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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2008 / Six Months At A Time

Six Months At A Time

by John Cole|  April 10, 20083:50 pm| 45 Comments

This post is in: Election 2008, War

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If you are wondering why the RNC and their apparatchiks in the noise machine and the blogosphere are freaking out over the McCain “100 Years” bit (and yes, they are freaking out, as this insane Red State piece shows), this is why (via Yglesias):

That kind of thing will be devastating to McCain in the fall.

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45Comments

  1. 1.

    Krista

    April 10, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Wow. That’s a nicely put-together bit. Short, succinct, and it lets the facts speak for themselves.

  2. 2.

    Jen

    April 10, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Owch. Well, at least he supports the troops. Oh, wait. The ads write themselves.

  3. 3.

    jake

    April 10, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    If you are wondering why the RNC and their apparatchiks in the noise machine and the blogosphere are freaking out over the McCain “100 Years” bit

    They’re afraid they’ll catch colds from a Draft

  4. 4.

    Buck

    April 10, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    That is absolutely wonderful.

  5. 5.

    John Petty

    April 10, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    I doubt the American people respond to something like this. Against Obama, in fact, the Iraq War is quite likely to be a net positive for the GOP.

    McCain will be talking about “victory” and “success,” and Obama will be trying to talk himself back from the supposed strong anti-war position he’s known for having now.

    Even though his position is indistinguishable from Hillary’s, he’s getting the benefits of being the anti-war candidate in the Democratic primaries. It will cost him in the general.

  6. 6.

    mrmobi

    April 10, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Damn. I love that ad.

    Someone remind me why the fall election will be difficult for Democrats?

  7. 7.

    Dug Jay

    April 10, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    I agree. With this latest ad from MoveOn.Org, McCain should easily kick ass. I hope they run it 24/7.

  8. 8.

    Delia

    April 10, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    Only six more months.”

    Yeah but this time they really mean it. I’m sure they do. Didn’t you see their lips moving when they all said it?

    Oh wait, that’s how you tell they’re lying, isn’t it?

  9. 9.

    Jen

    April 10, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    why the fall election will be difficult for Democrats

    Because Democrats can lose anything. Sometimes you can get swept away by the enormity of Republican incompetence, mismanagement, and general evil-ness. It happens to me, too. But we do not belong to any organized political party. We are Democrats.

    Still and all, it’s hard to see how we’re going to lose, innit?

  10. 10.

    Rick Taylor

    April 10, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Spot on. It should be fun to see how the gaffe prone McCain tries to defend himself.

  11. 11.

    Fwiffo

    April 10, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    OK, this is what I don’t get…

    McCain defenders (when not plugging their ears and shouting “lalala he never said that lalala”) are saying that the “100 years” is a time span when there’s not any kind of active fighting going on, troops aren’t getting killed, or wounded or whatever. That Iraq is a more or less stable and happy place. Or as happy as places like Iraq can reasonably be expected to be.

    If it’s shiny happy rainbow time in Iraq, it seems to me that there would be nothing for our troops to do. I mean, that scenario pretty much represents victory/success/the-job-is-done/we-found-the-pony/whatever, right? If the job is done, why the fuck would we want to have troops there? For 50/100/1,000/10,000 years? I mean, having troops stationed in Saudi Arabia worked out real well, so I guess that’s where they must be coming from…

  12. 12.

    TR

    April 10, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    That ad’s fantastic.

    And to the conservatives here who believe that it will somehow help McCain — when polls are consistently showing that 65%-70% of Americans want our troops out of Iraq within the next year — enjoy your state of denial. November is going to hurt like a bitch for you.

  13. 13.

    mark

    April 10, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    Hey, Rocky! Watch me pull a victory out of Iraq!

  14. 14.

    Nim, ham hock of liberty

    April 10, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    Even though his position is indistinguishable from Hillary’s, he’s getting the benefits of being the anti-war candidate in the Democratic primaries. It will cost him in the general.

