McCain's honor

[Needa Pass Rush]

McCain's Honor

A curiosity of this Presidential campaign has been the way former media idolaters of John McCain have suddenly turned on him. They now claim to be horrified by his choice of Sarah Palin, or by his ad hoc economic decision-making, or his TV ads, or something. Whom do they think they've been praising all these years?

APThe John McCain of this campaign is the same as he ever was. The former Navy pilot's politics has always been more personal than ideological. His core convictions are duty, honor and country. He has always been passionate to the point of being impulsive, an unguided policy missile until he locks on target. Then he can be tenacious, and sometimes moralistic. These traits have characterized the McCain candidacy for better or worse and, we suspect, would also mark his Presidency. What the media can't say with a straight face is that they are shocked by any of this; they should admit they've simply found a new romance in Barack Obama.
If the 2008 election were solely about character and experience, Mr. McCain would be winning in a walk. Few Presidential nominees have been better known or more admired. A McCain Presidency would have its surprises, but they would not be from personal vice or political scandal. His courage has been tested far more than most -- both in a personal sense in Vietnam, and in a political sense during the Iraq war.
Arguably the finest hour of Mr. McCain's career was his support for the Iraq surge at the height of the war's unpopularity. It was gratifying to see this virtue vindicated as he won the GOP nomination. But in an irony of history, his very far-sightedness on Iraq and the success of the surge have made national security seem less urgent as Election Day nears. His commanding edge over Mr. Obama as a Commander in Chief seems less compelling to many voters than do their current fears about the economy.
If Mr. McCain does lose, a President Obama would also now inherit a far more stable and pro-American Iraq thanks to the Republican's efforts and no thanks to Mr. Obama's antiwar opportunism. In a further irony if he loses, Mr. McCain would return to the Senate and do his utmost to support a President Obama's campaign in Afghanistan or against Iran. That favor would not be returned if Mr. McCain wins. This too is a sign of the Arizonan's honorable character.
Mr. McCain's bad luck is to be running in a year when character and experience aren't enough. His party is at a low public ebb and the financial system imploded only weeks before Election Day. The first problem he could overcome with his history as a GOP apostate. The second hasn't played to his strengths but has instead revealed his penchant for -- let's be charitable -- political wanderlust.
Looked at individually, most of Mr. McCain's economic proposals are sensibly conservative, and some are even bold. They are superior to Mr. Obama's, and if implemented would make a recession shallower and shorter. They are also politically braver, especially his support for free trade. His health-care plan in particular amounts to genuine "progressive" change in the sense that it would redistribute tax benefits from the well-to-do to the uninsured working class. Mr. Obama's health plan by contrast is one more incremental -- if larger than usual -- increase in government control. But Mr. McCain was never able, or willing, to explain the differences.
More broadly, he has never explained to fearful Americans how an economy with Republicans at the helm could fall into this ditch. His one-line explanation for the financial panic has been "greed and corruption" on Wall Street and Washington. Voters know that's simplistic and would have been open to a larger, and truer, argument.
Once the panic hit in September, Mr. McCain's penchant for hyperactivity was also less than reassuring. He suspended his campaign to lead the "bailout" talks without a clear idea of what he favored. He offered to bring all sides together but in the process made himself hostage to Nancy Pelosi and House Republicans. All of this let Mr. Obama pose, paradoxically, as the steadier hand, even if all he did was sit back and bow to Congressional Democrats.
In the final days, Mr. McCain has finally gained traction by pounding away on Mr. Obama's enormous tax increases. But this would be a far more powerful argument if it were linked to the larger challenges that the U.S. faces in a world of competition from China and India, or to the dangers of making the U.S. into a European welfare state. Without such an argument, millions of anxious voters may default to Mr. Obama's alluring if vague case for "change."
Mr. McCain's surprising choice of Governor Palin was another example of his brand of politics by personal instinct. The Alaska Governor has fired up the GOP base, and as a candidate she has been less embarrassing by far than Joe Biden. But it is also true that her performance in early interviews gave the media a chance to assail Mr. McCain's judgment and has diminished her own political standing. The campaign -- and Mr. McCain -- should have been better prepared for the media assault that always hits a GOP unknown.
Perhaps the best case for the McCain candidacy -- apart from national security -- is that he would be a check on what is likely to be an emboldened and dangerous left-wing Congress. He would surely work with Democrats on some things -- for the better perhaps on immigration, for the worse on energy "cap and trade" regulation. However, unlike President Bush, Mr. McCain wouldn't wait four years to use his veto pen.
In this difficult year, Mr. McCain has had the harder sale to make. His admirable personal tenacity has been better than his variable political argument. We'll find out Tuesday if biography trumps hope.

[gunns]

But in an irony of history, his very far-sightedness on Iraq and the success of the surge have made national security seem less urgent as Election Day nears.

I guess if he was so confident in what he feels the surge has done he shouldn't have said we could be there 10 more years. Dumb.

If Mr. McCain does lose, a President Obama would also now inherit a far more stable and pro-American Iraq thanks to the Republican's efforts and no thanks to Mr. Obama's antiwar opportunism.

Pro-American Iraq? Hilarious! Anti-war opportunism? Against a war that was bogus?

Mr. McCain's bad luck is to be running in a year when character and experience aren't enough.

Character is a lot of the reason Obama is ahead. Maybe if McCain had stuck to his premise of not having a dirty campaign and had conducted himself in the debates with confidence that his experience should lend instead of avoiding his opponent, rolling his eyes and smirking he would be much further ahead. This must be the character the author was unaware of.

In the final days, Mr. McCain has finally gained traction by pounding away on Mr. Obama's enormous tax increases.

