McCain camp reacts to Maliki’s call for withdrawal: Voters don’t care what Iraqi leaders say.
By on Jul 19th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
McCain camp reacts to Maliki’s call for withdrawal: Voters don’t care what Iraqi leaders say.
In response to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s clear statement in support of a 16-month redeployment from Iraq, a senior McCain official tells Marc Ambinder “[V]oters care about [the] military, not about Iraqi leaders.” A “prominent Republican strategist” who occasionally provides advice to the McCain campaign said more candidly, “We’re f*cked.” Recall, this is what McCain said in 2004:
QUESTION: Let me give you a hypothetical, senator. What would or should we do if, in the post-June 30th period, a so-called sovereign Iraqi government asks us to leave, even if we are unhappy about the security situation there? I understand it’s a hypothetical, but it’s at least possible.
McCAIN: Well, if that scenario evolves, then I think it’s obvious that we would have to leave because — if it was an elected government of Iraq — and we’ve been asked to leave other places in the world. If it were an extremist government, then I think we would have other challenges, but I don’t see how we could stay when our whole emphasis and policy has been based on turning the Iraqi government over to the Iraqi people.
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Yes, McIIIrd, you’re fu cked. Hey, How come Faiz can say it, but we can’t?
July 19th, 2008 at 4:36 pm*Yawn*…American have never cared about Iraqis. Not generally anyway. Sure there are heart wrenching photos of brave soldiers helping wounded women and children. But those are the very rare exceptions. So in this regard McCain is correct. I predict Maliki will be terminated.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:36 pmI didn’t say it. A conservative strategist did. And we’re not like them :)
July 19th, 2008 at 4:39 pmOK, Faiz, as long as it’s in a quoted link (**winking**)
July 19th, 2008 at 4:40 pmNice post!
And leaders don’t care what voters say.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:45 pm..a conservative strategist…
July 19th, 2008 at 4:47 pmis that like the guy 6 inches from your bumper as you leave the parking lot, trying to scoot through behind before the barrier comes down again?
…a senior McCain official tells Marc Ambinder “[V]oters care about [the] military, not about Iraqi leaders.”
And when an Iraqi leader says he wants our troops to go home, we care about what he says, too.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pmwas going to amend that to read “Republican leaders don’t care what voters say,” but then I realized you got it right the first time.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pmBut as of ten minutes ago, McCain was always for troop redeployment…
July 19th, 2008 at 4:59 pmGive it time, barfly, give it time…
July 19th, 2008 at 5:04 pmOk, now this is messed up. My post was filtered because I quoted something from the thread’s blurb.
So TP gets to quote swear words, but we don’t?
July 19th, 2008 at 5:07 pmSo TP gets to quote swear words, but we don’t?
Nuck that foise!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:10 pmA “prominent Republican strategist” who occasionally provides advice to the McCain campaign said more candidly, “We’re *ucked.” (don’t want the TP nannies to filter me)
In a rational society this would be true. But we all know how rational us voters are.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:14 pm“Voters don’t care what Iraqi leaders say”
Oh, yes we do.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:15 pmThe incomparable Wayne A. Schneider Says:
Give it time, barfly, give it time…
During the Johnson/Nixon contest, Mitt Romney’s dad (who was also running in the republican primary that year), misstated so many things on the campaign trail, Jack Germond once joked that at personal expense, he’d had a special “Romney later clarified” key installed on his typewriter.
McCain is just furthering an old GOP tradition.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:15 pmIf you are not going to listen to the elected leadership in Iraq then why go there? It is worth mentioning that Obama and Maliki have come to an agreement on US troops in country before Obama ever arrived in Iraq; again, what is the point of actually going over there?
As someone who makes dozens of collaboratives decision every single day without leaving my home, we do have phones and the internets provide this really neat thingy called Email. I don’t have to actually visit everyone I communicate with.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pmThe old weathervane doesn’t know which way to turn now, I bet!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pmBy Johnson/Nixon contest, I’m referring to the primary antics that took place before the ‘68 election.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:17 pmMore sinister forces are in play here….ask your self why America maintains a military presence in Japan, Germany and all those other post-WW2 countries after the end of the Cold War? There is absolutely no need for an America military presence of these scales to be in these countries. There is no threat whatsover.
America is an empire…and now it has it’s mendacious claws wrapped around the heart of an Arab country with rich oil resources. Regardless of what McCain or Obama say the sinister forces prevail. And we all know who those sinister forces are.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:21 pmBig oops for the republican, er whig, er irrelevant party.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:21 pmSpread this article to all your “McCain has the most foreign policy experience” friends and relatives
I care Johnny, more than you’ll ever know.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:30 pm“McCain camp reacts to Maliki’s call for withdrawal: Voters don’t care what Iraqi leaders say.”
How arrogant these people are,as arrogant as when we struck a preemptive war against a country which was more than fifty percent children under the age of 15.
If people in this country are so arrogant as to think what the world thinks of us, and what a country we invaded and destroyed thinks of us and what we need to do their, does not matter they are more in need of a leader to set them straight on that than I previously thought.
