So...what about McCain's military experience, buzzcook?
Creature, what does military experience mean? To Republican's it didn't mean much in 2004, 2000, it meant something to them in 1996,1992, 1988, didn't mean much to them in 1984, 1980, 1976, 1972. And so on to 1860.
So perhaps you should answer your own question first.
But I'll answer because this is something that should be explored.
McCain commanded a training squadron in 1976, reportedly he did that job well. His unit received a unit citation etc.
We could define that as experience in the same manner we're using the term here on this thread. That is experience that could be directly applied to the job of being president. I would say that the rest of his career doesn't automatically translate.
But I have a feeling you're not thinking of his military career in those terms.
I think what you're going for is something along the lines of character revelation. Well except for his time as a POW, McCain's character doesn't come off too well. From scoffing at the regulations at Annapolis, to violating his oath as an officer and gentleman by having extramarital affairs; we have a picture of a man that is careless of his position.
But it is his time as a POW that most people mean when the talk about McCain in the military.
I would hope that everyone here feels as I do that McCain displayed the most sterling characteristics of courage and steadfast strength that we have come to expect of our best and rightest. His refusing early release is further testament to his character. That he was one of many that did the same in no way reduces his heroism.
Ok, got that? Well now lets look back to the year 2000. Which party and supporters were calling McCain, a traitor that gave away secrets to the North Vietnamese? Which party and supporters, were claiming that McCain had been mentally injured by his time as a POW? That's rhetorical, you don't have to answer.
I think one of the lower points in my respect for republicans was listening to Micheal Medved claiming that McCain's courage as a POW wasn't really courage, because it was "passive" almost "feminine". Medved went on for most of the segment describing what courage and heroism was and how McCain didn't quite measure up.
That is one of many examples of what makes me testy when conservatives and republicans claim to be the only ones that support the troops.
So here we have McCain displaying character of the highest order. If I were to boil it down to one adjective I would say McCain was "steadfast." Yes McCain's time as a POW is revelatory of his character. But it is revelatory of his character then. It is also reflective of his character now.
The McCain of today is not the same as the man then. He is sadly diminished. Here is a man that bravely withstood torture and who now supports the use of torture. McCain may have been steadfast but now he has changed his position on so many major issues that it's hard to keep track.
So how do I judge McCain's military experience? IMHO McCain doesn't live up to his past.
Thanks for playing...