Rick Santorum Attacks McCain's "Temperament"

jose:

Rick has pretty much been assigned to the fringe, weirdo, way too far right category for just about everyone. This development (McCain's tempermant)is not significant to anyone but the aforementioned. You're previous post was excellent though. Continue on but remember, in the future that if the name Santorum is mentioned, move on quickly.

Posted by jose | February 3, 2008 11:43 PM

stuart_zechman:

Thanks for the post, MS.

Speaking of conservatives who hate McCain...

Posted by stuart_zechman | February 3, 2008 11:47 PM

Derek:

Search on "McCain's temper" in Google and you will find pages of examples. The guy is a loose cannon. If he gets near the Presidency the very existence of the country and planet will be in jeopardy. What kind of lunatic sings about bombing countries while campaigning?

Posted by Derek | February 3, 2008 11:51 PM

stuart_zechman:

Actually, I thought that the whole "temper" thing was another media character CW construction, like Al Gore being a liar, or W being below average.

Posted by stuart_zechman | February 4, 2008 12:02 AM

Derek:

Michael seems to be implying it is a mere construction as well. The evidence points in the opposite direction.

Posted by Derek | February 4, 2008 12:05 AM

Mike M.:

If your point is that Santorum is representative of the type of Republican that doesn't like McCain then, I see where you're coming from.

But you seem to think that Santorum is being disigenuous here, or unfair. Now, he's often both. But what evidence do you have to say that the McCain temper stories are "overhyped?" They're well known, after all, and he admits to them. I've certainly never seen him dispute them. Nor has he offered evidence to the contrary.

Are the stories overhyped or is McCain really kind of a jerk sometimes?

Posted by Mike M. | February 4, 2008 12:10 AM

Aurion:

Uh, it isn't a construct. I'm pretty sure he has actually discussed controlling his temper before.
As in, it was a actual problem.

Beyond all that: Yes, Derek, the "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" bit was pretty disturbing...Maybe he had a temporary disconnect from reality or something?

If he were actually in reality he would surely know that attacking Iran would be pretty stupid.

Posted by Aurion | February 4, 2008 12:13 AM

James, Los Angeles:

Nope, it isn't a media fabrication. Let's hear more about that monumental temper, now. What have you heard, Scherer? You're an insider. Do tell.

I just don't get why the rightwing lunatics hate McCain so much. He's only marginally more sane than they are. It's *okay* with me, amusing even, but I just don't understand it. They always cite the McCain Feingold bill -- campaign finance reform. I mean, geeez. That bill is reason to carry such crazed, wild-eyed gut-level hatred for 6 years? There's a lot of stuff he's done that I didn't like, maybe most notably the MCA, where he sacrificed every remaining principle he had to get a great big "mommy-hug" from the bushies. But where's their forgiveness? Let's not forget about his Dukakis moment either.

Of course, we know about his "waterboarding" jokes. Funny, huh? That McCain tells jokes about torture to whole busloads of DC journalists and not one of them reports that. Makes you wonder.

Posted by James, Los Angeles | February 4, 2008 12:30 AM

Enceladus:

Santorum? Isn't that some sort of impure, foul-smelling, aqueous substance?

Posted by Enceladus | February 4, 2008 12:41 AM

stuart_zechman:

McCain called the Swiftboaters liars during 2004...

Posted by stuart_zechman | February 4, 2008 12:44 AM

Terry:

Since when does anyone care what Santorum thinks? Romney is a fool.

Posted by Terry | February 4, 2008 1:08 AM

masterplaid:

This is particularly interesting in light of this story from a few days ago: http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3426

Posted by masterplaid | February 4, 2008 1:35 AM

Peter

:

The "bomb Iran" thing was a poor joke, which McCain set to the tune of an old song. While the rest of the candidates -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- insulate themselves from the traveling press, McCain sits in the back of the bus with them and goes head to head for hours. Then the other candidates, as they refuse to answer a single media question (ie Romney), whine about how the media loves McCain. It may not be fair, but it's not all that hard to figure out why.

