A Method To His Madness? McCain Could Be Making Bush’s Grudge Against Spain Official U.S. Policy
A Method To His Madness? McCain Could Be Making Bush’s Grudge Against Spain Official U.S. Policy
In an interview earlier this week, John McCain would not answer whether he would be willing to meet with Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. While some speculated that McCain either did not know who Zapatero was or thought he was some “Latin American bad guy,” McCain’s top foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann said McCain was not confused — he was simply articulating his policy of refusing to commit to a White House meeting with Zapatero.
The logic behind this particular policy is baffling, considering that Spain has long been a U.S. NATO ally and currently has troops in Afghanistan. So why would McCain shun Zapatero? If President Bush’s actions towards the Spanish Prime Minster give some indication, the answer is Iraq.
Zapatero withdrew Spain’s troops from Iraq soon after his Socialist Party swept to power in March, 2004 in a wave of Spanish anti-war sentiment, a move that reportedly angered Bush:
Zapatero’s first action was to make good on a long-standing campaign promise to remove Spanish troops from Iraq, to the overwhelming approval of Spaniards but the great irritation of Bush.
Eighteen months later, there has still been no one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, and rhetoric has been harsh. It got so bad at one point that Bush refused to take Zapatero’s phone call of congratulations last year after the president won reelection.
Since then, the White House has said Bush has “no plans” to meet with Zapataro. In 2006, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley could not answer why the two leaders have not visited one another:
QUESTION: Is that the reason why there seems to be like a veto against our Prime Minister, Mr. Zapatero, who is an ally and has been Prime Minister for two years but hasn’t come to Washington yet?
MR. HADLEY: He has not come to Washington, that’s true. Whether that is a result of bad public opinion polls in Spain about the United States, I don’t know. I don’t have an answer for that. But there’s — at this point, I don’t think there’s any plans for a visit.
Just last March, when Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked if Bush would congratulate Zapataro on his re-election, she would not fully commit: “I expect he’ll be sending a message to him, sure.”
McCain’s incoherent answer to whether he would meet with Zapatero may indicate that he is interested in making Bush’s grudge against Spain permanent U.S. policy. As Max Bergmann notes, it is “beyond reckless” that McCain would refuse to meet with a democratic U.S. ally that has had soldiers killed in Afghanistan, was brutally attacked by Al-Qaeda and wields considerable influence in Europe and Latin America.
Perhaps Spain won’t be expecting an invitation to McCain’s League of Democracies?
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That’s what America needs, more petty childishness when it comes to forign policy.
Obama: “You can’t make this stuff up”
September 18th, 2008 at 3:02 pmWell, he is a Socialist! And Bush appears to be a National Socialist! They got lots in common!
September 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pmMcCain’s incoherent answer to whether he would meet with Zapatero may indicate that he is interested in making Bush’s grudge against Spain permanent U.S. policy.
One needs a scorecard to keep track of the incoherent answers coming out the Straight Jacket Express (TM)these days.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pmWell, if it was good enuff for Dubya, it is good enuff for Johnny Boy. Can’t tell those two apart with a microspcope.
(And Sarahcuda is feverishly looking at her Rand-McNally back-lit globe trying to find Spain.)
September 18th, 2008 at 3:04 pmnothing like making grudges a primary factor in diplomatic relationships with other countries.
I wonder how long until we break ties with England for them burning the White House in 1812… after all, McCain was part of the clean up crew….
September 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pmNope, sorry, there is simply no other way to look at this other than McStain didn’t understand the question, or didn’t want to admit he didn’t know who Zapatero is.
But it didn’t stop him from taking a hard-line neocon approach with strong rhetoric.
And that, my friends, is deeply troubling.
PEACE
September 18th, 2008 at 3:08 pmWhat happened? Did they discover vast oil reserves in Spain or are GeorgeW/McWorse worried because countries can succesfully transition from dictatorships to true, functioning democracies?
September 18th, 2008 at 3:08 pmImpeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Impeach Palin and Restore the Rule of Law!
Who cares about Spain. They are a has been nation. We need allies like UK and France. Spain is a nobody.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pmbtruthful Says:
Who cares about Spain. They are a has been nation. We need allies like UK and France. Spain is a nobody.
*
ladies and gentlemen,
meet mcsame’s choice
for secretary of state.
