McCain Votes Against Geithner After Saying Last Week That He Would ‘Most Likely’ Support Him
McCain Votes Against Geithner After Saying Last Week That He Would ‘Most Likely’ Support Him
Yesterday, the Senate confirmed former New York Federal Reserve president Timothy Geithner as the new Treasury Secretary with a vote of 60 to 34. Geithner was sworn in last night by President Obama, who said that “Tim’s work and the work of the entire Treasury Department must begin at once.”
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was among the 30 Senate Republicans who voted against Geithner. McCain’s nay vote is surprising, considering that he told Larry King last week that he would “most likely” support Geithner’s confirmation:
KING: His first full day, he convened a meeting of the economic advisers. Still no Treasury secretary. The Finance Committee approved Mr. Geithner’s nomination 18-5.
Do you think he’ll be confirmed by the full Senate?
MCCAIN: I do and I thought it was…
KING: Will you vote for him?
MCCAIN: Yes. Most likely.
Though McCain told King that he was “concerned about this tax issue and also the role that he played in the TARP,” he indicated that he would likely support Geithner because he believed that the president should “be able to appoint the president’s team.” Watch it:
Last week, McCain stepped in to help another one of Obama’s nominees, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whose confirmation had been delayed procedurally by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). “I think the message that the American people are sending us right now is that they want us to work together and get to work,” said McCain of the imperative to not needlessly hold up Obama’s qualified cabinet nominees.
McCain has not said what made him change his mind, but Politico reports that he may have been joining conservatives in their “first organized attempt to embarrass President Obama” at the behest of Rush Limbaugh and other right-wing radio talkers.
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McLame’s either a liar – or he’s senile.
Take your pick.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:36 amAhhh, there’s the ‘Maverick’ we grew to know and love during the campaign….
January 27th, 2009 at 10:38 amI believe McCain demonstrated time and again over the past year that he doesn’t recall what he said yesterday, let alone a full week ago.
After all, the man didn’t even know how many houses he owned.
PEACE
January 27th, 2009 at 10:39 amI believe Specter did the same.
Also, Boner is on the Hill calling all repugniscum to vote against the stimulus bill.
Repugs hate America – they hate Democrats – they hate Obama – and they LOVE their party above all else.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:41 amGeithner will bring much needed fairness to the Treasury Dept. McCain has always been spineless – he just goes with the flow.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:41 amThe only ones who are being embarrassed are the Republicans and their hacks.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:41 amtheir “first organized attempt to embarrass President Obama”
Well clearly this was a spectacular success.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:42 amI want to believe that McCain has honorable intentions, but always his actions speak otherwise. He is just another repug obstructionist.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:42 amMcCain has not said what made him change his mind
– - He has no idea that he DID change his mind.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:46 amLeftside Annie; I pick BOTH.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:46 amI love the pic…reminds me of Mortimer Snerd waiting for the boss to make him crack another joke.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:46 amThe wind changed directions and “Ol’ Weathervane” turned around again!
January 27th, 2009 at 10:47 amThis is why you are not the President Mr. McCain. You have no ethics and you ability to flip flop surpasses your intelligence.
I could just imagine your first week in office. WHAT A NIGHTMARE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN.
Thank GOD , America woke up from its nightmare.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:47 amLeftside Annie Says:
“McLame’s either a liar – or he’s senile.”
Doc Rock says: “The choices are not mutually exclusive!”
January 27th, 2009 at 10:50 am… to embarrass President Obama” at the behest of Rush Limbaugh and other right-wing radio talkers.
and there it is…
paybacks being hell, the rushannities are trying to make obama pay for that “stop listening to” remark…
and the ‘people’ and still oblivious…
January 27th, 2009 at 10:50 amAble Cluster
January 27th, 2009 at 10:52 amLacks any creative thought. Please try to come up with something a little more clever if you wish to sell any privacy
windsor:
January 27th, 2009 at 10:54 amHave you consider just hoarding some guns and food and having one of those stupid standoffs with the big bad government that right leaning tax whiners are always so fond of?
clusterphuck- FLAGGED!
January 27th, 2009 at 10:56 amHe’s a maverick! Washington needs to be run by Mavericks, Wall Street too! Nobody knows what he’s going to do at any given moment! He zigs when others would zag! Woop, you though he was going to have oatmeal for breakfast? NO! Instead he’s gonna hit himself with a hammer and spend a pleasant hour napping on the kitchen floor! Mavericky!
