McCain Break With Bush on the Surge?
McCain adviser Jill Hazelbacker was on TV and claimed, preposterously, that John McCain’s support of Bush’s strategy on Iraq somehow counts as McCain breaking with Bush on “the big issues”:
I don’t know what I can do other than quote John McCain “no one has supported President Bush on Iraq more than I have . . . let me emphasize that there are many national security issues that I have strongly supported the president and steadfastly so.” Right.
On climate change, McCain really did break with the Bush administration. But then when bipartisan climate legislation was working its way through the Senate, McCain opposed it! He acquiesced in the removal of a climate change plank from the Republican platform, he got in bed with the oil companies over drilling, and he’s a longstanding opponent of efforts to encourage clean energy sources. Operationally, he’s moved to Bush’s opinion.
19 Responses to “McCain Break With Bush on the Surge?”
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August 27th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I believe that Mccain’s fairly long term position on the war in Iraq is that Bush failed at the strategic and tactical level and that he should pursue a strategy similar to what became the surge. To suggest that Mccain’s Iraq stance is identical to Bush’s is easily refuted.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I believe that Mccain’s fairly long term position…
right. you can find support for nearly any position you want with McCain, depending on when you take your readings. so mavericky!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
“He’s not a maverick, he’s a sidekick.”
See, it makes sense to let Casey(s) address conventions!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
One of the things that makes John McCain such a Maverick! is that when he slightly diverges from the Republican ultra-right consensus, momentarily, and then returns, that makes him a Maverick!, and then when he entirely backs Bush Jr. and the crazy right agenda, this too makes him a Maverick!
He’s never more of a Maverick! then when he enthusiastically backs the same agenda as President George W. Bush!
You know, the same way that right wing writers getting funded by big-business funded ‘think tanks’ portray themselves as brave rebels for backing big business! They’re Rebels! because somebody at Starbucks looked at them funny or something!
August 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
McCain was talking about increasing troop levels in Iraq and having them take on greater responsibility for civilian security – which is more or less what the Surge was all about – for a couple of years, while the Bush administration was insisting that “the generals don’t want more troops” and “security is an Iraqi responsibility.”
Then, Bush flip-flopped and came around to McCain’s position.’ I don’t think it was the right position, either, but there was clearly a big difference between the two of them.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Same thing on Bush/Cheney tax cuts for rich.
They actually agreed on immigration reform, much to the dismay of the GOP. Maybe we should run some misleading reminder ads to try to get the GOP base to stay home.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Check out this article on McCain I just read not a big fan of him but this makes a lot of sense to me. http://www.2008presidentialpoll.com/mccain/trust-in-experience/
August 27th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Matt: “I don’t know what I can do other than quote John McCain…”
That’s why McCain is going to win. Because neither you nor the Democrats know how to trash him.
Try these questions:
John McCain in a New Context
Why the Senator is Not a War Hero
http://www.counterpunch.org/ogrady08232008.html
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