McCain insists Iraq buildup is working

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

McCain insists Iraq buildup is working
By LIBBY QUAID, Associated Press Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Republican John McCain insists last year's U.S. troop buildup in Iraq brought a glimmer of "something approaching normal" there, despite a recent outbreak of heavy fighting and an American death toll that has surpassed 4,000.

"We are no longer staring into the abyss of defeat, and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success," McCain said in a speech prepared for delivery Monday.

...

"The dramatic reduction in violence has opened the way for a return to something approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi," McCain said.

Despite the positive numbers he cited, 2007 — the year of the troop buildup — was the deadliest yet.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080407/ap_on_el_pr/mccain

[pinto]

1. Normal? Normal? That POV is pretty disturbing if he thinks it resembles normalcy

by *anyone's* yardstick.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Remember that he's the guy who walked out to buy Persian rugs at the market

and didn't notice that he was surrounded by security forces, with helicopters flying around overhead.

[lebkuchen]

2. I hope I live long enough

to see the day when whatever the GOP has on McCain is exposed (no pun intended).

[underpants]

3. Keep singin it Johnnie

even the people still pumping dimes into that jukebox are getting tired of being seen hanging around listening to the same tired old song.

Keep singing it there buddy.

[harun]

41. Hehe, somebody get this guy some more shovels, he seems to be wearing

out the ones he has with the size of the hole he's been digging.

[mdmc]

4. it is working

The thing it, it is working. Compared to doing it on the cheap, the surge is working.

I opposed this war from the beginning because I knew it meant at least a 50 year commitment to Iraq.

If I thought the the war would be "won" by 2009, I would have supported the chimp.
Hillary Clinton "thought" the war would be over by 2009. Her error makes her unelectable in my eyes.

[liberal N proud]

5. Does he use the same hallucinogenic drugs as bu$h?

[momster]

8. Just Say No to Drugs

Putting your fingers in your ears, scrunching your eyes shut, while singing 'La, la, la, I can't hear you' is perfectly acceptable....

[mwb970]

6. I like the way he contrasts "defeat" with "success".

Isn't the opposite of "defeat" usually "victory"? But if he says that someone might ask him what victory would look like and who it would be a victory over, and that just wouldn't do at all.

[endarkenment]

7. 31 injured 5 dead: that's progress all right. nt.

[damntexdem]

9. Well, it has returned to normal ...

for the period since the U.S. invasion.

[Nickster]

11. "There's no place like home....There's no place like home...." "C'mon everyone! Click your heels

together and wish really hard!" "We can do it if we just believe hard enough!"

[mooseandsquirrel]

12. MCCAIN SAYS IRAQ APPROACHING NORMALCY

Source: MSNBC

KANSAS CITY, MO -- In a speech at the National World War I Museum here this morning, McCain gave a relatively optimistic appraisal of the situation in Iraq, saying that the recent reductions in violence have returned the country to something "approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi."

snip

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/07/86628...

m&s
http://moose-and-squirrel

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/07/86628...

---

I live here in KCMO. In fact, the Senator was just a bit ago here:

http://www.kansascityclub.org/login/login.cfm?clubid=12...

which is just across the street from the staff entrance of my work place.

About dozen people with Ron Paul for President signs showed up to protest.

m&s

[PatriotJack]

13. Normalcy?

The guy was at the Hanoi Hilton for five years. I'm thinking his definition of "normalcy" might be a little rougher than the rest of us.

[gateley]

16. You stated it perfectly, Jack!

And welcome to DU!

[ShockediSay]

43. & I'm thinking he's itching to reinstate the draft to restore our 'glory days'

of the military

[liberal N proud]

14. Prepare the straight jacket

This guy is ready

[sellitman]

33. Please don't give this guy any sharp objects.

If I was his waiter I'm not sure I would even give him a butter knife let alone a steak knife.

[balantz]

36. The corporate oligarchy and their M$M are preparing to do the best they can

to hand this freak multiple sharp objects, with nuclear tips!

