McCain on Bill Clinton: “I don’t know where he gets his expertise”
posted at 12:15 pm on July 8, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
John McCain answered Bill Clinton’s assessment of the mental stability of POWs today on Fox News. He delivers what may be the classic rebuttal of his career, exposing Clinton’s lack of standing to even comment on such an issue:
McCain shrugs off the attack, answering that the Obama campaign can say whatever it wants about his military experience, but one has to wonder why the Democrats keep raising the issue. It only gives McCain an opportunity to speak about his war service, his love of country, and to remind voters that neither Bill Clinton nor Barack Obama served at all. They continually play to his strength while highlighting Obama’s weakness on military affairs.
And in this case, they get to highlight McCain’s sense of humor. Almost as good as the zinger is the gale of laughter that precedes it.
Blowback
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…meanwhile in Israel…
1. Livni (this morning)
2. Olmert (this afternoon)
The will-she/won’t-she game continues…. Keeping Tehran up at night, scratching her chin.
Limerick on July 8, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Oh yeah. Love him.
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2008 at 4:40 PM
The best thing Olmert can do for his country is die in his sleep tonight.
Hilts on July 8, 2008 at 4:43 PM
I’m a conservative of the Demint, Coburn, Sessions, and Sandford school. We need them and more of the same in Congress to keep whoever is elected POTUS acting on behalf of the American people re security and the economy.
That said, just as a vote for Perot was a vote for Clinton, a vote for Barr (or a protest write-in like (shudder) Paul or (shudder,shudder) Huckabee or other third-party candidate) will assure that Obama is president. While such a protest vote or not voting at all may assuage one’s conscience, the unintended consequences are too damaging and long-reaching to our country to contemplate.
The midterms in 2006 damaged the Republicans; repeating that disaster in 2008 will damage economic and national security even further. Liberty cannot afford Democrat dominance and influence in all three branches.
I say that it is better to make lemonade with the “lemon” that the GOP has because McCzin offers more to the Republic than the condescending, squishy rotten fruit that the Dems have on offer. Obama is too manipulable, and a power-mad Congress will control him. With a committed conservative caucus voted in down-ticket, McCain can be sweetened, kept honest, and made to look out for the interests of America, not the siren song of the internationalists.
Concern about Iran affects our national interests economically. In fact, its containment is important to the stability not only of the ME but of the world. An isolationist stance toward Iran imperils the world in far-reaching ways. While Myammar and Darfur represent concerns of human-rights issues, their atrocities have less impact on international economic stability.
onlineanalyst on July 8, 2008 at 4:45 PM
+1
JiangxiDad on July 8, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Labeling humans and most politicians as either strictly “liberal” or “conservative” is a losing proposition. Most humans are much more complex than that. Based on individual life experiences and current historical conditions, most individuals develop both liberal and conservative tendencies and they often change their opinions as conditions change. That is why idealogical labeling is counterproductive and creates a conundrum of conflicting interpretations. For some conservatives, simply supporting immigration reform is enough to forever label a politician as a liberal. Too many self-proclaimed conservatives seem to have forgotten that politicians are inherently creatures who must adapt to current conditions and public sentiment in order to get elected. As such, they are often compelled to support what Americans want, even if they don’t personally agree with it. So, to conservatives who feel compelled to withdraw support from McCain and wait for a conservative messiah to save the nation, I say good luck with that losing strategy. The only winning strategy is to work with what we have and lobby hard to pressure our elected leaders to do the will of the people. Unfortunately, the will of the people doesn’t always support conservative principles, but that is the real world that we all live in. So, sit on the sidelines and watch the world go to hell or get involved and fight actively for what you believe in. Politicians usually respect and are compelled to listen to those who support them and who fight vigorously for their principles. They also find it real easy to ignore everyone else. Throwing our candidate under the bus and sitting on the sidelines is nothing more or less than a recipe for long-term political irrelevance.
NuclearPhysicist on July 8, 2008 at 5:19 PM
You are so strange, you are the ones with names on the list, where did I “sneer”, which is a strange word to use on a blog.
