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Somebody Put on ABBA: John McCain Needs to Relax
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When I was recently in London, I learned through my sources that Senator McCain and his wife were over in the UK for one primary reason, even though it might not have been the official reason, and that was to see the London production of Mamma Mia.
The Senator and Mrs. McCain apparently really relax and have fun listening to ABBA.
But today, it's clear that the Senator needs another trip to the theatre -- or maybe needs to get some ABBA time on his Ipod.
The Senator wrote one of the most disdainful letters to another Senator that TWN has seen in a long time.
McCain's letter isn't quite up as high as Dick Cheney's "Go Fuck Yourself!" comment to Senator Patrick Leahy on the floor of the Senate -- though it does go neck-and-neck with Bill Frist losing it and calling Harry Reid untrustworthy for the rest of the Congressional Session after Reid invoked Rule 21 and shut down the Senate.
The opening paragraph is tough enough -- but the rest of the letter keeps sizzling:
I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. When you approached me and insisted that despite your leadership's preference to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections, you were personally committed to achieving a result that would reflect credit on the entire Senate and offer the country a better example of political leadership, I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable.Thank you for disabusing me of such notions with your letter to me dated February 2, 2006, which explained your decision to withdraw from our bipartisan discussions. I'm embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble. Again, sorry for the confusion, but please be assured I won't make the same mistake again.
Some of this tension became evident after a report TWN made about a blogger conference call with Senator Harry Reid in which he suggested that an unnamed Democratic Senator had come to him to suggest a way forward on bipartisan ethics reform. Reid told those on the call that this was not a time to work with the other side but was rather a time to contrast the Republicans with Democrats.
I reported this -- and George Stephanopoulos used a clip from TWN for his show in an exchange with Barack Obama. When asked if he was the "unnamed Senator", Obama evaded the question and then confirmed that there were differences between his and Reid's approaches, though subtle ones, and declared his commitment to genuiune bipartisan reform.
TWN has since confirmed that Senator Obama was in fact "the" unnamed Senator.
Apparently, Reid's "us vs. them" admonition to Obama won out in the end, and McCain lashed out at Obama, flaming him in such a way as to let the public know that a bridge is being torched, blown up, and burned.
The ball is now in Obama's court. Will he flame McCain back? Will he keep silent? Will he offer some constructive direction that gives McCain a chance to calm down and join forces again in a common effort on ethics reform?
McCain is going on the Late Show with David Letterman Thursday night.
This imbroglio will probably generate some pretty good content in Letterman's banter with McCain, but if he isn't heated up enough already, TWN hears through other sources that the American public will be treated to a cute cut from the newly released Eugene Jarecki film, "Why We Fight," in which while talking about the importance of ethics in defense contracting and suggesting that a serious investigation into Halliburton contracting is warranted, Vice President Cheney calls him on the phone.
McCain comes off great in the film -- but the episode with Cheney's call out of the blue -- is priceless.
We suspect that if McCain is back in control, he'll be calm when Letterman rolls the film clip, but if that and Obama hit simultaneously on Lettermans's show, watch out.
-- Steve Clemons
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Mr. McCain needs to go quietly into retirement
Until the Bush administration I held him in high regard but over the last few years I have lost whatever respect I might have for him
Time to leave the stage John !
"...playin with matches in a pool of gasoline..." - Swamp Mama Johnson
Steve, I love your site, and think it is one of the most professional and thoughtful on the web, thus I mention, not to your discredit, imbroglio not embroglio.
From Kos:
Obama, bless the man's restraint, sets the record straight in more gentlemanly terms than McCain afforded him:
[I] am puzzled by your response to my recent letter. Last Wednesday morning, you called to invite me to your meeting that afternoon. I changed my schedule so I could attend the meeting. Afterwards, you thanked me several times for attending the meeting, and we left pledging to work together.
As you will recall, I told everyone present at the meeting that my caucus insisted that the consideration of any ethics reform proposal go through the regular committee process. You didn't indicate any opposition to this position at the time, and I wrote the letter to reiterate this point, as well as the fact that I thought S. 2180 should be the basis for a bipartisan solution.
