Straight Talk Derailed: Testy McCain Can’t Identify Earmarks He Would Cut
Straight Talk Derailed: Testy McCain Can’t Identify Earmarks He Would Cut
Today on ABC’s This Week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) once again boasted that he would cut spending in Washington by eliminating $65 billion in earmarks. “There’s billions that can be saved. Americans know that,” said McCain. “I look at $35 billion in the last two years and $65 billion in the years before that.”
But as host George Stephanopoulos noted (and ThinkProgress has reported in the past), that number, according to the Congressional Research Service, includes aid to Israel and funding for military housing.
When pressed on this point, McCain said that he wouldn’t cut aid to Israel. But he continued to struggle when trying to explain exactly how he would therefore cut $65 billion in earmarks, and could not name specific earmarks he would cut:
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, sir, let me finish my point. Every other estimate I’ve seen say that the earmarks are $18 billion or $20 billion a year. To get to the $60 billion, that includes earmarks like the aid to Israel, $2 billion a year. $1 billion a year for military housing.You’re not going to cut those.
McCAIN: I’m going to cut at least that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you cutting aid to Israel?
McCAIN: Of course not. I’m not cutting aid to Israel. I’m cutting billions and billions out of defense spending which are not earmarks.
McCain also boasted of his plans to trim $160 billion in discretionary spending. He railed against wasteful defense contracts, but Stephanopoulos pointed out that to get to that number, he would have to cut 30 percent from every single program, including education and veterans benefits. McCain once again avoided answering the question, simply repeating: “I’m talking about changing the way we do business in Washington.”
Watch it:
Interestingly, McCain continues to cite $65 billion in earmarks he would eliminate as president. But his advisers have already started to recognize problems with that figure. Last week, McCain’s top economic adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin said that the campaign was changing the definition of earmarks. Under the new calculation, “there are between $16 billion and $18 billion” of earmarks in the current budget. Guess McCain didn’t get the memo.
Despite this muddled interview and lack of specifics on how he plans to cut spending, McCain still claimed that everyone in Washington feared him: “It’s the worst nightmare. I’m their worst nightmare, my friend.”
Transcript:
McCAIN: There’s hundreds of billions that can be saved. Americans know that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: That’s why you’re saying $60 billion from your earmark reforms.
McCAIN: I claim $100 billion when you look at $35 billion in the last two years and $65 billion in the years before that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, sir, let me finish my point. Every other estimate I’ve seen say that the earmarks are $18 billion or $20 billion a year. To get to the $60 billion, that includes earmarks like the aid to Israel, $2 billion a year. $1 billion a year for military housing. You’re not going to cut those.
McCAIN: I’m going to cut at least that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you cutting aid to Israel?
McCAIN: Of course not. I’m not cutting aid to Israel. I’m cutting billions and billions out of defense spending which are not earmarks. The $400 million ship that they had to scrap, it was supposed to cost $140 billion. The $30 billion I believe it is, add-on for a system in the Army that’s gone up $30 billion and we still haven’t got any result from it. The $50 million contract to some buddy of Air Force generals.
I mean, there’s so many billions out there just in defense —
STEPHANOPOULOS: To hit your number, you say $160 billion in discretionary spending. The entire non-defense discretionary budget is $500 billion a year. That means you’re talking about a 30 percent cut in every program. Education. Veterans benefits.
McCAIN: I’m talking about looking at every institution of government.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And you’re prepared to cut 30 percent?
McCAIN: I’m talking about changing wait we do business in Washington.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But are you prepared to cut 30 percent?
McCAIN: I’m prepared to cut hundreds of billions of dollars out of wasteful and unnecessary spending in America. Whether it be ethanol subsidies, sugar price supports, whether they be payments to the wealthiest farmers. Whether they be the loopholes that are out there worth I don’t know how many billions and billions of dollars. I guess my critics, and frankly from the tenor of your questions, think we’re going to do business as usual in Washington. We’re not.
It’s the worst nightmare. I’m their worst nightmare, my friend.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
121 Responses to “Straight Talk Derailed: Testy McCain Can’t Identify Earmarks He Would Cut”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
Why doesn’t McCain cut the obvious: How much does the war in Iraq cost a week, a month, a year?
April 20th, 2008 at 12:12 pmI’m their worst nightmare, my friend.
You are so right John. For once we are in agreeance, to the American People, if elected president you would be our worst nightmare.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:16 pmHoo for Hillary:
Your crystal ball isn’t supposed to have three holes in it…
April 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pmAnyone from AZ who has the lowdown on St. John, his stint as AZ Senator, or anything else on him, get it out NOW. Need convincing? Just look @ a replay of last week’s Dem debate & add Stephanopoulus’ reacharound & softballing of McBush today.
The MSM have already chosen McCain as our next President & are working hard toward that goal. THIS ELECTION ISN’T DEM V. REPUB. IT’S DEM V. MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pmWhat are you talking about?
