McCain, not Maliki, knows 'what Iraqis want'
By Steve Benen Sunday Jul 20, 2008 6:00pmJohn Amato: McCain was trying to filibuster Meredith Vieira throughout the segment, but she hung in there pretty good. He tried to say that since he wasn't in charge of all the Senate Armed Services committee hearings (6) he missed on Afghanistan---it didn't count because he knows better and he went there and I'm right and you're wrong. And of course he knows everything about the economy even though he said to America that the economy is not his bag, man---because he's John McCain. She brought up Phil Gramm's "American Whiner," remark and he said he's for off shore drilling...
Steve Benen: Given reality, the fact that the Maliki government wants a U.S. withdrawal timetable and has endorsed Barack Obama’s Iraq policy by name would seem to be bad news for John McCain and his presidential campaign. But the presumptive Republican nominee has a trump card to get himself out of inconvenient jams like these: “I’m John McCain.”
Download | play 
Download | play (h/t Heather)
Take this morning’s appearance on NBC’s “Today” show, for example.
Got that? The prime minister of Iraq and the Iraqi people may seem to want U.S. troops out of their country, but John McCain has been to Iraq and he “knows what they want.”
Jason Zengerle noted, “So, basically, the new McCain position on withdrawal seems to be: we shouldn’t listen to what the Iraqi government says it wants, we should listen to what McCain says it wants.”
Keep in mind, of course, McCain was asked this question before — in 2004.
Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations, McCain was asked what he would do if a “sovereign Iraqi government asks us to leave, even if we are unhappy about the security situation there?” McCain’s response was unambiguous: “Well, if that scenario evolves than 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.”
In the bigger picture, though, the “I’m John McCain” phenomenon is surprisingly common.
In the same interview this morning, Vieira asked McCain about his attacks on Obama’s lack of committee hearings, and noted that McCain didn’t show up for any hearings on U.S. policy towards Afghanistan in the past two years. McCain’s response? “I know the issues extremely well,” McCain said.
In other words, he’s John McCain — and he doesn’t need committee hearings.
For that matter, a few days ago, the NYT had an interesting piece about Barack Obama’s foreign policy apparatus, which consists of a team of 300 or so experts, acting as something like a mini-State Department. The McCain campaign’s response? “John doesn’t need daily talking points” from a team of experts.
And these are just from the past few days. It’s the height of arrogance — McCain doesn’t need the opinions of the Iraqi prime minister, because he’s John McCain. He doesn’t need committee hearings on Afghanistan, because he’s John McCain. He doesn’t need a campaign foreign policy apparatus, because he’s John McCain.
Now, if he could actually demonstrate that he knew what he was talking about, and could talk about his foreign policy vision without sounding like an uninformed child, then maybe the “I’m John McCain” phenomenon would merely be an annoying personality trait.
But therein lies the point. McCain’s trump card — don’t question him, he knows what he’s talking about — is contradicted by the fact that he seems to be utterly and embarrassingly clueless.
I can’t help but wonder what the campaign would be like if the media called him on it.
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Bring them home, NOW damn it !
The debates are going to be ugly for McCain--like Barney Fife, he will only have one bullet in his pocket--"The Surge Worked" bullet. And Andy Taylor won't be around to bail his ass out, either.
The stupid, it burns.
Those new campaign folks are sure doing a bang up job for McCain. Less coverage of McCain means the media is biased in favor of Obama plus it means their candidate looks less stupid the less he is on. It's a twofer!
It also means less work for them, not so many retractions flip flops distancing "we'll get back to you". Just I'm John McCain, the POW.
Man, that is painful to watch. She never really followed through with her tough questions by demanding real answers. He looked and spoke like an automaton the entire time - almost like if he stopped he wouldn't be able to get going again.
iraqi gov't spokesperson....this is the iraqi table set by
iraqi's short 30 sec video
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/46398-iraqi-government-we-want-u-s-troops-...
McNosferatu will suck the life blood out of the working class.
It appears Maliki is getting a bit "uppity". Looks like another case of white man's burden.
For that matter, a few days ago, the NYT had an interesting piece about Barack Obama’s foreign policy apparatus, which consists of a team of 300 or so experts, acting as something like a mini-State Department. The McCain campaign’s response? “John doesn’t need daily talking points” from a team of experts.
bullshxt mcBush is stuffed like a holiday turkey every morning
He's been doing this for a while. He completely ignores what is being said and basically dares anyone to blatantly call him out. He wields his status as a pow and a long server senator like a club and the MSM basically never calls him to the matt they way they would for Obama.
