This Week: John McCain Wants To Kick Russia Out Of G8. Why? To Teach Them A Lesson About Hubris, Naturally
By Nicole Belle Saturday Jul 26, 2008 5:30pm
Download | play 
Download | play (h/t Heather)
McSame has swallowed a big old gulp of Bush's "Do as I say, not as I do" and "yer either with us or agin us" methodology for foreign policy and washed it down with a chaser of Clint Eastwood tough guy bravado. Hence the screen cap, my approximation of a Eastwood-esque stare down.
McCain's stated desire to kick Russia out of the G8 is laughable on its face and yet another area in which McCain will flip-flop, as Steve Benen so perfectly deconstructed earlier this week. And what is instigating this ultimately impotent stance? Russia has decided to enact policies that benefit...*gasp* themselves.
How dare they think about their interests? Next thing you know, they'll be invading a country that posed no threat on trumped up intelligence and then occupy it for the oil lease rights, alienating the rest of the world with their "my way or the highway" rhetoric, really threatening peace throughout the world and then you know they're really asking for the condemnation of the rest of the global community.
Oh, wait...
UPDATE: Wasn't it helpful for George Stephanopoulos to correct John McCain when he forgot Putin's new political status as Prime Minister? Remind me again, why should we believe that McCain has the experience in foreign policy? He can't keep anything straight.
Transcripts below the fold:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let me ask you about your position to exclude Russia from the G-8. How are you going to get that done? Every other G-8 nation is against it.
MCCAIN: Well, you have to take positions whether other nations agree or not, because you have to do what's best for America...
STEPHANOPOULOS: You've got some visitors here.
MCCAIN: ... and the world. That's Sam.
Look at Russia's actions in the last week or so. He'll get out of here.
STEPHANOPOULOS: He'll get out. It'll be fine.
MCCAIN: In the last week or so, look at Russia's actions. They cut back on their oil supplies to the Czechs, because the Czechs made an agreement with us. They have now thrown out the -- or forced out -- BP out of Russia. And by the way, I -- a lot of us thought that might happen.
They continue to put enormous pressures on Georgia in many ways. They're putting pressure on Ukraine. They are blocking action in the United Nations Security Council on Iran. And so...
STEPHANOPOULOS: But how is kicking out of the G-8 going to make that better? We need them...
MCCAIN: The G-8...
STEPHANOPOULOS: ... to help secure nuclear weapons. We need them to help contain Iran. To kick them out is going to make it harder, isn't it?
MCCAIN: We need to improve their behavior. We need to make them realize that the G-8 was founded -- basically, countries that are democratic, have our values and our goals and shared principles. And President Putin and...
STEPHANOPOULOS: The former President Putin.
MCCAIN: ... his government -- former President Putin, and now Prime Minister Putin -- has taken his country down a path that I think is very harmful.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you still think he's in charge?
MCCAIN: Oh, yes. I am confident -- yes, I believe that he's in charge. And I don't think he would have chosen his successor, if he didn't think he would remain in charge.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, let me get back to the original question.
MCCAIN: They've become -- they've become an autocracy.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Because President Medvedev says this proposal isn't even serious. So, I go back.
How are you going to exclude Russia from the G-8, when every other country is against it?
MCCAIN: I will stand up for what I think is the best for the United States of America and the world, the way that Ronald Reagan went to Berlin and said, "Tear down this wall."
And they said, "Oh, he's a cowboy. He's going to make relations worse. He shouldn't say that."
And yet, we wanted the Wall down. We want better Russian behavior internationally. And we have every right to expect it.
And I will do what I can to see that they reverse many of the behavior patterns, which have really been very unhelpful to peace in the world.
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John McCain=Bob Dole
At least he is looking younger.
This man is certifiably INSANE, wft does he want a nuclear war ?.
"Obstinence-the way to world peace." This guy is delusional.
I still believe McShrub is likely to be replaced at the last minute before the convention due to "health problems." While the Republic Party is stupid, they're not suicidal.