You’ve thrown a gutterball.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:20 pmMcCain also boasted of his plans to trim $160 billion in discretionary spending. He railed against wasteful defense contracts, but Stephanopoulos pointed out that to get to that number, he would have to cut 30 percent from every single program, including education and veterans benefits.
If he would have to cut 30% from Education and Veterans Benefits to reach his magic number of $160 Billion, he’s way past drinking koolaid, John’s hitting the hard stuff now if he thinks voters are going to except that.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:24 pmwell, i was listening, and it did seem that maybe george learned a lesson from
last weeks performance… yes, mostly softball-ish, but nothing really stoopid…
the stoopidness came from mcSame… “oh, shure… shure…”
really, unless this election is STOLEN, AGAIN, there is no way the people want that… such a sad, old, tired, old, dottering old man…
“… shure… shure…”
April 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pmGet past the arrogant metaphors and explain yourself. We still have nine contests remaining. Hillary has broad Hispanic support — our newest population wave — and 300 superdelegates are undecided. Your assumption is not my gutterball.
Your assumption is horribly premature. It wasn’t I who bloviated, on the very first post.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pmLooks like “Hoo for” has been hitting the Hooch.
If you are going to make statements, better make sure they are factual, or you look just foolish.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:28 pmI wached it too katy and it looked like mccain was about to lose it…..
April 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pmAnd Hilary’s spokesperson is being savaged right now, on Meet the Press. He’s sputtering, and backpedalling, and trying to obscure Hillary’s boneheaded MoveOn slam.
He’s being batted around on the issue of Mark Penn’s lobbying, and slinging mud to obscure her record.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pmSuch crapola. The $18-20Bn = 1.5-1.75 months in Iraq. Even the $60Bn figure…appx 5 months in Iraq. It’s all such crap.
There’s never a comparison made, but everything should be compared to what this BS “war” is costing us. Pity. It’s an easy and deadly talking point.
Iraq is costing us everything we have.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:32 pmIt is incredibly easy to cut $160 billion from the budget. Simply follow the leader. Bush has done it remarkably well: shift budget expenses into off-budget emergency spending bills.
McCain should be able to do that in His first year as Dictator-in-Chief, presenting Wee the People a balanced budget and justifying further tax cuts to the Ruling Class.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:33 pmLooks like “Hoo for” has been hitting the Hooch.
And working my side of the street!
April 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pmjust my opinion but you guys bashing Obama & Clinton are off topic not just for this thread but for the blog in general.
I won’t flag you though because wayne takes issue with who I flag for some reason.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:36 pmRemoving all the blather in the middle, we get:
Obama is simply too inexperienced to be in the White House.
This is not a long shot argument; he does originate from Chicago politics.
Looks like a conflict - in logic…
April 20th, 2008 at 12:36 pmDear Mister McCain: Save biilions of tax-payer dollars each week by ending Bush aggression against the people of Afghanistan and the people of Iraq. If you are interested in getting to the roots of terror, check out the Bush family decades long friendship with the Bin Laden family, for starters… You may want to investigate into how Bush had planeloads of Bin Laden family members flown out of the USA on 9-12…
April 20th, 2008 at 12:38 pmBoBo’s on MTP, saying, in essence “he’s very well-spoken for a black man.”
April 20th, 2008 at 12:38 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
Obama is simply too inexperienced to be in the White House.
Lets see, Obama was elected to the Illinois state senate in 1998 and was there till 2004, when he won the US senate seat in 2004. Before that he was a professor of Constitutional Law.
Hillary has been in public office less time and her main claim to “experience” is being First Lady.
next lie, hooch….
April 20th, 2008 at 12:39 pmHoo is off topic and attempting to derail the thread. Flag ‘em.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:41 pmYes John, the prospect of following the worst president in this country’s history with a befuddled WalMart greeter with a serious anger management problem is my worst nightmare.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pmI’m very disturbed that certain progressives have decided to turn on Hillary. They will regret their decision.
And let’s dispense with scarecrows as well, shall we? No one here has stated that they won’t vote for Hilary, just that we should vote knowing about all her traits, not just the ones put forth by the media. There will be no Kumbaya moment, no matter who wins the primary. Will you vote for Obama?
April 20th, 2008 at 12:43 pmCan we please stop bashing the Democratic candidates (trolls people…learn to ID them) and get back to the topic of this thread, McCain’s utter failure to live up to his “straight talking maverick” image that the media continues to foist on the public?
McCain’s talk is about as straight as Larry Craig and Mark Foley at a slumber party.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:43 pmObama is simply too inexperienced to be in the White House.
What a load of crap. You do realize Obama’s “experience” is just about identical to Lincoln’s, right? You do realize no one was more “experienced” than Nixon, right?
