Got gaffe? Just look at McCain

By Patrick Keegan

Filed Under Race for White House 2008 on Jun 11 

This just in from Republican nominee John McCain on the “Today” show early this morning – it’s “not too important” to know when American troops will come back from Iraq.

Brilliant Senator, then tell us what is important?

And sure, I expect the typical “we can’t set timelines” argument from the right. Hey, if that is the truth, I’m game, and say we don’t set timelines or deadlines to get the troops out. But don’t be so idiotic to say it’s not freaking important. By the way, there’s a poll that states that 59% of Americans want the troops home within a year.

Hrmm. Not that important?

A few of the readers on here commented that my posts were not based on “issues”.

I’d call this an issue.

Comments

  • Justin Jackson

    McCain is right. These are career soldiers. The rest of the quote went on to say what was important was the casualty figures. We have soliders stationed all over in places for years and years. The difference is they aren’t being killed on a routine basis.

  • Gary Russell

    Hey Patrick,
    I was referring to the “lumping people together” part. Seems like it goes both ways! Not all of us conservatives look/think/debate/smell/alike!

    And, seriously, I hope you don’t take anything I say as a personal insult! If so, I apologize.

    Of course, I’m not above stooping to POLITICAL insults! But I know that there are good people on both sides of most arguments!

    I’ve enjoyed responding to your posts. I’ve been more active on the PD site lately because of them.

    • Patrick Keegan

      Gary, I try to add words like “most” and “many” when referring to a group of people, sometimes I do forget to add it.

      And no worries, it takes a lot for this Irishman to lose his temper, I don’t take it personally.

      Glad you are enjoying things!

  • Troy La Mana

    The left has been told “when the jobs done” or “as soon as we can safely leave the Iraqi people under there own government” and they don’t want to hear it.

    • Patrick Keegan

      Again, Troy, don’t lump all liberals under the same flag. I’m not a fan of the war, nor do I want the troops there a second longer than they have to be, but I also understand there is a security and logistics issue here.

      You keep lumping people together, you going to make yourself look pretty bad.

      • Gary Russell

        Patrick,
        Care to rationalize your two quotes from this posting?

        From the original post:
        And sure, I expect the typical “we can’t set timelines” argument from the right.

        In response to Troy:
        You keep lumping people together, you going to make yourself look pretty bad.

        • Patrick Keegan

          I don’t care to do it because firstly even if I try to explain it, you’ll likely blow me off or insult me.

          Secondly, I don’t think they are that hard to understand.

          Here it is anyway:

          “We can’t set timelines” is called an invitation for disaster for our military and our goals in Iraq. Apparently if we set timelines, our enemies will just wait until we go and then cause problems.

          I take slight pause to blindly judging those that tell us it’s a mistake to set such timelines. Ever heard of Groupthink? If not, look it up.

          As far as my comment to Troy, I just don’t agree with stereotyping people. He (and several others on this site) continually put anyone who is defined as “liberal” as in favor of something.

          It’s just ignorant to think because someone is a liberal, that they all think the same thing.

          Why is it so bad to ask questions beyond “when the job is done”. If my boss asked me to define more than “when the job is done” and that’s all I could provide, methinks I’d have a problem.

          If you can’t get that, then we’ll just agree to disagree.

  • joe gores

    What about “Barry’s” statement that he campaigned in 57 states!!! you don’t see anyhting about this idiot!! We don’t need a President who doesn’t even know how may states we have!!

    McCain 2008!!

  • Simzo

    I like this site but if the blogs continue to be about clips and soundbites (this one not even a full sentence) I can’t take it anymore.

    Obviously McCain knows it is important when the troops come home.

  • Lazlo

    Even I believe that the rhetoric ‘exit strategies’ and ‘timelines’ are idiotic.

    We should be asking for why we went in…what are our objectives…by what metrics do we measure the objectives achieved…and, of course, what fail safe metrics are there.

