Senator George McGovern died yesterday. He was a mensch and I would like to say that the world will miss him, but, in reality, he has been gone a long time and the world has pretty much gotten over missing him. I would also like to say that McGovern was the first politician, that I can remember, who was Swiftboated, but he really Swiftboated himself.
In World War II, he was a B-24 pilot which is probably the shittiest job that an Air Force pilot could have during the war. The planes were very hard to fly because of their thin wing – designed to give them good gas milage – which enabled very long flights. Those long flights – with no fighter cover – were dangerous and B-24s suffered very heavy losses. Typically, 10 to 20% of the planes didn’t come back. And the crews had to do 35 missions before they were relieved. McGovern refused to run on this record and was disparaged as a Peacenik over Vietnam.
Nixon won and the rest was history pretty much with McGovern. Too bad.
George McGovern was that rare politician, a principled man. Our country need more people like him and, even if he isn’t, he should be missed.
I whole-heartedly agree. As an 11 year-old in 1972, that was the first election I really was fully aware of and followed. I even remember school play ground debates with other kids. A truly decent man who would have beeen a great president during a critical time. I think of historical opportunities missed…Lincoln living on during reconstruction, Bobby Kennedy as President…we are overdue for the right leader at the right time, and I fear time is running out.
I fear time is running out, too, Vern.