Wow, did someone remove the chip from Meredith Vieira's head or something?
The "I'm John McCain!" refrain sounds vaguely familiar... that's it! Dave Chappelle's "I'm Rich James, biotch!!" comes to mind...
mcBush: i don't need to attend committee hearings
regarding the iraq-pakistan border...i've been their
many times
He doesn't even know what we want, and he lives here!
(btw, rofl to right on!)
“And we would have been out last March according to Obama’s plan”
and that is a bad thing?
By "They" he means the Iraqi leadership who we are propping up with the sweat and blood of American forces and the cash of American taxpayers, he certainly doesn't mean the Iraqi people because by every concievable measure their quality of life (and their number of living!) is down dramatically since the US INVASION in 2003.
I was just waiting for McTimeBomb to go off about the poor woman's heavy makeup.
John McCain with this sort of display just keeps confirming that he is an old man and stuck in the last century. the GOP rejected him in 2000 for an idiot and now are rallying behind him now, because hes the only thing they have. he was the right version in 2000 and this current version even pales to W. change is not embodied by old and last century.
Sorry, I had to click it off before over...McCain is, already, as bad as bush-lite
in his cannned, teleprompted talks(speeches) and if you ask him a question, he
has absolutely no way of answering the pertinent question because he has
formulated in that pea-sized brain of his a response that never comes close to
answering, but is just a bunch of political BS. I am embarrassed for this old, senile
indivudal who is actually running for the Prez. of this country.
He will be a disgrace to the Republican Party at the eventual debates w/Obama.
That is, unless of course the MSM gives McShame the questions ahead of time
so that he can, perhaps, come up with answers that somewhat appear to be in
response to the question(s) ask....and know the MSM, this is out such an outlandish allegation.
If the voters of this nation somehow, someway elect McShame as our Prez., I
too will have to give very, very serious consideration to moving to another country.
Even Mexico would be better than having to live in a country where this kind of
assine jerk might be the "leader".
McCain and Bush say theyll listen to the troops on the ground but not the politicians on the ground. and those are politicians that live in that country. go figure. what an old fool. and how arrogant.
It appears he's just getting a head start on Mr Bush's "I'm the president, so I can't be wrong" theme. It's a very dangerous precedent that's been set (and allowed to be set).
I still have a sneaky suspicion that John McNasty as candidate for POTUS is somebody's idea of a practical joke,
or something Noonien Singh would cook up in retaliation for 2000.
Iraq is the woman in McCain's rape "joke."
Good grief, do they drug him? He sits there expressionless like he is on qualudes and recites arbritrary talking points that only vaguely approach the question in a one note monotone as if he is hypnotized. I bet he is on something to keep him from blowing his top.
this is what general w. clarke was getting at. this guy doesn't have any executive experience from his time
spent in the military.....apparently the iraq's don't
want to become more codependent on the u.s.
this compromises the mcBush campaign and their talking points
and Stephanoddingoff just stated on ABC News with Chuck Gibson that Obama 'has come around to McCain's support for more troops in Afghanistan'. or something to that effect. just watch it and see the outright lie and enabling falsehood it is. McCain was never for more troops there until recently. Obama has for about a year been consistently for more troops in Afghanistan. with the press helping to spread lies like this what is one to do. im not giving up.
"we'd've been out last MARCH" if we'd done what obama wanted to do... je-eeesh!
and miss all this???
"I am John the Joker"
This thing should not even be close.
breakspear@25: I do no watch any of the "national news", so can only rely upon
what you and others report, but if what you say is true, it is time for ALL of you
to do the same; stop watching the MSM. There are no journalist remaining; just
hacks and pundits for the BIG Corps who own/control the media. It's way past
time for people to open their windows and yell "I'm not going to take this anymore."
Fuck the entire MSM...
I think in other election cycles at this time the candidates had kind of a down time at this time of year but Obama is forcing McGramps to get in front of the cameras every day and put his foot in his mouth. Even with the 5% or more racist vote I just can’t see how middle American will be able to bring themselves to vote for this old out of touch fuck. At the very least they will stay home and say screw it. We need to see some more Lieberman. He is really reassuring to watch isn’t he?
i shouldnt watch the national news anymore either but its a habit and occasionally i swear they do get a story
reported the way i like it. not often but sometimes.
breakspear@30: It's much easier to stop watching than it is to quit smoking..
and even better for you since if you were like me(when I used to watch), I had
to have a couple of stiff drinks just to get through the BS presented on the screen.
expressionless ??? he's on SOME kind of happypills 'cause that smarmy smile was rather constant...
gaaa, what a creepy old guy...