January 27th, 2009 at 10:57 amSlightly OT, but the other night I was watching “Destroyed in Seconds” (Discovery Channel, my son loves it..) and they did a segment on the Forrestal disaster and not once was McCain’s name mentioned.
I found it bizarre that they would leave out such a significant detail.
PEACE
January 27th, 2009 at 10:58 amI bet the Democrats who voted for Bush’s nominees wish they could take back those votes.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:00 amI love how the Republicans refuse to acknowledge the rule of holes (when you’re in one – stop digging). Perhaps before much longer, they’ll hve dug their way to China and will no longer be our problem…
January 27th, 2009 at 11:01 amWhy would a rat climb back on a sinking ship?
We really need to take another look at the mandatory retirement age thing again.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:02 amwindsor Says: Geithner should be a public hero! I for one am going to try the Turbo Tax defense at my next IRS audit.
Let me see…
According to Cons, it’s perfectly acceptable to have Government officials and Representatives who have intentionally molested little children, but not peopl who’ve made hionest mistakes and then paid the consequences.
No wonder you guys have failed the country so spectacularly.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:03 amThe problem was that they asked the wrong person. McCain never knows how McCain is going to vote. They should have asked his handlers,the ones who respond to Redstate, LGF, etc. They are the ones who get to determine what the “Maverick’s” opinion is when the vote goes to the floor.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:04 amI think Grandpa needs to spend some time on a farm!! His wife is rich, she can find a farm for him to rest while she’s rehearsing for ‘Dancing With the Stars’ . .
After watching McCain’s ‘Meet the Press’ interview with Tim Russert just before he announced, I couldn’t believe the gibberish he was spewing. I was truly embarrassed for him and nothing has changed. If you listen to Grandpa, really, all you hear is gibberish . .
January 27th, 2009 at 11:05 amwindsor Says:
Geithner should be a public hero! I for one am going to try the Turbo Tax defense at my next IRS audit.
Windsor, you besmirch the name of a perfectly acceptable tie-knot with your dim wit and lack of humour.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:09 amDynamo Says:
Most likely. as in probably going to happen.
I guess Toilet Paper Would have an argument if McCain used a less ambiguous qualifier in the remark.
Hey Dynamo, why don’t you grow a brain and come back with something a little less “numbskully” to contribute?
Thanks!!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:11 amoy… #16 should be ‘and the ‘people’ ARE still oblivious…’
according to AP radio news, President Obama is meeting with repugs this morning to pitch has recovery plan… and mcconnell again repeated the ‘democrats are the problem’ line because they loaded it up with things like contraception…
please, give ‘em hell, barack… please.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:11 amMcCain told reporters on Capitol Hill that after watchi8ng an episode of Matlock that involved some shady tax dealings and life insurance fraud he decided he couldn’t bring himself to vote for “THAT one,” jerking his thumb in the general direction of the Capitol Building. He then muttered something about Werther’s Original candies and wandered off aimlessly.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:14 amwhat is the difference between a maverick and a treacherous snake ?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:15 amI think we need to cut Grampy McSame a little slack here — he’s still trying to recover from being Palin-ated last fall, ya know, you betcha…
Then again, NO SLACK FOR THE LOSERS…
January 27th, 2009 at 11:15 ambutterflymcqueen Says:
what is the difference between a maverick and a treacherous snake ?
snakes don’t wear $500 Italian loafers, but they CAN be made into them…
?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:16 amOT:
I was wondering why such a big deal was made out of the Dirk Kempthorne $235K bathroom renovation here at TP. That’s really not enough of a ’scandal’ to stand next to Abu Ghraib, Alphonso Jackson sending millions in business to his wife, Rod Paige’s outright fraud in high school graduation rates, etc.
The reason this $235K ’scandal’ broke is to get us all ready for the next attacks on Dirk when he runs for Senate, or President.
Despite my initial feeling that this is ‘dirty pool’, I’m ALL FOR IT! I’m just glad I finally figured it out…
January 27th, 2009 at 11:18 amDrunken sailor weaving down the road toward senility.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:20 amI don’t like Geithner. I think he’s the one nominee Obama has made a mistake with.
But I trust Obama, and will withhold judgment until enough time passes.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:20 amJ.Davis Says: “I was reading last night and came across this question and could not think of a single thing.”
