New Republic's Jonathan Chait: President McCain "would put an end to the politics of Karl Rove"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Opinion
A McCain Presidency Wouldn't Be So Bad
The New Republic: Ariz. Senator Would At Least Put An End To The Politics Of Karl Rove

July 19, 2008

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/18/opinion/main4272749.shtml



(The New Republic) This column was written by Jonathan Chait.The presidential election has an oddly placid feel to it. Four years ago, the notion that George W. Bush would get another four years in office, actually ratified by a plurality of the voters, was more than any liberal could bear, and, after the election, there was loose talk everywhere about "Jesusland" and wanting to flee to Canada. This time, even though Democrats are extremely enthusiastic about Barack Obama, that life-and-death quality is absent. I think the reason is that a lot of liberals kind of like John McCain. I know I do.

Eight years ago, I was a hard-core liberal McCainiac. Here was a Republican saying things no other Republican would say and fighting, Teddy Roosevelt-style, to wrest his party from the hands of the plutocrats who controlled it. And, in the years immediately following that run, McCain established himself as perhaps the country's foremost progressive champion. He was an opponent, on moral and fiscal grounds, of tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefited the rich. He was also a fierce opponent of the extreme elements of the religious right. He was a proponent of global-warming legislation, the Law of the Sea Treaty, a moderate immigration bill, expanded public financing of elections, a tobacco tax, and many other liberal reforms.

Today, he is none of these things. McCain is almost never asked about his scandalous past. On those rare occasions when he is, he either dissembles (claiming to have opposed tax cuts on the grounds that there were no concurrent spending cuts) or interrupts the questioning with an angry outburst (in response to queries about his reportedly extended discussions about joining John Kerry's 2004 ticket). Today, McCain not only claims not to have altered his views for political convenience, he has preposterously made his alleged refusal to do so the central theme of his campaign.

Yet, somehow, I still feel some pangs of affinity for the old codger. Where Bush is peevish, entitled, and insecure, McCain's charming, ironic, and self-deprecating. Bush's path to public life was trading on his father's name to run a series of business ventures into the ground before being handed a baseball team. McCain's was an episode of awe-inspiring perseverance.

[SoonerPride]

1. Where Bush is peevish, entitled, and insecure, McCain's charming, ironic, and self-deprecating.

Really?

When?

Back in 2000 I was kind of intrigued by him because he did say things like "Pat Robertson is a hate monger" but then he morphed into Bush III and he seems petulant, angry, simple-minded and inept.

I don't find him "charming" at all.

[niyad]

5. a "charming" man who tells disgusting stories about rape and thinks they are funny?

a man who calls his trophy wife a c*** and a trollop? oh yes, charming, and self-depracating and a complete ass.

der chimpenfuhrer has said and done many disgusting and evil things in his time, but I don't recall any rape stories meant to be jokes.

[otohara]

2. After He Stops Campagning Like Him

yeah right!

[LaurenG]

3. Oh FFS too late, far, far too late. McCain should have spoken up YEARS ago

In your dreams knuckle head Chait.

[Cha]

4. This makes Jonathan Chait look like a stupid idiot who

has his damn head up his a$$.

And, no we're not settling for leftovers.

[godai]

6. Truth is, Rove works for McCain

McCain would be another rovian success story but don't think it's gonna happen.