McCain: ‘I Was The Greatest Critic’ Of The Iraq War Over The Last Four Years
McCain: ‘I Was The Greatest Critic’ Of The Iraq War Over The Last Four Years
Yesterday on CNN, host Kiran Chetry suggested to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that he’s been unfairly “painted as being a huge supporter of the president’s Iraq strategy. Is that an accurate portrayal?” she asked.
McCain responded that “life isn’t fair” because, in reality, he’s been “the greatest critic of the initial four years” of war:
It’s entertaining, in that I was the greatest critic of the initial four years, three and a half years. I came back from my first trip to Iraq and said, This is going to fail. We’ve got to change the strategy to the one we’re using now. But life isn’t fair.
Watch it:
The “greatest critic” who claimed the war would “fail”? Nobody heard that from McCain when he was busy campaigning for Bush’s reelection in 2004 and praising the President’s leadership. Here’s a sampling of what the “greatest critic” of the war was telling us in the months and years after the invasion:
“But I believe, Katie, that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators.” [NBC, 3/20/03]
“It’s clear that the end is very much in sight.” [ABC, 4/9/03]
“There’s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along.” [MSNBC, 4/23/03]
“This is a mission accomplished. They know how much influence Saddam Hussein had on the Iraqi people, how much more difficult it made to get their cooperation.” [This Week, ABC, 12/14/03]
“I’m confident we’re on the right course.” [ABC News, 3/7/04]
“I think the initial phases of it were so spectacularly successful that it took us all by surprise.” [CBS, 10/31/04]
“I do think that progress is being made in a lot of Iraq. Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course. If I thought we weren’t making progress, I’d be despondent.” [The Hill, 12/8/05]
With people like John McCain, Michael O’Hanlon, and Ken Pollack now claiming to be war “critics,” that term is fast becoming a description for people who support the war but aren’t George Bush.
UPDATE: Atrios writes, “Even before the war, ‘war critics’ were almost entirely limited to those who criticized the timing, or the degree to which the UN or international community generally was on board. That was the respectable position. Just saying ’stop!’ was not.”
Transcript:
CHETRY: It seems you’ve been painted as being a huge supporter of the president’s Iraq strategy. Is that an inaccurate portrayal?
MCCAIN: It’s entertaining, in that I was the greatest critic of the initial four years, three and a half years. I came back from my first trip to Iraq and said, This is going to fail. We’ve got to change the strategy to the one we’re using now. But life isn’t fair.
But I do believe that this general, who will report back in the middle of September, as you know, and this strategy is succeeding.
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101 Responses to “McCain: ‘I Was The Greatest Critic’ Of The Iraq War Over The Last Four Years”
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John Who???
August 18th, 2007 at 9:07 amYou know, John McCain, the racist liar who used to be strangely popular with liberals who thought he was a maverick.
The guy has always been what he is, a demagogue who says whatever he thinks will get him elected.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:18 am“It’s clear that the end is very much in sight.†[ABC, 4/9/03]
well I hope so , bit late, Iraqi people deserve a rest from perpetual war and MURDER, get the troops out
August 18th, 2007 at 9:18 amCASUALTIES STARTING AUGUST 1st
Wednesday: 6 GIs, 1 Brit, 178 Iraqis Killed; 188 Iraqis Wounded
August 18th, 2007 at 9:20 amThursday: 3 GIs, 116 Iraqis Killed; 76 Iraqis Wounded
Friday: 3 GIs, 22 Iraqis Killed; 13 Iraqis Wounded
Saturday: 1 Marine, 38 Iraqis Killed; 26 Iraqis Wounded
Sunday: 4 GIs, 116 Iraqis Killed; 49 Iraqis Wounded
Monday: 8 GIs, 123 Iraqis Killed; 131 Iraqis Wounded
Tuesday: 3 GIs, 1 Briton, 63 Iraqis Killed; 50 Iraqis Wounded
Wednesday: 93 Iraqis, 1 Briton Killed; 63 Iraqis Wounded
Thursday: 3 GIs, 2 Britons, 46 Iraqis Killed; 21 Iraqis Wounded
Friday: 81 Iraqis Killed, 89 Wounded
Saturday: 1 GI, 81 Iraqis Killed; 34 Iraqis Wounded
Sunday: 5 GIs, 1 Fiji Soldier, 57 Iraqis Killed; 37 Iraqis Wounded
Monday: 4 GIs, 41 Iraqis Killed; 20 Iraqis Wounded
Tuesday: 6 GIs Kille, 322 Iraqis, 412 Iraqis Wounded
Wednesday: 87 Iraqis Killed, 44 Wounded
Thursday: 3 GIs, 64 Iraqis Killed; 40 Wounded
Friday: 4 GIs, 34 Iraqis Killed; 65 Iraqis Wounded
#1. “John Who???”
