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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:00 AM Jul 2014

McCain: I'd Have Been 'Reluctant' To Start Iraq War If I Won In 2000

Source: TPM

By CATHERINE THOMPSON Published JULY 18, 2014, 8:55 AM EDT

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Thursday that he probably would have hesitated to send U.S. troops into Iraq if he had been elected President in 2000.

“You’ll find this surprising, but I think I would’ve been more reluctant to commit American troops,” McCain told CNN’s Jake Tapper and National Journal's Ron Fournier at an event Thursday in Washington.

That does sound like a change of position in light of McCain's vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq and his vocal support of the 2007 troop surge. McCain also criticized the Obama administration last month for not leaving behind a residual force in 2011 that could have deterred Islamist militants who were taking over key Iraqi cities.

“I think I would have (voted the same way), but I think I would have challenged the evidence with greater scrutiny,” McCain explained, as quoted by CNN. “I think that with my background with the military and knowledge of national security with these issues that I hope that I would have been able to see through the evidence that was presented at the time.”

-snip-

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-mccain-iraq-war-might-not-have-started



Yep. Uh huh. Sure John!
110 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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McCain: I'd Have Been 'Reluctant' To Start Iraq War If I Won In 2000 (Original Post) DonViejo Jul 2014 OP
Yeah yeah, whatever ya blowhard egomaniac. CBGLuthier Jul 2014 #1
he wouldn't have charged up san juan hill either roguevalley Jul 2014 #69
Oh come on, give him a break. He screwed up his first attempt, he just wants a do over. A Simple Game Jul 2014 #87
He would not have made it WoodyM90 Jul 2014 #103
This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Jul 2014 #2
Yep...he's a legend in his own mind, for sure... CTyankee Jul 2014 #28
Blessed be the Peacemakers packman Jul 2014 #3
Academy award for that one. L0oniX Jul 2014 #22
He gets the Lifetime achievement award for lying and trying so hard to be relevant. SummerSnow Jul 2014 #95
Thanks, you saved me looking up that one. Here's another one: freshwest Jul 2014 #37
Revisionism is endemic among conseravatives Nitram Jul 2014 #4
Bomb-bomb-bomb, bomb-bomb-Iran. Orrex Jul 2014 #5
Maybe the tempo would have been slower then... Blue Owl Jul 2014 #18
yeah. iraq, been there, done that war. mccant would have started war on iran. pansypoo53219 Jul 2014 #72
And pigs are flying. onecaliberal Jul 2014 #6
He would have "hesitated"? JohnnyRingo Jul 2014 #7
the only reason he was ever skeptical is because he had a grudge against Bush. nt geek tragedy Jul 2014 #8
John McCain and George W Bush: Love Story DonViejo Jul 2014 #36
Wow rtracey Jul 2014 #9
I believe he's only setting himself up to criticize Hillary in case she runs. cheapdate Jul 2014 #77
It wouldn't hurt a run of his own, either. sofa king Jul 2014 #106
If Hillary stays out, Democrats might lose. cheapdate Jul 2014 #107
But his doppleganger would not have been so "reluctant"... KurtNYC Jul 2014 #10
Two Peas in the same Pod. DhhD Jul 2014 #15
Complete bullshit. canuckledragger Jul 2014 #11
Pure BS--exactly pleinair Jul 2014 #55
... and the first prize for whopper of the year goes to John McCain! surrealAmerican Jul 2014 #12
yeah, yeah heaven05 Jul 2014 #13
His fellow prisoners of war called him Songbird. Now he is singing a diffentent tune. olegramps Jul 2014 #14
This message was self-deleted by its author demigoddess Jul 2014 #52
Rewrite: I'd be reluctant to be a War Criminal lobodons Jul 2014 #16
Tired Enoki33 Jul 2014 #17
It's beyond "surprising," Gramps. It's totally unbelievable. (nt) Paladin Jul 2014 #19
pathetic LOSER. GeorgeGist Jul 2014 #20
Bad Grampa ...it's not just a movie. L0oniX Jul 2014 #21
Bullshit The Second Stone Jul 2014 #23
Revisionist at best lark Jul 2014 #24
This guy has completely lost his mind. Blue Idaho Jul 2014 #25
I really don't see the motive for lying Reter Jul 2014 #26
Long time ago. Fearless Jul 2014 #40
This message was self-deleted by its author Reter Jul 2014 #44
