New Proof On Longtime McCain Lie About Threatening Official
In Arizona, the tales of John McCain’s angry rage and belligerent, threatening behavior in relation to the Mt. Graham Observatory project are legendary.
Today, new evidence in the form of a document, made at the time of the events, has been produced confirming the charges and demonstrating McCain’s patent dishonesty in repeatedly denying his misconduct. From Alan Maimon at the Review-Journal:
Frustrated that a massive telescope project he backed had hit a snag in 1989, Sen. John McCain lashed out at a U.S. Forest Service supervisor, threatening his job if he failed to help get approval for the project.
McCain over the years denied making the menacing comment, but newly surfaced government documents indicate that his anger boiled over to the point where he did.
The incident with the forest official wasn’t the first or last time McCain became irate at someone he felt stood in his way.
From environmental activists to former high-ranking Republican officials in his home state, a diverse group of Arizonans have vivid memories of heated skirmishes with the Republican presidential candidate.
The flare-ups started in the late 1980s, around the time that McCain and the others in the Keating Five orruption were under investigation for improper relationships and influence peddling with Charlie Keating in the Savings and Loan Bailout Scandal that led to Keating’s criminal prosecution and conviction. McCain was under immense pressure on many fronts resulting from his conduct in those days. As remains the case today, when John Sidney McCain III is under pressure, he lashes out furiously at anyone in his path. It is his way.
In an interview with the Review-Journal, former GAO manager Joe Gibbons said McCain proceeded to interfere with the agency’s work, "going bananas" and "steamrolling the GAO" to get his way.
McCain had already shown a willingness to throw his weight around, according to some involved in the Mount Graham project.
…
But Gibbons and other GAO investigators charged with examining the scientific fights over the project also reached conclusions about related personal clashes.An internal GAO memo from 1990 obtained by the Review-Journal refers to McCain’s "admitted threat" to the forest supervisor. The memo was designed to remain between the GAO and McCain’s office. Its contents have never been made public before.
"I wouldn’t have written that without something material in my hands," former assistant GAO director Bob Robinson said when asked about the document he authored.
Angry brutish bullying, dishonesty, duplicity and a ready willingness to do and say anything that will serve his boundless ambition, or gratify him at the moment, are the hallmark of John Sidney McCain III’s life. It is who he is. It is what he does. A disturbing character set for a man that seeks to lead the United States in such troubled times.
I sent a link to tpm and I hope The Muck follows up on this. Too bad for mcShame that you know the score bmaz. And probably want to settle a few too.
There’s gonna be a landslide of muck landing at his doorstep today. And with the debate tomorrow…
Get your popcorn!
Some genius psychologist at Princeton was on NPR a week or two ago saying he’d carefully studied McCain’s personality and McCain only lashed out “upwards”. I think it’s hard to make the case that a Forest Service supervisor is upwards from a US Senator…
On the other hand, lashing out at his wife does support the psychologist’s premise.
But that must mean that the young man who challenged McCain at an early town-hall meeting and was met with, “Thanks, ya little jerk” arrived in a limo.
Seems he still hasn’t developed past adolescence and the world-revolves-around-me notion.
BMAZ – good post. I had not heard about this one. And to think that I actually supported this jerk in 2000. How stupid of me.
A lot has changed since 2000, FF, most specifically the internet and media. The media wasn’t doing its job in 2000, and we had no way to challenge them effectively. Now we can keep their feet to the fire and report what they don’t. I suspect that if this change hadn’t happened, McCain could have rolled right into office with flying colors.
And if this change had happened earlier, during the late 1990’s, perhaps we wouldn’t have had two Bush terms, and you wouldn’t have chosen McCain in the primary, either. We’ve all come a long way.
Great post, bmaz.
Digg is open, folks.
Wow, Sarah really is a good match with him, isn’t she? Don’t be a “little person” and get in their way. It is not good for your job health.
I wonder if Johnny was going to make some money on the side with the telescope deal. I can’t see any other reason that he would be backing such a project. After all, this sure looks like a pork project to me. (Or is there evidence the project was being developed through normal peer review channels?)