What enormous tax increases?

Mr. McCain's surprising choice of Governor Palin was another example of his brand of politics by personal instinct.

An example of poor decison making and poor judgment.

We'll find out Tuesday if biography trumps hope.

Especially at this time give me hope over an overblown biography.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

McCain's honor

Oxymoron

[Rohirrim]

I liked the part where he called the crowd, "...my fellow prisoners." :rofl:

[theAPAOps5]

McCain forgot along time ago what honor is. He once was very honorable but somewhere along his path to power and politics he sold out on honor.

[Bronco Bob]

I liked the part where he called the crowd, "...my fellow prisoners." :rofl:


Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice
And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
And in the master's chambers,
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can't kill the beast.

[BroncoBuff]

I just wish the mainstream media would pressure McCain to come clean about the $448,000 grant McCain gave to PLO terrorist Rashid Khalidi's group in 1999. The voters deserve some answers ...why did McCain fund terrorists like that.

The "honorable" thing to do would be to come clean about this.

[manchambo]

I still respect McCain. But he lost an awful lot of my respect through this campaign. Pretending he didn't change himself is just more self-delusion about why he's going to lose in a landslide. Palin was out of his character. Running a campaign that scarcely addressed anything other than (mostly ridiculous) personal attacks was out of his character. In addition to being dishonorable, each of these things was stupid, because it did nothing but stir up his base, and alienated most of the voters he actually needed to get.

I think he's going to look back after losing badly and wonder what he gave up so much of himself for.

[Play2win]

McCain Sold his SOUL to the Devil... The Devil, of course, being Karl Rove...

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Whether it's selling out his fellow POWs under the first Bush administration or selling out his principles during the Bush II administration, John McCain has always been more than willing to sell his soul for power.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

THAT'LL Show 'Em!

Meet Shirley Nagel, who hit on a unique way of "getting the message out" about McCain. She decided to deny Halloween treats to children whose parents voted for Obama.

I kid you not. That's what she did (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c75OtUlWC0). She put out a sign in her yard reading, "No handouts for Obama supporters, liars, tricksters, or kids of supporters" and stood by it, asking kids at the door if their parents supported Obama, and refusing treats to those who answered in the affirmative.

This, I suppose, will qualify as a "learning experience" for the kids whose parents support Obama, that lesson being that creeps come in all shapes and sizes, even the form of an attractive, well-dressed lady living in a pretty house in a nice neighborhood. What the kids whose parents support McCain have learned about civility and politics from this experience is pretty horrible to contemplate. Fortunately, there was an Obama-supporting neighbor who put up a sign welcoming all kids, including the ones whose families vote for McCain, so hopefully they'll learn more from that guy than from the awful woman next door to him.

At the same time I heard about Ms. Nagel, I found through Sadlyno (http://www.sadlyno.com/) this blogpost by a "Dr. Helen (http://drhelen.blogspot.com/)," an ardent McCain supporter who has roughly the same idea, though in this case it's the people unfortunate enough to wait on her in restaurants who'll get a lesson.

"I've been thinking. If Obama is elected, maybe in lieu of a tip I should leave a note like the following:

HOPE AND CHANGE FOR AMERICA: Spreading the Wealth Around.
In lieu of a tip, $_____ has been donated to the Re-Elect Obama for President Campaign. Thank you for supporting the man and the movement that are bringing America together!"

So not only children, but people scaping by on tips get a nice little first-hand glimpse into the psyche of these McCain "supporters." "Dr. Helen" followed this post up with one saying, awww shucks, she does leave tips anyway, because it's so darned hard to figure out in Tennessee which of the hardworking people waiting on her believe in "redistribution of wealth." But obviously, if she could, she would. "Perhaps in blue cities or where it is clearer that people believe in redistributing wealth, it would be easier," she says.

Too bad Obama supporters can't be forced to sew little embroidered "O's" onto their clothing. That way McCain supporters like Ms. Nagel and Dr. Helen would know which poor people to stiff, which children to reduce to tears, which old people not to offer a seat on the bus...
_______
Pamela Troy
http://paft.livejournal.com/

[Rohirrim]

I just wish the mainstream media would pressure McCain to come clean about the $448,000 grant McCain gave to PLO terrorist Rashid Khalidi's group in 1999. The voters deserve some answers ...why did McCain fund terrorists like that.

The "honorable" thing to do would be to come clean about this.

Interesting that the MSM hasn't touched that one, given that McCain's central campaign focus has been this issue.

[Spider]

THAT'LL Show 'Em!

Meet Shirley Nagel, who hit on a unique way of "getting the message out" about McCain. She decided to deny Halloween treats to children whose parents voted for Obama.

I kid you not. That's what she did (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c75OtUlWC0). She put out a sign in her yard reading, "No handouts for Obama supporters, liars, tricksters, or kids of supporters" and stood by it, asking kids at the door if their parents supported Obama, and refusing treats to those who answered in the affirmative.

This, I suppose, will qualify as a "learning experience" for the kids whose parents support Obama, that lesson being that creeps come in all shapes and sizes, even the form of an attractive, well-dressed lady living in a pretty house in a nice neighborhood. What the kids whose parents support McCain have learned about civility and politics from this experience is pretty horrible to contemplate. Fortunately, there was an Obama-supporting neighbor who put up a sign welcoming all kids, including the ones whose families vote for McCain, so hopefully they'll learn more from that guy than from the awful woman next door to him.

At the same time I heard about Ms. Nagel, I found through Sadlyno (http://www.sadlyno.com/) this blogpost by a "Dr. Helen (http://drhelen.blogspot.com/)," an ardent McCain supporter who has roughly the same idea, though in this case it's the people unfortunate enough to wait on her in restaurants who'll get a lesson.

