Will John McCain Be America's Temper Tantrum President?

Barely two hours after being on the phone with Senator Barack Obama, Democratic candidate for president, Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain took to a microphone to announce to the world he was putting his campaign on hold. He announced he was headed to Washington to play superman in making sure that Congress produces the $700 billion bailout for Wall Street.

In the same photo-opp stunt, Senator McCain also said he was not going to show up for his scheduled debate with Obama in Oxford, Mississippi, unless the bailout package was certain.

That was around 3:00 PM on Wednesday, September 24.

Obviously the move blind-sided Senator Obama, who responded with shock at McCain's impromptu announcement. Of course, Mr. Obama might have been faking ignorance, as politicians often do. Or did McCain give him no hints at all?

Did Mr. McCain even consult the Presidential Debate Committee, which has been planning the first of three debates between the two candidates? Perhaps, but who can be sure?

While staunch McCainaics call the senator's move "brilliant" or "patriotic" (it seems everything McCain says or does is patriotic to some degree), some of us are left scratching our itchy heads as to what Candidate John McCain is up to now. Who can tell what other unseen rabbit he'll pull out of his hat next. But whatever his political motive is this time, Senator McCain may have helped to reinforce suspicions about his shaky, bumpy temperament.

These suspicions first took on steam back in 1999 when McCain faced off Mr. George Bush during the Republican primary. Fellow politicians who know the Arizona Senator best have often testified to his fiery temper and outbursts of tantrums.

Scott Thomsen, writing from Phoenix on Sunday, October 31, 1999, cites The Arizona Republic, which wanted "the nation to know about the 'volcanic' temper McCain has unleashed on several top state officials."

That article stated, "Those who have been on the receiving end of a McCain uproar include Republican Gov. Jane Hull, former Republican Gov. Rose Mofford and former Democratic Mayor Paul Johnson of Phoenix... If McCain is truly a serious contender for the presidency, it is time the rest of the nation learned about the John McCain we know in Arizona. There is also reason to seriously question whether he has the temperament, and the political approach and skills, we want in the next president of the United States."

Other colleagues of the senior senator label McCain's temper tantrums as "passion" for his constituents and for the issues he believes in.

It should be noted that political science professor, Larry Sabato, points out that a President McCain would not have a monopoly on presidential tirades. Professor Sabato says Presidents LBJ, Nixon, and Clinton displayed First Temper before the eyes of the American people.

While that may well be the case, it was not true that those leaders were KNOWN as temperamental, on their way to the oval office. Well, I guess one could say, with McCain, we know exactly what we're getting. Still, it is one thing for a national leader to get angry every now and then. That's called being human. But erratic flares and sudden emotional flips are quite something else. And that has been part of the McCain experience we are supposed to adore.

Now, one of the most important prerogatives of the American President is to be the only one who has full access to the doom's day button of the nation's nuclear weapon arsenal. In that vein, ponder this somber scenario: President McCain has his fingers on the nuclear button, sort of stroking it. No problem there. Well, then the Russian army invades Georgia again. Is the American Commander In Chief getting a bright idea already, one of those hot Phoenix summer feelings? Next, Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev, being coached by Prime Minister Putin, and tagged team by his visiting buddy Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, dials up the American President and intentionally tries to get under his skin, tick him off, knowing he's a man of sudden rage. Mr. Medvedev warns, no, he threatens President McCain, "Chief Yankee, you've better butt out of Russian affairs. We're taking Georgia back, and there's nothing you can do about it. We've got the Chinese, the South Americans, and most of the Arabs on our side. As for Europe, they can't do without our oil, so we're not even worried about them. We are back! Now, smoke that, or as we prefer to say here in wintry Russia, drink that hot stuff -- vodka, that is! What you're gonna do, Mr. President of the ever dwindling empire? Ha-ha-ha!"

Did I say, that by noon on Thursday, September 25, Senator McCain had suddenly flipped, saying he was ready again to walk into the presidential debate hall? What had changed about the bailout? Well, no much, really. Only looks like the senator's superman feat had fallen flat, failing to impress most Americans, except McCainaics, of course.

This man keeps turning presidential politics into a better soap opera than any politics addict could ever dream of. He may well be destined for Hollywood, after all. He already has a great story line anyway. Add all the drama and waterfall emotional highs and lows, and you've probably got a thriller there, especially with the Vietnam hero and veteran politician playing himself, Maverick par excellence.

Don't mean to scare anyone, but Mr. McCain behaves too panicky. And please spare us this military bravery stuff -- for the millionth time. We're talking TODAY. And right now, Mr. McCain acts erratic, a little too temperamental to ease our minds in a nuclearized world, where America is being, not only hated by a growing number of countries, but also isolated and often provoked on purpose.

Will we be able to sleep soundly come night time, knowing who's manning that nuclear remote, as our Commander In Chief? Will he be able to keep his cool when provoked by a rogue nation, or a global power player? Serious doubts.

Frankly, a person of my ilk may have little choice but to keep his heart in his throat, or give up the ghost far ahead of an aging CIC, not to mention one who's experienced in temper politics. No wonder the folk keep reminding us that John McCain has "the experience".