[niyad]

15. how delusional does somebody have to be before we can declare that person

incompetent and dangerous to self and others?

I have thought for years that his time as a pow has affected his brain.

[corporatemedia]

17. McLUNACY proclaiming NORMALCY........n/t

[GoesTo11]

18. Enjoy the warm weather this spring! Vacation specials!

Oops, checked Travelocity and they don't even list the country for flights or hotels. Must not have heard the news.

[grytpype]

19. Well, he might as well keep saying that.

If Iraq isn't pretty damn normal by November, he's toast.

In other words, break out the butter Houston, we have toast.

[Mountainman]

20. Does that rate up there with inventing the internet and being the idea for Love Story?

I'll have to wait until the media picks this up and see if they do to McLame what they did to Gore!

[Ishoutandscream2]

21. World War 1 Museum...McCain was in his element

"I knew Blackjack Pershing, and you sir are no Blackjack Pershing!"

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. That depends on what your definition of "normalcy" is.

If it's highly skewed and doesn't resemble in any way people living their lives with safe housing, clean water, food and medical care. And you're alright with being in a perpetual state of fear of being killed. Then ya, everything is getting back to normal.

[sinkingfeeling]

23. Gee, is it normal to have running gun battles in the streets, missles into the heart of your

city, and unemployment of more than 50% in Arizona?

[Baby Snooks]

24. He's as nuts as Bush...

[mooseandsquirrel]

25. If you want a treat...

go over to crooksandliars.com and look at the video from MSNBC where they interrupt McCain's speech this morning with breaking news from Iraq.

http://crooksandliars.com

m&s
http://moose-and-squirrel.com

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

26. WTF?!

This guy is out of his mind

[Turbineguy]

27. They're coming....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hnzHtm1jhL4

[ooglymoogly]

28. What fog on what planet is this certifiable lunatic living in. KR

[wordpix]

29. wasn't it only a few months ago that McCain could not visit the same market he visited

when he had 100 troops protecting him last year, because it was too dangerous?

And that's normal? This guy's a nutcase.

[balantz]

30. The corporate media will spin the facts to favor this creep.

Watch them prop up a "gentle, yet firm warrior" who will vow to keep America secure from "the enemy."

We'll see all the fascists' propaganda weapons surface and the M$M will set the stage in favor of the son of Cain.

[MasonJar]

31. Back to normal, with troops' and Iraqis' deaths rising, just like before the short respite..

or shall I say alleged respite?

[Mz Pip]

32. Good.

So now we can leave, right? NOthing more to do there since things are normal.

[Ishoutandscream2]

34. Excellent point. You think the MSM will ask him that same question?

I can't keep a straight face! Sometimes, I just crack myself up!

[Politicalboi]

35. Here's more

Of John McCain's "WORDS"
http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=d1fow

[Hulk]

37. Sad again, that the sheep and neocon brain dead believe what he is saying.

What an ignorant country we live in. I think it's quite possible the MOST ignorant populations, from a political science perspective, of all the industrialized nations in the world.

We really are #1...stupid!

[kiranon]

38. Perhaps he needs to buy another rug?

[Hawaii Hiker]

39. Either McCain is flat out lying, or he is just astonishingly fucking stupid

Yeah John, United Airlines now offers daliy flights from LAX-Baghdad to accomodate the high number of vacationers going there....I heard the Ritz-Carlton Baghdad is almost complete....And plans are underway for the Baghdad Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,

How in the fuck can anyone even think of voting for the dumb broken down old pug, John "W" McCain....

[baldguy]

40. Of course Iraq is normal

Doesn't EVERYONE go to the market protected by a helmet, body armor & 500 Marines w/ their Blackhawks?

[mooseandsquirrel]

42. Has anybody watched the entire speech yet?

I live here in KC. And after he had his speechifying finished he went to a fundraiser here:

http://www.kansascityclub.org/login/login.cfm?clubid=12...