CHECK-AND-FREAKING-MATE!

[berni_mccoy]

Damn, this is just totally amazing. Obama, through calm, cool, dignified statesmanship has completely caused McCain's button to be pushed. And not just the button that gets his temper boiling, but rather, the button that causes him to make a fatal campaign gaffe.

Ever since Obama has gone abroad to meet with Maliki, Karzai, Petraeus, and other country leaders and statesmen, he has done everything right. It's been great. And it's bothered McCain, extremely. And McCain has suffered gaffe after gaffe after gaffe. And tonight he has made, what some in the media are calling, a "game changer."

This gaffe is a failure of epic proportions. This isn't confusing Czechoslovakia with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This isn't confusing Iran with training Al Qaida members. This isn't confusing Iraq and Iran. This isn't confusing Iraq and Afghanistan. This isn't even confusing the fact that Iraq and Pakistan don't even share a border. Yes, those are all gaffes of a serious nature for someone who claims his strongest aspect is foreign policy. But the gaffe McCain has just made is inexcusable for someone running for President, especially one who claims he was right about the surge.

As he was interviewed on CBS with Katie Couric, he responded to the following question (transcript available here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/22/eveningnews/main4283813.shtml):

Couric: Senator McCain, Sen. Obama says, while the increased number of U.S. troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel McFarlane (phonetic) was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history. Thanks to General Petraeus, our leadership, and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. I mean, to deny that their sacrifice didn't make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think, does a great disservice to young men and women who are serving and have sacrificed.

They were out there. They were protecting these sheiks. We had the Anbar awakening. We now have a government that's effective. We have a legal system that's working, although poorly. And we have progress on all fronts, including an incredible measure of security for the people of Iraq. There will still be attacks. Al Qaeda's not defeated. But the progress has been immense. And to not recognize that, and why it happened, and how it happened, I think is really quite a commentary.

The only problem with that: the Anbar Awakening occurred before the Surge.

This is not a confusion. This is a lie to prove a failed point in a desperate attempt to claim he is right. Like so many failed Republican candidates, McCain believes he can lie and no one will check his statements. CBS obviously checked his statement, as they cut it from the aired video feed. But MSNBC and others found out that this was the case, as the transcript, posted on the CBS website, still contained the lie. Even with CBS covering for him, this can not be confused as a gaffe. The real gaffe is that he thought he could get away with it.

Even if you give McCain the benefit of the doubt and say he must have been confused, how can he be so damn confused about something which he is putting as the central focus of his policy decision being right and Obama being wrong. The only conclusion: McCain is wrong. The only other alternative is that he is lying.

Either way, it's complete justification that he should not be rewarded with the Presidency. And that is Obama's check-and-mate.

[NightWatcher]

1. I cant wait for the 1st debate. If confused I predict McSame will fake a heart attack

to dodge the question

Either that or he'll commit my other dream faux paus and drop the "n-word" on Obama.

[gateley]

3. Bwha! nt

[mucifer]

5. I remember thinking that about Edward/cheney debate. Then the media said

cheney won and actually Edwards did not do a good job attacking cheney. So who knows what will happen.

[berni_mccoy]

6. That debate was a complete disaster. I can not imagine Obama v. McCain ending up that way.

[bertman]

35. I'm with you berni. And you're right, it was a complete disaster for Edwards and the Dems' ticket.

Mucifer, perhaps you have forgotten the "defining moment" of the Edwards/Vader debate. That was when Edwards was asked what his view of his role as Veep would be.

It was like he was the proverbial deer standing in the middle of the road hypnotized by the oncoming headlights. He could not cobble together a coherent, meaningful answer to what was a simple and fair question and one that every vice presidential candidate should certainly know. So, the world's greatest trial lawyer blew it and his chance to be the Assistant Numb Nuts in Chief.

(I'm a North Carolinian and was a strong Kerry/Edwards supporter but I have to say that one moment gave me the most sinking feeling of that election runup--notwithstanding John Kerry's failure to stand up to the Swiftboat assholes.)

