WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: John McCain “Prescient” On Russia And Putin
By NoQuarter on August 10, 2008 at 8:00 PM in Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, John McCain
While this blog does not, and has no plans to, endorse John McCain for president, we continue to be impressed with his in-depth knowledge of the crisis in Georgia, and how very important it is to distinguish his statements from the single, vague statement by Barack Obama that any ignorant public relations person could have cobbled together!
Yesterday, Larry Johnson wrote “Obama’s Impending Pearl Harbor” — a must-read — and we have also published LisaB’s report, ““From Milk Toast Internationalist to Brave McCain-Like Warrior. . . In under 24 hours.,” “,” Saturday’s “John McCain’s Second Statement on the Crisis in Georgia,” and Friday’s original report, “McCain on Crisis in Georgia [Updates].”
Now, from the McCain campaign, a fascinating summary of news reports on this highly critical issue that Ben Smith has called a genuine “3 a.m. moment” for the presidential candidates:
* * * * *
The Washington Post’s David Broder: “It’s Particularly A Moment Where John McCain Can Claim To Have Been Prescient.” NBC’s DAVID GREGORY: “David Broder, is this a 3 a.m. moment for foreign policy for these candidates?” WASHINGTON POST’s DAVID BRODER: “It is and it’s particularly a moment where John McCain can claim to have been prescient. Because in his basic foreign policy speech two months ago and in an interview that I did with him last week, he draws a very sharp line when it comes to Russia. He says these people are being aggressive and imperialist. There is no confusion, in his mind, about the character of the Putin-Medvedev government and he is prepared, I think, to make the case that this is a demonstration of exactly what he has been arguing for.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/10/08)
· Watch David Broder This Morning
The Politico’s Jonathan Martin: John McCain “Appears To Have Been Ahead Of The Curve In His Assessment That Moscow Was The Bad Actor Here.”
“When violence broke out in the Caucasus Friday morning, John McCain quickly issued a statement that was far more strident toward the Russians than that of President Bush, Barack Obama and much of the West. But, as Russian warplanes pounded Georgian targets far beyond South Ossetia this weekend, Bush, Obama and others have moved closer to McCain’s initial position. It has been a rough few weeks for McCain on the foreign policy front — paging Dr. Maliki — but he appears to have been ahead of the curve in his assessment that Moscow was the bad actor here.” (Jonathan Martin, “McCain Prescient On Russia?” The Politico, 8/10/08)
Chicago Tribune’s Jill Zuckman: “It’s Not Just This Part Of The World, But Senator McCain Has Been To So Many Exotic Places Like Waziristan And South Ossetia, And He’s Very Comfortable With These Issues. He Knows What He Thinks.” “And it’s not just this part of the world, but Senator McCain has been to so many exotic places like Waziristan and South Ossetia, and he’s very comfortable with these issues. He knows what he thinks. He’s been in contact with the leaders involved in these places for many, many years. So it’s really sort of a perfect thing for him. And so the question is each time something like this pops up randomly, we may see a cautiousness on the one hand by Senator Obama who has not been dealing with these things for years and maybe a little more aggressive voice from Senator McCain. And I’ll just tell you his favorite thing to say about Vladimir Putin is, When I look into his eyes, I see a K, a G and a B. ‘ He’s been very, very tough on Putin for quite some time.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 8/10/08)
The Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol: “McCain Was Right About Putin.” “McCain was right about Putin. He warned about Russia under Putin’s ambitions. He wanted Russia excluded from the G-8.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 8/10/08)
· Click Here To Read More About John McCain’s Trip To South Ossetia In 2006:
· Watch Jill Zuckman And Bill Kristol This Morning.
The Washington Post’s George Will: “Certainly Their Initial Responses, They Were, As You Say, Different. Mr. Obama’s Initial Response Was To Say That Both Should Show Restraint: The Invader And The Invaded. That’s Not What’s Going On Here.” “Certainly their initial responses, they were, as you say, different. Mr. Obama’s initial response was to say that both should show restraint; the invader and the invaded. That’s not what’s going on here. What is going on here is an enormous world historic moment. Ballistic missiles, according to the United States administration including… plus a naval blockade, tanks, heavy artillery, and strategic bombers operating by Russia against a European nation.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 8/10/08)
· Watch George Will This Morning.
