"If I were dictator, which I always aspire to be" - McCain

[Ender]

link

Sorry I can't find a more reliable site, but the clip is the important bit. I suspect it was an attempt at a joke, as was Bush's dictator crack, but when you look at what then happened I'm much less sanguine about what it says about their view of the world.

In any event, how long until you figure this goes viral, and what will the spin be?

[Admiral Valdemar]

The spin will be he's a senile old coot who has a chronic diarrhoea problem with the wrong orifice. And that grin, that fucking smarmy, shit eating grin. How I hate that grin.

[Qwerty 42]

If Obama were to say something remotely like this, his poll numbers would plummet. Something tells me, however, that this won't be seen outside of the internet.

[CaptJodan]

If Obama were to say something remotely like this, his poll numbers would plummet. Something tells me, however, that this won't be seen outside of the internet.

Or liberal media TV. I didn't get to catch Olberman on the first go around, but Rachel Maddow is going to cover it.

[Phantasee]

You know, I posted a reply to this thread, but as it was posting, I closed the tab with the video, and it crashed my browser. What was I saying...


Oh yeah. I can't wait to see this played all over the news cycles. It's a good time to start it's spread, it'll play until Sunday. Someone who knows how these things works (Ender?) should forward this video to Obama's campaign or one of those PAC things (how do those even work?) that support him. I would hope they were experts at spreading images of McCain being a fool.

[General Zod]

If Obama were to say something remotely like this, his poll numbers would plummet. Something tells me, however, that this won't be seen outside of the internet.

It's on Digg (this one has the most Diggs so far). If people start Digging the fuck out of these things they'll likely get more media attention.

[Ekiqa]

If you are going to make an offensive joke, at least make it look like a joke. Smile, maybe. Laugh. Don't just keep going in one monotonal voice.

[Tanasinn]

Big deal. Call me back when it's something he can be cruicified for, not something that can't be used to any affect whatsoever and is just an old man's lame sense of humor.

[General Zod]

Big deal. Call me back when it's something he can be cruicified for, not something that can't be used to any affect whatsoever and is just an old man's lame sense of humor.

Are you retarded? If the media actually repeated this enough it would be a death knell for McSame. Aspiring to be a dictator is the last thing any sane Presidential candidate wants to be seen as, to say nothing of flat out admitting it.

[Darth Yoshi]

The spin will be he's a senile old coot who has a chronic diarrhoea problem with the wrong orifice. And that grin, that fucking smarmy, shit eating grin. How I hate that grin.

Don't forget that even though he's a senile old coot, he's still somehow more qualified that Obama.

Are you retarded? If the media actually repeated this enough it would be a death knell for McSame. Aspiring to be a dictator is the last thing any sane Presidential candidate wants to be seen as, to say nothing of flat out admitting it.

Isn't that the problem, though? Whether or not the media will pull their heads out of their asses and report shit like they're supposed to, rather than sucking Straitjacket Express cock? Granted that the media isn't as bad as it was during the primaries, but I'm not holding my breath.

[General Zod]

Isn't that the problem, though? Whether or not the media will pull their heads out of their asses and report shit like they're supposed to, rather than sucking Straitjacket Express cock? Granted that the media isn't as bad as it was during the primaries, but I'm not holding my breath.

This is where news sites like Digg come in handy. It seems the more diggs they get the chances are they'll get coverage by the mainstream press. The main reason to encourage people to use the system more.

[RedImperator]

Big deal. Call me back when it's something he can be cruicified for, not something that can't be used to any affect whatsoever and is just an old man's lame sense of humor.

Are you retarded? If the media actually repeated this enough it would be a death knell for McSame. Aspiring to be a dictator is the last thing any sane Presidential candidate wants to be seen as, to say nothing of flat out admitting it.

Um, no. It's obviously a badly delivered joke, and even if it were a serious statement nobody would believe it. It's material for an Internet attack ad, not screaming "MCCAIN: I WANT TO BE A DICTATOR" headlines. For the media to convince people McCain seriously wants to be a dictator using this clip, they'd have to behave more irresponsibly than anything we've seen so far; it would be like reporting the "Obama is a Muslim" meme as fact.

Besides, judging by the last eight years, there are obviously a depressingly large contingent of voters who'd be happy with a dictator, as long as he had an (R) after his name.

[Darth Raptor]

Er, doesn't EVERYONE want to be a dictator, or is there more wrong with me than I thought? What would be alarming is if McCain thought he had a reasonable chance of becoming a dictator and the intent to exploit that chance.