    It’s been a long time since being against the Iraq meat grinder was just the province of the Dirty Fucking Hippies. The harder Huggy Bear hugs Iraq, the worse it will be for him.

  15. 15.

    Egilsson

    April 10, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    Redstate is almost comical these days.

    They live to be outraged. What’s really amazing is how hard they work at it. The contortions and distortions are impressive.

  16. 16.

    Dug Jay

    April 10, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    There’s no question that most Americans, when polled, say that they want “our troops out of Iraq within the next year.” Aside from the fact that that won’t happen with the election of either Obama or Clinton, as their respective advisors privatly admit, Americans also don’t want the kind of surrender/defeat that most of the Left, including most on this site, favor. The ad is facile and appeals to the sort of ilk that are literally praying for US defeat and humiliation.

  17. 17.

    Bubblegum Tate

    April 10, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    Still and all, it’s hard to see how we’re going to lose, innit?

    Oh, I’m sure the Democratic Party can find a way.

    Also, this ad was made by MoveOn…don’t you know that MoveOn is just a worse version of Hitler?

  18. 18.

    dbrown

    April 10, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    With gas prices still climbing, and will continue; the economy tanking, banks holding off on large loans and more childs dying in Iraq, now will the repubics win? Even my rightwing republican, pro-bush ultra-antihillary friend has voved to vote democratic even if hillary runs. The economy and SS has him scared shitless and gas/Iraq are starting to get even his attention. McCain needs Rice, it the only way he’ll even get a minor positive mention as a footnote in the history books.

  19. 19.

    Tsulagi

    April 10, 2008 at 4:55 pm

    If you are wondering why the RNC and their apparatchiks in the noise machine and the blogosphere are freaking out over the McCain “100 Years” bit

    Fuck ‘em. McCain handed the Dems a Kerry “I voted for it before I voted against it” and/or that brilliant “global test” moment. How many times were those repeated and repeated in the 04 cycle? Use this one; rename him 100-year McCain.

    Yeah, have seen more than a couple diaries at RedState crying “not fair!” Pretty funny. The usual rationale for their tears is that McCain qualified his 100-year pledge to some degree by saying 100 years was wonderful for him as long as service members weren’t dying. RS lower lips quiver pointing to that while whining he really didn’t mean 100 years of war. Okay. So apparently they’re moving toward being anit-war, but good to go with a 100-year daycare operation babysitting Iraqis.

    Dems should be hitting McCain with this at every opportunity. When he cries about it, hit him again and again with it. Put him on the defensive. Let him explain how many of those 100 years he’s fine with service members dying, ground forces tied up in Iraq, and the Treasury writing massive IOUs to pay for it.

    I’m sure it would just sell itself. 100-year McCain and the rest of the Pubs should welcome the opportunity rather than trying to run from it.

  20. 20.

    RandyH

    April 10, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    That is a great ad. I wish it were a little longer with more clips of Bush and McCain saying basically the same things as each other about the great progress and how we’re on the verge of “winning” or whatever. Maybe some choice Cheney quotes as well. But there will be many more of these ads to come.

  21. 21.

    TR

    April 10, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Americans also don’t want the kind of surrender/defeat that most of the Left, including most on this site, favor.

    No, I favor intelligence and reason and facts.

    But if you want to jerk off in a childish fantasy about some sort of “success” and “victory” that neither Petraeus, Crocker nor Bush have been able to spell out for us in actual adult terms, have at it.

    My four-year-old daughter draws pretty pictures of unicorns and gets mad when I have to tell her they don’t really exist at the zoo. You have the same mentality.

    Congrats on that.

  22. 22.

    cleek

    April 10, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    it was OK, but there are dozens of those “6 more months” quotes out there. i was a little surprised that they only used a handful.

  23. 23.

    ThymeZone

    April 10, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    Still and all, it’s hard to see how we’re going to lose, innit?

    Two words: We’re not.

  24. 24.

