 |
McCain Doesn’t Know What He’s Running For, Or Why |
 |
Earlier tonight, I saw John McCain on TV, declaring that he is running for “the office of commander in chief”. There is no such office. Serving as commander in chief is just one of the president’s constitutional duties. McCain’s declaration makes as much sense as saying he’s running for “the office of bill vetoer”.
This may sound nitpicky, but it’s an important point. We don’t live in a military state. Under our Constitution, the president is commander in chief of the army and navy, not of the whole nation. Civilians are not obligated to follow the president’s every command. Presidents do a lot more than act as commander in chief (or should, at least, if they’re doing their job).
McCain may fall back on the misconceived notion that he is running for the nonexistent office of commander in chief because he doesn’t know what else he wants to do as president. As I previously noted, when Chris Matthews asked McCain what his presidency would be like, he was at a loss for words.
McCain’s mindset may be suited to a military state, a nation at permanent war, but it is out badly of step with our constitutional democracy.
Very frankly, after the past 15 years, the United States is much much closer to a military state at permanent war than it is to a constitutional democracy.
Thanks for the comment curmudgeon, and I certainly understand your point. I’m still hoping things can be put right and that our constitutional democracy will be respected
McCain is just desperate to get every other issue off the minds of Americans. The idea that we’re supposed to be impressed by McCain’s foreign policy credentials is ridiculous. I don’t understand why McCain is supposed to have an advantage in foreign policy when he was wrong about Iraq and on th wrong of the Iraq issue now. That just doesn’t make any sense to me. I’d much rather have a President with judgment (Obama) than a warmonger like McCain.
agreed
I just went to an event this morning here in Denver and saw McCain speak about foreign policy in person. I’d say that there were about 300 people in attendance, and of those 300 there were probably about 20 protesters, myself included. CODEPINK started with three different pairs standing up with banners made of sheets that they snuck in around their waist(we were treated to full “airport security” searches upon entrance). We were kindly shown the door(and I say kindly because I had a camera in my hand, but the other protesters were basically drug out) After we started an outburst when McCain said that violence is not our first option and should always be our last(I think he’s actually convinced himself these lies he is telling are true), and that Iran is the biggest threat to this country and the world at large(I threw up in my mouth a little when he said that) So we didn’t get to stick around for the full show, which actually only lasted about 15 minutes longer. This man is war hungry and I could see it in his eyes today-he said “I will not leave Iraq without a victory”-and what exactly is a victory Mr. McCain? This country will be in truly desperate place if this-man-this liar becomes president. You can check out video clips of the interruptions on CNN.com now.
All I have to say is- OBAMA 08-Yes, We Can!
thanks for your comments Anne–McCain has always scared me — I remember in 2000 when I thought maybe he would be better than Bush (not that I liked either), I still had the nagging feeling that McCain had it in him to do something crazy. as you probably know, there are several people in McCain’s own party who are troubled by the idea of a McCain presidency because they don’t trust his impulsive temper