Former Kerry advisor: McCain’s POW captivity left him “sadly limited” in foreign policy experience
posted at 4:06 pm on June 30, 2008 by Allahpundit
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I’m not sure what to do with this. Obviously what he said raised someone’s eyebrow at ABC, but they don’t give us enough of a quote to know exactly what he’s saying.
While Barack Obama was urging supporters not to devalue the military service of rival John McCain on Monday, a top Democratic voice on foreign policy argued at the political arm of a liberal think tank that the former POW’s isolation during the Vietnam war has hobbled the Arizona senator’s capacity as a war-time leader.
The comments were made by Rand Beers, Sen. John Kerry’s, D-Mass., top national security adviser during his 2004 presidential run…
His voice rising, [a] questioner wanted to know if McCain understood that the public would not go along with a protracted US troop commitment to military conflicts that were not premised strictly on self-defense but rather on the expansion of freedom or democracy.
Beers said that because McCain was in an unfortunate state of “isolation” during much of the Vietnam War, his national security experience is “sadly limited.” McCain spent five years in captivity as a POW in North Vietnam.
Beers said the McCain limitations are reflected in “some of the ways he thinks about the ways in which US forces might be committed to conflicts around the world.”
Sounds like a rehash of that notorious NYT article from last month in which McCain’s anti-war colleagues in the senate who served in Vietnam tried arguing that being a POW made him less sensitive to the horrors of conflict, not more. It’s a subplot of the “McCain = Bush” narrative the left’s trying to build: Each man’s hawkishness has to be explained away as some sort of indifference to troop sacrifice, which in Bush’s case means calling him a draft dodger who was safely cloistered away from the front lines in the Texas air national guard and in McCain’s case means calling him a nutjob who was safely cloistered away from the front lines in a North Vietnamese tiger cage. That’s the only way the Democrats can somehow spin his experience as a liability vis-a-vis Obama’s. (Actually, there’s another way, but only nutroots halfwits are stupid enough to touch it.) Is that what Beers was trying to insinuate here, or was he making the more Harkin-esque point that the McCain family doesn’t understand anything except fighting, or was it more of a standard “McCain’s torture left him a dangerous lunatic” smear? Can’t tell yet from the tiny bit here. E-mail me if you see a fuller transcript.
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Just wow.
rockmom on June 30, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Of course his years in elected office are meaningless, right?
McCain should be able to mop the floor with Obama.
Your Jewish Master on June 30, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Yet, Barack Obama touts his having lived in Indonesia as a foreign policy coup.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 30, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Presumably the adolescent Obama was soaking up all kinds of foreign policy wisdom during those five and a half years.
CrusaderMom on June 30, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Organizing a soup kitchen and filling pot holes trumps everything.
Limerick on June 30, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Rand Beers is a d**chebag.
wise_man on June 30, 2008 at 4:14 PM
I spent 5 years in college which as it turns out has limited my ability to think more then working at the end of a hammer or wrench…what a tool…..
jimwesty on June 30, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Does anyone else think that “moderating” a discussion means keep the sides equal and fair (debate style and not free flowing exchanges) and then “Shut Up! and keep your thoughts to yourself, Moderator.”
Beers wasn’t exactly neutral.
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:21 PM
They must really want Obama to lose…
TheBigOldDog on June 30, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Projecting back to Kerry, what would these people had said if Republicans claimed that getting wounded in war leads to instability? It’s about as rational as the smear on McCain, but of course Kerry’s position was sufficiently nuanced to not be hawkish (except against Fox News, those villains!)
Wineaholic on June 30, 2008 at 4:21 PM
heh ;-)
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Sometimes it really seems that way, doesn’t it? Next week Kerry’s wife will ridicule McCain for having an independently wealthy wife who is ensconced in a multi billion dollar American company. Sometimes I feel like I’m watching MADTV.
Weight of Glory on June 30, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Aren’t there any grownups left in the Democratic Party who could call up Obama and tell him how stupid this is?
