McCain favors a 'League of Democracies'
Candidate sees 'like-minded nations working together' in cause of peace

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate John McCain envisions a
"League of Democracies" as part of a more cooperative foreign policy
with U.S. allies.

The Arizona senator will call for such an organization to be "the core
of an international order of peace based on freedom" in a speech Tuesday
at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.

"We Americans must be willing to listen to the views and respect the
collective will of our democratic allies," McCain says, according to
excerpts his campaign provided. "Our great power does not mean we can do
whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the
wisdom, knowledge and resources necessary to succeed."

Backstopping the United Nations?
"To be a good leader, America must be a good ally," he adds in the
speech, another in a series of policy addresses as he seeks the
Republican presidential nomination.

Such comments offer a contrast to President Bush, who critics contend
has employed a stubborn, go-it-alone foreign policy that has
dramatically damaged the U.S. image abroad. Message board

McCain is careful to note that his proposed multinational organization
would not be like Woodrow Wilson's failed "League of Nations." Rather,
McCain says the organization would be far more similar to what Theodore
Roosevelt favored - a group of "like-minded nations working together in
the cause of peace."

"It could act where the U.N. fails to act," McCain says.

Such a new body, he says, could help relieve suffering in Darfur, fight
the AIDS epidemic in Africa, develop better environmental policies, and
provide "unimpeded market access" to countries sharing "the values of
economic and political freedom."

And, McCain adds, an organization of democracies could pressure tyrants
"with or without Moscow's and Beijing's approval" and could "impose
sanctions on Iran and thwart its nuclear ambitions" while helping
struggling democracies succeed.

Recalling Harry S. Truman's actions during the Cold War, McCain also
urges a similar "massive overhaul of the nation's foreign policy,
defense and intelligence agencies" to meet the world's current
challenges. He says details will come later.

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain is calling the
United States' foreign-oil reliance and global warming twin threats the
country must aggressively confront.

"National security depends on energy security," the Arizona senator says
in a speech he is to give Monday in which he suggests the country can't
achieve either if it remains dependent on oil-rich Middle Eastern
nations linked to terrorists.

"Al-Qaida must revel in the irony that America is effectively helping to
fund both sides of the war they caused. As we sacrifice blood and
treasure, some of our gas dollars flow to the fanatics who build the
bombs, hatch the plots, and carry out attacks on our soldiers and
citizens," McCain says. "The transfer of American wealth to the Middle
East helps sustain the conditions on which terrorists prey."

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Republican presidential contender John McCain called
the Iraq war "a great tragedy" on Thursday, yet still decried a
timetable for a U.S. withdrawal as the Senate voted to begin pulling out
troops by Oct. 1.

"I'm aware of the patience of the American people. I read the polls. I'm
not embarrassed to say that. I understand the frustration and sorrow
that American people feel about this war. It's a great tragedy," said
McCain, who was campaigning in this early voting state and missed the
Senate vote on the bill containing the withdrawal timetable.

Earlier in the day, he predicted that the consequences of U.S.
withdrawal would be severe.

"If we leave Iraq, there will be chaos, there will be genocide, and they
will follow us home," the Arizona senator said, calling the war against
al-Qaida "a struggle between good and evil."

On Thursday, the Senate followed the House's lead, brushing aside a veto
threat and passing legislation that would order President Bush to begin
withdrawing troops from Iraq by Oct. 1.

Calls for Gonzales resignation
As the furor grows over the firings of eight federal prosecutors, McCain
broke with President Bush, saying that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
should leave office.

"His best loyalty to the president would be served by stepping down,"
McCain said during a morning campaign stop.

McCain is the first Republican presidential contender to urge Gonzales
to resign, and the fourth Republican senator to do so, joining Tom
Coburn of Oklahoma, Gordon Smith of Oregon and John Sununu of New
Hampshire. Several others have stopped short of demanding Gonzales'
resignation but have harshly criticized his leadership. Message board

Bush has given Gonzales a strong vote of confidence and the attorney
general himself has vowed to remain in his post despite bipartisan
criticism of his leadership. At a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee
hearing last week, Gonzales claimed dozens of times that he couldn't
recall key details about the firings or about a meeting that records
show he attended.

McCain humor
McCain was joined at his campaign stop by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.,
and bantered with reporters about Graham being the perfect replacement
as attorney general.

"It would be a very popular move in Congress," McCain said. Graham
laughed, but did not address the remark and the two quickly joked when
asked about sharing a presidential ticket.

"I think he'd make a lousy vice president," Graham said. NBC VIDEO


McCain's sense of humor has been criticized twice in the past week. On
Tuesday night, he joked on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon
Stewart," that he had brought an explosive device back from Iraq as a
gift for the show's host. Last week, while in South Carolina, McCain
gave a rendition of the opening lyrics of the Beach Boys rock classic
"Barbara Ann," calling the tune "Bomb Iran" and changing the words to
"bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, anyway, ah ..."

At both his Greenville stop and a later visit to Columbia, McCain was
introduced as "Barbara Ann" played in the background. "I don't know why
they keep doing that," McCain said when asked about the song selection.

"No one will acknowledge responsibility," he joked. "We'll play, maybe,
'Good Vibrations' next."

The candidate said critics need to lighten up.

"You've got to have a sense of humor in this business, and it's vital
and I think that Americans appreciate a sense of humor," McCain said.
"And those that don't, as I've said before, in all due respect, lighten
up and get a life."

The "Bomb Iran" title isn't original, McCain said, noting that the
parody stemmed from the Americans were being held hostage in Iran many
years ago. Like most things I do, it certainly was not original -
unfortunately," McCain said.

These are all clips. My Poli-Sci prof would never have let me get away
with this. Do you have any opinions on the matter? What do you think?

Yes I like Edwards,,

Im just letting people see the candidates Philosopher

They can comment and share their views, informed!!!

McCain is crazy, an idiot & dangerous....just my opinion...

You like Newt better?

Newt is the same only extra large...

Ha Ha. Extra large.