yeah, i’ve been wondering the same thing myself… until this, it seemed like mr. straight-talk express had dropped off the map… glad to see he’s still got faith in the karl rove playbook, where rule #1 is “when caught in a trap of your own making, lie your way out of it…” actually, the subtitle of that rule is “the ‘who’s crazy, you or me’ tactic…”
August 18th, 2007 at 9:23 amAnd, yes, I DO take it personally
That’s why he should not become a president.
Not only him, but all these candidates who cannot speak straight with clarity to the public.
Americans are tired of presidetns and officials who cannot speak straight,and want the American people to dig for the truth,rather than policians speak to them with truth.
He is no different than all of these people holding offices.
He is not honest when he says he is ‘the greatest critic of this war’.
He is no different than Romney,Giuliani,Clinton and many others..
America wants a straight forward,honest president who is not afraid to say:’I was wrong,or you are wrong, or I am repsonsible..or put the blame where it belongs’.
Candidates these days are sold like a ‘tooth paste’ to the public backed by millions of dollars to sell the candidate,and an army of consultants,experts,strategists to sell the candidate.
He changed his postion and statements many times..
August 18th, 2007 at 9:23 amHe was right and electable when he started in 2000 election, then he changed, and now he is not the same guy. Keep dancing the way he does,going forward in the morning and backward in the afternoon will not help him.
Americans simply are tired of lack of straight forwardness. and honesty among politicians.
critic shmitic- the man has zero impact at this time. He has been passed by everyone. It is a tragedy that he can’t seem to grasp that his former supporters - the gooper right has fled from him exactly like the rest of those deserting the sinking ship!
August 18th, 2007 at 9:24 ambilljpa
Today’s McCain statements are brought to you by the letter D.
as in distorted, delusional, dumb, diversionary, disturbed, devious, debauched, devoid of any credibility…
Thanks so much to CNN for this latest assault on our senses.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:26 amHe is one pathetic desperate old hack. The rethugs deserve him.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:26 amMcCain hates America.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:38 amLet me remind folks about a few previous GOP party stalwarts who were chosen to become the nominee, Bob Dole and Bush 41. McCain’s military and Senate experience will trump everything else. The GOP rewards loyals beyond. I’d even go with McCain and Pat Roberts of Kansas as the ticket. They both have supported their party and not attacked the President. How’s that?
August 18th, 2007 at 9:44 amHave these people (McCain, O’Hanlon, Pollack, and their ilk) never seen a computer, television, or newspaper? Are they unaware that their words and actions are recorded over time?
August 18th, 2007 at 9:48 amDid I say “Steady” will become the mantra for the GOP? Sounds great to the elderly and Nascar voters doesn’t it? The denial on the Right, about the extent of the damage being done by the Attorney General’s office and the total disconnection from Jose Padilla’s confinement without Habeas rights, is astounding. I use Captn’ Ed and his posts as my example. McCain is steady, he’s getting up to speed on several issues addressing the American people and he’ll give all of them careful STEADY, consideration. Again it’s got to be for the elderly and nascar voters. The Theocrats,hmmm, well James Dobson I’m sure will compile his list of who he wouldn’t endorse for the faithful, I’d bet money on it McCain will not be on it.
August 18th, 2007 at 9:58 amMcCain supports Torture, brings in a bill to stop torture, that allows Bush to red pen it, meaning nothing
August 18th, 2007 at 10:04 amI’ll never forget the McCain hug of Bush, never, never, never. McCain used to be anti-war, having been there and seen the absolute devastation. He surely did not transition into a statesman with the ability to persuade from the perspective of experience and leadership.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:06 amJoe Liberman supports John McCain doesn’t he? To me that says it all.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:07 amMcCain : go to hell with all the other war-mongers.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:07 amNone of those quotes are from when McCain came back from his first trip to Iraq and said “This is going to fail. We’ve got to change the strategy to the one we’re using now.” Of course, now that the president has changed strategy to allow U.S. troops to actually do their job and hold positions outside of the Green Zone, now McCain can see the stategy is succeeding.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:09 amJohn does not seem to realize there is a new-fangled invention called the video camera.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:10 amAnybody have a spare frammulator they can spare?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:12 amMy LyingBastardOMeter just pegged itself, rattled around for a moment, then went belly up when it read this article.
