Yesterday, ThinkProgress talked to right-wing radio host Laura Ingraham, who was spending time in the Huffington Post Oasis in the Big Tent at the Democratic National Convention. Ingraham told us that she sees virtually no similarities between the policy positions of President Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), and that it is pointless for progressives to argue as much. From our interview:
He’s pretty much been different from President Bush on every issue other than on the war, and even on the war, he was very critical of how it was being handled. So I’m not sure, if I were a Democrat, I wouldn’t focus on the Bush angle. I mean, Bush will be gone in four months.
The similarities between the two men is uncomfortable for conservatives because it’s something the majority of the public recognizes. A recent Gallup poll found that 68 percent of Americans are either concerned that McCain would pursue policies similar to those of Bush.
Time after time, McCain has refused to show how his presidency would be anything but a third Bush term. In 2008, McCain voted with Bush 100 percent of the time, according to a May CQ analysis; in 2007, he voted with the President 95 percent of the time.
Even on the issue of climate change — which conservatives like to point to as a main difference between Bush and McCain — there are increasing indications that McCain plans no changes. Although McCain has said that he believes global warming is real, the Washington Times recently reported that McCain plans to “run on the final version” of the Republican party’s election platform, which is “loaded with caveats about the uncertainty of science and the need to ‘resist no-growth radicalism’ in taking on climate change.”
On Iraq — which Ingraham said McCain was “very critical of how it was being handled” — McCain was actually in lock-step with the Bush administration’s stay-the-course policies from day one.
Also during the interview, Ingraham hinted that right-wing talk radio will stage a rebellion if McCain chooses a pro-choice vice president, such as Joe Lieberman:
Talk radio exists because there’s a very big constituency for it. A lot of conservatives, and other people too, by the way. … I think that John McCain is going to see, that if you look at every successful Republican nominee over the last 28 years — pretty much had a pro-life ticket. Why infuriate a very important part of the base? For what? It’s not like liberals are going to vote for you because you put Joe Lieberman on the ticket.
Rush Limbaugh recently compared McCain choosing a pro-choice VP to “committing suicide.”
.
Well, he is older…
.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:24 pm.
REMEMBER:
According to the Bush Administration, Johnny was never McTORTURED.
.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pmShow us what a maverick you are Grampy, pick Lieberman.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pmJohn McCain Old Gray Man
August 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm“Ingraham: McCain Has Been ‘Different From President Bush On Every Issue’”
– - For instance, Bush was AWOL. McCain was POW.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:28 pm“So I’m not sure, if I were a Democrat, I wouldn’t focus on the Bush angle.”
____________________________________________________________
Laura, all the Democrats are doing is pointing out the obvious. You’ve got a candidate who may have been a maverick at one time, but who has morphed virtually all of his positions to match those of the current administration. And everyone can see that.
I know you wish the Democrats wouldn’t focus on the Bush angle, because you like to deny reality.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:29 pmIngraham is a chatty Kathy if I ever heard one.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:31 pmThere’s as much difference between McShame and the Chimp as there is between Laura’s left and right tits. They’re not identical, but no two are; still, you know they hang flacidly off the same body…
August 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pmother issues bush and mccain differ on:
Bush cheats on his wife but stays married, mccain not so much
August 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pmBush likes bourbon, mccain likes budwisier
Bushlikes ranchettes in texas, mccain likes condos in San Diego
I understand TP cannot get too aggressive with the Laura Ingrams but can’t somebody call these people on the lies they believe and spew ? Give them facts and let them answer that.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pmLaura should learn to engage her brain when her mouth opens…
August 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pmAnyone who takes Laura ( go out of the country to adopt a baby instead of one here at home) Ingraham as a source of fatual information is living in a fantasy world.
Why is she against gay couples Adopting??
Oh yea because a baby needs a mother and father
When did Laura get married??
What a hypocritical TOOL she is.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pmIngraham is a buffoon.
If they only agreed on the War (with “reservations”), then why is McCain looking to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent?
BTW, anyone know how much Ingraham rakes in a year as a professional liar?
August 28th, 2008 at 1:34 pmLaura would also prefer it if you ignore the steaming turd on the coffee table.