All the while, Dick Vader sat calmly by looking like a boa constrictor with a hapless rabbit in his sights.

Edited to say that after that debate I was literally sick to my stomach and wanted to cry.

[blm]

52. Kerry DID counter the swifts in his Aug19 speech to Firefighters Convention - NO NETWORK would

broadcast the speech and few even reported that it occured and none would put clips of Kerry's attacks on the swifts (and his challenge to Bush to stop hiding behind them and debate their services publicly)into their normal rotation.

The newsmedia also refused to let swifts who recanted their criticisms and told of being lied to by the organizers any access to airtime. They were given it when they were swifts, and refused when they wanted to publicly recant.

Vets with counters to the swifts were also denied.

Why?

Dan Rather said after he filed his lawsuit that corporate media protected Bush for the favorable rulings they expected from the FCC in a second term. They got it, too, didn't they?

THAT is why you think what you do.

If you want the EXACT FACTS of the timeline on the swifts and the counters, go to DU's Research Forum. There is a compilation thread with all the data you need to see the corpmedia was complicit.

You think Obama would have even won the primaries if all the news programs showed ONLY the clips of Rev Wright in heavy rotation for months and REFUSED to broadcast Obama's speeches addressing the matter?

[bertman]

64. blm, for what it's worth, there were many many other opportunities for Kerry to rebuke the pukes,

but he failed miserably by missing those opportunities. Hell, he had national debates where he could have said straight to the camera and the American people:" I am calling out the liars who have accused me of faking my wounds and my combat experience. I am accusing you lying dogs of cowardice and treachery. I earned my medals in combat and I'm proud of them and the brave men I served with." All the while the Deserter Son-of-a-Bush would have been standing at the other lectern looking like Alfred E. Newman lost in a shitstorm, while a true war hero showed America what courage is all about.

I'm sure the media did a hit job on Kerry, but he let them do it. Or he let his "advisors" talk him into it. Just like he let Bush have the election without a fight when his staff and running mate knew it was being stolen in Ohio and New Mexico.

I hold John Kerry in high esteem for his courage in standing before the Senate when he had just returned from Vietnam and telling the truth about the atrocities that were being committed by our soldiers. He and the Winter Soldiers deserve the respect of all Americans for their honor and their courageous attempts to tell people what a WAR REALLY IS.

But, I refuse to let him off the hook for the Swiftboat liar attacks.


Edited to say I don't expect that Obama would have been silent the next time he had a national audience. And, if that opportunity failed, I feel certain that he would have hammered it in some other way. But that's all hypothetical, so WTF, over.

[blm]

67. Read the DU Research Forum data.

Besides, the swifts WEREN'T a factor by the October debates. They were used as the reason when RNC stole that election for Bush. And Kerry had no legal evidence to continue and no math as per the Dem party's election legal team.


The man who has been the bravest lawmaker and citizen of the last 35 years and Vietnam testimony was one of his most MINOR acts of courage in DC - you think YOU would have stayed on BCCI for 5 1/2 years with the entire DC powerstructure working against you, including the most powerful in your own party? You think he just gave up? He had NOTHING to continue, and nothing that whole campaign but a Dem party machine undermining him at every point. He was on his own. All of US who made Clintons and their entourage the most powerful voices of our party for too long are the ones who failed the most.

[Frisbee]

72. Evil though he is...

Cheney is much smarter and on the ball than McInsane on his best day. Obama will just need to stay calm and cool, but be somewhat aggressive and try to needle McInsane into snapping. (shouldn't be too hard) I can only imagine how many times we will hear Obama say, "actually Sen. McCain, that's not quite right." Should be some fun viewing. Let's just pray for competent moderators.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

30. LOL!! I can't wait for him to explode during that debate!

I have fantasies about it!

