View From Europe: Is McCain Losing It?

Berlin-John McCain's bizarre response when asked repeatedly about Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero adds to a growing sense here in Europe that if McCain is elected in November, it's time to be afraid, very afraid. Is he out of it or reckless? Both options sound grim.

At least in political science and foreign-policy expert circles, McCain has been well known in Europe for years and has long attracted respect. It was not uncommon in this year of unprecedented European focus on U.S. presidential politics to hear highly respected commentators argue that when it comes to the reality of governing, either a McCain victory or a Barack Obama victory would probably play out much the same on the issues that matter to Europe.

No one is making that argument lately. The Georgia crisis and, to a lesser degree, the selection of foreign-policy neophyte Sarah Palin as a running mate, brought a shift in European perceptions. The prospect of a continuation of the religious-right driven foreign-policy adventurism of the Bush years, starting with a reckless showdown with the former overachieving KGB counter-spy Vladimir Putin over - and maybe in - Georgia, has many queasy.

Obama is seen as something of a question mark, but an eloquent and charismatic question mark whose obvious star power makes him fascinating to watch on the political stage. It's understood that clashes with an Obama administration would loom over such difficult issues as the push for more European soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan. But on the plus side, Obama's youth and energy leave room for optimism, whereas McCain shows increasing signs of age-enhanced mental and verbal incoherence (on which group Iran was arming in Iraq, among many, many other topics).

Die Zeit, the highly respected German weekly, was scalding in its evaluation of McCain's convention speech in Minnesota. "He appeared tired, old, pale and without ideas," was the verdict. "McCain couldn't present the case to Americans deeply disappointed by George W. Bush why he -- the aged Republican senator of 22 years -- should stand for change and the future."

Most Europeans are belatedly learning to be careful about assuming Obama will win. They like to mention that if George W. Bush could be reelected, after the American people had caught his act for four years, anything is possible. If McCain wins, running as fundamentally dishonest and dirty campaign as he has so far been running, celebrating ignorance of the world, even as he preens about his credentials in this area, there is no question it will fuel the widespread anti-Americanism that has shown signs of abating in the last year.

It will be entertaining to watch the McCain campaign try to explain away -- or distract from -- their candidate's weird inability to place Spain on the European continent. Was this a calculated snub of Europe -- since snubs of Europe still seem to fire up the type of people who think Sarah Palin is a jim-dandy candidate for VP -- or at least a calculated snub gone somehow wrong, like John Kerry's botched joke? Could McCain truly have been as out of it as it seems? Is he sound of mind? These are fair questions of a man who would inherit so many problems across the board left over from the wreckage of the failed Bush administration.

Comments

[napapjd]

One interesting aspect of the Spain story is how quickly the mainstream media picked up on it after bloggers surfaced it. Even a month ago, I don't think this would have happened. McCain's campaign of lies has clearly eroded his exalted status with the regular press corps, and on down the line -- assignment editors, wire editors, managing editors, etc. -- everyone is now much more comfortable highlighting McCain gaffes. But they haven't quite gotten to the point of being willing to ask:
(1) Is this guy fit to assume the presidency at a time of unprecedented simultaneous international and domestic challenges which will require enormous commitment, energy and steadiness?
(2) And, are we willing to take a chance on him given the utterly unqualified woman who would serve as his vice president?
I'd think these factors alone would lead rational citizens to stampede toward Obama, no matter their ideological leanings.

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

Great Point, napapjd. I agree that smart - and timely - work by bloggers made a huge difference in bringing the subject to the fore, and clearly we need to see more of that. It's also good to ask why this time was different. I think a big reason was Josh Marshall's great work on this - he was quick, and he kept following up, and he offered thoughtful analysis. It was in short a good reminder of why Josh is a must read - http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/217881.php

[VillagesNancy]

Fascinating reading and, unfortunately, all too true. It is encouraging to see so many informed postings.

Keep up the good work.

[kate9]

The totality of the McCain campaign equates to an abject failure of ideas and clarity of how to project the intellectual, economic, and political capital of our nation.

