Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Will John McCain Flip-Flop on Gitmo?
The Washington Independent ^ | 2009-12-15 | Spencer Ackerman

Posted on 12/15/2009 9:35:25 AM PST by rabscuttle385

With the expected announcement of the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the Thomson Correctional Center in Illinois, a Republican-driven hysteria is virtually guaranteed. That’s as empty as it is uninteresting. What’s interesting is whether the Republicans’ 2008 presidential nominee and national security elder statesman, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), joins in the action.

McCain, recall, has long advocated shuttering the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. Back on the 2008 campaign trail, he said bluntly, “I believe we should close Guantanamo,” as the United States’ “great power does not mean that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want.” Spoken like a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union. Indeed, he praised President Obama’s January order to close the facility, and said on Larry King’s chat show that closing it was the “easy part.”

But as McCain has struggled to maintain relevance within his caucus, his positions have softened considerably. In May, he co-authored a mushy op-ed with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that danced around the Guantanamo closure and put out guidelines for what detention policies going forward should look like. With big-megaphone members of the conservative movement deciding that they’ll oppose the Guantanamo closure, it remains to be seen whether McCain will play the maverick role he enjoys or knuckle under to the likes of Liz Cheney. The Arizona senator is also facing a potentially tough primary challenge from the right next year, which could factor into his decision-making process. Whichever way McCain goes will be barometrically significant: either he stands firm and tells the right to stop its juvenile demagoguery; or he caves in and reveals himself to be as callow and spineless as many on the left long argued.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: gitmo; queeg; rino; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

1 posted on 12/15/2009 9:35:27 AM PST by rabscuttle385
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385
Whatever will get him the most phony adulation from the press.
2 posted on 12/15/2009 9:36:50 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam is a religion of peace, and Muslims reserve the right to kill anyone who says otherwise.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mkjessup; stephenjohnbanker
The Arizona senator is also facing a potentially tough primary challenge from the right next year, which could factor into his decision-making process.

Well that explains why McFail's minions are out and about, trying to smear Hayworth, even though he hasn't even declared.

3 posted on 12/15/2009 9:36:50 AM PST by rabscuttle385 (Purge the RINOs! * http://restoretheconstitution.ning.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

McCain’s wrong on GITMO, but I have to say he’s been fairly useful on the health care debate.


4 posted on 12/15/2009 9:37:33 AM PST by americanophile (Merry Christmas!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

I’m confused.

If he flip flops will he be for it or against it?


5 posted on 12/15/2009 9:38:13 AM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

McCains RINOplasty is coming home to roost. His nose is growing as I type. Hoisted by his own petard....LMAO!


6 posted on 12/15/2009 9:38:42 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek
If he flip flops will he be for it or against it?

Yes.

7 posted on 12/15/2009 9:39:20 AM PST by newheart ("It will keep the government out of your health care decisions..." Barack Obama, July 23, 2009)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

He WAS for closing it. Now?

He is screwed ;-)


8 posted on 12/15/2009 9:39:41 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek; stephenjohnbanker
If he flip flops will he be for it or against it?

McNuts will try to paint himself as a conservative in an attempt to win re-election next year. Afterwards, expect him to resume flying his true colors, just like Grahamnesty is doing after he won re-election last November.

9 posted on 12/15/2009 9:41:33 AM PST by rabscuttle385 (Purge the RINOs! * http://restoretheconstitution.ning.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

The man is useless,as usual.Expect nothing from McCain and avoid disappointment.


10 posted on 12/15/2009 9:43:28 AM PST by Farmer Dean (Don't blame me,I voted for the American)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385
Afterwards, expect him to resume flying his true colors

The grey flag of neutrality?
11 posted on 12/15/2009 9:46:58 AM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

Will Lieberman flip-flop on health care? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA


12 posted on 12/15/2009 9:48:38 AM PST by cbkaty (I may not always post...but I am always here......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

I’d say, more like the Rainbow Flag of the Rat Party.

Oh wait, that’s Lindsey’s flag...oops, my bad. LOL


13 posted on 12/15/2009 9:49:05 AM PST by rabscuttle385 (Purge the RINOs! * http://restoretheconstitution.ning.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

You can bet Obama is paying off his campaign debt to some Chicongo crook because he didn’t get the Olympics in
chi-town.

If this goes through you can also bet we will be seeing a lot more towel-heads in IL.

Police Depts take heed.


14 posted on 12/15/2009 9:50:00 AM PST by chainsaw (If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free! -- P.J..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

You just look at some of these senators and you know the next backstab is going to come sooner than later


15 posted on 12/15/2009 9:51:50 AM PST by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

“I believe we should close Guantanamo,” as the United States’ “great power does not mean that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want.”

Spoken like the true RINO that juan mclame is.


16 posted on 12/15/2009 9:53:37 AM PST by 2CAVTrooper (For those who have had to fight for it, freedom has a flavor the protected shall never know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2CAVTrooper

“I believe we should close Guantanamo,” as the United States’ “great power does not mean that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want.”

He said as he was running away from the attack on President Bush. If he thought closing Guantanamo would quell the attack he is a stupid man, if he doesn’t he wasn’t showing much courage.


17 posted on 12/15/2009 10:21:48 AM PST by Peter Horry (Those who aren't responsible always know best.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

McCain, like most politicians, is a first class flipper. He is a loser and not worth talking about.


18 posted on 12/15/2009 10:52:41 AM PST by mulligan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385

““Thus the virtual dead heat between the two in the Rasmussen polls. As the economy continues to collapse and the mood of the nation continues to sour, McCain will have a very clear choice: tack to the right and cloak himself in the Reagan mantle or continue to bask in the Maverick limelight. I suspect he’ll try to have it both ways. If so, he’ll fail. The conservative base has gotten a whole lot wiser in the past five years and can spot a RINO in a Reagan suit a mile away.”” www.manlyrash.com/blog/the-problem-with-beltway-conservatives


19 posted on 12/15/2009 11:06:59 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINO's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: rabscuttle385; stephenjohnbanker
The Arizona senator is also facing a potentially tough primary challenge from the right next year, which could factor into his decision-making process.
Well that explains why McFail's minions are out and about, trying to smear Hayworth, even though he hasn't even declared.


Anti McCain forces (and there ought to be a bunch of them) should begin questioning McCain's mental stability, and there is a basis for it, what kind of stupid bastard actually states that:
"America has nothing to fear from an 0bama Administration?"

Only someone truly stupid or mentally unbalanced.

McCain is NOT a stupid person, you don't get to where he is without a modicum of intelligence. Which leaves the other alternative, and he's done and said plenty of things which make it nearly impossible to conclude anything except that he's crazier than a shit-house 'Rat.
20 posted on 12/15/2009 11:47:55 AM PST by mkjessup (Dec 15, 1941 - President Franklin D. 0bama signs our surrender on board the Battleship Yamato)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson