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McCain Hits Hard
Powerline ^ | 26 July 1008 | John H. Hinderaker

Posted on 07/26/2008 6:39:04 AM PDT by shrinkermd

McCain began by recalling the beginning of the surge:

"Senator Obama and I also faced a decision, which amounted to a real-time test for a future commander-in-chief. America passed that test. I believe my judgment passed that test. And I believe Senator Obama's failed. We both knew the politically safe choice was to support some form of retreat. All the polls said the "surge" was unpopular. Many pundits, experts and policymakers opposed it and advocated withdrawing our troops and accepting the consequences. I chose to support the new counterinsurgency strategy backed by additional troops -- which I had advocated since 2003, after my first trip to Iraq. Many observers said my position would end my hopes of becoming president. I said I would rather lose a campaign than see America lose a war. My choice was not smart politics. It didn't test well in focus groups. It ignored all the polls. It also didn't matter. The country I love had one final chance to succeed in Iraq. The new strategy was it. So I supported it. Today, the effects of the new strategy are obvious. The surge has succeeded, and we are, at long last, finally winning this war.

Senator Obama made a different choice. He not only opposed the new strategy, but actually tried to prevent us from implementing it. He didn't just advocate defeat, he tried to legislate it. When his efforts failed, he continued to predict the failure of our troops.

And as our troops took the fight to the enemy, Senator Obama tried to cut off funding for them. He was one of only 14 senators to vote against the emergency funding in May 2007 that supported our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. ...

(Excerpt) Read more at powerlineblog.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; foreignpolicy; hinderaker; iraq; mccain; obama; surge

1 posted on 07/26/2008 6:39:04 AM PDT by shrinkermd
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To: shrinkermd

McCain is wrong on many things but not on his support of the military and why losing isn’t an option.


2 posted on 07/26/2008 6:43:40 AM PDT by misterrob (Obama-Does America Need Another Jimmy Carter?)
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To: shrinkermd

I’m not a big fan of John McCain’s, but kudos to him for these remarks.


3 posted on 07/26/2008 6:43:44 AM PDT by Allegra (Ain't it grand? I'm back in the sand...)
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To: shrinkermd

Now if he will just get as aggressive about energy prices and drilling. Some Repub with a bully pulpit needs to realy start blowing the whistle loud and long on Obama and the rest of the Dems. If he does it might just get him elected. Either way it will help lower pump prices.


4 posted on 07/26/2008 6:46:27 AM PDT by csmusaret (McCain and Obama represent the evil of two lessers.)
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To: shrinkermd
I will repost what I have posted before:

A President makes all the difference:

Before WWII, Canada had the second largest navy in the world,and in the 1950’s the Canadians were years ahead of the Americans in avionics...

see: The Avro arrow

http://archives.cbc.ca/science_technology/aeronautics/topics/275/

Than Canada veered Left the arrow project canceled and now all we have left is a socialized rotten medical system...

In any case, the Avro Engineers went to NASA (and help develop the American space missions) and Boeing...the rest is history

Obama is a s left as you can get...

5 posted on 07/26/2008 6:48:54 AM PDT by forYourChildrenVote4Bush (Today, July 16th I no longer donate money for Israel)
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To: csmusaret

Perhaps you should run his campaign?? He must be doing something right since GW was down 17pts at this point and John is even. This election should be Oblack’s to lose and he’s doing just that.

Pray for W and Our Troops


6 posted on 07/26/2008 6:50:05 AM PDT by bray (Drill Congress!!)
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To: shrinkermd

Saw this. One of Mc Cain’s best speeches. He also read the Medal of Honor Citation of SF MSG Roy Bienevidez. It was very moving.


7 posted on 07/26/2008 6:55:16 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: csmusaret

Boehner has been very vocal and aggressive about calling for a vote in favor of drilling.

The media does not like to cover House Republicans unless they are knifing Conservatives in the back.

McCain is correct, if the Obama view had won out, we would have lost already.


8 posted on 07/26/2008 6:56:27 AM PDT by padre35 (Conservative in Exile/ Romans 10.10/Eze 11.2)
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To: bray

A little touchy aren’t you Bray? I wasn’t commenting on McCains campaign. I was commenting on gas prices. I am tired of Dems getting a free pass on that, and I’m tired of the Repubs inability to lay the issue on their doorstep.


