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Skousen: Pulling Strings for John McCain

World Affairs Brief, February 1, 2008. Commentary and Insights on a Troubled World.

Copyright Joel Skousen. Partial quotations with attribution permitted. Cite source as Joel Skousen’s World Affairs Brief.

PULLING STRINGS FOR SENATOR McCAIN

The US political circus is an amazing, if not agonizing, show to watch. First, we saw Rudy Giuliani, the establishment’s pre-election favorite (only because the media said so) go from front runner status to a disastrous showing in the primaries–garnering less votes than Rep. Ron Paul, who was systematically denied any meaningful media coverage at all. It appears the public is either fickle or the media polls were just plain lying–perhaps both. Then we saw John McCain with almost no support suddenly rise to front runner status after a barrage of big name newspaper and personality endorsements so unanimous that there had to have existed some guiding hand. The establishment boost for McCain is still ongoing in a big way and is intended to gain McCain a majority of delegates before the convention convenes–which would eliminate a brokered convention where deals and concession have to be made in order to gain that majority. In an up or down vote between McCain or Romney, without Huckabee to draw away votes from Romney, McCain would lose. That’s what the king makers are trying to avoid by manipulating the public during the primaries. It’s time to let America know more about the real McCain. Believe me, he is no hero.

First, a suspicious view from the Left. British journalist Johann Hari of The Independent in Britain tells Americans “Don’t be fooled by the myth of John McCain.”

“McCain is third-generation Navy royalty, raised from a young age to be a senior figure in the armed forces, like his father and grandfather before him. He was sent to one of the most elite boarding schools in America, then to a naval academy where he ranked 894th of 899 students in ability. He used nepotism to get ahead: When he was rejected by the National War College, he used his father’s contacts with the Secretary of the Navy to make them reconsider. He later married the heiress to a multi-million dollar fortune [after dumping his first wife who waiting faithfully for him during his war years].

“Right up to his twenties, he remained a strikingly violent man, ‘ready to fight at the drop of a hat,’ according to his biographer Robert Timberg. This rage seems to be at the core of his personality: describing his own childhood, McCain has written: ‘At the smallest provocation I would go off into a mad frenzy, and then suddenly crash to the floor unconscious. When I got angry I held my breath until I blacked out.’ But he claims he was transformed by his experiences in Vietnam… His plane was shot down on a bombing raid over Hanoi, and he was captured and tortured for five years [Not all true. He was tortured at first, and then he collaborated with his captors until released].

“… He used second his wife’s fortune to run to as a Republican senator. He was a standard-issue Reaganite corporate Republican [Reagan had his faults but he wasn’t a “corporate Republican.” The Left still hates Reagan] until the Keating Five corruption scandal consumed him. In 1987, it was revealed that McCain, along with four other senators, had taken huge campaign donations from a fraudster called Charles Keating [who had insider connections with government]. In return they pressured government regulators not to look too hard into Keating’s affairs, allowing him to commit even more fraud. McCain later admitted: ‘I did it for no other reason than I valued [Keating’s] support.’ [Keating and others were part of a wider insider group of government supporters who were promised a kind of unspoken immunity in exchange for steering campaign contributions to politicians the PTB support–like John McCain–a process still going on today].

McCain took the only course that could possibly preserve his reputation: He turned the scandal into a debate about the political system, rather than his own personal corruption. He said it showed how ‘we need to drive the special interests out of Washington,’ and became a high-profile campaigner for campaign finance reform [which had very negative effects on independent political free speech and almost no effect on the big lobbyists]. But privately, his behavior hasn’t changed much. For example, in 2000 he lobbied federal regulators hard on behalf of a major campaign contributor, Paxson Communications, in an act the regulators spluttered was ‘highly unusual.’ He has never won an election without outspending his opponent.

“But McCain has distinguished himself most as an über-hawk on foreign policy. To give a brief smorgasbord of his views: at a recent rally, he sang ‘Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran,’ to the tune of the Beach Boys’ ‘Barbara Ann.’ He says North Korea should be threatened with ‘extinction.’

“These beliefs drive McCain today. He brags he would be happy for U.S. troops to remain in Iraq for 100 years, and declares: ‘I’m not at all embarrassed of my friendship with Henry Kissinger; I’m proud of it.’ His most thorough biographer — and recent supporter — Matt Welch concludes: ‘McCain’s program for fighting foreign wars would be the most openly militaristic and interventionist platform in the White House since Teddy Roosevelt…[it] is considerably more hawkish than anything George Bush has ever practiced.'”

