Mr. Vague Generalities strikes again
By Steve Benen Friday Feb 15, 2008 7:06am
When explaining his position on Iraqi reconciliation, John McCain told an audience last year, “One of the things I would do if I were President would be to sit the Shiites and the Sunnis down and say, ‘Stop the bullshit.’”
As Brendan Nyhan noted, McCain’s approach to the debate over surveillance laws is awfully similar, though less vulgar.
Senator John McCain of Arizona, the Republican presidential hopeful, weighed in on the debate. When Mr. McCain learned that the House had voted down a 21-day extension and that the powers were likely to lapse at midnight Friday, he said: “That’s too bad. That’s very unfortunate. It’s symptomatic of the gridlock of partisanship here in the Congress.”
To break the gridlock, Mr. McCain said, “people that are patriotic Americans need to sit down together and work this out.”
Oh, is that all. Why didn’t anyone else think of that?
Remember, when McCain went after Barack Obama earlier this week, he told reporters, “I respect him and the campaign that he has run, but there’s going to come a time when we have to get into specifics.”
The irony is rich.
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John McCain just seems like he could snap at any minute. He's too old and grumpy to be president.
RHM's blog
So this clown's plan for ending a dispute which has gone on for centuries is to sit them down and say "stop the bullshit."
Brilliant. He sounds as delusional as dumbya.
Oh that will really solve it...after hundreds of years of hating and fighting why didn't we think of this sooner...all we need is McCain saying "Stop the Bullshit" and bingo..problem solved.
I would much prefer Hillary in the white house than McCain, but when was the last time we heard anything specific from any of the candidates? I listened to Obama for 20 minutes a few weeks ago and he said nothing of substance. Politicians never say anything specific. This post seems to be reaching, how about we at least get some substance here?
Jon McCain is running as the old angry coot!
Hey you kids, get off my lawn!
On to other repug news, how bout this:
TX-Sen: Draft-Dodger To Decorated Veteran, "Reveal Your Military Records."
Draft Dodger (R) Senator John Cornyn needs swiftboating ammo on his Democratic opponent who served our country with honor.
And, of course, we'd be winning in Iraq if we weren't fighting there with one hand tied behind our backs. That's my favorite "what the hell does that mean."
I do so enjoy sweeping generalizations, they are so easy to pull off in this age of disconnect.
The followers assemble to hear more of the same as they have been conditioned to do, and it does not matter if the Repugs are destroying this country because they say that God put them in charge by some sort of predestined divine intervention, and you will go to hell if you disagree. Being unincumbered by the thought process is absolute and divine bliss.......
poor sonovabitch...He can't raise his right arm from his days as a POW, but he could can tell high school kids that its patriotic to die for Cheney in Iraq.
Just a generalization
I betcha' McCain's next move is to name Mitt Romney as his ‘Hedge’ Manager
The irony may be rich, but I'll be willing to bet that it goes right over his head.
maxbaer (a replica only) @ 6:
In the repugs and McBains world that means, cut the bullshit or we will nuke you.
John McPander.
Sounds like he has certainly mastered the fine art of tact and diplomacy.
Not!
They better keep an eye on him. Due to his age, being tired and his hot temper, he could blow up at someone anytime. It's not going to look too good if he starts swearing in front of a live microphone and camera.
I think he needs to sit down with Bin Laden and say "Cut the bullshit".
My are people so hard on McCain? All those years as a POW have jumbled his thoughts. That should be taken into account, just like the stress and strain of 9/11 should've been taken into account when it was determined Giuliani couldn't run a credible campaign. And do we really even need to mention Fred Thompson's narcolepsy?
"Stop the bullshit?" I recently heard an anecdote from a Mideast scholar about an Iraqi tribesman (don't know if he was a Shiite or a Sunni) who swore revenge at an enemy whose cousin had killed his one of his own relatives. Asked by a reporter how recently this killing had occurred, the would-be avenger replied, "In the year 1362."
This might have been exaggerated. But McCain, like Bush, just doesn't get it. He wants to apply Western solutions to Eastern problems. That doesn't work. And, like Bush, he asserts American privilege to police the world, as if might makes right. McCain is a far more honest and decent individual than Bush, but he's an imperialist at heart...and that's absolutely what we don't need at this time in history.
