Looking at McCain

Here is a little tutorial in McCain for those who, perhaps, have an unclear view of the candidate.

AMERICAblog - FILLING THE COURTS

Tonight on ABC News, we learned that today John McCain is again appealing to the right wingers in the GOP. Look who appears over McCain’s shoulder as he says, “I will appoint judges that strictly interpret the constitution of the United States of America and do not legislate from the bench. (That’s code for McCain appointing anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-stem cell, anti-privacy, anti-civil rights far-right activist judges.)

So, who is looking over McCain’s shoulder as he calls for right-wing judges? Joe Lieberman.

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Crooks and Liars:

In point of fact, though this video doesn’t show it, witnesses say that Holy Joe was clapping enthusiastically after that statement. Whereas we know that the Senate leadership is loathe to spank their fair weather friend, the Connecticut Democratic party had a few choice words for Lieberman:

I continue to be disappointed beyond words with Joe Lieberman, as are a lot of Connecticut Democrats — saddened, surprised, and truly disheartened by just how completely he has abandoned the Democratic principles that have guided him over the years and the Party whose members have supported him and helped him achieve his goals. As recently as 18 months ago, Senator Lieberman was telling us Democrats that he shares our values, and with the exception of Iraq, that he agrees with us on the issues we care so much about — critically important issues like a woman’s right to choose, tax and economic policies, healthcare and education. Moreover, in July of 2006, Senator Lieberman even stated that he intended to work to help a Democrat get into the White House in 2008. His endorsement of Senator McCain means he either doesn’t care about the issues noted above, or he’s putting politics ahead of people.

Crooks and Liars - McCain and WAR

A few weeks ago, John McCain raised a few eyebrows when he said he’s prepared to leave U.S. troops in Iraq for another century. Yesterday, he made matters worse, assuring voters that there are more wars on the way.

The presidential candidate who sang “Bomb bomb Iran” is already looking towards the war after the war in Iraq.

Sen. John McCain told a crowd of supporters on Sunday, “It’s a tough war we’re in. It’s not going to be over right away. There’s going to be other wars.” Offering more of his increasingly bleak “straight talk,” he repeated the claim: “I’m sorry to tell you, there’s going to be other wars. We will never surrender but there will be other wars.”

McCain did not elaborate who the United States would be fighting. But he did warn the crowd to be ready for the ramifications of current and future battles.

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Crooks and Liars - McCain and bin Laden

I realize that Republicans and campaign reporters continue to perceive John McCain as a credible person when it comes to matters of national security and military affairs — but that doesn’t make it sensible.

John McCain says in almost every stump speech that he knows how to capture Osama bin Laden and that he’d follow the al Qaeda leader to the “Gates of Hell.”

So Washington Wire was wondering, what does McCain know that President Bush and the Pentagon don’t about how to sweep up America’s most elusive enemy.

“One thing I will not do is telegraph my punches. Osama bin Laden will be the last to know,” he said today while riding on the back of his bus between Florida events. In other words: he’s not telling. Why not share his strategy with the current occupant of the White House? “Because I have my own ideas and it would require implementation of certain policies and procedures that only as the president of the United States can be taken.”

I’m curious, does John McCain think we’re children?

If there are “certain policies and procedures” that could lead to OBL’s detention, and a president could implement those policies and procedures now, why wouldn’t McCain stop by the Oval Office for a chat with Bush about how best to proceed?

By McCain’s own reasoning, it sounds like he’d rather let bin Laden remain free for another year, until McCain and his “own ideas” can get to work.

Crook and Liars - McCain and the Bush economy

Trusty St. McCain, always with a finger on the pulse of the populace. Bush is incredibly unpopular, the economy is doing bad and yet “Mr. Straight Talk” has to both defend the Bush policies he helped enable and distinguish himself from it simultaneously.

And for the record, by no measure are we better off economically now than we were 8 years ago. (.pdf)

Crooks and Liars - McCain and Party Loyalty

Josh Marshall noted this morning,” I was wondering when this would come up. As a lot of us remember, John McCain was very close to leaving the Republican party in 2001 and becoming either a Democrat or, much more likely, an independent a la Jim Jeffords who would caucus with the Democrats. The Hill gives the story another shake and talks to folks like Daschle and others who were in on the negotiations.”

The funny thing is, The Hill hasn’t really given the story another shake; it’s just that the story from last March has suddenly been re-discovered by political observers. Mitt Romney began emphasizing this over the last week, and slowly but surely, it’s apparently gaining traction.

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According to the story in The Hill, Weaver asked Daschle and Downey in March 2001 why Democrats hadn’t reached out to McCain to switch parties. “Well, if the right people asked him,” Weaver said, according to Downey, adding that he responded, “The calls will be made. Who do you want?”

After the lunch, Downey immediately contacted Daschle, who initiated a series of conversations with McCain about how to execute a party switch, including issues such as committee assignments and seniority. Other Dem senators involved with the discussions confirmed these events.

So, what happened? Vermont’s Jim Jeffords, one of three Republican senators Dems urged to switch, left the GOP and gave control of the chamber to Dems. At that point, Chafee and McCain then broke off their discussions.

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Will McCain finally face questions about what transpired? Will Republican voters care? Will the media? I guess we’ll find out soon.

Crooks and Liars- McCain and Military Withdrawal

At the GOP Debate on Thursday McCain said that setting a date for withdrawal will mean a victory for al Qaeda.

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Yet, when we had a Democrat in the White House McCain repeatedly argued for bringing the troops home regardless of the consequences.

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There you have it. McCain’s newfound surrender-phobia is a partisan fabrication, or else it’s time to question his sanity, or possibly both. In any case, the US most certainly does not need to keep a military presence in Iraq for a 100 or 10,000 more years just so McCain won’t call the troops losers and try to figuratively pin a victory medal on a terrorist group. It’s past time we declare victory (didn’t we already?) and start bringing our troops home. And when we do al Qaeda will have won nada unless some partisan dissembler like McCain tries to declare different.
The wheels came off the Straight-Talk Express a long time ago, so it’s about time the msm began to notice. Even the Moonie Times has begun figuring out what we’ve known all along, that McCain’s so-called ‘straight-talk‘ is anything but.

And I didn't even get to the McCain flip flopping on taxes and immigration...