April 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm“I’m cutting billions and billions out of defense which are not earmarks”…
So, now he has the double edged sword in his hands and he has to simultaneously explain about how HE will cut these defense projects while his good buddy GWB would NOT cut them. This may get interesting if the media doesn’t bend over and back down. Oh, and as for his highly innapropriate use of “my friend”… Cut discretionary spending by 1/3, and you won’t have any friends. Everyone has their hand in that cookie jar. He’s WAY too much of a panderer (and philanderer) to even think about hurting anyone of his buddies suckling at the government teat.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pmHoo, “Obama is simply too inexperienced to be in the White House.”
Says who?
Hillery’s sole foray into politics as the wife of a President was her ill-fated health care initiative. Do you really think she’ll get anything past a Republican filibuster?
Obama has shown himself to be a charismatic leader. I give him credit for that. While I believe him to be beholden to corporate interests too much for my liking, I still see him as the only one who would stand much of a chance at correcting the course of this nation.
On the other hand, McCain would be the best candidate to bring about Armageddon, a certain goal of many of the voting public. Like it or not, many believe the world will end in 2012, and they are doing their damnedest to bring that about. But, for a bit of a reality check. If the world is going to end in 2012 as per the Book of Revelations, then we are 3 years into the tribulations. Those that believe in the “Rapture” should be gone already. I don’t recall hearing about anyone suddenly disappearing in a twinkling of an eye.
But I digress.
Feel free to continue arguing Hillery or Obama. By doing so, the Democratic Party continues to fracture, increasing the likelihood that McCain will be elected. He is, after all, all things to all people. There isn’t an issue, to my knowledge, where McCain has not taken all sides.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pmFred Says:
I wached it too katy and it looked like mccain was about to lose it…..
i almost got up to see… it sounded like george was TRYing to push buttons…
evidently it doesn’t take much…
…
another thing - the “round table” (or whatever they call it) afterwards was
April 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pmwhat was galling… those people are so detatched from reality…
Hoo for Hillary Says:
I’m very disturbed that certain progressives have decided to turn on Hillary. They will regret their decision.
My decision was made when Hillary cosponsored the Republican flag burning amendment and her Republican-lite Senate voting record, before she ever started running for President.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pmAnd I don’t regret not voting for her in the primary.
McBeerFortune IS my worst nightmare.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pmThis is the thing that needs to be hammered. He should be pressed on this because he will lose lots of his base if he pushes this idea.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:46 pmalright… off topic hillary shill…
ENOUGH.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:47 pmNo conflict. Where do you draw that? Chicago has a history of very corrupt politics and Obama has been involved with that for some time.
And you linked that to … his inexperience?
April 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pmOk, I’m done.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pmGeorge McCain, er, John McBush, has a problem. Earmarks were never so plentiful nor egregiously wasteful than when the Grand Ole Poobahs had control of both houses.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
She knows the ins and ous (sic)
April 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Well, she is married to Bill.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:51 pm**wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I mean?**
Seems funny that no one likes them yet the “free market” without the fairness doctrine allows them to shove opinions down our throat even if the majority of us disagree with thier pet pundits.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:52 pmsorry…
“This is too good an opportunity to pass up Hillary.”
now i KNOW it’s a trooll… they are just droolling! salivating at the thought of it!
April 20th, 2008 at 12:56 pmhoo haa!
Making the Bush tax cuts permanent will cost the US Treasury 1 Trillion dollars. McCain is talking about cutting $65 billion in wastefull Govt. spending.
The numbers just don’t add up.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pmAnyone else posting negative remarks here about either of our democratic candidates will receive a flag from me. It is off topic and offensive.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pmStephanopoulos, in true MSM fashion, merely nibbles at the edges of the matter, failing to ask the most obvious followup question, i.e., “Could you please cite specific situations during your twenty-one years in the Senate where you have used your tenure and leadership in the Senate to target earmarks, and describe the results of those efforts?” The second question would be, “Could you also cite such examples during the past two, four, six and eight years?” (a corollary to the question, “What have you done for us lately?”).
Lack of follow through most assuredly produces miserable results in golf, baseball, and interviews with politicians.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:58 pmSo flag me, Fred.
I just hope the first joke of the new administration isn’t “It’s Three A.M.; do you know where your husband is?”
Or, “Hilary’s finally found the untimate c#ck-block: the Secret Service.”
And techincally, I’m slamming Bill, so if you’re going to flag, do it.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pmOops, sorry for the misspellings. Bad keyboad
April 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
But Hillary is not trying to win the presidency on nepotism,
Yes, she is. She went into this race thinking she would “inherit” the office, and she’s gone nasty because that turned out not to be true.
she’s in it to win it because she feels she can do a wonderful job in office.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Um, why do you think Obama or McCain are in the race? Because they just want to f_ck with Hil’s mind?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:04 pmOleHippieChick Says:
Such crapola. The $18-20Bn = 1.5-1.75 months in Iraq. Even the $60Bn figure…appx 5 months in Iraq. It’s all such crap.
We can only hope the Obama will be concise in pointing out this very point when he goes head to head with McSame in the debates.
