John McCain's War Record, What Is It Good For?
While we're all still reeling from the non-issue of whether or not Wesley Clark's comments about John McCain's military background, let's take a quick moment to ask a deeper, more thoughtful question…
Who gives a fuck?
Really, what exactly is it about being a military commander that automatically qualifies a person to be Commander-in-Chief? Is there any historical indication that wartime experience on the field transfers to quality as president?
Kathy Tumulty, over at Swampland, did some research on this…
At least a dozen U.S. Presidents have served as generals during war time. And as a lot, their performance as Commander-in-Chief wasn't all that impressive.
If you take as basic reference an ideologically balanced survey of historians, political scientists and legal scholars that the Wall Street Journal and the Federalist Society did in 2000, it turns out that only one of the 12 — George Washington (Revolutionary War) — qualifies as "great."
Just two of them — Andrew Jackson (War of 1812) and Dwight Eisenhower (WWII) — were "near great." Two were rated average: Rutherford Hayes and Chester Arthur (both of the Civil War).
Three were below average: Zachary Taylor (Mexican War), Ulysses Grant (Civil War) and Benjamin Harrison (Civil War). And two were flat-out "failures": Franklin Pierce (Mexican War) and Andrew Johnson (Civil War).*
Tumulty's argument is a little off, since McCain never rose beyond the rank of Captain, and she doesn't factor in other presidents who served during wartime, such as John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
However, the point seems to be that military experience has nothing to do with anything, and that a much much better indicator would seem to be whether or not your face on a piece of currency.
Last I checked, McCain's is not.
* Both William Henry Harrison (War of 1812) and James Garfield (Civil War) were too busy taking dirt naps to really make much an impact. And, not for nothing, but Garfield's military experience certainly didn't help him dodge that bullet. (Too soon?)
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It appears you have issues as well. It really isn't about Serenity this time, so don't even try deflection. It makes you seem guiltier. You both participated in this farce.
Daringtexan, what you have to realize is that the things that are mentioned ARE my problems. I was only letting everyone know the difference between what some one has to take personal responsibility for. I know what my hang ups are. And I said so very boldly. Always have, always will. Question me on what you need to know and it becomes your issue. Even if I like you.
What a mind fuck. Happy Fourth. Or is it the Fifth yet?
She's so Heavvvvvvvvvvvvvvy!
One final comment and I'm done. NEVER post my name again without my permission, hangups or no. You NEVER had that right.
Screw you guys, I'm going home.
Harmony, what you have to realize, is that you've now crossed a line. You have taken personal information and used it for your own purposes, Carol. You've damaged a relationship. You have damaged my integrity, for selfish, amoral reasons. I demand an apology, and I demand justice. Yes, you went home after you screwed me AND HIM.
If you demand you shall receive. SORRY
Eric Cartman: How 'bout we sing, 'Kyle's Mom is a stupid bitch' in D Minor.
I realized what a ridiculous lie my whole life has been.
Death of a Salesman
Biff Loman, realizing his father's illusions of success for him are just that – illusions, Act 2
If, as defined, Democrats stand for the people, then there is only one way to vote this election. Democrat. The GOP has run roughshod with fiscal irresponsibility and greedy intentioned corporate welfare for too long.
Democrats, and voters (that means, all you people out there who aren't voting, too), better wake up and realize that the greatest heist ever perpetrated against America, is going on. Billions, upon Trillions, of your hard earned tax dollars, have gone into their oil war. The prize being, the Caspian Sea. Gee, no wonder they'll ignore Darfur, but jump at the chance to help Georgia. There's no secret the pipeline needs to go through that region. The only thing standing between it, is Iran, hence, madman McCain on the trigger button.
I used to have faith that T. Boone Pickens was going to come in and save us, from the madness of foreign oil, but now he's meeting with McSame, so we'll have to see. Maybe he will go with McCain in order to ensure he'll get power of eminient domain, to take away our property. Come on, America. Stand up to these people.
Are you going to let them bully you at the pump, just to put the squeeze until you cry ANWR!? Yes, welfare for oil companies for 20 years, so they can eke out 1 year's supply, at current demand.How about, we get smart, we lower our demand? That would immediately save us millions of barrels of gas money, that funds the middle east.
Efficiency, conservation, and alternative fules, cars and light duty trucks and SUVs. Plug in hybrids. Save oil for plastic, truckers and pilots.We can do it, America. Just get smart. You don't have to drive a tiny car – just demand they make us a damn SUV that gets 50 mpg. They can do it. Don't let them lie any more.
No more secret energy deals. Cheney must be fired. Obama is the only hope any of us have, of breaking their stranglehold, that is spending $400 Million per day in Iraq, and now they want Iran. While Bin Laden, Al Quada and the Taliban have regrouped. The tribal area of Afghanistan and Pakistan is left to run rampant, while undermanned Afghanistan has only 35,000 troops and our soldiers are being killed.McCain drapes himself in vets, yet he could give a damn that the people he signed up with, signed off on torture.
Even though, true intelligence about Al Quada, was sabotaged, along with Richard Clarke, Valerie Plame (treasonouts outing of our own CIA), not to mention John O'Niell, the FBI agent who was so disgusted with Bush's FBI, he left in disgust and went to work for the World Trade Center, so convinced was he, of an impending attack.Let us not forget – 9/11 happened on Bush's Watch. Even after the memo was circulated that he was determined to attack.
That's negligence, that's arrogance, and to rub salt in our national wounds, and take advantage of our national grief, he used 9/11 to go into Iraq, based on lies. So now they skip off to Iraq, Iran and Georgia, en route to the Caspian Sea. While the real war festers and boils as Al Quada plans our doom in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Real smart, Bush and McCain. I see Cheney and Rove still pull your strings.
I also heard, Karl Rove was in Georgia months ago. They called those who suspected Enron was up to no good, conspiracy theorists. I would put money on it, that they are up to something greedy. This Grand Oil Party, has shown reckless disregard for the American People, to whom which they have given a government that doesn't govern, an economy that is crippling our people, an energy policy that is shrouded in secrecy, and even those who pay the bills, and their salary, are not allowed to know what lurks in their filthy lucre deals. Chicanery, corruption, and rigged markets.
Energy is a manipulated market, run by a cartel and monopoly. Prices go up or down, at will, depending on their agenda. A fixed market, is not a free market.We are moving more and more toward absolute power corrupting absolutely.Democrats better not fall for the Fox News constant feed, or we risk losing America to people who don't care if it's beholden only to multinational stockholders, beholden to the company, not this great nation. You'd better put your idealism in its place, and realize that being pragmatic is the only way you can truly win.
You've to bust monopolies, and make sure your sheriff is going to implement the laws we already have on the books, before you can get to the point of true democracy and true freedom. Market abuse, abuse on the people through pollution and toxic dumping, not to mention phlalates in the plastics and mercury in the air and water from coal plants.
We risk losing our air, our water, our planet.
Is this the legacy we want to pass on to our kids?Cheney will continue to give polluters a pass, if McCain is elected. We cannot let that happen. You don't have to love the blundering politicians to love this country, you just have to vote. That's the only way our voices will be heard. I love America, and what we stand for. That is why I am speaking out.
Funny, how Dems don't have to be bribed to support their candidate.
Tsk tsk. Guess McCain is just that weak as a candidate, he has to pay people to spread the word. I'll vote for the constitutional scholar, over the guy who's proud he can't Google, any day.
We need brains to win the war on terror. Not brawn. We need someone who will listen to the people and help move us away from oil. It's not funny to be dumb, anymore. It's time for America to get smart. Wake up, and take back your country. For your children, your grandchildren, and future generations of Americans to come.