John McCain led a Congresional delegation under heavy security to visit a Baghdad market. WINGNUTTIA Republican Rep. Mike Pence describes the visit- "The merchant almost refused to take my money. He kept touching his heart and shaking his head no. His eyes, like so many others, radiated with affection and appreciation. He wanted to give me the rugs. I insisted that he accept my ten dollars and, happily, he relented." REALITY Carpet Seller, Ahmed al Krudi describes the visit- "I didn't accept the money. I said to myself, they must be guests, so I must give them a good impression of Iraqis. After all, we are occupied by these Americans, and they are accompanied by a lot of U.S. security." "We are not against the resistance. We are with them. However, the resistance must fight the occupiers, not the Iraqi people. A huge number of US forces came yesterday. Why didn't they shoot at them, instead of harming us?" http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/?last_story=/opinion/greenwald/2007/04/04/surge/
McCain in his Dukakis-in-a-tank moment. Yep! Nothing like strolling through the market with a security detail 30 men deep with apache helicopters flying overhead and snipers on a 5 block radius. But hey! It's safe for McCain to walk around and drink tea.
tj's post perfectly demonstrates the problem with the wingnutosphere. Somehow, he interprets direct quotes from an Iraqi describing their experience of, and reaction to this visit, in particular, and the US occupation, in general, as liberal "wishful thinking".
so you just ridicule everyone and make jabs at everyone? It just seems pretty weak to insult a guy b/c he has security
I think what mark is saying is that it is interesting that McCain would: 1. Make a stupid statement 2. Compund the mistake by not recognizing it and fixing it immediately 3. Further compound the mistake by committing it again 4. Try to demonstrate the mistake was not a mistake and in the process end up endangering a 100+ soldiers and helicopter crew members 5. Really compund the mistake by making statements far removed from reality that your demonstration proved your initial mistake was not a mistake 6. Really truly compound the mistake by looking silly at points 4 and 5.
No one's insulting him because he has security. He's being mocked for claiming other people can wander around without security (while 3 people were sniped down the previous two days) and that he just did so, while being flanked by 100 troops, 3 helicopters, and 2 gunships.
Playing dumb is really boring. The reason McCain deserves derision is his comments about the security in the city as apposed to the reality.
Donkey, McCain is catching sh_t for this potemkin visit because last week he was blathering about how the security situation in Baghdad had improved to the point that there were now neighborhoods where americans could safely walk the streets unescorted. People called bs on that quickly. Then McCain says that it so safe that General Petreaus patrols the streets of Baghdad in an unarmed Humvee. Turns out Petreaus doesn't go out into Baghdad with out a multivehicle escort, including helicopter support. So now McCain is rightly being ridiculed for trying to pass of this heavily armed visit to a Baghdad market as further evidence of the improving security situation in Baghdad. You would be better served by getting a little more information and analysing it a little more critically, rather than lame attempts to criticize mcmark for being a hater.
I really think we're getting off on the wrong foot here Donkey. You are new here so it's understandable that you would be ignorant to the history of the D&D. I make no bones about the fact that I think Bush should not only be impeached, but should stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity (including many members of his administration). But other than that I am a very laidback and happy fellow. Probably could enjoy a drink and a Rockets game with you. I hope after you've been here a while you’ll be able to see that. Hope you have a great day!
Donkey, aren't you supposed to be criticizing the Tillman's for wanting to know why the circumstances of their son's death was covered up? Just remember to be civil about it.
I, for one, feel completely ashamed for "hating everyone" due to my opinion that McCain is a complete buffoon. Thank you Donkey, for helping me understand that my ability to think rationally is really just a symptom of my unfettered hate.
Would McCain walk around America without security? If not, isn't it a little disingenuous to blame him for just doing in Iraq what he would do in America? He didn't say that presidential hopefuls can walk around without security, just that Americans could.
