A Loose Cannon

[H2O Man]

November 2, 1998

"…..We also talked about the incident some years ago on the MacNeil-Lehrer show when John McCain harshly questioned McGovern’s patriotism, saying something to the effect that he would still be in a Viet Cong prison camp if George had been elected in 1972. George started to reply that, if he had had his way, McCain would never have gone to Vietnam and was preparing to mention his own record as a decorated bomber pilot in the Second World War when Robin MacNeil interrupted and brought the interview to an end.

"McCain is a loose cannon. He has commendably defied his party on campaign finance, but he is also capable of bizarre behavior. Recently, speaking at a Republican dinner, he told the following so-called joke: why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because she is the illegitimate child of Hillary Clinton and Janet Reno. This plus his reputedly wayward sex life will surely destroy his evident presidential aspirations."
--Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.; Journals: 1952-2000; page 833.

By the ten-year anniversary of this entry into Schlesinger’s journal, we will have witnessed the "loose cannon … bizarre behavior" of John McCain in a manner which will "surely destroy his evident presidential aspirations." The pace of the contest is already taking a toll on Senator McCain, and after the conventions, his cranky side will be on public display. And, when the debates begin, "Robin MacNeil" isn’t going to be able to save McCain.

Things are good.

[annabanana]

1. I am looking forward to his disintigration

with great anticipation. Best case: Live on Network. . . Worst case: home alone.

[mwb970]

2. mccain appears borderline mentally ill to me.

Could his captivity and torture have affected his mind in a negative way? Listening to him talk, it sounds like he is unable to think straight and doesn't know what he is talking about. Kind of like the alcoholic bush. Or the B-movie actor with Alzheimer's, St. Ronald.

Where in hell do the Republicans get these losers? How many more are there? Why do we keep electing them?

[formercia]

3. Conservatism is a mental illness

The inmates rule the asylum.

[WhiteTara]

5. McLame is the best of their best!

Isn't that sad?

[bulldogge]

6. I have

brought the same point up myself among friends in discussion. Aside from the sorted details of whether he is an american hero or was a canary I think the main point is being a POW for such a length of time (even one day) would wreck havoc on ones ability to be considered a sane person. For far too long individuals with questionable mental conditions have been sitting in the oval office I simply do not think it would be safe for our nation to have a man with such a background as the head honcho.

[H2O Man]

11. The human brain

is a curious machine. I suspect that in order to endure the brutal conditions during his years in captivity, Senator McCain would have needed to identify his existence in an "us vs them" ("good vs bad") way. And although that is related to the issues on this sub-thread, there are some other concerns it raises.

Today, for example, in the current political climate, there is a common "us vs them"/"good vs bad" manner of viewing things. That is always potentially dangerous. We need look no further than Richard Nixon to see an example of a person who believed that he represented "good" in the struggle against the "enemy" ..... and hence he convinced himself that anything "bad" (including abusing the power of office, and breaking the law) that he decided to do was justified. The same self-righteousness that Nixon defined has become all too common an attribute, as we see in men like Bush & Cheney, who believe that they, too are justified in abusing the power of office and trampling any law, to go after the "enemy."

There was a time when John McCain was just your average corrupt politician. But in the past 8 years, he has been transformed by a process that is not unlike that of Nixon or Cheney. And that is what I find the most dangerous about him.

[MadMaddie]

13. I think it's PTSD, his age and in general his personality.

That combination is doomed. I think he wants to stay in Iraq because he thinks that if we stay we will get it right this time and in a weird way justify his sacrifice.

[Me.]

14. A Friend Who Has A Daughter Who Works With Stroke Patients

Said her daughter looked up at the tv and saw McSame. "He's had a stroke" she says. Now I don't know if that's true but I do think he is physically in bad shape. To that point is the way he limits his schedule. Only one appearance on most days and weekends off.

The tragedy is, if this is true, those around him, as well as the candidate, know it, and still would have him become president if they could.

[Schema Thing]

4. what's the pic? n/t

[mopinko]

7. my question, too.

inquiring minds want to know.

[H2O Man]

8. It is a

grooved ax from a site with numerous Meadowood phase artifacts.

[mopinko]

9. is it yours?

do i remember correctly that you collect such things?

[H2O Man]

12. Yes (X2)

I have an interest in local (and non-local) history.

[CitizenPatriot]

10. food for thought

now, if say mccain was a democrat AND

a woman and he had been abused by a partner for five years, or he had been molested as a child (any number of trauma experiences is my point) or was gay and had been attacked during a hate crime, do you think they wouldn't paint those things out as having damaged his ability to think clearly and without bias?

Riiight. then it would be fair game cuz it would have somehow been "his fault". but this POW thing, we'll, we can't ask any questions about that because he's a hero?

I hereby nominate any person who has been bullied as a National Hero and will grant them a Silver Medal of Freedom to be yourself. This medal also exonerates you of any past or future crimes, lies, etc. So help yerself!