Future History Mantras

It must be harder to be John McCain than it is to be Barack Obama right now. Senator McCain is undoubtedly synapse-chewing his way through the hours as he meets with his staff and Sarah P., watching image downloads of Obama and Saturday Night Live, with the volume turned down, per Mrs. Palin's request. McCain certainly gives the Governor pep talks before rallies - because he's just so darn proud of her - and probably reminds her about the Gipper, ironically portrayed by a the same man who later played a President. After all, it's about winning, Sweetie. However, underneath all the tough guy glamor, McCain is more aware of what it means to lose - especially this time.

I think if one is a soldier at heart, the word "defeat" just won't do. There is no losing, in the world of Senator McCain. It is a dimension where the phrase "the surge is working" is the new battle cry of Mission Unaccomplished, a strategy we wouldn't need had the war gone as expected after it was announced as won on the deck of a battleship four years prior.

Not only can McCain not lose for himself, he can't lose for the Republicans. It he loses it means that the majority of people in this country have regained their rightful power of choice. A Republican loss - a McCain loss - will be a painful coup de grâce to the biggest slide in approval ratings since the Titanic.

A man like John McCain refuses to accept failure, despite its inherent lessons. And if he does fumble the ball just as the time clock goes off, he imagines that he will become the man he fears - the man who lost the big game - the man who lost to Barack Obama.

The man who lost to Barack Obama...the man who lost to Barack Obama...

I can't really decide if I believe in the power of manifestation or not. I was raised in a positive American bubble of a town and therefore grew up believing that if I wanted something enough...well, you know the rest. And clearly there are some things in my life that would seem to be powerful manifestations of some of my aspirations at least or is my life purely a result of choices I've made to ensure I would feel this way now? I like to stay open to the idea that it is a little of both.

So, I see it before me - a headline - and there's a big picture of John McCain taken while he is thanking his supporters for their hard work, all smiles and handshakes with the obligatory pat on the back reserved for those needing a bit extra. Despite the pleasant photo, text looms large across the top of the paper - "Obama Wins!" - and beneath John's photo it says, with a telling error - for the sake of detail, the turbo spice of visualizations - "John McCane thanks supporters."

And as the spin cycle progresses post-election, I see news programs where this very vision is discussed: The Anchor states, "John McCain has conceded the election to Barack Obama and is planning to spend some time with his family..."

I really like my world of Future History, brought about by a mysterious power, secondary to the one called "voting."

I want this version of reality because we are currently being asked to consider a ruse once again - they are doing this and spouting the most despicable fodder, revealing their shortcomings in a way that would leave David Niven speechless while presenting an Oscar. Despite the McCain campaign's best efforts, we know there is not much difference between McCain and Bush, no matter how much they squawk about their "Maveric," a term eerily similar to the "Cowboy" moniker of W.

Perhaps the "real" American voters only like "real" American heroes who do not lose. Heroes in the classic style - Cowboys, Soldiers - Gippers - the toy surprise in every all-American Happy Meal.

But I have a different fantasy. Or is it a manifestation? Or is it a choice? Whatever it is, in my future world, McCain is the man who lost to Barack Obama...the man who lost to Barack Obama...the man who lost to Barack Obama...