Why are Conservatives Calling McCain Dumb?

From Charles Krauthammer to conservatives blogs, the growing right-wing consensus is that Charlie Gibson was just so mean and arrogant for thinking that anyone would understand the "Bush Doctrine" to be the right to pre-emptively attack any nation that might pose a threat at some point.

Their line of thinking is that the Bush Doctrine wasn't written down, so it could mean ANYTHING. It could mean, they say, the right to go into countries that harbor terrorists. It could mean, they say, not talking to leaders who don't denounce terrorism. Heck, it could mean drinking near-beer instead of alcoholic brews.

But, they maintain, only a complete simpleton would EVER fall for this so-called "trap" that Charlie Gibson set up. That only an uneducated idiot would presume that the Bush Doctrine is understood to mean the right to pre-emptive attack. So, in that sense, they argue, Sarah Palin showed an amazing grasp at the intricacies of our foreign and military policy with her meandering and stumbling as she tried to find an answer.

Because, they say, only an idiot when asked what the Bush Doctrine is, would say....

Whoopsie daisy!

So, seriously, if conservatives want to make this argument - that John McCain is less worldly and understanding of recent history than Sarah Palin, well, hey, let them keep making it. I'm not sure how this helps their candidate, but I would suppose most Democrats would be thrilled that they want to make this argument:

McCain: Less Ready Than Sarah Palin.

Comments

[PTAPittbull]

Sombody should ask Palin if jesus would invade iraq?

maybe we will get a slick comment like from huckabee
"well jesus wouldnt be running for office"

yeah and jesus wouldnt vote republican either

[etcetera]

Jesus wouldn't vote at all. From what I remember reading in Sunday school I think he'd be too busy asking the rich to give up all of their wealth to the poor so they could follow him; for his was not a kingdom on earth, but a kingdom in heaven.

[RobinSeattle]

"asking the rich to give up all of their wealth to the poor so they could follow him; for his was not a kingdom on earth, but a kingdom in heaven."

To which Newt Gingrich and other Republicans would say that Jesus was engaging in class warfare, which nobody will fall for because everybody wants to be rich themselves.

Given the biblical injunction about the chances of the rich making it to heaven, Bush, Cheney and their cronies will be hoping they can bring some of those NASCAR fire suits with them to their reward, as they will find out what real global warming means. *lol

[Bitsko]

"Their line of thinking is that the Bush Doctrine wasn't written down..."

Wasn't it the republicans who were calling the democrats "moral relativists" all those years? Those wacko right-wingers will say anything if it advances their selfish cause.

[LeftRight]

So wait, they got caught with sarah moose-olini not understanding something, and how they are all out there denying the hell out of it????

[JaneEyrez]

There is a ton of information on the Internet that suggests that John McCain was a traitor and not the heroic POW that is his public image. He said in his acceptance speech at the RNC that after they, as he humbly put it, "worked me over pretty good, I broke." The information says that he was not tortured but gave targeting information and made propaganda tapes for the Vietcong in exchange for special treatment. The targeting information that he revealed resulted in deaths of American pilots, and revealed that they were civilian targets, hospitals, schools, temples, which was strictly against the stated U.S. policy at the time.
http://www.eaglesnest-2.net/eagles/?q=node/10

I have tried to post on this and am always attacked that it can't be true because how would such a secret be kept. Well, it hasn't been kept. It's right out there if you're willing to do the digging. I believe it is, in fact, how the White House coerced McCain to drop his long-held opposition to torture, that they told him they would ruin his political reputation if he did not acquiesce.

You hear nothing from the surviving POWs, but, on the other hand, you do not see them supporting McCain. In fact, a POW named Butler is breaking the pact to the extent of making videos to explain why he would not support McCain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70

[GrayShockley]

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/

Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain

Check out George W McCain's treatment of MIA/POW families.

You also might ask, "What is ole 5th from the bottom of his class and loser of four planes not shot down so scared of in the MIA/POW records that he has worked so hard to keep classified?"

Gray / RVN: 07Dec68-10Jul70

[MPeter]

Pay attention people. Listen to that clip and watch the drooly old McCain embrace the Bush Doctrine. Now he has the rabid pig with lipstick in a skirt, gunning to do god's work. America, we are at a point of no return.

[sociocanuck]

Of course... haven't you seen the Palin-McCain buttons? It's a wonder they haven't just switched roles officialy yet.