Letting it all out
Part of the process of becoming presidential involves the creation of the sense that you have a strategic vision, that your eyes are set on distant horizons. That is why Hillary Clinton's latest gambit - the suggestion that - might not work.
you might expect to be friendly to the overall notion are unconvinced that this is part of any long-term properly thought-through policy.
Meanwhile Tony Blair is really letting it all out now and the is listening.
And it seems John McCain has let it all out in the past - is not for those who shudder at four-letter words.
Matthew Yglesias asks the question on everyone's mind after reading that piece: "What do you think the age cutoff is below which it becomes utterly implausible that someone would use the term 'trollop' in a non-ironic context?"
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"...Hillary Clinton or any President needs to avoid the temptation to pander to the American public when crises with the key global powers emerge...."
So, what does he beleive the American public wants/thinks?
However, isn't this what all is always done though, by any previous president? What about the current...
I don't hear the American public saying, "let Iran have nuclear power...", or "let China continue with its cheaper imports into the US, which is affecting jobs..."
Wake up and smell the coffee...it is what all Presidents do before, to get elcted, and during, to stay elected!
Justin, China is a strategic partner for the US. If Clinton knew this, she would not have urged Bush to boycott the Olympics.
Funny thing about the "C" word.
It doesn't mean the same thing in American English as it does in British English. There are two forbidden words in American English -- the other begins with "N."
In British English, the "C" word, as applied to MEN, is roughly equivalent to an American man clapping an old pal on the back and heartily greeting him by saying, "How ya been, you old 'B?'" (def: illegitimate child) -- a phrase I discovered (as a part-time bartender/barmaid in London) -- was offensive to the British.
Compare the American use of "fall" (we use autumn too) and the more exclusive use of "autumn" in British English. "Fall" is an older word, Shakespeare's word.
The "C" word is also medieval. Former President of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Judith Albino, kicked up quite a ruckus using it outside the classroom, albeit in Elizabethan, academic context. It did not end well for her.
As for campaign strategies? How to Win the West? Be yourself.
"With ... no political experience and a reputation for having a quirky wardrobe, Candidate John Hickenlooper turned those challenges into opportunities with this introductory/biographical ad...featuring Hickenlooper's preferred (and now famous) mode of transportation."
And talk about endorsements ... Did somebody say Vonnegut?
That McCain quote is strange, above all, because it's an expletive not usually addressed to a woman (let alone from a man to his wife!). Such things probably wouldn't affect the Republican hard-core but would play on an independent voter's mind and legitimately so because a president has to remain cool under pressure even after the longest of days. And don't irascible types get more irascible with age? Shows that McCain is as 'risky' a choice as anyone else.
Re Blair: it seems that God is getting His revenge for Blair not doing Him while in office and is doing Blair!
The Olympic Games are surely predicated on the assumption that human beings behave decently towards each other in our everyday lives and can thus enter into sportspersonship in a sportspersonlike spirit.
I am not impressed with a world where we spend millions on escorting a piece of metal around the globe whilst so many of us are compelled to live without our basic needs being met. The Chinese are sadly mistaken if they think that those of us who are even moderately aware of the wider world can be prevented from empathising with the Tibetan people simply by bundling their bit of metal on to a bus.
Although I'm not the greatest fan of Hillary C, on this occasion I say: "Good for you!"
Greta,
The C word is definatly not used in England in the way you describe. In a poll taken a few years ago the C word was considered to be the most offencive word int he English language.
Certainly not something you want the future leader of the free world using. (Although there is something to be said about privacy on the campaign trail.)
I also think that Hilary was wrong to comment on the olympics. Sport and pollitics shouldn't mix. I seem to remember a certain German leader with a Charlie Chaplin moustsache hosting the games in the 30's and although there were grumbles that event had the largest representation of countries than any previous olympics.
Justin,
Stop reading the Atlantic and especially that Ecclesiastical fellow. Like Hilary they are all Monsters. Not a decent bone in their bodies. Or do you go there just to confirm your own views? I think we all deserve to know.
