Will McCain Condemn Bush’s Army Tour Reduction?

So President Bush is set to give a speech this morning announcing--of course--progress in Iraq, but more importantly ...

President Bush to Reduce Army Tours to 12 Months, Aide Says

April 10 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush will announce today a reduction in Army combat tours to 12 months from the current 15 months, said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.

The 12-month tours will apply to troops sent to Iraq as of Aug. 1 or later. Bush's plans were reported earlier today by the Washington Post.

Keep in mind that a certain presidential candidate just half a year ago claimed such a reduction in combat tours, when proposed by Senator Jim Webb, would "emasculate" the oh-so-successful surge, "could easily bring about ... defeat" and lead to "chaos and genocide" in the region. Yes, let’s look back at September 2007:

Senate Blocks Bill on Iraq Combat Tours

By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 19, 2007; 6:34 PM

The Senate today turned back a measure to require that U.S. troops be given at least as much time at home as they spend on combat tours, shelving an amendment that supporters said was aimed at easing the strain of prolonged military deployments but that opponents argued was intended to undercut the Bush administration's Iraq war policy.

...

But McCain, a leading opponent of the Webb amendment, said it "would do more harm than good" and would force the military to withdraw troops from Iraq more rapidly than currently planned.

"This goes to the heart of the surge that is showing success in Anbar province, in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq," he said in debate on the Senate floor. "The effect of this amendment would be to emasculate this surge."

...Calling U.S. forces "overstressed . . . but not defeated," he argued that the amendment "could easily bring about their defeat" and lead to "chaos and genocide" in the region.

We will await the Straight Talk condemnation of President Bush’s latest defeatist move from the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting.

•  When McCain debates Obama will they let Joe

  Lieberman sit behind him to make corrections when he says idiotic things?

  by Dave the Wave on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:23:33 AM PDT

  •  I hope so. He deserves his best supporting actor

    Oscar.

    I love Al Gore.  But what was he thinking when he plucked this guy out of the weeds?

    by Fasaha on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:25:31 AM PDT

    •  Unfortunately

      Lieberman's sociopathic war-mongering is not an act.  And I have wondered the same thing about the VP spot.  While Lieberman wasn't able to beat the unilateral invasion drum -- he was a chronic sycophant nonetheless.

      by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:28:07 AM PDT

      •  I resent the implication that I am some kind of

        turncoat.

        

        by Dave the Wave on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:50:34 AM PDT

    •  It seemed to be a really neat idea at the time

      Kinda like Ollie North Selling High Tech Weapons to the Iranians in order to fund the Contras

      by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:28:42 AM PDT

  •  If Joe adds an "R"

    but I don't think that will happen until AFTER the general election.

    So, for now, they will just use him as their favorite evil sock monkey, to parade in public as "proof" that McCain can cross the aisle, too!  

    Good boy, little Joey...now go hide until we need you next.  What an obedient little monkey.  Dance, monkey, dance!

    by DallasLiberal on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:34:13 AM PDT

    •  JHoe has taken his place in the Zell Miller tool

      catalog

      by Dave the Wave on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:46:24 AM PDT

•  "Emasculate?"

  Good god, what a choice of words.

  If we ever needed yet MORE reason that McCain, Bush and Cheney are working out deep-seated psychological garbage through this war...

  But you're right, of course, McCain will kiss Bush's ass on this, as always.  He's a Bush toady.

  by chumley on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:23:40 AM PDT

  •  will the new GI bill

    re-masculate the armed forces?  9 republicans are on board.  i will email my two nearly useless senators, hatch and bennett.  

    by jlms qkw on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:30:37 AM PDT

•  It would certainly be good if someone

  knowledgeable could explain how the "projected" ethnic cleansing/genocide would differ, build upon, or diverge from what's already taken place.

  How would the "new" genocide/ethnic cleansing be different?

  by Fasaha on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:24:04 AM PDT

•  ...

  No, he'll just go along, pretending that he never said anything.  He's old for chrissake, he is going to forget sometimes!  Give him a break!

  by jfarelli on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:24:54 AM PDT

  •  Arm, leg, or hip? n/t

    by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:58:58 AM PDT

•  McCain puts his war ahead of its veterans

  With strong support from veteran's groups, th other Webb amendment -- the one that would improve the GI Bill -- is conspicuously lacking the support of the Press' most beloved veteran.

