First thoughts: McCain's rough weekend

Posted: Monday, July 21, 2008 9:19 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** McCain's rough weekend: You know you had a problematic weekend when: 1) one of your top economic advisers/surrogates finally steps down from the campaign after his “nation of whiners” remark; 2) you get panned for breaking CODEL protocol/etiquette by announcing (incorrectly) at a fundraiser that your opponent is headed to Iraq on Friday or Saturday; 3) the prime minister of Iraq tells a German magazine that he backs your opponent's plan for withdrawing troops from that country; and 4) when the Iraqi government tries to walk back that support, it does so unconvincingly. On the bright side for McCain, his campaign seized on remarks from Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen that withdrawing US troops over the next two years would be “dangerous.” And he starts this week anew with a tour of battleground states -- taking him to Colorado, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Pennsylvania -- as well as with an interview on TODAY in which he defended his position on Iraq (“I was right about the surge at the darkest time”) and talked about Maliki’s Der Spiegel interview (saying that Iraq wants us out of the country, but based on conditions on the ground).

VIDEO: Barack Obama meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki in Baghdad. NBC's Ned Colt reports.

*** Already time to go home? Per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Obama has arrived in Baghdad and he spoke with Maliki. The headline after their photo-op: Maliki’s spokesman said afterwards (in English) that the Iraqi vision is for all US troops to be out of Iraq by 2010. And with this news -- as well as the Der Spiegel interview, in which Maliki seemed to back Obama’s withdrawal plan -- the trip seems like it has already been a PR success for the Illinois senator. If he could, Obama should probably come home from right now. But he won’t. After visiting Iraq, his overseas trip will take him to Jordan, Israel, Germany (where he will speak at the Victory Column, not the Brandenburg Gate), France, and the United Kingdom. How bad was the Maliki interview for the McCain campaign? As one GOP strategist who occasionally provides advice to the campaign told the Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder: “We’re fu&$@#.” It's hard to imagine the trip can get better at this point for Obama. If anything, there are two big moments left which are fraught with peril: Israel and the campaign speech on foreign soil.

*** Surge vs. withdrawal: Obama has the easier fact to sell: Maliki wants troops out in 16 months. But how about the fact that this weekend -- after a yearlong boycott -- a key Sunni bloc rejoined the Iraqi government? Doesn't this mean that the surge which, coincidentally started over a year ago, provided breathing space for political reconciliation? And herein lies McCain's frustration with the coverage of this trip and with Maliki in particular: Does Maliki talk up the surge or focus on withdrawal? It also shouldn’t be ignored that Maliki is playing politics with Bush here. This is yet another nail in the Lame Duck coffin, which has to make the current 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. occupant a little nuts.

*** Conventional vs. comfort: Turning back home, all indications are pointing to Obama's veep pick getting announced in the 10-day window after he gets back from Europe and before the Olympics. (Maybe, given the calendar, we're stating the obvious at this point, but everything is about timetables in the Obama campaign, right?) Speaking of the veepstakes process, one criterion that is too often overlooked is the "comfort factor." Both nominees are the leaders who prefer to surround themselves with people they like and respect. Sure, both have attempted to sell themselves as politicians who will sit down with anyone with any point of view. But both hate to hear calculation enter the equation in a hiring decision. Would it be that much of a surprise if both men end up making politically risky picks in the name of comfort? For instance, there's a lot of chatter that McCain is particularly fond of both Tom Ridge and Mike Bloomberg, and that he could see himself partnering with either of these two to help run the country. But politically, both would be tough sells to the socially conservative crowd. For Obama, a comfort pick would be Tim Kaine, Kathleen Sebelius, or even Jack Reed. Will the Obama and McCain picks end up being picks of comfort or conventional? Stay tuned.

