John McCain suffers from selective memory loss

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I have noted before how John McCain seems oblivious to the fact that there are such things as video and audio recordings, and written records. He seems to think that he can say whatever he wants and never be called on it for having done the same thing himself or contradicted his own previous position. Perhaps this is because he has lived inside the protective bubble of the feckless Arizona McMedia for so long – a McMedia that behaves as if its job is to be a cheerleader for McCain and not to hold him accountable.

But I have noticed a perceptible change of late in the Washington media villagers and Beltway bloviators. They are increasingly questioning McCain's often erratic behavior and his selective memory loss. They are playing "let's go to the video" to call him out.

McCain has been on a tear this month after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made Senator McNasty his point man in opposing the health care reform bill in the Senate.

Last week, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), acting on the orders of the Senate leadership, refused to grant Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) “an additional moment” to continue speaking on the Senate floor after his 10 minutes expired. Sen. Lieberman accepted this in good nature, but not his BFF Sen. McNasty. Think Progress » Flashback: McCain Refused To Grant 30 Seconds Of Time During Iraq War Debate:

Franken’s objection caused Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to groan about how Franken’s move was unprofessional, unprecedented, and disrespectful:

McCAIN: I’ve been around here 20-some years. First time I’ve ever seen a member denied an extra minute or two to finish his remarks. … I just haven’t seen it before myself. And I don’t like it. And I think it harms the comity of the Senate not to allow one of our members at least a minute. I’m sure that time is urgent here, but I doubt that it would be that urgent.

Unfortunately, McCain’s memory is suffering. In fact, McCain has engaged in the very same behavior that he was criticizing Franken for yesterday.

On October 10, 2002 — just ahead of the looming mid-term elections — the Senate rushed a debate on a war authorization giving President Bush the power to use force against Iraq. The resolution ultimately passed the Senate after midnight on an early Friday morning by a vote of 77-23.

During the course of the frenzied floor debate, then-Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN) spoke in favor of an amendment offered by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) that would have restricted Bush’s constitutional powers to wage war against Iraq. After a minute and a half, Dayton ran out of time, prompting this exchange:

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator’s time has expired.

Mr. DAYTON. I ask for unanimous consent that I have 30 seconds more to finish my remarks.

Mr. McCAIN. I object.

Byrd stepped in to grant Dayton time to finish his remarks. But just moments later, Byrd asked for more time to speak for himself. Again, McCain objected, prompting Byrd to chide him for doing so. “This shows the patience of a Senator,” Byrd said. “This clearly demonstrates that the train is coming down on us like a Mack truck, and we are not even going to consider a few extra minutes for this Senator.”

After being publicly shamed, McCain acquiesced to Byrd’s request. But moments later, McCain added this disclaimer: “I wish to say very briefly that I understand people have a desire to speak. We have a number of Senators who have not spoken on this issue. It is already looking as if we may be here well into this evening. From now on, I will be adhering strictly to the rules.” In other words, he acted just like Franken did.

The Rachel Maddow Show obtained the video from McCain's objection to Sen. Dayton. Hardball with Chris Matthews has the video of the exchange with Sen. Byrd. McCain is heard off-camera making his objections.

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On Sunday, Sen. MCain was a guest on Faux News Sunday (was his regular gig on the Meet the Press preempted?) and ripped into the president for abandoning his pledge to foster bipartisanship in Washington, accusing Obama of creating a more toxic political environment than that which existed during the Clinton administration. McCain: Obama Created More Partisan Environment Than Bill Clinton No really; he did.

"There has never been serious cross-the-table negotiations on any serious issue that I've engaged in — and that I and others have engaged in — with other administrations both Republican and Democrat," said McCain.

Note the egocentric narcissism in that statement. If a tree falls in the woods and John McCain is not there to hear it, does it make a sound? Unless the world revolves around John McCain, it just never happened.

Maybe our boy Johnny should check with Queen Olympia Snowe who was the negotiator for the GOP and who praised Obama for reaching out to Republicans. Think Progress » McCain hits Obama for failing to reach out to Republicans, while Snowe praises Obama for outreach. (The White House largely gutted the House bill to appease Republicans in a quixotic quest for bipartisanship, and got not one Republican vote in return. Who did not negotiate in good faith in a bipartisan manner? Americans know.)

What about our boy Johnny's own lack of "bipartisanship"? He has been behaving like a sore loser since last November's election. Obama was gracious enough to throw an inaugural ball in John McCain's honor – something never before done. And how did McCain respond to this gracious overture? At Obama's first press conference with congressional leaders, McCain asked him to cancel the new presidential helicopters that George Bush had ordered. McCain Asks Obama About $11.2 Billion Copter Plan McCain has been sniping at Obama ever since.

Obama is responsible for the "toxic political environment"? This had its seed in John McCain's reckless and irresponsible selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate. Her job was to fire up the right-wing base with the coded racial politics of the "Southern Strategy" revived by the McCain campaign. The haters showed up at Palin rallies.

This spilled over into the birthers (Palin has taken a stance on both sides of this bogus issue) and the teabaggers fueled by Palin's "death panels" lie. Just who exactly are carrying those hateful posters of Obama as the joker or Hitler, and accusing him of being a marxist/communist/socialist/dictator and secret muslim? It was you, Johnny, who unleashed these demons and poisoned the political environment in a desperate attempt to win at any cost. It was your lack of character and judgment. You are responsible and you are to be held accountable.

Yesterday, Sen. McCain said that he didn't think the late Sen. Ted Kennedy would appreciate that health care reform was passed "on a party line vote." McCain: Ted Kennedy Would Be Disappointed Health Care Bill Not Bipartisan Seriously? Calling on the memory of Ted Kennedy to support your Party of No scorched earth strategy of obstructionism and crass partisanship? I regret that Ted Kennedy did not live to participate in this historic debate. I can guarantee you, Johnny, that Ted would have given the speech of his life and he would have called you out by name for your obstructionism, your lack of good faith, and your lack of "bipartisanship." How dare you call upon Ted Kennedy to support your actions.

You are a disgrace, senator. I suggest that you apologize to Kennedy's widow Victoria for your impertinence.