G8Keeper
John McCain would like everyone to believe that he is a foreign policy expert. Of course, large international bodies such as the UN and G8 are vital tools of international relations. One would think John McCain would have some good insight into the organizations.
Flip
Late in 2007, Senator McCain decided that Russia was no longer a democracy "committed to the defense of freedom," and that the G8 "should exclude Russia."
Flop
Russia hasn't done much since but install a new puppet leader who is still answering to Mr. Putin. That hasn't changed Senator MCCain from softening his tone on Russia. An aide noted that his earlier stated opinion changed. The idea of kicking Russia out of G8 "doesn’t reflect where he is right now."
Bonus
It turns out McCain's understanding of the group was so rudimentary that he made what was essentially an impossible suggestion. To be removed from the G8, Russia would have had to vote on its own ouster. Perhaps this flip-flop was simply a case of someone informing Senator McCain that his ideas were "dumb."