And I truly hope that Obama will teach Americans the difference between “budget deficit” and “national debt” - most don’t seem to understand that a balanced budget does NOTHING to reduce the national debt, which will stand at nearly $10 TRILLION after the bush fiasco, and that even a balanced budget includes BILLIONS of dollars in interest on that debt, most of it paid to other countries.
PEACE
April 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pmlol
So I guess he’ll stop supplemental funding of wars? Is that what he’s saying?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pmLast thing about Hilary, Zooey:
As bad as you think she is, if she’s the nominee, will you vote for her?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pmI’m not flagging anyone yet but several people including myself have asked politly for for you guys to drop it. It reflects badly on progressives and a lot of new people are checking in at TP now……represent as the kids say.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:08 pmFear Monger In Chief
http://commentsfromleftfield.com/2008/04/fear-monger-in-chief
via C&L blog roundup…
April 20th, 2008 at 1:08 pmWhat’s with the Hillary trolls?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:08 pm#48 “lack of follow through” — that was my thought this morning as I watched only as much of of TW on ABC as I could bear.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:11 pmStephanopolous may have tried (yet failed) to repair his image by asking a few tough questions of McCain, but no follow up to McCain’s obviously incomplete, unenlightening, if not fact-free answers.
I will never vote for Hillary. It’s Obama or nothing. I think McCain would completely finish breaking the system on behalf of the Republicans. He would destroy America, then we could start over.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:14 pmI’m ready for Obama or McCain. I will never be ready for Hillary and her more of the same ready on day one nonsense.
celtic cynic Says:
Why doesn’t McCain cut the obvious: How much does the war in Iraq cost a week, a month, a year?
April 20th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Because McCain feels that the war in Iraq is “necessary”. When you press him on “necessary to whom”, he starts waffling and telling lies. Sen John McCain is a liar. There, I said it and I’m glad.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:15 pmyep - i failed to mention “no follow ups”… forgot…
but it was a short interview… shorter than i expected…
should’ve cut out that round table of delusion…
April 20th, 2008 at 1:15 pmbarfly Says:
Last thing about Hilary, Zooey:
As bad as you think she is, if she’s the nominee, will you vote for her?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
God help me, I hope it doesn’t come to that. At this moment, I would have to say I don’t know. I know I won’t vote for McCain.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pmWHAT DID MKKKAIN SAY? AMERICANS ARE ANGRY? IS HE PLAGIARIZING OBAMA NOW?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:18 pmHe’s all lies
April 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pmHe’s all lies
He’s all lies
McCain
I think the Interview with Sen McCain today lasted only 20 minutes, and George Stephenopolis had to interupt the Senator often to get him back to the question that was asked.
I’m not surprised that the follow thru questions were limited.
But these questions will continue to come up until Sen Mccain comes up with some good answers. I think McCain’s free pass from the press has expired, and it’s a long time till November.
Sen McCain has Two Big Problems that won’t go away… The WAR and the Economy.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pmI know I won’t vote for McCain.
But your mind isn’t absolutely closed to the idea, if perhaps she offered some mea culpas to the left, for past behavior? In any event, it just shows Hoo’s unstated assertion, that we were bitter and spiteful, and would regret our deliberate desertion, is bunk.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:22 pmrastaman Says:
mccain, like all republicans has two sides of his mouth. Out of one side he says things like the economy is strong and resiliant and out of the other side he says people are hurting.
He says tax increases are not the solution but he will raise taxes if he gets elected…..ask bush I.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:22 pmHillary reeks of entitlement. And everyone sees it. Quit insulting our intelligence Hoo. This is why her popularity has dropped and only dropped. She’s a hate-filled bitter sore loser and everyday it gets uglier and more desperate.
I don’t like to use words like “evil” or “crazy” to describe people, but Hillary looks like she has lost her mind. She lashing out like Hitler in his final days.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:22 pmi gotta mention this one:
embellished lies = “poorly recapped”
ah hahahahaha!
but really, hoo-ey is reading from a script, is so uninspiring and insincere
April 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pmthat it’s embarrassing… c’mon…
I will vote for Obama if he’s somehow the nominee.
Is quite far from:
Once Hillary wins the majority of the remaining nine states, and once the remaining superdelegates rightfully choose Hillary as their nominee, McCain will be yesterday’s news.
I think we’ve changed some minds, this day.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pmThe only useful thing said in any of the exchanges above. If you think Obama can beat mccain without Hillary’s support are mistaken. The reverse is also true. The enemy is the republican.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:29 pmbadger - Sen McCain has Two Big Problems that won’t go away…
The WAR and the Economy.
and he just keeps gettin’ OLDer…
yes, there’s plenty of time to work on mcSame… i’m not so worried about him,
at this time…
i’m sure the pugs will try to STEAL the election though… it’s the only way…
April 20th, 2008 at 1:31 pmThe only useful thing said in any of the exchanges above.
You mean like this?
