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. Photo

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

  • Play CBS Video Video John McCain's Fine Line

    To be a war president himself, McCain claims he will do a better job than Bush. A former Bush aide tells Jeff Greenfield why this is a risky strategy.

  • Video McCain Links Past To Present

    Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign has a new strategy that uses ads to remind viewers of the time he spent as a war prisoner in Vietnam. Jeff Greenfield reports.

  • Interactive Campaign 2008

    Profiles of the candidates, polls, fund-raising, blogs, video and more.

  • In-Depth 2008 Presidential Hopefuls

    Profiles and the latest news on the Democrats and Republicans running for the White House.

(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.
Candidate Profiles & RSS Feeds


Video and Galleries from Politics

Add a Comment See all 37 Comments
by dictatortot October 5, 2007 12:41 PM PDT
Greenspan may be even more valuable as an advisor now that he''s not constrained by his position at the Fed or by political considerations.

I''d rather have a dead advisor than the brain dead advisors who apparently have Bush''s ear.

http://www.newsprism.com
Reply to this comment
by wootendw October 5, 2007 12:51 PM PDT
John McCain has nothing in common with Alan Greenspan. Obsessed with sacrifice, my senator would willingly have every American die or live in poverty in pursuit of causes he deems "greater than their own self interest", as he has put it. Alan Greenspan, as a disciple of Ayn Rand, understands that what made this country prosperous was the right of productive people to pursue their own happiness in a capitalist system based on the profit motive.
Reply to this comment
by rogimoto October 5, 2007 12:57 PM PDT
www.fairtax.org
Reply to this comment
by sevenveils October 5, 2007 1:09 PM PDT
McCain''s statement regarding Democrats: "They will tax, spend, regulate, and dictate for the benefit of special interests and partisan objectives,"

Isn''t that what the Republicans have done for the last seven years?
Reply to this comment
by sftodd October 5, 2007 1:24 PM PDT
That''s the problem with Republicans -- they cling so tightly to tradition that they can''t tell when someone''s time or ideas are past. Too bad McCain can''t come up with any good ideas on his own.
Reply to this comment
by dutchfarmer October 5, 2007 1:32 PM PDT
Greenspan as an advisor over the tax code is like putting a wolf in the henhouse. Get rid of the tax code!!! That''s what Ron Paul will do. Vote Ron Paul for President.
Reply to this comment
by lorinkundert October 5, 2007 2:16 PM PDT
What''s there to review? Start with Brushaber and the other Supreme Court rulings on the scope of the 16th Amendment.
Reply to this comment
by gkc99 October 5, 2007 2:34 PM PDT
"That''''s what Ron Paul will do. Vote Ron Paul for President"--Posted by dutchfarmer


And won''t Ron Paul also turn over all the National Forests to private timber companies, the Bonneville Power Authority and the Tennessee Valley Authority to Exxon or Xcel, abolish anti-trust laws, abolish environmental protections, and turn the rapacious billionaires loose to steal even more?
Reply to this comment
by wootendw October 5, 2007 3:40 PM PDT
Ron Paul might abolish government environmental protections but he wouldn''t use the taxpayer''s money to build a national highway system or to dam up rivers.
Reply to this comment
by jowand October 5, 2007 3:44 PM PDT
Greenspan is an idiot, McCain is no better.
Reply to this comment
by ramos937 October 5, 2007 4:31 PM PDT
The biggest user of US funds is the Iraq War. People should realize that we are spending over $720 million per day in Iraq and this will increase as the days go by. Every federal account that we have such as education, non DOD, law enforcement, etc. is being scalped for funds to spend in Iraq. The result is that we have to borrow more money from folks in China and Japan. This leads to deficits that we may never be able to pay even in the succeeding second, third, fourth generations.
Reply to this comment
by savetheus October 5, 2007 4:40 PM PDT
*** STOP THE WAR & END CORPORATE CORRUPTION ***

Who Is Paying For Your Vote To Keep Control Of You And To Keep This War Going? Remember The Bankers Hold The Stock In Companies That Are Getting Billions In War Contracts!
Obama''s Contributers: Bankers / Special interest!
http://tinyurl.com/2nd4f8

Hillary Clinton''s Contributers Lawyers / RealEstate:
http://tinyurl.com/2ontpq

Rudy GIULIANI Contributors: Bankers / Hedge Funds!
http://tinyurl.com/2m2c4n

Ron Pauls Money Is From the People! We have someone who is NOT Paid Off By Special Interest or Bankers Money!!!
http://tinyurl.com/2q8vr3

If you ever want this War to End Vote Ron Paul 2008, No One Else Is Going To End It!
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues

Ron Paul Will:

** Stop Iraq War Immediately
** Eliminate IRS
** Eliminate Federal Reserve
** Eliminate Government Wasteful Spending
** Restore America''s Work Force & Values
** Restore America''s Freedom!

RON PAUL RAISES $5.1 MILLION 3RD Q!

It''s Not About Democrat Or Republican. It Is About
the People And Ron Paul Is America''s Last Hope!

