“its a shame john mccain didnt win the nod in 2000.”
I don’t know about that. McCain supports Amnesty (more than Bush) and McCain opposed the tax cuts. I’m not really sure how he would have been “way better” than George Bush. He might have been better on certain things, but he would also have been worse on others.
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As for what McCain said – yawn. He wouldn’t even promise to drop out if he doesn’t win, so it really doesn’t mean anything.
sad to see mccain stoop to having his mom and 3rd party groups do his dirty work. he has been a victim of this himself in 2000, not to mention he has been an advocate for campaign finance reform. if we see a lot of last minute, mysterious, 3rd party , anti mormon calls in NH, we’ll know that mccain has sold his principles up the river for one last shot at the presidency that should have been his, but has passed him by.
‘My friends” As a Romney supporter, I hope he doesn’t drop out. Just hurts Giuliani.
John Mccain is extremly unlikeable my friends. His tearing into everybody possible at every turn coupled with saying things like this just make him look pompus and arrogant.
Its a shame that the man with the best foreign policy resume is being rejected. With Pakistan coming apart and war with Iran on the horizon, I don’t think the American people will have an appetite for neophytes.
It sickens me to see and hear all the jokes made about John McCain here and elsewhere from people who would curl into a ball and cry if they had to endure for ten minutes what John McCain endured for five and a half years. And before people start on “oh, that has nothing to do with politics” let me tell you it does: because it shows just what kind of man he is. How many other politicians stand up for what they really believe in – right or wrong – regardless of the cost? Not many. Certainly not the Clintons and the Romneys of the world.
It sickens me to see and hear all the jokes made about John McCain here and elsewhere from people who would curl into a ball and cry if they had to endure for ten minutes what John McCain endured for five and a half years. And before people start on “oh, that has nothing to do with politics†let me tell you it does: because it shows just what kind of man he is. How many other politicians stand up for what they really believe in – right or wrong – regardless of the cost? Not many. Certainly not the Clintons and the Romneys of the world. And what does he get for it? Mockery.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think that being tortured by Vietnamese thugs entitles one to the Presidency of the United States.
No, of course it doesn’t. But it should entitle one to a certain amount of respect – which I find to be severely lacking in these parts for Sen. McCain lately.
“John Mccain is extremly unlikeable my friends. His tearing into everybody possible at every turn coupled with saying things like this just make him look pompus and arrogant.”
This is a campaign people! John McCain hasn’t been all that nagative, he’s attacked Romney for being a flip flopper, which even though I give Romney a pass for his flip flops it is a very legitamate attack on Romney. He attacks Rudy for a poor choice in Bernard Kerik, which once again is a completely fair attack, and he suggests that Rudy may not have enough experience to lead the country another legitamate attack if you consider that he has pretty much no foreign policy experience. Romney has attacked Rudy, and I imagine he has probably attacked McCain too. Rudy has attacked Romney and McCain, and Thompson has attacked Rudy and Huckabee. It’s called politics John.
no kidding. #10. this is exactly what we have been talking about on this webiste lately. the idea that you can’t poke at mccain becuase he was a pow.
If you support him and don’t lilke what is being said, use your reasoning abilitiy to fight back, don’t play the victim card.
I can’t stand these types of comments.
some of us don’t like mccain becuase he supports amnest, or because he is extremlly tempermental and negative, or because we think he is too old to serve, or becuase he does’t respect the first amendment, or because …. He is a public servant. If he can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
lets here something better than, hey, he was a pow, you can’t say that!
i doubt anyone here does not respcet to the utmost what mccain did and admires his character for doing it. as a general rule conservatives are usually the first to bow in respcet for such acts of courage and respect for our country.
John. yeah, when he does it it just looks worse. Maybe it is becuase it is out of desperation, juding by polls and money anyway.
Yeah, its a campaign. I gave my opinion that he comes of as pompus and unlikeable. and i would dare to say he is more prone to go negative than rudy or romney. this is natural, in a ‘campaign’, given his level of desperation 7 weeks out from the first caucus.
All that said, I don’t know why he would make a quote like the above. It seems like a complete dumb way to lose the expectations game. I can see trying to pump up expectations to the point where people in New Hampshire feel like McCain has a chance and they go out and vote for him, but why make it seem inevitable. I would think the optimal way to play the expectations game is to make it seem like you have good chance( in order for potential voters to not feel like they are throwning their votes away in voting for you), but to not raise expectations beyond this so that it will be news when you win and the people will be motivated to vote for you. I would say trying to create 50% expectation of winning would be about right politically. Of course in John McCain’s case 25% likelyhood of winning NH seems a bit of a stretch.
McCain is finally letting his notorious insanity shine through. His aging mother is now the official grenade thrower of his campaign. Plus he is getting a $3 million loan from someone to do god knows what. We can all expect more craziness from him. He is on a roll now. He is either coming out of this thing as the winner or completely destroyed.
Well, John it seems to me everybody is exaggerating John McCain’s nagativity. He’s made like two or three nagative statements about Rudy, and he’s made a few statements in the past about Romney flipfloping. That’s a few statements against two of his top competitors. That’s not “tearing into everybody possible at every turn”. Romney has gone nagative against his competitors also. I don’t mind McCain getting criticized, but it sure seems like you guys like to apply a double standard. Where were you when Romney was going after Guiliani’s Economic record, did you think that was a sign that Romney was desparate at the time.
“If you support him and don’t lilke what is being said, use your reasoning abilitiy to fight back, don’t play the victim card.”
One should only waste their time using their reasoning ability if they are responding to something half way reasonable. You threw out your attack and didn’t bother to back it up with any reason. Why do you characterize McCain as “tearing into everybody possible at every turnâ€, but don’t say the same about Rudy for attacking Romney, and Romney for attacking Rudy, and to Fred Thompson for calling Huckabee a pro -life liberal. Its not just the defense of the candidates that ought to be well reasoned, more importantly it is the attacks that ought to be well reasoned.
