McCain Will Skip Iraq Vote

[Judi Lynn]

McCain Will Skip Iraq Vote

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 16, 2007
Filed at 3:10 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, a staunch supporter of sending more troops to Iraq, will skip a Senate vote on the war Saturday to campaign in Iowa while other candidates rearrange their schedules.

In control of the Senate, Democrats called the rare Saturday session for the procedural vote. They need 60 votes to advance a nonbinding resolution criticizing President Bush's plan to boost the number of U.S. forces in the nearly four-year-old war.

McCain, R-Ariz., has derided the Democratic move as political trickery. He backs Bush's plan, and his presence or absence would make no difference in the outcome of the vote. So, he plans to stick to his itinerary of three town hall meetings in Iowa, the early voting state in the primary process.

''He thinks it's a political stunt that Harry Reid is pulling instead of having actual open debate on Iraq,'' said Eileen McMenamin, a McCain spokeswoman.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Iraq-2008.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[villager]

1. What a brave maverick!

n/t

[dubyaD40web]

2. ChickenSHIThawk!

[ClintonTyree]

12. That doesn't really apply to McCain.

The man really paid a price for his country, there's no denying that. I agree with the "shit" part though. Now the entire Bush administration? That's a different story. Although Bush DID defend the Texas border from the Viet Cong (on a part-time basis, in an obsolete aircraft and deserting his post for the last year of his enlistment), I think he still qualifies for chicken-hawk status. ;)

[Greeby]

3. Screw him

One less nay vote to have to worry about

[Doondoo]

4. Gee, don't it just SUCK having to go on the record when you're running for Prez??

[Marie26]

5. COWARD. nt

[BootinUp]

6. he's a damn p#ssy!

sorry for the bad language.

[Virginia Dare]

7. Excuse me, but when did the Repubs have an actual open

debate on Iraq Johnny? You are a hypocrite a ninny and a political coward. :argh:

[Jackpine Radical]

13. So--Other than that, what do you think of McCain?

[Justitia]

8. Chickenshit, Coward, Vote-Dodger -eom

[Oleladylib]

14. Thank you for eloquently expressing my sentiments! n/t

[ClintonTyree]

9. The "straight talk express" strikes again!

There must be some religiously insane people in Iowa that he has to pander to instead of doing his job. McCain's campaign is turning into a big freaking joke already. At one time I thought he would be the top contender for the GOP Presidential nomination in '08. Now it looks as if he'll totally self destruct well before the first primary. That's the payback he got for the "Bush hug" and selling his soul to the Bushites in '04. Way to go, John! :rofl:

[faithnotgreed]

10. now THAT is the real definition of "cut and run"

for all his whining and politicking about iraq.... egads
just vote no if you think its such a bad proposal

i really hope this follows him to iowa

[Double T]

11. NO OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE RECORD............

Those voters that want a continuation of the bush administration and their policies should vote for McCain.

[EVDebs]

15. It would only verify his '10, 20 yrs that's not so bad' quote !

""When asked this week on CNN how long the U.S. military is likely to remain in Iraq, Senator John McCain replied "probably" 10 or 20 years. "That's not so bad," he said...""

http://spectrumz.com/z/fair_use/2004/09_04.html

R's want those permanent bases that got the Quakers into so much trouble with the NSA...

If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building 'permanent' bases?
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/bases.htm

[progressoid]

16. ''He thinks it's a political stunt ..."

Gosh, that would mean that the Senate is full of politicians. :eyes:

[UrbScotty]

17. As some have already said in this thread: COWARD.

[Canuckistanian]

18. Profiles in Courage, Volume 2: The Sell-Out

Bravo, Mr. McCain. You've out-chickened the chicken-hawks.

A man with the integrity of a heroin addict.

[David Zephyr]

19. Look in the mirror, John McCain: You are the "political stunt" of the decade.

Straight talk, my ass!

[wryter2000]

20. Hmmmm...a trend?

They could fail to filibuster if they don't show up. So far, we have 5 who'll vote for cloture and 1 who won't be there. If 5 more didn't show up...:wow:

[IndianaGreen]

21. Ollie North accused McCain and Lieberman of lying about what the troops told them

during their recent trip to Iraq. McCain and Lieberman came back from Iraq saying that the troops they spoke with were in full support of Bush's surge. Ollie North said that was a lie. North said that the troops said that the surge was too little and too late.

Hillary, Biden, and Obama are going to be present at the debate, why can't McCain be there?

[rateyes]

22. McCain has changed his name to...

McCoward.

[roamer65]

23. Mr. Keating Five shows his political prowess again, eh?

:rofl:

I agree with you, "McCoward".

[BlueStater]

24. So he talks tough about the "surge" but when it comes to putting his money where his mouth is...

...he runs away like a scared bunny.

[Superman Returns]

25. I have nothing personal against McCain,

disagree with his policies and all but never hated him, just lost a lot of respect. Well, after hearing this, I lost a lot more respect for him. How can McCain justify this move?

[blondeatlast]

26. I wrote the coward (for about the 150th time, he's my Senator). Here's the e-mail:

(I am more than a little pissed about this)

Skipping the vote on the non-binding resolution against the troop escalation in Iraq shows a troubling lack of leadership in a presidential contender. Skipping it for a campaign appearance is repugnant.

A war hero, of all politicians, should have the courage to face up to a difficult and controversial issue.

I hesitate to describe a former POW with the word I am thinking, but you can fill in the blank.

Please do NOT reply with another of your slippery statements franked to me as per usual. Don't waste my time or your franking privilege. I treat your correspondence with the same diligence you do mine.

Signed, your reluctant constituent in District 6,
...



http://mccain.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?ID=64
Main: [phone], Fax: [phone]

[calimary]

27. Good one! VERY nice. So he's got this nice excuse to wimp out, then.

I haven't been impressed with him since 2000 when he wimped out while his wife and adopted daughter were being smeared. And then of course, he goes around hugging and kissing the guy on whose behalf they were slimed. I have absolutely no use for him. He's a disgrace. Not only as a senator and bush-apologist, but as a husband and father. And I say that as a wife, mother, AND an adopted daughter, myself. MY dad NEVER let stand ANY attack on me. EVER. And what I went through was a walk in the park on a balmy Sunday afternoon compared to what was done to mccain's wife and little girl. I just lost ALL respect for him. Forever.

[blondeatlast]

28. Why thank you; I was rather proud of it myself! nt