Scary. McCain is no true conservative. As I have documented in prior briefings, McCain is an expert at playing up his POW hero image to campaign against government use of torture, and then quietly worked out an anti-torture piece of legislation which actually permits torture in the fine print. McCain, like John Kerry also served on Congressional committees to whitewash the government investigation into POWs and MIAs left behind in Vietnam, Laos, and Russia (where hundreds were sent for mind control drug testing, according to Jan Sejna, a former major general in the Czechoslovakian Army who defected to the United States in 1968 and provided valuable intelligence on the Soviet Union).

One blogger named “Dan” offered up this list on the internet about John McCain’s abysmal record as a “conservative:”

IMMIGRATION: he wrote the bill granting amnesty to illegal immigrants (co-sponsored by Ted Kennedy)

SOCIAL SECURITY: he voted to give your social security money to illegal immigrants

TAXES: he voted against the Bush tax cuts multiple times (but still campaigns as a lifelong tax-cutter)

FIRST AMENDMENT: he wrote the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill that was declared to be an unconstitutional infringement of the 1st Amendment (co-sponsored by ultra-liberal Democrat Russ Feingold)

SECOND AMENDMENT: he was called the ‘worst 2nd amendment candidate’ by the president of the NRA

ENERGY TAX: wrote a bill (co-sponsored by his buddy Sen. Joe Lieberman) imposing a massive tax on energy which, according to the Department of Energy, would drastically raise the price of gasoline.

GLOBAL WARMING: supports radical global warming legislation

JUDGES: he joined with Democrats (Gang of 14) to block the Senate Republican’s attempt to confirm conservative, strict constructionist judges.

GAY MARRIAGE: he joined liberals to fight against a federal marriage amendment

CHRISTIANS: In 2000, he famously described Christian leaders as ‘agents of intolerance’

ABORTION: he filed an amicus brief against pro-life advocates in Wisconsin

BI-PARTISANSHIP: he met with leading Democrats in 2004 to discuss the possibility of being John Kerry’s VP.

ETHICS: ringleader of the infamous Keating 5 ethical scandal which cost US tax payers $160 billion

PERSONAL: McCain cheated on his first wife after she had a severe accident. He then divorced her and married his multi-millionaire mistress, whose daddy bought McCain a spot in the Congress.

With all of this, establishment king-makers have their hands full trying to turn sow’s ear into a silk purse. As John M. Broder writes, “Mr. McCain, who has delighted in sticking his thumb in the eye of mainstream Republicans throughout his political career, is now accumulating a base of support among party regulars who see him as the strongest general election candidate in the remaining Republican field.”

This is not true at all. McCain’s support comes almost exclusively from the same insiders who were promoting Giuliani. They all switched to McCain when someone gave them the signal that Giuliani wasn’t going to make it (too many corruption scandals revealed and more on the way), and they needed to make sure Romney didn’t accrue the remaining Republican support.

I don’t pretend to know who’s making these calls that direct these perfectly timed endorsements, but I know something is going on behind the scenes that is “too good to be true” to be natural. Consider:

All six major newspapers that gave any endorsement just prior to the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary (and they did so within a day of each other) came out for McCain who was polling in last place. None for Giuliani, the front runner? None! There were no other endorsements for any other Republicans. There was even an anti-endorsement of Romney. That’s unheard of.

Look at the crucial Florida primary. As John Nichols writes, “Florida gave McCain a clear if hardly overwhelming victory over his chief rival for the GOP nod, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. With most of the votes counted, McCain had 36 percent of the vote. Romney had 31 percent. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who focused his quest for the presidency on Tuesday’s primary, finished with a dismal 15 percent. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who is essentially out of money but can still stir evangelical fervor, was just behind with 14 percent. Texas Congressman Ron Paul, the anti-war libertarian who finished a credible second in the Nevada caucuses, was winning just 3 percent of the Florida vote.”The senator won Florida on the basis of the strong support he received from the state’s large blocs of liberal Republican primary voters. Unfortunately for McCain, liberals are definitely not the essential players in the Republican nominating process. Moderates are not the heart-and-soul players in the Republican Party. Conservatives are [I’m not so sure that is true anymore]. And McCain is still struggling to win their loyalty. Indeed, even now, former Secretary of Education Bill Bennett says, ‘The anger and bitterness toward John McCain is extraordinary among [Bush] conservatives.'”