“If he can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Cite me the time McCain complained about being criticized because he was a POW. Sure you can argue that his supporters have dones this, but you can’t turn around and apply that to McCain. As far as applying it to supporters it applies very well to Rudyites who are outraged that John McCain would dare to play politics and make a few legitamate attacks- allbeit fairly mild IMO, against Rudy. If TLG has the outraged he expressed he is going to become a very angry person as this campaign unfolds
Unfortunately, the joke will be on all those who think Giuliani and Romney will be able to skirt by with no foreign policy experience. In fact, I am sure some of these same people will think its McCain’s duty to accept a VP slot to bolster a weaker candidate’s credentials.
If TLG has the outraged he expressed he is going to become a very angry person as this campaign unfolds
I was angry because Rudy had been practically worshiping McCain all campaign season long, and the first word out of McCain’s mouth about Rudy was calling him an inexperienced hack who was merely adequate on 9/11. What a prick!
“…if we see a lot of last minute, mysterious, 3rd party , anti mormon calls in NH, we’ll know that mccain has sold his principles up the river for one last shot at the presidency…”
This did not work for Brownback in IA and it certainly won’t work for McCain in NH
Actually, it has not worked out for America. If McCain had been President he would not have invaded Iraq and certainly not with an insufficient number of troops as he argued at the time. Nor did “balancing” the ticket help; indeed it hurt.
No foreign policy experience? Reminds me of the man the entire cast of characters this season had total fetishes for back earlier in the campaign season.
- Bush 43
- Clinton
- Reagan
- Carter
- Nixon
- FDR
None of them had any foreign policy experience. Reagan and FDR managed to get by alright. Bush 43 at least had the vision right. Carter and Clinton, on the other hand…
TLG, McCain had absolutely no obligation to not attack Rudy becaue Rudy talked nice about him. McCain has also the talked nice about Rudy – the favor was returned, now its back to politics. McCain suggested that Rudy doesn’t have the experience he needs, this may be an arguement you disagree with, but its not exactly the worse kind of accusation McCain could have thrown at Rudy, and McCain does have a valid point – this is a time in history when it would be great to have somebody with foreign policy experience. You have reacted like McCain accused Rudy of torturing puppies and kittens on a regular basis. You Rudyites really need to get thicker skin, you guy isn’t supposed to be immune from attack just because he’s some kind of 9/11 hero.
Nixon had foreign policy experience. He served in World War II. He was a Congressman and a senator. And served as VP for 8 years. That’s not Eisenhower level foreign experience, but it’s adequate. And as much as I like Romney and Rudy, I do wish more people in our field had that level of experience. I wish more people served in the military. FDR also served in World War I, in the Navy. This life-long civilian-politician road we seem to be headed down is deeply worrying.
Nixon had foreign policy experience. FDR had the best foreign policy team in American history. Nixon had a masterful foreign policy team and had extensive foreign policy experience via the Dulles brothers and the Sinai affair.
Carter had no experience and it showed. Clinton had no experience and he allowed terrorists to gather strength.
No one on Giuliani’s foreign policy team gives me confidence that he wouldn’t stumble into blunders like Carter, Clinton and Bush II.
Happy Veterans Day to a real American hero Senator McCain. I for one appriciate your service in the armed forces, and appriciate your service as a POW.
Having said that, I think you will lose in NH and wish you well in life. Really I think that when McCain loses, he has nothing more to prove and should just retire and enjoy life in Arizona. He might have done well as President had he won in 2000. I was a HUGE McCain guy in 2000, but cant support him now as he has put his thumb in the eye of too many in his party. I hope he does the right thing and supports Romney when he wins the nomination in Feb.
Re. qualifications/experience for President, let me start with civics 101 that describe the three branches of the government: Legislature makes laws,Executive enforce the laws, Judiciary interprets the laws.
President is part of the executive and Rudy Giuliani was a federal prosecutor beween 1970 and 1977, also between 1981 and 1989 for a total 15 years of law enforcement.
He also enforced the laws as mayor of New York with 8 million people and a budget rivaling some of the 50 states of USA between 1994 and 2002.
That is 23 years of pure “executive” experience.
Can any of the history buffs here know of anyone who ran for the Presidency of USA with more than 23 years of executive experience?
I attribute Bush’s foreign policy failings to his lack of experience. Unfortunately, the voters knew this going to the polls but thought we were at peace and it didn’t matter. Frankly, the same was true in 1992, when it was the economy. We are no longer ignorant of the threats and challenges that lie ahead and voters are not going to make the same mistake.
Well good for McCain! Do you really expect him to say, “I’m going to lose in New Hampshire”?
I am fairly certain that McCain is going to lose in New Hampshire, but that doesn’t change the fact that he has to continue to talk as if he is going to win. Otherwise, there is no point in continuing.
Remember Thompson’s gaffe the other day where he admitted he doesn’t expect to win. McCain isn’t going to make that same mistake.
John. Mccain can attack whoever he wants. i don’t care. I am just saying when he does it and at every corner towards multiple candidate unilaterally and simultaneously while at the same time having a bankrupt campaign with his poll numbers going down in the only state he thinks he possibly has a shot at, it makes him look desperate and unlikealbe.
he is just not in a good position right now and you can see him trashing and flailing. it won’t help. him and john edwards are in the same spot, fighitng for relevancy.
so i guess what i am saying is simply, I don’t like the way he comes off. I am sure others feel the same way about romney or someone else. Just my opinion. He seems old and cranky.
that said. i would support him if he got the nod. He has many admirable attributes as well.
“That is 23 years of pure “executive†experience.
