Pre-P.S. ::Let me know if this was diaried already, I couldn't find it!::
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Wow, of all the people in the this United States of ours, I must admit Joe Klein is probably the last person I expected to see try to bait McCain into a rage tantrum, but I'll be just gosh-darned if that's not what he seems to be doing. Here's Joe, from Time's Swampland:
But, seriously, you have to wonder why John McCain has spent so much time questioning the patriotism of others, especially his opponent, in this campaign. Is it because he once signed a prison "confession" that he considered treasonous?
Sure sounds like someone's a tad upset he was booted from the McCain Plane after all!
the swampland link:
http://www.time-blog.com/...
Joe starts off taking the "Pro-American America" cheerleaders to task with a simple line, noting that it may not even need to be said:
Anyone who talks about the "pro-American" parts of the country is making an anti-American statement.
But then, after a 'fair and balanced' half-assed swing at John Murtha, JK actually "went there."
We all have our own opinions of JK, and I'll agree with Kos that he seems to be marginally better lately, but I was rather surprised to see him seemingly throwing his own hissy-fit over at Swampland. The title of the post is Patriotism 101, and while he does seem to be sickened by the slanderous questioning of patriotism from the right, he takes a pretty big dig at McCain personally. I've seen tons of posts and diaries mocking McCain's "I was a POW" line of defense, but I don't really recall a "biggie" pundit throwing it back at him in such a way.
He concludes his statement with a [mock]rhetorical question directed to McCain. The whole thing feels like he really had his feelings hurt about being booted from the plane and misses his old pal, the 2000-version McCain -- then almost seems to lash out from some kind of pent-up anger. After rereading the post, it seems he wants to jump on the wagon and earn some kind of kudos for helping nail McCain's coffin shut. To me, it reads like an obvious bait, poking McCain right where one of his triggers is. I suspect if this odd line of rational for McCain's deplorable tactics is picked up anywhere, McCain just might loose it. And as much as I'd like for it to come from someone other than Joe Klein, I can't disagree that it probably would drive one of the last nails in pretty deep.
But, seriously, you have to wonder why John McCain has spent so much time questioning the patriotism of others, especially his opponent, in this campaign. Is it because he once signed a prison "confession" that he considered treasonous? If so, please know that we don't blame you. You're a patriot, Senator, and a hero...at least, you were until you started questioning the patriotism of others--by saying things like they'd rather win an election than a war, and by implying that they're soft on terrorists. Then you became something else entirely. And it hasn't worked very well, has it?