McCain Says Trump's Actions Have Unsettled Allies and Americans
Source: Bloomberg
by Jason Koutsoukis
May 30, 2017, 6:01 AM EDT
President Donald Trump has unsettled allies, as well as Americans, Senator John McCain said during a speech in Sydney on the future of U.S. relations with Asia.
McCain -- the chairman of U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and the Republican presidential nominee in 2008 -- said Tuesday that Australia wasnt alone in questioning whether America was still committed to upholding peace and justice around the world.
Other American allies have similar doubts these days and this is understandable, McCain, 80, told a crowd at the University of Sydneys U.S. Studies Centre. I realize that some of President Trumps actions and statements have unsettled Americas friends. They have unsettled many Americans as well.
McCains remarks come on the heels of Trumps first overseas trip, including the sometimes awkward gatherings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Group of Seven nations. Trump told NATO leaders they had fallen short of what they owed to the alliance by $119 billion and prodded them to pay more.
Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-30/mccain-says-trump-s-actions-have-unsettled-allies-and-americans
MedusaX
(1,129 posts)procon
(15,805 posts)Nothing.
Its just lip service, more useless, empty words for media consumption to be disseminated without question or comment by the fearless stenographers of our intrepid Fourth Estate.
deurbano
(2,891 posts)understatement?
BumRushDaShow
(127,297 posts)the longer you continue to circle the wagon around him along with your GOP buddies, the more you enable him.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)He's on the intel committee, which, unlike the House, is seriously investigating, it seems (although SLOWLY).
Speaking out is adding wood to the fire, so he is doing what many Washington politicians aren't doing.
Nothing any of the Republicans do, even those speaking out against the Trump team's actions, will suffice to some. Even though they are doing more than the others and adding to the WH's problems.
I give credit. Imagine if Obama were under investigation. How many Dems would make statements against his actions, do you think? It's a remarkable thing to do. That means the actions are serious. McCain's opinions matter in the Senate.
He votes Republican, of course. He IS Republican. But I give credit for doing what most would not do. He's old enough and powerful enough so that he doesn't have much to fear.
BumRushDaShow
(127,297 posts)he "walks it back". I give neither him nor Lindsey Graham ANYTHING. Until and unless they actually vote against harmful legislation after "talking a good game", they are nothing but "talk". Same goes for Susan Collins although at least Collins will actually work to craft some legislation and will vote for it (along with people like, God forbid, Rand Paul). But Mclame has stopped doing even that.
Juliusseizure
(562 posts)It's helpful in its own right for a Republican in his position to be speaking truth to power. I don't know if its fair to judge him like a democrat and criticize his inconsistent actions.
If went apeshit, there would be party based repercussions.
-He'd be removed from the Senate Intelligence and other commitees, losing power and influence.
-He'd become a pariah of the party and lose support.
-His wealthy donors would want their money back and let his paid for golf privileges lapse at Scottsdale country clubs.
- Hannity would call him a lifetime democrat and do a month long expose of the 100 top reasons McCain is really a liberal homosexual communist infiltrator.
-His Republican constituents would chastise him for his "libtard" tendencies, call him "Snowflake Johnny", and clog his voicemail with inane rants.
-Russians would hack his computer and troll thousands of anti-McCain tweets, catching the NSA and FBI flatfooted again with their heads up their asses.
-Since McCain apparently received campaign donations from a Russian, Trump would call for a full scale investigation of his collusion with Russia and the Democratic party.
Any truthtelling by a Republican politician is a profile in courage at this point.
Personally, if I'd been tortured for 5 years in Viet Kong - and then insulted by Trump, a draft dodging criminal infantile shit about my military service - I'd lose all restraint.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)He has considerable power in the Senate. He doesn't always choose to speak out on a subject. So it's noteworthy when he does.
When he says something, I believe that usually there are others in the Senate who think the same thing, but aren't speaking out.
DK504
(3,847 posts)I have yet to see him do a damn thing to rally Repulicans in order to stop Puke-us in his tracks, McCain needs to push for full investigations.
Maybe then I would even begin to listen to anything he has to say.
Eugene
(61,592 posts)Source: The Guardian
Arizona senior senator says reputation of US suffered during early
months of Trump administration as scandals hit White House
Ben Doherty in Sydney
Tuesday 30 May 2017 12.09 BST
Donald Trumps administration is mired in scandal, senior republican senator John McCain has said, but he urged Americas allies to stand by the nation as it navigates troubled times.
In a speech in Sydney, Australia, McCain said the US remained the most important country on Earth, and the global defender of truth over falsehood.
McCain also used the speech to launch a swingeing attack on China, accusing the emerging superpower of bullying other countries, stealing intellectual property and making illegal territorial claims in the South China Sea.
McCain, the decorated war veteran, senior senator from Arizona and former Republican presidential candidate, said many of Americas allies were fairly questioning the direction and reliability of Trumps administration.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/30/john-mccain-donald-trump-us-white-house-scandals
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)He is NOT going to behave like a Democrat. He's a Republican, and, IMO, really concerned about the country.
How many Republicans have spoken out against any of the actions of the Trump team? Very few.
McCain has spoken out, if only measured. His opinion is important in the Senate. It matters. It is also indicative of others' feelings, although they won't say it. If McCain thinks that, no doubt there are others that do, as well.
But it is APPROPRIATE for him and others to try to save our relationships with our allies. He's making excuses for Trump ("he's new" , so asking them not to leave us, that things will get better. He's asking them to stick w/us thru these troubled times. AND he acknowledges that Americans ALSO have a problem w/the Trump administration.
I get what he's saying.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)When it really actually matters, McCain is just an enabler. Tax cuts uber alles is all that matters for the republican traitors.
Gothmog
(143,999 posts)DrToast
(6,414 posts)world wide wally
(21,719 posts)canetoad
(17,088 posts)In an extraordinary address in Sydney on Tuesday evening, Republican giant John McCain begged an Australian audience that included two former prime ministers, diplomats and business leaders for patience and even leadership to sustain the alliance between the US and Australia during the Trump presidency.
Speaking as a guest of the United States Studies Centre in the State Library's grand reading room, McCain began his speech with a reverent reflection upon the shared sacrifices of Australian and American soldiers over a century, before acknowledging the uncertainty the new administration had caused around the world.
"I realise that I come to Australia at a time when many are questioning whether America is still committed to these values," the US senator said early in his 30-minute address. "And you are not alone. Other American allies have similar doubts these days. And this is understandable.
"I realise that some of President Trump's actions and statements have unsettled America's friends. They have unsettled many Americans as well. There is a real debate under way now in my country about what kind of role America should play in the world. And frankly, I do not know how this debate will play out.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/john-mccain-calls-on-australia-to-sustain-alliance-with-united-states-during-donald-trump-presidency-20170530-gwgp1y.html