McCain in Maine with Bush 41
South Portland, MAINE–
Senator John McCain campaigned in Maine today beginning with a private fundraiser with Kennebunkport resident Former President George H.W. Bush at his estate, Walker’s Point.
Appearing next to the 41st president at a press conference, McCain said if the troop surge in Iraq continues to be successful he sees U.S. troops being withdrawn within two years, as long as conditions continue to improve, “I think they could be largely withdrawn as I have said we have succeeded. This strategy is not succeeding, we have succeeded. And of course as we all know it has to be based on conditions on the ground,” McCain told reporters, “But whenever you win wars, and we are winning, then we will be able to come home.”
The Republican nominee-in-waiting said there are challenges in Afghanistan, and there needs to be more troops sent there as troops leave Iraq, “We will be withdrawing, having further troop withdrawals as we continue to win in Iraq, which Sen. Obama had said we were gonna lose. So I have been steadfast in my position that we needed to worry about Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Bush praised McCain calling him “very good friend” and a man he admired, “My respect for him has no bounds. He will be a great president. I’m confident of that.”
McCain mentioned Barack Obama’s trip today to Iraq and said without the troop surge Obama would not be able to visit because of the lack of security in the country and then went after his rival for opposing the surge, “The major point here is Senator Obama could not have gone to Iraq as he did because he opposed the surge. It was the surge that succeeded. It was the surge that is winning this war. He opposed it. He said it wouldn’t succeed. He has still yet to say that it has succeeded.”
Obama’s trip to Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Europe this week has attracted a media frenzy all over the world. McCain said he did not know if he will be able to compete with the media attention, but that he will continue to campaign hard adding “it is what it is.”
The former President didn’t go after Obama instead deferring those questions to McCain saying he doesn’t “follow this day to day anymore” and instead he enjoys sitting by the ocean and watching “the tide come in and out.”
Tags: barack obama, George HW Bush, john mccain
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[...] McCain is against setting timetables for troop withdrawals, but did say today that if conditions continue to improve in Iraq he sees troops coming home within the n… [...]
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July 21, 2008 5:43 PM
ABC News’ Jennifer Duck reports: Sen. John McCain touted his judgment and experience to a small crowd in Maine as his opponent traveled to Iraq and met with top Iraqi leaders.
When pressed on troops being withdrawn fully in two years, McCain said, “Oh I think they could be largely withdrawn. As I have said we have succeeded. This strategy is not succeeding, we have succeeded. And of course as we all know it has to be based on conditions on the ground.”
Forgive my grandpa!
Sounds like John McCain is ready — ready to be wrong on Day One. Think what you want about B.O., but God help us if we elect THIS guy…
pELOSI and rEID are a threat to the United States - get them out of office!
can McCain talk about anything other than “the surge”? i am sooooo sick of hearing him whine over and over again about this war!
can he finish a sentance without mentioning obama’s name? please let’s talk about gas prices and how i can feed my family.this man is insane! i am afraid of this mans mind set of thinking of nothing but the war.
come on people lets vote change to get our wonderful country out of a state of war games so that we can be a strong and respectful nation once again.
obama is the chosen one to get this done!
white woman from georgia!
Its scary –more of the same,
We need Obama!!!! http://www.squidoo.com/double_speak
Hi, I am always learning. Last month I asked what does Bush41 mean? peace and love
“Bush41″ is journalistic slang for the 41st president..
[...] Earlier in the week, McCain told reporters he was not sure if he would be able to compete with the m… [...]
Poor McCain, the media doesn’t kiss his ass the way Fox News does. What a chore his life is.
Why is it that McCain and Bush both tonted Obama when he said engage talks with Countries like North Korea, Iran and Jordan, but now we are doing it. Laugh at him and treat him as if he were stupid for and didn’t know enough about war when he said I have set a date for withdrawing troops, but the PM of Iraq (a man we put in the job) saids he wants us out and Bush is now repeating Obamas time line. Obama said Nuke power 8 months ago when running against Clinton at a stump speach. Now McCain is saying it.
Something is strange here. Obama’s ideas are suddenly Bush policy with out the credit going to Obama. Oh and those who say Obama has no experience in foreign policy and for being President, Please tell me what experience McCain has other than following orders and dropping bombs from 20,000 feet before being shot down and graduating at the very bottom of his academy’s class. McCain was never in command of more than 60 people his whole time in the Navy and was passed over for any flag level rank because of his roomered behavior as a partier and fooling around with enlisted women (These are all facts in his military records). He as never had economic control in government or been part of a team who has won a war. how does he know how to win a war?
[...] and Europe. The Republican nominee-in-waiting has been repeating attacks throughout the week on his rival’s initial rejection of the troop surge in Iraq and pressing that Obama would rather win an a political campaign than win a war. McCain also makes [...]