Would McCain limit himself to one term?
By Steve Benen Tuesday Aug 12, 2008 3:00pmBack in January, campaigning in New Hampshire, John McCain was asked whether he would be able to serve eight years as president, given his advanced age. McCain seemed to suggest that he might only serve one term: “If I said I was running for eight years, I’m not sure that would be a vote getter.”
The campaign quickly backpedaled and said McCain was only being speculative, but Marc Ambinder recently reported that McCain was “inches away” from pledging to serve only one term at the time that he formally announced his candidacy. “The idea to serve one term had long been discussed among top advisers,” Ambinder reported, “and McCain was on board.”
Speculation on this faded when the campaign insisted there was nothing to the story, but interest was renewed over the weekend when McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, sounded cagey on the subject.
As my friend A.L. noted in a very interesting item, it would shake up the race and help McCain deal with the age issue. Obama’s team, A.L. argued, needs to be prepared for the possibility.
First, and most importantly, they should point that–by taking that pledge–McCain renders himself a lame duck before his presidency even starts. When you’re not running for re-election, your influence is greatly diminished. Just look at all the amazing accomplishments of George W. Bush’s second term. […]
Second, the Obama camp should point out that it is completely unrealistic to think that you can accomplish all of the reforms this country needs in just one term. Only someone who plans on pursuing the status quo would make such a pledge.
And finally, I would point out what a gimmick and a sign of desperation the pledge is. McCain himself has previously ruled out making such a pledge. What changed? Obviously, he realized that he needed to do something dramatic and attention grabbing to have any shot at winning. This is a move driven by ambition, not selfless love of country.
That sounds right to me, though I’d just add one thing: I’m not sure it helps address the age issue, so much as it may accentuate it. If McCain pledges to serve only one term, isn’t he implicitly acknowledging that he’s already pretty old? Why else would a would-be president consider retirement before taking office?
Login or Register to post comments.
This video made Facists:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAINhIz2svE
Here's to hoping McBain doesn't even get one term!
Depends on how well the Diebold machines are working.
I would simply run an ad that said..."Haven't the American People been insulted enough? Now the Republican Party is asking Americans to vote for a man who says he will only serve one term? Why does John McCain disrespect America so much that he would not even commit to serving out two terms if elected? Committment is very serious, and America needs committment from its leaders."
If Paul Wellstone couldn't limit himself to two terms, there is no chance in hell that McCain would ever limit himself to just one.
One term? Hahahaha! Grandpa you're so full of shit. YOU WON'T EVEN LIVE THROUGH ONE TERM.
Sorry, but it's going to take the old goat more time than most to even learn the job, let alone get anything done.
But it sure makes his veep pick that much more interesting to see!
PEACE
If McCain makes a "one term" pledge, I recommend the Obama camp respond in the following way:
That would take care of that.
Jesus! Suzanne Malvuax had the balls to ask the President of Georgia about McCain's "We are all Georgians" comment. Leading the President to state that Obama also lends his support. He actually interrupted her. MSM is pissing me off. After all the garbage about Edwards now they are purposing that Mccain is the strongest leader. Balls! I hope McCain losses. If not, you can kiss our great nation good-bye! Now McCain is making a speech, while Cindy was rushed to the hospital. How considerate!
calendar age in jan.09.....72.5
biological age in jan.09....78.0
i think the one four yr. term would accelerate his aging
process....he would be done after one term
I agree with A.L. on all the points made in the post. If McCain pledges to serve only one term, he will serve as the Bush administration's pardon card much like Ford was for the Nixon administration.
I have one term for old Mac.....adulterer. I'm sure there are others.
He IS too fucking old and everyone, including his own party knows it.
what a strange campaign angle...
so, they are flirting with this as a way to sell mccain? bwhahaha...
the rarely employed used car salesman selling tactic:
“listen, just vote for mccain, ok. Come on, what if I told you he would only serve one term? Would that get your vote? What can I say to get you to drive away in this used politician today?”
McCain and Lieberman claims that Obama isn't American enough but yesterday McCain said "We're all Georgians."
I love how the Situation Room is giving McCain all the free press time he needs. And isn't it the Presidents job to do something about this crisis? Jeez! CNN is acting like McCain is the President! He has now been talking for 20 minutes! Meanwhile, Bush is hiding in the White House!
Maybe his pal Joe Lieberman can coach him on making pledges to leave office after a set time.
constituent @ 10:
All President's "age" over the course of their Administration. By the end of four years, McCain is going to look like the Cryptkeeper!!
The idea that a president is a "lame duck" at the start of his or her last term is laughable (and off by two years from the standard usage of the term).
Example: when did Bush start a war in Iraq?
The mcsame campaign complains that the media is "attacking" mcsame for his age. I watch only a tiny bit of tv and never any news programs and even in the few tiny clips I've seen of mcsame online I can clearly see that he is old, out of touch, perennially cranky and not entirely in control of his facilities. Half the time he appears uncertain of where he is, let alone what he's talking about.