It would be so much easier if the rest of the world would just see things our way and do what's in our best interest. What is so difficult about that? /sarcasm
I makes me want to scream out loud every time the Fascists in the republican party bring up the second worst president in my lifetime and most likely in the history of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Him saying tear down this wall had zero to do with the tearing down the wall. He just happened to be president at the time. Given his mental state be most likely didn't even know the wall came down.
Oops. He let it slip. It’s all about BP. Corporations are much more important than anything else. Also, if the old codger wants to look younger, he should dye his hair black, like Reagan did.
Please keep it up, John. Just keep the stupidity coming and coming for the next 100 days. Please?
If you want some more right-wing stupidity, try here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zgxeKV56Rk
In the last few years I've come to realize that there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who, as children, learned their lessons by positive reinforcement, and those who learned only through fear of punishment. I believe that this basic divide is ultimately the distinction between liberals and conservatives. McCain's attitude here in this clip is yet another example of this.
And on a separate point: Reagan was nothing but a bystander in the era referenced.
"We want better Russian behavior internationally. And we have every right to expect it."
And what gives us that right? Telling the UN to go screw while we started an illegal war? Yeah, we have a whole load of credibility here. I wish Steph would have pressed him for one example of their poor behavior other than the the crap he had already stated. Personally, I don't think that holds a candle to the war crimes of our administration.
More of the McSame old shit! Mayan calendar anyone?
Anyone else notice how eloquently and thoughfully Obama can answer even the insipid questions of a Tom Brokaw (my time has passed I just can't face it yet) compared with the responses or the old geezer who just has to draw "my opponent" into every answer with his well-practiced "talking points"...YEGODS, and still there are people out there willing to give him an opportunity to become CIC just because he's a HERO...
What was George Step-on-all-of-us doing asking Mc Igor an intelligent question about the G-8. Hey, George. Are you trying to get a set. Maybe next Sunday Mc Igor can be on Meet The Press and Tommy Boy Broke-Off can finish crawling up Mc Igors ass like he was trying to do today. One thing about Obama is he can sure make these so called Icons of journalism look like the complete fools they are. Obama could barely keep a straight face and keep from laughing out loud at Broke-Off.
It's more than apparent that McCain continues the Bush policy of unitary executive of the world by excluding every other country as being not worthy or anything but support for all US policies. This is the neocon construct: What's good for America is good for the world, and the PNAC vision of American rule through "education and strength."
Perhaps, he is still living in the Reagan Cold War era where Russia is evil incarnate. Perhaps he doesn't realize that we are going down the path of the former USSR economically, but what does he care, he owns eight or nine houses and his wife is worth millions.
Screw the rest of us; let us eat cake (or more likely, the mud biscuits of Haiti (made from mud, water and butter) which are now so overpriced that the locals cannot afford to eat mud.
Is this our future with a President McCain? Something every American needs to seriously think of as they cast their votes. How many are homeless and hungry right now? McBush offers nothing but more of the same.
Sure, throw Russia out of the G8 as they control the tap for most of Europe's gas/oil, that will show em'. Does McCain know that the crap they make up on FOX News is only intended to rile up people of his age group, and apparently his level of intelligence?
Who says Americans hate subtitles? Drudge calls it for Obama.
The US certainly has no right to tell any country what to do. We ignored the UN & world opinion, so why can't the rest of the world ignore us?
Now McCrazy wants to alienate the Russians too ? Messing with Putin and his boys would be a very dangerous thing to do politically. And they have effective methods of dealing with troublemakers ... McCrazy might take a sip of his prune juice one morning and discover that there's been a little polonium mixed in.
What a scary old man he is.
Dancer @ 12:
What constitutes a HERO? Back in the day........a HERO was someone who did something out of the ordinary.
Today a HERO is just a guy (or gal) doing their job. The term "HERO" is way over-used and bastardized!
If a Police Officer is killed in the line of duty, yes it's tragic, but it goes with the job. If a Fireman dies, again tragic, but it IS a part of the job! You know this when you signed up for the job.