By these thought we architect our own demise - Obama knows that, McCain does not.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:31 pmWould this be a good time to ask why we can’t use the word that sounds like anole eyes or a knoll eyes or however it is?
July 19th, 2008 at 5:34 pmWhat if we type it backwards? sisylanA?
July 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pmMcSame and der Boosh have just been cornered by the brilliant 3-D real time chess champion, Barack Obama, with a little help from the Iraqi puppet regime leader, Maliki. Obama is now the acknowledged leader on foreign policy in the USA, and McSame and der Boosh are reluctantly dragging themselves in his direction… Both McSame and der Boosh are dumbfounded, pun intended… Wot happened?
July 19th, 2008 at 5:41 pmQueen to Queen’s Level 3.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:43 pmChrist, Now Charles Evans or whatever the hell that guys name was is gonna have to show up…
July 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pmChrist, Now Charles Evans or whatever the hell that guys name was is gonna have to show up…
July 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pmah yes.. with our blood, our treasure, and our bribes, we helped the IRanian allied government of Iraq marginalize its only real opposition party, the nationalist Sadrists, and now they are feeling their oats and telling us to “go f#ck ourselves”
yes Jhonny McSame, time to move over and give the democratically elected government of the Islamic Republic of Iraq all the “freedumbs” you insisted it was so important for them to have..
July 19th, 2008 at 5:54 pm“[V]oters care about [the] military, not about Iraqi leaders.
- - Gramm may have left McCain’s campaign, but clearly the entire operation has been infected with Phil-in-mouth disease.
July 19th, 2008 at 5:57 pmI know the tea party (linked above) where mmcchimpy had spoke and received some bs CC award is total fiction. Ah man, say it’s fiction. HAHAHAHA
chimpy is turning liberal/democratic. But it’s all a f lie.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:23 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
——————————————————————————–
Wot happened?
I hope Stupid(squared) is losing to Smart(1) finally!
July 19th, 2008 at 6:24 pmIf you are not going to listen to the elected leadership in Iraq then why go there?
“It’s the oil, stupid”.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:25 pmJohn McHorizon doesn’t know what hit him.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:31 pmOval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:
McSame and der Boosh have just been cornered by the brilliant 3-D real time chess champion, Barack Obama, with a little help from the Iraqi puppet regime leader, Maliki. Obama is now the acknowledged leader on foreign policy in the USA, and McSame and der Boosh are reluctantly dragging themselves in his direction… Both McSame and der Boosh are dumbfounded, pun intended… Wot happened?
Nicely said!
This is how grown folks act.
This a wonderful move for Senator Obama.
chimpy should feel like a sack of shit. HAHAHAHAHAHA
July 19th, 2008 at 6:36 pmdbadass,
Were you referring to what I said? You mean Charlie Evans? Charlie X? ‘Cause I was referring to something else.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:40 pmIf McC flips on this issue and rattles the shaky base, will there be a backlash that results in are new tussle for the repub nomination? Or, if he goes all in on his political bet and stands pat, will the party pragmatists decide to cut their possible House and Senate losses by sitting on their hands,and letting him ride it out alone?
Now that we’re into summer rerun season, this should provide a nice diversion.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:48 pmThis is history making!
Has a puppet regime set up by the current “president” (while the current president’s war rages on in the puppet regime) ever overstepped the current “president” by talking to the Presumptive Democratic Nominee?
A-m-a-z-i-n-g-!
mcchimpy can go on about his Colombia lie.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:49 pmThe Faux Noise chickenhawks will be in a misguided frenzy spinning this one.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:52 pmWayne A. Schneider
July 19th, 2008 at 6:56 pmNot sure. Just don’t teach any spoiled brat kids that sort of chess and then beat them. They tend to get sort off messed up…
John McSame is senile and wrong. The voters care enough to vote against anyone with (R) after their name for a long, long, time.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:06 pmWe will leave, but our bad seed in the form of Depleted Uranium babies will remain for generations.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:23 pmActually, dbadass, I was giving the code word to get beamed back up from Elba 2.
But Charlie didn’t like to lose at chess, either.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:30 pmWhat’s the code word to get beamed down to Elba 2?
July 19th, 2008 at 7:37 pmMcCain lies yet again.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:41 pmWayne A. Schneider:
July 19th, 2008 at 7:53 pmWow! Still I think the fact that I have seen Uhura’s nipples trumps this…. Well actually it was just nipple…
Well McCain is wrong as usual. Most people I know, do care. This is actually the third time Malaki has asked us to leave. Last year he said he saw no reason to care if we left Iraq. But this year he was of course more adamant.
We do care. We care about our military with targets painted on their backs, there in the middle of their civil war. We care that when this war began or before it began there were voices that said exactly what the outcome of an invasion would be. And it happened just that way. We care that all the sane voices that tried to talk Bush out of his war, were drowned out, trashed, or fired as a result. How many reputations were ruined by this administration when they voice doubts and objections?