Hair Trigger McCain? liberal N proud Jul 2014 #27
I don't think he can even remember that far back. olddad56 Jul 2014 #29
No, he would have gone straight to Iran and Russia instead IronLionZion Jul 2014 #30
My thoughts exactly ! He wanted big time WW III starting with Iran lunasun Jul 2014 #79
A fucking profile in courage you are Sen. McCain Botany Jul 2014 #31
Bull-fucking-shit sakabatou Jul 2014 #32
BFS SCVDem Jul 2014 #34
he's all bluster. /nt IcyPeas Jul 2014 #33
He's a comedian, too! Quantess Jul 2014 #35
Iran was fair game though. Fearless Jul 2014 #38
B. S. Scarsdale Jul 2014 #39
he bangs the war drums for just about everything and he now states he would Javaman Jul 2014 #41
McCain: I'd Have Been 'Reluctant' To Start Iraq War If I Won In 2000 The CCC Jul 2014 #42
That Old Guy Fred Gilmore Jul 2014 #43
of course HE would have beeen reluctant azureblue Jul 2014 #45
Would McCain have beaten Gore? Reter Jul 2014 #46
He might have karynnj Jul 2014 #48
He would have started A war but maybe not THAT war jmowreader Jul 2014 #47
He would have challenged the evidence with greater scrutiny? It's 2014, what the hell is wrong Jefferson23 Jul 2014 #49
His only moment of clarity since 2008 bvf Jul 2014 #50
Webster Dictionary meaning for McCain speak flying-skeleton Jul 2014 #51
Has anyone ever calculated the value defacto7 Jul 2014 #53
In degrees of yen? sakabatou Jul 2014 #83
only using nonsense defacto7 Jul 2014 #93
Ah sakabatou Jul 2014 #98
This message was self-deleted by its author defacto7 Jul 2014 #91
Do not believe you Mr. Senator!! oldandhappy Jul 2014 #54
Flip Flop gussmith Jul 2014 #56
Geez John, why such half measures? 90-percent Jul 2014 #57
additionally 90-percent Jul 2014 #58
Keep him away from waterways. That much bullshit will cause algae blooms Thor_MN Jul 2014 #59
Baloney! Here's what everyone needs to remember - ALWAYS - about these people: calimary Jul 2014 #60
I'd love to add something to what you said, but you did such a bang up job I've nothing left! herding cats Jul 2014 #64
Aw, thanks! calimary Jul 2014 #66
Woulda, shoulda, coulda? czarjak Jul 2014 #61
The scumbag would have invaded Iran or Syria instead. roamer65 Jul 2014 #62
"...I would have been able to see through the evidence..." Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2014 #63
SPINELESS COWARD! Zambero Jul 2014 #65
What McCain said FormerOstrich Jul 2014 #67
McCain is senile. Major Hogwash Jul 2014 #68
What a LOAD. catbyte Jul 2014 #70
Yeah right. Dry that one out and you could.... 47of74 Jul 2014 #71
Right! It would have been Duval Jul 2014 #73
Hey, John. Why don't you run again for 2016? LoisB Jul 2014 #74
FUCK MCCAIN...he is a worthless piece of shit.!!! n/t onecent Jul 2014 #75
In what respect, Johnnie? KansDem Jul 2014 #76
What good would "hesitation" have done? There was no reason to go there. JHB Jul 2014 #78
Offer to give McCain a bomb and he's like Snuffles the Dog getting a dog biscuit aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2014 #80
WUT???? MsInformed Jul 2014 #81
This from the clown who would have bombed Iran? RoccoR5955 Jul 2014 #82
How sad that it took this long to admit to a terrible mistake.... better late than never. n/t DocwillCuNow Jul 2014 #84
liar Doctor_J Jul 2014 #85
Hesitant? Iggo Jul 2014 #86
Maybe he and Boner libodem Jul 2014 #88
Well probably not, no. Turbineguy Jul 2014 #89
LOL! Oh, that's a good one. Belly laugh. This is The Onion, right? nt silvershadow Jul 2014 #90
McCain's record on Iraq: eager to attack iamthebandfanman Jul 2014 #92
Then why the FUCK did he vote for it a couple of years later???????????????? George II Jul 2014 #94
So Did John McCain Ever Read The UN Weapons Inspector's Report DallasNE Jul 2014 #96
So is he running for prez on his past un-achievements? Javaman Jul 2014 #97
mcain thought palin was qualified to be vp rdking647 Jul 2014 #99
I find that hard to believe. truebluegreen Jul 2014 #100
"but every other military action, I would have been like white on...well, white on me" yurbud Jul 2014 #101
bomb bomb bomb RedstDem Jul 2014 #102
No one gives s--t what this clown thinks. How is this/he even note-worthy? Owl Jul 2014 #104
I don't believe a word he says n/t Schmice2 Jul 2014 #105
Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran! Unca Adverse Jul 2014 #108
Is that satire ? Max power Jul 2014 #109
Magoo plays one-dimensional chess! shadowmayor Jul 2014 #110