  Sen. John McCain served his nation with honor in Vietnam, and he is right to be proud of his service. But by hedging on whether he will support a "GI Bill for the 21st Century," he is casting doubt on his own commitment to the newest generation of American heroes.

  McCain is willing to pay for a hundred years of war, but not four years of college.

  by Devilstower on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:24:58 AM PDT

  •  If they're in college....

    then they can't bomb, bomb, bomb Iran

    McCain is clearly using strategery here

    by proudprogressiveCA on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:26:42 AM PDT

    •  McCain got his...

      ...screw the currently-serving.

      by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:59:40 AM PDT

•  But of course

  But this is Presidnt Bush's plan to reduce army tours. That makes it a brilliant piece of strategy.
  The other was congressional Democrats' plan to reduce army tours. That was obviously defeatism slightly disguised as concern for the soldiers.

  by Frank Palmer on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:25:08 AM PDT

•  IOKIYAR rules apply here

  Webb proposing it is bad, when Bush proposes it then its the patriotic thing to do

  by proudprogressiveCA on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:25:23 AM PDT

  •  Of course, it's important that whoever's making

    the proposal have an understanding of the military.  G.W. Bush went AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard, while Jim Webb was Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration.  Naturally McCain will trust Bush's judgment more.

    by Greasy Grant on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:30:28 AM PDT

    •  Understanding the military....

      or understanding how to capitalize on the military-industrial complex?

      Just little details to debate, you know? ;-)

      by proudprogressiveCA on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:35:14 AM PDT

•  I hope this "speech"

  is a presser.  The only way I can stomach listening to that man is when he stumbles over answers and gets all huffy.  Just one of my masochistic indulgences.

  Looks like it will be covered on CSpan at 11:30.

  by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:25:24 AM PDT

•  It doesn't matter because, per Keith Olbermann,

  Bush isn't reducing tours for soldiers already in Iraq. So there's Bush/McSame's excuse: "it doesn't impact the wonderful surge that has done so much for Iraq that we can't draw down the troops that we have there".

  It's just another promise with fine print that screws our soldiers.

  by blueintheface on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:25:32 AM PDT

  •  Starts with August

    So... just under a Freidman unit away.

    by Devilstower on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:26:31 AM PDT

    •  Ah, the Friedman Unit.

      The great Bush enabler, or as one HuffPo blogger headlined- "How do you get 100 years in Iraq? Six months at a time"

      by blueintheface on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:31:35 AM PDT

      •  The new MoveOn ad

        Calls it "100 years on the installment plan."

        by Devilstower on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:59:05 AM PDT

        •  August is 6 months away, right?

          Or close enough, you know, for the fuzzy math Bu$h&Co usually use.

          By that time, there will be a "new surge" and they can repeal this bill.

          Or, and I just had this thought, maybe W is taking a hit for McCain, so he can come out against it and "differentiate" himself from the current president. "See, I'm different, I'm tougher, I'm a bigger hawk!"

          One can only hope they would make that stupid a move...

          by cgiselle12 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:53:00 AM PDT

  •  But it's wrapped in a flag!

    And if you don't like it, you're against the troops.  So..we WANT our soldiers to get their heads blown off??  I'm so confused..

    by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:30:42 AM PDT

    •  maybe it's a ploy for more crony contracts

      for Blackwater?  Reduce US military troops, fill their spots with KBR & Blackwater contractors - more money for everyone!

      by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:35:57 AM PDT

      •  Unavoidable at this stage.

        He HAS to "bring em home".  The reality is that we're out of soldiers, equipment, and money.  Besides, they want to commence the bombing on Iran, who's just begging for it.  
        So from their viewpoint, this is all going just great.  Bring the troops home in time to use that in the election, put your private army in and rake in all that cash, AND you get to beat up on another oil-rich country too small to hurt you back.  It's all good.  

        by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:50:17 AM PDT

        •  notice the August timing?

          need to have new contracts/war in place before they get booted out of office in November.

          by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:19:46 AM PDT

          •  Not until you pointed it out. Good catch. n/t

            by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:28:23 AM PDT

            •  I'm betting on September for the Orange Alert

              fest to begin.  Shrub forced the Brits to prematurely break up the Hair Gel Bomb cabal in August 2006, in advance of the elections.  We should plan on a fun fall of terrist sightings, maybe Commander Codpiece will even capture Osama (he's probably relaxing in Dubai or Brooklyn).

              by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:37:15 AM PDT

              •  Does seem likely. Repubs still convinced

                all they have to do to stay in power is to scare the crap out of the people.  

                by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:47:14 AM PDT

        •  Worse than that...

