McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Jmp, NorthernMN — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:38:57 GMT

I BELIEVE THIS AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE THERE ARE WMDs TO BE FOUND IN IRAQ.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

the Pajama Pundit — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:41:29 GMT

"Political reconciliation is occurring across Iraq at the local, provincial, grassroots level."
******************************************************

So, that means the Surge has worked and we can bring our troops home now, right? RIGHT?!

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF VICTORY???!!!

http://thepajamapundit.com/

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Diane from Illinois — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:43:24 GMT

What's McFossil smokin'? If he thinks Iraq is approaching a normal economic and political life, then he's got the smoking something he brought back with him. And THIS man is not "scary" to you who proclaim that Obama is???????? Pleeeeze!

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Carmen Colorado — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:43:45 GMT

I wonder if McCain is living in Bush world? What is normal to these people? I can not understand what is "normal" or "success" to these people? They really think that people here a out of their minds.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Keith in PA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:44:49 GMT

McCain thinks it's normal when the government uses military force against the opposition in the run up to an election?? Yikes!

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

John Doe — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:45:35 GMT

Questions have been raised today as to whether Clinton has been embellishing a story about a pregnant Ohio woman who, Clinton said, died after being denied health care because of an owed hospital bill. Some of the details of the story have been disputed. But it seems Clintonâ€™s version of the tale does not stray from how she was told the story by a local deputy sheriff. And, in at least one stop, where she retold the story, Clinton accurately attributed it. (We went back and checked the tape from April 4th in Grand Forks, N.D. while speaking at the state Democratic Convention

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

nuanced — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:45:37 GMT

Could we have a fact check please? I think that people do vote with their feet and it would be a very positive indicator if more Iraqis were returning than leaving the country but is it true? I thought millions had fled the country. Call me skeptical of all statements Republican.

"Sunni and Shi'a chased from their homes by terrorist and sectarian violence are returning." -- McCain

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Michael — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:45:52 GMT

It looks like Obama is going to win this thing. But whoever does, I suggest everyone stop the name-calling and try and pull the party together for Novemeber. McCain will not be easy to defeat -- people like him personally. I urge everyone who wants an end to Republican rule to start the unifying process.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

McCain is an idiot — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:46:09 GMT

Further evidence to the fact that McCain is completely out of touch with reality.

There should be an age limit for president....say 65? Who out there agrees with me?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Carol, Long Valley NJ — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:46:49 GMT

Could some one PLEASE define victory in Iraq for me, so we can declare it and come home.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Carol, Long Valley NJ — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:47:08 GMT

I don't know which is sadder --

~ the folks who think that if their candidate isn't the nominee, then they'll vote for McCain or stay home. How self defeating and spiteful is that?

~ or the swift boaters who will actually run the character assassination campaigns for the betterment of the rich (and the poor get poorer)

~ or the idiots who will believe that the swift boaters have their best interests at heart (not!)

~ or the idiots who think that voting against 'gay marriage' and against 'abortion rights' will put food on the table -- once again (not!).

The dumbing down of America is stunning.

Vote with your head, vote for the economy, vote for jobs.

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:48:07 GMT

The end result is greater Iran. Nothing we can do to change that. We can only delay it, at a cost of $12 billion a month.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Johnson, New Orleans, LA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:48:16 GMT

Maybe McCain should say that Iraq is approaching normalcy to the families of people who have died in iraq and to those people who are in the front lines of the war. This war has cost us so much and yet he refuses to acknowledge that there is no military solution to the war. What is the difference between bush and McCain? I had previously respected McCain as an individual who spoke his own mind. Now he is just trying to act like Bush and hoping to gain republican support. What a sad to be in for McCain.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

SGM AR. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:48:30 GMT

AHH-OOH!!!!
FORGET MY VOTING FOR McCAIN. NOW HE IS HALLUCINATING!

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Nicholas: Minnesota — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:49:29 GMT

Whew, thank goodness he didn't say 'Normalacy'!

**Note: As much offense as McCain and the RNC are taking with the Obama and Dem response to McCain's 100-year-war statement, Sen. McCain does have yet to clarify what action he would persue if Iraq does not magically improve as he believes that it will. Until he does that, which he won't, that statement is fair game.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

nuanced — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:51:53 GMT

"approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi." -- McCain

Is he including the 800,000 dead Iraqis or the millions of refugees?
-----------------------------------
03/03/2008
Since November 2006, Refugees International has led the call for increased assistance to Iraqis forced from their homes by the violence in their country.

