to win the Republican nomination for president. But lo and behold, he came on strong at the end. And captured the nomination. Because he didn't give up. That's the picture he wants to paint of his life. And now he wants the grandest prize of all. He's trailing in the polls by 10 points with only 3 weeks to go to the election. And McCain is saying that's exactly where he wants to be. Behind. Counted out. So he can come on strong at the end. And then he'll be known not only as a maverick. But the comeback kid. But I see John McCain in a different light. A politician with a gigantic ego. One who avoids addressing the real issues. One who has launcehd a hateful, negative campaign against his opponent. One who has picked as his running mate someone who is totally incompetent. Yes, if John McCain achieves his dream, it'll be our nightmare. --Jim Broede