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Spain An Adversary? A Homage To TR And The Rough Riders?

John McCain and his sycophants always tried to equate John McCain to Teddy Roosevelt. Maybe McCain foreign policy lobbyist/adviser Randy Scheunemann has a homage to TR in mind when he says:

Senator McCain did not rule in or rule out a White House meeting with President Zapatero, a NATO ally. If elected, he will meet with a wide range of allies in a wide variety of venues but is not going to spell out scheduling and meeting location specifics in advance. He also is not going to make reckless promises to meet America's adversaries.

(Emphasis supplied.) So what does that mean? [More...]

He will meet with Zapatero but is not "going to spell out scheduling and meeting locations in advance?" Who asked for scheduling and meeting locations? Or does McCain view Spain as one of "America's adversaries?"

Will John McCain being unfurling a "Remember the Maine" ad soon? Maybe the "Original Antique Maverick" is still thinking about the glorious charge up San Juan Hill or something.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

< McCain Was For Meeting With Spanish Leader Before He Was Against It | McCain Gaffe Fest Continues: Says Prez Should Fire SEC Chief, But He Can't >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!! (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by steviez314 on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:44:36 PM EST
    ---Sarah Palin,  oops, MICHAEL Palin.

    yes, when it comes to Palins (none / 0) (#4)
    by desmoinesdem on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:45:23 PM EST
    I will take Michael Palin every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

    Parent
    BTD (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 07:47:53 PM EST
    have you ever considered a second career as a writer of satire? I must confess this post gave me some pretty good laughs.

    RE; (1.00 / 1) (#7)
    by az on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:51:00 PM EST
    much ado about nothing...

    Indeed (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:53:22 PM EST
    If you liked the last 8 years, you will love ta McCain Administration.

    For folks like you, I imagine it is much ado about nothing.

    Who needs allies? Who cares about competent foreign policy? Eff it.

    Parent

    RE; (none / 0) (#18)
    by az on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:01:46 PM EST
    How do you feel about Obama's foreign policy position of talking one on one as president without preconditions with the leaders of these rogue nations ? If we are talking about a competent foreign policy ...

    Just curious...

    Seems like a lot of gotcha politics gone wrong in this scenario . It wasn't a gaffe , more like an evasive answer to me....

    Parent

    A mistake (5.00 / 0) (#19)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:03:44 PM EST
    I said so at the time.

    Guess what I did not write - "much ado about nothing."

    But if you are comfortable with Bush's Third Term, then indeed you should be cheering this mindlessness from the McCain camp.

    Parent

    I'm wondering if it was a Palmerstonian... (none / 0) (#56)
    by Salo on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 06:44:43 PM EST
    ...moment.

    wogs start at Dover and all that malarky.

    Parent

    I would agree (none / 0) (#22)
    by MKS on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:11:31 PM EST
    if you consider the fact that we might have to bomb adversaries like Spain....

    Spain as an adversary?  A long time NATO ally and democracy as an advesary?.....It would be funny except McCain could actually win....


    Parent

    Without preconditions? (none / 0) (#39)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:07:33 PM EST
    If he actually said that, it was a gaffe...nothing more.

    Parent
    Obama's early foreign gaffs (none / 0) (#49)
    by themomcat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:22:09 PM EST
    were typical rookie mistakes. Obama seems to be a fast learner has of late been more careful in what he says about foreign policy. McCain, however, has been around for a quarter of a century, McCain should know better. After listening to the tape, I wonder though did he not hear or just not understand? Did he get confused? I find McCain very scary.


    Parent
    A fast learner as leader of the free world. (none / 0) (#54)
    by Cream City on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 06:36:49 PM EST
    Uh, this is not a really good argument.  There must be something more persuasive and reassuring to sell to the American voter than this.

    Parent
    He is scary (none / 0) (#61)
    by ankae on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 11:39:47 PM EST
    Too many mistakes...I am beginning to wonder now if it is his age. I just will not accept he could be this reckless or stupid....wait a minute he is Bush 43...he CAN be this reckless !

    Parent
    You are as bad as McCain. Spain is (none / 0) (#50)
    by JoeA on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 05:47:24 PM EST
    a "rogue" nation?  Crazy talk.

    Parent
    "So what does that mean? " (1.00 / 1) (#10)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:55:01 PM EST
    I think it means:
    Senator McCain did not rule in or rule out a White House meeting with President Zapatero, a NATO ally. If elected, he will meet with a wide range of allies in a wide variety of venues
    And following that, I think it means:
    but [McCain] is not going to spell out scheduling and meeting location specifics in advance. He also is not going to make reckless promises to meet America's adversaries.
    Seems fairly clear to me.