What were you reading, so that I may understand the conceptual continuity?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:22 amNevar Says:
What were you reading, so that I may understand the conceptual continuity?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:22 am
________
Ain’t this boogie a mess?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:25 amJ.Davis Says:
It is claimed that Americans are one political body,but can you name one instance where the “people” act directly on the federal branch of Govt?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:16 am
_________
There are plenty of instances. The people act directly when a government agency posts a proposed regulation in the Federal Register for public comment, file an IG complaint alleging government fraud or mismanagement, or sue a government agency to test the legality of a regulation or statute.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:25 amThe people act directly in public comment forums regarding proposed federal activities on public lands.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:27 amHey Mac! Aren’t you glad the fundamentals of our economy are sound ? What does THAT say about your judgement? Palin… another nugget of sound judgement!
Go away!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:27 amJ. Davis, let me say that I appreciate this civil tone you’ve adopted for the time being.
I recognize the inevitability of its deterioration into right-wing ranting, but for now, you should be applauded.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:29 amAin’t this boogie a mess?
It has great potential…
January 27th, 2009 at 11:29 amJ.Davis Says:
It is claimed that Americans are one political body,but can you name one instance where the “people” act directly on the federal branch of Govt?I was reading last night and came across this question and could not think of a single thing.Everything I could think of happens either by State Convention,electoral college,or State Legislatures.
That’s because we’re a Republic, not a Democracy. And just who claimed that “Americans are one political body”? That’s just nonsense.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:30 amPresident-reject John McCain, the doddering bitter old man. Whatsamatta, Johnny? Were you counting on your massive ego to be forty-four?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:30 amJohn McCain is such a Maverick that he votes against nominees whom he supports!
John McCain’s not going to tell him who to vote for!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:30 amA maverick is an unbranded calf (meaning no one has claimed it). Once branded, it belongs to someone’s herd. Left alone, it just wanders about aimlessly, dropping piles of doodoo on the prairie.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:33 amWhenever Republicans attempt to embarrass someone, they only people they embarrass are themselves and our country.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:34 amI’m having a difficult time understanding the connection between John McCain and the inevitable “discussion” of the CSA, JDavis. I suppose McCain might have been around at the time, but otherwise, it seems a bit Off Topic.
Why don’t you ride your one-trick pony somewhere else?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:35 amJ.Davis Says: “It was in a new book by Prof. Marshall De Rosa about the C.S.A. Constitution.”
What relevance does the CSA constitution have to the present day, other than to kill some time?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:36 amI like to read science fiction, as opposed to historical fiction.
Nevar Says:
What relevance does the CSA constitution have to the present day, other than to kill some time?
I like to read science fiction, as opposed to historical fiction.
JDavis should pick up some Harry Turtledove novels and satisfy both. Maybe start with Guns of the South:
January 27th, 2009 at 11:39 am
I agree. I wish he would have appointed Sheila Bair, head of the FDIC. She has been telling anyone who will listen that this bailout has been going the wrong direction. Instead of arbitrarily dumping mountains of money in the offices of the CEOs, she wants to buy up the bad mortgages and deal with the problem directly.
All we can now hope for is that Geithner doesn’t rip us off the way Paulson did.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:40 amLeftside Annie Says:
McLame’s either a liar – or he’s senile.
Take your pick.
Can I pick both?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am“But stilted dialogue, slack pacing and thin characters diminish the book’s appeal.
Sounds like our boy Jefferson to a tee.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:44 amwindsor Says:
Geithner should be a public hero!
Nobody here is saying he should be a hero, just that he should be Treasury Secretary. Libs go for actual qualifications for positions rather than the hero-worship thing you guys do. Your hiring approach is, if somebody’s rah-rah great, give ‘em an important job, don’t matter what it is, if they’re not, don’t give it to ‘em… yeah, see, we don’t work that way.
.
windsor Says:
I for one am going to try the Turbo Tax defense at my next IRS audit.
Cheez, how often do you get audited? Also, be prepared to pay any back taxes owed that they find plus fees and interest, as Geithner did.
.
Dynamo Says:
Most likely. as in probably going to happen.
I guess Toilet Paper Would have an argument if McCain used a less ambiguous qualifier in the remark.
No politician, not even McCain would swear to any future action on a news show. Seriously, you could ask any politician “might you ever kill a baby?” and they’d answer “probably not.” That way they can’t be accused of flip-flopping.
But he didn’t have any reason he was willing to admit for voting against Geithner at the time of that interview, and then he voted against Geithner, so something changed. We’re curious to know what. However, I doubt if it had anything to do with Rush, as TP suggests.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:45 amI saved most, if not all, Buckie Boy’s posts on Grandpa McSame.
I’m thinking we could put together a short story to remind others who this maverick ‘really is’.
Title?