So, “if I were a Democrat, I wouldn’t focus on the” steaming turd on the coffee table.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:35 pmPlease remember, my friends, that if Laura Ingrams says something is black it is most assuredley 100% pure white. And vice versa.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:36 pmDifferent on every issue except tax cuts overwhelmingly benefitting the rich!
August 28th, 2008 at 1:36 pmOr the Iraq war or Afghanistan.
So, “if I were a Democrat, I wouldn’t focus on the” Iraq war or Afghanistan.
Clearly the issue of the election, according to Laura, is oldness (or experience, as she would call it). It is the one issue that McSame can win.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pmOnly at the beginning, when the issue is raised. Then McCain caves. It’s beens so sad to watch…
Iraq
August 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pmTorture
Veteran’s care
Taxes on rich
Laura helpfully suggests that we don’t go there….
Right. Nobody should mention the fact that McCain has voted in support of Bush’s policies 95% of the time.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:39 pmAnyone else wonder if the Lauras, rush’s, oreillys really believe their party line or does enough dollars justify liquifying your brain.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:40 pmA typical Reich Wing robotic thing to say…….Mcwars is more more like the Shrub everytime he says something, besides she is just another Reich Wing blond that has nothing important to say.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:42 pmJebus. One wonders what she is smoking…
August 28th, 2008 at 1:44 pm#19, Texaslady Says:
Anyone else wonder if the Lauras, rush’s, oreillys really believe their party line or does enough dollars justify liquifying your brain.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
they flying-monkey, rightard punditoclaps are as bereft of principle as they are of intelligence…it is an article of GOPuke faith that everyone has a price. If there were as much money on the left as on the right, they’d all be having ‘crises of conscience’…
August 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pmHe’s pretty much been different from President Bush on every issue…
Hahahahaha…..hahahahaha….can’t….stop…..hahahahaha……laughing…..
…..side hurts……hahahahaha…..please……please…..stop……
When you’re a repuke you are born with the ability to tell lies with a straight face.
If TP is banning the trolls by IP I say…A BIG HUG is in order
(Hug, squeeze, hug again)
August 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pmLaura,
We’ve discussed this before, young lady – if you are going to smoke crack, you have to bring enough to share with the whole Convention. Detention again.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:49 pmTo be fair, the way McFiveAndaHalfYears has been talking out of both sides of his mouth all summer you could probably find lots of things he has said that contradict Bush policy. Just don’t look at what he said the day before or the day after. Don’t think anyone has asked him recently whether he would still pick The Dick and Rummy for his administration like he claimed six years ago. . .
August 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pmOther differences between Bush and McCain:
McCain is not afraid of horses.
McCain DOES NOT clear brush (that’s what the hired help is for)
Bush landed on an aircraft carrier without crashing
Bush likes cocaine with a whiskey chaser/McCain prefers Viagra with an ice cold Budweiser
McCain is an apparent grill master/Laura won’t let George anywhere near the gas grill
McCain-boxers/Bush-underoos
McCain’s fave TV show-”Maverick”/Bush-”Sesame Street”(Laura won’t let him watch “24″ because he gets too worked up before bed)
Mccain considers Dick Cheney to be his dear friend/Bush responds to the VP as, “Yes, my Dark Lord?”
Bush belongs in prison/McCain belongs in a nursing home
anyone else have some differences they’d like to share?
August 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pmI just clicked on the TP link to see if anything new had popped up, and when I saw the Laura I. line about McSame being different from der Boosh on every issue, I burst out laughing. Is there no lie untold with these GOP clowns? Earlier, there was a TP post where another GOP idiot claimed that there are no uninsured Americans ?!? Excuse me, sir, uninsured means without insurance. Of course anyone can crawl into the local hospital’s emergency room and beg for some health care, but that is not the same thing as having health insurance…
These GOP piga have zero empathy for anyone else on the planet. They just monger hate and fear, 24/7. Their run in the 21st century is just about over. “Good widdence to bad wubbish,” as Elmer Fudd once said.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:50 pmIngraham told us that she sees virtually no similarities between the policy positions of President Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), and that it is pointless for progressives to argue as much. From our interview.
McCain has even said that he agrees with Bush’s policies. I swear morons like Ingraham believe anything they want to believe. What color is the sky in your world Ingraham?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 28th, 2008 at 1:51 pmMcCain’s medical records are not available to physicians. He did not “release” them for the campaign; he only allowed hand-picked reporters to examine them quickly without making copies. And there were no results of an Alzheimer’s test, because McCain has never had one – even though he has 6 of the 10 warning signs.
