McCain's Warped Worldview

The Nation: Republican's Candidacy Is Irrational Mélange Of Patriotic Swagger And Blindness To Reality

(The Nation)  This column was written by Robert Scheer.

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The world according to John McCain is one in which America is triumphant at home and abroad thanks to the Bush legacy, rolling to victory internationally and mastering its domestic economic problems. If daily news, like reports of the ten French soldiers killed by a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan and the US government's imminent nationalization of much of the American mortgage-lending industry, would seem to deny such a rosy scenario, then that only shows skeptics lack the courage that sustained McCain as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

There you have it encapsulated, the McCain campaign for President, an irrational mélange of patriotic swagger and blindness to reality that is proving disturbingly successful with uninformed voters. How else to explain the many millions of Americans who tell pollsters they prefer a continuation of Republican rule when so many of them are losing their homes to foreclosure and the nation is devastated by out-of-control military spending?

The economy is in a downward spiral, the national debt is at an all-time high, the dollar is an international disgrace and inflation in July had the steepest rise in twenty-seven years, driven by oil prices fivefold higher than when George W. Bush invaded the nation with the world's second-largest petroleum reserves.

While the oil-rich Mideast nations we protect refuse to fully open the oil spigots as payback for our military efforts, McCain celebrates General David Petraeus as his number-one hero for "victory" in Iraq. Aside from the reality that victory there is now defined as returning to the level of stability provided by Saddam Hussein, who the Bush Administration admits had nothing to do with the bin Laden-led terrorists, even that goal requires the cooperation of our former sworn enemies, Iran's ayatollahs.

Presumably McCain envisions a more favorable outcome for Georgia, to which he would commit the unqualified support of the United States with his outrageously overreaching statement that "we are all Georgians." If Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had been in contact with the leader of a nation before and after that nation provoked a war, his campaign would be a shambles. Not so McCain, who is acting as if he is already the elected Commander in Chief ensconced in a reconstituted neoconservative-dominated White House. By contrast, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been reduced to a blustering bystander.

That military victory in Iraq and any other trouble spot is the key selling point of the McCain campaign is odd, because McCain's credentials derive from participation in a war that resulted in the most ignominious defeat in US history. How else to think of the loss of almost 59,000 Americans and 3.4 million Indochinese in a war that even McCain has long since not seriously tried to defend. Surely McCain accepted the notion that a Communist Party-run Vietnam was compatible with US security interests when he, along with Senator John Kerry, led the fight for US recognition of Vietnam.

Wouldn't it have been grand if McCain, who made his own pilgrimage of reconciliation to Hanoi, would have drawn the proper lesson from that sad chapter in American history--that victory isn't everything it's cracked up to be? Or, by extension, from the recent Olympic festivities in still-Red China, where Bush was photographed quite happily near portraits of the once-dreaded Chairman Mao, whom US propaganda had long described, quite erroneously, as chief sponsor of the Vietnamese communists.

We are reminded of how brilliant Republican Richard Nixon was in rejecting the neoconservative addiction to the cold war that McCain embraces when the late President traveled to Beijing to make peace with the man previously depicted as the bloodiest of communist dictators. It turns out that the various communist movements were nationalist above all else, and when we "lost" in Vietnam, the result was not attacks on the United States but a war between China and Vietnam.

The lesson McCain should have learned is that the world is a complex place, that today's enemies may be tomorrow's negotiating partners--as Obama has at times dared to suggest--and that the neoconservative idea of a Pax Americana is a dangerous fantasy. And a costly one at that, not only in lost lives and blowback from the regions we destabilize but also in the dollars that American taxpayers must waste.

Thanks to the absurdly misdirected "war on terrorism" that McCain so enthusiastically supports, we spend more annually in inflation-adjusted dollars on the military than at any time since World War II, even more than during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Vote for McCain and forget about funding to solve the Social Security, Medicare and subprime mortgage disasters or for anything else that truly would make America stronger.

[zoopster1]

Excuse me... Republican RULE???

This isn''t Myanmar you know. That kind of attitude is the kind of thing that could lead us all into another civil war.

Tell ya what: let the voters decide in November. If McCain wins, SHUT UP. If Obama wins, I promise to do the same.

[javalation]

Were McCain prez now, his blusters could have us involved in war with both Iran and Russia. He would be a disaster as leader. Hopefully the American voters come to their senses before it''s too late.

[zoopster1]

Ya know, it seems Russia is doing plenty of provoking of their own accord. I agree we should try to learn more about the history of the conflict between the Russians and the Georgians before poking our noses in, but calling a response to hostile aggression from Russia or Iran a war of choice against peaceful nations, is utter pacifist lunacy.

