McCain is becoming a really pathetic figure. It's a shame.

It's a shame because he had a chance to really be a poltical maverick, to really give "straight talk" and rise above the partisanship of it all. Instead, he married his political fortunes to President AWOL. At one point in his life, he could have achieved greatness; now the best he can do is salvage the little dignity he has left. McCain will lose the nomination for President, and appears determined to make a fool of himself along the way.

BLITZER: Senator John McCain suggests that crackdown is already working.

I asked him about that in the last hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

BLITZER: Here's what you told Bill Bennett on his radio show on Monday.

MCCAIN: Yes.

BLITZER: "There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods today."

MCCAIN: Yes.

BLITZER: "The U.S. is beginning to succeed in Iraq."

You know, everything we hear, that if you leave the so-called green zone, the international zone, and you go outside of that secure area, relatively speaking, you're in trouble if you're an American.

MCCAIN: You know, that's why you ought to catch up on things, Wolf.

General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in an unarmed Humvee. You want to -- I think you ought to catch up. You see, you are giving the old line of three months ago. I understand it. We certainly don't get it through the filter of some of the media.

But I know for a fact of much of the success we're experiencing, including the ability of Americans in many parts -- not all. We've got a long, long way to go. We've only got two of the five brigades there -- to go into some neighborhoods in Baghdad in a secure fashion.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

BLITZER: Senator John McCain, a Republican presidential candidate, speaking here in THE SITUATION ROOM within the past hour.

Let's go live to Baghdad right now.

CNN's Michael Ware is standing by -- Michael, you've been there, what, for four years. You're walking around Baghdad on a daily basis.

Has there been this improvement that Senator McCain is speaking about?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'd certainly like to bring Senator McCain up to speed, if he ever gives me the opportunity. And if I have any difficulty hearing you right now, Wolf, that's because of the helicopter circling overhead and the gun battle that is blazing just a few blocks down the road.

Is Baghdad any safer?

Sectarian violence -- one particular type of violence -- is down. But none of the American generals here on the ground have anything like Senator McCain's confidence.

I mean, Senator McCain's credibility now on Iraq, which has been so solid to this point, has now been left out hanging to dry.

To suggest that there's any neighborhood in this city where an American can walk freely is beyond ludicrous. I'd love Senator McCain to tell me where that neighborhood is and he and I can go for a stroll.

And to think that General David Petraeus travels this city in an unarmed Humvee. I mean in the hour since Senator McCain has said this, I've spoken to some military sources and there was laughter down the line. I mean, certainly, the general travels in a Humvee. There's multiple Humvees around it, heavily armed. There's attack helicopters, predator drones, sniper teams, all sorts of layers of protection.

So, no, Senator McCain is way off base on this one -- Wolf.

<...>


Michael, when Senator McCain says that there are at least some areas of Baghdad where people can walk around and -- whether it's General Petraeus, the U.S. military commander, or others, are there at least some areas where you could emerge outside of the Green Zone, the international zone, where people can go out, go to a coffee shop, go to a restaurant, and simply take a stroll?

WARE: I can answer this very quickly, Wolf. No. No way on earth can a westerner, particularly an American, stroll any street of this capital of more than five million people.

I mean, if al Qaeda doesn't get wind of you, or if one of the Sunni insurgent groups don't descend upon you, or if someone doesn't tip off a Shia militia, then the nearest criminal gang is just going to see dollar signs and scoop you up. Honestly, Wolf, you'd barely last 20 minutes out there.

I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/straight-talk-in-neverland-by-digby-on.html

From:
Subject: McCain is too old, he's running 20 point behind Rudy.
Date: March 27, 2007 9:17:51 PM PDT
To: geneburns@abc-sf.com

I don't think there is a chance in hell he will be the nominee of the Republican Party.



E-mail was just read on the air and host agreed.

NGU.

at one point in the stack of headlines:

"Car bombs kill dozens at Iraqi markets."

next headline:

"McCain: Progress is being made in Iraq."





he made his own bed.....now let him sleep in it...

what he used to be
what he used to be

The old grey mare just ain't what he used to be
many long years ago.

Oops, piker is wrong...I meant wanker

He's not as clever, as brave, as independent, and he failed to defend his family with as much honor when Bush attacked it. Plus, you can understand his words, even though you can't trust them.

Thanks for clearing that up. :)

what happened today in his so called "safer" Iraq...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17811802/

Maverick is a nicer way of saying prick bastard,that's all. :)

McCain has always sucked and has always been about McCain. Fucking narcissist!

If McCain is so convinced, let's rent him a Winnebago and allow him to take a tour of the Iraqi countryside . . . on his own, no military. He won't last long enough to fire up the barbie.