Tea Party Resents Being Called Hobbits

As the tea party called for a default, McCain was one of the few moderate republican voices during the debt debacle:

U.S. Sen. John McCain's town-hall meeting Monday in Gilbert broke down into a shouting match at times as "tea-party" activists directed their anger and frustration toward the senator over issues ranging from his characterization of them as "hobbits" to the nation's sagging economy.

At one point during McCain's first town hall since last fall, a heated verbal exchange between two men prompted the senator to call for "a modicum of courtesy" and sent town officials scurrying for more security.

"If you are not courteous to your fellow citizens here, we're going to have to ask you to leave," McCain told a crowd about 75 boisterous constituents. Read more

A CNN poll. Aug. 5-7, offers a glimmer of hope. The democratic party received 47% unfavorable rating; republican party, 59% and tea party, 51%.
On the favorable numbers:  Dems, 47%; GOP, 33%; Tea party, 30%
And as of right now, Obama beats all of the republican candidates in general election matchup polling, according to RCP. Who would've thunk? Not me. I though Obama was done for.
And according to this WaPo poll, people are blaming the appropriate contingent -- the tea party.

McCain Denounces Torture

Gang of Six Reps on Meet the Press April 24

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Axelrod on Meet the Press on Tax Cuts Nov. 14

In my mind, John McCain now has zero credibility. He also lives in another time. He should've retired. So much for NOH8, Cindy McCain stands by her husband's stance on DADT.

Alan Greenspan says Congress is going to have to adopt a plan to cut our debt and balance our budget. He warns of a bond market crisis. I think for the next two years, we'll see Obama leading on getting Americans up to speed on our debt situation. The fact is: we can't get our financial house in order unless we BOTH raise taxes and decrease spending.

It's Lady Gaga Vs. John McCain

I'm not a fan of celebrities getting political. There's always at least a sliver of self promotion and ego. But Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) makes a good point: Shouldn't the soldier that shows prejudice against the gay soldier be kicked out? Amen.
A vote on don't ask don't tell is expected today. Democrats need 60 votes to get around a republican filibuster. Lady Gaga was in Maine hoping to rally two of the remaining sane republicans, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, to vote with dems to repeal DADT. Of course, dusty McCain is fighting the repeal.

McCain's Urge to Surge One More Time

John McCain gets another opportunity to say "surge."

We wouldn't have needed a surge if we didn't invade a country that we shouldn't have invaded, 4,000 and some troop deaths later and tens of thousands Iraqi civilians, many of them women and children, dead. McCain likes to say surge, surge, surge, but something else besides the surge could've worked as well. But we'll never know. And did anything really work? We just wreaked more havoc in the region. We need to offer non-military assistance.

Unless we're attacked, we should not be invading countries.

This is what we'll get if we elect a republican president -- more war. War, war, war. Intense war. War on new nations. I don't mind the republican stance on fiscal policy. I get it. But in volatile times like these, a republican president, could have serious consequences. Republicans aren't into diplomacy.

Cultural Right Has Taken Over Economic Right

Paul Krugman voiced that observation: The cultural right has taken over the economic right. This Week's roundtable was especially good this morning. And finally, some truth on the stimulus. Politics aside, the stimulus worked. More stimulus would've worked better.

Cynthia Tucker calls Michael Steele the republicans' "affirmative action hire gone bad." If you ask me, Steele represents exactly how republicans feel about non-whites.

McCain was also on.

Petraeus Listens to McCain's Rant on Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline

The planned July 2011 withdrawal of SOME troops in Afghanistan has been a bug up John McCain's butt. The deadline, timeline, whatever you want to call it seems to be confusing to many. It seems to me that the withdrawal timeline isn't there to discourage our allies or so that terrorists can regroup, as McCain insists. The deadline is there so that the corrupt Karzai government has a time frame in order to get its act together.

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The video cuts off before Petraeus gets a chance to speak but here's some of what he said:

Petraeus tried to make his position clear, reiterating a comment he made during hearings on Afghanistan two weeks ago: “It’s important to note that July 2011 will be the beginning of a process ... not the date by which we head for the exits and turn off the lights.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) zeroed in on the essential difficulty facing the Obama administration — how to balance continued support for the war with calls from his liberal base to make plans to exit as soon as possible. Citing a quote attributed to Vice President Joe Biden in Jonathan Alter’s book “The Promise” — that “you can bet on it” that in July 2011 a large number of troops will come home — Graham asked Petraeus whether the comment was accurate.

Petraeus responded in his typically artful style by reframing it. Petraeus said he had a conversation with Biden immediately after meeting with the president in the Oval Office about the much-argued-over July 2011 withdrawal date.

