Well if anyone out there didn’t think that Hillary sealed the deal on unity on Tuesday night, Bill Clinton did. A great roar from the crowd when President Clinton mentioned that he was often criticized as too inexperienced to be President. Following that, Joe Biden showed us his breadth of life experiences and wisdom. Obama and Biden will make a great team.
There were compelling stories from others. Tammy Duckworth, the Army helicopter pilot who lost both legs in the Iraq war noted that under Bush that too often veterans are met with bureaucracy and not benefits. And as Biden noted, with McCain voting with Bush 95% of the time, we can only expect more of the same from McCain.
The concern from noted veterans continued into the Washington Delegation breakfast this morning where General Tony McPeak spoke. McPeak, who went to war college with McCain is a decorated four star general who is now retired after 37 years in uniform.
McPeak voiced concern about McCain’s personal transformation during the presidential campaign. McPeak was fond of the McCain he knew as willing to break party ranks on important issues. But McPeak noted that McCain is now clouded by presidential ambitions and has lost the ability to seek compromise.
Finally, McPeak spoke about what impresses him about Barack Obama. With each meeting with Obama, McPeak said that he is more impressed with Obama’s leadership skills. But more importantly, McPeak is impressed with Barack’s temperment. McPeak, who coined the phases, “No shock Barack” and “No drama Obama” believes Obama’s temperment would serve America well, a temperment that will help us solve the problems that face us in Iraq, Afganistan and the Middle East.