PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. , Oct. 4, 2007

McCain Wants Greenspan, Dead Or Alive

"If He's Dead, Just Prop Him Up... Like 'Weekend At Bernies'" To Help Fix Tax Code, Jokes Senator

  • Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., photographed in Camden, S.C., on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2007.

    Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., photographed in Camden, S.C., on Wednesday Oct. 3, 2007.  (AP Photo/Willis Glassgow)

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(AP)  Republican John McCain said Thursday that as president he would appoint Alan Greenspan to lead a review of the nation's tax code - even if the former Federal Reserve chairman was dead.

"If he's alive or dead it doesn't matter. If he's dead, just prop him up and put some dark glasses on him like, like 'Weekend at Bernie's,'" McCain joked. "Let's get the best minds in America together and fix this tax code."

The 81-year-old Greenspan served as chairman of the Fed for 18½ years.

Campaigning in early-voting South Carolina, McCain was asked about his support for a flat tax.

"If the fair tax crossed my desk, I'd sign it. If a flat tax did, I'd sign it," McCain said while noting criticism of the concept. "What we all agree: It has to be made simpler and fairer."

On another subject, McCain said he wanted Myanmar expelled from a regional group of Asian nations, calling the country's leadership thugs. He also decried China's inaction on its neighbor.

"My friends, we should kick the Burmese out of ASEAN," McCain said, referring to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The nation's crackdown on protesters, including monks, has led to at least nine deaths and hundreds of arrests.

"We should impose the most severe economic sanctions and penalties on them. We should treat them as the pariah nation they are," McCain said as he wrapped up a three-day swing the state. "I'm disappointed in the U.N. and I'm disappointed that the Chinese are blocking action in the United Nations against them."

McCain said he refuses to call the nation Myanmar because "the thugs that are running country changed the name of it years ago, so I insist on calling it Burma."

McCain also told about 150 people at a Rotary Club meeting that torture is not the way to question suspects. His comments came as House Democrats demanded the Justice Department release two secret Bush administration memos that reportedly authorize painful interrogation tactics.

The Arizona senator and former prisoner of war said "24" was one of his favorite TV shows, but he noted the main character shoots terror suspects in the kneecaps to get information.

"That isn't the way it works. And I can assure you, I can assure you, that if you inflict enough physical pain on someone, they will tell you anything that they think you want to know to relieve the pain," he said.

Later, in Washington, McCain railed against excessive spending on Capitol Hill - and the Democrats - as he spoke to Americans for Prosperity, an organization that says it champions principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal restraint.

"We find ourselves at a time when the U.S. economy is weaker than anyone would like," McCain said to the friendly crowd. "Tough times can breed fear, and the Democrats are using those fears to push an agenda that is tired and dangerous."

"They will tax, spend, regulate, and dictate for the benefit of special interests and partisan objectives," he added.


© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Add a Comment See all 37 Comments
by sftodd October 7, 2007 8:22 PM EDT
Didn''''t the Republicans try the "Weekend at Bernie" thing in 2000 with, uh, George Bush?
Posted by vbnvbn at 09:08 PM : Oct 06, 2007

LOL! That explains a lot -- they''ve gotten away with it for seven years now!
Reply to this comment
by brettrix October 7, 2007 4:36 AM EDT
This is WAY more important:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/05/politics/main3336190.shtml?source=mostpop_story
Reply to this comment
by brettrix October 7, 2007 4:35 AM EDT
I am from Phoenix AZ and I will NOT be voting for McCain - I will be voting for Ron Paul.
Ron Paul has way more cash on hand than McCain and Ron Paul knows how to spend it....

I wish john would go away - I respect he is a hero but he was a hero because he was captured. Is that what we want?
Reply to this comment
by jowand October 7, 2007 12:15 AM EDT
Didn''''t the Republicans try the "Weekend at Bernie" thing in 2000 with, uh, George Bush?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by vbnvbn at 09:08 PM : Oct 06, 2007

Nope the Clintons are trying the weekend Berniece right now.
Reply to this comment
by satxfreedom October 6, 2007 7:44 PM EDT
www.TrueWorldHistory.info
Reply to this comment
by famulla-2009 October 6, 2007 5:54 PM EDT
Sir
Has anyone given the head hunt price like Osama to McCain Wants Greenspan, Dead or Alive?

