McCain Camp "Frustrated" With Obama's Trip: Reports

Is John McCain frustrated, or maybe a little of jealous, of Obama's headline grabbing trip? Looks like all signs point to yes as Iraq's Prime Minister gives new confidence to Obama's withdrawal plan, Bloomberg News says "Middle Eastern and European leaders are lining up to hear what Barack Obama has to say," and General Petraeus gave photographers fresh photo-ops with the Democratic leader.

ABC Anchor George Stephanopoulos told Good Morning America Tuesday, "They are frustrated in the McCain camp." McCain and former President Bush tried to laugh-off being jealous during a news conference yesterday at the Bush compound in Maine.

Sen. John McCain and former President George H.W. Bush laughed off questions about the size and scale of Sen. Barack Obama's anticipated events in Europe, after the Democratic contender concludes a tour of the Middle East including Iraq and Afghanistan, but the truth wasn't far from the surface.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., laughed off concerns that he is "jealous" of the attention Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is getting on his world tour but the McCain camp is considering a "surprise" that may steal the spotlight from his rival.

"We're jealous is all," the former president told reporters on Monday outside the Bush family home in Maine.

CNN's Dana Bash details John McCain's plan to take take some of the spotlight off Obama while the nation's press corps follow him around half way across the world.

McCain is expected to slam Obama's position on Iraq ahead of a town hall in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Tuesday...

... Shrugging off the attention surrounding Obama's trip, the McCain campaign is doing what it can to keep their rival from using the trip to burnish his foreign policy credentials.

There are numerous reports that McCain might try to steal Obama's fire by announcing his VP pick this week.

McCain campaign sources confirm to CNN that there have been discussions high in the campaign about naming a running mate this week. They also say that, whether or not the announcement is made, the choices have been "narrowed" to the point where McCain could make a decision that soon.

HuffPost's Nico Pitney has more.

Comments

[rabprevent]

MCC*&^% SHOULD LOOK AT HIMSELF FOR HIS FAILURES!!

[Catharsis]

We should make our political system such that politicians are forced to do that. McPetrified has been able to blame someone else since at least Annapolis, but probably earlier. What a life it must be to be free of that burden.

[robodweeb]

I wish someone would ask Panama Johnnie why he didn't agree with the generals that more troops would be needed from the beginning in Iraq.

He only supported the surge when his initial judgement turned out to be wrong.

The media talks about his opposition to Rummy and B u s h but ignore his previous support for "stay the course".

And when we question going into Iraq in the first place we're told to not look back. But when it comes to the surge we're told to look back.

[dentuso]

You've pretty much nailed it, robo.

They give a "surge" talking point to all the twits, ask them to run and repeat, but didn't provide them with answers as to initial judgment and why we got in there in the first place.

Its truly astounding that this group still thinks Americans aren't interested in politics, and are ignorant of reality as a whole.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

The whole thought that McBush came up with the surge is another McBush myth. He supported stay the course until the Rethuglicans lost the 2006 congressional elections.

[wpiv926]

McCain??? Frustrated????? This is the trip you wanted McSame, and now you're getting it.
To McCain Camp: Thanks for the idea!!!! Obama-'08

[Azimuth]

Seems in jesting McCain tells the truth. His encouragement of Obama's trip has rather backfired.

Ironic that in Obama's case "more of the same" is wanted, whereas that phrase is used as an epithet against McCain.

[Jessegirl]

THANK-YOU JOHN McCAIN!!! This was all your idea and now the WORLD is seeing how PRESIDENTIAL Obama is...we are soooooo proud of him! Sorry your "little plan" didn't work the way you thought.....YOU ACTUALLY LOOK WEAKER AND SADDER NOW.

John McCain's next brilliant plan: fist fight on the front lawn of White house

[EggsBolinski]

Gotta love the Chinese on this one - Obama's Intern Trip

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90780/91343/6456101.html

[Flagal]

CocteausTwin:

The "magicJack" as provacative as the name sounds, is merely a Jack that plugs into your computers USB port. You then plug a regular homephone, handsfree phone, any type of phone (I have a v-tech with 3 remotes) that works with a wall jack, and you get phone service through your computer. It costs $46.00 for the Jack which includes 1 year of phone (local & long distance) service. It costs $20.00 a year after that.
I have had one for a couple months and it works well (not perfect, but close). I have read it does not work well with windows vista. (I have XP).

[CocteausTwin]

Hey thanks for taking the time to reply. I have heard of similar devices, but that was about six years ago. The rates sound great. I'll have to look to see how the technology is being implemented. For those that make overseas calls sounds like a great way to stay in touch with family and friends at a very reasonable cost. Audio quality good? any time delays?

[donttasemebro]

I use Lingo. Free long distance anywhere in the US and to most European countries. Great quality and no delays. About $25/month.

[Flagal]

Once in a while calls dont go through. So you have to redial. The sound quality surprised me, clear as regular homephone. There is no delay, it is not like the services where you talk through your computer. The other cool thing about it is, lets say you got europe...you bring the jack with your laptop and your calling over there (of course you need a phone).
I was very sceptical at first but I figured the jack and a year of service was the same cost as one month of my old AT&T service. So now in month two I have lost nothing.

It comes with voicemail service also.
Like I said it isn't perfect but I would say it works the way it should 98% of the time

[ErnestineBass]

Does ANYTHING work well with Vista?

[Rumplestiltskin]

Tech support staffing levels?

[xmw]

It depends on your definition of work....

[who38]

Where do I go to get this?

[geobushono]

asked to comment on petrayus Obama said, "he's the best we've seen".........THAT is called faint praise folks.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

How cute. Neo's "CrazyDemocrat" is signed up as our fans so she can receive emails for when we post:

Fan of:
ErnestineBass
kevenhussienseven
kevenseven
VolvoBirkenstock
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/users/profile/crazydemocrat

[AdLib]

When you don't have a life, you have to have one emailed to you on a regular basis.

[DarthDerisive]

Oh god I hope they dont have dial up!!

[CocteausTwin]

OK now that is almost enough to make me pity them. These people need some kind of major help.

[sharonh]

I many times have meant to reply and marked as favorite instead. It is easy to hit the wrong cue, especially when the screen changes and they move. Like now, I meant to flag as abusive, did I reply instead?

[AdLib]

Actually, you just turned on my microwave. Popcorn's ready!

[ErnestineBass]

INDEED! I've found quite a surprising number of "secret admirers" on my faves list....

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Neo has bragged, in the past, to becoming a fan to track people's postings.

[CocteausTwin]

I never mentioned that I was honored by being included in your list, and I trust it was not for the same reasons.

I actually believe in the short time I have been here, I''ve seen some of these regulars, no matter the sock of the day, melt down. If it wasn't for the pure hatred and ignorance they expound, I would not have found it humorous in any way. I guess I still have room to grow to realize they are just sick and need help.

[dentuso]

I honestly don't think I've ever been so pleased to be left out.

This is better than the time I didn't get picked in my grade 5 game of "throw rocks at everyone's balls" game.

[MaybeMilo]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ThunderclapNewman]

I am crushed!

Neo doesn't love me anymore!

[Honeywell]

It is sad that the Republicans look at this election as some sorts of a ball game where "MY TEAM GOTTA WIN". All Americans must realize that this election is critical because democracy is at risk here. It should NOT be about the "Liberals" vs. the "Conservatives". It should be about America and American people as a whole. America cannot afford another round of MISERABLE FAILURE. it's time for repair severe damages and restore faith and trust. It's time to renew our commitment to truth, civil liberty, and true freedom - ones that are NOT defined by someone else whose profits mean our misery.

[donttasemebro]

Liberals vs conservatives, the next civil war.

[HumeSkeptic]

The media and Mc. Cane camp narrative that the "surge worked" is pure bunk. It is yet another deception from the same crowd that took us to war based on lies.

The escalation of violence in Afgahnistan, and the crisis that we now face, is a direct consequence of the "surge".

And tha's just one way that the surge "worked".

In terms of benchmarks, they completed just 3 out of 18! They got a satisfatory grade (C) in 12, and an "F" in the remainder 3.

We are in a classic guerrilla warfare. You "surge" in one place, the fighters either go under ground for a while, or they attack you where you don't have enough forces. It is "Whack-a-Mole". The mole just popped up in Afghanistan.

Were we not over committed in Iraq, we would have been able to react to the worsening situation in Afghanistan before it became critical. Thanks to the "surge" that couldn't be done.

As to violence in Iraq, even the military is saying that a lull in violence in Iraq might be just that, a lull.

The surghe was a bad idea. 0'bama was exactly right.

.

[DarthDerisive]

Attack patriotism here

LOL

[theMightyT]

I think everyone but MourningDude agrees with that assessment.

MourningDude can't seem to come to grips with the fact that his political philosophy is dead. Republican-style conservatism has proven itself to be a failure.

Conservatives can't run the military; can't run the economy; can't run the educational system; can't run health care.

Well, they can run them into the ground but that's not really the same, is it?

[EggsBolinski]

You're losing it. Even Obama doesn't agree with you! LOL

[CocteausTwin]

Well it is certainly another ruse I have not bought into.

[Clenbuterol]

A hard-working man of ideas or an elegantly presented, exquisitely polished empty vessel?

Time will tell.

[robodweeb]

Yes. Harvard always chooses "empty vessels" to head their Law Review.

[ErnestineBass]

The "empty vessels" receive an MBA.

[AdLib]

"Clenbuterol See Profile I'm a Fan of Clenbuterol

An obsession with an elegantly presented, exquisitely polished empty vessel.

Who'd a thunk? posted 07/22/2008 at 14:44:55"

Talk about empty vessels, the basic sentence seems to be echoing around in that "empty vessel" of yours.

Time to redock into Rush's "port" and "download" more thoughts, you're on empty.

[kadene]

A doddering imbecile with discolored teeth, devoid of ideas, or a doddering imbecile with discolored teeth, devoid of ideas?

Time will tell.

[roshni]

Working hard at what? Cheating on his wives?

[Dreamers101]

MCDIAPERS UNDYS ARE FULL IS THERE A TRO// IN THE ROOM THAT CAN HELP HIM?

[RIPHRC]

Obama just got personally chauferred by King Abdullah in the "Royal Mercedes" to the airport in Jordan. This has to make the repugs livid:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/22/obama-gets-a-lift-from-the-king/

[VolvoBirkenstock]

They are going to be SO upset.

Bet She-yawn starts getting spittle around the area where his lips should be.

[roshni]

I love it. Abdullah rocks!

[NevadaLiberal]

I think we need to hear from Senator Holy Joe Lieberman on this.

[ErnestineBass]

He's busy getting his halo buffed for that wingding with "Reverend" Hagee.

[Flagal]

won't be displayed until it is approved.

That one oughta be good! No wonder the majority of J-e-w-s prefer O over Leer-be-rman

[theMightyT]

I'll BET he's getting his "halo" buffed...

lol couldn't resist