Why are they so obsessed about Iraq - is it to cover their arses for their mistake and the reasons they gave for that mistake.
Vague generalizations are just one more way in which a McCain presidency would be the equivalent of a third Bush term. Throughout both Bush terms, the White House has always been very free in its use of global and/or abstract concepts like "freedom" when talking about the objectives it plans to accomplish but also rather evasive and reluctant to be specific when asked to provide more information regarding how and when they intend to carry them out. "Garbage In, Garbage Out" is a concept which is (or should be) just as useful in politics and government as it is in other areas of life -- if nothing else, the War In Iraq should be proof of that.
Jay Severin Has a Small Pen1s @ 15:
Yeah, that should work although I'm not sure how 'cut the bullshit" would translate into Farsee? or Arabic?
Perhaps McCain can get the message to our enemies through the language of interperative dance?
John @ 18:
First off, McBain and crew do not look at Irag as a mistake. The reason they are obessed with Irag is, they need a jumping off point to go to war with Iran.
JUST, thinking about ole john debating HRC or Obama !!!! ahhaaa aha ahaaaa flbgbt
McBush must not have been paying attention, again. Or did he go off his meds? The Dems in the House tried to get the Regressives to sit down and talk about extending FISA, but the Rs played politics with it and tried to keep the telcom immunity provision. The Dems grew a pair and said "no way". End of story.
flibbertygibbet @ 22:
That should be great fun. Maybe ole john can even sing "bomb bomb Iran" for all of us again.
LBJ told the South Vietnamese to "stop that coup bullshit." Look how well that worked.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
The McInsane debate "smackdown" by either Obama or Hillary will be child's play. This man's brain is shot to smithereens, that's clear every time he opens his mouth. McTorture doesn't have the first clue about the economy, foreign policy, etc. I relish the thought of this airheaded moron attempting to debate either Democrat. Time to pop the popcorn!
Skipper Of the USS Titanic @ 26:
Skipper:
Get a life already will ya'?
AVeteran
veritas @ 28:
Wow! Potent stuff! McCain's Annapolis records will come out in full with all of the Veterans For Truth movements which abound. His violations of the Military Code will become public information and discredit him even further than he's already done to himself.
What I find interesting is the information on the collateral damage done to US Marines by McCain. Did his pappy (not unlike Bush 41) actually cover up for his murder of marines? The Admiral? This is very fertile ground for investigation and discrediting him as a candidate.
The people deserve to know the truth about his high level of hypocrisy. I also find the allusion to 911 and the building problems fascinating. There's much being written on why the buildings had to be taken down. More to come on this. It's certain that the "official story" of the 911 commission is bogus now.
Radically Moderate @ 29:
Radically Moderate: I'm a veteran as well and it sounds like you're the one who needs to get a life....or a better broom for shoving things under the rug as is so painfully typical of Repukes. You don't have spaciousness to anything but lockstep brainwashed propaganda, that's clear. You certainly cannot handle TRUTH when it collides with your GOPiglet spin.
Don't most Americans prefer vague generalities?
Dumb, dumb, dumb, Dumb-Dumb McCain!
This vulgar, small minded man must never be allowed to become president.
veritas @ 31:
Okay I will defer to you on brainwashing and lockstep perambulation. You are all wise an clearly see far more than me. I bow to your greatness and hope that you will forever forgive my trespass upon your fragile ego.
Is that all you have to do McCain? Now why hasn't good ol' Dickhead Cheney thought of that?
McCain should not write off Hiillary Clinton just yet.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=adgAs9YOxRSc
pissed off patricia @ 14:
That's what happens when you haven't had to work a day in your life. Why are workers "supposed to" retire by age 65, but bullshit political conartists can keep milking the cow until they die?
They've been killing each other for hundreds of years, but they'll stop as soon as the Straight Jacket Express tells them to. What an idiot.
umm... didn't someone already suggest this?... like, I dunno, George Bush?... to Tony Blair? over an open mike... mind you, I believe he was taking sides in that he believed the Shia were the ones to 'stop this bullshit'... or was it the Sunni?...
no matter. what is important is that the 'straight talker' is merely echoing sentiments originally set forth by the 'great wanker'...
There once was a Grumpy ol' Fart
With all the appeal of a wart
His mantra? "My friends,
This war never ends!