"I've been thinking. If Obama is elected, maybe in lieu of a tip I should leave a note like the following:

HOPE AND CHANGE FOR AMERICA: Spreading the Wealth Around.
In lieu of a tip, $_____ has been donated to the Re-Elect Obama for President Campaign. Thank you for supporting the man and the movement that are bringing America together!"

So not only children, but people scaping by on tips get a nice little first-hand glimpse into the psyche of these McCain "supporters." "Dr. Helen" followed this post up with one saying, awww shucks, she does leave tips anyway, because it's so darned hard to figure out in Tennessee which of the hardworking people waiting on her believe in "redistribution of wealth." But obviously, if she could, she would. "Perhaps in blue cities or where it is clearer that people believe in redistributing wealth, it would be easier," she says.

Too bad Obama supporters can't be forced to sew little embroidered "O's" onto their clothing. That way McCain supporters like Ms. Nagel and Dr. Helen would know which poor people to stiff, which children to reduce to tears, which old people not to offer a seat on the bus...
_______
Pamela Troy
http://paft.livejournal.com/

This doesnt shock me in the least , you should have seen the way , this one guy was carrying on in west Haven Connecticut........ I actually felt sorry for his stupid ass and stuck for him when these 2 big mother ****ers were going to throw him a beating .........After I stuck for him he thought I was a McCain supporter , started talking to me I told him to shut his ****ing pie hole, I did absentee voting and voted Obama .........;D

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

South Carolina: McCain draws bipartisan criticism for 'robo calls' 11/2 (http://www.thestate.com/366/story/558895.html)

How Lee Atwater Laid the Groundwork for the Scurrilous McCain Campaign (http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/131)

[BroncoBuff]

Interesting that the MSM hasn't touched that one, given that McCain's central campaign focus has been this issue.
I was being mildly sarcastic of course .... but you're right. That's a lotta money for McCain to give to the PLO. The only thing I can figure is that Khalidi is one of the good guys after all.

As much as I dislike McCain, I cannot stoop to accusing him of "consorting with terrorists," even though he accuses Obama of that.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

McCain Did Not Disclose Keating Business Deal To Investigators 11/3 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/02/mccain-did-not-disclose-k_n_140069.html)

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

As much as I dislike McCain, I cannot stoop to accusing him of "consorting with terrorists," even though he accuses Obama of that.

McCain's attacks on Obama and Rashid Khalidi is modern-day McCarthyism 11/1 (http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=77399)

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Just One of McCain's Homes is On Sale Through Sotheby's for $12 Million (http://www.sothebysrealty.com/PropertyDetails.aspx?R=104122021&WT.mc_id=Trulia)

[Dudeskey]

McCain forgot along time ago what honor is. He once was very honorable but somewhere along his path to power and politics he sold out on honor.

might wanna ask the Keating five about that one ;)

Oops, LABF beat me to it, lol

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Last Rights for McCain, as Catholic Support Blesses Obama

John McCain's campaign for the presidency is a disgrace that will be long remembered for its viciousness and foul attempts to vilify and demonize Barack Obama. Even many McCain supporters, know their man chose the gutter over reason forever staining his political legacy.

McCain chose to bow to the religious right and the radical Republicans that brought us the unnecessary invasion of Iraq, the relentless assaults on the Bill of Rights, the incompetent response to Hurricane Katrina, unconscionable national debt and Sarah Palin.

"Faux conservatism" as authentic conservative columnist George Will describes the "carelessness" of McCain's campaign adding that on Tuesday it will result in the "probable repudiation of the Republican Party." Well deserved, I might add.

After George W. Bush's two presidential campaigns, it was hard to imagine a campaign that could contribute more to the dummying of political discourse and be more insulting to people with IQs over 70. McCain did that with frightening zeal.

McCain's campaign reached yet a new low last week in a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio. The Republican presidential hopeful was joined on the stage by a former porn film star, serial groper and deserter from the Austrian army- strange company for the former POW and standard bearer for "family values."

California Governor Arnold Schwazenegger delighted the faithful in a half-filled hockey arena with an analysis of Barack Omaba's physique. "He needs to do something with those skinny legs," the former Mr. World told the frenzied crowd, dominated by the IQ- under- 70 types the McCain campaign papers the house with and uses as a chorus of 21st century Know-nothings at rallies.

Not content with smearing Obama as a communist, terrorist and dangerous subversive, the Republicans now have sunk to attacking his slenderness. It sounded like an Orwellian variation- old and paunchy is good, young and slim is bad.

"We're going to make him do some squats," Schwarzenegger grunted. "And then we're going to beef up those scrawny arms. If only we could do something about putting some meat on his ideas."

How clever, Arnold. You're such a manly man. Obama will never have your brawn and the firm hand you used to grab so many young derrieres. I have a meaty idea. The next time California teeters on defaulting on its debt obligations, President Obama should tell the Governor to take is hat in hand to Austria and beg for money.

Leave it to Silly Sarah Palin, to spout a line so demonstrable false, even the truth challenged McCain campaign had to repudiate her fantasy. " We'll balance the federal budget by the end of our first term," the Republican Vice Presidential candidate told a crowd in York, Pennsylvania last Thursday.

But a monstrous lie like that needs the fortification of a campaign promise and nobody does that better than Fail'n Palin. "Now a promise like that, you can trust that John McCain and I will keep our promise."

It is far more likely that Palin could use a pogo stick to bounce to the summit of Mount McKinley than it is that she and John McCain or, anyone else for that matter, could balance the federal budget in four years.

