Monday, June 23, 2008
What McCain needs to do
It's not hard to understand why Americans are so readily buying into Obama's "change" mantra, despite the fact that it's a house of cards that all the facts show he doesn't really support. Between rising oil and gas prices, rising food prices, flooding in the Midwest, falling home prices, rising unemployment, constant threat of terrorism, Iraq/Afghanistan/Iran, and natural disasters around the world it's easy to become pessimistic. We've hit one of those bumps in the road where a JFK-like race to the moon or Reagan-like optimism is necessary. The American people need something to be excited about again, something big on a national level.
I think McCain's announcement today that the government should offer a $300 M prize to whoever invents a battery for electric cars that leapfrogs today's best is a solid step in the right direction. The country wants someone who truly believes we are great and will lead us out of the downturn with a tangible development. McCain can combat Obama's generic talk of change by proposing specific ideas for change. Economy is the #1 issue, and right now that means rising energy and food prices. McCain has already jumped ahead of Obama as far as specific ideas for energy and that's good; he needs to make this a centerpiece of his campaign and turn a current negative into a positive. Come up with plans that will lead to America taking ownership of its own sources of energy. This will lead to new jobs, improved security (once we can finally divorce our foreign policy from reliance on Middle East and Venezuelan oil), and restored pride in America by Americans.
It is clear that energy can be McCain's race to the moon or Soviet Union/Berlin Wall centerpiece. It is the only thing big enough and widespread enough to excite and engage the entire country. His #1 focus should be coming up with a plan that is fiscally sound enough to appeal to conservatives, while being exciting enough in scope to motivate the broader voting base.
On a separate note I was watching a Fox Sunday morning show interviewing Tom Douchle (sorry, that's "Daschle") and Tom Ridge. I have to say that unfortunately Ridge didn't do a very good job. I've seen him speak just a few times before and I seem to remember him being somewhat better than he was on Sunday, but maybe not much. He is not the guy McCain needs by his side.
I think McCain's announcement today that the government should offer a $300 M prize to whoever invents a battery for electric cars that leapfrogs today's best is a solid step in the right direction. The country wants someone who truly believes we are great and will lead us out of the downturn with a tangible development. McCain can combat Obama's generic talk of change by proposing specific ideas for change. Economy is the #1 issue, and right now that means rising energy and food prices. McCain has already jumped ahead of Obama as far as specific ideas for energy and that's good; he needs to make this a centerpiece of his campaign and turn a current negative into a positive. Come up with plans that will lead to America taking ownership of its own sources of energy. This will lead to new jobs, improved security (once we can finally divorce our foreign policy from reliance on Middle East and Venezuelan oil), and restored pride in America by Americans.
It is clear that energy can be McCain's race to the moon or Soviet Union/Berlin Wall centerpiece. It is the only thing big enough and widespread enough to excite and engage the entire country. His #1 focus should be coming up with a plan that is fiscally sound enough to appeal to conservatives, while being exciting enough in scope to motivate the broader voting base.
On a separate note I was watching a Fox Sunday morning show interviewing Tom Douchle (sorry, that's "Daschle") and Tom Ridge. I have to say that unfortunately Ridge didn't do a very good job. I've seen him speak just a few times before and I seem to remember him being somewhat better than he was on Sunday, but maybe not much. He is not the guy McCain needs by his side.
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6 comments:
Get ready: pick a worthy goal that could change the game (vis-a-vis the environmental cost/standard of living argument), AND give US industry a head start on taking over international markets.
Get set: incentivize the market to find the best mouse trap.
Go!
This idea is a total home run. How long before Obama copies it and deploys it in his own interests?
I think Obama is close, I remember reading somewhere that he had an idea something along the lines of technology centers. I think he would promote certain types of tech development in various cities around the country. Each city would focus on a different technology or something like that. His goal was to revitalize certain local economies, while potentially increasing the rate of breakthroughs by concentrating talent pools. I'd note that industry automatically does this anyway. Whether you are talking about Silicon Valley for semiconductors or Boston for biotechs or or other high-tech hubs (RTP in raleigh-durham, upstate NY under Pataki, etc.), industries typically consolidate in specific locales anyway for a variety of economic reasons.
Where McCain should differentiate from Obama is minimizing government intervention. Only involve gov't to the extent that either limited incentives are required or regulations; don't allow the government to define and control all the specifics as would happen under Obama's plan.
I think he would promote certain types of tech development in various cities around the country.
Lemme guess:
Cleveland
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Denver
Miami
Las Vegas
Albuquerque
Manchester
Minneapolis
Madison
Norfolk
Did I miss any?
Also, what shouldn't be lost in the conversation is that GM has the most riding on the battery technology, while Honda and Toyota are making bigger bets on Hydrogen fuel-cells.
BTW, SHK, I think this post really hits the nail on the head. I feel like McCain thinks his bio will carry him over Obama.
He's going to have to lay out an agenda that captures people's imaginations. And Americans, being what they are, can't really handle an "agenda." Two, maybe 3 points that really hit home.
I knew McCain's battery prize sounded like a good idea; now I know for sure since Newt backs it.