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Stick a fork in it, McCain's campaign is done.

mccain_wow.jpg The Swamp:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's two top campaign advisers departed today, a major shake-up for a presidential bid that has been struggling for much of the year.

The resignation of campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver was announced this morning less than a week after a reorganization that involved laying off dozens of campaign staff members.

The Arizona senator's campaign has been hindered by his strong identification with President Bush's unpopular troop surge in Iraq, high-visibility support for an immigration reform plan passionately opposed by many rank-and-file conservatives and frosty relations with leading religious conservatives.

In addition to Nelson and Weaver, Mark Salter has left the campaign:

Republicans close to the campaign say that Mark Salter, McCain's long-time chief of staff and co-author of his five books, is also leaving the campaign.

The sources said that the three did not split from McCain amicably.

If the name Salter strikes a bell with you, he's the McCain aide that went after the New School graduate who spoke out against McCain during the graduation ceremony.  Maybe now CNN will stop putting him on as some sort of Iraq expert every other day.

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
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123 Comments
Dr. Acula's picture

See ya...McInsane!

pissed off patricia's picture
:)

:)

The Bulldog Manifesto's picture

McCain in 2012 :-p

Dr. Matt's picture

One down, 9 to go.

Sorry Dr Acula, I didn't see you there :)

The title of this post is exactly what I thought today when I heard the latest about McCain's campaign. Well that and spread some butter on him 'cause he's toast.

jay's picture

it is hard for some people to lose. they never quite get over it.

They said on one of the cable stations that the first two guys who walked today had been working sans pay since the campaign had gotten into financial trouble.

McCain should drop out now and save whatever bit of face he has left. That picture of him in the market place in Baghdad will forever haunt him. He needs to walk away with grace and stop looking like an old man trying to mix it up with the kids. With age comes wisdom, not silliness.

Chip's picture

He's history

Phil A. Buster's picture

I see John is limbering up for his post Senate position as GOP Seminal Vessel.

Dr. Acula's picture

pissed off patricia @ 5:

Sorry Dr Acula, I didn't see you there :)

The title of this post is exactly what I thought today when I heard the latest about McCain's campaign. Well that and spread some butter on him 'cause he's toast.

How r u POP?

redcat's picture

mccain should have realized that you should always jump off a sinking ship, not jump on.

Seele^'s picture

The guy made too many compromises in an attempt to win the nomination. Bankrupt McCain and have a Democrat take his place in Arizona. (we need more Ds in those red states)

Dr. Aculae's picture

McCain's a scanner!
[We all know copying is the sincerest form of flattery-but here you'll need to pick a name that isn't the same as a regular poster. Yes, I see you have an 'e' at the end of yours. But more different than that-Sitemonitor]

RayC's picture

Nicole it is just mean to keep using that picture. "giggle"

Ron Paul's picture

McCain is a douchebag. To align himself with pure evil (Bush) is the biggest campaign blunder I've ever seen. What an idiot!

Michael's picture

Good news for those of us who want the Iraq fiasco to end. This should drive a big old point home to all the republicans who are still supporting the failed Bush "strategy".

I've sure had better days, Dr Acula, but thank you so much for asking.

The minute he started pandering to the religious right and other organizations that destroyed him in 2000 I knew he was done. Though I was a Gore supporter in 2000, I was actually supporting McCain through the primaries over Bush because he was clearly the lessor of two evils. I have no idea who advised him that to move away from his "maverick" position would actually serve him well. Instead of moving farther from Bush and saying "I told you so", he got even closer to him. And he did it at a time where you could see Bush's support eroding within the Republican party.

So I'm happy to see him going down in flames to serve as a lesson to ALL future candidates (not named Mitt Romney) that you're best served running on YOUR core values and principles, and not those core values and principles you think will get you elected.

Did anyone see bush speaking a bit ago? He's still saying the old bs about we thought oceans could protect us. Jeez, would someone please clue him in. Maybe a native American could. I think they were the first to learn that lesson.

Dr. Acula's picture

@ 12 Dr. Aculae Says: _______

I SUGGEST YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OWN ORIGINAL NAME, whoever you are.