At the time the controversy of the Mt. Graham telescope was taking place, I had just begun a couple of consulting gigs in SE AZ that lasted for well over five years, and because I’ve been interested in such things since I was a kid I followed it to some degree. As I recall it was a legitimate scientific project that had wide support in the astronomy and astrophysics communities. The controversy was about the fact that Mt. Graham was the only home to a threatened species of squirrel, and the concern was that the construction of not only of the telescope itself but also of the necessary supporting infrastructure (road to the mountain top, living quarters, power lines, etc.) would destroy its habitat beyond the point at which the species could survive. I don’t recall reading anything specific about McCain’s interaction with the Forest Service, but from what bmaz writes I would suspect that the FS guy was just trying to do his job in accord with the environmental laws then in effect. And of course we know how today’s Republicans feel about adhering to those pesky laws.
Thanks. That provides a lot of context.
Here are a couple of useful links for anyone who wants to pursue this further. First, the Mt. Graham International Observatory. And also, the Mt. Graham Red Squirrel.
So true. As an AZ GS-12 “environmental officer” I was nominated for firing for my insistence on adhering to the law, and whistle-blowing on fraud in permits. The agency did succeed in firing my wife. Likely my actions pissed off NV officials, who wanted a new water reservoir. I survive for a while yet, ostracized from the office.
Yes indeed, the attitude at the agency was ignore the laws, lie, cheat, fib. They even met with high officials seeking to get regulator staff in other agencies fired.
Four former staff from the office where I worked also testified on my behalf as to the improper activities of that agency.
The new administration has a lot of cleaning up to do!
Like the Old Submariners used to say: “Fish in the water!”
Let’s hope they run fast and true.
Any Gooper politician, and I mean Any Gooper politician, that doesn’t Jump Overboard by Friday – is going to watch their Political Career go straight to the bottom.
Thanks for this post bmaz. So, he’s a spoiled brat who got use to tantrums getting him his own way…
Tantrums have NOT been known as an effective diplomatic skill…and are not considered Presidential…
Goodness, this country cannot afford another four years with a spoiled brat leader.
OT:
Looks like the world markets were hoping that our government would get a clue and also pass something to deal with the foreclosures and bad mortgages. Congress better get back to work because the bailout was NOT enough. Galbraith was spot on and they did not listen to him on the housing issue.
This was one of the best articles I had read about McCain’s outrageous temper and vicious verbal attacks.
http://mccaininsults.wordpress…..a-clinton/
““What has struck me about McCain is that everybody underestimated the ability of his advisers and him to hypnotize the national media, because most of us in the media in Arizona thought of him as a guy who had a terrible temper, occasionally had a foul mouth, a guy who whined and pouted unless he got his way,” Murphy said. “McCain has a temper that is bombastic, volatile, and purple-faced. Sometimes he gets out of control. Do you want somebody sitting in the White House with that kind of temper?”
…If the McPalin campaign continues to go negative. When will we see the media focus on Cindy and John McCains “family values”. You know McCain ditching his handicapped wife for the young and rich Cindy. And Cindy McCain being a home wrecker. When will the media focus on those McCain “family values”
OT. I have a macro question. I understand that the US has something in the neighborhood of a 14 trillion dollar economy. I understand now too that the shadow credit default swap market was a 53 trillion dollar market. Runaway inflation won’t even right this ship? I guess the missing variable is the degree of failure in the credit default market. Any insight?
Former Secretary of the Treasury Paul O’Neil brought up the “53 trillion” runaway inflation on David Gregory’s “Race to the Whitehouse” last week.
He also brought up the timing of this bailout/rescue/investment. He brought up how “2 years ago 30% of the people who had taken out these home loans had not made their FIRST PAYMENTS”. O’neil said the loans should have been shut down then.
O’Neil also said why buy the debt when the government could “guarantee” the loans. Sure did not understand that statement at all.
They have no idea what the real value of the CDSs is. After they’ve sliced and diced mortgages into “Monopoly” money, then traded that around for a while, valuing it upwards each time, it’s probably worth a lot less than they think.
My usually-unreliable source says part of the problem is that they were using the mortgage-default rates on conventional mortgages, but they were actually playing around with ARMs, for which they had no reliable default data.
Your source is reliable. That is exactly the problem. And now, no one knows what “junk” they have.
Leen, I think O’Neil may have been referring to the restructuring of the bad loans in order to guarantee them? Not sure but I posted this info before which still needs to happen:
He also says the banks should get relief from an onerous accounting requirement known as the “mark-to-market” rule, which forces them to declare values on mortgage security holdings that reflect only their short-term worth, which in a troubled market may be far below their real value. The markdowns, he argues, have contributed heavily to major banks’ huge reported losses, sapping investor confidence.
