Is the public opinion on the state of affairs in Iraq relevant to this discussion? Regardless if people are backing operations in the Middle East, it's still a time of war and John McCain is a deeply experience military leader.

I think it is.

Look at it this way...if there wasn't a war right now an dthe only thing on the minds of the American public was domestic policy...I would believe that McCain's war record would be irrelevant to his running for POTUS.

Look at the last election.

Kerry vs Bush and how the whole issue about their record in part was what bogged down Kerry's campaign.

Look at Bush vs Gore...

Did military record come up?

I honestly don't believe it mattered at the time due to the fact that we were not at war.

But whether you like or not, there is. Different issues are important in different presidential races. Iraq war just so happens to important for this one.

I'm confused. Why does it matter if military service wouldn't be relevant if we weren't at war? Energy wouldn't be relevant if we weren't paying $4/gal for gas and immigration wouldn't be an issue if all the Hispanic would just go home and fiscal policy wouldn't be an issue if the government would just stop spending money...

You take away the relevant issues and we may as well have a beauty pagent for presidency instead of an election.

I don't mind if you don't care about McCain and his career, but you act so dismissive to the idea of those with military background. The global political climate has changed, and with things in their current state of play, military know-how is very important. It doesn't mean that you must have served in the military, but to act like it's a detriment to the position of Commander-in-Chief (the only constitutionally bound duty of the President) and you're sorely mistaken.

I actually do think military experience is important, though not altogether necessary.

What I found more interesting was #44: McCain's marriage began falling apart, and he had several extramarital affairs, which he blamed on selfishness and immaturity.

Funny how the GOP keeps moving that line after every election. :rolleyes:

True, we should follow the Democrat lead and simply abandon any moral standards for candidates.

Missed the point.

GOP on Clinton's "Didn't inhale" ....."OH MY GOD! We can't have a President like that!" Now we have a coke snorter.

GOP on Clinton and Lewinsky......"OH MY GOD! We can't have a President like that!" Now, apparently it's fine for McCain.

Though I won't be voting for McCain, I respect his service (military and Congress) tremendously and appreciate his military knowledge through experience. That said, I think this country better start getting used to presidents who have no military service; the rising generations in this country have had no Civil War/WWI/WWII/Korea/Vietnam - no draft or obligation to serve its country in battle. Instead, our young people go to college, and graduate school. I think we can expect to see far more lawyers and businessmen/women as our political leaders (not that they aren't already, but I think military service is becoming an increasingly rarer choice), and I'm OK with that. I think it's unrealistic for us to expect one person to satisfy all the "requirements" so many seek in a president - someone who's been to war, can write and argue policy, diplomatically discuss trade/business and human rights issues with foreign leaders, give a good press conference, and be REALLY LIKEABLE (I would trade this one for intelligence, but for many Americans it's apparently #1).

I'm comfortable leaving the military expertise to career military command, and choosing a president with the smarts to know what they don't know in this regard.

First, there is a big difference between having an affair, in the WH, while President, with a WH INTERN...and having an extramarital affair generally. Both are morally wrong, of course.

Second, you're right, some members of the GOP engage in hypocrisy. Thankfully for the left, hypocrisy can be avoided by not standing on principle to begin with.

It's just excuses, excuses. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing it from either side.

Let me correct myself...it wouldn't be AS relevant if were in peacetime. Considering the opinion from most Repubs that this is not the man they want running, his military record is his biggest stregnth.

Now...what I really want to see happen is, how McCain gets questioned on his past...particularly the Keating 5 issue and how he handles it.

Military leaders are not supposed to exercise poor judgement... *wink*

Wait - the majority of Repubs DON'T want him running? So it was just my imagination that he won the nomination by a landslide+ ?

R-E-A-D what I wrote...I did NOT say majority.

"Considering that MOST....."

he may have won by a landslide...but considering with what he was up against, and there is still a consensus that he is 'too liberal' a candidate for the GOP still gives pause.

Just because a lot of people PICK you for something still doesn't mean you are the BEST candidate for the JOB!

McCain is the best out of the available choices!

Co-sign! Well put.