    But they would never say why they went in or what metrics they are measuring their success…because this is yet another military invasion investment. When it no longer becomes profitable, they will pull out. But look at how long the UK kept Hong Kong and the how long the US kept Korea. Iraq has a ton of oil…so the US will occupy and control that region for a long time. Not to mention the protect-Israel mandate from our lenders.

  • WilliamK

    Had he said, “when the jobs done” or “as soon as we can safely leave the Iraqi people under there own government” or the like it would be better than “it’s not to important.”

    It is important that we at least plan on bringing the troops home, that we have a goal of getting them home. Bush plans on having 140,000 there till Feb at least (10,000 more than the pre-surge number).

    What I have not heard from anyone is what the goals are for getting the troops home. Beyond “a stabilized Iraq”. How about something we can all look at: X number of schools built, X amount of oil shipped out each day, X amount of roads built, Y less attacks on US troops, Z less attacks on Iraq troops, …

  • AndDru1

    I understand your point Patrick. I also understand that the way to end the war is a safe and secure Iraq, not by simply bringing the troops home.

  • Gary Russell

    Regarding the poll cited…
    Only a fool would conduct a war based on polling.

    Regarding McCain’s comment…
    How would President Lincoln or President Roosevelt have responded to, “Mr. President, when (specifically) will the troops be coming back?

    • Patrick Keegan

      Gary, I can’t disagree with you on the polling point, but if you’d read the post, my point is he said “it’s not important”. I’d have to say it’s pretty important to moms, dads, husbands, wives and children.

      The poll is just a way to show that it is an important issue, event if it a bad idea to let it influence policy.

      And comparing McCain to Lincoln and Roosevelt is a wee bit premature don’t you think? I’d like to think those two would have more intelligence than to say “it’s not important”.

      • HughH

        i don’t believe Gary was comparing McCain to Lincoln or Roosevelt. He was asking how other Presidents might have responded to the question stated.

      • Gary Russell

        “The poll is just a way to show that it is an important issue…” – Patrick, if you feel this way, then a FAR more important issue would have to be a) who will win American Idol; or b) is Brittney wearing any undergarments today. To say that an issue is important simply because a pollster pushes it is not a strong argument.
        [I agree that it is on the hearts and minds of people. But the question is unanswerable by nature, and is designed solely to push the anti-war agenda.]

        You’re right – Lincoln and Roosevelt wouldn’t have responded that way. Lincoln would have laughed so hard at the idiot who asked the question that his wife would have thought that HE was the crazy one. Roosevelt would have asked Eleanor to kindly backhand the clueless reporter up the side of the head (which she would have gladly done).
        McCain’s response didn’t show a lack of “intelligence”. It did, however, demonstrate a maddening politeness that is not serving him well in the political process (as a military hero, he’s got to know a dozen ways to kill a man with his bare hands, doesn’t he?)

        • Patrick Keegan

          And of course, you knew Lincoln and Roosevelt personally enough to know what they are going to say.

          Politeness?

          Man, that’s some good stuff in that Kool Ade.

        • Gary Russell

          Actually, I only met Lincoln once. Played tennis with Roosevelt occasionally…good times, good times!

          Perhaps you mistook my use of the word “politeness” as per McCain’s comments as a compliment to him. If you re-examine, I believe you’ll realize that I was being critical of McCain for not being more agressive. No Kool-Aid here!

        • Patrick Keegan

          Gary, I did mistake that, sorry.

  • Troy La Mana

    Most of the surge troops are home already with the majority home before November. The rest will come home when the situation on the ground permits it. You and I can’t possibly know when that will be. Only the boots on the ground know that.

    I know that won’t ever be good enough for the left but that’s just the way it is.

    • Patrick Keegan

      Don’t be silly, I said I’m fine with not having a milestone or deadline. But McCain’s statement was at best a gaffe and I don’t even want to discuss what it was at worst. He keeps making mistakes like that, Obama will waltz into the White House.

      Your last statement is typical sterotyping from a right wing extremist. (for those of you slow on the up-take, please note my tongue is firmly planted in my cheeck)