McCain on Spain

[pyat]

Yes, it's an American political post. Sorry. I promise I'll do one on our own election, soon!

John McCain was interviewed by a reporter from a Spanish radio station, but didn't appear to be paying attention, or was confused, or something, because he didn't seem to realize the reporter was asking about Spain, and not Central America.

QUESTION: Senator, finally, let's talk about Spain. If you're elected president, would you be willing to invite President Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero to the White House to meet with you?

MCCAIN: I would be willing meet, uh, with those leaders who our friends and want to work with us in a cooperative fashion, and by the way, President Calderon of Mexico is fighting a very very tough fight against the drug cartels. I'm glad we are now working in cooperation with the Mexican government on the Merida plan. I intend to move forward with relations, and invite as many of them as I can, those leaders, to the White House.

QUESTION: Would that invitation be extended to the Zapatero government, to the president itself?

MCCAIN: I don't, you know, honestly I have to look at relations and the situations and the priorities, but I can assure you I will establish closer relations with our friends and I will stand up to those who want to do harm to the United States of America.

QUESTION: So you have to wait and see if he's willing to meet with you, or you'll be able to do it in the White House?

MCCAIN: Well again I don't, all I can tell you is that I have a clear record of working with leaders in the hemisphere that are friends with us, and standing up to those who are not, and that's judged on the basis of the importance of our relationship with Latin America, and the entire region.

QUESTION: Okay... what about you, I'm talking about the President of Spain?

MCCAIN: What about me what?

QUESTION: Okay... are you willing to meet with him if you are elected president?

MCCAIN: I am willing to meet with any leader who is dedicated to the same principles and philosophy that we are for human rights, democracy and freedom, and I will stand up to those that do not.

Source: Time Magazine

Comments

[mrs-dm.livejournal.com]

I get down about the American election too. And I'm not even American. It's just astounding. How could American citizens even *consider* electing a Republican (and obviously clueless) president and vice-president after the last 7 years of such a disastrous administration? I suspect John McCain is in the early stages of dementia (seriously).

I was feeling very down about what may happen to the world if the Democrats don't take the Whitehouse in November, and then my husband, doc_mystery, put it in perspective. And I paraphrase;

"Look, if the Republicans win the election, the U.S. will simply implode and become another harmless has-been superpower like Britain."

In other words, and with hypothetical future condolescences to our American friends, it may just be part of the natural course of the geopolitical lifespan of nations. Sad though. Seemed so promising in 1776. Of course, the fact that most of the founding fathers of the U.S. were slave-owners kind of undercut the whole message, I think.

[athelind.livejournal.com]

"Look, if the Republicans win the election, the U.S. will simply implode and become another harmless has-been superpower like Britain."

Believe it or not, that's what I'm hoping for, too, if McCain wins. It's the Best Case Scenario.

Alas, unlike Britain, we have an unfortunate combination of a Massive Nuclear Arsenal and Crazy People In Positions of Power.

[easyalchemy.livejournal.com]

I believe there were also several agnostics/atheists amongst the founding fathers. They've come a long way, baby.

[zenten.livejournal.com]

Britian didn't implode like that. Britian had a gradual decline, that lasted at least a hundred years. What that meant is the rest of the world influenced by Britian (which is less than what is influenced by the US now) had time to adjust.

If the US falls apart economically, then the rest of us are in a lot of trouble too. If the US starts trying to use military force to solve its economic problems then we're in even more trouble.

[thebitterguy]

Of course, he didn't say that Britain imploded like that. He said it WOULD implode and become another has-been superpower.

How much military might does the US have left to expend? Aren't they spread pretty thin right now?

[zenten.livejournal.com]

Of course, he didn't say that Britain imploded like that. He said it WOULD implode and become another has-been superpower.

It's the transition process that scares me (look at the number of things traded in US currency for instance), not the final result.

How much military might does the US have left to expend? Aren't they spread pretty thin right now?

The US military is spread thin in terms of its ability to handle a long term occupation. It certainly could go in to another country, invade, destroy the government in place, and then just leave, and it could go into lots of countries like that if it withdrew its troops from places like Iraq. It depends on how crazy the country gets in its death throws.

[undeadmuse.livejournal.com]

Maybe the blue states will secede into Canada.

We'll divide like they said four years ago: 'The United States of Canada' and 'Jesus Land'.