*** Meet Jack Reed: Speaking of Reed… The Rhode Island senator, who is on the overseas trip with Obama, has been to Iraq 11 times (and voted against the original Iraq war resolution)… The widely respected voice on national security is a 1971 West Point grad, though he did not fight in Vietnam. The Army Ranger paratrooper, who eventually commanded the 82nd Airborne, was assigned elsewhere… Father was a school custodian and WWII vet… Was on a trip to Afghanistan with McCain and Lieberman when he first met his wife… Took weekly art classes at the age of 5 at the Rhode Island School of Design… Big Will Ferrell fan and drives a 1991 Ford Escort… Differing with Obama, he was against the 1991 Gulf War and voted against the recent compromise FISA legislation.

VIDEO: Days after outlining a plan to expand President Bush's faith-based initiative, Barack Obama was back before another church group, as he and John McCain jostle for religious voters.

*** A Purpose-Driven forum: The New York Times is reporting that McCain and Obama will speak at a forum at Rev. Rick Warren’s megachurch on August 16, and they will appear on stage together for a brief amount of time. This is the blueprint for groups who are trying to get Obama and McCain together on the same stage. Why did Obama agree to this Rick Warren forum? Because it provides him two things: 1) access to a constituency group he might not win over and 2) an opportunity to prove his Christianity bona fides. McCain gets less out of this because he's appealing to voters he needs to have, but it does give him a bigger spotlight at a time he made need it.

*** Hillary’s debt: Looking at her June FEC filing, the New York Times reports that Clinton loaned herself an additional $1 million (up to a total of $13.2 million), and that her debt to her vendors rose from $10.4 million to $12 million. The paper also writes that in June, “the Clinton campaign took in just $2.7 million from donors in June, less than the $5.4 million it spent.”

*** On the trail: McCain is in Maine, where he meets with former President George H.W. Bush in Kennebunkport and later raises money there before heading to a picnic at the Maine Military Museum in South Portland. Obama is in Iraq.

Countdown to Dem convention: 35 days
Countdown to GOP convention: 42 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 106 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 183 days

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Comments

It is not often you get to meet the new boss before he or she takes over the job. Did you see the look of inspiration and hope in the eyes of our service personnel in Afghanistan and now in Iraq? I don’t believe for one second our military has any misgivings concerning Senator Obama becoming the next President and CINC. From Flag Officers to raw recruits, I believe the military welcomes an administration with the vision, intelligence and strategic purpose the Obama presidency promises..

I can bet the WH put a lot of pressure on ADM Mullen to change his tune on Iraq at the same time Obama is in the Mideast. It is a shame he mentioned how dangerous a precipitous drawdown would be in Iraq. I suspect he, and many others, can hardly wait to take rudder orders (pardon the pun) from Obama starting Jan 20, 2009 at Noon.

Chuck, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:24 AM)

Can someone please explain to me why McCain keeps calling a withdrawal a 'defeat'??? We went into Iraq, took out Saddam and established a new government. Why is it 'defeat' to now hand the country back over to that new government and say "you guys take it from here". McCain keeps saying that we "have succeeded", but how can that be if we are unable to hand the government back to its people? McCain is bending over backwards to find a way to justify continuing a war; without a war, he has nothing to run on as a presidential candidate. It's pathetic. He talks about how much he "hates war", but he, more than anyone, is the one who is most determined to keep us in some kind of military conflict.

I think people are too afraid to say this because of the political blowback it wouild have, but in all honesty, I think John McCain's time as a POW has negatively influenced his decision making with respect to war. I think he is determined to beat the enemy - any enemy. He just wants to WIN and to make someone else pay the price for his suffering. Yes, he was a "war hero," but it was in a war that we did not win, and I think he's hell bent on winning a war before his time is up. Simply put, McCain wants some kind of revenge, and he'll send as many troops out there to die as he needs to in order to finally get his war victory. Last week when he told a group of GM workers "I know how to win wars, I know how to win!" it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself of that. But the reality is, he's never won a war. No disrespect intended, but it's true - there is nothing in his past that supports the claim that he knows how to win wars. But that is the one thing right now that he wants to be able to prove, no matter how many lives it takes.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:28 AM)

It should be obvious to everyone that Sen. Obama will be the next president.

He hit the tri-fecta this weekend.

1)The US sent it's high rankung diplomat to talk with Iran, just as Obama has been urging us to do.

