Kerry says he wants Republican McCain as defence secretary

[Teddy_Salad]

Apologies, as usual, if this is a dupe.

And apologies for posting this in the first place.
I was unaware of the fact that Kerry was talking about the present time and NOT for when he becomes president, as this article says.
Sorry. :cry:

The Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, yesterday made a dramatic bid for crossover votes, declaring that if elected, he would choose John McCain, an outspoken Republican senator, as defence secretary

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1215615,00.html

[mike_c]

1. self deleted

eom

[pacifictiger]

16. this is total right wing MANIPULATION OF FACTS

He was saying Rumsfeld should resign, and in response to the question of it would be difficult to get rid of him in the middle of a war, responded that there were plenty of able people besides rummy - and went on to suggest bush could pick, among others, republican senators such as McCain and Warner.
This misinformation needs to be quashed NOW

[mike_c]

18. thanks for clarifying....

I've deleted my orginal response.

[osaMABUSh]

2. Just floating McCain's name out there gets JFK votes

Many moderate Repubs would love to see McCain in that role as they as disillusioned with Bush and Rummy. I like McCain too; he asked Rummy some great questions the other day.

[FlashHarry]

3. This is weak

Goddammit. I wish Kerry would grow a pair, instead of pulling "stunt casting" stuff like this. Don't get me wrong. I like John McCain. But he's said time and time again that he's supporting Bush's reelection bid. You don't name a man like that to your shadow cabinet.

Kerry's campaign needs to coalesce here pretty soon. I'm hoping a John Edwards veep choice will help things, come the end of May.

[mr_hat]

4. Totally agree. Step up, Dufus. You can save the world if you're up to it.

[maddezmom]

5. John Kerry was talking if Rummy resigned......

WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Wednesday any number of people, including Republican Sens. John McCain and John Warner, could replace Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, rejecting concerns that a change in Pentagon leadership could hurt the war effort.


"If America has reached a point where only one person has the ability in our great democracy to manage the Pentagon and to continue or to put in place a better policy even, we're in deeper trouble than you think," Kerry told broadcaster Don Imus. "I don't accept that. I just don't accept that. I think that's an excuse. The fact is that we need a change in policy."

Asked who he would put in place as defense secretary, Kerry first named McCain, R-Ariz., and then listed Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., Warner, R-Va., and William Perry, who served as defense secretary under President Clinton.

"There are any number of people who are unbelievably capable. This notion that we have to continue with a policy that's wrong and taking us down the wrong track is absurd," Kerry said.

Kerry had called for Rumsfeld to resign months before the Iraq prison abuse scandal, citing what he said were numerous miscalculations in the prosecution of the war in Iraq.
~snip~
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/05/12/kerry_names_replacements_for_rumsfeld/

[UTUSN]

6. He Didn't Say That. Don ANUS Is Jacking-off as Usual

[DAGDA56]

7. Are you sure that's what he said?

I was under the impression that he threw out McCain's name (along with that of Sen. John Warner) as a ready made replacement for Rumsfeld, implying that Bush isn't forced to hold onto Rummy. I didn't think he was talking about HIS administration.

[maddezmom]

9. no, he didn't say it...he is misquoted

WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Wednesday any number of people, including Republican Sens. John McCain and John Warner, could replace Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, rejecting concerns that a change in Pentagon leadership could hurt the war effort.

ADVERTISEMENT

"If America has reached a point where only one person has the ability in our great democracy to manage the Pentagon and to continue or to put in place a better policy even, we're in deeper trouble than you think," Kerry told broadcaster Don Imus. "I don't accept that. I just don't accept that. I think that's an excuse. The fact is that we need a change in policy."

Asked who he would put in place as defense secretary, Kerry first named McCain, R-Ariz., and then listed Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., Warner, R-Va., and William Perry, who served as defense secretary under President Clinton.