We are looking at $1 trillion deficits for the foreseeable future and the recession will further drain federal revenues. Palin spouted her promise in her memorized one- liners, probably forgetting McCain has backed away from the promise.

On the very same day, Neil Cavuto of Fox News pressed McCain's top economic advisor, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, about balancing the federal budget in a first term. Holtz-Eakin dodged and squirmed for several minutes, finally admitting they were "not going to be able to do it."

Palin certainly energized the rapture wing of the religious right and is the darling of the neoconservatives who have forged an unholy alliance with Christian fundamentalism. McCain deserves 100% of that vote but it won't get him elected.

Far more important is the Catholic vote and Obama is winning that group with impressive margins. A New York Times/CBS poll shows Obama has a commanding 59% to 31% edge over McCain among Catholic voters.

Tim Rutten of the Los Angeles Times wrote an insightful piece describing the profound shift of the Catholic vote this election and how they are rejecting the ham-handed approach of many bishops who define candidates exclusively on the abortion issue.

McCain got some help in Pennsylvania from Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia who wrote in his archdiocesan newspaper: "The transcending issue of our day is the intentional destruction of innocent life, as in abortion...[and] no intrinsic evil can ever be supported in any way."

Others are speaking out, doing everything but endorsing McCain by name and yet Obama may draw the highest percentage of Catholic voters in decades. Tim Rutten wrote, "What's significant about that is that at least 50 of the country's 197 Catholic bishops recently published articles or given interviews in which they argued that abortion, more than any other issue, ought to determine members of their flock cast their votes. Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput and Saint Louis Bishop Hermann have been two of the most forceful voices in this regard, but polls now put Colorado in Obama's column and have his slightly ahead in Missouri."

Cleary, a growing number of the nation's 60 million Catholics are not going to be defined by a single issue regardless of what some bishops would prefer. These Catholics are more aligned with the "seamless garment of life" described so well by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernadin of Chicago.

He said, "Our moral, political and economic responsibilities do not stop at the moment of birth. Those who defend the right to life of the weakest among us: the old and the young, the hungry and the homeless, the undocumented immigrant and the unemployed worker...consistency means we can't have it both ways."

Many bishops spend too much time on the golf course, hanging out with the country club set, schmoozing for donations and becoming cultural Republicans. A little more time among the poor would put them in better touch with their flocks.

Sister Cecilia Gaudette has become Barack Obama's most celebrated Catholic supporter. She is a member of the Religious Sisters of Jesus and Mary and lives in Rome. The Manchester, New Hampshire native has worked abroad for more than five decades and the last time she voted was for Eisenhower in 1952. By the way, if Ike were with us he'd vote for Obama.

Sister Cecilia learned she could register to vote absentee on the internet and enthusiastically cast her ballot. "I'm encouraged by Senator Obama," Sister Cecilia told the BBC. "I've never met him, but he seems to be a good man with a good private life. That's the first thing. Then he must be able to govern," she added.

Sister Cecilia keeps informed reading newspaper and she watches "very important events" on TV and that includes coverage of the US presidential election.

Sister Cecilia is 106 years old. Determined supporters like this proud American nun are going to make Barack Obama the next president.

by Bill Gallagher (http://www.smirkingchimp.com/user/bill_gallagher)

[Rohirrim]

I was being mildly sarcastic of course .... but you're right. That's a lotta money for McCain to give to the PLO. The only thing I can figure is that Khalidi is one of the good guys after all.

As much as I dislike McCain, I cannot stoop to accusing him of "consorting with terrorists," even though he accuses Obama of that.

I had to hand it to Khalidi. When asked for a comment he said he'll wait for this "idiot wind" to pass before he makes a comment. Khalidi is sympathetic to the cause of the Palestinian people. I guess that makes him a terrorist in the Right's eyes. Somewhere in our Constitution it says we are forbidden from disagreeing with Israel, even if they launch missiles into one of our navy ships and kill a bunch of Americans. That's their right.

Anyway, here's a small bit of history on the dangerous terrorist Khalidi: Khalidi was born in New York. He received a B.A. from Yale University, where he was a member of Wolf's Head Society,in 1970, and a D. Phil. from Oxford University in 1974 and spent many years as a professor and director of both the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for International Studies at the University of Chicago before joining the Columbia faculty. He has also taught at Georgetown University, Lebanese University, and the American University of Beirut.

Sounds like the last person we want Obama to discuss ME policy with. :rofl:

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Khalidi is sympathetic to the cause of the Palestinian people. I guess that makes him a terrorist in the Right's eyes.

And he's an intellectual to boot.

That's two strikes against him in the eyes of the flying monkey right.

[Mr.Meanie]

I agree with the part of the article that said McCain got unlucky in the last few months with the economic crisis. Even without the collapse of all those banks, we were still at record foreclosures and the economy was trending down... and McCain just got unlucky. He could have changed it by focusing on the economy from the beginning, and picking a runningmate like Romney whom he could package as the economic savior the country needs.

as a candidate she has been less embarrassing by far than Joe Biden.

Oh please. The only people who believe that are the author and McCain. She has been a horrific embarrassment, and her interviews and blunders made her into a viral video phenom. She's like the star wars kid of politics.

By picking Palin McCain erased the only major advantage he had in attacking Obama.... the experience argument.

[baja]

Quote:
as a candidate she has been less embarrassing by far than Joe Biden.


She promised to balance the budget in 4 years. Need any more?

[Traveler]

Op-Ed Columnist
Who’s the Question Mark?
By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: November 1, 2008

In the final moments of the most gripping campaign in modern history, John McCain is still trying to costume Barack Obama as a dangerous enigma.

But, in an odd and remarkable reversal, it is McCain who is the enigma, even though he entered the race with one of the best brands in American politics.

