Rudy: McCain Didn't Have Executive Experience Before He Had It
At a press conference today, Rudy pulled a bit of a whoopsie, saying: "This is not the time to have somebody who has no executive experience as President of the United States."
That's a bit off message, because McCain himself arguably has no serious executive experience -- certainly not recently. The only thing the campaign claims as exec experience was his role running a Navy unit of 1,000 people, a role which some have seen as constituting that sort of background, though others have disputed this.
But McCain's political career from 1982 onwards has been entirely in the legislature. And guess who didn't think McCain's Navy work constituted executive experience only a few months ago? Why, Rudy didn't, that's who!
In January of 2008, Rudy was asked by Larry King whether he thought he was more qualified in national security than McCain. "I do, Larry, because of my executive experience," Rudy said
"But after all, as a senator, John one is one of a hundred," Rudy also said, adding: "I had to make decisions."
The kicker: At today's presser, Rudy also alluded to quotes from other Dems during the primary questioning Obama's readiness to be president -- just as Rudy himself, as we have seen, did of McCain.
Gosh. You mean Republicans said nasty things about one another during the primary? I thought it was only the Democrats who did that.
Where is the ad incorporating this?
Huh?
August 27, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
They can't put an ad relating to this clip because obama is in the same boat as mccain when it comes to executive experience
Video: Keith Vs. Chris Another Awkward MSNBC Moment
August 27, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know what? Who gives a rat's ass what the Republicans are going to say? We know they're going to come out and say just about any lying thing they can about Obama (like today's "ad"), so why worry about what they might say?
Use Giuliani's and Romney's comments against McCain the same way they're using Clinton and Biden's words.
I'm really sick and tired of Democrats always playing defense. Here's an opportunity to stick it to McCain. Here's hoping they take advantage of it.
August 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I want the democrats to attack the republicans. And you make a great point so, I'll just get off my high horse and jump in the mud.
August 27, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn straight!
August 27, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
I really love that line from Rudy the TootyFruity Cross-dressing Prince of Manhattan: "I had to make decisions."
Yes, which pearls to wear in the ad you made with Donald Trump, that ends with Trump burying his face in your fake tits.
August 27, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm guessing they're going to tart-up being Chairman of this, that or the other as Executive Experience.
Anyway, to paraphrase the Army's former recruiting slogan, McCain was an Executive Of One.
August 27, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Rudy certainly can run the "tarting up" section for McLame.
August 27, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm going to let Biden handle A href="http://pufferfish.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/why-were-going-to-enjoy-this.html">Rudy on this one.
August 27, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops.
August 27, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Paging VP Biden.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 27, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now how was John McCain supposed to get executive experience when he was in a prison for 5 1/2 years?
August 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Hey Rudy, you f*cking c*nt, sit down and shut the F*CK up."
-- John McCain
August 27, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm curious. How sharp a time can campaigns choose to run ads?
Like, would it be possible for the DNC or someone to put up ads during the Republican Convention set to the speaker? Like the day Giuliani speaks, have ads of him blasting McCain. When Romney speaks, have ads of him attacking McCain's lack of principle (and if he's VP, McCain attacking his).
It'd get the Republicans a bit in a tizzy, of course. That's the point.
August 27, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a great idea.
Hey, for poll addicts, Time/CNN has polls from Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio.
Obama is leading in all of them except Colorado, where he's one point behind.
August 27, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops. Not Ohio. Nevada.
August 27, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please don't wake the sleeping Erik.
I don't need to know how Obama leading in PA is bad for Obama...
August 27, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
No need for Eric. I can do the worrying all on my own. Here's why it's a problem: Obama's only leading by 5.
And, it's even worse for New Mexico, where he's only leading by 13. Given that this is the worst president ever, and John McCain is the worst candidate ever, Obama should, conservatively speaking, lead by 87 percentage points, I'd say.
August 27, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
haha
August 27, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The weird thing was that in Pennsylvania, when Nader was added to mix, he siphoned off more votes from McCain than Obama.
August 27, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yet another reason why this is a troubling sign for the Obama campaign.
August 27, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would suggest an ad quickly be developed linking Nader's assistance to the Bush victory and thus Iraq, Katrina, and the tanking economy.
August 27, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey man, give us New Mexicans credit. 13% sounds pretty nice, and the convention's not even over yet.
August 27, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
It WOULD be 87, but some of the Richardson fans are still threatening to vote McCain. We'd better check his body language tonight to see who to vote for.
August 27, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe it - both Barrack and Hillary were in northern New Mexico last week. Barrack was in Albuquerque on the Monday I was there getting a new computer and Hillary was in Espanola the following Thursday, I believe.
That could definitely account for an uptick.
August 27, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those polls were very encouraging, although the 13pt Obama lead in New Mexico is suspect. In addition, some of the calls were made pre-convention so they may have missed some of the bounce, if there is any so far.
Of course, some Rasmussen poll will come out tomorrow showing McCain ahead by 9 in Ohio and then I'll panic even though I know I need to stop paying attention to these things.
In Plouffe's interview with Ambinder, he still sounded very confident of their strategy and their chances in their 18 target states.
August 27, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hear ya.
What I think we can now say, though, is whatever the impact of McCain constant celeb/no experience messaging has had, it is not in the same category as the impact the swiftboating did to Kerry. McCain is not going to be ahead by +7 and +11 like Bush was come the start of September.
August 27, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well I don't know - see, Hillary and Barrack both were in New Mexico last week. Barrack was in Albuquerque a week ago last Monday, then I think Thursday Hillary was in Espinola.
That could account for the 13 point uptick in New Mexico.
August 27, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
GWB has plenty of executive experience and look where that got us.. No one is prepared to be President.
August 27, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mayor noun-verb-911: The Gift That Keeps on Giving!
August 27, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mr. 9/11 is a total buffoon. I hope that he keeps being a mouthpiece for mcbush.
August 27, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please. Pretty please. Pretty please with sugar and whipped cream and McInsane's nuts on top . . . Let McInsane choose RUDE-ee, the angry gnome, as his VeeP.
Noun, verb, 9/11 meets Noun, verb because I was a P.O.W. . . .
INQUIRY: Considering that Cindyloo and Gooliani are both undead and wear dresses, does anyone else think that the addled, old, bastard confuses them?
August 27, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oooo - I really like you - that is such a good, wicked comment.
I had been pushing for Droopy - I thought what Dynamic Duo that would make, plus Droopy is the kiss of death as a VP choice - he's a walking Bird of Ill Omen.
But the thought of a Noun, verb, 9-11 meeting verb because I was a POW is just a beauty of a thought!!!!!!!!!
August 27, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has SNL written all over it
August 27, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it really says something that McCain has to rely on the likes of the corrupt and discredited Rudy Giuliani as his surrogate. Isn't it true that during the primaries, every time Rudy opened his mouth his numbers went down. I see no reason why that won't happen again. Rudy Giuliani is one of the most unlikable characters in politics today. I hope they keep using him.
August 27, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guilani is a complete character. He ought to go on the road with his show....lol
August 27, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
After all the years I had to endure Rudy's brand of tyranny and viciousness in NYC, with all the praise and admiration he received from so many across the country, it's nice knowing that everyone can now see what a fraud this Il Douchebag always was.
August 27, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was especially gratifying to see all of the NYC transplants in Florida come out for him in the primary - what did he get - 1 delegate?
August 27, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never talked to a person I knew who lived in New York when Rudy went on his tear who was happy about it -
I really hate it that so many people want to turn America into Disneyland, coast to coast.
August 27, 2008 7:01 PM | Reply | Permalink