Text of McCain's Speech on First-Term Goals
Here is the text of this morning's speech at the Greater Columbus Convention Center by presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain, outlined his hopes, visions and goals for his first term in the White House:
The hectic but repetitive routine of presidential campaigns often seems to consist entirely of back and forth charges between candidates, punctuated by photo ops, debates and the occasional policy speech, followed by another barrage of accusations and counter accusations, formulated into the soundbites preferred by cable news producers. It is a little hypocritical for candidates or reporters to criticize these deficiencies. They are our creation. Campaigns and the media collaborated as architects of the modern presidential campaign, and we deserve equal blame for the regret we feel from time to time over its less than inspirational features. Voters, however, even in this revolutionary communications age, with its 24 hour news cycle, can be forgiven their uncertainty about what the candidates actually hope to achieve if they have the extraordinary privilege of being elected President of the United States. We spend too little time and offer too few specifics on that most important of questions. We make promises, of course, about what kind of policies we would pursue in office. But they often are obscured, mischaracterized and forgotten in the heat and fog of political battle.
Next January, the political leadership of the United States will change significantly. It is important that the candidates who seek to lead the country after the Bush Administration define their objectives and what they plan to achieve not with vague language but with clarity.
So, what I want to do today is take a little time to describe what I would hope to have achieved at the end of my first term as President. I cannot guarantee I will have achieved these things. I am presumptuous enough to think I would be a good President, but not so much that I believe I can govern by command. Should I forget that, Congress will, of course, hasten to remind me. The following are conditions I intend to achieve. And toward that end, I will focus all the powers of the office; every skill and strength I possess; and seize every opportunity to work with members of Congress who put the national interest ahead of partisanship, and any country in the world that shares our hopes for a more peaceful and prosperous world.
By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced. Civil war has been prevented; militias disbanded; the Iraqi Security Force is professional and competent; al Qaeda in Iraq has been defeated; and the Government of Iraq is capable of imposing its authority in every province of Iraq and defending the integrity of its borders. The United States maintains a military presence there, but a much smaller one, and it does not play a direct combat role.
The threat from a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan has been greatly reduced but not eliminated. U.S. and NATO forces remain there to help finish the job, and continue operations against the remnants of al Qaeda. The Government of Pakistan has cooperated with the U.S. in successfully adapting the counterinsurgency tactics that worked so well in Iraq and Afghanistan to its lawless tribal areas where al Qaeda fighters are based. The increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants. There is no longer any place in the world al Qaeda can consider a safe haven. Increased cooperation between the United States and its allies in the concerted use of military, diplomatic, and economic power and reforms in the intelligence capabilities of the United States has disrupted terrorist networks and exposed plots around the world. There still has not been a major terrorist attack in the United States since September 11, 2001.
The United States and its allies have made great progress in advancing nuclear security. Concerted action by the great democracies of the world has persuaded a reluctant Russia and China to cooperate in pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, and North Korea to discontinue its own. The single greatest threat facing the West -- the prospect of nuclear materials in the hands of terrorists -- has been vastly diminished.
The size of the Army and Marine Corps has been significantly increased, and are now better equipped and trained to defend us. Long overdue reforms to the way we acquire weapons programs, including fixed price contracts, have created sufficient savings to pay for a larger military. A substantial increase in veterans educational benefits and improvements in their health care has aided recruitment and retention. The strain on the National Guard and reserve forces has been relieved.
After efforts to pressure the Government in Sudan over Darfur failed again in the U.N. Security Council, the United States, acting in concert with a newly formed League of Democracies, applied stiff diplomatic and economic pressure that caused the government of Sudan to agree to a multinational peacekeeping force, with NATO countries providing logistical and air support, to stop the genocide that had made a mockery of the world's repeated declaration that we would "never again" tolerant such inhumanity. Encouraged by the success, the League is now occupied with using the economic power and prestige of its member states to end other gross abuses of human rights such as the despicable crime of human trafficking.