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gateley]

2. Here's an audio/visual aid to complement your post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x160427

[babylonsister]

4. We've got lots more 'fun' to go through. This election will be writ about

for ages, primary plus. And it better not elect McCain. If that happens, I'm open to some outrageous ideas.

[berni_mccoy]

7. "I'm open to some outrageous ideas." HELLYA Babylon!

[babylonsister]

10. That expression, "We won't get fooled again?" I fucking mean it.

This election better kick ass and take names, or we are doomed. Obama MUST win.

[LiberalAndProud]

29. Amen!

It's terrifying to think about the alternative.

[rebel with a cause]

53. I dreamed about a revolution last night.

People going to the streets and fighting back when this government was once again stolen.

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright, alright

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright, alright

[awoke_in_2003]

49. Unfortunately, i fear the only

outrageous idea that will help us was written by Jefferson in 1776:

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. Even with a prompter McBush can't get it right

Jesus please don't let McCain win!

[berni_mccoy]

19. lol

[Pirate Smile]

9. I love this because it means the press is going to have to explain how the surge wasn't the

be all, end all of the lowering of violence. The press and pundits just recite by rote that the surge is why violence is down. Obama is the only one explaining it - and he actually does a good job - but this means the media is going to have to explain the details WHICH, once again, PROVE Obama is right and McCain is wrong.

:rofl:

This actually kind of explains why McCain freaks out so much about this if he really doesn't understand the truth and reality (confusion?????-incompetence????).

The only other option is just extreme lying. The truth is too easily proven. He Didn't KNOW the FACTS. CLUELESS OLD Man lecturing informed, correct younger man then gets caught as a fool/liar.

PRICELESS!!!

edit to add - I've actually been concerned that we were never going to get the press informed enough to stop just saying "the surge worked and it is all because of John McCain". I actually think there will be some, hopefully, effective push back.

[berni_mccoy]

11. I Can NOT WAIT To See What Camp. Obama Makes of This. You know there will be another MEMO

The last one ROYALLY pissed off McCain. The next one is going to make him cry.

[Democrats_win]

13. That's the thing--McCain was brow-beating Obama over this. KARMA is sweet.

McCain was so smug the other day when he went on and on about Obama making his policy about Iraq/Afghanistan before visiting. (Of course this idea is FUBAR too.)

If McCain can't get the facts right, how can he get the judgement right?

[Ilsa]

12. McCain Doesn't understand the Information Age. He doesn't get it

that we have access to transcripts, video, etc, because he is still living in the 1980's. That's the problem with not bothering to become computer-literate.

[berni_mccoy]

18. Well, he's admitted that he's computer illiterate. He even said Cindy has to check his email.

[silverojo]

20. He's still living in the EIGHTEEN-EIGHTIES! n/t

[AlbertCat]

48. If that were true...

....he'd dress better. (silk waistcoat and cravat, beautifully tailored frock coat.)

Nope...the 1980s.....the vapid, egomaniacal, big haired, shoulder padded, electronic drums 1980's. Yuck!

[John Q. Citizen]

14. So what if the Repos agree and nominate Hagel for Pres?

[Drunken Irishman]

15. I think the best part is when he says it's a "matter of history," haha!

[pinto]

16. CBS news contact info:

(CBS) CBS Evening News, Weekdays editions:

ADDRESS:
CBS Evening News
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

E-MAIL: [email protected]

[depakid]

23. The comments on the CBS web story are impressive

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/22/eveningnews/main4283813.shtml

Not that CBS' management really cares about their credibility anymore....

[C_U_L8R]

17. The McCain Mutiny

"Ahh, but the strawberries that's... that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with... geometric logic... that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox DID exist, and..."

[Hutzpa]

21. The big story here is Katie Couric

did not know John McCain was wrong, otherwise she should have quizzed him on it,
also CBS should be called to task for snipping the answer and replacing it with a
different answer from another question. Producer and editor should be fired IMO
because that should be considered as fraudulent reporting.

