July 22, 2008
Posted: 09:09 AM ET
McCain will continue his pressure on Obama over Iraq.
McCain will continue his pressure on Obama over Iraq.

(CNN) — John McCain is expected to continue his pressure on Barack Obama over Iraq Tuesday, a day after the Illinois senator visited the war-torn country.

At a town hall in New Hampshire, McCain will continue to target Obama for his initial opposition to the surge policy. The Arizona senator is also slated to again take aim at Obama for what he will say is his rival's continued refusal to acknowledge conditions on the ground have improved.

"He'll make the case that…his refusal to see the success on the ground despite universal agreement among Americans shows that he doesn't have the judgment to move American troops forward to victory - only withdrawal and defeat, because that's all Obama has ever supported," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said.

Related: With spotlight on Obama, McCain steps up attacks

Filed under: Barack Obama • John McCain


conde   July 22nd, 2008 12:55 pm ET

Does MCcian know anyone beside general petrous. He call his name and winning the war in Iraq very often that when he gives a town hall meeting you will know that he depend on this general. Can he be his vice president? Does MCcain know that we care more about the economy than his war and winning. We are wondering what will happy to our job, food we eat, loosing homes and bank in big problem. Can he think about those things that is affecting us than oil rich country?

Bob Stephens   July 22nd, 2008 12:50 pm ET

The Iraqa government wants us to leave, but not "bomb bomb" McSame. He wants us to stay for 100 years.

S. Shay   July 22nd, 2008 12:45 pm ET

Obama was right when he said the troop surge itself wouldn't work. The US did more than just add more troops, they are also using bribes. So if we take out the bribes would the reduction in violence still be significant? How do we know the reduction isn't due 100% to the bribes and 0% to the surge? Obama cannot unequivocably give credit to the surge for obvious reasons. Furthermore, no one in the US cares about the success of the surge if it also doesn't mean our troops are coming home shortly. How can McCain on one hand be crying about how the surge is working and at the same time not be talking about our troops coming home? He is the one that has it 'exactly backwards' not Obama.

F. Taylor   July 22nd, 2008 12:41 pm ET

Relax people John McCain is in the process of selecting Mitt Romney as his running mate then the whole world will be able to say America is being run by the Hope Brothers…………..Little Hope & No Hope!

You people keep the world laughing don't let us down in November!

Irma in North Carolina   July 22nd, 2008 12:40 pm ET

Mr Mccain first of all were is your flag pin???? Is this war thing the only thing you are going to talk about, do you think this will win you the presidency. Why dont you talk about the important things that are going on at home. The high gas prices, people lossing their homes and the economy and etc. Perhaps you dont know enough about them to talk about them.

SAGG   July 22nd, 2008 12:40 pm ET

And the desperation from McCain increases…..

Dr.Mimi De La Cruz for OBAMA   July 22nd, 2008 12:37 pm ET

THE WARMONGER JUST WANTS HIS 100 YEAR WAR,

AT A $BILLION PER DAY WHICH WE BORROW FROM

CHINA TO PAY FORE.

HOW & TO WHOM DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?????

Kathryn Irby - Metairie, LA   July 22nd, 2008 12:37 pm ET

As I said previously, McBush is a desperate Repub!!! LOL!

Brian   July 22nd, 2008 12:34 pm ET

YOU'RE BLOWING IT, MCCAIN.

Lorraine   July 22nd, 2008 12:28 pm ET

What pressure? McCain has run out of steam and everything else. He should just go find a golf club and beat himself.

BV   July 22nd, 2008 12:27 pm ET

All this man can process inside his head is fighting a war and that is what he is doing right now. This is just a war with him. It's all that he knows and all that he really cares about. He's going to fight a war that he thinks will get him into the White House. His self proclaimed war is to bring Senator Obama down. Any way any how. This isn't an election process to him it is all out war. This is why he hasn't any other plans that he can truly process and bring to the table on a possitive note. Everything is about taking Senator Obama down piece by piece.
Just wait until he sends in the surge.
There is not one thing positive about this man's campaign.
It scares me to death to think that a man who TRULY lacks the smarts, the diplomacy and the decency needed to run a country could possibly be elected to do so. I just shudder to think of what would lie ahead for us all. There isn't a chance that it could be better than the last eight years. Not a chance in hell.

Foreign observer   July 22nd, 2008 12:27 pm ET

This guy hides the American payments to Sunni street fighters. Withdrawl of troops wouldn´t matter - shorttime withdrawl of money could raise violence immediately.

Tammy - KCMO   July 22nd, 2008 12:24 pm ET

From what I've heard and read, Obama has made the right judgement on what needs to be done.
Withdraw from Iraq and concentrate on Afghanistan…remember Afghanistan Republicans??? Yeah right - that is where you will find Bin Laden. From what I remember after 9/11 - that was what our focus was supposed to be on - capturing the terrorists.
Instead Bush created a whole new playground for the terrorists by invading Iraq - a country we didn't belong in!

Scott, Wichita   July 22nd, 2008 12:20 pm ET

Phil, FL July 22nd, 2008 9:12 am ET

Is he a broken record now? Geeeez - give it a rest John.

We don't want more Bush, so just relax and try to remember what's going on instead of " blah blah blah over and over and over and over……..".

Obama '08

Ahem *cough
"Yes We Can"
"McBush"
"Change We Can Beleive In"
*end cough

before saying something like that, consider if your side has anything like that, because we're getting tired of Obama's Zombies and their mindless sayings without any meaning

GIFTY   July 22nd, 2008 12:19 pm ET

John, Stay the Course!

georgia   July 22nd, 2008 12:15 pm ET

Pathetic McSame ! Your time has gone & your desparation is showing big time !!!!!! Ride off into the sunset w/ your cronies W & Cheney > It sould be prison for them !!

baracomama   July 22nd, 2008 12:12 pm ET

McCain you should just admit with all of your many years of experience you are just out of you leaque.. If you think its bad know wait till this young whipper- snapper comes back and hits you with the other side of his one two punch and lands the economy … and then he will add a vice president to the fight and you are out ….

Will-South Dakota   July 22nd, 2008 12:11 pm ET

McSame voted for faulty intelligence to go to war(he took Bush's word on it) he voted for a surge, voted against medical care and benefits for veterans, voted for a surge in the wrong country, wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years, says he knows how to win wars….except he was POW for 5 years during the Vietnam war…..how does that qualify him to win a war? Obama has been right all along during the Iraq debate, the Iraqi govenment wants time tables for the US to leave…what does this do to McSames war plans? Do yuou think he has thrown a temper tantrum over the Iraqi's calling for a time table and supporting what Obama has been saying……

California Gold   July 22nd, 2008 12:08 pm ET

Seems to me Obama's surge in the polls and with the American voter is the real surge McCain ought to be concerned with.

Franky   July 22nd, 2008 12:08 pm ET

You know what's funny?? I wonder what the Reps are gonna talk about when is all finished! LOL!!! It seems like this is all they know……….and the ironic part is, they don't even know!! LOL!!!

GET Over IT!!!!   July 22nd, 2008 12:06 pm ET

Gary—-AMERICA GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE.
NO Gary
NO MCAIN
NO Giuliani

The World is better without these3 IDIOTS!!!

manubi   July 22nd, 2008 12:04 pm ET

Mr. McCain, an expert in Middle East politics and War, needs to know that Iraq and Pakistan are not neighbors!

manubi   July 22nd, 2008 12:03 pm ET

Mr. McCain, please denounce the statement that was made by your pal, Bud Day. Remember he said that Muslim will kill this country? Although the news media is not covering this, don't ever think that regular people forgot about it. Please repudiate and denounce this comment becuase there are terrorists in every religion (ie, Timonthy McVeigh is catholic). Please do NOT mix religion and politics!