    Indeed (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:59:55 PM EST
    Two problems - first, no one asked for specifics about when and where. A clear red herring.

    Second, is Spain an adversary? Otherwise, why are we hearing about adversaries on a question about Spain?

    Parent

    Deflection (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by andgarden on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:01:19 PM EST
    Why the defense of such (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by MKS on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:13:35 PM EST
    a blunder.  It would only be a gaffe but the campaign reinforces the error.....They would rather McCain be called nutso belligerant than senile....

    Parent
    Indeed they would. (5.00 / 0) (#25)
    by andgarden on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:16:32 PM EST
    It's as if they are trying to distract us from (none / 0) (#40)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:08:44 PM EST
    something.......

    Parent
    Sure, it could be a red herring, (2.00 / 0) (#26)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:18:15 PM EST
    or it could be just that politicians and their surrogates when given the opportunity to talk (ok, email) often avoid answering the actual  question and/or drone on about whatever other point it is they want to make whether it is related to the original question or not.

    But hey, you are obviously entitled to your own opinion...

    Parent

    Country First? (none / 0) (#33)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:47:28 PM EST
    Huh? Did I miss something? (none / 0) (#34)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:57:16 PM EST
    What are you asking me?

    Parent
    American foreign policy (none / 0) (#36)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:59:24 PM EST
    secondary to McCain's political fortunes. McCain said in April he would meet with Zapatero. But to cover up a blunder, he will sacrifice relations with Spain.

    Country first?

    Parent

    In McCain/Palin land (none / 0) (#41)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:10:25 PM EST
    "Country first" means "my power, MINE"

    Parent
    Ah, (none / 0) (#47)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:13:53 PM EST
    "country first." I get it now.

    Parent
    You're assuming that his comments (none / 0) (#43)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:11:08 PM EST
    in the interview were (to him) a blunder. Clearly he was doing his standard politician thing of regurgitating well-rehearsed talking points, which would imply his comments were not (to him) a blunder.

    Whether or not you believe his position on the issue is wrong, I'm not sure it's been established as fact that his position is the result of a blunder in that interview, although I certainly understand why one could think it is.

    To those who want this to be a scandal, I'm sure it is. To those who don't, it's not.

    To those who could go either way, I'm not sure it's the deal-breaker some think it is.

    But, hey, what the hell do I know...

    Parent

    Zapatero, Zapatista (none / 0) (#2)
    by desmoinesdem on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:44:45 PM EST
    You hot-blooded Latins all seem the same to John McCain.

    Will he get even 30 percent of the Latino vote on November 4?

    I am so glad (none / 0) (#37)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:05:40 PM EST
    that Obama is doing so well with Latinos. After Hil got the Latino vote in the primary, and McCain coming from a SW state...I thought it was an Obama vulnerability.

    Turns out...not so much.

    Parent

    The bolded comment (none / 0) (#3)
    by kredwyn on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:45:04 PM EST
    is a thwack at Obama re: meeting with the leaders of Iran and Cuba.

    Just a wild guess...

    The Axis Of Exil (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:54:02 PM EST
    Iran, Cuba and Spain.

    Got it.

    Parent

    Maybe he wants Georgia to take Spain's place in (none / 0) (#12)
    by steviez314 on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:57:16 PM EST
    NATO?

    Parent
    Someone should tell him. . . (5.00 / 0) (#23)
    by LarryInNYC on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:11:45 PM EST
    those Georgians don't vote.

    Parent
    Don't forget Russia (none / 0) (#38)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:06:10 PM EST
    That's how I took it, but (5.00 / 0) (#14)
    by scribe on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:59:08 PM EST
    for McSame and his camp, they are so off their game that any attempts at snark (like that comment) will be lost on the larger audience.

    Right now, he's a half-crazy guy living in your house who wants to blow the bugle and re-do his charge up San Juan Hill.

    Parent

    Remember the Maine!! (none / 0) (#5)
    by eric on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:48:27 PM EST
    n/t

    And forget the McCain! n/t (none / 0) (#32)
    by LarryInNYC on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:47:22 PM EST
    The republicans have always... (none / 0) (#6)
    by EL seattle on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:48:45 PM EST
    ...had trouble with the word "socialist", I think.

    It's a Pavlovian thing, probably.  