          The 12 month tours only affect soldiers whose tours start after August 1st. Those tours end 6 months or more into the next president's term.

          Not one soldier will leave sooner during Bush's term due to this decision!

          And, if the next, Democratic, president hasn't already speeded up the withdrawal, he will have to extend those tours to keep up manpower.

          This is truly a brilliant propaganda move.

          by thejeff on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:11:22 AM PDT

•  According to Countdown last night

  The reduction in tour length will NOT apply to any soldiers who are already in Iraq. So it's basically bullshit.

  It wasn't clear what Olberman's source was for this "small" but oh so significant detail.

  by Polacolor on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:25:49 AM PDT

  •  Oops, this was already mentioned by

    several people.

    by Polacolor on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:27:48 AM PDT

    •  are you KIDDING?

      I missed KO. AND I missed that little bit of tid.

      damn them.

      by agnostic on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:28:52 AM PDT

•  will ANYONE in the MSM ask McCain if he rejects

  Bush's plan?  or even mention the vote AGAINST the WEBB amendment IF McCain jumps onboard the BUSH doublespeak express yet again?

  by KnotIookin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:26:33 AM PDT

  •  No. He's a hero, and NOT TO BE QUESTIONED.

    Anyone think we'll get more info or transparency from a McCain presidency than we are right now?  

    by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:32:07 AM PDT

•  That was in regard to "The Surge®"

  This summer we will be commencing "The Pause®." Two completely separate things. Please get your marketing slogans straight.

  by Rp on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:28:24 AM PDT

  •  Yes "The Pause®." that refreshes (NOT!) nt

    by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:29:41 AM PDT

•  Chimp on now

  and you'll be glad to know, "we are on the right track!"

  by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:30:45 AM PDT

  •  "Iraqi army and police are

    increasingly capable" -- except for the ones who deserted and joined the militants.

    by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:32:16 AM PDT

    •  One Sentence

      Iraqi army and police are increasingly capable of Desertion.

      by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:34:31 AM PDT

    •  Oh yeah and just what are our

      "interests" in Iraq. Geezez, I get tired of hearing that line. He said we should all support a stable and democratic Iraq. Oh and also his line of "Our troops want to win." Hell, I think they want to come home. Gawd, I think I scream FU at the teevee so often, my critters run and hide.

      by Its any one guess on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:36:52 AM PDT

      •  "Our" interests

        are Halliburton, Exxon, and Monsanto interests.

        by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:38:10 AM PDT

        •  Another one seems to be

          saving face for Georgie. All this we must win, success crap. Pffft to him. And, of course, he just again threw Iran into the mix.

          by Its any one guess on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:41:25 AM PDT

      •  "Iraq is the convergence point

        for two of the greatest threats we face in this new century - AL QAEDA and IRAN".  
        Forgive me for indelicate language here, folks, but Screw Him.  

        by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:40:25 AM PDT

    •  or sold their weapons to pay for food

      or left for refugee camps in Jordan

      by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:37:12 AM PDT

    •  Reduction of

      months spent in Iraq to begin Aug. 1 with new troops.  That is, until the pause demonstrates that he needs to change his mind.

      by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:37:16 AM PDT

    •  Terr'ists

      give our military $$ -- cuz it is only 4% of our budget.  Huh?  is that a lie?  More terr'ists -- Iran -- embolden -- Homeland.  Calling Leni Riefenstahl.

      by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:40:19 AM PDT

      •  In other words - There's lots more money

        to be made.  This thing's got some juice still in it, and we're not letting go until it's dry.

        by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:41:56 AM PDT

    •  Compulsory praise of the

      troops.  "This war is not endless."  A thousand years, arguably is not endless.

      by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:42:03 AM PDT

    •  Crap -- no questions

      just clapping monkeys.

      by gchaucer2 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:42:30 AM PDT

  •  I was expecting NPR to air it...maybe they're

    getting tired of airing the same ole shit from bush every few months.

    by darthstar on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:30:42 AM PDT

•  Bush: Shameless Goal Post Changer

  Presient Howdy Doody is on right now gloating about how Iraq is almost on the verge of being half way okay.