Accidental Anecdotes’
‘Cattle Trail to the White House’
‘Lost on the Trail, but Found in Alaska’
‘Wasilla Whores & Budweiser Babes’
‘I can’t find my Office or my Mind’
January 27th, 2009 at 11:46 amMcCain flipflopped??? WOW . . . what a surprise!! The only thing about this that surprises me is the fact that he was actually there and he actually voted!! I’m sure that today he won’t be able to remember how he voted . . . but he voted.
People in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks . . . so Mr. McCain shouldn’t be bringing up anything about taxes on anyone else. During the campaign it was brought out that the McCain and his wife had failed to pay taxes on at least one of their homes in California for several years. They conveniently went in right before the story broke and paid them. If they had failed to pay them for another year the state would have seized the home(s)! Of course, I’m sure the taxes weren’t paid because he didn’t remember he had those homes!!
McCain . . . Liar? Senile? Hypocrit? Yes to all 3!!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:47 amThe whole rethuglican party is made up of mavericks…they are against anything that the democratic majority wants to do. They have no vision except the old worn out failed policies that got us to the point we are in now. McSame is G. W. Bush accelerated. He is an old senile piece of crap.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:48 amNothing new here. I wonder if McCain even remembers what he has said in the past. He is just another ideologue that has forgotten what the voters have voted for – and it was not the Repub philosophy!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:48 amMcCain has a long history of making votes on “principle” when he knows that his vote won’t change the outcome. He is an opportunist who takes advantage of the sure passing of many bills and confirmations to make a “statement”. Let him have his games, but thank the fates he isn’t President!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:49 amI see.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:50 amExit Stage Left; see my post #10 @ 10:46 am
I beat you to the punch. :-)
January 27th, 2009 at 11:56 amCan anyone explain how the Confederate constitution relates to John MCcCain’s flip-flopping on the new Treasury Secretary?
gummitch had a good suggestion, but I’m afraid I’ve been taken in by J. Davis attempting to derail the discussion, but doing it in an uncharacteristically polite way.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:07 pmActually, I think JD has been hoping his hoarded Confederate money will be worth something again. Take heart, JD, it just might.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pmWhy ,oh why can`t the Reich just go away………it`s post election time they are insignificant as ever.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Augustus_Maverick
Samuel Augustus Maverick (July 23, 1803–September 2, 1870) was a Texas lawyer, politician, land baron and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. His name is the source of the term “maverick”, first cited in 1867, which means independent minded. Various accounts of the origins of the term held that Maverick came to be considered independent minded by his fellow ranchers because he refused to brand his cattle. [1] In fact, Maverick’s failure to brand his cattle had little to do with independent mindedness, but reflected his lack of interest in ranching.[1] He is the grandfather of U.S. Congressman Maury Maverick, who coined the term gobbledygook (1944).
January 27th, 2009 at 12:22 pmWhat’s the matter J.Davis, couldn’t find your way to the ThinkFast thread? You’re OT here, FYI.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:33 pmJ.Davis, why don’t you just drop it. No one but you and right wingers cry’s about states rights….
the bigotry of the south brought the republicans to power in the last 30 years…..take some responsibility for what you did then and the damage it has caused.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:43 pmThank you John McCain for reminding us all what a dolt you really are. Someone was repeating his war hero status the other day, bringing back Vietnam visuals. It’s like the man is still on the campaign trail and thrives on the attn. What’s next? Sarah Palin running thru congress talking in circles?! What are the Repubicans so afraid of? aside from life in the 21st century! And now we have Rush’s temper tantrums, and even Fox is turning up their rhetoric a few unsavory notches. Hello, we have a new President……The planet is suffering…..F**KING GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER REPUBLICANS, its not about you anymore!
January 27th, 2009 at 12:51 pmWell, this is John McCain we’re talking about. I don’t think even HE knows what position he takes on any issue — on any given day.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:09 pmQuestion: Is the “J.Davis” troll EVER on topic?
January 27th, 2009 at 1:11 pmLooks like McCain’s “maverickiness” won’t be returning anytime soon. Just another lock-step, high stepping Republican.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:15 pmJ.Davis Says:
Zooey,all of you fiddle as Rome burns.These topics and issues are a symptom,not the sickness.
Nero W. Fiddler has left the building, J.D…give it up.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pmYou don’t have any answers.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pmjeff, don’t preach to us of closed minds. You have been allowed to prattle for days now.
You have nothing new to offer, just as bohner and mitchell keep trying to act like they are still relevant after doing so much damage to our country, you do exactly the same thing and you have no new ideas, any of you.
