John McCain, crazy bastard at Three Roads Blog

This from the Harper’s magazine’s weekly e-newsletter:

Senator John McCain promised workers at Thompson Center Arms, a small-weapons factory in Rochester, New Hampshire, that he would “follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell” and “shoot him with your products.” McCain also promised that if he were elected “the background music would be ABBA in the elevators all over the White House” and proposed “Take a Chance on Me” as his campaign song.

Although it was a short-lived romance, there was a time when I was smitten with John McCain. (I made the mistake of actually taking a closer look at his positions on various issues.)

Still, there are aspects of his personality that I like, namely his surly, unscripted side. I’m not talking about the highly cultivated “maverick” shtick, but rather the side that’s not afraid to call a college kid a “little jerk” for asking him if he’s too old to be president. I find his notorious temper oddly appealing. (If he were elected, it would concern me more, but at this point his chances seem pretty slim.) And then there’s the ABBA quote. That’s just great. He’s a multifaceted guy. One minute it’s wild-west-, pulp-novel-style declarations of vengeance. The next it’s Swedish pop music in the White House.

The truculent quote above fits squarely with McCain’s surly side. But it also fits into the theme of overall Republican belligerence and false bravado, the kind exemplified by the Napoleon from New York, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani’s belligerence is purely demagogic—designed to cater to prejudice and insecurity. It is in no way meant to advance any kind of rational policy.

At least when it comes from McCain there seems to be an appreciation for the absurd, a degree of playfulness, even.

5 Responses to “John McCain, crazy bastard”

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1 logan
Nov 1st, 2007 at

I get this funny picture in my head of Osama talking to a group of poppy farmers saying something like ” I will follow John McCain to Jihad” and “have all his countrymen hooked on your smack” . Can I fake quote Osama? I wouldn’t want to offend. I couldn’t think of an ABBA in the white house equivalent for Osama.
2 Jeb
Nov 1st, 2007 at

If McCain’s in the White House singing to ABBA, I see Osama, deep in some cave in the Hindu Kush, grabbing the nearest salt shaker and belting out, in his best falsetto, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. I also see his fellew jihadis rolling their eyes to each other. “Not this bloody song again!”
3 logan
Nov 1st, 2007 at

Strange imagery. In case you haven’t looked at these yet I thought you might find them interesting/entertaining.
http://blog.hcn.org/goat
bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com
bikehugger.com
4 Dan Glenballs
Nov 27th, 2007 at

Why are all your blogs about the republican primary? Am I reading into this or are you taking the natural course of evolution from liberal to fiscal conservative. don’t be a homo.
Actually i’m sure it’s because the republican primary is far more entertaining with all the quacks. though i have enjoyed watching Osama, er, i mean Obama age over the course of the last year (reminds me of what they said about lincoln during the civil war. Apparently he went from looking 50 to a wrinkled old 80 with all the duress). But overall the Democratic primary is lacking some pizaz. or, if you rearrange the letters, some pizza. either way you slice the pie, the democrats need to be a little less predictable. hasn’t the ultimate failure of rovian politics taught us to keep it real. enough already. say what you mean and stop playing the pro-politician game. be a statesman and represent somebody without necessarily representing everybody.
rant over, balls danglin
5 Jeb
Nov 28th, 2007 at

Whatever you want to call it (pizza or pizaz) the Democratic primary lacks it.

The Republican primary, meanwhile, is full of entertaining figures, but to continue with food analogies, they’re like gastric oddities from the 1950s; I’m thinking savory (as opposed to sweet) Jell-O casseroles. With mostly abhorrent political views, if you’re wondering about my own political stance. And anyway, aren’t Democrats the fiscal conservatives these days? Moving on…

You make a good point about the difference between being a statesman and a professional politician. Check out this article–it puts forth the same argument, with just a slight tweak. The thesis holds that being a good candidate and being a good president are two different qualities that don’t always overlap (cynics would say they seldom overlap).

Three Roads Blog

John McCain, crazy bastard

5 Responses to “John McCain, crazy bastard”

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