<p>"Former senator Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican, expresses worries about McCain: “His temper would place this country at risk in international affairs, and the world perhaps in danger. In my mind, it should disqualify him.”</p>
<p>A spokesman for McCain’s campaign said he would be unavailable for an interview on the subject of his temper. But over the years, no one has written more intimately about McCain’s outbursts than McCain himself. “My temper has often been both a matter of public speculation and personal concern,” he wrote in a 2002 memoir. “I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public’s.”…</p>
<p>Temper can sometimes be a political instrument," said James A. Thurber, director of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University. "There are sometimes calculated displays of temper, which is what Lyndon Johnson used to persuade people. . . .</p>
<p>“But sometimes somebody’s temperament can get in the way of aides telling him the truth, which happened [during the Vietnam War] with LBJ. His temper scared some [aides] away, which was not good for anyone. . . . That’s always part of the risk with a strong temper . . . and so it’s always relevant.”
[McCain:</a> A question of temperament - Washington Post - MSNBC.com](<a href=“http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24223304/]McCain:”>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24223304/)</p>
<p>Playing devil’s advocate…perhaps a reason for Mr. Smith’s feelings for McCain:</p>
<p>(After a second long google search):</p>
<p>2000: Smith starts using his chairmanship for pork-barrel-spending projects in New Hampshire: “This is giving some of that money back to you…We’re bringing your money back to you,” he tells New Hampshire residents about the new federal dollars coming into the state.</p>
<p>Sounds like Bob Smith is total idiot. The way the pansies speak, if you said anything controversial or directly aimed at another person, then you have a “Temper”. There is a difference between having a temper and not being able to be diplomatic. Compared to the flying off the handle comparison of LBJ, McCain doesn’t compare with having a “Temper”. Actually, I think it would be GREAT to have a president who can throw political correctness and BUTT KISSING out the window. He shouldn’t be trying to make someone “Feel Good”.</p>
<p>This isn’t to say that McCain is the best choice for president out of the 3; and it’s because he “fights” back against STUPID questions and comments from the media. (Which is where most of his so called flare ups have occurred). There are some things that make Clinton attractive. Obama; well, I think he has totally lost any hope of my support. Even if he got elected, I would spend the next 4 years telling people; “No, Obama isn’t the problem for not having any leadership experience. You all are the problem for voting for the idiot”. </p>
<p>No, I haven’t really seen any so called “Temper” problems with McCain. I’ve seen outbursts and reactions. That’s different. A “Temper” to me is someone who rants and raves that they want something, and will scream until they get it, and they are closed minded to any rational thinking towards it. E.g. Temper Tantrum. BARKING at someone is NOT A TEMPER. It could be an act of rudeness or even meanness. Either way, it’s not always a bad thing. Especially if he could use that to put CONGRESS back into their place and force them to do their job.</p>
<p>Oh BTW Hillary is well known for her temper. So if the media is going to hit McCain about his temper, than we need to hit Hillary for the same thing.</p>
<p>Stephanopoulis broght up the issue today and McCain even stated I am passionate.</p>
<p>Christcorp, do you honestly think that barking at Congress will put them back into their place, and “force them to do their job”?</p>
<p>I don’t know how much either Clinton or McCain’s supposed tempers will hurt them during this election cycle, but I do know that even a momentary flash of pique will deep six Obama, because nothing is scarier than an “angry black man”. That’s why I think George and Charlie were trying to incite fireworks during that last bit of insanity called, “The Pennsylvania Primary Debate”.</p>
<p>Christcorp…if you read the article, you will find that he’s not ‘blowing up’ at the press or objecting to their stupid questions. He’s blowing up at fellow Senators, at people in lowly positions (read about how he screamed blue murder at a Young Republican <em>in public</em> because the kid didn’t get him a box to stand on at a podium), and wouldn’t speak to some people <em>for years</em> because he got mad at them. He’s also a table-thumper and his underlings are afraid to tell him stuff he’d rather not hear. </p>
<p>Oooh, says ‘presidential’ to me…just 4 more years of McBush.</p>
<p>Not sure if barking at congress will motivate them to do their job all by itself. But McCain’s the type of person who will have no problem going to the citizen; the real boss; and telling them about congress and their slacking. That will put a fire under them. It worked for Regan. Once people realize that government isn’t some arbitrary existence, and that those people want to keep their job and actually will respond if you call, write, and email them; then people get involved and congress moves their sorry butt.</p>
