FLASHBACK: McCain Claimed That ‘Americans Are Overall Better Off’ Under Bush
FLASHBACK: McCain Claimed That ‘Americans Are Overall Better Off’ Under Bush
Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) campaign has released its latest tv ad today, attempting to distance the senator from President Bush. From the ad’s narration:
Washington’s broken. John McCain knows it. We’re worse off than we were four years ago. Only McCain has taken on big tobacco, drug companies, fought corruption in both parties. He’ll reform Wall Street, battle Big Oil, make America prosper again. He’s the original maverick.
Watch it:
This statement actually isn’t so maverick. During a January debate at the Reagan Library, McCain stated that Americans were “overall are better off” than they were eight years ago. Watch it:
In April, McCain also said that under the Bush administration, “you could make an argument that there’s been great progress economically over that period of time.”
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And if you believed that, he has some ocean front property in Tucson for you to buy.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:39 pmDon’t worry, McSame’s campaign will come out with a statement ‘clarifying’ what McSame said to make it seem that he both opposes and supports Bush.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:43 pmThis should be McAncient’s undoing. You can lie to us about just about anything (and have), but it will be hard to convince ANYONE that they are better off now than 8 years ago. Who would know better?
August 5th, 2008 at 1:44 pm“overall are better off”
McClown’s “overalls” may be better off but only because the bastards stole the shirts right off our backs.
Doc Rock, careful what you wish for. Tucson has had record rainfall this monsoon season and the tainted peppers are growing like crazy.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pmLet’s see, my rent has gone up, gas & groceries are costing me more too, my wages are frozen. I never realized I had it so good.
I really am better off than I was 4 or 8 years ago.
snark
August 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pmSo how is the Obama campaign going to hit back? Or will they?
August 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pmSee… there’s no contradiction. McSame said we were better off than we were eight years — when we had a surplus, cheap oil, a strong economy and the respect of the world.
But we’re not better off than we were four years ago — when we’d been attacked by terrorists, suffered a recession, massive job losses and Iraq was just beginning to explode.
See? Perfectly logical.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pmHahahahahahahahaha!
Sorry. But seriously, who should we blame for Washington being “broken”? The guy who’s been there for more than 20 years, much of that time as part of an unchecked majority, or a guy who’s been there less than two years as part of a Senate which has been stifled by obstruction?
I sure am looking forward to, one on on one, debates.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pmSadly, roughly 23% of the sheeple will nod and go, “yes, yes we are” as they open their can of cat food for lunch.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:49 pmFlip.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:50 pmFlop.
Are the one million Iraqis murdered by Bush better off now than they were eight years ago? Tell us, my friend, tell us your thoughtful answer to that question. Millions of Iraqis are waiting for your answer, sir. And millions of Americans are also waiting for your answer, sir.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pmIt all depends on what your definition of “we” is.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:55 pmBAM!
Crusty nails it.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:58 pmThis just shows everyone how out of touch he is with America…. where shall I start, under Clinton the economy was pretty decent my wages were good, inflation was low,gas was $1.25 a gal,health care was reasonable and we were not occupying Iraq 6years after we invaded.Let`s see Johonny under the Shrub we are paying $4.00 a gal for gas and milk,health care has doubled under the Shrub,corruption is running rampant in Wash.and inflation is in the stratosphere and we were in a recession.So what gives Johnny why and how are we better off? please tell real Americans !!!!!!!
August 5th, 2008 at 1:59 pmSo McTireGauge’s new ad claims that he will “battle Big Oil?” Hmm, he just received $2,000,000 in political donations from oil company executives after he flipped his earlier opposition to offshore oil drilling and became a cheerleader for it. Before he does that he will have to do a little arm wrestling with his economic advisor, Phil Gramm, who was one of the chief advocates for financial markets deregulation and who lovingly gave us the infamous “Enron loophole,” which led to the double of the price of gasoline in the last year…
We’re being ENRONed again: this time by oil futures contracts speculators who are unnecessarily and very profitably driving up the price of crude oil and hence retail gasoline prices. Curious as to why you are suddenly paying over four dollars a gallon for gasoline? No, it’s not due to “supply-and-demand,” no, it’s not due to “OPEC,” nor is it due to “peak oil.” It’s due to totally unregulated electronic oil futures trading in world markets. Check out the very lucid article that explains the unseen financial machinations in oil futures markets written by F. W. Engdahl on May 2, 2008, entitled, “Perhaps 60% of Today’s Oil Price is Pure Speculation.” It may be viewed at .
http://www.financialsense.com/editorials/engdahl/2008/0502.html
In a nutshell, he suggests that the Bush Administration dropped the ball in January 2006, when they allowed totally unregulated electronic trading of oil futures contracts in New York. Previously these electronic trades had been made at the London Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Market. With that decision by the Bush Administration, all of the world’s oil prices were then opened to upward pressure from speculative futures contracts. In essence, oil futures contracts made by speculators, banks, hedge funds and pension funds all competed with real demand on the spot markets and had the effect of driving up both wholesale oil prices and retail gasoline prices. Speculators have made billions of dollars on their trading of oil futures contracts. All of their profits come right out of our pockets.