He says tax increases are not the solution but he will raise taxes if he gets elected…..ask bush I.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:33 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
April 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Ok, this one is spotted as a paid shill — a whore for all seasons. Tomorrow it’s working for the McCain campaign.
Flag it, ignore it. Dismissed.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:34 pmSince Fred’s playing class monitor, I’ll take a walk…
April 20th, 2008 at 1:36 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
sitting on the board of at Walmart
Yeah, that wins alot of progressives over.
/snicker
Troll….
April 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pmMcCain’s, “circular logic” on the economy is staggering! Democrats have his “number”, and must point-out the “dog @ pony” sham his record, and campaign are. Straight talk, I think NOT.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:44 pmMcCain looks like a dunce on fiscal matters. His proposals fall roughly $150 billion a year short of being revenue neutral — and revenue neutral is a $350 billion budget deficit, and that includes the Social Security surplus.
But that is only one half of the picture. McCain would further erode the value of the already weak dollar and we are today seeing the consequences of a weak dollar. For instance, many of the talented technical people from India are now flocking back to India. That will certainly slow both innovation and productivity gains.
McCain’s proposals have consequences and most of them are bad.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:44 pmthis is GREAT!
Notice Anything? John McCain doesn’t wear an American flag pin on THIS WEEK
By: Nicole Belle @ 9:01 AM - PDT
Let’s call Nash McCabe. I don’t see a single lapel pin between them, do you?
http://www.crooksandliars.com/ 2008/ 04/ 20/ notice-anything-john-mccain-doesnt-have-an-american-flag-pin/
April 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
You haven’t responded to my response. And I’ll repeat, before you throw around spotty accusations and assume you’re an administrator of an Obama-endorsed establishment, realize that a former Clinton CoS founded this site. They’re just not openly endorsing her for tax purposes. If that wasn’t in the way, they would probably endorse her and you couldn’t complain. If you don’t like it here, go post on a site that will endorse Obama.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Nope, I haven’t responded to your response, and this is the last time I’m responding to you, since I don’t want to make anymore money for you.
You seem to be under the impression that the commenters here do not know who owns this blog. You can get over that right now. We may comment here, but we are able to think for ourselves, and don’t toe the party line simply because of who Podesta endorses. But yeah, if TP came out and endorsed Hillary, we certainly could and would complain, because it’s our right to do so.
Don’t invite me to leave this blog. You’re a paid shill, you’ll be gone soon.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:50 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
And I’ll repeat it again, you’re at the wrong place to be calling a Hillary supporter a troll.
Since I have been posting here since TP first started, I would say I am at the right place.
Today is the first time I have seen your name and you have not made a good impression the first day.
And I call you a troll because you are here to shill and not honestly debate anything.
Troll.
The only way I would vote for hillary is if somehow she won the nomination. I would vote for a potted plant before voting Republican and hillary is slighlt better than a potted plant.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:52 pmThe Hoo troll (hmm, why is “hoo! hoo!” so familiar?) is doing a fine job of derailing the thread, just ignore it.
But what’s truly interesting is McCain’s claim to be willing to cut “billions” from the defense budget. McCain? Mr Military Industrial Complex? Is he going to have to backtrack and flipflop away from this in the next day or so?
April 20th, 2008 at 1:56 pmSpecifics. That’s the problem.
Hillary is for change.
Obama is for change.
McCain is for change.
Oops, McCain gave specifics. He’s out.
As long as Hillary or Obama can avoid giving specifics and then not do anything (status quo) when elected, whoever wins will be very popular.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:56 pmI’m cutting billions and billions out of defense spending
Utter bullshit. Keep spouting that and the GOP will abandon him faster than you can say “constituency”.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:07 pmAfter 8 years of clueless George, we don’t need 4 years of clueless McCain.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:08 pmTo be fair, Sen. McCain HAS been a frequent critic of wastefull defense spending. That would in part explain the TEPID response to his candidacy by many Republicans.
Speaking out against wastefull spending, and moving the congress to DO something about it are two different things.
Like a previous comment said…there are a lot of influential hands in the federal Cookie Jar.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:08 pmFred Says:
Anyone else posting negative remarks here about either of our democratic candidates will receive a flag from me. It is off topic and offensive.
Flag me too, the you obsessively idiotic control freak, because I will post right now that Hillary is only slightly better than McCain. She has been voting in the Senate like a Republican since day 1 since being elected as a Senator. Flag me, big man.
Maybe I should just flag you every time I see you post because you seem to be offensively stupid so much of the time. But fortunately for you, I reserve my flagging for those that actually deserve it.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pmstarve the beast!
April 20th, 2008 at 2:11 pm“Flag on, flag off, flag on, THE FLAGGER!”
April 20th, 2008 at 2:11 pmRe: #62 —
Are you absolutely and positively convinced that McCain, under all potential scenarios, would not yield to the temptation to act upon the already-established power of the Chief Executive to declare martial law and suspend the Constitution? How certain are you that these liberties can be easily restored?
