McCain: Obama Tried To Legislate Iraq Loss

At Veterans Conventions, GOP Candidate Criticizes Democrat's Opposition To The Surge

(AP)  John McCain told fellow veterans on Monday that his Democratic rival Barack Obama tried to legislate failure in Iraq and has refused to admit he erred when opposing the military increase there last year.

McCain said Obama placed his political self-interest ahead of his country's, a theme the Arizona Republican has often repeated. McCain told a friendly convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars that Obama's positions have changed as his political ambitions grew.

"With less than three months to go before the election, a lot of people are still trying to square Sen. Obama's varying positions on the surge in Iraq. First, he opposed the surge and confidently predicted that it would fail. Then he tried to prevent funding for the troops who carried out the surge," McCain said.

"Not content to merely predict failure in Iraq, my opponent tried to legislate failure."

Obama has acknowledged the surge reduced violence in Iraq but says it has failed in its political goal of facilitating a reconciliation among contentious Iraqi factions. The Illinois Democrat proposes to withdrawn U.S. combat forces from Iraq within 16 months; McCain opposes any timetable for withdrawal.

Iraqi leaders have been pressing the U.S. for a timetable for withdrawal.

"It is hard to understand how Sen. McCain can at once proclaim his support for the sovereign government of Iraq, and then stubbornly defy their expressed support for a timeline to remove our combat brigades from their country," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton. "John McCain is intent on spending $10 billion a month on an open-ended war, while Barack Obama thinks we should bring this war to a responsible end and invest in our pressing needs here at home."

McCain said victory in Iraq is in sight, but much depends on the next president's judgment.

"The lasting advantage of a peaceful and democratic ally in the heart of the Middle East could still be squandered by hasty withdrawal and arbitrary timelines. And this is one of many problems in the shifting positions of my opponent, Sen. Obama," McCain said.

The Republican nominee-in-waiting said Obama's political ambitions have blinded him to reality. He also said Obama has refused to change his positions to reflect new success.

"Even in retrospect, he would choose the path of retreat and failure for America over the path of success and victory," McCain said. "In short, both candidates in this election pledge to end this war and bring our troops home.

"The great difference is that I intend to win it first."

Obama was scheduled to speak to the group on Tuesday. President Bush plans to attend on Wednesday.

[tbweb]

Sen. McCain is currently speaking of Iraq in terms of winning and losing the war but can`t seem to define what winning is in a manner that makes sense! What is winning in Iraq? Iraq just started purchasing billions of dollars of U.S. weapons and gave some oil contracts to U.S. companies, is that winning in Iraq? I can`t wait for Mission Accomplished Part 2!

[joe_transit]

Ever notice we only see the right side of the McCain head, the left side looks to cancerous.

[luvienne]

Mccain''s answer to everything is the surge. What does he not get? If the surge was so great why are people still dying in Iraq? Why is it still costing the USA millions a month to keep this war going? Why are soldiers still dying in Iraq? If everything is so great why does the Iraqi government want the USA to leave? Why does Mccain and the Republicans want to keep this war going? Is the siphoning off of big money so great they will risk all to stay in control? American lives, our economy, our allies.

[taotxzen]

News to CBS - Parrots

Obama hits back at McCain cheap shots in VFW speech

By: SilentPatriot

Just as McCain did Monday, Barack Obama addressed the Veterans of Foreign Wars today, and didn%u2019t pull any punches in his response to McCain%u2019s attacks, especially when it came to the cheap shot that he would rather win the Presidency than win the war. It%u2019s welcoming to see a Democrat eager to go before traditionally Republican-friendly audiences and knock it out of the park.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

In the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, I warned that war would fan the flames of extremism in the Middle East, create new centers of terrorism, and tie us down in a costly and open-ended occupation. Senator McCain predicted that we%u2019d be greeted as liberators, and that the Iraqis would bear the cost of rebuilding through their bountiful oil revenues. For the good of our country, I wish he had been right, and I had been wrong. But that%u2019s not what history shows. [%u2026]

These are the judgments I%u2019ve made and the policies that we have to debate, because we do have differences in this election. But one of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can%u2019t disagree without challenging each other%u2019s character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Senator McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America%u2019s national interest. Now, it%u2019s time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.

[stn_sage]

For crying out loud! The Iraq war is a Bush/Cheney/GOP blunder---everybody who is sane knows it!

It''s in extremely bad taste to try to ''lay the war off'' on Obama! Doing so, just makes him look like a senile old man!

The more McCain talks, the more he looks like Bush, the country can''t stand four more years of this!

[deacon20081]

Orrin Hatch is sending out EMAILS Begging for $7.00 donations to support the protesters at the democratic convention.....isn''t that special!

For every protester they send they need $7.00 each LOL
Will the Republicans slime machine stop at nothing?
Of course not! That is what they do! Decieve and Lie are the McSame traits he wants to bring to the White House....sorry Bush has been enough.

[misha128-2009]

Senator John "Talk Tough and Carry NO Stick" McCain''s "Katrina Response" toward Georgia continues yet another day. Senators Lieberman and Graham reportedly dispatched as envoys to Georgia days ago spend another day in the US on speaking engagements.