    Scheunemann's Statement (none / 0) (#11)
    by Paladin on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:56:54 PM EST
    is obviously a weak attempt to conflate McCain's gaffe with Obama's statements (early in the primary) about meeting with Iran and Syria.  Pretty obvious and quite pathetic.

    and to deflect what seems clearly to have (none / 0) (#51)
    by JoeA on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 05:50:55 PM EST
    been McCain just not understanding the questions which were spoken in heavily accented English,  by effectively throwing a Nato ally under the bus and pretending he was deliberately declining to meet Zapatero.  But remember. . . McCain would rather lose an election than lose a war/his honour . . . yaddayada

    Parent
    Bill O (none / 0) (#13)
    by indiependy on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:58:21 PM EST
    Maybe O'Reilly will jump in and start a  Tempranillo and Paella boycott.

    btw, Spanish wines (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:12:13 PM EST
    are the best values on the planet these days.

    Parent
    you must mean (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:13:39 PM EST
    "freedom wines"

    Parent
    As long as it tastes good, (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:15:20 PM EST
    call it anything you like.

    Parent
    Not the paella! (none / 0) (#16)
    by scribe on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:59:56 PM EST
    Anything, but not the paella!

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#42)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:11:04 PM EST
    that won't work.

    I have some saffron I need to use up.

    Parent

    Spin city (none / 0) (#20)
    by cannondaddy on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:07:55 PM EST
    Drudge readers are given a link to this article:

    LINK

    What McCain said in April (none / 0) (#21)
    by Steve M on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:10:30 PM EST
    was a sane and sensible position.  A conscious renunciation of a silly Bush foreign policy position.  The sort of thing that reminds reasonable people why they like John McCain.

    Thank goodness he didn't stick with it!

    So... (none / 0) (#27)
    by Brillo on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:30:18 PM EST
    Is McCain's age (and mental state) still offlimits after this?  What exactly does he have to do before we can bring this up without being called ageists?  

    This has nothing to do with age (none / 0) (#29)
    by indy in sc on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:41:19 PM EST
    imo.  I firmly believe that Bush's camp would have reacted the exact same way if they had been in this position--that is the problem.  The issue is not wanting to admit a simple and perfectly excusable mistake and being willing to further strain relations with an ally just to avoid doing so.

    Parent
    I Guess... (none / 0) (#31)
    by Brillo on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:44:36 PM EST
    It depends on why you think he made the mistake in the first place.  The inability or unwillingness to admit the mistake is a separate (but compounding) issue.  

    Parent
    The interviewers spoke in heavily accented English (none / 0) (#52)
    by JoeA on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 05:52:26 PM EST
    The story here is that McCain was too embarrassed to get her to repeat herself,  and then in the coverup where they pretend he was totally on the ball and meant every word (which is clearly a lie).

    Parent
    I'm anxious for Obama's (none / 0) (#30)
    by prose on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:43:31 PM EST
    zinger on this one.  He's been hitting them out of the park today.  Did you hear what he said about the SEC firing non-sense?  Can't wait 'til he gets to the Spain gaffe (although maybe he won't because he's staying disciplined on the economy).  I guess we'll see.

    He will probably leave it to the media (none / 0) (#53)
    by JoeA on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 05:53:48 PM EST
    or surrogates.  Its a sensitive area and I don't think he will want to appear to be making an issue of McCain's age/mental acuity.  Besides, as you say I think he will probably want to keep his focus on the economy.

    Parent
    He would be wise to do so (none / 0) (#55)
    by Cream City on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 06:40:09 PM EST
    and not talk about it four times in a row, like the surrogates here.  Yes, somehow, I suspect the American people are more interested in the economy now.

    Parent
    Certainly (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 06:45:11 PM EST
    The economy is the number 1 issue.

    But this is just plain effed up by McCain.

    Not being an Obama campaign operative, I get to write about what bother me personally, not just what helps Obama the most.

    Try thinking about this issue in that light.

    Parent

    Watching the youtube (none / 0) (#58)
    by JoeA on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 06:53:13 PM EST
    her accent is pretty thick and I can understand him having difficulty following her questions (hell I had difficulty understanding them), especially on a phone interview.  The bizarre thing is that rather than just admitting that, the McCain campaign is willing to lie and pretending he was deliberately snubbing Spain.  Another low point for the Straight Talk Express.

    Parent
    OT: Bill Interview on CNBC (none / 0) (#35)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 03:57:22 PM EST
    I am sure they will loop it again, but damn is that guy great.  Tell me again why we did not want him either as the husband of the President or VP-- oh yeah cause it's not about fighting.  

    Don't ask. (none / 0) (#45)
    by coigue on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 04:12:17 PM EST
    better not to open freshly scabbed wounds.

    Parent