McCain, the phony 'truth teller' as always, positioning himself for both sides -

The right can love him for out-doing Bush and Cheney on 'stay the course', the left for 'integrity' and for any criticism of the administration, even if it's the sort that they should do even more of their policies.

If only he had had some public forum, like that of a Senator, to 'speak the truth' since the war began.

Democrats, beware, McCain is the guy to beat for the so-called moderate vote, a right-winger in disguise.

He's also well-positioned for the GOP to owe him one for his support of Bush in 2004.

Note his lack in this story of criticizing the Bush policy; rather, only criticizing their not 'warning people'.

President who goes to war in Iraq for hidden motives, unaware of these 'Sunni' and 'Shiite' groups? No problem.

McCain has spent decades building the 'only honest guy in Washington' reputation. It sells, especially following GWB.

"I'm just more familiar with those statements than anyone else because it grieves me so much that we had not told the American people how tough and difficult this task would be."

Sen McCain, I'm certain there are thousands of American families and thousands and thousands of Iraqi families that are feeling a grief far more profound than your sanctamonious out-pouring, all for a reprehensible folly you've fully supported. Your words are empty.

it was 'cake walk'.

"Bush is an incompetent leader. In fact, he's not a leader. He's a person who has no judgment, no experience and no knowledge of the subjects that he has to decide upon.'' - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

"In the lead-up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw, at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence, and irresponsibility; at worst, lying, incompetence, and corruption," Retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni

"It is our patriotic duty to speak out when egregiously flawed policies and strategies needlessly cost American lives."

-William A. Whitlow - Retired major general in the Marine Corps & former director of the expeditionary warfare division in the office of the deputy chief of naval operations.

General William Odom on Iraq: "It is the greatest strategic disaster in US history."

**********

"The cost of the war will be small. We can afford the war, and we'll put it behind us."

--Treasury Secretary John W. Snow, New York Times, 3/9/03

When we would speculate if Reagan was going senile because of his often puzzling comments and behavior? It's high time we began speculating about John McCain, too.

Nice regret, Sen. McCain. Who legitimized and enabled the President misleading the public? Could it be the toadies within the Republican party who knew what the truth was but failed to speak up? Toadies like you, who smooched and hugged W's lying butt. Shame on you, Senator, for being one of the good men who did nothing as Iraq burned.

1. Please give McCain some credit for his anti-torture legislation. He is the only person who stood up and got anything done.

2. Bush has set up the false choice of his own Iraq agenda versus cut-and-run. But McCain seems headed toward staying in Iraq, and operating competently, and creating a happier ending. Maybe this cannot be done. But it may be the only approach most American voters will accept.

Let's listen for specifics from McCain. I cannot imagine what he might do to fix Iraq, but I desperately want to fix Iraq. McCain hates Bush, and McCain has military experience. Nobody else in the race offers any hope on Iraq. Let's see what McCain has to say.

It's sad what has happened to McCain over the past six years. Why McCain has endured the insults and the backstabbing of his own party, and grovelled before them like a cowardly dog I don't know.

Some have opined that the Republicans have something on McCain, a lurid sex perversion story or something that would end McCain's political career forever. That's why he lets them insult him and abuse him.

If somebody ever finds McCain's balls, they should put them up on eBay.

Isn't it becoming obvious that we're being groomed by the media to think of John McCain as the next POTUS? Similarly, aren't all the articles declaiming about the Democratic Party's lack of positions just an excuse not to talk to individual Democrats, some of whom really do have ideas? These headlines about McCain's pronouncements seem to assume a Presidentiality - - if that's the word - - that he doesn't yet deserve, and give him the imprimateur of media approval that has previously been awarded to George the Horrible. The news about the New York Times's holding back of messages damaging to Republicans, not to mention its hounding of Bill Clinton (it seems like a lifetime ago), while putting the lie to left-wing bias, also is causing me some little despair about the possibility of change in this country.

Was anyone else disturbed at the "day on the beach" reference following so closely on the heels of Bush declaring he'd read Camus' The Stranger on his vacation (you know, the one where the Westerner kills an Arab on a beach for no reason)?

I can't tell if I'm going crazy or it really is this scary out there.

Enough said.

McCain is not quite accurate. We were told how "tough and difficult" the Iraqi invasion would be. It's just that we were told it with a metaphorical wink and nudge. Tax cuts, Iraqi oil would pay, greetings with flowers, and, of course MISSION ACCOMPLISHED were the administration's actions and talking points while "warning" about tough difficult and long term this war on terror would be.

This administration has not asked much of America in this war on terror, primarily because they've been doing much of the terrorizing in order to stay in power.

What bothers me most about McCain's statement is that he seems to be positioning himself (and Republicans) to admit the mistake where most of the American audience is willing to accept it: that the military could have settled the Iraqi issue had they more troops to control the aftermath. As the faithful nod their collective heads in wistful regret, they silently cross their fingers, hoping that the unpardonable decision to invade fades into oblivion.

Not a chance, Senator.