Too bad he didn’t sound like this on the campaign trail. At least, his criticism of some of Obama’s early initiatives helps quiet (but not totally extinguish fears) that the MSM might try to co-opt the one-time Republican presidential nominee, offering him favorable (fawning?) coverage if he bucks his party and backs the president.
In a great post today on Commentary’s Contentions, Jennifer Rubin finds the Arizona Republican faulting his fall rival for “grandstanding on Guantanamo.” McCain believes the government should have proceeded with the military commissions which the president delayed.
On the big issue of the day, the Democrats’ supposedly stimulative multi-billion dollar budget boondoggle, McCain sounds a lot like a Republican:
I hope we can work together to, frankly, be a real stimulus package and not just a spending package that has every cat and dog and pet project that people have. . . . Because the object of a stimulus package is to stimulate the economy, not to just spend more and run up the debt to our kids and our grandkids.
. . . . .
I think we should spend the money that we can immediately, but at the same time if we have a couple of quarters of positive GDP growth, then let’s start reducing and eliminating the huge, massive, unprecedented deficits that are going to accrue from these actions.
Somehow, I don’t think the Democrats will listen. But, there are growing signs the Republicans will take heed to his words.
It’s nice to see McCain not mincing words about the Democrats’ fiscal follies.
He also shows Republicans a way to oppose the President. We don’t just oppose for opposition’s sake, but oppose by articulating our reasons for doing so. And when those reasons accord with our party’s core principles, as they always should, by opposing, we don’t just oppose Democratic policies, but also affirm our own conservative ideals.
As far as Gitmo is concerned, I noticed that BHO seemed to err on the side of caution after his discussion with Bush claiming that he could not just release potentially very dangerous people back into the world. Now he seems to have changed his mind with executive order number one. I think Soros gave BHO a call and told him, no you close it now.
The gitmo terrorists will in a short year have access to our judicial system and since they will be on US soil, they can sue based on Constitutional principles. These cases will set precedence enabling these men to be set free and sent to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In a deportation hearing, one of the questions is if the person believes he will face persecution or torture if returned to his own country. After the man says yes, he is given a notice to appear to an immigration judge. That status entitles him to all services and privilages afforded American citizens. That was one dangerous executive order. I wonder if Americans die due to this order how the media will blame it on Bush and if people that are not ideologically driven by liberalism will stay faithful to the Obamunist cause.
As Obama dismantles the Bush 43 anti terrorism policies, the future is now becoming clear. The choices are becoming stark. Soon we will have the ability to compare the efforts of the 43 rd President to keep us safe and how President Obama will work to keep us safe. I fear terrorists will find it easier to attack us under Obama. I pray I’m wrong. The next 4-8 years will prove either Bush or Obamas techniques were prudent. I’m confident the American people will hold his the Obama administration accountable.
I suggest the trials of GITMO terrorists be held in blue towns in blue states. If any are released into America, I suggest they be set loose in blue towns in blue states. Fair is fair. A year ago Dems were suggesting GITMO terrorists be housed at Ft Levenworth in Kansas. A red state. One reason given was if they escape there is close by a military base where troops could be mobilized. Sen Brownback (R) declined the offer. If Democrats want to close GITMO, put the terrorists in county jails in blue states. You want to coddle em, you can have em in your towns, near your mothers and daughters.
Heck, Gene, let’s put them in Rep. Jack Murtha’s district. After all, he’s asking for them.
If they were ever put in Hunstville or Rosharon, TX, you’d be looking at a spike in home-defense statistics. We Texans know how to keep the peace. 😉
Git ‘er done!
Regards,
Peter H.
Murtha’s district would be a good spot.
What I’d really like to have seen was this:
Some Euro-weenie country: We deplore Bush’s “concentration camp” at Gitmo!
Bush: Fine. How many of these upstanding “youths” would you like to take?
I have a rather radical solution to the Gitmo problem. Since these are illegal combatents, and experience has shown (as recently as yesterday) that when these people are released, they revert to form, joing jihad all over again, we should simply line them all up and execute every last one of them. Problem solved. Harsh world opinion? TFS.
Alkatraz
off topic, but I figured out why Andrew Sullivan supports Obama so much
McCain talks out of both sides of his mouth so much, for me he’s lost all credibility. I never liked him, thought my head would explode if I had to vote for him, and now truly do despise him for being a simply horrific nominee. He should have been put out to pasture years ago.
#9 – Hear, hear. McCain used up his GOP “street cred” a long time ago.
RINO for thee, but not for me. Now he can get back to being the NYT’s favorite “plantation boy.”
Regards,
Peter H.
#6, I’ve argued that for some time. It’s fun to watch libs’ heads explode.
Well, the enemy combatants are on the island of Cuba. Let’s stick them in innertubes and set them adrift.