Political Insider

In his book "Faith of My Fathers," McCain admits to violating the Code of Conduct for American Prisoners of War by providing military information to his captors, which is generally what is referred to in claims that McCain betrayed his country.

Also, Clark effusively praised McCain's military service, calling McCain a hero to Clark, but drew the line when Schieffer got all "Well I must say Barack Obama ... has never ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down," like that qualifies someone for president. And, to analyze that objectively, it really doesn't. It doesn't make you unqualified, either, it's just not an issue to pick presidents over. It's just extremely bad luck.

Telling, isn't it, that McCain would include a "Swiftie" in his "Truth Squad." I'm not so concerned with accusations against McCain for transgressions during his captivity (Bless him for surviving it.) as I am with his uneven temperament and ideology. I just don't see him as fit for the Presidency.

It's time to turn the White House over to the Democrats for perhaps a more moderate administration. The GOP, rather than showing the "conservative" way, have become oppressive and elitist and tin-eared to the reality of America today.

How you Mr. Goddard, whom I respect a great deal, can compare General Clark's statement with the Swift Boaters is beyond me. James has it exactly right in his comment.

Clark is just taking a page from the Carl Rove playbook and hitting the opposition on their strength. It is a good political move. They might be stunned into inaction like Kerry. But even if they do respond, they are playing defense on a field of battle that they have already won. What a waste of time for the defender.

It pulls them off message on whatever offense they hoped to generate. And even if they defend wonderfully, in the end thay have gained only that which they already had before the fight began. The reality is it forces your opponent to waste precious time and energy. So it benefits the frontrunner who has time and energy to spare on meaningless pursuits that will in no way reshape the race.

The fact is that Clark had said the same thing numerous times in the past few weeks. So the McCain camp screwed up by taking up a fight they could have ignored.

Since we've already established that being shot at makes you a good president, and that to point out the obviousness of that non-sequitur is beyond the pale, shouldn't we elect 50 Cent as our president? (Don't you dare question me on this.)

General Clark is not the only one with concerns. Dr. Phillip Butler is a highly decorated Navy combat veteran pilot who was in the same POW camp as McCain for his entire five years plus three more years before McCain came. Butler was awarded two purple hearts, two legion of merits, two bronze stars and two silver stars. McCain received a bronze star and a purple heart for which Butler honors him. Butler was also with McCain at the Naval Academy. Butler is a well respected officer who stayed in the Navy until his retirement. He has known McCain for over 60 years. In the publication, "Today in the Military" he has written an extensive article about the camp and about the reasons he never wants McCain to be president. Among other things, he says that McCain has always had a violent and explosive temper and he would never want him near "the button". Please read this article and share it with all military families and others.
The link:
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html

McCain has had a violent temper all his life. His mother has told stories of how he frequently became so enraged as a young boy that he passed out.