BREAKING: McCain changes his mind

McCain the flip flopping fish. The word "hypocrite" should be Synonymous with McCain. Here is the old and much more reasonable McCain.

What did John McCain have to say about the trip? Despite the fact that John McCain believed that Syria was a "state sponsor of terror," was "harboring terrorists," and were sending "Syrians in to fight Americans," he thought it was worth talking to them, saying that Powell's trip was "appropriate."

more below the fold

Colin Powell went to Syria despite being criticized.

After the invasion of Iraq there was much talk among conservatives about invading Syria. Then Secretary of State Colin Powell was heavily criticized for taking a trip to Syria to talk to its leadership. Newt Gingrich said, "The concept of the American secretary of state going to Damascus to meet with a terrorist-supporting, secret-police-wielding dictator is ludicrous."

The maverick disagreed. He believed that all avenues should exhausted before war and praised Powell. HERE ARE THE TRANSCRIPTS to a Matt LAUER interview as well as a Chris Matthews

What did John McCain have to say about the trip?

McCain on Chris Matthews said on April 23, 2003"We know the Syrians allowed, or sent Syrians in to fight Americans." But McCain said that:

   "I think it's appropriate that Colin Powell is going there...

   

   MATTHEWS: So you don't agree with Newt Gingrich dumping all over him? You don't agree with Newt Gingrich dumping on the Powell trip?

   MCCAIN: You know, Dick -- Richard Armitage is Powell's deputy. And he's a wonderful guy. He served in Vietnam. And he's a really tough guy. And he was quoted someplace today that Newt Gingrich is out of therapy.

McCain added:

   Colin Powell is going to look Bashar aside in the eye and say, look, you know. You better clean up your act here. It's a new day in the Middle East. And I think it's entirely appropriate to do that.

So now, McCain the flip floppin, double talking fish is criticizing Obama for taking a reasonable approach to diplomacy. Much like the on he praised Powell for. What a joke.

Note;  If someone can find video, I will Add

•  Keep em comin!

  by Last Years Man on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:42:08 AM PDT

  •  Meh.

    I don't like the "Flip-flop" meme, because it implies there's something inherently wrong with changing your mind.  Situations change, and viewpoints evolve.  If you NEVER change your mind, regardless of all evidence, we have George Bush.

    McCain's mistakes are that:

    1. He's hypocritical in the extreme on this

    2. He's not ACKNOWLEDGED that he's reversed his position and explained why if he thinks he's right now and was wrong before, what's changed

    3. He's just wrong now.

    4. He's throwing his lot in with Bush (huzzah for us)

    by Rorgg on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:46:55 AM PDT

    •  And adding one to Rorgg's list...

      5.  He hasn't really changed at all. He's one of the most consistant and reliable warmongers on the U.S. political scene. In fact, he's still fighting for an ersatz victory in Viet Nam. And he's also one of the most reliable votes in the Senate against anything that might benefit the poor, minorities or (drumroll) the environment.

      As far as the business of whether we should talk or not talk, that's simply typical Republican spin. Consistency of spin has never been viewed as a requirement or a virtue.

      by TerribleTom on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:59:31 AM PDT

    •  It's a political term

      and it fits McCain perfectly. Maybe you should respond to the story at hand rather then your pointless observation about the title and as the first comment no less.. I could change it to "Breaking" if you like.

      by bhwells on Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:01:06 AM PDT

    •  Right. Hyppocrisy is the meme.

      And all of evidence of it is good. Perhaps the diarist should have chosen a different title, but after what we went through with Kerry, I understand it.

      by Last Years Man on Fri May 16, 2008 at 07:40:25 PM PDT

•  Gosh Darn

  This man is toast.  

  by Hope08 on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:44:09 AM PDT

•  Damn, I thought this was going to be a diary

  about your last vacation to Clearwater Beach.

  "The soothing sound of the sparkling green waves of the Gulf was only interrupted by the sound of my flip-flops."

  by alasmoses on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:46:56 AM PDT

•  Tips for filps

  by bhwells on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:49:35 AM PDT

  •  tip for flops. +4

    by polecat on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:50:14 AM PDT

•  McCain's plan

  Commenter Goethian reviews McCain's new Pony Plan for Iraq:
  Get elected
  ???
  Victory!
  Sounds good to me.

  http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.c...

  It's so simple how could it not work?  

  by Shhs on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:50:38 AM PDT

  •  He has no plans. He has fantasies. n/t

    by Greasy Grant on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:57:00 AM PDT

    •  I like that, Greasy. Seems to me

      that the better meme is that he is so frequently confused.

      by TerribleTom on Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:01:52 AM PDT

•  What's the point in having standards if they

  can't be doubled?  That's the Republican way.  Indeed, these inconsistencies need to be exposed, and mocked, and ranted over, but they're not going to go away.  McCain will say whatever he needs to say to stay viable in the race against Obama.  His flip-flopping will drive a lot of us crazy--especially when we see the media ignoring the change in his view points--and he'll get most of the Republican vote.

  Our task is to educate people on what Obama offers, and get them to vote for him, and not McCain.

  by darthstar on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:59:11 AM PDT

•  Wouldn't it be fun

  to chant this at the Dem convention after the Repubs chanted that at Kerry at their '04 convention?

  by Christian Dem in NC on Fri May 16, 2008 at 09:59:29 AM PDT

•  Video

  http://www.youtube.com/...

  here is the video where McCain says it is alright
  to talk to HAMAS!!!

  by citizensmith on Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:01:50 AM PDT

•  He is the worst Repug nominee I have ever seen.

  His pandering to the conservatives never admit when were wrong voodoo. He has destroyed his credibility and he always looks like his next stop is the hospital.

  by ghett on Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:02:23 AM PDT

•  Flip Flop is a conservative buzzword

  We really should not be using it at all.

  It presumes that changing your mind is bad. That's completely opposed to liberal morality - a person is good if they change their mind for good reasons. A person is bad if the never change their mind. We call that closed-minded.

  Liberals should frame this as a sign that McCain is just saying anything to win. He's not very smart or considered, so he changes his mind just to get votes.

  by pdrap on Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:04:07 AM PDT

  •  Good Point

    I agree wholeheartedly that chaning your mind given new facts or circumstances is a GOOD thing.  However, the problem is sometimes you have to frame things in phrases some people will understand. Judging by the excessive use of the term "flip-flop" in the 2004 election, I think that term resonates with the Republicans. Also, by throwing "flip-flop" back in there face they may just think it through a little as you suggest.  

    Plus, as much as I try not to be, I can be a vindictive SOB and just want to rub their smug faces in their own shite.

    by howd on Fri May 16, 2008 at 11:11:11 AM PDT

    •  I agree

      Changing your mind is one thing, Flip Flopping is changing because the political winds say so. It's a word that fits McCain well.

      by bhwells on Fri May 16, 2008 at 10:33:58 PM PDT

      •  Exactly

        Look up "Flip-Flop" in the dictionary and a picture of McCain is staring you in the face.  McCain epitomizes the term "flip-flopper", though I do believe given his lobbiest, Hamas comments, preacher endorsements, etc., I think he is taking flip-flopping to all new levels.

        by howd on Sat May 17, 2008 at 06:05:01 AM PDT

•  Lame and desperate tactics

  Yawn, rove; yawn GOP tactics: yawn; mcbush,mcsame,mcwornout,mcdullard; mctoady;mcshill;mchypocrite;mclobbyist;mcwarmonger;mctemper;mcsnooze;mcnuts . . .

  by Septima on Fri May 16, 2008 at 11:14:46 AM PDT