The best of Bush, McCain

I've got one question for John McCain and George W. Bush: How come y'all didn't act like this before it was time to leave the stage?

McCain never stood taller in any of his many political victories than he did the night he lost his chance at the nation's biggest political prize. President Bush waited until he became a lame duck to display some of the charm his supporters have long claimed he possesses but that detractors never saw.

McCain was justifiably excoriated both for his weak choice of vice president and for the type of campaign he and Sarah Palin ran together.

As discombobulated as he appeared while running for president -- as if trying to decide whether he should be everybody's grandpop or an attack dog -- McCain's concession speech should be required reading and viewing for every politician who'll ever kiss a baby or wear a flag lapel pin.

He began "My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him."

After shushing the boos that are de riguer on such occasions, McCain said "In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.

"This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.

"I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Sen. Obama believes that, too. ...

"Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.

"Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.

"Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.

"These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

"Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that."

McCain's words are inspirational even when read on a page; spoken by a man who has sacrificed so much for his country with the smoke from the battle still not cleared, they become almost epic.

Bush's finest hour of the past eight years occurred when he and Laura Bush promptly and graciously invited the Obama family to the White House and welcomed them like long lost pals. Nowhere was evidence that a bruising political battle had just ended, a battle in which both sides took the other's name in vain many, many times.

Also missing was the swaggering "Bring him back dead or alive" cowboy persona that Bush has often affected to the detriment of our image abroad.

The start of the ceremonial ceding of power was, coincidentally, America's finest hour as well. In some countries power is never handed over so seamlessly, the ousted party never invites the victor over to hang out. If it did, it's possible the victor would disappear and never be seen again.

This is America. That sort of thing doesn't happen here.

Sure, there are columnists and commentators who've literally wished for an Earth-destroying asteroid to spare us an Obama presidency, but most normal Americans love our country and want it to prosper -- regardless of who is in charge. That's the highest praise one can give Bush and McCain.