McCain's Gambling Problem

Email Print posted by Verified1 10/05/2008 02:43:56 AM EST

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Is John McCain's seemingly irrational choice of Palin more evidence of his thrill for high stakes gambling?

With the ongoing news about McCain's gambling habits and the recent suggestion that he may have withheld his gambling winnings from his tax returns, I think it's important to bring this whole issue into wider public discussion.

Research has shown that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder are much more likely to experience "problem gambling" issues. It helps them numb out the painful memories of their battle experiences. Now I don't have any proof that McCain is a problem gambler. But he certainly acts as if everything of value in his own life stems from, and is reflective of, his traumatic prolonged POW experience. More than just a political blowhard, I believe he is simply psychologically unhealthy. Just like G W Bush is a dry drunk, McCain's temperament and volatility show a man who, after many years of neglected treatment, is still struggling deeply with inner demons. And gambling with our country, as well as with global security, be it by choosing the hideously under-qualified Palin, or threatening to invade Russia, is not a PTSD symptom we should be willing to abide.


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McCain's Gambling Problem | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
McCain's own words... (none / 0)
His own words were referring to when his "...temper gets ahead of my judgment, as it often has..."(book by Jonathan Karp, Hard Call?) Why has he never referred to himself as a "disabled vet?" In fact, he has been poor in advocating for veterans benefits! He has flipped on his previous opposition to torture. Whenever I see those pictures of him in the hospital during those years, I think of his first wife, a young woman going through her own hell for what he was going through. I also think there needs to be more discourse about his having cheated on his disabled wife with Cindy. Did he (as I've heard his advocates say)  come back from Vietnam "a different person" (like that's an EXCUSE.) McCain's abrasive, impulsive and  self-righteous nature, his tendency to surround himself with like-minded to validate his own views ONLY, reminds me so much of what is wrong with Bush and his administration. He is certainly taking the low road to the highest office in the world! Just the prospect of him as president is SACRY!!!!

by tifosies on 10/05/2008 08:41:54 AM EST

Well Said (none / 0)

"...his tendency to surround himself with like-minded to validate his own views ONLY, reminds me so much of what is wrong with Bush and his administration."   

That says it all, and says it well, tifosies.

by Verified1 on 10/06/2008 12:06:25 AM EST

[ Parent ]
McCain and Palin Both have Tax Return Problems (none / 0)

The Obama campaign will keep this on the back burner in case they need it.

While McCain hid gambling earnings from his tax returns, Palin did not declare any of her per diem income or family travel expenses on her tax returns.  Also, Palin's reported gross income was considerably less than the salary of the Governor of Alaska.

Troopergate is coming to a head in the next week, with an Alaska Supreme Court hearing and a report from the legislative investigation.  This is likely to make big news when it hits, and what little support Palin might have among independents is likely to go away.  My prediction is that Palin's political career is over after this campaign.  She will be lucky if she is somehow able to serve the remainder of her term as Alaska governor.

by rbruck on 10/05/2008 09:00:01 AM EST

But Will The Obama Campaign Use It? (none / 0)

"The Obama campaign will keep this on the back burner in case they need it."

I wish they would use it before it's too late, rbruck. I went to an Obama rally today in my home town and ALL Obama's attacks against McCain in this afternoon's speech were purely policy-themed. Now, I admire Obama for this and hope he slams McCain's policies as well in the upcoming debate as he did this afternoon to the cheering throng.

The sad part of all this is that most "undecided" voters that I know make up their minds based upon what they hear TV blabbers say, and TV blabbers love to talk about juicy things like gambling and adultery and tax evasion and Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright, etc., rather than health care and tax fairness - issues that make much more difference to these undecideds than Jeremiah Wright ever could.

by Verified1 on 10/06/2008 12:15:20 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I am with you (none / 0)

I saw Palin accuse Obama of being a terrorist and about an hour later I was taking a shower and it came like a flash.  Its time to unleash the Keating Five.

Not by the candidates, but by surrogates.

This Wright/Ayers stuff should go nowhere because there is no new news peg.  To make it part of your broadcast is just gratuitously doing the bidding of the McPalin campaign.

But the Keating Five is different in two ways.  One, it has not been dealt with in the entire election cycle.  Two, it has a news peg to launch from with the economic meltdown and the numerous McCain staffers/lobbyists being tied to corruption.

Obama has to control what the leads on the news are.  He needs his surrogates to make the lead about Keating, Davis, Black and the boys and not this schlock Silly Sarah is slinging.

by ProfRich on 10/06/2008 01:30:16 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Post-Palin Showering (none / 0)
Hah, Rich, after watching Palin, I usually want to take a shower, too.

by Verified1 on 10/07/2008 01:57:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
McCain's Gambling Problem | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
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