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McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Even WaPo's Hiatt Says So

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 08:27:23 AM EST
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(Guest Post by Big Tent Democrat)

Dan Bartlett: "We proposed a more direct approach to bringing clarification. This one is more of the scenic route, but it gets us there."

You know John McCain miscalculated when Fred Hiatt calls him a Rubberstamp:

[I]t's hard to credit the statement by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) yesterday that "there's no doubt that the integrity and letter and spirit of the Geneva Conventions have been preserved." In effect, the agreement means that U.S. violations of international human rights law can continue as long as Mr. Bush is president, with Congress's tacit assent. If they do, America's standing in the world will continue to suffer, as will the fight against terrorism.

This very well may be McCain's Waterloo with the Beltway. Hiatt has put the Dean, David Broder, between a rock and a hard place. He loves the "Maverick" but if Hiatt calls something a Bush Rubberstamp what is Broder left to do?

And this provides Democrats in the Senate with a great opportunity to do the right thing AND the smart thing. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post say the "Mavericks" caved in. It becomes clear that the only real opposition to the Bush Administration can come from Democrats. The only accountability will come from a Democratic Congress.

Now Democrats need to demonstrate to the American People, the Media AND the Democratic Base that they will do so. Maverick McCain set the bar and failed it miserably. Democrats need to hold the Bush Administration to account.

The White House made sure to let the world know that Maverick McCain is a fake:

Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president, said: "We proposed a more direct approach to bringing clarification. This one is more of the scenic route, but it gets us there."

The scenic route to a Rubberstamp.

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    • McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Even WaPo's Hiatt Says So | 8 comments (8 topical)
    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 08:33:29 AM EST
    I no longer think that there is any substantial difference between the current crop of Democrats on the hill and the "Mavericks". They are ALL (ok, there may be a couple of exceptions) feckless and lacking in spine. They simply don't care. I can't come up with any other reason for their silence, their complicity. Jake

    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 08:59:49 AM EST
    In the almost 60 years since the enactment of the Geneva Conventions, no country has ever disavowed a single article of the Conventions. Until now. King George and the rubberstamp rethugs want to gut the Geneva Conventions which were agreed to by all civilized nations to ensure the humane and civilized treatment of prisoners and the conduct of war. Makes ya damn proud, don't it? The U.S. Congress will soon seek to legitimize war crimes. Milosevic can now call Bush as a defense witness at his trial.

    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 09:31:35 AM EST
    When I was growing up in NYC, my family went through some bad times. At around age 9, I was befriended by a host of Jewish people in the neighborhood. To keep myself busy, I offered to deliver prescriptions for the local drug store. Many of the receipients were elderly Jews who had come here from concentration camps after WWII. I don't know why we hit it off, or why they cared about me, but they did and, lifelong, I felt that they saved my life. At age 9, I didn't understand about concentration camps, but by thirteen I did and it made me even more awed about their generosity to me. How can we be doing this? What has happened to our national conscience?

    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 10:16:00 AM EST
    The only way to end torture is to vote Democratic this fall.

    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 11:40:04 AM EST
    Yall stuck with this Union, at least I can say I didnt have a choice.

    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#6)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 11:41:49 AM EST
    Just add these "Mavericks" to the list of criminals that infest our government, our economy, and our personal lives. Let it be known to all citizens, when the decaps start up again. We threw down the gauntlet.

    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#7)
    by wlgriffi on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 04:37:40 PM EST
    It's the "smoke and mirrors" routine that the republican congress has become masters at now. The "mavericks" usually,as now,end up in harness when the parade is about to start. GITTYUP! GITTYUP!!!!

    Re: McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Ev (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 07:46:46 PM EST
    What the hell are the Dems waiting for!!!??? There should be strident voices raised, in chorus, in patriotic opposition. We get silence instead. The Dems would do well to remember that silence implies consent. Caesar goes unanswered. Again.

    McCain's "Scenic Route" To A Rubber Stamp: Even WaPo's Hiatt Says So | 8 comments (8 topical)