********* VOTE RON PAUL 2008! *********

Join A ReVoLuTiOn Group In Your City:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/cities/
Reply to this comment
by mike71067 October 5, 2007 5:03 PM PDT
McCain would make a good president. Too bad he blew his chance with that illegal Mexican amnesty stuff. Lesson learned: Talk like a liberal Democrat, people lose respoct for you.
Reply to this comment
by socrates392 October 5, 2007 5:49 PM PDT
McCain would make a good president. Too bad he blew his chance with that illegal Mexican amnesty stuff. Lesson learned: Talk like a liberal Democrat, people lose respoct for you.

Posted by mike71067 at 05:03 PM : Oct 05, 2007

I am a liberal democrat and even I have lost all "respoct" for him.
Reply to this comment
by sftodd October 5, 2007 5:55 PM PDT
Get rid of the tax code!!! That''''s what Ron Paul will do. Vote Ron Paul for President.
Posted by dutchfarmer at 01:32 PM : Oct 05, 2007

I got a better idea!! Get rid of the government!! That''s what I would do!! Vote for me in 2008!!! I''m for smaller government!!!! Ron Paul thinks we should have a federal government -- he''s crazy!!!!
Reply to this comment
by pwrslm October 5, 2007 6:50 PM PDT
Mother, mother ocean
I have heard you call
Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall
You''ve seen it all, you''ve seen it all



Watched the men who rode you
Switch from sails to steam
In your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen
Most of ''em dreams, most of ''em dreams



Yes I am a pirate
Two hundred years too late
The cannons don''t thunder, there''s nothin'' to plunder
I''m an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late



I''ve done a bit of smugglin''
And I''ve run my share of grass
I made enough money to buy Miami
But I pissed it away so fast
Never meant to last, never meant to last



And I have been drunk now for over two weeks
I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks
But I got stop wishin'', got to go fishin''
Down to rock bottom again
Just a few friends, just a few friends



I go for younger women
Lived with several awhile
Though I ran ''em away, they''d come back one day
Still could manage to smile

Just takes a while, just takes a while
Mother, mother ocean
After all the years I''ve found
My occupational hazard being my occupation''s just not around

I feel like I''ve drowned, gonna head uptown
I feel like I''ve drowned, gonna head uptown



Reply to this comment
by homespunlady October 5, 2007 6:51 PM PDT
I LOVE smoke and mirrors. Keep watching that MAGIC TRICK SHELL GAME.
Look, we CANNOT keep jacking up spending on things that HAVE NO RETURN on investment such as the IRAQ CONQUEST ATTEMPT. It''s a financial, international good will and "best and brightest" DRAIN that benefits ONLY Al Queda Recruiters an WAR PROFITEERS that are now moving OFFSHORE. Strategic DIPLOMACY IS CHEAPER and brings in a BETTER RETURN!

Healthcare for American children MIGHT provide long term cost cuts and return on taxpayer investment IF we survive long enough to NEED HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE WORKERS and the Demographic the SCHIP serves is where those workers come from.

Importing workers will only happen as long as it''s WORTH THE COST to our IMPORTED workers. They DESERTED ONE COUNTRY ALREADY chasing money - if they can make MORE elsewhere how long before THEY LEAVE?
Don''t Believe it?
Then you HAVEN''T been paying attention to the SMART RATS - our "corporations" which seem to be "relocating" elsewhere in droves!
Reply to this comment
by antoniof123 October 5, 2007 7:25 PM PDT
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
by vincan-2009 October 5, 2007 8:01 PM PDT
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 opa-n-oma October 5, 2007 8:04 PM PDT
"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 sftodd October 5, 2007 9:07 PM PDT
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 sftodd October 5, 2007 9:09 PM PDT
That photo of McCain says it all: "Can someone please tell me what I''m doing here?"
Reply to this comment
by pwrslm October 5, 2007 10:15 PM PDT
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 zootallures2 October 5, 2007 11:00 PM PDT
Isn''t that what his fellow ship mates said about HIM before they shot him down over veitnam?
Reply to this comment
by incog-nito October 5, 2007 11:01 PM PDT
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 torridwon October 5, 2007 11:04 PM PDT
***, McCain realizes Greenspan for what he is. I just may vote for him now.
Reply to this comment
by zootallures2 October 5, 2007 11:07 PM PDT
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 goldesprit October 6, 2007 1:35 AM PDT
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 mooreg30 October 6, 2007 2:27 AM PDT
"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 johnt2b October 6, 2007 12:14 PM PDT
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 famulla-2009 October 6, 2007 2:52 PM PDT
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 famulla-2009 October 6, 2007 2:54 PM PDT
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 satxfreedom October 6, 2007 4:44 PM PDT
www.TrueWorldHistory.info
Reply to this comment
by jowand October 6, 2007 9:15 PM PDT
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 brettrix October 7, 2007 1:35 AM PDT
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 brettrix October 7, 2007 1:36 AM PDT
This is WAY more important:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/05/politics/main3336190.shtml?source=mostpop_story
Reply to this comment
by sftodd October 7, 2007 5:22 PM PDT
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
See all 37 Comments
  • MOST POPULAR
  • Viewed
  • Commented
Latest News
Featured Blogs