[ann_american2004]

43. if that's the case I agree 100%

fraudulent reporting is unacceptable. They did not bring us the actual answers McCain gave to that question. That's a cover up!

edit- adverbs and adjectives mix up

[rebel with a cause]

56. Call it what it is .

:rofl: It is a cover up/fraudlent reporting. The same thing they did for bush and the reason that Dan Rather is sueing them. You cannot trust the media and that is just the way it is. There will not be another "Whitegate type exposure" because the corporate news media will not allow it. With that happened to bush, those reporters would probably be fired and the evidence destroyed.

Honestly, if you don't hate Jennifer Lopez too much, watch her movie "Bordertown". Ignore the parts you might find lame and concentrate on the message about free trade and how it affects the people of other countries and the role of the corporate news media in covering up the problems and the truth. I was surprised that I liked it (the movie).

[CitizenLeft]

22. I was shocked to see Anderson Cooper take this on.

He was one of the ones to call it a "game changer." Not that I dislike Cooper - when he gets ahold of an issue that means something to him, he won't let go (Rwanda, Katrina). But he's been beating the Obama-Has-A-Problem drum for a long time, and to hear him report this and have a discussion about it surprised me.

[enuegii]

65. Well, I think most folks agree

that Couric is just another anchorwhore...but did you know Anderson Cooper leads a secret life in the Netherlands?

[Common Sense Party]

24. Can someone give me the timeline of the Anbar Awakening vs. the surge?

When did what happen where?

[Egnever]

25. Heres a little blurb on it

The process in standing up the Anbar Salvation Council, a group of local tribes and former insurgents opposed to al Qaeda's harsh brand of Taliban-like sharia law, has been ongoing since the summer of 2006. The Anbar Salvation Council has had such success in Ramadi, which was once the most dangerous city in Iraq, that attacks have dropped to as few as two per day after spiking to as many as 50 a day last summer. Markets are reopening, children are returning to school and Iraqi and American security forces are conducting patrols throughout the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city.

Part of the success of the Anbar Salvation Council is that it provides the Sunnis in Anbar with a political voice as well as security against al Qaeda. The Anbar Salvation Council's political component is the Anbar Awakening. Seven new tribes have just joined the political party. The Awakening is now expanding beyond Anbar province, and is becoming a national movement. The Anbar Awakening is facilitating the creation of the Iraq Awakening, a national political party which would "oppose insurgents such as Al Qaeda in Iraq and reengage with Iraq's political process." The Iraq Awakening is scheduled to meet in May, and will be the first Sunni political party to openly oppose al Qaeda in Iraq.

[Common Sense Party]

26. So these Sunni's were turning things around without our help?

Why were we even there? Why are we still there? Did U.S. troops do ANYTHING to restore order in Anbar? Or are they just taking credit for what these Sunnis were doing?

[Egnever]

28. its a little more involved than that.

Again with the nuance I know... They were turning things around but we were helping. However without them deciding to turn things around we would have never stopped it no matter how many of our kids we threw at the problem.

Its a really complicated situation there. Thats Mcains problem really he doesn't get it at all. He doesn't know the difference or at least not till recently between Sunni and shia and I am quite sure he is totaly unaware of the fact that say Iran is mostly Shia while say Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are mostly sunni or even more likely that these two tribes have been fighting for centuries. So he doesnt understand the different forces at work here beyond bomb bomb bomb the bad guys... those damn iraqi insurgents. He thinks we can just blow em all up till they go away. Hell he said today we have won. Hardly....

We are sitting on a powder keg there. We are paying people there not to fight, we are paying people there to fight we are in the middle of a delicate balance where al-queda over stepped their bounds. Maybe they bombed one to many mosques I don't know but for the moment the sunni and shia factions are content to call a truce and get al-queda out. They have been waring with each other for centuries though. The sunni have limited representation in the government but they represent a large portion of the security forces. Iran is backing the shia as Iran is mostly Shia Saudi arabia and kuwait are now worried because we have basically handed an Iraqi government over to Iran/Shia its a real shit storm waiting to happen.