Just a thought.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pmbush will be gone in four months and so will his policies and so will McCain.
Go ahead, infuriate the talk radio audience. They might get p.o.ed and make a phone call. Nothing like a little voting block black-mail, but why? The ‘maverick’ is likely to take your vote and run without giving anything in return.
Pro-life? No, never has been. Anti-abortion, yes, but no way has any ticket in recent history been ‘pro-life’.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pmno, what she is really saying is… please don’t talk about bush, it’ll hurt our campaign.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:54 pm.
All Hail the ScSame!!!
.. er I mean the McDifferent!!!
.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:56 pmIm disappointed that no one at the convention last night mentioned that McCain hasn’t shown up to work since APRIL.
‘When McCain actually showed up to vote, he voted over 90% with Bush.’
McCain: Do we realy need another Vacation President?
August 28th, 2008 at 1:57 pmAnd when McCain volunteered that he AND Bush agreed on most positions does that make him a liar? When a high paid jerk like her tries to be helpful by telling Democrats that they “shouldn’t go there” she’s filling the space with hot air. Just another perma-grin blonde bully.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:57 pmIsn’t it sad… TP reports on something without any sarcasm/put-downs, yet half the people in this thread can’t comment without some type of ad hominem attack.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pmNit Pick, nit pick, nit pick.
He is the same as Bush in that he is a
nit wit, nit wit, nit wit.
John McCanin = Police State
August 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pmLaura tends to exaggerate when she’s mad. There’s been an increase on top of an increase of hot air when Biden was nominated veep. They are very scared, and they’re masking that with confidence.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pmDaleW Says:
Sure no ad hominems it was however an outright lie. People like Laura Ihavenoshame Ingraham are playing the dimbulbs of the right for suckers and lying right to our faces. They dont care. Truth, reality, these concepts mean nothing to the Ingrahams of the world. Just what will push their ideology. Just the propaganda. So exactly how much respect do we owe people like that?
August 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pm.
#38 DaleW,
The truth is never a put down. Sure some of us get carried away a bit. It’s part of recognizing how ridiculous these NeoCONNED Republicans are. I mean, what do you call a NeoCON who consistently derides reality?
Now, thanks mom for summoning the trolls.
:)
.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pmDale, you and your ilk are an ad hominem attack on America. We’re simply returning the favor to the culprits.
Stop your vicious hatred of America, reichnuts.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pm“Ingraham: McCain Has Been ‘Different From President Bush On Every Issue’”
She’s almost right (something about hand grenades and horseshoes).
McCain has at one point been different from Bush on every issue and at other times identical to Bush- especially as candidate McCain.
As Kerry so wonderfully pointed out at the DNC – He was for it before he was against it.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:09 pmBy Gosh, I think they’re getting NERVOUS!! I say, pick Lieberman! Fun to watch:)
August 28th, 2008 at 2:11 pmyes, if you include what underwear they (probably) wore over the past eight years… don’t know what else…
(as to the comment above: An ad hominem argument, also known as argumentum ad hominem (Latin: “argument to the man”, “argument against the man”) consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim)
It is most commonly used to refer specifically to the ad hominem as abusive, sexist, racist, or argumentum ad personam, which consists of criticizing or attacking the person who proposed the argument (personal attack) in an attempt to discredit the argument. It is also used when an opponent is unable to find fault with an argument, yet for various reasons, the opponent disagrees with it.
while (some of) the content may be a bit off-colour… i don’t see too many people attacking Ingraham (who has quite a knack for ad hominem attacks herself…
August 28th, 2008 at 2:12 pmSorry Laura, but your opinion is just that, and only that.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:16 pmA Patriot Acting Says:
Other differences between Bush and McCain:
McCain-boxers/Bush-underoos
Now I have tea all over my laptop!
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pmDaleW Says:
Isn’t it sad… TP reports on something without any sarcasm/put-downs
It is no one else’s fault that you are sarcasm/humor deficient.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:17 pmBlaming others for your own faults won’t solve it either.
“We all know that if John McCain was really Bushh III as Democrats are charging, he would not be within 2 points of Barack Obama.”
I have to remind you that the polling firms operate just like the healthcare and oil companies: Model of profit over the needs of consumers.