McCain personally comes off as ancient, inadequate, petulant, inarticulate, mean-spirited and lacking common sense in selecting a competent vice presidential partner.

Increasingly as the days pass, the thought of a Palin-McCain is a frightening spectre.

What a difference from the hope, competence, and power of an Obama-Biden administrationl.

[xor62]

Why isn.t the media connecting the dots as regards the status of McCains mental state. His aides are already noticing he is different than he was 10 years ago and look at all the mental errors he makes. Denial is steeped in comments that he had "a senior moment". I suspect he is in the early stages of some form of dementia. Not unlike when Reagan was in his 2nd term and on the doorstep, if not thru the door, of Alzheimers.

[kennyh]

Thanks for the grerat post.

Probably 90% of Republicans have never been outside the U.S., and , for sure, don't know any Europeans. Yet, they are quick to criticize and mock their very roots. Part of it is stupidity and the rest is jealousy. We need our European friends badly and it is in our best interest to elect someone who knows how to build the alliances of the future.

[RepublicanBrain]

Europe's been on the downslide for years now. A declining population, little impact in world events when compared to Asia. It's become the old money, the people who can talk about how good things used to be and look pretty but ultimately don't have the power anymore. Europe's the last person to talk to for successful domestic policy. Just look at Sweden, who campaigned to have boys sit down instead of stand at the toilet because it insults women.

[research]

Lived in Sweden for years. Never heard of such a thing. In fact they have stand up urinals outside the palace.

The Scandinavian enjoy a higher standard of live, a lower misery index, more productivity per person, etc.... We could learn a lot from them

Look up the "middle way". Perhaps your GOP tribe could consider it it.

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

Another thing, in line with what research wrote is: If the Republicans are the party of family values, or whatever self-congratulating label they want to use this time around to claim moral superiority over liberals and especially Europeans, then why is it that Europeans spend more time with their families in general than do over-worked, over-stressed Americans? They have more vacation and in general spend it with their families; they don't (as often) work the 10- or 12-hour days that mean never having dinner with the kids. Why is the idea of Europe so scary for these people?

[RepublicanBrain]

If the Scandinavians are more "productive" why did America have a higher GDP (World Bank 2007). Why is it the Scandinavians aren't at the forefront of driving new technologies?

Scandinavians have both smaller countries and less people then America does, which makes standard of living easier to raise. Such policies, if reproduced here, would bankrupt the already-fragile economy and create a socialist state.

[paulita]

Did you miss the whole European Union?

[RepublicanBrain]

No, I know it. What's the point?

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for checking in, RepublicanBrain. I hope you'll weigh in now and then on my future posts. You know, let's say you're on the money with every point. Let's say the "soft power" argument for engaging our European allies, a la Joe Nye, is unpersuasive (I for one find it very persuasive). Even so, the question remains of what to do in Afghanistan. The Bush administration strongly believes more troops are required from Germany and other European allies to stabilize the situation there. Germany has resisted that pressure, but in fairness, finally agreed to send some more troops. To make meaningful progress in Afghanistan, a comprehensive solution will have to be pursued, as Pakistani journalist and best-selling author Ahmed Rashid argues, but most agree more troops will also be required. Better relations - and less Euro-insulting - would likely make it more feasible to encourage the Europeans, even in turbulent economic times, to funnel a little more money to military spending so they can send more troops.

[RepublicanBrain]

I appreciate you responding to my posts. I further appreciate your eloquence and that your comments don't deride into simple insults.

Europe could certainly be used to help stabilize the turbulent reasons, by virtue of having more people. It is in Europe's own interests to take out the Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. History has proven to us that Europe is not immune to terrorist attacks (we saw it in London and in Turkey.)

We then beg the question: If we're still going to be at war in Afghanistan, would Barack Obama be the leader we should trust to handle that, even if Europe prefers it? Given that he is against McCain, that seems unlikely. It's a matter of experience in that department.

McCain's comment about Spain's leader was a gaffe, similar to Obama's "bitter Pennsylvanians" speech. People seem to have forgotten that, and soon, they'll forget this when the next gaffe comes about.