:)
September 18th, 2008 at 3:11 pmbtruthful…..Your an ass plain and simple. Spain is part of the EU and has (together with the EU) more clout then the US. We are F’en broke, our dollar is in the shitter, we have no manufacturing and they are “THE” has beens? You and your shit head party (Republican)are HAS BEENS!!!!!
If you you honestly think McShit is going to win after this past week,,,,your a bigger IDIOT then I thought.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:17 pmSpencer’s mom’s got it right.
We are getting very used to his befuddled, bewildered and bestupid moments. He answers the wrong question, or tries to change the subject, or tries to bully his way out of having to admit he doesn’t have a clue as to what he’s being asked.
My aunt had this same syndrome, would turn on the stove, and then go out and do a couple hours of gardening. Look! A pretty bird!
September 18th, 2008 at 3:19 pmI can sense the trolls are on the ‘My Way or the Highway’ attitude of McSame. Jingo rhetoric is not going to bring this country back to her glory – only a thoughtful and mature approach will work.
If two or three major countries simply boycotted the USA, or if China didn’t by our debt for a few months, the USA would be bankrupt and broken. We have lived off the credit of others for far too long. Your family could not survive abusing its finances that way and neither can the US.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:19 pmbtruthful Says:
Who cares about Spain. They are a has been nation. We need allies like UK and France. Spain is a nobody.
Whether you are RHF going back to your old name, or a troll that decided to use his old name, you are still a f-king idiot.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:21 pmbtruthful,
Are that bigoted against Spanish speaking people? Must explain your blind loyalty to the 23%ER CLUB, HUH?
September 18th, 2008 at 3:22 pmMore of the same “you’re either with us or against us” BS..
September 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pmI think he really didn’t know who Zapatero is and thought Spain is in Latin America.
I read, on another blog, that it sounds like McSame has “chemo brain”. It’s a real syndrome where after chemo people get absent minded, temperamental and lethargic. That sure sounds like McSame, doesn’t it.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pmMy original question stands — if McCain truly has a grudge against Zapatero, why then didn’t he just say so? He could have just said, “no, I don’t plan to meet with him.” Or if he didn’t even want to commit to that much, he could have given some rehearsed answer about not having any plans at the moment, without the hemming and hawing.
Instead, he just came across as a befuddled, doddering fool who didn’t understand the question.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pmWe’re finally achieving a positive trade balance with Spain (if I’m reading the numbers at http://www.census.gov correctly) this year after six straight years of negative balances, so, perhaps we shouldn’t be too rude to them. If we want them to buy our stuff anyway.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pmMissHMolly says:
Instead, he just came across as a befuddled, doddering fool who didn’t understand the question.
YES. not just came across as.
Is.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pmstateofthedivision Says:
Then, there’s the Spanish company buying and developing U.S. toll roads with the wholehearted support of the Bush administration. But maybe, we ought to learn from the country that inspired some of the past crusades to see how things worked out.
Outsourcing our toll roads is all the rage under the Republicans. The ones in Texas were sold to the German company that runs the Autobahn of all things.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pmLet’s see, other than the EU thing, where Spain will get its turn to head it up, there’s their location at the entrance to the Mediterranean. I bet some of that Middle Eastern oil sails right by.
Then, there’s the Spanish company buying and developing U.S. toll roads with the wholehearted support of the Bush administration. But maybe, we ought to learn from the country that inspired some of the past crusades to see how things worked out.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pmLooks like Keating Five McCain is doing all he can to shore up the Spanish speaking vote. What an a-hole.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pmSpanish troops are fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan. Zapatero stood up to Hugo Chavez, a dictator who is actually problematic for the U.S., at the Ibero-American Summit. He is the leader of an important European democracy.
And John McCain wouldn’t meet with him as President? Insanity.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:28 pmI don’t know if anyone has addressed this yet, but in a speech today Sarah Palin said “in the Palin/McCain Administration“. Ouch. McSame is going to be really mad about that one. He’s not having a lot of luck with the women in his campaign these days. First Fiorina disses them about running corporations, then his Baronness calls us “bitter rednecks” and now Palin is already taking over as the unofficial President. At least Cheney waited until Bush took office before he took over.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:28 pmMcCain: release your medical records!