The author of this article uses some compelling but inaccurate imagery to make his point, which is sadly typical of the hysterical far left.

[Gary Kempf]

Vote for McCain and forget about funding to solve the Social Security, Medicare and subprime mortgage disasters or for anything else that truly would make America stronger.

A 100% True Enough statement......

[mediaspy_nv]

Robert, thanks for this honest article that tells it like it is. I plan to share this and post a link in my blog.

Thanks again!

[thelonman]

Are you insane? We have fought for over 200 years to be what we are today, the Greatest Country In The World. The only thing Barack Obama will get us is patsy of the world. Surely you realize that diplomacy does not work with all of your enemies. Ex: You are out with your wife on a dinner date. A stranger approaches you and decides that he likes your wife and wishes to assault her. First you try to talk to the gentleman and convince him that to do so would not be in his best interest to assault anyone, including your wife. If that doesn''t work, you take whatever action is necessary to achieve your mission. You kick his butt from here to there or worse. Under the Obama plan, we would have to give up our wives at an exponential rate if diplomacy didn''t work. You see, we don''t all live on Sesame Street, or visit Mr. Roger''s Neighborhood. I wish that everyone loved everyone...but they don''t. It will never happen. If Obama thinks diplomacy is the answer to everything, and everyone loves everyone, why does he have all those Secret Service agents protecting his butt? By the way, his interview with Mr. Warren showed us exactly what Barack Hussein Obama stands for...everything and nothing. He is a man without morals or integrity. You could SEE him calculating his next answer, trying vainly to find the best possible politically correct answer that would get him in the least amount of trouble. HE IS SO FULL OF RHETORIC HE REEKS OF THE VERY POLITICAL MACHINE HE DENIES!

[b93950]

I never listen to McCain%u2019s rants simply because he%u2019s a puppet (a poor on eat that) for the same CEO%u2019s that support Bush. McCain%u2019s actually (hidden) war record will someday be exposed showing what a coward he%u2019s been all his worthless lif

[wcellisor]

Thank you Robert! You are a bright spot on an otherwize bleak media landscape! Don''t get fired anymore, OK?

[wcellisor]

"You could SEE him calculating his next answer, trying vainly to find the best possible politically correct answer that would get him in the least amount of trouble. "
Oh please. That''s like the definition of being a politician. Wouldn''t you stop to choose your words carefully (at least a lot MORE carefully) if one marginal word could land your quote on the front page of the NYT framed in some other context? You could be a lot happier with yourself if you were one fraction as smart, successful, and sincere as Barack Obama. As it is, your self-loathing is being projected at him. I suggest you direct it back where it came from.

[wcellisor]

This isn''''t Myanmar you know. That kind of attitude
Tell ya what: let the voters decide in November. If McCain wins, SHUT UP. If Obama wins, I promise to do the same.

That would be fine. Provided McCain doesn''t STEAL THE ELECTION like Bush did in 2000 AND 2004. If that happens, all bets are off.

[pekopper-2009]

I can''t believe it. A member of the media finally calling it right? Tell the rest of your putz friends in the right-wing media to make the same stand against the corporatists and neocons.

[zoopster1]

That would be fine. Provided McCain doesn''''t STEAL THE ELECTION like Bush did in 2000 AND 2004. If that happens, all bets are off.


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Posted by wcellisor at 02:15 PM

Excellent, the far-left conspiracy machine is still in full swing. The elections of 2000 and 2004 were already investigated, and allowed to stand. Just because you personally hate George Bush and don''t want him as president doesn''t mean he "stole" those elections.

As I was saying, it''s talk like this that could lead us to another civil war. All I have to say to that is, let the system work. Sometimes it is fair, sometimes it is not. The alternative is chaos and anarchy. If you prefer that to the quiet residential streets and safe clean schools we have, tinged with a little doubt about who won the last election, get away from here now and move to Somalia please.

[noloyalisti]

Well, McSame is a Republican. So he has a good excuse for having warped views. Like being pro-life and for endless war. Giving huge tax breaks to the already rich and then wondering why you have no money. Stuff like that.

[thelonman]

You left wingers are unbelievable! How exactly is the belief that life begins at conception a "warped view"? A thousand years from now, history will compare you baby killers right along side Hitler! You are just as bad or worse! Scientist speak about trying to create life by using just one cell. A baby starts with two cells and immediately becomes four then sixteen and so on and so forth exponentially expanding to finally become a baby. Those two cells aren''t going to become a tree, a car, or a pumpkin. Eventually they will become a person, maybe even a left wing Godless democrat like yourselves. But I bet that wouldn''t soften your hearts either. You people take joy in killing babys, after all it''s your right. PETA cares more about chickens than you care about human life. Mock me if you wish, but at least I''ve never killed a baby and I''m a responsible enough adult to prevent unwanted pregnancies...OMG Responsibility! What''s that. I bet you can''t find that in a democrat.