Doggiebobo's picture

Does anyone know...when is McCain's Senate term in Arizona up for re-election?

SKdeA's picture

A tragic figure, for sure. Too bad he went to the dark side. He coulda been a contender.

down with tucker's picture

NAH NAH NAH NAH.... NAH NAH NAH NAH.....HEY HEY..........

CafeenMan's picture

Dr. Acula @ 19:

@ 12 Dr. Aculae Says: _______

I SUGGEST YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OWN ORIGINAL NAME, whoever you are.

Candystriper Acula?

Dr. Acula's picture

SKdeA @ 21:

A tragic figure, for sure. Too bad he went to the dark side. He coulda been a contender.

If he hadn't folded like a lawn chair in 2000 after being smeared by Duhbya, MAYBE he coulda been a contendah. ANY legimitacy he might have had ended back in 2000.

Good riddance, McAint.

I can't wait until we can say that to Busholini et al.

Several times in the last few months I found myself feeling embarrassed for McCain. He was trying too hard and looking too foolish. He tried to let everyone know he was in shape when he mentioned about a zillion times hiking the Grand Canyon with his son. Then there was the bomb, bomb, bomb Iran song disaster. It was like he was screaming, I'm not old, I'm not old. Of course by doing that, he drew attention to the fact that he is old.

Flash's picture

MCain comes from a long line of high ranking admirals who have a belief the the world is theirs to rule. Glad to see him go. The maverick thing really doesn't ell the whole story.

So is he going to try to do a rerun of the maverick days? How can he? He's firmly into the war supporting camp now so he can't change that. He can't come out now against the religious right. What's left for him to try?

john/brklyn's picture

yeah, but doesn't giuliani also advocate a troop surge?
isn't the difference b'twn the two mccain-feingold?
ALSO, i'm concerned about "liberals" advocating a black and white perspective on iraq pull-out, that's gonna back fire when iraq burns gets worse. dems need to focus on evidence that the bush administration along with the fbi higher-ups and norad worked to help make 9/11 happen thus allowing the bush/cheney free for all in oil country.

romary's picture

yeesh -- i said Labor Day in my own "he's outta here" pool -- next is Musharaf -- we are so effing effed

cheesesauce's picture

McCain looks like he need a McApple stuffed in his McMouth and served up on a platter.

donviti's picture

Isn't it ironic that the "maverick" who wanted to do something about campaign reform is out on his ass so early?

what a treat, go find a televangelist to pray and lament with, douchebag

During the 04 campaign when he hugged bush on stage, that was the beginning of his end. Any man who would hug the man who hired people to say the things the bush administration said about him in the 2000 election is just not someone I can admire.

That should have been bush campaign not bush administration. Sorry

Laszlo Panaflex's picture

Now he'll have more free time to go strolling in Baghdad!

Jo's picture

Good!

Randomfactor's picture

Weathervane McCain has been blown off the roof.

a guy's picture

This picture looks like McCain has a fork sticking in "it".

rasta's picture

BA BA BA BA BA BA BAnkrupt

hadenuf's picture

#35 Now he’ll have more free time to go strolling in Baghdad!

Too funny!

michael's picture

nappy time!

Orwell's Illegitimate Son's picture

One corporate sell-out down, many more to go.

Feingold/Gravel 08!

Orwell's Illegitimate Son's picture

michael @ 41:

nappy time!

Nappy-headed ho time, perhaps? LOL

Joementum's picture

Too bad all the money's gone -- there'll be no getting your soul back now, McCain.

ysbaddaden's picture

Gooooly Sgt Carter!

Swashbuckler's picture

McCain made a deal with the devil and the devil won...

Pixie's picture

This is one of the reasons that triangulation is a BAD thing. He picked the rather unpopular side of the immigration debate that the right wing was vehemently opposed to, and he sticks his head in the sand with regards to Iraq, which the majority of the american public is opposed to, all in the name of being a MAVERICK! (tm) Is it any wonder the guy has no support?

ysbaddaden's picture

Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 43:

michael @ 41:

nappy time!

Nappy-headed ho time, perhaps? LOL

Nappy is what the Brits call diapers.

It's time for McCain to use Depends.

Will the Diaper Astronaut become a Depends spokesmodel?

cheesesauce's picture

I've a question about the look on the senators face and the blinding white flash over his shoulder. Should I duck and cover?

TruthSeeker's picture

Buh Bye!

Fade's picture

The Death of the Campaign of the Undead.

Mahkno's picture

His campaign was over when he dropped the maverick role and began to suck (ie flip flopped in) to up to the right wing.

funkyfresh's picture

Of all the top tier repub candidates, McCain was the most decent if only for his stand against torture at the repub debate. That's not saying a whole lot for the repub candidates who are a pittance compared to the dems.

Still, I hope that both McCain and Feingold continue to pursue campaign finance reform so that in the future, money won't be as big a deal.

hubabubba's picture

Is this site monitored here, or in china?

His campaign has been a study of what not to do if you are running for public office.

funkyfresh's picture

Oh and,
I hope he retires now. I hear Baghdad's great this time of year. They have nice rugs.

Bud's picture

CafeenMan @ 24:

Dr. Acula @ 19:

@ 12 Dr. Aculae Says: _______

I SUGGEST YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OWN ORIGINAL NAME, whoever you are.

Candystriper Acula?

Dr. Acura?

no longer a proud american's picture

i just do not feel real antagonistic toward mccain. i don't feel that he ever had a real chance to be the republican candidate but on the hope that he could, he sold his soul for his silence with regard to bush. they trashed him, his wife, and his child. he kept silent with the ever-present hope that he would win the party's vote for his loyalty. hasn't happened, largely because of his own actions. he just isn't the brightest of guys and he's not shrewd and cunning as the others running are.

however, should this have been the announcement of Joe Lieberman "elmer Fudd" and his downfall, then you would have heard joy in mudville. that guy is a scumbag and a pox on the people of connecticut who voted for him.

Yellow Elephant Safari's picture
Phil A. Buster's picture

Good Lord!

I guess McCain has been "serving" his President so often...I mean...look what happened to his mouth! Oh my lorrrd.

Jesse's picture

Yeah, of course it is. The media has been completely ignoring him lately, in favor of Giuliani, Romney, and Fred Thompson. McCain is finished.

That picture is fucking hilarious!

The Champ's picture

HAHA! IN YOUR FACE, BITCH!!!

Gotta love the pic. It screams "Write your own caption!"

The Champ is out.

Slaughter's picture

#21, Doggiebobo: McCain won re-election in 2004, so we're stuck with him in Arizona for awhile. The Arizona Republic assigned a writer to cover his campaign full time. He's the only one with a worse job than the Cardinals beat writer.

StirFry's picture

BAM! thats gotta hurt.

StirFry's picture

funkyfresh @ 56:

Oh and,
I hope he retires now. I hear Baghdad's great this time of year. They have nice rugs.

Yeah, and every night is the fourth of July.

Capt. Bat Guano's picture

Adios you doddering old nut job.

Samson-'s picture

somewhere in a dank, dark room, sitting over a pile of bleached whale bones, newt gingrich begrudgingly allowed a small smile appear on his lipless face...

Smack_dab's picture

If McCain has any courage, he'd stand up and tell the unvarnished truth about what is going on in both Washington and in the Republican party and how we are being destroyed from within by greedy men who don't give a damn about our nation. Then he would resign from the Senate. This will probably happen shortly after I win the lottery, twice, as McCain is a Republican which means McCain is about the furthest thing from a patriot.

Salmineo's picture

Told ya McCain would never be president. Don't go away angry John, just go away. Nice snapshot too.

Samson-'s picture

Smack_dab @ 68:

If McCain has any courage, he'd stand up and tell the unvarnished truth about what is going on in both Washington and in the Republican party and how we are being destroyed from within by greedy men who don't give a damn about our nation. Then he would resign from the Senate. This will probably happen shortly after I win the lottery, twice, as McCain is a Republican which means McCain is about the furthest thing from a patriot.

don't forget the lightening strike, the shark attack and the blimp crash....

loewe's picture

bye, bye, bye.....bye bye mccain

An Average Joe's picture

Load up on the sunscreen, Johnny. You're going to be spending a lot more time in Arizona soon. Time to break out the clubs, or the bourbon, or both...

