AlanRockville

Joe:
You're probably right, but I would go further. There is a sense of expediency all along. If you read that chapter in the book, McCain speaks of giving himself a bit of a pat on the back for his vote - how he ended up getting interviews and other forms of attention.
In 2002 McCain first supported Bush on Iraq (of course, how could you be "disloyal" after 9/11?), but then in August 2003 started to plug the "we don't have enough troops" line. (He obviously did not do his homework, other generals were warning this in 2002). The "maverick" reappeared. It was a great attention-getter, but I wonder if he did one solitary thing in the Senate to make his policy happen. Did he walk his own talk? Yeah, eventually he criticized Rumsfeld, but at that point, everyone was doing that
So I have 2 points that I hope get expanded upon from my post: 1) McCain flip-flops. And it is easy to see it if you do the research. Recall what was said about Senator Kerry in 2004 - I think that strategy worked. 2) McCain has a future policy with lots of questions.
I wanted to say more, but this blog has a word limit. I have a longer version of my original post on DailyKos.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/31/93954/0615?new=true
Alan posted 03/31/2008 at 14:18:14

McCain's Memoirs is His Own Best Opponent
Below you'll see an email to the Washingtion Post that didn't get in. I'm still trying for other papers.
----- Original Message -----
From: Alan R
To: letters@washpost.com
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:09 PM
Subject: Re: McCain, Traveling Along a Tightrope
To the Editor:
In my own research looking at the candidates and their positions on America"s National Interest, I came across a person who can best express the views that are the polar opposite of Senator John McCain.
Senator John McCain.
In his book "Worth The Fighting For", chapter five ("In Opposition") then-Congressman McCain explains his vote in September 1983 against the deployment of Marines in support of Lebanon"s "weak" government. His speech of September 28th sounds eerily like those given today in opposition to the war in Iraq. He further states in this 2002 memoir that his judgments then were "well-founded".
I found this at my local library, please look for yourself, it is well-worth reading. I hope the Senator can explain to the benefit of my astonishment how he then acknowledged that with withdrawl from Lebanon "the level of fighting will increase...but this will happen in any event", but fails to come to that conclusion today.
Alan R
P.S. I did find one article about the memoirs, from a backer of Ron Paul - quite good, but I don't like Ron Paul.
http://www.amconmag.com/2008/2008_02_11/cover.html posted 03/31/2008 at 09:34:43

McCain's Own Book is His Own Best Opponent

Below you'll see an email to the Washingtion Post that didn't get in. I'm still trying for other papers.

----- Original Message -----
From: Alan R
To: letters@washpost.com
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 10:09 PM
Subject: Re: McCain, Traveling Along a Tightrope

To the Editor:

In my own research looking at the candidates and their positions on America"s National Interest, I came across a person who can best express the views that are the polar opposite of Senator John McCain.

Senator John McCain.

In his book "Worth The Fighting For", chapter five ("In Opposition") then-Congressman McCain explains his vote in September 1983 against the deployment of Marines in support of Lebanon"s "weak" government. His speech of September 28th sounds eerily like those given today in opposition to the war in Iraq. He further states in this 2002 memoir that his judgments then were "well-founded".

I found this at my local library, please look for yourself, it is well-worth reading. I hope the Senator can explain to the benefit of my astonishment how he then acknowledged that with withdrawl from Lebanon "the level of fighting will increase...but this will happen in any event", but fails to come to that conclusion today.

Alan R
P.S. I did find one article about the memoirs, from a backer of Ron Paul - quite good, but I don't like Ron Paul.
http://www.amconmag.com/2008/2008_02_11/cover.html posted 03/30/2008 at 15:03:38