    Rick Taylor

    April 10, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    John Petty wrote:

    I doubt the American people respond to something like this. Against Obama, in fact, the Iraq War is quite likely to be a net positive for the GOP.

    McCain will be talking about “victory” and “success,” and Obama will be trying to talk himself back from the supposed strong anti-war position he’s known for having now.

    The point isn’t about who’s for staying and who’s for leaving Iraq The point is, the administration and the supporters of the war have been the beating the same drum for over five years now. We’re always winning; we’re always just turning the corning. Maybe things were screwed up in the past, but things are always turning positive now, the media is misrepresenting what’s happening, anyone who opposes the war is just shutting their eyes to the progress we’re making because they want us to loose. Maybe you’re right and maybe people will it through November, but I don’t see it.

    It might be different who was arguing for keeping our troops in Iraq who was actually honest about where we are, what the costs are likely to be, how likely we’ll need to be there, what the odds of success are, etc. No one is, though. McCain is back-peddling hard from his one hundred years remark, and he keeps insisting finally after all this time we’re winning now, etc. Are people really going to keep buying that? I’ve been wrong lots of times before, but I find it hard to believe.

  25. 25.

    AkaDad

    April 10, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    The only way Obama loses to McCain, is if he’s caught Vittering a prostitute or Foleying a page.

    Mark my words.

  26. 26.

    ThymeZone

    April 10, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    That video is powerful. I will do whatever I can to make sure it is seen as widely as possible.

    Those fucking liars that got us into this trainwreck need to pay and pay dearly.

  27. 27.

    Soylent Green

    April 10, 2008 at 5:36 pm

    We didn’t think it possible for Kerry to lose to Bush. Mark those too.

  28. 28.

    AkaDad

    April 10, 2008 at 5:56 pm

    Kerry just barely lost to Bush at a time when most people still supported the invasion of Iraq. It’s extremely hard to remove a sitting President during a war.

    Now, 2/3 of Americans want out of Iraq. It’s a completely different dynamic than 2004.

    Also, people like Obama a lot more than Kerry.

    If I’m wrong, you all can ridicule and mock me after the election.

  29. 29.

    Ekim

    April 10, 2008 at 6:21 pm

    At least you can be happy that West Virginia exists because its residents refused to leave the union–any troops there are not an occupying power. :)

  30. 30.

    The Other Steve

    April 10, 2008 at 6:38 pm

    The only way Obama loses to McCain, is if he’s caught Vittering a prostitute or Foleying a page.

    Mark my words.

    Ok, it might impress some people.

    But for me the thought of a 71 year old guy with a prostitute just creeps me out.

  31. 31.

    The Other Steve

    April 10, 2008 at 6:39 pm

    ** More War! Less Jobs! **

    – John McCain 2008 –

  32. 32.

    D-Chance.

    April 10, 2008 at 6:49 pm

    Soylent Green Says:

    We didn’t think it possible for Kerry to lose to Bush. Mark those too.

    No comparison. Kerry, once he got his Official Ass, er, Donkey Seal Of Approval, proved to be a true liberal with an outspoken wife trying to hide his elitism by engaging in blue-collar activities that only made him look foolish. Obama, otoh, is a… uh… true liberal with an… ehhhh… outspoken wife and has tried to engage in blue-collar activities like… er… bowling, which only made him look foolish.

    Like I said, no comparison. It’s in the bag. /smiles

    Now, if we can only get Obama to wear one of these…

  33. 33.

    OriGuy

    April 10, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    Now, if we can only get Obama to wear one of these…

    Kerry got a trip to the Johnson Space Center and of course he had to wear that to go where he did. I bet GWB never had the intellectual curiousity to do more that make a speech in front of the place. If he did, he would have worn one of those too. Kerry had a grin on his face because he had the intelligence to understand at least some of what he was seeing. I’d give my left testicle to get a VIP tour of the place like that.

  34. 34.

    Tom Hilton

    April 10, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    Also, this ad was made by MoveOn…don’t you know that MoveOn is just a worse version of Hitler?