Even with a stable oil supply, there is a slow worldwide increase in demand for oil, which creates a long-term upward pressure on oil prices. However, with the relentless saber-rattling and war-mongering by Bush and Cheney in the last several years, and the more recent war talks by McCain and the Israelis, the oil futures markets are rife with speculation and paranoia. This war talk keeps ratcheting up the prices on the oil futures contracts and hence the wholesale spot market prices. It is an endless spiral of greed and paranoia.
As long as there is no tough and effective oversight of the electronic oil futures markets by the Bush Administration, the oil prices will climb endlessly. These oil prices will be quickly followed by hikes in the retail gasoline prices at the pump. The 60% speculation share of the $4.25/gallon gasoline price, is about $2.55/gallon, which is what we consumers are paying to these oil speculators as a “service fee.” Not a bad “fee,” since the speculators produce no usable goods or services…Just a few large greedy oil futures traders helping themselves to your gas money.
Without this added-on oil futures “service fee,” you would be paying about $1.75/gallon for gasoline. Write, call or smoke-signal your Representatives and Senators today and suggest that they read the June 2006 report by The U. S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations entitled, “The Role of Market Speculation in Rising Oil and Gas Prices.” Then demand that they investigate and then force the Bush Administration to firmly regulate the computerized oil futures contracts trading in New York, London and Dubai.
This electronic oil price futures scandal is costing US drivers about $969,000,000.00 per day! That number is based on 60% speculation fee of a gasoline price of $4.25/gallon and on US 2004 consumption of 380,000,000 gallons/day. Tell you Senators and Congresspersons to simply shut down this unregulated electronic oil futures contract trading market. Then the price of gasoline will slowly drop to about $1.75/gallon…The only way that oil price futures contracts make money is if the price of oil goes up in the future, say, 30, 60 or 90 days later. This futures market serves no social need. It is just for corporate greed. The corporate speculators are probably also gaming/ENRONing the wheat and corn futures markets the same way.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pmHe’s taken on big bad things and fought corruption? Those big bad things are still hanging around and corruption is as plentiful as ever. What does he have to show for all those years taking on and fighting, exactly?
August 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pmAre we whining again sen. Mcwars……..
August 5th, 2008 at 2:01 pmJM’s “we” are better off. His rich friends. Their group has never made more money. The rest of us have not been so fortunate, all by design to create a two class society in the US.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pmThe gap between the rich and poor has widened to obscene levels during the last eight years.
.
Am I richer than I was 8 years ago?
Am I safer than I was 8 years ago?
Am I freer than I was 8 years ago?
If I’m not in the upper 1% then my answer is NO, NO, NO!
.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pm#15, excellent post.Your very last sentence hits the nail on the head.”The corporate speculators are probably also gaming/ENRONing the wheat and corn futures markets the same way.”Nafta plays a huge part in food prices also because peasants farmers around the globe can`t compete with our subsidized farming/agri/businesses like ADM and Monsanto and their genetically modified seeds.But that`s a whole other story.These people in the futures and hedge funds are billions of dollars off of our backs, the Enron loophole should have been closed before they went on break but the re-pukes filibustered once again.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:17 pmOK, when is Obama or the Democrats going to start running advertisements exposing the flips and the lies that McCain is perpetuating. As long as they allow him to run ads like this without challenging him, McCain will continue to be viewed as a “maverick” and a “moderate” by a large part of the electorate.
When are the Democrats going to start fighting this battle?
August 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pmI didn’t know the SNL writers were working for McBush now. Seeing their signature double take material is priceless. I don’t expect the old man knows yet that the campaign is making him the laughing stock of the world.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:23 pmanyone that would take money from the the oily is of questionable character. the oily do not do what they say based on their government contracts do they? they don’t drill where they promise to.
time to nationalize the oil companies and make oily clean up their mess.
