David Offer's pre-Fourth of July column (7/1) in this newspaper discussed the willingness of the framers of the Declaration of Independence to "pledge their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to serve the country. Offer believes that both of today's candidates are up to that task, "and that the founding fathers would be pleased with the choices before us."

I agree, and I'm optimistic that in this election we are choosing between two good and uniquely qualified individuals seeking the job with a least a more inherent civility, let alone grasp of history, than we've experienced in the last eight years. This can only be a good thing.

I like John McCain.

I wouldn't walk across the street to shake George Bush's hand, but I'd walk a country mile, barefoot, to shake McCain's.

In 2000, he was a serious contender for my vote (yup, even against Al Gore) had he not been eliminated from the race after being mercilessly vilified by Karl Rove's machine in North Carolina. At the time, according to this week's Time magazine, Bush approached McCain and put a hand on his arm to reassure him that he had nothing to do with the slander being thrown at him.

McCain apparently turned to Bush and growled, "Don't give me that s--t. And take your hands off me."

Alas, back then McCain's fighter pilot and former-POW qualifications to become president apparently paled against those of Bush's born-again, recovering-cowboy qualifications. So here we are today. But I digress.

Last month, I suggested that the next president be ready, and amenable, to reach out across party lines, drawing from the best of both sides of the aisle, while striving to eliminate altogether the aisle. McCain's ability, and more importantly, his propensity and track record for reaching out gracefully to work together with others goes well in his favor.

This trait supersedes all other abilities I want to see in our next president. Ronald Reagan was at best a mediocre actor. But he was, given his beliefs and ideals (not entirely mine), a great president and an incomparable communicator. Indeed, he was known as "The Great Communicator."

We need another one. Real bad.

The occupant of the highest office in the land has communicated nothing but arrogance and stupidity for far too long. McCain is well aware of this, and, although he'll never be the orator his opponent is, if elected, he'll communicate to the world with his own brand of decency and truth and with the honor and dignity befitting the president of the United States.

As I did with Reagan, I may disagree with McCain -- but the world and I will find it a lot more tolerable to look up to a man like McCain than to the office's current holder.

Anyone who knows me knows I'd embrace and offer food and shelter at no charge to anyone even hinting of being a "maverick" as McCain has been often labeled. The dictionary defines maverick as "an unorthodox or independent-minded person: a free-thinker."

Along that line, I had the good fortune recently to attend a performance of "According to Tip," a one-man play recounting the late Massachusetts legislator Tip O'Neill's career, superbly recreated at the New Repertory Theatre in Boston. In the production, the days of "The Six O'Clock Rule" are duly noted. That's where politicians put politics aside and enjoyed each other's company at day's end (usually over a drink or two).

Indeed, special note was made of Democrat O'Neill's warm relationship with Republican Reagan in that scenario. O'Neill mourned the loss of that jovial bipartisanship and camaraderie and lamented the vicious, divided nature of the Washington politic today.

I believe McCain would readily concur. We all should. Because before the next president goes about the task of repairing and shoring up the country, we need to repair and shore up the office of the presidency.

John McCain would be an admirable step in that direction. It's six o'clock somewhere, so, "Cheers, Johnny."

Buddy Doyle of Gardiner is a Democrat , a graphic designer, writer, photographer and grandfather.