Donald Trump went where nobody could have expected even Donald Trump to go.
The real estate mogul and Republican presidential candidate, who's leading the field in several recent polls, lit into Senator John McCain of Arizona on Saturday when speaking to a conservative conference, even going after his legendary military service—and drawing instant condemnation from fellow candidates.
"He's not a war hero," Trump said in a question-and-answer session with pollster Frank Luntz. Then he altered his comment: "He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured, okay?"
Frank Luntz. I hate that fat little piggy douchebag. Once again, everyone is talking about Trump, no one talking about the other seven (or fifteen) dwarves. It's hard for me to really get a gut feel on what this will do. We know Chump is going nowhere. Clearly, however, he voices a lot of shit that people like William believe in and though I doubt William would diss McCain's record, I kinda doubt he is bothered much by people denting McCains amor a bit because he doesn't believe McCain is a Republican anymore anyway. Does Chump really move the debate, or does he just basically burn out every conservative issue when he inevitably flames out.
ReplyDeleteTime will tell. I'll have some level of respect for McCain. He deserves much better than to be attacked by a fucking draft dodger.
I love it that max now feels obligated to defend a war hawk like McCain. To fucking funny max, to fucking funny.
DeleteWhat Trump is speaking to is that American's are tired of being losers. Are tired of seeing their elected leaders make go along get along deals with the left. They understand in their guts that our country is one half step from turning into a shit hole like Mexico.
This will be one hell of a debate on FOX.
Actually, William, I've never made comments disparaging McCain personally, though I have stated a bunch of times I dont' agree with his politics. Even at that, I don't feel so insecure that I can't acknowledged something I agree with, even when it comes from a wingnut. McCain the man deserves respect and if that draft dodging asshole Trump can't give him that, maybe he could just shut up.
DeleteAmerican's are tired of being losers? I can see why this appeals to you and the other Reagan apologists who never tired of his sarcastic shit talking and flag waving. It is abundantly clear why an asshole like Trump, who has no filter whatsoever, appeals to you.
Did I say Trump appeals to me? I recall saying that he is something of a clown. But sometimes hearing things from a clown have value. Similar to your butt buddy approval of that ass hole Mahr.
DeleteThis country is in such a hole that name recognition, bluster, and sound bite mentality have more of a bite with the media.
Who cares about Trumo's long term effect on the GOP.
Be honest, wouldn't you just love to see Trump face Hillary in a debate?
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DeleteWilliam, I think I read one of Trump's statements where he advocated bombing any country that was a "threat" to the U.S., starting with Iran. That's about as hawkish as you can get. Yep, Trumps presence should make the debates really amusing, if not down right hysterical. But is that good for the Republican Party, would not serious and thoughtful be better than flamboyant?
ReplyDeleteDonald Trump on Sunday stuck to his guns after igniting criticism over the weekend when he questioned Arizona Senator John McCain's status as war hero, and said the Republicans attacking him are irked by his recent polling success.
ReplyDelete"What happened is, later on, the Republican candidates, some of whom are registering 1 percent and zero, and they’re very upset that I’m leading the polls by actually a nice margin," Trump said on ABC's This Week. "They’re extremely upset."
Trump has been at or near the top of several national polls recently, including a Fox News Poll out last week, which had Trump leading among Republicans with 18 percent.
Trump's ABC appearance came one day after he ignited a firestorm of criticism after he said at the Iowa Family Leadership Summit that McCain, a former Navy pilot who was held for more than five years in Vietnam after his plane was shot down in 1967, qualifies as a war hero only "because he was captured."
Most of the Republican presidential candidates and the Republican National Committee swiftly condemned the comments, with the notable exception of Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. So did press magnate Rupert Murdoch, whose Fox News network will be hosting the first presidential debate next month and will be deciding which of the 16 major Republican candidates get the coveted 10 seats on the stage.
Bloomberg Politics
For once, Donald Trump is right: John McCain is not a war hero just because he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteLet’s be clear: Sen. John McCain was extremely brave and resourceful in captivity. He was repeatedly tortured. He suffered unimaginable pain and deprivation while a prisoner. He lives with that physical and psychic pain every day.
While he was a prisoner, McCain displayed great courage and a noble character, refusing at one point to accept an early release. But he also broke down under the pressure and signed a “confession” that the North Vietnamese used for propaganda purposes.
That doesn’t make him a hero.
It used to be that a war hero had to accomplish something dramatic or noble, like saving his fellow soldiers at great personal risk, or inflicting significant casualties on the enemy at great personal risk. A hero used to be someone who inspired his comrades and instilled fear and envy in the enemy.
But the bar has been lowered. Nowadays a hero can be anyone who puts on a uniform, no matter how they act or what they accomplish. It’s the act of joining the military — not acts of noble heroism — that makes a modern-day hero.
I suppose it’s the patriotic version of the trend that’s been building over the past few decades of making sure everyone feels like a winner. We honor participation instead of accomplishment. Instead of recognizing real feats — like winning a sports championship or mastering a difficult academic subject — we give everyone a medal for showing up.
That’s what we’ve done to John McCain. And we’re doing it to everyone who serves in the military, whether they behave as heroes or not. (Incidentally, we also put celebrities and billionaires on a pedestal, no matter whether they are saintly or slimy.)
Of course we should recognize the sacrifices these men and women in uniform make, but we should reserve words like “hero” for exceptional people who accomplish extraordinary things with great courage.
Perhaps it was less confusing when we believed our military was fighting for a noble cause, as we did in World War II.
But the war McCain fought in Vietnam was not a noble cause. He participated in the greatest aerial bombardment of any country up to that time, but what did he and the other American pilots accomplish? The bombing campaign didn’t win the war; it merely prolonged it.
We’ve fought a few more pointless wars since then. And each time we struggle as a nation to put some meaning into those wars. What do we say to those whom we’ve asked to make the ultimate sacrifice, those who killed and died for a cause that wasn’t worth killing or dying for?
We call them heroes.
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'Nough said. We have lowered the bar on the word "hero". We do it to make us feel better about sending our young sons and daughters into harms way. but they do a job a job they signed up for. Each and every one should be respected for what they do, like fireman who we hero worship and police officers whom we don't. They aren't all heros they are men and women doing their jobs.
Well, that was something. From everything I have read about the entirety of McCain's life, it would seem his time as a POW is not the only time he has struggled. I just find it interesting that when one jackass like Trump throws the first stone, the dumptruck gets backed up to finish the job. Whether McCain is truly a hero is immaterial to me. He wore the uniform, he went to war, he was a POW. No matter what else McCain me or may not be does not change this reality. Hero or not, I'd be very wary of stomping on that.
DeleteNutting does have a point, we have lowered the bar. I've had people thank me for my service before and I've been kind of embarrassed to hear that. I think it's part lowering the bar, and part desire for the country to try and find some way to feel proud again after we got attacked on 9/11. We shouldn't have had to go to Afghanistan and we definitely did not need to go to Iraq. Nonetheless, we have embraced any who have gone because they have gone to exact revenge. Have we lowered the bar out of a need to make everyone feel good, or have we lowered it to try and convince ourselves that our war mongering is more virtuous than it really it.
I never served in the military, I was too young for Korea and had a college deferment for the draft. After I graduated I was too old for Viet Nam. But, my son was in the navy, serving on two different submarines as machines mate. He was in the Gulf of Sidra, inside the "lie of death" when we bombarded Moamar Ghadaffi . I consider him a hero because he and his shipmates put their life on the line every day at sea. In my opinion, anyone American willingly risks his or her life for their country is a hero.
ReplyDelete