And while we’re at it, Palin needs to release her medical records and her tax returns.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:30 pmWhy is Randy Scheunemann explaining what Mc Same meant? Why isn’ty ole John explaining? Maybe he doesn’t remember what he meant…
September 18th, 2008 at 3:32 pmjuniebird Says:
Why is Randy Scheunemann explaining what Mc Same meant? Why isn’ty ole John explaining? Maybe he doesn’t remember what he meant…
We should all know by now, no one speaks for John McCain, not his Campaign and surely not that other guy called John McCain that keeps contradicting him in those YouTube thingies.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:34 pmListening to that interview it actually seems McCain doesnt have a clue who Zapatero is.
He is asked repeatedly about him and he just talks about the war on drugs and about Mexico and friends and foes in the “hemisphere” (ie the Western Hemisphere) and “Latin America” and “the region”. He never mentions NATO or Afghanistan or terrorism. Sounds like McCain thinks Zapatero is just some Chavez or Morales type leader down south somewhere
September 18th, 2008 at 3:41 pmEconomic policy for McCain…kinda under the radar, but with the ban on short selling, the market can easily be “rigged to the upside” without the counterbalancing ability to sell short, hedge funds can easily pour money into the markets and overwhelm any natural selling pressure pushing stocks higher…Very similer to what they did with oil futures…it will end ugly but for now the markets will go higher, and McSame will tout ” I told you whiners the fundementals were sound”…and the surge is working (not that it was the only or even he main reason the violence declined) and did I tell you I’m a POW
September 18th, 2008 at 3:42 pmNOLIESPLEASE and fellow Cult members,
Hate to give you guys some bad news. But Spain is inan economic Collapse like us.
http://www.economywatch.com/real-estate/spain/Spanish_Property_The_Effects_of_its_Collapse.html
Most of Europe is in recession too. Sorry to burst your bubbles Europhiles. Do you all need tissues? Read before you speak.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pmbtruthful Says:
And that matters how?
September 18th, 2008 at 3:46 pmIn one of the more bizarre developments of campaign 2008, John McCain’s campaign has announced that he won’t be rolling out the White House welcome mat for Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, prime minister of America’s NATO ally Spain. But if McCain’s posture seems like an adolescent temper tantrum aimed at a critical member of Washington’s Atlantic alliance, it’s hardly an isolated episode. With his vitriolic Paris and Berlin-bashing in the run-up to the Iraq war in 2003, John McCain stood shoulder to shoulder with the France-hating purveyors of “freedom fries” and “old Europe.”
For the details, see:
September 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm“Snub of Spain Just McCain’s Latest Europe Bashing.”
Fred,
September 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pmI’m just pointing out Europe is an economic mess like us. It’s not the paradise you Leftists think it is.
juniebird Says
September 18th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Why is Randy Scheunemann explaining what Mc Same meant? Why isn’ty ole John explaining? Maybe he doesn’t remember what he meant…
________________________________________________
Has anybody else noticed that neither Obama nor Biden appears to require some staff mouthpiece to go to the media to clarify everything they say? So why do McCain and Palin require this?
My guess is they need to have somebody speak for them for anything not covered by the pull-rings in the back of their necks.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pmBush & McPutz: If you don’t play the way I WANT, I’m going to take my ball and go home!
September 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pmYes it does but I’ll say this again. I bet if we could find his school records and aptitude tests we’d find out that he wasn’t very bright to begin with.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pmdrago Says
September 18th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
And while we’re at it, Palin needs to release her medical records and her tax returns.
_______________________________________________________
Oh, I’m sure she will — just as soon as they are sanitized and polished, and that takes time, you know.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pmThen they’re talking about how after Palin finishes speaking much of the crowd gets up and leaves while McCain is talking which is stupid on so many levels
September 18th, 2008 at 3:55 pmMULTIPLE CHOICE: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND FOREIGN POLICY
#212: So if….
a) McCain can’t or chooses not to distinguish between the European Spanish, American Hispanics and Latin-Americans despite being prompted to do so three times
b) McCain can or chooses to distinguish between the European Spanish, American Hispanics and Latin-Americans and believes the European Spanish have to prove their commitment to democracy and democratic values and don’t yet deserve to be treated the same as other allies such as the UK, Pakistan, Georgia and Saudi Arabia for example.
c) Whether McCain can or cannot distinguish between European Spanish, American Hispanics and Latin-Americans or the nations and continents in which they respectively reside, or whether he chooses to do so, or whether he believes such distinctions exist or whether he chooses to disbelieve in such distinctions, his choices or beliefs in this regard are neither here nor there regarding his foreign policy experience and his ability to act effectively upon the international stage as President of the United States of America.
