36 Comments

• eiriamach | May 14, 2012, 02:09 PM EDT

  As I read this article, I had the impression that Sen. McCain was running for Vice President. He discusses qualifications for VP and tries to suggest that his judgment is good-- why? To influence Romney? To make himself look like a back-up pres? I don't like age discrimination any more than any other discrimination (McCain was born in 1936), but there are enough other reasons to worry about a McCain Vice Presidency.

• BrianO | May 14, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT

  premise is an outright lie. The money sits in foriegn bank accounts because the tax rate on corporate profits in The United states is the Highest in the world. Drop the rate to even that of canada and you would see a flush of revenue. I hope if you get your wish ephraim it ends better than it did for the people under--Stalin, Mao, Pol pot,

• Bythebay | May 14, 2012, 12:18 PM EDT

  There's nothing else McCain can say, he's got to put a good face on it (no pun intended)!

• EphraimKibbey | May 14, 2012, 12:08 PM EDT

  Murph46 - The chinese are paying to build our bridges BECAUSE the GOP will not let us tax to build them.

• EphraimKibbey | May 14, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT

  Sorry BrianO, I have been trying to answer your question since midnight and Ms. Hayes keeps deleting my posts. I'll converse with your again on a less biased thread.

• EphraimKibbey | May 14, 2012, 11:31 AM EDT

  Keynesian economics worked great all last century. It is the "Voodoo" (Reagan's term for it) trickle-down economics that has been destroying our economy in the 21st century. People's memories are soooooo short! I liked Ike - 70% tax on millionaires (DOWN from the 90% earlier in the 20th century.) Lets redo the whole interstate highway system or build a high-speed rail system to put the Asian ones to shame. We will see if the return to tax and spend gets the French economy moving again. When half of a nation's wealth sits in overseas bank accounts it is hard for that nation to pick itself up out of the gutter. Its time to tax it back into circulation.

• BrianO | May 14, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT

  Phlutiephan, I believe the McCain team chose Palin because of her appeal to conservative voters. Palin was hamstrung with her loyalty to McCain for choosing her and her more conservative political beliefs. I believe there was a split in the McCain camp on Palin which further hampered her effectiveness, and they were un-willing to defend her which made her open to more aggressive attacks by the Obama leftists. This is conjecture on my part, your analysis makes logical sense, and although I found Mcain to be center to left of center politically, I Knew/know he loved/loves America and would do his best for America.

• PhlutiePhan | May 14, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT

  As a Navy Vietnam era veteran with four years of shipboard service, I respect J-Mac immensely for his srvice to his country and his seven years in the Hanoi Hilton. If you look closely at the picture with this article, you will note something strange about his hand. His hands were tied behind his back and he was then hung by his hands dislocating both shoulders permanently. Even though I would vote for McCain once again, there were grave problems with his selection of Sarah P. The biggest point of fact has to do with Bill Clinton's "It all depends on what the meaning of 'is' is". Exit polls in PA, stated immensely that this key state had independents by the droves vote against McCain because of Sarah and a view of lack of leadership on the part of Mr. McCain. He made a great political mistake and his stubbornness will not change history. Romney has a chance to do great things and it should be Rubio or several of two other almost Rubios. Still, a tip of an Irish cap to John McCain.

• BrianO | May 13, 2012, 11:50 PM EDT

  Ephraim when will you ask Obama to be centrist?

• BrianO | May 13, 2012, 11:38 PM EDT

  Oh please, Ephraim using the defunct keynesian economics is the road to ruin, accumulating debt in an effort to prime the pump of an economy results in a higher bill to pay and an unsustainable economy. In simple terms if you get behind on your bills you can pay them on a credit card, one debtor gets paid but you are left with a larger debtor due payment. Growth of government is not growth of the economy in fact it acts as a tax on the economy and chokes growth. Ephraim I listed some of Palins qualifications, she is more qualified for vice president than obama was for president