The United States has experienced several years of robust economic growth, and Americans again have confidence in their economic future. A reduction in the corporate tax rate from the second highest in the world to one on par with our trading partners; the low rate on capital gains; allowing business to deduct in a single year investments in equipment and technology, while eliminating tax loopholes and ending corporate welfare, have spurred innovation and productivity, and encouraged companies to keep their operations and jobs in the United States. The Alternate Minimum Tax is being phased out, with relief provided first to middle income families. Doubling the size of the child exemption has put more disposable income in the hands of taxpayers, further stimulating growth.
Congress has just passed by a single up or down vote a tax reform proposal that offers Americans a choice of continuing to file under the rules of the current complicated and burdensome tax code or use a new, simpler, fairer and flatter tax, with two rates and a generous deduction. Millions of taxpayers are expected to file under the flat tax, and save billions in the cost of preparing their returns.
After exercising my veto several times in my first year in office, Congress has not sent me an appropriations bill containing earmarks for the last three years. A top to bottom review of every federal bureaucracy has yielded great reductions in government spending by identifying programs that serve no important purpose; and instigating far reaching reforms of procurement and operating policies that have for too long extravagantly wasted money for no better purpose than to increase federal payrolls.
New free trade agreements have been ratified and led to substantial increases in both exports and imports. The resulting growth in prosperity in countries from South America to Asia to Africa has greatly strengthened America's security and the global progress of our political ideals. U.S. tariffs on agricultural imports have been eliminated and unneeded farm subsidies are being phased out. The world food crisis has ended, inflation is low, and the quality of life not only in our country, but in some of the most impoverished countries around the world is much improved.
Americans, who through no fault of their own, lost jobs in the global economy they once believed were theirs for life, are assisted by reformed unemployment insurance and worker retraining programs. Older workers who accept lower paying jobs while they acquire new skills are provided assistance to make up a good part of the income they have lost. Community colleges and technical schools all over the country have developed worker retraining programs suited to the specific economic opportunities available in their communities and are helping millions of workers who have lost a job that won't come back find a new one that won't go away.
Public education in the United States is much improved thanks to the competition provided by charter and private schools; the increase of quality teachers through incentives like merit pay and terrific programs that attract to the classroom enthusiastic and innovative teachers from many disciplines, like Teach for America and Troops to Teachers. Educational software and online teaching programs endorsed by qualified non profits are much more widely in use, bringing to the smallest classrooms in America some of the greatest math, English, and science teachers in the country. This revolution in teaching methods has especially benefited rural America. Test scores and graduation rates are rising everywhere in the country.
Health care has become more accessible to more Americans than at any other time in history. Reforms of the insurance market; putting the choice of health care into the hands of American families rather than exclusively with the government or employers; walk in clinics as alternatives to emergency room care; paying for outcome in the treatment of disease rather than individual procedures; and competition in the prescription drug market have begun to wring out the runaway inflation once endemic in our health care system. More small businesses offer their employees health plans. Schools have greatly improved their emphasis on physical education and nutritional content of meals offered in school cafeterias. Obesity rates among the young and the disease they engender are stabilized and beginning to decline. The federal government and states have cooperated in establishing backstop insurance pools that provide coverage to people hard pressed to find insurance elsewhere because of pre-existing illness.
The reduction in the growth of health care costs has begun to relieve some of the pressure on Medicare; encouraging Congress to act in a bipartisan way to extend its solvency for twenty-five years without increasing taxes and raising premiums only for upper income seniors. Their success encouraged a group of congressional leaders from both parties to work with my administration to fix Social Security as well, without reducing benefits to those near retirement. The reforms include some form of personal retirement accounts in safe and reliable index funds, such as have been available to government employees since their retirement plans were made solvent a quarter century ago.
The United States is well on the way to independence from foreign sources of oil; progress that has not only begun to alleviate the environmental threat posed from climate change, but has greatly improved our security as well. A cap and trade system has been implemented, spurring great innovation in the development of green technologies and alternative energy sources. Clean coal technology has advanced considerably with federal assistance. Construction has begun on twenty new nuclear reactors thanks to improved incentives and a streamlined regulatory process.
Scores of judges have been confirmed to the federal district and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, who understand that they were not sent there to write our laws but to enforce them and make sure they are consistent with the Constitution. They are judges of exceptional character and quality, who enforce and do not make laws, and who respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they are sworn to defend.
