Absolutely not.
Posted on 06/01/2005 11:49:06 AM PDT by InvisibleChurch
McCain: I 'Absolutely' Want to Be President
Sen. John McCain says he "absolutely” wants to be president – but hasn’t yet decided if he’ll run in 2008.
In a wide-ranging interview in the June edition of Men's Journal magazine, the Arizona Republican also reveals: John Kerry "discussed” the possibility of McCain running as his vice presidential candidate. U.S. troops could be in Iraq for another 50 years. Colin Powell will never run for office. Dan Rather was definitely fired over the Rathergate flap. In the interview, McCain – who has had prostate surgery and treatment for melanoma – said his health is "excellent” and sees no problem in running for president even though if elected in 2008, he would be 72 – "about what Reagan was.”
Asked point-blank if he wants to be president, McCain answered: "Absolutely. I think every member of the Senate wants to be president.”
McCain said he wants to gain the White House "because I think I’m qualified to help make the world a better place.”
As president, McCain said his foreign policy would greatly mirror President Bush’s: "I believe we have a unique opportunity, particularly now, to spread democracy and freedom throughout the world.”
He continued that domestically, "one thing is to expand opportunities for national service – the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, neighborhood and community organizations. You see, I think after 9/11 we had a golden opportunity to call all Americans to serve the country – not just to tell them to take a trip and go shopping. And I think they would have responded. I think they will still respond.”
McCain told Men’s Journal he’s going to wait a couple of years before making a decision on running for the White House in 2008, in part because he wants to devote his energy to the Senate and as a former candidate he’s already laid the groundwork for a campaign.
Looking back on the last election, McCain said he believes John Kerry mishandled the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth controversy.
"He should have responded immediately. I think that was a mistake – not responding. You can’t leave charges like that unanswered.”
As for what he personally thought of the attacks on Kerry, McCain declared: "I said when they questioned John’s service in Vietnam, it was both dishonorable and dishonest.”
About Kerry’s much-bruited offer of the vice president slot, McCain confirmed that while "it was never officially offered,” Kerry "certainly discussed [it] with me on several occasions.”
Asked if he saw a U.S. presence in Iraq for 50 years, the senator replied: "In some form or another, as a military presence? Sure. Like I can see us in South Korea for another 50 years. We can be in Bosnia for another 10 to 15 years. Or Kosovo.”
Among McCain’s other comments:
On the right wing’s view of him: "They’re more accepting of me than they used to be – not accepting, but more accepting – because of the fact that I worked hard for Bush’s re-election.”
On whether Colin Powell will ever run for elective office: "No. His wife is convinced that somebody would try to kill him.”
On Dan Rather: "I feel sorry for Dan, because I think he obviously made a serious mistake, but he also paid a heavy price for it. Anybody who believes he lost his job for any other reason just doesn’t recognize the truth. His career was terminated.”
On Dick Cheney: "He will be seen as the most powerful vice president in the history of the country and a major impact on the conduct of national security policy.”
Just a hunch, but I'm guessing only one issue matters to you at all.
President McCain would be a disaster. Alec Baldwin might even move back to the US.
I don't know how any conservative can vote for Hillary.
As much as I don't like McCain I'd vote for him as the nominee over Hillary. I met a secret service agent that worked for Hillary that despised her. She sounds worse than you can imagine.
Hillary is a fraud, I can't stand her, she goes around saying that the last election wasn't fair, she is always attacking the far right, she makes me ill.
Hillary is a pandering fraud, she is weak on illegal immigration she voted for the ag bill to make all illegals permanent residents if they work for a year. Hillary railed against the read id act saying it isn't the illegals fault.
Hillary is a pro abortion lover she wants more u.s money to give to the un to fund abortions. She is a pandering liar saying she is against abortion and against illegal immigration when her voting record shows she is an abortion lover who goes to abortion parades and she is very very weak on illegal immigration.
It makes me sick to see people buy her bs, I have seen posts saying Hillary is tough on illegal immigration that is a lie look at her voting record she voted for the ag bill just last month.
There is no conflict there. The liberal press will support Hillarity. The liberal press just inflicts McCain on we conservatives because they know how it pains us. The liberal press is using McCain. They will be all right there for Mrs. Clinton when she runs.
McCain can easily win the White House and significantly end the anti-GOP stereotype that exists among the mainstream media and general public. If the media backtracks on McCain, their bias will finally be proven- by themselves- so they can't do that. McCain is not some liberal clown, he's just a conservative who's went maverick on a few issues. It doesn't matter- if he gets to the White House, it's still a Republican in there, and that's better than having a Hillary in there.
Besides, he's got more balls than that clown Bill Frist. I'd vote for McCain over him anyday.
Woe to our republic if our 2008 choices are Mccain Vs Hillery.
Can you say third party ???
If you would vote for McCain for President then you don't understand what is going on.
Can he be unaware that he blew any goodwill from conservatives with his recent behavior?
Absolutely not.
Sure, if one views "the promotion of the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society" as one issue...
Oh, I understand clearly what is going on. John McCain vs. Hillary Clinton is what is going on. And anyone who would vote for the latter instead of the former- ESPECIALLY a Republican- would be a fool.
You want to destroy the conservative/Republican agenda once and for all, put Hillary into office. At this rate FreeRepublic is going to destroy the conservative movement itself, what with all of you people being so angry at McCain that you'd vote for the closest thing to a communist over him.
Yes, I can, however I fear that the Pubbies will be so damaged if they nominate McCain that they will lose even without a third party.
I wouldn't vote for McCain under any circumstances.
"Why does AZ vote for him?"
No primary opposition.
McCain won't do that. Third party candidates don't win election. And McCain is smart enough to know it. Even Teddy Roosevelt couldn't do it and he was a much bigger deal than McCain.
If he lost the presidency and he would then he'd be a senator without a party and Jumping Jimmy J demonstrated how smart that was.
Then as soon as The Toon won, Perot vanished from the media.
Absolutely agree.
"Surely, you can't be surprised by the state that elected Janet Napolitano! :)"
Sherrif "Joke" Arpaio (R), who many FReepers love forreasons related to his idiotic grandstanding, endorsed her.
slightly off topic..but his wife has totally dropped off the radar. Before the went into rehab, she was the darling of the media...very photogenic..and a good interview. anyone know how she's doing? Hope it's well, and it's probably a good thing for her that she's getting well, and avoiding the limelight. Could she cope with the exposure of a national campaign? Powell's wife couldn't..that's the accepted reason why he declined all offers to run for office....another who has taken the wise path while, in recovery is Nicole Bush, W's. niece..nary a peek about her anywheres....smart young woman, finally..
Aughhhhh. That one's not really fair. He came up with *his* philosophy all by his lonesome. Wonder what he was reading when he came back to the states hungry for info?
Of where, France?
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