Please tell us why you should be shown respect and believed? No more constitutional bullshit. Just tell us why we should be listening to you.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:23 pmJ.Davis
The minds of the left are closed to any other view or answer.
Look up at the top of the page. That title? That’s the subject of this thread. The subject of the thread is not your personal issues, and it’s not the CSA. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?
This isn’t about closed minds, it’s about sticking to the subject.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:31 pmHe’s a weasel and always has been.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:33 pmRe. CZ-1: maverick and gobbledygook come from the same source. That is hilarious! Thanks for the info. I’m referring to McCain as “The Gobbledygook” from now on.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pmJefferson Davis is quoted as saying “All we ask is to be let alone”. Letting/leaving the poor grammar aside, I say we give him his wish.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:49 pmJ.Davis Says:
Zooey,all of you fiddle as Rome burns.These topics and issues are a symptom,not the sickness.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
You just spent 8 years spouting bullshit, picking your nose, and pulling the dirty underwear out of your ass crack while Emperor Bush set the fire.
F uck off.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:50 pmWTF is J.Davis blathering about?
And what the Sam Hill does slavery and the confederate states have ANYTHING to do with the topic of this thread (McSame’s flip/flop)?
Oops, I’m being closed minded and bigoted.
My bad.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:56 pmJ.Davis Says:
I give up… Carthage must be destroyed…..
January 27th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out, f uckwit.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:58 pmJ.Davis Says:
I give up… Carthage must be destroyed…..
Don’t forget the salt!
January 27th, 2009 at 2:10 pmJeffy, you might have more success going out to the thumper and see if you can turn it into a time machine to take you back to the 1850’s. I’m sure after a quart or two you’ll have it figured out.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:16 pm“….back in the hollow behind my house?”
I’m your neighbor.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:25 pmMcCain will say and do whatever he thinks will ganer favor with whatever group he happens to be standing in from of at the time. His values are focused on being self serving despite his “I’m a good loser” efforts after the election. He played dirty during the campaign and that will not stop now.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:26 pmWow, just wow….enemy territory…..wow.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:33 pm“…..get you a little sip”
Thanks, but no thanks, I’m a little leery of all those empty paint thinner cans.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:44 pm“…it’s as pure as the water that cools it,”
The coal ash sludge pond held then, did it?
January 27th, 2009 at 2:52 pm“…if you see my brindle Mountain Cur over at you place…”
Please see Article 29, section d-219…
“Regarding eminent domain of the landowner, forewith and heretofore the subject may enact statute 3-S”
Shoot, shovel, and shut up.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:03 pmWell, this presidential campaign did show us a number of things about McCain: he often doesn’t know or even listen to what he’s saying; he often fails to remember what he’s said in the very recent past; you can’t believe a thing he says, even if it’s about what he thinks or plans to do. This vote against Geithner only proves one or more of them.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:04 pmMcCain also couldn’t remember where he actually was from one campaign stop to the next.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:08 pmJ.Davis,
January 27th, 2009 at 3:14 pmYour posts would be a lot easier to read if you’d space in between your commas and then next word.
Then again, who’s actually reading your posts?
As for comprehending your off topic posts…?
That’s a whole different ball game, my mullet headed Busch drinking friend!
addendum to my post #120
I’d also be a lot easier to read if I’d use “the” instead of “then” in original sentence.
Me? I’m a mucking foron for not checking my grammar whilst I chastise others.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pmJ.Davis? My description of you still stands. Except, maybe those are tall boys of Busch you’re drinking, next to the confederate flag!
A mullet is a type of bait fish….
January 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pmNah, I’m on the river, but thanks for the heads up, I’ll throw a couple more lines out.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm______
spencers mom Says:
Slightly OT, but the other night I was watching “Destroyed in Seconds” (Discovery Channel, my son loves it..) and they did a segment on the Forrestal disaster and not once was McCain’s name mentioned.
I found it bizarre that they would leave out such a significant detail.
PEACE
January 27th, 2009 at 10:58 am
______
I’ve only seen the show a few times, but I don’t recall them naming the people involved unless they appear on the show. They probably didn’t mention McCain because it’s not a political show.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:01 pmPerhaps McCain voted no for the same reasons Feingold, Harkin and Byrd did.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:23 pmJ.Davis Says:
I gotta business to run.
Those cans don’t just collect themselves, you know.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:28 pmI was SO hoping to never hear this doddering old fool’s voice again…
January 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pm