THE PLANK APRIL 30, 2008
-
Read Later
READ LATERAvailable only to subscribers. SUBSCRIBE TODAY
-
Listen
ARTICLE AUDIO
- Font Size
In today's Wall Street Journal, Karl Rove waxes poetic about John McCain's Vietnam war heroism. It is "troubling," Rove writes, that more Americans are not aware of McCain's heroics. Gosh, perhaps the solution is to have unhinged veterans appear on stage with George W. Bush to denounce John McCain for turning his back on veterans.
Bonus passage: Rove writes, "Another McCain story, somewhat better known, is about the Vietnamese practice of torturing him by tying his head between his ankles with his arms behind him, and then leaving him for hours." So, wait, now putting prisoners in stress positions is torture?
--Jonathan Chait
16 comments
What's Rove doing with Will Farrell in that photo?
- teplukhin2you
April 30, 2008 at 12:51pm
Gosh, yeah, it's a shame how John McCain adamantly refuses to remind the American public that he is a war veteran who was a POW.
Snarking aside, I totally believe that McCain is a decent human being with strong moral fiber. But when we talk about "character" in a President, those qualities aren't what we mean -- or they aren't *only* what we mean, at least. I want to know how they make decisions, how comfortable they are with unfamiliar situations, how well they can integrate new data into their worldview, how familiar they are with complex issues and how quickly they can learn.
John McCain's virtues are necessary for a President, but by no means sufficient. I know a hundred people are who are good hearted, compassionate, honest, and can stand up to adversity. That's great for when I need someone to watch my dog for a weekend, but they aren't ready to be President.
- ratnerstar
April 30, 2008 at 12:55pm
If Rove is such a genius, why is his toy President the most unpopular ever? And why is his party getting creamed? The facts show Rove is the worst strategist ever.
- chrismealy
April 30, 2008 at 1:03pm
McCain will be the "don't rock the boat" Presidency, that Bush erred in trying to be too much the reformer, and so will the Democrat.
I think he was being way too underestimated.
- blackton
April 30, 2008 at 1:12pm
Man. Bush really does look like Alfred E. Newman.
- adamvaught
April 30, 2008 at 1:17pm
Ugh. Jon, that article you linked to made me sick.
"Mr. Bush then delivered remarks that promised not only a stronger military but also better treatment of the men and women who served in it. "
If that doesn't help show the stomach-punching horror of the last 7 years, I don't know what does.
- boneill
April 30, 2008 at 1:18pm
Don't worry. I'm sure Fox News will be pounding him day in and day out about the inconsistencies.
- BHLnyc
April 30, 2008 at 1:22pm
Is it me, or do those two have "stoner-buddy comedy" written all over 'em? How much stronger would the Republic be right now - culturally, as well as politically - if they had only opted for making "Dude Where's My Military Deferment" or some such.
- adaglas
April 30, 2008 at 1:33pm
One other thing about that Rove op-ed Jon mentions below . Rove laments that, because McCain "is
- Anonymous
April 30, 2008 at 1:38pm
Just goes to show you that worms really can turn.
- WaltB
April 30, 2008 at 1:39pm
It's now torture and surviving it makes you presidential.
Perhaps the Republican should find some Guantanamo detainees for their next slate of candidates.
- asnevitt
April 30, 2008 at 1:51pm
I'm much more interested in learning why, Rove, who apparently felt so passionately for Richard Nixon at the age of nine that he fought (and probably lost) a classmate over the matter, didn't serve in the military.
Sure, his draft number was in the middle range, bu why, oh why, were so many GOP/conservatives unwilling to. . .volunteer to protect America from the communist menace?
It wasn't as if mister dirty tricks remained in college long enough to obtain a degree. As a matter of fact, "[Rove] maintained this deferment until December 14, 1971, despite being only a part-time student in the autumn and spring quarters of 1971 (registered for between six and 12 credit hours) and dropping out of the university in June 1971." Rove attended the University of Maryland, College Park (Unfortunately, UMCP accepted any jackass in the early 70s. My Terp brother and sister-in-law consider Rove's enrollment a permanent stain on the institution) in the fall of 1971. "[A]s such, he would have been eligible for 2-S status, but registrar's records show that he withdrew from classes during the first half of the semester."
MC Rove went on to work for Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign (remember the condignly named CREEP) where he was instrumental in Rove depicting WWII bomber pilot, George McGovern (he flew 35 missions) "as a 'left-wing peacenik'", The manginas on these non-serving Republicans. . .
- tec619
April 30, 2008 at 4:09pm
asnevitt :
Funny. . .
- tec619
April 30, 2008 at 4:38pm
adaglas - best post of the day.
You deserve a squid pinch, guv'ner.
- teplukhin2you
April 30, 2008 at 7:14pm
Tep -
Just as long as you're not the one providing it. No offense, mate.
- adaglas
May 1, 2008 at 10:45am
Rendition and torture have been official US policy since September 11, 2001. How can we find out all the abuses of the Bush administration and end these crimes?
- Anonymous
May 14, 2008 at 2:56pm