McCain's Stroll through the Super Safe Streets of Baghdad ---pix--->>>

[Stephanie]

U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) (R) get a briefing from General David Petraeus (2nd R), U.S. Commander in Iraq, and an unidentified military escort (L) as they visit the Shorga marketplace and interacted with local merchants while walking the streets of Baghdad April 1, 2007. Photo taken April 1, 2007. REUTERS/Sergeant Matthew Roe/10th Public Affairs Operations Center/Handout (IRAQ). EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/world/middleeast/03mccain.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

BAGHDAD, April 2 — A day after members of an American Congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain pointed to their brief visit to Baghdad’s central market as evidence that the new security plan for the city was working, the merchants there were incredulous about the Americans’ conclusions.

“What are they talking about?” Ali Jassim Faiyad, the owner of an electrical appliances shop in the market, said Monday. “The security procedures were abnormal!”

The delegation arrived at the market, which is called Shorja, on Sunday with more than 100 soldiers in armored Humvees — the equivalent of an entire company — and attack helicopters circled overhead, a senior American military official in Baghdad said. The soldiers redirected traffic from the area and restricted access to the Americans, witnesses said, and sharpshooters were posted on the roofs. The congressmen wore bulletproof vests throughout their hourlong visit.

....

At a news conference shortly after their outing, Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, and his three Congressional colleagues described Shorja as a safe, bustling place full of hopeful and warmly welcoming Iraqis — “like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime,” offered Representative Mike Pence, an Indiana Republican who was a member of the delegation.

[ComerPerro]

1. whats he gonna do for an encore? Don a codpiece and land on a carrier?

[Bluebear]

2. Picture Postcards from Weathervane McCain nt

[babylonsister]

3. This Just In: Snipers on roof to protect their asses! Pleeze! nt

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Flak vest aside, McCain looks like death warmed over.

[Stephanie]

8. He looks awful. Here's another >

This is in Baghdad yesterday too >


http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070401/481/bag10904011627

And this is in NY >


http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070402/photos_ts_afp/e0f2faa042c4114b5d3e3f0d2246d2f4

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. McCain is finished, he has no chance. No way Americans will elect a president who looks like he

might die next week.

It's going to be Thompson (Fred) or Giuliani. Americans like "star power"

[Stephanie]

14. I think you're right.

He's disfigured and the condition is not improving. I'm sorry for his troubles, but I can't believe that a culture that's obsessing about Edwards' hair or Gore's weight is going to be blithe about McCain's obvious problem. Photogs generally cooperate by shooting his right side only but the first debate will be the end of that.

[la la]

20. talking about hair---

check the comb-over on Graham!

[Stephanie]

21. hah! plus he's dying it.

the roots are gray but the ends are brown. hairspray shortage in Iraq revealed that Republican deception, no doubt.

[Phredicles]

22. What IS that big lump on the left side of his jaw?

My hypothesis: It covers the Borg implant through which the Insane Clown Posse are controlling this thoughts, words, and actions. Just a guess, of course.

[Stephanie]

23. it's related to his skin cancer -

it has something to do with blocked glands, as I recall. he's looked this way for at least a year. I assume the skin cancer is probably related to his time as a POW, so you really have to feel for the guy. But I can't see American voters dealing with it very well. I think it will hurt him more than the tall tales he's taken to telling lately.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. He really does not look well, especially in that last pic. (n/t)

[napi21]

6. I've finally decided McCain hascontractedthesame illness Shrub has.

Maybeit happened with that hug on his B-Day. Both of them seem to be more like Bagdad Bob than they do like rational, intelligent men whocouldctually be thehead ofany Country...let alone the USA!

Ya know, I feel morst sorry for Cindy McCain. I like that lady, and shereally IS a Lady. John doesn't deserve her.

My guess, John will not be a viable candidate in the race 6 months from today.

[papau]

7. where are the distance photos showing 100 troops on ground, sniper lookouts on roofs, 3 blackhawks &

2 Apache gunships overhead.

Just your usual citizen stroll.

It was so much like the 25 actors pulling down Saddam's Statue in the beginning - all close-ups, then a year later we see the photos that were shown in the EU of the empty square and the movie set setup for the drop of the statue.

Our US media still uses that fake video. sad.

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. Why doesn't he retire & leave us alone?

This kind of stunt isn't good for anything.

[Swamp Rat]

10. LOOK AT ALL THE CHILDREN THROWING FLOWERS!!!

not :eyes:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

15. Whoa . . . . chills.

[Swamp Rat]

16. Gitmo Gonzales

That is his name from now on. ;)

[Stephanie]

17. Gee, I thought it was a suggestion

that we should "Gitmo" him. let him face a military tribunal, after five years of torture.

[Swamp Rat]

18. Naw

I'm not into torture or the death penalty, for anyone for any reason.

I'd rather see Gonzales spend a decade or so in Iraq helping to rebuild. ;)

[Virginia Dare]

30. Another tour de force, Swamp Rat!...

:applause:

[IndyOp]

33. Wow! Swampy is "Founding Fathers" your creation? Wow! (n/t)

[Swamp Rat]

35. No

I posted it because I like it. ;)

[Sabriel]

11. Where are the 5 Rugs for 5 Dollars?

I don't see the sale signs anywhere.

[Olney Blue]

28. It was a private collectors sale. Invitation only.

[Virginia Dare]

31. He'll probably sell them on ebay for $100 a pop...n/t

[lonestarnot]

12. Shit stew, no pictures of the shit stew!

[jeanmarc]

19. Remind me to stay out of Indiana

It's either that, or having Mike Pence remove his head from his own ass.

[calimary]

24. Why YES, john. I ALWAYS go to the market with my flak jacket on,

and with a hundred troops, sharpshooters, armed guards, police escort, hovering helicopters and gunships, and who knows how many police dogs and crews that swept the place clean before my arrival. How DID you know that I go to the store that way at least twice a week??? And so does everybody else in my neighborhood! Wow, john. Prescient! BTW - who's your tailor?

[Virginia Dare]

32. But he's not wearing a helmet!!!!...n/t

[Imagevision]

25. McCain & Lindsey may as well have done this on a back Hollywood lot...

[Skittles]

26. certainly would have cost the taxpayers a lot less money

:puke:

[JNelson6563]

27. K&R

Keepin' this on page one! :toast:

[Olney Blue]

29. McCain, it's over. Go home.

[sinkingfeeling]

34. I never need a flak vest, sharpshooters, 100 armed guards, and attack helicopters

to walk the 8 blocks to my local farmers' market!! These GOP idiots are insane!