2)Maliki wants a time-table for troop withdrawal... and even Bush wants a troop Timetab...no troop time horizon.

3)He was right about the need to increase the troop levels in Afghanistan ! with McCain following behind on that issue.

Obama is in Iraq, meeting soldiers and looking presidential.
His policy positions on Iraq and Afghanistan make the most sense.

Your move Mr. Cain

Steve NewYork (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:30 AM)

Lost in all this because the media struggles with complex thought processes is why the US can leave in 2010. The surge worked, there will be a new democracy in the middle east, the war was worth getting rid of a brutal dictator, a staging area for terrorists staging is now gone, and now other countries in the region are being pressured to follow suit.

If Al Gore or John Kerry had ever been President, we'd be talking about Saddam being at the White House signing worthless treaties.

L Roberts Taylor, Bufaalo, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:30 AM)

Re Hillary: I am amazed that no one has noticed that the amount of her debt is about equal to the amount she has for the general election. She really never considered she would lose the nomination. With that type of thinking, what she did makes sense. But I doubt history will be so kind towards her record breaking, glass shattering debt.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:31 AM)

Whiners LOL.....
I think Phil was talking about all the whining Liberals do....

top five liberal whines.......

1. Why can't gasoline be $10 a gallon???????
2. Why can't I be poor and get free money???????
3. why can't I pay higher taxes on my hard earned
money?????
4. why does my country have to protect me from
terrorists?????
5. all of the above and more

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:35 AM)

Senator Obama's trip to the Mideast is a "be careful what you push for" message to McCain. Do you think he is sorry that he made that an issue?

sotiredofignorance (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:36 AM)

This whole SURGE BS needs to stop. The McCain campaign would like us to believe that the "surge" represents 7 years of military strategic decisions. It doesn't. It was but ONE decision among dozens over a 7 year period. They also, INCORRECTLY, continue to call it the 'most important' decision in the war so far, and brag about the fact that McCain was right. The problem is, it was NOT the most important decision: the most important decision was whether or not to go to war in the first place. And who got that one right? I rest my case.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:36 AM)

Poor senator mcsame...he is stuck with the bushleague albatross...and now even the country he wants to occupy for a hundred years wants is out sooner rather tha later which sounds more like barrys 16 months rather than johns 1200 months

Rick, NC (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:37 AM)

Big win for Obama.

Not only did Maliki confirm his support for Obama's approach, but he also confirmed for the American people that the Bush Administration was trying to spin the meaning of Maliki's words.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:37 AM)

OBAMA WINS BIG TIME!!!

thats a fact jack (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:38 AM)

"the war was worth getting rid of a brutal dictator, a staging area for terrorists staging is now gone,"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That's easy to say when you aren't one of the 4000+ troops who is now dead because of it. Not to mention a few thousand who have taken their own lives. Ask their families if it was worth it.

And by the way, Iraq was not a "staging ground for terrorist" until we invaded and made it one. You clearly do not know what you are talking about.

Linda. Boston, MA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:41 AM)

I am very very happy to see all the good news that is coming out of Iraq. They have suffered enough these last 5 years because of us.

So as far as I'm concerned, I don't care who gets the credit. There is good news. Finally. That is what is important.

I just hope they can wrap this up politically, and soon.

It's time to go.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:42 AM)

"On the bright side for McCain, his campaign seized on remarks from Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen that withdrawing US troops over the next two years would be “dangerous.”"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You don't say? I think everyone agrees on that.

Senator McCain is clinging to the "surge" for dear life, and it has been successful on some levels. But the surge represents a shift from "Bring it on!", kick down the doors, de-Baathification, and the "shock and awe" approach to paying former insurgents to work with us instead of agaisnt us.

The "surge" is the triumph of reason for rhetoric - finally sending in enough troops to get the job done (like General Shinseki suggested before the invasion), negotiating with our former "enemies" to find common ground - the very approach that Senator Obama has advocated all along.

I don't really care who takes credit for the breakthrough - I just want to do what makes the most sense for our troops. They deserve so much better than being political footballs sacrificed to save face for the Bush Adminsitration and the Republican Party. This is too important to play games with.

