Charlie Rose

David Peter  10/17/2008 12:59 AM Report

I watched almost all of the Charlie Rose interviews here with John McCain going back 1997 and would have to say his focus as a politician has changed significantly over the past 10 years. He started out tackling special interests and focusing on reforming the political process by stopping the influence of big business on politicians of both parties. No longer does he talk about special interests or lobbyists or campaign finance reform, and he states in the latest interview that there is nothing wrong with the current electoral process. He spoke a lot about inspiring the youth of the America in 2000 and overcoming cynicism about politics and igniting American to be courageous and willing to sacrifice. And there is a riveting account of his experience as a POW in the 06/03/1997 interview.

After 9/11 his main focus has been expanding the military globally to fight radical Islaamic terrorists and other potential threats to America. He strongly supported the war in Iraq from its initial planning to the present day and is prepared to be there for a long time, with American casualities and military cost as a necessary sacrifice. He initially opposed the Bush tax cuts at the start of the Iraq war because America had never cut taxes before when they were heading to war, but now he favors them.

In recent interviews as he began his 2008 bid for president he focuses on the typical Republican talking points of cutting taxes, cutting spending, winning the war in Iraq, somehow fixing healthcare, education, immigration, bla, bla, bla. Compare this 11/27/2007 "Charlie Rose Special Edition: The Candidates" interview of McCain with the 07/28/1999 Charlie Rose interview, and you will conclude that McCain has turned into a very boring, status quo politician.

sock puppet  09/19/2008 05:00 PM Report

Populating current conversations with this comment at risk of irritating some, which for those (types) so inclined my profit will compound. This is another (wildly) vivid case for regulation. Even Kosher meat processing is dishonored. Religions don't temper our baser instincts - from carnage to egregious greed. Corporate greed via their lobbying pimps and Congressional venal whores promote the human debasement depicted in the video cited below. Corporate greed to maximize profits dehumanize employees (they of necessity have to overcompensate with an anger at their dumb victims) abuse, torture the dumbest yet the most innocent amongst us. Other earthlings. All slaughter houses need regulating and oversight - particularly corporate ones. They mock Kosher proceedings, but most of all they mock and dishonor common decency. Please pass it on. Why hell if we would do this to dumb animals we might even justify torture of humans, err I mean water-boarding err sensory deprivation err . . . . I repeat, please pass it on. A kernel of humanity towards the humbler (but nobler?) among us might help transfer similar sentiments to ourselves. (A variation of Pogo's revelation.) The link: (it ain't pretty - largely because our values are refracting (magnified) right back at us.) Thanks for your time. N.B.: It's important! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967&hl=en _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Attribution and kudos to "Marilyn!"

Preston  09/08/2008 08:36 AM Report

sock puppet, your extremist exaggerating will always make you a force of nonsense which you seem to be very proud of, always on the verge of arrogance. Which demonstrates Mr. Fassel's comment below yours; summarized as, the Republican politicians would have some serious explaining to do, except of course, they're running against the Democrats. I could go on, but why bother.

sock puppet  09/08/2008 12:30 AM Report

Palin chats with the Big Guy: Recently said God supports the U.S. war against Iraq. And she recently told followers to pray to God for a natural gas pipeline to be built through Alaska. Further, she said if that was anathema to go ahead and throwup. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHKKKKKK!!!

sock puppet  09/07/2008 11:46 PM Report

Preston - Touche! I'm finished off. Actually was a loser (your applause is unbecoming of a gentleman - and not kind as promised) at the outset. My doomsday offense of shouting the sky is falling was a big Chicken Little cry for you or someone to prove me wrong. But alak, and alas your retort only validated my apocalyptic doom. Your jingoism has been in vogue for some time and will continue (as you're in the majority) apparently into the end-of-days.

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Finally, my prehistory Ugh and Urgh characters elicited a rewriting-the-bible response. As usual you're right. A more dismal and apt (for my point) citing would've been Cain and Abel, an early precursor if even brothers are willing participants of fratricide. Now their counterparts and descendents have nukes. Since continued provocation got us here, maybe, just maybe, a new approach would be worth considering, like dispensing with arrogance. (Is that what you meant by 1969) We're neutered, streched-too-thin, financially raped-over by deregulated Republican wise-guys (a la Freddie and Fannie takeovers this weekend) and Cheney's posturing in Georgia (Russia's Cuba) and Ukraine trying to poop in the next regimes mess kit. My 'idiot solutions' suggests 'change' - sound familiar?

Roy Fassel  09/07/2008 10:23 PM Report

Most Charlie Rose (NPRPBS) ) listeners are/were staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton. These fervent supporters also state that Sarah Palin is not "qualified" to run on the McCain ticket as Vice President. These Clinton supporter are entirely correct. Sarah Palin lacks the necessities of "experience" to lead this country like Hillary Clinton and many other could. After all, Palin never experienced flunking her DC Bar exam as did Senator Clinton. Palin never experienced the subtleties and nuances of hiding the Rose Law Firm billing records for a number of years as did Clinton. Palin never experienced dodging sniper fire as Hillary Clinton did in Bosnia. Sarah of Alaska never had the experience to lose the Democratic primary election which was all hers to win to an upstart Junior Senator from Illinois who beat Alan Keyes, of Maryland, for the Senate seat in Illinois. Most of all, Palin never managed to do the heavy lifting that Hillary Clinton did in 1993 to advance the national health care initiatives. As Senator Bill Bradley wrote… ....................................... Hillary Threatened To “Demonize” Anyone Who Stood In The Way Of Her Health Care Plan. At a retreat for Senate Democrats, Hillary was asked by Bill Bradley, “whether the Clinton’s failure to meet their promise of submitting health care legislation to Congress in one hundred days… would make it more difficult to win passage… Perhaps some substantive changes might be required in the interest of realism, Bradley suggested. No, Hillary responded icily, there would be no changes because delay or not, the White House would ‘demonize’ members of Congress and the medical establishment who would use the interim to alter the administration’s plan or otherwise stand in its way.” [A Woman In Charge, p. 304\ .......................................... ‘That was it for me in terms of Hillary Clinton,’ Bradley said many years later. ‘You don’t tell members of the Senate you are going to demonize them. It was obviously so basic to who she is. The arrogance. The assumption that people with questions are enemies. The disdain. The hypocrisy.’……………………………………………………………………. Sarah from Alaska is much more qualified for high office than the empty suit from Illinois. In 2000 and 2004, the Democrats could not beat a guy who could not complete two complete sentences in one sitting. This election is over. Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. That is what the Democrats have been doing since 2000. People are not voting "for" Republicans. They are voting "against" Democrats. Democrats are stupid.