Chris   July 22nd, 2008 12:02 pm ET

OMG, I have been dreaming of a Mccain Jindal ticket….am I dreaming or is it really going to be true? Honestly folks….it matters not if you are a dem, a repub or an indie….you need to read and listen to this guy. Jindal is one of those once in a life time politician that is so very rare in these days and age. This guy is a genuine genius with a burning desire to be effective. The changes he has managed to make in LA and the accomplishments he has done in 37 years are rare……very very rare. I do believe we are a fortunate country to have someone like Jindal in governement. Jindal is the sort of person who will set a new standard and raise the bar on what effective leadership ought to be, should be and will be! Sorry for going on and on…but I don't get excited over a politican ever….but I must and I need to do it now. Win or loose, this country needs to know that we will be ok with someone like JIndal around in washington….and that is all I have to say.

Ex-Republican for Obama   July 22nd, 2008 12:02 pm ET

In other words:

Johnny will continue to whine and cry. He will continue to base his campaign on pointing at others and blaming them for your problems. He will offer no solutions nor inspiration. He will not release his military records nor will he work to remedy the wrongs he has done to our military with his voting pattern. Johnny cannot come up with valid solutions, and as such, he will do nothing other then cry. And yes America, this is what he will do as a president for you, you should elect him.

Debby   July 22nd, 2008 12:01 pm ET

I have to agree with McCain and Robert where do you get 70% wants us out?

Seattle Sue   July 22nd, 2008 12:00 pm ET

Why would I trust McCain, Bush, Cheney, or any of the GOP gang? I for one am sick and tired of being lied/mislead to. This has been the most secrective and corrupt administration I have seen in my life time.

Venus   July 22nd, 2008 11:59 am ET

McSame needs to re-do his essay - he got a D from NYT!

Go Obama!

J. Richter   July 22nd, 2008 11:53 am ET

We put the Sunni militia on our payroll and they stopped fighting us and the Shiites. Then we claim the surge did this. We could have saved billions and lives to get the same point.

If we did what Obama wanted:
We would have 4000+ American kids still alive.
We would have 30,000+ American kids healthy and with all their limbs in tact.
We would have a military that isn't near the breaking point.
We would have $800+ billion still in our Treasury.
We would have finished the job in Afghanistan years ago.
We wouldn't been seen around the world as Imperialist.
We wouldn't have an empowered and emboldened Iran.

Pat   July 22nd, 2008 11:52 am ET

McCain should drink more Beer Revenues. I hear Beer is good for the mind and it's obvious his mind is in dire need of something! How old is he? I think he's only got about another year before senility completely takes over. Everyone I've ever known has lost it after 78yrs! And it's obvious he isn't far from the cliff!

aaa   July 22nd, 2008 11:52 am ET

mccain dont cry it ok!!!!! old, fraud ,mcbus, mcshame thats all you stand for

Sarah Bonner   July 22nd, 2008 11:49 am ET

"we were lied to ,pure and simple and mccain exacerbated and supported those lies."

I'm not sure McCain was even able to tell they were lies. I truly think he believes these things…and that's even scarier. Everything Bush and Co said played into McCain's vision of finally being able to go back to win a war he didn't get to really participate in as a fighting man. His days in conflict were spent as a prisoner, not a soldier.

Interestingly enough, there's a new report due out in about a month recommending even a more stringent timeline than Obama has endorsed, and this one is from the Pentagon. Check out the article in Newsweek, here's an excerpt;

"Barack Obama is taking heat for hinting that he might refine his 16-month timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. But a forthcoming Pentagon-sponsored report will recommend an even steeper drawdown in less time, NEWSWEEK has learned. If adopted, the 300-page report by a defense analysis group at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., could transform the debate about Iraq in the presidential election.
Expected to be completed in about a month, it will recommend that U.S. forces be reduced to as few as 50,000 by the spring of 2009, down from about 150,000 now. The strategy is based on a major handoff to the increasingly successful Iraqi Army, with platoon-size U.S. detachments backing the Iraqis from small outposts, with air support. The large U.S. forward operating bases that house the bulk of U.S. troops would be mostly abandoned, and the role of Special Forces would increase."

How do you like them apples Fighting McCain?

Chuck   July 22nd, 2008 11:49 am ET

McCain needs to find something else to talk about. He was wrong, from the get go. And there is not concrete proof that it was the surge in troops that resolved the incountry sectorial blood letting. I think all that stopped when the warring factions agreed to disagree but to get along and stop killing each other. As far as alkeida (sp), they will never be stopped 100%. Not in Iraq or Afganistan. Extreemist/Terrorists will always exist as long as this human race exists. We have them here in the US, they are called eco-terrorists. Timothy McVey (sp) was a disenfranchised terrorist. However, the point is that the terrorist have pretty much gone underground, while the majority of them have moved to Afganistan, what do you think? Sounds plausable to me. No matter where you go you will have some people that have an extreem view in their beliefs and when that extreemism over rides the moral values of life you have a potential terrorist.

Dan   July 22nd, 2008 11:48 am ET

It sucks for W and WcCain that Iraq has gotten all "sovereigny" lately don't it?

Dan   July 22nd, 2008 11:46 am ET

WcCain = Senile version of W

Period.

EC   July 22nd, 2008 11:44 am ET

FRANS MS- so now the U.S.A. has 57 states! obama is brilliant-lets hire him as a geography teacher.

Ellie in Aurora, CO   July 22nd, 2008 11:41 am ET

To "The Truth Cannot Be Hidden" who is clearly hiding the truth from himself!! I knew it would happen - a soon as someone had the balls to say what really stopped the violence in Iraq, they would be labeled as dissing our troops. It WAS the Sunnis who, being paid by us, decided to switch sides instead of continueing the bombing. It WAS the Shia cease fire. Obama has been nothing but respectful of our troops and have stated that they have done a brilliant job, but the fact is - there were many factors that lead to the reduced violence, least of all was the surge!!

Clark Shaffer   July 22nd, 2008 11:41 am ET

Same tired message/messenger. He really doesn't seem to get it even after his NYTimes piece was rejected, he needs to put forth some ideas, not just criticisms! No more McSame..now it's McClueless!

Chris   July 22nd, 2008 11:40 am ET

McCain only thinks/speaks about

war
surge
war
surge
war
surge

where's the plan for economy? healthcare? social security?….

G   July 22nd, 2008 11:40 am ET

McCain is supporting imperialism, no matter how he dresses it up. A sovereign nation wants our troops to leave. Well, that's no surprise. If armed troops from Britain were here, we would…. oh, wait, we already did that and called it a Revolution. Hmmm.

EC   July 22nd, 2008 11:39 am ET

Obama can not be trusted, his views and promises change with the wind. McCain has been consistant, and was right as it relates to the surge, and it has worked! American's are there to fight evil and librerate Iraq woman, children, and men. obama is a jonnie come later, or hollow man!

EMJ   July 22nd, 2008 11:39 am ET

The debates will be the end of John McCain. Just like the Kenndey/Nixon debates America will see new versus very, very old.
I couldn't get my post on the Jindal story. How can he be a VP at his age? If McCain wins then dies could a VP Lindal be president in his late 30's?

