John McCain’s AIG bailout revisionism
George Stephanopoulos of ABC News just wrapped up a Twitter interview with John McCain.
Stephanopoulous was more concerned with McCain’s daughter’s spats than with nailing McCain on his AIG flip-flopping. What a wasted opportunity. (Or as we say in Twitter-world: #fail.)
Preceding the interview, Sen. McCain wrote this on his Twitter page:
“If we hadn’t bailed out AIG = no bonuses for greedy execs.”
During the “Twitterview” with Stephanopoulous this morning, he wrote this:
“i would have never bailed out AIG, the real scandal is billions to foreign banks.”
Stephanopoulous wrote:
“RIght, but didn’t you vote for first TARP, which went to AIG?”
McCain replied:
“voted for first tarp but that doesn’t mean i voted to bail out AIG.”
And then he quickly followed up:
“i voted for first tarp but that doesn’t mean i voted to bail out AIG.”
I don’t know if McCain was deliberately trying to mislead or whether he just has amnesia. But this is as honking an example of AIG bailout revisionism as I have seen attempted by Washington’s enablers. And it’s turning me green with nausea for St. Patty’s Day.
On September 18, 2008, McCain caved in to the Chicken Little climate in Washington and reversed his position on the $85 billion AIG bailout (that came on the heels of McCain joining hands with Obama to support a $25 billion bailout for the automakers):
A day after he dismissed a federal bailout for American International Group, Republican John McCain announced Wednesday that circumstances had forced him to shift his position and that he supported the proposed $85 billion rescue of the insurance giant.
McCain, who in recent days has slammed what he called Wall Street greed and corruption for causing the latest downward spiral of the stock market, said he had to change his position on AIG to protect millions of Americans who could be hurt if the company was forced to seek bankruptcy protection.
“The government was forced to commit $85 billion,” McCain said in a statement. “These actions stem from failed regulation, reckless management and a casino culture on Wall Street that has crippled one of the most important companies in America.
“The focus of any such action should be to protect the millions of Americans who hold insurance policies, retirement plans and other accounts with AIG,” he said. “We must not bail out the management and speculators who created this mess.”
But that’s exactly what the first bailout infusion did. And McCain went along, as did all the other AIG enablers now pounding their fists on TV, in Twitter-land, and everywhere else.
In October, the feds forked over $37.8 billion more to AIG — and I can’t recall McCain making a stink about it then, either. He was too busy proposing a $300 billion mortgage bailout.
Now, he’s against bailout out failing companies in the first place.
We’ll see how long that lasts…
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That has always been John McCain’s problem. He has no idea what he believes in, and no idea what he’s doing.
The bigger problem is he’s not alone.
McCain is a feckless RINO. Enough of this crap. Frank and Dodd should be prosecuted for financial war crimes against the American people, and I wouldn’t care if McCain and the other RINOs were collateral damage.
He is listening to his daughter too much–bashing fellow conservatives–ol Johnie boys favorite sport. He makes Obama look intelligent. Gawd.
like daughter like father. they both hate conservatives and they both leave a lot on the table when it comes to smarts, morality, and common sense.
Sad sad. McCain was the best Republicans had to run against Obama. Think what would have happened to the others – - Romney, Huck, …
When you demand ideological obedience on every issue, you get amoral hacks — McCain, Bush, Gingrich, …
is twitter the new new useless tech thing? it sho’ is getting alot of attention.
reminder: not all technology is progress.
aaaahhhhuhhhh
Wake me up when he figures out what the hell he is talking about. To think we had the choice of obama or mccain
Quite the contrary. It can be a very effective, powerful too for organizing and for news-gathering.
If you know how to use it.
Which is why I really was voting against the Obamessiah and not for McCain. (Palin really was the clincherfor Juan getting my vote)
You’ll be in a perpetual comma.
That would be coma. McCain is rubbing off on me.
McCain was the worst. That’s why he got the New York Times endorsement.
Something about glass houses and stones goes here. Ideological obedience would have gotten us someone who at least could mouth Reaganesque principles. Instead we got the lefty liberal author of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Lieberman, McCain-Kennedy, etc.
true dat.
John McCain – the best argument against open primaries.
I get irritated whenever John McCain is called “Republican”! The ONLY Republican on the ballot I saw was Sarah Palin!
once a RINO always a RINO , 2010 its open season on donkeys and rino’s . Time to drain the swamp and start over again.
Watching the Congress and Obama react to AIG is like watching cockroaches that have been illuminated by a flashlight.
They scurry to the darkness as fast as their legs can get them there.