It’s really common sense in this case, and I don’t mind repeating it. The economy is the number one issue. The incumbent party is not trusted to handle the number one issue. Who do they favor, then? The opposing major party.
If the polling firms accurately tallied the views of the people, McCain would lag far behind Obama. But then, why would they pass on the volume of business generated during an election year when they can keep the race close — therefore increasing the number of inquiries — and racking in the dough?
August 28th, 2008 at 2:18 pmMcCain is clearly closer to Bush than to Obama.
And Ingraham is vague.
But McCain is just not a straight-line Republican,
nor a simple follower of GW Bush.
Not all Democrats are the same. Not all Republicans are the same.
Just say McCain is a Republican, we’ll get what you
August 28th, 2008 at 2:19 pmmean. No need to exaggerate.
Right wing trolls use many words and phrases that they don’t seem to know the actual meaning of. Just a few:
August 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pmad hominem, out of context, patriotism, family values, fiscal responsibility, projection, straw man…the list goes on and on
Sorry Spencer’s Mom but there will be no tea-bagging whilst blogging!
August 28th, 2008 at 2:22 pmWhen a person of dubious character is offered the chance at millions in remuneration, the result is Ms Laura.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:23 pmYeah. Calling a lying bimbo a lying bimbo is an “ad hominem attack”.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:23 pmad hominem attacks against anybody who doesn’t agree with the TP world-view:
REMEMBER:
According to the Bush Administration, Johnny was never McTORTURED.
Show us what a maverick you are Grampy, pick Lieberman.
Ingraham is a chatty Kathy if I ever heard one.
There’s as much difference between McShame and the Chimp as there is between Laura’s left and right tits. They’re not identical, but no two are; still, you know they hang flacidly off the same body…
Laura should learn to engage her brain when her mouth opens…
Laura would also prefer it if you ignore the steaming turd on the coffee table.
So, “if I were a Democrat, I wouldn’t focus on the” steaming turd on the coffee table.
Anyone else wonder if the Lauras, rush’s, oreillys really believe their party line or does enough dollars justify liquifying your brain.
A typical Reich Wing robotic thing to say…….Mcwars is more more like the Shrub everytime he says something, besides she is just another Reich Wing blond that has nothing important to say.
they flying-monkey, rightard punditoclaps are as bereft of principle as they are of intelligence…it is an article of GOPuke faith that everyone has a price. If there were as much money on the left as on the right, they’d all be having ‘crises of conscience’…
When you’re a repuke you are born with the ability to tell lies with a straight face.
… and many more. even directed against me for pointing out the attacks. If you can’t talk intelligently about a subject, why bother discussing it at all? Some on here do… sadly, many don’t.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pmNettles: “As per John King on CNN Tuesday night:
“We all know that if John McCain was really Bushh III as Democrats are charging, he would not be within 2 points of Barack Obama.””
Is there a bigger, more simpering, more obsequious butt-boy for McCain than John King? When King is forced to ask anything other than a fawning, narrative-driving question to McCain, he eve apologizes. As a journalist, John King is an absolute disgrace.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pmDid someone mention polls? I wonder what that someone thinks of this poll?
http://www.pollster.com/
August 28th, 2008 at 2:25 pmRight wing radio exists because it is subsidized. Plain and simple. If you don’t think it is, then you don’t know anything about radio.
Let the fair market rule there, you free-market champions.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pmWhos exaggerating?
Bush: Im a war president.
McCain: Bomb Bomb Bomb. More wars.
I see little difference nor have I exaggerated anything. McCain is another war president.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pmA Patriot Acting Says
August 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Right wing trolls use many words and phrases that they don’t seem to know the actual meaning of. Just a few:
ad hominem, out of context, patriotism, family values, fiscal responsibility, projection, straw man…the list goes on and on
________________________________________________________
You forgot “drinking the kool-aid” (McCain even tried to use that one, convincing everyone he had no idea what it meant), and “throw under the bus”. Most don’t know where the term “moonbat” comes from, although I admit that one’s a bit obscure.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pmThe problem, Dale, is that the lying bimbo doesn’t deserve thoughtful debate. Nor do any of the criminals who have seized the GOP. Scorn, derision, and ridicule is the only rational response to anyone who would try to propound the notion that Flippy McSpin is anything but a tool of the recklessly radical freaks who have brought our nation to the brink of collapse.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pmA recent Gallup poll found that 68 percent of Americans are either concerned that McCain would pursue policies similar to those of Bush.