Nice try Opi8 but Obama got his money from employees and McCain got his from the corporations. AND we don’t need lying trolls to explain the numbers to us.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:24 pmThe uncredible Mr McLimpet
August 5th, 2008 at 2:28 pmobamagr8 Says:
I guess you’re trying to say that Obama is more in the pocket of big oil than mccain, is that it?
Can we say windfall profits tax…Obama not mccain.
We all know there is too much corporate money in the campaigns, who’s idea do you think that was?
Can you explain what you are trying to say?
August 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pmWho knew big oil execs would pay politicians to reform their business?
Snark
August 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pmFred, I think what obi8 is trying to say is:
“Obama bad. McCain good.”
August 5th, 2008 at 2:30 pmobamagr8 Says:
Obama has accepted campaign donations of some $400,000 from oil company executives.
Ok, right off the bat you are lying. How do you know that the $400,000 came from oil company executives?
Since Obama does not accept money from PACS (If he did you know that the Republicons would have exposed him by now), that $400,000 came from individuals who wrote on their contribution or in the space provided on-line, the name of a company somehow affiliated with the oil industry or named as their profession something that is part of the oil industry.
McCain, on the other hand, is getting a majority of his money from PACs and lobbyists. These are easy to identify as oil company executives and PACs. I don’t care if it is 1.3 million or 2 million, he is still getting an obscene amount of money from oil companies with a vested interest in this campaign. Obama is getting money from individuals who work in the oil industry. And I can tell you for a fact, Obama is not pressured by the individuals who contribute to his campaign as evidenced by how he ignored the howls of his supporters when he voted for the FISA bill.
I would also be willing to bet that the oil companies have contributed millions to the RNC and affiliated 527’s who can run advertisements for McCain.
So, your obfuscation of the facts is just that obfuscation. And, don’t forget your lie that Obama has gotten the $400,000 from oil company executives.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:37 pmMan, I must have been dense to miss his intent? I just wish they would hold mccain and bush to the truth just 1/4 as much as they seem to think they have the right to try to hold Obama to the truth. Maybe then they would have a little credibilty huh Ralph?
August 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pmNo, I don’t think I will. Why don’t you ever post a link to the data you post here?
August 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pmobamagr8 Says:
Shayne, if I am lying, please point out what I have said that is untrue. Be specific.
You said that Obama got $400,000 from oil company executives. Prove it.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pmDumb Question: Of Senate votes for the last 7 years, on a year by year basis:
*) What percentage of the votes did McCain miss ?
*) Of the votes he cast, what percentage were what the WH asked for ? (I seem to remember a lot of “unaninmous Repub” votes).
Oh, and 1. Doc Rock – as McCain seems to want to treat global warming by drilling for more oil, that beachfront is coming your way.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:44 pmobamagr8 Says: “…if I am lying, please point out what I have said that is untrue. Be specific.”
As specific as I can be: Figures don’t lie but liars will post figures on TP.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pmSee Opi8, you’ve posted the proof that you were lying all by yourself:
August 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
obamagr8 Says:
First point, the LA Times actually IS a “right-wing rag”.
Second point, the article you cite uses as its source “a McCain spokesman”.
Third point, you morphed “$400,000 in donations from oil and gas company executives and employees and their family members“ into the more simplistic “Obama has accepted campaign donations of some $400,000 from oil company executives.”
Not the same thing at all.
Need we go on?
August 5th, 2008 at 2:49 pmActually, we are better off than we were eight years ago. Afterall, who needs all that stress worrying about house and payments, the price of fuel and food. It’s so much better to have your home foreclosed, that way you can live in your car (saving tons of money on home heating fuel) and call it a mobile home.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pmSo. Is it the troll’s contention that Sen. Obama, in less than two years, has done more damage than McSpin has done in more than 20?
I’m sorry, but I can’t help but ask, “WTF have you been doing Johnny”? Oh. That’s right. Johnny has been busy speaking to the middle while voting, when he still bothered with trivialities like voting, against legislation he “supported”.
And, funny thing, for some reason the “maverick” has voted in lock step with the GOP 95% of the time.
IMO that’s not a maverick. That’s a simple con artist. A master of the bait and switch. A bald face liar who would sell his children for fun and profit.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:02 pmobamagr8 Says:
“Joe Oil Executive donates $2,000 to Obama and Mrs. Oil Executive donates $2,000 OF HER OWN MONEY to Obama and they aren’t related at all.”