Rank mendacity. So who is worse? Dodd or McCain? They’re all pals! Time for McCain to form another gang! Let me get my gang plank set up.
Time for John to retire. Play some gold, soak up the Arizona sun, with the proper SPF, don’t want a recurrence of the skin cancer.
40 years ago he did a real service for his country.
But he really needs to retire in 2010.
Agreed. I donated money to the NRA for the express purpose of fighting McCain-Feingold. To think I was later forced to vote for him, ughh.
Are you offering to teach us, Michelle? You’re the only reason I signed up, and now strange people are “following” me!
Arizonans, are you listening?
Historically, D.C. was built on a swamp. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?
Schumer, Franke, Pelosi, Dodd, Obama, Emanuel, …….
Fixed it.
txvets2,
Great minds think a like.
#fail
Looks more like we need to reflood the swamp.
I was always against open primaries long before the last election cycle because I knew the mischief that occured last year would be the result.
The primaries should be party exclusive. If you want to vote the other party, re-register or wait for the general election
John McCain and all these new moralists over the bailouts they approved of over our heads need to just leave and get out of town….once they’ve done that they can STFU.
The founders, not God. He put the swamp there, but they’re the ones who had the foresight to put the government in it.
Mr. “I’ll make them famous”. What a laughingstock.
Except that I don’t exempt Bush and McCain…. For that matter, there wasn’t a lot of ideological purity among that list of Republicans, but then we are dealing with lgm.
Two thumbs up. Neither passes muster.
I thought I heard a story about D.C.’s location being chosen becaus it was on swampland noone else wanted – and its miserable condtions would prompt the politicians to get the business of government over swiftly and return to their more comfortable home grounds.
Maybe D.C. should be moved to the middle of North Dakota sans air-conditioning with the requirement that Congress meet only between July and September
My solution is a two vote up/down primary ballot. You get to vote FOR one candidate and you get to vote AGAINST one other candidate. Lib ringers like McCain would be unable to win a primary with that ballot because the majority would use their ‘against’ vote – against him.
Say you have 5 primary contenders. Say one is a flamer and the other 4 are conservative and say that the conservative vote is split equally among the four conservatives.
What is the minimum percentage of lib infiltration required to get the flamer nominated? Answer – 21%
So a 21% liberal minority are able to shove their candidate down the throat of the 79% majority merely by there being only one of them.
My 2 vote ballot idea eliminates that possibility. It allows a conservative majority to nominate a conservative candidate for a change.
I’ve posted this before and PLEAD for someone to find a flaw in it – kick the tires. If it would work – WE HAVE TO DO IT!
Danceswithdachshunds: I like it!
Ow that hurt!
It’s not like I didn’t try. I feel like my parents trying to set the clock on their VCR.
… and this was the alternative to Barry O –
cant’ even blame the Presidential candidates –
they were nominated by Americans, not Martians
I love Twitter. Jake Tapper is a good guy to follow on there. Allahpundit’s Tweets are pretty funny.
This is what you get when you have an administration full of academics and lawmakers with NO business experience whatsoever. I’m talking about the inexperienced Obama, and his administration that doesn’t include one single business person, and congress, that barely has any qualified people to begin with.
If only Romney were in charge…
At least he has a proven business track record…of success.
“I’m all for shoveling truckloads of taxpayer money to prop up corrupt, failing corporations when it’s politically expedient to do so, but I’ll have you all know that I’m totally not for shoveling truckloads of taxpayer money to prop up corrupt, failing corporations when it’s no longer politically expedient to do so. Also,… is this thing on?”
I live in AZ and I concluded he ceased representing me a long time ago. Same problem when i lived in Alaska for 32 years and had “Unca Ted” to deal with. Trouble is, even when people know their politicians are corrupt or clueless they keep voting them in because “the new guy” would have no power and influence.
What a stupid thing to say…does not even deserve a reply you fool. You can’t be honest with yourself.
McCain – a day late and a dollar short; if dog rabbit. I would like all elected officials to contain their blame and outrage, button their lips and give me a day of silence. It’s time for solutions and right now, they don’t have any!
It might help if it had a slightly less silly name though. “Twitter”? Who thought that one up?
It’s a serious world we have, thankfully you are available for comedic relief.
McCain was the best Democrats had to run against Obambi.
Romney would have easily beat The Messiah, and Huck as VP would not have stopped him, though I would have preferred Sarah Palin any day.
As for blind ideological obedience on every issue, I’d say you represent that remark.
Remember that when lgm says that, he means “the best for the Democrats”. Then his statement makes perfect sense.