Preston  09/07/2008 09:20 PM Report

O.K., I'll finish you off the way Obama promises to finish off the terrorists (that you're so confident will work). I'll kill you with kindness, as you request... Excuse me sir, but you seem to have dropped your detonator, here you go. Is there anything else I can do for you? Well I hope you enjoy your stay. Oh quite do, quite do... O.K., did that finish you off?... As stupid as that sounds, it's pale compared to your 1969 world view and idiot solutions. Get over it, Woodstock is over and it ain't coming back for at least another 100 years. (Now who's going to tell Fidel about "his" revolution?)

sock puppet  09/07/2008 02:12 PM Report

Preston - 1. Fear religious people? Just the zealots with certitudes and the ones Palin-style that God tells confidentially that the ME oil really belongs to us and He really meant to put it all in AK. His Archangel of Geography was high on stardust at the time. She's since been transferred to Beelzebub. 2. We should fear ourselves? For damn sure. Ugh, in the morality tale, is us (Pogo style - as in we have met the enemy and it is us). 3. Wrongfully will blame gun-toting neocons fighting for my right to be wrong. You mean like the way they've created more enemies since 9/11 than before? And since when did sock puppet's right to be wrong replace oil hegemony, greed, M-I complex profiteering, Blackwater contracts, blood-lust, power-lust, and human depravity (Republicanism for short)??? Be kind when you finish me off (Ugh).

Preston  09/07/2008 10:21 AM Report

O.K. sock puppet, now I see you're re-writing the Bible. And it's starting out real original... And you fear religious people?.?.???... You must scare yourself every time you look in the mirror... Now that I forced that thought, you will agree and advise that we should all be scared of ourselves, because it is "written" (in the halls of liberal academia). But you won't say that part. You'll say it's the machine gun toting "neocons" fighting for your right to be wrong that is ruining the way people should be... Correct me if I'm wrong (and then I'll finish you off).

sock puppet  09/06/2008 08:49 PM Report

Preston - not sure I pegged the approach of Armegeddon as 'beginning' 8 yrs ago. Since you forced thought, it doubtless started at the beginning in prehistory (God has a bizarre sense of humor - as do you - you two related?) when Ugh was startled by Urgh and jumped behind a rock and began planning Urgh's destruction. That imprint on our genetic code still has us scheming behind the same metaphorical rock. God must set it in motion and let each 'cycle' endure as long as it's wits allow. Then the next gets a turn. When Ugh's reaction is one of delight and greets Urgh with a grunt and a hug then maybe that will define the species that will survive.

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In that little cautionary tale, I have to admit to being a surrogate Ugh, as McCain-Palin, as surrogate Urghs, are coming from behind a rock (Republican convention) armed to the teeth, beating their chests and shouting war chants. Ugh, me scared as hell. We obviously are not the surviving 'cycle.' Unless perhaps if we come back as cockroaches?

Preston  09/06/2008 07:30 PM Report

sock puppet, you're just to good for this world; kinda like Ralph Nader... Although I find it interesting that you choose 8 years ago to be the beginning of the end of the world. Perhaps you're really just another false "profit" (sorry, there's that disdainful word again) espousing the disgruntled liberally educated fire and brimstone misguided missile from the halls of scholarly academia into real world uselessness... Which means you really should be blaming your professors, not little red riding hood... chicken-little.

sock puppet  09/06/2008 06:05 PM Report

Prescient Preston - my addled mindlessness is from fear brought on by 8 yrs of inhuman acts brought about by our unbelievable potential to do the wrong thing. It seems we're headed that way for 4-8 more - to your delight, my chagrin. So your barbs pale into nothing compared to what I think we are doing to ourselves - YET AGAIN. We are not a quick or even slow study. Here's a challenge. Can you respond sans ad hominem or humor. (Although hate to admit that 1 of 20 might elecit a smile.)

Preston  09/06/2008 05:44 PM Report

Carol J, when you visit Charlie Rose.com, you are in sock puppet's HOUSE. Which happens to be a padded cell in his brain. That's why he likes to yell in your ear.

sock puppet  09/06/2008 05:38 PM Report

This reeks of irony mostly, apostasy, and horror since we're dumber than dirt about our selections for office, e.g., Cheney et al. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ From The Vancouver Sun 9/6/08: Sarah Palin - Elements of her evangelical Christian convictions and associations 1. Insists on referring to herself as simply "Christian." 2. Baptized Catholic. Re-baptized Pentecostal as adult. Attended various Pentecostal Assemblies of God churches for two decades, until 2002. Now attending "non-denominational" evangelical church in Wasilla, Alaska. 3. Recently said God supports the U.S. war against Iraq. 4. Has said she would make abortion illegal in all cases, unless the life of the mother was at risk. 5. The Pentecostal church believes Jesus Christ will return to earth in Armageddon, a cosmic cataclysm in which unbelievers will be condemned to eternal suffering. 6. Her former Pentecostal pastor believes in "holy war" against terrorists. 7. Pentecostals speak in tongues, a language that is indecipherable to outsiders, but is considered holy to fellow charismatic Christians. 8. Her former Pentecostal pastor (at Wasilla Assembly of God) questioned whether people who voted for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election would get into heaven. 9. She has said Creationism, the Biblical account of God creating the world in six days, shouldn't be barred from public schools. 10. She recently told followers to pray to God for a natural gas pipeline to be built through Alaska. 11. Opposes stem-cell research, which involves destruction of human embryos. 12. Supports abstinence-until-marriage programs, where teens are taught to refrain from sex until marriage and contraception is discussed only to explain its failings. Perhaps most relevant concern to Canadians: David Gushee, a Christian ethicist at Mercer University in Atlanta, says he is troubled that a public official might presume that government action could be God's intent. "I would never think it is appropriate to describe the actions of the United States military or the strategies of our commanders as a plan from God," Gushee told the Wall Street Journal. Gov. Palin should explain her beliefs concerning the inevitability of a cataclysm and the end of time, Gushee said. "To me, it is highly relevant to someone who potentially has her hand on the nuclear button. If that is her worldview, I would want to know about that." _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ If some wonder where I get my belief that our species will not survive, the above should fill in the blanks. Palin-type irrationality is unfortunately matched somewhere else on the planet pitting two religious zealots (gleefully) into their self-imposed (and oh so righteous) Armegeddon. And being not a synapse better we put them in office. Thus we deserve to have ourselves for lunch - well fried. See you all in hell - wear your political buttons - maybe they will comfort you in some perverse way. You can say to each other, "I don't care, we were right! Palin-McCain might've . . . oh nevermind. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!

sock puppet  09/06/2008 05:35 PM Report

Hey Carol J - there's more coming. She's scaring me into fanatacism. Obviously I think it's more important than your (and doubtless others) good graces, ala Palin's view of the media. The next series deals with her religious beliefs which are even more frightening. God condoned Iraq per Palin. Your irritation notwithstanding I want every Palin, McCain post to have that info. I'm possessed admittedly.

