McCain Blasts Cheney, Rumsfeld; Also Strengthens and Emboldens Enemy
By HeavyM Comments (15) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
John McCain, in what can only be cynically seen as an attempt to cash in on the low public support for the Iraq war via political opportunism, has come out swinging at Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld today. After calling the war a "witch's brew" and "terribly mishandled," he went on to explain his disdain with two of the biggest conservative icons of this generation:
"The President listened too much to the Vice President... he was very badly served by both the Vice President, and, most of all, the Secretary of Defense."
He then further dug his own grave by speaking these words:
"Rumsfeld will go down in history, along with McNamara, as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history."
Ooh, a Vietnam reference! And if that wasn't enough for you, McCain the eternal optimist completed his own burial by stating:
"There is only one thing worse than an over-stressed military, and that is a defeated military. And we are on the verge of that [defeat]."
What? Okay, if you want to spray paint "Cheney sucks" and "For a good time call Rumsfeld" on the walls, that's fine. I disagree with you, and GOP voters disagree with you, and I think it's political suicide, but you're free to have your opinion. But saying that our men and women in the military are about to be defeated? Can you tell me how that helps anything in Iraq?
Saying we are on the verge of defeat only accomplishes a handful of things: whittles away what's left of the public will to fight the war in Iraq, depresses troop morale, and emboldens our enemy. Don't we lambast Democrats for making similar statements that embolden the enemy and give hope and comfort to those fighting against us?
"Abdul, American Senator says we are on verge of defeating American troops!"
"Great news, Muhammed! Rally the mujahadeen!"
What makes this pronouncement that we are so close to defeat in Iraq even more unbelievable is that it comes after a string of good news from Iraq about al Sadr, Maliki, the capture of hundreds of insurgents, and the handing over of another division of the Iraqi army to the Iraqis.
It's hard to understand McCain's strategy with this interview. It shows him as unbalanced, angry, and volatile as he was in 2000. He stands in support of the troop surge, seemingly tying his political future to the success or failure of the maneuver, but then blasts Cheney, Rumsfeld, our soldiers, and our administration - seemingly trying to tap into the growing anti-war sentiment in the country. Well, Johnny, I think the voters will show you in twelve short months that you can't have it both ways.
Cross-posted at race42008.com.
Run like Reagan!
I was starting to foolishly believe McCain was moving up on the leadership scale. Apparently, the poll pressure was too great and he had to depart from what was a righteous position that was short on parochial blame and long on the collective "we need to do better" or "this war is unprecedented" opines.
This is what keeps me away from Mr. McCain as a candidate; his off the cuff comments that seem to contradict all his previous admirable statements. That phenomena makes the former seem like cheap political rhetoric.
Thanks John, for reminding us why so many citizens will not vote for you.
"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"
Contributor to The Minority Report
seem like cheap political rhetoric. It's because they are.
This is exactly why I refer to McCain as the most dangerous man in Washington DC. He has no core beliefs about ANYTHING but himself. The guy makes Bill Clinton look like a paragon of "standing for something you believe in". You absolutely cannot believe a word the guy says about anything, at any time, for any reason.
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"...
Senior Writer
What a cheap, poll-driven opportunist.
I'm unclear here on the new rules in play.
Is it, "No questions, shut up and salute the President smartly"
or, "Some questions, but screen them first with Carl"
I do think McCain went too far, but that's probably why I like him, he's a big stick, welded poorly at times, but a big stick.
Gee maybe if there had been some pointed questions before now, coming from Republican front and back benches, we would not have the mess we have now in Iraq that the President himself admits we have.
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Another South Park Republican spouting off !
Now that he has had his "need more troops" complaint neutralized, he had to find a new way to distance himself from the President on Iraq, and this is it. He wants to be able to hedge his position, as he has done since the beginning with his "need more troops" stuff. There's no "big stick" there. It's just McCain playing the political game the McCain way.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
McCain will say what he thinks should be said regardless if you want to hear it or not. That's an attractive quality to me because he speaks without fear of political consequences.
His criticism of Cheney and, especially, Rumsfeld are very consistent with what he has been saying for 3 solid years. Would you all prefer if he suddenly flip-flopped and told you how great the war was going and what a magnificent job Rumsfeld did?
How can you support the President while oppose the Vice President? When did they start exercising different realms of policy?
With McCain and his supporters, you can have your cake and eat it too. Either you support the President and his Vice President or you oppose them. You cannot have your feet in both camps.
So entrenched are conservatives and liberals in this stupid battle of words prattling on about rhetoric and political will, ignoring history (Iraq, Afghanistan, U.S. in foreign countries) and military strategy. How can you act as though it matters what John McCain, John Kerry, George Bush or anybody in the beltway says about Iraq now? There is no definition of victory and therefore zero chance chance of our achieving it. Meanwhile, there are real threats to our country out there (al qada, unsecured nuclear mat'l, Iran, No. Korea) being ignored and a lot of U.S. servicemen and women in harm's way while one politician after another without principles play to supporters and detractors like yourselves.
Yours is one of the best statements on the "debate" over Iraq that I have seen. The whole mess, I fear, will continue to afflict us for some time.
The fierce, unwavering loyalties of many here at RedState (to the president and the cause of "winning" in Iraq) would strike me, for the most part, as downright heroic - not to mention profoundly inspiring - were it not for a little thing called reality.
Very sadly (though the film to which I am about to refer is, of course, a comedy) and with all due respect and apologies to those who might take offense (I am simply relating, as best I can, my sense of things - a blogger's responsibity, no?), I can't help being reminded of the scene involving the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
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Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words...-Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes
I've never in my lifetime seen such a panderer to the media in a national politician. Not even Bill Clinton (a master at seeking and getting media love), was as much a 'suck up' as Senator McCain.
I'm sickened by his behavior, but not surprised. Wish he would just quit pretending to be a Conservative, because everyone knows that he isn't.
When the primaries start, I hope McCain visits this part of the country so I can show up with a big sign that states NO VOTES FOR SENATOR SELLOUT - REMEMBER 'GANG OF 14' BETRAYAL.
That should be fun.
You didn't, like, think he was gonna outgrow that did ya?
Senior Writer
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If "pro" is the opposite of "con", what is the opposite of "progress"...