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GooMaiRoo

John McCain has admitted on many occasions that "economics isn't my strong suit". Isn't this like an airline pilot flying you through a storm and announcing over the PA system that "flying isn't my strong suit"?

How about his supposed strength, foreign policy? This past week, he seemed to lack even a basic understanding of the main factions fighting in Iraq: “We continue to be concerned about Iranians taking Al Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back .... Well, it’s common knowledge and has been reported in the media that Al Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That’s well known.”

The above quote is no slip of the tongue. It shows an utter lack of understanding about the political dynamics of that region. It's no wonder that McCain is committed to fighting Middle Eastern wars for 100 years.

I think McCain's a decent man, but he might be as ill-informed and mentally incompetent as the current US president. I've voted for conservatives in the past, but I really find McCain's lack of competence a little scary. Any McCain supporters out there who can defend this man's ability to lead the US through treacherous economic and political times?

McCain Repeats Iran-Al Qaeda Gaffe Yet Again - Politics on The Huffington Post

Boon Mee

I've got my John McCain nose plugs all warmed up for November...

BobbyTits

McCain will keel over and die before the election takes place and his Republican handlers will do a *Weekend At Bernie's type move and prop him up so the other old farts can come out and vote for him.


*Weekend at Bernie's - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jet Gorgon

I'd like to see who his VP pick is, altho I am Republican/conservative in my political views. Hypothetical anyway, as I cannot vote in the US of A.

MSNBC has a clip on a series of gaffes McCain made in Iraq, and Lieberman had to correct him (uhoh, caught by the mike). Acually, that's one of the few clips I've seen of him on TV. He'll have to fix that PDQ. But with the ass and pony show in the Dem camp, why waste airtime on an elephant?

sabang

It certainly isn't John McCains strong suit! The fact he got shot down over Nam is if anything seen as an electoral asset. The fact that this was the fifth plane he lost as a pilot you rarely read about. We don't have that many naval planes in the Australian navy- theres no way he would have been allowed to continue flying after the second one, and quite likely the first plane down. We can be superstitious folk.

Anyway, my views on Mccain vary:-

Negative- Frankly, the guys a bit of a Lightweight. Coming from the best possible naval heritage you can have- father and grandfather both prominent Admirals- Johnboy managed to come fifth from bottom in his Annapolis class, which is a class of 600 odd people. Things may have changed since, but in my day in the UK & Oz navy the bloke would have quietly resigned (or been encouraged to), rather than embarass his forebears. Neither was he a good pilot, and he lost four (or was it five?) planes. But he was stubborn, and stayed in the US Navy after Vietnam- he was very ambitious to reach Flag rank like his father and grandfather, which would have made history. He reached his limit at the rank of Captain- and this was in a desk role, a sort of final pay off at Captain rank so you can get a bigger pension- yes, it happens.

Then, trading in his old wife for a new model over 15 years his junior who came from wealth, he got a plum job with his father in laws company- distributing Bud. Thru' his father in laws business contacts he met most of the local business community, and this was his step up into politics. You compare this Resume' with both Hillary and Obama, and it just does not compare. Like I said- a bit of a Lightweight, something like Bush actually, but we'll try and forget his administration and look forward.

Positive- Whilst his choice of friends nas been suspect (Charles Keating and so on), I think McCain is basically a candid, affable, well meaning bloke who has some principles. He does speak his mind, and will stand up for his beliefs rather than being dictated to by the Lobby groups and back room types that often dictate political agendas now. His championship of the Campaign Finance Reform act still rankles deeply with the Republican right, for example. Fingers crosssed, he would be nobodies Talking Head.

Negative- Some of his comments, particularly on foreign policy matters, are downright cringeworthy. This is not a Pres that would be respected in the international community, nor by the intellectual establishment in the USA. Simple as that.

At least, on some level, I can like the bloke- there is something real about him, which is more than I could say for Bush and (yeck) Cheney. More so than any other candidate, his choice of VP would be important- and not just becusa of his age.

__________________
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Boon Mee

Short-listed is Minnesota Governor Tim Palwenty.
Might be a good pick as Minnesota is one of your bleeding-heart, liberal Nanny States...

Jet Gorgon

^ who? never heard of him...

Butterfly

Dick Cheney would make a better president, if we had to go into silly predictions

McCain is a bigger loser than Bush, he is just there for the show anyway

britmaveric

^^Well suppose you have found your new target for the next 8 years.

Milkman

I don't know what type of conservative you are, but the social-moralist-Xtian conservative types don't like McCain, which I think is good. He won't let them hi-hjack the GOP party anymore than they have. Maybe he can reduce their influence.

You can find a lot of McCain on YouTube.

__________________
Military men are dumb, stupid animals, to be used as pawns for foreign policy

Boon Mee

In the end he'll not only win over the social/moralist 'Xtian' conservatives (whatever the heck they are) since the alternatives are so repugnant there is no choice.

Milkman

Agree.

They'll vote for McCain. No other alternative, but stay home and not go to the polls.

But he won't be kissing their butts. (This is good.)

Jet Gorgon

^ Thanks for the info, MM.
I beg to differ on Reps staying home. I think the polls will be overwhelmed with voters and unable to cope. The racial issue will bring people out in droves. I think it goes beyond race -- it's a huge social/moral issue, too. White America ruled by a black and a hispanic? (I'm already calling Richardson as Bambi's veep.) It won't go over. If it does, there will be chaos.

dobella

as an outsider looking in, it's a shame Rudy Guilianni isn't in the mix.
he made an impression on me over the twin tower thing.
anybody but not hilary (face-lift), please vote for me whatever.
i'd like to say she sucks, but i don't think she does else Bill wouln't have
gone looking for Monica.
can't blame Bill though - did u see her lips ?

raycarey

race baiting and fear mongering.

nice.

i honestly can't get over how much racism there is on this forum.

and what's this 'moral' issue you're referring to?

Milkman

I'm confused:

1. if what goes over, and

2. what chaos?

How many years have you lived int he United States?

Jet Gorgon

^ I mean I don't think the majority of whites will allow this to happen (go over). Chaos as in the effects of mega reverse racism (and if anyone thinks the tempo will remain unchanged, that's a fly's fart). The main issue of contention will be "trust", and there is none between the races. So, how come Hilde didn't come back with her own speech on race? (oh, not allowed)

I'm stating what I see and know. Why tippytoe around it? I'm not a white politician. Moral issue -- you think everyone has the same morals in the US, Ray? What, were you born and raised in a closet on a moonshine estate in the Ozarks?

raycarey

you're right jet, why, tippy toe? you're not a politician.

so lay it out in clear and unambiguous terms...what's the moral issue?

there's a world of difference between 'chaos' to a "change in tempo". and it could easily be argued that a change in tempo is exactly what race relations in the US needs.

since clinton didn't give a speech on race (and errrr...why would she?), you've concluded that somehow she wasn't allowed....what's this based on?

the majority of whites won't allow what to happen (go over)?

and isn't this an interesting turn of phrase...'go over'. almost as if blacks should stay 'under'.


yes, that would be interesting to know.

Milkman

There are a lot of assumptions in your above post.

Assumptions.

I don't perceive these things the same way, and I've lived in the US almost my whole life. You didn't answer how much time you've spent in the USA.

Jet Gorgon

I am giving my opinions. You guys say you don't "perceive" things the way I do, but you give no grounding for your "perceptions" and say nothing of your opinions on the issues, only opinions of what other members post. Just what are your opinions on the issues?