McCain's Warped Worldview

The world according to John McCain is one in which America is triumphant at home and abroad thanks to the Bush legacy, rolling to victory internationally and mastering its domestic economic problems. If daily news, like reports of the 10 French soldiers killed by a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan and the U.S. government's imminent nationalization of much of the American mortgage-lending industry, would seem to deny such a rosy scenario, then that only shows skeptics lack the courage that sustained McCain as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

There you have it encapsulated, the McCain campaign for president, an irrational mélange of patriotic swagger and blindness to reality that is proving disturbingly successful with uninformed voters. How else to explain the many millions of Americans who tell pollsters they prefer a continuation of Republican rule when so many of them are losing their homes to foreclosure and the nation is devastated by out-of-control military spending?

The economy is in a downward spiral, the national debt is at an all-time high, the dollar is an international disgrace and inflation in July had the steepest rise in 27 years, driven by oil prices fivefold higher than when George W. Bush invaded the nation with the world's second-largest petroleum reserves.

While the oil-rich Mideast nations we protect refuse to fully open the oil spigots as payback for our military efforts, McCain celebrates Gen. David Petraeus as his No. 1 hero for "victory" in Iraq. Aside from the reality that victory there is now defined as returning to the level of stability provided by Saddam Hussein, who the Bush administration admits had nothing to do with the bin Laden-led terrorists, even that goal requires the cooperation of our former sworn enemies, Iran's ayatollahs.

Presumably McCain envisions a more favorable outcome for Georgia, to which he would commit the unqualified support of the United States with his outrageously overreaching statement that "we are all Georgians." If Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had been in contact with the leader of a nation before and after that nation provoked a war, his campaign would be a shambles. Not so McCain, who is acting as if he is already the elected commander in chief ensconced in a reconstituted neoconservative-dominated White House. By contrast, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been reduced to a blustering bystander.

That military victory in Iraq and any other trouble spot is the key selling point of the McCain campaign is odd, because McCain's credentials derive from participation in a war that resulted in the most ignominious defeat in U.S. history. How else to think of the loss of almost 59,000 Americans and 3.4 million Indochinese in a war that even McCain has long since not seriously tried to defend. Surely McCain accepted the notion that a Communist Party-run Vietnam was compatible with U.S. security interests when he, along with Sen. John Kerry, led the fight for U.S. recognition of Vietnam.

Wouldn't it have been grand if McCain, who made his own pilgrimage of reconciliation to Hanoi, would have drawn the proper lesson from that sad chapter in American history--that victory isn't everything it's cracked up to be? Or, by extension, from the recent Olympic festivities in still-Red China, where Bush was photographed quite happily near portraits of the once-dreaded Chairman Mao, whom U.S. propaganda had long described, quite erroneously, as chief sponsor of the Vietnamese communists.

We are reminded of how brilliant Republican Richard Nixon was in rejecting the neoconservative addiction to the Cold War that McCain embraces when the late president traveled to Beijing to make peace with the man previously depicted as the bloodiest of communist dictators. It turns out that the various communist movements were nationalist above all else, and when we "lost" in Vietnam, the result was not attacks on the United States, but a war between China and Vietnam.

The lesson McCain should have learned is that the world is a complex place, that today's enemies may be tomorrow's negotiating partners--as Obama has at times dared to suggest--and that the neoconservative idea of a Pax Americana is a dangerous fantasy. And a costly one at that, not only in lost lives and blowback from the regions we destabilize but also in the dollars that American taxpayers must waste.

Thanks to the absurdly misdirected war on terrorism that McCain so enthusiastically supports, we spend more annually in inflation-adjusted dollars on the military than at any time since World War II, even more than during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Vote for McCain and forget about funding to solve the Social Security, Medicare and subprime mortgage disasters or for anything else that truly would make America stronger.

Robert Scheer is author of a new book, "The Pornography of Power: How Defense Hawks Hijacked 9/11 and Weakened America."

Comments

[GRomero]

Every four years the masses are goaded by the MSM into a American Idol frenzy for an over glorified executive office, as if its some devine office holder that will lead us out of the valley of darkness.

Yes- it'd be great to have anyone BUT McCain and I hope that we do, but its hard to tell in a horse race.

I just want to bring up the other little branch of government. Remember the legislative branch? All the members of the House and thirty five senate seats are up for election in 08, not that one would notice in the MSM.

They too can end imperialist presidencies, unitary executive theory (euphemism for super ego theory) and a return us to a republic.

