McCain becomes a gaffe machine
By Steve Benen Thursday Mar 20, 2008 9:01pm
Seriously, when was the last time this guy went a day without a gaffe?
When McCain made a foreign policy gaffe in Jordan on Tuesday, it was Sen. Joe Lieberman who quietly pointed out the mistake, giving McCain an opportunity to correct himself in front of the international press corps. In Israel yesterday, NBC’s Lauren Appelbaum reports, Lieberman once again intervened when McCain made an incorrect reference about the Jewish holiday Purim -- by calling the holiday "their version of Halloween here."
As Yglesias noted, "Admittedly, this falls more in the 'haha he doesn't know what he's talking about' category than in the 'holy sh*t he doesn't know what he's talking about' category where the Iran/al-Qaeda confusion belongs."
That's true, but neither screw-up inspires confidence.
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and it fucking worked for Bush
It is just a campaign strategy. He is trying to out Reagan Reagan and out Bush Bush.
j swift @ 1:
Case closed. :)
I was like, 'Holy shit! He really doesn't know anything about Purim.'
Purim (Hebrew: פורים Pûrîm "lots", related to Akkadian pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Esther). According to the story, Haman cast lots to determine the day upon which to exterminate the Jews....Purim is characterized by public recitation of the Book of Esther (keriat ha-megilla), giving mutual gifts of food and drink (mishloach manot), giving charity to the poor (mattanot la-evyonim), and a celebratory meal (se'udat Purim);[1] other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration.
Halloween, or Hallowe'en, is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31.[1] Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses" and carving jack-o-lanterns.....Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the alive and the deceased would merge and the dead would become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops.The main event for children of modern Halloween in the United States and Canada is trick-or-treating, in which children disguise themselves in costumes and go door-to-door in their neighborhoods, ringing each doorbell and yelling "trick or treat!" to solicit a gift of candy or similar items.
(both excerpted from wikipedia)
So, evidently, there's a difference between Purim and Halloween. Would have been swell if he knew what that difference was, if he exhibited one whit of understanding of the cultures and traditions of a country that's supposed to be our strongest ally in the middle east. I guess the costumes are what threw him off.
Can you say addled brain, Elmer Fudd....?
And we are going to be stuck with this asshole as president because democrats always fuck up a sure thing.
skycypher @ 5:
Can you say "Painful itch?"
I know what you mean. :)
If the contest for the White House followed the rules of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," John McCain would be going home empty-handed. At last four times in the past month, George W. Bush's would-be Republican successor sounded the alarm over a non-existent Al Qaeda-Iran alliance in Iraq. But for a lifeline from Joe Lieberman, McCain would have been booted off the stage by now.
For the details, see:
"Four Strikes and You're Out: McCain on Al Qaeda and Iran."
broadsword @ 4:
Come to think of it, I don't think there's any Jewish holiday that's "like Halloween".
HALLOWEEN?????
Is he SERIOUS????
uhm....imagine Obama making this mistake--tell me they wouldn't make HIM a laughingstock!
"Today, Barack Obama criticized John McCain for mistakenly saying that Iran was sending aid to al Qaeda in Iraq, which is not true. And afterwards, President Bush told McCain, 'Don't worry about it. I didn't know that either.'"
---Jay Leno
Just like Ronnie Raygun they can let him hide his own easter eggs .
Maybe John McCain didn't mean it literally?
Grandpa Simpson personified...
How come nobody is talking about McCain's apparent senility?
Stevious @ 15:
I thought we were.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the next pResident of the United States.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 16:
He's senile?
I thought he was batshit crazy myself.
mudshark @ 18:
One or the other. Who cares?
He has all the potential to be spun as one of the Greates Republican Presidents since Lincoln if he gets in. The right wing is writing their spin as we speak for 2009.
If a Democrat said that Purim is the Israeli-version of Halloween, would any of us here who are Democrats consider that a big deal?
Man, Yglesias's "holy shit, he doesn't know what he's talking about" line made me laugh so hard I got a headache. Ah, politics. Seriously, though, whether you're for Clinton or Obama, you have to admit ... either one could beat John McCain. Hell, I could probably eat a live puppy on the Home Shopping Channel and then go on to beat John McCain in the general election.
