Posted on 11/03/2017 11:41:30 AM PDT by rickmichaels
Arizona Sen. John McCain took another swipe at Trump administration policy in a speech to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he slammed both isolationism and nationalism, ideas he said are ascendant within the President Trump’s White House.
In the speech to the midshipmen in Annapolis, Maryland, on Monday, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman ripped into the Trump administration’s policies, although — taking a Voldemort-like approach that’s become habitual among anti-Trump conservatives — he never mentioned the president’s name.
McCain contrasted the “hopeful atmosphere of 1991” after the fall of the Soviet Union with “the current circumstances of our world,” according to USNI News.
“We have gone from an interval when the global success of democracy seemed assured to a time in which the seductions of authoritarian rule find favor with many; when self-interested leadership excuses naked aggression with weak rationalizations; when ethnic grievances haunt the old and religious fanaticism fires the minds of the misguided young,” McCain said.
“We are asleep to the necessity of our leadership, and to the opportunities and real dangers of this world,” he continued.
“We are asleep in our echo chambers, where our views are always affirmed and information that contradicts them is always fake. We are asleep in our polarized politics, which exaggerates our differences, looks for scapegoats instead of answers.”
McCain then went on to attack attributes (isolationism, protectionism) and straw men (conspiracy theories, propaganda) commonly associated with the Trump administration.
“I believe in Americans. We’re capable of better. I’ve seen it,” the Arizona senator said.
“We’re hopeful, compassionate people. And we still have leaders who will uphold the values that made America great, and a beacon to the oppressed.
“But I don’t take that for granted. We have to fight. We have to fight against propaganda and crackpot conspiracy theories. We have to fight isolationism, protectionism, and nativism.”
In a part of his speech where he contrasted the values of post-World War II statesmen with the current administration, he refused to mention the latter by name — although he did take aim at one of its most identifiable slogans.
McCain said that the statesmen had come to the conclusion “that the American example and American leadership are indispensable to securing a peaceful and prosperous future. Our failure to remain engaged in Europe and enforce the hard-won peace of 1918 had made that clear. There could be no more isolationism, no more tired resignation — no more ‘America First.’”
McCain, of course, is equating — possibly deliberately and dishonestly — Trump’s “America First” with the America First Committee, a WWII-era anti-war, isolationist group. This group, led by Sears Roebuck executive Robert E. Wood and aviation hero Charles Lindbergh, vociferously opposed entry into the war against Hitler’s Germany that were not always admirable or moral.
The comparisons between a slogan meant to emphasize what many conservatives feel was the Obama administration’s excessive accommodation to internationalism and globalism with a discredited movement that sought to stay out of an active war between fascist, racist, genocidal powers is, one would hope, nothing more than rhetoric.
Judging by McCain’s recent history with the Trump administration — he’s killed the Republican bill to replace Obamacare and intimated he found the Obama administration more up to his liking, for instance — one is not inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
John McCain has served our country and the Republican Party well. We wish him the best in his fight against cancer. However, I’m getting a bit sick of having to append those caveats onto the end of every single story involving something the Arizona lawmaker has done to blight the conservative cause or blunt the edge of the Trump agenda.
Let’s face facts: McCain has become an incorrigible RINO, wholly determined to act as a roadblock to his party’s efforts to undo the damage of the Obama era. Part of this seems to involve smearing the president at every opportunity possible.
If John McCain really wants to do something great for America, we have a simple suggestion for him: Retirement.
FUJM!!
He’s worried about what’s going to come out about him and his buddy Lyndsay in Uranium One.
McCain, go meddle in some new third-world conflict. And swallow a cluster bomblet while you are at it.
What a douche bag!
I know I’m going to hell for this but please just die already, you old RINO. I’m beyond sick of your shenanigans.
How to shut this creature up?
Channeling Obama, or just carrying the torch in the next leg of the apology tour?
The guy who did so much to give us catastrophes all over the Middle East, including Libya and Syria, is not someone to rely upon for strategic and diplomatic advice.
FUJM.
C’mon cancer and actuarial tables! Do it! Do it! Do it!
“He’s worried about what’s going to come out about him and his buddy Lyndsay in Uranium One.”
I think that’s why he’s saying he has cancer — to immunize himself from possible prosecution in the future. Judging by different posts on FR, it seems that about 25% of us don’t believe the cancer story.
When will they, or God, remove this guy?
“God, I pray, remove our enemies from positions of power and restore our Free Constitutional Republic that America might once more be a beacon of hope and a light to the world.”
“the current circumstances of our world,”
Songbird fails to realise he is part of the problem that has led to the current circumstances.
Just crawl away and die peacefully you old criminal.
The moron refused to unshackle Americans from horrendously expensive Obamacare plans.
He then expects Americans to compete unprotected against workers in countries with far lower health care costs.
Something is eating at his brain.
Gee...I wonder why that could be?
One Nation, Under God, with Liberty and Justice for all.
Shall not perish from this earth...
Jesus, hear our prayers.
Putting the USA and its citizens first is a job requirement Senator.
I must ask, how is the best way to motivate somebody? Do you do it by saying they should be second rate? What a marooon.
One Nation, Under God, with Liberty and Justice for all.
Shall not perish from this earth...
Jesus, hear our prayers.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Amen
Americans who are shackled to this monstrosity known as ObamaCare don't give a sh!t about America's standing in the world.
And they sure as hell don't give a sh!t about your globalist war-mongering on behalf of foreign governments and business interests.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.