Of course, this is contingent that congress takes its oath to the constitution seriously and reaffirms its role as legislators, overseers, confirmers and sole holder of war powers. Its also contingent that we remain engaged after 08 regardless of the POTUS outcome and make sure they are accountable to we the people. And we get a chance every 2 years to do just that.

But please - lets stop putting all our stock on POTUS. If that's the case then lets spare with the pretenses and have a monarchy.

Anyone but McCain 08!

[Davwbaird]

Rather well put and boy are we in deep doo doo.

[darker]

MCBUSH will happen if McCain's elected and then WATCH YOUR BACK, folks.

Republicans want a PERMANENT WAR ECONOMY that enriches rich and corrupt profiteering corporations. While stealing from middle-income Americans. the RICH WANT TO GET RICHER--AT YOUR EXPENSE.

Vote the way your stupid neighbors will, don't use common sense and ENJOY YOUR CRASHED STANDARD OF LIVING for the next 8 years!

[Avembe]

Itssems to me that since Obama 's not able to fight fiercefully Mc CAIN the ONLY thing that can be done is JUST go vote AGAINST the Republican's MESS..the 4th
I mean let's just take our asses by ourselves and move the GOP from the White HOUSE ...
that means:vote for Obama not because of obama but against BUSH.;sorr­y Mc CAIN
This guy just want to on war
the country's facing a 10 trillion debt and he still wants more wars...
Sincerely what on earth are the USA able to do against Russia right now
TRhere are already 2 wars left that are STILL not FINISHED
So once again ,as KISHEGREEN stated earlier:
Is there anyone, anywhere in this country that doesn't believe we are going to war with some country some where as soon as McCain becomes president? Whether that country attacked us or not.

Is there anyone, anywhere in this country that believes America can afford (lives or treasure) another military conflict of any kind? Neocons excluded--we know they don't consider pesky things like rationale, funding, and support from our allies.
JUST VOTE AGAINST no MATTER What JUST VOTE AGAINST MC CAIN!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[Herrington]

The crisis is here and now. Americans are willfully stupid in such numbers that the outcome of this election and, thus, the future of this country is in serious doubt.

For years we have sat idly by while Rush Limbaugh fashioned a new breed of idiot out of the raw material of our population. Now that two elections have been lost and a third is put in jeopardy by the celebration of stupidity that is the McCain campaign, it is perhaps time to consider a full fledged assault on the power fueling right wing propagandists.

It may be too late for this election. It may even be too late for the nation. But to sit by and watch Americans repeat the mistakes that have cost them half their incomes and nearly all their prospects along with tipping into a state of perpetual war is not an option any more.

For too long now we have thought that the public would or even could wake up to their being misled by the Rushes. While no thinking person could take him seriously, obviously that will not matter come November.

Whatever the outcome this year, the left must be more active in disputing and discrediting the right and, indeed, begin a counter psychological war program to match the right.

[KISHAGREEN]

Is there anyone, anywhere in this country that doesn't believe we are going to war with some country some where as soon as McCain becomes president? Whether that country attacked us or not.

Is there anyone, anywhere in this country that believes America can afford (lives or treasure) another military conflict of any kind? Neocons excluded--we know they don't consider pesky things like rationale, funding, and support from our allies.

Obama's poll numbers are down, but McCain's are not up. He's still hovering around 45% which means more people moved into the undecided column, not into the McCain column.

McCain has no desire to be a peacetime president. He wants to be the war president. So we can forget about ending any of our current wars AND look to starting a new one. Sleep tight!

[Turningfool]

Well, yes. There are many who believe that the next war will be started by Bush in advance of the election, in order to help McCain get elected.

[rwt1138]

Actually I find it more likely that Bush won't start another war unless Obama is elected; in doing so, he ties the incoming president's hands. McCain is likely to start one or allow one to happen when he's not paying attention (like most of the time: see Georgia, Former Independent Republic Of) so it won't be as necessary.

[margie]

Commercial should be made -- asking why McCain voted for insurance companies to pay for Viagra but not birth control pills. I am past that time of life, however, if old white wrinkled men cannot vote for health products for the young, we should vote to get more younger men and women in congress who know what the young people are going through. (By the way, I am a white senior citizen who has worked all her life, also a veteran)

[realpolitic]

"Wouldn't it have been grand if McCain, who made his own pilgrimage of reconciliation to Hanoi, would have drawn the proper lesson from that sad chapter in American history--that victory isn't everything it's cracked up to be?" Yes, McCain should have learned humility and the limits to American military power. He should have learned we should always try to uphold on our values and not hold people in secret prisons. He should have learned that military conflict is a last resort and not a reflexive action.