A man has a 20+ year career as a naval aviator, of which seven years are spent being tortured in Hanoi...and people are supposed to be surprised that he sometimes uses "salty" language?
Sorry. That's not news.
you seem to be running Hillary's campaign, what would you do when she looses her presidential nominee contest(which she will anyways)?
I don't know what all the fuss is about.
Tony Blair used to swear, and argue with Gordon Brown. And all married couples bicker. The idea that never losing one's rag is a prerequisite for high office is truly absurd. Laughable even.
Northern Ireland politics would have been a lot blander and a lot less interesting if this was the case.
Powerful reactions on Yglesias' site.
Well over 100 posts, but not ONE from a Republican woman (or any woman) defending McCain.
How will Bill Bennett manage to spin this one out of the park? Pretend THREE reporters were lying?
Looks like a foul ball to me. But, you can't be struck out on a foul, so keep on swingin', Senator McCain. No "walking" in the World Series.
Im not sure what the fuss is regarding the C word or other four letter words. Shows he has a rounded vocabulary at least, which can reach everyone..!!
I am actually glad that McCain vents his anger rather than internalizing it and letting it fester. (though he'd be wise to go vent in a private place in the future)
Dear Justin, I notice you have apologised often in respect of incorrect or mis-information, unreachable links etc, well now its my turn to apologise for the undeserving criticisms I made in the past. Too much sun, digging in the garden maybe, but now unfortunately it's been raining for 3 days and I have been sitting at the laptop, as usual, checking out America on the site.
This morning the doctor gave me the bad news. Too much internet! "Over exposure to the Webb" were his exact words, with the condition possibly getting acute within a few days or worse even, entering a chronic phase which could last a few more months. The inferiority complex now at hand - probably caused by the intelligent and articulate comments from your readers which I can never attain.
For the doctor the treatment is relatively simple.:- No more religious articles, sex scandals, war situations, discreditng other beliefs, black and white,will he[she], wont he[she], smoking, guns, race, monsters, resignations etc etc.
Please can we return to the good old days- Bath, Bristol and Bedd Gelert. Ex pats on the slopes, anything to rest my heart and head for a few days from these election headlines. Simple stories.- Humane stories. As yet those have never been written by you on the site. That "Louisiana woman cuts off foot to feed her dog in a snow storm and wins medal" article.
Anything but these political truths.
But more important -Don't stop! The Delirium Tremens reaction from a cold turkey abstinence is much worse I hear.
"Part of the process of becoming presidential involves the creation of the sense that you have a strategic vision, that your eyes are set on distant horizons."
Yes that's true, but it is also true, and you seem to have forgotten to mention this Justin, as true for all (western in particular) leaders, or presidential/prime ministerial hopefuls! Its not just the "American" president that must appear as if he/she has a long term goal that he/she wants to move their nation towards, in order to seem viable.
Though I do agree that the presidential candidates mustn't, and need not get/be involved in calling for the olimpics to be boycotted. China would never forgive us. That, in and of itself is bad, but couped with the fact that China is ndeck to be the next world's super power, and that's a risk that just is simply out of the question. I don't think it wise for Sarkozy to be considering boycotting them as well.
With respet of the "C" word, I know many may see this as ignorance, but I actually haven't heard of it until reading this piece. I've of course, obviously heard of all the other curse words-but not this particular one. But regardless, I think that a flammable tempor should never be a quality of the leader of any nation, but especially the president of the US, as poster #7-'"Naz" eliquently stated.
Liz:
"Fester" into what? A quick left? He's also publicly humiliated a female staffer. And punched out fellow Senator Strom Thurmond, as well as his Arizona Campaign Co-Chair.
