March 24, 2007
The Roadshow: McCain's Now Optimistic About Iraq
Littleton Republicans greeted Sen. John McCain like an old friend, and he returned the favor. He was (a), on time, and (b) full of energy. Some of his self-protective senior advisers blanch when they read news reports about how McCain, eight years older, seems slower, more hesitant, less springy. How do these reporters know? Do they measure the reach of his hand gestures and compare it to old video footage?
Regardless, McCain was spry. And he was optimistic. A reporter asked him whether he was now optimistic about the future of Iraq. "I think it's fair to say that I'm optimistic," he said. He ticked off a list of reasons why (a pacified Sadr, more clean neighborhoods, better intelligence, more cooperation between U.S. and Iraqi troops, etc). And he'll have the chance to confirm his optimism first-hand when he visits next week. He blasted House Democrats for passing "an intellectually dishonest" troop withdrawal bill that was "laden with pork." It's "the most shameful" thing he's ever seen as a Senator.
"We will win," he told the Littletown crowd. It's not a line he would have used a few months ago.
He was asked about the Iranian capture of British troops. America, he said, should be prepared to used "very stringent" measures if they're not released.
After a lengthy discussion about campaign finance reform initiated by conservative blogger Matt Lewis, McCain grew tired one of one line of questioning about public financing. When ABC's Terry Moran asked him how much he thought his campaign would cost, McCain shook his head. "I don't want to talk about... you know, I'll just talk about anything else you want, but I'm bored with this one."
Posted at 12:13 PM
Comments
I trust much more John Burns of the New York Times than John Cain on that issue. I invite everyone to go on PBS web site and read the transcript of the conversation that John Burns and Charlie Rose broadcasted yesterday. My conclusions from watching the show are:
1. Our military leaders in Iraq are probably the best that we ever had.
2. The surge is just a band aid because there is nothing that we can do to end centuries of hatred between sunnis and shias. Shias have the sense that their time has come. Sunnis think that history and geography are on their side. They may be a minority in Iraq, they are the majority in the middle east (80% of the population). Consequently, our presence is just postponing the bloodshed that will happen sooner or later.
joelle | 03.24.07 01:05 PM
 |
McCain has made a laughing stock of himself. In order to outdo Bush on Iraq he is supporting a wrong policy. McCain has no convictions.
Matt | 03.26.07 09:03 AM
|
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