Even BillyJeff (who supposedly talked with Obama today) had enough political smarts not to diss military experience (since he had none, himself, of course). Too many of those working class, bitter, gun-and-Bible-toting Democrats also served or have family members who served in the military.
Wethal on June 30, 2008 at 4:25 PM
I was in Rome for four days this year. Because of this experience, I should be diplomat to Italy. (Obama logic, right?)
I’m thinking McCain has hundreds of times more experience with foreign policy than Obama does….
mjk on June 30, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Translation: he did not get a chance to patchouli oil his long hair and stick it to THE MAN , as many of the Dem constituency did at that point in time.
bbz123 on June 30, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Looks like the value of McCain’s military service is falling faster than the price of a Hummer.
Guess he can fall fall back on his marriage…er, maybe his economic skills?
alphie on June 30, 2008 at 4:27 PM
I was in Rome for four days this year. Because of this experience, I should be diplomat to Italy. (Obama logic, right?)
I’m thinking McCain has hundreds of times more experience with foreign policy than Obama does….
mjk on June 30, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Wethal on June 30, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Maybe it wasn’t Kerry’s wife, but I thought they did this already. (Maybe one of the slime at huffington post..)
wise_man on June 30, 2008 at 4:28 PM
They are losing votes in Pennsylvania every minute that they carry on this ridiculousness. This is a state full of military families and retirees. They are going to be building statues to John McCain before this campaign is over.
rockmom on June 30, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Only among the idiotic Moonbats. Keep it up and McCain will will win 48 States.
TheBigOldDog on June 30, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Or maybe it was someone here.
wise_man on June 30, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Or 57.
wise_man on June 30, 2008 at 4:30 PM
These attacks are so idiotic on their face that I can’t help wonder if these jackasses aren’t so much trying to tarnish McCain, but rather to see if he will blow his stack at some point.
Patrick S on June 30, 2008 at 4:30 PM
How can McCain possibly know how horrible the war was? It`s not like he was mentally or physically savaged for a number of years……Right? :)
ThePrez on June 30, 2008 at 4:30 PM
*Snort*
Being attacked by Wesley Clark and Rand Beers is like being called ugly by a frog. If you think this is going to hurt McCain, why did Obama already issue a statement today rejecting Clark’s comments?
rockmom on June 30, 2008 at 4:30 PM
That McCain, he’s just another Jengis Kahn.
Rick on June 30, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Not entirely true. BillyJeff said at one point during the ‘92 campaign about “George {H. W.} lied to a General [too] during a time of war.” And many, many people pointed out that President Bush 41 lied to get into WWII and served with distinction. I remember because I burst out laughing when he said it.
Leftist are Loons sometimes…
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:31 PM
John Kerry’s not so secret any longer MySpace entry:
Hi there fellow bloggers. My name is United States Senator John Forbes Kerry from the great state of Massachusetts. You can call me JFK if you want. I was born on December 11, 1943, although people tell me that I look at least 20 years younger. It’s probably my great hair and rugged good looks.
I graduated from Yale in June 1966 in the top 1% of my class. To earn extra money during the summers, I loaded trucks in a grocery warehouse and sold encyclopedias door to door. That is probably one of the reasons that I am so humble. Over my four years at Yale, I maintained a 96 grade average and received a 101 average in my senior year.
I am one of the most senior members of that grand and much loved and respected institution known as the U.S. Senate. Probably the only living Senator even a little bit greater than me is my dear friend Ted Moore Kennedy. I also have a very high IQ. Very high. At least 250 on a bad day. Much higher than that creep who stole the election from me. I know that he stole it because exit polls are never ever wrong.
I am also a great war hero. I set all kinds of records for heroism when I was in Vietnam. I was grievously wounded at least three times yet continued to insist on staying in the fight when lesser men would have given up. I won the bronze star with extra V’s for extra valor and the Silver Star for defeating a whole battalion of NVA with my bare hands.
Sometimes I feel like a had to carry all the water for those other ungrateful swiftboaters and that slacker John McCain who spent almost his whole time in Vietnam laying around in some hotel in Hanoi while I was in the heat of battle.