If a Military Pilot gets shot down over enemy lines while he was trying to kill other people with his aircraft and weapons. Is he a HERO? NO! He was a casualty of war. He flew the mission(s), he knew the risks and he sure as hell didn't have a gun to his head when he climbed into the cockpit.
Bad luck maybe.........but it sure as hell doesn't make the guy a hero. (Maybe a bad pilot.)
I don't mean to belittle the sacrifices made by TRUE HEROES. But PLEASE! Try to differentiate between truly HEROIC actions, and those made in the "Line of duty".
When will the America hating left wake up to the fact that the rest of the world is only there to serve our interests?
His maverick routine is becoming awfully tiresome.
I guess Mc Dumbo hasn't figured out that the US is not the center of the universe and that other nations are not necessarily dying to placate us. You'd think this senile putz would have figured out that the Neocon go it alone, confrontational diplomacy was a failure. Mc Putz doesn't have the time or intelligence to master the patient art of diplomacy, ao they wave their patriarchal, threatening sabre instead thinking that they will intimidate their way to success.
McSame=Bush. What have Bush's policies got us?
Doesn't a country have to be at least a second world nation to be in the G8?
Grandpa McCain hasn't gotten the top job yet and he's already making enemies. Thanks to Bush/Cheney the US has no friends, recession and weak Military. But no only does McCain lie but he's now pushing the US to make an enemy of Russia. Let's see Grandpa wants to bomb Iran, stay in Iraq and now push Russia out. What will Grandpa say when the World Leaders of the United Nations ask that the United States be removed? All this talk of hate only makes it's harder for the American people. The United States was one of the Leaders of the World until Bush/Cheney made is a Country no one would want to follow. Americans can only blame ourselves as we let it happen.
1970cs @ 15:
Ah, yes. That's it. It's McGramps age goup. The same age group that is so devoted to O'Reilly. It's the same reason he likes the war. I never really thought about that. Seriously.
What will be do with China? They to do not support our bully attitude. All these old crooks think of is war.
JAG @ 19:
Just like almost everyone is now a "professional." Your garbageman, and janitors, are now "environmental professionals."
Snowball @ 20:
You dropped your wallet at the last KKK meeting........can you confirm your address so I can return it to you?
Thanks.......
john mccain knows damn well russia's never getting kicked out of g8. NWO wouldn't allow it. gotta finish that caspian pipeline, don'cha know?
maverick's just trying to rile up his "red dawn" base -you know, the old blowhards who get all misty-eyed when sylvester stallone asks richard crenna if we "get to win this time" at the beginning of "rambo: first blood part 2".
Someone change his diaper...
Interesting how those dogs ended up on the set ... perhaps a little diversion to distract people's attention ? It certainly worked on putzy pretty-boy Stephanopoulos.
BobbyG @ 28:
I prefer "Maintenance Technician".
Afghanistan
Iraq
Somalia
CentCom
AfriCom
and this asshat is talking about Russia as a threat to peace?
*rubs forehead*
*sighs*
In as few words as are needed: "McLameBrain is an idiot"
doggiebobo @ 35:
A Loss Leader.
calgarylady @ 32:
after the incident with the applesauce they had to do something.
JAG @ 33:
I thought it was "Sanitation Engineer".
McCain to press at his house:
"Get off my lawn, you damn Kids!!!"
McCain = Bush
2012
By the way, is the photo of McLameBrain used above another one obtained from
Fraux Noise back in 2000?
Karl Rove @ 2:
At what point can we start calling him "Botox Boy" and start criticizing the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on cosmetic enhancements? Breck Girl ain't nothing compared to what it costs to maintain that youthful appearance.
And it show how terrified they are of Obama's youth.
Any other suggestions? Botox Bully?
Bush has us under China's thumb economically and now Sidney McSame wants to allienate Russia at a time when they are once again becoming an economic and military power again? Yea, turn Russia and China against us simultaneously at a time the GOP economy a wars have us at our weakest position perhaps ever. Yea, that's the winning hand to play. We cannot survive 4 more years of GOP economic and foreign policy.