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD
P.O.Box 6044
Dar-Es-Salaam
Tanzania
East Africa
Reply to this comment
by famulla-2009 October 6, 2007 5:52 PM EDT
Sir
Alive is better. You get the royalties from the book he is publishing about the farced war on Iraq. I am counting dead ones coming in the box. Till then keep him alive
I thank you
Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD
P.O.Box 6044
Dar-Es-Salaam
Tanzania
East Africa
Reply to this comment
by johnt2b October 6, 2007 3:14 PM EDT
Torture works with those of little charater. McCain gave in while in captivity because of torture, while 1,000s with true character died rather than give the enemy suppot. I think we can assume that the terrorists have a lack of character. Thus, torture should be part of interrigation.
Reply to this comment
by mooreg30 October 6, 2007 5:27 AM EDT
"My friends, we should kick the Burmese out of ASEAN"

Someone should point out to Mr. McCain that the US is not even a member of ASEAN. Some of the fundamental priciples of ASEAN are below - these few alone I think would disqualify the US from ever being a member (assuming one was ignoring geography as well).

mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;

the right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;

settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
Reply to this comment
by goldesprit October 6, 2007 4:35 AM EDT
McCain is a little better at follow up humor than W, but he is pretending to be Reagan, with just a dash of Paul Simon for cuteness.
This change started to manifest about a year ago, and is rather an obvious attempt to look "Presidential" to a bunch of insane neocons.
Reply to this comment
by zootallures2 October 6, 2007 2:07 AM EDT
Rockefeller and the Builderbergs must be having a second look at McCain, seeing that he is losing but makes headlines.

He is good at crashing planes into people...
Reply to this comment
by torridwon October 6, 2007 2:04 AM EDT
***, McCain realizes Greenspan for what he is. I just may vote for him now.
Reply to this comment
by incog-nito October 6, 2007 2:01 AM EDT
McCain wants Greenspan if elected, just so he can have somebody in his government that is actually older than him.
Reply to this comment
by zootallures2 October 6, 2007 2:00 AM EDT
Isn''t that what his fellow ship mates said about HIM before they shot him down over veitnam?
Reply to this comment
by pwrslm October 6, 2007 1:15 AM EDT
pwrslm -- you really should listen to those voices in your head, please.

Posted by SFTodd

***. With those were the voices, Id be filthy rich@!!

But then, what fun would a world filled with yes men be? If someone doesnt point out the liars, these boards would be full of them...
Reply to this comment
by sftodd October 6, 2007 12:09 AM EDT
That photo of McCain says it all: "Can someone please tell me what I''m doing here?"
Reply to this comment
by sftodd October 6, 2007 12:07 AM EDT
I feel like I''ve drowned, gonna head uptown
Posted by pwrslm at 06:50 PM : Oct 05, 2007

pwrslm -- you really should listen to those voices in your head, please.
Reply to this comment
by opa-n-oma October 5, 2007 11:04 PM EDT
"They will tax, spend, regulate, and dictate for the benefit of special interests and partisan objectives," he added. (McCain)
Isn''t this what the Republicans have been doing for the last 7 and 9/12s of the last years? When they had full control of a one party system with no oversights, where the hell was McCain? Where were the rest of the Republicans of the less government mantra? We are going to spend 1 trillion dollars on someone else''s civil war that our dip-stick president started and we can''t insure our own kids!!!!Bush wants another 150 billion for his Iraq, but vetoes American kid''s insurance. John McCain, how can you face yourself in the mirror and say that? What is that? Play money? You continue to show stupidity. That won''t get you elected, thank god.
Reply to this comment
by vincan-2009 October 5, 2007 11:01 PM EDT
Lame. McCain should retire from the senate himself for kissing Bush''s too too instead of standing up to the illegal policies Bush employed from day one that have brought us this war and this disgraceful president who republicans continue to follow blindly like morons.
Reply to this comment
by antoniof123 October 5, 2007 10:25 PM EDT
I can''t stop laughing between Rudy, Mitt, and John they are getting dumber and dumber by the second. My god it is better than the movie and this is from the family value party of god. I bet the real God is looking down right now and laughing too.
Reply to this comment
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