“The vice president said, ‘You should know that I’m 100 percent supportive of this policy,’” Petraeus said, and he added that neither he nor Defense Secretary Robert Gates had heard Biden make the statement quoted in Alter’s book. Read more at Politco

McCain Behind McChrystal's Ego?

John McCain turns a lot of people rogue.
Seems to me that if Stanley McChrystal was crying out for more troops and now McCain is calling for more troops, then maybe McCain and McChrystal were in cahoots. It makes sense that McCain and other republicans have spent a lot of time dissing the Obama administration in front of military leaders in a way that gave McChrystal not only a larger ego, but the impression that he could make private comments public in a Rolling Stone article.
It's as if McChrystal felt he had more power than Obama.
Where did he get that sense of himself? Probably from the group of republicans, including McCain, who still haven't realized that, yes, Obama is the real president. But things didn't turn out quite as the republicans expected because Stan went rogue. That's my theory. Stan isn't talking anymore. But McCain is. He's still trying to be the president.

More troops may be needed in Afghanistan, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) suggested Thursday.

McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that it may be necessary to increase troop levels as other countries default on their commitments to send forces into Afghanistan.
....
President Barack Obama had already orchestrated a "surge" of troops in Afghanistan that infused some 30,000 troops into Afghanistan this year to help quash a mounting insurgency. Republicans like McCain had clamored for this surge, but have been sharply critical of a timeline within that strategy that looks to begin withdrawing troops in July of 2011.

McCain was critical of the idea of a timeline, as many Republicans have been, warning instead that "it's all about conditions on the ground."

McCain and other Republicans fear that communicating a firm withdrawal strategy could encourage enemy forces to simply wait out the U.S. in Afghanistan. The Hill

McCain Says Petraeus Will be Confirmed Quickly

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Amazingly, I agree with Joe Lieberman:

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Obama Asked Republicans Today for Cooperation

Obama met with Senate republicans today and all he got was an angry Corker. This is from the White House:

The President had a good exchange with the Senate Republican Conference today about priorities for the balance of the year.

He asked for their cooperation in finishing work on measures to help create jobs and improve our economy, including one to help make loans available to small businesses; in ratifying the START treaty that is central to our long-term security and efforts at nuclear non-proliferation; and in confirming Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court in a timely manner, so she can take her seat when the court reconvenes after summer.

The President also urged the conference to work with him to address two major, unresolved issues: comprehensive immigration reform and energy legislation.

On immigration, the President noted that many in the conference have supported efforts before to fix a broken system and impose accountability at our borders, accountability for employers who undercut the law by hiring undocumented workers; and for the workers themselves, who are here illegally and must take responsibility. And he urged them to work with him across party lines to make progress on this issue.

On energy, the President told the conference that the gulf oil disaster should heighten our sense of urgency to hasten the development of new, clean energy sources that will promote energy independence and good-paying American jobs. And he asked that they work with him on the promising proposals currently before Congress.

Obviously, there were continued differences on some of these issues. But, the President believes that direct dialogue is better than posturing, and he was pleased to have the opportunity to share views with the conference.

He will continue to take every opportunity to work constructively with any member of Congress, of either party, to move America forward.

But when republicans crawled out of the meeting more than an hour later, one republican was a wee bit upset. Sen. Bob Corker criticized Obama for using republicans as props. They may as well be useful for something. I think republicans make great props.

A GOP senator ripped into President Barack Obama at a meeting on Capitol Hill Tuesday, telling him he had “audacity” coming in and using Republican lawmakers as "props."

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the Democrats’ partner on Wall Street reform, criticized Obama during a meeting the president requested with the Senate Republican conference to court their support for the remaining initiatives on his agenda.

After the meeting, GOP senators said they appreciated the outreach.

But behind closed doors, the president faced a hostile crowd of angry Republicans, led by Corker.

Obama reacted coolly:

The Republican who witnessed the exchange said Obama offered up a mild response.

“He said he wanted the bill the way it was and just because Corker didn’t get what he wanted he shouldn’t get so mad,” said the source. Read what else republicans had to say at The Hill

A grownup saves face for Corker:

A spokesman for the White House said the exchange with Corker was not as harsh as Republicans described.

“The exchange he had with the president was actually pretty civil,” said White House spokesman Bill Burton.

Yet more republican thuggery. Do they really think they're going to make inroads with the American people like this? Republicans have a lack of respect for POTUS:

"He needs to take a Valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans," Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) told reporters. "He's pretty thin-skinned." msnbc

McCain is still posing:

"I said we needed to secure the border first," McCain recounted. But, according to several senators, Obama argued in favor of a comprehensive bill that also provided a pathway to citizenship for illegal residents, similar to the legislation that McCain backed in 2007.

Obama Sending 1,200 Guard Troops to Border

Read James Jones and John Brennan's border letter here.