Thanks.
Did you make it to the Springsteen event on Ohio State’s campus? I was there with a friend (who is gay and could not be any further from Joe Six Pac than a person could be. He was willing to carry a sign I had made “Joe Six Pac for Obama” I carried a sign “soccer mom (true) for Obama” Folks went wild with laughter with the Joe Six Pac for Obama sign.
I think Joe Six Pac (political action committee) could really start something.,if JSPAC guys started showing up nation wide at Palin rallies and at Obama/Biden rallies. (I am trying to convince some 20-30 something Joe Six Pacs who are for Obama to go to a few rallies with signs
Other sign I carried said “Every time Sarah speaks Joe Six Pac feels smarter and harder” this brought on lots of laughs.
I just read the speechette Bruce gave in Philly. he’s not especially well educated. Year or two of college I think. But 1000 times more articulate than Palin. I’ve seen him interviewed and he’s not especially comfortable at interviews. But 1000 times more articulate than Palin.
uh, he’s sort of a “poet” he should be articulate!
Bruce wrote The Ghost of Tom Joad.
That, IMO, is as articulate as it gets. We may all be hearing that song a lot more.
Gotta run. See all later.
Ah, but it’s even better when Tom Morello joins him.
i was talking about speaking. not writing. He’s an excellent writer. I’m from NJ and “My Hometown” is one of the very best things ever written about where we come from. (Wish he’d play it more and maybe once when I see him. But I can’t even get Thunderoad, so I’m not holdimng my breath for My Hometown) He’s a much better speaker than he used to be. He’s not dumb by any means. To the contrary. But he used to be uncomfortable.
You ever heard of Mumblin Mel Tillis?
Citizen Beerfart Liberal:
Both Bruce Springsteen and his mentor and soulmate Bob Dylan are genuine American giants of poetry and truth…both have less than any “university training” and both are examples of the genius that resides in the American soul.
agree 10000%. i don’t think i made my point well and it might have come off like i was putting down bruce or questioning his intelligence. if so, then i guess i was just inarticulate. not at all what i meant. i love bruce and have for about 30 years now. I think people frm NJ have an even greater appreciation for how right on the mark the guy is.
got in a little hometown jam
i better cover up.
Springsteen held the crowd at Ohio State in the palm of his hand. His sincerity and depth kept the crowd (I often like watching the crowd more than the entertainer) spellbound.
Some people were crying as he sang, moving their lips with Bruce’s.
Many folks in their 50,s and 60’s. Bruce reminds people of what they used to believe and used to act upon. Reminding people to walk the talk. Many have forgotten. Obama, Bruce others are strong reminders
beerfart and leen;
did springstein remind you of dylan or what?
I have personally never cared for the music or talent of the man, I always appreciated the charisman
I fell in love with bruce all these long years later
bob dylan and john beatle lennon in a taxi
bruce even looks a bit like bob
http://video.google.com/videop…..4721062371
For me this difference is this, when Dylan came along I was 14 and didn’t know diddly. He was a major part of my awakening. The Boss is the same age as me and when he got famous I was almost done with big shows and the like, same with Tom Petty. When the mid-life crisis kicked in I “discovered” these cats that my baby brother was already way into. The big wheel keeps on turnin.
I was a rare breed raven, from a military family but my dad knew war was usually more political then necessary, he was against the viet nam war even though our family has a storied military past
I was a “hawk” against the war, I was a “hitter” who wanted peace…I was an interesting fellow with aparently oposing positions on just about everything
I loved the beatles, I loved dylan, and I loved “the ballod of the green beret” which STILL brings tears to my eyes
Sprinsteen’s sincerity was measurable. The guy walks his talk. Not sure about Bob Dylan?
I’m pretty sure dylan broke ground oposing the establishment, it surely was not one of the safe things to do at the time
he and john lennon I believe were woven from the same cloth
And what has Dylan done since?
three words to erase ALL doubt about Bob Dylan
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter
Bob Dylan impacted my life. I knew Rubin Carter’s story for most of my life, due to Bob Dylan’s song. And I got to see and meet Rubin Carter (he’s a lot smaller than Denzel Washington) a few years back at a local university. The song “Hurricane”, and the resulting outcome, is part of what makes me an optimist
Bruce Springsteen might be able to describe parts of my life, but he never reached that level of engagement IN my life, or Rubin Carter’s life
This article in the NYT says your usually-unreliable source was right.