[deliriousgod]

being rude to Spain reminded me of Teddy Roosevelt and I've had quite a time playing around with that maverick; but did you know that Teddy roosevelt was the first American President to propose a Universal Healthcare System?

[paulita]

At the risk of self promotion, and thank you to the Huffington post.! I just posted a blog on Off the Bus indicating that 80% of Spain is hoping we elect Senator Obama. In fact all of Europe is pretty much hoping we elect Senator Obama and feel it matters to them.

It appears the World is Watching Us, but unfortunately Candidate McCain is not watching the world and have no idea what is going on in the world.

http://www.huffingtonpost com/paula-­mays/world­-watching-­and-has-an­_b_126832
html

[research]

McPalin has the entire GOP/ROVE/lobbies apparatus working for him.

It's not just McCain that's losing it,

The entire GOP is losing it.

Events of the GOP's own making, have caught up with them.

Their core philosophical underpinnings have become ridiculous and ineffective.

This is what the end of the GOP conservative movement looks like.

Desperate, confused, erratic lies and spin.

[Nommo]

All this, just in time for a remake of "The Day The Earth Stood Still".

Klaatu ba..ba.. ra...waaah wah....

[JRsNana]

I think the question "is he of sound mind" is a relevant question that needs to be answered NOW! My feeling is that something is very wrong and they are just trying to pull him across the finish line so Palin can be installed. At that point, kiss this country goodbye

[research]

What's wrong is the entire GOP. McCain is just the naked example.

[hopeless277]

Give John McCain a break! He's 72 years old fergawdssake. He can't be expected to remember EVERYTHING. Besides, Sister Sara Palin can see Russia from her house.....­..........­..

[Saru]

You would think that McCain would be able to see Spain from at least 1 of his houses

[XME]

"They'll give him a break because he's old and they don't want to be accused of agism. They'll give her a break because she's a woman and they don't want to be accused of sexism." I can just hear Rove planning this strategry out. Scary!

[CompetenceMatters]

Excellent piece, thank you. Yes, the only thing scarier than McCain not knowing he was talking to a reporter from Spain, rather than some minor South American dictator, as it appeared to me, is that his running mate most likely could not even find Spain on a map. Could he?

I am furious that just now some in the media are waking up to the fact that their very important function in a democracy is to give us the facts. Several have mentioned of late that they thought their job was to pass on what is being said, and the public is to decide whether those things are true or not. I would love to bypass the media and have a chance to ask questions of each of the four people that are telling me they are the best choices to govern this country and/or serve as backups. I would love to give them each a physical, and an IQ test, strap them into a lie detector, examine their tax returns and professional emails, voting records, school transcripts, and anything else that would allow me to assess their suitability for myself. But, alas, I can't. For some of them, nobody can, they are asking us to trust them, to buy a pig in a poke, so to speak.

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

Exactly. It all goes back to what Lee Atwater was preaching years ago: If you can't win on the issues, go personal and push distraction.
On your earlier point, what ARE the questions that need to be asked of the candidates? We need a good airing of what those questions should be, and that has to start somewhere. I'll be going up with something on that topic in a future post.

[jorge4u]

Steve,

Good piece. We all know that McCain does not even try to explain anything, only distract from real issues. The man has no fresh or new ideas, just the recycled ones from an Administration that has the American people miserably.

[ANTHONYing]

The world is terrified. I work in the company of 3000 people and we are terrified.

There is only one race on Earth- the human race- and if we don't pull together there will be no world left -- let alone an american continent.

The McPal clan couldn't pass a fifth grade science test, let alone run America. All of my friends all over Europe are pinching themselves. We don't know if this is a joke or a bad dream.

We don't need to preach to intelligent educated Americans- we know we are in this fight together.
I shiver to think they will have the nuclear codes, or how they will deal with the likes of Robert Mugabe and Vlad Putin. The blind who would lead... if they get their way they will achieve exactly the opposite of what they say they wish. Lord, please save America.

[Steve Kettmann - Huffpost Blogger]

Chilling, but so true that for many it's hard to know if this is a bad dream or a bad joke. And yet at the Republican convention, more of the same old recycled jingoism.