IdahoMoe's picture

The Bush family is TOXIC....McAint is one of many victims.
When will people learn?

Court of Progressive Justice's picture

Crazy, but thats how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe its not to late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate

Mental wounds not healing
Lifes a bitter shame
Im going off the rails on a crazy train

Ive listened to preachers
Ive listened to fools
Ive watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you have the role

Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
Im going off the rails on a crazy train

I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeh-h

Heirs of a cold war
Thats what weve become
Inheriting troubles Im mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
Im living with something that just isnt fair

Mental wounds not healing
Who and whats to blame
Im going off the rails on a crazy train
Ozzy

IN THE COLD's picture

HAHAHAH Bye focker keep supporting Bushes war! I hope you con't to support the dead horse all the way to losing your seat in congress. By the way thank you for your service-don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.

Seele^'s picture

Go Back to the Shadow!

VFW's picture

ooh how the maverick have fallen

Turk Meister's picture

GOOD, now let's see if we can manage to get his and the dumbfuck Lieberman's asses out of the Senate too.

Nuclear Football's picture

McCain will never be President. Hanoi is safe again.

Ruthless People's picture

McCain should have bailed from the SS George W Bush when he had the chance. Now the other rats have gotten all the life preservers and McCain is going down with the ship fast.

bmw 528's picture

The only maverick that accurately describes Mc Cain is the Ford Maverick, which like him is in the junkheap of history.

Your Mom's picture

Now he can pursue his dream of becoming a real moron

Seele^'s picture

HaHa! It would be funnier if his policies haven't resulted in the deaths of HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

IN THE COLD's picture

Man I love that picture in fact thats the photo that was taken after I rolled-up my two hundred dollar donation of single bills and ram it up where the sun doesn't shine.

mr.ed's picture

His campaign was done months ago when polls showed zero voters interested in a 72 year old. he was reminded of it on a flight to a speech by a network reporter, and took offense about ageism. It wasn't. It was only reporting poll results.

pmse57's picture

How ironic. He was royally screwed by Bush/Rove in the 2000 Republican primaries, and now, because he is not man enough to stand up to Bush/Rove, the neoconservatives, and the Christianist, he is screwed again in the 2007/2008 Republican primaries. McCain is the George Constanza of Republicans . . ."and now your all trying to screw me."

Zenrage's picture

I once thought this guy was a real man of the people, in the past couple years however, he's shown himself to be another "anything for a vote" politician.

[...] Clark Link to Article john mccain Stick a fork in it, McCain’s campaign is done. » Posted at [...]

goatsage's picture

At least he is still loved in the markets of Baghdad...

BaScOmBe's picture

McLame was trying to campaign on being at least as big an asshole as boosh.
Thankfully, he won't be getting the chance to prove he can be as big a failure as boosh.

Peter Feldstein's picture

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Bye Bye!

Paul's picture

See ya later, ya senilic dickhead.

Karl Rove II's picture

Good riddance to scumbags and arseholes...Bye bye McDirtbag.

BaScOmBe's picture

Bachmann: Surge needs time
By Lawrence Schumacher, lschumacher at stcloudtimes dot com
Published: July 10. 2007 12:30AM

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann continued to stand by President Bush's military surge in Iraq, two days after returning from a congressional trip that put her in the line of fire while visiting Baghdad.

"It hasn't had a chance to be in place long enough to offer a critique of how it's working," said Bachmann, R-Minn.

Bachmann visited Ireland, Germany, Pakistan and Kuwait as well on a seven-day tour as part of a six-member congressional delegation that returned Saturday to the U.S.

The delegation's visit was harrowing at times. While visiting with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker at the U.S. Embassy inside Baghdad's walled, high-security Green Zone on Friday, mortar blasts landed inside the American-controlled territory.