[ioweign]

OMG Responsibility! What''s that. I bet you can''t find that in a democrat.

Posted by thelonman at 05:37 PM : Aug 21, 2008


What is the National Debt under George Bush ?

What is the National Debt under Ronald Reagan ?

Shall we move on to "Accountability lack of" under the George W. Bush years ???

[thelonman]

By the way wcellisor,
I believe Barack Hussein Obama stole the nomination from Hillary. What a loser. If anyone cares to remember, Hillary won the popular vote. I guess you guys suck too!

[thelonman]

"I did not have sexual relations with that woman"

Now that is accountability.

[ioweign]

The author of this article uses some compelling but inaccurate imagery to make his point, which is sadly typical of the hysterical far left.

Posted by zoopster1 at 01:45 PM : Aug 21, 2008

"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." George W. Bush - State of the Union Address, Jan. 28, 2003, making a claim that administration officials knew at the time to be false.

"We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories - And we''ll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven''t found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they''re wrong, we found them." George W. Bush - Washington, D.C., May 30, 2003

[thelonman]

The reason we are in the mess we are in is because Clinton balanced the budget at the expense of defending the nation. The military was having to pull parts off wrecked and junk planes trying to keep working planes in the air. The military, CIA, and FBI were so underfunded during the democrats tenure that we were unable to protect ourselves from terrorist. So don''t point the finger at Bush. The ball was in your court and you fumbled.

[wogerwabbit]

Posted by thelonman ad nauseum

Off you medication, man?

[dashortround]

"Responsibility! What''s that. I bet you can''t find that in a democrat."

Posted by thelonman at 05:37 PM : Aug 21, 2008

- - - - - - - - - -

And who made it YOUR "responsibility" to stick your nose in where it''s obviously not welcome; namely in other women''s reproductive rights and choices?

It''s really none of you business, is it? So, why don''t you just butt-out?

Nobody is making YOU have an abortion, and you have no right to force any woman to have babies that she doesn''t want to have. Nobody has to agree with your particular flavor of religious morality.

The truth of the matter is that what you are REALLY trying to do is get everybody to "bow down" to your own particular religious belief system and values. You DEMAND that others "RESPECT" your religious dogma, whether it actually deserves any respect or not, just because YOU say so!

The problem with that notion is that we have no "national religion" here in this country, you see. "Freedom of religion" (and the freedom to reject all religions totally, if you wish) is a vital cornerstone of our Constitution (and mess with it at your own religious peril).

The laws of this land clearly state that your religious beliefs have no more weight or power than my own, or than anybody else''s.

Let your religion be your guide, if you want; but don''t expect me to care about it or respect it, because I honestly don''t, and never will. And I don''t have to.

That''s what makes this country great.

[dmgenet]

I like that McCain will leave when we have won. What a bunch of ***. I want an in depth description of what that means.

[walt1944-2009]

McCain''s views of reality:

1. Chechoslavakia still exists and is located somewhere in China!
2. He''s unsure who is fighting who in Iraq!
3. Afghanistan is bordered by India and Tibet!
4. The economy in the USSA is so good (for him!), let''s have more of the same!!!
5. Timelines are out in Iraq, but time "horizons" are just fine!
6. His staff keeps track of how many homes he owns and where he puts the house keys!
7. We can DRRRRIILLLLL our way out of the energy crises and go thru the earth straight to China, cutting shipping costs!!!!
8. Medical insurance? "PLAN?? THERE AIN''T NO PLAN!!!" -Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome!
9. He intends to bring back the DRAFT, expanding it for every man AND woman between the ages of 16 to 70!!!!
10. Put a "finder button" so he can find the red phone in the White House at 3 AM!
11. Drink a pint of Geritol daily for when those "senior moments" creep up!

God help us!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!
sig heil, PRECIOUS SENIOR MOMENTS, McCain!!!!

[superdem]

Wow - this thelonman is a head case. Where to start - sperms and eggs are alive, so life cannot "begin" at conception. I''m sure you never allowed any of your sperm to die, correct ? Every sperm is sacred ! Yes, nothing gives me more pleasure than to kill a few babies first thing in the morning ! Every liberal does ! And who cares what a 16 year old girl who''s been raped, much less a full grown woman, needs - that spoonful of cells deserves federal protection ! Let''s give the fetus the right to vote, why not ? It''s PERSON ! The really sad thing is, this is a grown man, and he DOES have the right to vote. Hey dude, every acorn is an oak tree, right ?