I sometimes like to chill out after a long day of serving the American people by having a double martini with my good friend Ted. We usually have a servant bring 21 double martinis. I get one and Ted gets one for each of his fingers and each of his toes. Contrary to what some of my very few enemies say I never marry women for just their money. They must also have a pulse. BTW, did I mention that I was in Vietnam? I was also in Cambodia, so don’t forget that!
I would like to think that I am open minded, honest, polite, heroic and trustworthy. And I appreciate the same qualities in others although I am realistic enough to know that no one else could come close to me.
Turn offs: other politicians who spend more on haircuts than I do. That is just not right.
Who I’d like to meet:
…other progressive bloggers. Other great war heroes who hate that damn S-T-U-P-I-D Texan in the White House and those lying sons of bitcher swiftboat bastardos whose pants are on fire! Cool people who live close to Washington D.C. so that we can get together, talk about you for about 30 seconds and then spend about 9 hours talking about me. BTW, did I mention that I was in Vietnam and Cambodia? Just one more BTW, if anyone has found my magic hat please return to me.
MB4 on June 30, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Your state is the key to the mansion. Neither Barry nor John can survive without it.
Limerick on June 30, 2008 at 4:32 PM
John Kerry’s not so secret any longer MySpace entry:
Hi there fellow bloggers. My name is United States Senator John Forbes Kerry from the great state of Massachusetts. You can call me JFK if you want. I was born on December 11, 1943, although people tell me that I look at least 20 years younger. It’s probably my great hair and rugged good looks.
I graduated from Yale in June 1966 in the top 1% of my class. To earn extra money during the summers, I loaded trucks in a grocery warehouse and sold encyclopedias door to door. That is probably one of the reasons that I am so humble. Over my four years at Yale, I maintained a 96 grade average and received a 101 average in my senior year.
I am one of the most senior members of that grand and much loved and respected institution known as the U.S. Senate. Probably the only living Senator even a little bit greater than me is my dear friend Ted Moore Kennedy. I also have a very high IQ. Very high. At least 250 on a bad day. Much higher than that creep who stole the election from me. I know that he stole it because exit polls are never ever wrong.
I am also a great war hero. I set all kinds of records for heroism when I was in Vietnam. I was grievously wounded at least three times yet continued to insist on staying in the fight when lesser men would have given up. I won the bronze star with extra V’s for extra valor and the Silver Star for defeating a whole battalion of NVA with my bare hands.
Sometimes I feel like a had to carry all the water for those other ungrateful swiftboaters and that slacker John McCain who spent almost his whole time in Vietnam laying around in some hotel in Hanoi while I was in the heat of battle.
I sometimes like to chill out after a long day of serving the American people by having a double martini with my good friend Ted. We usually have a servant bring 21 double martinis. I get one and Ted gets one for each of his fingers and each of his toes. Contrary to what some of my very few enemies say I never marry women for just their money. They must also have a pulse. BTW, did I mention that I was in Vietnam? I was also in Cambodia, so don’t forget that!
I would like to think that I am open minded, honest, polite, heroic and trustworthy. And I appreciate the same qualities in others although I am realistic enough to know that no one else could come close to me.
Turn offs: other politicians who spend more on haircuts than I do. That is just not right.
Who I’d like to meet:
…other progressive bloggers. Other great war heroes who hate that damn S-T-U-P-I-D Texan in the White House and those lying sons of #itcher swiftboat #astardos whose pants are on fire! Cool people who live close to Washington D.C. so that we can get together, talk about you for about 30 seconds and then spend about 9 hours talking about me. BTW, did I mention that I was in Vietnam and Cambodia? Just one more BTW, if anyone has found my magic hat please return to me.
MB4 on June 30, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Murtha has no shame. And I do not mean that as a compliment.
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:34 PM
That makes Eight
Right Jim?
pabarge on June 30, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Obama and his people are constantly whining that they want to keep it to the issues and outside of character attacks. Seems like the memo didn’t have full distribution.