[Covenant]

Er, doesn't EVERYONE want to be a dictator, or is there more wrong with me than I thought? What would be alarming is if McCain thought he had a reasonable chance of becoming a dictator and the intent to exploit that chance.

No they don't, but even if they did, it still doesn't justify a heavily militaristic candidate for the most powerful job in the world joking about it in such oblique terms. All these little things do matter when they repeatedly make you more and more of an embarassment not just to yourself, but to everyone else. There's kind of a discretionary fund for stupidity. It's like my suspension of disbelief. If you keep asking me to tap it on your behalf, eventually there's gonna be pushback. You shouldn't give people justification for thinking you're a worthless dirtbag. I really used to have some respect for McCain years ago as a guy who seemed to be honest enough in his assessments. It's painful to remember having those thoughts now.

[Broomstick]

Er, doesn't EVERYONE want to be a dictator, or is there more wrong with me than I thought?

Dictator? Too much work. Ya, either there's something wrong with you, or something wrong with me.

[Axis Kast]

Er, doesn't EVERYONE want to be a dictator, or is there more wrong with me than I thought?

I think everyone's considered it as a brief mental exercise whenever things go horribly wrong and they're confronted with solutions that don't represent the maximum desired.

In the clip posted here, McCain uses that common experience as a platform to make the point that the best can't be the enemy of the good. I think most folks would listen to that and find it unremarkable. I certainly did.

[Covenant]

Er, doesn't EVERYONE want to be a dictator, or is there more wrong with me than I thought?

I think everyone's considered it as a brief mental exercise whenever things go horribly wrong and they're confronted with solutions that don't represent the maximum desired.

In the clip posted here, McCain uses that common experience as a platform to make the point that the best can't be the enemy of the good. I think most folks would listen to that and find it unremarkable. I certainly did.

Not to belabor past comments, but you've also shown an immense capacity for stomaching McCain's bullshit. This is not a situation where things have gone horribly wrong, it's just a situation that needs to be addressed by calm, engaged members of congress and their economic advisor teams. This kind of a comment has more to do with Bush's "It would be easier to have a dictatorship, if I was the dictator" theme of "fuck the democracy, I want to do it myself" style of leadership, and it mirrors the way McCain has handled detractors. In that same fucking interview he talks about, what, Georgetown Cocktail Republians whining about Palin? As if you can't think poorly of Palin and still be a conservative. What's conservative about poor leadership, idiocy, and deception?

In no case can being a dictator be the best, there's always a way to do the same job without absolute power--and for McCain to think that his ideas are best is truly disturbing. This is a man who has self-admittedly recognized a weakness in matters of economics, who doesn't even handle the economics of his own household, and who has never really had to work for a living in his life. Flying a plane into the dirt is hard work, but it's a different kind of hard work from being a small business owner. Plus, his economic and tax policies are all kinds of wrong, especially compared to the very reasonable centrist style economics that Obama is pulling. That's a different debate though. McCain's economic plan has been spelled out by now, hasn't it? Has it? Or is he still blowing smoke like he was the last time he tried to take on Barak's economic guidelines?

So, honestly, just admit that it's a poor joke and move on. Why defend everything? This is a stunningly poor exercise of humor, worse than his previoud ones, and without the kind of wink-and-nod context that Reagan's "We're now passing a law that makes Russia illegal," style mic-checks funny even if they are still somewhat disturbing. Joking about dictatorship from a party that has pushed long and hard for a Unitary Executive with Ultimate Wartime Powers and a Neverending Conflict isn't funny, and it's neither best nor good, nor unremarkable.

[Kanastrous]

Big deal. Call me back when it's something he can be cruicified for, not something that can't be used to any affect whatsoever and is just an old man's lame sense of humor.

Are you retarded? If the media actually repeated this enough it would be a death knell for McSame. Aspiring to be a dictator is the last thing any sane Presidential candidate wants to be seen as, to say nothing of flat out admitting it.

I don't think so. After all, when McCain can brush off a perfectly legitimate and well-crafted question regarding his running mate advertising devotion to policies which actually oppose McCain's as "gotcha journalism" and then be allowed off the hook, why expect that a gaffe - even a telling one - will gain much traction?

[Axis Kast]

Not to belabor past comments, but you've also shown an immense capacity for stomaching McCain's bullshit. This is not a situation where things have gone horribly wrong, it's just a situation that needs to be addressed by calm, engaged members of congress and their economic advisor teams. This kind of a comment has more to do with Bush's "It would be easier to have a dictatorship, if I was the dictator" theme of "fuck the democracy, I want to do it myself" style of leadership, and it mirrors the way McCain has handled detractors. In that same fucking interview he talks about, what, Georgetown Cocktail Republians whining about Palin? As if you can't think poorly of Palin and still be a conservative. What's conservative about poor leadership, idiocy, and deception?