[sshaler]

Isn't it kind of humilating to bring funds into the discussion when killing people who have not attacked one is just plain unconscionable? A real conscience need think no further, period. If there has to be a second thought, making one's children into killers surely must be, at best, a waste of the potential, mental health and moral core of those children.

[Annette]

That is what is getting to be pretty sad about America, a fairly large contingent want someone for president who isn't too smart, or too competent, or even too willing to learn.
In fact I am starting to wonder if something hasn't changed in America. We used to be concerned if Johnny couldn't read, or if Johnny couldn't do math. The the Americans learned that low taxes trump everything. Schools without enough textbooks for children to each have one. Schools that study for hours a day to take tests for Bush's no child left behind, but where the kids can't reason a math problem because they were not being tested on that. America used to have a highly educated population and was proud of it, and willing to pay taxes to give children a good education. This then translated into college students who were ready for college, now a large percentage of them have to take remedial classes when they start college thus wasting at least a year of their education. This is resulting in less educated adults who think that someone just like them is the best person to have as president. Well we are not at the top in life expectancy, educated adults, scientifically trained citizens, we have given up our lead in highest standard of living (actually pretty far down on that list) we are certainly not the most free. Looks to me like our country is sinking fast. But we have low taxes, yippee!!

[ringeroo]

To reignite Cold War scenarios when we are already spread thin is beyond belief. After USSR collapsed we spent billions to keep Russia afloat. How long ago was that....US of Amnesia over and over. Now we are stoking fires and "all georgians"­...wow.

Your articles steam with disgust and are must reads--McCain ahead in polls!?!?--keep up the fight Scheer. Thank you.

[Otaku1031]

I wonder if McCain understands the concept of Phyrric victory?

[Bettysdad]

He doesn't care what kind of victory you call it, as long as it's a victory.

[DAE]

McCain in a landslide. Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.

[gwinegarden]

You get the government you deserve. Think about it.

[Whatashame]

With McCain in the white house this country is going down. He's all about WAR and white Americans are too dumb to see it. They just can see themselves voting for a Black intelligent guy so they go with the devil they know

[faust2001]

McCain, whose campaign should have been over by now, is five points ahead in the latest Zogby poll. So much for overestimating the intelligence of the American people.

[newworldman777]

Don't kid yourself about the intelligence -- or lack thereof -- of the American people being the predominant reason for the lack of support for Obama. A HUGE number of voters, who would otherwise vote for a Democrat, will refuse to vote for Obama because they don't want to elect a black man as our president -- period. Here in Mississippi, the racism regarding this election is so blatant that it is sickening. America is supposed to offer all of its citizens a fair and equal opportunity to succeed. Yeah, riiight...­whatever.

[chandolyn]

You don't need to go to Mississippi nor anywhere else in the South. Just venture into the great Northern bastions of anti-slavery and religious do-gooders in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky. You will find real bigotry there.

[gwinegarden]

Americans seem to like short answers.

What was your greatest moral failing? I left my wife, next question.

Does evil exist? Yes, kill it, next question.

Is this where we talk about the Supremem Court? No, I didn't hear the questions beforehand!

[pcplz]

McCain and his ilk have no need for Social Security, Medicare, or sub-prime loans....w­hat do they care.

I also loved your statement of : an irrational mélange of patriotic swagger and blindness to reality that is proving disturbingly successful with uninformed voters.

So true, so sad....wha­t a statement about the average American mentality. I have found it to be so prevalent when I am talking to most people. I hear, "Go get em, Johnny Boy!" and " that Johnny, he's my boy!"

I could scream! They are swayed by swagger. They still can let Bush and Cheney snow them. What is going to happen to us?

[LAB10]

Bombs are not the answer to all problems.

[newworldman777]

"Bombs" will immediately be the answer to the "problem" of Iran under the new McCain/Lieberman administration. However, if America puts these two clowns into the White House, then we will have gotten the government that we deserve. Makes me ashamed to be an American, considering the idiots who live here -- and vote, unfortunately -- alongside me.

[chandolyn]

Be careful what you say about being ashamed to be an American. Look at what the idiots did to Michelle. Since I agree with you, maybe the new Maccies will do us a favor and run us out of the country.

[gwinegarden]

He was a bomber pilot. Of course they are!