10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't)
Posted by: fred simon on 06 April 2008
10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't):1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.
2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."
3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.
4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."
5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.
6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.
7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."
8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.
9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."
10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.
Sources:1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008
http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/3. "McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagenam..._learn_scorecard2007"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/f...ain_temper_is_tamed/8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What The Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=42102519. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/...spiritual-guide.html"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/ Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Jay
Try living in the UK, we get as much exposure to your elections as we do on the news.
Regards
Mick
Try meeting some American Democrats (or even one) before making pronouncements on their "marked tendencies".
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by Mick P
Jay
I have read Freds contributions.....enough said.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Jay
I have read Freds contributions.....enough said.
Regards
Mick
And I've read yours; however, I'll refrain from extrapolating that all Brits are idiots.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by Mick P
Jayd
I do not have a sub prime mortgage so I am not a total idiot.
Your worry is that the fools who took on such mortgages will in all probability vote for Obama.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Jayd
I do not have a sub prime mortgage so I am not a total idiot.
Your worry is that the fools who took on such mortgages will in all probability vote for Obama.
Regards
Mick
Don't sell yourself short, and - yet again - don't presume to know what worries me.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by Mick P
Jay
If you are not worried that idiots who took out sub prime mortgages can vote, then that says it all.
I think you are just arguing for the sake of it so I will pull out of this session but the truth is that rightly or wrongly you have got three very poor candidates lining up for an influencial job and not one of them is up to it. You know that as well as me.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
You know that as well as me.
And yet AGAIN - please don't presume to have a clue what I know.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by Mick P
Jay
Ok what do you know ?
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by _charlie
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
you have got three very poor candidates lining up for an influencial job and not one of them is up to it. You know that as well as me.
...and we already have one clown in there who we
know ain't up to it !
You Tories should have more respect for America, that's where you get all your (bad) ideas.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Jay
Ok what do you know ?
Regards
Mick
Are you serious??
What I know, I've taken a lifetime to learn. If you've got a spare lifetime, I'll begin the process of transferring all that over to you. I'll start with what I learned earning a doctorate in biochemistry (took me ~10 years, not including the pre-college preparatory work; I'm sure you'll master it all in seven or eight years, max). Assuming you show promising progress, perhaps we'll move on from there when it's time.
Let me know when you've lined up that spare lifetime, and we'll begin your studies immediately. Bring a biro, and probably a spare just in case.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by Mick P
Jay
You may think that is witty but some of us would think it patronising.
Bye
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by Mick Parry:
Jay
You may think that is witty but some of us would think it patronising.
Bye
That you find reality condescending makes a couple of your posts ever so slightly clearer to me.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by Mick P
well mentioning you 10 year course may go down well in the states but over here is is considered patronising and perhaps the difference in language explains some of this.
Anyway I am off out for an hour or two so good bye for now.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by u5227470736789439
Now we get to the nub of it. The self-appointed "superior mind" believes he is right, and that he can say so and so and go unchallenged, while the realistically minded man simply finds this patronising, and challenges the point.
This is the reason so many politicians preach to us what they intend to make us do with too much legislation. They believe they have "superior minds." It seems to me that some of their supporters are no better in their own turn!
George
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
Now we get to the nub of it. The self-appointed "superior mind" believes he is right, and that he can say so and so and go unchallenged, while the realistically minded man simply finds this patronising, and chellenges the point.
This is the reason so many politicians preach to us what they intend to make us do with too much legislation. They believe they have "superior minds." It seems to me that some of their supporters are no better in their own turn!
George
Your characterization of me as a self-appointed superior mind is a fabrication. That, I believe, is your nub.
Face it, the man asked a stupid question. But since the egos of the realistically minded are apparently easily bruised, I'll revise my answer:
What do I know? A few things. If time permitted, I'd share every bit of it.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by u5227470736789439
Dear Jayd,
Who was I characterising? You? Fred? Who knows? But if the cap fits, then wear it by all means!
You seem to be possibly sizing it up by answering my point.
George
____________________________
To prevent editing away:
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
Now we get to the nub of it. The self-appointed "superior mind" believes he is right, and that he can say so and so and go unchallenged, while the realistically minded man simply finds this patronising, and chellenges the point.
