The McCain Campaign is Over: Ended by Iraqi PM, Nouri al-Maliki

As reported in these pages, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has endorsed Barack Obama's 16-month withdrawal timetable.

The McCain Campaign is effectively over.

McCain had two rationales for his candidacy. The first is that he is a selfless war hero, who placed duty over self in the Hanoi Hilton. That image is partially tarnished by his kowtowing to people he called "agents of intolerance" (Pat Robertson, the late-Jerry Falwell, Pastor Hagee), his embrace of George W Bush and his policies, and the constant stream of sleazebags who he has called 'honorable', but who have had to exit his campaign. That is not to say that his heroism during his imprisonment will ever go away, but rather that he just does not seem to be the same man today as he was then, or even in 2000.

The second rationale is that he, somehow, was the man to pursue the Islamic terrorists. Barack Obama seized the bin Laden/Taliban national security mantra way back in the early days of the Democratic Primary debates, took a lot of criticism from his Democratic rivals and the Bush Administration for it, stuck by his position, and now has McCain following suit. Victory: Obama.

All McCain had then was Iraq, amazingly quoting bin Laden (without recognizing bin Laden's vested interest in disinformation to focus attention away from himself--and McCain is supposed to be the experienced one!!) that Iraq was the central theatre of the "war on terrorism" to prove that the US could not leave because of chaos, genocide and Islamic terrorism. That image, too, was tarnished by McCain's lack of clear understanding just who the enemy was, but he still staked claim to maintaining the "gains" made by the surge that, depending on the day, he either invented or supported or both.

With al-Maliki's statement, what is McCain to do now? Is he going to say that the US will stay even if the Iraqi government does not want us? If not, then is he willing to allow the descent into chaos and genocide he has been predicting?

About all McCain could say is that al-Maliki's statement would not have been possible without the surge. That is highly debatable. Obama could more rightly say that al-Maliki's statement would not have been possible if it were not for his candidacy--knowing that an Obama Presidency would mean the withdrawal of US troops, the Iraqis now have the incentive that Obama, John Kerry, Russ Feingold, and others have been promoting for years as the major change in policy necessary for Iraqis to begin resolving their differences.

Or not. But, not to allow the US to remain hostage to the decisions of Iraqi politicians.

Most important, however, is that the American people want the US involvement ended. Obama is far more trusted to end it than McCain. McCain's controversy over the wisdom of doing so has been rendered moot by al-Maliki.

Al-Maliki has moved the campaign discussion to "post-surge" policies.

Obama can say, "the only 3 people who remain wedded to a perpetual US engagement in Iraq are John McCain, George Bush and Dick Cheney, and, fortunately, the time for 2 of them to direct US policy is rapidly coming to an end".

What does McCain have left?

A gas-tax holiday that destroys infrastructure jobs and does nothing for gas prices? Continuing obstructionism on providing universal healthcare? Another set of taxcuts for the wealthy?

Watch for the man who claimed he wanted a "respectful campaign" to descend into a continuous barrage of mudslinging, and nothing more.

It is all he has left. And, when he does do it, his legacy will be forever tarnished.

Comments

[Torus34]

Sir,

Having listened from time to time to the comments of conservative talk show call-in enablers, I must gently suggest that your comment on Sen. McCain's campaign being 'over' places somewhat more faith in the political acumen of the American voter than might be deserved.

[MPeter]

Torus34 you are right on the money. Our political system is schizophrenic and is toilor made for neocons and rethugs. The RNC has a war chest of $200m to smear and mudsling Obama and his wife. One can only hope we'll have the majority wise enough to tune them out.

[Faith101]

Obama nor his supporters should take nothing for granted, we will scrap for every vote, everywhere. This election is too important. We will work like we are down 20 points in every state. Dems have got to win this year. Bush & Co has messed things up bad for over the last 7 years.

[PaulAbrams]

absolutely.
"over" was, of course, a figure of speech. McCain will slime and campaign until November.

