John McCain is at it again, playing the veteran-status card. On Monday, The Hotline made his words the Quote of the Day. (The Hotline is National Journal’s “Daily Briefing on Politics.”) McCain had been criticized by a conservative publisher — Joseph W. McQuaid of the Manchester Union-Leader — for his views on terrorist detainees. McCain said, “I respect those views,” meaning McQuaid’s. “I respect more the views of those who have been in wars and worn the uniform.” Okay. But what do our war veterans think? On the whole, do they agree with President Bush or Senator McCain on how to handle detainees? I suspect they agree with Bush. That doesn’t make them right, of course. But if Senator McCain thinks theirs are the most legitimate views . . . How long can McCain get away with talking like this, and using his veteran status as a blunt instrument? Forever, I guess. The media love him for it, when they agree with him, which is often. But if ever he used that veteran status to bludgeon the Left (which he never does, to my knowledge) . . . lights out. I guarantee. ‐Over the weekend I went to the beach with my family, and around the dinner table my sister was telling us all how her VoTech school will soon be teaching Construction Spanish. Imagine, Spanish for construction here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. How about if they learn Construction English?

Have a good one, y’all.