But a republic hack thinks that tying John Bush to George McCain is a bad idea for Democrats. I am not so sure you could pry the two apart if you wanted to.
John Bush is on recording admitting that he disagrees with the majority of Americans, so logic would tell you something different.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:29 pmI don’t know anything about radio. How is it subsidized? Is it like how rightwing organizations buy pallettes of the newest Coulter book and use them as coasters? Im curious.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:30 pmBush may be gone in 4 months (Thank Bob!) but we will have to live with his policies for longer until someone straightens out the colossal mess that GW made. And it certainly won’t be “Daddy’s friends” this time.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:30 pmThe description is perfect, Dale. Ingraham is a Chatty Kathy if I ever heard one. She is hate-filled and filled with vitriol. She hates America and so do you.
Go ahead and obsess with wittle nitty-gritty while conveniently forgetting the issues America finds most important. Possibly because you know conservatism can’t solve any of them.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:33 pmpete Says:
Did someone mention polls? I wonder what that someone thinks of this poll?
The Gallup daily tracking has Obama up by six, 48 – 42, and remember this is a three-day rolling poll, so it’s just starting to see the campaign bump.
But perhaps those 48%ers don’t know that John was a POW.
PEACE
August 28th, 2008 at 2:33 pmAugust 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
A company I used to work for advertised on AM radio. They basically use blanket coverage. That is a radio frequency covers a radius of X miles. They then use demographics to say that Y amount of Republicans exist is this radius of our station even though many Republicans in that area dont listen to that station. Such is why Limbaughs listeners, I say, is much less than what he says. They are subsidised by advertisers and not by listeners. Why, if they had to rely on the listeners for support Rush would be off the air.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pmWayne Says:
August 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
You dont say =)
August 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pmwow why did my post show as blank? weird
August 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pmAnd did you challenge Ms Ingraham the tool, on this assertion? McPOW voted WITH Bush 95% of the time last year and the GOP platform for next week is nearly identical to the policies of the last 8 years.
Where are there differences?
Stem cells? Forget it. McPOW said life & human rights are applicable to unimplanted fertilized eggs. That would make stem cells illegal.
Maybe there are some differences on immigration. But I can’t tell because he’s switched positions.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:41 pmDid you put the “A” word, that must never be spoken, in your post Wayne?
August 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pmSure Ricky whatever you say. And when exactly did you get put in charge.
Nettles, Dale, troll meeting got out late today huh. Tell Ricky that your troll masters are the bosses of TP would you he seems a little out of touch.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pmDaleW Says:
and many more. even directed against me for pointing out the attacks. If you can’t talk intelligently about a subject, why bother discussing it at all? Some on here do… sadly, many don’t.
And your complaining about what other posters post is intelligently discussing the subject of this thread?
If you don’t like what someone posted, either flag’em or talk to the person who posted it, otherwise SHUT THE F_CK UP, TROLL.
Otherwise, I start flagging you.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pmXisithrus Says:
Did you put the “A” word, that must never be spoken, in your post Wayne?
Yeah, it had the word an*lysis lol
August 28th, 2008 at 2:44 pmforgot
Rick Y Says:
——————————————————————————–
McCain is clearly closer to Bush than to Obama.
And Ingraham is vague.
But McCain is just not a straight-line Republican,
nor a simple follower of GW Bush.
Not all Democrats are the same. Not all Republicans are the same.
Just say McCain is a Republican, we’ll get what you
mean. No need to exaggerate.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No exaggeration he voted with Bush about 90% of the time. There WAS a time he was willing to buck the right side of his party but THAT was then. Right now it is hard to find any light between his policies and Bush. Besides that what Ingraham said was that McCain was different than Bush on EVERY ISSUE, now THAT is an exaggeration so I dont know what your problem is with this article.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pmIt has been said, spencers mom, that polls tell more about those conducting the polls than those being polled. And I think that it boarders on ridiculous to even bother before the head-to-head campaigning is well under way.
It’s very easy for politically aware people to forget that most people don’t give politics much thought until they are faced with an imminent (a few weeks or days) election. And I don’t think there’s ever been a way to measure the vast number of people who only vote when they’re pissed.