Casey | Tecumseh, Missouri   July 22nd, 2008 11:39 am ET

McCain can attempt to keep saying the same thing over and over and hope that (like himself) people will eventually believe it, but don't hold your breath, John.

He really just ought to take the opportunity to stay mum so that he doesn't commit another faux paux and let everyone know, once again, how geographically challenged he is.

Xango   July 22nd, 2008 11:38 am ET

who cares?

NO country for this old man.

Coops in Toronto, Canada   July 22nd, 2008 11:37 am ET

Washington Post wrote:" Young Republicans, Blue About the Prospects Ahead" The Young Republicans went on to say "You don't hear Barack Obama going around saying, 'I'm John F. Kennedy.' He's saying, 'I'm Barack Obama,' " All says. "There's a reason for that. He's inspiring an entire generation, and it's a generation that's trying to change the world in 160 characters or less through text messages."

McLAME   July 22nd, 2008 11:37 am ET

John is sooooooooooooo out of touch with reality it's comical. Soon he will be saying that he took part in the so called "surge".

Surge 101: Pay people to be your friends.

Billions of your money going to Sunni tribes to keep them quite, and sh!t for brains McCain thinks we can do this for another 100 years.

Ellie in Aurora, CO   July 22nd, 2008 11:36 am ET

McCain is The Surge candidate. That's all he can talk about. Perhaps he should pay more attention to the surging mortgage problem, the surging gas and food prices, the surging need for CHANGE!!!!

Sue/PA   July 22nd, 2008 11:36 am ET

John McCains problem with withdrawl is not that it means our troops were defeated….it means that McCain/Bush/Cheney wont get the oil contracts they have been seeking the last 6 yrs, which they have been urgently seeking these contracts over the last several months…and have not obtained yet.

David from Ohio   July 22nd, 2008 11:36 am ET

The "surge" wouldn't have been necessary if: (1) McCain and others didn't give Bush a blank check to invade Iraq; and (2) McCain and others hadn't been asleep at the switch after we did invade and allow Bush to wait for three years before changing strategy. I believe that there were military leaders at the time that suggested more troops be used to begin with, but were shouted down by Rumsfeld and Cheney, who never having served in the military, knew better. I love how the rationale for invading changed from WMDs, to removing Saddam, to the front lines again terrorists to spreading democracy to the Middle East. Now the argument is apparently now, yeah we screwed up but we've fixed it now, so we were right all along.

MMN-Milwaukee WI   July 22nd, 2008 11:33 am ET

Truth be told if the USA stops spending $800,000 a week to bribe Sunis and Shiites not to fight each other the Surge will look like a joke.

Kent, OR   July 22nd, 2008 11:32 am ET

Thanks for your service, see ya.

Doug   July 22nd, 2008 11:32 am ET

Now that President Bush has fallen in line with the Obama Plan (a time-line for withdrawal in Iraq, redeployment of troops to Afghanistan, negotiations with Iran without preconditions), isn't it time for McCain to get on board?

Jake, KS   July 22nd, 2008 11:31 am ET

Send this putz packing for Arizona.

Newsdiva   July 22nd, 2008 11:30 am ET

What's with all the non-news about McGramps today??? Good Lord, I guess somebody has to cover this old fart…but no matter how you slice it, Obama is top seed today and everyday.

Mcbush can TRY to "steal the spotlight" from our next President, but it won't work for more than 10 minutes tops. Why? 'Cause Barak has got it like that and his astute political team knows exactly how to keep that grumpy OLD MAN on the back burner where he belongs.

So here's hoping you folks who seem to only want to shove the ancient, angry man (McBush) ahead of Obama will post this comment!! Just asking for some fairness and balance in this ticker today. Thanks!

Obama 08 & 12

Isaac, MO   July 22nd, 2008 11:30 am ET

Old man stands on platform to be closer to clouds, so he can really yell.

PCL   July 22nd, 2008 11:29 am ET

Will someone remind McCain that his bad judgment on Iraq is what made a "surge" necessary in the first place.

His bad judgment cost 4000+ American lives and countless billions of dollars we need at home. No one even mentions the 20,000+ wounded anymore.

Will someone remind him that the "surge" is what helped Afghanistan fall apart and Bin Laden to remain at large.

Will somone remind him that the Afghans WANT US in their country. The Iraqis don't. The Afghans welcomed us as liberators and still do.

People, don't succumb to the Jedi Mind Trick.

Andy in Charlotte, NC   July 22nd, 2008 11:28 am ET

I saw an interview where McCain was getting all mixed between the Sunnis and Shiites, and singing "Bomb Iran", and talking about Iranians dying from smoking American cigarettes. I wonder if he feels the same way about Americans dying from drunk drivers because of his millionaire wife's beer? McCain needs to realize that yes, the surge has helped quell some violence…but it's still a mess, and the Iraqis want to take back their country. We can't going policing the world…it irritates nations, kills people, and costs taxpayers loads of money! I think he is just bitter over his experience in Vietnam and wants some revenge of any kind.

Harry, DE   July 22nd, 2008 11:28 am ET

Anybody that George Bush hugs and kisses, does NOT get my vote.

James Hussein, SC   July 22nd, 2008 11:27 am ET

Hey THE TRUTH CAN NOT BE HIDDEN!

What 's a SUMMI??????

Gary, WA   July 22nd, 2008 11:27 am ET

Imagine John McLame charging up the hill. "Okay, troops we're going to attack Iraq, no Pakistan, no India, no Czechoslovakia, no Canada….oh forget it, I'm going home".

I'm telling you folks, he's not ready for prime time. Late night maybe, but not prime time.

Robert   July 22nd, 2008 11:26 am ET

Let's see, 70% of the US wants out, 70% of the Iraqi's want the US out. Yet we're not getting out. Have we turned into a military state?

Michele Hussein, Oregon   July 22nd, 2008 11:25 am ET

Enough already with your p-ing contests Senator McCain! You just don't get the philosophical or strategical differences of peacemaking vs. warmaking. All head with the wrong emphasis and little heart. At this time my head nor my heart can vote for you.

A steady heart beat for what, MoveOn?

Robert   July 22nd, 2008 11:25 am ET

Would someone tell me what the US gained in this war in Iraq? Like I care if Iraqi's are free or not.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   July 22nd, 2008 11:25 am ET

THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP DESERVES THE CREDIT FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN IRAQ, NOT JOHN MCCAIN. MCCAIN'S A FRAUD, HE DIDN'T SUPPORT TROOPS WHEN THE GENERALS ASKED RUMSFELD FOR BETTER EQUIPMENT AND HE TOLD THEM YOU GO TO WAR WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, MCCAIN SAID NOTHING, HE REMAINED SILENT. NOW HE WANTS YOU TO SUPPORT HIM. THINK ABOUT IT.

Fran, MS   July 22nd, 2008 11:24 am ET

So now Iraq has a new border, Pakistan? This man is brilliant–let's hire him as a Geography teacher.