I confess that I have no idea what has prompted your response. But let me assure you that I am not interested in typical partisan rhetoric or posturing. The fact that you have now questioned my sincerity and my desire to put aside politics for the public interest is regrettable but does not in any way diminish my deep respect for you nor my willingness to find a bipartisan solution to this problem.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
United States Senator
dementia marches in the halls of the senate, it rears it's ugly head and pretends to be a graceful excuse for treason
Mr. McCain accepted the treatment inflicted on his wife by Bush-Rove during the 2000 primairies, then fell into their arms for political profit.
He has no lessons to give to anyone.
obama has drunk the kool aid and is a gop plant to run in the democratic party
he proved this over alito
It's clearly in our interest to unseat him
When you say "It's clearly in our interest to unseat him", by 'our' do you mean fringe wackos who seek to destabilize the Republic? Because, if you do mean, I submit that you are barking up the wrong tree.
--Voluntary Dog Catcher and Patriot
Flaming bridge over troubled waters...or...when Senators behave like unruly children. "It's MY issue and you can't have it!" Thus spoke Yawn McCain. Yawn McCain is working himself into a war on Iran frenzy so, one shouldn't blame him for some moderate pique. Barracks O'Bomb-Iran well there's an entirely different rendition of 'what you see is not what you get'. Go not softly into that nuclear good night...allow the majority leader to seduce you into an interminable coma of inconsequential inaction. Action therefore speaks much louder than mere legislation. Reform? Yawn McCain don't need no stinking reform! Yawn McCain simply needs war and some ABBA for the sound track.
Why is it when Republicans play this game it is OK but when Democrats do it, it's not? Seriously, the GOP has been playing the party over bipartisan cooperation game since the current crop of long-serving congressman entered the House/Senate.
Democrats have been burned often by the desire to be "bipartisan" (or at least attempting to act as a brake for the GOP manias) and they get burned ever single time. Eventually they had to learn that not only did it not do them any good politically, it actually worked to their detriment because the GOP would use/abuse the "spirit of bipartisan cooperation" and then say how bad the Democrats were. Eventually they had to learn the fire burns so don't stick you hand in it.... again.
I would LOVE if bipartisan cooperation came back into vogue. But considering who is currently in Congress it isn't going to happen. Most in the GOP don't want it and the Democrats are desparate and tired. I applaud Obama for wanting things to be different but I am quite certain that this desire would be sucked out of him after he got badly burned - and I have no doubt that would have happend. It is not in any Senator's/Representative's best interest to be bipartisan at this time.
As for McCain - the tone of this letter does not surprise me at all. I used to like him but in his zeal to be president he has comprised himself over and over and over again. I don't know if he realizes that or if that zeal has blinded him, but he can't be trusted politically. He likes to the maverick lable but then he backpedals when he realizes that is the very reason many GOP hacks are wary. He got trashed by the Bush campaign in 2000 and gets low marks from the religious right - so what does he do? He goes out of his way to "forget" that and kiss their feet in exchange for support he is still not likely to get becuase they don't like him.
ET nailed it. McCain seems to be trying to goad Obama into falling for the trap once more. Screw McCain.
McCain has no credibility anymore to people who pay attention. He talks like an indepedent, but when Bush jerks his chain, McCain heels. However, the network reporters will continue to praise his "straight talk".
ABBA....Dancing Queen...John McCain...it's all a good fit.
Related to "ethics"...anyone else see that Rove is now threatening a blacklist to any Senators daring to vote against Bush via the NSA imbroglio? Shan't I just chortle when I hear the words "Republican" and "ethics" in the same sentence?
Typical Liberal Poo-Poo on this forum.
Blame McCain.
I think he came too harsh at Obama. That said, Obama is in the wrong, you dont dip both your legs in the pool, start wading to the deep end, and then let Harry Reid act like the overprotective parent thrashing and grabbing you out of the water.
Obama acted like a rookie senator, he was very quiet in his first few months as senator, looking good, and keeping note of whats going on, but its clear he has no freaking clue what the hell hes doing or talking about in the Senate.
If this is the Dems hope for 2012, they need a reality check.
McCain will not be the next president.
Obama is not the hope of the Democratic party.
Everybody relax.