The New York Times’ Matt Bai: McCain “Does Understand What’s Happening In That Region.” “I know from my own reporting, he does understand what’s happening in that region. He’s been in Georgia. I know he’s met with opposition leaders in Georgia.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 8/10/08)
· Watch Matt Bai This Morning.
The Politico’s Ben Smith: World Leaders And Barack Obama Coming To John McCain’s Position On The Russia-Georgia Conflict. “McCain came out strong against Russia almost as soon as the crisis in the Caucasus ignited. Now, more world leaders are there, including Bush and Obama, whose new statement casts the blame more clearly.” (Ben Smith, “Condemning Russia,” The Politico, 8/9/08)
FLASHBACK: McCain Prescient On Russia And Putin In 1999 and 2000
John McCain, 1999: “The Mindless Slaughters Being Conducted By A Russian Military That Seeks To Reassert Itself Not Only In The Former Soviet Union, But Also To Extend Its Reach Throughout What Used To Be The Former Soviet Union In An Attempt To Fold Back Into The Russian Empire Those Countries That Have Broken Away From It, Most Notably Georgia.” “First, let’s talk about Chechnya. The Chechen people are now subjected to a level of slaughter and massacre that we have not seen in Europe, perhaps since World War II. The mindless slaughters being conducted by a Russian military that seeks to reassert itself not only in the former Soviet Union, but also to extend its reach throughout what used to be the former Soviet Union in an attempt to fold back into the Russian empire those countries that have broken away from it, most notably Georgia, which is headed by one the great men in the history of the world, Mr. Shevardnadze. Also, t his obviously has a great effect on the next election in Russia. The Russian Prime Minister now is playing this to a great political gain. The Russians must be told that they will not only not be anymore IMF funding, there will not be any more export/import funding, and the United States will gauge its relations on the treatment of the Chechnans because what is happening right now is an unconscionable set of circumstances which if allowed to continue will then encourage Russia and the military to continue to this kind of expansion into the region and overthrow the embryonic nations that are there. The Russians have to understand that this is not something that we can turn a blind eye to, and we must have it stopped. Otherwise, it will have severe implications for our relations for years to come.” (Republican Presidential Debate, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 11/21/99)
· Watch John McCain On Russia And Putin In 1999.
John McCain, 2000: “I’m Very Concerned About Mr. Putin. I’m Afraid Mr. Putin Might Be One Of Those Who Wants To Make The Trains Run On Time.” CNN’s LARRY KING: “Senator, would you meet with, assuming Mr. Putin is elected in March, would you want to meet with him as a candidate? Other candidates have gone overseas while running for office, or right before the campaign begins.” JOHN MCCAIN: “I’m not sure that would be necessary, might be an interesting experience, because I know what’s going on in Russia, so do a whole lot of my friends … Well, we know he was a Apparatchik, we know he was a member of the KGB, we know that he came to power because of the military brutality and massacre that is taking place in Russia today — I mean in Chechnya today. We know that he worked a deal with Yeltsin so that Yeltsin would have immunity and he would be assured the presidency rather than basically a contested. I’m very concerned abo ut Mr. Putin. I’m afraid Mr. Putin might be one of those who wants to make the trains run on time. So, yeah, I would meet with him as a candidate, but I think that what I would really like to do is send a message to Mr. Putin that we expect certain behavior out of the Russians and particularly what’s going on in Chechnya today, a cessation of that brutality, and that it’s a very important strategic part of the world for us.” (CNN Republican Presidential Debate, Columbia, SC, 2/15/00)
· Watch John McCain On Russia And Putin In 2000.
First??
But….buh….buh…
The bipartisan thingy! That always works. See both sides are always to blame and thus the bipartisanship meme always applies.
I Obamba had been campaigning ‘39 he would have had Lindbergh up on stage with him.
Word.
The Beltway reflex was to blame this on Kosovo’s statehood.
In other words, it’s Bill Clinton’s fault. Never should have settled that down, then let Dubya fast track them.
Oh, the Kosovo situation can’t be maintained, due to the fact Dubya started two wars that strain many NATO members to different levels.
Bill Clinton never supported Kosovo separating from Serbia. Dubya did that. Dubya has a lot to answer for.
The Messiah will undoubtably pay lip service in support of Georgia and look the other way after it is reabsorbed back into the Russian Empire.
I love the fact that it is Hillary’s definition of leadership ability that is being used…3AM phone call indeed.
keep using that term. use it every chance you get.
Have you heard the expression “Hawaiian time” for your friends who seem to always flake? They show up late, and you greet them with “Aloha.” It’s 3am in the White House, and Barack Obama’s on Hawaiian time.