Donna from Colorado Springs   July 22nd, 2008 11:23 am ET

Dear Mr. McBush; people are really tired of hearing the same old whiny rhetoric from you about the surge working, We really don't care what you think about Obamas plans for the future. At least he has plans that are doable and will create stability for this country after the last 8 years of complete chaos. You need to concentrate of things that us ordinary people worry about, like the economy. Oh, I'm sorry John. That's just one more thing you know nothing about. So, you and your republican buddies sit up there on your high horses and spin this lie and that lie about Obama and see how far you get come November.

ali   July 22nd, 2008 11:23 am ET

ummm….obama said the 'surge' has had a positive effect,but,he cannot credit the 'surge' alone,because the surge had nothing to do with the awakening councils,whom we're paying monthly salaries to,and al sadr's cease-fire order.not to mention the sunnis and shias have already ethnically cleansed eack others' neighborhoods.the political goals of the 'surge' are still lagging way behind,and we're still paying 10 billion a month on bush's fiasco.this war was still illegal and never should have been fought.we were lied to ,pure and simple and mccain exacerbated and supported those lies.

PUMA'S UNITE WITH OBAMA!   July 22nd, 2008 11:23 am ET

This lunatic CANNOT be allowed into the white house! Can you imagine 4 more years of this crazed distortion of reality??

Ed, MD   July 22nd, 2008 11:22 am ET

Old man continues to shout at more clouds.

This is a wrap, and Barack is going to clean up in November.

therealist   July 22nd, 2008 11:22 am ET

Withdrawal and a Bush defeat. The progressives way of rooting on terrorism. I mean…, is Obama going to chase Osama, or anyone else, into Pakastan?? What a joke!

Biffington, Biff   July 22nd, 2008 11:21 am ET

Does anyone recognize the attack-attack-attack style, while NEVER veering from the coordinated message?

I recognize this….

I can see the guy who ran Bush's campaign now getting it together for the McCain campaign…

his 'message' of (McCain fantastic, Obama horrific) is getting louder and louder… (while of course, growing more and more tired)

David, IN   July 22nd, 2008 11:21 am ET

Now we owe billions of dollars to the Chinese for goodness sake. John McCain voted for a stupid war and now he wants congratulations for sending more troops to finish a job that they should never have authorized.

I'm not going to thank him for returning a wallet that he stole.

He's a moron, and anyone who votes for him is as well.

Cricket   July 22nd, 2008 11:21 am ET

If, as McCain insists, we've won or are winning the war, why can't he move onto something else? Maybe because that's all he knows?? His choice of VP probably won't distract very much from Obamas' trip. I'm not sure anything he does could distract from it. Sen. Obama is taking a great chance in visiting some very dangerous areas. Hopefully the people and leaders of these countries will recognize him as being the absolute opposite of GWB, thus restoring some of the respect we've lost in the last 8 years.
As a white, female, Independent voter, I cannot understand how any woman could ever vote for McCain. His voting record, combined with the utterly disgusting way he tossed aside his first wife, leaves no room for respect from me. It shows a total lack of character and integrity.
Sen. Obama, not only a very intelligent candidate, but also a devout Chrsitian (NOT MUSLIM), and devoted husband and father is what our country needs to put us back on the right track.
I pray for his success and a safe return home.

OBAMA '08
Most of my comments don't get posted-but I continue to try!!

Doug   July 22nd, 2008 11:20 am ET

It has been pointed out by more than one person lately and by more than one event historically: Whenever you send a greater fighting force, you will see success to some extent, either great or not so great, but still some "improvement".
Look at WWII: We went there in a serious way on June 6, 1944 and by April 1945, we had saved all of Europe! Pretty good improvement.
Look at now: We went in with a surge last summer into one pitiful little third world country that has virtually no fighting force of its own and we've seen slightly better than marginal improvement in conditions there. Not too impressive.
It took less time to save all of Europe in 1944-45 than it takes to save a small backward country in 2007-08.
What is the problem?

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah   July 22nd, 2008 11:18 am ET

"If Sen. Obama had had his way, the troops would have been out by this past March, and Sen. Obama voted to cut off funding for our troops in Iraq," McCain said to reporters

Yes, yes, you are so right McWar and if Obama would of had his way 4200 Americans would still be alive. We would have saved 4 trillion dollars and had lower oil prices. keep talking Mcwar you are helping Obama win this thing.

I am still waiting for someone to tell me what we have gained by this war in Iraq? What have we gained?

Marilyn from Ohio   July 22nd, 2008 11:18 am ET

Give it up, John! You are starting to sound like an old grandpa who should be in a rocking chair!

PEACE!!!!   July 22nd, 2008 11:18 am ET

McCain have you forgotten that you said Obama needed to go to Iraq because he hasn’t been there and isn’t up to date with foreign affairs and now that he is there you act like he is interferring .
If the surge was so successful, shouldn't we leave? McCain the more you ATTACK the more we realize you don't want to talk about the ECONOMY ……..Let's ALL let McCain HEAR it the surge has improved conditions and they want us to LEAVE……..LET it GO OLD HOG JAW!!!

Curt, SD   July 22nd, 2008 11:17 am ET

Trust me there's not pressure. Barack is right for the country and McSame is wrong. John can keep up the pressure to hoodwink us, but it won't work.

logically incompatible   July 22nd, 2008 11:16 am ET

First, McCain says "The 'Surge' has succeeded."

Second McCain says, "If we withdraw, there will be chaos."

These are logically incompatible positions because:

If the 'Surge' has really succeeded, we should be able to withdraw without leaving chaos.

If we withdraw and chaos results, then the Surge has failed by every measure.

How many more of our gallant men and women will Bush/McCain kill and maim just to save face - just to avoid admitting they were wrong? They purchase their self-satisfaction with the lives and limbs of our soldiers. It has to end now.

JJ   July 22nd, 2008 11:15 am ET

Has McCain and his camp picked up and read a newspaper lately? Economy is the number one issue on American's minds these days. Not the Iraq war. Please stick with the subjects and the issues and stop trying to attack. The more he atttacks, the less capable he seems to be able to turn this country around.

gary   July 22nd, 2008 11:13 am ET

SEEMS TO ME THATS ALL OBAMA COULD THROW IN TO THE CANIDATES FACE IS IRAQ YOU YOUNG LOST MINDED O.B. FOLLOWERS. OBAMA IS JUST A BIG —-JOKE. BIG MEDIA CIRCUS FOR THE CLOWN. HE DOSN'T WALK ON WATER YOU DREAMERS.OBAMA ONLY WENT OVERSEAS BECAUSE M,CCAIN PUSHED IT. OBAMA HAD TO GET HIS MEDIA CIRCUS TO FOLLOW.WHEN I WANT A LAUGH I WAKE UP TO HEAR O.B.'S B.S. THE MEDIA SHOULD BE FAIR TO ALL CANIDATES. SEEMS YOU HAVE TO BE A DIFFERENT COLOR BEFORE YOU GET SPECIAL TREATMENT. IAM NOT RACIST ,BUT THIS WHOLE COVERAGE THROUGH THIS RACE IS DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE OTHER CANIDATES. TRUTH IS THE TRUTH ,BUT YOU YOUNG MORONS CANT ADMITT IT. AMERICA GETS WHAT THEY DESERVE.

Political Junkie   July 22nd, 2008 11:13 am ET

I wonder if the only McCain has in his Campaign repertoire is talking about what's wrong with OBama

McCain = War   July 22nd, 2008 11:12 am ET

It's a shame that this man, at his age, is having to resort to rants to try to make himself look good.

Desperation always makes itself obvious…..

PUMA-Jessie   July 22nd, 2008 11:10 am ET

Do not worry, Obama is a serial flip flopper and if necessay he will flip back to waiting to see what happens on the ground in Irag. Remember he was for the 16 months before he was going to talk with the military and then back again to the 16 months, he is so slick he can easily slide back to the waiting. He has fliped on FISA, trade, abortion, gun control, an undivided Jerusalem, using church-based institutions to deliver services to the poor, teachers pay and the spocial seurity tax. He will do or say anything to win a vote.