Time has already proven that Senator Obama's approach is the better approach. But I take no glee in the debacle that has been the Iraq War. It is a great tragedy, no matter who is "right" in a political sense.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:43 AM)

yeah bad weak for mccain. mccain is trying to back track but he just cant, he was against a timetable and now we have a time horizon, he was against troops being out of iraq but the iraqis are now requesting we get out. obama is the right person for the job because of his judgement and plans for america.

Video of unenthusiastic anti-obama Protest
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/video-of-puma-just-say-no-deal-losers-hold-a-protest/
or
http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:43 AM)

Nice job First Read. Not even 10 minutes into the new week, and already 100% positive Obama articles and/or negative McCain articles. I guess that's called 'Doing your part'.

Yawners Jennings, CO (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:45 AM)

I KNEW that all of these Iraqi "assistants" of Maliki were just Bush surrogates trying to put out fires that Makiki himself was creating.

Obama had to go in person to get the truth from the horse's mouth, so to say. And in English, to boot. Very, very smart.

Matt, Idaho (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:46 AM)

McCain will need to completely re-tool his Iraq strategy in accordance with Maliki's comments. He just slammed Obama for not accepting the facts on the ground, so he certainly cannot afford to do the same just a few weeks later. He must address it.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:47 AM)

Nashville Fan had an EXCELLENT post yesterday regarding the surge and Iraq. Recommended reading for all.

Obama is having a great trip. He is looking and acting presidential and I am proud to have him as my candidate.

PS. Attended an Obama house party this weekend. It was pretty cool. People from the National campaign were there. Attend or host one, if you are inclined, very informational.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:48 AM)

Linda, Boston, Ma,
The reason McCain keeps calling a withdrawal a defeat, is because his goal, like Bush, is to stay in a war. So if we withdraw it would be a defeat for him.

Brother Odd (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:48 AM)

This morning on Morning Joe, Mika asked Andrea Mitchell how Senator Obama was received by the troops. Instead of answering the question, Andrea went off on a strange tirade about not being sure because she has only seen footage shot by the military, and how only footage shot by JOURNALISTS would be fit for her to analyze.

HUH?

Were the Reverend Wright tapes recorded by journalists? How about Father Phlager? What about those famous "bitter" comments? And yet I have heard Andrea comment on ALL of these AD NASEUM!

Instead of answering the question, Andrea pointed out how many times the senators accompanying Obama had been to Iraq, how many times John McCain had been to Iraq, and how the troops would be happy to see "any politician".

Andrea, last time I checked, the "journalism" you claim to hold so dear is about reporting what you do see not whining about what you didn't. Your lack of objectivity is the problem, not who taped the news footage.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:49 AM)

Linda, Boston:

You are so right. McCain was in full on 'embrace' mode of Bush's Iraq policy as recently as August of 2006 (pre surge). Nashville Fan covered this yesterday and he was spot on. They are acting like they should get a cookie for finally addressing a five year blunder. Plus, everyone fails to mention the bribe money we paid to reduce the violence (in addition to the increased troop levels). It is just ridiculous that the '...surge worked...' but we can't leave. We've been asked to pack our bags, and it is time to head out.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:53 AM)

This morning on today Mccain totally ignored Meredith questions and just kept on talking over her, and she let him get away with. I'm surprise she let him get away with it, because she was always so confrontational with Hillary every time she interviewed her. Maybe she was afraid Mccain would go into one of his rages and we all know he often does. He is a bit of amental case.

ge`pa` (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:57 AM)

Chuck, I'm tired of your "comfort" angle on the veep picks. I heard you pumping it yet again on one of the Sunday shows, and was convinced even less. Who doesn't like to surround herself with someone she likes and respects? I think the updated conventional wisdom on veep picks is simply that (1) while formerly a candidate might have wanted someone on the ticket to pick up a particular state or boost electability in a particular geographic region, that rationale has probably expanded to include picking up a particular ideological or issue-based constituency group, and (2) at the end of the day, it has to be someone who will sign on to the candidate's vision for America, and be prepared to play his limited role well in addition to being ready to carry that vision forward if the tragic happens. Period.