His pledge sounds more like a whine, "Give me one term pleeeeeeeeease? And I promise I'll go away. Honest!"
No matter how you slice it this makes him look bad on all kinds of levels.
Not that his pathetic campaign could look much worse. Unless of course you only watch corporate news. Then it's john mcmaverick neck and neck with the tax and spendOcrat. Hoorah for depends, viagra, lobbyists, bundlers, fraud and crime! Oh wait... not all crimes are crimes any more ... hmmm I wonder if we'll be getting a list?
OT
News Flash: Arkansas Democratic Party Charmain is shot, critically wounded.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/us/14arkansas.html?hp
Question: why do only Democrats and liberals get shot?
If he thought that's what people wanted to hear, that's what he'd say. He'd never keep the promise if he didn't feel like it.
Didn't McCain claim that he would be too old to run in 08 in 00 when he went against Bush?
The Obama camp need to grab this with both hands and run with it. Think about it- if Obama was a 70+ year old, the Rove-ites would not let this issue go. They would constantly put fear uncertainty and doubt in people minds. I say use this against McCain to the fullest extent possible!
There are so many things Obama could get McCain with. His campaign needs to grow a pair of balls!
Albatross @ 5:
Am I missing something?
Annoyed Canuck @ 21:
This is what all the republican hate talk is leading to. Asswipes like coulter and hannity and malkin have been wishing for this.
Judging by mcgramps belly
He's gone full-term.
P.D. @ 9:
Do yourself a big favor and cancel cable/satellite. Keep your internet, but let everything else go and then try to convince your friends and family to do the same. I cut cable this past Monday and the feeling of change in just 48 hours has been great.
Use the internets for information and fact-finding.
Would McCain limit HIMSELF to one term?
You mean he can make HIMSELF live forever?
I think he'd be lucky to LIVE half a term.
Which is why we should be freaking over his VEEP: MY BET IS JEB.
What do you mean, GOING to look like the Cryptkeeper? He already does! So the argument goes, if he only serves one term, that means he knows he'll be too old to be President in four years. How does he know that? Will he be ready to step down in 3 years? Two? 4 months? How are we supposed to support a guy who already believes his age will hinder him from performing his duties in four years or less? Not that I would support this sick old fart anyway.
P.D. @ 16:
The Chimp is trying to find his balls, but he won't. They're hangin' in Putin's office.
miss skeptic @ 30:
I love when women lambast me! Ohhh. miss skeptic...beat me...make me drink domestic wine! LOL! TEEEEASING.
Annoyed Canuck @ 21:
Because there's a whole force of right-wing talk show hosts out there, spouting militant calls to arms and egging on a shitload of right-wing whackos - encouraging them to do what ever it takes to stop the "far-left liberals who are ruining the nation". Guns and Jesus - and a barrage of Rush Limbaugh of Michael Savage rhetoric - and this is what you get.
Isn't that a game winning strategy? Promise to retire early. I would strongly urge McCain to also promise to beat Bush"s vacation days record. That will definitely increase voters comfort levels with regard to a McCain presidency.
Um... Ronald Reagan?
Jeon Ji-Yung @ 35:
Ronald Reagan was a youngster compared to John "Dang, with a little luck I coulda been decorated by Ulysses S. Grant" McCain.
UGGGHH!!! Well, given that nightmare scenario, one would hope mother nature would weigh in and make damn sure it was no more than one term...at the most...... Much better we don't tempt fate and leave this in mommies hands... Much better if this nation just makes sure there ain't even no 'one' term period, let along any second..... Yeeeshh!! The very idea of eight possible years of a geriatric McCain makes me want to upchuck lunch...JD
I'm betting he dies of natural causes midway through a first term.
Jeon Ji-Yung @ 35:
Yeah, because that one worked out great... right?
I've been in a conversation with a repairman who was drawing up an estimate for some electrical work so I had my tv on mute. I saw something about Cindy McCain going to the hospital for something and I thought they were saying that the headquarter chairman in Little Rock died today as a result of the gunshot wounds. Anyone else hear either of these two things?
Jeon Ji-Yung @ 35:
McAin will be older on his first day than Reagan was on his last day.
If by some fluke McBush does get into office I'm confident that the Amurkin people will limit his presnitzy to one term. That's one term too many.
Just got this from CNN
"The Arkansas Democratic Party chairman has died from gunshot wounds, according to Hillary Clinton's press office.
>+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
John McCain and Barack Obama will appear on the same stage for the
first time in a live forum moderated by the Rev. Rick Warren.
Watch Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on CNN"
Voting for a GOPer making a term-limits pledge would be to shame oneself:
There were plenty of GOPers who ran on a promise to limit their tenure in office but then decided that they really only like term-limits when they applied to Democratic incumbents.