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)
1. Yeah yeah, whatever ya blowhard egomaniac.
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:04 AM
Jul 2014

Because it is always about you isn't it John. Thinking of the bullet we dodged when we did not elect him it is enough to make you break out in a cold sweat.

I imagine he will later tell us how he would have dealt with WWII, WWI, Cuba, the Civil War and George the III as his narcissist tour continues.

A Simple Game

(9,214 posts)
87. Oh come on, give him a break. He screwed up his first attempt, he just wants a do over.
Sun Jul 20, 2014, 12:34 PM
Jul 2014

Just think if his father and grandfather hadn't been admirals he never would have been captured. He would have been kicked out of the service for destroying so many planes long before he was shot down. We never would have even heard of him.

WoodyM90

(40 posts)
103. He would not have made it
Mon Jul 21, 2014, 07:50 PM
Jul 2014

into the Naval Academy or into Naval Aviation if both ancestors had not been admirals.

Response to DonViejo (Original post)

CTyankee

(63,768 posts)
28. Yep...he's a legend in his own mind, for sure...
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 01:09 PM
Jul 2014

contrasting him with President Obama in his actions today only underscores how lucky we were not to have him and Palin elected...

 

packman

(16,296 posts)
3. Blessed be the Peacemakers
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:08 AM
Jul 2014

"You’ll find this surprising, but I think I would’ve been more reluctant to commit American troops,”

That sure sounds like the peace loving "Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" Johnny that we all know and love.

SummerSnow

(12,608 posts)
95. He gets the Lifetime achievement award for lying and trying so hard to be relevant.
Sun Jul 20, 2014, 10:05 PM
Jul 2014

He really needs to stop pretending he has a soul.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
37. Thanks, you saved me looking up that one. Here's another one:
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 02:29 PM
Jul 2014


Yes, McCain has suddenly turned into a peace nik.



He's the nightmare that never ends... Thanks M$M!

JohnnyRingo

(18,580 posts)
7. He would have "hesitated"?
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:20 AM
Jul 2014

So we would have gone in a month later. Reluctantly.

I know this mealy mouthed comment is supposed to distance McCain from the political tragedy of the Iraq invasion, but I don't doubt for a second that he would have also followed the lead of the same Neocons who dictated GOP foreign policy at that time.

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
36. John McCain and George W Bush: Love Story
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 02:15 PM
Jul 2014


I'll never ever be able to listen to this BeeGees song again.
 

rtracey

(2,062 posts)
9. Wow
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:28 AM
Jul 2014

What a total BS statement, but of course, when it is not true history, you can make up your own history. Yeah, If I'd have won in 2000, I wouldn't have done it either.... He would have been the first to do it...

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
106. It wouldn't hurt a run of his own, either.
Mon Jul 21, 2014, 11:00 PM
Jul 2014

I'm practically laughing as I write this, but seriously, who do they have?

Christie is being chased down with his own corruption and he probably won't outrun it. One might say the same of Bachmann.

Rand Paul has already said and done too many crazy things to survive in the limelight. Likewise for all Tea Partiers.

There are no brilliant, young, and upcoming Republicans and there haven't been for fifteen years.

I keep saying that Jeb feels compelled to run just to keep the lid on all the incriminating documentation his foolish brother generated. But if he doesn't, then seriously, John McCain is the only guy they have left.

Oh, and Mike Huckabee. Ha ha ha!

cheapdate

(3,811 posts)
107. If Hillary stays out, Democrats might lose.
Mon Jul 21, 2014, 11:20 PM
Jul 2014

War-hawk conservative that she is, if she's not in the race then Christie, Jeb, or Mitt could probably challenge anyone the Democrats could nominate. The pendulum may be swinging, but it's not quite there yet.