Bruce Dickson  09/06/2008 05:15 PM Report

Why is it that Friday's devastating special edition of 'The Daily Show' was able to do something as simple as researching and intercutting what turns out to be virtually identical electioneering claims and statements from the respective election campaigns of Bush and McCain ... to once and for all expose (through their own words) the emptiness of their shared promises & rhetoric and the total overlap clearly evident in their deceitful attempts at misleading American voters? Yet the Charlie Rose Show just lets such statements pass without any equivalent, warranted comment or just a simple 'then and now comparison'. And why is a comedy show virtually by default - and totally in the public interest - doing the basic background research (and vital probing for the truth) that any interviewer of Charlie Rose's calibre should be doing as standard professional and ethical journalistic practice? Do OPB, the Charlie Rose Show and the wider media ever want to personally accept any of the ultimate responsibility they should most definitely assume for the terrible price Americans have been paying (in lives, hardship and pain) for allowing such manipulative lies ... without any serious or meaningful challenge ... be in effect 'propagandized' via their programs? And just how tragic is the fact that simply matching the significant public interest role played by John Stewart's lonely, ‘commonsense’ comedy show would appear to be such a great starting point and role model to live up to here?

Carol J  09/06/2008 05:11 PM Report

Hey Sock Pocket, get sonme new words or get a life. Are you trying to ruin Charlie Rose Website. Let some one else post on here who can articulate. At least four programs have comments from you and they are the exact words. You are wasting space.

sock puppet  09/06/2008 04:07 PM Report

More Republican disaster, namely we the taxpayers now own Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. That oughta bout finish our treasury off. How you bettin that the CEO's instead of going to jail will get millions in golden parachutes. The laissez faire deregulation-loving Republicans can't even run government supported operations. GM, Ford in the toilet (mileage standards would've saved them). Financial industry wise-guys broke the system with the subprime egregious greed (where regulation would have saved themselves from themselves - and us). _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ None of this will change until we neuter the lobbyists. That wont happen until congress is reduced to one-term limits. Fat chance. In short we will consume ourself with greed. Cannabalizing ourselves. Tantamount to slicing off a piece of ham from our own butt.

sock puppet  09/04/2008 10:11 AM Report

What does a think-tank thinker think when a pivot pivots? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Presuming (as I do) that last night was Sarah's coronation speech, based on the belief that it was the cover (sought) for many for not feeling guilty about not voting for a black. A viable smart woman will substitute one feel-good vote for the other and everybody's moral sense is assuaged. Obama's glow duly dimmed and supplanted. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Now for a fun-n-games exercise of trying to emulate what a think-tank-type would think - first immediate then long-term: All potential antagonists may see the time remaining before 1/20/2009 as a fading opportunity under our unpopular lame-duck president (and prior to the two gunslingers coming on hard). (1) Russia mobilizes against all of its disaffected interests with words and deeds. Particularly Georgia and Ukraine, then Poland and its missile defense agreements and other recalcitrants. (2) The Iraqi's either demand a hard and fast departure date (with no oil concessions), or demand total and real sovereignly and will gladly continue to accept the attendant largesse along with our troop presents. (3) North Korea reconstitutes its nuclear program - even faster than currently. (4) Iran will continue to be Iran - only more so. (5) The drill-now mantra will make OPEC, Russia et al think the oil prosperity may be finite and decide to squeeze the maximum benefits now before our new sources come on line in 5, 10 or 15 years(?). So the per barrel price goes where? $200? $300? $500? Pick a number. Even at $200 we're broke and China's their only customer. Pump-price $10 + per gallon?? (6) Our commercial paper and treasury certificates become devalued to worthless so interest rates are increased to offset this. (7) Inflation becomes rampant as we try to print our way out. (8) We become an ineffectual and ignored banana republic on the world scene. (9) Our petulant and wounded pride will make us even more bombastic and belligerent. (10) In a fit of justified belief and indignation we dust off our nukes (we’ve done it before). Armageddon ready or not. (That last bit is a doomsday offense begging to be disproven.) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Arrogance and belligerence (especially the hollow impotent variety that we excel in) has a built-in cost consideration. So the warmongers chant, "We're all Georgians now!" could incredibly easily turn to, "Alas, we're all toast now!" Economically, militarily or both.

sock puppet  09/01/2008 03:09 PM Report

The more I see of McCain the better a dog catcher would look. His lack of judgment is at once underwhelming and scary. Copying somewhat misplaced anti-McCain posts here to get them more on point.

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Comment by sock puppet on Monday, Sep 1 at 02:56 PM

One more bit of plagierism - from Sarah Palin conversation - (I'm too lame to come up with this on my own). i wonder even if she was vetted? all the best mccain. That from Ernest. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Either reflects McCains values (vetted) or (lack of) judgment - not vetted. Either way we are soooo screeeewwed if they win.Sending Report...Abuse Reported[Report Abuse\Comment by sock puppet on Monday, Sep 1 at 02:43 PM

My obsessive fear of Palin's values - thus McCains - makes this cross vertilization into a more current conversation imperative. So an Alaskan's evaluation copied here: (N.B.: note her ham-fisted Karl Rove, Cheney 'abuse-of-power' cited by Joad.) Four more years of Bush-McCain-style governance? Substitute Palin for Cheney and no one will notice. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Comment by Joad on Monday, Sep 1 at 01:47 PM Amazing, Sarah Palin didn't say anything. The only discussion of substance came from Arizona. McCain must have wanted pure fluff. If he wanted an intelligent think on your feet kind of gal, he would have looked to a candidate such as Arizona. As an Alaskan, I can only point to Palin's slashing of the library budget, running up $12mil in long term debt while mayor of Wasilla, blatent favoritism toward Wasilla with the State's budget, handing out checks for $1200 to everyone breathing in AK while screaming about the need to drill for oil for more money, previous support of the bridget to nowhere, and now Trooper Gate, folks, her husband tried to have a trooper fired because he was the ex-husband of her sister and those two were involved in a domestic dispute (can anyone say abuse of power) and Palin claims she knew nothing about his actions, yet he called from the govenor's mansion....this is such a sad choice for our nation...what was McCain thinking?? Sending Report...Abuse Reported[Report Abuse\Comment by sock puppet on Monday, Sep 1 at 02:08 PM

Sarah Palin scares the hell out of me. Her values are on a scale with the Lower Slobbovia element amongst the world's common folk. If your offspring are a reflection of your values reflect on this: her unmarried daughter's pregnant and she's proud that her son is going to Iraq. Now she and McCain want to pass on those values by example and otherwise to the rest of us. Jingo-John and Packin-Palin would love to have all our sons and daughters don the uniforms-of-war for M-I profit, oil hegemony and (more) profit of course. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ From her CR interview she's pretty much a (self-serving) one-trick pony obsessed with selling Alaska's energy. But aside from that limiting qualification remains the much more meaningful one, that of her (lack?) values. Proud that her son is going to Iraq? Holy feces!!!! That's taking energy obsession way too far. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Cheney and Bush condone killing hundreds of thousands for it. VALUES! Now along comes a 2nd place beauty queen proud that her son will be exposed to the carnage for oil. VALUES!? That he too may murder for oil; or be killed because of oil. VALUES! And now McCain is asking us for 4-8 more years of this white man's / woman's burden? Where our amassed hubris accumulates like an unstoppable juggernaut questing, obsessing (Palin-style) for more (blood and) oil. VALUES! Throw in Cheney, Bush and McCain as well! She's a carnival mirror exaggerated reflection of this putrefaction. McCain's judgment is vacuous! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ VALUES = CHOICES = JUDGMENT!