Yes we care alright. The fact that when this war began McCain said it would be “a cake walk”. Well is wasn’t. McCain hopes we won’t care because some day, someone in the media might just do their job and go back and look at some of the statements McCain gave regarding the war. But he has skipped scrutiny so far. So maybe he can make it to the election without the media bothering. God knows, they haven’t done it for the last eight years.
Of course he lies. And also he doesn’t remember what he says from one day to the next. Since he has little technical know how he forgets that any information can be obtained online. Someones entire career and statements can be downloaded at any time. This guy is a PUTZ!!
July 19th, 2008 at 8:09 pm“Well actually it was just nipple…”
Transporter malfunction?
July 19th, 2008 at 8:37 pmIf Bush & Cheney’s Big Oil buddies gain control over Iraqi oil, what guarantee is there that they won’t sit on it until the price reaches much higher levels, and then, if the Big Oil companies can make more money selling their product to a foreign buyer, does anyone truly think that they would sell it to us instead?
July 19th, 2008 at 8:43 pmSo it is all about the oil in Iraq. What other conclusion can one draw from McCain’s current positions on Iraq. Besides, if we have succeeded as McCain boasts then what other reason could there possibly be for staying if not the oil.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:49 pmDallasNE Says:
Besides, if we have succeeded as McCain boasts then what other reason could there possibly be for staying if not the oil.???
Military Bases. And the means to project military force in the Heart of Mesopotamia.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:54 pmIf Iraq asks us to leave, and we stay, wouldn’t we be in violation of international law ? (I know - we’re talking about neocons. The US can always veto any UN resolution at the Security Council level).
July 19th, 2008 at 9:02 pmHere’s how to make even the LIV’s (that McCain relies on to maintain his otherwise irrationally high polling numbers) CARE about what Maliki says:
HEADLINE…
IRAQI P.M. OFFERS US $120 BILLION ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE. IN EXCHANGE FOR TROOP PULLOUT
John McCain rejected the $120 billion savings that would result from the proposed US troop pullout whilst Barack Obama embraced the idea. President Bush was available for comment, but no-one noticed him, despite his obvious fidgeting.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:05 pm.
I’m sorry Johnny, you McCain’t be paying too close attention either…
THE PEOPLE SHALL REMEMBER,
COME VOTING TIME NOVEMBER!
.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:15 pmBadger Says:
But we already have military bases in “the heart of Mesopotamia” plus a fleet in the Gulf. Nice try for a beginner though.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:17 pmBut if American people care about the military,like McCain says then they should also care about what the Iraqis are saying…and what the Iraqis are saying lately is “we need Americans to give us a withdrawal with timetable schedule”.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:19 pmOne cannot seperate the military from what the Iraq people and their government want in their country..
one is connected to the other.
Withdrawal also is supported by of over 70% Americans.
What McCain is trying to tell us..?.
Just stay the course and forget about what the Americans and the Iraqis are saying.
I thought the sell of this war in Iraq was all about Democracy.!!
There is an irony here..
McCain keeps saying that we are succeeding in Iraq almost daily, you would think he is the candidate who will be asking for withdrawal of troops from Iraq due to the successes that he keeps talking about everywhere he goes in his presidential campaign!!
MapleStreet Says:
If Iraq asks us to leave, and we stay, wouldn’t we be in violation of international law ?
July 19th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
_____
So?
July 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm# 56 tarazan
You can make sense all you want in here tarazan, but it will never make it to McCain’s brain.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:28 pmWell, I care what Iraqi voters have to say. What I worry about is that my own government officials won’t care about what I have to say in November. We are, absolutely and completly ####ed.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:29 pmhussein toasterhead Says: So?
So?
ENUFF with the So? already toaster! I know it ‘works’ but it ain’t slayin’ em in Poughkeepsie anymore :)
July 19th, 2008 at 9:36 pm5th Estate Says:
So?
ENUFF with the So? already toaster! I know it ‘works’ but it ain’t slayin’ em in Poughkeepsie anymore :)
July 19th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
______
I know, I know… But there is no other word that more perfectly sums up this administration’s approach to everything it touches. Especially Iraq.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pmTrixie : We are, absolutely and completly ####ed.
Not yet, just damn close. I think it’s more like “death by a thousand mayhems” and we’re on about 996.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pmtoasterheas says:
5th Estate Says:
So?
ENUFF with the So? already toaster! I know it ‘works’ but it ain’t slayin’ em in Poughkeepsie anymore :)
July 19th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
______
I know, I know… But there is no other word that more perfectly sums up this administration’s approach to everything it touches. Especially Iraq.
To which I can only respond….
SO?
NOW THAT”S FUNNEEEE! :)
July 19th, 2008 at 9:44 pmDallas NE,
You are absolutely correct that we already have military bases in the ” heart of Mesopotamia”. My point was that Cheney et al want TO KEEP THEM.
