Pensacola, FL — McCain Senior Adviser Steve Schmidt accused Barack Obama of “dishonesty” and “nonsense talk” regarding his plan for a post-war “strike force” and accusation that McCain supports a 100 year war in Iraq.

“The lofty rhetoric of change, coupled with I’m different, ‘I will run a campaign for the American people that is different,’ has been reduced through this instance to nonsense talk,” Schmidt told a group of assembled press in the aisle of the McCain campaign plane during a flight to Pensacola.

Schmidt also referred to Obama as “detached from reality,” engaging in “old-style Chicago politics,” a practitioner of the “politics of distortion,” and “absolutely dishonest.”

Schmidt held court for more than 20 minutes, describing Obama as “dishonest” at a rate of at least two times a minute—more than 40 times by my count.

The McCain campaign is responding with vigor and force every time Obama accuses the presumptive GOP nominee of willing to fight a 100-year war or maintain an occupation for that long in Iraq. Schmidt reiterated today that McCain is talking about a century-long post-war presence like current missions in Japan and Germany–as opposed to a 100-year military conflict. More here.

Initial highlights: (more coming)

Schmidt on the strike force:

• “It speaks to somebody who has a very ill-conceived plan, that’s not well thought out, based on a lack of experience and preparation. What is a strike force? Who is in the strike force? Is it a joint strike force? What is its composition? Where is this so called strike force going to be based at?”
• “It’s nonsensical, it makes no sense. It makes no sense at any level.”
• “If we send all the troops out of Iraq, is the strike force not inherently a combat force?”

Schmidt on Obama distorting McCain’s comments about a 100-year post-war presence in Iraq:

• “It’s rhetoric again that is detached from reality.”
• “I actually think that Senator Obama has done the country a great service on this 100 years comment because now the American people have the information they need to have to know that he is not being honest–that he is being dishonest when he gets out and makes that charge.”
• “It’s not a question of John McCain said ‘X’ and your opponent said ‘Y’…Barack Obama is deliberately misleading the American people. He is deliberately misleading people. He knows he is misleading people. It’s absolutely dishonest. And Barack Obama then gets to give up his claim of being the practitioner of a new type of politics, which is above the politics of distortion. He doesn’t get to have it both ways.”
• “Its old-style Chicago politics. It’s old school, ‘lets distort, (and) take things out of context.’”
• “The lofty rhetoric of change, coupled with I’m different, ‘I will run a campaign for the American people that is different,’ has been reduced through this instance to nonsense talk.”
• “There is no shade of gray here….this is a debate over Barack Obama’s honesty. He is being dishonest with the American people.”

Flanked by ten admirals and generals and a slew of American flags, Obama spoke about his readiness to be Commander-in-Chief — a qualification the Clinton campaign has said on the stump and in television ads that Obama does not possess.

It’s his judgment, Obama says, not necessarily the Washington experience that qualifies him for the role. “Instead of a serious, substantive debate, we’ve heard vague allusions to a ‘Commander-in-Chief threshold’ that seems to be about nothing more than the number of years you’ve spent in Washington.  This is exactly what’s wrong with the national security debate in Washington,” he said in front of reporters in Chicago. “The real Commander-in-Chief threshold doesn’t have to do with years tallied up in Washington, it has to do with the judgment and vision that you will bring to the Oval Office,” he continued.

General Tony McPeak - a retired Air Force commander and Obama supporter - said Obama has both the sound judgment and the temperament to lead the nation. “Good news and bad, Senatorn Obama was up in Iowa, maybe not so up in New Hampshire. But he was the same Barack Obama on the one day as the other. Steady, reliable. You know no shock Barack kind of guy. No drama Obama. So when that phone rings, when that red phone rings at 3am, you want a guy with this kind of temperament to answer that telephone.”

But then Senator Obama said that he thinks both of his adversaries, Republican and Democrat, are also qualified to be Commander-in-Chief. When asked directly if he thought Hillary Clinton was prepared, he responded unequivacably, “Yes. As I do – as I believe Senator McCain is, and as I believe I am.” He then qualified that statement, saying Senator Clinton has played politics with the issue. “Keep in mind though I think it is fair to say that Senator Clinton has deployed this as a political strategy. The disingenuousness of it was revealed when they started saying that well, maybe he can be Vice President. Which by the President Clinton’s own criteria that it means I must be qualified to be commander in chief. Apparently the thinking is that you know I might not be ready on day one but maybe on day 15 I would be prepared,” he said.

He cited numerous officials who served under former President Bill Clinton who now support Candidate Obama as evidence that he is ready. “The Clintons understand this. This was a last minute gambit prior to Texas and Ohio, because in their own terms that had  said that their campaign would end if they didn’t win,” he said, explaining that this strategy fit into the Clinton’s  “kitchen sink” campaign strategy.

