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THE NO-PLAN PLAN.
Desperate for campaign news, CNN is hyping John McCain's speech as a huge step for McCain on Iraq, as "for the first time it lays out benchmarks on which he could be judged." The LA Times agrees, saying that the senator "for the first time talk[s] about a specific date for when he envisions direct American military involvement to be over in Iraq."
But, as Robert pointed out, a cursory reading of the speech shows it has absolutely no substance. A single paragraph is devoted to Iraq and its just a fantasy of what the country will look like in five years. In McCain's world, five years from now most US troops will be home; Iraq will be stable and democratic; civil war will have been been averted; and violence will be down sharply.
There is no explanation of how McCain is going to magically transform the country. Also in the speech, McCain envisions the Taliban being nearly defeated, Osama bin Laden being captured or killed, Iran and North Korea giving up their nuclear weapons programs, Sudan allowing a multinational peacekeeping force to stop the genocide, improved public schools, "robust" economic growth in the US and a host of other dreams. It's not a speech, it's a wish list, but even Santa would have trouble delivering on it.
--Jordan Michael Smith
COMMENTS (9)
There is no explanation of how McCain is going to magically transform the country.
I feel the same about Obama's rhetoric about change.
Just substitute "Obama" for "McCain" in this statement.
Posted by: El Viajero | May 15, 2008 2:22 PM
Well at least Obama won't be carrying water for Bush and his legacy.
Posted by: Micheline | May 15, 2008 2:29 PM
Woo hoo!
McCain just did us all a big favor. There was a lot of debate as to whether it was fair to say that McCain was going to keep us in Iraq for 100 years.
But McCain just cleared up this 100 years of war stuff.
He's letting us know when his 100 years of US occupation with Korea-style megabases will begin! And that's 2013!
So, woo hoo! We only have to put up with what we have right now until 2013--right after McCain leaves office! And then things will be magically fixed, and then we can finally begin our indefinite occupation! And as a bonus, Osama bin Laden will be captured, we'll persuade China and Russia to persuade Iran and North Korea to give up their nukes, and Iraq will be peaceful and secular and pro-American. Unfortunately, he failed to mention that we would all have flying cars and robots to clean our houses, but I think he's saving that for an upcoming transportation speech.
I can't believe anyone would suggest this McCain plan is a magic carpet ride. After all, this is the same man who so presciently predicted in 2002 that the war would be quick and easy, we'd be welcomed as liberators, and told us all that there was no history of violent enmity between sunnis and shiites!
Posted by: anonymous | May 15, 2008 2:36 PM
...and thanks to genetic engineering Ponies really will Wings.
Posted by: dr.steveb | May 15, 2008 2:47 PM
To compare McCain's vacuousness to Obama's detailed plans for everything from health care to tax reform is ridiculous. Only those who can't be bothered to listen to more than a sound bite think Obama has any less substance than Hillary.
Posted by: NHCt | May 15, 2008 4:29 PM
Even if McInsane gets elected, we'll be out of Iraq before 2010 because the good ol' USA is going flat busted broke. Uncle Sam will be selling apples on the street corner by then and still begging the Saudis for a little break on the oil price. Nothing like economic collapse to foil your war plans.
Posted by: teegee | May 15, 2008 10:27 PM
Great idea. Donate to Bob Barr on May 20th. He is the Nader for the GOP. Check this out.
http://www.bobbarrmoneybomb.com/
Posted by: tom | May 16, 2008 8:01 AM
Somewhere over the rainbow . . .
The sun will come out tomorrow . . .it's only a day away . . .
Oh yea, about Songbird McInsane's speech . . . whatever idiot told him to make and the buffoons who wrote it should be fired. Sounds like grandpa calling all the grand and greatkids in to tell them bedtime stories as they close their eyes and go to . . .zzzzzz
Yawn . . . Hope McCain enjoyed his version of a 1st State of the Union Address because that honor will go to the Democratic President in January 2009.
Posted by: MavTx | May 16, 2008 9:26 AM
It never ceases to amaze me that to avoid any claims to commitment, he provided a typical Republican response to another crucial issue. In other words we'll be out of Iraq after I'm out of office. BLAME IT IN THE NEXT GUY. No Thanks John. We'll blame it on you by not electing you as President.
Posted by: Xcalibar | May 16, 2008 1:14 PM