Drudge is reporting that Colin Powell is going to endorse Obaba and speak at the Democratic convention. This is a much bigger deal than unfounded speculation whether McCain will adopt a one term pledge.
“If I said I was running for eight years, I’m not sure that would be a vote getter.”
Well, I'm not sure if saying he's running for four years is going to be a vote getter, either.
richard @ 45:
It's not big news UNLESS he is actually allowed to speak at the convention. I, for one, don't particularly agree that Powell SHOULD be allowed to speak at the DNC. He was played by the Repubs and probably knew enough about the situation that he could have put his foot down and refused. The guy didn't reach the pinnacle of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs or Sec of State by being naive or uninformed.
Instead, he went full bore and help perpetuate the lie that has led to thousands of deaths and billions of lost dollars.
Unless Powell gets up and apologizes publicly for his lackluster performance in that crucial time, states that the criminals should be brought to justice and condemns the neocon policy of instigation rather than diplomacy, he is just a "stuntman" being used as a prop.
And that's not CHANGE.
No, I mean Reagan got shot.
Should have quoted that in the first place. Though there's no question who tends to be killed in more unfortunate plane crashes.
I think the real question is "Would McCain limit himself to one war?" And I think the answer is no. Definately not.
RickMack @ 47:
Take a look at before and after photos of any president prior to entering office and then upon leaving. You'll see the experience visibly ages them considerably. They enter with a full head of jet black hair and emerge with gray temples or salt and pepper throughout.
Now try to picture McCain transformed like that. What do you see?
Meanwhile...
Flippy McSpin says: "My friends. I'm gonna live forever but I can't imagine not getting dragged out of office before a second term is an issue. I'm just that stupid, friends".
Another issue that the Obama camp could push - McCain is unstable and since he'd be accountable to no one, not the voters, not his party if he ran one term he could basically do whatever the hell he wanted. Look at McCain grandstanding on this Georgia issue, he's itching for a fight, to have his own war. And who knows what lobbyist is whispering in his ear, egging him on to start WW3 with Russia over Georgia for crying out loud.
I don't even think a lot of realist GOPers want a completely unaccountable McCain with his finger on the button.
Just look at all the amazing accomplishments of George W. Bush’s second term. […]
Actually, there have been almost as many "amazing accomplishments" in this term than in his first. Sure, he didn't start two wars this time around, but there's still time. Thanks to the spineless Dems in Congress, Bush's second term isn't a "lame duck" term at all...
richard @ 50:
richard:
Don't put words in my mouth. I said "It's not change".....I didn't say I wouldn't vote for it. But that's my main point. Why, when you espouse change would stick with the same 'ole format? That's my point. Additionally, it's far from a purity test because we, unlike the RNC, do not need former Bush administration officials to "come on over" just to add some sort of stamp of approval.
Powell carries little weight with Democratic and undecided voters (not to mention Repubs who would then label him a "traitor". Of those undecideds, many did not support the war and remember that a guy like Powell should have known better than to help fan the flames of war when it was painfully obvious the Iraqi military couldn't fight it's way out of a wet paper bag -WMD or no WMD.
In summary? Obama victory - good. Convention speaker Powell at DNC - not good.
He'll Be Lame Duck Within His First Term
Well "lets go to war John McCain" is trying to minimize how much damage he can do. I guess he's saying he will only hurt this country for four years at best. I guess I am supposed to feel better about pulling the lever for him. I am not.
If you are looking at any of the various polling sites, you would think Americans want to drill, and McCain is within striking distance of taking Barack Obama's lead. He's not and I am not convinced drilling is the solution to our energy needs. This years media coverage and polling activity has been a lessen in conservative power.
In all fairness, Americans have a sour memory about how the last two elections ended. In other words, many Democrats know the Republicans will try to steal this election. There will make an attempt; we don't know where it will happen. I am not sure it will be strong enough to defeat a true Obama candidacy. I have starting keeping my own polls on who will win the oval office. Yes, you can vote for who is your choice here.
Joseph
Why don't the polls ask people whether they think a 75 year old can handle being president? McCain will reach 75 sometime in his first term if elected.
What the hell is this fool talking about? We have no plans to even give this fool the one term he is hoping against the odds for.
These people are sick. Do they realize how much more damage this lunatic could do in four years, after his twin finishes us off?
John McCain is too OLD to be President.
THE MAN CAN HIDE HIS OWN FUCKING EASTER EGGS.... how would he remember what 8 years means
McLame-duck!
Utter bullshit. Considering McCain's poor health (and the laughable attempts to conceal it), he's unlikely even to survive the next four years.
This is an ad hominem argument. Defeat McCain based on his positions, his record, his rhetoric...there's an abundance of it.
I wonder how the Mexican "no re-election" system survives if the lame-duck principle holds.
Of course, if your presidential candidate protects your rights rather than taking them away, I have no problem how long he serves. Check out Chuck Baldwin and see if he defends your views. Campaign homepage.
Login or Register to post comments.