The slo-mo wreckage of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign continued this weekened when his surprise trip to Baghdad produced a horribly embarrassing spectacle.
It started last week when McCain told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that parts of Baghdad had been secured since the surge began, and were now safe enough for Westerners to walk around in freely. He was immediately contradicted on this by CNN reporter Michael Ware, who covers Baghdad,
Ostensibly to prove his point, McCain took a walk in an open air market just outside the Green Zone. He did move about “freely,” except that he had 100 soldiers with him who were armed to the teeth, as well as Blackhawk helicopters keeping watch overhead.
Offering an assist to the GOP from back home, Drudge reported falsely that at a news conference after McCain’s walkabout he was heckled by Michael Ware.
This morning on CNN, Ware denied the charge:
I did not heckle the senator. Indeed, I didn’t say a word. I didn’t even ask a question. In fact, when I raised my hand to ask a question the press conference abruptly ended. So, what I would suggest is that anyone who has any queries about whether I heckled, watch the videotape of the press conference — Soledad.
Well heck, when taking a stroll, doesn’t everyone go out with 100 heavily armed combat troops and a couple of Abrams Tanks prowling the area. Plus, a couple of Stryker armored personel carriers. And overhead, two Apache helicopter gunships and three Blackhawk helicopter vertical insertion platforms?
Not to mention the squadron of F-16’s prowling overhead. And the C-130 “Spectre” flying fortress that has enough onboard firepower to decimate an area the size of a football field in one minute.
All kidding aside, McCain looks so tired and worn out on TV mumbling White House Talking points that he comes across as pathetic.
greg bacon
Each time I view the weary visage of John McCain, usually delivering an embarrassing sound bite to a hungry group of journo’s, I think:
“Why does this man keep trying?”
John McCain is a hero who has sacrificed so much for his country, it pains me that he is not spending his waning years, kicking back, enjoying retirement and resting his pain wracked body.
But mostly, he is beginning to come across as the 40 year old boxer, who thinks he can still mix it with the champ, only to end up lying bewildered, on the canvas.
Having lived in Australia for many years, I recall an aussie colliquialism that seems to apply here: Sen. McCain has ‘lost the plot’.