“Free people, remember this maxim: We may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost.” — Rousseau
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.” — Patrick Henry
“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” — Thomas Paine
“It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. — David Hume
The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep’s throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as his liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty. — Abraham Lincoln
“When liberty is taken away by force it can be restored by force. When it is relinquished voluntarily by default it can never be recovered.” — Dorothy Thompson
Food for thought…
April 20th, 2008 at 2:11 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
Zooey Says:
“Well, she is married to Bill.
**wink wink, nudge nudge, know what I mean?**
It doesn’t bother me. If that was a significant issue, she wouldn’t be in this race. But Hillary is not trying to win the presidency on nepotism, she’s in it to win it because she feels she can do a wonderful job in office.”
You are a paid shill, no question about it. You have backed up your opinions with exactly no facts. Nice job.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:14 pm“I am a University of Maryland student for Hillary’s candidacy. I don’t identify with conspiracy theorists and their usual “paid shill” crap. These accusations are cheapened when they’re made countless times.”
Oh, a UM student.
Not even an adult yet, no experience in the world. of course we should all listen to your pettifoggery and arrogance. you sound like Hillary, all full of yourself and desperate.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:16 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
It’s not a matter of making a poor impression, it’s a matter of a Hillary supporter making that support known in a sea of Obama supporters on this site. That wouldn’t be true if you hadn’t driven out Clinton supporters, namely rhf, and sporting a gang mentality on those who stick around.
You know who rhf is? Huh. That’s pretty interesting, given that no one has posted under that name for weeks. You wouldn’t just be an attention-starved adolescent trying to make every thread about you, would you? Because this is feeling awfully familiar.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pmFunny that Hillary is so damn great that she’s well behind and has lost most of her initial support. Brilliant work on her part.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:18 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
I “shill” here on one afternoon and that makes me a troll, but the rest of you have been shilling for Obama for many afternoons, and that makes you accepted regulars. Gotcha.
I am not an Obama fan and definately not a Hillary fan. My candidate was eliminated by the MSM before the first primary vote.
Currently I support Obama, because I have been watching Hillary and her Republican Senate career.
Lets debate her senate voting record and see exactly how much you really know about who you are shilling for.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:21 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
That wouldn’t be true if you hadn’t driven out Clinton supporters, namely rhf, and sporting a gang mentality on those who stick around.
The same RHF that was attacking everyone like a maniac until he got himself banned?
lmao
you need help.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:25 pmHoo for Hillary Says:
I read and observed rhf being attacked. It’s funny, because it’s not about your satisfying your senses or owing you an explanation, it’s about me calling you out for making this board inhospitable for progressive Hillary supporters.
So what do you have to say for yourself? (And no, a conspiracy theory isn’t an answer.)
If you would actually stay on-topic, you might have some credibility. Take a look up there and see if the topic is anything to do with Clinton.
You get labeled a troll for behaving like a troll, not for supporting one candidate over another.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:33 pmHOO
April 20th, 2008 at 2:36 pmEver think it would not be so inhospitable if you quit acting like a Troll?
This discussion thread is NOT about HC or O. You are O/T and being bashed rightfully so.
I have to agree with Freedom Rebel @ #3.
And on a completely off topic subject.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:36 pmHillary will not be nominated.
gummitch Says:
You know who rhf is? Huh.
That is very interesting, indeed.
RHF was an attack dog, who would attack anyone any time, troll or poster. And this hooch character is here to defend his honor, I guess.
Hilarious.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:37 pm#90 gummitch Says:
But what’s truly interesting is McCain’s claim to be willing to cut “billions” from the defense budget. McCain? Mr Military Industrial Complex? Is he going to have to backtrack and flipflop away from this in the next day or so?
I also, find it very hard to believe he would ever cut defense spending. All it will take is one of his campaign managers to say ” hey John, about what you said Sunday, about cutting the defense budget that was a mistake, we can’t do that.” Then the flip begins all over again.
Zooey had a great point the other day. She said she is getting whiplash from all the flipflops . I so agree…
April 20th, 2008 at 2:42 pmI don’t see myself being booted out of here, and again, you are not an administrator here. The administrators would not take kindly to your arrogance.
We’ve been arrogant with the administrators before. Some of us even left the site to post elsewhere. They asked us to come back. Try again.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:42 pmHey George Stepho, how about asking this;
Sen John Sidney McCain, war hero or war survivor?
What is peoples definition of Hero?
Jessica Lynch was captured and then rescued by our troops from a hospital that had no enemy military posted.
They tried to make her out to have fought to the last bullet in her gun before being captured. It wasn’t true. Not true for McCain as well. He in fact surrendered.
Has Senator McCain forgave himself for surrendering himself to the enemy?
There are many who think Jessica Lynch is a hero and many that call McCain a hero.
Those that had to kill or be killed every day of a McCain POW war term are not considered heroes, why?