One in five Iraqis have been displaced.
According to the UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration in 2007, almost 5 million Iraqis had been displaced by violence in their country, the vast majority of which had fled since 2003. Over 2.4 million vacated their homes for safer areas within Iraq, up to 1.5 million were living in Syria, and over 1 million refugees were inhabiting Jordan, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Gulf States. Most Iraqis are determined to be resettled to Europe or North America, and few consider return to Iraq an option.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Class Warrior, D.C. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:52:16 GMT

Mcwar is as obsessed with Iran as shrub was with Iraq. Look out for the next war, if he's elected---and a draft to fix the military shrub broke.
Iraq is normal if normal is having the electicity on half the day and occasionally being caught in crossfire is normal.Did Mcwar ask the Iraqis if they felt their country was normal, or is this all in his old, old brain?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

nuanced — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:53:33 GMT

Don't the polls show that "normal" Iraqis want us out of their country? Do their wishes count?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

OBwan, In — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:54:25 GMT

Mission Accomplished - George Bush May 1, 2003 abroad the Abraham Lincoln.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

You Must Be Joking, NYC — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:54:55 GMT

Normal compared to......?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

exregis, Newport News, VA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:55:00 GMT

Every decision a president makes becomes a past decision. Doesn't McCain realize that when he says, "But the question for the next president is not about the past, but about the future and how to secure it."?

If he digs a hole for the country as president, is he later going to say, "Don't worry how we got into this hole. Worry about the future." Maybe he'll get out of the hole by digging all the way to India.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

KYObserver — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:57:38 GMT

McBush is stampeding toward defeat in the the general next fall if he keeps this up. Can he not see this? We voters are not out of our minds.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

KYObserver — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:57:42 GMT

McBush is stampeding toward defeat in the the general next fall if he keeps this up. Can he not see this? We voters are not out of our minds.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

boogeyman, mamaroneck, ny — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:58:38 GMT

McCain, must have been hit one to many times while as a POW or his age is catching up with him. Last report we received this morning was 3 soldiers dead, and many wounded. Is this normalcy?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Kevin, PA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:59:11 GMT

WOW! Just WOW! It really will be 4 more years of Bush if he get's elected.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

JD — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:59:28 GMT

Four more Wars! Err, I mean Years! If you like Bush, You'll love McCain. Typical GOP scare mongering war luvin' idiot.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

ariel — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:00:22 GMT

Mc Cain spoke at the World War l Museum because he thought he'd meet a few old friends.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Joe - STL — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:03:09 GMT

Normalcy!? Tell that to the millions of innocent Iroqi families that have been ripped apart by sectarian violence, or the millions more that are afraid to even go outside for fear of being captured, killed, or worse still, caught in the cross fire.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Deborah NY — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:03:22 GMT

Define 'Normalcy'. In Iraq. Please.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Tamarac, FL — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:04:51 GMT

Doesn’t he read the news papers or watch TV at all. Violence is on the rise. That doesn't sound normal to me.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:05:59 GMT

My God! Does he think he can, through the force of his will, turn this thing into the liberation of Paris?
Is his theory that America wants a comforting Daddy who will tell us everything is alright and will make the bad things go away so that we may continue shopping? (he may be right on that one)
The level of self delusion or attempted mass hypnosis from this elderly man is astounding! He either actually believes this stuff and feels that he and God will turn it around once he is allowed to pray in the Lincoln bedroom or he is holding out for an all out war with the forces of darkness so that we may continue to refresh the tree of liberty with the blood of our children. After all it is good for their character, like making them by their own car.
Onward Christian Soldiers!

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

donna, pgh., pa. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:09:20 GMT

Normalcy would mean Saddam has had a second coming. That is what was normal to Iraqi's before we invaded.

First, he throws out that "returning to normalcy" spin, and then goes on to say the violence is returning, and being prepretrated by everybody over there. Either McCain does'nt know what he's talking about, or, he wrote his own speech, and doesn't know what he's talking about.

McCain wants to keep the discussion on the future, which boils down to declaring war on Iran. How many other monsters are under the bed Senator McCain?

Let's give Senator Obama a chance. Let's concentrate on getting get Bin Laden.

Pulling for Obama '08

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Jon, TX — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:12:13 GMT

This guy is SO BLIND to reality like his friend Bush. And voters voting for him are blindly fooling themselves.
How the heck does this guy think Iraq is approaching normalcy when there is suicide bombing every day and 3 American troops jsut died over the weekend? How is it normalcy when there is no political reconcilation and the Iraqi factions are starting to turn agaisnt the prime minister and his Dawa and other factional allies? There is really no peace thata cynical war can achieve.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Peoria, IL — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:17:01 GMT

Great! I'll call my travel agent & try and book a spring trip. Maybe I can bring back T-shirts for the kids.

"My Daddy went to Iraq & All I got was this bullet & shrapnel riddled T-Shirt!"