…which of these answers are correct?
a)
b)
c)
a) and b)
a) and c)
b) and c)
a) and b) and c)
For an additional 10 points:
If McCain were applying for a job at McDonald’s would you trust him to take an order for a burger and fries correctly?
September 18th, 2008 at 3:55 pma) No
b) Hell no!
c) All of the above?
Who said anything about a paradice. We just think we need all the allies we can get in the war on terror. Why would anyone want anything different.
We have lost many allies with our arrogance an go it alone attitude.
We are just saying that we want a more reasonable, adult approach to foreign policy with all countries.
save your metaphores to nowhere and lets have this discussion if you have the guts for it.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pmAre you going to change your name every comment?
September 18th, 2008 at 3:57 pmbtruthful Says:
And maybe you should read the part where McCain didn’t know who the guy is or that Spain is in Europe before you spew your cr@p.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pmI think it’s perfectly fair to ask McCain if he is aware the Spanish-American War ended in 1898
September 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pmAND. Cindy McCain NEEDS to release her tax returns since she pays for the campaign and is the person who was a business partner in real estate deals with Charles Keating of Keating 5 fame.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:01 pmbtruthful Says:
Who cares about Spain. They are a has been nation. We need allies like UK and France. Spain is a nobody.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Because UK and France aren’t “has beens”? Where are the colonies of both? How many troops had the UK in Iraq? Around 0.05 times as many as the USA? Wow. Powerful allies.
BTW, Spain is the 8th economy of the world:
Spain
Democracy was restored in 1978 and the country has subsequently experienced a cultural renaissance and steady economic growth. Spain is now a constitutional monarchy organised as a parliamentary democracy and has been a member of the European Union since 1986, and NATO since 1982. It is a developed country with the eighth largest economy in the world based on nominal GDP.[note 7]
Not bad for a country sized two times Oregon.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:02 pmBecause McCain doesn’t know what he means unless a lobbyist tells him what he means.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:03 pmbtruthful Says:
NOLIESPLEASE and fellow Cult members,
Hate to give you guys some bad news. But Spain is inan economic Collapse like us.
http://www.economywatch.com/ real-estate/ spain/ Spanish_Property_The_Effects_of_its_Collapse.html
Most of Europe is in recession too. Sorry to burst your bubbles Europhiles. Do you all need tissues? Read before you speak.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pm Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
So? That happened all around the world, including asiatic markets, and other European ones too, that only demonstates that the bad policies of Bush have been damaging for EVERYONE in the world.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:04 pmThe Truth Says:
Fred,
I’m just pointing out Europe is an economic mess like us. It’s not the paradise you Leftists think it is.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm Recommend (0) | Report Abuse
Anyhow, I prefer any day our caring society than your go it alone, you Neocon, hope you like the label.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:06 pmThat’s pretty annoying but I don’t think it wanted to talk anyway. Just drop a pile and not stay to defend it…might be jk
mo is the same and the condesention…..what a personal life these people must live…..sad.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:07 pmNo big mystery here, he just remembers the Maine …
September 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm… because he was on it.
Badabing!
ATTENTION POSTERS!
September 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pmWe have a name jack on #8 and #31.
The real btruthful would have uttered many ROTFL!, as well as the “c” word which shall not be typed, along with disparaging remarks about retardation and Asperger’s disease.
Please ignore.
Thank you. Carry on.
Evil Spaniard,
September 18th, 2008 at 4:23 pmSo Bush controls the world economy! Wow, thats a new one!
1. In April McCain said he was ready to look to the future and meet with Zapatero. Why is he changing his policy now?
2. Last week Governor Palin said we’d have to go to war with Russia to defend potential NATO allies Georgia and Ukraine. Now McCain won’t meet with an actual NATO ally. Why the descrepancy?
September 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pmMore petty silliness punishing those who don’t agree and go along with us. This is the trademark of the republicans today. No call for this at the international level. It’s childish.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:39 pmEvil Spaniard,
September 18th, 2008 at 4:40 pmOk so move ther or do U libve there? If so stay out of our politics. I wish Hillary was running, she would fix America’s problems asap!
Hi Mr.P
How are you?
