Important Questions For George Stephanopoulos To Ask John McCain This Weekend

[nashville_brook]

(there's some real meat in this column -- go see the WHOLE thing. it's a must-read. brook)

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/14123

Important Questions For George Stephanopoulos To Ask John McCain This Weekend
by Cliff Schecter
(snip)

So in the spirit of seeing how all the candidates deal with "scandal," or just being queried about everyone they have associated with since that 6th grade teacher who crossed the street against a red light (do you denounce her Senator Obama? Denounce and reject her!?! Or perhaps just reject?), here are some questions that John McCain should be asked on your show this weekend, Mr. Stephanopoulos (sorry, old habit from when I had you as a professor at Columbia). First a great list I came across, and then a few of my own I found in my research for my book The Real McCain. This list is from Perrspectives, a fantastic compilation, in my always humble opinion:

1. Do you agree with Pastor John Hagee that war with Iran is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?

(snip)

2. Doesn't your legendary temper make you too dangerous to be trusted with the presidency of the United States?

(snip)

4. Given your past adultery, should Americans consider you a moral exemplar of family values?

(snip)

6. Given your wealth and privileged upbringing, aren't you - and not Barack Obama - the elitist?

(snip)

12) Finally, if Barack Obama must account for everyone he has ever passed within a 100 square mile radius of, then here are some associations you might want to explain, with the indicted, the white supremacists and the downright corrupt: Rick Renzi (indicted), Terry Nelson (racist ads against Harold Ford in 2006), Trent Lott (pining for a Strom presidency), The Wyly Brothers (corrupt), Bob Perry (Chief Swift Boater), Richard Quinn (white supremacist), Rev. Richard Land (homosexual hate), Ken Blackwell (Ohio election suppression), Charlie Black (lobbyist and according to John Gorenfeld's new book, Bad Moon Rising, Reverend Moon lover). That would be a start.

(Cliff Schecter is the author of The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him And Why Independents Shouldn't.)

[no_hypocrisy]

1. and in the tradition of the clinton-obama debate:

How did you apologize to your wife, Cindy, after you called her a "trollop" and a "cunt"?

[nashville_brook]

4. since he must be vetted against the imagined attacks from the Dems, one would imagine

everything be on the table. can't be too careful.

[Voice for Peace]

35. I have a REALLY great question:

Can you state, now, unequivocally, truthfully, that Barack Obama and/or Hillary Clinton can defeat you in November?

:rofl:

[orleans]

52. i've got a question for him: since your wife made you sign a prenuptial

why should the american people trust you any more than she did?

[Voice for Peace]

55. Good one! Send it in.

[orleans]

56. i can't. but you can do it if you want to. n/t

[Voice for Peace]

57. I've already sent two lists today.. LOL I have to quit, it's getting to be a habit.

[featherman]

2. The difference is that McCain will have pre approval of the questions

as part of the agreement to appear on the show. That's the way these things work. He will be able to prepare his answers to those questions he approves and reject those questions his staff does not want to answer.

[nichomachus]

3. Given your history of adultery

how can you oppose same-sex marriage?

[LSparkle]

5. What about the Keating Five? How can McSame say he's ...

"never done anything to betray the trust of the American people" (I'm
paraphrasing but he said something similar at the time of the NYT/lobbyist
scandal) when he pushed for de-regulation of the S&Ls on behalf of his
supporter, Mr. Keating? The press corps has amnesia when it comes to
McLame's "pre-maverick" sins ...

[nashville_brook]

18. and that is TOTALLY relevant to our economic shitstorm right now.

how can he be trusted to fix the banking mess we're in when he couldn't keep his hands out of the cookie jar 20 years ago?

this thread is proving to be quite incisive. maybe the reason why the debate so ridiculous is b/c there's no *real* dirt to use against BO at this point. they are forced to bring up lapel pins -- that must've made Gibson feel like a midget. one would hope.

[LSparkle]

20. If GeorgieBoy doesn't mention the Keating scandal, he's in for hell

After the embarassment of the debate, he's got to get his journalistic
"credibility" (ha!) back and NOT asking McLame about this would only
open him up to more criticism. It'll be interesting to see how tough
he is on Grandpa.

[Kurovski]

6. "Senator McCain, do you think it's patriotic to snap at your wife and call her a c*nt?"

--Just taking all this crap one step further, here.

[Coexist]

7. ooh

[nashville_brook]

8. might that not shed light on how he'd handle women's issues?

i think it's quite relevant.

:evilgrin:

[Kurovski]

21. I think you're on to something there.

It also calls into play his stability and ability to handle stress.