McCain has the Junior High style foreign policy:
"Do wht we say or we kick you out of our club! Thbbbbbttt!!"
CAlI @ 24:
sure! even if it's $10,000,000,000,000 in debt.
All I have to say to this, we have 100 days left until November 5th
Are we ready !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0F9sZeESus
No wonder the rest of the world hates the US. Get it through your thick skull, America is in total free fall. Its power and influence has rapidly shrunk. Basically, no one gives a flying fuck what the US says. Get over yourselves. Your holier than thou attitude is beyond sad.
The rest of the world thinks you're a pathetic, miserable joke. Enjoy your decline.
Ah yes, 1970cs, I am still chuckling over the applesauce incident.
The Truth Hurts @ 47:
thank you, i couldn't of said it any better
Just like McCain was expected to do.....he is showing his demented might and sick ideas to counterbalance a week of peace and uniting done by Obama. Can't understand why we fall for this tough guy s..t after 7 awful years of living the nightmare of Bush's foreign policy. My heart was full of joy with the thought of a new time and new hope for the world working together. We need you younger voters to get out in November and show the world that you do not want this type of world for your future......lots of older voters are afraid of change and you need to lead the way to peace and understanding.
And he has the audacity to call Sen Obama "Arrogant"
The thought of this guy anywhere near the button makes my blood run cold
Over at Kos: Sidney McSame would do anything to win included throwing his supposed honor under the bus.
http://barbinmd.dailykos.com/
"They (Russians) have now thrown out the — or forced out — BP out of Russia." Yes, in much the same way, O'll bet, that Exxon-Mobile was forced out of Venezuela. When Hugo Chavez forced Exxon-Mobile to pay a 25% royalty, instead of the pittance paid up to that time, EM squawked, picked up their marbles and went home. I suspect we have the same "force out" with Russia and BP.
From Obama's speech saying that he is a citizen of the world, to this. Hmmm, tough choice.
Ruthless People @ 52:
McCain's "honor" is long gone. Long gone.
1970cs @ 15:
Not only that, but they pretty much have the platinum market cornered... the last functioning platinum mine in the US was bought out by the Russians a few years ago. Platinum is important in that it is used as a catalyst in numerous chemical reactions, and roughly 25% of the few products the US does export is chemicals. Snubbing the Russians will definitely fuck up our economy even more.
Is this the thread about the wardrobe malfunction? Mr McGoo loses his "Depends." McCain has proven to be an insane, babbling idiot.
Hypocrisy, Today your name is.. John McCain!
Karl Rove @ 2:
Make up can do wonders!
Never underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate.
w elected twice with 30% approval, no matter what he does.
rush and hannity signing hundred million contracts.
Fixed noise #1 and the rest of the corporate media bias.
The election will be close but it should not be.
if anyone is going learn anything about Hubri, that would be John McCain in November
One presidential candidate is pointing the way toward increased diplomacy, even with our enemies, while the other is determined to scuttle diplomacy and make new enemies.
One gets the feeling that the old man just isn't comfortable without a commie to hate. You know, like back in the good old days.
Yes grampa mcangry is nostalgic for the days when the cold war kept him warm at night.
Pathetic.
hotmouth @ 59:
Your not insinuating that John puts on makeup with a trowel like some well known woman he called a "C^NT" in front of reporters are you friend? Because when Big John is elected you too could be an enemy combatant taking swimming lessons at Gitmo.
John McCain, Bush's 'third term' will be the furtherance of a fascist government.