I just don’t see many of those pissed-off, unaffiliated, voters pulling the lever for McSpin. And I think it’s safe to say that more people are more pissed-off than any time in several decades.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:46 pmDaleW Says:
So I am asking you AGAIN. If Laura is going to tell outright LIES to a NATIONAL AUDIENCE and lie right to our faces just how much respect do we owe her?
August 28th, 2008 at 2:47 pmEugeneDebs Says:
There WAS a time he was willing to buck the right side of his party but THAT was then.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
The more one examines that, the more it appears to be a myth. While Flippy McSpin had a reputation for vocally challenging the Reichwing agenda, when it comes to actual votes (assuming he shows up) he’s always been a lock-step neocon on the wedge issues.
He’s never established a pattern of actually following through on any of his “maverick” crusades. He simply lies to his constituents and the nation then votes to please his masters.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:53 pmYeah, because DaleW brought so much “intelligence” to the subject of the thread!
Whoops! And yet another ad hominem attack by me, a sad unintelligent blogger.
By the way, Xisithrus, the A word the must never be spoken.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:59 pmTrue classic!
Flag away. I’ll gladly discuss with anybody who wants to discuss rationally… many on here don’t though.
I don’t think she was telling lies… rather just referring to the issues that are important to her.
Sen. McCain *is* like Pres. Bush on many issues (Iraq, Taxes) but has differed in many others (ANWR, Campaign Reform, Illegal Immigration)
August 28th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
=)
August 28th, 2008 at 3:00 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Laura, all the Democrats are doing is pointing out the obvious. You’ve got a candidate who may have been a maverick at one time, but who has morphed virtually all of his positions to match those of the current administration. And everyone can see that.
I wish it was that “everyone can see that”. Unfortunately a majority of the voters still think that McBush is a maverick and that’s why the polls are close. The MSM has allowed that myth to stand because they want McBush to win. It will be up to the Democrats and Obama to show them that is not the case.
I want to see the Democrats run a commercial contrasting the McBush of 2000 and the McBush of today. Just pick an issue and show where he was on the issue in 2003 and where he is on the issue in 2008. Then end with “John McCain 2000 was a maverick, John McCain 2008 is a politician pandering to the neoCON right.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pmHe had differed publicly, but what congress critters are judged on is their voting record, and that, my friend, is where plate meets table.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:03 pm* McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain if he were a “‘read my lips’ candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?” referring to George H.W. Bush’s 1988 pledge. “No new taxes,” McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, “I’m not making a ‘read my lips’ statement, in that I will not raise taxes.”
* McCain’s campaign unveiled a Social Security policy that the senator would implement if elected, which did not include a Bush-like privatization scheme. In March 2008, McCain denounced his own campaign’s policy.
* In February 2008, McCain abandoned his opposition to waterboarding.
* In November 2007, McCain reversed his previous position on a long-term presence for U.S. troops in Iraq, arguing that the “nature of the society in Iraq” and the “religious aspects” of the country make it inevitable that the United States “eventually withdraws.” Two months later, McCain reversed back, saying he’s prepared to leave U.S. troops in Iraq for 100 years.
* McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty’s behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it.
* McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants’ kids who graduate from high school. Now he’s against it.
* On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own legislation.
* In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving “feedback” on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he opposes his own measure.
* McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”
* McCain said he was the “greatest critic” of Rumsfeld’s failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as “a mission accomplished.” In March 2004, he said, “I’m confident we’re on the right course.” In December 2005, he said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.”
* McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.
* McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed.
* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but then decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks.
* McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.
* On a related note, he said 2005 that he opposed the tax cuts because they were “too tilted to the wealthy.” By 2007, he denied ever having said this, and insisted he opposed the cuts because of increased government spending.
* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.
* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June 2007, he abandoned his own legislation.
* McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it.
* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.
* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.
* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.
* McCain decided in 2000 that he didn’t want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he “would taint the image of the ‘Straight Talk Express.’” Kissinger is now the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:04 pmTP – I find your saying that McCain voted with Bush 100% of the time in 2008 a little disingenuous. How many times has McCain voted this year? He has been AWOL from the Senate since March so he couldn’t have made that many votes in 2008.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pmLaura, sorry, we’re going after George McCain!!
signed,
The Democrats
August 28th, 2008 at 3:10 pmDifferent on ANWR? Are you nuts? Drill, drill, drill McCain?