And it is Obama, who sashayed onto the trail two years ago as an aloof and exotic mystery man with a slim record and a strange name, now coming across as the steadier brand.

The McCain campaign specializes in erratica, while the Obama campaign continues to avoid any dramatica.

McCain pals around with Joe the Plumber and leaves Tito the Builder to Sarah Palin, exactly the kind of inane campaign silliness that the McCain formerly known as Maverick would have mocked mercilessly.

He’s getting a little traction on taxes, as he latches on to every possible scary image about Obama — except the suggestion that the Democrat’s gray Hart Schaffner Marx suits are red.

Before he was bubbled by Bushies, McCain was one of the most known and knowable quantities in American politics. For most of his long public career, he prided himself on his openness with the press — he even allowed some reporters to watch the results of January’s New Hampshire primary in his hotel suite in Nashua. He relished spending all day being challenged by voters and reporters.

Last summer, tapped out and unable to afford a paid staff of political professionals, he talked freely, telling reporters he would have a White House that would be the polar opposite of the secretive and dismissive Bush-Cheney operation. He imagined weekly press conferences and talked of subjecting himself to a version of British question time in Congress. While acknowledging he was a tech tyro, he promised to try “a Google,” as he called searching the Web, to put government spending online so citizens could bird-dog it.

He even went so far as to spin a dream of a West Wing in which he would cut back on his Secret Service so he wouldn’t feel so constrained.

In the end, “The Bullet,” or “Sarge,” as McCain calls his replacement campaign manager Steve Schmidt, was the one who did the shackling, turning the vibrant and respected McCain into a shell of his former self.

Schmidt abruptly cut off the oxygen supply to McCain’s brain. No more of the oldest established, permanent floating crap game of press confabs. No more audiences that weren’t vetted for friendliness. No more of McCain’s trademark insouciant mocking the process even as he participated in it.

Whether it was the five years he spent in a hole in Hanoi or just his gregarious makeup, McCain seemed to feed off of the company of people who interested him, be it reporters, voters or the pols in his posse, like Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham.

Unlike Obama, He Who Walks Alone, McCain always rejected the solitary in favor of the social. But ever since Sergeant Schmidt put Captain McCain into a sterile brig on the trail, the candidate has become a question mark.

Why would he repeat that oblivious line about the fundamentals of the economy being strong, saying it once in August and again in September?

Why would he threaten to not show up for a debate (after denouncing Obama for not rising to the challenge of joint town halls) so that he could go to Washington and play the shining knight if he had no plan and no prospect for success?

Why did he allow his campaign to become a host body for a Bush virus looking for someplace to infect? After working so hard to erase the image of what Senate aides called “the Bush hug,” McCain inexplicably hugged Bushies, surrounding himself with mercenaries trained in the same Rovian tactics that tore up his family — and tore apart his campaign — in 2000.

Why did a politician who once knew how to play the game so well, who was once so beloved by people of very different political stripes, allow his campaign to get whiny, angry, vengeful and bitter?

Why Palin?

(Her latest instant classics came Friday, when she entered a rally in York, Pa., to the tune of “Thriller” and when a conservative radio station broadcast an interview in which she accused reporters of threatening her First Amendment rights by attacking her for negative campaigning that she feels justifiably calls out Obama “on his associations.”)

Why did he allow his staff to put Palin on a couture catwalk in a tin-cup economy and then, when the price tags were exposed, trash her as a “diva” and “whack job,” thus becoming the rare Republican campaign devoured by Democratic-style vicious infighting?

The ultimate riddle is this: Why doesn’t McCain question why he has become a question mark?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/op...in&oref=slogin

[BroncoBuff]

Anyway, here's a small bit of history on the dangerous terrorist Khalidi: Khalidi was born in New York. He received a B.A. from Yale University, where he was a member of Wolf's Head Society,in 1970, and a D. Phil. from Oxford University in 1974 and spent many years as a professor and director of both the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for International Studies at the University of Chicago before joining the Columbia faculty. He has also taught at Georgetown University, Lebanese University, and the American University of Beirut.

Sounds like the last person we want Obama to discuss ME policy with. :rofl:
WOW. I'd like to have dinner with that guy. Yale, Oxford, Chicago, Columbia and Georgetown? Very impressive.

[Rohirrim]

WOW. I'd like to have dinner with that guy. Yale, Oxford, Chicago, Columbia and Georgetown? Very impressive.

Of course, this is the exact kind of guy that Bush and McCain would NEVER sit down with to discuss ME policy, which is why we are where we are today.

[stugotsII]

At least McCain was once honorable. Obama doesn't know the meaning of the word.

[SJ Bronco]

At least McCain was once honorable. Obama doesn't know the meaning of the word.

:spit: :saywhat:

[TailgateNut]

At least McCain was once honorable. Obama doesn't know the meaning of the word.

Honorable negative campaigning.

Most Vets I know have lost respect for him that he once had. He gives veterans a bad name with his behavior.

[stugotsII]

Honorable negative campaigning.

Most Vets I know have lost respect for him that he once had. He gives veterans a bad name with his behavior.

Most vets and current military want McCain to be President.

I love when Liberals whine about negative campaigning. That's all they did in 2004.

I also love how running a series of commercials asking questions about his opponent causes people to forget about his decades of service to his country.

[Rohirrim]

Most vets and current military want McCain to be President.
I love when Liberals whine about negative campaigning. That's all they did in 2004.

I also love how running a series of commercials asking questions about his opponent causes people to forget about his decades of service to his country.

And I'm sure you'll back that up with some stats.


Ha! Just kidding. We all know you're just squawking through your ass.