Just a thought. I share your mirth at these ass-clowns, though.

canuckledragger

(1,632 posts)
11. Complete bullshit.
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:37 AM
Jul 2014

There hasn't been a war yet that he hasn't been willing to send other people's' children to die for.

You folks did make the right decision and keep him away from the presidency...and he's been a bitter, spiteful old failure ever since.

surrealAmerican

(11,339 posts)
12. ... and the first prize for whopper of the year goes to John McCain!
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:49 AM
Jul 2014

Does he actually think anybody could believe that coming from him? Since when has he ever "challenged the evidence" before advocating for war?

olegramps

(8,200 posts)
14. His fellow prisoners of war called him Songbird. Now he is singing a diffentent tune.
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:55 AM
Jul 2014

McCain is nothing more than a spoiled brat who has always been an underachiever with powerful connections. He is cut out of the same mold of losers with wealthy connections like Bush that have dominated the Republican Party.

Response to olegramps (Reply #14)

Enoki33

(1,584 posts)
17. Tired
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 11:06 AM
Jul 2014

of these regular pathetic attempts of McCain to make himself relevant. Unfortunately, even if he has something worthwhile to say, I just don't want to hear it, at least not from this egomaniac.

lark

(22,993 posts)
24. Revisionist at best
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 12:40 PM
Jul 2014

I remember him totally cheerleading the "Axis of Terror" and going into Iraq to stop terrorism and Iraq is doing fine, it's sooo safe.

I definitely call BS on this total lie.

Blue Idaho

(4,987 posts)
25. This guy has completely lost his mind.
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 12:54 PM
Jul 2014

There is no bigger saber rattler anywhere in DC. McCain has never seen a conflict he hasn't wanted to escalate in all his time in the Senate. He and his pal Lindsey Graham are always ready to spill American blood and treasure so long as it get them on the Sunday talk shows.

Fuck Him.

 

Reter

(2,188 posts)
26. I really don't see the motive for lying
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 12:57 PM
Jul 2014

He makes stupid pro-war statements daily, and it's not like he's bashing a war that a Democrat started. Perhaps he just lost his mind?

Response to Reter (Reply #26)

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
79. My thoughts exactly ! He wanted big time WW III starting with Iran
Sat Jul 19, 2014, 08:44 PM
Jul 2014

No small potatoes for him or his whack VP Palin

Scarsdale

(9,426 posts)
39. B. S.
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 03:05 PM
Jul 2014

He would have bombed Iran, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, but left Iraq alone. Yeah, right. I am srarting to understand WHY he still defends PayMe, his VP choice. Little Johnny is delusional if he thinks we believe this. Now he has none of the responsibility, but can go on TV almost daily and EVERY Sunday, insulting President Obama. Sour grapes, he lost to a much better man. Go on to Rolling Stone, look up Matt Taiibi's essay on this little fraud. It is eye opening. No wonder he has his military and medical records sealed.

Javaman

(62,435 posts)
41. he bangs the war drums for just about everything and he now states he would
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 03:06 PM
Jul 2014

be "reluctant" to have gone to war with Iraq?

this, my friends, is called unmitigated bullshit.

The CCC

(463 posts)
42. McCain: I'd Have Been 'Reluctant' To Start Iraq War If I Won In 2000
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 03:17 PM
Jul 2014

Is there something about videotape that McFool and his fellow Republicons don't understand?

 

Fred Gilmore

(80 posts)
43. That Old Guy
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 03:27 PM
Jul 2014

Can't even remember the last time that he changed his drawers, so why would anyone listen to any of hius senile drivel?

azureblue

(2,129 posts)
45. of course HE would have beeen reluctant
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 03:36 PM
Jul 2014

But Caribou Barbie would be drooling at the very thought of it...

 

Reter

(2,188 posts)
46. Would McCain have beaten Gore?
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 03:37 PM
Jul 2014

Not that Bush did, but would McCain have had the same allies to steal the election? I doubt it, plus he would have had to at least come close like Bush did.

Then again, even if he had won outright in 2000, would 9/11 had happened? I hate McCain, but perhaps his military experience would have produced an intelligence team more competent to intercept terrorism?