In no case can being a dictator be the best, there's always a way to do the same job without absolute power--and for McCain to think that his ideas are best is truly disturbing. This is a man who has self-admittedly recognized a weakness in matters of economics, who doesn't even handle the economics of his own household, and who has never really had to work for a living in his life. Flying a plane into the dirt is hard work, but it's a different kind of hard work from being a small business owner. Plus, his economic and tax policies are all kinds of wrong, especially compared to the very reasonable centrist style economics that Obama is pulling. That's a different debate though. McCain's economic plan has been spelled out by now, hasn't it? Has it? Or is he still blowing smoke like he was the last time he tried to take on Barak's economic guidelines?

So, honestly, just admit that it's a poor joke and move on. Why defend everything? This is a stunningly poor exercise of humor, worse than his previoud ones, and without the kind of wink-and-nod context that Reagan's "We're now passing a law that makes Russia illegal," style mic-checks funny even if they are still somewhat disturbing. Joking about dictatorship from a party that has pushed long and hard for a Unitary Executive with Ultimate Wartime Powers and a Neverending Conflict isn't funny, and it's neither best nor good, nor unremarkable.

Only in the mind of somebody so disgusted with McCain and other Republican politicians that they hold them to a standard beyond human possibility could take my statements as a "defense."

It was a joke. But it was also a rationalization. Saying, in essence, "We know that bailout is needed. The urgency of the problem calls for fast action that's good over slower action that's ideal." As when somebody who's exasperated says, "Well, if I were God, but I'm not, so..."

I think, the difference between us is that I don't care to use the context of a situation involving mention of dictatorship to segue into general denunciation of a candidate's policies. Obviously, you're aching to talk about the issues. But even then, it's a separate beast from this specific gaffe.

[Andrew_Fireborn]

What's conservative about poor leadership, idiocy, and deception?

It should seem, that that's the core and entirety of modern conservatism...

Hell, a couple of my relatives think Palin stands more than a snowball's chance in hell of 'winning' the VP debate...

[Covenant]

Andrew, those were actually my words.

Only in the mind of somebody so disgusted with McCain and other Republican politicians that they hold them to a standard beyond human possibility could take my statements as a "defense."

I'm going to single out the top issue because it's seperate from the rest, and goes to motivation. You feel this is a standard beyond human possibility? I'm sorry, you're deranged. Yes, I consider it a general standard that you need to consider the context of your remarks. No, this is not beyond human possibility. Yes, I consider it another general standard that when you seek a position of power over other people that you refrain from making light the abuse of that power. Put those two reasonable things together and you get the reasonable, human-friendly assumption that when you're asking me to accept you as President over me, my family, and so forth, that you attempt to refrain even in jest from talking about stripping me of my rights when your precedessor has also attempted time and again to do the same, and you're his endorsed successor.

I don't want that to sound like I'm aching to talk about the issues (heaven forbid) but context matters. He was doing it to be funny, right? Why so off-color? Why not joke about being the President? Or head of the finance committee? Or being Henry Paulson--and then joke about how he'd have to give up what's left of his hair for the job--or something else? I'm not asserting that McCain is going to drop martial law on us if he goes into office because he joked about it in the election, but it's certainly not funny and it's not beyond the ability of humanity to understand humor requires context and delivery.

It was a joke. But it was also a rationalization. Saying, in essence, "We know that bailout is needed. The urgency of the problem calls for fast action that's good over slower action that's ideal." As when somebody who's exasperated says, "Well, if I were God, but I'm not, so..."

I think, the difference between us is that I don't care to use the context of a situation involving mention of dictatorship to segue into general denunciation of a candidate's policies. Obviously, you're aching to talk about the issues. But even then, it's a separate beast from this specific gaffe.

All issues aside, it's not a rationalization, it's horseshit. It's a horrible attempt to inject a little levity into the discussion.

I much preferred when the republicans called it a crap sandwich, since that's much better way to get the point across with a little added smirk. McCain isn't some wilting violet who needs to pine "Oh, if only I were the Jesus, I would be able to solve this problem!" When I say "Oh, if only I were President..." I'm saying it because I'm in no position to change things. What's John got to whine about? He's a member of the senate and currently vying for President as the Republican Nominee. How much more power do you need to get your goddamn ducks in a row? Do you really need to be a dictator just to get your own party to vote for something? Didn't McCain say--and everyone else say--that he was now the head of this new Republican party?

