John McCain performed a miracle tonight.
He made Bob Dole’s 1996 Republican presidential acceptance speech look downright eloquent.
Shizam, McCain’s performance – at least for the first 40 minutes of the speech – made Bob Dole sound the combination of Daniel Webster, John F. Kennedy, and Cicero thrown in for good measure.
McCain seemed to be reciting lame lines – until he got to near the end, when he immersed himself and his slavish audience with the real reason why he is entitled to rule America and the world.
And his riff on Georgia? I hope the media and commentators focus on his falsehood that Russia initiated the conflict. How many American mothers and fathers are willing to sacrifice their sons and daughters to move a boundary line a few miles in the Caucasus? And what do McCain or his top aides expect to receive in return for risking American security for Georgia?
McCain was a prisoner of war? Gee, I didn’t know that.
The lapsed-Republic’s easy manipulation of the revived Cold War, so far…..should come as no surprise. We were becoming isolated in the so called War on Terror and the dirty realities of military occupation were accruing steadily. The unrequited Cold Warriors have been trying to pull this off for some time and now they have and it is an essential vehicle to keep the Western European nations in our camp, despite Russia’s hand on their oil tap.
Any chopped cant regarding “Change” spouted by these cranks will runs smack up against the abutment of military adventurism and unsupported expenditure. Mr. McCain will not be deterred in his metamorphosis from Gregor Samsa to a War Bug scuttling about the Oval Office and croaking for oil between crying for war.
Dirk – yes, it is striking how so many Washington wheelers-and-dealers are hungering for perpetual war.
At least we know that, because McCain is an enemy of special interests, no one around him could be profiting from his apparent lust for attacking foreign nations.
Jim, have to admit I didn’t hear the speech, but I did hear a brief snip of it on Republic Broadcastig Network. I’m paraphrasing here, but he said that he was elected to Congress to change Washington DC. He then said that he failed to change DC, and DC changed him.
So, he’s been there for 25 years plus, and admits to making a mistake. Why would anyone with pretense to logic and reason vote for this phony? Jim, I think you’re more intelligent than me, so I’d be interested in your take.
Jean – I don’t know why you’d think I was more intelligent.
Prima facie: You have a French surname and you live in Maine. You almost certainly have more French blood in you than I do.
On McCain – the thrust of his argument in his acceptance speech was bizarre. The GOP is betting on the boundless ignorance and gullibility of the average voter.
In other words, they are repeating their 2004 tactic.
Jim, just a side note, just read Juan Cole’s excellent blog, where Chalabi was almost killed by lord knows who.
As far as McCain, you’re right, he is counting on the ignorance of the people. I just read the transcript, and it’s full of the same horse manure, and globbdeyglock that is said over and over and over again.
I guess American love to pan fed fanstasy every 4 years.
What kind of dumb shit doesn’t even know how many houses he owns?
Actually, I can sympathize with McCain.
I’m not sure how many bicycle wrenches I own.
And I’m not sure how many bottles of beer I have stacked up in the corner in the kitchen.
But seriously folks…
It was amazing to see some conservatives (and @ libertarians) twist the criticism of McCain on this issue and portray it as sheer envy – as if anyone who nitpicked about McCain’s answer was simply opposed to the American Dream.
I am surprised to see how many pundits are burnishing McCain’s boots on such doggerel.