%u201411:00 am: Senator Joe Lieberman meets with the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council, Conway, N.H.

%u201412:00 pm: Senator Graham holds a forum on national security and foreign policy at Keene State College, Keene, N.H.

[taotxzen]

It''s a Three-Man Race: Obama vs The Two McCains

Posted August 18, 2008

"How honest are we if we tell the truth most of the time & stay silent only when telling the truth might get us fired or earn us a broken nose? We need moral courage to be honest all the time."

Those words were written by John McCain in his 2004 book Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life.

I couldn''t agree with them more. I just wish John McCain did. Not the John McCain who wrote them in 2004; the John McCain running for president in 2008. There''s a big difference.

When Barack Obama finally secured the Democratic nomination over Hillary Clinton, we all thought it was down to a two-man field. Obama vs. McCain. But it''s turned out to be a three-man race: Obama vs the Old, Honorable McCain and his political doppelganger the New, Unprincipled McCain.

After a month dominated by the new-but-definitely-not-improved McCain, it was actually a bit of a shock to see the John McCain so many of us fell in love with in 2000 make a rare appearance at the Rick Warren forum the other night. Engaging, easy-going, able to connect his incredible life story to his view of the world. Hearing him tell the story of how he and Cindy came to adopt their youngest daughter Bridget, you could almost forget this was the same man who for much of the summer has been running a disgraceful, dishonorable campaign.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

And even this rare appearance by the old McCain was tainted a bit by the "cone of silence" dust-up (particularly his campaign''s ridiculous use of the former-POWs-never-lie defense), and the question of whether McCain lifted his moving "cross in the dirt story" from Solzhenitsyn.

Sightings of the old McCain are becoming more and infrequent. He was there at the beginning of the race, when he pledged to run a "respectful campaign" -- and when his campaign manager, Rick Davis, penned a memo vowing, "Throughout the primary election we saw John McCain reject the type of politics that degrade our civics, and this will not change as he prepares to run head-to-head against the Democratic nominee."

But it did change. And so did those steering McCain''s campaign. In July, Davis was replaced with Steve Schmidt, a protigi of Karl Rove. Schmidt''s nickname is "the bullet," and it''s not just because of his bald head -- he practices the kind of politics that shoots for the head. You bring in guys like Steve Schmidt for a reason. And McCain has gotten exactly what he''s paying for -- what Joe Klein (a great admirer of the old McCain) calls the "quadrennial Republican scum festival that begins in August of every presidential election year."

The Huffington Post

[taotxzen]

John McCain lies about taxes

According to analysis of the McCain tax plan in comparison with the Obama tax plan by the Tax Policy Center, recent McCain commercials that insist Obama wants to raise "your" taxes are lies.

Unless the ads are targeted for the very tiny group of the richest Americans. But that doesn''''t seem likely does it?

According to the analysis Obama''''s plan would cut taxes for everyone making $227,000 or less.

That is me and most every person and working family.

In fact, Obama''''s tax cuts for people who make less than $112,000 would be higher than those proposed by McCain.

The overwhelming majority of people in the country would see tax cuts under an Obama administration of around $600, for the lowest income tax payers to $2800 for people earning under $227,000. I think the Obama campaign pegs the average at about $1,000 per person.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

What is the difference between the two plans? Obama would raise taxes on the very wealthiest people. People with incomes between $227,000 and $603,000 would pay $12 more. That''''s three cheeseburgers. And the biggest increases would be imposed on the very richest, most successful people.

McCain, on the other hand, would give tax breaks to the very richest people equal to or greater than than the median income of working Americans. Up to $269,000 in tax breaks per individual. The average worker has to work about 5 years for the same amount.

The difference is in priorities. McCain would simply continue Bush''''s tax relief for the people who need it the least while starving the federal budget and cutting back on public services. All while waging a $10 billion per month war in Iraq for more oil and more profits for McCain''''s other constituency: Big Oil.

[taotxzen]

Potential McCain VP Bobby Jindal Can%u2019t Think of Any McCain Ideas

from Think Progress:

Sunday on NBC%u2019s Meet the Press, host David Gregory asserted that the Republican Party %u2018used to be the party of big ideas.%u2019 Gregory then asked his guest Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA), %u2018What%u2019s the big idea Senator McCain is campaigning on?%u2019 Jindal responded, %u2018I think there%u2019s several,%u2019 but couldn%u2019t provide an answer. Gregory asked again, %u2018Where are the new big ideas of the Republican Party that John McCain is championing?%u2019 And again Jindal couldn%u2019t provide an answer.

It is what we have been saying all along, take away the slander and smear of Obama and there is no actual McCain campaign. There is no nothing there.