Its interesting stuff if you have the time to read up on how Iraq came to be there's lots of nutty history. Apparently Mcain knows none of it.

[grantcart]

27. So clearly explained. Such a big issue.

[Roland99]

31. al-Sadr's cease-fire is 99.9% of the credit behind the lessened violence credited to "the surge"

idiot media.

[Coexist]

32. knr

[jillan]

33. Now McCain has Petreaus and others backing him up.

[RNdaSilva]

66. Remember MacArthur...

[drm604]

36. I wish I could believe that this was a game changer.

The vast majority of Americans have never even heard of the Anbar awakening and won't understand the importance of this gaff, if they're ever even aware of it.

[Bleacher Creature]

44. Unfortunately, you're right. I was going to say the exact same thing. n/t

[Herman74]

37. Please. How many times did scandals come to light in 2003 & 2004...

...that by themselves should have killed off Bush's candidacy??? In declaring "Check and mate," you overestimate the intelligence of the American electorate. McCain's still very much alive, and we must strive vigilantly to ensure that Obama does not endure a Dukakis-like fall in the months ahead.

"The real gaffe is that he thought he could get away with it."

How often I thought that in 2003 and 2004 regarding Bush! For much of the electorate not paying attention or misinformed (i.e., Fox News) McCain will get away with it.

[polichick]

38. Republican emperors never have any clothes...

...but this would-be won't get away with it.

NOT THIS TIME!

NOT THIS YEAR!

[Waiting For Everyman]

39. Couric should've reported it as McCain said it

And SHE should've explained the timeline to the public, and what it meant. If she was forced to do this by CBS, she should've reported that too and resigned over it. She has enough wealth by now to support her kids for the rest of life if she never worked again. And then on Huff Post she says that the golden age of tv news is over. Small wonder!

This is outrageous!

And on the very same day, there's a so-called story being reported about Obama receiving "special treatment" from the media??? How does special treatment get more special than the national media covering up McCain's attempted re-write of history for him?

And on the very same day, McCain's all over the media trying to force Obama to "admit" to McCain's version of the surge history??? And nearly accusing him of treason if he won't do it? All of that got reported. But the main fact of this story got edited out. No, I take that back - it's more than a story, it's a key fact of this election by now... If McCain wins, it'll probably be because of people believing this bogus issue about the surge. McCain's got nothing else to stand on at this point.

Unbelievable!!! I've seen every election since Eisenhower, and I've never seen anything like this.

There had better be some big fixing of this huge mistake by the media in the days to come. CBS needs to be boycotted and take some HUGE flack over this!!!

[Bette Noir]

70. I can't boycott CBS.

There's not a single thing on CBS that I watch, so I can't stop watching.

[progressoid]

40. Say it agian!!!11!..."the Anbar Awakening occurred before the Surge"

[Tab]

41. What exactly was the "Anbar Awakening"?

I know Anbar province is, but I must have missed the part about the "awakening"..

[ieoeja]

69. In 2005 some tribes in Anbar formed a militia.

These tribes, under attack by a group of other tribes, formed a coalition to defend themselves. The tribes that began this fighting were also fighting the gov't (and allied themselves with Al Qaeda for at least this purpose). So the Anbar Awakening coalition asked the US for assistance which we provided.

They formed an organization called the Anbar Awakening Council in 2007 which is how McCain justifies his suggestion that the 2007 surge helped create the Awakening. But while the council was not named until then, the actual militia had been in formation for two years by then.

Now for the big and completely ignored question: is this a good thing? When all is said and done, will this Sunni militia support the new Iraqi gov't? Or will the very militia we helped create be the first to initiate a civil war once we leave?

I would say it is a good thing even if they did as I believe these are Saddam's people. Given that Saddam was far more secular and friendly to US interests than the Shiites, it only makes sense for US policy to be pro-Saddam. Of course, we helped kill him. So we will just have to find a replacement.