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 10:42 PM EDT

  Very well stated and hard to refute EphraimKibbey you seem to be the at large voice of reason on these posts,but the economy is BHM"s problem -he has had 3 years and spent nearly 1000 billion to repair it,our debt grows close to 16 trillion.And show me one country that ever prospered by continually taxing people.The Roman Empire fell under the weight of high taxation to pay for Caesar's war,the US threw Brittain out of the colonies because of excess taxes.Reagan pushed Russia to tax itself out of existence with a phony "Star Wars".Show me one civilization that has prospered through taxation and spending.WE ARE PAYING THE CHINESE TO BUILD OUR BRIDGES!!!ABC-News-Diane Sawyer

• EphraimKibbey | May 13, 2012, 10:26 PM EDT

  What John McCain says are the qualifications of a good VP are correct. It is only his statement that Sarah Palin fit them that defies belief. He was old enough that people worried about a Palin presidency and got VERY scared. The young John McCain was a great public servant. He always kept the good of America ahead of his politics. When he got stabbed in the back by W in the 2000 primary, he started the long slide toward the GOP Zombie that he is now. To get the nomination in 2008 he had to repudiate all the good work he had done on immigration and other centrist policies because the Tea Party Reactionaries had highjacked the GOP. It was sad to see a great man brought so low. We would have 7% unemployment now if the 2010 GOP governors had not slashed state budgets, laying off teachers, policemen and firemen. The GOP wants a rotten economy so that they can use it to unseat the President. They care more about their party than the country. The only way out of our hole is for the government to tax more and spend more. Note that the previous recessions (ALL under GOP presidents) were corrected by doing just that. All of the austerity governments in europe are going back into recession. 74% tax on millionaires in France. Only here where we had the stimulus are we seeing some growth. Another stimulus might be just what the economists ordered. With the economy humming we could start paying off the debt as we were under Clinton.

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 10:23 PM EDT

  Sean-right the majority 52%, I totally concur -look what you got!!!! Pass the bill,and we will tell you what is in it. Sorry,I didn't take up arms for that nonsense,especially when it proves UNCONSTITUTIONAL,and Mc31 I have been honored to be called many things and your attack dog is considered an honor. No liberal yet has defended paas then we will tell what's in it-I'm waiting,and I'm getting mad like your attack dog!!!

• McNamara31 | May 13, 2012, 09:46 PM EDT

  seanomelb ..."Me thinks" Murph46 is related to (the past) 2BorNot2B or possibly IrishandProud. Very similar attack dog style.

• McNamara31 | May 13, 2012, 09:36 PM EDT

  Murph46… Why don't you "try" to bring some facts and perspective to the conversation instead of being such a total complete as*. Are you trying to win some contest for the perfect example of an ugly American?

• bonjouryall | May 13, 2012, 09:04 PM EDT

  McCain also said after the Demo nomination that Obama was entirely qualified to be president. Only a stark raving idiot would have said this. He conceded the entire election with this statement. He was completely befuddled by the economic crisis. While I respect him for his service, he would have been a terrible president.

• seanomelb | May 13, 2012, 08:28 PM EDT

  Murph46 "your a poet and you know it I hope you don't blow it" BTW the majority did not want Cain or Palin and Cain was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO embarrassed at some of palins statements,just accept it murph46 the M A G O R I T Y D I D N O T W A N T T H E M.

• BrianO | May 13, 2012, 08:07 PM EDT

  Palin's qualifications: 1. Mayor and town administrator 6 years. 2 state board oil and gas commissioner for 1 year, uncovered unethical lobbying betwen Alaska republican party and then Gov.Frank Murkowski, resigned in protest when Murkowski wouldn't investigate. 3. Ran against sitting Republicam Governor Murkowski and won , Governor of the State of Alaska when asked to run as Vice president.5 work in the private sector as a sports anchor 6. played highschool and college basketball, what disqualifies Mrs. Palin for most on this web page;She stands up for herself. 2.She loves Ameri. 3.She wouldn't abort her down syndrome son.ca

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 07:39 PM EDT

  MegK311 you dare speak blasphemy to the most on this post!? (can't help it I'm a poet)I concur, to the wrath of the throng!

• MegK311 | May 13, 2012, 07:33 PM EDT

  I think Sarah Palin would have made a better President or VP than Obama who has been a total disaster.