But Obama does see a silver lining to this line of attacks. “This issue would have come up in the general election anyway. So we mind as well surface it now. I didn’t except Democrats to be making these arguments against fellow Democrats. They typically come from Republicans against Democrats. Certainly if Senator Clinton were the nominee John McCain will make the exact same argument against her. But if it’s, since I intend to be the nominee and I’m going to be running against John McCain, it’s an argument that we would have to deal with at some point,” he noted.

Hillary Clinton painted Barack Obama as all talk and no substance on national security in Waco, TX — saying “Senator Obama talks about these issues, but when it came time to act, he was missing in action.”

“There’s a big difference between delivering a speech at an anti-war rally as a state senator, and picking up that phone in the White House at 3am in the morning to deal with an international crisis,” she said. “Senator Obama talks about these issues, but when it came time to act, he was missing in action.”In particular, Senator Clinton claimed Obama’s failure to show up for an important vote on Iran and his inability to hold “substantive” hearings on his Senate committee that oversees NATO make him a less qualified choice to be commander in chief. She also attacked the central claim of his candidacy — that he’d opposed the war in Iraq in 2002, while she voted to authorize force.

“There’s a difference between making a speech when you have no responsibility, and having to step up and take charge and take responsibility for your actions,” she said.

Flanked by generals and admirals who are supporting her candidacy, including Gen Paul Eaton and Gen Wesley Clark, Clinton echoed her new ad on national security — arguing that she understands what it means when the crisis phone in the White House rings at 3am. “There isn’t any time to convene your advisers.To do a survey about what will or will not be popular. You have to make a decision. And in the world that we face with both the challenges and opportunities, we need a president who picks up that phone ready to decide.”

“Senator Obama says if we talk about National Security in this campaign, we’re trying to scare people,” she said — referring to Obama’s claim that the new ad plays on people’s fears. “I don’t think people in Texas scare all that easily.”

“The American people aren’t afraid of the challenges and dangers we face in the world. They want a president with the strength and wisdom to take those challenges and dangers head on.”

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San Antonio, TX –Sen. John McCain continued to hammer Obama for his comments at last night’s at an afternoon town hall in San Antonio today.

“If we do what Senator Obama wants to do, and that’s immediate withdrwal, that would mean surrender in Iraq. So I guess that means he would surrender and then go back,” McCain said.

The two have been tussling all day over the war in Iraq. See McCain’s first strike and then Obama’s response.

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Tyler, TX — Sen. John McCain slammed Sen. Barack Obama for suggesting during last night’s debate that while he would begin to withdraw troops from Iraq upon taking office, he would potentially return troops to the country if “al Qaeda is forming a base.”

“I have some news–al Qaeda is in Iraq. It’s called al Qaeda in Iraq,” McCain said at a town hall meeting. “If we left, they wouldn’t be establishing a base, they wouldn’t be establishing a base. They would be taking a country. And I’m not going to allow that to happen, my friends. I will not surrender to al Qaeda.”

During a media availability after the event, McCain added that if the U.S. was to proceed with Obama’s plan for a gradual withdrawal, it would enable al Qaeda to strengthen it’s position in the country.

“(I) question as strongly as possible the premise that somehow you could leave Iraq and defeat the entire purpose of the strategy we are now employing…and then say that you will go back in,” he said. “I am convinced (that would) be a far larger sacrifice of American blood and treasure if you allow al Qaeda to control Iraq.”

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Columbus, OH — Taking dead aim at the Democratic frontrunner, Sen. John McCain rebuked Barack Obama as an “inexperienced candidate” who is making empty promises to the American people of a “holiday from history.”

“Will we make the right changes…or will we heed the appeals for change that ignore the lessons of history and lack confidence in the intelligence and ideals of free people?” McCain said before about 500 supporters after declaring victory Tuesday in the Wisconsin Primary. “I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change….that promises no more than a holiday from history and return to the false promises and failed policies of a tired philosophy that trusts in government more than the people.”

Without ever using Obama’s name, McCain also took apparent shots at the Democratic frontrunner on foreign policy as well. It is the second straight victory speech in which McCain has focussed the brunt of his criticism and contrast on Obama—who also won the Wisconsin primary Tuesday.

“Will the next president have the experience, the judgement, experience informs and the strength of purpose to respond to each of these developments in ways that strengthen our security and advance the global progress of our ideals?” McCain asked. “Or will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally Pakistan and suggested sitting down without preconditions or clear purpose with enemies who support terrorists and are intent on destabilizing the world by acquiring nuclear weapons? I think you know the answer to that question.”