John McCain Sits Down With Big Think

Description: Historians often judge presidents by their national security policies, says McCain.

Transcript: I think that’s gonna depend to a large degree on the outcome of the war in Iraq, because many historians judge presidents by the conduct of national security policy. I think he’ll be judged harshly on the issue of spending – failure to get spending under control. I think he will be not judged favorably by not engaging more in the issue of climate change and trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But I also think that he will be remembered as a good and decent man who loved his country, and that tried very hard to fix some of the problems, including Social Security, that are important to the future of the nation.

Recorded on: 11/20/07

Description: As the age of revolution, McCain says.

Transcript: It’ll be remembered as the age of revolution; of the information technology revolution; which is only comparable to the industrial revolution; which changed the nature of the globe, not just America. Worldwide, instantaneous communication. A flow of information and knowledge in an incredible fashion. And the impact that all of this information and flow of information and ideas is having in the world is not really for us to . . . that I can accurately predict to you except you’re gonna have a better informed world, a better educated world, a cleaner . . . a better world as far as the spread of democracy and freedom is concerned. And you’re going to have a world that is . . . whose economy is basically global in nature.

Recorded on: 11/20/07