McCain's Transition Chief Led Navy During Its Worst Bribery Scandal

Wall Street Journal:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has set up an unconventional transition process to take over the White House in the event of an Election Day victory.

And his choice to lead the effort, veteran Republican warhorse and confidant John Lehman Jr., is weighed down by some negative political baggage from weapons-buying scandals dating back to the Cold War era.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[goodnessgracious1234]

Why is it not surprising that McCain would appoint someone completely unqualified and completely corrupt?

Um, gee, see Sarah Palin.

[ihavehope]

What transition will he be the chief of? managing McCain's transition back to Arizona after he loses the election?

[paulfromportland]

Memory is so fleeting - Was he responsible for the 600 ship buildup or the 600 Hookees for the Tail-Hook parties at the Hilton?

[who38]

Probably both. Let's face it, if a Naval Officer r aped his mother in front of 5,000 witnesses, he would not be charged with a crime. The latest travesty is that many of these retired officers are now becoming heads of school districts.

[Reaganwater]

Many of us, who crossed the political isle for this election, for many reasons , now support Obama and even many congressional Democratic candidates. I hope the polls hold or reverse ,as needed ,for a large landslide going to the Dems .

Nonetheless , sometimes I wonder, If His great appeal and magnificent campaign can withstand -- in addition to the voter purging , dirty tricks and character smears -- the mental dead freight and indefensible excesses of some of his supporters .

[Reaganwater]

AS an Obama supporter , my major problem with John Lehman -- whom I hold in high regard -- is his support of McCain given MAC'S wholly unqualified choice for VP.This after much of a lifetime devoted to the national security of this country.
John Lehman has served his in many ways and well. From his early Navy service through his work on the 9-11 Commission.
The salient facts from the article :
"Mr. Lehman was never charged with any wrongdoing­."
"Mr. Lehman's closest aide inside the Navy was a main target of prosecutors. Melvyn Paisley, a flamboyant World War II fighter ace and ex-Boeing defense executive, admitted conspiring to steer contracts to friends and business associates­."

Not every attack opportunity is a one that ought to be taken.
In other words ; we do not have to become McCain to defeat McCain.

Obama 08

[Nicolaus]

... But of course he was the manager of this subordinate and no words of praise can wipe out that incompetence.

It is not unusual in such situation for honorable persons to retire in a deserved obscurity on fat Pentagon pensions. Not in the case of our democracy.­.. they keep rising, and keep managing sensitive affairs through individuals they demonstrated they cannot control!

But what is the problem? The McCain Campaign is led by the very same people he claims he is against, and his choice of VP is not even based on her skills.

And then I am supposed to believe that he really puts 'Country First' and deserves my vote...

[Reaganwater]

Your are correct -- He should have known about Paisley. No question.
Second ,he is as needful of a Gov Pension as you are of the spare change under your sofa cushions(GWB economy notwithstanding).
finally , I again agree ; 'Country First' ? = Bullwash ! ..........­.. or______ (fill in your favorite derogatory blank)

[who38]

Paisley got his cut for being the go-between and keeping Lehman "clean". Isn't that the way the Ma fi a does it?

[nivek]

If you look deep enough, turn over enough rocks,poke and probe and prod into the lives of most people you will find something someone will object to. That is part of the problem with partisan politics today. That is why many qualified, intelligent people who would be excellent at serving on the courts and in congress will never step up to do so. We allow the hate filled partisanship and slanderous attack media to limit our potential and hold back social progress and equality.

[who38]

We aren't talking about "somethiing to object to"; we are talking about a bribe. This is Duke Cunningham went to prison.

[Kindheart]

Why would anybody be surprised by this choice...l­ook who Johnny chose to be his VP.

[harriettubman]

McCain is linked to many questionable people yet the MSM won't touch it. They'd rather loop edited versions of Rev. Wright's sermons. Go figure.

[cyndeewi]

Thank Gawd McCain will not be needing a transition team.

[KCFreedom]

Don't be too confident. They've stolen the last two.

[AbeMartin]

Good choice, Ejector-seat John! Here are some other, highly qualified individuals for you to include in your "brain trust."

Elizabeth Hasselhoff
O.J. Simpson
Oliver North
G. Gordon Liddy
Larry Craig
Jack Abramoff
Mark Foley
Dick Cheney
Rumsfeld
and let us not fergit, Plumber Joe, who is obviously comfortable enough in his low expectations world that he can "suspend" his "work" to campaign with Mr. McCain. Good Republicans all. I can tell because to quote Billy Martin, they are all or should be convicted.

[UncleSamb]

Did you hear Nicole Wallace on NPR yesterday talking about JTP's "economic wisdom?" From the way she was talking, it seemed as though the Plumber was already a part of the advisory committee.

[Nicolaus]

And what is the problem in that?

He has Steve Forbes as an Economic Adviser!
He had Carly 'The Fundamentals of the economy are good' Fiorina!
He selected Governor Sara Palin for her executive management skills, demonstrated amply in her branching out against the campaign discipline!
His entourage are made from the same people who made him loose his battle with his "philosophical companion" President Bush.

He might as well add a conman, JTP, and color his last few speeches by inviting him to mumble to his increasingly smaller audience - unless he can fetch school children to beef up the photo op!

[Blue in NH]

Hopefully who is running McCain's transition team will be moot on Novermber 5.

[dumboldfarmer]

The "good old boy" system at work. Change, indeed.

[FierceOne]

You can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps. (Old proverb)

[Ajia]

People are going to have lifetime careers in universities, think tanks and political institutes on the analysis of this campaign endeavor and the participants - all Dr Strangelove and The Over The Hill Gang re-writing Catch 22 while We Bombed In New Haven waits ahead.
I personally hope all this analysis won't have to include the election of this republican nutso version of the Rocky Horror Picture Show cult.

[hawkseye]

As I recall, Lehman was a participant in the Tailhook scandal.

[who38]

Did John-Boy attend any of those events? I understand that they are still going on.

[PT6]

Another Fine Selection by McCain!

So Palin, at 60% UnFavorable Rating, was not a "One Time" MISTAKE!

This is how Mccain will perform in OFFICE!

[Nicolaus]

You miss out the demonstrated unmatched judgment skill of the aging but "tested" Senator.

I am waiting for the 5th November to dive into the history of this McCain and determine where and how was he 'tested'? In what capacity? We all know he had no executive job in his Congress jobs, and one can hardly expect 'executive' experience from a bomber pilot, who promoted himself to the Squadron Leader of the biggest squadron in the US Navy!

So many words, so many fabrications!