John McCain is worried about violence in Iraq, but not just for the obvious reason.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday he fears that al Qaeda or another extremist group might attempt spectacular attacks in Iraq to try to tilt the U.S. election against him.
McCain, at a town hall meeting in this Philadelphia suburb, was asked if he had concerns that anti-American militants in Iraq might ratchet up their activities in Iraq to try to increase casualties in September or October and tip the November election against him.
“Yes, I worry about it,” McCain said. “And I know they pay attention because of the intercepts we have of their communications.”
As Greg Sargent responded, “You know, I keep hearing from Republican pundits and operatives that the specter of terrorism inevitably bolsters the electoral prospects of Republicans. But here McCain says that Al Qaeda would amp up their attacks in Iraq to hurt him. Hard to keep track of this stuff sometimes.”
It is, indeed. I’d just add, however, that I suspect this is an effort to lay the groundwork for future campaign talking points.
McCain, I suspect, is not oblivious to current events, and is well aware that violence and casualty rates in Iraq are rising again. Having staked his claim to the presidency on the so-called “surge” policy, McCain’s already precarious political position gets worse as Iraq’s semblance of stability fades (along with the prospect of progress on political reconciliation).
So, McCain needs an insurance policy. If conditions on the ground in Iraq offer some optimism, he can tell voters, “See? I was right; all we need to do is stay the course and reap the rewards.” If conditions are deteriorating, he can tell voters, “See? I was right; our enemies are acting up to influence the U.S. elections. They’re afraid I’ll win and keep Bush’s policy going indefinitely, so they’re sending a message.”
Heads I win, tails you lose.
No Trackbacks To “McCain ‘worries’ that Iraq violence may help Dems“
FOIST!
I truly despise politics.
I worry that Iraq violence may hurt Iraqi civilians or kill more American servicemen. I guess he and I worry about different things.
Just in time for the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain made an unannounced visit to Iraq. Unfortunately for him, this week’s anniversary highlights that at almost every turn, John McCain has been disastrously wrong about Iraq.
For a catalog of McCain’s erroneous statements, see:
“Forever Wrong: Five Years of John McCain on Iraq.”
“Yes, I worry about it,” McCain said. “And I know they pay attention because of the intercepts we have of their communications.”
Is he talking about Al-Qaeda or democrats?
lol! worry? he should be shitting in his pants!
So Mc Lame, how’s that surge of bullshit, lies, and deception working for you? Don’t think the voters will be fooled again by it in November when you go down in flames.
Dale @ 5:
Both.
If he thinks it’s true and really believes at election time there will be more violence because of his candidacy, then should he do the humane thing and drop out? Can we not hold him accountable for not doing what he can to prevent death and destruction?
Dale Says:
“Yes, I worry about it,” McCain said. “And I know they pay attention because of the intercepts we have of their communications.”
Is he talking about Al-Qaeda or democrats?
Quote This Comment
March 17th, 2008 at 11:21 AM - PDT
Dale, didnt you hear that the dems are working for al-cia-duh… fox noise told me.
Oh dear me, I better keep an eye out for Saddam’s remote controlled model airplanes. Duct tape and plastic wrap is on sale at Kmart so let’s all stock up for the latest terrorist attack.
Yawn.
Violence helps no one. Johnny, you’ll say anything to win. You borrowed Hillary’s playbook.
Unless the US economy completely collapses like a “third world nation”, both parties will have Iraq and Afghanistan in their sites for a long time to come. No new prez is going to start closing US bases and bringin’ home da troops, after all this cash being shifted there. No way.
its the same sick philosophy of fearmongering and media manipulation that has had the USA running right left and for cover for the last eight years and we are sick of it and it is DONE. let little madman boy keep spewing the same tired orwellian bullshit and you’ll see a REAL mandate this november and i aint talkin no 1% fix.
If McCain is already so McScared of the McTerrorists…how can he be expected to face them down in a real McCrisis?
Left&Left @ 12:
9/11 helped Bush. I’m not saying he had anything to do with it.
Sorry - OT - but important.
Wall Street fears Bush Depression By Margareta Pagano, Business Editor
Excerpt:
Wall Street is bracing itself for another week of roller-coaster trading after more than $300 billion
was wiped off the US equity markets on Friday following the emergency funding package
1/5 of a trillion dollar welfare plan for the super-rich put together to rescue Bear Stearns.
One UK economist warned that the world is now close to a 1930s-like Great Depression,
while New York traders said they had never experienced such fear. The Fed’s emergency
funding procedure was first used in the Depression and has rarely been used since.
A Goldman Sachs trader in New York said: ‘Everyone is in a total state of shock, aghast at what
is happening. No one wants to talk, let alone deal; we’re just standing by waiting. Everyone is
nervous about what is going to emerge when trading starts Monday morning.’”
These super-rich Wall Street bastards made billions in profit - where’d that money go?
Why are we bailing out the super-rich when gas costs $60 a tank?
http://www.bartcop.com/
http://www.independent.co.uk/n.....96428.html
did i say “boy” i mean “Geezer” yeah, i’d say “let the old man howl”.