Border state governors have certified and the American people recognize that after tremendous improvements to border security infrastructure and increases in the border patrol, and vigorous prosecution of companies that employ illegal aliens, our southern border is now secure. Illegal immigrants who broke our laws after they came here have been arrested and deported. Illegal immigration has been finally brought under control, and the American people accepted the practical necessity to institute a temporary worker program and deal humanely with the millions of immigrants who have been in this country illegally.
Voluntary national service has grown in popularity in part because of the educational benefits used as incentives, as well as frequent appeals from the bully pulpit of the White House, but mostly because the young Americans, no less than earlier generations, understand that true happiness is much greater than the pursuit of pleasure, and can only be found by serving causes greater than self-interest. Scores of accomplished private sector leaders have joined the ranks of my administration for a dollar a year and have instituted some of the most innovative reforms of government programs ever known, often in partnership with willing private sector partners. A sense of community, a kinship of ideals, has invigorated public service again.
This is the progress I want us to achieve during my presidency. These are the changes I am running for President to make. I want to leave office knowing that America is safer, freer, and wealthier than when I was elected; that more Americans have more opportunities to pursue their dreams than at any other time in our history; that the world has become less threatening to our interests and more hospitable to our values; and that America has again, as she always has, chosen not to hide from history but to make history.
I am well aware I cannot make any of these changes alone. The powers of the presidency are rightly checked by the other branches of government, and I will not attempt to acquire powers our founders saw fit to grant Congress. I will exercise my veto if I believe legislation passed by Congress is not in the nation's best interests, but I will not subvert the purpose of legislation I have signed by making statements that indicate I will enforce only the parts of it I like. I will respect the responsibilities the Constitution and the American people have granted Congress, and will, as I often have in the past, work with anyone of either party to get things done for our country.
For too long, now, Washington has been consumed by a hyper-partisanship that treats every serious challenge facing us as an opportunity to trade insults; disparage each other's motives; and fight about the next election. For all the problems we face, if you ask Americans what frustrates them most about Washington, they will tell you they don't think we're capable of serving the public interest before our personal and partisan ambitions; that we fight for ourselves and not for them. Americans are sick of it, and they have every right to be. They are sick of the politics of selfishness, stalemate and delay. They despair when every election -- no matter who wins -- always seems to produce four more years of unkept promises and a government that is just a battleground for the next election. Their patience is at an end for politicians who value ambition over principle, and for partisanship that is less a contest of ide as than an uncivil brawl over the spoils of power. They want to change not only the policies and institutions that have failed the American people, but the political culture that produced them. They want to move this country forward and stake our claim on this century as we did in the last. And they want their government to care more about them than preserving the privileges of the powerful.
There are serious issues at stake in this election, and serious differences between the candidates. And we will argue about them, as we should. But it should remain an argument among friends; each of us struggling to hear our conscience, and heed its demands; each of us, despite our differences, united in our great cause, and respectful of the goodness in each other. That is how most Americans treat each other. And it is how they want the people they elect to office to treat each other.
If I am elected President, I will work with anyone who sincerely wants to get this country moving again. I will listen to any idea that is offered in good faith and intended to help solve our problems, not make them worse. I will seek the counsel of members of Congress from both parties in forming government policy before I ask them to support it. I will ask Democrats to serve in my administration. My administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability. I will hold weekly press conferences. I will regularly brief the American people on the progress our policies have made and the setbacks we have encountered. When we make errors, I will confess them readily, and explain what we intend to do to correct them. I will ask Congress to grant me the privilege of coming before both houses to take questions, and address criticism, much the same as the Prime Minister of Great Britain appears regularly before the House of Commons.
We cannot again leave our problems for another unluckier generation of Americans to fix after they have become even harder to solve. I'm not interested in partisanship that serves no other purpose than to gain a temporary advantage over our opponents. This mindless, paralyzing rancor must come to an end. We belong to different parties, not different countries. We are rivals for the same power. But we are also compatriots. We are fellow Americans, and that shared distinction means more to me than any other association. I intend to prove myself worthy of the office; of our country; and of your respect. I won't judge myself by how many elections I've won. I won't spend one hour of my presidency worrying more about my re-election than keeping my promises to the American people. There is a time to campaign, and a time to govern. If I'm elected President, the era of the permanent campaign will end. The era of problem solving will begin. I promise you, from the day I am sworn into office until the last hour of my presidency, I will work with anyone, of either party, to make this country safe, prosperous and proud. And I won't care who gets the credit.
Thank you.
Posted at 10:27 AM ET on May 15, 2008
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Posted by: Mark | May 16, 2008 2:37 PM
Liberals in the Senate & Congress, have blocked any legislation that would help our country, for the past 8 years. They may not have been the majority leaders all 8 years, but their insisting on a 2/3 majority in the Senate was enough to stop
anything worth passing. They are the major problem, and if we are dumb enough to re-elect the likes of Reid, Pelosi, Ted Kennedy and the like, we are putting the real problem back in 0ffice to fix the problems they have created. McCain has been wrong on several issues, but he is so far ahead of HRC & Obummer that they can't see the tail lights on his vehicle.
give him a chance, and give him a conservative Senate & Congress to work with and I 'm sure we will see great improvement in America and the world.
Posted by: Bob H | May 16, 2008 1:06 AM
That was the funniest thing I've read. The only way it could be even more funnier if there was an audio-track with Grandpa Simpson speaking these lines. I can't decide if McCain is off his meds or if he's on them because clearly he's off to la-la-la land of unrealistic dreamers.
Posted by: dre7861 | May 15, 2008 9:38 PM
"Scores of accomplished private sector leaders have joined the ranks of my administration for a dollar a year and have instituted some of the most innovative reforms of government programs ever known".How come a buck a year? Maybe to buy that "get out of jail free" card? The speech is bizarre-he'll be dancing around on the Alps soon, singing "The Sound of Music". Things are about to get interesting.
Posted by: Eileen | May 15, 2008 6:47 PM
Gramstat-Ever hear of C-Span? There are other Channels as well! Most people just want to listen to what the Media wants them to hear.
Elitists are in Office for just that reason. Anyone actually keeping up with Kennedy or Lurch, Pelosi, Reid and so many others would rise up and attack anyone keeping them in their Jobs!
Me, there is NOTHING I can do about Lloyd Dogmeat! He is too wealthy, and too entrenched in a College Kid overpopulated District, that is also a Hot-bed of Socialism receiving Welfare abusers.
John Carter on the other hand, along with Kay Bailey-Hutchison and John Cornyn, are FIRST CLASS Representatives! The other Central Texas Reps are doing fine by me as well.
But then, I am a Rarity. I do try to keep up. I tried very hard to get warnings out before all the Finance garbage Blew Up! It was nailing me first!
I am NOW trying VERY HARD to point out that we are about to wind up a Third World Nation.
We don't have to. It is REALLY just as easy to avoid as Mitt and Mike are trying to point out! TAKE AWAY THE ILLEGALLY GIVEN JOBS! It is the Criminal Employers and our Fool Representatives that are the Problems we should be Hating! Not the one's THEY(Employers and Traitorous Reps.) Allow to do what they(Invaders) are being allowed to do!
It is Nancy Pelosi who is Sitting on John Carter's HR 1940-Birthright Citizenship Act! Where is the Media on that?
Go to Mitt Romney.com and see the Issues he has HAD laid out! They, are on the Right Path! They, are Realistic!
I cannot support ANY Candidate running for the office of the President, who is NOT going to ENFORCE our FEDERAL LAWS! If McSame wants to Legislate-he is already in the right place.
The President ENFORCES LAWS!
McSame, Billary and Obasama, ALL have FAILED to appropriate Funding for the Enforcement to occur. ALL have allowed Sanctuary Cities to OPENLY Defy Federal Laws!
I have a REAL Problem with THAT!
Posted by: RAT-The | May 15, 2008 6:12 PM
Pres Bush's decision to engage in partisan intervention. What the hell is next for you people, another war. Hilary says that new cars will pull you through. How many of you can afford a new car in the next couple of years, how many of you leased??. You will not be attacked, hopefully if you vote as the America I have known for 40 years. Man you are screwed. What a shame your great powers could not attack and control Burma. That would be the America I knew.