This is the reason so many politicians preach to us what they intend to make us do with too much legislation. They believe they have "superior minds." It seems to me that some of their supporters are no better in their own turn!
Posted by Jayd at 21:01,
George
Your characterization of me as a self-appointed superior mind is a fabrication. That, I believe, is your nub.
Face it, the man asked a stupid question. But since the egos of the realistically minded are apparently easily bruised, I'll revise my answer:
What do I know? A few things. If time permitted, I'd share every bit of it.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
Fabrication, either way. "Ooh, let's make up something to be angry about!"
Bizarre hobby.
(BTW, nice job editing (some of) the typos from your post.)
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by u5227470736789439
You may be angry.
I am faintly amused at your insistence on the superiority of your view, and your dismissal of other views as being foolish, or held by fools ...
I suspect that yours and Fred's postings are causing more chortling than anger this side of the pond. Unfortunately the chortling is not at anything in the line of humour!
I would not patronise you by offering advice. I am sure you will see that I would expect it to be unwelcomed!
George
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
You may be angry.
I am faintly amused at your insistence on the superiority of your view, and your dismissal of other views as being foolish, or held by fools ...
I suspect that yours and Fred's postings are causing more chortling than anger this side of the pond. Unfortunately the chortling is not at anything in the line of humour!
I would not patronise you by offering advice. I am sure you will see that I would expect it to be unwelcomed!
George
Neither angry, nor amused — it's all a bit surreal, honestly. I'd challenge you to show me where I've touted my view as superior, but I suspect what's actually been written isn't really of interest to you. Make-believe is more fun.
Edit: And, thankfully, there are many sides to "the pond". Plenty of coastline where English chortling is quaintly irrelevant.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by u5227470736789439
Could it be the post your made at 20:27, perhaps? In the UK swanking is generally considered somewhat laughable, albeit that you seem to have realised this all too late in your own suggested and more modest adjustment to it.
Again I shall not advise on the best course of action. I am sure you have all the necessary brains to work out what approach might be less laughable, but possibly you might not see that in the comprehension of another [as you suggested earlier, rather distant] culture just why your position may be perceived as being laughable at all. In which case just carry on ...
George
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:
Could it be the post you made at 20:27, perhaps? In the UK swanking is generally considered somewhat laughable, albeit that you seem to have realised this all too late in your own suggested and moremodest adjustement to it.
What I realized is that English egos appear to be too delicate for the truth, so I wrapped it in frilly paper.
quote:
Again I shall not advise on the best course of action. I am sure you have all the necessary brains to work out what approach might be less laughable, but possibly you might not see that in the comprehension of another [as you suggested earlier, rather distant] culture just why your position may be perceived been laughable at all. In which case just carry on ...
George
Many cultures find many things funny. It's one thing I like about the world. However, your commitment not to advise on the best course of action, I'll take as a solemn one, and rejoice.
Posted on: 09 April 2008 by u5227470736789439
I am pleased in a solemn way to have made someone rejoice today. George
Posted on: 11 April 2008 by Howlinhounddog
quote:
Seems worth noting though, that in the great spectacle that is the American political process, Fred and I are participants; HHD, GFFJ, MP et al. are spectators, and distant ones at that.
Crowd noise doesn't distract me, really. Noise is noise.
Very true Jayd, we are spectators, but surely comments posted on a web site are not only for the consumption and comment of countrymen/women?
This brings me back to Fred's comment on the superpower theory. If we are to be moderated by the USA, perhaps it is incumbent on us to be aware of the political machinations. If not then don't presume to tell us what to do
Posted on: 11 April 2008 by jayd
quote:
Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:
Very true Jayd, we are spectators, but surely comments posted on a web site are not only for the consumption and comment of countrymen/women?
Just re-emphasizing the proper context within which the crowd noise should be evaluated.
quote:
If we are to be moderated by the USA, perhaps it is incumbent on us to be aware of the political machinations. If not then don't presume to tell us what to do
If you are to allow yourselves to be moderated by the US, so be it. Myself, I'd never presume to tell you what to do — you have Mick for that.
Posted on: 11 April 2008 by Mick P
Jay
I agree you never tell us what to do but you certainly patronise us in droves.
Regards
Mick
