Why is Being a Hero Revelent?

Granted, John McCain is a hero -- a genuine one, not like the way the term is grossly misused to refer to players of sports and the like.

A hero is someone who has risked life and limb for one or more others, with little regard for the self. There really does have to be a real risk, which may indeed result in death. And there has to be a large element of selflessness in it as well.

Ok, that being said, what in this admittedly honorable character trait of being heroic is relevant to holding the office of President of the United States?

Frankly, there would seem to be as many undesirable consequences of a "heroic" presidency as desirable ones. For example, would a "heroic" president willingly sacrifice the lives of fellow countrymen for some higher goal? Even if he sacrificed only himself, would that be a good thing? How many risks would a "heroic" president take? Would he rush an enemy bunker and with his dying breath toss a grenade into it? Would a "heroic" president consult anyone or act alone? How about his temper after having been tortured for years? Wouldn't he get pissed as hell at unpredictable times?

Isn't being a hero a highly individualistic thing....and isn't being a president intrinsically social?

Wouldn't a president have the obligation NOT to act heroically???

Hmmm.....

Stop the Madness!

I've been trying to enjoy the political combat this season, as I'm sure many are, but I keep getting distracted by fair and unfair commentators who are balanced and unbalanced, professional and unprofessional pols, elected and unelected and unelectable officials, news speakers and readers...and even many intelligent people!

Why?

Good question, glad you asked!

It's those god damn words that people rely on AS IF THEY HAD ANY MEANING!!

You know what I mean. "At this point in time" is a pretty good example. How about just "now"!?!

But there's a whole new crop of vacuous words that are now being over-worked.

So basically here are my talking points: at the end of the day, I'm not going to flip-flop on anything. I'll just pivot in case I want to surge, and you may vet me if you choose.

What IS "The Race Card," Anyway??

With this concept being bandied around so often, it's about time for someone to ask the users of this notion to explain what they mean!

It's obviously intended as a metaphor.

OK.....but a metaphor is: "the application of a word or phrase to an object or concept it does not literally denote, suggesting comparison to that object or concept" [Random-House/Webster]

The example given in the above citation is "a mighty fortress is our god." [Martin Luther] Hence a god offers massive protection....like a fortress."

But a "race card" is like....." What????

Maybe it's not the failure of the practitioners of "political arts" to make sense of it...maybe the concept itself is utterly meaningless.

I know Johnny Cochran finagled the idiots on that jury to acquit someone believed [actually proven] to be guilty by everyone in existence [yes, I do mean this literally -- it's not a hyperbole]....but I still don't know what "card" he played???

Here's a tid-bit from Wikipedia: "Playing the race card is an idiomatic phrase referring to an allegation raised against a person who has brought the issue of race or racism into a debate, perhaps to obfuscate the matter. It is a metaphorical reference to card games in which a trump card may be used to gain an advantage."

Hmmmm...."like a trump card," ay?

But a trump card exists in "trick taking games" and it exists within and only withing the rules -- unlike playing the "race card" -- which never exists within the rules?!

I'm still at a loss!