I never trashed them…here let me explain and I will try to use small words and type real slow.
you said you were not a demint isolationists, and I came up with a list showing you were (from one of your posts that you had forgotten about apparently), those guys names were on it.
So now you are trying to say I am trashing them, because I quoted you using their names. Okay, I see the connection those honorable men tied to you, I can see the problem.
Good try on changing the subject, you are a snaking little devil.
You also stated if I came up that you would admit to lying…sooooooooo
I have no bone to pick with those fine gentlemen…I already posted and gave you many examples (since you requested) of me not being a liberal which you claimed. And you claimed I was a racist (and I listed that), and you, well you went over the edge again…lets just keep it at that.
You have a very difficult time with facts that contradict you, don’t you?
Let’s see how many think I am a liberal poster…we will see how many support your contention. Then we ask them to come up with more then a couple of examples to counter my 3,290 postings.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Oh did I mention, flenser has a total of 214 postings…looks like his trying to derail McCain has been just recent…I have a feeling after the election we won’t hear form flenser and a few others…
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Good post, the lemonade may be a little sour, but it is better then dying of thirst.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 5:50 PM
not2bright, have you been nipping at the gin bottle again? I swear, you put up some of the most nonsensical, rambling posts …
No, you simpleton, I’m sayng that you were trashing them because you called them isolationists. Maybe you’ve forgotten already that you did that. I understand short term memory loss is common among alchoholics.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 6:01 PM
That’s a prayer, not a clear-eyed assessment of political reality. McCain has made it abundantly clear what sort of person he is and what sort of policies he favors. He cannot be made to look out for the interests of America.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 6:05 PM
The hard part in the next few months will be deciding who is really a conservative, a Republican, and who is on this site to “stir” the pot.
I have a feeling that someone left the door open, and a few liberal cock-a-roaches snuck in.
They will say they are conservative, and they will attack other conservatives, they will sound like conservatives…but they will not support conservative values. Oh, they will say they like someone who is not in the race, that is safe, they will pretend to support someone that in not in this election, that’s a good cover. Definitely a third party is an asset to them. They will undermine the Republican agenda; that is to get a Republican ticket elected. If it was Romney, they would be dissing him, if it was Huck, they would be dissing him (well maybe me also in that case), but we have McCain, so the “objective” guns come out.
Now some you can trace back, like MB4, he is just wacko hating McCain, but you can search him for many months and see his stance is consistent.
The others, we will see, they will make a slip. They will accuse a known conservative of being liberal, they will “stretch” the truth, but be vague on who they really would support. But this is a blog, so they can hide behind any lie they want. But we know you are out there…I have already seen the signs.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 6:05 PM
I bet you still believe in Santa Claus as well.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 6:07 PM
It’s not hard at all. Conservatives don’t have any problem spotting each other. For one thing, conservatives don’t show up here to recycle silly left-wing talking points about the racist Republican party.
Well done, Comrade Not2Bright! You have smoked out the traitors plot! In thanks, we are appointing you Chief of the KGB. There is a dacha thrown in as well.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 6:13 PM
nuclearPhysicist @ 5:19, great post IMO, I wish I could have thought it first. I am what I am, I don’t care what label anyone else gives me. My two senators ( Snowe + Collins) get slammed all the time on this and other blogs. Compare those two to my two congressmen ( Allen + Michaud )
who are extreme lefty’s, and the two senators look like conservatives. Big out of state money is coming to Allen’s campaign to unseat Collins, if he loses we not only keep Collins but we get him out of our politics as well. Bashing Collins for not being conservative enough does nothing for us here.
aceinstall on July 8, 2008 at 6:17 PM
Not so fast there, flenser. Political reality is what it is, not some written-in-stone ideology of conservatism that ignores that most Americans tend to actually prefer (through their votes) centrist executives tempered by conservate brakes in order to maintain their American liberties.
If nothing else, McCain is a patriotic American who would defend his nation’s interests.
