Former POW: We can’t let a former POW with a temper near the button
posted at 12:19 pm on September 4, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A little counterprogramming to this week’s tributes at the convention from lefty propagandist Robert Greenwald, proving again that he’s perfectly at ease with the sort of “fearmongering” that progressives like to pretend only conservatives engage in. The most striking thing about this isn’t what Butler has to say — the talking points about McCain’s temper and “residual effects” suffered by POWs are old hat, and especially unconvincing given how stable and sober Butler himself seems — but how amateurish the editing is for a supposed ol’ pro documentarian like Greenwald. If the point is to frighten undecideds into thinking Maverick’s off his nut, why on earth would you include the stuff at the end pointing out Butler’s policy disagreements with him? His usefulness to the left is as a “neutral” observer of McCain’s supposed madness (even though he never offers anything more damning than that he’s “easy to anger”). Tacking on the shots at his supposedly bellicose foreign policy and Christian politicking only make him sound partisan and ulteriorly motivated, just as the unfair bit at the beginning about McCain being recognized as the POW makes him sound like he’s bearing a grudge. If Greenwald wasn’t such a partisan robot himself, he’d have realized that and cut it. As it is, he can’t resist.
Needless to say, this line of attack would have been a lot more effective earlier in Maverick’s career, before he spent 25 years in Washington absorbing the worst shots people could take at him and yet, curiously, never once melting down in some sort of Hanoi PTSD flashback. Exit question: Does Greenwald really want a battle of character witnesses on this point? How’d that work out for Sullivan?
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If McCain is lucid 5% of the time as POTUS he will be more trustworthy with the defense of this country than Barack Obama.
Elizabetty on September 4, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Sadly, this – Maverick’s temper – is one of the main reasons my sister-in-law is voting Obama.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Stay classy there, progressives.
Mike Honcho on September 4, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Epic “Swiftboat” Fail from the libs
Mr_Magoo on September 4, 2008 at 12:22 PM
but remember “the swifties were all discredited”….
nah the guy is a POW and is probably projecting…they brief us on the potential danger of alienation and rage….
if we are to hold McCain pre-responsible for potential anger can we hold Barry culpable for the alienation he expresses in his 2 or 3 auto-bios?
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Yeah… that swiftboating stuff is bottom of the deck, evil Rove stuff that Democrats would never engage in.
Here’s a clue…
I would rather have John S. McCain, who actually understands what a war is near “the button” than the guy who can’t control his own staff’s “hair trigger” on campaign announcements.
Damiano on September 4, 2008 at 12:23 PM
The absence of despair from your posts lately has me worried, Allah.
ManlyRash on September 4, 2008 at 12:23 PM
The word of the day is……PROJECTION.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 4, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Baseless smears. It appears that’s all the Democrats have.
Well, that and pretty speeches.
rbj on September 4, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Maybe you should remind her that McCain’s temper comes and goes, but Obama’s ignorance is constant.
Vashta.Nerada on September 4, 2008 at 12:25 PM
This Mccain temper thing has appeared in several Obama Campaign emails over the past week or so.
Yet another vapid Team Zero talking point.
coldwarrior on September 4, 2008 at 12:25 PM
I’m with ‘ya. My wife doesn’t like his manner and the fact that he forgets sometimes that Cindy is with him. Some people vote like that. I’m working on her though and have pointed out some of why is the way he is.
I think you live in Phoenix, right Grue? So do we. Maybe it’s the heat…
Mr_Magoo on September 4, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I plan on making a video which refutes certain distinctions of Obama’s military service.
I’ve had a hell of a time finding any of Obama’s old vet buddies, can someone point me in the right direction?
Bishop on September 4, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I have been mad at Pres. Bush for quite a while, because he doesn’t get mad at the stuff that is going on here and abroad. Frankly, I really hope to see a man with a temper in the White House. I hope WHEN he is elected, he shows the Islamonazis that they can’t get away with what they are doing. I hope he kids Russia our of Georgia with the 101st.
