Will McCain practice cowboy diplomacy?

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Realist? Neocon?

Featured Topic | Posted 29 weeks 8 hours ago

Will McCain practice cowboy diplomacy?

Republican neoconservatives believe that John McCain is one of them. But so do the so-called "realists" who are less enamored of America's ability to change the world through military means. A look at McCain's record has its appeal to both sides -- strong support for the war in Iraq, but skepticism about deploying troops in Lebanon and Somalia.

What will a John McCain foreign policy look like?

Ben likes: What a McCain presidency might look like

Paul Mirengoff/Powerline

Richard Nixon is the best parallel I can think of from the last century. Nixon adopted or proposed a host of liberal initiatives -- affirmative action, wage/price controls, even a guaranteed annual income. He did so, I believe, out of indifference. Nixon's goal with respect to domestic policy was to remain sufficiently viable politically to conduct American foreign policy.

There's some of this in McCain. Foreign and national security affairs are his passion, and he cares little about social issues. However, he is hardly indifferent about matters such as government spending, immigration, and clean government. Motivation and interest aside, a McCain presidency would likely resemble Nixon's in that he would combine hard-line foreign policy with some centrist or liberal domestic policies. But because McCain is far more principled, he surely would be more resistant to a broad liberal agenda than Nixon was.

Joel likes: Who is John McCain?

Steve Benen/The Carpetbagger Report

That’s the inherent problem with a senator who’s tried to reinvent himself more than once — a sense of his core values and principles starts to disappear. No one knows who the “real” McCain is because he seems to be constantly changing, hoping to capitalize on the prevailing political winds.

When it comes to Republican schisms between neocons and realists, McCain apparently wants both sides to see him as on their team.

Who’s right? Who knows? McCain is a man of principle — weak, malleable, and easily forgotten principles.