I don’t think that you have examined the contradictions of Barr’s platform in relation to his former thinking. I don’t believe that he has had an epiphany; his candidacy seems to be more of a self-serving stroke to his own ego.
onlineanalyst on July 8, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Please explain how you arrive at that conclusion based on McCains policy preferences. Which of them involve defending Americas interests? His global warming plans? His open borders plans?
I guess that’s why they love Bush so much then.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Excellent post, all of it. Political irrelevance is a choice; interesting that those who have voluntarily marginalized themselves are the ones who tend to whine the loudest.
Gilda on July 8, 2008 at 6:31 PM
You know what, you win, I am just a simplton to you, I trashed these fine gentlemen, ummm, the Cato institute has no record of these bums, I, umm, I am the racist liberal you said I am, ummm, you never said you supported DeMint, ummm, oh I am now an alcholic, yes that’s it, I am whatever you want to create in your mind, now quit hijacking these posts with whatever stories you want to make of me.
And btw, you and a few others (mostly banned by now) have used the not2bright line more then once. It makes you look like petty without an argument….oh, I guess that is the case. wait, I didn’t mean that, you are amazingly brilliant
And what is with the personal attacks of alchoholic, liberal, racist, don’t you have better arguments then personal slams? Not that I mind, don’t forget your medication.
I don’t want to offend you, just asking…listen you don’t know where I live do you…I’m not going to have to have a restraining order placed on you…not that I would, no you are a wonderful person…yep, wouldn’t mind being your friend, take it easy…you sure you don’t know where I live?
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 6:34 PM
oh, I agree, I agree…yeah, I am the racist…everyone believes that. I have been flensered.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Now that one hurt you…I have a feeling your posting will be over after the election.
I think we have found a little smart troll among us. I mean how many would dare attack a record like mine and call me a Republican racist, let alone a liberal?
Have I got you pegged, and now you are exposed? My little pot stirring friend…I think I turned on the light and the little cock-a-roacha is a scramblin…
Let’s see if we can find another…
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Forget it, you are talking to a liberal troll. He has no interest in engaging with you. His only interest is diverting votes from McCain.
Look at his past posts, when you defend McCain, he goes berserk. Almost exclusively against McCain.
Out of just a couple of hundred posts, over 170 are about McCain, and you can assume some of the posts didn’t mention McCain by name. So about 80-90%% of his posts are about just one issue…McCain.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Yes, you did.
Bums, hmmm? But you never thrashed them. And you never did produce that link. I guess we’re supposed to believe you, even though you’re one of the least believable posters here.
Stop lying already.
Fancy that. Why do you think that is?
I said you were a liberal, not a racist. Stop lying, if you are able.
What is “with” it is that you are the saddest excuse for a commenter I’ve seen since Carol Herman. You write long rambling incoherent posts that read like they were written by somebody in an asylum. That is what is “with it”.
Obviously, I do, which is why you never even try to enagage me on the level of arguments, instead bringing forth efforts like the ones we see on this page, full of sound and fury and utterly devoid of the slightest meaning.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 6:56 PM
onlineanalyst, the Commissar has spoken. Further contact with me will probably result in your being taken away and beaten with rubber hoses.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 6:58 PM
oh look what I found, saying I am repeating left wing gop’s racist history…I guess by your definintion if I repeat it I am not what I repeat what I believe you are trying say that I am not a racist because I only repeat but not…that is an imitation of you trying to get out of this pickle you got yourself into.
You have got to remember what you post, you just are killing yourself. I am beginning to feel sorry for you, really.
I outed you as an anti-McCain poster, over 80% (more like 90%)of your posts have been about dissing McCain. So you have nothing much left to offer.
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 7:20 PM
You must have been hitting the bottle again. There is no way to get from my criticism of you for describing the GOP as racist to my calling you a racist. I did not call you a racist. I said that you called the GOP a party with a racist past. And you did.
What is killing me is your total inability to understand what you read.
Wow, that must have been tough! And I was working so hard to keep it a secret. But look out, I think there are some more people like me lurking around here.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Warning to other members of secret anti-McCain cell operating on Hot Air: They are on to us. Follow evasive pattern Zulu Tango Eleven. We’ll meet at our secret hide-out and develop a new long term strategy. Keep strict radio and internet silence until that tme.
Flenser, out.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 7:52 PM
There are more, you joined to be a troll, to diss McCain, you can’t even own up to your posts. No conservative with any posting experience would have made the errors you have made.
You said I am repeating left wing GOP racist history, you are the one that used the words racist when referring to me. Now answer my question I posted at the other thread.
Which one of these “racists” agrees with my premise that the Republicans allowed the black vote to be taken by the Dems.(by our inaction)
Reagan or Sowell, neither or both, and if you say both I will throw in the added benefit of saying this quote…”We allowed the Democrats to win the black minority vote, we were complacent in our attitude…” (quoting each other counts)
So which was it? Am I the only racist? Or do I have company…
Please, be my guest and make a choice.
I don’t think you will, because you may have to call Reagan a proponent of GOP racist history or Thomas Sowell as a purveyor of GOP racist history…I have good company, don’t I?
You little McCain troll…don’t flenser me…
right2bright on July 8, 2008 at 7:52 PM
I’m pretty sure that you’re mistaken. If you can find a comment by me saying that you are a racist then I’ll apologise, as I don’t think that you are.
flenser on July 8, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Both of you are using this website as your personal sparring ring. Knock it off.
fossten on July 8, 2008 at 8:50 PM
……… some people have to find a life somewhere, but I agree, this website may not be the appropriate place, but I could be wrong.
Seven Percent Solution on July 8, 2008 at 9:09 PM
right2bright, you’re a little late. I outed flenser days ago. He/she is a classic troll trying to stir division and get loyal commenters to stop posting because they are tired of the arguing. Don’t fall for it. This is a good topic that is worthy of discussion among real conservatives. Just don’t feed the trolls!
rockmom on July 8, 2008 at 9:31 PM
Some refuse to learn the lesson of Red Pill.
fossten on July 8, 2008 at 9:31 PM
I’m wondering who is telling Obama and his cronies to attack McCain on his MILITARY record? Are they insane?
SouthernGent on July 8, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Before a flight today I bought a special edition of Time, only because of Mark Twain as “having influenced American thinking” on the cover.
In it Ariana Huffington was being interviewed about blogging. One question was exactly that “what should Obama focus on the most”. Ariana answered “like Karl Rove, who was an expert on attacking his oponent’s strong point, Obama should attack McCain’s service/military expertise”.
Entelechy on July 8, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Oh no you di’nt!
Sort of like Ryan Seacrest there Fluffer?
carbon_footprint on July 8, 2008 at 11:26 PM
The theory is that if McCain has to answer question after question about it, then they can splice together all his answers into a soundbite that makes it look like he’s touting his military record, which could get tiresome as Rudy found out by repeatedly touting his 9/11 record. It’s a shrewd strategy.
fossten on July 9, 2008 at 7:53 AM
There you have. Democrats are clumsily trying to adopt the Rove tactic. Too bad for them they are using sledgehammers and not stilettos, so it is backfiring on them. They just used up Wesley Clark and had to throw him away, when he could have been a very useful surrogate or even a VP nominee for Obama. Rove was smart enough not to use primary surrogates to go after Kerry’s military record.
It looks like a dumb strategy by the Obama campaign, because the way they are doing it IS dumb.
rockmom on July 9, 2008 at 8:42 AM
onlineanalyst on July 8, 2008 at 4:45 PM
NuclearPhysicist on July 8, 2008 at 5:19 PM
Bravo and encore!
Thanks for the fresh oxygen. These threads tend to devolve into juvenile tantrums of spite–he said, she said, did too, did not, blahx3.
Onlineanalyst, haven’t you been at HotAir from the beginning? Or where have I been reading your comments for years–Captain’s Quarters?
NuclearPhysicist, are you on vacation with time to post? Your infrequent comments here are beneficial and appreciated.