The silver lining: These windbags glory in attention and they are getting it. Now they are center stage demonstrating why we don’t like big intrusive government.
Go ahead, keep talking! This is fantastic!
Well, God probably had a good laugh, but it was our Founders who decided on the location to limit the amount of “work” ([cough] interference [cough]) that our Federal Government could accomplish.
I still say… the best thing we could do to encourage the free market… outlaw air conditioners in Congress!
Remember this.
.
That’s funny and true.
ROFL! Great minds…!
Exactly what my husband would say – best thing for the true conservative movement eva!
Mr. McCain, get lost.
the rinos are showing their colors. ahnold in california has raised taxes, but according to drudge yesterday, the gubmint beaurocracy of california is still growing. 42b in debt, but not one single gubmint worker in california loses his job. in fact he hires more. when the collapse comes, it will be bad, because we have not taken the small corrective steps.
hopefully I’ll be gone by then…
In a nutshell, this is why he lost the election and is a fatally flawed candidate.
You’ll be leaving us this summer? : )
One of TWO.. One of them had to win : (
Exactly! Like his daughter, Dodd, HRC, etc, they are Progressives flying a false flag! Read abt the Fabian movement, read about the ideology of the Progressive movement!
There isn’t a two party system any longer, but a single party with cosmetic names. All the others who aren’t Progressive, or willing to play along, (both D & R) are marginalized, demonized, and pushed out! Why exactly, do you think that both Jindal & Palin have “Search & Destroy” missions (from the “Republican” party, no less…) targeting their political career? The contrast, and the electorates response to it, would expose the Progressives for the sham “2-party” situation they’ve engineered!
Why do you think McStabbinOurBack was okey-dokey with Opokey’s winning? Because they’re really the same ideologically! They talk a difference, but look at actions — they are truth!
Yah, I know I sound tinhat! But I said McCain wasn’t supposed to win — he’s built too much power in the Senate, he’s too useful there. And he did throw the election. His people have told tales-out-of-school abt it, and even discounting that, look at who ran his campaign — an Obie suporter! Surrreee he wanted to — so much so he did everything he could to nullify any lead Palin gave him, within 48h of the poll.
What to do? I haven’t any idea, except to watch and hope that the Heavenly Father provides a way…
We must do our part, though. We need to educate ourselves on the Constitution and the Founding Father’s writings — so we understand why they did what they did, and can educate others. In that, Beck has the right idea.
BTW:
Did a Bush really say that the Constitution was *just a piece of paper, and it needed updating*?
If so, which Bush? Or is it just myth? (refs, please…)
This past November’s Presidential Election was probably the most discouraging one that I have participated in. I, too, wasn’t thrilled with McCain as the Republican candidate, but I have to admit to feeling energized when Palin was selected on the ticket. Palin on the ticket almost helped me overlook McCain’s many transgressions, but when McCain voted for the TARP bailout with all of the earmarks attached, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me, and I ended up voting for the Libertarian ticket. In my opinion, McCain lost all credibility with that particular vote, and to see him maintaining that he was opposed to the AIG rescue is just nauseating.
Hey! Here’s an idea! At 1st you might think it goulish, but hear me out and tell me what you think:
PROPOSAL, CONSTITUTIONL ADMENDMENT:
All laws, regulation, mandates, etc, that impose a cost on the citizenry (such as unfunded mandates) need to be written in the blood (undiluted[sp?]) of the Elected Offical sponsoring the law. All laws imposing taxes may have *1 and only 1 sponsor from each party.* The blood used must be less than 1hr old, and extracted by Military Medical under the supervision of a 101 person citizen committee randomly chosen 24hrs prior to the bill’s creation. In addition, all aspects of said bill must be completely described in detailed language prior to blood extraction. The bill, after a suitable drying period, may then be voted on.
In the case of a reconcilled bill, the 2 sponors in each House must supply blood (in the aforementioned manner) prior to a vote on said compromise tax bill.
If the President feels left out, he can supply the blood for the copy(-ies) he signs — in blood, of course.
These people are bleeding us dry, maybe — for fairness — in order to bleed us they should contribute alittle, too.
Are you a masochist, a troll, or just stoned/stupid?
Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!!!
ECS
YES – Twitter allows yet another step away from real relationships with people and encourages greater dis-connectedness. It’s actually a lib thing – says it encourages people to be connected but then actually takes them away from really being so.
BOB said (#47):
At the time, polls showed McCain as having the best chance to beat Obama. That’s why Republicans chose him over more conservative candidates.
But hey, if you want to nominate Palin, Limbaugh or Joe Plumber, don’t let me stop you. Do you know where their approval ratings are (maybe 30%)? Compared to Obama (just fell to 60%)?