Preston  08/19/2008 09:01 AM Report

I for the life of me don't understand the insecure paranoia of some otherwise seemingly intelligent people regarding the subject of Israel. I being a Christian, who doesn't impose my religious beliefs on others or finds it necessary to overtly bring my religious beliefs into political arguments and discussions, sees a little tiny plot of land no bigger than the size of New Joisy, that has "no oil" like their fortunate, lucky, nice, friendly neighbors have. And I see the people on that land have worked hard to irrigate that land and try to make the most of what little natural resources that they have. Also I see a "real Democracy", which is good, because you can't have a "real Democracy" without intelligence; and you can't have intelligence without education. So as long as a culture as a whole shows promise to that, they will always keep their minority of fanatics and "white trash" misfits at bay.

Alex  08/18/2008 08:38 PM Report

McCain sure takes his orders from Israel - whether it be attack Iran for Israel or support Georgia for Israel (to fulfill that plan for an oil pipeline to Israel). Name one time McCain stood with Americans. He sold out Americans as a POW (why his code name is "Songbird" and why he goes white as a sheet when those intelligence files are spoken of), he sold out other POWs while Senator (matter of record - watch the 80's panel on youtube), tried to sell out Americans with Amnesty (which he will try to do again - he loves all Mexicans and despises any American opposed to giving Mexico the shirts off our backs), and he has sold out the lives and treasure of this country by supporting wars for Israel in the Middle East (absolutely no American interest for war on Iraq.).

sock puppet  08/15/2008 11:31 PM Report

Here we go again. Jingo-John (McCain) replicating Bush the Bellicose. Eight more years of indefensible war and saber rattling (that we no longer can backup). _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ First, we setup Georgia to enter into a proxy war with Russia by engaging in joint military exercises, an overwhelmingly strong and overt implication of military support. We have continued to tweak the Russians elsewhere. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ From the International Herald Tribune: In recent years, the United States has also taken a series of steps that have alienated Russia — including recognizing an independent Kosovo and going ahead with efforts to construct a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. By last Thursday, when the years of simmering conflict exploded into war, Russia had a point to prove to the world, even some administration officials acknowledge, while Georgia may have been under the mistaken impression that in a one-on-one fight with Russia, Georgia would have more concrete American support. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Rice followed with a personal visit and more exuberant talk - all the while claiming otherwise re military support. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Then Jingo-John enters with his belligerent stance towards Russia with his advisor and neocon ex-Georgian lobbyist Randy Sheunemannian who preps him on a phone call to the President of Georgia, followed by a strong statement of support by the jingoistic McCain (who’s never seen a war or potential war he hasn’t supported). _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ If we send McCain to the white house (and I think we will), we will deserve all its consequences, which I think will be many and devastating. Our oceans of defense will no longer insulate us. Our military arrogance will betray in the end. WOW, forgive me I’m emulating the administration in fear mongering. Nonetheless, it was heart felt. I think he’s a loose cannon, all the more dangerous cause he’s too obtuse to recognize it.

sock puppet  07/30/2008 01:00 PM Report

Comment by sock puppet on Wednesday, Jul 30 at 12:52 PM

Once again I have been deleted (from "A Conversation with David Remnick, Editor in Chief, New Yorker). And once again I'm chafed to the core and too challenged (in several ways) to let go. So the deletions are repeated here once again - as a patriotic duty to free-expression and bologospheres everywhere.and to Charlie Rose fans in particular - - - Comment by sock puppet on Friday, Jul 25 at 02:47 PM I challenged the monitors to delete the following posts as I was “Reporting Abuse,” ------> THEIRS!!! ..................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... ..................................................................... They didn’t disappoint. They deleted them. Which makes such a mockery of this forum it is horrifically sad. So sad that there is nothing to loose. Fighting back is now relegated on a par with patriotism. Therefore, the deleted posts are reproduced below starting with the original, then the followups. ..................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................... ......................................................... Monitors, I’m still scorched and too low in self-esteem to let go. So I am repeating the deleted post here as accurately as I can remember it. ........................... ..................................................................................................... ........................................................................ Originally posted July 21, 2008: “I want more whimsy. Mr. Remnick please have your cartoonist depict Jessee Jackson holding YOUR scrotum aloft with a dialogue bubble inscribed with, “Mr. President - to be - is this redemption enough?” You, with knees doubling into a fetal position, and an astonished I’ve-just-been-castrated look. The offending mag cover plainly visible at your feet. I’d buy 10 copies myself. ..................................................................................................... ............................................. We need more, not less.” ..................................................................................................... Comment by sock puppet on Thursday, Jul 24 at 02:17 AM ..................................................................... "I believe that there is a place in the spectrum of television for really good converstion, if is informed, spirited, soulful." -Charlie Rose ..................................................................................................... ...................................................................Monitors, does this ring a bell? Does it mean anything to you? Do you mock? With malicious intent or otherwise? ..................................................................................................... ...................................... PS: Prove your merit and consistency. You obviously need to delete all my posts. You're slipping in your exalted wisdom until you do. Go for it. ............................................................................................. 1. Sending Report... Abuse Reported [Report Abuse\ Comment by sock puppet on Thursday, Jul 24 at 01:54 AM ......................................................... MONITORS: I'M STILL PISSED. YOU DONE ME WRONG, YOURSELVES, MR ROSE AND COMMON DECENCY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION NECESSARY FOR A FUNCTIONING AND FUNCTIONAL FORUM (ALLEGEDLY) FOR DISCUSSION. YOU'VE NEUTRALIZED THIS DOWN TO A PABLUM DIGESTIBLE IN ONLY YOUR INTESTINAL TRACTS. FILTERED THROUGH YOUR PUCKERD ANAL RETENTIVE SPHINCTERS. IF CHARLIE SANCTIONS THIS ACTION THEN NO LOSS LONG TERM AS IT HEADED FOR THE TOILET ANYWAY. JUST REEKS WITH SADNESS THOUGH! THERE'S NO SURFEIT OF ARROGANCE ON THIS PLANET (OR FORUM). ..................................................................................................... ...... Sending Report... .................... Abuse Reported ............................... [Report Abuse\ ................................. Comment by sock puppet on Wednesday, Jul 23 at 08:06 PM.................................................. More on being excised so arbitrarily. The too often inane commentaries that are (justifiably) left for ridicule or adulation, make the editing of my innocuous attempt at humor (lame or not) all the more egregious and indefensible imo. Charlie himself is allowed free-range and leeway necessary to get ideas abroiling. To illustrate that diversity is critical to a free-flow of ideas - pro and con - here is a post that was exuberant with agreement. Which mocks the deletion............................................................................................. .... Comment by George Orang-jello on Monday, Jul 21 at 08:40 PM Sock Puppet: OMG. Laughing out loud! You've nailed it. It is the only thing that will satisfy! .................................................................................................... Put that in your pipe and smoke it, monitors. .......................................................................................... Sending Report... ....................................................... Abuse Reported ................................................. [Report Abuse\ ............................................. Comment by sock puppet on Wednesday, Jul 23 at 07:45 PM ...................................... I'm flattered. My post has been deleted. But dissappointing at the same time! What manner of adolescents do they have posing as monitors (of progressive dialogue)? Was it (gasp, choke) the word scrotum? Was it reference to Jessee Jackson? Was it castration? Of whom? Was that important. Mr Remnicks gonads more sacrosanct than say Mr Obamas? ..................................................................................................... ....................................................SCREAMS ALL THE MORE FOR REMNICK'S SENSE OF WHIMSY AND IRONY. AS THE HAM-FISTED ADMINISTRATION OF THIS SITE DEMONSTRATES. OPEN DISCOURSE HAS NOT BEEN SERVED! WITHOUT IT, IT'S DENEUTERED. CASTRATED, ONE MIGHT RISK ASSERTING, AS IF JESSEE HIMSELF HAD SWEPT THROUGH WIELDING HIS OPERATING SCYTHE. LOSING MY OWN SENSE OF WHIMSY WITH THIS BIT OF SADNESS.