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 07:15 PM EDT

  Right on Sean is that your proof, they were (52%) right? Remember 64% voted for Hitler!

• seanomelb | May 13, 2012, 06:36 PM EDT

  McCain my have somehow convinced himself about Palin but he did not convince the majority of Americans who voted for Obama.They (the majority) tought both of them were a joke.

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 05:26 PM EDT

  So glad you know it all McNamara31,I will just consult your omnipotence in all future matters of politics,religion,philosophy,social issues,and which way to screw in a light bulb you are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO smart!

• McNamara31 | May 13, 2012, 04:01 PM EDT

  McCain is delusional (or an outright liar) if he thinks the major reason he picked Palin was because she could take over in case something happened to him. The real reason (if anyone wants to check the facts) is at that point in his campaign he was being decimated by Obama and the choice of Palin was one of desperation to reboot his failing campaign. She was never properly vetted by his people and thrown out there as competition for the female Clinton supporters. The biggest laugh is this dinosaur thought that women would vote for Palin just because she was a woman. That in itself shows the stupidity and ignorance on his part. Palin is a disgrace to any thinking women and the way she uses her children as props, is reprehensible.

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 03:06 PM EDT

  Also Susan724- Who are you to tell me who I voted for -that alone shows your predisposition towards ignorance!Because you are A.Wrong and B. Couldn't possibly know.So bring on your liberal rheotoric!

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 03:02 PM EDT

  So susan724 you like voting for bills then Pelosi tells you what's in it even if it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL? And I ain't Republican -I'm Jeffersonian-The least government possible! And because they voted liberal,because you are one ,I'm supposed to be one? Remember your Mama telling you just because Johnny jumped off the bridge ,don't mean you should!

• susan724 | May 13, 2012, 02:12 PM EDT

  Hey Murph46 - Time for you to get use to the "liberal mind" with the results of France's and Greece's elections, the world is heading in this direction. YES!!!!

• susan724 | May 13, 2012, 02:06 PM EDT

  Murph46 - What is your America? One in which the worst President in the history of our country presided - "W" (per historians)? You notice that there has not been one Republican Presidential candidate who has elicited "W" Bushie's endorsement nor has even mentioned his name?? This has never happened in the history of this country! Shame, shame on your for voting for this idiot and because you did, you have to take some of the responsibility for this country being in the state it is!

• susan724 | May 13, 2012, 01:59 PM EDT

  Murph46- you talk about the "one sided liberal mind?" LOL! You obviously have not read Chris Mooney's new book titled "The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality"- based on scientific research and facts!

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 01:32 PM EDT

  Nicomax I guess you like "Vote for this bill,then we will tell you what's in it (largest fical bill ever submitted)-that may be your America,but it ain't mine .And we are now seeing that the bill itself may be UNCONSTITUTIONAL,but then again I guess you like it!

• Nicomax | May 13, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT

  How can we vote this November for the 'worst president ever', when Baby Bush can't run again?

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 12:39 PM EDT

  Well of course you are liberal jamthecat,no one is ever gonna change that one sided liberal mind,you'll probably vote again in '12 for the worst president the US has ever had,but that is your right as an American!

• jamthecat | May 13, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT

  I've long thought John McCain is slipping into dementia, and his insistence that Sarah Palin is qualified for anything just proves it. Every comment that's come out of his mouth the last several years has been totally self-serving and self-congratulatory, and he has yet to admit he's been wrong about anything or made any mistakes. His arrogance and hypocrisy are amazing, even for a senator. I'm ashamed of him.

• Murph46 | May 13, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT

  Mc Namara31-yeah McCain's campaign manager has a book to sell,McCain states his case who should we believe?

• McNamara31 | May 12, 2012, 03:17 PM EDT

  The McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt has stated that no only was Mrs. Palin totally unprepared to be VP the campaign also feared she was mentally unbalanced.

• shop tom | May 12, 2012, 12:39 PM EDT

  Turns out the McCain/Palin ticket would have been the far better choice than Obama/Biden.