Swapping the letters to JSM III from GWB and calling it change is just insanity
It's sometimes easy to lose the forest for the trees. When you're trying to dodge all the GOP planted land mines blowing up all around you. But let's not lose track of the fact that McCain is being guided by the same guys who have been complicit in all of these tax payer bombs and while the board pieces have changed, the MO's really haven't.
Most of this everyone here probably already knows. I'm just seeing the pieces put together in a different way as well as perspectives that we get from others.
In the Rolling Stone story that lays out "Who is the REAL John Sydney McCain" and shows him to still be the kid called Punk and McNasty. The kid who constantly embarassed his father and wouldn't apply himself for whatever reason - be it the very early manifestation of the daddy complex or just born petulant and entitled who developed the daddy complex later on. A child who was prone to holding his breath until he turned blue in the face and passed out (cured, btw by being thrown into an ice cold bath) or someone who would actually admit to being the kind who would pick up their field and go home (airfield in this case) ... didn't we pretty much settle this spoiled-rich-kid-fails-upward-because-daddy-covers-his-son's-behind is unacceptable by crappy movies in the 80's?
But that's what we're being offered. Pretty much like GWB. Booze, partying, crashing shit... and daddy bailing 'em out again, hoping that one day the child will amount to something.
Now, John McCain took a different path, but covered the same territory and met the same people in their circles within that upper class Republican society that just loves to mingle. And get business ideas from. And be swayed by grifters playing the role of politician.
McCain didn't really learn the lessons from the Keating 5 scandal - not the ones that count to us. To the person trying to get away with it though, "how to cover your ass next time" is a HUGE lesson. You could say the same thing about a failed Oil Business that goes bust during an oil boom. Or any and all of the other failed Bush follies.
Now, 8 years ago, as we know, McCain had different positions on a ton of things. Then, as the polls and congressional voting record shows, that McCain seemed to have had someone say to him "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". Probably a lobbyist. Just conjecture, but the course of events seems to bear it out. As time went on, McCain voted more and more with the plans of the team around and with Bush. The ones advising him. The ones that ONLY advised him. The ones advising BOTH of them. Both with singular influence.
I can see only two ways to interpret McCain on these latest offerings. First, that he just really doesn't know and won't listen to anyone other than his camp's perspective on it or second, that he does know but wants to one up daddy and grandpa so badly that he really doesn't care the consequences as long as he gets his way. The end's justify the means, right? Hasn't that been the montra? Misrepresent what's actually happening. Repeat it over and over. Try to stir up drama and use it as a distraction. Their true believers only ever listen to the message given by other true believers.
The war in Iraq?
stay the course
Taxes?
stay the course
Health Care?
stay the course
Energy Policy?
stay the course
Lobbyists?
stay the course
Stay the course, Stay the course, Stay the course. Use the same playbook, just disguise it while rehashing it. There is not one iota's change except the McCain players appear to be the JV squad compared to Team Bush.
Sidekick, Indeed.