I saw this play out live this morning. That senile fossil wasn't even answering the questions. So much for straight talk. Glad to see Vieira hang in there....not easy when McC*unt wouldn't stop blabbering.
I especially love the fact that McC*nt is now an economic expert. He can't figure out how to get on the Internet—but he can fix the economy.
Just classic.
“I’m John McCain.”
Reminds me in more ways than one of William Shatner's character on "Boston Legal". "I'm Denny Crane, damnit!"
The occupiers know best!
The Truth Hurts @ 33:
McCain put a commercial accusing Obama and blaming him for the rise of gasoline prices by showing a gas pump on the screen and next to it the picture of Obama,and the pump meter moving fast and upward .
I don't know how the McCain camp think.
Do they think that people will blame Obama for oil prices and forget about oil barons and their association with Bush & Cheney for 8 years? .
An 8 years of failing energy policy .
A 12 years of Republican Congress that did nothing .
How can McCain blame Obama for gasoline prices?...
he can't deny that he did, because he said he approved that 'unbelievable message'.
McCain here thinks that he knows more than us about who is behind the huge rise in gasoline prices.!!
Any surprise here that McCain now speaks for the Iraqis and even knows what's best for them too!!
doggiebobo @ 18:
McCain is over his head with a young upstart like Obama. Obama and Michelle are cool. Sure, Obama's keeping some company I don't care for (AIPAC and Brezinski etc.), but when one contemplates McCain debating Obama about what's best for breakfast it becomes painfully obvious that Obama would kick McCain's ass every which direction and the Republicans know they're in for a licking.
Not to mention that McCain's wife is really the freakin' Ice Queen! Jesus! Talk about SEVERE!
I say McCain will have a "medical problem" just before the convention and the Republicans will have to replace him with
George Hamilton....I mean, Mitt Romney and his very pretty wife and very handsome sons.Just my little psychic antennae talkin'.
Actually, there's something to be said for the fact that Meredith Vieira actually *asked* those tough questions. I thought even that much would never happen.
Kudos for that much - if it's a start of a larger trend (I won't hold my breath) then hallelujah
Abbybwood @ 38:
no offense... karnac but that one is out their but i did
like the george hamilton comparison
After wearing traditional Muslim garb and electrocuting himself, he gained the ability to read the thoughts of Iraqis. Oh, wait... that's a Mel Gibson movie. McCain actually found a fortune teller machine that granted his wish to become an executive at an Iraqi toy company. No, no... that's Big. Tom Hanks. Completely different guy. Wait, was McCain the guy who flew his jet fighter into Saddam's mothership? ...Independence Day, never mind. Politics is hard.
i'm getting tired of the "ask General Patreus" line
If McCain is perceived so much by the polls to be a better commander in chief, why can't he just have a firm position and say it is his instead of always using the "ask Gen. Patreus " line
I am John McCain reminds of "I'm Denny Crane" from Boston Legal.
if mccain is so great to some why didn't he win against
bush in 2000
I don't need Senate hearings/an organized foreign policy group/Iraqi sovereignty, I'm John McCain!
It's a good thing he doesn't drink orange juice instead of coffee, or advise young people to learn a second language, or word might get out that he's
an uppity Negroa Democratan arrogant elitist.He's so out of touch it's scary.
She let him get the last lie in, by stating "300 leading economists endorse my plans" or some such rot. They don't all agree with his entire plan, and some vigorously disagree with some of it.
I'd love to see him try that with Lara Logan, or Rachel Maddow. They'd let him rant, and when he was looking tired, they'd pounce, and surgically carve his assertions into confetti.
surge is just another way of saying 'slaughter'.
uk visa @ 46:
Wait till he's running the country.
Brad @ 22:
As is most of the world.
dosido @ 3:
Indeed ............. just wow .........
McNutter has never left the green zone.
McCain, not Maliki, knows ‘what Iraqis want’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCEVLaqoC7E
tr @ 48:
Try mapping the troop numbers to Haliburton's shares ....
Awake And Dreaming @ 39:
I have been observing this trend. This is my post from a different thread:
"Did the hosts sound condescending to you? After almost every statement, you could hear ‘hmm, yeah’ from each of them, as if to say, “you silly liberal, laws don’t apply to us!”