Life is great. NOT young.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 15, 2008 6:01 PM
I stopped what I was doing and listened to John McCain this morning.
I am ever so glad I did. He laid out in clear language what he hopes to accomplish by the year 2013.
He said, he would listen to you Just Daddy, Rat, Ed and all of the others that see the world as a glass half empty. He would take the best of your ideas, he would go to the Congress and be personally questioned by those we have elected to represent us. He would face the press once a week to be questioned. Unheard of transparency.
McCain is a realist and there is no one who loves this country any more than he does. I think his quote was "I will do anything that is in the best interests of our country." No matter whose idea it is and he said he did not care who got the credit for solving the problem.
We all have a particular issue that we feel strongly about above all other issues. McCain convenced me this morning that all our issues are important to him and he will do his best to be fair and truthful and 100% the American President if I vote for him.
I'm watching Obama and Clinton to see if they are going to fold or call or raise the ante. The big boys have come to the table to play today.
Posted by: Gramstat | May 15, 2008 4:49 PM
Gosh!!! Only $216,000,000,000.00 more and we'll have this thing solved. That's if the inflationary war doesn't cause any inflation. They've said if there was a brain it would rattle around like a BB in a boxcar. Listen - rattle, rattle, rattle.
Posted by: Don | May 15, 2008 4:06 PM
The number of expected inversions of current trends is mind-boggling.
* Bigger army and USMC (not navy, air force?)
* Better recruiting via educational benefits
* Young Americans joining the services out of
sheer patriotism.
* Fixed-price arms procurement.
* Iraq democratic. (Who is qualified for that?)
* Iraqi militias disbanded. (How?)
* Iran brought to heel. Would Russia agree?
* Sudan brought to heel. Would China agree?
* North Korea brought to heel. Didn't happen
in the decades when the US was
proportionately stronger. But in 4 short
years ...?
* UN security council abandoned, but the League
of Democracies (not "Nations?") can act with
impunity.
* 20 new nuclear reactors enroute.
Using old technology?
Wouldn't it take many more years to design
and build newer, safer (e.g. pebble-bed)
reactors?
* "Clean" coal technology? How much of the coal
companies' tax-break money has gone to
researching that? Have the government's
scientific research budgets kept up??
* Improved border security - on whose nickel?
Will the immigrant-sending countries (Mexico,
Brazil, ...) be so much more stable that
people won't try to come, or will we have
a hyper-secure US? Could we get the
Burmese generals to take over out border
security, and kill two birds with one stone?
* Decreased financial pressure on Medicare. How
will this happen with boomers retiring and
no progress in the past 14+ years in
overhauling health care? Won't the new
expenditures for the other things listed
compete for financing?
I could blather on, but my fingers are tired.
Isn't McCain the guy who claims to talk straight
and not pander?
Posted by: toshiyori_hito | May 15, 2008 3:48 PM
The Straight Talk Express has taken a Wrong Turn(Left?).
I thought about what I really did not like about all of McSame's "Fixes".
It was JUST THAT! His "Fixes", are in relation to a Problem he wants to ignore, while trying to deal with the repercussions from. Everything he is trying to throw money at to repair, was Broken by the Invasion. But, rather than get out and Enforce the Laws of this Nation, he wants to create Fixes for the problems created.
Without realizing, it is getting EXPONENTIALLY WORSE!
Reality Check Juan McAmnesty: Legalize the Illegals, and they all become as UN-EMPLOYABLE by the Employers using them NOW, as all the rest of us!
Get FUNDING into the Federal Agencies to get Agents OUT IN THE FIELD(Which PRESIDENTS CAN'T DO!), and NAIL Employers hiring Workers not legally able to Work Here! At the Skilled Construction Sites, Auto Shops, Landscaping Jobs, and Service Industries! STOP hitting one Packing Plant, and getting a Single Job Done in the Papers to try to act like you are actually doing anything!
I LIVE in TEXAS! When I go to Walmart, what I see is MEXICO! I do not like living in MEXICO!
And it just keeps getting WORSE!
Posted by: RAT-The | May 15, 2008 2:23 PM
McCain IS going to be the next President ; )
Posted by: JakeD | May 15, 2008 12:44 PM
----
I assume you got that info from Bush's intelligence gathering service.