School let out early?
You may want to retake your Intro to Grammar 101 class.
Just sayin…
September 18th, 2008 at 4:48 pm“Has been nation?” Isn’t it “elitist” to exclude Spain???? Are they enemies? Because they have a socialist president??
Rings of Rumsfeld-ian “Old Europe” gibberish.
BTW communism/socialism is pretty much dead (read Francis Fukayama’s Ends of History and The Last Man, for example), capitialist liberal democracies are the dominant world economic/governmental model – even in China (pseudo communism to control the population) and Russia (emerging world oil power with a emerging tsarist ethos).
September 18th, 2008 at 4:51 pmThe Truth Says:
Evil Spaniard,
Ok so move ther or do U libve there? If so stay out of our politics. I wish Hillary was running, she would fix America’s problems asap!
Learn English before you post.
September 18th, 2008 at 4:52 pmWhy do you insist on posting stupid crap, and horribly misspelled crap at that?
Are you trying to prove you are as stupid as you sound?
This article & many others like it confirm the spoiled brat bullying that both Bush & McCain display. Neither is a real leader, and neither cares about world peace– they always bully, antagonize & threaten. In fact, that describes quite well their approach to “foreign policy”.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:04 pmThe Truth Says:
Evil Spaniard,
So Bush controls the world economy! Wow, thats a new one!
September 18th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
So you don’t see any relation between the failure of the USA economic policies after 8 years of Bush and the consequences in the rest of the world who, btw, invest heavily in the USA, including Freddie and Fannie? Frankly, you’re very ignorant in economic and international issues.
The Truth Says:
Evil Spaniard,
Ok so move ther or do U libve there? If so stay out of our politics. I wish Hillary was running, she would fix America’s problems asap!
September 18th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
So you think your country has the right to create messes al around the world, but I can’t have a say about it? Pretty fascist of you.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:12 pmWhy? Because he’s a belligerent prick, that’s why.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pmWill John McCain have to start wearing funny hats before people realize he’s crazy?
September 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pmIsn’t it time that Bush and McCain grew up?
September 18th, 2008 at 5:38 pmThe Truth Says:
Fred,
I’m just pointing out Europe is an economic mess like us. It’s not the paradise you Leftists think it is.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No you arent you are spewing out the ignorant hivemind talking points you have been instructed to believe and regurgiate like the pathetic moron you are.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pmRather than the coherrent explanation in the article (retribution for troops withdrawn from Iraq), could the reason be even more petty.
I propose that since his party is called the “Socialist Party” as a reason. After all, “Socialist” = Commie = bad.
September 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pmA Bush “sameness” to his “McCainness”?
September 18th, 2008 at 5:48 pmThe Truth Says:
Evil Spaniard,
Ok so move ther or do U libve there? If so stay out of our politics. I wish Hillary was running, she would fix America’s problems asap!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Go pour yourself a nice big cup of STFU you cretin. ES has as much right to give an opinion as you do and since he is a whole lot brighter than you are EVER going to be he will be taken more seriously you ignoramus. Why dont YOU go play with the other special children and let the adults talk
September 18th, 2008 at 6:21 pmI seriously just don’t get this. Of all the potential threads to the US, he’s picking on Spain?
September 18th, 2008 at 7:07 pmThis isn’t about Spain’s economy, it’s about McCain’s inability to recognize Zapatero, Spain, or that Spain is in Europe, an ally in NATO with troops stationed in Afghanistan (and formerly in Iraq). Then it’s about McCain’s campaign crafting a story around his lack of understanding and thus solidfying his stance that if he were elected he would already begin to ignore allies, the same as Bush.
squidbilly:
Are you aware of social democracies? This is what communist parties and socialist parties have largely become. It is a mixture of socialism and capitalism. I think every recognizes that a free market system is one an economy should be based on, but raw capitalism does not work for everyone–which is why there are many systems in place in Europe that are mixtures of capitalism and socialism. France’s government is center-right conservative, yet they are well known for their large social programs that their people have made clear they want to keep no matter what.
Countries in Scandinavia have a more extensive welfare-state system than most of Europe. Even in their conservative government, the social programs are kept.
You have to realize that economies are not one-size-fits-all.
While China has introduced capitalism into its economy, its communist roots are not solely in controlling the population. There are still enterprises and infrastructure that are controlled by the state.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:08 pm