May 30th, 2008
 
As we all know, John McCain’s claim of expertise on foreign policy in general and the war in Iraq in particular is the centerpiece of his presidential candidacy.
Which makes it especially embarrassing for him when he flubs the realities regarding Iraq. He’s done that several times, most notably with his leisurely stroll down a purportedly safe street in Baghdad – while wearing a bullet-proof vest and surrounded by troops and helicopters – and with his recent confusion over Sunnis and Shiites and exactly whom in Iraq was getting help from Iran.
Well, now McCain has done it again — and just at a time when Barack Obama was having problems with his own gaffes and with the intemperate remarks of a clergyman pal.
McCain’s problem this time is in saying that the number of U.S. troops in Iraq has been “drawn down to pre-surge levels.” That statement is off the mark by a factor of 25,000 troops.
Media coverage of this mistake is prominent, given the fact that Iraq is supposed to be McCain’s long suit, issue-wise. He’s losing the spin war on this one, as we see HERE.
May 30th, 2008
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A Democratic pollster and a Republican pollster recently combined forces to conduct a fascinating study of what voters think of the two parties’ respective messages when the party labels aren’t attached to them.
Republican pollster Glen Borger wrote this about the study results:
“The news in the survey is NOT the terrible political environment – you already are aware of that, and if you are not, please retire. The news is NOT that John McCain has a slight deficit when matched against Barack Obama, despite stronger support for McCain from Republicans than Obama gets from Democrats (see my April memo for why that is a challenge for ALL Republican campaigns). NOR is the news that voters are angry about gas prices and think the Democrats are better able to handle the economy.
“Instead, the news is the four match-ups between the Republican message and the Democrats’ message on the key issues of the economy, Iraq, trade, and taxes. The Democratic message consistently won out over the GOP message by eleven to 25 points.”
There’s more on this matter at THIS REPUBLICAN WEB SITE.
May 30th, 2008
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The Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Chicago Catholic priest and acquaintance of Barack Obama, tastelessly and unfairly mocked Hillary Clinton in a sermon the other day.
Obama quickly faulted Pfleger for his “divisive, backward rhetoric.”
But the Clinton camp, as if oblivious to the hopelessness of Hillary’s candidacy, FAULTED OBAMA for not coming down on Pfleger a little harder.
Do these people actually think this mini-flap over Pfleger’s remarks will be the turning point that dooms Obama’s White House aspirations and carries Clinton to the Democratic presidential nomination?
What are they smoking?