And I can't wait for the next one to start!"
meh.... wrong on facts... Bush was talking about Hezbollah and Syria...
Well, this low level intellect BS works with his knuckle-dragging base. They'll go "hell yeah! That's what ya do! Get them rag-heads together and knock some heads!!" Can't you envision that though? The meeting, the Sunnis and Shites and McInsane saying that. What a goddamned imbecile. Oh well, can't WAIT for the debates with this fool. Hillary or Obama will torture him. They can now cause torturing is legal now ya know.
kablooie @ 41:
Good job, kablooie!
As the youth would say, McCain is "pwned". The maverick is sucking off every major wingnut constituency so he'll be acceptable to the Fox News droolers. He's revealing himself as a consummate power whore. What a phony sack of shit.
I dont understand why McCain considered strong on defense and foreign policy? Because hes a clueless warmongering SOB with a disdain for diplomacy?
McCain campaign slogan: No Country For Old Men
Used Reagan knockoff for sale on eBay!!
shorter, dumber(if that's possible), uglier, Alzheimier
Hey everybody, why can't we just all get along?
Hahahaha.
Hey folks. Looking to see if any of the commenters here would like to pitch in on some discussion with some right-wingers who have discovered my blog. I enjoy the attention and being labeled a hippie commie as much as the next person but I thought you would like to jump in on some of the comments from them:
http://humidhaney.typepad.com/the_humid_haney_rant/2008/02/less-jobs-mor...
http://humidhaney.typepad.com/the_humid_haney_rant/2008/02/12008-withdra...
Peace,
Humidhaney
I'm surprised he didn't say bullshiite.
Someone needs to enlighten McCain to the fact that there was no Sunni Shia "bullshit" until the Americans stirred it up. Maybe he can sit down and explain how the divide and conquer plan is supposed to work.
I worry about the theoretical "President" McCain. Who would change his colostomy bag during dinners with heads of state and such? What if he falls and can't get up during talks with evil doers? What if his falsies fly out during intesnse negotiations?
Well it has a little more substance than "hope" and "change".... Clinton is the only one with full sentances and good ideas
wisconsin @ 54:
I have hope that you'll someday learn how to spell 'sentences'. That would be a nice change.
Tian @ 53:
What if he needs "My L'il Reminder" to tell him where he parked his car?
Good thing he can get two for only $9.99! (plus S&H)
McCain... Which way is the wind blowing?
Don't we have a leading Dem contender who wants everyone to sit down and talk and talk and talk and talk.... zzzz
So McCain's running on the Ross Perot program: "Y'see, y'put people in a room. Y'see, ya don't let em pee till they agree on what to do."
McTorture played his cards on the Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran just like Hillary did. Things were moving just swimmingly; that is, until the NIE report knocked both Hillary and McTorture out of the saddle. Neither one of these two can go up against Barack since he's looking more like a prophet every day. These two "geysers" (Hillary and McTorture) are on the wrong side of the fence - they're both out of sync with the wishes of the majority of americans.
Remember: When you see a Republiscum poll, the percentage quoted in the poll if that percent of a totally dwindling 23% of americans at this point. So even if 50% of polled GOPigs are in favor of something, it translates into something like 11-12% of americans.
The Independent/Unaffiliated voter's camp is now nearing 40% of our population. This is the group who will be the "King/Queen Makers" this time 'round.
I find it fascinating that our whoring mainstream media fails to mention this group of individuals when, in fact, it is almost equal to the number of registered democrats at this point. This fascist media is beholden to our two party system but the people of this country have a little surprise (shock) in store for them and the GOPigs this year. Of this we can be certain.
And if Mr. McTorture doesn't stop with the condescending and sarcastic "my friends" remarks during his speeches, he deserves to have rotten tomatoes thrown at him. It's totally CREEPY at this point to observe him belittling those around him.
That'll work.
Because five years of "submit, or die" has achieved great progress, he knows that "Stop the bullshit" will put us over the top, and freedom and democracy will spread over all the land.
i don't think candidates should etch their promises and platforms in stone-it doesn't allow for flexibility(no, not lies and broken promises). remember the last time that happened...here's a hint: he etched THIS promise in stone...with his LIPS!
It's the FISA act is unpatriotic. St. McCain, and the bogus and defective
premis that it needs to be "updated".
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