Straight Talk on McCain

McSlime, the would-be bush understudy, and his supporters, are spending so much on their sewer-level attack ads that occasional catapulting of his own cow-pies back at him seems the least we can do to help out.

Phoenix Woman has that familiar digging instrument properly named in a great post at Firedoglake, including iconic image of just the sort of disciplined, thoughtful chap we would all like to have making foreign policy decisions, eh?:

Hitler accuses Churchill of war crimes. That's the first thing that comes to mind upon hearing notorious silver-spoon hothead John Sidney McCain III say that the legendarily level-headed Barack Obama's getting "testy".

Remember, if you will, who's saying this. John McCain, the guy of whom fellow Republican Senator Pete Domenici once said "I Decided I Didn't Want This Guy Anywhere Near A Trigger."

John McCain, of whom another fellow Republican and former fellow Senator, New Hampshire's Bob Smith, said "His Temper Would Place This Country At Risk In International Affairs, And The World Perhaps In Danger. In My Mind, It Should Disqualify Him."

John McCain, of whom yet another fellow Republican Senator, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, said "The Thought Of His Being President Sends A Cold Chill Down My Spine."

This is the man who is reported to have told his wife Cindy, in front of a group of Arizona reporters, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt."

And that's just for starters.

He's due for a long term in a house, I agree. I just wonder what minor personal affront it would take to have it end up being the "Big House."

And, after the abuse General Clark took for plainly and accurately suggesting that being a prisoner of war did not constitute a useful qualification for the executive office (never mind blank check, as McEntitled would have it), it's gratifying that not everyone has taken a vow of silence. I came across this excellent reportage courtesy of dday at Hullabaloo:

Fellow Naval Academy classmate and POW of John McCain Phillip Butler is saying the Great Unmentionable.

John was a wild man. He was funny, with a quick wit and he was intelligent. But he was intent on breaking every USNA regulation in our 4 inch thick USNA Regulations book. And I believe he must have come as close to his goal as any midshipman who ever attended the Academy. John had me "coming around" to his room frequently during my plebe year. And on one occasion he took me with him to escape "over the wall" in the dead of night. He had a taxi cab waiting for us that took us to a bar some 7 miles away. John had a few beers, but forbid me to drink (watching out for me I guess) and made me drink cokes. I could tell many other midshipman stories about John that year and he unbelievably managed to graduate though he spent the majority of his first class year on restriction for the stuff he did get caught doing. In fact he barely managed to graduate, standing 5th from the bottom of his 800 man graduating class. I and many others have speculated that the main reason he did graduate was because his father was an Admiral, and also his grandfather, both U.S. Naval Academy graduates [...]

John was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart for heroism and wounds in combat. This heroism has been played up in the press and in his various political campaigns. But it should be known that there were approximately 600 military POW's in Vietnam. Among all of us, decorations awarded have recently been totaled to the following: Medals of Honor - 8, Service Crosses - 42, Silver Stars - 590, Bronze Stars - 958 and Purple Hearts - 1,249. John certainly performed courageously and well. But it must be remembered that he was one hero among many - not uniquely so as his campaigns would have people believe.

I furthermore believe that having been a POW is no special qualification for being President of the United States. The two jobs are not the same, and POW experience is not, in my opinion, something I would look for in a presidential candidate.

Most of us who survived that experience are now in our late 60's and 70's. Sadly, we have died and are dying off at a greater rate than our non-POW contemporaries. We experienced injuries and malnutrition that are coming home to roost. So I believe John's age (73) and survival expectation are not good for being elected to serve as our President for 4 or more years.

I can verify that John has an infamous reputation for being a hot head. He has a quick and explosive temper that many have experienced first hand. Folks, quite honestly that is not the finger I want next to that red button.

It is also disappointing to see him take on and support Bush's war in Iraq, even stating we might be there for another 100 years. For me John represents the entrenched and bankrupt policies of Washington-as-usual. The past 7 years have proven to be disastrous for our country. And I believe John's views on war, foreign policy, economics, environment, health care, education, national infrastructure and other important areas are much the same as those of the Bush administration.

Wow. It's stunning to see someone who knows McCain lay this all out so specifically. And he hits everything - the age, the temper, the flyboy antics, the policies right in line with Bush. It's all there.

He should have some fun with his newfound not-stardom, with all the not-appearing on news programs and not-being cited in the print media.