Hey troll, new week, new name for you? I do believe you’re in the process of being schooled on how not to misinterpret quotes. So far, the lesson seems to be a bust for you. Please DO try a little hard.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pmobamagr8, So you think our country has prospered under Bush, and McCain will continue this?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:05 pmobamagr8, Why are you afraid of Obama?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:07 pmobamagr8, Take your pick.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pmClearly, you suffer from the same kind of reading comprehension deficit as most of your comrades. I even highlighted employees and their spouses so you’d be sure to get it. Perhaps I should not have highlighted “spouses” as that obviously threw you off.
Point bring, obi8, “employee” is much, much different than “executive”.
An oil company employee is likely to be a union member. Likely to be blue-collar.
Yet your McCain spokesman, by treating them the same as “executives” gets to imply that Obama is almost as dirty with oil money as McCain.
Never mind that McCain is the one whose oil industry contributions shot up after he came out for the policy that oil companies favor — i. e., giving oil companies more leases to control, and in protected areas — and Obama’s policies generally favor consumers rather than oil companies. Never mind that.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:17 pmobamagr8, So you think Bush has led us well, and McCain will continue to do so?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:18 pmHe meant that it better if we’re all dead and they are walking on our graves.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pmMeanwhile, the entire Hilton family have each maxed out at $2,300 each for McCain on a private level.
Their reward? McCan’t uses their daughter as a symbol of a blond bimbo with subliminal implications that a Black man likes White women.
Nice.
Yes, the Hilton’s are pissed. I can’t blame them.
John McQueen, King of Fears.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:28 pmobamagr8 Says:
Which one? The one who opposes offshore drilling or the one who favors it?
Are you talking about McCain or Obama?
During his last run for the presidency, in 1999, McCain supported the drilling moratorium, and he scolded the “special interests in Washington” that sought offshore drilling leases. Yesterday, he announced that those very same “moratoria should be lifted” and proposed incentives for the states “in the form of tangible financial rewards, if the states decide to lift those moratoriums.”
In 2000, McCain promised to “never lose sight” of fundamental principles on the issue.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/17/mccain-flip-flops-on-offshore-drilling-moratorium/
August 5th, 2008 at 3:30 pmTP poster: White.
Troll: Black!
TP poster: Up.
Troll: DOWN!
TP poster: Yes.
Troll: NO!
No matter what is said here, the trolls continue to apologize for and suck up to the GOP. No matter what. Facts are irrelevant. Truth? Logic? Reality?
Jebus. Idiots. Some days, stupid people really piss me off.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pmmcCain said “you could make an argument that there’s been great progress economically”
Sure, you could make an argument…
August 5th, 2008 at 4:36 pmand you would STILL BE WRONG!!
Annie. You forgot “Clinton did it” and “I know you are but what am I”. And I too have little patience with idiots.
I would rather have to argue with an evil genius than a well-meaning fool.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:40 pmIn April, McCain also said that under the Bush administration, “you could make an argument that there’s been great progress economically over that period of time.”
Well, there has been.
According to tax filings released today, McCain’s net worth rose by $18 million since 1999.
See, he wasn’t lying.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pmobamagr8, why are you afraid of John McCain?
obamagr8 Says:
Which one? The one who opposes offshore drilling or the one who favors it?
August 5th, 2008 at 6:03 pmobamagr8 Says:
——————————————————————————–
Pete: Would it have been better if McCain had simply voted “present”?
He couldn’t. His id card expired and he can’t get into the Capitol building anymore.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:06 pmpete Says:
IMO that’s not a maverick. That’s a simple con artist. A master of the bait and switch. A bald face liar who would sell his children for fun and profit.
Well, McCain didn’t sell his children. He deserted his children (and his disabled wife) for fun and profit.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:09 pmThat was so funny that I broke down in Tears.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:33 pmGeez, what is McCain smoking, Pineapple Express?
August 5th, 2008 at 11:09 pmFacts:
McCain is a LIAR
McCain is a CHEATER
McCain is a HYPOCRITE
August 5th, 2008 at 11:11 pmLike I thought when I originally heard these.
Who is McCain talking about when he says, “WE” are better off?
How did, and who actually benefited from Bush’s Tax cuts?
If McCain wants to privatize Social Security and we the people want it. Why does McCain want to be our President and go against Americans?
August 6th, 2008 at 4:01 amOne other issue;
This Maverick nomer of McCain’s.
How often did McCain vote with Bush and the GOP vs against?
Not voting doesn’t count!!
August 6th, 2008 at 4:06 amWe just posted rightone-ready audio of McCain over at Entertonement.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:59 pm