progressive patriot:
McCain fought, spilled blood, and survived in a POW camp, for America. He does not “hate” America.
fly-man:
I doubt McCain will get the nomination at this point. However, I am interested in your comment about Joe Lieberman. He also supports the NCAA basketball championships — are you going to boycott those too?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:13 amEdwards Would Open Talks With Iran if Elected
August 18th, 2007 at 10:13 amThis was once a great man. I get no partisan delight in his fall. This guy SERVED his country. He took the wrong lesson from the “success” of rove, Karen Hughes, and bush. Spin, lie, smear might get you elected-but it can’t help you govern. Seeing McCain’s pucker on bush’s butt was painful to watch. If the man had put a combat boot up his butt McCain might have had a chance at governing, he’ll never know now. There are some thoughtful repubs we have to get past the batshit insane wingnuts (catch Melanie Morgon on Hardball?) and work with the ones that love their country more than they hate being wrong.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:14 amOnly 6 Percent of Britons Think UK Winning Against Taliban in Afghanistan
August 18th, 2007 at 10:15 amWhat did McCain “lie” or “smear” about, rfklives?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:17 amNone of those quotes are from when McCain came back from his first trip to Iraq and said “This is going to fail. We’ve got to change the strategy to the one we’re using now.‖ Jake D.
Please provide a link to where he said that, dated when he got back from Iraq, instead of just what he claimed in the gop debates.
I want to read it
Google doesn’t turn anything up.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:18 amMueller’s Notes Detail White House’s Craven Attempts To Take Advantage Of Sick Ashcroft
In a July hearing before the House Judiciary
OFF topic and my question of the day :
Why isn’t the Lamestream Press running with this story to convict Gonzales of perjury? Meanwhile Gonzales day by day is killing the 4th Amendment with his wiretapping???
August 18th, 2007 at 10:18 amTHE US military will soon release the last Iraqi held as an enemy prisoner of war, leaving former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega as the country’s only formally recognised POW.
Iraq’s former Air Force commander, Hamid Raja Shalah Al-Tikriti, was captured in June 2003 and is the last enemy POW held by coalition forces, a US military spokeswoman said.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 51,000 in US Custody in Iraq
August 18th, 2007 at 10:20 amNone of those quotes are from when McCain came back from his first trip to Iraq and said “This is going to fail. We’ve got to change the strategy to the one we’re using now.†–Jacko
provide the link dated to when he first went to Iraq, came back and said that.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:21 amNot a link to his claim in the debate.
Noriega is the only captive the United States recognise as a prisoner of war under the Geneva Conventions.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:22 am“Let there be no doubt: victory can be our only exit strategy. We are winning in Iraq - but we sow the seeds of our own failure by contemplating a premature military drawdown and tempering our ambitions to democratize Iraqi politics
http://newamericancentury.org/iraq-20031105.htm
In a prime-time speech on the opening night of his party’s convention, McCain heartily endorsed the Iraq and anti-terrorism policies of his 2000 rival for the White House. Bush is particularly vulnerable over his invasion of Iraq, and the Arizona Republican’s support gave Bush the stamp of approval of a Vietnam War hero who enjoys broad backing from independents and some moderate Democrats.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,130675,00.html
I could go on and on…
August 18th, 2007 at 10:24 amThat’s not my job, Wayne. I am simply pointing out the fact that TP did not provide said quote. As for “nothing” on Google, I got about 108,000 hits using:
mccain “returned from” iraq fail
I will certainly let you know if I (since TP would never post it) find the quote.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:27 amJake D, Senator Liberman left the Democratic Party to run as an Independent because of his support for this current administration’s middle east policies. The loyalty from Senators to each other is immeasurable for soothing powerful constituencies panicked feelings. Joe Liberman’s endorsement is worth it’s weight in gold. He’s the Democrat who left his own party , won and still brings home all the bacon, and promises, that he can get. That’s why the WSJ is trying to take down Firedog and DKOS they almost put Sen. Liberman out to pasture and they had way too much to lose, so they will use Joe as their poster-boy. Unless Clarence Thomas retires to run for VP. I think McCain will be the nominee.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:29 amHe also supports the NCAA basketball championships — are you going to boycott those too?
