McCain offers exactly the same type of "diplomacy" as Bush. Essentially, do as I say or we'll bomb you to death. To me, that sounds exactly like the mindset of the terrorists, and makes me very worried about the future.
That's neither true, nor fair. McCain's foreign policy positions are very different from Bush's when it comes to diplomacy and actions. First off, he has favored more diplomacy and bringing allies together, more like Bush's Dad. Secondly, although he does favor winning in Iraq, he isn't slow like Bush and his team to take the advice of the best the military has to offer for what are the recommendations for winning. McCain was dead-on accurate in his criticisms of Bush and Rumsfeld's strategy. He said before the invasion we needed a different plan. Once the invasion was underway, it's true he stood firm behind the troops, but you gotta understand the man. He did and would have done the same with a dem president.
Nevertheless, he continually argued for a change of strategy, from day one. With McCain, we have a shot on leaving Iraq with a palatable situation. Even if civil war breaks out, I trust McCain will have a better handle on when to, if at all, and how to and whom to throw our weight behind. He's a realist.
On Iran and the whole global situation, it's true McCain has a temper and will come off as better not mess with me or we'll bomb the heck out of you and the threat of that is a good thing, but McCain is more in the Colin Powell or former Colin Powell branch of the GOP foreign policy on stuff like this than Rumsfeld's. In other words, he's going to take a very pragmatic, non-ideological approach and not care for the politicking side of the military and State dept. It will be about getting the job done, and if you aren't up to snuff, McCain won't take 4 years to bring in a new crew.
Now, on other issues? Fact is McCain won't be able to get squat done since the dems control Congress, nor will the dems, and that suits me fine......best thing that can happen is Congress comes to accept limitations on their spending and ambitions.