We did not have bases in Iraq until we invaded and toppled Saddam. Before that, we had bases in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi’s ( and Bin Laden) asked us to leave, and we did. Cheney & Bush needed to move the forces, and Iraq served their purposes.
While it’s true that America has a very powerfull Fleet in the Gulf, Ships are no substitute for Land Bases with Airstrips.
I ‘ll agree with you, that the troops and bases are there mainly to protect access to the oil. I’ll ignore your patronizing.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pmnon_prophet: January can’t come fast enough.
Too right!
July 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pm“[V]oters care about [the] military, not about Iraqi leaders.”
No. This isn’t about the Irqais or the voters. The Bushes and McCains et al were never concerned with either. The Iraq war was always about controlling one of the largest oil producing regions in the world so they could guarantee a steady supply of the life giving blood for their money making machine.
Clearly they assumed the al-Maliki government would always want the U.S. as occupiers and protecters but now that is no longer true they’re scrambling to come up with more BS excuses to stay.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 19th, 2008 at 9:55 pmThis is certainly indicative of McCain’s arrogant & negative attitude to anyone who doesn’t agree with him. Voters beware!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:06 pmBadger on ‘bases’…
and of course the PNAC published the entire strategy in 1998 and the whole damn thing was publicly available and the entire MSM ignored it then, ignored it in the ‘run-up’ and are STILL ignoring the explicit evidence that the PNAC and it’s taken into the Bush administration was given complete control over US policy in the Middle East with the explicit purpose of dominating the ME bye establishing military bases to secure ALL the oil in the region to maintain the US as a ‘hyper-power’ for the next 50-100 years and in so doing practically establish absolute dominance over the rest of the world–and it all was going to start with Iraq.
The PNAC plan also helps to explain the domestic US energy policy of the last 8 yeara, which has been don’t worry about it, we’ll be getting all the oil we need from our invasion of the ME.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:07 pmPaul W: Clearly they assumed the al-Maliki government would always want the U.S. as occupiers and protecters but now that is no longer true they’re scrambling to come up with more BS excuses to stay.
In partial response, see #69
July 19th, 2008 at 10:18 pmI know you know the PNAC history, but McCain clearly doesn’t. He’s like a neocon without portfolio—he’s never been in the loop but he’s absorbed their most public rhetoric ( freedom. democracy, threat to world peace liberation and all that) because he’s an arrogant simpleton and he;s doing what he’s always done–muddling through, which is all he can do.
I think that’s why when he flip-flops he doesn’t seem to switch from a misinformed position to an opposite well-informed position one, but rather to a parallel position that is clearly different but equally misinformed.
Paul W.: I disagree. Iraq was not about 9-11, freedom, WMD, or oil. It was all about Bush being re-elected in 2004. That was his only mission accomplished.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:43 pmUncle Ho,
July 19th, 2008 at 11:26 pmWhy not the tribal areas of NW Pakistan. The trials are shorter there and justice is swifter.
HA! HA! HA! As usual, I’m right!!!
And, as usual, you cowardly libs want to go with ANYTHING (even if it’s wrong!) that you THINK (well, hope and pray!) would prove that Obama Carter knows what the hell he’s doing!
Sorry, here’s the TRUTH: (from your own CNN http://www.cnn.com/ 2008/ WORLD/ meast/ 07/ 19/ almaliki.obama/ )
(CNN) — A German magazine quoted Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as saying that he backed a proposal by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.
Nuri al-Maliki told Der Spiegel that he favors a “limited” tenure for coalition troops in Iraq.
“U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months,” he said in an interview with Der Spiegel that was released Saturday.
“That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,” he said.
But a spokesman for al-Maliki said his remarks “were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately.”
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the possibility of troop withdrawal was based on the continuance of security improvements, echoing statements that the White House made Friday after a meeting between al-Maliki and U.S. President Bush.
In the magazine interview, Al-Maliki said his remarks did not indicate that he was endorsing Obama over presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain.
“Who they choose as their president is the Americans’ business. But it’s the business of Iraqis to say what they want. And that’s where the people and the government are in general agreement: The tenure of the coalition troops in Iraq should be limited,” he said.
“Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic,” al-Maliki said.
The interview’s publication came one day after the White House said President Bush and al-Maliki had agreed to include a “general time horizon” in talks about reducing American combat forces and transferring Iraqi security control across the country.
HA!!
July 19th, 2008 at 11:31 pmJK,
July 19th, 2008 at 11:36 pmThis statement undermines all of your HA’s:
“Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic,” al-Maliki said.
and it is from your post!
Maliki pre-empted the planned spin. From AEI’s Kagan:
http://online.wsj.com/ article/ SB121617045543756423.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
There is a timeline - for Bush and McCain to declare victory soon while trying not to provide any political benefit to Obama. Maliki screwed up that plan.
If only Tim were still with us - he would have likely delivered tomorrow with ‘time horizon = timeframe = Obama plan’.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:41 pm5th Estate said:
I know you know the PNAC history, but McCain clearly doesn’t.
