A Senior Moment?

Brit Hume has claimed that McCain's confusion in regards to who is training Al-Queda in Iraq is a delightful gaffe on the part of the Right-Wing noise machine.  It establishes several things.

#1, McCain was wrong.  Brit's attempt to paper this over is hugely significant.  It means the Noise Machine cannot now push this as a theme.  Repeat after me: Iran is NOT training Al-Queda insurgents for Iraq operations.  Fox News agrees.

#2, McCain has a mental problem.  We are talking about someone whose entire qualification for the job is our trust in their mental faculties.  We've had Presidents in wheelchairs and Presidents with personal character issues.  And we're pretty sure we've already had an Alzheimer's President.  Reagan Mythology 101 tells us that Americans have this glowing, positive image of the 1980's, but reality is I don't know that a lot of Americans would have St. Ronnie back for another term.

The Right Wing noise machine has made a huge mistake with this, but at this point it's getting hard to keep a candidate as fumblingly stupid as McCain propped up in front of an increasingly engaged public.  We let them put Bush up there and paid very little attention in 2000 because things were on the whole pretty good for the average Joe.  In the aftermath of 9/11, a recession that never really ended for the average worker, Katrina, the deflating dollar, the failing occupation of Iraq, jacked oil prices, healthcare costs out of control . . . we're paying attention now.

And in light of that, McCain's gaffe isn't a minor issue to be dismissed and brushed aside in the rush to get to "other issues."  It is the issue.  McCain is either a liar, or mentally incompetent.

Which is it, Brit?

•  Why...

  Can't it be both?

  by Drocket on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 11:41:00 AM PDT

  •  Either he's choosing to be wrong

    Or he doesn't know he's wrong.  One or the other must be true.

    by slippytoad on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 11:41:51 AM PDT

    •  when he stands by Blair and says that

      he's going to enact climate legislation, and we know he never turns up to vote, that is a calculated lie.

      But in this case, he's clueless.

      by dotcommodity on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 01:16:36 PM PDT

  •  Yes, he is both....n/t

    by Pris from LA on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 12:44:44 PM PDT

•  Tips

  Hume has helped back the Wingnut Noise Machine into a corner.  Let's trap them there.  McCain is the dipshit they've chosen to represent them in the GE.  He's their albatross.

  by slippytoad on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 11:41:16 AM PDT

•  What about a third choice?

  I wanted to vote for "Both".

  by my homeo on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 11:47:39 AM PDT

  •  It's really more for Brit Hume to answer

    Either he lied about Iran training Al-Queda, or he's mentally deficient and doesn't know the difference, and is unfit for the Presidency.

    by slippytoad on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 11:55:47 AM PDT

•  After all

  McCain IS the Senior Senator from Arizona!

  by Tuba Les on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 12:00:58 PM PDT

•  'Incompetence moment' is a pretty good

  reframing of the 'senior moment' line of excuses the Republican'ts and McCain't will try to make down the road to excuse his gaffes and blunders.

  by NeuvoLiberal on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 12:03:51 PM PDT

•  I thought the definition of "senior moment"

  is when something is on the tip of your tongue, something you normally should be able to remember, but you just can't recollect it in that moment.

  McCain's conflation of Al Qaeda and 'extremists' is a sign of his doing a really sloppy job.

  Just like the way he said in Israel the holiday of Purim is like their version of Halloween.

  McCain is a sloppy thinker.

  It's not his age; it's his attitude.
  He's always been out-of-touch with the mainstream. He lives in a rarified world of military and financial elites.

  by LNK on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 12:09:59 PM PDT

•  I am no expert on senilty or Alzheimer

  those I was the guardian for a elderly relative with Alzheimer's. And the way I experienced her illness, it seems that in earlier stages, both is an answer.   They can't remember, and they make up stories and justification for what they can't remember.  And once they tell the stories a few times, they become the new reality.

  McCain may have trouble remembering, and so even though corrected by Lieberman once, he went back to his new truth.   And he will do everything in his power to make sure that his new reality becomes the only reality, he will cast off those who try to correct him, seek out those who will support him and villify those who don't as liars out to undermine him.  The problem is, that only make him sound like a typical republican, so it may take years to know if its lies or Alzheimer's.

  by jfromga on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 12:57:29 PM PDT

•  I would have used a both of the above choice.

  It is obvious that we will see LIEberman or another like-minded handler at McLame's side all but constantly.
  The debates should prove interesting, considering he will be at a distinct disadvantage due to Obama's age, and speaking skills.

  by manwithnoname on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 01:12:27 PM PDT

•  My stepfather was a POW during WWII.

  Survival depended in reaching to the bottom of his soul, digging out skills and willingness to sacrafice things he never wanted to talk about.

  When the allies began approaching the Chec. POW camp where he he was held, at, the prisoners were taken and marched around in circles in the woods for 80 days. 3/4 died. I can only guess what it took from a man to be one of those 1 out of 4 who made it home.

  When he was 75, those skills started taking over. And it nearly destroyed my mom.

  That's my fear with McCain. Age and horrible experience, combined. . .

  by zic on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 01:25:02 PM PDT

•  The smoking gun.

  Can we find Mccain's prescription bottle please?
  He hasn't released his medical records. Is Aricept in there?

  Aricept: * Was shown in studies to help cognition and function, which includes effects on memory and performing everyday tasks * Is the #1 prescribed Alzheimer’s drug—worldwide, more than 3.8 million people have been treated with Aricept

  by kiki236 on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 03:12:27 PM PDT

  •  If that is the case

    It should immediately disqualify him from even seeking the Presidency.

    by slippytoad on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 04:21:53 PM PDT