Meet Mr. Contradiction
Reason editor Matt Welch on the "Straight Talk Express" guy who's anything but a straight talker, Candidate McCain:
So in summation: McCain says he hates the wars he'll inevitably launch. He says the U.S. cannot act alone with all the unipolar power he'll continue to amass and flex. He advocates a League of Democracies that will never happen, and an environmental treaty that probably won't work.As David Brooks noted, "Anybody who thinks McCain is merely continuing the Bush agenda is not paying attention." He's right--McCain will close Gitmo, make a couple of cheap rhetorical promises to play nice with the world, then increase this administration's interventionism in a way befitting a candidate who ran as the neo-conservative favorite against the too-humble foreign policy approach of governor George W. Bush.
The only question is whether his deep reserves of credibility in the Bank of Media is enough to maintain the fiction that he's less an interventionist than his predecessor. Judging by the Washington Post's news pages, he's well on his way:
McCain is often portrayed in the news media as a global John Wayne who would tread on the world stage with a Navy veteran's swagger and talk tough toward unfriendly governments in Iran and North Korea.But his record on foreign policy during two decades in the Senate is more nuanced.
Matt's terrific and very readable book on McCain -- McCain: The Myth of a Maverick
What a motley bunch of lying losers we have running for president.
Amy -
It's all come down to one question. Which one is most likely to continue killing Islamists.
And unfortunately, the only answer to that question is John Fucking McCain.
They are all going to increase spending. They are all going to grant blanket immunity to all illegals and open the southern border. They will ultimately all raise taxes. They will all increase the size and scope of government. The only differences between them on these points is one of velocity.
We're doomed.
brian at April 2, 2008 9:16 AM
"We're doomed."
That's what I've been saying all along. o_O
Flynne at April 2, 2008 10:28 AM
Nuke the ice caps.
Or yellowstone - that would solve all the worlds problems instantly
lujlp at April 2, 2008 10:38 AM
I am reconsidering my view of who should be president. Given the enormous amount of information Amy has provided, in an open format, concerning Muslims; I am about to slip over into McCain's side. You can get a relatively good idea of a person by the people they associate with (which obviously applies to McCain, so I can't defend either side). Obama is not an extremist in my eyes, but the pastor he followed (for 20+ years) did earn a degree at the University of Chicago Divinity School in the history of religions with a focus on Islam. If his preaching didn't make it from Obama's ear canal to frontal lobe then he is perpetuating the lie to the infidel regimen we are routinely subjected to by the religion of peace. What I have seen of the pastor gives me the impression of an imam. While I would enjoy a change in leadership, it would seem precarious to do so in this particular era we face. As Obama becomes more of a puppet than a person to me, it gives me the sense that he would open the gates of multi-culturalism too wide and we would be awash in pandering to Muslim propaganda and [with taxes] support their progeny.
kbling at April 2, 2008 12:10 PM
McCain is a consummate opportunist. He has the remarkable rhetorical ability to turn his lies into great virtues --- and he's not even French.
Jeff at April 2, 2008 12:47 PM
I'm still wondering, if you happen to be near John McCain and blow up a paper bag and pop it and he happens to expire in heart wrenching convulsions as his face explodes, can it really be anything more than an unfortunate freak accident?
McCain is a bitter old man in the twilight of his life. He seems to be more set on revenging those who voted against him than on doing anything good with his presidency. I don't even believe that he will fight terrorism that strong. How can you believe that when he wants to give them rights the same as citizens? He tends to cave to the left and has actually considered switching parties more than once. This man got where he is because of his father and grandfather and I think he was one spoiled little bastard who used his family's pull to intimidate others and get around the rules a lot. He was almost last in his class at the academy and propbably wouldn't have even made it in if not for pops. He is going to bring tens of millions more mexicans into this country, just what we need. And he doesn't really give a rats ass about what anybody thinks about it.
The only hope we have is that McCain picks a good VP and dies right after taking office. He still has not released his medical or psychological records regarding his treatment for Vietnam. I don't think the man has long to live just by looking at him. I mean, he's got a peach sized lump on the side of his face that a lot of doctors say is that cancer spreading to the salivatory gland. He doesn't seem that sharp mentally either. He doesn't spend a lot of time answering questions which leads me to believe he can't think on his feet that well. Remember that recent incident where he didn't have a clue what he was talking about in that news conference and JOE LIEBERMAN had to correct him. McCain is a prospective disaster, if you wanna know where he would go as president, look at who is on his campaign committee. Lobbyists, mexicans and democrats!
Bikerken at April 2, 2008 1:56 PM
Bikerken -
And even with all that, McCain is still better than the alternatives.
And now there's persistent rumors that the head honchos in the DNC are talking about a brokered convention to nominate Algore.
Can we just vote for Satan and get it over with, already?
brian at April 2, 2008 2:35 PM
"What a motley bunch of lying losers we have running for president."
Ahhh. Somehow, I have Gregg envy. Sorta. Nicely said.
Radwaste at April 2, 2008 2:40 PM
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