LOL - its about as likely as the "Straight Talk Express" being a mobile WMD lab.
Posted by: Franky | May 15, 2008 2:05 PM
"If I am elected, I will do whatever I want, and ignore you fools!"
Heck, we'll go to war with Babylon for what they did to my father!
Posted by: McCain | May 15, 2008 1:59 PM
Another Red Flag about McCain's speech, is his Posing Stance on Human Trafficing. That is a buzzword about even MORE $$$$ Wasted in the Insane and lost Drug War.
Another Blurp-Going after "Companies" hiring Illegals.
Over 90% are in Sub-Contracted jobs! Not Large companies!
Juan, ever see something called a Construction Site? Ever thing about having some Feds go buy THEM ALL and check ID's?
Like NOW!
Posted by: RAT-The | May 15, 2008 1:57 PM
LOL!-First Rocky- I did not say a Word about McCain's War Mongering. HE said waaaaay too much about it! Between the lines was a HUGE amount of Military activity! He is planning to kick-start the Economy with the BIGGEST surge of Federal Military Spending in Decades.
Without a Clue as to how he is going to PAY for it!
My issue was his State of denial about the TIME-BOMB about to blow up called La Invasora! The "Anchor Baby" Boom is going to Bankrupt us! His BS about "Future" enforcement we have been lied to and sold before! The Previous Amnesty amounted to Opening the Doors to the Biggest Stampede of one Immigrant Group the Country has ever seen. And, as the WaPo article about assimilation the other day revealed, they are not!
Their Bridges are being re-enforced, NOT taken Down!
He is in denial about their Impact. All the Miracles he is claiming to fix, could be BEST done, by getting them OUT!
Obesity Rates, Schools, Prisons, Jobs, Wages(Omitted), Medical Treatment and Costs, Resources(Omitted), and so much MORE, are Directly attributable to the INVASION of Central Americans! The IDIOCY of our Nation's immigration Authorities having Family Re-Unification as a Priority, IS INSANE!(Omitted).
For every Accepted Invader, an American loses a Job, and at least 4 more arrive on it's BACK! Then, the Onslaught of the BATTLE OF THE CRIB! SCHIPs Recipients ALL!
Reverse Discrimination with LEGALIZED "Bi-Lingual Required"(Gringo, don't talk like that! It HURTS my ears! Garbage!).
Then, as far as McCain's IDIOTIC 2013 Blurp- why doesn't he just say: I am just going to be an Idiot for my Term and pass the Bucks! :-/
Now, JakeD, His BS about "Private Sectors" helping for a Dollar a Year! He needs to mention they cash in on Over a Billion on their own Land Trades! ;~)
With a little help from their Friend!
Posted by: RAT-The | May 15, 2008 1:28 PM
I was about a quarter of the way through this and decided to keep a tally of the What freakin' planet are you standing on??? comments...
- The increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants.
Um... Since when??
- The size of the Army and Marine Corps has been significantly increased, and are now better equipped and trained to defend us.
There was an article not TWO DAYS ago that said up tp 10% of ppl in Iraq were categorized as MEDICALLY unfit.
- The United States has experienced several years of robust economic growth, and Americans again have confidence in their economic future.
Again... I'm sorry, what??? Maybe if you meant walking confidentally in to foreclosure.
-The world food crisis has ended, inflation is low, and the quality of life not only in our country, but in some of the most impoverished countries around the world is much improved.
Umm... Anyone been to Myanmar lately?
- The United States is well on the way to independence from foreign sources of oil
A who what??
McCain, I will vote for you the day I move to your planet.
Obama '08
Posted by: jencm | May 15, 2008 12:52 PM
This comment is to Justadaddy and Rat-The:
It strikes me funny that all over the news you hear that the "public wants" an end to this war...The Democrats beat up on the Republican all of the time about not having a time frame to withdraw troops, it was a major point debated during all of the debates, but as soon as McCain starts to strategize or mentions that he has a plan, then we get the likes of you 2 (Just a daddy and Rat-The) beating him up for his idea as well, I wonder did you attack Obama and Clinton when they had withdraw strategies that they willingly speak of consistently? If anyone can talk about military strategies and threats of terrorists and solutions to the war, I would TOTALLY put my money on McCain to Win! After all what experience does anyone in the Democratic Party have when it comes to military affairs? But no matter what a Republican says or does they will get beat up for it these days, Jesus Christ himself could be running on the Republican ticket and they would call him an adulterer, thief, and hypocrite as soon as he opened his mouth!
