John McCain just held a blogger call I checked in late to; a few stray points he made:
(Quotes are in quotes, paraphrases in ital.)
Iran & the British Sailors
Called it a ”wakeup call”…. “This is a radical group of very dangerous people”
“In a backward sort of way this may be beneficial.”
What would President McCain do? I’d find the most respected guy or woman in the middle east and I’d send them over to Tehran quietly to say enough is enough … I wouldn’t do it publicly
“Wouldn’t be negotiations”
On the question of talking to Iran, McCain pondered: “Are you are are you not committed to the destruction of the state of Israel. Where would the conversation start?
While making clear that he’s not endorsing going to war with Iran, McCain said that
All options must be on the table. I will not allow Israel to be destroyed.
Hagel’s switch
“I’m very disappointed. I’m very disappointed. “
And a Caution to Hagel, Webb, and Others Who Served
My views and my positions on the issues is based on a lifetime of experience…my views are not framed by events that took place 30 years ago
Everything I view on national-security does not always harken back to Vietnam
On Potential for Compromise on Iraq in Washington
I don’t know where the compromise is between withdrawal and non-withdrawal?
“We – people like me – have got to keep on keeping on and telling the American people what’s at stake here.”
“The battle is going to be won or lost on public opinion.”
Pork in the Iraq Bill
Calls it “obscene.”
”I strongly recommend to the White House that the president read the list of pork to the American people when he vetoes this bill.”
McCain’s Iraq Timetable
The senator is going there next week. Then Pakistan and Afghanistan
Democrats
“Are being driven by moveon.org”
Sealing a Deal?
Tom Coburn is the best thing that has happened to the United States Senate in years.
Why Conservatives Don’t Seem to be Rallied by Him
“Because life isn’t fair,” he joked
He did a Tocequeville 2.0 spiel (Newt would be proud): I think we successfully counter that by getting on the bus, doing the town meetings…stream them to our website
“so people can see what real democracy is about”
“I am happy with where we are…I’m unhappy with my performance in fundraising … my fault…I kinda view this as a spring-training”
On Fred Thompson’s Polling
Of course his approval ratings are so high. Why wouldn’t they be? “He’s already been president at least three or four times that I know of.”
Blog Love
We’ll do this on a regular basis and I also invite you “jerks” on the bus
On extending campaign-finance-reform regs to the web: “I would be very reluctant.”
Praises the web as a means of getting more Young Americans political active.
He was in playful mode. Threw in “I hate them” joke about blogs which I’m not sure worked. But a potential botched joke doesn’t really matter. The senator clearly wants right-wing bloggers to feel like one of the McCainaic guys on the bus. And with candid answers to unscripted questions that would appear throughout the blogopshere minutes later…it sure didn’t hurt him.