Kerry: McCain's Judgment Is Dangerous

Says Republican Candidate Is A "Changed Man" For Siding With Bush On War, Economy, Energy

(CBS)  Sen. John Kerry believes that the presumptive Republican nominee for president is adhering to the Bush Administration orthodoxy in ways that call into question his carefully-nurtured image as a political maverick.

"John McCain has changed in profound and fundamental ways that I find personally really surprising, and frankly upsetting," the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts said on CBS' Face The Nation.

"This is a different John McCain. This is not the Senator John McCain; this is want-to-be president John McCain.

"And the result is that John McCain has flip-flopped on more issues than I was even ever accused possibly of thinking about! I mean, this is extraordinary what he's done: He's changed on taxes; he's now in favor of the Bush tax cut. If you like the Bush economy, if you like the Bush tax cut and what it's done to our economy, making wealthier people wealthier and the average middle class struggle harder, then John McCain is going to give you a third term of George Bush and Karl Rove.

"If you like what has happened to oil prices, John McCain is going to continue that policy. If you like what you see about health care, John McCain has no health care plan.

"I would have at least expected the John McCain that I knew back then to realize what almost every person in the Pentagon has admitted. There are very few who walk around and say, 'Going into Iraq was the right thing to do, and we should have done it, or do it again if I have the chance.' John McCain does.

"I'm challenging Senator McCain's judgment," Kerry said, "that says, 'There's no violent history between Sunni and Shia.' That's wrong. His judgment that says, 'This is going to increase the stability of the Middle East.' It hasn't, it's made it less stable. The judgment that says, quote, 'This will be the best thing for America and the world in a long time. It's the worst thing that we've done in a long time. And he's turned his [focus] away from Afghanistan and al Qaeda and made America less safe. That's dangerous for our country."

Kerry criticized McCain's continued support of the occupation, given the effect of a continuing presence of U.S. troops on the situation in Iraq and the region at large. He pointed to remarks by leaders in the Middle East who told him during a recent visit, "You, America, have served up to Iran Iraq on a platter."

"They are outraged by the ineptitude of what has been done by those who decided it was smart to go into Iraq," said Kerry, who feels the Republican Party is now in turmoil over the "reality" of McCain's position, which is that "he has a plan for staying in Iraq and Barack Obama has a plan for getting out of Iraq."

However, McCain supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that McCain was right about the war.

"John understood we were losing in Iraq, quite frankly," Graham told host Bob Schieffer. "After Baghdad fell, we had the wrong strategy in place. And John, above anybody else in the country, spoke against his own administration, argued to Rumsfeld that we didn't have enough troops. So it's not just a few dead-enders. And he risked his own political career to turn it around."

Graham said Sen. Barack Obama was wrong to predict the "surge" would not work and that troops should be withdrawn. "The big test for this country is, how do you avoid losing in Iraq? If we'd have listened to Barack Obama, we would have lost. If we listen to him now, we will lose in the future and undercut all the gains we've made.

"We're winning because John McCain understood Iraq better than anybody else. The surge has worked. The political, economic and military progress in Iraq is undeniable.

"The biggest loser in Iraq is al Qaeda because the Muslims in Iraq joined with us and turned on them, and they've punished al Qaeda in Iraq. Any time a Muslim will take up arms against bin Laden's sympathizers, we're all safer.

"The only way we can lose this war now is to go down the road that Obama suggests," Graham said. "And that's pulling out, sending a signal to al Qaeda, 'Don't give up hope'; telling Iran, 'You can still feel the vacuum created in Iraq.'

"The enemy is on their knees and the only person talking in a way to get them off their knees is Barack Obama."

---

Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

[shingles1]

bigal321321, what really turned things around in Iraq was that we started to PAY OFF the insurgents. Back when the insurgency was raging, the Pentagon estimated that 90+ percent of it was Sunni-based and unrelated to Al Qaeda. So what did we do? We made DEALS with the Sunni insurgents, renamed them ''Concerned Local Citizens'' of the ''Sunni Awakening'', and paid them NOT to shoot at us.

