Loading ...McCain Comeback A Surprise?
February 8th, 2008Nevada’s citizen legislators frequently find the lines between their political and professional lives blurred. Sometimes it is when a lawmaker who is a college professor votes for a big increase in the university system’s budget. Since my day job has more to do with generating tax revenue rather than spending it, I don’t have those kinds of conflicts. Mine are more like punctuating shop talk with politics.
This morning, two people I work with copied me on some correspondence. One of them, Robert Uithoven, was an early and public supporter of John McCain for President. I reproduce it here, with their permission, because I found it so interesting.
From: Sbrock PCMC
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 3:48 AM
To: ‘Robert Uithoven’
Cc: bobbeers@bobbeers.net
Subject: RE: congrats on McCainWell Robert when McCain was looking like he was all but out of the race - and now he is the only one left standing - you look like a political guru. And a soothsayer.
From: Robert Uithoven
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 8:23 AM
To: ‘Sbrock PCMC’
Cc: bobbeers@bobbeers.net
Subject: RE: congrats on McCainMcCain was once doing a flying exercise along the coast of Florida and his engine just died on him … and it wouldn’t re-start. He crashed into the ocean … the force of the impact knocking him unconscious. When the plane hit the ocean floor, it woke him up. His wing-man circled the point of impact and never saw him surface. He thought he was dead. Under the water, McCain struggled to undo his belts and get out of the cockpit. He did, and somehow made it to the surface with barely any air or life left in him. The doctors treating him that afternoon told him it was a miracle that he survived, but that he was in relatively good shape. They ordered him to rest in bed over the weekend and they would evaluate him the following week. He rested for an hour and met his buddies for a beer that night and was back in a cockpit the next day doing more exercises.Soon after, he was on an aircraft carrier heading towards Vietnam. Like many other pilots, he was sitting in his plane – one of dozens on the ship’s deck – ready to depart off the ship when an errant missile fired from another plane on deck and made a direct hit on his. All the fuel poured out – engulfing the entire mid and back portion of the plane, and all the surface around it. Crews on deck scrambled to get the fire out. McCain scrambled to open the canopy and save himself before the fire ignited the bombs strapped to the plane. A video camera on the deck of the carrier caught the entire episode. McCain jumped off the plane, into the fire below, and rolled out to safety … just as the bombs underneath blew up … instantly killing many sailors and blowing McCain across the deck. He, and many others, were picked up and taken down to the ship’s hospital to have their burns treated … and dozens more rushed toward the fire to put it out. Other planes began blowing up, missiles firing across the deck from under the engulfed planes. The fire burned for more than 24 hours, and when all was said and done, I believe around 130 sailors lost their lives and many more were severely burned and injured.
McCain was offered sick leave to rest up and recover from the incident. He refused, and joined a new squadron heading towards Vietnam.
You all know the rest of the story … he was shot down over Hanoi on his 23rd bombing mission and with broken arms and a leg from his ejection, he was pulled from a lake and dragged through the streets to the Hanoi Hilton – all the while being beaten. He spent 5 ½ years mostly in solitary confinement, being beaten and tortured b/c he refused early release as part of a propaganda move by his captors. He refused to go b/c others had been held prisoner longer than him … and he knew they were offering early release b/c his dad was the admiral overseeing the entire naval war effort off the coast.
Only a guy like John McCain could have survived the campaign collapse of the summer … and fight back to get the nomination. When you consider the above, it all makes sense. We all doubted he could come back. But he didn’t.
I ought to send this to the editor of the paper … but I probably have about three times too many words to submit.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
No doubt McCain is a truly, truly great American. I so appreciate his sacrifices which have been beyond all monetary measure.
What I question is his having been forced into the fiasco known as Vietnam, and virtually everyone involved involved in that great decision having made their deathbed confessions that it was a grevious error - and he can still support the current fiasco in the middle east? I think I’m speaking for a lot of this blog’s readers when I say that whole continent isn’t worth ONE of our kids - much less 4,000 of them and our entire economy down the tubes.
Also, Senator McCain’s rude and classless treatment of Ron Paul in the debates was deplorable. He acted like a child - and I’m sorry, but no matter what you think of Paul, he is a great American - and the only one in the race that gives four asterisks about the constitution.
That said… There ONLY way in HELL I would vote for Hillary would be if she was running against George W. I may consider Obama.
But again, I hate having to choose between eating cat **** and dog ****. Both taste like **** - and both make you ill. Arguing which one is going to taste better over the next four years is kind of a funny exercise in futility. Its just trying to figure which will kill you slower. (and when I say “****”, I of course mean “four-asterisks”)
To paraphrase. This sucks. Our currency is crumbling and McCain is promising “Less jobs, more wars” - wonderful! More people in the US died from tiger attacks than terror attacks in the last year. In the three years preceding and following 9/11, many more people died in ballooning accidents. Where is the war on balloons?
Let’s protect South Korea’s border, but not our own. Let’s fix Baghdad’s bridges and schools - but not our own. Let’s bring freedom to Iraq, but wipe our own asterisk with our precious constitution with PATRIOT.
I’m just done.