TimothyJ on September 4, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Don’t let McCain near those styrofoam Greek columns! He’s a former POW!!!
Akzed on September 4, 2008 at 12:26 PM
“At the Naval Academy I thought I understood his religion, but I was wrong.”
“At the Naval Academy I thought I understood his temper, but I was… right!”
Tzetzes on September 4, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Not so sure about residual.
upinak on September 4, 2008 at 12:27 PM
heh he cuts him down but deigns to comment on John’s faith….stay classy.
I respect the guy’s service and will not insult him beyond…
“not everyone responds to adversity the same way”
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Doesn’t that pretty much tell you everything you need to know?
Re the speaker, I thank him for his service and hope he finds serenity.
JustTruth101 on September 4, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I would rather have a President willing to yell at an idiotic head of state than fête him and nod silently in agreement.
MB007 on September 4, 2008 at 12:28 PM
QFT….”I was a community organizer damnit!” sort of fails to match “I was a squadron leader the navy trusted with millions of dollars of kit and men whose training cost as much”….
keep firing donks
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 12:29 PM
So, has the temper issue affected maverick’s time in the Senate?
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 12:30 PM
He looks so mean and angry! I’m voting for happy Obama!/sarcasm
shick on September 4, 2008 at 12:32 PM
He claims that McCain was religiously apathetic then became an evangelical, implying that he did it opportunistically.
Funny thing is, this is a perfect description of Barack Obama! Wow did this guy just open a door wide open.
RushBaby on September 4, 2008 at 12:32 PM
It’s not discussed… we’ve learned that if we discuss politics, we don’t talk for the rest of the day. Any time I bring it up, it always jumps back to McCain’s temper, McCain dumping his first wife, McCain “picking up religion just because it looked good”*, etc. etc. etc.
*And interestingly, every time she does that, she mentions that Obama’s always been a churchgoer… when I point out some of the stuff Rev. Wright says, the immediate reply is “You know he left that church, right?” At which point the conversation falls apart because I don’t feel like explaining why I believe Obama “leaving” Wright’s church is as much of a sham as Global Warming.
Tempe actually, but close enough.
I’ve pretty much given up on convincing her of anything regarding McCain. Thank God she at least likes Palin.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 12:33 PM
crap like is being thrown around everywhere.. seeing what sticks and how the campaign responds to it..
try to stop to refute that claim that ‘There is no ‘button’ in the oval office that the President can arbitrarily fire the nukes’ and list the safeguards in place to prevent such a plan.. 3 more other lies would be thrown..
stick to attacking Barack on his issues and lack of record
DaveC on September 4, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I uh um was for uh Islam before um I was against it….
sven10077 on September 4, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Remember folks, John Fn Kerry is their war hero.
Nuf said.
fogw on September 4, 2008 at 12:33 PM
A masterful first sentence, AP. A zinger.
The picture of the asshat tells the old, sad tale of projection.
Christine on September 4, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Once again, the moronic left operates under the assumption that there is a “button” that, if pressed intentionally or accidentally, will fire all of our nuclear weapons willy-nilly. They used to think that Ronald Reagan was going to wipe us all out by having a “senior moment” and hitting the button while reaching for his dentures.
Because they have absolutely no appreciation for the finest military in the world, they are completely ignorant of how it actually operates.
I’ll try to explain, and I’ll use small words….
THERE IS NO BUTTON.
No one person in this country, at any level of authority, can launch a nuke, regardless of what mood they happen to be in. The president can give the order, but there’s a chain of command and control in place that keeps him (or her) from simply saying, “Dammit, I’m pissed! Kill ‘em all!!”
CurtZHP on September 4, 2008 at 12:34 PM
DaveC and I must have been typing at the same time.
Great minds, and all that.
CurtZHP on September 4, 2008 at 12:35 PM
It’s not like there’s a giant, red, Staples-style “Easy” button on the desk in the Oval Office, ready for the President to smack if he has a bad day…
I think it takes a wee bit more effort and deliberation to start a thermonuclear war.