Comment by Jake D. — August 18, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Completely irrational comparison. Try making a real point, if you can.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:32 amI doubt McCain will get the nomination at this point. However, I am interested in your comment about Joe Lieberman. He also supports the NCAA basketball championships — are you going to boycott those too?
Comment by Jake D. — August 18, 2007 @ 10:13 am
Lieberman and McCain both chose to support Bush when somebody needed to stand up against him. It urt them both. It will not hurt NCAA basketball. Your connecting them shows the same logic that got Lieberman and McCain in trouble.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:33 amHe’s never been a critic of the war, just of the way it was being conducted. He was proposing a surge from the beginning, never understanding the political futility of ‘installing’ a democracy.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:35 amHey, I support the World Series! Does that count?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:36 amUnless Clarence Thomas retires to run for VP. I think McCain will be the nominee.
Comment by the fly-man — August 18, 2007 @ 10:29 am
I might have agreed with you six months ago, but his campaign has gone down in flames, he’s shedding money and no one is giving him any more, or at least not enough money to stay in the public eye. When he is in the public eye, he’s stepping on his dick.
His loyalty is meaningless because Bush is so unpopular. The Republicans are looking for Reagan II, not Bush III.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:37 amWhy isn’t the Lamestream Press running with this story to convict Gonzales of perjury? Meanwhile Gonzales day by day is killing the 4th Amendment with his wiretapping???
Comment by Kay — August 18, 2007 @ 10:18 am
It’s probably the wiretapping, and KKKarl use of the contents, that has everybody muzzled. The wiretapping is probably what cost McCain his credibility. Anybody who thinks Rove wouldn’t spin every kernel of truth into misinformation is delusional.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:38 am“After my first visit to Iraq in 2003, I argued for more troops. I took issue with statements characterizing the insurgency as a few ‘dead-enders’ or being in its ‘last throes.’ I criticized the search and destroy strategy and argued for a counter-insurgency approach that separated the reconcilable population from the irreconcilable.
http://www.johnmccain.com/ Informing/ News/ Speeches/ 52897ce6-65cd-4166-a62f-3cc6d25e1a0a.htm
And how does the separation of reconcilable and irreconcilable work?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:38 amConcentration camps??
I was simply trying to see where (or “if”) fly-man would draw the line. It’s not a comparison; it’s a hypothetical. As soon as he answers that question, I would love to continue that tangent (technically, Lieberman is an “Independent-Democrat” ; )
August 18th, 2007 at 10:39 amHey, I support the World Series! Does that count?
Comment by RUCerious — August 18, 2007 @ 10:36 am
I support the World Series when it’s Yankee free. Otherwise, not so much.
Although, watching the Yankees lose the Series is even better than watching them go home before it starts.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:39 amThe GOP party elders have been saying since Dick Cheney made himself the nominee for VP, trust us. Fred Thompson’s timing and health are suspect, McCain is still married, to I believe his first wife, and has served his country beyond. Now put your rational voter from OHIO hat on and just see how easy of a choice it will be to pick Sen. McCain over Mrs. Clinton or Sen. Obama. The GOP has perfected denial and allowed it to become a hereditary disorder.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:41 amI will certainly let you know if I (since TP would never post it) find the quote.
Comment by Jake D. — August 18, 2007 @ 10:27 am
It’s not TP’s job to bolster support for McCain. It’s Fox News’ job to address the issues of its viewers. How’s that working for him?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:41 amHey, I support the World Series! Does that count?
Comment by RUCerious — August 18, 2007 @ 10:36 am
According to Jake’s logic all right wing nuts will have to boycott baseball, forever, now. It’s obviously just a big liberal conspiracy to take down the U S of A.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:45 amMcCain is such a jackass. Does he really believe we can be deluded so easily as this?
August 18th, 2007 at 10:47 amIf the GOP is going to steal another election, I’d prefer we end us with McCain as President than any of the other nutjobs running on their side.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:49 amfly-man:
I believe McCain is not married to his first wife. Mitt Romney IS however.