August 28th, 2008 at 3:15 pmShayne:
Check out here:
“McCain has opposed drilling in ANWR. In the past he’s compared it to drilling in the Grand Canyon. But as energy prices climbed over the past several months, he has been careful to avoid locking himself into an anti-drilling position.”
he’s always been against drilling in ANWR; only considering it because of rising gas prices.
So, yes, “drill drill drill McCain”, but not (yet) in ANWR
August 28th, 2008 at 3:19 pm“He’s pretty much been different from President Bush on every issue other than on the war…”
Flippy McSpin himself couldn’t spin that as anything other than a whopping fat lie of the first order. I’m beginning to think that Dale is suffering from intellectual and/or ethical challenges.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:21 pmAnd also, folks, consider that Sen. Obama has voted in line with Pres. Bush 40% of the time. So if Obama is voted in, will we get 40% of Bush? Or is it that you agree with Pres. Bush 40% of the time? (because Sen. Obama does)
August 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pmSorry, forgot the link.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:23 pmpete Says:
I agree it was always overblown. McSame is my Senator. A good example was the torture issue. He TALKED big about it but when it came time to vote he folded like a Sunday paper. However it is a point not worth arguing, he DID buck his party somewhat, once in a great while. For instance when he publicly dissed Falwell. The larger issue is THAT was then this is NOW and he is Mr PartylineNeocon nowadays.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:23 pmDaleW Says:
I don’t think she was telling lies… rather just referring to the issues that are important to her.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ah NO, not even close THIS is what she said “He’s pretty much been different from President Bush on every issue other than on the war…” THAT is a lie, flat out, no reasonable argument it isnt. Since you got that TOTALLY wrong the rest of your post was irrelevant.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:26 pmDaleW Says:
And also, folks, consider that Sen. Obama has voted in line with Pres. Bush 40% of the time. So if Obama is voted in, will we get 40% of Bush? Or is it that you agree with Pres. Bush 40% of the time? (because Sen. Obama does)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A disengenuous argument. Many bills are completly uncontroversial and others are not opposed because a compromise is reached. I wouldnt support someone who based how they vote on a knee jerk reaction against even a really REALLY bad president which Bush certainly is.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pmYou do this could be spun as that Bush agreed with Obama 40% of the time?
But as with McCain: A. McCain agreed with Bush 95% of the time. B. Bush agreed with McCain 95% of the time. Either way Bush and McCain are very alike.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm*You do realize…
August 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pmLet me make my point clear.
McCain voted in line with Bush 95% of the time.
Bush voted in line with McCain 95% of the time.
Obama voted in line with Bush 40% of the time.
Bush voted in line with Obama 40% of the time.
See the 55% difference DaleW?
August 28th, 2008 at 3:36 pmMcCain voted with the Republican party 90% of the time.
Obama voted with the Democrats 97% of the time.
It’s called voting with your party. McCain does it. Obama does it. It doesn’t mean that the candidate agrees with every party line. Otherwise, we could just select a Dem at random and a Republican at random.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:45 pmHey Laura, in McSame as Bush’s own words….
RUSSERT: The fact is you are different than George Bush.
SEN. McCAIN: No. No. The fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I’ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush
August 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pmIt is not exactly possible to believe that after hearing her support W for eight years—-she now strongly supports someone who disagrees with him on every issue—even if you do not know all of McCain’s votes and statements.
David Brock was a good friend of hers and he said she seldom read a newspaper and did not have a single book where she lived.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pmDaleW,
August 28th, 2008 at 4:10 pmBarack isn’t constantly telling us what a maverick he is. He isn’t trying to distance himself from his party’s leader who has a record 73% disapproval rating.
DaleWBush Says:
McCain voted with the Republican party 90% of the time.
Yet Laura says:
He’s pretty much been different from President Bush on every issue other than on the war, and even on the war, he was very critical of how it was being handled.
so a 10% differential is proof positive on how he’s distanced himself from the Worst President Ever?
Please tell me what alternate universe you reside, so if I ever need a break from reality, I can join ya!
(whoops, yet another ad hominem. My bad.)