I can’t stand McCain, think he will be a trainwreck as POTUS, despise the fact he hates evangelicals, rarely agree with his country club Republican values, and think he violated his oath of office when he schemed with Teddy Kennedy to give away citizenship to the least deserving among us……
Yet, these statements are as nutty as the idiots who are still out there bleating the McCain is a Reagan Republican. I really resent the fact that the Dems are forcing me to stand up for a political Judas who shouldn’t be the party nominee in the first place and wouldn’t have been had the more liberal Republicans gotten over their irrational hatred of those who openly profess their faith in Christ.
highhopes on June 30, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Alphie, your value as a Troll was used up long ago. Just saying.
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:39 PM
You don’t need to see this for what it is.
This isn’t a coordinated attack from the Left/DNC/Obamamessiah.
You can go about your business.
Move along.
catmman on June 30, 2008 at 4:39 PM
John Kerry’s not so secret any longer MySpace entry:
Wethal on June 30, 2008 at 4:40 PM
You really have to wonder: Did the Democrats actually do polling to show that this line of attack would be a good idea? Or did they just wing it after a late-night brainstorming session (and I use the term “brain” very loosely) and came up with this idea, I would presume based on the idea that if the Republicans could question John Kerry’s Vietnam military service in 2004, they could do the same with McCain in 2008.
Of course, to do that, you have to equate being shot down and spending five years in a North Vietnamese POW camp as the equivalent of getting two quick Purple Hearts and leaving the country, then going to Washington and testifying of your own free will that fellow soldiers were war criminals while at the same time throwing your medals — excuse me, throwing someone else’s medals — over the White House fence. Yep, no question those two situations are totally equivalent. [/sarcasm]
jon1979 on June 30, 2008 at 4:42 PM
The more they mock McCain’s former service, the more likely it is that this formal Naval Officer will vote for him. I’ve had enough of it.
JeffC_95 on June 30, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Still laughing….
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Implicit in this silly argument is that when McCain came back from his stay (ahem) in Hanoi that he just completely forgot about Vietnam. He never studied the issue, he never talked with his fellow soldiers/sailors/airmen about their experiences, he never read any books about those who served on the ground.
All McCain knows about Vietnam (or war in general, I guess), so this argument goes, is based on his experiences as a POW. Nothing else, nothing more, nothing more substantive.
It’s a silly argument that is easily refuted by learning about McCain biography.
SteveMG on June 30, 2008 at 4:45 PM
They don’t equate; as you brilliantly noted!
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Don’t you people work?
:O)
Seven Percent Solution on June 30, 2008 at 4:49 PM
As another poster pointed out this is ridiculous. Sen. McCain spent 5.5 years in a POW camp. That certainly gave him plenty of time to observe a foreign culture and the implications of foreign policy. Then there’s the years afterward that he spent as a military liaison to Congress flying all over the world. Oh, and then there’s his 25 years in Congress watching and participating in foreign policy. Now how does this compare to a guy who famously mentioned he was 8 during Vietnam and has done little to demonstrate foreign policy knowledge since then?
Jill1066 on June 30, 2008 at 4:50 PM
…brainstorming sessions
jon1979 on June 30, 2008 at 4:42 PM
You didn’t get the memo, typical of your right wing haters. How could you dare to use such a dereisve term as “brainstorming”.
I know you MUST hafve meant…
“Thought Showers!”
catmman on June 30, 2008 at 4:51 PM
typo city…I know.
catmman on June 30, 2008 at 4:51 PM
And Barack was learning his ABC’s and how to wipe his own bottom…
right2bright on June 30, 2008 at 4:52 PM
I don’t think that McCain’s 5 to 6 years as a POW got him much in the way of experience that would be useful as a President or much of anything else for that matter except as perhaps a punching bag.
However if the dims are going to make that case to their advantage, rather than their determent, then they have to follow it up with, “However our candidate was leading a company of Soldiers or Marines or serving as and operations officer, and they can’t.
Obama needs to throw Wes Clark and Rand Beers under that bus for terminal stupidity. Obama will probably need more buses. Ray Nagin may be able to help.