ab irato  07/21/2008 08:20 PM Report

Our insatiable conflation of arrogance and grade school patriotism is disheartening and shameful. McCain is a screaming example. The Vietnam heroes were the ones that had the courage to burn their draft cards - not humans. McCain went on 22 bombing runs, which he callously claims he would do again. At a modest five kills/run he has saved the world of over 100 rice-paddy farmers and a Vietcong or two by collateral damage. Napalm? Agent orange? Keep visualizing the napalmed, naked little girl running, screaming. Mig-free runs, he was shot down by ground fire bombing a civilian power plant. No discernible heroics so far. Seems like we should be voting for one smart enough to return safely. But better, the potential pilot with the moral courage to defect to Canada - the real patriot. * * * Fast-forward: McCain's counter-equivalent shot down bombing one of our civilian power plants and sent to GITMO. He would doubless beg to be water boarded relative to having his brains turned to pabulum. Returning home to run for leadership - doubtful. In short McCain's jingoism even after his experiences says he learned nothing of value for humane leadership. We've had enough of that sort of obtuse obstinancy. The heroes in that other preemptive (Gulf-of-Tonkin) war never fired a shot. McCain can't say that (to his shame in my view). And he condones 100's more years in Iraq - all for oil hegemony and the M-I complex. And wants my vote. I DON'T THINK SO!

John McPherson  07/21/2008 06:23 PM Report

I am going to vote for Senator John McCain this November!!! He is great man, leader, and a survivor! Anyone interested in reading a great book about a great man than Faith of My Fathers is that book. It is written by John McCain and Mark Salter. I have visited the Hanoi Hilton prison in Hanoi, Vietnam where McCain was imprisoned as a POW for five and a half years. If a person can survive this barbaric place than he can do anything. Consequently, Vietnamese people I talked to in Vietnam told me they would vote for John McCain if they could vote in the U.S. Presidential election. Great interview Charlie!

TABS  07/10/2008 08:06 PM Report

One can only determine if a decision is the "correct" choice from the advantage of hindsight. In the field (or WH) one doesn't have the luxury of having all the information, or perhaps the time to process it, this is called the "fog of war." One just has to make a decision based upon the best information one has under the circumstance of the time, and hopefully one makes the right one for your cause....Sometimes not doing something will cause the death of hundreds of thousands as well. During WW2 FDR and Churchill knew about the existence of Auschwitz and what its purpose was. They made the decision not to bomb Auschwitz nor the rail lines leading to it. Their reasoning was that they didn't want to give NAZI propaganda a reason to say that the Allies were fighting the war for the Jews. Harry Truman had several alternatives in August 1945, One is that he knew the Japanese were willing to surrender if the Allies would permit the Emperor to remain the titular head of state, which was opposed to the Allied doctrine of Unconditional Surrender, Two, invade Japan at the estimated cost of 1M US casualties. Three, blockade Japan into surrender. Four, drop the bomb. Harry Truman ultimately decided that if and when the American people found out that the US didn't use the best weapon available and one that would minimize US casualties there would be he11 to pay. We know which option he chose.... Both decisions ultimately cost a lot of lives for better or worse, however at the time they were deemed to be the best decisions possible.

Rob  07/10/2008 06:14 PM Report

Yes, "Tabs", but simply because hard decisions must be made does not mean that all such decisions are correct. If someone is to make "hard decisions" that will result in thousands, or even millions of deaths, and will resonate in this country and throughout the world for decades or longer... s/he'd better be someone who is capable of understanding that there just MIGHT be some alternatives.

Thanks to the current chickenhawk "administration", and the unquestioning support it received from the recent republican congressional majorities (not to mention the media), there are now more people who hate us, and want us DEAD, than ever before in the history of this country.

McCain-- who until just recently wasn't even aware of the difference between Shi'ites and Sunnis... and who flippantly equates leaving our troops in their lands (against their wishes) with our participation in the NATO defense of Europe during the cold war, is CLEARLY not someone who has the objectivity needed to steer us through these perilous times.

I respect the man, but I don't want him as my president. The best I can say about him is that he's certainly better than the current white house occupant... but that's not really saying much, now is it?

TABS  06/28/2008 08:29 PM Report

Could the United States have fought World War 2 with such rhetoric as "What makes a man who pressed buttons that lead to the deaths of innocent people any better or worse than a suicide bomber who acted in a similar fashion?" The key words here are "innocent people" which belies that everything in the world should be neat and tidy. However as William T Sherman said, "War is hell" and no such state of affairs has ever existed in the affairs of men, just ask Abraham Lincoln or Harry Truman. Hard decisions have to be made in order to preserve the nation and welfare of its people. This is the problem that apologists for Americas actions in the world don't seem to realize.

allan  06/28/2008 07:19 PM Report

I get so tired when some people point to Senator McCain's military service as indicative of his leadership abilities. What makes a man who pressed buttons that lead to the deaths of innocent people any better or worse than a suicide bomber who acted in a similar fashion? One is a great leader, the other is a despicable terrorist?

Hopefully one day, the US will be led by a visionary. A person who understands that we live in a diverse world, where national self interests can sometime impede real human progress.

I certainly don't see these qualities in Senator McCain.

Prison Planet  05/30/2008 06:19 PM Report

Who would vote for this idiot? He is a warmonger that mirrors Hillary Clinton's views. He holds his alligence to AIPAC and extremist Zionists that believe America should be the World Police.