Homeland Security officials said that the troops would provide support to law enforcement officers already working along the border by helping observe and monitor traffic between official crossing points, and would help analyze trafficking patterns in hopes of intercepting illegal drug shipments. They performed similar tasks in an earlier deployment along the border from 2006 to 2008, when they also assisted with road and fence construction. The troops have not been involved directly in intercepting border crossers. NYT

McCain wants 6,000.

McCain Blames Federal Government for New Arizona Immigration Law

How long has John McCain been a senator? How many opportunities did he miss to work on immigration reform?

Arizona Governor Says She Won't Tolerate Racial Profiling

But isn't the legalization of racial profiling exactly what this bill does? From the bill:

A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WITHOUT A WARRANT, MAY ARREST A PERSON IF THE OFFICER HAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE PERSON HAS COMMITTED ANY PUBLIC OFFENSE THAT MAKES THE PERSON REMOVABLE FROM THE UNITED STATES.

Just what is probable cause? How do you know someone is illegal? Here's what else it does:

It also makes it a state crime, a misdemeanor, to not carry immigration papers. It also allows people to sue local governments or agencies if they believe federal or state immigration law is not being enforced. NYT

Arizona has a big immigration problem but it picked the wrong way to deal with it. John McCain ought to be ashamed of himself for supporting it. He told Fox that illegal immigrants are intentionally causing accidents on the freeway. I'm glad that I don't live in Arizona, and hey, it's a grand day for law and order. Did you hear that Utah is going to kill a murderer on death row by firing squad? Who does that anymore?

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Tea Partiers Won't Vote for John McCain for One Reason Alone

In Searchlight, the tea partiers call themselves the "world's premier human rights movement," and that all the talk of racial slurs is "a crock." What? It's all on video. All of it. The hate signs, the slurs. Human rights movement? Maybe human waste movement.

The fact is Sarah Palin is wasting her time propping up McCain and she's ruining her tea party cred. Tea partiers won't vote for McCain for one reason: immigration. He's long been in favor of immigration reform, and tea partiers hate immigrants. They blame immigrants for all of their woes like they're now blaming government. They believe that government is boosting the lives of immigrants and minorities, leaving all the white folks behind.

Tea partiers didn't come to Searchlight to stand in the windy, dusty desert to see McCain. They came to see Sarah Palin. Let's face it. She's pretty and she's angry--tea party turn ons.

Belligerent McCain Laughs Off Violent Threats and White House

John McCain sure did take a fast riding roller coaster.

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McCain Warns: Don't Expect Any Cooperation

I don't think John McCain realizes how funny this is. The republicans haven't cooperated for a nanosecond--on anything. Good gracious, I'm so thankful he's not our president. If you'd prefer to listen to him whine, watch his interview on GMA here.

Democrats shouldn't expect much cooperation from Republicans the rest of this year, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned Monday.

McCain and another Republican senator decried the effect health reform legislation has had on the Senate, a day after the House passed the upper chamber's bill.

GOP senators emerged Monday to caution that the health debate had taken a toll on the institution, warning of little work between parties the rest of this year.

"There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year," McCain said during an interview Monday on an Arizona radio affiliate. "They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it." The Hill

Republicans Out Protesting Healthcare Bill

John McCain was on GMA, saying he was repulsed by the passage of healthcare. Hey, didn't he lose in 2008? Mitt Romney, my favorite, is out campaigning on repeal of the bill. He's likely running, again, for the presidency.
You didn't think the republicans would quit did you? In fact, republicans are exploding all around the nation.
Last night I watched the Rove vs. Plouffe debate from early Sunday on This Week. It was rather entertaining, worth the watch. Rove looked as though he was about to pop--and that was before the passage of the bill:

Part 1
Part 2

Republicans pushing the narrative that the bill is not going to be popular--anything to avoid doing actual work. Republican and former Sen. Bill Frist says republicans will campaign on repeal, but that repeal is not going to happen.

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Nancy-Ann DeParle, who worked on healthcare policy for the White House, offers a few more details:

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McCain on Meet the Press Feb. 28 Video

John McCain reiterates his let's "start over" on healthcare. That's just ridiculous, even if the republicans were serious about starting over. Right now, they're just biding their time, sitting on everything because republicans don't believe government should do anything except take care of national security. Makes me wonder why they bother to run for office.

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McCain Campaigns During Healthcare Meeting

This clip doesn't show all of McCain's remarks, but he was getting hot under the collar, so much so that I could feel it right here. He really was campaigning. He didn't offer anything meaningful to the discussion. But few have. It's been interesting though and in the end, I think it will be worthwhile. Watch the live stream here. They'll be back at 1:45 pm eastern.

Better clip: