Why McCain can't stop talking surge

by pollbuster, Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:36:05 AM EST

McCain talks about the surge all the time, because it is, in his mind,  the only positive thing that he is capable of talking about.

He can't talk about the economy, much, because people may start to notice which party has been in charge of the economy for so many years.

He can't talk about his knowledge of the economy, because people may begin to notice that there isn't any discernible knowledge there.


He can't talk about ending the war in Iraq, because he wants to keep it going for, roughly, about 100 years, give or take a few years.

He can't talk about the attacks on our civil liberties, because deep down he thinks they are a good idea, and, frankly, with McCain, it's not very deep down.

He can't talk about global warming too loudly because he wouldn't want to upset his carbon loving backers who may decide to withhold their resources from his campaign.

He can't talk about eliminating special interest lobbyists from his campaign, because without them, he wouldn't have a campaign.

He can't talk about NAFTA or CAFTA or any of that, because he wouldn't want the voters to get a good peek at what he really believes when it comes to those practices.

He can't talk about stem cell research, because he is trying to attract those voters, who think that "attacking" the "little embryos" is a form of genocide.

He can't talk about George Bush, because he wouldn't want to give a large percentage of this nation gastro-intestinal problems.

He can't talk about universal health care, because he actually thinks the system we have now is working.

He can't talk to deeply about immigration, because he wouldn't want his potential voters to know about all his flip-flops on that issue

So when it comes down to it, the only thing he can talk about is the so-called surge. He believes it is something he can crow about all day. He wants you to believe that he made Iraq safe. But remember he once said it's all about casualties, and the casualties have been in the thousands since he made Iraq "safe," but let's not bother him with these minor details.

Well, in any event, expect McCain to keep talking about his surge. The only thing that is going to really shut him up is the real surge that he is going to see in November. That's the surge that will bring 60 senators to the democratic side of the aisle. Yes, the dramatic surge that will add 30 or more reps to the dem side in the House. And, of course, the surge that will bring Barack Obama into the White House. Now that's what I call a really successful surge.




Tags: Surge, McCain, Iraq War (all tags)

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Re: Why McCain can't stop talking surge (2.00 / 3)

How about a surge of tips?


The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. -- Thomas Jefferson
by pollbuster on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:37:50 AM EST

Re: Why McCain can't stop talking surge (2.00 / 3)

I'm not even sure he wants to be President anymore. Seems like he's lost a lot of the fight and is just going through with it out of a sense of obligation.


"Tell me about your work ethic." "Well, I don't think ethnics do no work. I mean, that's they problem, really." "Overt racial prejudice. Impressive."
by vcalzone on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:38:55 AM EST

Re: Why McCain can't stop talking surge (none / 0)

Hmmm, I hadn't thought about that, maybe that accounts for what seems like an incredibly stupid campaign.


The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. -- Thomas Jefferson
by pollbuster on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:44:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why McCain can't stop talking surge (none / 0)

I got this feeling a couple days ago. In a rare moment of McCain-sympathy, I tried imagining how shitty it must feel to know you're going to lose and to wake up every morning wanting to quit, but knowing you must press on for more than three more months. Being the kind of guy he is, I'd bet he's got at least one good rallying moment in him, but I don't think one's going to be nearly enough.


John McCain is a coward. He has no honor.
by vadasz on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 02:29:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

If I were McCain, (none / 0)

even with my own pessimistic tendencies, I would be more optimistic about my chances than that.  Anything can happen to change the board.  

It's like poker. Even a shitty poker player can catch a good card, right at the end.  There's no point in despairing until you get the last card.  

Of course, come September, right after the RNC Convention, McCain will get a surge in the polls of some kind.  And I predict that we will get a flood of despairing concern troll posts about, oh no, this is the end for Obama, McCain is ahead by two in some poll that just came out, you shoulda all voted for Gravel (or whoever), we're doomed doomed doomed!  


by Dumbo on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 05:49:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: If I were McCain, (none / 0)

I agree that anything can happen to change momentum, image, etc. And you're right, McCain could pull a victory out somehow.

But that's not really what I was getting at. It's not his belief that he could win. It's his doubt that he will win. Doubt is fucking strong. He 'knows' he won't win. He's an old guy who's just about reaching that time when you should be blowing your grandkids' minds with mini recitations of brilliance and wisdom. Instead, McCain's got to get up every day and see a young whipper snapper wipe the floor with his ass. Wouldn't a nap be so much nicer?


John McCain is a coward. He has no honor.
by vadasz on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 04:56:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: If I were McCain, (none / 0)

I don't think the RNC will get much of a bump from their convention. UNLESS... UNLESS... they manage to pull off the first successful speech of the entire year. I don't think that happens. McCain is where he is because he's a likable guy who is always ready to give a soundbite, not because he is a great politician.

Here's how you know that there's no chance the RNC will have a happy convention. THe things that McCain knows voters need to hear in order to think he's a maverick? Yeah, the RNC will give tepid, polite applause at best. This has happened before for him, it'll happen again.


"Tell me about your work ethic." "Well, I don't think ethnics do no work. I mean, that's they problem, really." "Overt racial prejudice. Impressive."
by vcalzone on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 06:07:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why McCain can't stop talking surge (2.00 / 1)

Or, he's hoping that Obama continues to talk about Iraq and not the economy.  Iraq has become a secondary issue for many voters, it seems, and continuing to focus on Iraq will prevent Obama from achieving maximum effectiveness.


by rfahey22 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:48:15 AM EST

Re: Why McCain can't stop talking surge (2.00 / 1)

Yes, that could be his strategy. I think Obama has made his position on Iraq very clear, and he won't be baited into an extended debate about it.


The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. -- Thomas Jefferson
by pollbuster on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:51:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I agree (2.00 / 1)

I think he's being really clear on Iraq, it's the people who I think are waffling on the issue.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 06:54:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

McCain and Obama have (none / 0)

switched on Iraq in the sense that in February McCain was saying how we should look forward on the war while Obama wanted to focus on a past decision, McCain's AUMF vote.

Now, Obama is the one who wants to look forward while McCain is the one who wants to focus on a past decision, Obama's opposition to the surge.

McCain won't admit he made a mistake with the AUMF vote even if he knew then what he knows now and Obama won't admit he made a mistake with the surge even if he knew then what he knows now.

The problem for McCain is that he flip-flopped on his model for the future of Iraq.  Is it a 100-year presence with permanent bases or is it a vague time horizon for withdrawal by 2013?  I don't think Obama will let McCain walk away from his initial desire for a 100-year presence with permanent bases.


by Blazers Edge on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:53:02 AM EST

Putting aside his initial interview (2.00 / 1)

with Moran, I thought Obama's answers to the surge question with Williams and Couric were as good as any Dem could give.  If only we could get rid of the tape from that nightline interview...

The guy reminded me why I consider him to be the best one-on-one live interviewer in the party (though I'm not a big fan of his speeches stylistically).  The "devil you know vs. the devil you don't know" line was a funny way of putting it.


by Blazers Edge on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 12:55:31 AM EST

McPony only has one trick: "THE SURGE!" (2.00 / 2)

But crowds will soon get bored with it.


by Beren on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 01:19:12 AM EST


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