Maj. John Titor  05/30/2008 06:11 PM Report

John McCain has vasilated on most issues and has brought the art of flip-flop to a new level of understanding that only people with marginal knowledge of the facts will understand. Those that have followed John McCain's carrer see's him as a NeoCon opportunist, thus the waterboy for Bush and his failed policies. Neoconservatism is neither conservative nor new. The American relabeling of Neoliberalism, and calling it Neoconservatism is simply Hegelianism. Leo Strauss the father of Neoconservatism wrote: "those who are fit to rule are those who realize there is no morality and that there is only one natural right â?? the right of the superior to rule over the inferior." Strauss also believed that a "political order can be stable only if it is united by an external threat". Following Machiavelli, he maintained that "if no external threat exists then one has to be manufactured"

Lou  05/16/2008 12:36 AM Report

I think it's a great time for you to bring Ron Pual on the show. Don't pass tis opportunity. Come on this is a very interesting election and you can play a significant role. Come on PBs, bring Ron Pual. Let's hear what he has to say. Personally, I've not had the privilege to hear his views but your show would help lots.

I don't believe in any of the candidates, please bring ron Paul;.

Dr. Murray M. Morgan  05/13/2008 03:42 AM Report

I am only 58 years old and feel I am not that energetic any more. How a 72-years old can rule the country? I am realy worried about him -- if gets elected -- being another guy who does not read; who acts as a rubber-stamp of special interests.

If McCain gets elected, he would be the first US President that old in our 200-year history.

==============================

I hope we have Obama as the President. This would repair the damage done by Bush. Obama is the only one who might be able to convince the world that our country is sorry for the atrocities of past seven years on human rights.

A Quiet US Confession:WeaponsWereNot Made In Iran After All

(see below)

==============================

For the sake of peace, PLEASE, spread far and wide. Let us break self-censorship of â??Pressâ?? and â??Mediaâ??. Shame on them that do not let people hear the real IMPORTYANT news pieces.

Long Live Libert

Down with tyrany, bullyism, and dictatorship of our country

==============================

A Quiet US Confession

Weapons Were Not Made In Iran After All

By CASMII

In a sharp reversal of its longstanding accusations against Iran arming militants in Iraq , the US military has made an unprecedented albeit quiet confession: the weapons they had recently found in Iraq were not made in Iran at all.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19908.htm

=================================

â??Bomb Syriaâ?? Woolsey Advises McCain

Real News Video

John McCain has recruited several members of â??The Committee on the Present Dangerâ?? as foreign policy advisors, including former CIA head James Woolsey. Do Woolseyâ??s viewpoints represent McCainâ??s vision for America and the world?

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19910.htm

====================================

Official: Iran not to accept any incentives violating rights of nation:

Local analysts said Hosseini obviously referred that Tehran would never suspend itâ??s uranium enrichment work, a key process could produce fuel for powerplants but also can be used to make nuclear weapons.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/content_8147989.htm

===============================

Dollar, not supply, causes record oil - Iran offical:

The weak U.S. dollar is the main reason behind oil prices rising to record levels, not demand or supply factors, an Iranian Oil Ministry official was quoted as saying

http://tinyurl.com/3l53go

===============================

US warship heads back to Mediterranean amid Lebanon crisis:

â??The USS Cole has crossed the Suez Canal and is headed to the Mediterranean,â?? the official said, adding he did not know its exact destination.

http://tinyurl.com/526fnl

=============================

Questions Surround Homeland Securityâ??s Presence in Waterloo:

Many people in Waterloo believe the site is being transformed into a detention center. People in the Latino community fear it will be used in a mass immigration raid.

http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8299524

==============================

Up to 700 arrests estimated in Postville raid:

Four Homeland Security buses with U.S. Immigration and Customs tags on them have entered the Agriprocessors Inc. complex.

http://tinyurl.com/3l4xpj

================================

â??Why is this man in the White House? The majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there? And I tell you this morning that heâ??s in the White House because God put him there for a time such as thisâ??: Lt Gen William Boykin, speaking of G. W. Bush, New York Times, 17 October 2003

================================

â??God gave the savior to the German people. We have faith, deep and unshakeable faith, that he was sent to us by God to save Germany.â?? Hermann Goering, speaking of Hitler

==============================

â??A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his sideâ??: Aristotle

==================================

â??If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier - just so long as Iâ??m the dictatorâ??. George W. Bush, 18 December 2000

==================================

â??International law? I better call my lawyer; he didnâ??t bring that up to meâ?? George W. Bush, 12 December 2003

==================================

Hamas Condemns the Holocaust

By Bassem Naeem

We are not engaged in a religious conflict with Jews; this is a political struggle to free ourselves from occupation and oppression.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19913.htm

===============================

Iran-Politics

â??US, Israel spread insecurity in MEâ??

Iran FM: UK backs criminals, terrorists

â??No incentives outweigh Iranâ??s rightsâ??

================================

1.

Iran: U.S. and Britain to Be Sued

New York Times - 2 hours, 25 minutes ago

Iran?s judiciary said it would file lawsuits against the U.S. and Britain, accusing them of providing support to those behind a blast in a mosque that killed 14 people.

Clinton  05/03/2008 03:50 AM Report

President McCain , sounds pretty good.

incredulous  03/08/2008 03:15 PM Report

Bill Moyers "Selling the War" shows two McCain endorsements that expose all any cogent person needs to know about McCain. Evangelical pastor John Hagee and President Shrub, Jr. Nuff said.

Dr. Murray M. Morgan  02/29/2008 03:55 PM Report

Alas! John Edwards Dropped Out Because Heartless America is Near-Sighted, Veto Power for Iran and American Elections!

Are we condemened to have another 4-year disasterous Republican Presidency?

By: Dr. Murray M. Morgan

An Open Letter to Senators Obama, Clinton and My Fellow Americans

Dear Senator Obama,

You can call me naive, cynical, ... but I do NOT want to see Presidency remains in the vicious/racist/cruel Republicans turf/hand for another four years. I wonder if those [the shadow government/corporative-military Industrial machinery\ who, really, through our bought-press [media\ run our country are the ones who prevented Dennis Kucinich's and John Edwards from being heard and being known the way that yours and Hillary's name are heard; the eventuality of which being prevention of Kucinich or Edwards from becoming the Democratic nominee.

You can NOT imagine the teardrop that slid down my cheek when I heard about the uplifting news. Because of the WRONGS and trauma that is continuously/still being inflicted on African Americans, election of you as the President of the United States would not only has soothing/healing effect on African Americans, but also, it would bring back the LOST good reputation that our country, undeservedly, used to enjoy in the past; lost/vanished because of the BLATATANT/NAKED atrocities that, during King George's reign, people of Iraq, Iran [the most civilized nation on the face of earth -- read a little bit more about Iran to know why\ and other countries of Middle East have endured and suffered from.