"This recorded message played four times while we were there, asking us to move away from any windows, to get on the ground and move to the center of the building," Bachmann said. "(Crocker) stayed in his seat and kept talking with us the whole time. He never moved."

All these repug assholes trying to sneak into baghdad, just like McLame, and now they can't even go near a window!
And McLame wonders why his campaign flops?

JustSickOfIt's picture

This guy actually had me believing his shit for about a week 6 years ago. Time for your well deserved dirt nap McAint. Go sell crazy someplace else.

Kiva's picture

Mahkno @ 52:

His campaign was over when he dropped the maverick role and began to suck (ie flip flopped in) to up to the right wing.

exactly..when he did that, everybody I knew who was semi-interested in him said "see ya". I knew many a moderate who was interested in him. He just blew it. Sold his soul and lost, to be sure.

Kahoneez's picture

What's funny is the main stream media and their phony optimism from Blitzer non-stop talk about McCain, to even dona "i'll sell out when needed" brazille, calling him a "straight shooter" and "he still has a chance " to bill Bennett, who you would expect to to pimp for McCain ' i don't care how many people die in Iraq " McCain .
The BIGGER story that CNN downplayed is obviously Sen. Vitter personal HOOKERGATE, not pointing out his hypocrisy, not mentioning the hooker in La. that admitted to providing "services 'to the Family Values phony. But this is typical of cnn , never challenging anybody except Michael Moore , and when it comes to something SERIOUS, such as starting another WAR, doe Blitzer challenge Leiberman's assertion the Iranian government is supplying IEDs in Iraq, Blitzer is ominously SILENT, allowing the war monger to instigate yet another WAR .

Scotty Reid's picture

I wonder if he can sing "Hit the road jack and dontcha come back no more, no more, no more, no more.."

One Black Man's Blog

Smack_dab's picture

McCain looks like he just found out that his boyfriend George asked out someone else to the big dance.

Rose's picture

McCain is a senile hawk. How old is that wife of his?

Pyed Typer's picture

Bomb! Bomb! Bomb! Bomb! Bomb, McCain.

xargaw's picture

McCain wanted to be President so bad that he sold his soul to the Bush Administration long ago thinking he would be a shoe in. As Bush has tanked, so has McCain. It's hard to feel sorry for someone that has no principals.

Big Jim's picture

Ah Johnny, we hardly knew ye. Oh wait, yes we did! Bye bye now.

Pete's picture

John McCain, you have dishonored yourself, and you have ill served your country.
Take your spineless, tired, and insincere self out of the campaign already.

Why are you fighting so hard for this?
Remember when Rove and Bush the Lesser attacked your wife and child?
You didn't fight then.
Afterwards you kissed Rove and Bush's asses for six years running.
You wouldn't even fight for your own family, but you keep fighting to be in a race you can't win?

What are you, an idiot in addition to being a craven coWard?
Wait... don't answer that.

Bryan's picture

You are wrong about McCain's lack of popularity being associated with the Iraq War. It is his opposition to the appointment of judges, the snide comments about religious Christians (which I am not one), McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, and his stance on immigration that has made all conservatives despise him.

bubba's picture

With the rate he's firing staffers all he needs is a make-over and tit-job and he's Katherine Harris. Its a disaster that anyone with a brain saw coming years ago.

BillD's picture

Bye-bye,asshole.

Yer Daddy's picture

he had a snide sense of humor. During the last debate after Tancredo warned of the dangers from this invasion from Mexico the next speaker Juan McCain begins with speaking Spanish. I'm sure he thought he was being cute. He wont be missed.

SckofFknLiarz's picture

As I love to sa out loud at home when I see this Schmuck.

Sorry John McCain, it looks like you don't get to be president.

SOB sold himself out about 6 years ago. He stood for something now he stands for nothing but touting the line of a failed administration.

BK's picture

Gods in Heaven Arizona!!!!
Is this pathetic opportunistic
thug the best you can send
to the Senate? Kyle is just
as bad.

You can't kill enough Iraqi's
to make this "Hero" happy.

War Hero indeed.

