I have an idea for a new slogan for John McCain - Me Too. When he needs to gain the approval of Democrats, he is a moderate. When he needs the Republicans' approval, he votes with Bush. When he needs the Religious Right, it's "Amen and praise Jesus!"
The problem is, in craving approval while shooting from the hip, he has quite often in the past few months, nearly shot off body parts. Example, when he chose to bond with the bikers and offered up his wife for the wet T-shirt contest (Of course, after that the issue of whether he had said body parts or not, may have been mute.)and when he just had to have the approval of the Hillary voters, he felt sure that just running out and getting any ol' female would do, regardless of the fact that the one he chose was diametrically opposed to all Hilary's views.
So now, John wants to try something new. And since he can't think or anything himself, he cribs off of Obama....and wants to be seen as (Duh, Duh, DUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHH)
John McCain:Agent of Change
John McCain says he wants to be a leader for change. He says he wants the era of reform and change to begin.
But why now?
Why couldn’t the era of reform have started before the saving and loan scandals of late 1980’s and 90’s which cost the American public $124.6 million? Remember the Keating 5? Remember when McCain was criticized for having "poor judgment"?
Why couldn’t the era of change have started when George Bush started the Iraq War based on false information? While McCain tries to portray himself as now being a maverick, he was among the most aggressive proponents of the preemptive strike. In fact, he co-sponsored the resolution for the Iraq War instead of standing with Sen. Byrd to denounce the war. McCain went so far as to predict on Fox News that the "war will be brief" (21 Feb. 2003), proving that it’s not only his judgment in ethics that’s poor.
Where was the era of reform when the abu Ghraib scandal hit. This man, who described his intimate knowledge of what it’s like to be a tortured prisoner of war in an effort to further his political future, was unwilling to stand up to his party and say that if it was wrong for this to be done to Americans that it should not be done by Americans. John McCain had a chance to stand tall and define America’s moral authority by denouncing the torture. Instead, he patted the torturer on the back and said, "Good job." He stated that Donald Rumsfeld was doing a fine job, that is, until enough Americans voiced their shock and disgust at the abuse. And even then, he stopped short of calling for his resignation.
Where was the era of change when, as the economy of the country was failing, John McCain chose to continue to listen to the economic policies of George W. Bush? He agreed with George W. Bush in giving tax cuts to the Americans making the top 1% while at the same time placing the burden on the real working class families. (S. 2020, Vote#26, 11/18/05) He agreed with the risky proposition of fixing Social Security through people using private bank accounts even as banks are failing on a daily basis in this country. (SCR 83, Vote #68, 3/16/06)
And when George W. Bush suggested that "When a good or service is produced more cheaply abroad, it makes sense to import it than to make or provide it domestically", John McCain could have spoken up for the working men and women of America who are losing their jobs right and left. But no, he lock-stepped with Bush again.
During McCain’s speech he espoused the need to retrain workers and extending unemployment for those who have lost their jobs to the outsourcing which he approved. This was especially fascinating since he voted against retraining in 2002, pulled funding for retraining in 2007 and voted against extending unemployment benefits in http://www.aflcio.org/...
And as the medical needs of America have taken center stage, did John McCain show himself as a maverick, pulling away from those who voted for the lobbyists instead of the American people? Did he stand shoulder to shoulder with Hillary Clinton on the issue of health care? Well, no. He stood shoulder to shoulder with George W. Bush as McCain’s proposals are actually Bush’s: Making the health care premiums part of taxable income which essential creates a new tax on working families and forcing families to fend for themselves with the insurance companies. On top of that he voted to gut the Family and Medical Leave Act which assisted families at their lowest point.
McCain, he who wishes to be seen as a reformer, has even voted against healthcare, voting against increased funding for services for wounded vets in 2001, 2004, and 2006 . Ironically, in 2006, McCain was a maverick in being one of only 13 Republicans to vote against adding an additional $400 million for veteran’s care.
Yes, while McCain is utilizing his service to his country as a campaign tool he appears to have been unwilling to stand alongside his fellow veterans and assist them in his position as Senator. He talks a lot about the "debt that we can never fully repay" and was in a position to protect and defend his military brothers. He didn’t. He has voted against the 21st Century GI bill, voted against safety equipment for the troops, and he even voted against allowing troops to have adequate rest between deployments.
For decades John McCain has had a chance to make a difference and be the maverick that he claims to be. He’s had the chance to stand up for the working families of America and not just the top 1%, stand up for Americans who needed good, affordable health care instead of standing for the insurance companies.
He could have used his experience to stop the use of torture instead of standing with those who ordered the same violence used on him 30 years before. He could have used his experience as a veteran to protect and serve those who have protected and served us by placing their lives on the line.
John McCain has had 30 years to be an agent of reform and change and instead he has spent more and more time ingrained with those who have lead us into the quagmire in which we now find ourselves.
McCain wants change - he wants to change our memories of past misdeeds and past judgment errors. He wishes he could change the fact that we know about his past voting record. He prays that we don’t recognize that a man’s past behavior is a clear indication of his future behavior.
He hopes that we forget that some things never change.