McCain Compares Obama to Jimmy Carter

[dragonrider]

Linking McCain to Bush will be a hell of alot harder considering these two past historys with each other.

I don't think it will be that hard. There has been no problem linking them so far. McCain and Bush do sort of hate each other, and McCain has differed from Bush on policy in the past, but recently on issues related to the war and the economy, there is no difference between the two.

I was watching an interview the other day with a congressman or senator who was speaking on McCain's behalf. The interviewer asked him if there was any significant policy difference between McCain and Bush on the war. He mentioned that McCain had advocated the "surge" when Bush was against it. The interviewer said something like, "Yes, but Bush did implement the surge, and now Obama says there is no difference between Bush's plans for the war and McCain's. Is the any difference at this point?" Blub, blub. He had nothing to say. It was almost as if he had never considered the question and was totally surprised. Maybe he was just a bad spokesman.

If McCain is going to escape the label, he will actually have to SHOW how he is different from Bush, because so far I think the strategy of linking him to Bush's policies is working pretty well. How would McCain handle the war differently from Bush? How would McCain handle the economy differently from Bush?

[daihashi]

If McCain is going to escape the label, he will actually have to SHOW how he is different from Bush, because so far I think the strategy of linking him to Bush's policies is working pretty well. How would McCain handle the war differently from Bush? How would McCain handle the economy differently from Bush?

While I do not Support Bush, Mccain or Obama... I would hope that the general public would be intelligent enough to take a look at McCain's voting record and his political history.

He is very much different from Bush and would be a god send in comparison.

McCain is not stupid and understands War, unlike George W. He understands that we cannot just simply leave Iraq after creating the huge mess Bush has.

If we leave the current situation there at hand with a still developing Iraqi government and military then you may very well end up with a similar situation that we have in Afghanistan. Similar to after the Soviet Union pulled out that is and Al Queda was able to step in and control the region.

Occupying is a smart move in my opinion. While I have never been for this war, I would sincerely hate for all of our time,money and American lives lost to be wasted and have the country of Iraq fall prey to outside forces or terrorist groups within their own country due to the extremely vulnerable nature of Iraq right now.

We have a responsibility to, at the very least, ensure the Iraqi people are safe after we stomped into their home and tore it apart.

[daihashi]

Also of interesting note.. McCain has said before that if he does not see visible signs of progress by the time it comes for him to take office that he may be forced.. even if just by public demand/opinion, to end the United States involvement in the Iraq War.

I think that goes to show you that he does understand that the people are not happy about this war and that if necessary he will pull out to satisfy Americans under the condition that things are not progressing for the better in Iraq.

At least he's not totally obtuse and understands that there is a Gray area.. not just black and white.

[dragonrider]

I would hope that the general public would be intelligent enough to take a look at McCain's voting record and his political history.

He is very much different from Bush and would be a god send in comparison.

McCain is not stupid and understands War, unlike George W. He understands that we cannot just simply leave Iraq after creating the huge mess Bush has.

If we leave the current situation there at hand with a still developing Iraqi government and military then you may very well end up with a similar situation that we have in Afghanistan. Similar to after the Soviet Union pulled out that is and Al Queda was able to step in and control the region.

Occupying is a smart move in my opinion. While I have never been for this war, I would sincerely hate for all of our time,money and American lives lost to be wasted and have the country of Iraq fall prey to outside forces or terrorist groups within their own country due to the extremely vulnerable nature of Iraq right now.

We have a responsibility to, at the very least, ensure the Iraqi people are safe after we stomped into their home and tore it apart.

McCain is a very different person from Bush in a lot ways. If he had prevailed in the 2000 election, we would not be in nearly as much of a nightmare as we are now. But for purposes of the election he is going to have to make his case, which I don't think he has done very well. I think if you look at his RECENT voting record, it toes the Bush line pretty closely. He needs to draw the distinction between himself and Bush more clearly or he is doomed.

I also partly agree with you on our responsibilities in Iraq. We should have never gone into Iraq in the first place, but as Colin Powell warned Bush before it even started, "You break it, you buy it." We should not leave it in chaos, and we should not allow it to become another Afghanistan. The big question is how do we do that. Is our occupation a stabilizing force or a destabilizing force? Is there any amount of money or lives we can expend that will restabilize that country? Is it our responsibility to pull it together now after five years, or the Iraqis? I don't know. One thing is for sure though --- this war has been a disaster and never should have happened, and if McCain gets linked to the blame for it without offering a vision of a way forward, he's not going to win the election. I don't think war should be subject to politics, but the fact is that people's feelings about it are so strong, and we are in an election year, so the war will likely have a bearing on how people vote, and the results will affect the conduct of the war going forward. Politics will affect this war.

