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Sen. McCain Hits 'NYT' Iraq Withdrawal Editorial
Editor & Publisher ^ | July 12, 2007 | E&P Staff

Posted on 07/12/2007 7:12:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Sen. John McCain, on the floor of the U.S. Senate today, offered a lengthy point-by-point critique of The New York Times' editorial on Sunday that called for the beginning of a U.S. pullout in Iraq.

McCain often took a mocking or exasperated tone, quoting from passages in the editorial.

He said that the soldiers in Iraq he has visited "understand the purpose" of the war. "I wish I could say the same of our journalist friends in New York," he added.

McCain belittled the paper's claims that the U.S. presence was only making matters worse and denounced its call for talking to Iran, which wants to fill any "power vacuum." He said things could get "far, far worse" in Iraq, and pointed to what happened in Cambodia in the 1970s.

He said at one point that "according to the New York Times, it is not worth fighting to present genocide." He quickly corrected that to "to prevent genocide."

McCain after another visit to Iraq several days ago announced that he still backs the "surge" and a continued U.S. presence there, despite calls by growing numbers of those in his party for a change of course.

Meanwhile, a leading pro-Bush newspaper in the Great Plains, the Wichita Eagle, has come out for an Iraq pullout.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; iraq; mccain; media
These morons really think McCain's backing the president on Iraq is the reason for his campaign's free fall.
1 posted on 07/12/2007 7:12:12 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Yes! McKennedy is history because he wanted to give amnesty to all these criminals aliens who continue to roam around in my country like parasites on the host. He is off the screen with republicans and needs to form a third party for all the illegal registered voters so they have a man they can support.


2 posted on 07/12/2007 7:22:59 PM PDT by Dutch Tulip
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If McCain had come out strongly against the amnesty scam, he’d still be in the race.


3 posted on 07/12/2007 7:25:21 PM PDT by airborne (COULTER: Actually, my favorite candidate is [Rep.] Duncan Hunter [R-CA], and he is magnificent.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

aint gonna help McCain at this point, but he’s right about journalists. But it appears some hournalists are in Iraq getting abit close to the wrong side.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1865104/posts
Reuters photographer and driver killed

A preliminary police report obtained by Reuters said Noor-Eldeen and Chmagh had been killed by a “random American bombardment” that had killed nine other people.


4 posted on 07/12/2007 7:25:29 PM PDT by finnman69 (May Paris Hilton's plane crash into Britney Spears house while Lindsey Lohan is over doing coke)
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To: Dutch Tulip
John McCain was brilliant today. He`s still Sen McNut to often for me, but, he was great today. As a side note, McCain is a lot of things but he is no traitor. He had his chance to become one and we all know his answer. He is a very Brave Man and I admire him.(just wouldn`t vote for to be President)
5 posted on 07/12/2007 8:34:10 PM PDT by bybybill (HUNT RINOS IN THE PRIMARIES, SKIN RATS IN THE FALL)
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To: bybybill

I agree with that assessment; McCain has been steller on the war, he understands.

Today, the US House of Representatives voted to surrender to Al Queda. I look forward to Al Zawahari’s next tape praising Nancy and the crew, the question is, will Zawahari be able to priase Harry and the crew as well. Will there be enough whimpy republicans to vote to surrender to AQ?


6 posted on 07/12/2007 8:37:43 PM PDT by Laverne
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

>>>>These morons really think McCain’s backing the president on Iraq is the reason for his campaign’s free fall.

It is. But at least he has opted to ‘free fall’ with dignity and style.

I respect that.


7 posted on 07/12/2007 8:42:15 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Laverne

WE are good for now in the Senate and, if the reports are correct, things are really looking up in Iraq. I am really surprised at how all the Rats are sticking together, so far, on this. Figured a few of them would drop off. Hopefully, when they vote on the Levin Amendment some will. We must keep calling.


8 posted on 07/12/2007 8:49:48 PM PDT by bybybill (HUNT RINOS IN THE PRIMARIES, SKIN RATS IN THE FALL)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Maybe they believe that because they are in an alternative universe known as the beltway. But even in that swamp, I think even they haven’t been able to dismiss his polls falling corresponded with amnesty. Certainly they haven’t been able to dismiss the phones melting down in the Capitol. Though they have tried to limit credit only to conservatives, downplaying it was bi-partisan outrage. Not that conservatives don’t deserve the majority of support since conservatives led the fight, but we clearly had America’s backing on this one.

With Iraq I’d state neither conservatives or liberals hold the backing of the majority. IMO, I think the majority doesn’t want to lose, but they have doubts about the importance of the war or even chances to win and would like an alternative to what exists now and what the Dems are offering— Full retreat.

Some people pretend we can scale down troops and keep a minimal number to prevent interference from neighboring countries. That is considered a middle ground. But that doesn’t offer enough coverage to prevent Iraq being seized. What the American people need to come to grips with is that there is no middle ground here. We win or we lose, and they need to commit to one. And only one will offer greater security and an ally. The other if they choose it, results in the Iraqi’s being slaughtered, in civil wars, emboldened terrorists and a weakened U.S. I don’t recall the American people being too happy with the consequences of losing Vietnam by withdrawal. Do they really want to embrace that defeatism twice?

Back to McCain, I could knock him easily. I have frequently. Nearly every day. I think I’m going to resist the urge here.

Only ONCE have I ever respected McCain. When he called Moore disingenuous at the Convention with Moore in the seats above. I knew he’d say something to take that great moment back afterwards, for that moment in time I was proud of him. Yes, this “surge” was McCain’s idea and one he insisted on from the start. He’s wedded to its success more so then he was the previous strategy, he’s willing to sacrifice more to see its success through for this reason.

Does that matter right this moment? In future moments it will matter, but for right now I’ll take THIS moment and acknowledge this is the only second moment in time I recall feeling kindly toward him. I wish he’d recognize his best moments in time when he dserved respect in the last 7 years have come when he did what was right, not what the media wanted of him. I’m not holding out hope this will occur, but I am backing him in hs determination to prevent the loss of a war.

Same goes with the President. He was good today. The guy I voted for was on that podium today. The guy I didn’t want to see kicked out of the W.H. ;-)

And you know what? The House republicans actually lost less members today then their last vote. The Senate Republicans have weasels sounding dual notes, but those weasels didn’t join the seven. Those voting with the Dems are the same seven we never could depend upon. the Republicans, for this moment in time, in a majority, actually seem to be starting to get their act together. Will it last? Previous history says otherwise. For now? I’m feeling a bit more optimistic about them. Imagine that. It’s been so long since that last happened, I couldn’t pinpoint the date.


9 posted on 07/12/2007 9:04:25 PM PDT by Soul Seeker (MR. BUSH: GET OUT OF REAGAN'S HOUSE!!)
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To: bybybill

Dittos to that. He lost me with McCain-Feingold, but I applaud his determination and steadfastness on the war on islamofascist terrorism.


10 posted on 07/12/2007 9:23:21 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: zook; TitansAFC; therut; zbigreddogz; Laissez-faire capitalist; areafiftyone; PhilCollins; ...
The McCain List.
Common sense conservatism


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
11 posted on 07/12/2007 9:57:02 PM PDT by Norman Bates
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