What I am seeing [because of what I have seen of the racist people of our country\ is that Republicans love to have you or Hillary as the NOMINEE of the Democratic Party because they believe that they can beat you both easily because of the color of skin and gender prejudice/discrimination. I believe that Republicans hate to see John Edwards as our NOMINEE.

Although I crave for seeing your popularity to be genuine and true, because of the ignorance and embedded racism in our country, I am a kind of worried that it is the racist tactic of Republican party that might have instructed their members to vote for you so that they make you the NOMINEE of the Democratic Party for to, then [during the face-to-face competition\, by turning on their vicious attack machine and having their members [amongst which the most racist ones who normally do not vote\ to cast their votes for Republican NOMINEE; and once again very easily [for another four years\ steal the Presidency from the people.

I hope I am wrong. Call me skeptic, ... but I think it is a very wishful thinking [of Caroline and Senator Kennedy\ to think that Republicans, Asians/Hispanics -- who do not seem to like "Blacks\ and prejudiced White Democrats to vote for an African American even at this day and age [in 21st century\. Please, believe and accept it from me that it is my dream to see you as the President of the United States. Because, the only event that might make people of other country to, once again, look at America with envy and admiration is that American people elect a "Black" as their President.

Such event makes people of other countries to believe that America is, really, sorry for her vicious acts in the past; the attack on Iraq [with 1000000 casualty, ... \, the fabrication of American-Embassy-Hostages-taking-in Tehran [by Kissinger, Rockefeller, Ashraf Pahlavi, and one other person -- who thought of it to happen by "radical-students" as a "revolutionary"-like-act so that America uses the excuse to by freezing Iran's assets, imposing sanctions, and having Saddam to attack Iran cause PROBLEM for the revolution fail/not-become-successful in establishing Mardom-Saalari/Democracy in Iran AND that other countries in the region think twice to emulate it.

We, hypocritically, state/shout/pretend that we want to export/establish Democracy to the region yet we cause/make so many problems to prevent its establishment in Iran that its people[, with inspiration of independence and aim of removal of resources-plundering-tentacles/suckers/hooks from their land\, had dared to revolt and topple the brutal government that we had helped to be established in there by our CIA-guided Cout d'Etats of 1953 against Dr. Mohammad Mossaddegh; the DEMOCRATICALLY-elected Prime Minister of our puppet in there; naming "Shah" ["Shahanshah"-e-Iran/"the King of the Kings" Mohammadreza Pahlavi\.

In that event (joyous illus ional Obama as President) one thing that I want you to promise me is that you would be treating Iran and other countries as equals and that you would treat them with respect without attitudes and condescending-treatment. If you do that, then people of Iran themselves[assured of absence of any kind of outside danger/pressure\ without asking for outside-help, would rise against their oppressive/tyrannical government and, peacefully, convince/persuade the tyrants-in-charge to step down and return the power back to the people and to their real representatives; without having to, any longer, tolerate the insult of somebody at the top of power-pyramid whose title, "GURDIANship of Faghih/Savant" over people/the-whole-nation" [an ultimate insult to people of Iran\, means the "Faghih"/"leader" represents, as [the "Faghih/Savant" or "leader" Khomeini and other self-declared savants without any shame dared to utter it\ to be the Guardian of all the members of society -- except for few self-declared-savants-- that is, every member of the people of Iran are minor/stupid/retards who need to have a Guardian to decide for them. When outside pressure/danger threatens the country, to diffuse it, people of Iran tend to gather, around whatever government they have in their country; even if it is a brutal/tyrannical/oppressive government such as the one that is ruling in Iran right now. You should NOT listen to what those blue-blooded Pro-Shah individuals who, no longer, are in charge -- not able to suck life out of people -- who live abroad [in LA, Van Couver, London, Paris, ...\. You, having have had several-century-long history of suffrage of brutalistic/oppressive exploitation, [I am sure that\ understand the resentment that is ensued as the result of 110-years long resources-plunder and humiliating treatments (by West of Iran).

Does it make sense to go to a shop and, instead of saying "HIGH"/asking "HOW ARE YOU", BULLYINGLY with a blue-blooded condescending attitude humiliate, threaten and demand the shop-keeper that has something that we need so badly to give it to us? I am sure that if we treat people of Iran with respect and equals, they would be more than happy to be friends and trade with us. Let us "not do what we would not appreciate others do to us".

You should bow to the will of people of Iran regarding their decision to have [or not to have\ full nuclear fuel cycle capability and NOT wanting to be dependant on the outsiders that, for several time, have amassed their money but broke their contract with Iran without compensation [like France, Germany, USA\. People of Iran have the same right as we, for several times, have stated to have; the right of not reliance on others to give us our nuclear fuel.

Please, let [together with your Secretary of State\ us ask for and pray for forgiveness of God and people of Iran for our tresspassings that have inflicted harm and WRONGS on them. Promise me that you will put an end to our political abuses of the United Nations and its security arm, namely, the United Nations Security Council AND by removal of the illegally obtained sanctions-imposing resolutions and release of Iran's assets together with compensating Iran for our TRESSPASSes/Wrongs ask them to, once again, become our friend.

Also, let us, please, join the International Court of Criminal Justice, International Court of Civil Justice, Kyoto or any other International Treaties for Protection of Environment (distinction of one species/hour indicts the seriousness of the harm that we are inflicting on Earth which is our ONLY home in the Universe). Also, though, it sounds idealistic, let us remove the Veto right that, unfairly, we have given ourselves OR let us make Iran a member of UN Security Council with VETO power to bring balance in the decisions of UNSC because, as a kind/fair nation (that in its past history has given shelter to oppressed people an example of which is her current stance viz à vie Israel/Palestinian issue; the same stance that, 2500 years ago, Cyrus The Great of Iran, in upholding justice/fairness, took/had and gave shelter to the oppressed Jews that were fleeing/escaping the brutal Ferro of Egypt. It is ironic that, nowadays, in their name (in the name of Jewish people) Israel has engaged in brutal racist apartheid oppression on Palestinians AND the same Iran, since 1979, for the sake of upholding JUSTICE/FAIRNESS, is rejecting brutal treatment of Palestinians by Israel.

This way, people of the world would see our sincere regret that would, gradually, make them to, once again, look up upon us with admiration, respect and envy.

Sir, please, be careful of deceitful votingâ??s of Republicans and do NOT fall for their trick. Analyze and decide to withdraw your candidacy for President if, in your gut, you find that becoming the nominee of the Democrats would cost people to have another four years of disastrous Republicans' Presidency.

Please, do NOT allow these immoral/slick/brutal/racist/careless Republicans [who have no feeling/care for WORKING people\ to choose our [Democratic\ nominee.

I believe John Edwards has much better chance to, in November, beat Republicans than you. Please, accept the sincerity of my wish to have a black President which is very healing but, unfortunately, unrealistic.