"Perhaps the most remarkable story of McCain's temper involved Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi. Two former reporters covering McCain, one who witnessed the following events and one who confirmed the facts provided by the first, relayed it to me as follows: In 2006, the Arizona Republican congressional delegation had a strategy meeting. McCain repeatedly addressed two new members, congressmen Trent Franks and Rick Renzi, as 'boy.' Finally, Renzi, a former college linebacker, rose from his chair and said to McCain, "You call me that one more time and I'll kick your old [three letter word for donkey]." McCain lunged at Renzi, punches were thrown, and the two had to be physically separated. After they went to their separate offices, McCain called Renzi and demanded an apology. Renzi refused. Apparently this posture made McCain admire him, as they became fast friends."
Is there a diplomatic corollary to be drawn? Regardless, Congressman Renzi, father of 12, has troubles of his own.
Renzi indicted
How apropos that Toady Blair's new imperial office should be in the "shadow of the U.S. embassy". Where else would one expect to find the former shadow president who has made a craven career out of obediently serving the interests of U.S. power as its most loyal henchman. Such "plush" digs may be "fitting" for a "global statesman" and imperialist warrior but is it a fitting expression of his new found profession of faith? Is this the faith of "blessed are the poor", "blessed are the last", "blessed are they that mourn"? Is it "easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich 'global statesman' to enter heaven"? Or is this the 'faith' of a first-rate Pharisee? "Being an honest broker is not without tough decisions" alright, but since Two Faced Tony has never been "an honest broker" in the first place those nagging questions can be left indefinitely for later, where they won't get in the way of his self-flattering preening and posturing. The Blair Foundation has it's "share of contradictions" certainly, not least among them, the heinous contradiction of allegedly "combating extreme poverty and hunger" after he knowingly caused so much of it with the criminal sanctions regime against Iraq during his spell in office that UNICEF estimated at the time were killing an average of 5,000 Iraqi children a month through malnutrition and preventable diseases; as well as many adults. Denis Halliday, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator at the time who resigned in protest of the lethal sanctions said that those responsible could "be blamed for crimes against humanity, including possibly genocide". Halliday asserted then , "What is happening in Iraq is a complete breach of international law." And Halliday further observed, "The genocide in Iraq is the test of our will. All of us have to break the silence: to make those, in Washington and London, aware that history will slaughter them." Another group which tried to break the silence then was the Catholic Relief Agency which described the deadly sanctions as "humanly catastrophic, morally indefensible and politically ineffective". Exactly the sort of "contradictions" that the cunning Blair embodies - and despite his new-found fig leaf of 'faith' - for which history should slaughter him.
Mr. Webb:
I wonder what the other five posts I can't read say?
Whether McCain said it or not, whether Cliff Schecter can prove it or not, Yglesias inadvertently provided an eerie straw poll on male McCain supporters attitudes toward women.
Ouch.
Give me a break, citing to the McCain "story." It's in a soon-to-be-released book by a known left-wing operative (Cliff Schecter), and it's based on three unidentified sources from 16 years ago. So: (a) it's from an author with an obvious agenda -- funny how it took him until now to reveal this information, even though it's from 16 years ago and McCain has run for office numerous times since then; and (b) it is premised on a the slenderest reed of credibility. If this were introduced in a court of law, it would get tossed out in a second for lack of foundation, and for good reason.
I know this is just a blog, but surely there are more credible news sources you can cite than that. (And I'm a Democrat.)
You gotta give Hillary a lot of credit for opportunism. This woman is desperate to get elected and will say and do anything to the end. Yes, China's human rights records are absolutely deplorable, but just how much do you achieve by boycotting the Olympics opening ceremony? We're not talking about Cuba, Venezuela, Sudan or Zimbabwe here. We're talking about a country where almost a half of Walmart's stock come from! What Hillary and Americans as a whole need to come to terms with is America's waning influence on the international stage and start negotiating with and respecting the rest of the world. The days of arm-twisting are fast coming to an end. Do not get me wrong, America is still a land with enormous opportunities and resources, but if she continues to spend those resources on the pursuit of military supremacy then she will soon wake up to a world that is dominated by Brazil, Europe, China and India. Perhaps that would make them appreciate the time, energy and money their founding fathers put into building what is today regarded as the greatest nation in the world.