And it worked.

The funny thing is, if anybody had suggested back in 2004, 2005, and 2006 that we simply PAY OFF and make deals with the people who were shooting at us (with American blood on their hands, I may add) - the wingnuts would have gone nuts and screamed out every name in the book (appeasers, traitors, defeatocrats,etc. - you should know the litany by heart now).

But when Bush does it, appeasement is OK.

[bigal321321]

Here''s what really bugs me about this story. Any other time or person the story would have read straight, just like that. But because it''s John Kerry, here we go, Lindsey Graham gets to put in his two cents worth. Why is this? Could one of you posters let me in on what CBS is up to with this sort of reporting? Balance or free publicity for McCain? The Surge? It wasn''t what made the difference in Iraq. I wish the repubs would stop acting like the Surge is what did it. What did it was exactly what Graham has stated above. The Iraqi''s stood up for themselves against al queda. The Surge accomplished nothing more than sending more troops and costing us more money.

And the first time a repub talks to me about the economy is when I rub the entire war in their face. We wouldn''t be in this economic mess if it weren''t for their war. Don''t tell me it''s not their''s. They pushed for it, they lobbied for it and they got it. Now they have to sleep in that bed. Good luck in November you guys (he says with tongue firmly in cheek).

[dkhorse1]

John Kerry is essentially a Republican in drag (a democratic politician), he married a wealthy heiress and has millions, or is that billions? He acts like his is on the side of the everyday person, yet he knows nothing about regular people. Kerry is the dictionary example of Hypocrisy, like Howard Dean and that disgusting Al Gore(global warming guru, yet pollutes worse then anyone). Democratic posers! If anyone listens to what they vomit out to the world needs help, psychotropic drugs would be a good start.

[dumbocrat]

Here we are again with McCain and his advocates falsely claiming that McCain was "right" on the war.

That is a lie. John McCain was one of the principal advocates for the war in the first place. That is his original sin with respect to this national tragedy.

Posted by IndyVet66 at 10:38 AM : Jul 08, 2008

What about your boy Johnny??
John Kerry February 23, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East

[johnmcsame]

John Kerry, go back to the hole that you crawled out from. No one gives a hoot about what you have to say.

[acolton1]

John McCain the senior citizen with a bad temper. He is like an OLD PALE Drag Queen who ran out of makeup.

[taotxzen]

IF YOU LIKE THIS ECONOMY;

IF YOU LIKE THIS NEVER-ENDING WAR;

IF YOU LIKED HIS VOTE AGAINST A GI BILL FOR IRAQ VETS;

IF LIKE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES;

IF LIKE THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH;

IF YOU CAN''''T WAIT TO INVADE IRAN;

IF YOU LIKE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT;

IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN;

IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST MATERNITY LEAVE FOR WOMEN;

IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF ROE V. WADE;

IF YOU LIKE THE UNFAIR TRADE POLICIES THAT SEND JOBS AND TECHNOLOGY OVERSEAS;

IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT PRACTICES TORTURE;

IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT SPIES ON ITS OWN CITIZEN;

IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT THE US IS ONE OF THE MOST REVILED NATIONS ON THE PLANET, THEN YOU''''LL JUST LOVE McCAIN.

Posted by raoul12

The really weird thing is that they are actully on board with most of that and think that you are a ''Godless fact-monger'' if you are not!

[indyvet66]

Here we are again with McCain and his advocates falsely claiming that McCain was "right" on the war.

That is a lie. John McCain was one of the principal advocates for the war in the first place. That is his original sin with respect to this national tragedy.

In 2002, McCain said "I believe that success will be fairly easy, and we are not going to get into house-to-house fighting%u2026We may have to take out buildings, but we are not going to have a blood-letting or trading American bodies for Iraqi bodies.%u201D

As a leading Republican Senator, John McCain could have IMPEDED the Iraq war. Instead, McCain and Bush started a war that did not need to be fought %u2013 and that Iraq war has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 American soldiers, and wasted more than $1 Trillion that now imperils the American economy.