  What an ass!

  Next month he will brag about how the collapse of the so-called surge is inspiring the Iraqi army to desert less then than they are deserting this month.

  Americans know bullshit when they hear it.

  And, boy, are they hearing it today!

  Get the shovel.

  by CW Wisconsin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:31:05 AM PDT

  •  Heeeeeeeey!

    Don't be dissing Howdy!

    by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:02:24 AM PDT

    •  At least he was honest

      about being a dummy.

      by milkbone on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 12:10:36 PM PDT

•  but... but... it's war... it's fluid...

  does McCain have incontinence as well as Alzheimer's?

  "Generosity, Ethics, Patience, Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom"

  by Dood Abides on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:31:16 AM PDT

  •  What a pisser! n/t

    by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:03:03 AM PDT

•  Past Time to Filibuster an End to This War!

  A single act of bold leadership
  by Senator Clinton or Senator Obama
  could be instrumental in ending this war.

  If Senator Clinton and Senator Obama aren't willing to use the power they have now as U.S. Senators to end the war, what makes anyone think they will exercise bold leadership on January 20, 2009 ?

  If they fail to take action to stop funding the war that is killing our troops and the Iraqi people, we can only conclude that when their campaigns talk about ending the war, they are just using the memory of the fallen, the sacrifices of our troops, and the grief and pain of our families, for political gain.

  When the Senate takes up the next war funding bill, either one of them could lead a filibuster
  http://www.senate.gov/...
  refusing to stand down until their colleagues agree to vote against any bill that provides funding to continue the war

  Just how can we possibly make this happen?

  Call Senator Clinton and Senator Obama

  Also call your own two Senators.

  Bluntly, but politely, tell them you want them to filibuster the next war spending bill.

  Here are the numbers you need:
  Senator Hillary Clinton -- [phone]
  Senator Barack Obama -- [phone]
  Senate Switchboard -- [phone]

  Did Senator Obama mean what he said?

  "Let me be clear: there is no military solution in Iraq, and there never was. The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year - now."

  -- Sen. Barack Obama, September 12, 2007

  Did Senator Clinton mean what she said?

  "Our message to the president is clear. It is time to begin ending this war -- not next year, not next month -- but today."

  -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, July 10, 2007

  Join me with Military Families Speak Out to make this happen.  Yes we can!

  by phillybluesfan on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:32:09 AM PDT

•  Even Powell said today US Cannot...

  sustain the the current troop levels--thatTroops in Iraq Must be Reduced. I really wish that reporters, Democratic candidates, and leadership, and citizens would hold McCain's feet to the fire on where he intends to get the troops for his proposed neverending Iraq troop presence.

  by kurious on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:32:38 AM PDT

  •  McCain's feet to the fire-He might enjoy it. nt

    by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:35:11 AM PDT

•  Good news, bad news...

  Duhhbya sez:

  "Good news is y'all get shorter tours in Eyerack.

  Bad news is y'all get to go there more often."

  by draftedin68 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:35:17 AM PDT

  •  do they get frequent flyer miles?

    at least end up with a free trip to Epcot with the kids?

    by CParis on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:38:27 AM PDT

•  In all fairness, Webb's bill not only limited

  tours, it mandated that troops get equal time away from war zones after being in a hot zone. Not that thats a bad idea, but lets not pile on Mr. 100 years unfairly.

  by zerzan on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:35:24 AM PDT

  •  lets not pile on Mr. 100 years unfairly

    Oh Hell Yes lets do.

    Like the Goopers are gonna fight fair.

    by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:38:22 AM PDT

  •  McCain's plans will make certain

    this country is destroyed.  Oh yeah, let's do pile on.  

    by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:44:13 AM PDT

    •  Drop an anvil on the beyastard! n/t

      by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:56:12 AM PDT

      •  Metaphorically Speaking of course. nt

        by JML9999 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:19:48 AM PDT

        •  Whatevure! n/t

          by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:15:59 AM PDT

•  “The pause that refreshes”

  The first great advertising slogan for Coca Cola, from 1929: "The pause that refreshes".