[eden4barack08]

-"Watch for the man who claimed he wanted a "respectful campaign" to descend into a continuous barrage of mudslinging, and nothing more."-

You're spot on about that. It's scary to think how much more mud can be slung at Obama, given all that there is already. I guess they'll dig until they reach their grave.

[MourningDude]

Big Mac only has to say that when it comes to winning the war in Iraq, he was right and Barry was wrong.

If Barry had his way, the US would have 'artificially shortened' the stay in Iraq, which is worse than 'artificially extending' it.

If Senator Barry had his way, the surge never would have happened, and none of this talk would be possible today.

For years and years Barry told us that Iraq was a lost cause. He said that we couldn't and shouldn't be stuck in the middle of an intractable civil war. Now today, because Barry's cut and run philosophy was rejected, it's the terrorists that have decided Iraq is a lost cause.

If you asked Barry 12 months ago if peace and victory in Iraq would be GOOD for his campaign, or BAD for it, which do you think he would say?

[Cherlesq]

This comments lacks all credibility with the "Barry" reference. Stop the crap. You have something to say, say it without stupid slurs.

[eden4barack08]

FYI, "Barry" is not a slur. It's short for Barack, and what he was called as a kid. Like Benny is to Benjamin for example. Obviously he outgrew it once in college and went back to the full Barack.
I have no idea why these fools say it in the way they do, as if there was anything wrong with it. I'm sure his grandmother still endearingly calls him Barry, as she did when he was a kid.
So, please don't validate these stupid idiots by calling it a slur.

[CEPHALUS]

Quit gloating over a fail strategy,this is war filled with smoke screen and mirrors,if you have lost your advantage by reason of your opponent having more fire power on one front would you not switch to a next front?
while we might have cause the change in strategy, that does'nt equate to a victory.
The enemy is still alive and kicking,Afghanistan is becoming more of a problem,and this is not an accident.
We should stop playing politics with military personels and think about what the enemy is doing,stop gloating and think.
HOW CAN WE WIN IN IRAQ WHEN THE ENEMY IS SOMEWHERE ELSE.

[MourningDude]

The strategy for winning in Iraq has been "Clear, Hold, and Build".

Now that step 1 is succeeding, Barry wants to completely forget about steps 2 and 3. Do you really think that's wise?

[Piatt]

McSame says Mailiki is just playing domestic politics. That's the funny thing about "spreading democracy in the Middle East." Leaders actually have to listen to what their people want...and don't want.

[peterg76]

There seems to be a lot of enlightenment, truth, and reason breaking out in anticipation of an Obama victory, but it is too soon to tell. Perhaps McCain personally is finished - there may yet be someone else running as Republican candidate.

[wmbear]

WE'D ALL LIKE TO THINK SO...

But, to quote the irrepressible Yogi Berra, "It ain't over till it's over." (Or until the Fat Lady singes, whichever comes first.) Hopefully, at least, Obama will get another pop in the polls that WILL effectively put him "out of reach" barring a major reversal. Which can always happens, which is why it's never a good idea to count on this kind of thing, let alone take it for granted, let alone let alone congratulate ourselves in advance. So I'm saving the high-fives (and fist bumps) for the Inauguration of the first black President of the United States....

[HypeFreeZone]

Thanks for your piece Paul. I wish I could agree with you but experience has taught me that the strangest things do happen in politics.

The American voter is subjected to so much manipulation by the "powers that be" ( media, politicians, lobbyists, Corporations) , it's a miracle the average voter can come to conclusions that are intelligent. A good example: the way the latest Washpo/ABC poll was manipulated to minimise(and actually mislead) the public into thinking that BO's lead was lesser and Cain was doing better on several issues.

I know the MSM is Cain's "base" but the question is how far are these people prepared to go to achieve their dubious objective? Within the next few days, al Maliki's statement would have been "analysed", "dissected", "debated", and twisted beyond recognition. Never mind the fact that al Maliki has been their guy in Iraq, they will do everything to make him look like an idiot who all of a sudden doesn't know what he's talking about.

