CEO, Kennedy Vs. CEO, Kennedy Vs.
Charismatic leaders create drama, but they sometimes flame out or make big mistakes.
What got the media's attention Tuesday night was the raucous exchange about low-blow tactics on each side. I thought the exchange ended as a draw - although polls suggest Bush's attacks may be working. But the big substantive difference between the candidates most apparent Tuesday was on foreign policy. Ironically, McCain claims as one of his key foreign policy advisers former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the ultimate national-interest realist, while Bush has former Secretary of State George Shultz, the Wilsonian who advocated U.S. intervention in Lebanon. One got the impression that Bush's instinct would be to manage the existing worldwide order, while McCain would get the United States involved, at least diplomatically, all over the world.