  Care for a Coke, soldier?  Ice?  Straw?

  by apostrophe on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:36:14 AM PDT

•  So if ground conditions change

  he shouldn't change the length of the tours?

  by headhunt23 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:37:54 AM PDT

  •  You mean by returning them to

    what they USED TO BE?

    C'mon.  This is smoke and mirrors.  The reason they have to reduce tour length is because they are running out of soldiers.

    by DrWolfy on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:51:26 AM PDT

•  McCain is gonna give dumbya big wet kisses and

  lick his boots for good measure.

  What else is new?

  by kindness on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:38:51 AM PDT

•  12 month tours, eh?

  That's gonna work against McCain's "100 year tour" plan...

  by shadetree mortician on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:42:26 AM PDT

•  worst president ever.

  AP Poll: Bush Public Approval at New Low

  Apr 10th, 2008 | WASHINGTON -- Public approval of President Bush has reached a new low in the Associated Press-Ipsos poll, driven by dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy.

  A survey released Thursday showed just 28 percent approve of the overall job he is doing. His previous record low in the poll was 30 percent last month.

  In another record low, only 27 percent are happy with his job on the economy, which threatens to enter a recession.

  and remember kids, don't you dare vote for john mcsame!!

  by singe on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:42:52 AM PDT

  •  Worst Ever in All Aspects of the Job:

    Bush has torn every fiber of the American fabric of democracy and decency.

    He has been derelict in his duties from the beginning.

    This is a dark, dark day in American history.

    Heckuva job, Dub.

    by CW Wisconsin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:46:14 AM PDT

•  Methinks the Straight Talk Express

  will be bypassing Condemnation Station.

  by writerswrite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:47:04 AM PDT

  •  ...And drive...

    ...off a cliff, Wile E. Coyote style?

    by JeffW on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:57:11 AM PDT

    •  we should be so lucky n/t

      by writerswrite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:48:13 AM PDT

  •  And there won't be one corporate media person

    to point that out.  How he could stand before the vets the other day and not have every "news" outlet not list every piece of legislation he has voted against is beyond my comprehension.  What a hypocrite - we know that even if the media won't touch it. Now if we could get everyone else who says they trust McCain on Iraq more than Obama or Clinton to know it.

    by Molly M on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:02:07 AM PDT

    •  that's the thing that kills me, too

      the Straight Talk Express runs on hypocrisy.  And yet somehow, the media can't stop giving McCain a tongue-bath long enough to figure it out.  

      by writerswrite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:49:06 AM PDT

  •  Actually, the "Straight Talk Express" doesn't...

    take you to your hotel, just to the lobby.

    Ed

    by Ed Drone on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:18:15 AM PDT

    •  don't you mean

      lobbyist?

      by writerswrite on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:49:24 AM PDT

•  And now, Bush gets to claim that

  "the surge is working" because we can reduce the tours of duty.  Of course, that's what they USED to be, but the ADD press and population won't remember that.

  by DrWolfy on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:50:16 AM PDT

•  Doesn't Joe LieBerman look like Senator Palpatine

  In a weird way.

  by deluge99 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:51:52 AM PDT

  •  Joe Looks Like Ray Walston. Poor Ray.

    My favorite martian, Joe.  

    by CW Wisconsin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:04:54 AM PDT

  •  That's an awful insult to Ian McDiarmid.

    by brownsox on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:15:41 AM PDT

  •  TOTALLY!

    As much as I love Ian McDiarmid, and Star Wars - you nailed it!

    by cgiselle12 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 11:02:22 AM PDT

•  yea right

  McCain will probably support Bush's call to shorten troop tours but no one will care that he contridicted himself during Jim Webb's proposal.  I'm pretty sure that McCain's incompetant on all counts, considering he doesn't know the difference between Sunnis and Shi'ites. Check out his comments regarding pulling troops out of Iraq.

  http://campaigncircus.com/...

  by kberly7568 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:53:51 AM PDT

•  Don't hold your breath

  If McCain is the best the Republicans have to offer, they are in sad shape.  He is making Ron Paul look to be a saner candidate.

  by djbender on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:54:00 AM PDT

•  McCain will never condemn Bush

  He loves the man too much (c'mon, you've seen the pictures).