Can any of the history buffs here know of anyone who ran for the Presidency of USA with more than 23 years of executive experience?”
yea, Mitt Romney has been an executive for at least that long too. He took over at Bain Capital or Bain and Company in the early 80’s, then after he made 500 million (by some reports) in the 80’s and 90’s, he was CEO for the 02 SLC Olympic games. That went from a complete and absolute failure (pre Romney) to a huge money making success with Romney. Then 4 years as Governor.
So there you go, Romney also has at least 23 years executive experience, in 3 sectors of Government (business, Olympics, and government).
McCain said something the commies liked or they wouldn’t have let him out. He continues to favor the socialist cause as a RINO. People who say good things about him believe what he says and don’t see what he does in office. McCain Feingold? Worst law in recent history and totally unAmerican.
To give some examples:
Reagan – 8 years as Governor of CA
Ford – 0
GHW Bush – 8 years as VP
Bill Clinton – 14 years(2 years as Att. General and 12 years as Governor)
GW Bush – 6 years as Governor
I saw the interview with John McCain on Fox News and I loved it. John McCain is a man after my own heart, and he is exactly right about his foreign policy experience. The Republicans can thank him and the Democrats for holding Bush’s feet to the fire in Iraq so we could win this thing. If we had
had not defeated al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would guarantee a victory for the Democrats in 2008, but now it looks like we are going to win.
But John McCain is not the man we need for president at this time. We need a good communicator, a good adminsitrator, an optimist, and someone with a lot of energy. In my mind, that man is Mitt Romney, although Rudy also fits the bill, but I like Mitt better on the issues.
Good numbers for McCain. I’ll point out that that poll has an even more surprising component: Romney trails Hillary by just 5. That’s compared to last week’s polls showing Rudy and Fred losing to her by 6 points. Is this the first instance of Romney outperforming Rudy in a general election poll? Regardless, it doesn’t seem to bode well for Rudy, who’s national general election numbers have gone increasingly down over the last 6 months. One never wants to be behind the “he’ll lose 45-50 states” Mitt Romney. It’s only one poll, and Romney still fares poorly in general electin matchups, so I’m not quite willing to contend that Romney’s actually electable. It says more about Rudy that he now is tied for 4th (out of the big 5), in a general election matchups from a respectable polling firm.
This is after Clinton has taken some hits and had nothing but bad publicity for two weeks straight.
BTW, prosecutors are not executives. They have supervisors and do not make policy decisions. Rudy did serve as US Atty which is an executive position, but even then he fell under the Justice Department and did not make policy.
Before anyone complains that the Rudy and Fred matchups were earlier, I’ll point out that the Rudy/Fred polls were taken on the 5 and 6th. The Mitt and McCain polls were taken on the 7th and 8th. Nothing happened in the span of 1-2 days that could plausibly account for this difference. Clinton’s struggles began in like late October.
Colin Jones:”
Did you not read the civics 101?
Executive relates to law enforcement.
Not managers of private companies.”
Yes, for chief of police, maybe. Presidents, mayors, and governors do a whole lot more than just enforce the laws. They EXECUTE the law. That is why they are called the Executive branch.
But let’s assume for sake of argument that you are right. Let’s suppose that Executive experience ONLY deals with enforcing laws. Do you think that businesses don’t have their own internal rules and laws? Are you saying that a business is just complete anarchy with no rules, no procedures, no processes, and no means of enforcing them?
Since Government has the power to force compliance, and a business doesn’t, whom do you think is better at the art of leadership? Would you rather want as President a man who has spent decades convincing people who don’t have to follow him to follow the rules, or a man whose only experience at leadership is that which has the force of the law with its police, courts, jails and prisons?
Once more : Executive enforces laws.
Anyone involved in federal and state law enforcement position can justifiably claim executive experience.
So the question remains open: Who among the nominees for President since 1789 has more than 23 years of executive experience ?
Remember only federal and state level prosecutors or officials of Justice department,mayors of large cities, Governors of states and Vice Presidents of USA are eligible for consideration.
The election poll also found Clinton leading former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 47% to 42%. But, Romney is gaining some ground on the Democratic frontrunner. Romney trailed Clinton by six in October, by nine in September, and by eleven in August.
With just one exception, the 42% figure is Romney’s highest total in ten match-ups with Clinton dating back to last December.
While Romney has gained ground recently, McCain’s numbers have been actually fairly steady. In October, Clinton was ahead of the Arizona Senator by just a single percentage point. In fact, this is the fifth straight Rasmussen Reports poll showing Clinton and McCain within two points of each other.
Glad you’re excited about a lack of improvement for McCain . . . at least Romney’s moving in the right direction.
#47. You are arguing semantics of Executive here, without getting the spirit of my post. There is no implication that managers of big companies are inadequate to discharge their duties as President.
Since President is part of Executive and maintaining law and order is the most basic function of the Executive,persons involved in federal and state level law enforcement(senior level) can be definitley considered at the top of the list of candidates qualified to become President. It can certainly be claimed that Rudy is more experienced in federal government than Romney because of 15 years experience as a senior official in the federal government.
I won’t be voting for McCain in my state’s primary, but I think he is getting a bum rap for what he said about Rudy and Kerik. McCain said the truth! Rudy’s a great guy with many strengths as a candidate, but one of his weaknesses is that he recommended Kerik to be head of DHS. Favoratism towards ones friends can be a fatal trait in a president, and I am afraid that Rudy has this affliction. It’s one reason I support Mitt instead of Rudy for president.
Matthew E. Miller — Nixon had foreign policy experience. He served in World War II. He was a Congressman and a senator. And served as VP for 8 years.