Frozen Tex on September 4, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Is it the POW part or the temper that’s so bad? Isn’t Bill Clinton known for his temper?
TooTall on September 4, 2008 at 12:35 PM
I imagine the left believes the nuclear lauch button is on the president’s desk and it’s big, red, and says “That was easy”.
emerson7 on September 4, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Yeah, I should read ALL the comments, then refresh before commenting myself…
Frozen Tex on September 4, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Found one here.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 4, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Is it the POW part or the temper that’s so bad? Isn’t Bill Clinton known for his temper?
TooTall on September 4, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Yes but in Clinton’s case having a temper and lying is considered “character”.
Bishop on September 4, 2008 at 12:39 PM
This guy has his opinion. I don’t agree with him. He can say what he wants….we do not need to listen to his opinion. As long as he does not tell lies I could care less what this guy says, but he can speak his opinion all he wants.
victoryin83 on September 4, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Sorry, Tex beat me to it. Damn you Tex!
emerson7 on September 4, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Found one here.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 4, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Eh, I tried to meet with Ayers at his office but he threw a pipe bomb at me.
Anyone else?
Bishop on September 4, 2008 at 12:42 PM
What this POW does NOT relize…..
Is the American People are PISSED at our government!
WE WANT A PISSED President!
McRage 08!!!
JihadKiller1s1k on September 4, 2008 at 12:42 PM
The staples easy button? They must think that. There’s an Obama video on youtube where he says he’s going to get rid of nuclear weapons, and take the strategic bombers off ‘hair trigger alert’ – as if all it takes it someone to press the wrong button and the entire world is destroyed.
wise_man on September 4, 2008 at 12:43 PM
OT: But can we throw David Frum under the bus?
http://frum.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODY5YmY5NmZlYjk3ZDk5ZTFjNTNjZTc3N2M0ZmY5Y2Q=
CanadianGuy on September 4, 2008 at 12:44 PM
This guy has his opinion. I don’t agree with him. He can say what he wants….we do not need to listen to his opinion. As long as he does not tell lies I could care less what this guy says, but he can speak his opinion all he wants.
victoryin83 on September 4, 2008 at 12:40 PM
It’s my opinion that I agree with your opinion, but that’s just my opinion.
Bishop on September 4, 2008 at 12:44 PM
I’ve been saying all this campaign that “McCain’s supposed to have a temper. Why’s he so passive? Why’s he letting Obama’s people walk all over him?”
Then this past month and a half happened – awesome McCain and friends ads rolling out. And it was good.
Then the Barracuda came. And it was awesome. :D
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 12:44 PM
That is the left copying the formula of the SwiftBoat Vets. What worked to make poeple question Sen. Kerry’s (who serve in Nam, Cambodia too) character and career-launching Winter Soldier story.
In the case of McCain, not so much evidence.
Sir Napsalot on September 4, 2008 at 12:44 PM
This is amazing. Anger is a human emotion and is even an attribute that pertains to God. McCain is in control of his emotions, but there is a plus having a man as president that shows his anger. It’s how he acts upon it that really counts.
The Democratic party on the other hand, has a long history of candidates with immature and out of control emotional issues.
Hening on September 4, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Anyone who has read at least 2 Tom Clancy books would know that much .. but then, that would involve reading.. and read a Tom Clancy novel on top of that..
DaveC on September 4, 2008 at 12:45 PM
ROFL! He actually uses the line that this “isn’t the John McCain I thought I knew”.
flipflop on September 4, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Yeah yeah yeah
Terrye on September 4, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Honestly, every single response I’ve seen this morning is… well, I just can’t stop laughing at the abolute desperation.
CC
CapedConservative on September 4, 2008 at 12:46 PM
And also the reason most the worlds’ assholes prefer Obama. He’s less likely to kick ass and take names when appropriate.
Obama = Dish Rag
BobMbx on September 4, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Oh, and by the way, what is he afraid of? That McCain will get pissed and wake up from a nightmare at 3am and order the nukes be launched to kill all the gooks who tortured him?