Senator McCain's favourite ABBA tune:
"Dancing Queen"? or "Money, Money, Money" ? No, I say in this situation it's definitely "Knowing Me, Knowing You" ;)
McCain will be the next president. Why? (1) The media loves the man from the "straight-talk express." (2) Many independents and Democrats will vote for him because of reason #1 and because they don't see him as a real Republican. (3) And things are going to be so fucked up by 2008 that the GOP will turn to him to save their asses.
The only way I see McCain not being the nominee is if the Republicans think they have the election sewn up and can nominate the candidate they really want to continue the march toward a permanent one-party government. You can fill in the blank on that.
Interesting to connect a couple of dots. McCain steps outside his normal perceived role of calm moral go to guy and reacts "emotionally" to Obama; Specter goes nuts on Senate Floor against Reid about aesbestos issue and then we have a looksee at Karl Rove via C&L that he is threatening Rep's that if they don't side with Pres their Fall campaign funds will drop significantly. What we're seeing here is a party under huge stress and their nasty side is being exposed. I have a feeling they're going to take a chunk out of everyone in the room and are we'll see less and less logical thinking from them and watch out bloggers cause we're in the room now.
Democrat shows class, Republican acts like an ass.
And they talk about Hillary and Howard's anger.
I have a feeling that McCain is trying to cut off a future threat at the knees.
If the Democrats had an ounce of courage they'd take this letter out and start talking about John the way the Republicans converted Howard Dean's cheer into a tirade.
But instead, they stand meekly to the side as Mehlman et al start their attacks against Hillary.
McCain's trying too hard to be a South Park Republican: "No, goddamnit, that's my pet issue! Give it here, you $%^&ing pig%^&$er! Karl, make Barack be my bipartisan little b^&*$!"
Bush/Rove did a pretty effective job "whispering" that McCain was mentally unstable when they wanted to destroy his presidental ambitions.
Why don't we take a page out of our adversary's play book and spread the word that poor Senator McCain REALLY is quite unhinged. His abusive tirade condemning Obama simply confirms it.
The construct exists, why not build on it?
McCain wouldn't play politics with an important issue, would he? He should have as much credibility as anyone on the issue of torture, except that he voted for Gonzales. Then he continues to grandstand on the issue. The one Republican who I gave the benefit of the doubt, for a while.
McCain unhinged?
How about ole Hillary "Tubman" Clinton's comments last week.
"I have a feeling that McCain is trying to cut off a future threat at the knees."
Josh Marshall agrees with you:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/
"A bit more on the Obama-McCain back and forth. You have to dig into the actual correspondence between the two men to get a feel for how off the mark McCain is in his criticism of Obama (see links in today's Daily Muck).
But the key here to note is what's behind this dust-up. Obama is a rising star among the Democrats. Republicans want to lay a backstory for feature criticisms and character attacks against him. So, for instance, if Obama is the vice presidential candidate in 2008, they want to have a history of attacks on him banked, ones that allege he's a liar, or too partisan, or untrustworthy, whatever. It doesn't even really matter. What matters is that there already be an established history of them. Point being, that in early 2008, they want to be able to simply refer back to Obama's 'character issue', the questions about his honesty, etc. rather than have to make the case on its merits.
That's not surprising. One only needs to think back to the Gore story, etc.
What shouldn't be missed here, though, is that Sen. McCain is quite consciously and deliberately making himself a part of this. Why? Simple. Because he needs to get right with the GOP establishment in DC. (Indeed, he probably also wants to be the future beneficiary of the sliming.) Being loved by moderates and progressives doesn't cut it for getting the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
Don't miss why he's doing this. It's the roll-out of the slime Obama campaign. And he's leading the charge.
We'll learn a lot from how Obama responds."
Contains exchange of letters:
1. Obama to McCain-- Feb. 2
2. McCain to Obama -- Feb. 6
3. Obama to McCain -- Feb. 6
Would we KNOW about Abramhoff scandal if McCain hadn't held those hearings?..NOPE..because no other Republican chair of that committee would have held hearings.
I just hope they find a way to work this out. It's a distraction we don't need.
Just because of that letter some websites are suggesting McCain worked a deal to protect Republicans from the hearings. Fact is McCAin put the last nail in the DeLay political coffin. Bloggers take one incident and use it to define 100% of what a politician is all about. Its silly.