I guess your point is that each candidate might like to pick certain people who would not be consistent with (1) above, because they feel comfortable with them personally? Fair enough, I guess, but I just think that's obvious.

After all is said, I am thinking the likelihood is that McCain will choose Romney, because he's well-coifed, well-known by now, and has been a decent surrogate.

I'm totally uncertain who Obama will pick though. All I can say is that this report from last week about a conversation in which he admitted he is still considering Hillary shows anxiety. Not that she wouldn't be a decent pick in various ways, but I don't think he wants her on Bill, and it's only McCain's upward-inching poll numbers that keep him thinking about it.

Brian, Atlanta, GA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:57 AM)

Is Maliki playing Obama? He apparently knows how to negotiate. It's easy to say get the troops out by 2010, the issue is what constitutes (the size of) a residual force, what is it's mission/status of force agreement?

This is what Maliki is negotiating right now and he using Obama as a chip. Obama has not specified what will be left in Iraq after 16 months. Residual forces can cover a multitude of configurations. I am beginning to see another parsing of terms similar to preconditions and preparations.

BTW So far, just in the military sphere, BO has promised
1) To increase the size of the Army and Marines
2) Replace/Rebuild all the equipment worn out in Iraq
3) Move troops to Afghanistan as needed (2 Battalions at least)
Where is the peace dividend he was going to spend on domestic programs?

Alan, NJ (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:57 AM)

It sure is refreshing to see what meeting face-to-face and listening can do to solve problems. Al-maliki and the Iraqi people really do want US soldiers to no longer remain in their country. We cam leave victorious right now. Why victorious? Because our goals have been accomplished. On to Afghanistan to fight the real enemies of the US.

The surge is yesterdays news, the withdrawal is on the table. Yes, it was a tough weekend for McCain. and it will only get tougher.

I was facinated that the two candidates will go to church on August 16th. That will be another blow-out for Obama. The fact that Dobson will eventually endorse McCain will mean only one more vote for John. Others do not listen to Dobson like they used to.

VP selection: How is that going to play out? Obama put the press on a plane and he go visit his first choice...Kinda like the Hillary visit. Obama will want to have some quiet time with his new VP, without the press. Personally, I think he has already decided and the contacts have already been made. Obama is frequently two steps ahead of the press. I bet he is again this time.

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:59 AM)

Perspective...It appears it would be a win-win for both Obama and McCain if McCain would concede that he has no chanced to win this election. It would be an eye opener for Republicans and it would allow the RNC to shift their millions to the senate and house races that are in the "undecided" column. To lose the presidency along with many house/senate races would be horrific for the Republicans. Pouring more money into McCain's disorganized campaign amounts to nothing more than wishful thinking.The conservatives have destroyed the Republican party to the point where a major retrofit is required and they need to start now.

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 9:59 AM)

Let's see, Bad weekend for McCain. A little over 20% of the country, still believe in GWB, so the 4 Wrong's & 1 Right for Mccain over the weekend is about the Norm.

1st Read, the Occupant of 1600 pennsylvania ave was already Nut's, so that metaphor is accurate.

As for the poster who said, would saddamm be at the WH signing Occupation Treaty's, No he would'nt, But Bin laden's A$$ would'nt have got away neither.

Chuck, in NY, the Troop's now know that Playing in the Sandbox is shortly coming to an End. They're excited to have someone who know's where the Real Fight is & has always been.

Help is on the way to our Troop's in Afghanistan, who've fought Bravely!!! Thier Frustration with the current Idiot in chief(GWB) is coming to an End.

POTUS Cred's disappeared, are ya happy now Mccain. Next time, be careful what You ask for, you may just get it.

Rick,Ky (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:00 AM)

Whiners Rule!!!!!

Look who's whining now....
The GOP ... why are thet still here?
To show us what not to do?....good answer..

