Cliff LyonFellow Vietnam POW: Why I Won’t Vote For McCain
Luckily, I grabbed some of this before Military.com went down. I’m not a conspiracy theorist like Richard :), but with the Republican police state thing happening, well…
A Graduate of the US Naval Academy, co-POW with McCain in Vietnam has apparently gone on the record.
I furthermore believe that having been a POW is no special qualification for being President of the United States. The two jobs are not the same, and POW experience is not, in my opinion, something I would look for in a presidential candidate.
Most of us who survived that experience are now in our late 60’s and 70’s. Sadly, we have died and are dying off at a greater rate than our non-POW contemporaries. We experienced injuries and malnutrition that are coming home to roost. So I believe John’s age (73) and survival expectation are not good for being elected to serve as our President for 4 or more years.
I can verify that John has an infamous reputation for being a hot head. He has a quick and explosive temper that many have experienced first hand. Folks, quite honestly that is not the finger I want next to that red button.
I think he makes a good point, REALLY good point. I am sorry McCain got caught, but that display of incompetence no more qualifies him to be president than the accident of Obama having grown up with dark skin…or does it?
August 20th, 2008 at 5:58 am
MCShame has great “military experience” if you count crashing planes.
By the time he drove his plane into the ground in Viet Nam, he had already crashed 4 naval planes plus was tied in with a disasterous fire aboard a carrier that ended up killing over 125 servicemen.
His responsibility is clouded, but his daddy’s connections did make sure ole Jonny was spirited off the carrier before the fire got put out. Also, if you count being an enemy collaborator, McShame was that. But beyond these two elements, I’m dammed if I can see where all this “military experience” was obtained.
McCain is a man without honor and his unsavory past needs to be exposed to the public light of truth.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Cliff,
I would agree that just being a POW does not make one qualified to be the president but doesn’t it provide insight into a person’s character?
How did McCain handle himself during that time?
Did he support his fellow POWs?
Do those fellow POWs object to how he has portrayed his time, his activities?
I think how a person handled themselves in a previous time of stress might be an indicator of future performance., John McCain’s experience allows us to examine that behavior.
What experiences of the superficial superstar Obama allows us to examine his behavior?
August 20th, 2008 at 8:50 am
President Harry Truman famously remarked that the White House was the crown jewel of America’s prison system. Maybe the POW experience has relevance after all.
Bob S. has totally bought the Karl Rove story about Obama. He’s over-educated and superficial. He’s not black enough and too black. Not Christian enough and too closely associated with his church. He’s an out of touch elitist and too popular!
In short, Obama is just too goddamn presidential to be President.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Richard,
I haven’t bought anyone’s story about Obama. When you make a decision, are you taken in by some democrat/liberal operative’s story?
I’ve looked at Obama’s record, his experiences, his positions, his own words and found him not to be my candidate.
I’ve also found that the majority of his campaign has been on empty, vague rhetoric. I haven’t not considered his color or lack of color an issue. I don’t like what positions he has taken, I find them to be very socialistic.
I call him the superficial superstar because if an equivalent candidate from any other party was running, that candidate would be gone before the primaries.
Consider what happened to Fred Thompson during the primaries. Thoughtful statements, articulate positions, views and goals to get America going where I wanted and the press ignored him. The Leftstream media on the other hand absolutely adores Obama….”a thrill up my leg”.
And for what? Empty rhetoric — Change you can believe in….sorry not buying it.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Sorry, I assumed you were parroting an idiotic GOP talking point. But you say you came up with it independently, which make it your idiotic talking point!
Obama is considerably less “superficial” than the alternative, who has flip-flopped on nearly every issue. Obama’s website has detailed policy positions that he has stuck to throughout the campaign.
The “superstar” angle is intended to turn Obama’s popularity into a negative. But who is the celebrity in this campaign? I would say its the guy who guest-hosted SNL, had a cameo in “Wedding Crashers” and a made-for-TV movie about his Vietnam service. The guy who’s worth $100 million, owns eight houses and has his own private jet.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Richard,
I would that I want to vote for Fred Thompson, but since he isn’t available I’ll hold my nose and vote for that guy.
So, are all your comments about Bush, your idiotic talking points or the left wing /liberal / commie-socialist-democrat talking points?
Let’s debate the issues shall we? Pick a point and I’ll tell you what I agree with or disagree with it, from both candidates. Let’s talk about what matters, not how many Germans stayed around after a concert to hear Obama…..that is where I came up with the “superficial superstar”.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Today we welcome you to One Utah’s version of “Point/Counterpoint.” First up, who’s the bigger flip-flopper, McCain or Obama?
So far in this presidential campaign. Senator McCain has done a 180 on the following issues:
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Cuba, Syria, campaign finance, offshore oil leasing, immigration, torture, Guantanamo Bay, warrantless surveillance, GI Bill, Social Security, taxes, equal pay for equal work, abortion, creationism, nuclear waste, gay marriage, affirmative action, auto emissions standards, and the mortgage crisis.
And there’s more.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
and Obama has changed his position on: public financing of elections, guns, gas rebates, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and more.
Though, to his credit, it’s difficult to nail him down on anything because he’s essentially selling vaporware.
“yes we can”
August 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Richard,
How do you want to do this?
I would rather not high jack Cliff’s thread here.
My thoughts would be a post showing Obama’s and McCain’s stated position from their website, maybe some quotes showing any changes to those positions, then commentary on how we feel about them?
Ideas sir?
August 20th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I’m in a training course this week, which is why I haven’t made any posts. I’ll be happy to put something together this weekend.