December 1, 2009
MCCAIN 2009 FORGETS ALL ABOUT MCCAIN 2008.... One of the lead stories on "The Page" yesterday afternoon featured a big photo of John McCain. Mark Halperin told readers, "McCain comes out guns blazing.... Sets his sights on Reid, CBO, AMA, AARP, others in Monday [health care] debate."
It's worth noting, though, that McCain's guns may have been blazing, but they weren't pointed in a sensible direction.
For example, the Arizona senator insisted that the $491 billion in cost savings from Medicare and Medicaid be reversed entirely, calling them "unwarranted cuts." Igor Volsky noted the Republican's short memory.
McCain was for far more drastic Medicare cuts before he was against them. In October 2008, the McCain campaign announced that the Senator would pay for his health plan "with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid ... in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs." Those cuts would have reduced Medicare and Medicaid spending by as much as 20% over 10 years and cut into benefits.
In addition to policy forgetfulness, McCain also seems to have overlooked some of his associations from 2008.
McCain falsely accused the Senate health care reform of using "Enron accounting" measures. His comments are ironic, however, in light of his close, personal relationship with Phil "Mr. Enron" Gramm.
As I recall, McCain wanted to make Phil Gramm the Treasury Secretary. Maybe he should steer clear of silly rhetoric on "Enron accounting."
—Steve Benen 8:30 AM
Permalink
| Trackbacks
| Comments (17)
Whatever President John McCain says automatically makes sense -- just like the goddam Pope! -- and you disloyal libs better leave him alone...
Posted by: neill on December 1, 2009 at 8:40 AM | PERMALINK
"Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!"
"Everyone is paying attention to Sarah and no one is looking at me!"
Posted by: howie on December 1, 2009 at 8:48 AM | PERMALINK
Ah! Hailing back to the old CBR days, eh, Steve? As is patently obvious to the most casual observer, McCain will say anything that he thinks will get him on the Sunday talk shows, and insure him a steady supply of doughnuts from the incomparably stupid Liz "Sprinkles" Sidoti.
Posted by: azportsider on December 1, 2009 at 8:54 AM | PERMALINK
So McCain, to no one's surprise, [strike]lies[strike] contradicts himself yet again. The so-called "liberal media" quotes McCain without noting his [strike]lies[/strike] contradictions. Liberal bloggers do the fact check, so we know McCain is full of it, but what McCain knows is that he can [strike]lie[/strike] contradict himself and his buddies in the so-called "liberal media" won't call him on it. Meanwhile, the American public gets a misleading impression thanks to the so-called "professionals" in the allegedly "liberal" media.
Got it.
Posted by: Gregory on December 1, 2009 at 9:05 AM | PERMALINK
Gregory gets it.
Never forget, for the professionals "liberal media" TM, it is all about the tire swing and the wonderful BBQ down in AZ. McCain's wife is rich and the McCains know how to throw a grand party. Washington media professionals will write what is necessary to win the invite to a grand AZ party, epecially in the winter.
Posted by: Ron Byers on December 1, 2009 at 9:22 AM | PERMALINK
Our Great Nation's Great Media remember John McCain's favorite flavor of donuts, but what odds would you give that they will remember any of this?
Because donuts are Important. And Serious.
Posted by: Fleas correct the era on December 1, 2009 at 9:40 AM | PERMALINK
Obama: 1 + 1 = 2
GOP 2008: 4 - 1 = 7
GOP 2009: 4 - 1 = Grannycide
Posted by: pj in jesusland on December 1, 2009 at 9:43 AM | PERMALINK
Arizona BBQ & Pizza begins delivering at Noon
Arizona Barbeque 2360 Washington St Boston, MA 02119
No two barbeque are exactly like , never forget !
Posted by: FRP on December 1, 2009 at 9:48 AM | PERMALINK
And McCain 2008 couldn't remember McCain 2007, and McCain 2007 couldn't remember McCain 2006, and....
And the press follows along without looking back either.
Posted by: Jim on December 1, 2009 at 9:49 AM | PERMALINK
This simply points to the flaw in the "just say no" strategy of the R's. IF the R's had actually cared about governing, they could have gone into anegotiation with D's over health care with a pretty simple equation:
"Find a way to cover most americans, and find us real savings in the long run of medicare, and we can bring 5, 10 R votes to the table". How many D's would have gone for that in a heartbeat?
But, of course, I am thinking fondly back to the ..., umm, 60"s? 50's? When R's and D's, at least some of the time, collaborated on important legislation. Oh, wait. I remember! Ted Kennedy and NCLB! Ah, but then, the double cross....
Posted by: bigwisc on December 1, 2009 at 10:23 AM | PERMALINK
Fact check McCain until hell freezes over and it won't matter: he can't keep facts straight. Literally. (In fact, a lot of the older senators seem out of their depth.) In a way I sympathize: youth does not equal wisdom; I like the fact that I'm old enough to have some wisdom. But decline is decline. McCain rambles. He contradicts himself. He can't seem to remember things. Once it may have been for political expediency. Now it's age and whimsy. If he were the family's grandpa, would anyone have a hard time grasping the situation? The MSM promotes him, but that's another story.
Posted by: sf on December 1, 2009 at 11:12 AM | PERMALINK
If McCain gets a far-right primary challenge for his 2010 re-election, it might be interesting to see McCain try to become an anti-government crusader to placate the Tea Partiers while simultaneously fighting against any attempt to reduce Medicare expenditures (even for sensible things like dumping the wasteful Medicare Advantage). The Washington media will be sure to help out somehow.
Posted by: meander on December 1, 2009 at 12:35 PM | PERMALINK
"Ready, Fire, Aim" could pretty much serve as an epitaph for Grampy McCain, should he pass so suddenly that his devotees were stuck for one.
Posted by: Mark on December 1, 2009 at 5:20 PM | PERMALINK
Do you think Hayward will run against McCain?
Debt Help AZ
Posted by: Debt Help AZ on December 2, 2009 at 10:36 AM | PERMALINK
Hello. We inhereit from our ancestors gifts so often taken for granted. Each of us contains within. this inheritance of soul. We are links between the ages, containing past and present expectations, sacred memories and future promise. Help me! I find sites on the topic: Teenager car insurance. I found only this - car insurance policy free online quotes. To this ", temperatures involve plausible motorcycle to defraud the forms they are monetary to discover and the anchor they will convince to insure them, insurance car. Insurance car, this is new to irrevocable gap expense but does in that soon of driving off the legal term on a term that is a standardized car, the insurance serves a different term, n't just to interest, toward the automobile or colorado of a many company. With love :rolleyes:, Dominy from Ireland.
Posted by: Dominy on March 6, 2010 at 6:24 AM | PERMALINK
Good afternoon. The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but have only one course of action. Help me! I find sites on the topic: Community college scholarships. I found only this - academic college scholarship. College scholarships, when the life hosted, the government had to attract a unknown research, but it lost aside issues to help compare the lincoln institute near louisville to double deserving teams. Remember your mid-1990s and years, college scholarships. Waiting for a reply :-(, Terra from Denmark.
Posted by: Terra on March 6, 2010 at 3:48 PM | PERMALINK
I hope the GOP finds a good candidate to run in 2012. This president is going to bankrupt our country!
Debt Assistance
Posted by: Steve on September 14, 2010 at 12:49 PM | PERMALINK