BAnderson   July 22nd, 2008 11:07 am ET

CNN I guess the McCain campaign's strategy worked. They don't have advertise to get their message out because now you are doing it for them. First they accused the media of giving Obama preferential treatment in the media. Now the media is trying so hard to be quote unquote unbiased and the end result is one candidate is overseas unable to defend himself from partisan attacks and the media doesn't call Senator McCain out on this. Since when do you attack a politican while they are overseas? I challenge the media to call these people out on this stuff. Do your job.

Linda from Prescott AZ   July 22nd, 2008 11:06 am ET

It certainly appears that the more the Senator from Arizona opens his mouth, the more ludicrous the statements become. He appears to be trying to take every position possible hoping that one will catch on.

I think this nominee is clearly going to give the Republicans nightmares for years to come, he makes one mis-statement after the other and for Goodness Sake, will someone please buy him a globe so he can check is geography references.

Go OBAMA

Julie, WI   July 22nd, 2008 11:06 am ET

And still no other policy issues, other than war, in sight and yet people will still vote for him. OMG, help the U.S. if he is the next president.

Thomas, Illinois   July 22nd, 2008 11:06 am ET

Terry…So true, you think he's tongue tied now..Wait until the debates…Can you say,,CHOKE….Obama 08

steve dumford, Scotts valley ca.   July 22nd, 2008 11:05 am ET

I see the Obambots are going to clog these blogs with their venom the same way they did when their Mr. Nothing was still running against Hillary.
The fact is that Mr. Nothings position has changed on troop withdrawal and Iraq to where McCains position always has been and that is that troop wihtdrawals will depend on conditions on the ground
No amount of hateful venom and insults from slobbering Obamabots will change that.

Sarah   July 22nd, 2008 11:04 am ET

Obama is smart gifted man…
He met with the tribal Sunni elders yesterday…Those are the one who stopped the killing, not more troops
McSame knows how to start wars (by voting to authorize Iraq war)…Obama is coming to clean the mess created by Bush/ McCain.

Janey/Michigan   July 22nd, 2008 11:04 am ET

What gives Obama the right to go to Jordan and make inflammatory statements as if he is already President? He obviously has no respect for the US govt and seems, now to be pandering to Maliki and does not realize how much the US has given to Iraq for democracy. We may as well have sent Michael Moore with him to, basically, slam the United States and it's Allies–even pandering to Palestine in his press session!

Maggie Muggins From Selwyn   July 22nd, 2008 11:04 am ET

Hey everyone we've found out why Phil Gramm thinks everything is mental and people are just whiners.

To date the McCain campaign has exemplified Phil's thought process and proven it to be true with one exception it isn't the citizens of the U.S. who are in a defunct mental state and whiners it's the Republican Party.

jason, tx   July 22nd, 2008 11:03 am ET

McCain, just stop. you have nothing. Oh, and leaving Iraq is not defeat, it's common sense.

Tim   July 22nd, 2008 11:02 am ET

I'll leave it to the historians to determine if it was a good decision to start the Iraq war, but once we were there, it was critical that we WIN the war. I'm sure most americans would rather win than walk away and leave a dangerous mess.

Our shift in strategy last year to send more troops, push hard on the Iraqi army to grow and gain strength and deploy a counterinsurgency strategy with the SUNNI against Al-Queda has allowed us to be in a postion to win the war and slowly pull our combat troops out over the next period of time.

It was the right thing to do and McCain supported it and Obama did not.

We will come out successfully.

karen-phoenix   July 22nd, 2008 11:01 am ET

I do think he protests to much!!! McCain represents old school and Obama represents new school. I'm 64 and do not want to be reminded of two failed wars-VN and Iraq! Lost to many friends. I want peace!!! Peace is patriotic!!! There is NO "winning" the Iraq war for the United States. The Iraqes will win. It's THEIR country and we destroyed it. PEACE and more PEACE. This is what Obama represents and a new beginning for the United States!!! Out with the old and in with the new. Such is life!!!

LT for Obama   July 22nd, 2008 11:01 am ET

He says that Obama refuses to acknowledge the success of the surge. The interview I saw last night on ABC's Nightline proves that McCain just likes to lie. Obama did admit to the success and what he sees as why the surge worked even though he did not anticipate the success.

Get a new line McCain and get a clue.

arun   July 22nd, 2008 11:00 am ET

"We need a consistent, steady beat for the heart of the White House and McCain is the only candidate with the experience to deliver it."

Not if that beat goes along the lines of "Bomb Iran"

Atlian   July 22nd, 2008 11:00 am ET

So what exactly did WE win in Iraq?

Love My USA   July 22nd, 2008 10:59 am ET

Has anybody heard if Barack Hussein Obama has served in The American Armed Services? This is for all you Barack voters. From Barack's book, Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'HE DID NOT SAY STAND WITH AMERICANS!!!!! Think about it….

Did you all know that MCCains sons are in the service (3).

Licht   July 22nd, 2008 10:58 am ET

If the Iraqi government wants the USA to get out, then we should go out, otherwise we are just imperialists and hypocrites.

Jason, OH   July 22nd, 2008 10:58 am ET

Instead of playing RIGHT or WRONG war games, Obama will rightfully move on to brokering diplomatic ties with the Iraqi government. For some reason, most Republicans seems have a hard time grasping that this sort of move should have been initiated in FULL force much sooner. The ability to conduct a smooth Iraqui sovereignty will not be based on how many troops we can continue to re-deploy there, but how the Iraqi's govern themselves with Iran and Pakistan hovering on their borders.

Real strength comes from diplomatic independency. Lead by example and let everything else take care of itself. Obama understands this, and that's why he will be the one who will chaperon US liaisons with the Middle East like we've never seen before.

Steve (Independent)   July 22nd, 2008 10:58 am ET

Again? *yawn*

Montana is Obama Country   July 22nd, 2008 10:56 am ET

*
I see today.. CNN is stepping up the coverage of McWhiner..

"Why don't they cover me… (whaaaa….whaaaa).. I make great gaffes"

*

al   July 22nd, 2008 10:55 am ET

***********************************************

WAH………..WAH……………WAH…………….

A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLAINING AND OFFERING NO SOLUTIONS.

A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE MAN. REPUBLICAN MACHINE IS IN FULL SWING.

IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT YOU DO, BOTTOM LINE, YOUR LOOKING AT THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SIMPLY BECAUSE HE'S A BETTER CANDIDATE.

STOP THE MADNESS. VOTE OBAMA.

Jimmy in NJ   July 22nd, 2008 10:55 am ET

Ho Hum McCain. Your arguments are getting old too!

cherrystrawberry   July 22nd, 2008 10:55 am ET

Mc2Old is Sad…..and Pathetic

Unshrub   July 22nd, 2008 10:54 am ET

Let's get this right; McCain says that we should reward those who made the bad choice of invading Iraq by electing them president because they now claim they fixed the problem. They have not fixed the problem they created because there are more terrorists in the world because of the war they supported in Iraq, our economy is in shambles because of the war in Iraq, we have over 4,000 dead because of the war in Iraq, and we are in trouble in Afghanistan because of the war in Iraq. That doesn't sound like they have seceded to me.

Obama 08: white, 60 year old woman   July 22nd, 2008 10:54 am ET

I just watched Obama's press conference from Jordan and heard a man who sees a world view of many components, and regions for American actions and diplomacy.

McCain, on the other hand, is stuck in and on Iraq. When is he going to give us his world view and when, after more than two years, is he going to visit Afghanistan to see the reality on the ground there. McCain has to do more than constantly attack Obama and the "surge" and tell voters what his vision for the future is.

Chipster   July 22nd, 2008 10:52 am ET

McCain will "keep up the Iraq pressure?" What pressure? The McBush Iraq policy is simple: Never Leave Iraq

If we can't leave because things are so bad and now we can't leave when adding more troops reduces the violence (well, duh!), then we simply cannot ever leave. Isn't that why the permanent bases were being built?

If voters want our troops to come home, they need to vote for Democratic candidates. It's really that simple. Republicans will remain in Iraq and move on to Iran. China? North Korea? Nah - don't be silly - there's no oil there.

AA   July 22nd, 2008 10:52 am ET

I would never vote for John McCain if he makes "rape" jokes. Jokes like that are really in bad taste. It really reveals who McCain really is and his horrible personality.

What if?   July 22nd, 2008 10:52 am ET

Didn't McBush and his camp state the other day that while Obama was traveling overseas, he was going to spend the time sticking to issues that voters care most about, namely the AILING ECONOMY.

Nothing has changed, McSame is trying to use bulling and scare tactics to get voters to second guess themselves. Some of us would have thought that McSame would have learned before, when he tried to use Obama’s limited traveling overseas to fool the voters into voting for him and that back fired.

Now that Obama is traveling overseas, It is obvious that McSame only cares about scare tactics and himself winning votes, he is so out of touch with the 98% of American that he stated he would be sticking to issues that voters care most. If this back fires again by trying to discredit Obama, he can only blame himself.

Same McBush, say one thing and do another..……..sticking to issues that we the voters care most about, YEA….RIGHT!

Obama 08

kendall   July 22nd, 2008 10:49 am ET

McCain is making a point, Obama has no military experience, and would bring American troops from Iraq and redeploy agaist the militia that we really need to target, It's a shame that Mccain's point is making him look bad, first the surge which is really an escalation is working, and no he's trying to keep up with Obama in mentioning that he will bring U.S. troops hom by the end of his first term, never mind last month it would be a permanent duty station for troops for generations or even a 100 years, McCain looks like politics as usual and he can't keep up with Obama

Isaac   July 22nd, 2008 10:49 am ET

McCain keeps on saying that America will leave Iraq subject to conditions on the ground, is that a Republican way to say that America will be there for a 100 years?

America was not supposed to be in, they are in & the Politician who hates war does not want them out, please someone help me understand what McCain really wants, really realy wants.

Less   July 22nd, 2008 10:47 am ET

McCain needs to just drop out of the election. He has no business running for president.

McCain has nothing positive to offer our American troops or us. His verbal expressions show his lack of real concern on just what the troops are actually feeling and going through.

Obama for President !

:o}

RyanD.   July 22nd, 2008 10:47 am ET

The Iraqi government wants a timetable.
The Iraqi people want a timetable.
The American people want a timetable.
Obama has a presented a timetable, yet McCain simultaneously refuses yet claims victory?

What is there to argue here? McCain is confused and running out of gas.

Obama 08′

Independent-woman-4-Obama   July 22nd, 2008 10:46 am ET

That's ALL McCain has is Iraq. He's dead-in-the-water on the NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR AMERICANS: THE ECONOMY. With the likes of Phil Gramm advising him, McCain knows he has to stay away from the ECONOMY.

So, folks, after 8 years of Republicans in the White House (and Congress for 12 years until '06) ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY?????????????

HOW CAN MCCAIN BLAME OBAMA FOR RISING FUEL PRICES, WHEN HE VOTED FOR THE BAN OF OFFSHORE DRILLING AND HE VOTED TO NOT ONLY DRILL IN ANWAR BUT TO ALLOW THE SALE OF THAT OIL TO OTHER COUNTRIES!

FLIP-FLOP.

Linda31   July 22nd, 2008 10:46 am ET

Attack attack attack. What are you going to do if (slim chance) you were elected?????

Stephen H   July 22nd, 2008 10:45 am ET

Am I the only one who is absolutely tired of McCain's criticisms of Obama's Iraq/Afghanistan policies while offering nothing in terms of his own? Whats worse is the insistence that "we have succeeded in Iraq". What a crock! Have we captured those who were responsible for the 911 attacks or found any WMDs as was the original stated purpose for the war? Thats what success should be measured by and nothing else.

BTW, it angers me that McCain is all too willing to focus the entirety of his remarks on the success of the surge, but he fails to acknowledge that a surge would not have been necessary if we had never started this failed war to begin with. The terrorists are still out there and bringing them to justice should be the focus of our current military action. Straight Talk Express my foot!!!!!

VON BISMARK, Vienna   July 22nd, 2008 10:45 am ET

These Republicans have nothing to offer thi time around.
mcWAR it's all over.Come sing another time!

Jamal kansas   July 22nd, 2008 10:44 am ET

Mccain is in hot water and he knows it he has no Plan on the way to beat Obama if Hillary and the Clinton could not beat Obama then Old Mccain defintely won't Obama 08

TheOtherSide   July 22nd, 2008 10:44 am ET

Can McCain talk about his policies? Or he doesn't have any other than negating those of Obama. this is why OB get more coverage.pretty simple .

Travis (in the real world   July 22nd, 2008 10:43 am ET

McWar I have a question for you

Do you have any policies?….All I hear from you is attacking Obama.

You couldn't give a rats butt about anything that is happening in the country, you just want to get elected.

Now for some advice….do you remember what all the negative barbs did for Billary?…..enough said.

Mikey   July 22nd, 2008 10:41 am ET

It appears that CNN is now in the business of propping up McCain to keep this race, at least in appearance, as close as possible to maximize viewership.

Apparently, they are enabling the McCain camps efforts to talk about Iraq, Iraq, Iraq nonstop. I guess since the economic crisis is some sort of psychological mirage, it's not worth McCain's time - or CNN's for that matter.

A quote from the past - It's the economy, stupid!

Sarah   July 22nd, 2008 10:41 am ET

McSame voted for the Iraq war…This is the main point
He spent long time in Washington but has poor judgement. Although Obama is new, but he has proven to be right in many issues affecting the world security and war against terrorism.

McCain is a war monger. If elected, he will start world war 3…

I know CNN will not post this. Watching CNN over the last 2 weeks is similar to watching fox news. I found MSNBC the only balanced channel

Reggie   July 22nd, 2008 10:40 am ET

Iraq wants us to go home Mccain. You heard it, I heard it, the troops at home heard it, and anyone else who watches the news heard it. So can we please leave now? I promise it will not hurt your chances of winning the election. Unless you just want to be president then bring them home so you can say look at what I did. Just to try to make it in the history books. That is a McShame. Not going to work because to many people are praying for a change. Besides Bush used up all those stategies that you are trying last year. The only differance is he was a little better and did not seem so desperate without any other plan. You spend to much time being negative until you are starting to come across as a negative person. I don't want you to be President, but I don't think that is really your personality to be so negative. You are getting bad advise. In some ways you could have been an adset in the future, but after you loss this your party and the Dems. is going to turn on you. You just praised the guy in front of the NAACP last Wed. now you act like he stole something from you. Oh my fault that would be the 2008 presidential election.

