:-)

And also, hugs for your inner white house geek suffering in the next thread...
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Bob's inner white house geek}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

QT

Gosh, who ordered those new helicopters and why, hmmm?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-klein-and-paolo-pontoniere/helicopters-cover-ups-and_b_167568.html

McCain showed us once again why he should never be president. That "attack" was small-minded and whiny. It was a great example of what is wrong with the GOP. No ideas and nothing to contribute so they waste time on trying to make others look bad. Just more of their policy of distraction versus having actual goals of governance.

It also showed that McCain is TERRIBLE at strategy. But we knew that, too!

Our president is presidential. And he has goals, ideals, and vision. Such a change.

Maybe McCain really is jealous. Do you think he (or Cindy, I should say) have their own helicopter? I think so.

But seriously, read the link that Ruthie posted. If true, it's outrageous. McCain opened up a whole can of worms with the helicopter question.

Man, I will tell you now, I don't have one ounce of Obama's even temperament. No way could I daily suffer such rank assholes with such perfect equanimity. Do you think when Obama gets behind a closed door he kicks something? Maybe goes Chernobyl for a minute, just to get it all out of his system? Or does he just not let this bullshit affect him at all? Can he possibly be that composed all the time? If and when that phone call comes through at 3am, this is the guy I want answering it.

McCain is and always was an overgrown brat. This came out during the GOP primary last year, and it definitely came out during the general election. Picture, if you will, Clinton winning the Dem nod last year, and wondering why McCain repeatedly refers to the "lipstick on the pig" and all other boorish slights at femininity. The BBQ (or swine) media would have found it all charming that he was belittling a woman like a dumb little boy picks on girls.

Besides being a brat, he's a goddamn coward to boot. I notices he never steps out until others join him to take the pressure off. His rep as a "maverick" was a phony confection whipped up by the media people he schmoozed on the campaign trail, as was his "war hero" fable. The dude f'd up, got caught, and waited around to be rescued (and if the rumors are true, he earned the nickname "Songbird" while locked up).

Never mind McCain and his grasping for attention before his "base," 'cuz even it is laughing at him too, at this point.

I wonder if the Republicans thought that they could just leave this helicopter thing on the table for President Obama, hoping he would just go along with it.

I can't tell if Senator McCain was hoping to get this out in the open or was thinking that the President was already going to just let this fly.

Either way, cats out of the bag and going to be running batshittingly through the net intertubes. Wonder how fast the MSM will grab it or toss it aside?

Just googled "28 Marine One helicopters" and a couple of papers have it up so far and some others from back in March last year.

jim, i am with you! how does obama remain so cool and collected?! i'll get into a verbal spat with complete strangers. i can only imagine what i would say to someone asking a b.s. question which happens to be a person that spread hate and lies about me. obama is the type of person you can't argue with and i think that's why the right are losing their collective minds. nothing irritates a person in a "fired up" ready to fight mode more than a smile and "i'll look into it". wish i could be that way...

Lexaburn,

Just out of curiosity...would you say that the people at Guantonomo, or the people in CIA blacksite prisons are "waiting around to get rescued" or released?

I'm guessing, probably not. Because it would be a stupid thing to say. 'Waiting around' is a term you apply to somebody in an airport terminal - not somebody who's being severely tortured for 6 years, in solitary confinement for 2 years, loses like 60 pounds, etc.

I'm not a fan of Mccain on....well, anything. And you're right, the whole "war hero" thing has been inflated beyond belief.

But Jesus Christ, the guy was offered early release after he had been in prison for less than a year, and refused on the grounds that it violated the military's "first in, first out" policy, and he didn't want to be used as propoganda to demoralize other POW's? Say whatever you will about the guy, but I'd avoid the term "coward."

And the "songbird" thing? Well, I don't know where you heard your 'rumors,' but you should probably see if you can find anything to back that up before you go trying to spread bullshit like that. See below.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/293/

http://mccain.voterfactcheck.com/facts/11/337464.shtml

That helicopter story is scary. I think the President should appoint Senator McCain to head up the bipartisan commision to investigate how the contract was awarded. Because, you know, he's so very concerned.

Ahhh...don't be silly, you guys. Just remember that right before the election, McCain said he had Obama RIGHT where he wanted him. Clearly, he meant so long as Obama is NEVER on a helicopter.

Also, Cindy really needs to do SOMEthing with his hair.

