McCain calls for a 'steady hand' on tiller

This guy's country is being invaded and he has to waste time to listen to a US politician who can do nothing about the situation blather away on the phone?

McCain's political posturing knows no bounds.

Let me get this straight. McCain has been on the phone with the Georgian president??? Did I miss the general election and McCain is the President of the United States? Waiting to hear back from you right wingers regarding this matter. Had Obama said he was on the phone all of you would be saying the exact same thing ijust said! HYPOCRITES that you are!!
You condemned Obama for taking a tour of europe, because he was acting presidential and is not the president. But its ok for McCain to chat on the phone with the government that started this conflict??? You people are just not right!

it looks like Mikhail Saakashvili thought it meant something when John McCain proclaimed America and Georgia to be identical:

“Yesterday, I heard Sen. McCain say, ‘We are all Georgians now,’” Saakashvili said on CNN’s American Morning. “Well, very nice, you know, very cheering for us to hear that, but OK, it’s time to pass from this. From words to deeds.”

People sometimes mock the idea of “diplomatic language” but, obviously, when it comes to national security you need to choose your words carefully.

McCain loves to brag about being a great buddy of Saakashvili, but it's his adviser Scheunemann who's a paid lobbyist for Georgia. Lots of words John, but nothing to back it up. Neither McCain nor Obama is President, yet.

Grandpa McCain should get his talking points straight. First he tell Fox news that he was always suspicious of Vladimir Putin and now today he says "The events of the last few days show that there are many places in the world where we don't necessarily anticipate this kind of conflicts breaking out,". How can you be suspicous of someone and then in the next breath claim that you couldn't anticipate their irrational behavior?

Uh, "Reality," your supreme being Obama also called the president of Georgia last Saturday, but he had to cut the conversation short so as to get back on his surf board in Hawaii.

It's interesting to note that the US warned Georgia against using military force in South Ossetia out of concern for a likely Russian response. Now John McCain gives them completely uncritical support. Is that the kind of "steady hand" he is going to be? Unmindful of consequences to actions. Unable to see beyond black and white purely good guys and purely bad guys. Saakashvili is no innocent. That doesn't in any way excuse Russia's actions, but McCain's inability to evaluate the messy reality of the situation does speak well for his judgement. He has too much of a military viewpoint, that you are either an ally or an enemy. He sees nothing in between.

If Obama started up his own private State Department like McCain is here, it would be the news story of the week. McCain is allowed the powers of the President... why?

What is most unconscionable is the unwillingness of the press to call him out on this posturing. McCain has no business interjecting himself in this situation at this level; none whatsoever. Talk about presumptuous!

Should I remove the 1/20/09 bumper sticker from my car? I didn't know President Bush abdicated.

"this kind of conflict breaking out" wasn't anticipated? this is a voice of experience and preparedness?

From what I have learned in reading about this incident, the Georgians made a foolish move. They, in essence, invaded South Ossetia, knowing that there was a buildup of Russian troops on the northern border. McCain shouldn't encourage such foolishness.

Dorick, Mccain has been on vacation since he took his senate job. Bush has had more vacation time then any other president in history. Obama is not president yet so he is entiltled to take a few days off. Unlike McCain who has been on vacation since he entered this race. Just ask Arizonians how they feel about his MIA status... not during the war, during his senatorial job!

I doubt it will happen but somebody in the Bush administration needs to call up Senator McCain and tell him to cut it out, now. I'm sure the last thing the WH wanted to hear was Misha's comments about, "You say you're all Georgians - well, back it up."

We have one president at a time. And while I don't at all like the guy who's living at 1600 PA currently, it's his job until January 2009. Obama's responses have been fine and are all that needs to be said by a Senator and presidential CANDIDATE. When did the State Department hand off their Caucasus portfolio to McCain and Scheunemann>

This is the first vacation Obama has had in 19 months. And unlike his colleague from Arizona, Obama actually shows up in the Senate relatively frequently to cast some votes. I think it's been 6-8 months since McCain last showed up in the chamber.

The "Kerry goes wind surfing" BS ain't gonna work this year. Sorry.

Now if McCain could just pronounce Mikheil Saakashvili's name. He mispronounced it three times in one speech the other day.

And Jill Zuckman must not feel very comfortable with the name, either. In her article, she calls him "the president of Georgia" and "Georgia's president," but never bothers to mention him by name. Maybe she can't spell it?

A steady hand and an experienced one? McCain just told us all why we SHOULDN'T vote for a "maverick" with a famous temper and an unwillingness to work with others. No drama. Vote for Obama.