MB4 on June 30, 2008 at 5:00 PM
There must be some crazy liberal nutbag school of thought that says if you didn’t learn the “correct” lesson from Vietnam then you can’t manage U.S. foreign policy. In this view, Barack Obama is “more qualified” than John McCain because he learned the “correct” lesson from Vietnam.
I think these guys are preaching to the choir way too much. The Obamabot voters are either too young to know anything about Vietnam or they are aging hippies who marched against the war so they wouldn’t get drafted. Obama is never going to win over independent voters or skeptical blue-collar Democrats by attacking John McCain’s military service. And he is going to drive apathetic conservatives right into being enthusiastic McCain supporters with this junk.
rockmom on June 30, 2008 at 5:01 PM
McCain 5 years suffering and enduring torturous interrogation as an American citizen POW at the hands of communists, Navy laisson to Congress, decades as US Senator serving in a multitude of high positions on the most significant committees regarding foreign affairs
vs.
Obama zero experience in military or in any significant appointments regarding ANY foreign affairs as Ill. State senator or as Ill. US Senator, always absent or abstaining from all US votes other than to vote against Iraq, against our military funds, and against American success. In his hypocritical “ethics” sham work in Chicago slums, he stole funds designated to rebuild housing for the indigent. Bobama’s foreign experience: Muslim non-American grandfather/father/stepfather, Muslim birth, Muslim education in Indonesia: Obama claimed this made him special some time ago, you may recall. Cap this “foreign experience” with insider international business associates. BHO definitely has radical militant experience via his studies, his platform, his endorsements and friends both domestic and international, and his community organizing work with and for pro-black-panther SDS Marxist activists.
So by contrast and inference, Beer figures that Obama is happily-unlimited-in-foreign-policy-experience. Obama’s perpetual malleability on every issue is the unlimited quantity that the ubertards laud.
maverick muse on June 30, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Surely you don’t think that his understanding of the Vietnam war - or war in general - is limited to his five years as a POW?
Equally surely you don’t think how he behaved during those five years doesn’t tell us something about him as a man?
This five year experience isn’t sufficient reason by itself for anyone to vote for him. I don’t think anyone - especially McCain - is claiming that.
But it certainly tells us something about him as a man and perhaps - who knows? - how he’ll act as President.
SteveMG on June 30, 2008 at 5:05 PM
The real question is this: How does McCain’s service help Michelle Obama’s children?
Mike Honcho on June 30, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Obama and McCain both both spent their formative years in a shooting gallery. McCain in Vietnam, Obama in Junkie Town. McCain had his bones cracked, Obama had a crack pipe. And the media refuses to talk about what it would mean to have a recovering junkie in the White House, although they had a whole lot to say about having a recovering alcoholic in the White House. Late October 2000 was pretty much dedicated to that discussion in the ‘rat media.
Buddahpundit on June 30, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Maybe they want both. If they can get McCain to loose his temper, then they can tag him with the whole ‘McCain - hulk go smash!’ image that they want. If they (liberals) can derail a politician’s candidacy with a ‘Macaca’ moment, then they will try it 5 times a day.
wise_man on June 30, 2008 at 5:11 PM
That’s exactly what I was going to say :-)
I was going to mention that Community Organization bit too, Chicago’s a rough town after all.
kirkill on June 30, 2008 at 5:20 PM
They came up with this idea at the same time they came up with the seal idea.
Two for one on the stupid.
ArmyAunt on June 30, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Maybe Hillary is behind all of this, trying to engage through surrogates in an “assisted suicide” of the Obama campaign.
Either that, or these guys are desperately trying to steal the mantle of “The Stupid Party” from Republicans.
thirteen28 on June 30, 2008 at 5:37 PM
It is suddenly clear.
The man was captured by an enemy power, tortured to near death, and he survived?
Clearly he has no expereience of the world outside the US, and no idea of courage.
I dislike McCannot but this is beyond low - it is plain stupid.
Ares on June 30, 2008 at 5:47 PM
A golden shower would be more effective and produce betetr results.
