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Here are the three bare essentials to know who/what John McCain is, in his own damning words:

1. He is a militaristic authoritarian:

McCain suggests military-style invasion modeled on the surge to control inner city crime

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) spoke to the National Urban League, a group "devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream." When an audience member asked him how he planned to reduce urban crime, McCain praised Mayor Rudy Giuliani's efforts in New York Cirty before invoking the military's tactics in Iraq as the model for crime-fighting:

MCCAIN: And some of those tactics - you mention the war in Iraq - are like that we use in the military. You go into neighborhoods, you clamp down, you provide a secure environment for the people that live there, and you make sure that the known criminals are kept under control. And you provide them with a stable environment and then they cooperate with law enforcement, etc, etc.

2. Despite having been tortured as a POW, he is very much pro-torture, pro-rendition and pro-indefinite detention:

McCain: Gitmo is 'one of the nicest places in the world to live in'

During a question-and-answer session with Walter Isaacson, Sen. John McCain said Guantanamo Bay is "one of the nicest places in the world to live in." Later in the interview, McCain was asked about the Supreme Court's recent decision in Boumediene v. Bush declaring that Gitmo detainees have a right to challenge their detention in civilian court. McCain had previously derided that decision as "one of the worst decisions in the history of this country".

and 3. He embraces dominionism as well as the "Christianity vs Islam" simplistic view of the times:

McCain's embrace of 'Judeo-Christian values'

At Saturday night's event at Saddleback Church, John McCain told the largely evangelical audience a version of history that the religious right likes to believe: "Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles."

That is, to put it mildly, historically dubious - the nation was founded on the secular principles, as part of the separation of church and state - but it's nevertheless a phrase McCain seems to be especially fond of lately.

On a frozen winter evening at a Town Hall meeting in a school in the Manchester, N.H., suburbs, John McCain expressed surprise and irritation with an intelligence report downplaying the threat of Iran's nuclear program.

At the end of a long list of reasons to be suspicious of the Iranians, McCain declared: "And they sure don't share our Judeo-Christian values."

It seemed at the time to be an odd thing to say about a Muslim country. After all, even if there were no nuclear program, no oil, and no rabble-rousing president, Iran still wouldn't have Judeo-Christian values. And it's troubling to wonder if that alone would be a reason for suspicion.

How about some more of that Kool-Aid, Mr. McCain, while you continue on with your fearmongering and your patriotism-questioning of others?

Be afraid, folks. Be very afraid ...

Which reminds me of this:

History dresses an extensive list of charismatic, decisive and righteous Leaders. However, the fact remains that the overwhelming majority of these have consistently proven to be fearful, petty, power-hungry, or violence-prone, authoritarians. To them, the end ever justified the means, as they disguised their incompetence with grandiose ideologies, wrapping themselves in religious, nationalist or racist flags of intractable absolutism, and using their deceitful siren song to stir passion, loyalty and even fanaticism - all in order to gather sizeable followings of narrow-minded, hate-filled, or warmongering, underlings. It is no wonder that people have suffered, one way or another, each time such a Leader rose to prominence.

Hence, never cease questioning those who would conscript you to their cause - if they dismiss, disassemble or scoff at, your questions, then they are being deceptive. Above all, beware the charismatic who speaks to your fears, for he - or she - ultimately seeks to be your Master. Listen instead to those who strive to convince you through honest, open, and patient dialogue, finding common ground while appealing exclusively to your nobler principles - for they indeed truly seek to better the lives of all. Such has ever been the way of genuine Leaders of Humanity.

One incompetent POTUS over the last eight years has been more than enough - is there really need for yet another one for the next four years (at least) to come?

You make the call.

(Cross-poted from APOV)

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