J. Sully, New York   July 22nd, 2008 10:40 am ET

Again, McWar. What do we win? WHAT?? Where's the victory with this war? What a bunch of BS!!!!

Who cares about a surge in a war that should have never been fought. Young lives lost for what????? Just to save face. McShame's phony victory crap again.

JDM   July 22nd, 2008 10:38 am ET

In Grades school, H.S., and college debates, Sen Mcain position would lose. To see his veiw of the topic, you would need to suspend logic. Mcain and his people are saying some really stupid things and getting away with it!
1. the media always follow the main story.
2. You should know the country you are talking about.
3. You can't side with Bush and crush him him in the same speech.
What happen to the 2000 Mcain? The 2008 version is confuse.

blaising   July 22nd, 2008 10:36 am ET

What the h*ll is a "surge" anyway? If I hear that word one more time, in reference to Iraq, my head is gonna explode.

It's like a football team demanding recognition for a third quater comeback in a game they weren't supposed to play in the first place.

Generation X   July 22nd, 2008 10:36 am ET

Why want McCain focus on what he is planning to do for our country instead of always attacking Senator Obama. McCain doesn't have a plan is the reason for his constant attacks. Old man get a life!!!

Annette   July 22nd, 2008 10:34 am ET

CNN, I heard very little comment yesterday from the network regarding McCain error in what borders Afghanistan. McCain said Iraq??? It's pakistan. As much talk lately about little media attention on him, and something like this comes out of McCain mouth from a person who has said countless times he has more foreign policy experience? How? If Obama made this serious mistake the media flood gates would have been wide open to point this out. Okay so were is the fairness then?

peter, dc transplant   July 22nd, 2008 10:33 am ET

Actually, if you listened to Obama rather than the McCain-train's take on Obama, you'd know that he HAS acknowledged a tactical improvement in Iraq. Its the political progress that he claims hasn't progressed… not the military progress. In McCain's death-throws, all he's doing is repeating "democrats cut and run, Obama is wrong… democrats cut and run, Obama is wrong…" regardless of what Obama is actually saying. Seems to me that ignoring reality is the strategy the republicans rely on most.

Hope   July 22nd, 2008 10:33 am ET

He is the one who started it. That is the main issue.

McCain is a war monger. If he get elected, then we will expect more wars to come and the wold will never be safe again…

Mike   July 22nd, 2008 10:33 am ET

The "Republican Stay-in-Iraq-Forever-Shell-Game":

Leaving Iraq = Defeat
Staying in Iraq = Victory

Therefore, we must stay in Iraq forever to ensure victory!

If John McCain has any other definitions of defeat or victory in Iraq, he's sure not going to share them with us.

Christopher, Madison, WI   July 22nd, 2008 10:32 am ET

Hey McSame…what countries border Iraq? What an idiot.

THE O   July 22nd, 2008 10:31 am ET

Don't you mean attacks? Mccain keeps talking about what Obama wants to do, but the question should be what the hell is mccain going to do???? Does he even know? does anyone know? All he has is attacks, hoping poeple are going to buy his load of crap.

BARACK THE VOTE!!!!!!!!

BARACK / SEBELIUS 08

Billy   July 22nd, 2008 10:30 am ET

How is possible that McCain will "step up" attacks on Obama?

My wife put it succinctly, "I just don't even want to listen to McCain anymore with all that negativism."

mayahh   July 22nd, 2008 10:30 am ET

NONsense, improved from the uproar that started, an unnecessary war, OBAMA next KING Solomon.

Mike   July 22nd, 2008 10:29 am ET

More of the same from Johnny - attack, attack, attack.

Is it any wonder the NY Post refused to print his article?

Hey McSame - how about telling us what your plan of action is instead of criticizing Obama's?

McCain08   July 22nd, 2008 10:28 am ET

McCain is absolutely right to do this. Obama said in 2007 that a surge of even 10,000 more troops would not do anything to change the state of Iraq. So he obviously cant ever admit that the surge has worked and that our troops and other workers on the ground have paved the way for a troop withdrawal. Gen Petreus even said a month or so ago that a withdrawal was likely because its becomign safer, its not anything new by Barack.

bruce   July 22nd, 2008 10:27 am ET

McCain is looking more and more like an out of touch tired old man that doesn't have enough mental sharpness to prevent himself from talking about the "Afghanistan - Iraq", border, confuses to 2 groups of Arabs in Iraq and talks about countries that have not existed for 15 years! He claims to have military experience…….well he was a POW for 5 years. I'm not sure what other military experience he has. Maybe he should agree to release is complete Navy record, unless of course he has something to hide, like several crashes during training flights.
Where is Bud Day and the "Truth Squad" on that issue?

Uchenna in MD   July 22nd, 2008 10:25 am ET

McThuselah is just an annoying warmonger who supports wars but does not support the troops. Check his records.

Republican for Barack Hussein Obama.

Bob from Pittsburgh   July 22nd, 2008 10:25 am ET

What pressure on Obama? McCain confuses Iran with Iraq, Pakistan with Afghanistan, and he wants us to believe he is strong on international affairs. Even after Gepeto Liberman blows on his ear and still get it wrong, three words Delusional, pathetic, and desperate,

Bill, Streamwood, IL   July 22nd, 2008 10:25 am ET

What pressure?

The only place about the Iraq War where Candidate McCain is right is in his own mind.

Besides, being "right" about a war that is fundamentally wrong to begin with still gets McCain zero points.

We need to get out of Iraq and finish the war George Bush so badly botched in Afghanistan.

One incompetently run war and one wrong war … must be all that "experience."

Oluwa   July 22nd, 2008 10:24 am ET

Here's a message to McCain's campaign: Americans are tired of you criticizing OBAMA. Tell us about YOUR plan, specifics, and details on how it will affect the american people.
Stop bashing the other candidate's judgement, it's a direspectful tactic and it will not convince most independents.
This independent needs a lot more convincing from both campaigns but I'm just tired of all this "Obama did this, Obama did that"-STOP IT!!! what did McCain do ? What is McCain's Plan? How will it help me?
It's becoming clear in this election who has more substance and who does not.

Moe, NY   July 22nd, 2008 10:23 am ET

As usual McCain is intent on staying in Iraq even though the people and government of Iraq want us out within 2 years (not 100), and the vast majority of American citizens want us out as soon as possible. McCain seems to have his own personal agenda regarding Iraq which I view as dangerous and nothing short of occupation of a country that obviously does not want to be occupied by a foreign country. I believe that Obama does have the judgment to move American troops forward….to Afghan…where we should have been in the first place. I admire Obama's courage in stating the true facts, and hopefully with his leadership Osama will finally be brought to justice.

Annette   July 22nd, 2008 10:20 am ET

McCain needs to define what wining means? The surge wasn't the only process. I guess McCain figures regular folks don't have no idea that several other variables were at play to reduce the violence in the capital of Iraq and other areas there. Of course, McCain and his supporters feel no one is paying attention to the fact that folks here in the US want our troops home soon, not later. The US invaded a country for one man ( Saddam), and so many died as a result. How on earth can Bush and McCain say we need to win in Iraq, now who's the strongman?

Marie Canada   July 22nd, 2008 10:20 am ET

All John McCain knows about is war and killing. What is wrong with this man's mentalitly?

He doesn't know there isn't an Iraq/Pakistan border yet he is supposed to be some kind of self professed expert. He doesn't know the difference between a Shiite and Sunni yet he is supposedly going to be the answer for the Middle East conflict.