And if no 9/11, would there have been an Iraq War II at all?

karynnj

(59,474 posts)
48. He might have
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 04:09 PM
Jul 2014

I know many Democrats who were really snowed by him at that time - and frankly, many remembered the nasty Gore campaign in 1988. He likely could have won without cheating.

jmowreader

(50,447 posts)
47. He would have started A war but maybe not THAT war
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 03:42 PM
Jul 2014

He probably wouldn't have had Cheney as his veep, or Powell and Rice as his national security team. And there are a lot more wars to choose from than Iraq.

We also have to consider: 9/11 was preventable...if a non-Bush president was serving on that day we probably wouldn't have had to start Afghanistan.

A nice winnable war to make CON-gress feel good about spending all that money on defense would be just what the doctor ordered.

Jefferson23

(30,099 posts)
49. He would have challenged the evidence with greater scrutiny? It's 2014, what the hell is wrong
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 04:13 PM
Jul 2014

with this man...go away. Who cares and who would even believe you.

 

bvf

(6,604 posts)
50. His only moment of clarity since 2008
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 04:20 PM
Jul 2014

was when he corrected that old screechy thing who said Obama was a Muslim, and that was six years ago. Why is this guy not in a retirement home??

Oh, wait. I remember. Arizona.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
93. only using nonsense
Sun Jul 20, 2014, 07:23 PM
Jul 2014

to point out the nonsense of making grand statements of hindsight by comparing it to a monetary unit.

A form of humor... nothing to do with the Japanese monetary unit. It could have been any unit but I like the yen unit character. It puts a visual twist to the irony. Nothing else.

Response to defacto7 (Reply #53)

 

gussmith

(280 posts)
56. Flip Flop
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 08:07 PM
Jul 2014

Too many people changing positions and prevaricating, so much so that I forget what's the real story. Wasn't McCain known as the flip-flopper?

90-percent

(6,828 posts)
57. Geez John, why such half measures?
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:00 PM
Jul 2014

Since you're rewriting a hypothetical past that could only happen now in an alternate universe, why not go for the whole enchilada and claim that you would have prevented 9-11 in the first place?

And while we're talking about revising the past, I'd make a virtual bet that President Gore would have also prevented 9-11.

The only good thin I can say about McCain is that he appears to have lived long enough to have prevented the possibility of a President Palin, if he served only one term.

-90% jimmy

90-percent

(6,828 posts)
58. additionally
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:27 PM
Jul 2014

He's been hyperbolically bitching about Obama to the point that some would call it treason.

At long last, sir, have you no sense of decency?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017203465

-90% Jimmy

calimary

(80,693 posts)
60. Baloney! Here's what everyone needs to remember - ALWAYS - about these people:
Fri Jul 18, 2014, 10:39 PM
Jul 2014

Last edited Sat Jul 19, 2014, 01:32 AM - Edit history (3)

It's not just them. It's who they have around them, who's advising them, who'll coach them in debates, who'll research or even write their position papers, speeches, and legislation, it's who funds them - ALL OF WHOM can easily find their way onto the candidate's coattails to ride into office with him or her. I will never forget avowed and unapologetic PNAC-er randy scheunemann - who advised mccain on foreign policy after being one of the people leading the cheerleaders from behind the scenes to get us into war in Iraq during bush/cheney. He's been lurking in that sewer the whole time. And he wound up as sarah peabrain's debate coach on foreign policy issues. One SMALL bit of sweet justice - he stumbled away from that experience shaking his head and needing to grab something to keep his balance, she was THAT bad and THAT insufferable and THAT stupid. But make no mistake: THERE HE WAS, ANYWAY.

Fiends like him ALWAYS look for the way back in. They literally infest the CON side. They proliferate like nukes or cockroaches, whichever group overruns us first. They abound on that side of the aisle - always going for the brawn over any brains. ALWAYS spoiling for a fight. ALWAYS wanting to flex their muscles in foreign policy and assert America's "Alpha Male'ness" what a tough-guy nation we are - and how we need to stay on top by force or else... or else... or else...