Now Senator Chuck Hagel had to get up everyday and risk it each and every day compared to limited expectations of treatment as an admirals son in a POW camp..
Not every soldier is a hero in the context used with McCain or Lynch.
We respect the survivor for enduring his/her capture at the hands of our enemy. But who makes heroes out of them? The media.
Why would a “war hero” like McCain not support fully at each and every opportunity to support and strengthen military benefits? He has been in the Senate for some time and could or should have been aware of the Walter Reed situation. The war hero that didn’t care or didn’t pay attention?
I noticed McCain’s tax release shows his military pension he draws to this day.
The media asks nothing of this sort of questions to Mccain but lather his military heart at every turn.
Senator McCain could have been a hero if he in fact would have been aware of the Walter Reed issue and did something about it before the press broke the story.
Question to McCain for the media, ” being our chosen candidate of knowledge of war and military issues, what Specifically would you do for the V.A. and all the returning veterans (including Gaurd and reservists)that are and eventually be coming home from the Mid East that may need assistance in one way (PTSD)or another. Reservists that could not pay their morgages on their military pay differing from their civilian job pay?
What does a McCain V.A. benefits package look like?
April 20th, 2008 at 2:57 pmHoo for Hillary Says: Get in tune with the objectives of this site, founded by John Podesta, or don’t litter the board.
So, you’re trying to confirm what the right-wing trolls say about this site, that it’s a Hillary-sponsored website? I’m sure that there’s some all-Hillary, all of the time website where you can rule the roost with your vast political knowledge. Begone!
Back to more serious matters - hey, McCain wasn’t wearing a flag pin! Effing traitor! ;-)
April 20th, 2008 at 3:10 pm“I’m very well versed in politics. No need to play the age game, as age doesn’t indicate intelligence. Being well-read, does.”
Not in your case. You are poorly-versed in politics, or you wouldn’t be shoveling the horseshit you are. All you have is a massive ego unimpeded by thoughtful observation.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:11 pm“Testy McCain Can’t Identify Earmarks He Would Cut”
April 20th, 2008 at 3:12 pmStraight Jacket Express forgot to take his geritol this morning. Grampa McCain is clueless.
here’s how to handle the hooeies:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kzXcNgCr0nk
i just LOVE that!
April 20th, 2008 at 3:23 pmC&L put up a thread about “the finger”… i thought “the brush” would’ve
pissed ‘em off even more! “hrumph! the nerve!”
here’s how to handle the hooeies:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kzXcNgCr0nk
i just LOVE that!
April 20th, 2008 at 3:23 pmC&L put up a thread about “the finger”… i thought “the brush” would’ve
pissed ‘em off even more! “hrumph! the nerve!”
Straight talk is Bush talk. (Image)
http://www.light-to-dark.com/McBush.html
There is no technique more characteristic of Neo Conservatism than deception ala Leo Strauss, who simply adored Hitler’s security solutions. (Image)
http://www.light-to-dark.com/birth_of_irving.html
Ideally, the People should never, ever know the truth. It’s too bad so much of our once courageous and ethical media have sold out to such militant corporatists and their ideologues. (Image)
http://www.light-to-dark.com/preemption.html
Today, totalitarians like Kristol, Podhoretz, Rove, Cheney, Feith, Rice, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and other assorted Marxist socialists and militant corporatists, seem to think their reality can be thrust upon us, like it was of legitimate form and binding to boot. Of course it can never be miscible in our Constitutional system of checks and balances.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/genocide_forgiven.html
That seems to be one reason such extremism found a willing host in the largely corrupt and theobotic Republican Party. It has moved very far from the true American Conservatism embodied in Lincoln, Eisenhower, Goldwater, and Hagel. (Image)
http://www.light-to-dark.com/lincolns_sadness.html
Senator McCain is nothing more than a corporate conduit-a prostitute for elitists, including Neo Cons, and the perfect Bush II in the country bumpkin tradition.
Straight talk is not what totalitarians deliver.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:23 pmi did not do that… double post…
April 20th, 2008 at 3:24 pmwhy doesn’t McPain cut his throat and be done with it
April 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pmAnd I’ll repeat it again, you’re at the wrong place to be calling a Hillary supporter a troll.
If you were a true Hillary supporter you would have responded to my post #32. You did not. Hence, no one is calling a Hillary supporter a troll. We are calling you a troll.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:32 pmAmen to that!
April 20th, 2008 at 3:35 pmWhile the topic of the thread is McPander Bear, not the Democtratic candidates, I will offer the troll this: Hillary needs to win 521 of 900 remaining delegates. I wouldn’t bet the farm on her.
Back to McPander Bear. The “maverick” has squandered his greatest strength. Far from sticking to positions which his party finds unpalatable he will verbally support any harebrained wacko who might be able to coerce a few deluded souls to vote for him.