February 9th, 2008 at 6:42 am
I supported John McCain in the recent Nevada Caucus and also spent the year 1969-1970 as an army psychiatrist at the 67th Evac Hospital in Qui Nhon,VietNam.Having returned to visit VietNam 35 years later,I saw a country embracing free enterprise with gusto ,largely rejecting Communism,and people who expressed real fondness for the United States of America,being particularly friendly when they found out that I had served with the US military in their country earlier.One never knows what the future holds, but American visitors to Iraq and Afghanistan three and a half decades from now may have a similar experience.I think John McCain, if elected, will go down in history as one of ou very finest Presidents.
February 9th, 2008 at 8:17 am
McCain, A great man, a great soldier, and a nice guy. But if he in our best choice for Presidnet it will be a sure WIN for Clinton or Obama. Either way we still have lost,DC spending more, giving away billons to countries and people that don’t suppoet the US. You can’t spent more than you make. I don’t want to see the day when all the IOU’s start comming due.
February 9th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Anybody here using their paid position as a legislator to aid and abet their employer in said capacity as a paid legislator?
February 9th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Hi Dina - I’d heard you’d be directing my opponent to try to level that allegation. I don’t know what you’re talking about though. I don’t believe I (nor any reasonable observer) can come up with such an example.
February 10th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Biggest problem I see is:
Old white guy who promises more wars and that we’ll be in Iraq for 100 years. Neo conservative and big tax and spender.
vs
Barack Obama, young multi racial optimistic candidate with
carisma and offers of big handouts to his constiutents to be taken from “the rich”. He’s going to be very tough to beat.
Can you say President Obama? Hold on to your wallets!
February 10th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Mark D says: “Anybody here using their paid position as a legislator to aid and abet their employer in said capacity as a paid legislator?”
Good statement.
D. Titus —–> Senator in the Legislative Branch
D. Titus —–> Employed by the Executive Branch
D. Titus —–> Every session votes to increase more money to the department she works in
Mark, thank you for pointing out this obvious conflict of interest.
GOOD WORK MARK!!!!!
February 10th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
What a group.
Here is the principal. McCain is a war hero, but he lost his edge to the D.C. fever. He will be no different than the last 60+ years of socialism purveyors we have endured since FDR.
When we believe our only choices for leaders are among a set of “evils”, we deserve what we get. If we keep career politicians as our “leaders”, we get what we deserve. If these people are “evil”, we get what we deserve. If we believe that they will give us everything, we will most certainly end our democratic form of Government.
McCain is owned like the rest. 35,000 lobbyists in D.C. aren’t there for fun. It is sad to see a war hero succomb to the lobotomy which is apparently passed out in the first few days you move to D.C. Wake up people…..we need to convince some patriotic leaders to come to the forefront instead of the parade of puppets we are hypnotized and threatened to support. Remember, each passing election will make it more difficult to recover from. This one may be the one that seals our fate (if it has not been sealed already). I see no other option than to pick the third (fourth, etc.) party you like and move them into town. It cannot possibly be worse than it is now….and is apparently the only chance we have to get back to the Constitution.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Jim, You are most welcome! I have modified your flow chart.
Joe Heck —–> Senator in the Legislative Branch
Joe Heck —–> Employed by the Executive Branch
Joe Heck —–> Every session votes to increase more money to the department he works in;
Dennis Nolan —–> Senator in the Legislative Branch
Dennis Nolan —–> Employed by the Executive Branch
Dennis Nolan —–> Every session votes to increase more money to the department he works in.
Unfortunately, Since Nevada’s AG opinion says a government employee elected to a public office does not run afould of Nevada’s constitution, I quess your point is without merit.
If any member of the Republican or Democratic Party, hell anybody!, thinks the AG opinion is incorrect, they have had amble opportunity to bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction. As none have, then it is legal for a government employee to serve in another branchof the government.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Actually, neither Dr. Heck nor Sen. Nolan work for state government. But, hey, why let facts get in the way?
The AG opinions(s) from the 1970s that you reference do not take precedence over the clear language in our state Constitution, despite the fact that money hasn’t been spent challenging them.
February 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Bottom line…D Taxus is adding and abetting her employer as a legislator.
She should not vote on any matter that involves her department.
It is just plain wrong.
February 11th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
P.S. D Taxus should also not lobby her fellow legisators on matters that concern her department.
It is a clear conflict of interest.
It is not ethical.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Dina Taxus is ONLY concerned with HER government employees
(which is how she refers to them). She is a TRAITOR to this
state!!!
February 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
How can anyone who is against amnesty for illegals possibly support McCain, the author of the McCain-Kennedy AMNESTY bill? If you want an amnesty for the 20 million illegals here now, vote for McCain. McCain is a gigantic RINO if there ever was one!
April 20th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
First of all we are down to 4 possible choices… If you are a Republican, you have to pick between Paul and McCain.
John McCain = War! Potential War with Iran and the current vietnam we are in, Iraq. A total Police state. The American people being used as a natural resource. We will have even less young Americans joining our military. We will continue to have money being created out of thin air to pay our bills. The ultimate outcome will be the enslavement of the American people, and a civil war in America.
Ron Paul = Freedom, prosperity, limited government, and sound money. He will bring the troops home! Secure our borders by putting the U.S. military on them. Eliminate the IRS and Federal Reserve.
How did government fund its self from 1776 to 1913? The Fed was created in 1913. This is not irrational thought. See for yourself at freedomtofacism.com you can watch it for free. Wake up America! The president works for the people not the other way around!