I just hope these two primadona's work this out. Yes, Obama's a primodona too just like Mccain. they all are.
Mccain should have used more tact but at the end of the day he probably doesn't give a damn because he's the one who held the hearings that exposed the thing. If he hadn't Abramofff would still be in business.
One other thing: Because of those hearings and the success of them: Mccain got a lot of people who ruined his greatest political career move by the testicles (FYI that 2000 run for president was his first loss election: EVER) Those people who made their living by almost destroying him politically. Its no wonder he's having a hissy fit to keep control over their future access to the congress. he's got them where he wants them and he needs to wipe them out while the issue is hot....He didn't get his boy in as HOuse Leader so that's one ace he won't have. I'm not excussing him. I'm just saying maybe he got plans... and he's getting nervous
"Would we KNOW about Abramhoff scandal if McCain hadn't held those hearings?..NOPE..because no other Republican chair of that committee would have held hearings."
I wonder:
Michael Scanlon resigned his position as communication director for Tom DeLay in March, 2000.
Maybe I am being cynical, but I think that McCain held his hearings to try and get ahead of a scandal that is going to explode. In addition, he was the logical person to chair the hearing because of McCain/Feingold.
Perhaps the real objective of the hearings was to "control the message" in an effort to minimize damage to the Republicans. If people were tuning in, the Republicans could look as though they had identified a serious problem and were quickly working to fix it.
Also, Senator "Straight Shooting" McCain could go on the Sabbath gasbag shows, shake his head in wonder over the "bad" lobbyists and confidently assure everyone that action was being taken to make sure this never happens again.
Case closed. America moves on. Republicans dodge yet another bullet.
Steve,
McCain is not someone who can be trusted at all. He is among the most corrupt Senators, and uses his public trust to cover for the more obvious abuses of his colleagues, especially with respect to Indians. He is completely craven; in addition, he is much more pro-war than Bush.
He is tied to Bush like Darth Vader to the Emperor; he may not like being second fiddle, but he'll do anything for power.
i don't think we would have known had it not been for the hearings. Sure he was getting some publicity for himself still the results speak for themselves. The problem is too much time is spent either idolizing or demonizing these guys. When they do someting that results in good for the public just give them their credit and be done with it. The resulting legislation will be based on the public: the strenght of the public's sentiment/outrage. Which is why this distraction should be allowed to distract us.
a lot of people who used to like mccain don't like him know because they discovered he REALLY IS a Republican. they should NOT have believed all that stuff the GOP was putting out about him being Liberal in the first place. He record is a hard core conservative who loves a good war and that record has always been just that ( he backed Clinton on Bosnia. he'd back the US fighting just about anywhere I think).
But this Abramoff scandal is his baby...his fame made it big issue just as sure as the testimony of the hearings made it an issue. Its not a matter of like or dislike, trust or distrust. got to give him credit for taking some people down...even if it happened by accident.
What I meant was "Which is why this distraction should NOT be allowed to distract us.
Personally I think McCain has a LOT of emotional baggage due to his war experiences and his father - WHICH HE CERTAINLY IS ENTITLED TO HAVE - his service to this country is unimpeachable regardless of my political disagreements with him... BUT
I would not want his finger on the button. The only thing worse than having a frat boy draft dodger elitist with his finger on the button is an old frustrated angry vendetta obsessed meglomanic with his....
To echo a previous post: And they say Hillary is angry... jeez... just looking at mccain makes me nauseous.
he wants it BAD
Out the 535, most of them is know for their fits of temper, egos, insecurities and vanities. Grassley has an incredible temper; Biden has an ego like a 747. This whole line about a crazy man with a hand on the red button thing is a story about 5, 6 years old and its played out. Of what's available in the senate and the House: WHO'd want any of those clowns with a hand on the 'red button' ?
Mccain shouldn't be president because he'd probably have us in IRan before he gets sworn in. I think he'd be great as a Chairmen of Armed Services Committee with a Democratic President. That'd be a real nice balance. It'd work.
Steve, not to nit-pick, but Vice-President Cheney's remark to Senator Leahy was actually reported to be "Go fuck yourself."