Eric Jaffa @ 20:
Only if they were running for President.
broadsword @ 4:
what makes it worse, is that lieberman took the blame for the gaffe
so holy joe is either ignorant, or feels that mcfeeble is too simple minded to understand what purim is
its sad that someone running for pres is incapable of googling or having an aide google
also, the reason masks or costumes are worn is because god's name does not appear in the book of esther....it is the concept of hester panim (hidden from the face) meaning that gods hand in the miracle was hidden....so the kids (and many adults) dress up and wear masks, in rememberance of this fact
if america wants another prez who has no respect for other's religions (like the bushies) vote mcfeeble
Ed @ 21:
What do you fucking liberals have against puppies anyway? :)
I can't really see McCain getting elected without some massive election fraud. That said it will be interesting to see who his vice presidential candidate is because they will have to expect to be running the country soon after the taking office. Do you think they are going after the sympathy vote?
Eric Jaffa @ 20:
i would
it would show pure ignorance of one of the world's main religions
ignorance of one of the world's main religions has us stuck in the mire of iraq
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 19:
They can write what the want x.
There is no way in hell this man will win the gen election....
I can't remember where I read this,but The Dem turnout so far is 28 million.The repug turnout is 10 million. Either Dem candidate will crush him in the Gen election.
Eric Jaffa @ 20:
I think the answer is obvious and the answer is a very loud "YES!"
Has anything that passed Hillary's or Obama's lips not been scrutinized?
mudshark @ 27:
I certainly hope you are right.
Nostalgic Republicans need to remember: Just because he's senile doesn't mean that McCain is Reagan.
Eric Jaffa @ 20:
I would YES!!! Obama said "typical white woman" and people have spent hours of national new talking about it. Clinton said "as far as I know" and everyone left right and center jumped all over that. good grief
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 29:
the worst part is...............I read it two days ago.senior moment.hey, it happens.
McCain is just who the repugs want in the WH so they can lead him around by the nose and make the people think he knows what he is doing. I remember when he was campaigning and Cindy was with him. She constantly was whispering to him and pointing out people he should "recognize" and speak to. Then Cindy turned the job over to Lieberman and Graham. If McCain is ever turned out on his own without his caretakers he will reveal his real self and everyone will know how senile he really is. He will have to name Lieberman as his VP or he is lost. He has to have someone who will whisper the correct answers in his ear and make excuses for his mistakes.
liberAL @ 33:
McCain will do anything, and i mean ANYTHING to become President. He is like a veteran quarterback past his prime who never played in the Supper Bowl. He is past his prime and he knows it, he just won't admit it.
Super Bowl, sorry.
What did I hear back in 04...."Dubya could NEVER win a second term"......
THEY can find a way to pull off a McCrazy win, too.
Blue Taliban Osama Buddha @ 9:
And you would be right. Way to go, McCain. Keep on showing us your 'superior' knowledge of foreign policy that all of your government experience has given you.
This is getting better every day.
abarts @ 36:
That just means we have to find an ethical way to keep them from doing that.
Gretchen @ 37:
Didn't i see a bunch of Jewish guys running around the diamond district in New York wearing black costumes?
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 35:
Yeah, he played in the supper bowl and spilled it all over himself.
Hey, McCain may be elected.
Democrats like to process the droppings from the
tails of Republican tails.
Also, never underestimate the stupidity of the American
people and never underestimate the ability of the
Democrats to steal defeat from the jaws of victory
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 39:
Uncle joe hussein mccarthy said at 7:34: "also, the reason masks or costumes are worn is because god’s name does not appear in the book of esther….it is the concept of hester panim (hidden from the face) meaning that gods hand in the miracle was hidden….so the kids (and many adults) dress up and wear masks, in rememberance of this fact".
Sorry, I meant the following in posting 41 :
Democrats like to process the droppings from the
tails of Republican elephants.
"My Freindsssshh's...A great philosopher once told this wisze wisze tail about Halloween......My Freindssssh's...Confusious say...................A man who..a man who..ahh...a man who farts in church...sit in own pew"
"And that my Freindssh's is a gift...a gift of knowledge I bring to you on this wonderful wonderful Haloween shelebrsion"...
"That’s true, but neither screw-up inspires confidence".