[stugotsII]

And I'm sure you'll back that up with some stats.


Ha! Just kidding. We all know you're just squawking through your ass.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/21/poll-troops-support-mccain/

http://militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/081003_ep_2pp.pdf

What...no reply?

[Bronco Bob]

Most vets and current military want McCain to be President.


So how come Obama is getting more campaign contributions from military families?

And define most. Does this include the African American and Hispanics
vets and those serving in the military? Or did they just poll the white
guys?

[stugotsII]

So how come Obama is getting more campaign contributions from military families?

And define most. Does this include the African American and Hispanics
vets and those serving in the military? Or did they just poll the white
guys?

Did you even look at the charts? The only one Obama won was AA's.

[Bronco Bob]

Did you even look at the charts? The only one Obama won was AA's.

So what does this tell you if all the white guys were for McCain and
all the black guys were for Obama? I don't know what it is like in
the military now, but when I was in the Navy there was a lot of
anti-black sentiment by the whites, and vis-versa. All the whites
sat at one side of the mess deck and all the blacks at the other.
And no one dared to cross over. Even in the Philippines out in
Olongapo City there were certain bars that the whites went to
and certain bars the blacks went to.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Veterans groups give McCain failing grades.: - On October 7, 2008, the non-partisan Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) gave McCain a grade of "D" (http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list) for his poor voting record on veteran's issues, including McCain's votes against additional body armor for troops in combat and additional funding for PTSD and TBI screening and treatment. The grade makes McCain one of only four Senators to fall on IAVA’s “D List” — and marks a repeat performance for him – he received a “D” for his congressional voting record in 2007 as well. On the other hand, Obama received a “B.” Obama was acknowledged for his early support of the G.I. Bill and for working across party lines to bring both sides of the aisle together on it, according to IAVA’s founder and executive director Paul Rieckhoff. Joe Biden also received a “B”.
The non-partisan Disabled American Veterans gave McCain a 20 percent rating (http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3483) for his voting record on veteran's issues; as a contrast they gave Obama a rating of 80 percent. (The scores from IAVA and Disabled Veterans of America join those of other groups who have criticized McCain’s abysmal record on veteran's issues. The Vietnam Veterans of America noted McCain has voted against us (http://capwiz.com/vva/e4/cinfo/?id=157301) in 15 key votes.)
McCain voted against increased funding for veteran's health care.: Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving health care for veterans was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for it in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Since arriving in the US Senate in 1987, McCain has voted at least 28 times against ensuring important benefits for America's veterans, including providing adequate health care.
McCain voted for an appropriations bill that under-funded the Departments of Veteran's Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion.
McCain opposed $500 million for counseling services for veterans with mental disorders: McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse.
McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks, and is on record saying he was opposed to it.
McCain voted against requiring mandatory minimum downtime between tours of duty for troops serving in Iraq.
McCain echoed Bush and Cheney's talking points that the US would only be in Iraq for a short time. McCain: "It's clear that the end is very much in sight . . . It won't be long . . . it'll be a fairly short period of time." (ABC-TV, 4/9/03)
McCain was unaware of previous Sunni-Shia violence before the Iraq War.: "There's not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shias. So I think they can probably get along." (MSNBC-TV, Hardball, 4/23/03) go here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbJGLLvS8Pc).
McCain said it's "not too important" when U.S. troops leave Iraq. This exchange occurred on NBC TV's Today Show in June 2008 with Matt Lauer.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

McCain's Non-Support for Troops and Veterans: The Master List (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brandon-friedman/mccains-non-support-for-t_b_131046.html)