McCain really does not have a clue, does he? It seems like, for any, and every subject, he has been primed to deliver one pat response. If the interviewer tries to draw him out, he will simply circle back to his original response. If he begins to get pressured, one can see the legendary McCain temper, begin to boil, just below the surface. I expect that sometime, before the Fall, he will run into someone, who will not let him 'off-the-hook'. He may very well fly off the handle. As each week goes by, and Obama pulls further away, the pressure will continue to mount. If the republicans would have had one decent candidate, McCain would be a distant memory. The RNC, Swiftboaters, oil cartel, the MSM, corporate America, etc., are pumping money, and resources into his campaign. But, that campaign is on life-support, not forging ahead with their sails full of wind. There are two things happening in this election, they have absolutely no understanding of. One is the maturing of the Internet and the power of the blogosphere. It is neutralizing their control of the media. Their lies are quickly exposed and debunked. Often, they are traced to the originator, before they know what hit them. The second item, few appreciate. They are up against a candidate, who (so far anyway) does not accept money from lobbyists, corporations, or any other type of special interest groups. How do you fight against an honest man?
MvVain's an even bigger idiot than this interview suggests
The Group of Eight, or G-8, as it's popularly known, makes decisions by consensus, so no single nation can kick out another. Most experts say the six other countries — Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Canada — would never agree to toss Russia, given their close economic ties to their neighbor. A senior U.S. official who deals with Russia policy said that even Moscow would have to approve of its own ouster, given how the G-8 works......"It's not even a theoretical discussion. It's an impossible discussion," said the senior official, who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. "It's just a dumb thing."
I would love to know how McCain would get Russia to agree to it's own expulsion.
Mccain is campaining on the behalf of the Oil Companies.
From off shore drilling, to Russia's energy policies in Eastern Europe, to staying in Iraq for 100 years.
Wake up people, it's just about the OIL!!!
fil @ 67:
Add in Central Asia and Africa to Russia's control and McCain's statement looks even worse
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/JG19Ag01.html
MsJoanne @ 55:
thanks for the link
Mike the Canuck @ 49:
I don't enjoy feeling this way and writing these things. Once upon a time, I too was a happy, semi-patriotic American. Now, I have adopted a "just-passing-through" attitude. It helps me come to grips with the unbelievable bullshit I see in the country on a daily basis. Hell, for the right opportunity, I would leave the US in a heartbeat. I wouldn't have said that in the 90s. It's amazing what the past eight years have done to my feeling about this country. I feel no love or pride.
It's kinda sad, but I'm now fine with it.
getalife "whiners" @ 60:
w was never elected!
Great idea, kick Russia out. Actually, due to the Republican energy policy, the Russian economy is probably stronger than the USA. Maybe they will kick us out.
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 71:
Funny...Russia should kick US out of the G8. We are a savage, lawless bunch of morons. I hope they load up Cuba with nukes. What a beautiful response to our missiles on their border.
drunkbryan @ 74:
I think MANY of the world's nations would agree with your comment. The US is in no position to start making demands or issuing orders. America is a declining debtor nation. Hey US, keep pissing off other nations....I'm sure they will be very tempted to cash in their IOUs.
See, the US is too stupid to figure this out: They are a bully. And once you get a bully on its knees, all the others jump in to get their payback and take their shots. You don't think there isn't a l-o-n-g list of other nations just licking their chops to get in a few good punches?
Did you catch the Czechoslovakia reference?
"They cut back on their oil supplies to the Czechs...."
McBraindead
woodguy @ 4:
What... are you kidding??..... Almost the whole PLANET is behaving suicidal at this point... We are a species that is steadfastly....but with denial and eloquently stated without any logic whatsoever .... we go obstinately plodding along towards global environmental collapse!!
Aware or not, we have been allowing ourselves to do just that.
I don't believe Republicans and neocons twisted logic allows them to accept that they could be wrong!!!
Somehow they believe, like Lewis Carol that if they say it thrice it becomes true..
Why do you think the MSM is continuing the meme of McSamoldshit is the new "change" in this election.
The bobble heads parroting their puppetmasters by-lines and stories .....
They are desperate and the bobbley winds are a changing!!
LOL
I honestly do not believe the WingNuts will allow themselves to see what's coming.
