Republicans Say the Darndest Things: John McCain, Dancing as Fast as He Can

U.S. Senator

John McCain (R-Arizona)

Forty-seven U.S. Senators sign and send a letter to Iran, one that borders on treason.  A huge, nationwide negative backlash ensues.  GOP damage control begins.

Sending Senate aides out to spread the word-of-the-day ("cheeky!") and to test the waters with excuses like "the administration has no sense of humor" failed to calm the storm.  So, it's time for some fancy Republican footwork, led by the GOP's own Arthur Murray...

John McCain, Excuse #1 to Politico:

"I saw the letter, I saw that it looked reasonable to me and I signed it, that's all.  I sign lots of letters."

what eye thynk:  You believed a letter being sent to a foreign power behind the President's back was "reasonable?"  Just one of "lots of letters" you sign, nothing special, nothing worth studying or really even thinking about?  Kinda makes me wonder if you sign all government business that casually.
  

John McCain, Excuse #2 also to Politico: 

"It was kind of a very rapid process.  Everybody was looking forward to getting out of town because of the snowstorm.  (We) probably should have had more discussion about it, given the blowback that there is."

God forbid you might all have been stuck in Washington for a weekend and maybe gotten some work done.  I'd be interested to know just how much discussion actually took place--or if there was any discussion.

It sounds like it was more, "Hey, I know it's Friday, but before ya'll head out to the airport, here's a letter to Iran. Wanna take a second and sign it? (scribble, scribble) Thanks! See ya on Monday!"

John McCain, Excuse #3 to Fox: 

"Maybe (the letter) wasn't the best way...It's also symptomatic between the total lack of trust that exists now between we Republicans and the president...This has established a poisoned environment here which sometimes causes us to react maybe in not the most effective fashion."

So, it's the president's fault that 47 U.S. Senators signed an ill-conceived letter without giving it much thought?  And, gee, I wonder how that "total lack of trust" could have happened? I mean with all the co-operation the Republican party has offered and all.

With the number of qualifiers in his statement to Fox--maybe not the best way, sometimes causes us, maybe not most effective--it sounds like even McCain doesn't believe McCain.  Which is okay 'cause no one else is buying it either.

But, don't worry, there's still John's near-weekly Meet the Press appearance.  I'm sure he can take a minute to interrupt his attempt to appear relevant (and cognizant) by coming up with another excuse for his Senate-47 buddies.