Good job…
Do you know what’s up with Texas Darlin’s blog site?
It’s password protected now???
Sue
I wish she’d give us a sign that she’s ok, and only her website was hacked.
Have you seen Cannonfire?
Proven: Techdude is a fake
http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/
Why don’t you just come out and admit that you are just another boring troll who worships at the feet of the Messiah? It’ll make your pain easier to tolerate.
It’s back online again.
The 3 a.m. question — who is ready — without having to consult 300 advisers?
Hillary Clinton or McCain.
I wonder which one of the 300 advisors start the phone tree?
And what is Obama’s number in that tree?
Do they call him last….when they’ve come up with a consensus?
After all….there is really no need to wake the One until they decide.
Otherwise, he’ll just have to lounge around with his feet on the desk resting up for ‘work’.
Northwest rain
Your question shows your McCain propensities! I know you’;re trolling here, but HILLARY doesn’t need ANY damn advisors. Ok McCain got shot down and stayed at the Hotel Hanoi. He sang like a birdie and was ‘traitor’ for a day.
He graduated on the bottom of hte heap and cheated on his wife and left a crippled woman (like Edwards the other jerk of the other party) to go out gallavanting with a fresh new face (whom he calls “trollop and cunt” in front of reporters).
Now, that’s what you call family values. You want to know my FEAR ABOUT MCCAIN…The man is not sane. He did not receive THERAPY AFTER HIS RELEASE. He’s got ANGER ISSUES UNRESOLVED and he flares up at reporters and his wife and whoever is in his way, watch out for his filthy mouth!!
Sure,he’s got good points, experience. but I wouldn’t trust McCain in foreign policy. He doens’t need 200 advisors. He needs long overdue rehabilitation. He would take us to a war in Georgia where he supplied arms with his Israili buddies..
McCain is more dangerous. His buddy the Georgian President engineered this so McCain would get in!
HILLARY, THE BEST LEADER BY FAR from this Warmonger FoulMouth and the Incompetent Moron Obambi!
Hillary ‘08
Ready to lead and with intelligence….(not the CIA kind)
Me too…
The site was working 3 hours ago..
Just got on it without a problem.
With every Gold AMerica wins in the Olympics, Mccain poll numbers wil increase. It’s all about patriotism and American values. EVerytime, the national anthem is sung, mcccain numbers will improve. Similarly, the story of Mccain courage as POW will resonate with American people. On the other hand, seeing that awefull footage of Obama’s pastor cussing America and using his church to spew hate will not go over well. Obama showed lack of courage when he stayed in that chucrh for 20 yrs just for political gains. . In times of crisis, America needs true patriots and people of courage. Anyone who cannot condemn an unrepentant domestic terrorist is no friend of America.
Mccain initial statement was very clear and firm. Had the western world and Obama been firm with Russia on the initial statement, Russia may have pulled back. Now I am sure Russia will take back all of Georgia and not just South Ossetia in this conflict. The Georgians made a mistake but Russsia was overly aggressive. Obama was hedging his bets and playign it safe. He wants to support both the invader and the victims because he wants both sides to like him. Mcccain chose to go with the statements of the former soviet countries after he made a few calls.
Come November, the DNC will regret not supporting HRC. A vote for Mccain/Nader 2008 is a vote for HRC 2012.
Words do indeed have consequences. They are the most powerful of weapons just as they can also be used to heal. But they do not change reality. They define it.
I’ve heard Mr. ‘Love Me’ Obambi speak, I was in Oakland at the start, and everyone I was with…DFA, D/L, Independents black and white were of one mind. When it comes to the ‘Magic Man’…there is no there there…The man is an empty suit.
The idea that he is some great speaker is laughable. Just absurd….
If you are a great speaker NOW is when you show it. You open your mouth and out come the words:
‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’
‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’
Great speakers like great ballplayer want to be at the center of the action. What does Obamgi do when the shit hits the fan?
He runs away.
What was he doing today?
Are you ready? While McSame worked the campaign trail and Hillary campaigned for Obamgi he…are you ready…wait for it…..
Played golf in Hawaii…
Obama is a scared punkass fool who no more deserves to be President than Bush did and mark my words folks. If he sneaks his useless ass into the WH this nation will be remembering Bush with fondness very, very quickly.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a good tee time in Hawaii these days?
