McCain blowing hot air may work

Sen John McCain is polishing his run for 2008. Really, why else do you think he gets out in front of positions that the middle and left would like? Sure, he may actually believe the positions he takes, but I'm not willing to have that be the starting point when analyzing a politican.

The latest is the much discussed stance against interrogation.

Straying from the Geneva Conventions to interrogate and try foreign detainees would erode America's image and could endanger U.S. operatives in the future, Sen. John McCain said yesterday.

Speaking to a gathering in Concord, McCain held firm in his opposition to the president over how to treat suspected terrorists. The Bush administration wants leeway from international standards to interrogate detainees and wants to use military tribunals to try the terror suspects.

The White House wants Congress to pass legislation endorsing those practices, but a group of Republicans - led by McCain -has joined Democrats in objecting.

Hmm, let's see, 'has joined Democrats...'. If that does not tip you off that McCain is doing some posturing for 2008 then I don't know what will.

John Anti-Interrogation McCain
McCain, like all politicians, voices his opposition without providing real description of how to solve his opposition.

"One of the things in North Vietnam that kept us strong was that we knew that we were not like our enemies, and that we came from a better nation and better values and better standards, and we stood for freedom," McCain said.

McCain, a likely 2008 Republican presidential candidate, said shelving the Geneva Conventions for the war on terror would be a grave mistake. He said the country should avoid coercive interrogation tactics and try suspected terrorists in accordance with certain protections, such as allowing them access to evidence.

Hey, John, what do you specifically define as "coercive interrogation tactics"? Sleep deprivation? False-flags? Lay it out there, pal. Let us see what you think is REALLY acceptable.

And answer this...how do we try the 19 people for their involvement in 9/11?

At what point were we to read them their Miranda Rights before we could detain them to prevent them from carrying out their plan? It seems that coddling people with information has been working...would you agree?

Now let me find something else out. Johnny McC, is your grounding of your belief and faith in the United States so flimsy that you think we would be on par with the Islamic people who behead prisoners? Are you really so unable to distinguish between our enemies who target civilians intentionally and us...who try to avoid civilian casualties? What do you think of the following statement: "Sen McCain believes we should view terrorists as criminals instead of battlefield opponents in a battle to prevent our extinction."

In other word, McCain, take your vague definition of "coercive interrogation tactics" and your opposition against them to the arena they belong: the police force.

Why McCain Benefits From Anti-Interrogation Position
Why can it work for him? He takes these positions now and in early 2008 he goes to the GOP preaching about his conservative credentials. The GOP members, like their Democrat counterparts, will soak up the rhetoric. "As good as we can get in this political climate" and "not perfect but at least not a Democrat" will be the mantra from the GOP faithful in 2008 in their justification of selecting a bad candidate. Then, if McCain gets the GOP endorsement he comes out in the general campaign presenting his "campaign finance reform" and his "anti-torture" position. The middle may eat it up, but there will not be much ado from the GOP about these positions then.

Win or lose on the torture issue here in 2006 it will boost his chances in 2008. And the GOP is proving their inability to stand for conservative principles in 2006. They are also showing that to not mindlessly trumpet talking points is to be despised. So why should McCain think that 2008 will be any different?