[Tab]

71. Okay, thanks, I must have missed that one

'preciate the explanation. I hadn't heard the term before now.

[nikto]

42. McCain is pure, vile scum....

...and so are the "people" who vote for him.

[iamahaingttta]

45. "Even with CBS covering for him...

...this can not be confused as a gaffe."

ESPECIALLY with CBS covering for him, this can not be confused as a gaffe!

Unfortunately, this is a scandal that will go nowhere. Very few people will hear about or understand this, and CBS certainly won't clarify it.

Good catch, though!

[Waiting For Everyman]

46. Every time McCain says the word "surge", Obama should say "Anbar Awakening"

And when Obama's asked what he means by that, he should say "Ask John McCain to explain it."

This need to be a MAJOR, MAJOR, MAJOR STORY!!!!

Also, McCain has NEVER been a "bitter critic" of the Iraq war as HE himself claims. See the JedReport video on youtube. McCain's "maverick" image is a fraud too.

[happygoluckytoyou]

47. keep an eye out for the famous SPEAKER IN THE BACKPACK trick...

[ecstatic]

50. True, but only if the media stops covering for him

I have seen little or no coverage of his latest gaffe

[L0oniX]

51. He might as well smoke pot for all the fuckups he does on a regular basis.

[JuniperLea]

55. Shoot...

I know plenty of pot heads that don't make mistakes. Pot might help him out, calm him down so he can actually think about what he is saying.

I want to see more of McCain on TV! The more he talks, the better Obama looks!

[wryter2000]

54. I hope you're right

The Iraq/Pakistan border thing was a mistake. KO had film of Obama saying that Israel would continue to be Israel's friend, when he clearly meant the US.

This one is more serious. Serious enough that CBS felt they had to cover for him.

I have to retain some skepticism. I don't know how many times I yelled, "This is it! This will bring Bush/Cheney down!"

[BlueEyedSon]

57. Most americans won't notice, won't remember, or won't care.

[f the letter]

58. Hope he jumps on this.

That's a major ****up on McCain's part.

[Willo]

59. McCain: What had happened was, you see my friends, there was a pre-surge, surge

known as a counterinsurgency.

This counterinsurgency is the surge that launched the surge that worked.

That's what I was saying to Katie Couric. CBS didn't understand the counterinsurgency surge aspect and that's why they felt the need to try and help me out with a little cut and paste.

[sofa king]

60. McCain has lost the initiative.

He can't really do much of anything except react to Obama's moves, seizing on the most insignificant mistakes and spending time on the news shows discussing Obama's proposals. That's no way to win; it's only a way to forestall losing until one can come back with better tactics.

It is the precursor to desperation, and since the television news is in the Republican pocket, it's only a matter of time before the television networks begin acting desperately, too.

Won't that be fun.

[rocktivity]

61. There's his campaign slogan

John McCain: Working, Though Poorly

Unless you prefer Stephanie Miller's version:

John McCain: Lying, Or Old?

:rofl:
rocknation

[sourmilk]

62. And to top it all off:

According to HuffPo, the Anbar Sheik that McCain though was "protected" was assassinated last year...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/23/anbar-shiek-cited-by-mcca_n_114581.html

Related thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3407206


And I thought after the market incident last year, no one could POSSIBLY ever think of taking McThuselah seriously, but the Pukes nominted him...

I knew he was toast well before the GE race had even started...

[Waiting For Everyman]

63. Petraeus says Anbar was "political" not because of the surge

His statement is in the video accompanying the story on TPM (TalkingPointsMemo.com) which has a lot more background. About 5+ mins. into it. What he said sounded very much like Obama's statements on it, in fact. From a Senate hearing in 2007.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8s_NpaQGC8


Watching this video, Bush looks smart compared to McCain.

[Bette Noir]

68. This campaign is getting painful to watch.

Please, can we vote for Obama now, and put McCain is a good nursing home, where he belongs?