"There are any number of people who are unbelievably capable. This notion that we have to continue with a policy that's wrong and taking us down the wrong track is absurd," Kerry said.

Kerry had called for Rumsfeld to resign months before the Iraq prison abuse scandal, citing what he said were numerous miscalculations in the prosecution of the war in Iraq.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/05/12/kerry_names_replacements_for_rumsfeld/

[DAGDA56]

13. Exactly! I remember reading it at work...

...thanks for finding the facts so quickly, maddezmom.

[xray s]

8. I can think of one big plus if McCain is named Sec of Def

This lady gets to pick his replacement in the Senate...

http://www.nga.org/governors/1,1169,C_GOVERNOR_INFO%5ED_393,00.html

[Hand]

10. They're overstating it...

"I'm not the president today," Senator Kerry told a radio interviewer yesterday, but added: "I have any number of people that I would make secretary of defence, beginning with our good friend John McCain as an example." He's floating a few names out there. Still, I'd rather see someone who's an actual bona fide Democrat. Levin, say... Yeah! That's it.

[izzie]

11. Not just what he said and he gave 2 others that would be good.

----

[Trajan]

12. HE DIDNT SAY THAT ....

He said that he would recommend McCain to replace RUMSFELD , ... NOT McCain as Kerry's SoD ....

[madeuplikebowie]

15. Yea exactly

Why is this even a story? And its embarressing to be misquoted like this because Mccain said "thanks but no thanks". Whatever , Kerry wouldn't choose him if he were president, I'm sure of that.

[cidliz2004]

21. NOT TRUE!

This is a comment made on the Imus show. He was asked who could replace Rumdum. Kerry tried to not name anybody, but Imus pressed him. Who could replace Rumdum????(if he were to step down or get fired)

[UTUSN]

26. *

[onehandle]

14. To replace Rumsfeld! Not for himself!

Important point.

[DieboldMustDie]

23. But why would McCain give up his senate seat...

for an eight month temp job? ;)

[DemoTex]

17. Difference between Bu$h/Rummy and Kerry/McCain:

McCain would take orders from Kerry, or pack it in. Bu$h takes orders from Rummy and the Cheney cabal. Period.

I'd rather have GOP McCain as SECDEF than as VP. In fact, GOP McCain could never be VP unless he became an independent. As the tie-breaker in the Senate a GOP McCain would be (not could be) a major impediment to the Kerry administration legislative objectives. Were John McCain to switch to our party - the Democratic Party - my heart is open to him. He would be the most right-wing member of the party (except for - maybe - Joe Lieberman).

[aquart]

25. McCain is NOT going to be VEEP

And I'm getting sick of hearing it.

McCain has had every possible chance to use conscience to switch parties and he's sticking with the money what brung him.

Surviving prison camp is a feat of survival. It is not a recommendation for leadership.

[DemoTex]

27. McCain might be VP

I learned long ago, after many word sammich, to never say never. My subject statement is statistically more accurate than yours.

[RaRa]

19. Ick

First, I don't care what Kerry says. He gets my vote to get * out. He could become a pro-life, pro-gun whore, and he'd still get my vote. ABB. But McCain hits a nerve with me. He can be so eloquently anti-shrub then turn around and tow the party line. Whore. He'd be such a disappointment if he wasn't a Repuke. He's simply not the "cool guy" people think he is. He's still a whore.

[0007]

20. No Way

Deleted.......

[pop goes the weasel]

22. that's not quite right

He was suggesting other people who could take over Rummy's job. But it was a brilliant move. My parents were duly impressed with the 4 names that Kerry suggested as SoD. I will be able to garner Kerry votes by telling people that McCain is Kerry's idea of what a SoD should be.

[NutritionFacts]

24. This may not be a bad move

1. McCain is not as bad as most repubs.

2. It opens his seat, and maybe a dem can take it.

3. McCain will be under Kerrys thumb, so hopefuly he will be kept in check.