I got a totally different read on this. They are used to talking to pundits/spin masters. Here they had the ’source’ and were forced to listen to what he said. I think they were shocked. They could not discredit him, or even take exception to what he was saying. The MSM is slowly being forced to look at some of the ugly truth, which they have avoided for years. Let’s face it, this story is months old, and they are finally getting around to looking at it. Over the past few years, it has been easy for them to catalog anything coming from the blogosphere, and/or their sources, as second rate, unprofessional and of little value. Now they are realizing, the real news is on the Internet, and it is they who are becoming obsolete. Fighting us has not worked. Their only hope is to get on the stick.
These are all my observations, and opinions. Please view them as such. I cannot provide any supporting references."
I hope this is a prelude to better reporting by the MSM. We will just have to wait to find out. However, the stories are out there to be had. Their sponsors/advertisers must be aware of the growing influence of the blogosphere. There has been a paradigm shift in the forth estate. it will be interesting to see where it leads.
McJoker:
http://www.caglecartoons.com/images/preview/%7b1873c81c-872c-4f5a-b155-4...
The media still allows McCain to claim we've won with the surge, without defining winning and forgetting that millions of Iraqi's are refugees, lack of clean water...
The Iraqis are just lowly democracy babes in the woods. They can't possible know what they really want or what is good for them but Papa McBush knows what is good for them and with a stern word and some geography gaffes he will show them.
6 Attila the Appeaser
There ain't no such word as nosferatu. Bram Stoker got that from Emily Gerard's book on Transylvania, The Land Beyond the Forest (1888). She appears to have heard the Serbian word nesufur-atu from the Greek nosphorous (which means plague bringer). Other potential etymologies are the Romanian words necuratal and nesuferit. Necuratal is defined as meaning the devil, and Stoker understood that the name Dracula meant son of the Devil, and could have made the connection on his own. Nesuferit is defined as meaning unbearable.
The movie Nosferatu Eine Symphonie des Grauens popularized the term to mean vampire or undead, along with the killing sunlight. In the book, Dracula could walk about by day, but only with the power alotted pretty much to any man, although at times he seemed quite athletic in defending himself). Before Dracula in Dr. Polidori's The Vampyre, and James Malcolm Rymer's Varney the Vampire: or the Feast of Blood (sometimes credited to Thomas Preskett Prest of Sweeny Todd fame), Lord Ruthevan and Sir Francis Varney could be killed by normal weapons during the day, but would revive under the moonlight. Countess Carmilla Carnstein lived like a German vampire (the story was set in Austria) which meant she rose at noon and stayed up till midnight.
I knew college students like that.
Abbybwood @ 38:
j swift @ 55:
What a disgustingly ignorant and condescending comment, how typically american.
There is nothing democratic about what is going on in Iraq, it's been the west's play ground for nearly 100 years.
As soon as americans start to understand it has nothing to do with democracy and is about control, the better.
You can install democracy via a bomber, how ever many hummers you drive obese fat burgers you eat and how ever many times you tell the world how great you are.
Back to school for you.
He is right. The strategy in Iraq DID succeed. They succeeded in driving up the price of oil by a factor of five since the war began. Mission accomplished.
And McInsane is also correct that he has more experience with the economy than Obama. In destroying it, that is.
Jerry @ 58:
Sorry Jerry, but j swift here is using something called sarcasm. Ever hear of it? And yes, we're all just fat, stupid consumers who are brainwashed by religious, government, and corporate fuck ups to believe that we're the good guys and we can't wait until we bomb some more brown skinned peoples with our cool new weapons. So, what's your point?
Al-Maliki is the man! not mccain, not bush, not petraeus, not even obama! and the maaaaan haaaas SPOKEN!
Charles @ 60:
More so than you could possiable imagine, and j swift wasn't being it.
At least you know what a complete bunch of fuck ups you all are.
Jerry,
Sorry, I just got back. What did I miss? I had to go fill up my Hummer with 35 gallons of premium unleaded at $4.89 per gallon, stop by McDonalds for a few Big Macs, come back to my four story, 9,586 square foot stone mansion on 6 acres with an 8-car garage, and show my butler how I wanted my clothes folded and put away. I would have been back sooner, but I forgot what I was doing and I'm out of breath hauling my 437 pound diabetic ass into the elevator to get back to my master's quarters.
Record the debates.
