The Candidates
Sen. McCain made the the following statement regarding Iran’s testing of medium and long-range missiles in the Persian Gulf earlier today:
ARLINGTON, VA –Iran ’s most recent missile tests demonstrate again the dangers it poses to its neighbors and to the wider region, especially Israel . Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran ’s continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran ’s dangerous ambitions. Iran ’s missile tests also demonstrate the need for effective missile defense now and in the future, and this includes missile defense in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland . Working with our European and regional allies is the best way to meet the threat posed by Iran , not unilateral concessions that undermine multilateral diplomacy.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:25 am
One of the greatest strengths of John McCain is that he is not afraid to launch a ground invasion of Iran to topple the corrupt Iranian regime if it becomes necessary. I believe that during this transitionary period between Bush and McCain that they need to be working in concert to get America on a war footing to take on the grave threat of Iran. Iran will only cease to be a threat when it has a Democratic government and Western values and freedoms for its citizens.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:48 am
One of the greatest weaknesses of John McCain is his unwillingness to go after Obama. There is just so much to nail Obama with. He should not just leave this to the RNC or the 527s. McCain needs to go after Obama on this and other issues in a presidential manner. Why is he not doing this?
If McCain refuses to do this, Obama will get a way with the biggest leap to the center in modern election history. This is one reason why he has such lackluster lukewarm support from many conservatives. I hope McCain will get a VP that is willing to do what he himself is unwilling to do.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:53 am
NEWS FLASH just heard obama met with his VP search team in DC today does that mean he’s about to announce and Do you think he will announce before he leaves for his overseas IRAQ trip? The reason I sday that is wonder if he wants a vp while he’s over there to campaign in the ACTUAL COUNTRY I Thought he was running for? wonder if mccain will seal obama’s sunshine and announce vp the same day!
July 9th, 2008 at 11:54 am
NEWS FLASH just heard obama met with his VP search team in DC today does that mean he’s about to announce and Do you think he will announce before he leaves for his overseas IRAQ trip? The reason I ask is that I is wonder if he wants a vp while he’s over there to campaign in the ACTUAL COUNTRY I Thought he was running for? wonder if mccain will seal obama’s sunshine and announce vp the same day!
July 9th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Greg,
In todays media age you must give you VP at least a week to prep. Do not make the Quayle mistake. According to Jim Webb, they are still asking for background information? Obama is at least 2-3 weeks away, maybe longer.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
wonder if our troops in iraq are looking forward to seeing him wonder what kind of welcome he will get?
July 9th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Poland avoids missile defense topic with Obama
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/08/america/Candidates-Missile-Defense.php
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Tuesday that Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain would carry out the Bush administration’s missile defense plans in Poland if he were elected.
But Sikorski said he received no such assurances from Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama. Though the two spoke by phone Monday, Sikorski said he avoided discussing missile defense, the most urgent issue in Polish-American relations.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
#2: Rudy would pound on Obama & it has already started.
I believe Rudy will be on Hannity tonight.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Russia sure doesn’t like what we’re doing with Poland and the Czech Republic in terms of planning missile defense systems. Are they willing to go to war over it?
One of the biggest things I got out of the post-Cold War rehash/analysis was that Russians are, in general, paranoid. Their complaints about the missile defense system, when looked at in that context, certainly makes sense. If we can shoot ICBM’s at them, but they can’t shoot them back at us (because of the missile defense system)…
July 9th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I totally agree about McCain’s lack of focus and inability or unwillingness to go after Obama.
Part of the problem is in his prior campaigns he always went after his opponent from the middle and from the left(Bush, Romney). Maybe he’s just not comfortable going after someone from the right.
Also, he doesn’t have the media on his side and I think he’s not used to that and it’s throwing him off. He could always count on them to carry his water, but he can’t now. They were his best friend in 2000 because he was the alternative to Bush and in 2008 because he was the centrist more liberal candidate on issues like CFR and GW which the media loves, but now thta they have an honest to gooness real leftist to support, they don’t need to waste their time with McCain.
Lastly it seems he’s more used to coming from nowhere and falling way behind before he makes his move. In 2000 he was in single digits for all of 1999 before he made his move in NH and we all know what happened this time around.
There is so much out ther to hammer Obama on. There are issues out there that McCain can own and clobber Obama with(gas prices, energy exploration, drilling_. He needs someone to put it all together, to focus the campaign.
He’s only a few pts behind and in good shape money wise. He’s in pretty hood shape all things considered but he needs to get moving.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
would rudy do well at a vp debate if mccain chose him?
July 9th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Rudy on the ticket would instantly give McCain a huge boost among Catholic voters (pivotal in the Midwest) and largely reassure Hispanics in regards to immigration policy. Rudy also makes New Jersey competitive and probably wins you Pennsylvania or New Hampshire. Rudy owns the 9-11 brand and can skillfully deploy it at any time to McCain’s advantage. All that said, I do not believe that he will be selected for Veep.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
JA, I thought you were a Portman guy? “McCain doesn’t need a Wingman, he needs a Portman”, or something like that?
July 9th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Kristofer,
I am a “Portman guy” - did you read my last sentence. Any how, just because I think Portman is the best choice doesn’t mean that there are not a lot of very good choices out there that I could support. Almost all of the Veep candidates discussed on this site merit some consideration and good arguments can be made for all of them. And the quote is: “Every sailor needs a port and McCain needs his Portman.”
July 9th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I believe that the Iranian missile tests more than meet the threshold for pre-emption. McCain should hammer this point home forcefully.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I would group Portman in with Sanford. Do no harm, and meets party base criteria, and younger enough than McCain. Portman is from the correct state as well. My first choice remains Palin, but if you have a video of a Portman speech, I would look at it.
“Every sailor needs a port and McCain needs his Portman.” Very, “Top Gun”.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Rob Portman will be speaking at a McCain rally today in Ohio.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Is Portman’s name on McCain’s vice presidential candidate short list?
“Nobody believes me when I say it, but I’m really happy to be home; and I’m not looking to go back to Washington right now. Maybe more important, my family is not looking for me to go back to Washington,” he said. “I have three teenagers, and I’m spending a lot more time with my Dad, who turns 86 next month. And it’s just time to be home for a while.”
July 9th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
mccain will also be in MI tonight and tomorrow vp location any one :)!