John McCain has declared from swing state to swing state, “I am a Teddy Roosevelt Republicana” Does McCain realize that President Roosevelt advocated for progressive taxationajust like Senator Obama. McCain has labeled Obama a socialist for his position on taxes.  However, in his own words Roosevelt stated: “We grudge no man a fortune in civil life if it is honorably obtained and well used. We should permit it to be gained only so long as the gaining represents benefit to the community. This, I know, implies a policy of a far more active governmental interference with social and economic conditions in this country than we have yet had, but I think we have got to face the fact that such an increase in governmental control is now necessary.”

Roosevelt also created the Progressive Party, was known as a “trust buster” and firmly believed in the separation of church and state.

And John McCain must not have realized that Teddy Roosevelt was a serious environmentalist who believed in conservation. He created five National Parks, four Big Game Refuges, fifty-one National bird Reservations and the National Forest Service. Roosevelt advocated for the sustainable use of the nation’s natural resources, the protection and management of wild game, and the preservation of wild spaces. McCain, who has received a zero rating from the League of Conservation Voters, has yet to provide any details about how he will preserve our dwindling natural resources or how he will tackle global warmingaaside from his running mate’s chant of “drill baby, drill.”

The problem with John McCain comparing himself to Teddy Roosevelt is that McCain’s policies and political views bear no resemblance to that of the former Presidentaand the Republican party of today doesn’t look or sound much like the Republican party of Roosevelt’s era.  But then again, McCain in 2008 bears no resemblance to McCain in 2000.  In the last few months the “Straight Talk Express” has devolved into a series of desperate hail marys that have included name-calling, mudslinging and downright lies about Barack Obama.  And no amount of channeling Teddy Roosevelt will clean up the mess that McCain has created for himself.