Just curious, are there any republicans here that respect McCain a lot more than Bush? If he was running, I'd probably vote for him, even against Gore. http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/19/iraq.senators/index.html McCain: Bush not straight enough on Iraq Senators of both parties criticize his picture of conditions there Sunday, September 19, 2004 Posted: 5:06 PM EDT (2106 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Several Republicans and Democrats took President Bush to task on Sunday's talk shows over his repeated assertions that all is well in Iraq. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said Bush was not being "as straight as maybe we'd like to see" with the American people about Iraq. McCain, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on "Fox News Sunday" that it was "a serious mistake" not to have had enough troops in place "after the initial successes" and that the mistake had led to "very, very significant" difficulties. "I think every day that goes by that we don't remove these sanctuaries in Falluja and other places in the Sunni Triangle, the more expensive it's going to be at the time we take this out," McCain said. He said he "would never have allowed the sanctuaries to start with." "In the Falluja issue, our general in Baghdad said we were going to go in and capture or kill those who were responsible for the deaths of Americans," McCain said. "And we went in, and then we pulled out. As Napoleon said, if you say you're going to take Vienna, you take Vienna." McCain, who has campaigned for Bush's re-election, acknowledged that the incumbent's rosy view of Iraq as "on the path of stability and democracy" may not be accurate, "although I've been with him when he has told audiences that this is a very tough struggle that we're in." Bush said in an interview Saturday that Iraq is "defying the dire predictions of a lot of people by moving toward democracy." (Full story) McCain, who spent five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam after his Navy plane was shot down, hinted that Bush might be avoiding the specter of putting more American lives at risk. "Airstrikes don't do it; artillery doesn't do it," he said. "Boots on the ground do it. That's one of the fundamentals of warfare." "You've got to send our troops in there on the ground," he said. "And that, of course, means the most difficult kind of fighting. "I think the president is being clear. I would like to see him more clear, because I believe the American people, the majority of them, know what's at stake and will support this effort." McCain called for an increase in the Army of about 70,000 soldiers and for 20,000 to 25,000 more Marines. "The reality," he said, "[is] that we're going to be there for a long time -- which, by the way, is not terrible if you keep the casualties down." Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan said on CNN's "Late Edition" that he doubted the administration would make any of the tough decisions until after the November election. "And it's too bad, because it's most important that this administration listen to some of even its Republican critics, which is that we've got a significantly worsening situation in Iraq," said Levin, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee. Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation," Jon Kyl, Arizona's junior senator -- also a Republican -- said "hand-wringing" about the situation in Iraq would not win the war. "War is tough, and there are casualties. And just before victory, sometimes, it gets most violent," said Kyl, chairman of the subcommittee on terrorism, technology and homeland security of the Judiciary Committee. Appearing on the same program, fellow Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska disagreed with Kyl that the United States was anywhere near victory. "I don't think we're winning. In all due respect to my friend Jon Kyl, the term 'hand-wringing' is a little misplaced here," Hagel said. "The fact is, a crisp, sharp analysis of our policies are required. We didn't do that in Vietnam, and we saw 11 years of casualties mount to the point where we finally lost. "The fact is, we're in trouble. We're in deep trouble in Iraq," said Hagel, a member of the Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who has traveled to Iraq twice and is a member of the Armed Services Committee, said he doesn't "buy that" when told enough troops are in Iraq to do the job. "There's a rhyme or reason to what's happening here," he said on CNN's "Late Edition." "They're attacking police stations. They're attacking people who want to join the army. They're trying to kill people who want to be part of a democratic government." On ABC's "This Week," Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana and Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware both had critical words for the administration's handling of Iraq. "No. 1, on the police training, we've wasted 17 months," Biden said. "We should be using some imagination. Pick out the 500 most likely leaders in the police force, put them on a 747, fly them to Bonn, Germany, or to Berlin, and tell them to train them and train them as leaders, so they're paramilitary police. "The president's going to the United Nations [Tuesday]," he said. "You know what we list as our priorities for the United Nations General Assembly? Dealing with sex trade, which is important. Dealing with cloning. Dealing with spread of democracy. "Not one word of Korea. Not one word with regard to Iraq. Not one word with regard to Iran. It's like Wonderland," said Biden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Lugar, who is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said "the incompetence in the administration" led to only $1 billion spent out of $18 billion appropriated last year for reconstruction efforts.
C'mon, Bush probably thinks he is "winning" - remember, he's never done any of this before so he's learning on the job.
I would have voted for McCain. I always thought he was a man unafraid to say and do what he believed was proper, regardless of the political consequences. (and he's doing it again in this article). But that whole thing about him having an illegitimate black baby really made me question what kind of man he is. Lucky for me, I got that information from reliable sources before I pledged my support to the man. There's just no way I could support a politician who fathered an illegitimate child, and a black one at that. I actually heard he's mentally unstable as well. And his wife is a junkie. On subject: It's heartening that politicians on both side of the divide are critiquing this war. It should give us a bit of faith that the partisan-garbage hasn't completely degenerated into a high-school football rivalry with a bigger budget.
I think it is a shame that you cant put aside the moral problems you have with him since you admit he is a man of principles when it comes to this country and the way it should be handled....after all, isnt that what should be the most important factor in a president? Someone that sees what needs to be done and does it regardless of the political consequences? Heard he was mentally unstable? unlesss you heard that from a licensed doctor after a entensive personal examination....It isnt very good practice to make your decisions on heresay..... proof about his wife? then the same applies. I do agree with you that it is good to hear politicians on both sides of the aisle say what needs to be said...it is obvious to anyone that can be objective that the situation isnt doing well and hasnt been run well.. The truth hurts sometimes....but we cant continue to operate without the facts.
If Republicans had rightfully kicked Bush's ass to the curb for the most corrupt administration in presidential history and instead nominated John McCain, I'd have voted for him. That's how much I thought of John McCain. And for Republicans to show such integrity, I'd have probably even donated a dollar or two to the cause. No more. It's reassuring to hear McCain's denouncement of Monkey Boy's First Quagmire, but it's too little, too late. I'm glad McCain has "concerns" for underestimating the resistence, but that doesn't bring back the 1,000 dead American troops or the last shreds of this country's credibility. Same goes for Kerry. When these "concerns" become DEMANDS for immediate withdrawal, lemme know.
****...it appears to be broke! ya know...I could go back and edit that....but f*ck it...I made a mistake and Im man enough to admit it and let it stand for all to see.....unlike some around here. gee..I wonder if the resident sunday school teacher is gonna report me for the cussing in this post? btw....thadeus...my apologies for not catching your sublime sarcasm-filled post. /runs off kicking himself
I too would probably have voted for McCain over Gore. However, I do have an issue with McCain: He (rightly) speaks often against his own party, yet then turns around and supports it when pressured. I can't decide if he's just a loyalist or if he truly is not sure where he himself stands... I think this sums it up nicely:
thats true, but the sad fact of the matter is that that's what politics is about: kissing butt when you have to move yourself ahead. But the fact that the man is even capable of deciding on issues based on his own reason and not on his party's is indicative that he's not simply a bandwagoner.
