The “Maverick” Is Back!

/in /by

That guy who used to use parliamentary maneuvers to be an out-and-out shit and get a lot of credibility for being a “Maverick”? He’s back.

Sen. John McCain might delay confirmation of President Obama’s next national intelligence director, a spokesperson said Sunday.

McCain is awaiting a report, content unspecified, that will determine whether he will ask Majority Leader Harry Reid to avoid bringing the nomination of Gen. James Clapper (ret.) to the floor. A vote was expected this week and Clapper, who converted doubters on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, was expected to be easily confirmed.

Mind you, one possible reason Ambinder speculates the old “Maverick” might hold up Clapper has to do with intelligence contracting. Which, if he did it, I’d frankly applaud (better warn bmaz about that right now).

Gosh, it’s been since campaign finance reform that McCain and I were (might be) on the same side of an issue.

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  1. earlofhuntingdon says:

    Because Mr. Obama is following Mr. Bush and outsourcing too many intel nd defense activities, not enough, or outsourcing them to the wrong people, meaning not to those most kind-hearted and generous in support of Mr. McCain?

  3. bmaz says:

    Huh? WTF? Do. Not. Fall. For. Teh. Mavericky. Schticht. It is a fraud; always has been, always will be. No clue what his deal is here, but the one thing that is dead nuts certain is that McCain thinks there is some material immediate gain, electoral or otherwise, for McCain in the play. It is the only reason McCain does anything. Ever.

    You are NOT on the same page with him. Trust me.

  4. Loo Hoo. says:

    Suddenly McCain doesn’t approve of contractors? Is he confusing Wikileaks with intelligence contractors?

  5. hackworth1 says:

    In my mind, a maverick is a solo act. Alas, I learned differently. Sarah Palin and John McCain are a team of Mavericks.

    Clap On. Clap Off.

  6. ShotoJamf says:

    This couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact that McMaverick is in a tight race for reelection, could it? Nah, that sort of thinking would be downright cynical of me.

    By the way, is Clapper related to that thing that people use to turn off the lights from across the room? Just a SWAG.

    • bmaz says:

      The meme that McCain is in “a tight race for reelection” is a bogus construct of the national media. He is not, and never has been. From best I can tell here, his lead over Hayworth has never been less than 10 points and is now closer to 15 points. There effectively are no Dems even running that have any electoral credibility. McCain has never been in any danger here.

        • bmaz says:

          I think Republicans still have a slight edge, but there is a huge percentage of non-declareds which are commonly referred to as independents.

          • chetnolian says:

            Totally OT. Back to Friday. Vettel may be fast but he must learn not to doze off behind the safety car. “Advance Australia Fair!”

  7. DWBartoo says:

    A wee OT: Fox News has been given a front-row seat in the White House “briefing room”. The one that used to be occupied by Helen Thomas.

    “Fair and Balanced” … is Barack Obama (no doubt the poor chap had not a thing to do with it, some underling MUST have made this decision. Certainly no “message” is being sent? “Looking Forward” … we go.)

    DW

    • AZ Matt says:

      White House Correspondents Association made that decision. Fox moved to the front but AP moved over to Helen’s old seat.

      • DWBartoo says:

        Thanks, AZ Matt, that is much better “news”, and I’m very much relieved.

        It is good to know that the White House Correspondents Association believes Fox News to be one of them, in good standing, rising, as it does, to the highest levels of current journalistic integrity.

        I shall concern myself no longer with what “this” might mean, portend, or imply … Excuse me, Mr. President, my error, my mistake … must have had … something… in both of my eyes.

        DW

      • greenwarrior says:

        The seat should have been left empty as none of them can fill Helen’s seat. Moi, an idealist?

        • tejanarusa says:

          gw! And to think, I thought you were a cynic.

          (OT – Thought of you as I drove home from Austin yesterday, passing by NB).

          • greenwarrior says:

            hey, let me know next time you’ll be here. i’d love to meet you. i haven’t gotten to san antone for years now.

  8. tanbark says:

    The republicans know a moral coward of a president when they see one. Why shouldn’t they take advantage of it to get appointees that they approve of?

    Would to God the democrats would play some hard ball. :o(

  9. teejay says:

    I feel confident that you’re correct that McCain does not have the best interests of the US in mind. Unfortunately, neither does Obama IMO. The last election was a lose-lose situation and I won’t be surprised if the next one is identical with the same result. UGH!

  11. jaango says:

    Prior to encountering Marcy’s thread, I posted my comment to David Dayen’s thread on “McCain’s Fighting the Last War”.

    Jaango

  12. Jeff Kaye says:

    Would to God the democrats would play some hard ball. :o(

    Why should anyone even believe they would? Please point me to an example when they ever did. What you see is what you get.

    It is an illusion to believe the Democrats are ever going to stand up to power. They are part of the power establishment. Their slogan should be “don’t rock the boat,” although they can keep their mascot, so long as they focus on its posterior.

    As for McCain, the hold is now official, as McCain awaits some mysterious “report.”

    Well, what should they expect for pissing on an admiral?

    • Petrocelli says:

      They [Dems] are part of the power establishment.

      Yep, as soon as Harry Reid jumped into a lead, his precious Climate Bill got watered down to weak tease …

      *with due apologies to punaise*