I mean the guy has been campaigning hard, reading speeches, and lifting really heavy weights in Germany, (instead of visiting troops), flirting with female reporters in the gym (What a man!). He’s tired, and aging before our eyes, and this is just to get the job, he’ll look like Yoda in a year if he gets it (Allah, most beneficent, preserve and save us).
If anybody had any doubt of what this war is about:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2534767/Georgia-Russia-targets-key-oil-pipeline-with-over-50-missiles.html
Exactly right. Russia is using the conflict as a pretext to strike out versus the West, just as McCain has been fearful that there designs are.
This war is going to help people see McCain and Obama far more clearly. And it’s about time.
Let’s just hope that the Georgians will be ok.
All the more reason why it is VITALLY important that we begin developing our own substantial domestic oil & gas reserves as fast as we possibly can!!! The supply lines for foreign oil & gas are in some ery volatile areas of the world and can be cut off at any time.
McCain understands this. Obama does not. He thinks we can solve the problem by simply making sure our tires are inflated to their proper pressures at all times.
Even Paris Hilton has a better energy plan than the Messiah’s.
It seems the brown shirts are at it again. Where the hell is the FBI?
Yes, where are they!!
All that comes up on the Texas Darlin’ Blog is a Wordpress screen asking for a password.
The site can not be accessed at all..
I’m starting to get concerned…
Sue
It’s 3 AM. The phone rang a few moments ago. Hillary and McCain already finished the conversation and Barry can’t even find the damn phone and wouldn’t know what to say if he picked it up.
He never got the call. It was too important and went straight to the top, Soros and Axelrod.
Yep, right to the top of the One World Government agencies.
Barry’s probably high.
High as a kite on crack.
Yeah, or shooting hoops.
I just remember that pic of him holding the receiver upside down with that concerned look on his face.
that was a photoshopped image, funny nevertheless
ummmmmmmmm errrrrrrrrrr let me get back to you sweetie I will have an answer when I have spoke to mr Axlelrrook…. I will get back to you later!
CLICK!
We tried getting a password, can’t it has to be issued by Texas Darlin’.. Which if you can’t blog to the site how can you get one??
Perhaps if the Senate Subcommittee on European Affairs had ever held a meeting, then its chairman might have been able to make a coherent statement about his. Then again, maybe not ;-).
He was too busy running for president to call a meeting. Don’t you remember that?
Is Wordpress caving in as they did with Sinclair’s site? Texas D is no doubt a formidable figure and as long as we maintain our freedom of speech she will continue to be a nightmare to Obama. Is it hacking or palm greasing that’s causing the problem? Again, where is the FBI? This is our 1st Amendment at issue here.
Just got on Texas Darlin’ without a problem.
I hope the brownshirts are on the run!
New statement from Obama: The situation in Georgia is just a distraction.
Distraction? Uhm, ok, that clears it up.
Maybe he can do another Magical Mystery tour of the area with his press corp and use his divine influence to bring peace and prosperity to the region.
How about another rock concert and free vodka and what ever it is they eat there?
Maybe just a distraction from the “All BO news all of the time”.
LOL! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek1_v-rzSJY
Thank you Buzz Latte,
I tried it again after I saw your post (The 10th time I tried).
Interesting this is unfolding while Obama is on vacation. Some columnist said to Obama beware the ides of August, may not be the best time to go on vacation hehehe.
Obama probably thinks Russia invaded Georgia to make him look bad because he’s a black man. And how preposterous to expect him to actually know anything about the situation. He’s been soooo busy campaigning, and that’s so much more important than actually knowing what you’re talking about. I mean, if he can “heal our souls” by being elected President, surely he can wiggle his ears and make Russia beg him for his forgiveness.
No like I said before, he can always have one of his minions call Putin a racist, see if that works.
Putin would probably brush the dirt off his shoulder, give whatever passes for the finger in Russia.
Oh right, I remember it
Yob Toivu Maht
In this day and age, it’s vitally important that we have a president who sees the world as it is, not as e wish it could be. This is one of the strongest arguments in favir of John McCain over Barack Obama. McCain had Vladimir Putin figured out from Day One.
In this day and age, it’s vitally important that we have a president who sees the world as it is, not as e wish it could be. This is one of the strongest arguments in favor of John McCain over Barack Obama. McCain had Vladimir Putin figured out from Day One.
No problem with TD’s site.
sounds, just sounds like something. maybe a few SD’s rethinking things. The election is going to be a landslide. I mean the one between Hillary and Obama. She is going to get more votes and then what are they going to do?