How is serving in World War II and being a Congressman “foreign policy experience”? The Vice-Presidency is a ceremonial role and doesn’t really offer the office holder true foreign policy experience. Are you one of those people that thinks that Hillary Clinton has lots of foreign policy experience because she traveled a lot as First Lady?
according to webster, executive also means “having administrative or managerial responsibility”
I love that you think that Mitt’s time as CEO of both Bain and the Olympics, where he led several businesses, thousands of volunteers and employees, and was responsible for the governing of the business he was given charge of. That doesnt count as executive experience why? Oh, because you say so right?
It doesnt take federal and state law enforcement experience to reduce government entitlements, reduce taxes, fight deficits, and on and on. Are you suggesting a prosecutor, or a cop for that matter, would be better tackling health care, budgets, government spending, and on and on because THEY FIT YOUR NARROW DEFINITION OF EXECUTIVE (ENFORCES LAWS) THAN A LOWLY FORMER CEO LIKE MITT?
#50 wins the stupidest comment of the night award going away.
“It can certainly be claimed that Rudy is more experienced in federal government than Romney because of 15 years experience as a senior official in the federal government.” — So Rudy is an inside the beltway guy who has Washington experience hence he is a better candidate. With that logic, McCain has the most Washington experience. The problem with that logic though is that the country DOESNT WANT an inside the beltway hack. They want someone who has executive experience, like Romney does in business, but who isnt an inside the beltway kind of guy. You might of read recently that Washington sucks right now. Nobody is popular, nothing gets done, spending is too high, there isnt calaboration, and the country is sick of it.
In comes Romney (and Rudy too) who have been successful outside and inside government. It’s executive leadership BEYOND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN WASHINGTON that the country is craving.
#53. You like many people I noticed here respond without understanding the post and try to rationalise later. I am not discussing the common dictionary definition of the word executive, that is why I specifically defined civics 101 before proceding with my post.
This has nothing to do with Mitt’s qualifications to become President.
Question #2: Has anyone been elected President whose entire career was only in private managerial positions?
That is without holding any post in one of the three branches of the Government. An example would be Bill Gates becoming President in 2009.
#54. Once again you display lack of comprehension of the subject matter.
“So Rudy is an inside the beltway guy who has Washington experience hence he is a better candidate. With that logic, McCain has the most Washington experience. ”
McCain is a Senator and not part of the Executive.
You have shown an inability to engage in rational discourse . I don’t think it is productive use of my time to enagage you any further.
I dont suggest ANY good CEO could be President. I think they need some executive experience in government too as Mitt clearly has. I think that with spending and entitlements out of control, a 9 trillion dollar debt, and gridlock, Washington needs a person like Mitt who has worked with Dems, can use business principles of cutting the fat and stream lining, and has worked in the executive branch of government. Bill Gates isnt qualified. Hillary isnt either since she has only Washington experience and has led nothing, ever. Mitt has worked in business and the olympics with Governments, and he led one in MA. All that time constitute executive experience.
I get the 3 branches of government, but thanks. Your question was who had 23 years of executive experience. As I stated, Romney has combined more than 23 years of executive experience IN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT.
My McCain comment had to do with your stupid comment from 50 —”It can certainly be claimed that Rudy is more experienced in federal government than Romney because of 15 years experience as a senior official in the federal government.”
Oh, every senior official with 15 years experience in the federal government (like McCain) is qualified to be president? I doubt it. Again, I dont want a US Attorney and Mayor to be our parties nominee.
McCain saying he WILL win NH reminds me of Tommy Thompson saying he would be shocked if he didn’t finish in the top 2 in Ames. He was shocked, all right. He had no clue where he actually was in the race, but he found out. In the aftermath, he had the integrity to realize that he didn’t have a prayer and he dropped out of the race. When McCain loses in NH, I predict he will stay in the race, despite not having any real hope to win anywhere else. McCain lacks the integrity that Tommy had.
Of course, having executive experience, no matter how its defined, does not compensate for a complete lack of foreign policy experience. Giuliani is simply not qualified to be president, based on lack of experience, lack of judgment (Kerik), and lack of temperment. Qualified candidates of both parties have said he is not qualified.
Romney’s inexperience has already manifested itself. It is unsettling to hear a would be CIC proposing to consult attorneys before defending the country. And equating working on a political campaign with serving in Iraq evidences a callousness and elitism so far unparalleled by any other candidate. No excuse will explain away his original comments and they will be fodder for the general campaign.
“Oh, every senior official with 15 years experience in the federal government (like McCain) is qualified to be president? I doubt it. Again, I dont want a US Attorney and Mayor to be our parties nominee.”
He happened to be the mayor of a city once called ungovernable, and a city with a population larger than the entire state of Massachusetts.
Dave why would that be a lack of integrity to stay in the race. Its not like anybody has to vote for you? Plus McCain would be helping to see that we don’t have a pro – choice president. And thats sure a good resault.
November 11th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
its a shame john mccain didnt win the nod in 2000. he would have been way better than george bush. that being said, hes not winning NH.
November 11th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
John MCcain is the joke of the day.
November 11th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Also, i love this article in Rolling Stone about john mccain. its probably not the slant of most people on this site, and it has some language, but its one of the better written articles i’ve read in a while. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16721264/mccains_last_stand/print
November 11th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Yes! he will win NH!
McCain/Brownback 2008!
November 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
“its a shame john mccain didnt win the nod in 2000.”
I don’t know about that. McCain supports Amnesty (more than Bush) and McCain opposed the tax cuts. I’m not really sure how he would have been “way better” than George Bush. He might have been better on certain things, but he would also have been worse on others.
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As for what McCain said – yawn. He wouldn’t even promise to drop out if he doesn’t win, so it really doesn’t mean anything.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
sad to see mccain stoop to having his mom and 3rd party groups do his dirty work. he has been a victim of this himself in 2000, not to mention he has been an advocate for campaign finance reform. if we see a lot of last minute, mysterious, 3rd party , anti mormon calls in NH, we’ll know that mccain has sold his principles up the river for one last shot at the presidency that should have been his, but has passed him by.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
‘My friends” As a Romney supporter, I hope he doesn’t drop out. Just hurts Giuliani.
