McCain: “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.

[milkyway]

I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/opinion/14krugman.html

Contrary to popular opinion, I think the Dems will pound McCain in November if he's the nominee. The economy is headed for the shithole and it will easily be the number one issue. McCain will have nothing to offer other than the standard repug boilerplate. He's identified with several issues (campaign finance, ethics reform, torture, Iraq), but not with economic issues.

McCain was fortunate to have a perfect storm last week, with the New Hampshire primary coming at the same time the corporate media had reported that the so-called "surge" is apparently working. It's unlikely this will still be the case in November.

McCain has two basic constituencies: New Hampshire independents and corporate media types (amongst repug voters, he lost New Hampshire to Romney). Romney seems to be the repug candidate best able to sell himself to repug voters as the solution to hard economic times. McCain has nothing to run on, and the above quote admitting to his ignorance of economics is an indication of his coming downfall.

[liberal N proud]

1. And he wants to be in charge of the United States economy?

OMG!

[TwilightGardener]

2. His "security" credentials aren't much, either. His reaction to everything

is to use military force. I really don't think he's "all that and a bag of chips" in terms of valuable experience or good judgment, myself.

[AlCzervik]

3. it's pretty ironic that his platform is "I hate Earmarks!!!".

when it sure looks like numbers aren't his strong suit.

[louis-t]

5. Oh, I thought he said "I hate Earwigs".

Really, I did.

[TwilightGardener]

6. I read a press release from the DNC that pointed out that he took SHITLOADS

of earmarks for Arizona.

[AlCzervik]

8. here's an article about just one thats also ironic.

after bitching about Clinton's.

During Sunday night's Republican presidential debate, Senator John McCain, R-AZ, offered up a sharp, red-meat reprimand of Democratic frontrunner, Sen. Hillary Clinton, for her proposal of a $1 million memorial at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival.

"Now, my friends, I wasn't there. I'm sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event," McCain said in his typical deadpanned delivery. "I was tied up at the time... But the fact is, my friends, no one can be president of the United States that supports projects such as these."

The line was clear, poignant and politically advantageous, reminding voters of McCain's service in Vietnam - where he was a prisoner of war - and reinforcing his image as an anti-pork crusader.

And yet, less than two years ago, it was McCain who was on the receiving end of rebuke over a pet project deemed overly parochial and "porkish." In February 2006, McCain teamed up with fellow Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl on a bill to direct $10 million over five years to help create the William H. Rehnquist Center at the University of Arizona Law School.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/john-mccain-earmarks

[TwilightGardener]

9. Good find!

[Orsino]

4. The Dem nominee will beat the GOP nominee. Period.

Take your pick.

[louis-t]

7. So let's see, Hucklebinky knows nothing of foreign policy,

and McCain has no clue about economics. They should both be running for dogcatcher.

[spanone]

10. Next!

[sueh]

11. Forget Greenspan's book. Grandpa should read "The Shock Doctrine".

If he's the repub nominee, he'll need to know what NOT to do.

[Bluestar]

12. He's only had, what, 30 plus years in the Senate to learn about economics

with a front row seat. What does this guy know anyway? I am always appalled that some Democrats consider (or considered before he put his lips firmly on Bush's ass) him as an acceptable candidate.

[milkyway]

13. kick. Note that McCain says he "has" Greenspan's book; he can't be bothered to

actually read it. He enjoys a little chuckle about how little he knows or cares about economic issues.