If he's got to pine for Dictatorial control just to pass a bill, he's not only a horrible comedian but also one shitty leader. The real difference is that you don't seem willing to connect comments and policies and actions together to form a pattern. It's a liar's game to discuss each thing as if it was the only thing he's said or done, and I honestly see no reason why we should ever refrain from discussing his policies. If he says something, even in jest, that makes his policies look bad or worse, isn't that his fault, not mine? Why should I pull my punches because he can't tell the difference between telling a joke and making a blunder? Is being President now a job fit for infants?

[Andrew_Fireborn]

Andrew, those were actually my words.

Yeah, I screwed up the tags and didn't preview.

Sorry.

[Covenant]

Andrew, those were actually my words.

Yeah, I screwed up the tags and didn't preview.

Sorry.

Oh, I don't care. I should have added a smiley or something--just wanted you to know so next time you can remember to edit out the quote tags. ;D

[Agent Sorchus]

The worst part of that was the aspiration remark, I mean he is aspiring to be president and he also 'aspires' to be a dictator. Huh not that great a leap compared to me aspiring to get a masters and saying that if i were god X and Y. The jump from student to supreme entity of creation is so epically greater than the jump from (R) nominee to fuhrer it is not even funny. Even if it was a joke it requires so little suspension of disbelief for some one to not get it that the remark is going to be very hostile to many people.

[Axis Kast]

Yes, I consider it a general standard that you need to consider the context of your remarks. No, this is not beyond human possibility. Yes, I consider it another general standard that when you seek a position of power over other people that you refrain from making light the abuse of that power. Put those two reasonable things together and you get the reasonable, human-friendly assumption that when you're asking me to accept you as President over me, my family, and so forth, that you attempt to refrain even in jest from talking about stripping me of my rights when your precedessor has also attempted time and again to do the same, and you're his endorsed successor.

Call McCain a bad comedian. Call him tasteless. Call him inconsiderate.

I don’t think most people – including most politicians – have that kind of exceptional self-control. You’re demanding that the man give up the off-the-cuff remarks that make him seem like a normal human being. Politicians say idiot things all the time. Look at Biden. Do we hold it against him? We might, but it’s asking a little much, frankly, compared to what the average person says, or is capable of.

Also, I don’t share your worry about dictatorship. This makes it impossible for me to sympathize with the argument that McCain’s statement is troublesome because his predecessor took positive steps in that direction.

I don't want that to sound like I'm aching to talk about the issues (heaven forbid) but context matters. He was doing it to be funny, right? Why so off-color? Why not joke about being the President? Or head of the finance committee? Or being Henry Paulson--and then joke about how he'd have to give up what's left of his hair for the job--or something else? I'm not asserting that McCain is going to drop martial law on us if he goes into office because he joked about it in the election, but it's certainly not funny and it's not beyond the ability of humanity to understand humor requires context and delivery.

Because that doesn’t quite get at it. McCain needed an analogy in which he was free to do anything, without restraint. The President can’t enact that law, just as he sees fit, all alone. The head of the finance committee can’t. I’m afraid that you’re illustrating my point about the validity of the comparison when you try, and fail, to find alternatives.

All issues aside, it's not a rationalization, it's horseshit. It's a horrible attempt to inject a little levity into the discussion.

I found nothing offensive about it at all. In fact, it was rather clever, I think. Maybe the “which I always aspire to be” was a little impolitic because he’s running for election, but it’s nothing odious.

I much preferred when the republicans called it a crap sandwich, since that's much better way to get the point across with a little added smirk. McCain isn't some wilting violet who needs to pine "Oh, if only I were the Jesus, I would be able to solve this problem!" When I say "Oh, if only I were President..." I'm saying it because I'm in no position to change things. What's John got to whine about? He's a member of the senate and currently vying for President as the Republican Nominee. How much more power do you need to get your goddamn ducks in a row? Do you really need to be a dictator just to get your own party to vote for something? Didn't McCain say--and everyone else say--that he was now the head of this new Republican party?

As a member of the Senate, was he able to get the bill passed just by snapping his fingers? He wasn’t. Ergo, the suggestion that he could’ve done better, if only he had added power, makes lots of sense.

Obviously, McCain doesn’t command the loyalty of the Republican rank-and-file. That’s a legitimate complaint, if you’re looking for a president who can shoehorn legislation with ease. It’s also something you’re obviously more than welcome to talk about. I’ve got no call stopping you. This article simply didn’t inspire me to do anything but gawk incredulously at people who think it’s newsworthy or significant or that it speaks to character deficiencies on the part of McCain.