Sekhmet on June 30, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Branch,
Don’t blame me…it’s the right who choose to dilute McCain’s military service by twisting honest words about it into phony attacks for a daily outrage.
Clock’s running out…will the right ever find a real issue to use against Obama?
alphie on June 30, 2008 at 5:55 PM
I dunno.
Has he read McMaster’s book, “Dereliction of Duty, Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the lies that led to Vietnam”? Has he read Army War Collage papers on Vietnam?
Does he read Robert Spencer, Hugh Fitzgerald and Diana West writings on Islam?
MB4 on June 30, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Probably a whole bunch … … … in 2009 to 2012.
MB4 on June 30, 2008 at 5:59 PM
McCain has repeatedly criticized Obama’s judicial views, tax and spending views and foreign policy views.
It’s a start.
SteveMG on June 30, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Because Obama was in an unfortunate state of “childhood” during the entirety of the Vietnam War, his national security experience is “sadly limited.”
Blacklake on June 30, 2008 at 6:20 PM
I love how the Dems are “Damning with faint praise”, McCain’ts service and POW experience.
“I honor John McCain’s service in vietnam,, But….”
44Magnum on June 30, 2008 at 6:27 PM
Ahh, it’s a Phlie again.
As for real, substantial issues:
Let’s start with less time in the Senate than his rival….by a long shot.
His “judgment” about the war…which he was in absolutely no position to exercise in 2002 not actually being a member of the US Congress or Senate at the time.
He’s a product of Chicago politics, which makes New York politics look pristine and orderly in comparison.
He is considered the most liberal Senator by his votes….
Gee, anybody else want to pile on here?
Sekhmet on June 30, 2008 at 6:28 PM
As attacks go, this is one of the silliest yet. Sure…he didn’t have years of study and training before they dropped him in a war zone, hoping he would learn the art of war on the fly. /s
However, my favorite attack is Jay Rockefeller’s…
Sure…he doesn’t know what happens when bombs hit the ground. He was only in the Hanoi Hilton during Linebacker II. Oh, yeah…he didn’t dare go down to 1500 feet before pickling his bombs.
I swear…everytime the left opens it’s collective mouth, they show their complete lack of knowledge of war.
I hope they keep it up.
kakypat on June 30, 2008 at 7:10 PM
There should be a national moratorium on the number of dou**ebags allowed to comment in public about things they know nothing about.
MsUnderestimated on June 30, 2008 at 7:10 PM
I don’t really understand what your point was.
Nor did you disabuse me of the notion that you are a Troll….
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Less time in the Senate than McCain, Sekh?
Real conservatives are for term limits…point for Obama.
McCain is exactly the kind of guy conservatives wanted out of government:
A guy who has spent his whole life living on the government’s(or his wife’s) dime.
I’ll overlook your obvious regional smears as a moment of…rage.
alphie on June 30, 2008 at 7:16 PM
Thanks for your concern, but the Obamassiah and his associates have provided plenty already. Voters will see him for the elitist, power-mad, cowardly, opportunist, woefully inexperienced politician that he is soon enough.
Hollowpoint on June 30, 2008 at 7:19 PM
i’d like to see any of these people land on an Aircraft carrier.
Chakra Hammer on June 30, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Just another example of Obama successfully attempting to negate an argument against him. He mastered the technique in the primary — remove all of your opponent’s tools all the while using the very same tools to attack (see this series of posts).
It really is masterful and McCain has got to start doing the same otherwise he will be on defense till November, just like the Bush administration has been for 4 years.
David
LifeTrek on June 30, 2008 at 7:20 PM
Point for Obama? You, Alpha Victim, are just brilliant. /s off
How is this: my dog has never been in the senate. Therefore, he is conservative because he doesn’t have a government job?
Victim Logic = Troll Alert
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 7:22 PM
They have to attack McCain with these sleaze tactics, they don’t have anything of substance to counter McCain on.
They are going to nominate the most inexperienced Presidential candidate since George Washington (being the first, there was no Presidential experience available). So they can’t lean on Obama’s record, he doesn’t have one. It’s just that simple.