John Mccain is extremly unlikeable my friends. His tearing into everybody possible at every turn coupled with saying things like this just make him look pompus and arrogant.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Awesome, does this mean he is running a Democrat now?
November 11th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Its a shame that the man with the best foreign policy resume is being rejected. With Pakistan coming apart and war with Iran on the horizon, I don’t think the American people will have an appetite for neophytes.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
It sickens me to see and hear all the jokes made about John McCain here and elsewhere from people who would curl into a ball and cry if they had to endure for ten minutes what John McCain endured for five and a half years. And before people start on “oh, that has nothing to do with politics” let me tell you it does: because it shows just what kind of man he is. How many other politicians stand up for what they really believe in – right or wrong – regardless of the cost? Not many. Certainly not the Clintons and the Romneys of the world.
And what does he get for it? Mockery.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
It sickens me to see and hear all the jokes made about John McCain here and elsewhere from people who would curl into a ball and cry if they had to endure for ten minutes what John McCain endured for five and a half years. And before people start on “oh, that has nothing to do with politics†let me tell you it does: because it shows just what kind of man he is. How many other politicians stand up for what they really believe in – right or wrong – regardless of the cost? Not many. Certainly not the Clintons and the Romneys of the world. And what does he get for it? Mockery.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think that being tortured by Vietnamese thugs entitles one to the Presidency of the United States.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
No, of course it doesn’t. But it should entitle one to a certain amount of respect – which I find to be severely lacking in these parts for Sen. McCain lately.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
“John Mccain is extremly unlikeable my friends. His tearing into everybody possible at every turn coupled with saying things like this just make him look pompus and arrogant.”
This is a campaign people! John McCain hasn’t been all that nagative, he’s attacked Romney for being a flip flopper, which even though I give Romney a pass for his flip flops it is a very legitamate attack on Romney. He attacks Rudy for a poor choice in Bernard Kerik, which once again is a completely fair attack, and he suggests that Rudy may not have enough experience to lead the country another legitamate attack if you consider that he has pretty much no foreign policy experience. Romney has attacked Rudy, and I imagine he has probably attacked McCain too. Rudy has attacked Romney and McCain, and Thompson has attacked Rudy and Huckabee. It’s called politics John.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
no kidding. #10. this is exactly what we have been talking about on this webiste lately. the idea that you can’t poke at mccain becuase he was a pow.
If you support him and don’t lilke what is being said, use your reasoning abilitiy to fight back, don’t play the victim card.
I can’t stand these types of comments.
some of us don’t like mccain becuase he supports amnest, or because he is extremlly tempermental and negative, or because we think he is too old to serve, or becuase he does’t respect the first amendment, or because …. He is a public servant. If he can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
lets here something better than, hey, he was a pow, you can’t say that!
i doubt anyone here does not respcet to the utmost what mccain did and admires his character for doing it. as a general rule conservatives are usually the first to bow in respcet for such acts of courage and respect for our country.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
John. yeah, when he does it it just looks worse. Maybe it is becuase it is out of desperation, juding by polls and money anyway.
Yeah, its a campaign. I gave my opinion that he comes of as pompus and unlikeable. and i would dare to say he is more prone to go negative than rudy or romney. this is natural, in a ‘campaign’, given his level of desperation 7 weeks out from the first caucus.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
All that said, I don’t know why he would make a quote like the above. It seems like a complete dumb way to lose the expectations game. I can see trying to pump up expectations to the point where people in New Hampshire feel like McCain has a chance and they go out and vote for him, but why make it seem inevitable. I would think the optimal way to play the expectations game is to make it seem like you have good chance( in order for potential voters to not feel like they are throwning their votes away in voting for you), but to not raise expectations beyond this so that it will be news when you win and the people will be motivated to vote for you. I would say trying to create 50% expectation of winning would be about right politically. Of course in John McCain’s case 25% likelyhood of winning NH seems a bit of a stretch.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
McCain is finally letting his notorious insanity shine through. His aging mother is now the official grenade thrower of his campaign. Plus he is getting a $3 million loan from someone to do god knows what. We can all expect more craziness from him. He is on a roll now. He is either coming out of this thing as the winner or completely destroyed.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Well, John it seems to me everybody is exaggerating John McCain’s nagativity. He’s made like two or three nagative statements about Rudy, and he’s made a few statements in the past about Romney flipfloping. That’s a few statements against two of his top competitors. That’s not “tearing into everybody possible at every turn”. Romney has gone nagative against his competitors also. I don’t mind McCain getting criticized, but it sure seems like you guys like to apply a double standard. Where were you when Romney was going after Guiliani’s Economic record, did you think that was a sign that Romney was desparate at the time.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
re 17,
hmmmm….I am guessing that “completely destroyed” is a more plausible scenario.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
“If you support him and don’t lilke what is being said, use your reasoning abilitiy to fight back, don’t play the victim card.”
One should only waste their time using their reasoning ability if they are responding to something half way reasonable. You threw out your attack and didn’t bother to back it up with any reason. Why do you characterize McCain as “tearing into everybody possible at every turnâ€, but don’t say the same about Rudy for attacking Romney, and Romney for attacking Rudy, and to Fred Thompson for calling Huckabee a pro -life liberal. Its not just the defense of the candidates that ought to be well reasoned, more importantly it is the attacks that ought to be well reasoned.