<p>Actually, Smith may have been mad at McCain because McCain mocked him for not being a “real” Viet Nam vet because he was only in the Navy and in war zone waters for ten months. You should read the Washington Post article. What really struck me were two occasions when he vindictively attempted to wreck the careers of two women who dared to speak up to him when he was in the wrong. While a few of the people he has wronged now support him, they tend to be people who are still part of the Republican establishment who will benefit from a Republican presidency. I don’t think McCain will think the citizen is the “real boss”–it’s pretty clear who he thinks knows best and should be the boss.</p>
<p>If anyone here has never yelled, ranted or screamed about paperwork they needed, or how someone didn’t complete the job properly, then chime in…but I know for a fact that I have vented a lot (90% of the time to colleagues) about screw ups, so should I blame him for being ticked off when he disagreed? </p>
<p>Or should I just be okay that he doesn’t ask and expect 100% — I think that is what we call CATCH 22 – be a WOS or be a WARMONGER</p>
<p>"If anyone here has never yelled, ranted or screamed about paperwork they needed, or how someone didn’t complete the job properly, then chime in…but I know for a fact that I have vented a lot (90% of the time to colleagues) about screw ups, so should I blame him for being ticked off when he disagreed? "</p>
<p>I have never acted like that. I despise people who act like that in the workplace, and my response to such rare bosses has been to try to get as far away from them as possible, and to hope that their projects fail.</p>
<p>I would not want a commander in chief who had such little control of themselves.</p>
<p>I don’t want this kind of vindictive person as president:</p>
<p>"…McCain requested the firing of an aide to Arizona’s senior U.S. senator, Dennis DeConcini, according to two top figures in DeConcini’s office.</p>
<p>The aide, a veterans affairs expert named Judy Leiby, first ran into problems with McCain in the late '80s, when she sought to correct what she regarded as a McCain misstatement about DeConcini’s record on a veterans issue. She was attending a Phoenix meeting between McCain and some veterans when she rebutted a McCain assertion that DeConcini, a Democrat, favored a bill that included a cut of some veterans benefits. “That is incorrect,” Leiby said, detailing the specifics of DeConcini’s position as McCain listened stonily.</p>
<p>Sometime afterward, McCain called DeConcini and asked that he dismiss Leiby, insisting to the senator that his aide had become a toxic, partisan figure. According to the two people in the office, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, DeConcini defended Leiby and, praising what he characterized as her bipartisan fairness and expertise, urged McCain to give her a second look. McCain refused, repeating his demand that Leiby be fired.</p>
<p>DeConcini “politely told McCain to go to hell,” according to a source close to the conversation, adding: “Not once in [DeConcini’s 18-year Senate tenure] did another senator ask for an aide to be dismissed. Not once did anyone speak about an aide like that.”</p>
<p>Northstar…I was saying that ranting to your inner circle, not bosses.</p>
<p>If you have not k’vetched about your bosses to your colleagues, friends or spouses, than you are a much better person than I will ever be!</p>
<p>I have spoken to my peers about subordinates and asked for guidance. I have received phone calls where it was so laced with profanity that I put the phone on the desk b/c the decibel level was too high. I have walked out of meetings asking myself if they were crazy!</p>
<p>I am not saying that he is right, what I am saying is that I can realate.</p>
<p>BTW…I will give you all of the names for everyone who ever worked for me and I bet you, they will say I never showed any anger, aggression or animosity in the work place. It is possible to be ticked and let your colleagues/inner circle know without the public knowing</p>
<p>" It is possible to be ticked and let your colleagues/inner circle know without the public knowing"</p>
<p>Yes, but that’s not what McCain has done. He even has cursed out in public young Republican volunteers for trivial things like not having something for him to stand on while speaking at a lecturn.</p>
<p>He seems to have a dangerous lack of control of his temper.</p>
<p>Well McCain’s lack of respect for women should be a huge concern; He crassly said very crude and cruel words about a young Chelsea Clinton. We should be very concerned.</p>
<p>Actually, I was thinking more about how that act must have damaged <em>McCain</em> in front of a crowd of people who had thrown their support to him. How many walked away thinking ‘what a jerk’?’ Quite a few if my past experience with people who scream and shout at workers holds true. The person damaged by these outbursts is usually the one doing the hollering.</p>
<p>I bet there are just as many people (or more) who would suggest that McCain’s so-called “temper” is no big deal. </p>
<p>McCain is a guy who cares deeply about this country and about the responsibility he has as an elected official. I think it irks him no end when he sees others abusing their positions. He has made a career out of exposing corruption & abuse in government, so it just isn’t logical that he would risk that reputation over some low-level aides or workers. </p>
<p>Just keep in mind, there could be more to the story than has been written in the article. </p>
<p>And as far as his comments to his wife are concerned, who are we to judge their relationship? I’ve never heard/read anything about her reaction to the “name calling”. (Who knows, maybe that’s his pet name for her - haha!).</p>