[jmurrieta1]

Warmonger = politician who promotes or provokes war for personal or political gain.

John McCain = promoted, provoked war in Georgia for political gain. Coordinated with Saakashvili for invasion of South Ossetia by Georgian troops. As a result gets big bounce in polls. Payoff--Saakashvili will have sympathetic US president if McCain is elected.

[old300d]

The Russian leaders would chew Obama up and spit him out !

They are so sure he will win that they are already starting to take Europe !

[old300d]

Obama is a wuss.

[old300d]

Obama would not last 5 mins in a POW camp before he talked !

He is a wuss !

[old300d]

Just a little pressure and he threw his grandma under the buss.

Then his preacher of 20 years ! He would throw anyone or anything under the buss after just a little pressure !

Obama is a wuss !

[old300d]

I bet that old white haired dude could kick his a$$

[bmadeline-2009]

Dear Old
You must be as senile as McCain!

[jon2012-2009]

''Republican''s Candidacy Is Irrational Milange Of Patriotic Swagger And Blindness To Reality''

That''s a generic Republican campaign to win an election. Without real accomplishments, the Republicans must resort to massaging reality and convincing the electorate with a dog and pony show to keep them in power.

[mswolfestock]

McShame is always blathering on about his "courage" as a POW.

However he''s nothing but a COWARD because he refuses to get in touch with reality. He refuses to see the world as it is for regular working people WHO DON''T HAVE A RICH WIFE LIKE HE DOES.

I guess since McCorpse more houses and condos than he can keep track of, the economy must look pretty *** good to him, and all because his wife is rich.

He says that universal health care is too expensive, but he''s too stupid to understand that if we stopped the war in Iraq, there would be enough money to have unversal health care, Social Security would be fixed, and this country''s educational system could be fixed, too.

[platteman]

How about a story of obama''s world view. His view is to talk to everyone no matter what. guess what, all the radical people he wants to talk to want to kill him and everyone else.

Remember Obama is the black robin hood. He wants to take from the rich and give to the poor. Wonder if he will take from himself and give to others, like Ayers, Rezco, Rev. Wright.

[mswolfestock]

Come to think of it, the REAL cowards are the people who will vote for McCorpse anyway . . . . . .

[williamfold]

"There you have it encapsulated, the McCain campaign for President, an irrational milange of patriotic swagger and blindness to reality that is proving disturbingly successful with uninformed voters. How else to explain the many millions of Americans who tell pollsters they prefer a continuation of Republican rule when so many of them are losing their homes to foreclosure and the nation is devastated by out-of-control military spending?"

just more proof i live in a country half full of morons.

[paris1969]

is there even one person at "The Nation" who is really a journalist??

[perceptions5]

is there even one person at "The Nation" who is really a journalist??


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Posted by paris1969
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NOPE! They are a new breed of liberal Fascists.....

[terrapin78]

Here''''s a partial list of McCain Flip-flops, to see more, go to www.crooksandliars.com, where 4 weeks ago McCain had over 60 flip-flops. Yeah John, we really want you for president!
1. Social Security Privatization.
2. Raising - and Slashing - Defense Spending
3. First Term Balanced Budget Pledge.
4. The Media%u2019s Treatment of Hillary Clinton.
5. The Estate Tax
6. FISA, Domestic Surveillance and Telecom Immunity.
7. Restoring the Everglades.
8. Divestment from South Africa.
9. Fighting Job Losses in Michigan.
10. Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations.
11. Alternative minimum tax, was for repealing it, now wants to phase it out.
12. Litmus test for judicial appointees, was against it, now he''''''''s for it.
13. 1999: was against off-shore drilling, now he''''''''s for it.
14. 2001: "Cannot in good conscience support tax cuts"
15. 2005: McCain anti-torture amendment, 2008, voted against the ban.
16. 2006: McCain immigration bill, 2008 DID NOT vote for it!
17. 2000: Called Jerry Falwell and Pat Roberts "Agents of Intolerence"; 2006, pandered to Falwell and spoke at his college

[dmgenet]

Maybe we are all really fascist in this country? Liberal or conservative. The Nazis did a good job of getting rid of their liberal fascists. Is that what the Republican fascists want?

[lordmi]

to old300d : I understand Your anger, sorry, there is no help with Your chicken brains. You can not see far from a grain,poor creature.

[patriot12436]

The story of obamas world view ? We have no idea what that is as he has not committed to anything.

[patriot12436]

paris1969
To do a flip flop you have to take a stand first, obama hasn''t done so.

[patriot12436]

mswolfstock
You do time as a POW then come tell us about bravery.