There isn’t a Republican office holder today with an approval rating higher than his/her disapproval rating.
McCain has done enough, wish he would just SFTU and retire. Let his fat-assed apple talk, she is close to the tree.
Because he just got elected president you dullard. Bush’s was higher at this point by the way.
And you should make a macro for that “just fell to” phrase… you’re going to be using it a lot on that approval rating thing.
And if and when the Porkulus bill tanks the economy will these same Congress people claim that “this wasn’t the bill they voted for”?
McCain has a lot in common with many Americans who believe in nothing at the same time they will believe anything.
When you have no fixed ideological philosophy and slither around like a changeable chameleon, then don’t be surprised when nobody believes you.
I don’t believe any of these buffoons, especially the ones who took AIG money.
Please provide a source for this statement.
Speak for yourself you partisan hypocrite.
Let’s not forget the biggest amoral hack of all…Obummer.
What is the difference between a RINO and a Blue Dog Democrat? Answer: One of them isn’t pretending to be a Republican.
I don’t even text, why would I want twitter? How many ways do we need to stay “connected” in our society. I much prefer a phone call and after that email me. I’ve been invited to join facebook, myspace etc. and I barely have time to answer my emails. If I want news, I go to my blogs (no more Oregonian) or TV (including FOX). The main difference between now and the 60′s/70′s when I grew up is that everyone has a phone connected to their body (usually in an ear). This is as much as I want to be connected. To each his own, go ahead and twitter your life away.
Said it once and I’ll say it again. McCain would be POTUS today if, when he went back to DC during the campaign and led the fight to stop the TARP he would be President today.
NJ-Aviator said (#68):
nope.
Salt said (#71):
Just did. If there were one, you would say who. You can’t. There isn’t.
You’re going to cite a left-wing site to hold up your misleading poll data. What was the sampling? Who was actually polled? What are the comparative polls out there? What about Rasmussen or some of the more independent polling sources?
Please cite other polls for comparison because certain polls scew certain voting populations disproportionately and you know it.
Why are you so busy defending the indefensable? Because it suits your ideological scapegoats like the military and evil, greedy corporations?
You just don’t get it, Math Man. You’re too busy kissing the feet of your new political master when he’ll stab you in the back like all his other sychophants. You’re one deluded masochist.
Nero fiddled while Rome burned and you’re one of his slave boys serving him up grapes.
I asked you to support your statement with evidence. I was willing to read said support, even if it was one of your typical TPM links.
By your own logic:
I did not state the name of a Republican that I thought had higher approval ratings than disapproval, therefore none exist.
Would imply…
Your own denial to provide a source would also prove a negative:
You did not provide a source proving that ALL Republican office holders have higher disapproval than approval ratings, therefore no such sources exist.
The reality is that web searches for disapproval ratings are rather tedious and I was disinclined to expend that much effort on a statement from you that I suspect was entirely fabricated from your own fervent wishing. I also wasn’t going to just guess at it as we often see here with random percentages that are not citing back to a source.
However, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt by asking you for the source of your claim.
You already got a good start. I recommend following Eric Odom, he of the Tea Parties and Don’t Go movement.
Or be retired. And I don’t want his daughter to successfully follow in his footsteps, especially in the McCain clan’s desire to destroy the Republican Party.
Salt(#79): You can huff and puff until dawn, but you don’t have a name. There isn’t a Republican more popular than Pelosi or Reid or even Barney Frank, let alone Obama. Can you name a Republican more popular than McCain? I don’t think so.
Republicans in Congress are headed for single digits, like rats following Rush Limbaugh out of town.
Who cares …
Cute emotional argument, but it doesn’t change the fact that you made up a claim, I asked you for a source, and you claim that my lack of proving you wrong means you’re right.
Ad Naseum doesn’t make you any more accurate.
The legislature is not made up entirely of Democrats, nor do all Governors have a (D) after their name. This by itself would disprove your theory that their constituents disapprove of them more than approve.
Nancy and Harry popular? I suppose it depends on which definition of popularity you are using. It sounds more like notoriety or familiarity. I’ll grant you that a lot of people know who Nancy Pelosi is, but that doesn’t necessarily imply she’s popular.
So, where congressional approval has upticked in some polls, it appears that the leadership has not.
On March 17th, 2009 at 1:09 pm, RTater said:
Exactly.
You know why the Democrats initially said their Michigan and Florida primaries would not count?
Because they wanted Democrats to vote in the Republican primary!
That helped McCain win Florida, which was very important for him and the Democratic Party.