Still don''t beleive me, go to the RNC.org website. Here is a sampling of what they have under *News*:


Saturday, August 16, 2008:
They Said It Flashback! Alec Baldwin On Obama''s Lack Of Experience

Friday, August 15, 2008:
In Case You Missed It: Barack Obama Blinks In Hillary Face-Off

Thursday, August 14, 2008:
Bankrupt on Credibility

Thursday, August 14, 2008:
In Case You Missed It: Obama''s War On Women

Wednesday, August 13, 2008:
Obama''s Social Insecurity

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008:
Obama: Weak on Bipartisanship

Monday, August 11, 2008:
They Said It! Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) On Obama

Monday, August 11, 2008:
Friend Updates Added To BarackBook

Saturday, August 09, 2008:
Obama Vs. Obama on Yucca Mountain

Friday, August 08, 2008:
Obama''''s Energy Wipeout

Friday, August 08, 2008:
In Case You Missed It: George Clooney To Sell Face Time To Boost Barack Obama''''s Coffers

Thursday, August 07, 2008:
Clinton vs. Obama: The Healing Process Was Far From Over

Thursday, August 07, 2008:
Barack Obama: My Pop-Culture Favorites

Tuesday, August 05, 2008:
Dr. NObama

Monday, August 04, 2008:
Obama Vs. Obama on Tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Monday, August 04, 2008:
Rookie Confusion on Energy

Monday, August 04, 2008:
Happy Birthday, Barack Obama!

Monday, August 04, 2008:
Audacity Watch: O-Force One


Classic Karl Rove playbook - when you have no record to run on start making baseless accusations of your opponent.

[taotxzen]

McCain Helped Break It, So He Owns It

Who has the better judgement, the man who advocated a Surge that had a minor role in saving Iraq from being an even bigger disaster or the man who said we shouldn%u2019t embark on that disastrous war to start with?

Matt Duss writes: %u201CThe good news is we have Al Qaeda on the ropes in Iraq. The bad news is we allowed Iraq to become a sanctuary (and recruiting poster and training ground and sectarian killing field) to start with, by invading Iraq.%u201D

McCain helped create the war in Iraq and, like many another war-booster, predicted it would be a cakewalk. He wants us to ignore his terrible judgement of 2001-2003 and is careful to only talk about 2007 onwards as if the rest happened in a different dimension. Now that better COIN tactics and a lotof help from folks who used to shoot at US troops have reduced violence but done nothing to usher in a new era of Iraqi reconciliation, he wants us to ignore all that and credit a small increase in troop numbers which he happened to support for %u201Cvictory%u201D.

The mainstream media seem willing to do just that, but that%u2019s no reason why he and they should get a free ride.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Exxon John''s many positions on Iraq:

%u201CBut I believe, Katie, that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators.%u201D [NBC, 3/20/03]

%u201CIt%u2019s clear that the end is very much in sight.%u201D [ABC, 4/9/03]

%u201CThere%u2019s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along.%u201D [MSNBC, 4/23/03]

%u201CThis is a mission accomplished." [This Week, ABC, 12/14/03]

%u201CI%u2019m confident we%u2019re on the right course.%u201D [ABC News, 3/7/04]

%u201CI think the initial phases of it were so spectacularly successful that it took us all by surprise.%u201D [CBS, 10/31/04]

But wait...

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

"We are paying a very heavy price for the mismanagement - that''s the kindest word I can give you - of Donald Rumsfeld, of this war," he told a crowd of more than 800 at the community near Hilton Head Island. "The price is very, very heavy, and I regret it enormously." (2/07)

Q: President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years %u2014 (cut off by McCain)

McCAIN: Make it a hundred. (1/08)

%u201CFrom the early days of this war, I feared the administration was pursuing a mistaken strategy, and I said so.%u201D (7/08)

[actornaught]

"Obama Tried To Legislate Iraq Loss"

Lying John goes over the top on this one. He''s not a "straight talker", he''s a untalented politician who shoots off his mouth so much, they spun it into a label, "straight talk". He''s jumped on the rove/gingrich bus down the low-road, doing that forced grin the whole way.

Even in his own strategy, he wants us to forget the 4 years of his BAD JUDGEMENTS in Iraq. He must be losing more marbles...

[rushliberal]

John McCain knows all about winning wars - he served 5 years in a Vietnamese POW camp where HE did whatever the Vietnamese asked of him within 4 days after capture including making radio announcements for the Viet Cong - 30 of those messages by the way - he cooperated with the ENEMY.

Hmmmm, Our current president went AWOL during Vietnam and a current presidential candidate cooperated with the ENEMY During Vietnam.

Both Traitors to America!

Oh, George Bush in any other country that has elections would not be president! Every other country that supports voting - every vote counts - NOT in America - you votes did not elect Bush - an outdated Electoral Board elected Bush.

Soo - the last 8 years have been a LIE.

[njanosl]

Mission accomplished was the one true thing that has been said about Iraq. In spite of being led by dunderheads, and not having enough boots on the ground, our military did accomplish what it set out to do. The FAILURE in Iraq was the failure of the peace--the lack of a necessary political and economic solution to fix the broken country after the war. McCain, by his own admission has no understanding or experience in this. But when all you have is a hammer as the saying goes...In time, I suspect, we will see that the surge turns out to be a tide: ebbing and flowing between Iraq and Afghanistan to the pull of a death count.