August 28th, 2008 at 4:18 pmKeith, uh, Nancy Pelosi, the head of Congressional Democrats, has an approval rating of25%
Maybe he *should* try to distance himself from her.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:20 pmMcCain has been different from McCain on every issue!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:47 pmDaleW Says:
You can keep repeating that line if you want. MAYBE you will convince SOMEBODY that McSame isnt a Bushclone. What you cannot reasonably argue is that Lauracretin LIED. FLAT OUT. McCain is NOT different from Bush on every issue. THAT is what this thread is about. You can keep beating that horse if you want to but it isnt breathing and its starting to smell funny.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:58 pmDaleW Says:
——————————————————————————–
Keith, uh, Nancy Pelosi, the head of Congressional Democrats, has an approval rating of25%
Maybe he *should* try to distance himself from her.
And this has what to do with the fact that Laura is a liar and an asshat for the GOP? Mixing apples with oranges may work for morons on the reich but facts are facts. John McBedpan has voted with W 95% of the time.
Pelosi has the wrath of the democrats on her for not impeaching these crooks and thugs.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:01 pmDaleW Says:
Another disengenuous and frankly STUPID argument. Pelosi didnt stand for a national election Congress traditionally has a bad approval rating. Everyone seems to hate all the Congressmen EXCEPT for the one THEY voted for. And for Pelosi that is people in San Fransisco. Also the RECORD rate of filibustering by the GOP has made congress look bad. ALL of America is Bushs constituency. THEY voted him in and now he is slightly more popular than tooth decay.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:03 pmWow. The bar, for trolls, just keeps getting lower.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:30 pmUpton Sinclair said it best: “If is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”
This is especially true for Repug shills like Ingraham.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:49 pmDaleW Says
August 28th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
And also, folks, consider that Sen. Obama has voted in line with Pres. Bush 40% of the time. So if Obama is voted in, will we get 40% of Bush? Or is it that you agree with Pres. Bush 40% of the time? (because Sen. Obama does)
_______________________________________________________
In the first place, the topic of this thread is McCain, not Obama. The debate point here is how different from Bush McCain is. Nice attempt at distraction, though.
Second, Obama’s voting record isn’t all that unusual for someone of the opposition party. Many bills aren’t controversial, and Democrats don’t vote against something merely because a Republican proposes it — they vote against something if it’s flawed or just plain wrong. Voting against something just because it was suggested by somebody on the other side is the hallmark of the Republicans, not the Democrats.
Third, voting records are kind of moot this year, because both Obama and McCain have missed a lot of votes due to their campaigns (McCain has been absent more, but that’s another thread).
Fourth, about voting with one’s party — that’s fine if your party is doing a good job and you agree with their position. However, it’s tough to sell yourself as a maverick if you’ve been voting the party line when the party is on the wrong track.
Fifth (getting back to the thread topic), the point being raised is that Laura Ingraham is making a rather outrageous claim that McCain isn’t anything like Bush on the issues. Where we have seen McCain take every principled stand he has ever had and has changed it so he is marching in lockstep with Bushco. And the GOP apologists’ attempts to claim this isn’t true just look pathetic.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:12 pmWhere can I get some of what she’s smoking???
August 28th, 2008 at 7:04 pmumm…voting 95 percent with Bush in 2007 isn’t being different, Laura.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:16 pmSpeakig from memory, McCain hasn’t voted with Bush at all this year. Of course, he hasn’t voted.
For the percentage, I’ll have to figure out how to divide zero by zero.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:21 pm#56 DaleW,
Prove me wrong…
According to the Bush Administrations definition of torture vs. enhanced interrogation, McCain was not tortured but instead enhanced interrogated. I’m pointing at the truth of the ridiculousness of the situation.
The McTorture aspect comes from McCains inability to stand up against TORTURE under this Administration… one of those defining characteristics that make Johnny more of a McSame than not.
By simply agreeing with Laura I.’s attempt to separate Bush and McTORTURE by drawing out this dichotomy as it exists, simply is, to me, an eloquent way of calling the whole situation B.S.
I mean, yes, McCain was tortured. And Yes, the current definition by this Administration would then disagree with the first known fact, McCain was tortured. However, McCain’s inability to resist this Administration’s attempt to redefine TORTURE, belies McCain’s own history.
… or maybe you just don’t get the irony. Maybe?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:54 amEspecially when the Irony IS the reality.