Today on NBC’s Meet the Press, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) again claimed this is a “critical time” in Iraq and that “we’re either going to lose this thing or win this thing within the next several months.”

Host Tim Russert noted that on December 8, 2005, McCain had said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have a fair amount of progress [in Iraq] if we stay the course.” McCain admitted he has “proven not to be correct.” Watch it:

On March 23, 2003, McCain predicted, “I believe that this conflict is still going to be relatively short.” Today also wasn’t the first time McCain has claimed we’re at a “critical time’ in Iraq:

– “The terrorists know that this is a very critical time.” [6/4/04]

– Q: You agree this is a critical moment in Iraq?
MCCAIN: I agree it’s a critical time, yes. [8/20/06]

– “I think that, first of all, things are very serious there. And to say otherwise I don’t think would be an accurate depiction of events, and this is a very critical time.” [10/19/06]

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On Tuesday, Democrats picked up six seats in the Senate and at least 29 seats in the House, taking control of both chambers for the first time in 12 years. Not a single Democratic incumbent lost. Today on Meet the Press, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said this was “not a major realignment election” and “both major political parties…[are] in a kind of probation.” Watch it:

Digg It!

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Today on Fox News Sunday, White House counselor Dan Bartlett said the federal government does not need to negotiate lower prices for seniors. Bartlett said that prices have “come down” and drugs are already cheap enough. He concluded, “the proof is in the pudding.” Watch it:

Here are the facts about the Medicare prescription drug plan:

– Taxpayers “could save as much as $190 billion over the next 10 years” if Medicare negotiated prices with drug makers.

– Medicare pays substantially more for drugs that the Veterans Administration, which negotiates prices with drug makers.

– Since the program does not require any discount over list prices, “drug makers are being paid as much as 20 percent more for the same drugs that they had already been providing to recipients under the Medicaid program [for the indigent].”

The New York Times reports, “For big drug companies, the new Medicare prescription benefit is proving to be a financial windfall larger than even the most optimistic Wall Street analysts had predicted.” If Congress passes a bill allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices, the drug industry is counting on President Bush to veto it.

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Feingold told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he’ll focus on his work in the Senate.