Yes, it's a very intelligent and pertinent question, after all! :-)

[Warpy]

9. First and foremost

You have said we will be fighting in Iraq for at least the next century. Given that you are on record as promising to double the Bush tax cuts, how do you expect to pay for this century of expensive warfare on the other side of the planet?

If that one doesn't make him turn purple and lose it, nothing will.

[nashville_brook]

10. oh wow -- i can't believe that wan't on the list! good one!

[lame54]

11. "How old are you - really?"

[Kurovski]

22. "Is maintaining your health and longevity by drinking virgin's blood unpleasant?"

...and the follow-op question: "Do you often have lunch with Dick Cheney, and what do you discuss at those times?" "Do you like to make-out with the Vice-president?"

"We already know about you and President Bush...so we ask you, is he a good kisser? Or do you only kiss and caress his bottom?"

[nashville_brook]

27. blawhahaha!

[Voice for Peace]

30. Inquiring minds want to KNOW, dammit

[Kurovski]

43. Yes we do. It's important.

Our goal is to make informed decisions.

[wurzel]

12. 7. Is a president who lies us into a war a patriot?

8. Was Sen. Obama's relationship with Rev Wright more damaging to the country that Bush's relationship with Ken Lay?

[nashville_brook]

14. you bring up a VERY good point -- McCain is running as Bush2, so any question

vetting his approval/disapproval of Bush policies AND relationships need to be fair game.

[RobertSeattle]

13. Boxer or Briefs?

And the followup... Can I get yours, Senator?

[nashville_brook]

15. eeewwwwwwwww!

[RobertSeattle]

25. Senator's Reponse:

"Depends™"

[rhett o rick]

41. Yuck. nm

[Kurovski]

23. He wears a patriotic thong.

This is well-established.

[nashville_brook]

29. double eeewwwwww!

[Kurovski]

36. Why do you hate patriots?

:cry:

I will pray for you.

[Dr Fate]

16. "Will you repeatedly denounce and condemn every Republican who has ever held a racist position?"

"And if if you refuse, should voters assume you agree with them 100% percent? After all, you have had more than 20 years to leave that party..."

[Voice for Peace]

32. Dr. Fate, that is an awesome question.

[Dr Fate]

37. And you will never hear a Hillary surrogate ask this of McCain.

As far as she is concerned, charges of racism are reserved soley for the mixed-race Democrat.

The white male right-winger with a 40 year history of associating with racists gets the benefit of the doubt from the Hillary camp.

[Voice for Peace]

39. All the same you should send that one to Stephanopolous.

It's a damn good question and Americans deserve to know the answer.

[Dr Fate]

45. Feel free to steal it from me and send it to him as well. n/t

n/t

[Voice for Peace]

47. Dr.Fate, the deed is done.

The fate of the package is sealed. :smoke:

[nashville_brook]

34. you know there a STRONG argument to be made that he's a very WEAK candidate

among Republicans -- so, he needs to be taken to task on his "fitness."

[Voice for Peace]

17. Does Pastor Hagee love all Americans and consider them his friends?

and

Why aren't you wearing a flag pin?

[satya]

19. And if he happens to be wearing a flag pin--"Is that union-made here in the US of A?" nt

[Voice for Peace]

28. ooh yeah, that's a good one.

[LSK]

24. "are you a great candidate or the greatest candidate?"

[nashville_brook]

31. good one. i can totally see Steph asking this after his performance the other night.

ABC/Disney outFOXes FOX.

[Kurovski]

26. "Senator McCain, when Bush went negative on you in the 2000 presidential campaign,

did you want to kick the shit out of him? Did you call him a c*nt, or do you reserve that moniker for those in your family?

[nashville_brook]

33. wowser -- he'd be a "kick the dog" kinda president. watch out Cuba!

[spanone]

38. if you're elected prez will you run a torture program OUT OF THE FUCKING WHITE HOUSE

[PCIntern]

40. That slimy little prick will kiss his ass...

and ask him softball ass-kissing questions. Remember, he's a Hero, Maverick, Long-serving Senator, Veteran, Son and Grandson of High-ranking military men, a POW, a Vietnam War Vet, a cancer victim, mutilated by the enemy, mutilated by surgery.

So what is this traitorous Steph gonna do?

Guess.

[nashville_brook]

44. in a way, i kinda hope he does softball it -- b/c that would leave no question as to his

bias and uselessness as a journo to the masses.

[PCIntern]

48. I used to agree with you but

the scenario you describe no longer exists. People will say: that's how you treat a 'hero'. With respect.

