Flip Flopping Speed Record?

McCain Sets a New Record: 10 Flip-Flops in Two Weeks

Jon Perr, Crooks and Liars:

In his eternal quest for the Republican presidential nomination, the supposed maverick John McCain has repeatedly reversed long-held positions and compromised purportedly core principles. From the Bush tax cuts, the religious right and immigration reform to overturning Roe v. Wade, proclaiming Samuel Alito a model Supreme Court Justice and bashing France (just to name a few), McCain changed sides as changing political conditions dictated.

But over the past two weeks, McCain’s rapid fire, acrobatic flip-flops have produced whiplash, at least for voters. 10 times since the beginning of June, McCain has retreated from, upended or just forgotten positions he once claimed as his own. On Social Security, balancing the budget, defense spending, domestic surveillance and a host of other issues so far this month, McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” did a U-turn on the road to the White House.

1. Social Security Privatization.
   
2. Raising - and Slashing - Defense Spending.
   
3. First Term Balanced Budget Pledge.
   
4. The Media’s Treatment of Hillary Clinton.
   
5. The Estate Tax.
   
6. FISA, Domestic Surveillance and Telecom Immunity.
   
7. Restoring the Everglades.
   
8. Divestment from South Africa.
   
9. Fighting Job Losses in Michigan.
   
10. Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations.

...And so it goes. As surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west each day, so too will John McCain change positions. (Like that other law of nature, McCain’s flip-flops are literally becoming a daily occurrence. Since this piece was originally drafted on Saturday, McCain added two new policy turnabouts - on phasing out rather than repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax and on requiring a litmus test for his judicial appointees - to his litany of reversals.)