CBS Marketwatch: Why McCain would be a mediocre president

[UpInArms]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/why-mccain-would-mediocre-president/story.aspx?guid=4914192B-12AF-4623-AB18-5EFE91204B04&dist=SecMostRead&print=true&dist=printMidSection

Lack of accomplishments
Like the current occupant of the White House, McCain got his first career breaks from the connections and money of his family, not from hard work.

The son and grandson of Navy admirals, he attended Annapolis where he did poorly. Nevertheless, he was commissioned as a pilot, where he performed poorly, crashing three planes before he failed to evade a North Vietnamese missile that destroyed his plane. McCain spent more than five years in a prison camp.

After his release, McCain knew his weak military record meant he'd never make admiral, so he turned his sights to a career in politics. With the help of his new wife's wealth, his new father-in-law's business connections and some powerful friends had made as a lobbyist for the Navy, he was elected in 1982 to a Congress in a district that he didn't reside in until the day the seat opened up. A few years later, he succeeded Barry Goldwater as a senator.

McCain hasn't accomplished much in the Senate. Even his own campaign doesn't trumpet his successes, probably because the few victories he's had still rankle Republicans.

His campaign finance law failed to significantly reduce the role of money in politics. He failed to get a big tobacco bill through the Senate. He's failed to change the way Congress spends money; his bill to give the president a line-item veto was declared unconstitutional, and the system of pork and earmarks continues unabated. He failed to reform the immigration system.

Every senator who runs for president misses votes back in Washington, so it's no surprise that McCain and all the others who ran in the primaries have missed a lot of votes in the past year. But between the beginning of 2005 and mid-2007, no senator missed more roll-call votes than McCain did, except Tim Johnson, who was recovering from a near-fatal brain aneurysm.

[seasat]

1. Wow!

That's most blunt media critique I've seen of McCain to date.

[UpInArms]

2. I felt the same way - it was refreshing to see it on a mainstream site

here's more:

McCain says he doesn't understand the economy. He's demonstrated that he doesn't understand the workings of Social Security, or the political history of the Middle East. He doesn't know who our enemies are. He says he wants to reduce global warming, but then proposes ideas that would stimulate -- not reduce -- demand for fossil fuels.

McCain has done one thing well -- self promotion. Instead of working on legislation or boning up on the issues, he's been on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" more than any other guest. He's been on the Sunday talk shows more than any other guest in the past 10 years. He's hosted "Saturday Night Live" and even announced his candidacy in 2007 on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

McCain has not articulated any lofty goals. So far, his campaign theme has mostly been "McCain: He's None of the Above."

In the primaries, he campaigned on "I'm not that robotic businessman, I'm not that sanctimonious hick, I'm not that crazy libertarian, I'm not that washed-up actor, I'm not that delusional 9/11 guy." In the general election, he's emphasized that he's not that treasonous dreamer.

[seasat]

9. It shows what I've always thought about McCain...Expert panderer

He's only skill is that he is great at pandering. He's never really accomplished anything.

[Cassandra]

3. Mediocre would be way too optimistic...

although I appreciate the rundown of McCain's history.

[UpInArms]

4. having a MSM link to McInsane's history

to refute the whacknuts is always helpful!

:toast:

[YOY]

5. Mediocre at best

Then again some would call the Dippy a "mediocre president" when in fact he's lowered the bar so low that amoeba might stand a chance of pulling off the same job.

[LibDemAlways]

6. The #1 reason McSame would be a mediocre President:

the "R" after his name.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. With all those appearances on TV, WHO exactly is the "celebrity," McSame?

:eyes:

If there is one thing that you can say about Republicans it's that they have perfected the psychological "art" of projection.

[UpInArms]

8. exactly! eom