Obama'08

BJ, CA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:00 AM)

John McCain is not up to being president...period. His age, temperment and lack of intellectually grasping and ability to work with all the necessary details of the job are obvious negatives. Jerry in Corpus who is obviously enamored with Limbaugh speak, labelling anything he's not seen posted in a soldier of fortune magazine as something liberal and therefore evil. If John McCain's rhetoric really touches him then he must be just as out of touch with the majority of us.

bill, okla (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:01 AM)

"Obama has the easier fact to sell: Maliki wants troops out in 16 months. But how about the fact that this weekend -- after a yearlong boycott -- a key Sunni bloc rejoined the Iraqi government? Doesn't this mean that the surge which, coincidentally started over a year ago, provided breathing space for political reconciliation?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
As much as the media likes to make Iraq an all or nothing, either or proposition - it's not.

The much ballyhooed surge is just the 5 year late addition of the troops the military requested at the beginning of the War. It also represents the negotiation with Al Sadr and other locals - something the Bush Administration was loathe to do.

But regardless of all that, here is the most ignored fact:

America CAN NOT AFFORD to stay in Iraq another 5 years! We will be suffering the consequences of the misadventure in Iraq economically, militarily, and diplomatically for YEARS.

The damage has been done - and no amount of face saving and hiding behind the surge will change that.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:01 AM)

Obama the rock star--just what we don't need. I don't trust the man, never have and never will. Obama wants to establish a <i>new world order.

MSM are so bamboozled it is pathetic. They have tried to ram Obama down the throat of voters.

<B>Vote McCain for the security of the USA

dk in tn (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:01 AM)

What else is there to say?

The Iraqis embrace Obama's position on a 16 month timetable. We want out. They want us out. I don't really see where McCain has any wiggle room on this one.

Sure, they can tout the surge, but what did that prove that if you add more of the most advanced, well-trained, well-equipped, and tactically sound soldiers on the ground that you'd see a reduction in violence? No kidding. The thing that they don't share on the "surge has worked" front is that we're still at about a 150,000 troop level over there, compared with the 132,000 we had before the surge. We still haven't seen much evidence of the Iraqis taking over their own security, which is the end goal.

Also, First Read left out Reagan adviser Larry Hunter, author of the Contract with America, endorsing Obama. I'd say that would add to an abysmal weekend.

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:01 AM)

...a key Sunni bloc rejoined the Iraqi government? Doesn't this mean that the surge which, coincidentally started over a year ago, provided breathing space for political reconciliation?
----------------------------------------------------

No. It mostly means the civil war burned itself out and paying off the Sunni insurgents not to attack Americans worked. Violence was already on the decline when the surge began. The surge provided no glorious victory, despite the spin that the corporate media wants to give it. All the escalation in military violence did was to get hundreds more Americans and thousands more Iraqis killed needlessly.

Houston (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:02 AM)

Thanks for the kind words Clara!

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:02 AM)

L Roberts Taylor, Bufaalo, NY in typical neo-con fashion proclaims / "If Al Gore or John Kerry had ever been President, we'd be talking about Saddam being at the White House signing worthless treaties."

it's also worth noting if we would have not invaded iraq under false pretenses iran would not be enriching uranium because saddam would not have allowed it, which is worse chief, iraq was a greater u.s. blunder than vietnam

MK,MO (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:02 AM)

jerry/corpus christi texas,

You're starting to sound desperate! LOL

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:03 AM)

Let's have a Withdrawal Surge...

That's the best of both solutions...

Obama/Biden'08

BJ, CA (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:03 AM)

I saw McCain this morning on NBC talking to Meredith. The guy is just like Bush. He wouldn't 1)answer any questions about Grahamn;2) kept giving himself credit about the Surge working while trashing Obama;3) refused to respect Maliki's opinion about his own country and 4) does not have a clue about Afghanistan. This guy lives the past. He feels because he was a POW; he's earned being POTUS. There are too many people that are "afraid" to challenge his "credentials"; because they don't want to be labeled "unpatriotic". Well, I say give him a "war museum" to manage. McCain is just "too old school" and dangerous. How can any rational thinking American want someone representing them worldwide in the 21st Century looking and acting like McCain?