It's a cognitive dissonance that either goes heard as the sweetest of melodies and so they make attempts to tune the world to the horrid sounds now having believed their own lies as the instruments of perfection....
till their heads explode I guess...
How long McCrazy can hold it together in his Mr. McGoo phase is anybody's guess.... should we run a timeclock on Kos that counts down how many hours since a Mcsenior moment?
Maybe that would be too cruel?
It's REAL change.
WOW.
How amazing is that?
YES WE CAN!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/world/europe/03medvedev.html
And, it gets worse. This is recommend reading, to say the very least!
Dave @ 76:
There still is a Czech Republic ya know.
He can’t keep anything straight.
THIS IS A LIE..... AND JOHN THE REPUBLICAN MCCAIN HAS VIAGRA TO THANK FOR THAT!!!
oh fucking gee,, blocking the UN security Councel!!,, hmm?? who else does a fucking TON of that!!?? me wonders..
the hubris is intense,, you go get them JOhn,, you go improve Russia's behavior,, wacko!
Let's not forget, people------ this man is going to get votes!!!!!!!!! That more than anything else scares the unholy living $hit out of me!!
I knew McSame was insane the day he kissed W Bush after being swift boated in SC. The man is certifiable.
Tequila @ 16:
Okay, if that was the usual phone polling, that can't bode well for McCain. I'll be curious to see whether the convention gives his numbers the usual bounce.
The world's longest presidential election is starting to wear me down.
OMG he's going to get us all killed! What's good for America and the world, I thought being a world citizen was the wrong thing to be this election? I thought what was good for the world was bad for America? We have to be afraid of this retoric. He feels that US interests trump everyone elses rights. This is what leads to wars. Russia is not the country to pick a fight with. Putin followed Bushes lead after 9/11 he started doing stuff that we would have condemned had we not been doing it ourselves. We have lost the moral ground and if it's in Russias percieved interest to kick BP out then all the more power to them, wish we would kick Exxon et al out of our country.
J Smith @ 87:
Regrettably, the three very prominent major powers, USA, Russia and China (India is being very quiet at the moment), are currently run by tyrants and madmen doing whatever it takes to stay in power. Given Chechenya and Tibet, and internal squashing of opposition and reporters, it is up for debate which is worst.
Case is: This is an US website, primarily for US citizens, and as such, they would be focused on issues they can fix, and not other nations violations. It may not be entirely suitable for all to accept this, but thats the way it is. And at the moment, the thing they can try to fix, is to keep the republicans from running the show here anymore.
*there anymore.
Never been to the US.
"We need to correct their behavior." So, kicking them out of the G8 is going to correct their behavior? Why don't you send Russia to bed without its nightly shot of vodka. And take away its radio so it can't listen to Radio Moscow either. That'll teach em to "behave"!
God help us from this short-sighted, withdu-aginus, neo-neocon called McCain. McCain for sherrif of the world. You'll feel the rath of his anger if you don't behave. Did you hear that Iran?
Obama08
He is either too old or does not have a clue regarding foreign policy...
either way this is a terrible Presidential candidate...
Jesus Hubris Christ, stop the madness!
Boy...if we could please reverse some of the bad behavior of the USA that has been unhealthy to the world....
Just wait until McCain has a chance to look deep into Putin's eyes. As President Bush has done. And what Bush saw in those widows to his soul. Love at first sight?
John would bring use back to the Iron Curtain days ?
He would hold Putin responsible for Russia's actions but not the russian leader?
Sort of like being attacked by Al Qeda from Afganistan and responding by bombing Iraq?
I will hand it to Senator McCain. I we need someone who understands the old days (somewhat to mostly) and the old regimes. John McCain is your guy. John should be placed in the Reagan or Bush Library. So visiters could ask questions of these late Presidents and John could do what he does best. Play the supporting role of conservative suck up.
Dear Cubiclllgirl (and everyone else) You mentioned the usual telephone interviews. They cannot be trusted because they leave out the oeople who have only cell phones. Therefore they are not truly random.
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