Obama followed through on his pledge to catch some gnaaaaarly waves:
A Secret Service agent asked Honolulu lifeguards about the 2- to 3-foot surf conditions and requested that a lifeguard accompany the Democratic senator into the water, “which we obliged,” said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city’s emergency services department.
Obama caught five waves in 30 minutes, Cheplic said.
Cheplic quoted Obama’s escort — Honolulu lifeguard Peter Erwin — as saying Obama “obviously knew what he was doing. He was experienced. Senator Obama was getting some very nice waves. He was handling himself well.”
AP even captured dramatic video of the junior senator catching some waves. Try not to swoon! So what’s McCain up to? He’s working:
“We have to do what we can to reassure other nations in the region that we will try to assist them in maintaining their independence,” he said. The U.S., he said, should “recognize that this action by Russia against Georgia may not (be) isolated.”
He said that the U.S. and Russia can still work together in areas of mutual interest. “I am interested in good relations between the United States and Russia,” he said. “But in the 21st century, nations don’t invade other nations.”
The Arizona senator called for a review of relations with Russia, including its continued membership in the Group of Eight Leading Nations and its interest in joining the World Trade Organization. He added that NATO should “begin anew” discussions about membership for Georgia and Ukraine, another former Soviet republic that has clashed with Russia.
“After the events of the past six days, no one should wonder why countries on Russia’s periphery so ardently seek the security guarantees alliance membership represents,” he said.
McCain emphasized his long-term relationship with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, noting he has been to Georgia on several occasions. From Georgia, Saakashvili returned the affection.
Again – there’s only one serious candidate in the race.
Others Blogging:
Sister Toldjah
McCain is demonstrating that when it comes to criticial foreign policy issues, his near 30 years in the Senate dealing with foreign issues as well as domestic, along with his long career in the Navy, have served him well in terms of knowing how to handle present-day international conflicts.
Hot Air
The New York Times notices that a completely predictable reversal has taken place between Barack Obama, John McCain, and media coverage. Two weeks ago, the national media followed Obama devotedly as he toured Europe, straining to capture every word on what they considered a historic event. Now, though, the media has awakened to truly historical events in the Caucasus, and McCain has commanded their attention with his leadership — while Obama hides in Hawaii/
Macsmind
You would think with 300 advisers THE ONE would have some words of wisdom from his Mount Olympus. Something to sooth our allies the Georgians who have been getting pummeled by the Russians? The silence is more than telling and quite possibly a view into how Obama would actually handle such events as President. Surfs Up Dude!
The New Republic
McCain has had a prominent and strong presence in the news while Obama has been fairly invisible. Makes me think back to Bill Clinton’s warning that “strong and wrong” will win every time. Obama deserved a vacation but the timing–I assume his team figured the Olympics would drown out any other story–turned out to be a little unfortunate.