Wayne:
I have not been able to post long excerpts of McCain’s own words from MTP or Washington Post, so maybe you should just try this link:
“From only a few months after the start of the war in 2003, McCain has argued that the U.S. troop presence in Iraq is too light . . .”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2007/ 01/ 09/ AR2007010901872_pf.html
August 18th, 2007 at 10:52 amOk so he had 2 wives, still one less than Rudy or Rush.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:54 amThis seems to be true of politicians in general. Back in the old days (pre-internet), a politician could lie with impunity and nobody could call them on it without first: 1) going to their local library, 2) digging up the original newspaper with the politicians original quote and 3) having the opportunity to confront them with it later on. These days, you can pull a video clip off the internet and have it queued up and ready to go before you begin the interview.
I still cling to the quaint and outdated notion that the news media is supposed to serve the public interest. This is why I find it completely unforgivable that our so-called “liberal news media” can’t or won’t ask follow-up questions of politicians that BS them. Look guys, they’ve lied to you for the last 6 years. And you KNOW they are going to lie to you again, today. Have the damn video clip and follow-up question ready to go before you ask your first question.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:54 amCalling for more troops is hardly saying the war in Iraq is a failure.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:55 amI will certainly let you know if I (since TP would never post it) find the quote.
Comment by Jake D.
In other words you cannot find a quote, even though you used it in your post as if it was a fact.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:58 amThanks for clarifying.
Saying “This is going to fail. We’ve got to change the strategy to the one we’re using now” is hardly saying the war in Iraq IS a failure either.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:59 amFor the record, it is a FACT that McCain’s quote is neither proven nor disproven by TP. That’s all I was saying. I don’t know if it is in the 108,000 hits on Google yet.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:01 amJake, the war in Iraq is a failure. Not because there were too many or not enough troops. It’s a failure because it was conceived for reasons not disclosed to the public, reasons that no one would support. And the quagmire that resulted was exactly as predicted by Cheney in 1994 & 2000. It was a failure because the U.S. was meddling in the govt of a country to put oil in their pockets. They manufactured evidence of a threat, pulled out weapons inspectors who found nothing, ignored/trampled the U.N. and put together a phony “coalition” to give the impression that they had support for their actions. It was a preemptive war crime. McCain has never said the war was wrong, he may have said that specific details were done incorrectly but that’s meaningless.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:04 am“From only a few months after the start of the war in 2003, McCain has argued that the U.S. troop presence in Iraq is too light . . .â€
Comment by Jake D.
That shows advocacy for the war and escalating it, sending more to die for a war started on a lie while almost abandoning Afghanistan, where the real Al Qaeda that was behind The US Embassy Bombings and The Cole Bombing.
Thats hardly being a critc of the war.
Thats being a supporter of a war started on false pretenses.
Got WMD?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:05 amSame old “Just because I said it doesn’t mean I said it” bullshit.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:08 amBeing the “greatest critic of the war” in general is not necessarily the same as being the “greatest critic of the specific pre-surge strategy”.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:10 amLost part of my sentence, trackpad acted goofy hehe
That shows advocacy for the war and escalating it, sending more to die for a war started on a lie while almost abandoning Afghanistan, where the real Al Qaeda that was behind The US Embassy Bombings and The Cole Bombing is still active and growing bumper crops of opium as well.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:11 am“Got WMD?”
See Duelfer Report, especially sections on what was found (I will admit not the “stockpiles” every intelligence agency assumed he had) and what Saddam’s intentions were.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:12 amI posted about C*indy Sheeh*an being the “greatest critic of the war” but that disappeared too. I guess TP is censoring posts?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:13 amMcCain (and the interviewer) makes a dishonest distinction. He has never been a critic of the Iraq war and occupation, but only of the strategy being used by the White House to pursue it.
So who cares whether he was an early critic of the approach, when he’s never questioned the stupidity of the entire operation?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:15 amIt’s like being a critic of pedophilia because you believe the rapist should double team the child rather then going it alone.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:19 amNotice that TP is using the word “war” dishonestly — especially in the headline — Chetry and McCain were clearly talking about the initial, pre-surge “strategy” only.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:21 amI posted about C*indy Sheeh*an being the “greatest critic of the war†but that disappeared too. I guess TP is censoring posts?
