I think McNamara was Kennedy’s defence secretary…(ok I just wiki’d it…he was indeed a JFK guy). I’m not going to get into religious world view. I would prefer an anti religious world view president. Won’t happen in my lifetime…
Anyway, I’m curious why you’re so down on McNamara. Obviously before my time. The only knowledge I really have of him was from the “Fog of War” which I quite enjoyed…

My point was actually that Hatfield was left of Obama on a LOT of issues…Obviously a communist 😉

I do read a lot of history (I’m reading the Guns of August now). Not just american history though. I’ve also just got a book called the Ghosts of Cannae about Hannibal and the Romans (in fact in the Guns of August the Germans were trying to use Hannibals strategy – I think). Also other Italian history, some Noam Chomsky (who delves into history a lot), and I like economics. Most of my reading on economics tho is online. I also get some economics podcasts…

As far as McNamara, he does come up in a lot of documentaries (not just the Fog of War), and I’ve heard some interviews with him in podcasts. I just really enjoyed his candor and he never dodged questions (reminded me of Rumsfeld). I can respect a person who takes a tough question and doesn’t flinch when answering it (even if I disagree with their conclusions). Same reason I enjoyed watching Rumsfeld press conferences. I liked to see his reactions when reporters asked vague or incomplete questions. He would ask the reported back a much more intelligent question. I don’t think they he doing that as to avoid the question (ala Clinton in “it depends what the meaning of the word is is”), but for clarification…or maybe just to have a laugh. It amused me, and in Fog of War McNamara had sort of the same mindset.
Anyway I say this while thinking of politicians that duck questions of just end interviews (Michelle Bachman)…I’ve also seen professors end interviews when they are challenged…I just couldn’t see McNamara doing that…