McCain's "Mission Accomplished" Stunt
History is repeating itself.
George Bush staged perhaps the biggest political stunt in American history when he put on a flight suite, landed on an aircraft carrier, and declared "mission accomplished" -- just as the war in Iraq had already begun to go south as the occupation began to unravel.
John McCain has now decided to do something similar.
With the economy in crisis and McCain's poll numbers tanking, McCain decided to stage his own "mission accomplished" stunt. By "suspending his campaign" and injecting himself into the delicate negotiating process on the Hill -- despite knowing nothing about the economy and not having been to the Senate to vote since April 7th -- McCain has completely torpedoed a potential deal. Of course, this was by design, because McCain has to be seen as the guy who brought Republicans on board. When McCain arrived yesterday in the Senate a deal had already been reached, which was bad news for McCain, because it would be impossible for him to take credit. McCain then decided to go over to the House side to meet with Minority Leader Boehner and magically a few hours later at the White House meeting the deal was scuttled.
McCain's latest stunt completely discredits those, like David Brooks, who have excused McCain's despicable behavior thus far, as simply a byproduct of a modern campaign. The fact that John McCain would so brazenly play politics with this economic crisis, when people's retirement accounts are teetering in the balance, small businesses can't get loans, and banks are collapsing, demonstrates that McCain is not just willing to run a dishonorable campaign to become president, but he is willing to destroy the country as well. Country first, indeed.
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Mission Accomplished? I'd say Mission Tanked
Running an ad saying he already won the debate?
Rushing to DC with no one but Joe Lieberman willing to talk to him?
I'm suspending my campaign then NOT
I won't debate, but now I will
This is a strategy for displaying leadership?
Who is this fool David Brooks who thinks a stunt like this in the midst of one of the serious economic crisis of our time is simply a campaign given. What a complete idiot and he must really think people are going to believe his nonsense.
And this:
"When McCain arrived yesterday in the Senate a deal had already been reached, which was bad news for McCain, because it would be impossible for him to take credit".
Not being able to take credit is one thing...be
The American people are just too stupid if they are going to vote for this man and his sidekick anyway.
Beyond McCain's obvious political stunt in derailing negotiations, does any one really believe that the GOP of deregulation and trickle down economics is going to craft a "superior" bill with the taxpayer's best interests at heart?
Not hardly.
From all I can gather they want even more tax breaks for the rich, and even more deregulation. Brilliant.
The renegade Republicans (encouraged, if not led, by John McCain) proposed this plan last nigt:
1. Even fewer regulations
2. Suspension of dividend payments to already hard-hit investors
3. Corporate and capital income tax breaks (weakening our treasury even more)
4. A license to loot to the very companies that got us into this mess (that is: I give you a loan, devalue your collateral, buy your asset back for pennies on the dollar and sell it at a tidy profit) which transaction will be insured by the U.S Government who will bear the risk but not share the profit.
Those on Main Street (among whom I count myself) should not be tricked into thinking that McCain has saved them from a plan that few understood and ever fewer trusted. Without even understanding the bill that was on the verge of being passed (and which, FINALLY, contained a number of protections for the U.S. taxpayer), McCain chose to grandstand. The blind ambition and over-reaching ego of the action should speak for itself.
I don't see how McCain scuttled anything All he did was sit there and listen.
Didn't do much of anything. Dems just injecting Presidential politics into this mess.
McCain was the one who decided to suspend campaigning and went to DC.
He sat there and looked stupid and then asked to have the proposal of his extremist conservative friends considered - tax breaks for the rich (again) and less regulation. It's country first alright.
"Premature equivacato
Tuesday . . .
Reid specifically challenged McCain on Tuesday to take a position on the bailout package.
“I got some good news in the last hour or so … it appears that Sen. McCain is going to come out for this,” Reid announced.
Wednesday . . .
A Democrat tells ABC News that, in a phone call late this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that it would NOT be helpful for him to come back to Washington, D.C., to work on the Wall Street bailout bill.