Comment by Jake D. — August 18, 2007 @ 11:13 am
When all else fails attack a dead soldier’s mother. Way to support the troops.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:23 amSee Duelfer Report, especially sections on what was found (I will admit not the “stockpiles†every intelligence agency assumed he had) and what Saddam’s intentions were.
Comment by Jake D.
We know where they [Iraq’s WMD] are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south, and north somewhat….I would also add, we saw from the air that there were dozens of trucks that went into that facility after the existence of it became public in the press and they moved things out. They dispersed them and took them away. So there may be nothing left. I don’t know that. But it’s way too soon to know. The exploitation is just starting.
—- Donald Rumsfeld * Interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News This Week, March 30, 2003
There are alot more quotes like this. Lies
After the invasion, all the oil fields were secured BEFORE the KNOWN weapons dumps and supposed WMD locations we supposedly invaded for.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:24 amThat is one fact you cannot spin. Many who were there have verified that.
The weapon dumps were left alone, unguarded for weeks.
The headline of this thread makes me chuckle every time I read it.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:25 amFor the record, I am not attacking C*indy Sheeh*an — I wholeheartedly support her campaign against Pelosi, for instance ; )
August 18th, 2007 at 11:26 amNotice that TP is using the word “war†dishonestly — especially in the headline — Chetry and McCain were clearly talking about the initial, pre-surge “strategy†only.
Give your head a shake. They’re talking about McCain’s support over the last 4 years. How could they mean anything but the pre-surge strategy? And how is the headline deceiving when it specificially states he was a supposed critic over the last 4 years?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:27 amOff to go workout, maybe take a newspaper to a Dog. /snicker
I may or may not post before I fly out this evening for vacation.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:28 amIf anyone else has evidence someone besides McCain was the “greatest critic” of the pre-surge strategy, please let me know who that would be.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:28 amDave C.:
The time frame from “a few months after the start of the war in 2003″ until the surge in 2007 is nearly four years, correct?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:30 amWait a minute, you’re right… McCain was a former critic of the strategy of attacking Iraq.
If you get involved in a major ground war in the Saudi desert, I think support will erode significantly. Nor should it be supported. We cannot even contemplate, in my view, trading American blood for Iraqi blood. [New York Times Aug 19, 1990]
I doubt that’s a quote he’s referring to. It shows how he & Cheney are willing to sell out American Armed Forces & the American public for political gain & spin.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:33 amfirst he says, “i was the greatest critic,” and then immediately aftewards he says, “i do believe this strategy is succeeding.”
August 18th, 2007 at 11:39 amHoly crap, what audacity! McCain is the one who said we needed another 30,000 troops, back in November, when he was still very popular. He is the one who set that agenda over the Iraq Study Group’s. He is the one responsible for those troops being there, for the whole frickin’ surge!
So just what the hell is he critical of anyway?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:39 amMcCain is senile, so he has no idea what he is saying anymore. It is sad to watch him melt down in public. John must retire and move back to Arizona.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:42 amOk, that’s it. McCain has gone over the edge. He is now certifiably insane. I’m glad that he was never elected President. Having one insane President in my lifetime is more than enough. I don’t think I could have survived another.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:43 amAren’t there trees to be planted somewhere?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:48 am“They both have supported their party and not attacked the President. How’s that?
Comment by the fly-man “
Loyalty to party before country. Sorry, we’ve been there and done that and didn’t much like it when Bush did it, so why would we want to do it again?
August 18th, 2007 at 11:53 amI was against the war before I am for the war????
August 18th, 2007 at 12:11 pmDamn, I started laughing at the absurdity. Then it wasn’t so funny any more. He helped to kill his fellow Americans by aiding and abetting bushco. Damn.
August 18th, 2007 at 12:25 pm“McCain fought, spilled blood, and survived in a POW camp, for America. He does not “hate†America.
fly-man”
What goes around comes around naziboy.
August 18th, 2007 at 12:40 pmWow, John McCain to the left of Dennis Kucinich as the number one war critic in America. Who’d have thunk it? Thank you Kiran Chetry for helping us to see that John had his fingers crossed behind his back when he was saying all those pro-war things, that he didn’t really mean them, and that he was unfairly painted as being a huge supporter of the president’s Iraq strategy. Great journalistic integrity there, CNN.
August 18th, 2007 at 12:50 pmI may or may not post before I fly out this evening for vacation.