9 posted on 07/26/2008 6:57:19 AM PDT by csmusaret (McCain and Obama represent the evil of two lessers.)
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To: padre35

You are right about Boehner and you are right about the media. That is why I would like to see McCain take a more aggressive stance on gas prices and energy policy. The media would have a harder time ignoring him.


10 posted on 07/26/2008 6:59:46 AM PDT by csmusaret (McCain and Obama represent the evil of two lessers.)
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To: misterrob
McCain is known to be against military defeat, sucking up to dictators, killing babies, and gun control.

At the same time he bought into the idea that it wasn't possible to ship 15 million Mexicans back home.

No idea where he got that idea ~ India was shipping 10 million Bangladeshis back home a comparable distance while that debate was going on last year.

Pretty obvious to me the guy doesn't mow is own lawn or clean up lawn debris, but then again, neither does Obama.

On the other hand Obama likes military defeat, never saw a dictator he didn't want to suck up to, believes babies should be killed, and Republicans shouldn't be allowed to have guns.

Nope, can't see that I have any interest in voting for an Obama-type.

11 posted on 07/26/2008 7:03:46 AM PDT by muawiyah (We need a "Gastank For America" to win back Congress)
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To: shrinkermd

This was very well said by Sen. McCain. Thanks for the post.


12 posted on 07/26/2008 7:04:24 AM PDT by mtntop3
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To: misterrob

He’s right you know.


13 posted on 07/26/2008 7:04:27 AM PDT by nikos1121 (The first black president of the US should be at least a "Jackie Robinson.")
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

I think the more you learn and know about McCain the more you like him regardless of your core beliefs, on the other hand, the more I learn about the other guy or Hillary the more I loathe what they represent and what they intend to do if elected.

I cannot follow Obama if we’re in the same fox hole together.


14 posted on 07/26/2008 7:06:09 AM PDT by nikos1121 (The first black president of the US should be at least a "Jackie Robinson.")
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To: nikos1121

Don’t worry, you will never see this crack smoking Hawaii beach bum Marxist in a Fix Hole.


15 posted on 07/26/2008 7:09:23 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: nikos1121

Whatever some think of McCain he is right on with this speech about Obama.

Obama was against the surge and on top of that voted to cut funding for our troops in harm’s way.

Despicable? Yes.

Worthy of the CIC? Absolutely not.


16 posted on 07/26/2008 7:10:26 AM PDT by rbmillerjr ("bigger government means constricting freedom"....................RWR)
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

true


17 posted on 07/26/2008 7:13:04 AM PDT by nikos1121 (The first black president of the US should be at least a "Jackie Robinson.")
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To: shrinkermd

Better a 3rd rate fireman, than a 1st rate arsonist.


18 posted on 07/26/2008 7:19:09 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople
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To: csmusaret
Not touchy at all. A bit tired of the sniping at a time when we need to unify against the biggest threat to this Country.

He woulda given a speech from an Oil Derrik if not for the hurricane. It will be the central issue on his campaign but you have to be patient.
If you like $4/gal, Thank Congress. If you want $10, Vote Obama.

Pray for W and Our Troops

19 posted on 07/26/2008 7:26:08 AM PDT by bray (Drill Congress!!)
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To: shrinkermd; colorcountry; Elsie; Zakeet; JRochelle; greyfoxx39; SENTINEL
McCain Hits Hard?

Not hard enough from my perspective. Little Johnny needs to take some speech lessons and get rid of the whiny little quiet voice. Speak with more conviction; learn about projecting; raise the voice with a certain authority and stop sounding like a little Harry Reed testimony meeting weenie.

Show us you're a certain leader John! Is that so hard?

20 posted on 07/26/2008 7:43:55 AM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah, where the world comes to see America)
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To: bray

Why do I have to be patient? Because it will take time for him to come to his senses on ANWR?


21 posted on 07/26/2008 7:49:24 AM PDT by csmusaret (McCain and Obama represent the evil of two lessers.)
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To: csmusaret
I would like to see McCain take a more aggressive stance on gas prices

Maybe he should widen his stance :p

22 posted on 07/26/2008 8:15:22 AM PDT by Liberty2007 (Here's Dr. Savage's analysis on the POTUS race"The Afro-Leninist vs The Sarcophogus)
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To: Liberty2007

Good one.