Puma
RRRoooaaarrrr!!!!
The BTC pipeline’s other end is on fire right now in Turkey. The PKK hit it with bombs they probably got from our support of them in Iraq.
That happened before the Georgia incident.
an important reminder…
Are You A Delegate? Sign the Nominating Petition! Email the Team at hrc300delegates@yahoo.com
Well, the DNC has recklessly chosen to deprive us of Hillary. This was THEIR choice. No one else’s. Let there be no doubt about that.
She was by far the stronger candidate and had a legitimate case to make that she is the rightful nominee. Big states won, swing states won, popular vote, majority of the Democratic base, voter demographics, even popular vote.
The DNC must now go down with the ship. They can try to blame the big loss that Obama has coming on racism, but in their hearts they know they are lying. If he was qualified and had an idea of what he was doing, people would clearly vote for him.
With the charisma he possesses, the “Bad” republican brand right now, Obama’s immense money and press advantage — he could be blue with orange polka dots and he should still be able to win.
The fact that he will not indicates that people are going to put country before party and realize we need someone with experience, and yes, some humility, and a proven ability to work across the aisle to get the job done.
Hillary is certainly a better choice than McCain on this score, but he does possess qualifications, too, and, absent Hillary, McCain is by far a better choice than Obama.
Pelosi, Dean, Reid, Kerry, Brazile, Kennedy, Dodd, Richardson, Edwards, Rockefeller et al should hang their heads in shame for treating Hillary so disgracefully, and for collectively, kicking America under the bus for their own selfish goals.
My sincere wish is that the Obama supporters who have been thus bamboozled by him will awaken soon enough so that they don’t feel the country is at fault for not electing him. The flaws are with the man himself and with the corrupt DNC leadership. This way, those citizens will not feel brokenhearted about him, but will rather feel anger at the those culprits I mentioned above. Likewise, that they will assist in getting them thrown out of office so we can once again have leadership that gives a damn about the American people, instead of the little “power party” within their own Party.
I agree Ani
Let add Claire Mccaskill to the list. She reminds me of the Cheshire Cat Alice in Wonderland. LOL..
Ah yes, good catch. Hopw could I ever forget Miss Claire — she has truly been a ‘dirty birdie.’
The Cheshire Cat was smart, though.
“And I’ll just tell you his favorite thing to say about Vladimir Putin is, When I look into his eyes, I see a K, a G and a B.”
LOL. With one line, McCain slays both Bush and Obama!
And I have to admit, HRC scored one on W when she said, “This is the president that looked in the soul of Putin, and I could have told him, he was a KGB agent. By definition he doesn’t have a soul.” Putin didn’t like that one!
Hey everyone … Larry’s live on kfi640 in few minutes.
7:35 P 10:35 EST
Professional roundtable Larry Johnson, No Quarter, John Avlon, author, “Independent Nation, re campaign week, the energy debate, the Clintons at the convention, the negotiation to permit HRC’s name in nomnation, the Hawaii vacation, the war in the Caucasus and Obama’s 3 a.m. moment.
http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/ondemand/player.html?world=st
http://www.kfi640.com/main.html
Thanks, HStB.
First time I’m listening to the show. Can’t wait.
The player wouldn’t open up for me in Firefox, but worked perfectly in IE.
your welcome, Paul
glad you’re listening, I think Larry’s on every Sunday at 7:35 PT 10:35 ET
Great stuff. Batchelor’s very good and he’s repeating the COLB stuff for his audience.
Hill…
If you have Firefox (I do), download the add-on, IE Tab. You can find it at the Mozilla site. After loading the add-on, right-click the header tab of the site and choose - switch render engines. That should do it.
(It also works for many other IE capability issues)
We are sure Barack understands that this is Georgia the country and not Georgia the State, aren’t we?
Does he even know where both Georgias are on a map? I don’t think so!
McCain offers his view of the situation in Georgia and Obama went to Hawaii to see if he can find his real name. Tough choices in this election.
Does anybody remember the David Crosby album If Only I Could Remember My Name? That song “Laughing” - with Joni Mitchell in the harmonies -
And I thought I’d seen someone
Who seemed at last
To know the truth
I was mistaken
It was only a child - laughing - in the sun
Ah! In the sun
If only there were nothing worse in Obama.