It inspires me with confidence that by November people will have drawn a bead on this guy much as they once did Dan Quayle. His coattails will be reduced to a halter top, and the GOP will be crushed to powder across the board.
it's so wonderful to see someone finally recognizing the pattern with McGaffe, rather than focusing on the supposed Democratic Party infighting.
he looks like a shriveled cheney
Mickey Mouse @ 6:
Wow I lol'd hard.
Purim is the Jewish Halloween.
It's a proven fact.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish George Washington's birthday.
Yom Kippur is the Jewish Columbus day.
mudshark @ 27:
Unfortunately, the dems turn out to vote, but they don't always vote for the democratic candidate.
Millions of them voted for Bush - so lousy was Gore's campaign.
The way things are going now, it don't look good.
Mickey Mouse @ 6:
Don't even joke about this loser becoming president. No he McCan't!
JackSprat @ 50:
All we need are a few more presidential appearances and speeches by boosh and chainey. The american and the disgruntled amurkkkans will have to vote their wallets and the blood of their military family members. there are way too many people damaged by these shits.
why do you think they are working so hard to push the lies??
because the lies are working less and less?
and the more the smirking shimp gets airtime, the more the msm promotes themselves as the fucking shills they are.
It's not a gaffe. It's the early stages of a neurological disorder, perhaps pre-Alzheimer's.
While many think McCain is too old to be running for president, consider this sober fact: if elected, McCain would be just a few months older than Reagan was when he was RE-elected. Plenty of observers have noted that Reagan was starting to show obvious symptoms of Alzheimer's during his second term.
ref.:
http://leboutillier.blogspot.com/2008_03_21_archive.html
http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a2818.htm#001
correction: McCain would be "just a few months younger than Reagan..."
I wish somebody would burn that blue-checked gingham shirt McCain wears every time he visits Iraq. Gawd, I hate that thing. He looks like a senile old coot wearing his pyjama top.
dale18 @ 41:
I had dinner with a "friend." He's not xicano. Rejects the notion. He has the most unorhodox tennis game but is always taking whatever tournament he's joined. I keep foolishly playing him thinking I can beat him. Tonight was no different. But when he invited me to dinner, I reluctantly went because I wanted to ask him if he had been following the race for the Presidency.
In response to my question he about the primary races he said, "No, not really. I just know that that McCain guy is the best one for president and he has my vote. He knows what he's doing. He used to be an astronaut. People are saying that that Obama's a Muslim."
He was shocked to hear McCain aint no damn astronaut!
broadsword @ 4:
Hey, he doesn't need to know anything about them to bomb them. Oh, you say it's Israel, not an Arab country? Don't worry; he'll get around to it anyway. It's sort of like the old "I like you - I'll kill you last"
If this buffoon becomes President you can be sure it was because of vote fraud. Who's going to vote for a jerk like McCain? The Republican Party is the Nazi Party.
Mudshark: did you get my reply to your question about where I used to live in Baja? Are you down there? Or were you?
Anthology @ 49:
roflmao
The guy is beyond old and is moving into elderly.
Elderly people with their finger on the nuclear trigger is bad for the world.
Much as it bothers me, I have to come to McCain's defense here. In the US, we celebrate Purim in part by getting liquored (it's a mitzvah), and also by dressing the kids up as people from the Book of Esther, which we also read on Purim. While theologically, McCain is about a million miles off base, he's right about Israelis getting dressed up in costume the way American's do on Halloween. No trick or treating though. He would have been as accurate in saying it was the Israeli version of Carnival, when Europeans dress up in costume and party, which is to say, theologically rather off, but practically, pretty accurate. After all, Halloween in the US and Carnival in Europe are now almost completely divorced from their religious roots, and most Israelis are secular.
Well, why do you suppose McPain took Joe Liarman and Linsie Glam along in the first place? The one to correct his geographical and terrorist gaffes; the other to give him blow jobs on the plane.
It wasn't a gaffe! The campaign thought they could away with bamboozling the press corp in a strange land and got caught with their wanks out!
He was in front of an International Press Corps. He thought he was going to get a free ride! Look at their faces and you can see they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar. He forgot to whom which lies they can spout at which time. Maybe jet lag! Can't you ust imagine the looks on the faces of the International Press reps? Joe and Company forgot the little fact, or they misjudged, that there wasn't just a complacent main stream media ready to cheer American Imperialism at there every word.