And how does this square with McCain’s visiting Vietnam and doing his part to normalize relations.
wise_man on September 4, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Hang on – he said most of his experience was with John McCain being across from his cell as a POW then goes on to say, regarding religion, that it wasn’t the John McCain he knew at the Naval Academy. Hmmm……
matd on September 4, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I’m pretty sure all the talk of “buttons”, and the notion of the “ease” of launching an attack goes back to how the system is set up to provide a rapid response to a surprise attack by the enemy, not so that attacks could be launched on a whim.
Frozen Tex on September 4, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Amusing, really.
TheSitRep on September 4, 2008 at 12:48 PM
I doubt McCain even knew this moron existed at the academy. If this guy cared so much, why didn’t he say anything during one of McCain’s half dozen elections before now?
Speedwagon82 on September 4, 2008 at 12:48 PM
There’s always this guy.
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 12:49 PM
I love me the Tom Clancy; I wished he’d get off his butt and write some new novels, like a sequel to “In The Teeth Of The Tiger”…
Frozen Tex on September 4, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Just because you are a clueless moron doesn’t mean John McCain is.
TheSitRep on September 4, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Oh you mean like Clinton s legendary temper? More leftist straw man to me!
grapeknutz on September 4, 2008 at 12:49 PM
This is funny. The basic premise is supposed to be that his time as a POW makes him subject to emotional breakdowns or angry episodes, and yet he goes on to state that McCain was volatile before he went to war.
He talks about how he doesn’t agree with McCain on anything and then says that the new McCain isn’t the McCain he thought he knew before.
This Greenwald must be an imbecile, if he thinks this is a believable, coherent message against McCain.
Jaibones on September 4, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Don’t think they allow visitors in his cell.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 12:51 PM
4% more lucid than most of the last several POTUS’s.
Mazztek on September 4, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Is he referring to the Mute Button? I sure Hope McCain presses it:)
Dr Evil on September 4, 2008 at 12:53 PM
He can’t control his own campaign staff’s “hair trigger”.
Are there people out there who actually want to give him control of bombers and the most powerful military on earth?
Damiano on September 4, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Jesus, they are playing all their panic cards and it is only September. What does that tell you?
rockmom on September 4, 2008 at 12:53 PM
And also the reason most the worlds’ assholes prefer Obama. He’s less likely to kick ass and take names when appropriate.
Obama = Dish Rag
BobMbx on September 4, 2008 at 12:46 PM
+2
Bishop on September 4, 2008 at 12:53 PM
But Obama’s going to disarm the world! USA first! /wingnuts
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Here is something you don’t often see about McCain’s temper..
EXCLUSIVE: An Interview with Jack McCain
It’s old (from February), but it’s good. I clearly see what Maverick and Sarracuda have in common.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on September 4, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Obama has serious daddy issues. Is that the guy you want with his finger on the button?
rockmom on September 4, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Poor guy, I hope they aren’t torturing him in there…
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 12:56 PM
This gentleman doesn’t come off like a raving lunatic, so I have trouble believing that he prefers unforced-error-Obama’s finger on the button.
ElectricPhase on September 4, 2008 at 12:57 PM
As TheSitRep says:
Just because you are a clueless moron doesn’t mean John McCain is.
wise_man on September 4, 2008 at 12:58 PM
So, this guy was at the top of his class and John was at the bottom. Now John is running for President and this guy is not. Life’s a little unfair, huh?
Two questions:
1. When was the last time this man spent any time with John?
2. What was Barry doing when he was in college or thereabouts?
bloggless on September 4, 2008 at 12:59 PM
LOL!
bloggless on September 4, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Obama couldn’t press the buttom – - he would just say he was “present” in the room where the buttom is located (even when our enemies are about to push their buttons).
Rick on September 4, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Yes, indeed.