“If he can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Cite me the time McCain complained about being criticized because he was a POW. Sure you can argue that his supporters have dones this, but you can’t turn around and apply that to McCain. As far as applying it to supporters it applies very well to Rudyites who are outraged that John McCain would dare to play politics and make a few legitamate attacks- allbeit fairly mild IMO, against Rudy. If TLG has the outraged he expressed he is going to become a very angry person as this campaign unfolds
November 11th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Unfortunately, the joke will be on all those who think Giuliani and Romney will be able to skirt by with no foreign policy experience. In fact, I am sure some of these same people will think its McCain’s duty to accept a VP slot to bolster a weaker candidate’s credentials.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
If TLG has the outraged he expressed he is going to become a very angry person as this campaign unfolds
I was angry because Rudy had been practically worshiping McCain all campaign season long, and the first word out of McCain’s mouth about Rudy was calling him an inexperienced hack who was merely adequate on 9/11. What a prick!
November 11th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
“…if we see a lot of last minute, mysterious, 3rd party , anti mormon calls in NH, we’ll know that mccain has sold his principles up the river for one last shot at the presidency…”
This did not work for Brownback in IA and it certainly won’t work for McCain in NH
November 11th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
“I can tell you right now I will win New Hampshire.”
Yeah, right. McCain certainly does have his work cut out for him. What do we have, less than 70 days left till the NH primary?
I’ll bet McCain will finish 4th behind Romney, Rudy, and you guessed it – Ron Paul..
November 11th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Jean:
“Unfortunately, the joke will be on all those who think Giuliani and Romney will be able to skirt by with no foreign policy experience.”
Well.. It worked for Bush 43 now didn’t it? I think McCain is best right along side his pal Brownback in the Senate.
The other half of the ticket should balance things out.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Actually, it has not worked out for America. If McCain had been President he would not have invaded Iraq and certainly not with an insufficient number of troops as he argued at the time. Nor did “balancing” the ticket help; indeed it hurt.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Agh yes.. Hind sight is always 20/20.
Jean, how can you be so sure of that?
November 11th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
No foreign policy experience? Reminds me of the man the entire cast of characters this season had total fetishes for back earlier in the campaign season.
- Bush 43
- Clinton
- Reagan
- Carter
- Nixon
- FDR
None of them had any foreign policy experience. Reagan and FDR managed to get by alright. Bush 43 at least had the vision right. Carter and Clinton, on the other hand…
November 11th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
TLG, McCain had absolutely no obligation to not attack Rudy becaue Rudy talked nice about him. McCain has also the talked nice about Rudy – the favor was returned, now its back to politics. McCain suggested that Rudy doesn’t have the experience he needs, this may be an arguement you disagree with, but its not exactly the worse kind of accusation McCain could have thrown at Rudy, and McCain does have a valid point – this is a time in history when it would be great to have somebody with foreign policy experience. You have reacted like McCain accused Rudy of torturing puppies and kittens on a regular basis. You Rudyites really need to get thicker skin, you guy isn’t supposed to be immune from attack just because he’s some kind of 9/11 hero.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Nixon had foreign policy experience. He served in World War II. He was a Congressman and a senator. And served as VP for 8 years. That’s not Eisenhower level foreign experience, but it’s adequate. And as much as I like Romney and Rudy, I do wish more people in our field had that level of experience. I wish more people served in the military. FDR also served in World War I, in the Navy. This life-long civilian-politician road we seem to be headed down is deeply worrying.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Nixon had foreign policy experience. FDR had the best foreign policy team in American history. Nixon had a masterful foreign policy team and had extensive foreign policy experience via the Dulles brothers and the Sinai affair.
Carter had no experience and it showed. Clinton had no experience and he allowed terrorists to gather strength.
No one on Giuliani’s foreign policy team gives me confidence that he wouldn’t stumble into blunders like Carter, Clinton and Bush II.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Happy Veterans Day to a real American hero Senator McCain. I for one appriciate your service in the armed forces, and appriciate your service as a POW.
Having said that, I think you will lose in NH and wish you well in life. Really I think that when McCain loses, he has nothing more to prove and should just retire and enjoy life in Arizona. He might have done well as President had he won in 2000. I was a HUGE McCain guy in 2000, but cant support him now as he has put his thumb in the eye of too many in his party. I hope he does the right thing and supports Romney when he wins the nomination in Feb.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Re. qualifications/experience for President, let me start with civics 101 that describe the three branches of the government: Legislature makes laws,Executive enforce the laws, Judiciary interprets the laws.
President is part of the executive and Rudy Giuliani was a federal prosecutor beween 1970 and 1977, also between 1981 and 1989 for a total 15 years of law enforcement.
He also enforced the laws as mayor of New York with 8 million people and a budget rivaling some of the 50 states of USA between 1994 and 2002.
That is 23 years of pure “executive” experience.
Can any of the history buffs here know of anyone who ran for the Presidency of USA with more than 23 years of executive experience?
November 11th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Carter graduated from the Naval Academy.
I attribute Bush’s foreign policy failings to his lack of experience. Unfortunately, the voters knew this going to the polls but thought we were at peace and it didn’t matter. Frankly, the same was true in 1992, when it was the economy. We are no longer ignorant of the threats and challenges that lie ahead and voters are not going to make the same mistake.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Well good for McCain! Do you really expect him to say, “I’m going to lose in New Hampshire”?
I am fairly certain that McCain is going to lose in New Hampshire, but that doesn’t change the fact that he has to continue to talk as if he is going to win. Otherwise, there is no point in continuing.
Remember Thompson’s gaffe the other day where he admitted he doesn’t expect to win. McCain isn’t going to make that same mistake.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
John. Mccain can attack whoever he wants. i don’t care. I am just saying when he does it and at every corner towards multiple candidate unilaterally and simultaneously while at the same time having a bankrupt campaign with his poll numbers going down in the only state he thinks he possibly has a shot at, it makes him look desperate and unlikealbe.
he is just not in a good position right now and you can see him trashing and flailing. it won’t help. him and john edwards are in the same spot, fighitng for relevancy.
so i guess what i am saying is simply, I don’t like the way he comes off. I am sure others feel the same way about romney or someone else. Just my opinion. He seems old and cranky.
that said. i would support him if he got the nod. He has many admirable attributes as well.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
“That is 23 years of pure “executive†experience.