Yours,

Murray

ab irato  02/27/2008 05:40 PM Report

McCain's selective disdain for Al Qaeda-in-Iraq fails to address that Iraq is why they can flourish in their real stompin-grounds of Afghanistan. He is such a one-note jingo and 100 year stay-the-course M-I-Oil surrogate it's (and he) is pathetic.

ab irato  02/26/2008 03:25 PM Report

Our insatiable conflation of arrogance and grade school patriotism is disheartening and shameful. McCain is a screaming example. The Vietnam heroes were the ones that had the courage to burn their draft cards - not humans. McCain went on 22 bombing runs, which he callously claims he would do again. At a modest five kills/run he has saved the world of over 100 rice-paddy farmers and a Vietcong or two by collateral damage. Napalm? Agent orange? Keep visualizing the napalmed, naked little girl running, screaming. Mig-free runs, he was shot down by ground fire bombing a civilian power plant. No discernible heroics so far. Seems like we should be voting for one smart enough to return safely. But better, the potential pilot with the moral courage to defect to Canada - the real patriot. * * * Fast-forward: McCain's counter-equivalent shot down bombing one of our civilian power plants and sent to GITMO. He would doubless beg to be water boarded relative to having his brains turned to pabulum. Returning home to run for leadership - doubtful. In short McCain's jingoism even after his experiences says he learned nothing of value for humane leadership. We've had enough of that sort of obtuse obstinancy. The heroes in that other preemptive (Gulf-of-Tonkin) war never fired a shot. McCain can't say that (to his shame in my view). And he condones 100's more years in Iraq - all for oil hegemony and the M-I complex. And wants my vote. I DON'T THINK SO!

tom  02/16/2008 01:36 AM Report

A a man of character who for his whole life put serving his country as his duty, how few people when can say that about. You look at Obama or Hilary and you would have to be blind not to see that personal ambition is at the core of why they want to be President. A rarity in the 21 first century to see a man who served his country as his farther did has his grandfather did and as his own sons are doing now, in war and in peace.

Anthony  01/23/2008 07:59 PM Report

Sir,

Having Ron Paul on your show would only be an asset to the journalism community. Like so many of us we are intellegent and articulate citizens such as yourself and having Mr. Paul on your show does us all good.

Garth  12/23/2007 10:56 AM Report

Ron Paul would be a facinating interview. He speaks the truth about our government's empire-building plans.

William  12/21/2007 07:30 PM Report

Ron Paul made the mistake of lowering himself to the level of Morton Downey Jr. and his show. There is no doubt that Dr. Paul belongs on the Charlie Rose show and that his message is the only message that deviates from all the other candidates. Mix a massive grassroots support with his unique (and traditionally republican) platform and there is NO EXCUSE for Mr. Rose to deny this man an in-depth interview.

A.Gomez  12/19/2007 12:39 AM Report

Those seeking a hard-hitting, in-depth, interview of Ron Paul as "presidential candidate" should look no further than the Morton Downey Jr. Show. A quick search of the video sharing sites reveals a desperate shouting match over espoused conspiracy theories the likes of which have earned Ron Paul the corner he has painted himself into today, present internet following included.

Matthew Garrison  12/05/2007 12:35 AM Report

Please have Ron Paul as a guest. His popularity is enormous, and he has raised a huge amount of money. He has achieved all this while being largely ignored by corporate media and running on a platform that is based on a strict interpretation of the Constitution, advocating a greater degree of individual liberty than any other high-profile candidate in recent years. He calls for extreme downsizing of the federal government. He is the only Republican who is against the Iraq war. HE HAS RECEIVED MORE DONATIONS FROM VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE FROM EITHER PARTY!

Michael  12/04/2007 03:18 PM Report

I echo the previous comment. Please consider Ron Paul as a guest. His support is really growing with libertarian Democrats, Republicans, and independents.

Matt L.  12/04/2007 03:06 AM Report

Even though McCain's philosophy coincides with President Bush's philosophy on many issues, I actually believe what he says when he speaks and I am in awe when I listen. I hear criticism of him about how he is not the 'maverick' that he once used to be, but it seems the reason he's not doing so well in the Republican primary is because he STILL is that 'maverick'. I believe McCain, with maybe the exception of Obama, is the best candidate to bring this country together. McCain clearly is the most equipped and most experienced candidate to become president, I wish only others would feel that way.

john mackel  12/01/2007 09:44 AM Report

Great interview, good questions, great job of asking for specfic's and clarification. I am not committed to McCain but the one thing I like about the guy is that he is tough and not an idealistic generalist. His knowledge of the economy is lacking but he is strong on foreign policy and realizing that the government and the government spending is not the answer. I want a realist and McCain is the closest thing I have found to that standard.

Robert Brown  11/30/2007 05:58 PM Report

Charlie, thanks for another great interview. You always do a good job of exposing the true nature of people.

While the media wishes to pin down candidates on issues and stances, I find some other things more important in picking a candidate. I do not know of another candidate with more character. Senator McCain's experience and service to our nation are resounding. His entire life has been spent immersed in the important issues. It's hard to understand how the American public would consider voting for a Romney or Edwards who spent the majority of their life serving number one and only after they built enough wealth did they turn to public service.

I am fairly biased as I agree with John McCain on almost all issues (including immigration). However, I would suggest that each voter take a look at their candidate before looking at his/her opinions on particular issues. Intelligent people generally agree that the Republican party and the Democratic party are both wrong at some point. If we agree on this, shouldn't we require the next president of our nation to disagree with them on some issues? If we want to bring unity and bi-partisan cooperation back to American politics, then we have to resist the forces of the political extremes when they attack those in the middle.

Eileen Gaffney Green  11/29/2007 12:52 AM Report

Senator John McCain presented himself quite well during your interview. There is much about his character and his sacrifice in Vietnam and the years that he has devoted to serve in the Senate that I greatly admire and appreciate. When he goes against the pack, I admire him most. However, like Ab Irasco, I was disappointed in McCain staying so close to the party-line.

During the interview McCain referred quite often to the lessons he has learned from history. Well, how about the consequences of fighting a two-front war?...and how it relates to Iraq. I was in total agreement w. our response to 9/11, but I feel that the pre-emptive attack on Iraq was immoral and militarily disastrous. We let Osama off the hook, just when he was in our sights. The toll the invasion of Iraq has taken on the lives of innocent Iraqis and of our recycled American servicemen/women is deplorable. Isn't this the general consensus of Americans?

McCain seems too cautious to me. Going into Iraq and the response to Katrina are subjects that disturb many Republicans. Why not speak more honestly about the administration's failures? Why so protective of the Bush administration? I agree with Patrick that he has missed an opportunity to be the voice of the Republican center.

Being a Democrat,I have many reasons why I wouldn't vote for McCain. However, I wish he was putting up a tougher, less cautious fight to win the Republican nomination.

On another note, I agree that both Dennis Kucinich & Ron Paul should be guests. What they are saying obviously resonates w. many Americans.