Where do you two generally post comments?
maverick muse on July 9, 2008 at 8:57 AM
You’re right. To an extent, yes, they are crazy. But to that same extent, so are most people. Everyone has their mental faults that residually fill and then release given pressure. America’s love/hate relationship with the military-industrial complex is fertile ground. Where pinkos would sling that ground for mud, conservatives would construct bunkers.
Anyway, WillyJeff displayed once again his draft dodger mentality, transfering his comments, intentionally not speaking of Mandella more than of McCain. Clinton remains a beastly coward and saboteur.
maverick muse on July 9, 2008 at 9:16 AM
rockmom, “Too bad for them they are using sledgehammers and not stilettos”, good point. Time, though, is yet a factor. Where the hammer initiates impact, watch for the pick to follow in days to come. The MSM constant drip or flow of water has eroding effect if not well countered.
The RNC McCain ad hits that mark and paves the road toward cognitive party unity. Their two ads yesterday ALMOST inspire a financial contribution–but I’m holding out $ for the Thompson Constitutional platform. McCain has my vote, but not my $. Tit for tat on illegal amnesty. /Geez, if McCain would just promise to perform his duties as Constitutionally stipulated, and execute rule of law rather than plague American with revisionist reform that releases government employees from their job description responsibilities as dictated by the Constitution.–but that’s wishing upon a star–
maverick muse on July 9, 2008 at 9:31 AM
I’ll give this to McCain, he’s for real. Stay charming John.
Go Johnny go! Dry rub!!! He even knows how to bbq. :-)
Mojave Mark on July 9, 2008 at 10:54 AM
How much longer will Obama shirk and hide from debating McCain?
Anil Petra on July 9, 2008 at 3:46 PM
When Obama has his troops insanely attack McCain on his sterling military credentials, it reminds me of the futile direct assaults on the enemy trenchline that foolish generals made in WWI. Hopefully, Obama’s surrogates will continue their suicide attacks on McCain’s strong point and pile up in the barbed wire of no man’s land.
Tantor on July 10, 2008 at 2:35 AM
ED!
This is the only thread on McCain!
Laura Ingraham was noting this morning that Obama gets ALL of the media attention, and McCain can’t get a moment’s notice no matter what.
***
The Anchoress and Ace of Spades and Gateway Pundit have noted that GWB deserves credit for the good that he has managed to accomplish despite his weaknesses and despite the overwhelming BDS mounted against him in Congress, in the media and by the rabid in the public at large.
It made me think about McCain’s bipartisan “evil” perception by die-hard opponents, figuring past the obvious for a moment to see something obvious that everyone has neglected to admit. [Leave his warts out of the following discussion as we all see them.]
McCain has proven the “middle ground” extent that ANYONE can get from the present Congress in legislation. McCain has exposed his foes as well as his friends extent to which they will meet any “bipartisan” (aka RINO/DINO) agreement. Whatever his frustrations at not being appreciated for the work that it really did take to accomplish all of those McCain/Democrat bills (their intrinsic value per content aside), McCain not only proved that he can work with democrats to get things accomplished (recall that McCain began from the “middle” in all of the negotiations that ultimately were compromised as is the nature of Congressional legislation) but that McCain has done EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to get Congress functioning! McCain has given this Democrat Congress EVERY OPPORTUNITY to prove their worth to America–and the DEMOCRATS FAILED!
Whether he will or not (pray for epiphany and conservative renaissance), once elected, McCain can extend the olive branch to the Democrats not from the “middle” but from right of center. The Left had its chance to make good for America, and they failed.
If elected, McCain has his chance (from RIGHT OF CENTER as per his constituent votes and as per logic dictates) to appoint Cabinet Members like Forbes, Romney, Thompson who can manage affairs they know best and he knows least, allowing McCain to defend America against terrorists with all of his attention. He can call on all those democrat big whigs whom he personally vouched for with his former legislative efforts (successfully achieved/ chagrine aside) and ask them to support his work. If they turn him down, it only makes them look WORSE than they do at single digits today.
maverick muse on July 10, 2008 at 11:44 AM
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