Now given the hours that he's spent in casual conversation with reporters, don't you think that if his temper was as legendary as his opponents would have you believe that there'd be more than a couple burned reporters eager to make that front page news? You can put a mask on for a news conference, but you can't wear it four days straight.

Posted by Peter | February 4, 2008 1:42 AM

Malcolm:

Keep in mind that Rick Santorum was the inspiration for the following definition:

'Internationally syndicated sex columnist, Dan Savage has launched a sweeping campaign to introduce a new word, "santorum," into the English language. Mr. Savage defines "santorum," which is named for U.S. Senator, Rick Santorum as "The frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex."'

http://www.santorum.com/

Posted by Malcolm | February 4, 2008 2:39 AM

Aurion:

...

THAT is just plain wrong, man.

But morbidly funny.

Posted by Aurion | February 4, 2008 3:29 AM

smedley:

"there'd be more than a couple burned reporters eager to make that front page news..."

Have to disagree, Peter. When you love someone, you cannot see their faults as others do.

Posted by smedley | February 4, 2008 8:22 AM

Florida:

I'm no fan of John McCain, but I can't see how I should take seriously lectures about proper temperment coming from a guy best known for his chats about having sex with dogs. Rick Santorum is one weird little dude.

Posted by Florida | February 4, 2008 9:39 AM

ghostlawns:

I really don't think Santorum is in any position to criticize anyone. The guy lost his re-election bid in 2006 because his dumb "man-on-dog" comments inspired a nation-wide movement to make his name unspeakable in polite company. He should lay low for the rest of his life.

Posted by ghostlawns | February 4, 2008 10:04 AM

ivb:

As a Pennsylvanian, he did not lose re-election only because of the man on dog nonsense. Among many other things he was hypocritical enough to claim they lived in Pittsburgh, in a tiny house with no visible residents most of the time, as opposed to the large house in Virginia, so that he could get money from the school district for home schooling their children.

However, the McCain temper seems to be serious. I was surprised to hear these comments on the Situation Room on Jan 31, the day after the Republican debate.

"CAFFERTY:... I watched some of that debate last night. Quite frankly, it wasn't McCain's finest hour. He came across as snarky and conceited and condescending with Mitt Romney when they were talking about Iraq and the troop withdrawal and stuff. And there was almost this air about him like I really don't have to dirty my hands discussing this stuff with you, because I've got it locked up.

I didn't like what I saw in McCain last night at all.

BLITZER: I heard that from a lot of people, Gloria and John.

BORGER: Yes.

BLITZER: Gloria, you first -- that they thought that McCain was not a sympathetic, if you will, as Romney was.

BORGER: You know, he didn't have to get that small. John McCain, who is now, by all accounts, the frontrunner, needed to sort of rise above the fray. Instead, he was the guy who was trying to land the punches.

And, you know, in my experience in covering McCain, sometimes you're not sure which guy is going to show up. Sometimes it's the funny, charming John McCain and sometimes it's the mean and nasty John McCain, who's angry. And I think you saw the nasty one who really, really does not like Mitt Romney.

Posted by ivb | February 4, 2008 10:51 AM

QUESTION HILLARY

:

Meanwhile, the Clixons just screamed at their kid again for being late for another billion dollar kickback breakfast.

Flem at 11.

Posted by QUESTION HILLARY | February 4, 2008 12:54 PM

QUESTION HILLARY

:

"McCain called the Swiftboaters liars during 2004..."

No, he didn't.

He said he just didn't approve of their tactics.

Any Nam vet of merit know that 5 medals in 4 months IS totally bogus.

Open Kerry's COMPLETE military records, before you speaketh again on the subject, eh?

Posted by QUESTION HILLARY | February 4, 2008 12:57 PM

dpflanagan:

What is interesting about this is the fact that McCain stumped for Santorum in the last election. I think he made two or three appearances with and on behalf of Santorum.

Posted by dpflanagan | February 4, 2008 1:54 PM

hamada:

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