Can any of the history buffs here know of anyone who ran for the Presidency of USA with more than 23 years of executive experience?”
yea, Mitt Romney has been an executive for at least that long too. He took over at Bain Capital or Bain and Company in the early 80’s, then after he made 500 million (by some reports) in the 80’s and 90’s, he was CEO for the 02 SLC Olympic games. That went from a complete and absolute failure (pre Romney) to a huge money making success with Romney. Then 4 years as Governor.
So there you go, Romney also has at least 23 years executive experience, in 3 sectors of Government (business, Olympics, and government).
What do I win?
November 11th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
#37. What do I win?
Nothing.
Did you not read the civics 101?
Executive relates to law enforcement.
Not managers of private companies.
Prosecutors at the federal or state level,mayors of large cities and Governors of states qualify for pure
executive experience.
Romney only has 4 years of executive experience as it relates to law enforcement.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
McCain said something the commies liked or they wouldn’t have let him out. He continues to favor the socialist cause as a RINO. People who say good things about him believe what he says and don’t see what he does in office. McCain Feingold? Worst law in recent history and totally unAmerican.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
To give some examples:
Reagan – 8 years as Governor of CA
Ford – 0
GHW Bush – 8 years as VP
Bill Clinton – 14 years(2 years as Att. General and 12 years as Governor)
GW Bush – 6 years as Governor
November 11th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
John McCain 47
Hillary Clinton 45
oh yeah!
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008__1/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_clinton_vs_mccain_romney
November 11th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
I saw the interview with John McCain on Fox News and I loved it. John McCain is a man after my own heart, and he is exactly right about his foreign policy experience. The Republicans can thank him and the Democrats for holding Bush’s feet to the fire in Iraq so we could win this thing. If we had
had not defeated al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would guarantee a victory for the Democrats in 2008, but now it looks like we are going to win.
But John McCain is not the man we need for president at this time. We need a good communicator, a good adminsitrator, an optimist, and someone with a lot of energy. In my mind, that man is Mitt Romney, although Rudy also fits the bill, but I like Mitt better on the issues.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Sorry, I forgot about Huckabee too.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Good numbers for McCain. I’ll point out that that poll has an even more surprising component: Romney trails Hillary by just 5. That’s compared to last week’s polls showing Rudy and Fred losing to her by 6 points. Is this the first instance of Romney outperforming Rudy in a general election poll? Regardless, it doesn’t seem to bode well for Rudy, who’s national general election numbers have gone increasingly down over the last 6 months. One never wants to be behind the “he’ll lose 45-50 states” Mitt Romney. It’s only one poll, and Romney still fares poorly in general electin matchups, so I’m not quite willing to contend that Romney’s actually electable. It says more about Rudy that he now is tied for 4th (out of the big 5), in a general election matchups from a respectable polling firm.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
This is after Clinton has taken some hits and had nothing but bad publicity for two weeks straight.
BTW, prosecutors are not executives. They have supervisors and do not make policy decisions. Rudy did serve as US Atty which is an executive position, but even then he fell under the Justice Department and did not make policy.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Before anyone complains that the Rudy and Fred matchups were earlier, I’ll point out that the Rudy/Fred polls were taken on the 5 and 6th. The Mitt and McCain polls were taken on the 7th and 8th. Nothing happened in the span of 1-2 days that could plausibly account for this difference. Clinton’s struggles began in like late October.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Colin Jones:”
Did you not read the civics 101?
Executive relates to law enforcement.
Not managers of private companies.”
Yes, for chief of police, maybe. Presidents, mayors, and governors do a whole lot more than just enforce the laws. They EXECUTE the law. That is why they are called the Executive branch.
But let’s assume for sake of argument that you are right. Let’s suppose that Executive experience ONLY deals with enforcing laws. Do you think that businesses don’t have their own internal rules and laws? Are you saying that a business is just complete anarchy with no rules, no procedures, no processes, and no means of enforcing them?
Since Government has the power to force compliance, and a business doesn’t, whom do you think is better at the art of leadership? Would you rather want as President a man who has spent decades convincing people who don’t have to follow him to follow the rules, or a man whose only experience at leadership is that which has the force of the law with its police, courts, jails and prisons?
November 11th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Once more : Executive enforces laws.
Anyone involved in federal and state law enforcement position can justifiably claim executive experience.
So the question remains open: Who among the nominees for President since 1789 has more than 23 years of
executive experience ?
Remember only federal and state level prosecutors or officials of Justice department,mayors of large cities, Governors of states and Vice Presidents of USA are eligible for consideration.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Whole story please sampo,
The election poll also found Clinton leading former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney 47% to 42%. But, Romney is gaining some ground on the Democratic frontrunner. Romney trailed Clinton by six in October, by nine in September, and by eleven in August.
With just one exception, the 42% figure is Romney’s highest total in ten match-ups with Clinton dating back to last December.
While Romney has gained ground recently, McCain’s numbers have been actually fairly steady. In October, Clinton was ahead of the Arizona Senator by just a single percentage point. In fact, this is the fifth straight Rasmussen Reports poll showing Clinton and McCain within two points of each other.
Glad you’re excited about a lack of improvement for McCain . . . at least Romney’s moving in the right direction.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
#47. You are arguing semantics of Executive here, without getting the spirit of my post. There is no implication that managers of big companies are inadequate to discharge their duties as President.