But Bush conservatives don’t really run the party. They are merely the ignorant cheerleaders. The Powers That Be have their own people at the top positions, and these people are anything but moral, and anything but religious. These are the ones driving the McCain surge back to the top. They are working the endorsement angle in strategic block moves.

They tapped Pro-homosexual Republican governor Charlie Crist to come out and endorsed McCain–McCain was ignorant of the fact, which was telling–someone else was whispering in Crist’s ear. The Crist endorsement came a mere 24 hours after Senator Mel Martinez (a Latino and the recent Chair of the Republican National Committee) came out for McCain, which helped sway thousands of Cuban-American votes in So. Florida toward McCain. If anyone’s endorsement represents the Republican establishment it is Martinez’s.

In my analysis, it is almost a given that if a major political figure endorses McCain, he or she has deep ties with those who control our political process. McCain is only liked within the club. That includes recent endorsements by former members of the Senate John C. Danforth (MO) and Howard H. Baker (TN) plus Rep. Jack Kemp. …

What one can draw from all this is that the American public is very much manipulated by the media perceptions of who is declared the “front runner,” who is “losing steam” or who is “not going to win.” They’ve tagged Ron Paul with that last label incessantly–to make sure he doesn’t win. Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that the establishment wants the President’s brother Jeb Bush to be McCain’s VP. Will we never be rid of the Bush legacy of betrayal?

All of the Joel Skousen Articles

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10 Comments

  1. I agree with your analysis – we should all fear McCain.

    The greatest threat originally proposed by Osama Bin Laden was not related to the military – it is economic. Osama wants to drain the US of its economic power by engaging us in a protracted war where we will use billions of dollars and end up leaving much like Russia in Afghanistan. The Institute for the Analysis of Global Security wrote a strong piece on this subject called Energy Security.

    Osama Bin Ladin boasted in 2004, We “bled Russia for ten years until it went bankrupt and was forced to withdraw in defeat”. His current strategy is the same. I propose a military man is not our best choice in this protracted conflict. We need an economic man.

    With Bush in the White House, our generals have done a superb job fighting – Petraeus and the other generals have great ideas (not arm chair politicians like McCain who claim Petraeus’ ideas are his own). McCain has been in the Senate for 24 years – he is not a solution but part of the problem. McCain sitting on all those defense committees did not keep us safe! He was advising them when all of the junk occurred, he missed it just like everybody else. He will do just as much for America continuing as the arm chair warrior he has always been.

    The future of warfare is not in McCain’s experience. We are talking technology and that requires a strong economy. We need unmanned planes, smart bombs, strategic missiles, robotic arms and satellites. The next generation of warfare is Asymmetric – McCain has no experience in it.

    Mitt Romney understands economic incentives – both domestic and foreign. Whether it is aiding our allies, or hindering our enemies, economics is the key to the future. Economists estimates 80% of jobs in 20 years haven’t even been thought of yet. Mitt Romney knows how to incentivize research and development in new technologies. Only Mitt Romney has the experience to position America globally to take advantage of those opportunities.

    It’s time to Rally to Romney for a truly strong America. A strong economy allows us to build the strong military – thus defending us both financially and militarily.

  2. James T

    wow. A very sobering artcle.
    We need Ron Paul more than ever now.
    Excellent piece. Thank you.

  3. Dreamwhileyousleep

    I’m afraid Mitt will continue the mistake rather than correct the mistake. Mitney appears to be buying his way into office by blowing his substantial fortune away via the traditional campaign route and by aquiring Clear Channel Communications to spread his dogma to the sheeple. All for a $400,000 a year job! Why is that? I’m not sure on his ties to the CFR but most billionaires are sympathethic to the wants of the rockefuckers and rothschilds. What is mitt’s tax plan? Tax us more? Mitt is just more of the same only different. We need real change. We need more Freedom. We NEED Ron Paul 2008!

  4. One of McCain’s ENDORSEMENTS may just be total BS.

    We have a friend that just happens to be a Family Friend of “Stormin” Norman himself. They were supposed to have talked with the General on Friday.

    We will call them today and find out if the General really did endorse McCain. According to our friend they really doubt he did because the General knows damn well that McCain endorsed that bill that Declared our POWs as being dead.