I said it yesterday and I'll say it again -

Will someone hand him his hat and show him to the door, please?

Of all the things in the federal budget that could be viewed as overspending, he latched on to something that would appear to make the President seem imperial or royal. He decided to call the President out on it like some fucking rookie reporter, his first time in the gaggle and determined to make his mark by asking the President a question that will expose him in some way. Alas, being the amateur that he is, he was easily routed in seconds.

The cameras were rolling and John McCain thought he could get in one more "Is this change we can believe in, my friends?" and he ended up looking like a fool, a petulant sore loser.

He's been offered a place at the table on the issue of the economy repeatedly and graciously by the President even though everyone knows John McCain doesn't have a clue when it comes to the economy. He shows his gratitude by continuing to campaign, by remaining silent while the real work is being done and only opening his mouth in opposition when the meetings are over and the cameras are rolling.

The question he asked should have been "Why the hell am I even here?"

The question he asked should have been "Why the hell am I even here?"

I was mostly serious Nano, President Obama should appoint McCain to the commision to investigate the Marine One contract. Not only how the cost overruns came about, but also on how the contract was awarded. (See the link above posted by ruthie)

This is exactly the kind of issue McCain tries to build his "Maverick" persona with. I say it's time for him to put up, or shut up.

I think he'd balk and maybe even refuse to head up such a commission. He's been in politics a long time and it's an environment he thrives in. He'd spot in a minute that he was being sidelined or perhaps given a task that would ultimately make him look bad.

Plus, I think he'd consider it beneath him. He knows he can use "Helicoptergate" to take small-fisted jabs at the President, but that it doesn't rise to the level of an investigation. He considers himself too important to take on an issue that wouldn't really get him time in front of the camera. While he's toiling away on an issue that nobody really gives a shit about, including John McCain (except where he can be a petulant shit about it), the world will be talking about other things that people do care about. John McCain wants to be the center of attention, the King Maker, the one that delivers something and this issue doesn't really do that for him.

You're probably right nano, but it'd be nice to see the President offer it to him, and force him to decline. In public.

Nah, Jim,

Obama does what I do; totally ignore them, which is what eighty percent of America is also doing. You should try it; peace comes to those who can ignore.

:o)

As I watch this, and thinking of that shit for brains Ziegler who's been making the rounds lately, who has such a hard-on for Palin, I just shudder to think what might've happened if McCain had won, and God forbid he have some sudden sickness and dies, and Palin is the only leading us now through a depression.....pushing a multitrillion dollar tax cut for the wealthy and corporations while eliminating capital gains taxes and unemployment payments which would have unanimous GOP support and of course the dems would bend over like they always do....what a nightmare it would be.

Luckily we're nowhere near that, 2/3 of Americans are on our side which is the best we could hope for. Meanwhile Obama is being criticized for his doom and gloom talk but the real culprits are the republicans in congress, who if maybe more than 3 of them had been on board with the stimulus, would've inspired much more confidence in the stock market and the economy in general. Assholes.

McCant is out now complaining that there is no way they can cut the defense budget 25%.. so it is starting..

be nice grumps...open wide...here comes the woodle helicopter,
chew chew chew then spew spew spew...oh now don't be a fuss bucket....mr. pres will tell you a funny story...there there...shhhhhhh.

Do I smell a troll in petvet? Or was that being facetious? I can't tell anymore.

I think he was making a joke, carl.

Uh, rogect8person....

Are you a member of the "Protect McCain's Legacy Project"? Do you think I give a damn about your supposedly reluctant defenses of J. Sidney?

I don't think you want to pick a fight with me here, do you? If not, claiming that I'm the one "spreading bullshit" around when it was Republicans doling out the info years before I ever came into contact with it. This "Songbird" business has been around since 2000, at least, along with the gossip of his wife's drug addiction, his leaving his crippled first wife for the rich hussy, and his having a "black" daughter he was ashamed to show before his constituents. Half of it all proved to be true by McCain's own admission, along with a few other sterling affirmations of J. Sidney's character that are inferred if one studies the man's public demeanor. The dude has the mannerisms of a schmoozing weasel, stoolpigeon, and snake-in-the-grass. One can see this in the video above, if they know the entire backstory of the clip.

You can stow those web links of yours. Do not EVER attempt to elaborate on what I wrote in a message here, ok. I do not play the role of cynical commentator just for some upstart to make moot points at my expense. I've already seen, heard, and read many rebukes of the "Songbird" claims, and I still believe them all. Your little links won't convince me otherwise, and chances are, I've already read them months ago.