Since President is part of Executive and maintaining law and order is the most basic function of the Executive,persons involved in federal and state level law enforcement(senior level) can be definitley considered at the top of the list of candidates qualified to become President. It can certainly be claimed that Rudy is more experienced in federal government than Romney because of 15 years experience as a senior official in the federal government.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I won’t be voting for McCain in my state’s primary, but I think he is getting a bum rap for what he said about Rudy and Kerik. McCain said the truth! Rudy’s a great guy with many strengths as a candidate, but one of his weaknesses is that he recommended Kerik to be head of DHS. Favoratism towards ones friends can be a fatal trait in a president, and I am afraid that Rudy has this affliction. It’s one reason I support Mitt instead of Rudy for president.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Matthew E. Miller — Nixon had foreign policy experience. He served in World War II. He was a Congressman and a senator. And served as VP for 8 years.
How is serving in World War II and being a Congressman “foreign policy experience”? The Vice-Presidency is a ceremonial role and doesn’t really offer the office holder true foreign policy experience. Are you one of those people that thinks that Hillary Clinton has lots of foreign policy experience because she traveled a lot as First Lady?
November 11th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
according to webster, executive also means “having administrative or managerial responsibility”
I love that you think that Mitt’s time as CEO of both Bain and the Olympics, where he led several businesses, thousands of volunteers and employees, and was responsible for the governing of the business he was given charge of. That doesnt count as executive experience why? Oh, because you say so right?
It doesnt take federal and state law enforcement experience to reduce government entitlements, reduce taxes, fight deficits, and on and on. Are you suggesting a prosecutor, or a cop for that matter, would be better tackling health care, budgets, government spending, and on and on because THEY FIT YOUR NARROW DEFINITION OF EXECUTIVE (ENFORCES LAWS) THAN A LOWLY FORMER CEO LIKE MITT?
November 11th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
#50 wins the stupidest comment of the night award going away.
“It can certainly be claimed that Rudy is more experienced in federal government than Romney because of 15 years experience as a senior official in the federal government.” — So Rudy is an inside the beltway guy who has Washington experience hence he is a better candidate. With that logic, McCain has the most Washington experience. The problem with that logic though is that the country DOESNT WANT an inside the beltway hack. They want someone who has executive experience, like Romney does in business, but who isnt an inside the beltway kind of guy. You might of read recently that Washington sucks right now. Nobody is popular, nothing gets done, spending is too high, there isnt calaboration, and the country is sick of it.
In comes Romney (and Rudy too) who have been successful outside and inside government. It’s executive leadership BEYOND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN WASHINGTON that the country is craving.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
#53. You like many people I noticed here respond without understanding the post and try to rationalise later. I am not discussing the common dictionary definition of the word executive, that is why I specifically defined civics 101 before proceding with my post.
This has nothing to do with Mitt’s qualifications to become President.
Question #2: Has anyone been elected President whose entire career was only in private managerial positions?
That is without holding any post in one of the three branches of the Government. An example would be Bill Gates becoming President in 2009.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
He can’t win but he can beat Rudes out of second which will be great for Roms.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
#54. Once again you display lack of comprehension of the subject matter.
“So Rudy is an inside the beltway guy who has Washington experience hence he is a better candidate. With that logic, McCain has the most Washington experience. ”
McCain is a Senator and not part of the Executive.
You have shown an inability to engage in rational discourse . I don’t think it is productive use of my time to enagage you any further.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I dont suggest ANY good CEO could be President. I think they need some executive experience in government too as Mitt clearly has. I think that with spending and entitlements out of control, a 9 trillion dollar debt, and gridlock, Washington needs a person like Mitt who has worked with Dems, can use business principles of cutting the fat and stream lining, and has worked in the executive branch of government. Bill Gates isnt qualified. Hillary isnt either since she has only Washington experience and has led nothing, ever. Mitt has worked in business and the olympics with Governments, and he led one in MA. All that time constitute executive experience.
I get the 3 branches of government, but thanks. Your question was who had 23 years of executive experience. As I stated, Romney has combined more than 23 years of executive experience IN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
My McCain comment had to do with your stupid comment from 50 —”It can certainly be claimed that Rudy is more experienced in federal government than Romney because of 15 years experience as a senior official in the federal government.”
Oh, every senior official with 15 years experience in the federal government (like McCain) is qualified to be president? I doubt it. Again, I dont want a US Attorney and Mayor to be our parties nominee.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
McCain saying he WILL win NH reminds me of Tommy Thompson saying he would be shocked if he didn’t finish in the top 2 in Ames. He was shocked, all right. He had no clue where he actually was in the race, but he found out. In the aftermath, he had the integrity to realize that he didn’t have a prayer and he dropped out of the race. When McCain loses in NH, I predict he will stay in the race, despite not having any real hope to win anywhere else. McCain lacks the integrity that Tommy had.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Of course, having executive experience, no matter how its defined, does not compensate for a complete lack of foreign policy experience. Giuliani is simply not qualified to be president, based on lack of experience, lack of judgment (Kerik), and lack of temperment. Qualified candidates of both parties have said he is not qualified.
Romney’s inexperience has already manifested itself. It is unsettling to hear a would be CIC proposing to consult attorneys before defending the country. And equating working on a political campaign with serving in Iraq evidences a callousness and elitism so far unparalleled by any other candidate. No excuse will explain away his original comments and they will be fodder for the general campaign.
November 12th, 2007 at 12:21 am
“Oh, every senior official with 15 years experience in the federal government (like McCain) is qualified to be president? I doubt it. Again, I dont want a US Attorney and Mayor to be our parties nominee.”
He happened to be the mayor of a city once called ungovernable, and a city with a population larger than the entire state of Massachusetts.
November 12th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Dave why would that be a lack of integrity to stay in the race. Its not like anybody has to vote for you? Plus McCain would be helping to see that we don’t have a pro – choice president. And thats sure a good resault.