Why Not McCain?- 1

So many reasons, and so little time before the election. But I wanted to start cataloguing the reasons election of Senator John McCain to the presidency would be disastrous. Today, a foreign policy item.

Responding to the Russian invasion of Georgia, Senator McCain, according to the New York Sun on August 12, 2008, asserted the previous day in a televised statement from in Erie, Pa.:

This should be unacceptable to all the democratic countries of the world, and should draw us together in universal condemnation of Russian aggression...Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin must understand the severe, long-term negative consequences that their government's actions will have for Russia's relationship with the U.S. and Europe.

Tough language, indeed. Perhaps a little reckless? Nah- he was only joshing, as we saw when McCain backtracked at a news conference in Birmingham, Michigan the following day (as reported in a piece entitled "McCain Rules Out Military Action Against Russia:):

I don't think we're going to reignite the Cold War here with Russia.... I think this is a very serious situation but I don't see it as a return to nuclear standoffs, etcetera, etcetera. I want to have a dialogue with the Russians, I want them to get out of Georgian territory as quickly as possible and I'm interested in good relations between the United States and Russia.

Usually it takes the Arizona Senator at least a couple of days to reverse himself on policy. But here it's a little different- bluff and bluster, then backing down. Being unrealistically aggressive, and then foolishly taking military action off the table- both dangerous extremes from a guy who typically seems not to think much before he talks. And this on McCain's supposed strong point, foreign policy!