Seems to me, though, that kind of approach ALWAYS invites people to say - "oh YEAH?" ALWAYS seems to bring on somebody wanting to knock #1 off the top spot. It's the same people who encourage scoffing at science and evolution, while they practice it and advocate it in foreign policy to their last breath. The problem with being the presumed First nation among the First World is - you're always gonna have people coming after you, trying to knock you out of first place. And they can do it through economics and trade and monetary policy, and/or they can do it with hackers and internet spies and technological espionage, and/or they can do it with guns 'n' ammo. There are other nations competing with us who are even now, even at this very moment, aiming at us with their educated populations that are free to learn about and explore the sciences without religious imposition. There are better-educated young people coming out of there, and brain-drains leeching some of our best away. The barbarians are always at the gates, so to speak, wanting into that nice secure gated community - which in this case, is the former Fortress America.

Seems to me we need some new thinking on this. A new kind of national dialogue. DO WE REALLY want to be the first among equals? DO WE REALLY? Can we take a look at what that costs? I'm not just talking financial costs. I'm talking social costs, religious costs, philosophical costs. Ego costs. Would the extremist religiosos in this country ever be willing to move the Bible over to the side to make room for legitimate objective science texts? Would they be willing to relinquish the foothold they've gained to force the teaching of Genesis into classes about evolution? Probably not. Would the professional CONS and the CON-leaning non-pros be willing to cough up more in taxes because we're now increasingly the proud owners of Third-World-quality roads? Would those mccains and kristols be willing to loosen their embrace on "war first, ask questions later"? Are we willing to continue to eat all of this increasingly foolish thinking and 19th-Century imperialistic aggressive tendencies or should we begin to consider functioning in this world WITHOUT an empire to maintain? Is it time to give that up? Since so much of America refuses to pay taxes to support public schools, and finds it no real problem that students are choking in debt if they get into college - which soon enough will be priced WAY out of the reach of most of them? Is it okay with the penny-wise/pound-foolish crowd to be proud owners of an increasingly poorly-educated population? How do we maintain any sort of world leadership under those conditions? Has anybody on that side even paused for a moment to think about this?

A lot of this - MOST of this - comes from the GOP side. The CON side. And they're not giving it up. The PNACers still think that with enough guns 'n' ammo and muscle and big-ass toys they can control and sublimate the world and humble, convert, or do away with all our adversaries! And they find a lot more fertile ground to spread their greed seed among the GOP, far more there than among Democrats. Of course, they all stay home in their luxurious gated compounds and those well-funded big-ticket think tanks and corner offices til they have to go down to the studio and do their talking head or guest loud-mouth thing. OTHERS get to go do the dirty work. But they look for people who can get them back into power so they can implement all their shitty "ideas" about American conquest and unquestioned domination of the world. (Yet another reason never to vote republi-CON! Our side doesn't have anywhere near the nonstop idiot chorus of bad ideas that those across the aisle do! NEVER FORGET: all that idiot chorus wants to do is sing in the Oval Office - or in some high-profile or high-potential governor's/senator's/congressperson's/legislator's/mayor's office - again.)

herding cats

(19,549 posts)
64. I'd love to add something to what you said, but you did such a bang up job I've nothing left!
Sat Jul 19, 2014, 12:46 AM
Jul 2014

Permit to at least tip my hat in your direction in respect for your excellent analysis! Well done!

calimary

(80,693 posts)
66. Aw, thanks!
Sat Jul 19, 2014, 01:22 AM
Jul 2014

But seriously, you gotta watch these people. You generically but really, ALL OF US have to keep an eye on them. Because those they hang with and those who surround them are just as important and influential, and will have "their master's ear" assuming he/she goes all the way to the White House or some other position of public authority. It's just as important to know who THEY are. THOSE are the leading indicators of what the person they're helping or backing or advising or serving in some way is going to be up to if allowed to gain power. And many of the same damn PNAC vermin are slithering around again now! Looking for some new star to whom to hitch their wagon so, in bill kristol's case and cheney's case and others, they can be part of the "in" crowd again and have THEIR pal in the White House for a change and maybe they can start another big ol' fun and exciting war!

FormerOstrich

(2,689 posts)
67. What McCain said
Sat Jul 19, 2014, 01:54 AM
Jul 2014
“I think I would have (voted the same way), but I think I would have challenged the evidence with greater scrutiny,” McCain explained, as quoted by CNN. “I think that with my background with the military and knowledge of national security with these issues that I hope that I would have been able to see through the evidence that was presented at the time.”


The paragraph says so much (most of it disturbing).