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Ron — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:19:58 GMT

McCAIN WHO ?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Sharonann Tomal, Baltimore, Maryland — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:20:10 GMT

I honestly don't know what these letter writers are drinking? Did you not pay attention to your two favorite candidates (Obama and Clinton) both of these individuals have been lying through their teeth regarding pulling the troops out quickly. (Hint: Obama's spokesperson was quoted as saying most of the troops could be left in Iraq for another 18 months, ditto for Clinton. You liberals are some of the most naive people in the world. Listen to the straight talked (the only honest one in the bunch). Whatever your position was regarding sending troops to Iraq, the truth is: we are there to stay for awhile NO MATTER WHO IS ELECTED. Please Post this if you have the courage.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

John — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:20:27 GMT

And Hillary also applauds McCain's foreign policy credentials!

McCain goes on his 'peaceful market tour' with kevlar vests, helmets, a hundred armed soldiers and a fleet of Apache and Blackhawk helicopters overhead as part of his security detail when he visited Iraq and boast of "improvements"? He gets a free pass on whatever lunacy comes out of his mouth on any given day.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:22:19 GMT

Lets face it, this tactic works in this country of sheep.
People hear what they want to hear and confuse it with reality.
I can't even count the number of people I have talked to who are mad at the media for reporting the War even though in my opinion the media does a piss poor job of it. People don't want to know. Their kid is not involved so by god it is alright with them. Lets put a yellow ribbon magnet on our car and do our part cuz these colors don't run!

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

MSierra, SF — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:31:13 GMT

NO ! NO!
They were just 'following orders'
History will absolve me !!!

'...Jason Linkins
The Huffington Post

Andrew Sullivan: Bush Administration Officials Will Be 'Indicted For War Crimes'

April 6, 2008 02:14 PM

Media coverage of the disclosure of the "torture memo" authored by Bush Justice Department official John C. Yoo has been mostly a deafening silence. But on this morning's Chris Matthews' show, someone finally fired a shot. As we mentioned in this morning's liveblog, credit goes to The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan, for taking the opportunity to ensure that this matter got out into the televised discourse somehow.

SULLIVAN: The latest revelations on the torture front show the memo from John Yoo...means that Don Rumsfeld, David Addington and John Yoo should not leave the United States any time soon. They will be, at some point, indicted for war crimes.
[WATCH.]...'

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

okla navy vet — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:33:49 GMT

If McCain exemplifies normal human thought, I'm an alien. If he's elected I hope I can find my spaceship and get outta here. Just plain nuts.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Expelliarmus, OH — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:36:21 GMT

Yes, we can see the 'reconciliation' right now between opposing factions of the Shi'a.
Reconciliation must be a bullet.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Adrian Eaton — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:37:01 GMT

Can McCain find one woman in Iraq whose life is now better, or more guaranteed in terms of personal safety and/or social value, than it was 5 years ago ?

What is the number of displaced people (exiled from their own homes) now ?

What is the figure for infants not reaching their 5th birthday compared to 5 years ago ?

How many Awakening Council members have smbitted themselves to control of the Government ?

How much electricity was there this week ?

Are Embassy staff still being blackmailed to go to Iraq after the shelling of the Green Zone killed 3 US soldiers and wounded 31 others this week ?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Dr.Strangedog, MI — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:49:50 GMT

I wish the Clinton/Obama bashers would read this and realize what is at stake for this country.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Dwaine, CO — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:50:01 GMT

America -

Who should be more afraid? The Middle East where the U.S.A is waging two wars with gossip of another.

Or should we be afraid.
Afraid of the retaliation our country will recieve if the hypocrisy of the Republican party is allowed to continue. The rising price of oil and our economy is only the beginning.

Isn't this how the Roman Empire fell?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

No Billary/McSame Littleton CO — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:52:19 GMT

Iraq approaching normalcy or McSame approaching senility?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Steve A Jonesboro IN — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:53:21 GMT

Man what planet is this clown living on? He has definitely lost his mind completely.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:54:21 GMT

Here lies the real issue: If the dunce in chief pulls out- everyone will know the truth that his policy in Iraq is a failure. If he stays and then a Democrat takes office and pulls out then the Repuke party can say that the Dems are the ones who made this a failure. This is a political game with real lives and that really is treasoness. The military has become a pawn of this administration and that is clear from day one when "We will be greated as liberators", "The insurgency is in it's last throws". There was never and still has not been a real plan to leave. We are still being told when we achieve "Victory" or when the Iraqi's can govern themselves. No one can really define what "Victory" is and at what point do you declare it. The Iraqi government still is unable to govern without assistance and we are at what 5 years and counting. When is enough enough.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

just passing through — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:55:10 GMT

I think it's funny -- who do you all actually think you're talking to? Haha ... everyone on here is saying the same thing, what is that accomplishing?

