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Nighttime in a McCain White House

I love Harold Meyerson's 3 a.m. scenario from the Washington Post:

It is 3 a.m., and the stillness of the White House night is shattered by the ringing of the red phone. President John McCain, rousing himself from a deep sleep, turns on the light and picks up the receiver. A U.S. embassy in a Middle Eastern country, he is told, has been blown up, and al-Qaeda is taking credit.

McCain takes a deep breath. "Character counts, my friend," he says. "Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb Iran."

There is a rustling of blankets, and, brushing aside Cindy McCain, a concerned Joe Lieberman rises from the bed. "Not Iran, Mr. President," he says. "They hate al-Qaeda."

"That's right," the president says. "I remember now." He sighs with relief. "Good thing you're here every night, Joe."

McCain's initial mention of the fictional Iran/al Qaeda axis wasn't a slip; it was part of pattern that raises questions about McCain's claims of foreign policy expertise. (Example of such claims, from a speech in Keene, NH: "My friends, I know how to handle the Iranians. And I'll handle 'em.")

Actually, if McCain does take the White House, perhaps Democrats can get Lieberman a post as his National Security Adviser or butler. At least he'll be out of the Senate.

Posted by Jonathan Stein on 03/27/08 at 9:04 AM | Comments (0) | Email | Print

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