Dale @ 9:
Neocons doing a humane thing? Since when do sociopaths care for others other than themselves and their personal enrichment?
I’d dearly love to hear the intercepted communiques where trrrrrrisssstsss ar talking about election ‘08, you know, like McCain claims to have heard…
It’s not that I don’t believe his comments that he’s heard intercepted messages from our enemies hoping McCain will lose the election.
I’M NOT CALLING MCCAIN A LIAR.
not as far as I know.
However, I suspect those intercepted messages are a ssssssecret (shhhhhhhhhhhh!).
The man is over 70. It seems like over the age of 70 lots of folks “worry” a lot, Especially Old RePUGs. Should this guy be the new chimp in chief? I don’t think so.
Judging by the last seven years of violence, I’d say the terrorists are quite happy with republicans.
Just intercepted: “There will be a fundraiser for Muslim al-Qaeda terrorist Obama in Falouja tonight. Free falafels!”
I am much more likely to be living in a tent in the not too far future if a republican is elected to be president than I am to be attacked by Al-Qaeda if a democrat is elected. I will take my chances with the democrats since living in a tent year round in Texas is not as much fun as it was when I was a kid. McCain, it’s the economy, stupid.
bmw H. 528 @ 19:
Oh yeah.
This type of unsubstantiated, politicized bullshit must have been what Hillary meant when she touted McCain’s vast foreign policy experience.
DumDumDumDum @ 17:
Next on the Food Channel…1,000 and 1 ways to feed your family on a dollar!
I know McCain is trying to amp up his tough guy image and play Democrats as allies of al qaeda, but couldn’t this notion that the enemy will attack because of specific candidate backfire?
Straw-wiretapping argument.
Next on Fox - Fiscal Crisis - The End Result of the New Deal?
Next On CNN - Ben Bernanke - Fiscal Savior
Next on MSNBC - Stock Crash - How will your Hollywood Stars be effected?
Nice of McCain to give them the heads up that we can still intercept their communications. I don’t suppose this would cause a rational terrorist to adjust his activity accordingly or put false information in subsequent communications.
Isn’t that similar to the reason Bush gives for not giving the terrorists the skinny on interrogation practices?
No DUHit’s the republicans war.
How many delegates do the terrorists have? Any superdelegates?
McCain will say or do anything if he thinks it will help his campaign. Just like going to Iraq for a bunch of photo ops. Imagine him getting that phone call at three in the morning. Do you really think he could wake up and clear his head fast enough? I’m doubting it.
Since the vast majority of people know that the dems will have the advantages going into the GE, if the terrorists DIDNT want a McCain presidency, they’d do nothing.
Liberal AND Proud @ 15:
Or these guys?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsR1D-uPanM
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
McCain Working Overtime to Appear as Stupid as Bush
Left&Left @ 26:
Well ya see, that was another sign of her great political instincts. Inevitable, I tell ya, inevitable!
pissed off patricia @ 34:
Any call after 8:00 p.m. is likely to find McCain asleep.
So should we check with the terrorists before we cast our vote in November? Should someone call them or will they leave a message on an intercept?
bmw H. 528 @ 19:
So true. As I posted on another C&L Thread, the International Committee of the Red
Cross just finished their report on conditions in Iraq and have found that conditions
are, at present, the worst of ALL times as to the civilians/natives of that country not having clean drinking water, sanitary conditions and health care. This Red Cross report
is NOT receiving any attention/recognization at all by the MSM..as usual.
“Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday he fears that al Qaeda or another extremist group might attempt spectacular attacks in Iraq to try to tilt the U.S. election against him.”
Someone should tell the terrorists that John Kerry is not running for president.
I see this as hedge betting, if there are more attacks and the media actually covers them, then he can blame the Democrat. If the the attacks stay the same and the media doesn’t cover them like they haven’t been, then he can talk about he was the one who supported the super duper successful surge. So we need to stay if they go up because that is where Al Qaeda is Iran is funding them. We need to stay if they stay the same because we are on the verge of winning. We need to stay if they go down because Iran is next. About 50% of the country is buying this shit.
DumDumDumDum @ 17:
NOOOOOW can march on DC with torches and pitchforks?
Filthy Harry @ 35:
They obviously prefer McCain to win. He’s the one who’d fulfill bin Laden’s goal of an endless war.
liberalHUSSEINmoderation @ 44:
Unfortunately no…we can’t afford pitchforks and torces. I guess we’ll have to use plastic forks and matches.
If you want to read a very good book about the Iraq war, read “Blackwater” by Jeremy Scahill. Not only does the book tell you a lot about the company, Blackwater, but it tells you so much more about the war. I have read just about every book written so far about this war and this is one of the best.
What violence? Mc100yearwar and the rest of the reich-wingers have claimed the war is over and that Iraq has returned to normal.
McSame needs to take a clue from Bush and play up how romantic wars can be. McCain needs to express how he would love to be younger so he