In response to this excellent 80's inspired piece (above), let's not forget about the other Connecticut Congresscritter who has been up in New Hampshire the past few days working to help elect Sen. We're-Never-Leaving-Iraq. (No, he's not McCain's "own personal Chuck Norris", but I guess he works as a stand-in in a pinch.)
Here's Jim Himes' statement on Chris Shays joining the McCainiac tour, from last Friday:
"Instead of campaigning enthusiastically for a Presidential candidate who is comfortable keeping our troops in Iraq for another 100 years, Chris Shays should remember his election promise to support timelines for troop withdrawal and turn his focus to the real needs of families here in our district." (Full Statement here.)
An endless military presence in Iraq? Shays is down with that:
Here are some more highlights of Shays' past week with the McCainiacs in NH:
The Day, today:
"[McCain's] a conservative, but he's not an ideologue," said Rep. Christopher Shays, the Connecticut Republican who has come to New Hampshire to campaign for McCain — "penance," Shays said, for his support of George W. Bush in 2000.
AZ Republic, today:
"I think he's going to win, and it will be a nice victory for him," predicted Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., the House sponsor of McCain's 2002 campaign-finance-reform law, who appeared with McCain in Hudson. "John is doing well because he stayed true to his values."
WaPo's "The Trail" Blog, yesterday:
Several of McCain's supporters came out to stump for the senator, including Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), who said McCain was best positioned in the GOP field to capitalize on voters' desire for reform.
CT Post, last week:
Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was with him in New Hampshire on Wednesday. Rep. Christopher Shays campaigned over the weekend there with McCain. "I am really excited by his candidacy," Shays said Wednesday in a telephone interview.
Hendrik Hertzberg breaks it all down. McCain does want to stay in Iraq, forever:
McCain's wants to stay in Iraq until no more Americans are getting killed, no matter how long it takes and how many Americans get killed achieving that goal—that is, the goal of not getting any more Americans killed. And once that goal is achieved, we'll stay.
He'll see your fifty years and raise you fifty. But the cards are blank.
Does Chris Shays agree?
(Disclosure: I consult for Jim Himes.)
(Cross-posted at My Left Nutmeg.)