Second, do not second guess where I choose to place my so far undeclared affections. Those prisoners at Gitmo or wherever else...I could give two shits about, unlike the "liberal" you THOUGHT you were posting to. I was talking about John Sidney McCain. As documented on the damned Interwebs abroad, throughout his career as a military man and as a politician, J. Sidney ALWAYS relied on connections gained through his father like another Republican who he lost to back in 2000.

Look, I'm not even going to get into this shit with a dummy that contradicts himself within mere paragraphs. One second you're saying his "hero" status was blown out of proportion, next your attempting to defend it in a latent fashion. One second you're telling me you're no fan of McCain, next you're defending his honor as a pol and a prisoner in a latent fashion. Make up your damned mind!

Shit, double-talking defenses that dimwitted usually come from the likes of that vain prick Hannity. Are you he?

Before you get all defensive of McCain, next time observe the context of my using the word "rumors," try deciphering whether you mean to defend a media-spawned legacy or not, and don't ever attempt to pick a fight until you understand why you're doing so, ok.

Ciao!

Dearest Mr. Broadway: You do not smell correctly sir...I am sorry, I should have tried more harder to be fah-sea-shhhus....(you spell well). Don’t let those bright lights blind you too much. I have NEVER been soo insulated in all my life..a troll ? Really? I’ll be dobbing my teardrops all night, whilst trying to watch my dear president’s speech, who will now be all blurry in my eyes. Meanwhile, I would like to buy you a blackberry brandy to calm your nerves.

Thanks for posting the whole clip, Bob. Frankly, I've seen at least three other edits of the exchange, all of which made McCain look much worse, IMHO. It's obviously meant as a dig ("your" helicopter) but the full question ameliorates it a bit. Also, Obama comes off much better in the full clip, not taking the "your" bait, returning it right back to McCain "hope...you'll take some leadership", and not adding "at long last, you peevish petulant comb-over"

Lexaburn,

I think you may have misunderstood me, so I'll say this as plainly and simply as I possibly can.

I'm not defending Mccain, or his horrible wife, or how he's run his political life, or his mannerisms (which you deemed relevant enough to bring up, for some reason), or how he's run his personal life, or his character.

I'm saying he's not a 'coward,' and that the 'songbird' line you repeated is false.

>>>"claiming that I'm the one "spreading bullshit" around when it was Republicans doling out the info years before I ever came into contact with it."

So...if a republican says something fundamentally untrue, your protocol is to repeat them as if they were telling the truth? I know that can't be what you mean...

Sure, republicans were the ones that first brought up all that stuff you mentioned. And yeah, you're right - half of it was proved to be true by his own admission (pill-popping current wife, leaving his crippled first wife...). Then again, some of it proved to be total and complete bullshit. So are you saying it's okay to repeat the provably false stuff because other things that have been said about him ended up being true? That'd be like me saying that because Clinton got caught diddling Lewinsky, it's okay for me to try and convince people that he raped Juanita Broaddrick.

Don't go to the links if you don't want to. You say you've already read rebukes of the "songbird" thing but that you believe it anyway. Just out of curiosity, why? Have you seen any evidence of that, or is it just something that you'd like to believe were true because of your dislike for Mccain? If it's the former, then please feel free to share your evidence (or even, where you heard/found your "rumors"). If it's the latter (likely), you're doing yourself a disservice. If you want to bad-mouth Mccain, there are plenty of true things you could say about him. Demonization of the other side is a republican tactic.

I didn't "guess where you choose to place your undeclared affections." I simply asked whether you thought it would be an accurate characterization to say that people being tortured in CIA blacksite prisons are "waiting around to be rescued" or released. I notice that you never did get around to answering that question...perhaps because the correct answer is so obvious?

Finally, I'll just point out that I didn't contradict myself a single time. How is it contradictory to say that Mccain's not a hero, but he's not a coward either? Most people in the world don't fit into either category. Me saying "he's not a coward" in no way implies that the guy is a hero.

>>>"Make up your damned mind!"

I have - he's neither.

Finally, it's a little ironic that you asked me whether I'm Sean Hannity. Given your misrepresentation and misunderstanding of what I said, your name-calling, your demonization of those you dislike, and your willingness to spread discredited information...I was gonna ask you the same question.

Vale!