Mr. President, can anyone seriously argue that another six months of United States forces in harm’s way means the difference between peace and prosperity and war there? Is that very dim prospect worth one more American life? No, it is not.
- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on 10.14.93 regarding American involvement in Somalia
I support the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces as soon as possible. That does not mean as soon as order is restored. It does not mean as soon as democracy is flourishing. It does not mean as soon as we have established a viable nation. As soon as possible means as soon we can get out without losing any more American lives.
- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), on 10.16.94 regarding American involvement in Haiti
I’ve been thinking a lot about the current crop of Republican Presidential candidates. That probably accounts for the throbbing headache I’m trying to get rid of. Man, if there is a sorrier lot of intellectual and moral mediocrities out there this side of the Cincinnati Bengals, I’ve yet to see them.
If you think I’m kidding, how about we take inventory? I know it’s early, but let’s have a little fun, shall we? Let’s start with Rudy Giuliani, who besides being Mayor of New York on 9.11, is best known for dressing in drag and allowing Donald Trump to nuzzle his fake breasts. Then there’s his three marriages, and at least one or two extramarital affairs (after one, do we really need to keep track anymore??). And now he’s trying to present himself as a “family values candidate”?? How long before he begins speaking in tongues on the campaign trail as he thumps his Bible on the podium?
Then there’s Mitt Romney, who in 1994 came out and, in no uncertain terms, stated that abortion should be safe, legal, and available. Now that he’s running for the GOP nomination, though, he’s seen the light and is now anti-abortion. PRAISE JEEBUS!! Oh, and he’s also now a BIG fan of the NRA. As a Mormon, he’s attempted to assuage the uncertainty of the GOP’s drooling Right-wing nutjobs by convincing them that he really IS one of them. Oh, and then there’s the whole “magic underwear” thing. Don’t get me started…you won’t like me when I’m angry.
And how can we forget Newt Gingrich, who, though, he isn’t (yet) officially running, has already proven his willingness to do and/or say whatever it takes to win over the drooling, self-righteous, self-superior, slash-and-burn wing of the GOP? How such a demonstrably intelligent person can be such a pandering, self-interested DUMB@$$ is truly almost beyond belief. Even so, he does add an element of crazy to an already mentally and morally unbalanced field.
And last, but by NO means least, is John McCain, who’s practically spinning in circles (Linda Blair would be SO proud) from all the flip-flopping he’s been doing. All politicians tailor their message to their audience, but McCain takes it a step farther by learning what the audience wants to hear and then spoon-feeding them exactly that. As strategy it’s brilliant, but it also clearly demonstrates that as a politician and a man, McCain is completely devoid of principles…outside of believing in and saying whatever it takes to win the White House. Winning isn’t everything, it’s the ONLY thing (somewhere, Vince Lombardi is spinning furiously in his grave….)
And then there’s the whole “Bomb Iran” sing-along thing. If I represented the Beach Boys, I think I’d be warming up my lawyers right about now.
Cue the “cease and desist” letter in 3…2…1….
McCain has proven particularly adept at being the chief supporter of Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader © and his Excellent Adventure in Iraq © . Where he opposed American involvement in Haiti and Somalia during the Clinton Administration, he opposed what Republicans then glibly referred to as “Democrat wars”. Now that Republicans have a war of their very own, John McCain has determined that it’s in his best interest to ride the war in Iraq straight into the Oval Office in 2008. After all, as a former long-term resident of the “Hanoi Hilton”, McCain KNOWS from war…and in his mind, Iraq is a particularly and perfectly groovy little war.
To say that the Republican candidates are displaying a collective overabundance of hypocrisy and self-interest, while simultaneously suffering from a collective lack of decency, honesty, and principle would be something of an understatement…of epic proportions. The only ideology that binds the current crop of GOP hopefuls seems to be the lust for power and the desire to grab the golden ring that is the Presidency. To accomplish that, all of them will do or so anything they think will increase their prospects of victory. They will pander, lie, propagandize, demonize Democrats, and in general do anything short of infanticide to gain the support of Conservative primary voters.
Time was, in the Ronald Reagan era, when the GOP was about principles and ideas. Granted, their ideas and principles may have had nothing to do with doing what’s best for the American people, but at least Republicans acted the part. Now, Republican Presidential candidates are nothing more than a collection of intellectual, ideological, and moral midgets engaged in a game of “King of the Hill.”
It’s not about ideas, and it’s not about principles. For Republicans, it’s about money and political power. Same as it ever was….
