Posted on 11/11/2005 5:49:06 PM PST by blam
Straight-talking McCain reveals himself as a leader in waiting
By Alec Russell
(Filed: 12/11/2005)
Senator John McCain has all but launched a campaign to succeed President George W Bush, calling for a new approach to the war in Iraq and savaging the Pentagon's record there.
With the White House struggling to regain the initiative after a series of damaging blows and the Democrats lacking a leader, the maverick Republican has effectively taken charge of the political debate.
Sen John McCain: 'We should be ramping up'
In a hard-hitting speech, reminiscent of his 2000 bid for the White House when he ran as a candidate of candour and integrity, he criticised the administration for its trademark "happy talk" about Iraq. He also called on the Bush administration to level with the nation about the war's difficulties.
It was a terrible mistake to repeat the error of the Vietnam War, when officials kept saying there was "light at the end of the tunnel" when, in fact, "there was a train".
He was careful to defuse potential charges of disloyalty by focusing his fire on the Pentagon, not Mr Bush.
He also tore into the Democrats, making clear he was fully behind the war and did not believe pre-war intelligence had been hyped.
He called for the immediate dispatch of 10,000 more troops, even though, he conceded, that would lead to more casualties. With more than 2,000 Americans killed in Iraq, he accepted public opinion was turning against the war. But he argued that the Pentagon had sent too few troops.
"Instead of drawing down we should be ramping up," he told the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. "The stakes are higher than they were in Vietnam."
The Pentagon should focus on winning over communities rather than targeted raids on insurgents, he said, also criticising it for rotating out successful generals.
The speech was his second high profile move in as many weeks. Bolstered by his Vietnam vet past - he was imprisoned and tortured in Hanoi - he is leading a Senate campaign for more humane rules on interrogating prisoners, a move opposed by Vice- President Dick Cheney.
To stake out such discordant positions a year into a presidency would traditionally be foolhardy for an ambitious party man.
But with Mr Bush's fortunes at a low ebb and Republicans in Congress divided and mutinous, Washington feels leaderless and Mr McCain has decided to move centre stage.
He will be 72 on election day in 2008, three years older than Ronald Reagan was when he won the White House in 1980. He has repeatedly said he has not decided whether to stand for president.
But there is little doubt in Washington that the "Straight Talk" express, as his 2000 battle bus was known, is preparing to hit the road again. In that classic trick of presidential aspirants, he has just co-written a book called Character is Destiny, allowing him to tour the country ostensibly to market it, but in reality to market himself.
In 2000 he was the outsider. This time, however, he hopes to be both outsider and insider, "straight talking" while rallying the party's establishment with his reputation as a fiscal and foreign policy hawk.
Queeg Alert!
I wouldn't.
Hillary wouldn't induce me to vote for McCain.
McCain is about as straight talking as a roller coaster.
I doubt McCain could win because conservatives know he is nothing but a Rhino of the first water. The RNC had better think twice again.
HAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!!
This was an hysterical line.
Listen up MSM. I don't give a damn what you want. McCain ain't getting my vote, and I know he doesn't have yours either beyond the primary. McCain may be too egocentric to get that reality, but the rest of us base root conservatives know your game.
What in the hell is the matter with the Telegraph? They used to be a good newspaper, one of the few that investigated bill clinton's corruption.
Leader of what? McCain couldn't lead a dying horse to water. You can't be a leader if nobody will follow you.
Another puff piece by the MSM for McCain.
(They aren't biased against Bush, though; they just report the facts. . . )
(sarc/off)
ditto
Well, count me in your column.
Is two a "ground swell?"
McCain is as straight in talking as the path of a 'Rat. McCain will not be President. nor will any Senator who has no executive ecperience.
I will nee forgive him for McCain-Feingold.
It was a terrible mistake to repeat the error of the Vietnam War...
Interestingly, the "error" of the Vietnam War was allowing the damned politicians [read lawyers] get involved. If they'd just stay the hell out, then the "error" wouldn't be repeated. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy in a way.
As well, where does he get the backup that if we send 10K more troops over there will be more casualties? That's not necessarily true. And by the time he'd be president, who knows what the climate there will be like.
I really hate politicians!
McCain tries to put a lip lock on every TV camera he can find. Between him and Gloria Allred they have more face time than the NBC peacock. McCain, Kennedy , Kerry and Hillary are all, drop the soap buddies.
Maybe in England. But not here.
But don't tell John. He get's angry you know.
Why? McCain's a political mercenary, nothing more. He'd sell his own mother for popularity and good, hearty pats on the back, which usually come from libs when you cowtow to their BS.
I quite honestly simply wouldn't vote. McCain and Hillary would be no different IMO. In fact, McCain's so full of himself as a "unifier" that he'd sell the farm simply to get that legacy, which is the only way he'd get it, at least as he saw it before his two feet end up in the can.
Here's a Free Republic poll taken awhile ago. The others named as possible candidates against Hillary did a lot better, McCain was the only one I believe that struggled to break 50% willing to vote for him, and then, only in non members surveyed with 50.4%. I bet he wouldn't even crack 50% in non members now. So, no, those of us that refuse to vote for him under threat of Hillary are not alone and sizeable. No candidate is going to win with this tepid support in the general from the party base they are to represent. I know McCain thinks he'll lead a Giant army of moderates to victory, but, he's certifiable. he thinks the MSM actually respect him after all.
McCain 48.5% 1,441
Third party 26.8% 796
Sit it out 10.1% 300
Undecided/pass 10.1% 299
Hillary 4.5% 134
100.0% 2,970
Member Opinion
McCain 47.8% 1,030
Third party 27.6% 594
Undecided/pass 11.5% 248
Sit it out 10.8% 233
Hillary 2.3% 50
100.0% 2,155
Non-Member Opinion
McCain 50.4% 411
Third party 24.8% 202
Hillary 10.3% 84
Sit it out 8.2% 67
Undecided/pass 6.3% 51
100.0%
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