This unnecessary war has strained the military (especially the reserves) way too much. McCain%u2019s crew has wrecked our economy by wasting $1 Trillion in Iraq. And too many people have died for McCain%u2019s mistake in Iraq.

Now John McCain claims he has the judgment to fix the Iraq quagmire that he caused.

NO%u2026I don''t think so.

[taotxzen]

And before you go to the, ''well look at the job the Demoncracks (sic) are doing in Congress'' rant, read the headlines:

Republicans block Democrats'' attempt to impose windfall profits tax on oil companies.

Republicans block efforts to amend relief bill, hold vote without providing copy of bill

Republicans Block Senate War Debate

Senate Republicans Block Democrats'' Housing Bill

Republicans Block Senate Consideration of Democrats%u2019 Energy Bill

Senate Republicans Block Plan to Expand U.S. Economic Stimulus

[indyvet66]

I don''t think it is appropirate to use the words "Judgment" and "John McCain" in the same sentence.

I give John McCain all due credit for serving in Vietnam.

However, McCain has consistently expercised poor judgment thoughout his life. Even as a Navy pilot.

Every pilot knows the important of performing a pre-flight checklist BEFORE you take the plane up.

McCain brags about the fact that he routinely skipped the pre-flight checklist. His motto was "KICK THE TIRES...LIGHT THE FIRES." That just sounds so Jet-Jockey cool...and stupid.

That may be why he crashed 4 planes before being shot down. He''s just a Fly-The-Seat-Of-The-Pants kind of guy.

McCain is a very interesting and pretty cool guy, but I sure would not want to fly with him. And he is not fit to be President.

[taotxzen]

Exhibit A, the ''Dead-ender'' brain hard at work:

Since when is John Kerry''''''''s opinion "news?" John Kerry is a f@g who married a rich Jewish princess. Every time I see Kerry on television, I bust out laughing at his goofey @ss. He looks like he has a steel pipe up his @ss, and he acts like Lurch''''''''s (from the Adam''''''''s Family) re-tarded brother.

Posted by S_Temper at 10:53 PM : Jul 07, 2008

Arguments absent of stated facts, lots of hot air and empty rhetoric with some junior high name calling thrown in for some radical right wing-nut authority.

Blissfully ignorant!

[taotxzen]

Three Facts That Could Change This Election (If We Share Them With Enough People)

by ihavenobias

Here are 3 Stunning facts that could not only change the outcome of this election, but with regard to the first two points, they could change the results of every election for years to come *if* we make enough people aware of them.

1) Over 70% of our National Debt was created by just 3 Republican presidents.

2) Real middle class wage growth is double when a Democrat is president compared to when a Republican is president.

3) 90% of Americans would pay less taxes under Obama''s proposed tax plan compared to McCain''''s.

Countless millions of Americans vote Republican because they believe they''ll pay less taxes and that they''ll have their money spent more responsibly. As you can see, those beliefs are directly contradicted by the facts. Of course we can choose to ignore the facts and instead focus on which candidate is wearing a flag pin (you ever notice that Hillary and McCain don''t wear them?

More at: http://www.democraticunderground.com/dis
cuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132
x6430781

[parrot123-2009]

Since when is John Kerry''''s opinion "news?" John Kerry is a f@g who married a rich Jewish princess. Every time I see Kerry on television, I bust out laughing at his goofey @ss. He looks like he has a steel pipe up his @ss, and he acts like Lurch''''s (from the Adam''''s Family) re-tarded brother.
Posted by S_Temper at 10:53 PM : Jul 07, 2008


And McCain ????