Judy Bortell Ovilla TX (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:04 AM)

<b>Obama promises much---will deliver nothing.

Listen to the comments he made about the military in the primaries.

Obama is scary---read his books and be afraid.

Obama is a bamboozler (and that is just the half of it) (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:05 AM)

McCain is stuck with Bush's foreign policy, which even Bush himself has started running away from.

New Wave (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:06 AM)

Nashville fan, I completely agree with you. Me thinks Mrs. Greenspan needs an editorial gut check. ANd while we're on the Greenspan subject: Anyone out there care to comment on Mr. Greenspan's culpibility in all of this economic train derailing?

Sherri Hussein, Charleston WV (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:08 AM)

Well, I see the three little harlets who run this website are at it again. Cheerleading for Barrack Obama, that is.
Couldn't you three little pigs at least have the common decency to openly state your endorsement of his candidacy? That way, we would be able to put what you write about this campaign into its' proper perspective.
Isn't kind of silly for you to continue this charade of journalism, when in fact you have rather overtly become a part of his campaign?

CITIZENS FOR HONEST JOURNALISM (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:08 AM)

So...as an Obama Supporter, why are the national polls so tight? Are they waiting on the conventions? Is the rest of the country NOT tuned in as we are? These polls this tight at this point, sigh....only make me work harder down here in GOP land - the State of Florida. But, I find it so hard to fathom that the rest of the country does not see it my way....and so, I am calling this one....God help me...a RACE ISSUE.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:09 AM)

I'm not entirely sure how this post is "pro-Obama." McCain had a bad weekend, and he has been misspeaking right and left (including one giant misspeak regarding Obama's "unconditional" commitment to pulling troops out of Iraq, which First Read pointed out earlier).

There hasn't been much positive that McCain could take out of the last week. But that's kind of how I see this election going. Despite the fact that anachronistic social conservatives like James Dobson, seem to despise Obama because of the big "D" parenthetical next to his name, most independents who lean conservatives, as well as many other Republicans and small-party conservatives, have not warmed up to McCain. While it's true (as I heard Lou Dobbs point out over the weekend) that the enthusiasm for Obama has gone down, it certainly has not gone up for McCain. That's got to be depressing for his campaign.

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:10 AM)

First Read, please report this, this is huge:

Up to a MILLION people could be showing up to listen to Obama at Victory Column in Berlin, Germany.

http://www.thelocal.de/13177/20080720/

Matt, Idaho (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:13 AM)

This website is becoming more and more useless as a reliable source of truthful, unbiased information, with each day that passes.

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:15 AM)

I think John MccCain broke CODEL protocol in announcing the timing of Barack Obama' trip because he is old and fogetful. What are the other choices? He wanted to endanger the other candidate? I don't believe this for a moment. He didn't know what protocol was? Oh, gosh, I hope this isn't it. Look, we've got an old man who can't remember some very important things and can't use a computer. We've got a young, very intelligent man with a vision and a world view and an empathy for the downtrodden. Good Lord, this is the most important job in the world. Don't elect the doddering (and not that smart to begin with) old man. Mind you, I have nothing against someone being older but Mr. McCain demonstrates so often that it has taken it's toll on him. Others might remain capable and young at heart - he hasn't. The contrast is so remarkable that the whole thing would be funny if it weren't so deadly serious.

Polly, Tampa (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:15 AM)

John McCain is a War Monger no question about it. He keep saying " I hate wars, I know how to win wars". Folks that says it all.
All in your head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lu4dcxl4GY

John McCain: No, You Can't
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUKINg8DCUo&eurl=http://stephencrosehome.blogspot.com/

Here's what four more years would sound like (McCain mashup)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iWYAOMYmp0&eurl=http://www.jedreport.com/

banko (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:19 AM)

"Liberals like the misery of like minded whiners.
Chuck Pearson, Lincoln, NE (Sent Friday, July 18, 2008 4:07 PM)"

Yeah - just like repubs fat cats like anyone who is as rich and puffed up as they are. They're laughing all the way to the bank...right?

MI Chick (Sent Monday, July 21, 2008 10:19 AM)

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