    ZOMG they totally smear Petraeus in that ad by mentioning his name (which is exactly the same thing as calling him a Nazi!) which means they’re saying our troops are Hitler!!! Why hasn’t Obama apologized for this atrocity yet?

  35. 35.

    The Moar You Know

    April 10, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    the Iraq War is quite likely to be a net positive for the GOP.

    Did you know if you jump off a cliff, and then jump upwards right before you hit the ground, you won’t be hurt? It’s true!

  36. 36.

    Svensker

    April 10, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    The ad is facile and appeals to the sort of ilk that are literally praying for US defeat and humiliation.

    That is a strikingly mellifluous sentence. I am SO glad you used it. Maybe it’s the rhythm: The AD is FACile and apPEALS to the SORT of ILK… Or maybe it’s the repeating “l“s. I don’t know. True linguistic magic. Stupid, but it sounds pretty.

  37. 37.

    Incertus

    April 10, 2008 at 9:11 pm

    Kerry just barely lost to Bush at a time when most people still supported the invasion of Iraq. It’s extremely hard to remove a sitting President during a war.

    And did so while basically supporting said war. It’s easy to forget that Kerry-Edwards didn’t criticize the war itself, only the way it was conducted. And even then, they barely lost. Now, four years later, with the war even more unpopular and a Democratic candidate who is at least saying he or she is going to end the war, anyone hanging onto it like it’s a good thing is dogmeat in the election.

  38. 38.

    Conservatively Liberal

    April 10, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    I just heard that there were 121 military suicides in Iraq last year. Think about that. On average, one soldier in Iraq took their life every three days last year. This is just nuts!

    When soldiers are killing themselves at that rate, you know that things are totally out of hand. Our president and his policies are driving the suicide rate up in the military, and nobody cares. You can’t spin it any other way and be honest with yourself. Our soldiers are worn out, and this has got to end.

    Fiddling while Rome burns indeed.

  39. 39.

    Tom Hilton

    April 10, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    Stupid, but it sounds pretty.

    Stupid and redundant. “Sort of ilk”? What a fucking moron.

  40. 40.

    TenguPhule

    April 10, 2008 at 11:59 pm

    Americans also don’t want the kind of surrender/defeat that most of the Left, including most on this site, favor.

    Translated Dug Jay: I am unable to tell the difference between what is real and what is shit I wish were real. Please donate to charity to ensure that other people who are badly off do not turn into clones of me. Remember, a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but in my case there was nothing to work with in the first place.

  41. 41.

    TenguPhule

    April 11, 2008 at 12:03 am

    Like I said, no comparison. It’s in the bag. /smiles

    Yes it is. Because FuckStain McCain isn’t going to make it to the general election.

    Thanks to the Finance law he helped pass, he’s going to be taken out for violating the spending limits.

  42. 42.

    TenguPhule

    April 11, 2008 at 12:06 am

    McCain will be talking about “victory” and “success,” against a backdrop of 4000+ dead, over a trillion dollars pissed away, a gutted military force and no real argument that Iraq even matters to US security.

    Corrected.

  43. 43.

    PaulB

    April 11, 2008 at 10:52 am

    Americans also don’t want the kind of surrender/defeat that most of the Left, including most on this site, favor

    Via Gallup:

    “If you had to choose, which do you think is better for the U.S.: to keep a significant number of troops in Iraq until the situation there gets better, even if that takes many years, or to set a timetable for removing troops from Iraq and to stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time?” [Emphasis added]

    Stay Until Situation Gets Better – 35%
    Stick to a Withdrawal Timetable – 60%

    Via CBS News:

    “From what you know about the U.S. involvement in Iraq, how much longer would you be willing to have large numbers of U.S. troops remain in Iraq: less than a year, one to two years, two to five years or longer than five years?”

    Less Than A Year – 46%
    One to Two Years – 22%
    Two to Five Years – 14%
    Longer Than Five Years – 6%

    See you in November, Duggie.

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