Thursday . . . . .
“We need, now, the Republicans to start producing some votes for us. We need the Republican nominee for president to let us know where he stands and what we should do.” Notice that Reid never demanded leadership from the Democratic nominee for President.
Later Thursday . . . .
“With all due respect to my friend John McCain,” said Reid — showing not a great deal of respect for a man who is not necessarily his friend — “we’re doing just fine. This should not have presidential politics doing here.”
This gambit from Reid is really transparent. He wanted McCain on the hook so that Reid could blame McCain for the political fallout. When McCain called Reid’s bluff — and that’s what appears to have happened here — Reid did what Reid always does: retreat.
At this point, I say, let it go. This is Bush's plan. If his party won't support it, then let it go down.
Agree!
If you listen to the House GOP, they never get specific about what should be different in opposition to the Senate Banking negotiations witht the White House. They simply re-state all the things that were currently being addressed which were the same concerns as Obama. Their opposition had no basis. McCain still has no clue about these financial issues and frankly never will. This stunt was so childish. McCain is "BARNEY" and Palin is "DORA".
SOOO Barney! "I love you. You love me. Please suspend your campaign with me."
I agree 100%, But i wonder if the average American realizes this.
we are about to find out
don't know if I'm ready for the answer
I am hoping that if the rep. are trying to add more "free market" protecitons and tax cuts for them in this package that the dem. finally say screw you and pass their revamped plan. Send the rep. packing.
Unfortunately, just as some Americans have remained supportive of GW Bush to this very day, there will be some who want to believe in John McCain.
Well said!
McCain has compared this moment to the threat of 9/11 and indeed he is right. He should know for he has championed the betrayal of our citizens and helped create it. Time and time again John McCain has stood as the champion of deregulation. McCain has not only actively colluded with those that have deregulated, stripped bare, and gutted our livelihoods he employs them still. For his entire career he has cheered the dissolution of American's life work in the name of a stronger economy. He has fought against the right of Americans and American workers to assert control over the economy of their own nation. He has abandoned the workers, the foundation of America, for good fundamentals. McCain has claimed to have fought corruption but in reality his policies have freed the most corrupt from the oversight of just government. Indeed his long fight has championed the consolidation of the wealth of our land in the hands of the few at great expense to the many and at great threat to our nation.
I support and believe in Barack Obama but even if his opponent were a potted plant I could never vote for John McCain.
John's living out his second childhood much like he did his first. Another decider devider.
This is a conspiracy between McCain and congressional republicans, who are obviously on board for this "mission accomplished" moment. The republicans are at their best at sticking together to forward an agenda. Unfortunately, their main agenda is not to solve the financial crisis, but rather to find a way to boost McCain's poll numbers. High theater at its best.
I thought McCain was Bush clone?
His recent behavior has the unexpected side-affect of making Bush seem statesman-like by comparison. Who woulda thunk it?
So why don't the Dems ram this thing thru?
They have the majority so I do not see how the Republicans are blocking anything.
What are the Dems afraid of? Reied has said he is getting negative feed back on this but still says it is whats best for the country and Americans, and since everyone knows that you The Dems are smarter than the rest of us why haven't they just ramed it through?
Why should they? The Republicans created this mess...and now the Republicans have to pass a $700 Billion Dollar package (that the President and Treasury Sec. first recommended - already it seems like a bad idea) without Republican approval. There are no guarantees here, so let's just say it turns out to be a hair-brained scheme who are you going to blame?
The Democrats should not sign anything unless the Republicans buy into it.
From all I can understand (with a dollop of things I can't), the crisis is not one of capital, it's one of confidence. Without bi-partisan agreement, there can be no confidence.
Watching GOP senators right now on CNN. McConnell said McCain talked to him and others. Positioning McCain as the MAN OF ACTION. So the STUNT is working. If Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd etc. fall for this.....s
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