Senator John McCain's Record on Troop and Veterans' IssuesVoting Against VeteransVeterans Groups Give McCain Failing Grades. In its most recent legislative ratings, the non-partisan Disabled American Veterans gave Sen. McCain a 20 percent rating (http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3483) for his voting record on veterans' issues. Similarly, the non-partisan Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a "D" grade (http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list) for his poor voting record on veterans' issues, including McCain's votes against additional body armor for troops in combat and additional funding for PTSD and TBI screening and treatment.
McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans' Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans' health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans' health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00040); Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00055); S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00041); H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00126))
McCain Voted At Least 28 Times Against Veterans' Benefits, Including Healthcare. Since arriving in the U.S. Senate in 1987, McCain has voted at least 28 times against ensuring important benefits for America's veterans, including providing adequate healthcare. (2006 Senate Vote # 7 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00007), 41 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00041), 63 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00063), 67 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00067), 98 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00098), 222 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00222); 2005 Senate Votes # 55 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00055), 89 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00089), 90 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00090), 251 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00251), 343 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00343); 2004 Senate Votes # 40 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00040), 48 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00048), 145 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00145); 2003 Senate Votes # 74 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00074), 81 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00081), 83 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00083); 1999 Senate Vote # 328 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00328); 1998 Senate Vote # 175 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=2&vote=00175); 1997 Senate Vote # 168 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=1&vote=00168); 1996 Senate Votes # 115 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00115), 275 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00275); 1995 Senate Votes # 76 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=1&vote=00076), 226 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=1&vote=00226), 466 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=1&vote=00466); 1994 Senate Vote # 306 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=103&session=2&vote=00306); 1992 Senate Vote # 194 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=2&vote=00194); 1991 Senate Vote # 259 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00259))
McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments for certain veterans' benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00259))
McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted for an appropriations bill that underfunded the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development by $8.9 billion. (H.R. 2099, Vote 470, 9/27/95 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=1&vote=00470))
McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs. McCain voted against an amendment to increase spending on veterans programs by $13 billion. (S.C.R. 57, Vote 115, 5/16/96 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00115))
McCain Voted Against $44.3 Billion for Veterans Programs. McCain was one of five senators to vote against a bill providing $44.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, plus funding for other federal agencies. (H.R. 2684, Vote 328, 10/15/99 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00328))
McCain Voted Against $47 Billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain was one of eight senators to vote against a bill that provided $47 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs. (H.R. 4635, Vote 272, 10/12/00 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=2&vote=00272))
McCain Voted Against $51 Billion in Veterans Funding. McCain was one of five senators to vote against the bill and seven to vote against the conference report that provided $51.1 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as funding for the federal housing, environmental and emergency management agencies and NASA. (H.R. 2620, Vote 334, 11/8/01 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00334); Vote 269, 8/2/01 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00269))
McCain Voted Against $122.7 Billion for Department of Veterans Affairs. McCain voted against an appropriations bill that included $122.7 billion in fiscal 2004 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies. (H.R. 2861, Vote 449, 11/12/03 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00449))
McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00343))
McCain opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans' health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans' population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00063))
McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans' Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00098))
McCain Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without first giving the workers a chance to compete. (S.Amdt. 2673 to H.R. 2642, Vote 315, 9/6/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00315))
McCain Opposed the 21st Century GI Bill Because It Was Too Generous. McCain did not vote on the GI Bill that will provide better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain said he opposes the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would "encourage more people to leave the military." (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00137); Chattanooga Times Free Press, 6/2/08; Boston Globe, 5/23/08 (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/05/23/mccain_misses_vote_on_a_new_gi_bill_scorns_critici sm_from_obama/); ABCNews.com, 5/26/08 (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/mccain-defends.html))
Disabled American Veterans Legislative Director Said That McCain's Proposal Would Increase Costs For Veterans Because His Plan Relies On Private Hospitals Which Are More Expensive and Which Could Also Lead To Further Rationing Of Care. "To help veterans who live far from VA hospitals or need specialized care the VA can't provide, McCain proposed giving low-income veterans and those who incurred injury during their service a card they could use at private hospitals. The proposal is not an attempt to privatize the VA, as critics have alleged, but rather, an effort to improve care and access to it, he said. Joe Violanti, legislative director of the Disabled American Veterans, a nonpartisan organization, said the proposal would increase costs because private hospitals are more expensive. The increased cost could lead to further rationing of care, he said." (Las Vegas Sun, 8/10/08 (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/aug/10/mccains-attacks-rival-fall-flat-vets-group/))
Lack of Support for the Troops

McCain co-sponsored the Use of Force Authorization. McCain supported the bill that gave President George W. Bush the green light--and a blank check--for going to war with Iraq. (SJ Res 46, 10/3/02 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:SJ00046:@@@L&summ2=m&)) McCain Opposed Increasing Spending on TRICARE and Giving Greater Access to National Guard and Reservists. Although his campaign website devotes a large section to veterans issues, including expanding benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, McCain voted against increasing spending on the TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts for the wealthy. (S.Amdt. 324 to S.C.R. 23, Vote 81, 3/25/03 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00081))
McCain voted against holding Bush accountable for his actions in the war. McCain opposed the creation of an independent commission to investigate the development and use of intelligence leading up to the war in Iraq. (S.Amdt. 1275 to H.R. 2658, Vote 284, 7/16/03 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00284))
McCain voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00007))
Senator McCain opposed efforts to end the overextension of the military--a policy that is having a devastating impact on our troops. McCain voted against requiring mandatory minimum downtime between tours of duty for troops serving in Iraq. (S.Amdt.. 2909 to S.Amdt. 2011 to HR 1585, Vote 341, 9/19/07; S.Amdt. 2012 to S.Amdt. 2011 to HR 1585, Vote 241, 7/11/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00241))
McCain announced his willingness to keep U.S. troops in Iraq for decades--a statement sure to inflame Iraqis and endanger American troops. McCain: "Make it a hundred" years in Iraq and "that would be fine with me." (Derry, New Hampshire Town Hall meeting, 1/3/08 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf7HYoh9YMM))

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McCain voted against a ban on waterboarding--a form of torture--in a move that could eventually endanger American troops. According to ThinkProgress, "the Senate brought the Intelligence Authorization Bill to the floor, which contained a provision from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) establishing one interrogation standard across the government. The bill requires the intelligence community to abide by the same standards as articulated in the Army Field Manual and bans waterboarding." McCain voted against the bill. (H.R. 2082, Vote 22, 2/13/08 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00022))
McCain Also Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to prevent the outsourcing of 350 federal employee jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center--outsourcing that contributed to the scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed that McCain called a "disgrace." (S.Amdt. 4895 to H.R. 5631, Vote 234, 9/6/06 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00234); Speech to VFW in Kansas City, Mo., 4/4/08)
Senator McCain has consistently opposed any plan to withdraw troops from Iraq--a policy that has directly weakened American efforts in Afghanistan. Senator McCain repeatedly voted against a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq. (S.Amdt. 3876 to S.Amdt. 3874 to H.R. 2764, Vote #438, 12/18/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00438); S.Amdt. 3875 to S.Amdt. 3874 to H.R. 2764, Vote #437, 12/18/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00437); S.Amdt.3164 to H.R. 3222, Vote #362, 10/3/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00362); S.Amdt. 2898 to S. Amdt. 2011 to H.R. 1585, Vote #346, 9/21/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00346); S. Amdt. 2924 to S.Amdt. 2011 to H.R.1585, Vote #345, 9/21/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00345); S.Amdt.2 087 to S.Amdt. 2011 to H.R. 1585, Vote #252, 7/18/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00252); S.Amdt. 643 to H.R. 1591, Vote #116, 3/27/07 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00116); S.Amdt. 4320 to S. 2766, Vote #182, 6/22/06 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00182); S.Amdt. 4442 to S. 2766, Vote #181, 6/22/06 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00181); S.Amdt. 2519 to S.1042, Vote #322, 11/15/05 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00322))
McCain said it's "not too important" when U.S. troops leave Iraq. This exchange occurred on NBC's Today Show with Matt Lauer:
LAUER: If it's working, senator, do you now have a better estimate of when American forces can come home from Iraq?
McCAIN: No, but that's not too important.
(NBC, Today Show, 6/11/08 (http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1427))