[daihashi]

I also partly agree with you on our responsibilities in Iraq. We should have never gone into Iraq in the first place, but as Colin Powell warned Bush before it even started, "You break it, you buy it." We should not leave it in chaos, and we should not allow it to become another Afghanistan. The big question is how do we do that. Is our occupation a stabilizing force or a destabilizing force? Is there any amount of money or lives we can expend that will restabilize that country? Is it our responsibility to pull it together now after five years, or the Iraqis? I don't know. One thing is for sure though --- this war has been a disaster and never should have happened, and if McCain gets linked to the blame for it without offering a vision of a way forward, he's not going to win the election. I don't think war should be subject to politics, but the fact is that people's feelings about it are so strong, and we are in an election year, so the war will likely have a bearing on how people vote, and the results will affect the conduct of the war going forward. Politics will affect this war.

I've always like Colin Powell. Very smart man.

In regards to whether or not our occupation will stabilize the country or not.. the answer is that no one really knows.

McCain has stated that there are essentially two options and I believe this to be true. Add more troops to secure and ensure the safety of the area until it stabilizes or Pull out competely; there is no sense in fighting a war with 25-50% of the manpowr that is needed to be on the winning side.

Like McCain has said before, he will either Add more troops or pull out of Iraq depending on whether or not signifigant progress is made by the time he comes into office.

Honestly I feel that this is a somewhat acceptable answers. Determining what to do in order to clean up the mess over there is a very difficult decision to make indeed.

[killerweed420]

Yeah Pretty funny to compare Obama and Carter. I guess that means you have to compare McCain to Bush jr. Bush and Carter. I wonder which won killed more innocent civilians? Which one has butchered the constitution?

[JaggedEdge]

True analogy or not, I still think most of us would like a 2nd Jimmy Carter presidency than a 3rd George W... :hippy:

DrSpiggity

Only extreme liberals wouldn't mind another Jimmy Carter, nearly everyone else believe Carter was a total dunce.

It is very unlikely McCain with be another Bush, he is much to liberal for that.

If you want to be taxed more and don't mind our government adapting even more socialist agenda's, than vote for Obama.

I however will be casting a protest vote for Bob Barr. I don't think he stands a shot in hell at winning but I hate the other two options.

[RobPA]

Only extreme liberals wouldn't mind another Jimmy Carter, nearly everyone else believe Carter was a total dunce.

It is very unlikely McCain with be another Bush, he is much to liberal for that.

If you want to be taxed more and don't mind our government adapting even more socialist agenda's, than vote for Obama.

I however will be casting a protest vote for Bob Barr. I don't think he stands a shot in hell at winning but I hate the other two options.

I am actually a libertarian who was for ron paul but cannot fathom voting for bobb barr as he voted FOR the patriot act, the war and has a history of being against MMJ. This sudden turnaround Is a good thing but makes him just like the rest of the politicians who can never give straight answers or stick to there guns. Man i wish Paul would have ran independant....

[JaggedEdge]

I liked Ron Paul a lot as well. I honestly haven't really looked much into Barr's views, it doesn't really matter to me. I know I despise Obama and greatly dislike McCain and would just like to make the point that I'm feed up with both of the major party's.

Overall though, Bob Barr's views don't matter to me since there is no way he is going to win unless both Obama and McCain are assassinated before the election.

[rebgirl420]

Only extreme liberals wouldn't mind another Jimmy Carter, nearly everyone else believe Carter was a total dunce.

It is very unlikely McCain with be another Bush, he is much to liberal for that.

If you want to be taxed more and don't mind our government adapting even more socialist agenda's, than vote for Obama.

I however will be casting a protest vote for Bob Barr. I don't think he stands a shot in hell at winning but I hate the other two options.

Agreed. Everyone has apparently forgotten about the gas lotteries...

And McCain is far too liberal to be another George W. Bush (not that Bush is even remotely close to what a Republican SHOULD be). McCain has stuck his finger in the eye of every Republican that he could. He's only suddenly changing his semi-liberal views for new "Republican" ones.

Mind you, these men are NOT really Republican. That's only what they deem themselves. Real Republicans are Libertarians.

I have a feeling it's going to another looooooooong 4-8 years.