In an ideal world, maybe I would have agreed with you. However, Cain and Company are just beginning to warm up and November is still a long way off. It's going to be a close one, sir.

[firewmn]

The McCain Campaign is effectively over. - As much as some would like to think this..

We MUST...-

Remember Hillary...........

[El]

Hillary who?

[cheforacle]

My problem with this post is that it predicts the election is over. While it is true Maliki's statements put McCain in a tough position and I do believe McCain's chances of victory are less than 20%, did anybody expect George W. Bush, that idiot, would beat Gore back in July of 2000. I mean these kind of statements just reduce the effort people who may work for Obama will expend and will promote unnecessary overconfidence.

[PaulAbrams]

"Over" is a figure of speech.
al-Maliki cut the legs out from under his campaign, what there was of it.
Obviously, he is going to carry on, and will go to the gutter.

[alienufo]

well, he didn't REALLY beat gore. How many people actually thought he would beat Kerry though?

[yorkie]

IT'S ALL ABOUT AN IMAGE OF ONE WHEN YOU GO VOTE IN THE BOOTH. LET'S HOPE THAT MILLIONS MORE OF TRADITIONAL AND NEW VOTERS WILL BE INSPIRED TO VOTE FOR OBAMA AND BRING MANY TO THE POLLS WITH THEM IN EVERY PRECINCT NATIONWIDE. BY THE TIME THE DEBATES ROLL AROUND THE COVERAGE OF THE BIG TOUR WILL HAVE SETTLED IN AND I THINK BRING UNDECIDED FOLKS AROUND IF THE MEDIA KEEPS A STEADY STREAM OF TRUTH WITHOUT THE CONFUSION ON IRAQ AND THE DAILY TIT FOR TAT STUFF.

[Gma11]

I literally cannot read print in all caps. It is very disturbing to my eyes.

[Bluejay00234]

"Watch for the man who claimed he wanted a "respectful campaign" to descend into a continuous barrage of mudslinging, and nothing more.

It is all he has left. And, when he does do it, his legacy will be forever tarnished."

oh yes it's coming!

[Gma11]

I had just copied this same sentence to post, Bluejay.

I think Obama is prepared.

He's been w-a-y ahead of the pack when it comes to administering a campaign.

[BillZBubb]

These "McCain just lost because..." posts are getting tiresome. First, on this Al-Malaki malarky, as soon as the neocons get to him, Al-Malaki is going to backtrack faster than a crab that sees a shore bird. His statement will only help Obama slightly after it is "re-interpreted" and that help will be that it has muddied the water.

This is going to be a close election. McCain hasn't lost anything yet. In fact he is in unbelievably good shape for a guy with Bush, Republicanism, Iraq, gas prices, and the economy around his neck. This election should already be over, but it is far from it.

Obama supporters should be very concerned at this point, not writing about how McCain has "lost".

[egal]

Or perhaps Obama supporters should simply put credit where it's due--and acknowledge that Obama's lead is smaller than it ought to be because the MSM buys and blasts McCain's spin wholeheartedly; a sizeable portion of our nation is made up of people so racist or ignorant they would never vote for Obama for reasons entirely independent of policy and entirely mistaken or imagined; and a lot of people still believe McCain to be the maverick he may have been several years ago instead of the Bush flunky he has since become.

But of course, a non-Obama supporter probably finds it easier to ignore reality.

[BillZBubb]

Yours is a rather humorous comment. Whatever the reasons the race is close, it is reality. It is a reality that should not be ignored. You have your opinions on why this is so and I have mine.

This election will be a close one, even though it should not be. Obama supporters sitting around patting themselves on the back about how this or that event has "finished off" McCain are being naive.

[JiminNC]

Keep dreaming.

[soundfury]

Thank you Mr. Al-Malaki for speaking your mind. Now, if only more people had the guts to do this, come November, the headlines will read: LANDSLIDE.

[edwarvir]

tedbear TRUE DAT!