To top it all off McCain has yet to describe what would constitute a victory in Iraq or for that matter he always rants about defeat yet doesn't say what is a defeat other than not continuing to occupy a soveriegn nation for a 100 years.

This guy is scary!!!!!!!!!

rbt   July 22nd, 2008 10:19 am ET

Interesting slant to this article. After the Maliki Government has made it clear that they want the US out of Iraq by the end of 2010, I find it interesting that CNN is reporting that McCain is putting Obama on the defensive. Shouldn't McCain be on the defensive based on his 4/04 statements that if asked to leave Iraq by its sovereign Gov't, we would have to comply? And they say CNN is in the tank for Obama. .. !!!

sewong jude   July 22nd, 2008 10:19 am ET

Then why is Bush and the Iraqis doing and accepting what Obama has been saying for months.Just waitng that McCain to joint the wagon.Judgement is all that matter.

tai   July 22nd, 2008 10:19 am ET

D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-E.

John in Columbus Ohio   July 22nd, 2008 10:18 am ET

Those McCain "town halls" are a joke, they only allow Republican loyalist flacks to come in and pitch softball questions.

Somebody should ask McCain about Czechoslovakia and the Iraq/Pakistan border. And then they can ask him why he divorced his first wife, who stayed loyal to him the whole time he was a POW in Vietnam, and abandoned his kids from his first marriage, so he could marry a Stepford barbie doll with inherited millions. I'm sure it was true love, and not because he saw her as a vehicle for bankrolling his political career with her beer money.

Texun   July 22nd, 2008 10:18 am ET

He ought to choose Joel Lieberman, giving the "independent" an opportunity to lose an election for both major parties.

Mark   July 22nd, 2008 10:18 am ET

Does McCain strike anybody as a button pusher.

Alan from GA   July 22nd, 2008 10:18 am ET

Does anybody know what John McCain stands for anymore? All I ever hear is him attacking Obama for what he believes in… And didn't McCain say something about not attacking Obama while he was overseas and could not defend himself?

Jeffrey G. Brown   July 22nd, 2008 10:18 am ET

Pressure? Something tells me Obama has what it takes to survive this nonsense!

Barbara   July 22nd, 2008 10:17 am ET

McCain's entire campaign platform seems to be constant criticism and complaints about Senator Obama. This is exactly why the NY Times rejected McCain's op-ed: it consisted primarily of attacks on Obama, rather than on defining McCain's positions. Given the mess that the GOP has made of our country and our planet, they really have no platform that appeals to thinking Americans.

Debby, NJ   July 22nd, 2008 10:16 am ET

Scramble McShame
Keep Scrambling !!!

Donkey Party   July 22nd, 2008 10:16 am ET

What a doddering old fool. Go ahead and attack Obama while he's out of the country. What a phony,and what a coward. A total disgrace.

Susan   July 22nd, 2008 10:15 am ET

i have never seen a candidate sping his lies so blatantly to the American people. McBush only wants this war to continue, and he wants the Occupation of a soverign nation. His time is long past. We need someone in the White House who looks to the future, not someone who is still mired in Vietnam!

E for Obama   July 22nd, 2008 10:15 am ET

SHUT UP ABOUT IRAQ OLD MAN!!!

Talk about how your going to fix the economy and lower gas prices!!!

I don't care about the surge!!! The Iraq war was a LIE and we're paying for it and as a result are economy has worsened.

And by the way other factors besides the surge contributed to the decrease in sectarian viloence in Iraq, but McCain wont tell you that.

Vote McCain president and we will be owned by China, India and the Middle East.

It Be Me   July 22nd, 2008 10:15 am ET

Obama wants to bring the troops home….
Iraq wants the troops out of THEIR country…..
McCain states that 'we HAVE succeeded"…..

Why are we still there???

DAN   July 22nd, 2008 10:14 am ET

McCain had judgement when it comes to Iraq. Obama was against the McCain surge that has saved so many lives. It dramatically brought down the monthly death toll. Iraq is headed for sucsess and there is no civil war or sectarian violence like Obama predicted there would be. Obama and Pelosi were hoping for failure and deaths for political gain, that's why you have to respect McCain's judgement for putting lives before political gain. Think about all those kids that were and would be getting blown up if it wasn't for McCain's push for the surge. That is leadership. It is proof that Obama doesn't have the judgement to be a senator and should never be president. McCain is country before ego. Obama well is ego before country. John McCain Thank you for the lifes you saved and are saving as we speak.

Objective   July 22nd, 2008 10:14 am ET

A one-trick pony.

He is the right candidate if we plan on having surges for the next four years.

Democrat for Life   July 22nd, 2008 10:14 am ET

Don't worry Obama, McSame will ruin his own candidacy… All the slip-ups will come to haunt him in the general election.

Obama '08

Anonymous   July 22nd, 2008 10:13 am ET

The problem with McBush is he keeps the same Republican party line. Why doen's the MSM ask him if the surge succeeded, why does he say it is too dangerous to leave. This man flip flops like a dead fish. By the way, the surge has not been 100% successful. Aren's one religous group being paid to stop fighting. Another show of how the Republicans buy their way into everything. Maliki is correct. A 16 month initial timetable is more than reasonable. We do not need to establish military bases. I would call that an Occupation that is not wanted by the American people or the Iraqui's. Pedlle your war someplace else McBush. After seven years, we want out men and women home now!

Marcus, Great Lakes IL   July 22nd, 2008 10:12 am ET

The Communist Vietnamese erected a bust of John McCain inside Vietnam. His defenders say that it is in tribute to the PAVN gunners that shot him down. When was the last time you visited a memorial to the American Military where there was a bust of the enemy?

Things that make you go hmmmmm…..

Nsikan, MD   July 22nd, 2008 10:12 am ET

So the serge is successful but what about the war? Shouldn't have been there in the first place. It cost us a lot to even achieve this psedo peace and whereas Iraqis and Americans still pay the ultimate prices with blood of theirs. So, lets declare victory and stop wasting out time, money and precious lives of people. You will soon sound like a broken record - move on or we will move you. Can't wait to vote.

Bob K   July 22nd, 2008 10:11 am ET

Yeah - we ALL agree that things are going great in Iraq and that we are SOsuccessful!! What fool could not see that (only Obama - because all Americans do)? That loser, defeatist gas price hiking Obama Muslim better watch out when McCain makes this the central topic of his campaign - our sucess in Iraq!

Concerned Citizen of America 2008   July 22nd, 2008 10:10 am ET

Correction to my last post..400,000+ jobs lost in past 6 months.

MikeH   July 22nd, 2008 10:10 am ET

McCain is shrieking like a little girl.

Obama goes over to Iraq, and voila, Prime Minister Maliki agrees with Obama's plan to withdraw American troops, plus he and Petraus hit it off. Big score for Obama.

The New York Times rejects a McCain essay, because it does not contain any McCain plan for anything, rather it is a denunciation of Obama, because either McCain has no plan or he thought he could pull off a political attack with a trojan horse. Big diss for McCain.

McCain is driven to quietly get rid of Phil Graham his chief campaign financial consultant (and part-time pornography producer),
because Phil Graham is damaged goods. Another crash for McCain.

McCains campaign is in shambles. Even his "It's Obama's Fault for High Gas Prices" cheap-shot political commercial is a joke. He's doing what one would expect of a desperate loser.

Northern Michigan   July 22nd, 2008 10:10 am ET<