THIS JUST IN: The vast majority of Americans are sick of “business as usual”. He could personally perform oral sex on every Reichwinger in the country and still won’t get 40% in the general election. Every time he opens his mouth he tells every rational person that he is, inherently, unfit to be President. Perhaps I’m being naive, but, I don’t think America is stupid enough to vote in a third term of evil idiocy. Pissed off, bitter, people rarely vote for more of the same crap that made them pissed off and bitter in the first place.
April 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pmThis warmonger is going to put us as a country in the economic pit of despair for along time, his policies will be a continuation of BUSHCO and friends.#127, I hope your right I hope people don`t vote the warmonger`s way again I think we have enough of this neocon dogma and we will not put up with it any longer.How does one run a campaign for McFlip-flopper or do they run two concurrent campaigns and what he says one day is ok because tomorrow he will say something else for the other campaign or am I confused like McFlipper ? All he knows is WAR and cutting benes for our soldiers, The man is way out of touch with this country and it`s values.
April 20th, 2008 at 5:02 pmWASHINGTON (CNN) — The Pentagon is $295 billion over budget on dozens of key programs and taking more time to deliver the systems to the front lines, according to a report released by a government watchdog agency.
Obviously McCain doesnt realize this…
April 20th, 2008 at 5:39 pmHoo for Hillary, is that Republican Hate Facts in a dress?
It’s not too flattering, you look frumpy.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:11 pmAh the latest troll tactic….trying to drown out the McCain bashing by creating a huge intra-democratic brawl. Because I dont beleive that this person is even really a hillary supporter Im not even going to address the merits of what they are saying. Also, this is the wrong thread to do that. And in the off chance that hooch for hilary really is a hillary supporter, let me just say this..if your trying to drum up support for her, your in the wrong place.. because Hilary has no realisitic chance except by superdelegate coup, and Im reasonably certain there arent many, if any, superdelegates reading this site..
Now, back to McCain and his flip=flopping empty promises anyone?
April 20th, 2008 at 6:13 pm> McCain could personally perform
> oral sex on every Reichwinger in
> the country and still won’t get
> 40% in the general election.
Don’t give him any ideas. Everytime I see larry craig my imagination places horrible images in my head i wish i could wash out with soap..
April 20th, 2008 at 6:16 pm“Despite this muddled interview and lack of specifics on how he plans to cut spending, McCain still claimed that everyone in Washington feared him: “It’s the worst nightmare. I’m their worst nightmare, my friend.”
He is right that he is my worst nightmare. Because if I hear him say “my friend” one more time I may find a way shut him up. Doesn’t he know how condescending he sounds every time he says that?
April 20th, 2008 at 7:01 pmspencers mom Says:
We can only hope the Obama will be concise in pointing out this very point when he goes head to head with McSame in the debates.
God, I can hardly wait. But, my bet is on McCain refusing to debate Obama. He knows that he will be cremated in 10 minutes.
April 20th, 2008 at 7:04 pmReading through some of these posts, it looks like rhf is back with another new moniker. And it also looks like TP is allowing it to stay, the same way they allowed rhf to stay for much longer than they would have allowed a similar troll who was bashing Democrats. I guess that’s the closest TP can get to tipping their hand as to who they support. They give Hillary shills a pass for a long time before they have to ban them because we are getting real pissed off.
I wonder what TP is going to do once Obama is the candidate. Are they going to continue to ignore him, unless the news they report is negative? If that happens, I will leave this site for good.
April 20th, 2008 at 7:13 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
God, I can hardly wait. But, my bet is on McCain refusing to debate Obama. He knows that he will be cremated in 10 minutes.
But how could he possibly NOT debate the Democratic candidate?
The more obvious scenario would be McSame with a Campbell’s soup can on a string, with Lieberman on the other end!
PEACE
April 20th, 2008 at 7:14 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
“…if I hear him say “my friend” one more time I may find a way shut him up. Doesn’t he know how condescending he sounds every time he says that?
April 20th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
“My friend” is usually only used by snake-oil or used-car salesmen.
April 20th, 2008 at 7:45 pmwhy does the usa need to give aid to israel?
April 20th, 2008 at 8:25 pm#112 Keith H. Says:
——————————————————————————–
I have to agree with Freedom Rebel @ #3.
Thank You!! Have a great Sunday Night!!
April 20th, 2008 at 9:09 pmSo, McCain is going to cut $16-18 billion per year in spending. Doesn’t that still leave us about $400 billion per year in the hole? Does he think we can continue like that forever? What is needed is to drasticly cut military spending (currently at least $900 billion per year all things considered) and to make the richest corporations and people pay more. The revenue cannot possibly come from anywhere else. The only candidate that really addressed this was Dennis Kucinich.
April 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pmSteph wasn’t taking notes and wearing an earphone was he?
April 20th, 2008 at 10:31 pmAttention! people how can Sen. John McCain explain how he can get around the constitution. That states” that you must be born in the United States of America to be president of the u.S.”.McCain was born in the Panama cannel zone.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:32 am