McCain's Out-of-Control Anger: Does He Have the Temperament to Be President?

Newsmax ^ | July 5, 2006 | Ronald Kessler

[seasoned traditionalist]

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is considered a front-runner for the 2008 race, but does McCain have the temperament to be president? But to insiders who know him, McCain has an irrational, explosive side that make many of them question whether he is fit to serve as president and be commander in chief. Nowhere is that sentiment stronger than in the Senate, where McCain has few friends or supporters. In fact, when McCain ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2000, only four Republican senators endorsed him. "I have witnessed incidents where he has used profanity at colleagues and exploded at colleagues," said former Senator Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican who served with McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee and on Republican policy committees.

[John D]

And Sen. McCain is not a liberal.



Then what is he? I guess a hot head ultra liberal with NO convictions. The only person he is concerned with is John McCain. He proved that when he gave the Cong every bit of information for preferential treatment.
I knew him when I lived in AZ. He is as crazy as any elected person can be. He should NEVER,NEVER be considered for the office of President.

[rwa265]

I would have to hold my nose, but I would have to go with McCain for the following reason

from Project Vote Smart:

2005 Senator McCain supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2005.
2005 Senator Lieberman supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 75 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2004.
2004 Senator Lieberman supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004 Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 82 percent in 2003-2004.
2003-2004 Senator Lieberman supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004 Senator Lieberman supported the interests of the Democrats for Life of America 0 percent in 2003-2004.

2003 Senator McCain supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2003.
2003 Senator Lieberman supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2003.

2001-2002 Senator Lieberman supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2001-2002.

[Fairview]

From the article:

"...more recently, McCain said on Fox News, "You know, the French remind me a little bit of an aging actress of the 1940s who is still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn't have the face for it."

I don't see that particular remark as a problem!

[AConnecticutYankee]

McCain is responsible for THE most irresponsible, undemocratic piece of legislation ever enacted in recent years

Agreed. And that alone makes him unfit for any office.

[Peach]

I saw McCain during the debate in 2000. When the camera was not on him, he paced the stage and muttered to himself and looked so angry that the Mayor and Senator we were sitting with all noticed it and commented that he seemed deranged.

It has long been a Beltway secret that McCain doesn't have the mental stability to be president.

[sheana]

I wouldn't call NEVER!!! a difficult position.

I hate McCain just a little less than Ted Kennedy.

[I_like_good_things_too]

McCain has a lot wrong with him as a candidate & I will fight to prevent him getting the nomination. However, when you call him a "flaming liberal", I hope you're being purposely hyperbolic. He has been liberal on some key issues, but see post 22 for examples of how he's not a "flaming liberal". Or his ACU rating.

[gaspar]

McCain has only one pal in the Senate, his catamite Lindsay Graham.

[mjolnir]

His voting record on abortion is easily explained by the fact that he wants to maintain a power base in the Republican Party--- these votes tend to be party-line and don't tell us whether he would follow President Bush 41, 43 and President Reagan with respect to the Mexico City Policy, or whether he would be inclined to appoint judges who don't see abortion as a Constitutionally guaranteed right.

John McCain on Roe vs. Wade:

“I’d love to see a point where it (Roe v. Wade) is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.”

http://www.nrlc.org/Election2000/mccain/prolife_case_against_mccain.html

John McCain's record on pro-life issues is very poor, for a Republican-- pretty much like his record on everything else except the question of whether the United States should withdraw before victory in Iraq.

[GSlob]

"It solves nothing."
It is not for solving anything. It is a minor stress release mechanism. The job is known to be highly stressful.

[ClaireSolt]

NewsMax has rendered a public service by putting this out now. To me it is amazing to find out that a nominee is not liked by colleagues, but that was true of both Gore and Kerry. I have seen McCain acting out in senate hearings. He denounced global warming critics as disgraceful and was threatening a young woman testifying on Abramhoff matters. both seemed way over the line to me. I think he forgets that he graduated next to last in his class at Annapolis when he is intolerant of others' views.

[rwa265]

I am not saying McCain has a sterling record on abortion. It could be better. But Lieberman's record is abysmal. If you think NRLC doesn't like McCain, look at what they have to say about Lieberman.

http://www.nrlc.org/news/2000/NRL09/edita.html

And it's not just abortion. On issue after issue, McCain takes the more conservative position. Look for yourself on Project Vote Smart and you'll see what I mean.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0061103

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0141103

Let me be clear, I don't like McCain and would not support him in the primaries. We have too many good conservatives in the Republican party, including the other Senator from Arizona. But if it came down to McCain and Lieberman, I just could not vote for the more liberal, pro-abortion, candidate.

[mjolnir]

Yes, I suppose I'd have to vote for McCain over Lieberman, too, in part beacuse Lieberman supports McCain on issues like Global Warming.

I think with regard to their voting records you have to take into account that Senator McCain rarely takes a position to the right of Republicans, and Lieberman often takes positions to the right of Democrats even though he usually ends up voting with them.

Given the greater freedom the President has to set his own agenda, I think a President McCain would certainly be much further to the left than his voting record, and a President Lieberman MIGHT be more conservative than his voting record, although I don't think he would be.

Well, Lieberman will obviously never get a chance to be President anyway... But McCain has a legit shot at it. I'd vote for McCain over any of the Democratic candidates, but there's no doubt in my mind he (as Liberman would also be)a disaster as president.

[rwa265]

I have to admit I bought into the Lieberman hype until I took a closer look at his record.

There are some good conservative Republicans out there. I hope one of them gets the nomination rather than McCain.

[Polyxene]

"Does He Have the Temperament to Be President?"

No, no, and H-E-double hockey sticks NO!!

(Makes you wonder what methods he used to get the "Gang of 14" to go along with him.)

[A_perfect_lady]

So the only real difference is Lieberman is more pro-abortion?

[rwa265]

No, that is not the only real difference. If you compare their ratings by various interest groups, you will find that Lieberman is much more liberal on one issue after another. As I've said, I don't like McCain and I hope the Republicans nominate one of the many good solid conservatives in the party. But if it comes down to a choice between McCain and Lieberman, I could not vote for the more liberal candidate.

You can compare for yourself at the following sites.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0061103

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0141103

[gaspar]

There is a good reason why Senators are rarely elected to the Presidency. (Kennedy was an anomaly, not having served all that long.) Their egos are monstruous. They hate each other. They think the American people are boobs. And their general nastiness cannot be hidden. Thus, if this nation wants to commit suicide, just have Hillary Clinton oppose John McCain in 2008.