Mister Anderson @ 61:
I was going to say the same thing. I was looking at his picture up there and I'm thinking this guy's gonna need a walker soon.
The secret service guys are gonna have to carry around a diaper bag for this fuckin alligator.
So McCain, which is it, the Sunnis or the Shiites that celebrate the Jewish Halloween?
And the g.o.p. tries to say Obama doesn't have the foreign policy chops. Give us a break.
Will Smokin' Joe be there if McCain gets a phone call at 3am?
a gaffe a day?
seems he is a shoe in for the presidency in 2008!
after 8 miserable years of George W"gaffe a day" Bush - it seems logical that the majority of Americans will vote for even more of the same!
And here i was worrying about the China/Tibet issue - when Bush/McCain will highlight the Iraq/Iran/Middle East fiasco!!!!
I am very afraid of what is going on in the USA! If WW3 occurs - it will surely be started by the USA - thanks to Bush/McCain and their incompetent cronies!!!
Why the freaking hell aren't they being impeached by now???? If getting a blowjob was impeachable - then an illegal war should be too!!!!!!
Geez - what is going on in the USA????
Guys, before you jump all over mccain--
I'm a jew. And guess what-- I've described Purim to goyim as a "Jewish Halloween" myself. No one ever characterized it that way for me... but there's a lot similar in the sense that it's a lighthearted festival where you dress up (boys usually dress like Mordechai or Haman-- girls as Queen Esther) in costume and eat treats (Hamentashen, etc.)... It's a fairly non-"religious" holiday-- the book of esther is the only book in the bible that does not mention god at all.
I think anyone who compares Hannukkah as the Jewish "Christmas" (or Passover as the Jewish "Easter" for that matter) would be way further off.. Sure, the latter are both "spring" holidays, but that's about all they have in common. Xmas and Hannukah have zero inc ommon.
I can see the Purim/Halloween connection, and it's probably the first way I'd try to describe it to a non-Jew...
Go ahead and call me a traitor to the cause for defending mccain here. I'm just going for fairness.
Bush sucks. <- cred?
For fuxache, America! Are we expected to believe that out of a population of 300 million, this is the best you can come up with? Get it together, Guys. Our patience is not without end.
RayC Hussein @ 25:
If the repugs had any brains they would choose Cundie Rice. They know McBush will expire in his first term, so they would have a black woman running as incumbent in 2012. Then they would just have to figure out how to get repugs to vote for a black woman.
Eric Jaffa @ 20:
This isn't a matter of mistaking two holidays, it's the ongoing list of stupid shit that comes out of Grandpa McBush's mouth that is alarming. When smart people don't know the answer to a question they say "I don't know but I'll find out". Stupid people or those whose mental faculties are compromised will just make shit up. We've had 8 years of a jackass just making shit up as he goes along. I would prefer someone who isn't a fuck up in the white house.
Yes, but the Republicans will win if they can't end the Clinton farce.
In Germany, McCain spoke of the Chancellor Poutine…
It's quite remarkable. McCain is following in the footsteps of his predecessors, almost according to a script. The last four Republican presidents (Bush 43, Bush 41, Reagan, and Ford) were all known for verbal gaffes and/or garbled syntax. The last Republican president who consistently articulated well was Nixon, but he didn't tell the truth too often. Before him we had Ike, who usually told the truth (except about spying on the USSR) but who was linguistically challenged and invented his own words a lot.
The Republicans haven't elected a true scholar as president since Herbert Hoover in 1928. But that didn't work out too well, either.
Reagan, Quayle, Bush, bush, and now McCain. An endless parade of Republican idiots. And we elect every single one that comes along!
America must have a death wish.
McCain became a gaffe machine a long time ago. If you lived in Arizona you would know that. The man suffers from Foot-In-The-Mouth Disease. He is a walking buffoon on steroids.
You don't believe me? Just watch.
I think we should seriously be concerned about McSame's mental status given his age and repeated gaffes. He may be exhibiting some early signs of mental slowing or dementia. Ronald Reagan wasn't even fit to serve during his last few years.
