This occurred to me the other day talking to a friend. I put it up here not b/c anyone will see it but just to marvel at my ability to make bizarre analogies, which I do all the time in my class. Some work, some are epic. fail. But this one I thought was good.Top Gun. Great movie from my youth. Got me soooo fired up to go to Annapolis (nominated, but not appointed, and best decision I never made). I've seen it like a hundred times.
Now: by most accounts from pundits and objective analysts, and I think most rational observers would agree, Obama has a preternatural calm. His campaign has been on point, on message, unwavering, steady, deliberative and contemplative (these, BTW are all excellent reasons to vote for him in and of themselves). Unflappable comes to mind. Calm. Reasoned.
McCain on the other hand has wavered between messages and themes, and has been, I think pretty clearly, frenetic, manic, and yes, erratic. (And the proper definition of erratic is irregular and eccentric. It has nothing to do with age. And erratic gets bonus point for being close to 'ersatz' in the dictionary, a nice $2-word.)
Now back to Top Gun. You remember the scene in the beginning, where they first get to Florida and they're in the "target rich environment" and Goose points out the Iceman, and describes him thus: "That's the Iceman. It's the way he flies, ice cold, no mistakes. He wears you down, you get bored--frustrated--do something stupid and bang, he's got ya."
Obama = Iceman. Cool as hell. Unflappable.
McCain = Maverick. Crazy. Gets his friend killed.
And yes, of course, I DO see the irony of "Maverick." So fitting on several levels; makes the analogy work even better.
