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.”
I am of the same thought, I see him as another Ross Perot, Perot, of course is responsible for us having Billy Bob in office
It could be the one other time (Buckley/NY/'68) that a true conservative Republican won in a three-way race.
The image is . . . succulent.
Can't believe that will continue.
thanks g., don't mind if i do...
"McCain pushes for global warming"
And it seems to be working.
How much more socially liberal can one get than marginalizing Evangelicals? than assuring less than up or down votes for judges? I think his POW-status is the only thing left protecting him from ABSOLUTELY furious conservatives. (I don't count him as a true pro-lifer, either, after the remark he made about what he'd say to his daughter if she sought an abortion.)
I don't know one single person who would vote for him; in fact, most people I talk to would actively work against him.
And on FR, I'm considered a "squishy" conservative.
Given to him by his buddy-for-life? I just wonder how the Keating scandal might have affected his thinking. Did he not get sufficient support from Republicans then? That time seems to be the break-off period.
Proof that for his "hard work" for President Bush's re-election, his heart was still not in it. It is nice to know, though, that he knows everything about everything.
why not? he's been the same on family issues throughout his time in Congress, hasn't he?
it gets tiresome -- people complaining about issues, and then here comes a guy who is in line where it counts, and he gets crapped on.
That's good!!
The WORSE the BETTER.
It will increase our chances of replacing her with a REAL Republican after one term in office.
If McCain gets in, he'll be such a middle-of-the-road liberal suck-up type that he'll be stuck in there forever. And he'll spend eight years doing in the Presidency doing what he has demonstrated he's so good at in the Senate - pandering to the liberal media - sucking up to their every whim, and pandering to the Dems in Congress. He'll BEG the Dems to nominate liberals for Federal Judgeships, sign away ALL our gun rights, further eviscerate the First Amendment, and let in armies of illegal aliens.
Hitlery on the other hand is so crooked, so vile, so obnoxious, so evil and so blatant that she will be easy to defeat after one term. On the other hand, even Hitleryu gets it on the illegal alien issue, which is more than I can say for McCain.
As long as conservative Republicans or even true moderate Republicans are willing to vote for and support people like John McCain, the public will be provided with two versions of the same brand in every general election. The Republican Party will be totally taken over by "Garden Party" Repubs - people who like to sit in their limos, live in their exclusive expensive mansions, travel abroad and pick up bad new ideas on social issues, concern themselves solely with protecting their tax dollars, and give away everything else and anything else to protect their wealth.
People like Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, and Chrissie Whitman.
Only by making sure these people NEVER get a foot hold in priamries will we have an alternative to the Dems on social issues - issues which are of absolutely no concern to limousine liberals who often even sympathize with the libs on them.
Don't count on my vote.
He's nuts, genuinely nuts.
He has already jumped out of the chair but he forgot to tie the rope. Keep a chair and rope handy. Sooner of later he'll get it right.
Too late for my vote Senator McVain. Should have thought about me and millions of others before playing your middl'in game
I absolutely want a pony. And a band of dwarves waking me up every morning singing "Hi-ho, Hi-ho, it's off to work we go..."
Oooh, now you're really scaring me! That would be the worst set of choices ever. I pray it doesn't happen.
It isn't about the US anymore, it is about the New World of McCain. I am from AZ I voted for him in 1982 through 1996. He`went off the res and I have voted 3rd party since.
Somebody better explain to McPain that making the world a better place is the job of Miss American and Miss Universe. The POTUS is supposed to worry about the USA (see also, oath of office)
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