Was in downtown Wash DC yesterday, K street, heading to the doc, heard a rumble and bam, a "purim parade" consisting of about 20 people --- twenty people ---- traffic stopped, etc., and some moron handing out 3 x 5 cards with an explanation of Purim, Book of Esther, etc., and how it's just a wonderful, life-changing thing with the goodness of God taking over ----- so I commented to the maroon: "Hmmm....and I thought it was the celebrating of the slaughter of 70,000 Persians? Kinda like a lot of that parade people want to happen again today. Or better, the day to start another great war like Purim 2003, the day the Iraq war started."
He just dropped his shoulders, looked at the ground, and walked away to hand out some more bullshit.
And mkkklame is a complete, Alzheimer's-riddled baffoon.
@Steve Benen
This 'gaffs' are not screwups. He's doing this crap on purpose. He wants to equate Iran with Al-Qaeda so he can justify a pre-emptive strike on them. That's the game plan; attach Bin Lauden to any country or nation-state or village to get the American populace to be in favor of military action.
He's "catapulting the propaganda", just like Bush did.
He knows the truth- but he needs to tell lies to get elected.
SO.......McCain can speak in complete sentences yet he is still an idiot! A dangerous one.
Just think what this will be like if he selects Joe Lieberman as his vp, which seems likely as LIEberman has been suctioned to McCain's arse since he 'clinched' the republican nomination.
Yeah, I feel real confident in McCain when his guide to the Middle East is Joe (in this for my religious self and not my constituents) Lieberman. Real confident he might even outdo Bush's lunacy there.
Am I the only one who is reminded of Nancy Reagan whipsering in her senile husband's ear, every time Lieberman leans over and corrects his clueless husband McCain?
A Jew @ 69:
Actually, both Christmas and Haunnukah are mid-winter festivals of light. I don't know what the climate in Israel is like in December but these are modern versions of old pagan rites to entice the sun back.
Neither holiday were considered that special originally in their sacred calenders. For Christians it was Easter (Paschal), named for the Saxon Goddess of Spring Eostre. Some have tried to trace parallels between Eostre and Esther, but that seems to be strainin' to do some explainin.' My understanding is the key holiday for the Jews was Yom Kippur.
Mickey Mouse @ 6:
I sure wish I could disagree with you, but I can't A lot of people don't care to know what is going on, so they voted for Bush for his personality. They may vote for McCain because he reminds them of Grandpa.
RMHK @ 84:
http://www.cientobailando.arrakis.es/grandpa2.jpg
RayC Hussein @ 25:
Why, Dick "So?" Cheney. of course. Don't you think the Republicans want him to have another term as president? After all, he's been running this dog and pony show all along, hasn't he?
Grandpa or not, he sure doesn't look healthy.
Why does Lieberman have his nose up McCain's ass so much.
I think McCain is dumb in comparison to the two Democratic candidates. And these intended gaffes will continue because he wants to justify war with Iran. These intended remarks demonstrate that he doesn't know about the economy or about foreign policy. He takes Lieberman along to assist him with world affairs. When he arrive back home, who will ask where are his tax returns? I want Hillary AND and McCain to present their tax returns prior to the Pennsylvania primary. The MSM is concerned about Hillary's returns, but I think it's fair to ask both of them to put up or shut up.
ysbaddaden @ 83:
Christmas is a major holiday celebrating the virgin birth of the christian lord. Hannukah is a Jewish holiday, coincidentally around the same period, is a minor holiday that honors a miracle where one day's worth of oil burned for eight days. They have nothing to do with each other, but Hanukkah is frequently referred to as the Jewish Christmas. As you say- Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashonah (the day of atonement and the start of the new year in the jewish calendar, when the last bit of the torah is finished and the first bit of the beginning is started ) are the "high holidays".
As for Eostre and Esther, the important Jewish holiday in Spring is Passover-- April 20 this year-- part of the Passover Seder plate includes a spring green plant (usually parsley) as well as an egg, also found hidden by rabbits (?) in Easter celebrations..
Many religions have spring/harvest celebrations.. you can make the comparison... just as you can I think fairly compare halloween/purim... they're nothing really the same, but do share some traditions so it's not like a HUGE deal the way people are making it out.
A jew
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