Ali's picture

I used to kind of like McCain. Now I just feel sorry for him. He sold his soul a long time ago. He should give up and go home and rest.

nochickenhawk's picture

To think of all the ass-kissing this guy did with the village idiot and the co-presidents (Rove and Cheney). It did him absolutely no good. After they did him in with his 2000 campaign, you would think he would have gone to school on that. But, the poor bastard must be genetically programmed to be a masochist and they did to him again. The only thing positive that can come out of this is that the good people of AZ will send him to an old folks home where he can sit in a rocker and collect his military and congressional pensions. But, he will probably hang around K street and pimp off whatever he can get there--Viagra, Celais, Raisan Bran, Hearing Aid, Geritol, commercials, and so on.

klaus's picture

There's no finer way for grampa to end his career in politics than by complete, self-inflicted humiliation... after throwing away his moral compass.

Bye-bye McCain. Have fun peeing your adult diapers.

Otay's picture

I suspect McCain is losing it. Sad considering what he might have been had he retained a shred of integrity. But he sold that off for a pittance.

Strangefate's picture

McCain's a rotten shill to be sure, but I lets not forget that the real reason his campaign tanked isn't simply Iraq War boosterism--de rigueur for the right--but the fact he's never been viewed as loyal enough to the party. Too opportunistic. Too willing to speak his mind and play faux populist.

Not that he was ever sincere about these stances but anything outside 100% loyalty to every Republican talking point is unacceptable. Being the most sane among the Republicans, it's rather fitting that his party proved far too insane to back him.

I'm rather glad to see him discredited at any rate. He was rather charismatic for a Republican. Better that all their spokesmen be obvious morons, freaks, and monsters--it's a better reflection of their policies.

Da Spyda's picture

McCain's toast!

or as my grandfather used to say: "the bestid iz geshtorben!"

Wrathwilde's picture

Jorge... I agree completely, I had been thinking of Voting Obama as the lesser of Evils... until I caught the republican Debates with Ron Paul and found a candidate who was saying everything I've been saying since 9/11. I disagree with his personal views on abortion, but wholeheartedly agree that the Federal Govt. should not have the authority to rule on the issue either for or against.
Having delved further into my research of Hillary, Obama and Edwards... I can't believe this is the best we've got to offer America, THESE QUOTES WILL CHILL YOUR SPINE...

http://www.picserver.nl/v/EFD36353HNXG

Cheers,
Wrathwilde

andre's picture

McCain had so many early warning signs of being left in the dust. The first was how little time he would let go by between press conferences in which he was kissing Bush's ass for dear life, and trump appearances where he would tear into Bush about how badly he mismanaged this war (and speaking of that, if McCain's the better man for president, maybe he would have noticed a few of the things Bush was doing wrong when managing the war and rallied a crowd to knock some sense into him, instead of spending years being a quieter Bush apologist. Why do these things only occur to these guys when some stakes-heavy event is going on like an election?)

That may be the only thing that floated him this far; a sign that a Republican was at least deflecting from the usual. But I think this made him come off as a joke and an untrustworthy flip-flopper to the kind of core base he was courting, which was the only kind of core available worth courting for someone who continues to get behind this sham war. For everyone else, he exuded feebleness, and our society is generally not being steered right now by people who can relate to somebody as old in appearance and spirit as John McCain...

A Real American's picture

I'm not a republican but anyone that is siding with Bush is losing. Look at Powell, once respected not anymore. I'm gald McCain is losing his people and funding for supporting World War 3.

My vote is going to be Ron Paul

g Anton's picture

In general, he is against torture, but it's all right when done by George Bush.

manny's picture

i...can't...stop...laughing...my...ass...off...at...that...old...lying...bastard...going...as...financially...bankrupt...as...he...is...morally...bankrupt...

[...] McCain's campaign manager, chief strategist, and chief of staff all quit this week. I'm not a "Washington insider," but I doubt this is part of a sequence of [...]

Stick a fork in it, McCain's campaign is done.

[...]McCain?s two top campaign advisers departed today, a major shake-up for a presidential bid that has been struggling for much of the year. Republicans close to the campaign say that Mark Salter, McCain?s long-time chief of staff and co-author of hi...

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