I pulled my title from a Twitter post a friend of mine made, and I am mentioning it here because it reflects one of the few things the debate showed me, and it firmed up my decision for president even more.
Time and time again McCain has mentioned the importance of our soldiers coming back victors. It has almost become a rote response when anyone questions the Iraq war, but it wasn't until tonight that the significance really hit me. Nothing is more important to him than our victory, not because of right or wrong, but because he lost. He is damaged in a way that we simply can not understand or ever fully appreciate.
John McCain entered into the Vietnam War on July 25, 1967, almost three months to the day (assuming wikipedia has its facts right) on October 26, 1967, he was captured. Almost six years later, he was set free and returned home. Two years later, the war was over, and we lost. Yes, this is a gross over-simplification, but I think it tells us a lot about why John McCain can't look at Barack.
If Barack becomes president, he might actually follow through with his hope of getting us out of Iraq in 18 months. If John McCain wins, he gets to go back to war. He can be with the boys waging the battle for Democracy he was denied when he was captured. Only this time, he can win.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't think this is about violence. I don't see McCain as the vengenful type. But I do see him as a soldier's soldier, and the thought of Obama pulling out before the job is done must rip him apart.