You’re correct. I was refering to Bush’s false rationalizations about the war as an example. I don’t see McCain as an ideolouge or as an oil industry enabler in the same sense that Bush is. I see McCain as a useful idiot. McCain is more interested in jingoistic patriotism than anything else. To McCain, we must win, even where that’s not possible.
above the clouds said:
Paul W.: I disagree. Iraq was not about 9-11, freedom, WMD, or oil. It was all about Bush being re-elected in 2004. That was his only mission accomplished.
I have to disagree. The evidence shows that Iraq was on Bush’s mind from the very begininng of his presidency, before 9/11 and long before the 2004 election. I can assure you that if there wasn’t oil under Iraq, we wouldn’t be in Iraq.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 19th, 2008 at 11:49 pmJohn Kerry Says:
HA! HA! HA! As usual, I’m right!!!
It would be a first.
“Who they choose as their president is the Americans’ business. But it’s the business of Iraqis to say what they want. And that’s where the people and the government are in general agreement: The tenure of the coalition troops in Iraq should be limited,” he said.
There is nothing in the quoted material to contradict the basic premise that Obama’s plan is identical to that proposed by the Iraqi government and that a TIMETABLE for withdrawal is included in both.
Your record is unchanged: wrong 100% of the time.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:53 pmgummy,
July 20th, 2008 at 12:18 amJK has a short attention span. Any post over 6 lines in length will escape him. All trolls share that same defect. Keep it brief as the message will escape them! Words over six letters in length also challenge them. Therefore parts of this post will transcend their comprehension.
Just when I was thinking that the trolls were showing some intelligence by avoiding this thread up pop the troll who namejacks a Purple Heart veteran. No shame whatsoever.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:36 amApparently you libs can’t read English or maybe your desire to think that your Messiah and Maliki were on the same page just went a little too crazy!!
Oh, and when is your boy’s 16 month reteat plan a “short time period”??
Give this up libs. George Bush,a s usual, has won!
HAve a great day!
July 20th, 2008 at 12:41 amMr. “John Kerry”,
“Give this up libs. George Bush,a s usual, has won!”
Could you please explain, sir, exactly what it is that George Bush has “won”?
July 20th, 2008 at 12:47 amWe are comparing three things - 16 months, 70 months and a cake walk. The first is realistic, the second a fact and the third, a pipe-dream.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:57 amThanks for the good news JK, I’m also pleased to know that W will have his name on a sewer plant. what a striking victory.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:00 amSpeaking of poor English, and even worse reading comprehension skills, John “The troll” Kerry is so goofy, and silly, it’s almost endearing -or as endearing as the village idiot can be.
From the troll’s own copy & paste:
“U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months,” he said in an interview with Der Spiegel that was released Saturday.
“That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,” he said.
What is really funny is that the troll mocks the idea that 16 months is a short time period. I guess 16 months is a looong horizon… if you are a 15 year old. Silly, silly troll.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:08 amHey Jay! Yes, the trolls still infest, and some, but not all enjoy taking fish in a barrel potshots. But if they get too annoying we cna now report them en masse, and the moderators whack them, at least for that thread. Or we can ignore them, they cry and whine and then STFU.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:10 amSo the chymp adopts the Democratic candidate’s platform, and somehow this becomes a ‘win’ for his trajesty?
July 20th, 2008 at 1:11 amNo do not ban the trolls, ignore them is the best, we need to know just how farfetched their rationale really is, and from reading the comments of John Kerry, we readily see. I do think that he could have chose a better name to spew forth his twisted logic and deception………………… Change is coming in November!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do not let your guard down, let’s help end this debacle of an Occupation of Iraq………………….
July 20th, 2008 at 1:13 am“[V]oters care about [the] military, not about Iraqi leaders.”
Translation: We wipe our collective rear end with Iraq’s “sovereignty” and their elected government.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:13 amHey, Jay, yes, Mr P and some of his many alter egos have been around. I’m not here much either, but I stop by enough to know that there’s still a problem.
Hi, RUCerious. :)
July 20th, 2008 at 1:17 amWouldn’t it suck to be a Republicriminal this weekend?
First, their boy George “SURRENDER MONKEY” Bush sells them out on Iraq and Iran. Then, his boy al-Maliki sells him out and announces he’s ready to give us the boot.
And now their new found Magic Maverick is stuck with Hobson’s choice of either a. announcing Obama was right about a timetable or, b. declare his intention to maintain the occupation against the will of the American people, the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government and the rest of the World.
One way or another, he’s gonna end up sick from flipping and spinning and flopping all at the same time. It’s gonna be a Hell of a show.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:24 amYes, there is a profound need to ban IPs. If a troll can manage to avoid being banned, they sometimes serve to sharpen our arguments. But the childish, punk, vandals with their sock puppets don’t deserve a third chance, if even a second.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:28 amHi, Jay Randal, long time no see. How are you?
I’ve been hanging out here (occasionally, when the infestation isn’t too severe), but mostly at our new blog, The Zoo.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:31 amHi Jane! Mr P mocks us alright, if you can describe smearing itself with figurative shit for logic, and grammar that would make a third grader puke. But Daryll is worth the price of admission.