Gee, I wonder if Dana Milbank will run a column calling Senator McCain "presumptous" for interjecting himself into foreign affairs. Obama gave a speech and got targeted by Milbank. McCain and his co-horts appear to be messing with foreign governments.

This is what McCain just said about the Russia/Georgia situation: "In the 21st century nations don't invade other nations."

Let the laughing begin. The man is either senile or ignorant, but not qualified to be president.

Paul- Iraq was a matter of grave concern for Americans safety. Clintons spoke of that danger as well. They all got the same intel.

This is Russia going after a very small Georgia. They are not happy about Georgia becoming part of Nato. The infighting in Georgia was Georgia's affair. Russia has a much bigger agenda that's why there were already surrounding Georgia. You trust Russia word on what their intentions are.

So, the Georgians will still get access to their Georgian agent/advisor Scheunemann for free (since per the campaign, he arranges the calls) and, most conveniently, that advisor and his team are writing statements that candidate McCain can then distribute widely to influence U.S. policy. Certainly it looks like an advantageous arrangement for both the Georgian leader and Scheunemann.

But, whether or not it serves to put America's interests first is another question.

I guess he meant the "we are all Georgians" thing literally. Nice of Lieberman and Graham to volunteer.

In April, McCain was prepped by his top foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, for a phone call with Mikhail Saakashvili, the president of Georgia, and then the presumptive Republican presidential nominee got Scheunemann's help preparing a "strong statement of support for the fledgling republic."

On the day of that call, Scheunemann's Washington-based lobbying firm signed a $200,000 contract *to continue* lobbying for and providing strategic advice to the Georgian government.

Yesterday, McCain uses bellicose language to condemn Russia and reaffirms solidarity with Georgia, saying, "We are all Georgians now.”

Saakashvili responds on CNN this morning with, “Well, very nice, you know, very cheering for us to hear that, but OK, it’s time to pass from this. From words to deeds.”

(Did I just sleep through the election that made McCain president?)

THINK ABOUT THIS: Candidate McCain is freelancing foreign policy advice, bought & paid for by the client-government of his top foreign policy advisor.

That's not just PRESUMPTUOUS.

It's downright DANGEROUS.

Lotta good all his so-called experience has done for him - he needs the paid agent of a foreign government to tell him what US diplomacy and foreign policy should be.

Thanks, Senator McCain -- but no thanks.

shakes the clown claiming a steady hand? the man has servants tie his shoes for him in the morning and not because of his injuries.

gilligan: skipper, are you sure it's a good idea to turn the helm of the s.s. minnow over to mr. howell?

skipper: oh, little buddy there's nothing to be afraid of.......DOH!

curd you said- the man has servants tie his shoes for him in the morning and not because of his injuries.

*HA HA HA, what are you trying to imply....that he's one of those,those...RICH FOLKS? HA, you mean like your MILLIONAIRE Obama, with his $20.00 bottles of water? I hate to burst your bubble, but he's not a poor Black man Dear, he's quite wealthy.

Why does wealth scare you so much?? Are you trying at all cost to avoid chasing the AMERICAN DREAM? Is it a religious belief to be closer to God, that hip to be Ghetto trend, or sheer lack of drive???

So, that means those with drive and interest shouldn't make money, because in a free country we should all be condemned for making different choices on that?? Sounds controling. Are you supporting Obama wealth redistribution, kinda sounds like it?!

Why does wealth scare you so much?? Are you trying at all cost to avoid chasing the AMERICAN DREAM?

Posted by: here's another thought | August 14, 2008 4:50 AM

So, the American Dream only revolves around the almighty dollar for you?
Sorry to "burst your bubble", but the American Dream is as individual as our DNA. You CAN have "drive and interest" without it revolving around money. In fact, it usually works out better that way. Follow YOUR dream. Not the BS of what society tries to tell you the "American Dream" should be.

"Well
if you want to sing out
sing out.
And if you want to be free
be free.
'Cause there's a million things to be.
You know that there are.
And if you want to live high
live high.
And if you want to live low
live low.
'Cause there's a million ways to go.
You know that there are.

You can do what you want.
The opportunity's on.
And if you find a new way

you can do it today.
You can make it all true.
And you can make it undo
you see.
Ah
it's easy.
Ah
you only need to know.

Well
if you want to say yes
say yes.
And if you want to say no
say no.
Cause there's a million ways to go.
You know that there are.
And if you want to be me
be me.
And if you want to be you
be you.
Cause thee's a million things to do.
You know that there are."

"If You Want To Sing Out" - Cat Stevens