Hog Wild on June 30, 2008 at 7:35 PM
You’re prolly too young to remember when real conservatives were for term limits, Branch.
McCain’s 25 years in Congress has got to be a tad too long even for you Rapture Republicans, eh?
alphie on June 30, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Robert Byrd? Since 1959. Democrat.
Teddy Kennedy? Since 1962. Democrat.
Harry Ried? In Congress since 1980. Democrat.
Carl Levin? Since 1979. Democrat.
Daniel Inouye? 1968. Democrat.
Patrick Leahy? 1975. Democrat.
Max Baucus? 1978. Democrat.
Chris Dodd? 1981. Democrat.
John Kerry? 1985. Democrat.
Hog Wild on June 30, 2008 at 7:48 PM
Rapture Republicans,eh?
alphie on June 30,2008 at 7:35PM.
alphie: I hear the horn of Obama’s Hope and Change
magic bus tour callin ya,yer gonna be late
for your Liberal seminar calling prayer
worship,eh!
canopfor on June 30, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Isolated?
Flying bombing missions over a city ringed by SAMs and getting to live with and resist the enemy everyday could give one a unique perspective, I would think.
After McCain returned to the states, he spent a year at the national War College studying the Vietnam War and writing a thesis.
Also, his father was CINCPAC, and in that role was the one who had to actually dispatch the planes that bombed Hanoi while his son was there.
juliesa on June 30, 2008 at 8:12 PM
Oh wonderful, a Kerry adviser. There’s not a Kerry advisor alive that could carry water for McCain. Kerry and that slimy gaggle of humanity that surrounds him are nothing but political maggots that can stick it in their ears . . . or the orifice of their choice.
rplat on June 30, 2008 at 8:14 PM
One thing is clear: McCain understands something about evil regimes. People who are swayed by John Kerry and his lackeys do not.
njcommuter on June 30, 2008 at 8:47 PM
alphie on June 30, 2008 at 4:27 PM
I can tell by your ignorant comment about McCain’s military service that you’re one of those sanctimonious Obama supporters who has never deigned to wear the uniform of this country.
Liberals are little weasels.
elduende on June 30, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Why don’t you go off somewhere and write Dereliction of Duty, George Bush, Dick Cheney, and the Lies that Led to the Iraq War.
davidk on June 30, 2008 at 9:12 PM
MB4 got to ya’, eh? lol
kakypat on June 30, 2008 at 9:19 PM
What exactly is it about Democrats that when one of their idiots (Clark) makes a stupid statement that winds up digging a great big hole for the candidate he is supposed to be representing (B.O.), another Democrat (Beers) comes along with the intention of filling in the hole and instead winds up making an even stupidier statement and ends up digging an even bigger hole in the process?
That being said, why are these clowns in power in Congress right now?
pilamaye on June 30, 2008 at 9:41 PM
Yeah, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.
davidk on June 30, 2008 at 10:01 PM
I may get to that later. Right now I am writing, “Internet Indigestion and the top 100 ways to give David K heartburn.”
MB4 on June 30, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Why when you and UberDouche could write it. It would be in Fiction; but whatever…
Branch Rickey on June 30, 2008 at 11:26 PM
The book “Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the lies that led to Vietnam” was written by recently promoted to General, H.R. McMaster.
H.R. McMaster is a West Point graduate who earned a Silver Star for battlefield prowess during the 1991 Gulf War after his armored cavalry troop stumbled across an Iraqi mechanized brigade in the middle of a sandstorm and destroyed it.
MB4 on July 1, 2008 at 1:48 AM
I can’t find anyplace where McCain has claimed that his POW experiences translated into foreign policy expertise.
MarkTheGreat on July 1, 2008 at 7:57 AM
These people are working to undermine McCain without any kickback to Obama. They will succeed unless there is some comparisons made.
davod on July 1, 2008 at 8:57 AM
I used to drive a schoolbus. (The little bus.)
davidk on July 1, 2008 at 11:47 AM