"...the two propositions are identical".   Not so. I'm sorry but that is a misreading of my post.

Certainly, however, I would not be in the least surprised if McCain did get a boost from his empty posturing, bidding fair to succeed GWB in the position of anti-TR. There seem to be quite a few voters who like to shake their fists at a foreign regime, whether or not it's justified and whether they can do anything but splutter or not. And indeed in the case of South Ossetia vs Georgia they cannot do anything but wring their hands and mumble threateningly--as indeed McCain and Bush are doing.

It should be obvious to any thinking being that South Ossetia is not the place to take a stand. ( Whereas Poland and Ukraine certainly are.) And spare us the tired "appeasement" tripe.


But of course calm reasoning is not required to vote. After all, consider all the Bush voters of 2004--not exactly clear thinkers--who fell for the two propaganda lines of that year-- the "dirty bomb" line and the "homosexuals marrying will threaten your marriage" line.

Jingoism and propaganda work. That's no surprise.