Comment by Wayne — August 18, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Oh c’mon Wayne, don’t make us wait for the news…. ;)
August 18th, 2007 at 12:52 pmI’m not sure who the “greatest” war critic has been (Gore? Kucinich? Dean? Obama?), but I can assure you, Senator McCain, that you’re not it.
August 18th, 2007 at 1:19 pmMcCain: Another day, another lie.
August 18th, 2007 at 1:23 pmI may or may not post before I fly out this evening for vacation.
Comment by Wayne — August 18, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Oh great! We will all wait with abated breath.
August 18th, 2007 at 1:35 pmWhen McCain said he was the “greatest critic”, he exaggerated. However, he was one of the first GOP Senators to say that Rumsfeld had to go, and it’s a fact that he became increasingly critical of how the administration was prosecuting the war.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:28 pmThe overwhelming lust for power drives this former prisoner of war to lengths that I find creepy and genuinely nauseous.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:41 pmThis guy is my Senator, and f*cking insane.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:50 pmI personally don’t care who the GOP nominee, all I’m saying is I’ve been raised on the GOP for 40 years and I honestly think just go back and look at who has received the nominee, loyal party members, Ronald Reagan is dead and if there was a another version of him we’d have seen them by now. The party will go with the loyal, and then do what it does best, unifying behind their Dear Leader to be, and destroying the competition. Can you imagine even a 1% chance that Hillary becomes President? I can hear that one already.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:52 pm#88: When McCain said he was the “greatest criticâ€, he exaggerated.
Yes. Indeed, it wouldn’t be going to far to say that he lied.
However, he was one of the first GOP Senators to say that Rumsfeld had to go, and it’s a fact that he became increasingly critical of how the administration was prosecuting the war.
Perhaps. But this is still a pretty cowardly position. It’s easy to criticize the administration’s strategy when things aren’t going well. The fact remains that McCain was, from the beginning, an ardent war supporter. His position on Iraq has never been very far from that of George W. Bush.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:57 pmMcCAIN IS DELUSIONAL. He actually thinks he can shift gears from 5th to Reverse at 70 and not strip his gearbox…
IS ANYBODY IN THE MSM GOING TO APPLY THE MONIKER “FLIP-FLOP” or does that term only apply to Democrats where the mainstream media are concerned?
August 18th, 2007 at 4:41 pmActually Flip-Flop seems somehow utterly inadequate in this case. What better term is there for this kind of pandering?
This is a weak attempt by McCain to rescue what’s left of his presidential campaign. His stance on immigration and the Iraq war has hurt his chances. He was never a war critic. He’s just another neo-con who can’t admit how flawed Bush’s policy in Iraq really is. No one has supported the surge more than McCain. Now that it is failing he’s shifting his position.
August 18th, 2007 at 5:06 pmMcCain could easily prove his point should it be the truth. All he has to do is outline the bills he has introduced in the Senate in opposition to Bush’s stay the course policy. Since he has not done that, I suspect that he is unable to do it. So much for the straight talk.
August 18th, 2007 at 11:45 pmMr. McCain obviously suffers from BillO disease - that ongoing affliction that renders one completely incapable of realizing that video and audio recording devices not only exist, but are actually used. Not to mention written transcripts, newspaper accounts, etc…
To go from a respected Veteran and POW to a complete bark-at-the-moon neo-con asshat in such a short period of time. Wow. Desperate people doing desperate things in desperate times, I suppose….
August 19th, 2007 at 12:47 am.
August 19th, 2007 at 6:55 amMcCain hasn’t heard much from campaign contributors lately, but apparently he’s gotten the message to layoff the warmongering.
heh, heh.. put grampa back in his diaper. He’s fogetting his past.
August 19th, 2007 at 11:07 amPoor, poor persecuted McPain! He’s definitely the Senator most likely to go postal. I hope the Capitol Police are keeping him under special watch.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:08 amHudson and all progressive cretins who share his witchhunting POV should consider this. Thompson doesn’t even come close to candidate activity or “testing the waters” activity because all he’s really done so far is: give a few interviews; tour Iowa (but no officially enter in the straw poll); and keep speculation about his involvement going. If this shabby activity graduates in one’s progressive-libtarded mind as “testing the waters,” then one also thinks that Bush blew up the WTC towers
August 20th, 2007 at 9:39 pmThis man rivals Giuliani in his ability to turn complete fiction into campaign rhetoric without being called on it publicly.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:44 am