A whole lotta people are saying that the best way to reunite these Divided States, reclaim the national standing and integrity abroad, and end this uncivil Cultural Civil War is to get Republican Senator John McCain to join John Kerry as candidate for Vice President.
Sounds like a pretty good idea, the kind of idea a "uniter, not a divider" might want to encourage.
But it appears McCain might not want to flee the Republican Party, and despite this recent encounter with Professional Moron and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, one would assume that the GOP doesn't want another Senator to jump ship in the middle of a Bush-inspired 'Titanic moment', aka Armageddon.
WASHINGTON (CNN)
...Talking to reporters, Hastert pretended not to know who McCain was when asked about a recent statement by the GOP senator from Arizona.
As other House GOP members stood behind him laughing, Hastert, R-Illinois, then expressed doubt that McCain was indeed a Republican.
The exchange started when a reporter asked: "Can I combine a two issues, Iraq and taxes? I heard a speech from John McCain the other day..."
Hastert: "Who?"
Reporter: "John McCain."
Hastert: "Where's he from?"
Reporter: "He's a Republican from Arizona."
Hastert: "A Republican?"
Amid nervous laughter, the reporter continued with his question: "Anyway, his observation was never before when we've been at war have we been worrying about cutting taxes and his question was, 'Where's the sacrifice?' "
Hastert: "If you want to see the sacrifice, John McCain ought to visit our young men and women at Walter Reed and Bethesda. There's the sacrifice in this country. We're trying to make sure they have the ability to fight this war, that they have the wherewithal to be able to do it. And, at the same time, we have to react to keep this country strong."
Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center are two military hospitals in the Washington area.
McCain, a prisoner of war during Vietnam, later released a written statement, taking issue with the spending habits of Republican lawmakers.
"The Speaker is correct in that nothing we are called upon to do comes close to matching the heroism of our troops. All we are called upon to do is not spend our nation into bankruptcy while our soldiers risk their lives. I fondly remember a time when real Republicans stood for fiscal responsibility. Apparently those days are long gone for some in our party."
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Article comments
1 - JR
Whoo-hoo! WE NEED THIS GUY! But how...?
Maybe the Republicans will wise up and exercise the Torricelli Option. I figure by the time the Republican convention rolls around, Bush will be so unelectable the rank-and-file will revolt and try to draft McCain. I don't know if they can overcome the Bushies' stranglehold on their party, though.
If Bush does get the nomination, his best strategy would be to run attack ads against all the minor candidates just to confuse people when they go to the polls to vote against him.
2 - RJ Elliott
SHARK:
Number one - CNN did not give Hastert's complete quote.
Number two - Hastert is anything but "little."
Number three - I actually agree with McCain's response more than Hastert's comment.
Number four - Your quote: "Bush was too busy doing cocaine to show up for duty with the danger-filled National Guard" is slander, unless you can prove it.
Number five - I would love to see Lieberman become a Republican and McCain become a Democrat. It would make more sense.
Number six - Zell Miller is retiring from the senate, and is therefore of no real political value.
Number seven - How are the MAO Inhibitors treating you? ;-]