Hey there!
Are you watching the global markets? Not very reassuring… I think everyone needs to come back to DC and pass a bill to address the housing/foreclosure/mortgage issue to start pushing the market to function a little more? Galbraith was right…Do the housing issue first.
last night’s 60 Minutes Credit Default Segment included showing a prospectus for 1, count ‘em, 1! CDS – it was 263 pages long
This past weekend NPR’s This American Life devoted its entire show to the current economic troubles. Their explanations and analogies made considerable sense to some one only modestly economically literate, such as myself.
thanks !
The US economy is about $14 trillion. This is or was also the size of the mortgage market. The $53 trillion is something else entirely. It represents a series of bets on how various financial paper would perform. It has no correspondence to reality and, in my opinion, most of it (rather like raiding a casino) should be flat out nullified.
McCain/Palin. They deserve each other.
The Heath family has told the story about Sarah and her independent streak where she often bucked her parents on issues. They calmly call it standing her ground. In reality, she was a loose cannon although very confident and smart.
John McCain often stormed away when he didn’t get his way and would faint from holding his breath too long as his show of defiance. His parents would try to control him but it was difficult if not impossible.
In both cases, their parents coddled and spoiled them. They both appear to be brats just like you and I have known for years. Only because God placed them in homes with supportive and understanding parents, did they even survive. I have a first cousin who was similar in his actions and “maverick” approach to life. He is almost 60 now and has been out of of prison for the last 3 decades. Political and society’s connections can overcome many deficients.
Could not agree more…
OT, or not. Your call… EPU’d as usual, sigh.
Heaven help Sarah’s kids. Really. It appears that, in accommodating the brat’s every whim, Sarah’s own parents have created a monster, unwittingly & innocently, or not. I can’t judge intent, since I don’t know anything about them except: Sarah.
Sarah bears and bears and her family swells in size. But when was the last or, really, ANY time people have seen her nurture? Bragging about being a pit bull hockey fan is NOT nurturing, nor does it represent much of anything positive in the way of parenting and helping a child develop into a responsible adult. (I have plenty experience as a sports mom myself, so I’ve pretty much seen it all.)
“Pro-Life”, for Sarah, seems to refer only to the womb experience, as far as I can tell. Am I wrong in my impression that once they’re born, the concept loses its luster for her? Shouldn’t parenting mean a bit more?
Some people can rise above the experience of being thoroughly “spoiled” as children. For other, less fortunate families, the concept of growing into a responsible adult is somehow lost.
Over and over, I see Sarah’s own children apparently being used only as props. I hope I am wrong. The behavior of the kids is indicating otherwise in various subtle, and sometimes blatant, ways.
Sarah, the habitually winking, flirtacious, “star” of every stage upon which she steps, apparently a legend in her own mind, appears unable to grasp the essence of humanity, nurturing and rearing her contribution to the next generation of adults.
I’ll take the 4th Amendment and Pro-Choice hands down over whatever it is Sarah is peddling. To me, Sarah represents the ugly, flip side of “pro life”. For all too many proponents of that theme, the concept stops cold at birth. And in Sarah’s case, it presents a particularly ugly scene.
Of course it is possible to be a busy professional adult and still tend carefully to rearing youngsters in a loving, responsible way. The Clintons and their gem, Chelsea, the Obamas and Bidens come to mind.
The more Sarah prances and postures and parades her brand, the less likely she’ll be viewed as anything more than a shallow, overgrown, selfish brat.
She’s truly a perfect match for that other mavericky, self-absorbed candidate.
This is just my personal opinion. I hope I am wrong. But I suspect not.
Adie, publish this upstairs. There are so many of us who are afraid to say that a woman can do it all. Indeed Hillary and Bill have done a beautiful job with Chelsea. Barack and Michelle are impressive. But five kids these ages?
Let’s be real.
The Rout is on, Folks!
McCain and Palin will make themselves as Vocal and Shrill as possible today and tomorrow.
McCain will not fare well in Tuesday’s Debate – he has No Political Capital Left.
Some Goopers will Jump the McCain/Palin Ship Wednesday, after the Debate.
Some Goopers will Jump the McCain/Palin Ship Thursday, after the Alaska Supreme Court makes its Ruling.