“Laughing”
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6150281329099759282
“And I’ll just tell you his favorite thing to say about Vladimir Putin is, When I look into his eyes, I see a K, a G and a B.”
LOL. With one line, McCain slays both Bush and Obama!”
If things don’t resolve quickly in Georgia; the Russians guaranteed a McCain win. Too many voters remember the 50’s and 60’s when we were very aware that we could have “nuclear combat toe to toe with the Rooskies” at any time.
The Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) sent two letters (April 15, 2008 and July 30, 2008) to the Obama campaign regarding contributions that exceeded the legal limits. The FEC recommended the campaign review their records for additional excessive contributions.
Does this mean Obama knew about the contributions and did nothing?
Additionally, the July 30, 2008 FEC letter states,
Does this mean dollar amounts were counted more than once and total contributions inflated?
You can read the letters and documents provided on Osama Edwan, another brother from Gaza who donated to Obama’s campaign. (Reference below.)
http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/08/in-digging-deep.html
If Obambi had bothered holding any of the meetings he should have in front of his Senate subcommittee he would be up on the situations in his area of responsibility. If he wasn’t such a lazy person that is.
What? You want him to actually do his job? He gets paid for running for office, not for working! Once he gets the big one, he can have early retirement… ahhhh that’s the life.
For the record, Joe Biden seemed to think McCain was a good choice in 2004:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4542473
And then Russ Feingold said a lot of nice things about McCain today.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0808/Russ_Feingold_not_making_life_easy_for_DNC.html
Of course we remember that Kerry asked McCain to be his VP running mate.
Those are perfect subjects for fall campaign ads.
That’s why we need Hillary in there. She’s not a part of the Kerry-Biden old boys network.
the men just talk. Hillary would have been DOING something.
I think you have seen the crest of the wave and Obama’s waters are getting a little calmer.
I don’t think there’s any question about it. When it comes to national security issues, McCain has it hands down. There’s no competition between Obama “urging” the parties to play nice and McCain’s strong and unequivocal demand for Russia to cease and desist. Of course, the Obama folks recognized the difference, too, and “refined” the message.
The internal polls show the shift away from Obama’s “hope and change” message, as if wishful thinking would give The One and his devotees the world they want.
It’s a dangerous joke with or without an offical salute. HRC would have been all over this. If I cannot vote for her, McCain will get my vote [unless he makes a really stupid VP choice].
No kidding…Romney or Huckabe will make me stay home.
Or Bobby Jindal. Nice guy, but only 36 years old, no experience and he supported some stupid creationism nod in Louisiana for the public schools.
Nope. Can’t support that.
Bobby Jindal is great, but he seems like a rising star in the GOP. The base is very excited about him, but he keeps stressing that he enjoys his job now as Governor of LA.
I keep thinking McCain will run with Tim Pawlenty, especially with this Edwards scandal breaking. Tim Pawlenty is a populist who has been cementing that image over the past few years. He has a compelling biography coming from a working class background, is a bit of a policy wonk and comes across as nice and trustworthy. He is not well-known, but several profiles have been written about him lately. This Edwards scandal presents an effective foil for him.
I’ve listened to Jindal. He seems like a very nice man and yes, I wouldn’t doubt he’s a rising star. Though it’s said he’s doing a good job in Louisiana, his slant on creationism is a complete turn off for me.
But more importantly, he has no experience to speak of and if McCain were to become ill during his term [or worse], I would never feel comfortable with a brand new Gov stepping in with so few qualifications.
Pawlenty has been in the news recently. Guess I’ll have to read up on him if that’s the way it goes. But please, no Jindal [not on this round] or Huckabee [nice guy, but preachers and politicians are incompatible from where I sit].
Should be interesting!
Of course, my first pick is Hillary Clinton [as Prez not VP].
I was just thinking Jindal. Not only is he too young but he wants to teach Intelligent Design in LA schools.
McCain released an ad a few days ago that has Biden, Kerry, Daschle, other Dem leaders, saying very complimentary things about McCain and ending with HRC’s famous supporting words about MC Cain’s experience and bi-partisanship and ending with her quip about Obama just having a 2004 speech. I think the ad was hilarious. I hope McCain plays it with the ad time he bought through the Olympics.
What the Russian dust up shows is that Obama is not able to act quickly and effectively, not only because he is on vacation—he just does not know how to recognize a crisis and organize a response. Sounds like a familiar pattern. McCain was not only out in front of Obama on this, he was decidedly out in front of his own president.