Had he been elected he thinks he would have been able to "see through the evidence" that was presented. The implication is clear. The evidence did not hold up to scrutiny. Yet he admits, knowing the evidence was wrong he probably would have still voted the same way.

He also acknowledges, as a Senator, he didn't scrutinize the evidence, nor draw from his National Security and Military experience as he would have had he been the President.

Apparently listening to his constituents isn't part of the equation, as I called and wrote him several times. The few times my input was acknowledged it was with the wrong form letter.

I must conclude he believes his role as Senator, is to follow a path and not question.
 

Duval

(4,280 posts)
73. Right! It would have been
Sat Jul 19, 2014, 03:29 PM
Jul 2014

Iran AND Iraq. This guy is beyond belief! I believe he is either senile or suffering from effects of being a POW. Regardless, why do reporters even ask him questions?

JHB

(37,128 posts)
78. What good would "hesitation" have done? There was no reason to go there.
Sat Jul 19, 2014, 08:07 PM
Jul 2014

Not to mention, you lost the primary that year, so you didn't even come close.

There are so many "might have been"s stacked there that he might as well be reminiscing "If I'd jinked left instead of right I wouldn't have been shot down over Vietnam."

Turbineguy

(37,206 posts)
89. Well probably not, no.
Sun Jul 20, 2014, 04:02 PM
Jul 2014

But the repubs did not want him. Candidate Bush said he would attack Iraq and that's what they wanted.

DallasNE

(7,392 posts)
96. So Did John McCain Ever Read The UN Weapons Inspector's Report
Sun Jul 20, 2014, 10:48 PM
Jul 2014

That was published prior to the start of the invasion that Iraq had no WMD and had no program for nuclear weapons development. So does this mean that like Bush he would have challenged the evidence provided by the UN weapons inspectors? Or that he would have used that report to challenge the likes of Curveball. Bush challenged the UN weapons inspectors report when he said Saddam wouldn't let the inspectors in even though they had been there for months. Funny, but I have never heard Bush, Cheney, Powell or McCain speak about the UN weapons inspectors reports so until they come to grips with that under reported part of the history of the invasion of Iraq they can have no standing on the issue. Nice try though John McCain -- it just doesn't wash. You got it wrong then and you've still got it wrong so stop digging.

 

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)
100. I find that hard to believe.
Mon Jul 21, 2014, 03:43 PM
Jul 2014

McCain has never met a conflict that didn't call for escalation. "We're all (fill in the blank) now!"

Owl

(3,629 posts)
104. No one gives s--t what this clown thinks. How is this/he even note-worthy?
Mon Jul 21, 2014, 08:07 PM
Jul 2014

Thanks DonViejo, McCain is disgusting. Yes indeed.

Unca Adverse

(29 posts)
108. Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran!
Mon Jul 21, 2014, 11:52 PM
Jul 2014


Sang John "Songbird" McCain . . . But Not Iraq? Why "Songbird", that doesn't sound surprising,
it sounds like one big garbage-mouthed lie!
Yet some still consider this turncoat to be a war hero . . . Well, John is a war hero who made numerous
anti-American propaganda broadcasts for Radio Hanoi to our U.S. troops during his privileged captivity
in Vietnam and also gave highly classified information on the routes his fellow pilots used to bomb North Vietnam.

Just how many millions or even billions did it take to whitewash this collaborator into a war hero?
Ask his second wife, she might know . . .

The fact that John McCain was able to run for president and is even now seated in our U.S. Senate
is a grotesque travesty and a total mockery of our American system of governance.

shadowmayor

(1,325 posts)
110. Magoo plays one-dimensional chess!
Tue Jul 22, 2014, 09:28 PM
Jul 2014

This might surprise you, but Magoo also said:

If I ever run for President again, I won't pick Hockey Mom . . .
I promise to take Econ 101 so I know how all those budget thingies work . . .
I think we spend way too much money on defense . . .
I'm glad Obama got bin Laden because Bush was too incompetent . . .
Can you imagine how fucked we'd all be if Romney were in the White House?
I've been dating Lindsay for years now, we usually meet at the Sunday talk shows . . .
I now know for a fact that we have 8 or 10 or 11 houses . . .
I actually have a man-crush on Vlad . . .
and finally,
It's all about oil, always has been and always will be!

the Shadow Mayor

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