Wait! This is free! Right, worth the price of admission…
July 20th, 2008 at 1:37 amJay, Pete, I still don’t understand why TP doesn’t ban certain IPs, especially when certain trolls change screen names from one comment to the next, and have started name-jacking again, which is particularly annoying.
But if you can get around that crap, Jay, there are some excellent posters here still who are well worth reading.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:38 ampete, either that, or McIIIrd just saying that the withdrawal was his idea all the time, and the mass media, just nodding, munch donut, nodding, munch donut..
July 20th, 2008 at 1:38 amJane!
July 20th, 2008 at 1:39 amWhat a shameless plug for Wayne in your last sentence!! :}
McCain camp reacts to Iraqi’s call for withdrawal: I don’t care what Iraqis say.»
July 20th, 2008 at 1:40 amMaybe Obama was right.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:42 amYep. Our pet trolls suffer from Jeckel and Hyde syndrome. Except the TP troll version is called Piss and Moan.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:43 amshoeless, can you just imagine how swimmingly things would be between a McIIIrd administration and the (**chokes on words**) duly elected government of Iraq??
July 20th, 2008 at 1:43 amJohn Kerry Says:
Apparently you libs can’t read English or maybe your desire to think that your Messiah and Maliki were on the same page just went a little too crazy!!
Oh, and when is your boy’s 16 month reteat plan a “short time period”??
Give this up libs. George Bush,a s usual, has won!
HAve a great day!
Sixteen months is shorter than your boy’s war and shorter than mcchimpy 100 yr war.
I believe your laugh is from insanity.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:48 amRUC, there are plenty of other people besides Wayne whose comments I regularly ‘recommend.’ ;)
Back on topic…
I wonder who the anonymous “senior McCain official” is. We may find out his/her name only if McCain realizes what a costly error this amazingly arrogant attitude is, and scrambles to throw another advisor under the “Straight Talk Express” bus.
His campaign is getting to be like the Monty Python “Oscar Wilde” sketch: “Your Majesty is like a stream of bat piss.” “What I meant to say, Your Majesty, is that you shine out like a shaft of gold when everything around is dark.”
July 20th, 2008 at 1:58 amJohn Kerry, I’m still waiting.
Wayne A. Schneider Says:
Mr. “John Kerry”,
“Give this up libs. George Bush,a s usual, has won!”
Could you please explain, sir, exactly what it is that George Bush has “won”?
July 20th, 2008 at 12:47 am
July 20th, 2008 at 2:01 amSorry for the OT, but, it looks like SURRENDER MONKEY Bush sent the envoy to meet with Iran in order to deliver an ultimatum. Nice first step at diplomacy dill holes.
G’night good people.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:01 amYou too trolls.
McMuddle does not have a plan except to wave the flag and keep the tax money flowing to military industry. He’s been beaten into submission and he now accepts his role.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:01 amI suppose the link would help?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7515589.stm
G’night again.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:05 am95 Pete
Let’s see how they will spin this? Sunday’s repug shows should be a ton of laughs.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:06 amRUCerious Says:
shoeless, can you just imagine how swimmingly things would be between a McIIIrd administration and the (**chokes on words**) duly elected government of Iraq??
The October election is all set.
The Bush administration has given Diebold a no bid contract to set up electronic voting machines, and Haliburton will supply vanishing purple ink.
In case there is any controversy, the Iraqi Supreme Court is set to appoint George W. Bush to be Dictator Perpetuus of Bagdad.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:10 amI don’t think TP has enough bandwidth to post all the bs that the repugs will sling on Sunday.
Jordan Almonds here I come.
I’m so excited!
July 20th, 2008 at 2:12 amGoodnight, Pete. Of course this gang of thugs doesn’t know the meaning of the word “diplomacy”…or “sovereign”, or hundreds of thousands of other words.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:12 amUpdate Nov. 3 2008
Voters don’t care what McCain says.
July 20th, 2008 at 3:24 amMcCain on offense
McCain has ridiculed Obama for making pronouncements on Iraq and Afghanistan in advance of his visit. In a radio address Saturday, McCain said: “My opponent … announced his strategy for Afghanistan and Iraq before departing on a fact-finding mission that will include visits to both those countries. Apparently, he’s confident enough that he won’t find any facts that might change his opinion or alter his strategy. Remarkable.”
Can you believe this pompous clown? Talk about digging a hole.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:15 amWhichever of you is playing “John Kerry”, could you please answer my question some time today? I’ll check back later.
“What exactly has George Bush won?”
July 20th, 2008 at 4:45 amWayne A. Schneider Says
“What exactly has George Bush won?”
Now Wayne, George W. Bush Does have his one accomplishment:
George W. Bush as a cheerleader at Andover
July 20th, 2008 at 6:05 amOh look, apparently now Maliki is suddenly claiming his words were “misunderestimated” to use a bush-ism. I bet they send him a hunting invitating from D3adey3e Dick Chain-me:
here is what he DIDNT Really mean to say:
“U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months,”
“That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,” he said.
