McCain Lashes Congress, Bush for Overspending

[Judi Lynn]

McCain Lashes Congress, Bush for Overspending
Sun November 30, 2003 11:00 AM ET

By Lori Santos
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leading Republican Sen. John McCain on Sunday berated fellow lawmakers for "spending money like a drunken sailor" and said President Bush was also to blame for pushing the nation toward higher interest rates and inflation.

On the "Fox News Sunday" program, McCain lamented the closing actions of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives before recessing for the year, most notably passage of a massive overhaul of the Medicare insurance program for the elderly.

He also decried a $31 billion national energy bill, still pending until at least next year, much of which would fund industry tax breaks.

"The numbers are astonishing," said McCain, an Arizona Republican. "Congress is now spending money like a drunken sailor. And I've never known a sailor drunk or sober with the imagination that this Congress has." (snip/...)

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3911904

[Lefty48197]

1. Hey McCain stole my 'drunken sailor' line!

But, that's Ok.

[LizW]

9. William Safire used it this morning on MTP, too (n/t)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. McCain's Republicans

are the ones we can probably win over in 2004. There are many conservatives like him that are really worried about the budget deficits. If we have a candidate that promises to try and undo the damage Bush has done in this area, we'll gain a lot of votes.

[joanski01]

13. I thought Joe Lieberman

was wooing McCain's Republicans!!!

[Rose Siding]

3. Until he lashes the tax cuts, he's part of the problem

This looks like nothing more than a trial balloon for defunding programs, a long term GOP goal. I don't see him favoring a cut in defense spending. Unless he's advocating a tax cut roll back, what's left?

[NewJerseyDem]

8. McCain opposed the tax cuts

I don't know if he wants to repeal them all or any of them now that they have passed though.

[madrchsod]

4. our govenor

here in il. said the same thing and boy did he get shit from alot of people saying he was insulting sailors. now that`s funny mccain said the same thing....

[matcom]

5. Run John Run!

Run against Bush, on an alternative Repub ticket!

DIVIDE SO THE DEMS CAN CONQUER!!

[BOSSHOG]

6. Having served in the Navy for 24 years

I take exception to the Senators remarks. I believe it a tossup of who is more imaginative, Sailors (sober or otherwise) or a bunch of congressmen attempting chicanery. We may argue the prowess of the two groups but may I offer the ultimate tie breaker; Sailors eventually were held accountable for their actions thereby making their skulduggery much more honorable than anything Congress may get away with.

[leesa]

7. Yet he continues to vote for most of this stuff...hmmm

[T Bone]

15. McCain can't resist a camera and the opp to make a 'thoughtful comment

Same with Lugar. Same with Hagel.

They are just propaganda props to make everyone think there is diversity of opinion in the GOP. They all 3 are a JOKE.

[Endangered Specie]

10. Can we trade Zen Miller for McCain?

Seems like a fair deal.

I wish he'd run on the independent ticket, pull another 'Perot' on the Repo's.

[loudnclear]

11. Can there be any doubt that the corporcrats are ruining this country?

Unabashed greed and power made possible by almost total control of the media. Stop the media control and you will stop the rest of the cabal.

[cthrumatrix]

12. they never quite connect those dots....if the media had a backbone they

would come out and say it....our politicians and it's agenda are "owned"...and we pay for it.

[goforit]

14. McCain?......Why bother?.....You have lost trust with everyone!!!!

War Mongering Imperialists need not apply!!!!

[drfemoe]

16. Prediction:

Res will veto a 'spending bill'. Photo op included.
Why would he veto? Every bill has been hand crafted by his 'team'.
Anything that has not met with the 'team's' approval has been sent back for 'reworking'.
Expect a 'symbolic' spending veto to cover a**.

..snip..
"McCain said Bush, who has never vetoed a spending bill, was in large part responsible for this year's spending levels exceeding prescribed caps of four percent growth, at a whopping eight percent.

"The president cannot say, as he has many times, that I am going to tell Congress to enforce some spending discipline and then not veto bills," McCain said. " ...

McCain, who challenged Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, took particular issue with the massive energy bill, which in beginning stages cost $8 billion, a total that rocketed up with dozens of provisions inserted to benefit the districts of individual lawmakers to win their support.

"There was no policy initiatives in the energy policy. It was just one pork barrel project larded onto another," he said. "... And the administration is still saying it is one of its highest priorities, I don't know how you rationalize that."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/30/mccain.bashes.bush.ap/index.html