That is why he is called McSame...he is no different than the dunce in the WH. Dubya is the decider and McSame wants to decide too. They know what is best. They want endless war. They want you to be afraid, very afraid.
I've got to admit Phil Gramm was right about one thing -- there is a mental recession.
It's in John McCain's head. What a smug moron.
Charles @ 63:
good one!
;<[)
McBush just keeps repeating old and wrong Reslug talking points and doesn't have a clue what the hell he is talking about or what is actually going on. He's scary!
Did anyone else notice how McCain couldn't even get out the word "success"?? (around the :33 mark) Its like he knew what a lie it was coming out of his mouth.
"I've met too many times with him"
rather strange choice of words for McC*nt to use, theres something rather freudian going on inside his head during this babble to the camera.
If it were an extremist government then I think we would have other challenges,
I would like to know exactly what McCain and these OTHER war mongerers believe to be an "extremist" government IS. Because a government that would use phony props, over 900 lies, to get the majority of it's population to back the invasion of another country, hunt down that countries leader, air his public hanging on world wide television and the internet, and try to force the new government to sign a deal giving control of their natural resources over to the invading government, send hired guns over there to murder innocent civilians in cold blood, while shielding said paid assassins from the law, kidnap anyone who fights back, calls them enemy combatants, locks them up forever, tortures them, holds them even after innocence is proven, and still wants to continue to commit these crimes after said government is replaced with a newly elected president
IS AN EXTREMIST GOVERNMENT. Do you suppose they don't know the definition of "extremist"? Or is it "Willful Ignorance"?
McCain: "Don't interrupt me. I'm rambling..."
Maybe if he went to a few of those committee hearings, he might be able to tell the difference between Shia and Sunni!
suceed, we suceed, clap your hands and repeat: we suceed!!
well he said you won, you can go home now..
I caught an interview with Trent Lott on Hardball... well part of it as I can only take so much of Matthews or Lott. Lott actually said that Maliki was mistranslated. Then he went on to say that he, Lott, knew really want Maliki had intended because obviously, the man wasn't saying what he intended to say and Lott knew... he just knew.
What is wrong with the Republican Party?
or is it succed?? succeed??
DHavok, they got nothing left. As they become more desperate, the lies get bigger.
Saying that the translation was incorrect shows just how desperate they are. They are so used to saying crap and not having checked, that they now believe that NO news agency nor anyone else for that matter would actually VERIFY the translation.
McCant, go back to Arizona and get with some assholes that you know best. I know people who wanted YOUR help getting there love ones BODY ARMOR in Iraqi, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, all you did was give them LIP JOB. One last thing, who is the guy in Arizona who keeps calling YOU BIRD MAN who sings.
DHavok @ 75:
The Republican Party = they know what we want before we know!
Why is it that every time I see or hear McCain, the term "arrogant bastard" leaps to mind?
Oh MaGoo! You've done it again! You are one stupid maverick. I'd love to see you explode and I don't think that I'll have to wait very long. I can almost see the steam coming out of your comb over!Whew, what a moron!P.S. Say hi to the Missus for me ok?
Wow what a fucking idiot. He talks over the interviewer because he thinks it makes him look presidential. What a piece of crap. If he doesn't respect the interviewer, who does he respect? I wonder if he would have talked over the interviewer if she was a he.
Obama opposes nuclear power? Get your facts straight MCBush
he reminds me of the old SNL skit...
"I'm Gumby, dammit!"
(except mclame isn't funny)
To paraphrase Rush Limbaugh..."Maliki will do what ever the U.S. wants." But I thought this war was all about bringing Democracy to the Middle East. Right? Nothing to do with oil. Right? RIGHT??
He looks, sounds and talks like a senile old man. Always rambling, never answering the question. What a sorry excuse for a presidential candidate. And the way he talks about "the surge" as if he's personally responsible for sending 30,000 troops to Iraq is LAME LAME LAME!
Excuse me John, but WHO is the Commander in Chief? You? No? So what, you came up with the "surge" plan while sitting on the toilet and the Joint Chiefs of Staff thought you were such an amazing strategist that they implemented it immediately?
Sorry, what planet are you from?
I can't help thinking that when he ignores a question and instead adds on yet another pointless ramble that his hearing aid is fading out. He is too old, too arrogant, and too fucking stupid to con the majority of even dumb Americans to put their faith in him, the clueless wonder.
I cannot WAIT for the debates. I don't care what I'm doing those nights, I will break out the popcorn and beer and glue myself to the television.
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