“Who they choose as their president is the Americans’ business. But it’s the business of Iraqis to say what they want. And that’s where the people and the government are in general agreement: The tenure of the coalition troops in Iraq should be limited,” he said.
“Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic,” al-Maliki said.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:23 amMcCain said few days ago: “I know how to win wars”…
Does John McCain think America and the world are looking for another ‘Napoleon Bonaparte’?
Can’t we find someone who ‘knows how to win peace’ ?!!
July 20th, 2008 at 6:33 amWhy do repugs consider “their surge” is working when there are blackwater guards, the Iraqis’ Army and/or our finest on every corner of a bombed out town? I don’t call that safe at all.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:11 amIsn’t it wonderful?
July 20th, 2008 at 7:18 amFrom the country that gave the world ethnic cleansing of their indigenous population, the forced labour of millions of people from another continent, the first (and hopefully only) use of nuclear weaponry, apart from D.U. in various countries, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War,innumerable “regime changes”, a fetid gun culture, hyper patriotism and religiosity, we now have the latest jewel in the crown, Iraq.
Thank you America, the “light on the hill.”
What would we do without you? Probably sleep easier……
Mayberry’s Barney Fife only had one bullet in his pocket, too. Looks like Mayberry McCain just had his only bullet taken away from him.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:30 amBadges, we don’t need no stinkin badges
July 20th, 2008 at 8:24 amMan… Ole John Kerry has really come UNGLUED!
It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion… Disoriented, discombobulated, disjointed.
All that’s left for it to do is add goofy “HAHAHA!!!!” signing statements onto factual indictments of its monkey idol and its rapidly devolving political party…
Somehow, one actually feels just a little sorry for it the same way you feel bad for Golum in the cave…
My precious… Where IS it! They STOLE MY PRECIOUS!!!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 9:23 amThe last time I checked, 60% of the people in this country want us the hell out of Iraq. Seems to me that voters do care what the Iraqi leaders want.
Besides, didn’t Bush say that if the Iraqi’s wanted us gone, we would leave? Why isn’t anyone pointing out that not only McCain but also Bush lied.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pm#jb Says:
Thanks for the good news JK, I’m also pleased to know that W will have his name on a sewer plant. what a striking victory.
Actually, it looks like that may not happen. Apparently a lot of people are complaining that the sewer plant has a purpose and does good work for the people of SF. They think it would be an insult to the sewer plant to have it named after Bush.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:24 pmand I never even got the chance to welcome John Kerry to plop a squat for a bit. Pussy!
July 20th, 2008 at 2:25 pmVoters don’t care about McCain. He is literally and figuratively toast.
July 20th, 2008 at 3:25 pmFEARandSMEAR.com Says:
Man… Ole John Kerry has really come UNGLUED!
I always wonder if people like this John Kerry fellow were sane prior to the 2000 election.
July 20th, 2008 at 3:32 pmPoor stupid Reichwingers. Clinging to claims that al-Maliki was misinterpreted. However, nothing from the Iraqi government, or anywhere but stupid Reichwingers, is contradicting the conclusion that al-Maliki agrees, in principle, with a firm target of around 16 months after our own regime change. The Iraqis, clearly, want us out ASAP.
The only thing the Iraqis are “denying” is that al-Maliki’s statements constitute an endorsement of Obama. Which, considering that George “SURRENDER MONKEY” Bush has several hundred-thousand armed henchmen in country, could be construed as simple self-preservation. I don’t know about anyone else but, if Blackwater had an office across the street, I would sound like a good lil’ GOOPER. In public.
Poor trolls. It must suck to have no conception of context or understanding of, well, just about anything. Where do they find the resolve to drag themselves to Mommy’s basement every day? Personally, I’d just give up and stay in bed.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:36 pmRealy Dumb Question: One of the rationales for staying in Iraq is to establish military bases there.
But our ability to move equipment and men has drastically increased in the last 50 years. As the Air Force advertises, the nature of modern war is to keep the personnel away from the front lines. Send in drones.
As such, wouldn’t we have less need for foreign bases ?
July 20th, 2008 at 5:37 pmTo Badger:
Your statement is misleading at best. Ever hear of Kuwait? Also, the warplanes either flew in from flattops in the region or far away places like Germany, with refueling. No local airstrips were used until after the invasion was well underway. This brings us back to square one, which is the oil. They have it and we want it.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pmDallas NE,
Iraq is the size of Caloifornia. Kuwait is at one end of it.
There is more to the utility of Bases than Warplanes. There is fuel, food , ammunition, spare parts, land vehicles, radar and satellite sites…all subject to the laws of logistics. The military requires places to park and store all this stuff, and guard it from the enemy. Bases allow this, and the closer to the action, the better.
