Thank you so much for that story about John "Wet Start" McCain.

I, too, am a firm believer in the "wet start" technique.You would not believe how mad some Democrats get (at least that's what they claim) when you bring this "wet start" up.

If you've got a mind to, go to the Wikidedia entry on this incident, than come back and tell us what you think of it. I thought it was a ridiculous explanation- the fire was caused by locking type electrical connectors which were blown disengaged by the wind on the flight deck(!) and started a fire.

Another reason the little conflagoration was cleaned up is: the bombs which were "cooked off" by McCains "wet start" were 1000lb. models which were known to be unstable, and were not supposed to be used. So everybody had a reason to cover up.

The affair is noted in Wiki as the genesis of the Navy's shipboard fire-fighting prowess!

But then again, we've got the "Turner Joy"(!) proudly restored and moored in the harbor as a tourist atraction! $8.oo a tour. See a boat with a proud fighting history!

He'll always be John "Wet Start" McCain to me, on the "Wet Start Express"!

The only question I have about this article is its assumption that McCain has participated in this charade willingly or was just duped by the Administration and never understood what was going on.

-American support for torture is not insignificant-

'Thanks' for the post. Very disturbing statistics.

I suggest you buy a blender and some frozen peas and have a nice pea soup smoothie with bucky.

Look who's talking!

Glenwald, who scores 11 on the 1-10 scale of politically correct exhortations, compared to whom a chalk on blackboard is the music of the spheres, has the nerve to lecture others on torture?

-- Sandy Yago

That's rather funny. And yet, here you are reading Glenn's blog. There is a word for someone who likes pain, you know?

Stupid, comes to mind. There might be another one.

compared to whom a chalk on blackboard is the music of the spheres,

I'd watch that "music of the spheres" stuff. The way ID exponents are making headway in education, we might have to strike some kind of compromise with them, again.

I think this is the crux of the matter. Here is a list of the signing statements. The one I find the most interesting related to this conversation accompanies the HJ Resolution 114 " To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq".

Quote:"The debate over this resolution in the Congress was in the finest traditions of American democracy. There is no social or political force greater than a free people united in a common and compelling objective. It is for that reason that I sought an additional resolution of support from the Congress to use force against Iraq, should force become necessary. While I appreciate receiving that support, my request for it did not, and my signing this resolution does not, constitute any change in the long-standing positions of the executive branch on either the President's constitutional authority to use force to deter, prevent, or respond to aggression or other threats to U.S. interests or on the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution. On the important question of the threat posed by Iraq, however, the views and goals of the Congress, as expressed in H.J. Res. 114 and previous congressional resolutions and enactments, and those of the President are the same."

http://www.coherentbabble.com/signingstatements/SSann2002.htm#2002-17

Let's ask all of the Presidential candidates if they believe the right to issue these statements will be part of the powers they will obtain upon becoming President? This should be the number one priority to restore our nation back from the monarchy it has become.

Not that he is a serious contender for African-American votes.

"John McCain continued his campaign tour by visiting Arkansas on Friday. In front of a predominantly African-American audience, McCain again misrepresented his record opposing the Martin Luther King holiday.

McCain claimed to have voted against a federal holiday before changing his mind a “very short time after that.” But McCain voted against the federal holiday in 1983, opposed a state holiday in 1987 (four years later), opposed a new federal holiday in 1989 (six years later) and voted against funding for the commission established to encourage all states to recognize the King holiday in 1994—11 years after his vote. Although, when you’ve been around the block for as long as McCain has, maybe 11 years feels like a short time."

http://tiny.cc/McMLK

... to all who responded last night after I left. I read you comments this morning. Thanks again.

in a manner consistent with the constitutional authorities of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and to withhold information the disclosure of which could impair foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties.

Will HRC or Obama be able to attach this to every bill they sign too?

Will HRC or Obama be able to attach this to every bill they sign too?

That shrieking sound you hear is the entire Republican party, turning on their ideological bootlegger's dime.

They'll be growing their hair, carrying "peace" signs and kvetching constantly about Executive chutzpah.

We have been through this before.

It's my opinion that if Obama wins, the War On Iraq will be declared, by all those "military experts" we've read about, all won and done, and every day Obama keeps our soldiers there will be called tantamont to murder.

We've seen this before, and I am expecting a complete ideological turn-around by the Republican party if Obama wins.

Just my opinion. Others say the government is so devoted to the War On Iraq that they will try to continue even if handicapped by a Democratic President. I don't know, I think they'll be about ready for a half-time in the big game. And if we attack Iran, than all bets are off.

Want to bet that the MSM will not give the "Wet Start" story any airtime at all.

Would that mean that McCain is responsible for more United States aircraft losses in one day than any other person or state in the past 50 years?

Shouldn't there be some sort of special medal for that?

The North Vietnamese would have been much better off if they had returned him to the Navy.

They might even had won the war.

Oh, yes, they did. I guess it doesn't really matter.

John "Wet Start" McCain.

/cue Firestarter by Prodigy