Posted by: Rocky12272 | May 15, 2008 12:49 PM
I like wishing too, but exactly how are you going to make this happen while keeping the same Bush foriegn diplomacy and Bush economic plan.
Posted by: Vincent | May 15, 2008 12:47 PM
Elizabeth:
McCain IS going to be the next President ; )
Posted by: JakeD | May 15, 2008 12:44 PM
John McCain presents to us a picture of the future that most of us (including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton) would like to see, but progress in all areas he mentioned is possible only with a coalition of Congressmen and women willing to risk actually doing the job they were elected to do. I hope he is willing to work closely with the new President and to provide a chastened Republican party with a shining example of true public service.
Posted by: ELIZABETH A. CHECK | May 15, 2008 12:40 PM
RAT-The:
Is there anything NEW about McCain you'd like to debate?
Posted by: JakeD | May 15, 2008 12:26 PM
A great speech full of great ideas. I am a Democrat, but greatly impressed.
Posted by: kay | May 15, 2008 12:07 PM
Keep SENATORS in the SENATE! This load of TRIPE was so much of a Filibuster I could not stand it!
I was waiting for the "And Pigs will be Flying".
It was as EMPTY on substance as all of "Barry's" Socialistic Promises, but at least Obasama knows enough to realize he will have to raise Taxes to actually PAY for it all!
We NEED Beltway Outsiders, not Beltway Permanent Fixtures.
Business and the Economy are the issues.
The MILLIONS of Wage Destroying, Community Devastating INVADERS are the SINGLE Biggest Problem!
Capitulation to an Invasion, is SURRENDER!
Two words:
Romney Huckabee.
Posted by: RAT-The | May 15, 2008 11:58 AM
I have always loved and admired this country ever since I came here.
But, today after reading this great, thoughtful speech, I feel proud that a great leader has arrived to lead our country in a long long time.
John McCain is a true and tested leader and servent of this country. I would vote for him over one who claims to be leader because he writes and reads great speeches.
Oratory is great but true patriotism is hard to find. So fellow americans, look beyond the AGE and honor one of true patriot of our time while we can by electing him the President of this great country.
I also want to submit to all Americans to stop putting this country down until and unless you have lived in another country for enough time to really compare and judge your country.
Believe it or not, you do live in the best country in the world. The best indicator of that is that your country tolerates you no matter what.
Make John McCain our new President!
Posted by: UM | May 15, 2008 11:58 AM
JustaDaddy:
After 9/11, did you think we would NOT have another "major" terrorist attack within the next SEVEN years? I didn't, and I don't believe that is just a coincidence. I would happily defend John SIDNEY McCain on this, or any other, thread.
Posted by: JakeD | May 15, 2008 11:57 AM
This is so delusional and bizarre I don't know where to begin. Talk about making promises you don't know you can keep! He goes from 100 years to the end of his first term? Terrorists, who have abundantly more patience than Americans, only have to lay low for the next few years? We're not going to have another "major" terrorist attack just because this senile old man says so? Does he already have his magic wand, or does he get that after taking the oath? Unbelievable.
Posted by: JustaDaddy | May 15, 2008 11:53 AM
"The increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants."
Did I miss something in the news?
Posted by: Ed | May 15, 2008 11:28 AM
It is telling to see no comments here on this thread. I honestly don't know how John McCain will make the race for the presidency. Never mind what people say about O bama and his alleged weaknesses. McCain is maybe the strongest candidate the Republicans have for this year, but nobody is really interested in him, it seems.
http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/05/15/obama-has-a-huge-problem-codswallop-mccain-has/
Posted by: European_Elitist | May 15, 2008 11:20 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
McCain is scary! The troops 'may' be out in 2013. No McCain you cannot nuke them!