I always like Dennis Miller’s take on this. ‘I’m going to vote for the people who want to croak the most number of terrorists trying to kill us.’ And I think it’s on record where the dictators and thugs of the world from North Korea and Iran to Cuba and Venezuela want Obama to defeat McCain.
wise_man on September 4, 2008 at 1:02 PM
How about keep’in Hopey’s paws far away from
the nuclear football,I already know McCain
can handle button’s,especially since he pushed
a lot during airstrikes over North Vietnam!
canopfor on September 4, 2008 at 1:03 PM
ZING!!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Pathetic. Either this old git is a shifty duplicitous windbag, or he’s too dumb to realize he’s being played like a cheap fiddle.
What kind of cretin even buys this “finger near the button” crap? Do they imagine a shiny red button on the Resolute Desk labeled with “Fuck The World”?
There are convoluted protocols to obey before anything goes whooshbang….McCain could have a freaking ranting aneurysm and not so much as a shot would be fired.
LimeyGeek on September 4, 2008 at 1:05 PM
That’s some funny s* right there.
wise_man on September 4, 2008 at 1:05 PM
I just hope if O Dumby gets elected no country ever talks about his ears or we will see the cloud
Rick007 on September 4, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Totally unconvincing in its goals. Even with the kickin-a-can down the street 1930s depression music.
And I’m not happy about the insinuation about “residual effects” either, as if to suggest he is mentally unstable.
Dr. Manhattan on September 4, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Yeah…but only when he was feeling a bit randy and there were no nearby interns…or sheep.
sdd on September 4, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Smokin’ dope, putting dope up his nose, talking to dopey leftys, doing dopey things.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 4, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Are there people out there who actually want to give him control of bombers and the most powerful military on earth?
Damiano on September 4, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Gut the military and cease funding new weapons systems, now our military is longer the most powerful.
Problem solved.
Bishop on September 4, 2008 at 1:09 PM
You know who we need near “the button”?
A guy who goes body surfing when Russia invades another former Soviet province.
mjk on September 4, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Limey the visual of that is hysterical.
bloggless on September 4, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Ask his campaign staff. This campaign is war (without the Geneva Convention) they csrry out the dirty missions for Commander Obama.
Obama was criticized for not attending church while working as a community organizer, then joined Rev. Wright’s racist UCC to gain needed credibility.
Right_of_Attila on September 4, 2008 at 1:11 PM
I think the depression background music was totally over the top.
bloggless on September 4, 2008 at 1:11 PM
This reminds me of when I returned from my first tour in Vietnam in 1968 and a major insurance company wouldn’t insure my car, because they believed the war had probably made me unstable. It was bull crap then and it’s bull crap now.
rplat on September 4, 2008 at 1:13 PM
&*%$*^&*()%*&^!!!!! MORE LOST COKE!!
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Phil Butler is a peace activist that the Democrat media trots out every time they need a sympathetic figure to help sell their treason. They trotted him out to defend the Kerry traitor against the Swift Boat vets and attack Bush and Quayle for being in the National Guard, blunt the attacks against Hanoi Jane, etc.
Buddahpundit on September 4, 2008 at 1:22 PM
…And we can’t let a former POW who is green with envy and would sell his honor for his 15 minutes near a camera and microphone.
Nastaran on September 4, 2008 at 1:24 PM
God that was depressing.
The Democrats claim all current troops are “murderous Nazis,” and they’ve been portraying all Vietnam vets for decades and pathetic lunatics.
What do they do with a four-minute-long diatribe like this? It can’t be made into a commercial. Apparently, they just circulate it among themselves as internal propaganda to keep their agitprop “troops” ginned up with hatred against the real ones.
logis on September 4, 2008 at 1:33 PM
*Slams the “GODWIN” button*
Sorry, had to be done.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 1:34 PM
(For those who don’t understand… Godwin’s Law)
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on September 4, 2008 at 1:36 PM
For the last 5 years during this custody battle I’m in, EVERY time I was in court or read a court document they used that old tried and true line of “He’s a crazed Viet Nam Vet and shouldn’t be around his kids”. And they all fell for it.
The myth is still alive and thriving 40 years later.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 4, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Doesn’t Bill Clinton have a nasty temper too?
Pcoop on September 4, 2008 at 1:41 PM
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