[dumbocrat]

John Kerry February 23, 1998
"Saddam Hussein has already used these weapons and has made it clear that he has the intent to continue to try, by virtue of his duplicity and secrecy, to continue to do so. That is a threat to the stability of the Middle East. It is a threat with respect to the potential of terrorist activities on a global basis. It is a threat even to regions near but not exactly in the Middle East

[tiredofthebs]

McCain aka McSame aka McInsane is an ill-tempered
old flip-flopping politician who wants to bomb-bomb-bomb Iran and protects tax cuts for the super-rich.
You want his shaking finger on the button that
starts WW III? You want an old numb nuts like him
to continue a war in Iraq for a 100 years?
Someone who serves the interests of Big Corporations
and not the American people at large? You
want to see 4 more years (if he lived to be 76) of George W. Bush?
How hard up can you get for a Republican candidate?

Posted by tsunami-girl at 12:00 AM : Jul 08, 2008


You OBVIOUSLY missed the story about McCain and the conservatives in the GOP (in the politics section). Save that ''McSame'' noise! No one''s buyin'' it anymore. McCain is NOTHIN'' like Bush. Should be interesting in November.

[DaveGress]

more idiocy from Dumbocrat -

Last time I looked the Clinton Admin had the brains to do things right. We didn''t go to war because Clinton didn''t take his brain out and play it like Bush does (and thats assuming he really has a brain).

Your 2002 quotes don''t elude to the fact that Bush gave the Congress a fraudulent document to base their opinion on.

Of course from your comments I can tell you are ill informed and a liar. Maybe you take your brain out and play it too.

[jtyler271]

Posted by Dumbocrat at 08:18 PM : Jul 07, 2008

Yellow cake is not a WMD.

Even if it was, the man never threatened us. Never even looked our way. So, with that logic, when do we get invaded? When are we going to be asked to eliminate out nuclear program? Why the *** do we have to be big brother to everybody? Why are we allowed to bully everyone into submission?

I don''t care who you vote for, at all. Whether you want to continue the crippling debt-inducing war (9 trillion last I heard) and vote for McCain, or if you want to throw a tantrum and write in Hillary (throw away vote, sorry to say, we are a long way off from a three party election) or even worse, vote McCain just to show your spite, or if you want to offer the country a better chance and vote for Obama. I don''t care. I''m going to vote Obama! I''m going to do so proudly! I''m going to do so patriotically! And I will not let some uneducated idiot on the internet try to SCARE me into believing that anything the Bush administration said or did was anywhere near correct or American!

[DaveGress]

hey Dumbocrat - ur such a dumbo-arse.

Tell me what happens during a WIN? I think its the same thing as a lose. The idiot republicans can''t even close an umbrella let alone close a war out. IT''S BEEN OVER FIVE YEARS!!!! 5 Super Bowls have been played, 5 World Series, 5 U.S. Opens, etc etc.

I think the American people should demand their money back on these incompetent boobs. I think a change of coach is warranted. They''ve proven that they are losers. The evidence against them is compelling.

Oh, and what about the fact that we never should have been there to start with. Bush lied and Americans (and Iraqi''s) died. But you know the saddest thing is all they care about is WINNING. Humanity can take a hike as far as their concerned.

[dumbocrat]

Profiles in Leadership:
Obama Vs. McCain Part 1:

The year is 2005
The situation is high troop loss in Iraq

Obama: PULL OUT TROOPS AND SURRENDER NOW!

McCain: SEND IN MORE TROOPS AND WIN!

McCain champions and wins support for General Petraeous''s "Surge"

Result?
2008, US troop losses in Iraq are lower than at any time since war began, even less than the small scale conflict in Afganistan.

If your girlfriend has an unwanted pregnancy, you can''t sit around and complain that it never should have happened. You have to be a man and look to the future.

In the above analogy, Obama would be another absentee daddy !!!

nuff said

[dumbocrat]

*** Durbin September 30, 1999
"One of the most compelling threats we in this country face today is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Threat assessments regularly warn us of the possibility that North Korea, Iran, Iraq, or some other nation may acquire or develop nuclear weapons."

Bill Nelson August 25, 2002
"[M]y own personal view is, I think Saddam has chemical and biological weapons, and I expect that he is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. So at some point, we might have to act precipitously."

"A zebra does not change its spots." - Al Gore,