[nashville_brook]

51. ugh. you're right.

[tom_paine]

54. Yep, he is. We have all lived too long under The New Totalitarianism

to have any illusions about what is coming.

As in Russia (Soviet or BushPutinist), China, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Pinochet's Chile, Marcos' Phillipines or any of the Sister Nations to Bush-Occupied Amerika, hypocrisy is a word which is simply just too weak to describe the lying False Bushie/Soviet/Nazi Relaity that we subjects have to live under and with.

Orwellian Madness? Call it what you will, but this is a done deal.

[rhett o rick]

42. Is that George Staphylococcus? Watch out for him. nm

[rucky]

46. You seem pretty high-strung. How much of that has to do with your race? n/t

[Kurovski]

61. Here's a post I made on another thread related to George's dog-whistle comment:

"Mr. Stephanopoulos, you seem to bend over so readily for right-wing pundits like Sean Hannity. Is that due to your Greek heritage?"

[ihavenobias]

49. I would ask him

I would ask him if he's read the Politico article that compared the McCain of 2000 to the McCain of 2008: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9000.html

Then I could bring up some of the major points (reversal on tax cuts for the rich during war, reversal on "agents of intolerance" and of course, reversal on torture) and ask finally "if John Kerry was painted as a flip-flopper, could the same label be applied to you?"

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

50. charlie black was moon's lover?

these guy's just continue to astound me.

[tom_paine]

53. You know there is a 0% and I mean ZERO PERCENT chance of Steffie

being even the slightest bit tough on McBush. The slightest. Not only won't he ask any of Schechter's questions, he won't ask ANYTHING that is remotely difficult.

You know it, I know, the entire Free World (which does NOT include our country) knows it.

0% ZERO. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

As much chance of Steffy doing anything else but throwing out deferential softballs as Adolf Hitler has of rising from the grave to apologize to the Jewish People.

I hate to be so cynical, but seven years of totalitarianism teaches you a few things.

ZERO CHANCE.

Watch and wait. You'll see. Steffue gets his paycheck no matter what. Media and reall the whole of our nation does not require "the consent of the governed" in any way shape or form, and that includes our de facto State Run Media (how do they do it? in other countries, to get what Amerika has in Toady Media, they have to beat and kill people).

I have seen it so many times, the callous disregard for the American People, the obsequious toadying to the Bushies, all of it, to think it would be any different this time.

ZERO PERCENT CHANCE.

[csziggy]

58. Olbermann tonight had an awesome list of questions

for Steffie to ask McCain. People on the set were laughing out loud.

There does not seem to be a transcript or video posted of them yet. If anybody recorded the show, it is about 40 minutes in.

[malaise]

59. Still not up on his site n/t

sp

[csziggy]

70. Here are Olbermann's questions for Stephanopoulos to ask John McCain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ow1R0vQBDM

[kskiska]

60. How about those elitist recipes posted on his website?

The high-falutin' tuna dishes?
What's wrong with good old franks and beans or meat loaf?

[Kurovski]

62. Why do he and his wife need eight houses?

[autorank]

63. You got my vote Nashville! k*r

:hi: Hard hitting, on point, ka boom!

[nashville_brook]

66. don't thank me -- thank Cliff Schecter. Everyone should check out his book:

The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him And Why Independents Shouldn't.


but i'll take credit for passing on the linkee! :evilgrin:

[autorank]

72. Schecter has got things going. Great stuff

and do take credit;)

[Perry Logan]

64. Does it torture you to be joining forces with the people who smeared you and your family in 2000?

[nashville_brook]

67. i don't see how that question *can't* be asked. it's soooo tv-ready.

[Perry Logan]

65. You don't look so good. Do you promise not to die during your first term?

[hatrack]

68. My top ten for Stuffinenvelopes . . .

1. What's your favorite color?

2. Brownies or Rice Krispy treats - which is better?

3. What was the first movie you saw as a kid?

4. What are your favorite domestic and imported beers?

5. Why do you think Hillary Clinton is a freedom-hating traitor to America?

6. Why is Barack Obama such a frightening ideologue for radical Black Power philosophies?

7. Is Iran a threat?

8. Is Iran a bigger threat than Al Qaeda?

9. Isn't Iran just the biggest, baddest threat since Genghis Khan and Tamerlane?

10. What was your favorite song from "The Sound Of Music"?

[creeksneakers2]

69. Is waterboarding against the law?

What should the legal definition of torture be?

[alfredo]

71. Here's one for McCane

Do you ever brush your teeth?