Comments on: McCain Says U.S. Lives ‘Wasted’ in Iraq

By: The Heretik : Dark Comedy

The Heretik : Dark Comedy — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:00:47 +0000

[...] The first and last battle in war is over who controls the hilltops of language. So long as soldiers’ lives are sacrificed and not wasted, there is little chance any of them will be coming home alive soon in any moment of sanity. [...]

By: just me

just me — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:39:08 +0000

It’s been mentioned on the left but have you noticed that there hasn’t been the frenzied blogswarm calling for an apology when McCain said the troops lives were “wasted” in Iraq that happened with Obama?

What does this say about the difference between left and right blogs? Doesn’t this reinforce the meme that the right is constantly “scalphunting” and the left doesn’t do it as much?

Interesting.

Don't know-most of the blogs I read daily have brought this up, and those that asked for Obama to apologize have also said the same of McCain.

Now how busy the comments are may be another argument, but the bloggers themselves have said he was out of line.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 23:15:42 +0000

McCain claims he was taken out of context. He still owes us a apology. I don’t like that a-hole anyway.

The armor vehicle argument is B.S. It doesn’t matter how much armor you have it won’t be enough. The up-armor HMMV’s have cost more lives in accident then they have save. Although given a chance to get use to them that number will change.

Accident in themselves are a waste of lives. However, lives given in a combat zone or training for war even if it is accidental is not a waste of a life. Without those sacrifices, we would not have the freedom that some of us cherish and yes they do deserve respect for taking those risks.

It is disgusting to be slick and play the switch game with soldiers’ deaths. To switch the waste of one losing his life due to an accident or friendly fire and pretend it is a waste as it pertains to war and protecting this country is disgraceful.

By: Tano

Tano — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:29:59 +0000

James,

Thank you for articulating a central truth of conservative polemics, and an essential feature of the conservative mind.

Paying obeisance to myths.

By: not the senator

not the senator — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:23:45 +0000

It's been mentioned on the left but have you noticed that there hasn't been the frenzied blogswarm calling for an apology when McCain said the troops lives were "wasted" in Iraq that happened with Obama? What does this say about the difference between left and right blogs? Doesn't this reinforce the meme that the right is constantly "scalphunting" and the left doesn't do it as much? Interesting.

By: legion

legion — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:59:40 +0000

Indeed, I seem to recall Obama saying darn near the exact same thing a while back and being promptly pilloried by the right for it. It's hard to see McCain making many friends amongst the base with things like this.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:58:10 +0000

Hes apologizing as fast as he can, but I think this will just add to his momentum (which is not heading in the direction he would want).

He would have no chance of winning as a third party candidate, but he could definitely influence who the loser is. Even 5% would likely be enough to tip the balance.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:49:08 +0000

Soldiers killed while riding in inadequately armored vehicles: a waste? Why the hell not?

Not much doubt about that. It's just not something one says if running for president. The myth that all soldiers are heroes and that all deaths in a combat zone are noble must be payed obeisance.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:46:10 +0000

The fiction that war is never a "waste" of lives is astonishing.

Soldiers killed while riding in inadequately armored vehicles: a waste? Why the hell not?

By: Flopping Aces

Flopping Aces — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:33:21 +0000

The McCain Train Wreck...

I give you the train wreck called John McCain: Republican presidential contender John McCain, a staunch backer of the Iraq war but critic of how President Bush has waged it, said U.S. lives had been "wasted" in the 4-year-old conflict.......

By: davod

davod — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:32:58 +0000

He will run as a third party candidate.

By: just me

just me — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:02:07 +0000

I sometimes wonder if McCain has forgotten there is a primary, and that the conservative base tends to vote in the GOP primary.

If he would really like to be president, he isn't going to get there by playing maverick and pretending like there aren't conservatives in the base.

By: McCain Busters | Exposing the truth about the media's favorite RINO Republican!

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

announcement" apple do they get...or think they can get? And why does a guy trying to campaign as a conservative refuse to attend CPAC? Meanwhile, McCain runs into trouble over his remark that soldier's lives have been "wasted" in Iraq. Then tries to take it back. Dick Morris thinks McCain's campaign "may be dying before our eyes". One can hope! Hat Tip Sister Toldjah. More info at: Iowa Voice, Captain's Quarters, Michelle Malkin

By: » OTB News

» OTB News — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

[IMG Outside The Beltway | OTB] CPAC - Stephen Glass, 10 Years Later CPAC - John Cox CPAC - Michelle Malkin Why Geography Matters CPAC - Mitch McConnell Walter Reed General Loses His Command CPAC - Richard Viguerie McCain Says U.S. Lives ‘Wasted’ in Iraq CPAC - Susan Ducey, Presidential Candidate Where You Stand is Where You Sit - Congress Edition [IMG OTB Sports] Kings-Ducks To Open In London Soccer in America Steroids and Gary Matthews Jr. Florida