Posted on 10/13/2013 11:01:52 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The key bit comes at the very end, in response to a question about whos responsible for the temporary suspension of death benefits to families of fallen troops. McCains answer: Everyone in Congress but, implicitly, especially the defund caucus. You can tell how eager Maverick was to make that point by how quickly he turns a segment about the administration giving short shrift to the military normally an easy lay-up for a Republican against a Democratic president into a lament about Cruz et al. Im not sure a guy whos positioned himself as the lead Republican opponent of the wacko birds should be ruminating on holding people accountable, but if hes leaning towards not running again in 2016, hes got nothing to lose. No doubt hes enjoying sticking it to tea partiers immensely.
If nothing else, this clip illustrates the slightly (but only slightly) exaggerated truth that there are now two Republican parties. Case in point:
Tea Party Republicans approve of the job congressional Republicans are doing by a 72%-25% margin. However, a plurality of NON-Tea Party Republicans disapprove by a 49%-42% In addition, 69% of Tea Party Republicans believe the GOP is demonstrating strong leadership and standing up for what they believe in, versus 29% of them who say theyre putting their political agenda ahead of whats good for the country. But those numbers are reversed among NON-Tea Party Republicans 53% say theyre putting politics first, while 41% think Republicans are standing up for what they believe in. And then theres this: Among Tea Party Republicans, Ted Cruz has a 52%-4% fav/unfav rating. But among non-Tea Party its 13%-23%.
Either that rift is healed in the next two years or the primary campaign in 2015 is going to be really something. One question for the defund supporters, though: If this really was about trying to build consensus in Congress to stop O-Care, why is Mark Begich claiming that none of the defunders ever met with him to pitch him on joining them in voting no? Hes a red-state Democrat whos up for reelection next year; its unlikely that hed break ranks with his caucus, but if any Dem is going to, its one whos in Begichs position. Instead, he claims, The only time Ted Cruz said something to me was when I was literally coming to the floor, you know the two tables down by the desk there where you cast your vote. He said, You should vote for this. That was it. Could be that Begich is lying, of course, but if hes going to lie, there are more self-serving lies he could tell than that one. E.g., I have grave concerns about ObamaCare, and Senators Cruz and Lee begged to meet with me about them. But once they threatened to shut down the government, I told them Hell, no! A lie along those lines would please Alaska GOPers by signaling his alleged concerns about O-Care and Alaska Democrats by punching Cruz and Lee. And showing that he was opposed to the shutdown would please both. Instead, hes making the lesser claim that no one on the defund side ever tried to meet with him. That makes me think its true, and if its true, why is it true? What did defunders have to lose by feeling him out to see what hed need to conceivably vote with Republicans against Reids amendment stripping the defund provisions out of the House bill? Remember, Reid could have lost as many as three Democrats on that and still passed it by simple majority, so he might have let Begich cross the aisle in order to protect himself with reddish Alaska voters. Why not try?
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
I agree with the Vietnamese punching bag. The Tea Party-types need to be held accountable, by rewarding them with the Presidency and control of Congress.
When I voted in 08’ I threw up in my mouth. I didn’t like McCain but thought Palin could be his “Cheney” and steer him mostly right.
Since the days leading up to the election I became convinced that he did not want to win and I think it was the GOP intention all along.
The GOP seriously needs a good fumigation.
From one Vet to another. Your service for this country is no longer needed.
John McCain, you are disgusting, rotten, piss poor, useless traitorous piece of sh!t.
I used to preface my remarks about McCain with thanks for his heroism, etc.
No more.
Now I just am hating the guy and everything he says.
Please forgive me Lord.
5.56mm
I despise this man every bit as much as I despise Obama, Reid & Pelosi.
McCain is holding on to a very slim Reid.
McCain is a traitor to Americans and it’s time for Sarah Palin to denounce him.
The day McCain is gone from the senate will be almost as joyous as the day Ted Kennedy was no longer there to continue their carnage in our government.
Gots to be a way to send this old fool back to the kong for good
Screw you Senator. With all due respect of course.
I agree. That would be a bold step for her.
Palin's debt is paid to McCain. However, if she were to do this, she must tie it to a bigger step, such as announcing a run for new office. If she chooses to run for Senate in Alaska, she could campaign on the platform of countering McCain's vote.
She would have to say that the "maverick" has lost his way.
-PJ
I can’t think of any democrat who democrats hate as much as republicans hate (with good reason) McCain.
John McCain is exhibit A on the need for term limits. Yes it’s too bad that elections don’t suffice but the constituents become every bit as corrupted as career politicians.
Exactly.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
McAinal McQueeg is totally irrelevant with conservative republicans. He is only important to the gay rats, who control our media. These dregs of humanity, spend their semi sober hours in Gay hot tubs, writing bs about their hero while trying to make Ted Cruz look bad. In spite of their trash posing as journalism, we now have the totally irrelevant McAinal McQueeg and a stronger Ted Cruz.
FU Whackobird
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