I think it's because you all love to feel like you're part of some big important movement, even though the reality is nothing will ever change. It hasn't in, hmmm, 5000 years or so. Don't worry, though, the other side of the fence does it too. It's just amusing because the ONLY people who post on blogs like these already believe they're right. You will not change them, and they will not change you. So it's not even an intellectual discourse.

Let's get all fiery and passionate by talking to people who agree with us! Yes!

But the funniest are those of you who post these attempts at being poetic or literary in your posts, as if you've got some revelation ... but you post it here? Where everyone agrees with you? Who's mind are you chaning? What's the point? If it just makes YOU feel like you did something special, and it doesn't actually make a difference, then you're a waste of space.

Anywho, there are millions out there who disagree, and you're convinced they're wrong. And they're convinced you're wrong. And all of us are right.

And we all vote. I love this country.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Chris, Portland — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:55:16 GMT

McCain will be easy to defeat in November, simply trot out the fact over and over again that he's a Bush clone and watch his votes slowly dry up. Fact: McCain's losing already and we don't even know who his opponent is yet!

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Mike Palmer. Delaware, OH — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:09:31 GMT

If it is normal, you can't tell from this guy (a 25 yr old dentist Iraqi who has been blogging from Baghdad for several years. His stories are so full of sadness. All americans should read his blog:

http://last-of-iraqis.blogspot.com/

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Louis — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:09:47 GMT

Rasmussen noted that one bit of bad news for Obama is that 56 percent of Clinton supporters said they would not be likely to vote for Obama in a race against McCain.

So can I assume that these 56 % want to continue with the IRAQ war? Overturn Roe v Wade? Losing the Democratic majority in both houses? I guess these people are not loyal Democrats. The Democratic party will be lost for a long time if these attitudes continue as they are now.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Matt, Las Vegas, NV — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:10:00 GMT

BAWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! McCain & the 'slanted talk express' keep rolling out the hits!

By the way, Obama's response absolutely ripped McCain's whole argument to shreds. Anyone who can't see that (regardless of if you like Obama or not) is a fool, and a contributor to the foolishness that our country has fallen ill from during Bush's 2 destructive terms.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

John B, Des Moines, IA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:34:50 GMT

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that death, destruction, chaos, ethnic cleansing, and a culture of continuous fear is becoming the norm in Iraq?

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Bill,milwaukee,wi. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:36:57 GMT

WOW......Its "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" again.....Thanks McMeat Head....

Bring the soldiers home now if it normal.....We dont need another 95 years of this normalcy.

I suppose all the 2 million who left and who are living on the streets are back in their high rise apartments.....

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

REG in AZ — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:38:44 GMT

It is a shame that John McCain uses ‘honesty’ and ‘success’ together to describe the current status in Iraq as in reality that is only defensive rhetoric made necessary by the corner he has painted himself into. Regrettably ‘honesty’ has never been what the Bush administration has given us about Iraq, starting with the original false justification, and the rationalizing offered now is just more of the same. The ‘surge’ has a whole lot less to do with the quieting of the violence in Iraq than our recruiting, paying, arming and encouraging War Lords/Iraqi faction leaders to stop fighting each other and to instead fight the insurgents. The trouble with that is clear when it is recognized that we have now created a country of several small armies, with politicians who have failed to make any political reconciliations, with everyone competing for control and advantage and we simply now have a country on the very edge of an all out civil war. We have been played and used, at costs unimagined (in people killed and injured, in costs for our troops being there and for their support, in reconstruction costs, in monies paid to all the different factions, in corruption and in stolen dollars and resources,,, ) without experiencing any real success and with only Special Interests and a select few benefiting (while forgetting that the original promise was that the war would be paid for with Iraqi oil money). When Iraq explodes into a civil war our troops will be caught in the middle and will then simply be wrong no matter what they do. Add to all of that the costs in neglecting other priorities, including Afghanistan (as admitted by the Bush administration now begging NATO to increase their help) and you have the total realization that the word ‘success’ is out of place in describing any of this. To advocate the continuation of this status, being more of the same (as with any of the Bush administration’s private agenda benefiting only a special few) would undoubtedly be the real failure in leadership. A different answer, amounting to real change, is desperately needed as what we have witnessed to date is literally ‘failed leadership’ (arrogantly and self-indulgently perpetrated).

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Ol' Lefty, Maryland — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:39:46 GMT

Bartender, I'll take what he's havin'!

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

Jason Spangler, Arlington, VA — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:41:16 GMT

This is what McCain actually said, "The dramatic reduction in violence has opened the way for a return to something approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi." Obviously, this is much different that what MSNBC reported, and many of the comments are without merit because of the inaccuracy of the article.

McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy

REG in AZ — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:41:44 GMT