Continued:


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brandon-friedman/mccains-non-support-for-t_b_131046.html

[Denver Crush]

So what does this tell you if all the white guys were for McCain and
all the black guys were for Obama? I don't know what it is like in
the military now, but when I was in the Navy there was a lot of
anti-black sentiment by the whites, and vis-versa. All the whites
sat at one side of the mess deck and all the blacks at the other.
And no one dared to cross over. Even in the Philippines out in
Olongapo City there were certain bars that the whites went to
and certain bars the blacks went to.

It was pretty much the same when I was there too. Mid to late 90s. I had a mixture of friends though. Growing up in Denver and being bussed back and forth throughout the city probably helped a lot. Black, White, Asian, Hispanic...its the character of the person that counts...not the skin color.

[Spider]

mcCain is th only guy I know that could be running naked , with a hard on , run right into a brick wall , bust his nose without hurting his pecker ......... Or so Palin said

[uplink]

My gut feeling is that the republicans wanted to take this campaign very negative on the low road (Reverend Wright and more) and McCain said no way. They will blame him for a loss here, but I think he does have character.

He should have just been himself and picked who he wanted as a running mate. I don't think he is a bad guy.

[Miss I.]

Most vets and current military want McCain to be President.

I love when Liberals whine about negative campaigning. That's all they did in 2004.

I also love how running a series of commercials asking questions about his opponent causes people to forget about his decades of service to his country.

I, for one have not forgotten the man's service. I believe at his core is trying to do the right thing, but this campaign was a disaster and the last 8 years really damaged him for a number of reasons. The negative ads were, not just negative, but stupid. The worst of the negativity really came out of his mouth and his running mate. What bothered me about this, is that 8 years ago, when he ran against idiot boy in the primaries, the Republicans little Roving band of morons trashed him up and down and even questioned his war record (ironic particularly given Bush's record or lack thereof). So the thing is the Republican party will eat their own to get what they want. They used the same crap on Kerry even more effectively in 2004. In fact I seem to recall at the time one of the criticisms of Kerry was that he didn't stand up to the negative crap from Rove because he refused to get down in the mud like that. So don't get all the Democrats do more negative campaigning, no doubt both parties sling the mud, but Republican party is better at it and more likely to use it.

[Rohirrim]

I, for one have not forgotten the man's service. I believe at his core is trying to do the right thing, but this campaign was a disaster and the last 8 years really damaged him for a number of reasons. The negative ads were, not just negative, but stupid. The worst of the negativity really came out of his mouth and his running mate. What bothered me about this, is that 8 years ago, when he ran against idiot boy in the primaries, the Republicans little Roving band of morons trashed him up and down and even questioned his war record (ironic particularly given Bush's record or lack thereof). So the thing is the Republican party will eat their own to get what they want. They used the same crap on Kerry even more effectively in 2004. In fact I seem to recall at the time one of the criticisms of Kerry was that he didn't stand up to the negative crap from Rove because he refused to get down in the mud like that. So don't get all the Democrats do more negative campaigning, no doubt both parties sling the mud, but Republican party is better at it and more likely to use it.

You may not know this, but you know the guys who trashed McCain in S. Carolina 8 years ago for Bush? They're on McCain's payroll now.

[Miss I.]

You may not know this, but you know the guys who trashed McCain in S. Carolina 8 years ago for Bush? They're on McCain's payroll now.

No, I knew that and I don't understand how he can work with them. He should've detached himself from anything related to Bush and those tactics and as much as possible the administration itself. I think when he admitted to voting with the President 90% of the time I think he was trying to detonate that bomb early, which was probably smart, but to associate himself with that bunch deliberately and hire them I can't understand it and it made me take a lot deeper look at him.

[SJ Bronco]

Some poor war vet was on an overpass today with a non-loaded gun wanting to tell people McCain and the Bush regime had treated him badly and he wanted people to vote for Obama. Something about treatment he needed being denied. I don't condone the gun, but after they taught him how to kill the didn't teach him to cope with his life at home. Poor kid, I almost understand the desperation.

[gunns]

Most vets and current military want McCain to be President.

I love when Liberals whine about negative campaigning. That's all they did in 2004.

I also love how running a series of commercials asking questions about his opponent causes people to forget about his decades of service to his country.

Really? Do you have a link?

I don't really know what the leaning is with all of the military but I do know that my son, just back from his 2nd deployment to Iraq, is voting for Obama. His father, a Vietnam vet, is voting for Obama. Also, his grandfather, a Korean War vet and a staunch Republican, is voting for Obama and declares that if McCain wins he will hang his flag in the front yard at half staff.

Funny, my son was initially going for McCain because he hadn't had time to look into things but had heard from one of his buddies that McCain was the way to go because he was ex-Military. Talked to the boy and also told him about McCain missing all those vet votes and the one he did vote for, he voted for the one that gave the vets less. Needless to say, mentioned Bush and McCains alignment with his policies. That was more than enough to convince him. Oh, don't worry, he checked it out for himself.