23 posted on 07/26/2008 8:35:04 AM PDT by csmusaret (McCain and Obama represent the evil of two lessers.)
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To: csmusaret
Now if he will just get as aggressive about energy prices and drilling

One issue at a time... Right now, the best way to attack the Obamassiah is on Iraq and foreign policy. The Obamassiah is trying to show he has the ability to be a foreign relations leader with his little jaunt through the Mideast and Europe. So address his failures about that right now.

Then when the Obamassiah comes back and talks about energy, take it to him about his failings there. Do it one step at a time, so the information is fresh and won't be blown off as "already out there" like the Clinton's did so many times...

We still have 3 months to go, there will be enough time to get the Obamassiah on energy policy...

24 posted on 07/26/2008 8:55:57 AM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the sting of truth is the defense of the indefensible)
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To: PugetSoundSoldier

I don’t think so. One reason Obama didn’t get a huge bump from his “triumphant media tour of the world” is because Americans are thinking “ Our troubles are here at home. What are you doing in Germany when I can’t afford gas to get to work?” The average American isn’t all that concerned with the war either. McCain should be beating up on Obama, Pelosi, and Reid every chance he gets over economic issues. My tag line says what I think about McCain, but he is just about the only Republican who gets any press coverage. If he would use it to go after all the Dems on issues that are at the top of voters lists we might manage to save a few Congressional seats in Nov.


25 posted on 07/26/2008 9:06:19 AM PDT by csmusaret (McCain and Obama represent the evil of two lessers.)
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To: csmusaret

McCain is liberal on some issues and Conservative on some issues. On National Security and our Military he is a Conservative. In this day and age, that is good enough for me.

The gay marriage, abortion and illegal immigration will be taken care of at the local level until we get another Conservative in office. Best we can hope for for now.


26 posted on 07/26/2008 10:26:09 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (McCain/Palin 2008)
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To: csmusaret

McCain is liberal on some issues and Conservative on some issues. On National Security and our Military he is a Conservative. In this day and age, that is good enough for me.

The gay marriage, abortion and illegal immigration will be taken care of at the local level until we get another Conservative in office. Best we can hope for for now.


27 posted on 07/26/2008 10:26:09 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (McCain/Palin 2008)
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To: csmusaret

“Now if he will just get as aggressive about energy prices and drilling”

Yes - a two part attack.
His campaign still needs to come up with a simple theme that highlights Obama’s negatives.

People will respond to lower gas and heating oil prices.
They will also respond well to a safer Iraq and news of progress with Iraqis taking responsibility for their own country.

McCain needs to promote his commander-in-chief credentials and hop on the pro-drilling bandwagon in one simple concise slogan.


28 posted on 07/26/2008 10:30:07 AM PDT by Scotswife
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To: shrinkermd
McCain must hit Obama not just on Iraq but on his overall ignorance and naivete about military matters and national defense. I'm glad to see he's finally doing a few ads on this matter. But it must be a two-pronged approach. Obama is dangerous on national security in the military sense and national security as regards energy. He must hit him on defense and failing to drill.

Sample ad: Obama was not only wrong about the surge, he's wrong about energy. We need energy, and Obama is against getting the oil and natural gas we have here in America is abundance. Obama----wrong for America.

29 posted on 07/26/2008 11:45:07 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Utah Binger
I'm afraid if McCain raised his voice, it would come out a squeak.

And how do you know what Harry sounds like in a testimony meeting?

:-)

30 posted on 07/26/2008 2:14:31 PM PDT by JRochelle (Barak in Paris: "Merci beaucoup!")
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To: JRochelle
Harry sounds like in a testimony meeting?

They all sound the same. Whimpering little cry baby voices.

31 posted on 07/26/2008 2:42:25 PM PDT by Utah Binger (Southern Utah, where the world comes to see America)
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To: Scotswife

First in war, first in peace. John McCain 2008.


32 posted on 07/26/2008 4:59:22 PM PDT by csmusaret (McCain and Obama represent the evil of two lessers.)
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To: LucyT

*


33 posted on 07/27/2008 7:42:20 PM PDT by LucyT (What happens in Denver won't stay in Denver... August 25 - 28, 2008)
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To: shrinkermd

bfl


34 posted on 07/27/2008 7:44:20 PM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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To: misterrob

I hoped we would picked someone else for our nominee but here we are. I will vote for McCain because of his cabinet.
The people that Obama hags around scare me. His cabinet would scare anyone.


35 posted on 07/27/2008 7:57:45 PM PDT by Brimack34
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