Most Goopers will Jump the McCain/Palin Ship Friday, with the Branchflower Report.
All of Them will Leave Saying the Same Thing:
“The Republican Brand is Ruined.”
Your mouth to God’s ear!
Glue Horse. . . with RABIES!
Last week I was trying to think of an animal analogy for McCain that would sum up both his madness and his meanness. I came up with “syphilitic badger.” Someone suggested a wolverine but I thought that would be giving him too much credit.
McCain more like a Tasmanian devil…opportunistic
bwaaahaaahaaa! was just gonna post this as a preview of tomorrow night !
perfect
This is not funny but odd that Tasmanian devils are on the endangered species list due to a cancer on their faces
http://blog.synthesis.net/2008…..d-species/
McCain is going down with his dignity in tatters.
Heckuva job Johnny Mac.
-G
McCain’s dignity is an illusion.
a nice post about that here
and yes I’m an unabashed Ezra fangirl, why do you ask ? *g*
I thought so in 1974, but things didn’t work out that way.
It si a sloooow rot!
1,787 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen bmaz and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Let loose the dogs of political war and turn the 527’s loose!!! This nasty assed motherfucker needs ta be kicked back inta the 19th century along with his streetwalkin’ runnin’ mate!
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, FEAR IS JEST A WORD!!
Think the Smapley Boys need a shot at this?
hey bmaz !
if you are still around – have general o/t question for the legal eagles
as of this morning, Todd Palin is still balking at AK Leg. subpoena but despite his well documented ‘time constraints’ excuse, has agreed to be interviewed by the Palin-preferred State Personnel Board
Q: IF, he ever does appear under subpoena, can his statements at the Personnel Board interview be used in the Branchflower investigation ???
Sure
Numbers count
Youtube Videos
Obama 465,000
McSame 132,000
This is the “REAL” John McCain in living color seen belittling Delores Alfond, head of the National Alliance of POW/MIA whose brother went missing in action in Vietnam . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CazKanlYDg
The truth about Dolores Alfond and John McCain
Jul 29, 2008 4:30 PM Report Abuse
The usual wingnuts are busy spreading nonsense allegations by a crazy woman.
This crazy woman’s brother was MIA in Vietnam. Her sisters and her refused to provide blood to do a DNA test on remains that Vietnam said were that of her brother. Thus her brother’s uncle provided the blood smaple and DNA confirmed it was his remains. The sisters though refused to believe it insisting that the government lied. They are all wackos.
This wacko attacked McCain and claimed that 1) he and others on the Select Committee refused to investigate and were covering up for the government; 2) that he was responsible for the select committee shutting down.
The truth is that the Senate at large voted for the Select committee to have a specific time limit and it was shut down after that time limit expired. McCain had nothing to do with it.
This nut constantly made outrageous accusations and interrupted Senator SMith while he was talking.
At that point McCain spoke up and put her in her place. She then began to cry though only someone unstable would cry because of what he said.
The looney left has made numerous claims about McCain running to her and screaming neither are true. Here is the video of McCain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related
Final report:
http://www.fas.org/irp/congres…..-exec.html
Background and hearings:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/pow/…..ion_S.html
CNN Electorial Map has Obama at 250 to McSame 189.
Michigan and Pennsylvania is now listed as leaning Obama as opposed to a tossup. Who were they kidding that Mi would go red? McSame’s own people are angry at him for announcing he was pulling out and conceding Mi victory to Obama.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/calculator/
christy is upstairs but i must post this down here as it is SO on topic
talk about lying?
check this out, mccain lies at every waking oportuniy
I had put on hold my critisism of mccain’s flying record as it seemed his being at fault was not documented
now it is documented, it looks like all but one of the accidents should NOT have happened and would have grounded a pilot without mccains heritage
Fuld (Lehman) up on Waxman’s panel. He’s sorry but thought he was prudent at the time.
(Repeat after me: Who coulda thunk it?)
Did anyone notice that Christy put up her new First Monday post: “First Monday: October SCOTUS Term Begins”?
and off topic but here it is, the clear and mandate from this administration, this is not “tin foil”, this is not a false “consipiracy” theory, it is a conspiracy but it is NOT false, this administration did everything they could to have bin laden escape;
I have always believed that a deal was made with the Saudis to allow OBL to get away. They are good friends with the Bush cabal so why not?
now it is documented