  No matter how stupid it is, if it deals with Iraq, McCain will support it.

  by margotb822 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:56:34 AM PDT

•  I think that McCain should

  curse out Bush on national TV. Treat him like you'd treat your wife if she noted that you were balding a bit. Or like a fellow Senator.

  by global citizen on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:56:55 AM PDT

  •  Maybe even throw in the "C" word

    during his tirade.

    by ibinreno on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:06:06 AM PDT

•  Bush has a lifetime of failures that he walks

  from and lets someone else it up.  Iraq in his mind is no different than any of his other messes.  Too bad he didn't shed crocodile tears for every family whose lives has forever been changed by his arrogant war.

  by Molly M on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:58:06 AM PDT

  •  and it is all adding up to ...

    28%

    by Kdoug on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:00:42 AM PDT

  •  Right! Cheated at Yale, AWOL from Guard, Belly Up

    in this biz and that, lost in the baseball biz, traded Sosa, no body of literature, no body of legislation, no dignity, no nothing.

    Hollow man, loser man, nothing man, nowhere man, Bush!

    by CW Wisconsin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:03:14 AM PDT

    •  What did he do at Yale?

      i haven't heard about that.

      I heard about all the other stuff, but with so much that there is, i missed this one.

      by Ex Real Republican on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:08:29 AM PDT

      •  He drank.

        by brownsox on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:16:09 AM PDT

      •  Daddy's Coattails Got Him Through

        by CW Wisconsin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:16:52 AM PDT

•  Doesn't affect any of the current troops in Iraq

  or those deployed until that AUG 1 date.  So for 4 more months they can send people to stay for 15 months.  That is not a start and McCain probably won't comment because it doesn't affect the current numbers.  I would be more interested in seeing how many troops are scheduled to deploy until that date.

  by Burnsey on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:01:04 AM PDT

•  Bigger question is

  Will McCain even understand the bill?  If asked about it, will he give answers consistent with each other, perhaps even consistent with the bill itself?  Without some traitor whispering into his ear?  

  He may or may not condemn the bill, but he'll definitely suck up to whomever strikes him.  The man is not an independent thinker...or even a thinker.

  by AllanTBG on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:03:37 AM PDT

•  Won't make a difference.

  Considering they arlready claiming they can extend tours as long as they want if they deem it necessary, AND use the stop loss policy to keep recruits in Iraq as long as they want....these policies are pretty much meaningless anyway.

  Great.  On paper they only do a 12 month tour instead of 15.  In reality, they do their 12 months and get extended an additional 3 or more.  Then when they feel they've served their obligation and fulfilled their contract, they get no education, no health care and get called up for more service thanks to contract loopholes.

  by Rosencrantz on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:06:28 AM PDT

•  My...My...My...

  This little update will put Senator McCentury in a dilly of a pickle, won't it! I guess we'll all see if he's got some spryness in his "senior moments," and we'll see what kind of acrobat he is.

  by CityLightsLover on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:15:23 AM PDT

•  There ARE NO national interests in Iraq

  per se.  The interests we seem to be upholding benefit multinational companies, who owe no allegiance to any nation, and would not hesitate to drop any nation like a hot rock if doing so would help, not hurt their bottom line.  

  And for this, our young men and women are told, you must sacrifice your lives.  For your country.

  In the immortal words of e.e. cummings, "There is some shit I will not eat."

  by kay dub on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:17:01 AM PDT

  •  There you go thinking

    like a Democrat again!  Don't you realize that our nation's welfare depends on the welfare of corporations?  "Trickle down" ring any bells?  There's money to be made!  Bottom lines to inflate!  In the immortal words of Dick Cheney, "What else were they going to do with their lives, anyway"?  (He said this about some Afghani villagers swept up and killed in the hunt for Al Qaeda..somehow I'm sure he sees our kids in the same light).

    by sherlyle on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:20:58 AM PDT

  •  A rather upset

    former CIA officer, Philip Agee, in the 1970's, wrote that US interests are defined traditionally as unfettered access to the primary products and raw materials, to the labor and to the markets of foreign countries.

    Primary products and raw materials of Iraq = oil, natural gas and agricultural products

    Labor = abundant cheap labor, extremely high unemployment

    Markets = An American corporate dominated laissez-faire economy

    Keywords here - "unfettered access to" in other words we own the world and if a country has something we want then nothing shall stand in the way of our having it.

