RUSH LIMBAUGH LIVE THREAD, WEDNESDAY August 23, 2006

SOME WEDNESDAY SPIN! Most in US see no tie between Iraq, terror war: poll Tue Aug 22, 10:29 PM ET A majority of Americans no longer see a link between the war in Iraq and Washington's broader anti-terrorism efforts despite President George W. Bush's insistence the two are intertwined, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll released on Tuesday. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said the war in Iraq was separate from the U.S. government's war on terrorism. The findings were a considerable shift from polls taken in 2002 and early 2003, when a majority considered the two to be linked, The New York Times said. As recently as June, opinion was evenly split, with 41 percent on both sides of the divide. Now only 32 percent considered Iraq to be a major part of the fight against terrorism, the newspaper said. According to the poll, 46 percent said the Bush administration had concentrated too heavily on Iraq and not enough on terrorists elsewhere. Fifty-three percent said going to war in the first place was a mistake, up from 48 percent in July, The New York Times said. Bush's approval ratings remained unchanged at 36 percent. His popularity has been damaged by the unpopular war in Iraq, in which the U.S. military death toll is 2,610. As recently as Monday, Bush defended the invasion of Iraq as crucial to preventing more domestic terror attacks. "If you believe that the job of the federal government is to secure this country, it's really important for you to understand that success in Iraq is part of securing the country," Bush said during a news conference. The unpopularity of the Iraq war has many Republicans nervous about the party's chances in the November midterm elections in which Democrats are seeking to retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The Times/CBS News poll of 1,206 adults was conducted Thursday through Monday and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

My John McCain (up close and personal) story, from the 2000 South Carolina Primary.

Greenville SC - the 2000 Presidential primary - John McCain had just beaten ‘W’ in the NH primary and the “Straight Talk Express” rolled into South Carolina.

I was a McCain supporter - positive that he was the real deal.

I drove to a McCain speech and public appearance. It was a day I will never forget as long as I live.

That day I witnessed John McCain behave unlike any appearance I had ever seen on TV - the man was unhinged.

After a 15 minute canned speech - he decided to address his competition in the primary - George W. Bush. He did so by beginning with, “I am Luke Skywalker, and my opponents are members of the Empire. Together we will form the rebellion and defeat Darth Vadar”. He yelled this - first pumping - his voice full of anger - his face - beet red - and his eyes - well - they were scary.

The crowd instantly went from supportive - to bewildered.

He obviously didn’t pick up on the mood change - because he went on for another 5 minutes - ranting and raving about how everyone was lying about his record - his views - and he, “wasn’t going to take it any more” (remember the movie Network).

It was surreal.

When he finished - and with the prodding of an aid - he left the stage, while we in the crowd just stood there - stunned - and honestly - completely confused.

I asked a woman next to me: “what the hell just happened?” She answered: “that man is freaking nuts!”

I came home - walked in the house - sat on the couch and just looked at the wall. I suddenly realized - the man pushed on television - was not the man at all.

I have told this story many times - to many people - and I have heard the same story told back to me by others who have seen similar John McCain episodes.

I am not given to criticize anyone lightly ladies and gentlemen.

I am sure John McCain is a good man - but listen to me - and please believe me.

JOHN MCCAIN is NOT FIT TO LEAD THIS NATION.

John McCain is unstable. John McCain is freaking nuts!

Had a problem posting for a few minutes. But that about the highway deaths per year was pretty compelling, compared to the minimal death in Iraq.

That's too much death!!! Stop the driving!!! Bring our drivers HOME!!! Over 20 times more road deaths in 2004 than in Iraq in three and a half years! over 40,000 deaths on America's roads in ONE YEAR!!! That's too much. STOP the driving!!! :) No blood for transportation!!!

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