    The Military and Vets do NOT like McCain. Once we find out the TRUTH we will post it. Our friend did tell us, though, that if it is NOT true that the General would be making that public. He would feel it as a slap to his face to endorse McCain.

    ONLY A Doctor WILL HEAL Our Country,
    Freedom4America Group

  5. Enn from Estonia

    Well, George Bush senior was actually George H. Sherff (if you dig deep in to internet) and he was an agent of Adolf Hitler sent to US to infiltrate into the governmental positions and guess what: he succeeded – that stody was told by Otto Skorzeny, Hitler’s bodyguard on his death bed confession… So we have fascist blood line in US presidency…

  6. Ron

    It is apparent that we are up against a very evil and heartless system. How do you combat something like that? Being nice doesn’t seem to get it done to them. Is something more drastic in the works to combat the PTB?

  7. taylor quigly

    Insane McCain is SCARY !! Well, let’s see. Any fodder for InsaneMcCain smears?
    How about the Keating-7 scandal mentioned here? Or for fun, the photo of sniveling toady McCain hugging Bush (the man who slandered McCain’s adopted child only months prior to the photo – some ‘family values’ eh McInsane?) Or how about his ‘bomb-bomb-bomb-Iran’ performance? Or his crowing how safe he was walking through Bagdad – protected by heavy military equipment and surrounded by hundreds of troops? Or his blather at a recent debate when Ron Paul asked him about the Plunge Protection Team? Or his admitting he knows Nothing about economics – during this time of economic crisis? Or his berserk snickers during debates?

    Or as he was eloquently described “stumbling bumbling, Mad John McCain rambles on and on … he’s Alzheimer’s up close and ugly.”

  8. tobefree

    As to comment #1 by Fleeting Thoughts,

    My personal perspective on voting for the “lesser of two evils” is that I won’t vote for evil anymore.

    Mitt Romney wants to double Guantanamo and says the Iraq war was a good idea: http://tobefree.press/2008/01/28/romney-iraq-war-a-good-idea-we-ought-to-double-guantanamo

    And he laughs at Ron Paul, the peacemaker: http://tobefree.press/2008/02/03/disgraceful-romney-i-sure-am-laughing-at-ron-paul

    And regarding comment #6 by Ron,

    Doing something drastic and to stop being nice would be against everything Ron Paul stands for. May we never resort to evil to bring about good.

    If America rejects Ron Paul, one of the greatest men who has ever run for President—the dream candidate—America then has decided and we’ll all suffer the consequences. And then our only hope will be in God.

    We can find peace in Him no matter what happens around us; though, it may get ugly. The main thing is keeping our hearts right.

    I think the really sad thing is that because of the media blackout & the sad lack of support (at times even outright rejection) from most of the “pastors” in America http://tobefree.press/2008/01/29/pastor-baldwin-pastors-are-the-1-problem-in-america , most Americans still don’t understand the jewel that Ron Paul really is and how he alone can get us out of the mess we are truly in. Many are voting for others out of ignorance.

    Love and truth is the answer—and exercising our First Amendment rights—even blimps! Ron Paul supporters rock!!!

    We must stay peaceful no matter what. Violence is only an option in self-defense, and even then when nothing else would work.

    Jeff Fenske

  9. Bonhoeffer

    Great Article–

    My brother and I, who incidentally, have very different views on a number of issues, have been watching this election cycle with a critical eye. We both noted when Giuliani was “un-anointed” (probably the cause of his hospital visit in St. Louis)and were amazed at the meteoric media-driven rise of his replacement–John McCain.

    In December I saw a pleasant personal interest story on John McCain’s family on the cover of the NYTimes. That evening, the same exact story was running on CBS. I cannot say how these things are decided, however, it is clear that powerful people (media, politicians, corporate bosses, big bankers) talk to one another behind the scenes and agree on what to do.

    As we try to figure out how to resist the PTB, we must appeal to an even higher power. I urge you all, be diligent in prayer during these trying times. All the activism we can do is not going to turn the tide without divine assistance.

    Psalm 2–“Why do the nations conspire. . .”

  10. Fellow RP supporters,

    We just heard from our friend and “Stormin’ Norman did NOT endorse John McCain. We are told there will be a Press Release on that in a few days.

    ONLY A Doctor WILL HEAL Our Country,
    Freedom4America Group

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