    Our interests trump all other's interests.

    by truong son traveler on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:34:49 AM PDT

•  Not Really the Same

  McCain would be able to respond to this comparison by saying "something changed in the interim: the surge worked". He'd also be able to say that the Webb rules would have undermined the surge, which was an investment that paid off in relaxing the demands for longer tours. And McCain would be able to say that regardless, it's the president's call when to reduce the troops, based on presidential judgement specific status at a given time and the president's continuing strategy.

  It's all bullshit, of course. The surge failed, things are stratgically worse today than last year (as could be said any day about any previous day through the past 5 years). And the president doesn't have a "strategy", he's got a political agenda to keep the war going as intractably as possible for a future president to worry about, after extracting as much money and deathdealing as he could while he had his hand on the switch.

  But that doesn't mean that McCain can't claim what I said. The argument that Webb's amendment then is precisely equal to Bush's plans now is wrong, because it ignores that a year has passed. If both plans were being floated at the same time, either last year or now, and McCain had his two opposite positions on each, then that would be a valid criticism.

  But this kind of attack on McCain just gives him a rock to throw back harder and more accurately. We need better attacks on his position, or President McCain will keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely, totally regardless to the passage of time in which the bodies heap up and Americans are overseas in hell.

  by DocGonzo on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:18:33 AM PDT

•  Babs and Poppy Never Held Dub Accountable

  when Dub was a pup and he is not accountable for anything now.

  Bush is the playground bully, the adolescent bra snapper, the hub cap thief, and the binge drinker who is never, ever wrong nor responsible for anything whatsoever.

  Heckuva a job, Babs and Poppy for royally screwing up Dub's potty training.

  Wow.

  by CW Wisconsin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:19:36 AM PDT

•  Win Win for McCain

  Easily spun:

  "My friends, I was right last year, and my disagreement with George Bush on this issue proves that a vote for me is not a vote for four more years of failed policies in Iraq.  I'm a Maverick, remember?"

  by mmuskratt on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:20:57 AM PDT

•  John McCentury Is To Busy Staying Awake

  by DFutureIsNow on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:25:12 AM PDT

•  "Will he support it?" is not the question

  Bush is the lamest of all lame duck Presidents ever, lamer than Ronald Reagan in December 1988, lamer than Richard Nixon in the summer of 1974 just before his resignation.  The question is not whether McCain "agrees" with this or that action by Bush; the question that needs answering is whether President McCain would reverse the policy and extend the length of the tours again after he takes power.

  by sponson on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:25:45 AM PDT

•  LISTEN. If it's our idea, tis bad. If their's

  it is called supporting the troops.

  Now, get that straight and remember that.  Sheesh.

  by agnostic on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:27:34 AM PDT

•  What time was asshole's speech? They didn't

  even carry it on NPR this morning.  

  by darthstar on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:28:42 AM PDT

•  Just another reason not to vote for McBush

  McCain is always caving in to what Bush wants. He is also not a leader by my definition. McCain is a follower, and shows the same backbone (or lack thereof) to special interests that Bush Jr. does.
  Just my 2 cents.
  -Edly

  by dadlyedly on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:30:22 AM PDT

•  interesting math problem

  considering the whole stop-loss program. Bottom line is our military is still stretched thin.  What difference does it make how long the tour is if another is simply added after it ends?

  3 tours X 15 months = 45 months
  4 tours X 12 months = 48 months

  Am I missing something here?

  by artmartin on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:34:51 AM PDT

•  correct me if I'm wrong

  but this "reduction" is just returning to what used to be standard policy, isn't it? I'm pretty sure 12 month tours were the norm before the surge started.....and actually, IIRC, that's how they magically came up with more troops for the surge, by extending the length of tours by 25%.

  by nota bene on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 11:08:07 AM PDT

•  "overstressed...but not defeated"

  Is this the new medical term for PTSD?

  Has the American Psych Assoc. approved this as the new lingo for "suicidal" or "severly depressed?"

  by cgiselle12 on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 11:08:18 AM PDT

•  That was september - this is now

  In case you've had your head up your ass (not unlikely), there has been a substantial reduction in violence in Iraq since McCain said that.  Iraq is at a point where we can send 20,000 troops home and reduce tours to 12 months.  8 months ago that wasn't the case.   Fucking morons.

  by getrealdude on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 12:22:37 PM PDT