Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

McCain: Reckless or Senile?

by BooMan
Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 11:51:16 AM EST

A controversy has erupted over whether John McCain knows that Spain is in Europe and not Latin America, and whether he knows that Jose Luis Zapatero is the Prime Minister of Spain and not some Latin American country. The controversy arose from an interview that McCain gave to the Spanish-language Miami-based Union Radio station. McCain appeared to be confused about these facts during the interview, as he repeatedly declined to commit to a meeting with Zapatero. Regardless of what really happened during the interview, the McCain campaign has made news with their post-interview spin:

McCain foreign policy adviser Randy Sheunemann said McCain's answer was intentional.
"The questioner asked several times about Senator McCain's willingness to meet Zapatero (and id'd him in the question so there is no doubt Senator McCain knew exactly to whom the question referred). Senator McCain refused to commit to a White House meeting with President Zapatero in this interview," he said in an e-mail.

Randy Scheunemann, the former president of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq and a founding signatory of the Project for a New American Century (PNAC), is saying that McCain won't meet with a major NATO ally without explaining why. Of course, President Bush has refused to meet with Zapatero even since he pulled Spanish troops out of Iraq.

If McCain is refusing to meet with the Prime Minister of Spain because he considers him an enemy of America, we need to know that. But if he is refusing to meet with the Prime Minister of Spain merely to cover-up for a senior-moment, then that is petulant and reckless. Which is it, Mr. McCain? Do you consider Spain an enemy or did you forget that Spain is in Europe and a member of NATO?

McCain: Reckless or Senile? | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

He thinks that Spain is somewhere south of Mexico, apparently. His handlers have screwed up again.

Oh, there you are, Perry. -Phineas -SLB-

by boran2 (blogistan@yahoo.com) on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 11:56:59 AM EST

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

Isn't it where the Hispanics live?

by BooMan on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:00:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

This is Dan Quayle territory.

Can't hear ya, Peach!

by AP on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:15:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

Quayle thought there were Latins.

by BooMan on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:26:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

Naaaahhhh...

Quayle wuz smarter than ol' John Boy.

Bet on it.

AG

Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.-Mae West

by Arthur Gilroy (arthurgilroy<at>earthlink.net) on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:35:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

maybe he thought Zapatero was Hugo Chavez. Or Spain was on the Pakistan/Iraq border.

by americanforliberty on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 01:01:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

yeah, he may have thought Spain is within this Hemisphere but, to cover up the sheer embarrassment of his candidate Scheunemann compounds the gaffe. It's always the coverUP.

doesn't matter if McCain is dementia challenged, out-of-touch or unfit to be president, there are many who will vote the superficial, not the substance...as in the last two cycles.

ya know it's like hearing a woman say, "Palin, I like her hairstyle, she's ordinary, has energized the Party and has moved me to McCain."

Truly, with such mindset, we deserve what's coming.

Don't vote, can't vote for the black guy, even if he's supremely qualified, more intelligent and has a better plan than the white guy.

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:12:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

Rather than indirectly rapping the elderly, who are part of our base, is it just possible that McCain's error stems from the fact that he is not the foreign policy expert he contends he is. Spain after all is just one of 190 countries on this earth.

Okay just kidding. But watch the senile charge; blaming the melanoma is more politically correct.

by shergald on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 01:07:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

Both.

He watched Viva Zapata! one too many times in his youth.

Now he's having flashbacks.

ALL'A them Zapateros is revolutionaries!!!

Cain't be talked to!!!
JEST like them damned Viet Cong!!!

Bet on it.

AG

Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.-Mae West

by Arthur Gilroy (arthurgilroy<at>earthlink.net) on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:06:54 PM EST

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

Zapatero/Zapatista/Zapata - they all look the same when we bring freedom to their doorstep.

Latino Político | "We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit." - Octavio Paz

by Man Eegee (man.eegee at gmail dot com) on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:19:19 PM EST

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 1)

McCain is old enough to remember Emilio Zapata..

by americanforliberty on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 01:02:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

BTW-

If you confused by the way Zapatero is alternately referred to as president and prime minister, here is the explanation:

President of Spain or Prime Minister? In theory, the president of Spain is not a president at all. Spain is a constututional monarchy, the King is the Head of State and has to approve the appointment of the head of government who, in other constitutional monarchies, would be referred to as prime minister.
However, the Spanish constitution refers to the leader of government as president, and so do Spaniards, Spanish media and protocol. All leaders of Spain's regional autonomies are known as "presidents" too.
We have been unable to find any reason behind this. Before the Spanish Civil War Spain had a President, but of course at that time the country was a Republic. Maybe the experts and politicians who took part in drawing up the present constitution after Franco's death "president" had symbolic value (Franco preferred to be called General during his dictatorship) among Spaniards yearning to complete the transition from dictatorship to democracy. Whatever the reason, although José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is often called "prime minister" by foreign media, within his own country he is known as the President of Spain or Presidente of Government.

by BooMan on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:24:12 PM EST

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 1)

We have been unable to find any reason behind this.

And this was written by people behind a Spanish website? Bold ignorance is alive and well on the Internets.

During the Spanish Republic there was a President of the Republic and a President of the Government. Note that in Spanish Presidente translates as both President and Chairman and the President of the Government is (functionally) the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

During Franco's time, he had a Presidente del Gobierno. Franco was the head of State and styled himself Caudillo (Chieftain???) and Generalísimo.

This is not only a Spanish usage. In Italy there a (ceremonial) President of the Republic (the Head of State) and a(n Executive) President of the Council [of Ministers]. Currently the former is Napoletano, and the latter is Berlusconi.

They say the best way to learn something is to teach it. No allowance is made for the damage done to students.

by Migeru on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 06:54:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

my feelings exactly. also my post title, until I changed it to The Reign in Spain and John McCain.

Has a nice ring to it I think...

John Mccain Called his wife WHAT??

by brendan on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 12:53:58 PM EST

Re: McCain: Reckless or Senile? (none / 0)

I don't know why people are so puzzled. The reason is obvious. McCain is a great admirer of Teddy Roosevelt, the Hero of San Juan Hill. How soon we forget.

http://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Roosevelt-San-Juan-University/dp/0890967717

Remember the Maine
With John McCain!

by priscianus jr on Thu Sep 18th, 2008 at 02:47:15 PM EST

McCain: Reckless or Senile? | 15 comments (15 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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