The Ugly New John McCain

Photo from source, Truth Out

No, this isn't a story about the unflattering pictures of John McCain in The Atlantic. I personally thought that those were OK, certainly not lies of any sort. John McCain really looks like that. The lie was his spackled orange makeup at the Republican National Convention.

No, this is a story that really lays out the difference between the straight talking maverick of the 2000 campaign, and the ugly new lying McCain of the 2008 Presidential campaign. I've written about this before, but not this well. Check it out.

[Excerpt]

The Ugly New McCain

Following his loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 South Carolina primary, John McCain did something extraordinary: He confessed to lying about how he felt about the Confederate battle flag, which he actually abhorred. "I broke my promise to always tell the truth," McCain said. Now he has broken that promise so completely that the John McCain of old is unrecognizable. He has become the sort of politician he once despised. . .

Read more at: Truth Out

Thanks once again to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Nearly $1 Billion Given to McCain Lobbyists?

Photo from DailyKos

Yeah, some Maverick.

[Excerpt]

The (Nearly) $1 Billion Connection: McCain And His Lobbyists’ Clients

Washington, D.C. – Campaign Money Watch, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group, announced today the result of a new analysis of the fees Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) lobbyist bundlers, advisors and staff members have collected from domestic clients over the past decade.

The total? A staggering $930,949,819. . .

Read more at: CampaignMoney.org

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Bob Barr: Is John McCain Really a "Maverick?"

Bob Barr, the quixotic independent candidate for President, quite rightly is asking in this ad, "Is John McCain really a maverick? Good question! The answer, below. . .



Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

McCain Bus Crashes, Has Obama Bumper Sticker

Image from source, Huffington Post

Because it's kinda funny. . .

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Straight Talk Express Involved In Collision, Carries Obama Bumper Sticker (PICTURES)

Florida has not been treating John McCain's campaign vessel, the Straight Talk Express, very well in the past two days. Since Tuesday the bus has been involved in a collision with a minivan and was photographed carrying a bumper sticker for Barack Obama.On Wednesday, the Express ran over a minivan, in a botched right turn. Car blog Jalopnik has photos. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Top 10 John McCain Gaffes of the Week

Photo from Wonkette

This is a very interesting article. It says, basically, that this is the week that John McCain's dreams of becoming President should have gone up in smoke. Why? Ten reasons, actually. But you'd never know it, unless you read liberal blogs like this one, or watch Countdown with Keith Olbermann (& Rachel Maddow!).

For all of the gaffes listed below, the John McCain campaign did something very, very right: they made friends with the press. Who knew that favored seats on The Straight Talk Express bus and plane, and a few hamburgers and bratwursts were enough to get good press coverage? As the afore mentioned Maddow has said, the press is giving deep tongue kisses to McCain. Too bad they weren't paying attention this week.

The other thing that McCain has accomplished is making sure his military service is only open to compliments, and no criticism. Criticism is to be reviled--unlike the treatment of John Kerry--and McCain is to be depicted as a hero. Period. How did they do that?

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The Week That Should Have Ended McCain's Presidential Hopes

This is the week that should have effectively ended John McCain's efforts to become the next president of the United States. But you wouldn't know it if you watched any of the mainstream media outlets or followed political reporting in the major newspapers.

During this past week: McCain called the most important entitlement program in the U.S. a disgrace, his top economic adviser called the American people whiners, McCain released an economic plan that no one thought was serious, he flip flopped on Iraq, joked about the deaths of Iranian citizens, and denied making comments that he clearly made -- TWICE. . .

Read the list and watch video at: Huffington Post

What's With the Gushing over McCain's Plane?

OK, folks, whether you are a politician, an actor, a comedian or a rock star, if you're going gig-to-gig, you need transportation. That can mean a caravan, an RV, a decked-out bus, or an airplane. Or a combination of those. If you're Stephen Tyler or Mick Jagger, I might be interested in seeing some of the tricked-out things on your ride.

But freakin' John McCain?!? Why is the news media in rapturous awe of McCain's "Straight Talk Express" bus and his new even flashier plane? How is this remarkably unlovable man wrapping the press around his finger? Are they really that easy?

The MSM loves its new Lap Dog Express



From the JedReport, by way of AmericaBlog.

Double-talk Express: John McCain's Flip Flops

Because nobody--except Countdown with Keith Olbermann--seems to be reporting it. Check it out:

More on the Other Mrs. John McCain

Photo from source, Salon

There's a lot of buzz the last couple of days about John McCain's back-story. Until recently, John McCain has been referred to in largely glowing terms by the press. Maverick. The Straight Talk Express. War Hero. Experience. But there are chinks in his white knight armor, and you can better believe that some of those are going to be exposed before November.

The story of John McCain's return to the States, and of the treatment of his first wife and subsequent remarriage was spotlighted here a few days ago. Conservatives are attempting to wave the story off, saying that the first Mrs. McCain is still supportive of her ex-husband. Even so, I've got to think some of the women in the "Democrats for McCain" movement might be more than a little troubled by this story.

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Different hero, different war

With a great deal of restraint and not a trace of opinion, the New York Times last week reported details of what writer Nicholas Kristof calls "an awkward time" in John McCain's life. The story, related in delightfully quaint language, managed to be fairly astonishing regardless of one's feelings about the Republican presidential candidate whose most familiar handle is that of "war hero. . ."

Read more at: Salon

The Real McCain 2: Double-Talk Express

While the Democratic primary election drags out long past its logical conclusion, I will continue to publish posts here that lay out John McCain's actual record. Clearly, the mainstream press--very much enamored with McCain--is not going to do this, at least not yet. So here is the second of Brave New Films' "The Real McCain" series. See if you can find the "Straight Talk Express" here anywhere.

Rachel Maddow on McCain's Double-talk

One of my favorite pundits (an admittedly short list) is Rachel Maddow, of Air America Radio and now MSNBC, hosted Countdown with Keith Olbermann for the second time yesterday. She did a great job.

Here, Rachel takes John McCain to task for his double-talk, even though other pundits and journalists still insist on calling his shtick "the straight talk express." Check it out.