My bottom line, however, is that Bush and Cheney would not be building all these bases, if they could accomplish their goals from kuwait.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm>However, nothing from the Iraqi government, or anywhere but >stupid Reichwingers
Dont forget CENTCOM..thier the ones who issued Malikis alleged statement about a “mistranslation”:
http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/ archives/ 2008/ 07/ the_walkback.php
Gotta love it when a foreign leader says something then an occupying army issues a retraction of that statement…
heres a few links to feed to the freepers who are claiming this is a “wiped off the map” misunderstanding..
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/204796.php
July 20th, 2008 at 7:28 pmMuch as I abhor the crimes committed in our names, and the reckless conduct of the occupation, there is a method to their madness. No doubt initiated by our best remaining flag officers against the loud objections of Bushco.
Iraq, by virtue of it’s location, is strategically essential to control of the Mideast. That’s why virtually every ancient empire placed so much importance on the domination of Iraq, even when other areas were allowed to slip away. It’s also why every single one has ultimately failed. It still may be the most valuable piece of dirt on the planet.
Airbases in Iraq can dominate the entire region. They could strike anywhere from the Mediterranian to Easternmost Iran within a half hour. And ground troops serve to keep Syria and Iran, as well as Persians and Turks, physically separated. It’s like the center square in tic-tac-toe.
Criminality aside, occupying Iraq is sound strategy until they get really pissed off and massacre our forces to the last man/woman. The sad fact is that our leaders have ignored the historical fact that no dominant force has ever lasted very long in Iraq. And I’m certain that, under continued Reichwing control, the signs would be ignored until after the last Westerner in Iraq has his/her head hung from a pole.
To a culture which predates written language, being occupied for a few years, or dominated for thirty by a home-grown dictator, is just a phase. Heck! They’ve maintained their identity, charted their own destiny, and cast out invaders after occupations which lasted far longer than our nation’s entire history. If our defeat is left to the grandchildren of today’s generation? That would be, as Muslims are want to say, “as Allah wills”. 6,000 year old cultures can afford to take a long range approach.
All they need to do is endure and they will win. They’ve already won and they know it. It is we who are ignorant of how Empires are overthrown. And every single death strengthens their resolve and adds ferocity to their eventual uprising.
At this point our only hope is to recover the bulk of our people before those who want us out realize that our position in Iraq is untenable. Bushco has offered up the best possible target. A few hundred-thousand troops and mercenaries cut off in hostile territory and pinned down by a handful of fanatics. If they realize the relative strengths of our positions? It could be the worst defeat since Stalingrad.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:59 pmChocolate Jesus Says:
July 20th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
True, CJ. There are no credible claims that al-Maliki did not say he wants all our troops out and 16 months sounds like a realistic amount of time.
The only thing being denied is the implication that his comments constituted an endorsement of Obama. And I’m not sure that anyone credible made that claim.
The trolls, as always, have nothing on which to base their delusions. Al-Maliki and most other Iraqis want us out ASAP. Period.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:04 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
#jb Says:
Thanks for the good news JK, I’m also pleased to know that W will have his name on a sewer plant. what a striking victory.
Actually, it looks like that may not happen. Apparently a lot of people are complaining that the sewer plant has a purpose and does good work for the people of SF. They think it would be an insult to the sewer plant to have it named after Bush.
Well, then maybe they could pick out one particularly stinky turn and name that after him.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:10 pmSorry…typo…turn should read turd.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:13 pmI don’t remember having a talk with McNumbnuts. Just for the record he doesn’t speak for me even though he thinks he’s impressive enough to do so. I’m sure he’s just forgotten that there are a lot of folks out here who have something to say.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:21 pmZed Lefflin Says:
pete……its way past time to re-draw the maps once again
Not at all. Maps of the Mideast, where nationalism is nowhere near the force it is in many other regions, are just for the convenience of foreigners. And the arbitrary maps drawn by foreigners have little meaning to the locals.
Just another area where Westerners have proven incapable of understanding the Mideastern mind set to the detriment of all of civilization.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pmMalikis endorsement of Iraq timetable center of attention -BAGHDAD - A U.S. Embassy official said Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama arrived in Iraq on Monday where he will meet with commanders and troops in a war he has long opposed.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:00 am“LobbyDelegtes.com is a great tool, I have contacted all my State Delegates for free through email, I have come accross another tool from the same company http://www.statedemocracy.org its also free and I can contact my lawmakers, apply for an absentee ballot & voter registration and on election day I can locate my polling places. Great tool…. use it”
July 21st, 2008 at 7:00 amWhat if it was an “extremist” elected government. Or like Iran in 1979, an “election” took place, and the people who got elected, turned out to be extremists.
What provisions are there in the Iraqi constitution to prevent this? We all know that democracy can be abused so easily, and judged even more easily.
Would the US leave then? It would have to. It cannot judge the people who are culturally different than they are. The Shiites in Iraq have an agenda, and want to pursue it.
Their cause is the Mahdi cause, and they will all vote for it. You can call them all “extremists” if you like. But that’s the power of the that religion.
July 26th, 2008 at 11:28 am