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

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Sep 18, 2008 at 02:40:45 PM EST
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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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Spain An Adversary? A Homage To TR And The Rough Riders? | 59 comments (59 topical)

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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.

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.


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....


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.


: 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.

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....


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.


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.


: 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.

: 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 !

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.


"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?


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....


: 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.......

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...


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?


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?


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"


: 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.

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...