I am with Harry Reid on this one. Fuck the god damn republicans and especially those that are on the take. If the truth embarrasses you then you must be an embarrassment. Tough shit if the Dems make this a 2006 issue. As my mother used to say. You've made your bed now lie in it. Fucking republicans are like a bunch of damn juvenile delinquents. They run around doing a bunch of shit they shouldn't be doing then when they get caught their attitude is "why is everone picking on me". Bull-fucking-shit. Enough is enough.
Steambomb you can bet if the shoe where on the other fool the GOP would be having a field day. They'd have all their people in line Moderates, hardcore EVERYBODY and they'd all be on message. McCain helped himself by exposing the scandal and at the same time he gave the Dems a give that could give for a long time.
So I'm mystified by this support for Obama's response. Obama should've told McCain to go F himself. Instead: "Oh look, didn't Obama write a nice response, ain't he nice; he so polite; that means he's presidential material because he wrote a nice letter. and McCain, he need to retire b/c he don't know how to be polite."
I'm clueless, why Lieberman and Feingold aren't catching any flak at all for not allowing their leadership to exploit this issue. After all that's how this game is played. They should exploit this issue for the election and pass meaningful reform afterward.
Obama responded like a whimp when he should have swung back. Anybody who thinks he's presidential material for 2008 must think that election is a popularity contest. Obama should have did what Hilary did when people tried to make a big deal over using a word. She didn't give an inch...and she won.
McCain won this round. Doesn't matter how the press reports it. Don't step into the ring with Ali if you're not ready to throw down.
larry birnbaum,
you are right. I stand corrected.
best,
steve clemons
Didn't you all know about Rogue State rollback? it was McCain's foreign policy from his 2000 campaign and it was pure neocon. it was about attacking dictators and installing democracies and attacking others before they attached us if needed. It was on his website. I believe that's why McCain backed Bush in 2004; because he was seeing his policy made REAL.
Recall how the Bush Administration buddied up the Bill Kristol and the his magazine right after 9/11? Kristol used to back mcCain b/c of Rogue state rollback.
It not fair to dislike McCain because you didn''t know what he was about. he made no secret of it. Bush's foriegn policy today wAs McCain's foriegn policy 5 years ago. It must to been the easiest thing in the world for McCain to back Bush in this war. After all it was his idea before it was bush's idea. That's why I appreciated the comments from the movie when McCAin said the Bush people voted for is not the Bush people got. he could have said the Bush the GOP backed is NOT the Bush they got
its almost funny to see the Bush backers supporting a foriegn policy they derided when McCain promoted it. That why I know they have no principal. The deride the policy of Mccain and embrace it for one reason only: because bush adopted it. McCain's comments (if true) bare this out.
Steve I'd like your comment.
People who feel betrayed by McCain should have done their homework. His foriegn policy was on his webpage back in 2000. he talked about it also
john mccain comes off sounding nasty if you ask me. What a distasteful and rude letter. I'm glad Obama publised the entire email trail and took the high road. Anyone that reads all the emails can plainly see mccain is unstable. What an ass.
Not surprised by the McCain bashing.
Not Surprised at "chickens without heads" response by Dems.
Surprised by Obama's calm reaction. IMO, a plus for him.
But hes still in over his head.
Hate to break it to the McCain bashers, but the film nor the topic of the Dems ill fated version of JC Watts was brought up on Letterman, as I watched it.
Obama, I'm sure, had every intention and wanted to very much work with McCain on this issue, but Reid and Durbin probably told him "no way" and Obama cowtowed rather than followed his conscience. Says a lot about the guy. McCain expressed such sentiment in his email and probably did the dude a HUGE favor by making him think about how he "f'd" McCain over and that success in politics is going the way of those who think for themselves!
Are those the same Democrats who showed so much class at King's funeral...sorry, meant to say "Democratic fundraiser"?
By the way...there will never be a black President in yours or my lifetime. I'm not saying there shouldn't be, I don't care one way or the other.
There are however, still people who do care and are willing to lose their lives or go to prison forever to see that it doesn't happen. Alma Powell knew this and Condi does too. How 'bout a little reality on this subject, as disdainful as it is...
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