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David KnowlesMcCain Redefines 'The Surge'
Yesterday, Sen. John McCain took pains to redefine the meaning of what he means when he says "The Surge." In effect, McCain had made a silly gaffe when he declared that our infusion of troops into Iraq back in early 2007 facilitated the Sunni Awakening, which, as many were quick to point out, actually happened months before. As Political Machine's Dave reported earlier, candidates make mistakes on the campaign trail. But rather than correct the record and wipe the egg off his face, McCain decided to take another approach. Since historical revisionism could be easily exposed by even the most novice fact-checker, McCain decided to go after the English language itself.
In order to make it seem like he never made a gaffe in the first place, McCain employed some Clintonian linguistic deconstruction. You see, McCain didn't misspeak, it just depends on what the meaning of the word "surge" is. I have my problems with Keith Olbermann and his overly-dramatic impersonation of Edward R. Murrow, but on this story, he pretty much nailed why McCain's re-explanation of the surge is going to get him into much more trouble than if he'd simply admitted an error.
Of course, "the Surge" is the best card in McCain's hand, so he knows he can't afford to watch it be buried. Why on earth, then, does he insist on tossing more dirt upon it? Pretty soon, his chances of winning this election will be dead and buried.
In order to make it seem like he never made a gaffe in the first place, McCain employed some Clintonian linguistic deconstruction. You see, McCain didn't misspeak, it just depends on what the meaning of the word "surge" is. I have my problems with Keith Olbermann and his overly-dramatic impersonation of Edward R. Murrow, but on this story, he pretty much nailed why McCain's re-explanation of the surge is going to get him into much more trouble than if he'd simply admitted an error.
Of course, "the Surge" is the best card in McCain's hand, so he knows he can't afford to watch it be buried. Why on earth, then, does he insist on tossing more dirt upon it? Pretty soon, his chances of winning this election will be dead and buried.
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David Knowles
A journalist, musician and novelist, David Knowles has covered politics at AOL for the past two and a half years...more
Comments (5)
DANIELLE
11:17AM Jul 24th 2008
regardless of how it was said-McCain still is so much more knowledgeable on this issue then obama EVER will.
And might I remind all you obama followers-obama flip flops on everything he has said.
McCain made an error once maybe twice...hell of alot less then the obama flip flop flip flop....
And might I remind all you obama followers-obama flip flops on everything he has said.
McCain made an error once maybe twice...hell of alot less then the obama flip flop flip flop....
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DANIELLE
11:17AM Jul 24th 2008
real change! Sign the petition online to ask Lou Dobbs to run for President:
http://www.petitiononline.com/LD2008/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/LD2008/petition.html
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(0) RawleyCoop
2:15PM Jul 24th 2008
Actually it is very smart for Senator McCain to redefine what "The Surge" is. He had to do that anyway even without his current gaffe.
The problem is, his attacks on Senator Obama and his proof that he is better to lead the country is all based on the belief of most Americans that the Surge worked. As soon as people realize that "The Surge" did not work, he is in real trouble.
In January 2007, when Bush announced "The Surge", Bush explained it was specifically designed to help the Iraq government to make POLITICAL progress. Security and reduction of violence was NOT the goal. He even gave 18 benchmarks that would be used to measure if "the surge" worked or not.
But only 3 of those 18 benchmarks have shown any significant progress. So by the definition of "The Surge" and the goals that Bush gave, the surge is a huge failure.
That is not a criticism of our troops. Their part of the surge was to bring relative security to Baghdad to help this political progress. They exceeded all expectations in that task. It was the Bush administration and the Iraq Government that didn't do their part. So the military is not to blame for the surge failing.
Currently, most people think because the troops did such a wonderful job, and since violence is down in Iraq for a lot of reasons, the surge worked. And even Senator Obama is loath to be the one to burst their belief.
But if Senator McCain continues to use "The Surge" for his own political gain, eventually someone will fight back and point out that the surge, as Bush defined its goals, failed terribly.
Therefore it is very smart for Senator McCain to do damage control in advance, and rewrite history so that retroactively the goals of the surge change completely. What a wonderful way to turn a total failure to a heroic success. Simply find things that did work, and say "those were our goals all along".
The problem is, his attacks on Senator Obama and his proof that he is better to lead the country is all based on the belief of most Americans that the Surge worked. As soon as people realize that "The Surge" did not work, he is in real trouble.
In January 2007, when Bush announced "The Surge", Bush explained it was specifically designed to help the Iraq government to make POLITICAL progress. Security and reduction of violence was NOT the goal. He even gave 18 benchmarks that would be used to measure if "the surge" worked or not.
But only 3 of those 18 benchmarks have shown any significant progress. So by the definition of "The Surge" and the goals that Bush gave, the surge is a huge failure.
That is not a criticism of our troops. Their part of the surge was to bring relative security to Baghdad to help this political progress. They exceeded all expectations in that task. It was the Bush administration and the Iraq Government that didn't do their part. So the military is not to blame for the surge failing.
Currently, most people think because the troops did such a wonderful job, and since violence is down in Iraq for a lot of reasons, the surge worked. And even Senator Obama is loath to be the one to burst their belief.
But if Senator McCain continues to use "The Surge" for his own political gain, eventually someone will fight back and point out that the surge, as Bush defined its goals, failed terribly.
Therefore it is very smart for Senator McCain to do damage control in advance, and rewrite history so that retroactively the goals of the surge change completely. What a wonderful way to turn a total failure to a heroic success. Simply find things that did work, and say "those were our goals all along".
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(0) Crystal
4:12PM Jul 24th 2008
Anyone up for a live debate between DK and Mark Impomeni?
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(0) laura m
2:33AM Jul 25th 2008
with al-malaki's recent statements, McCain and Bush HAVE TO "redefine" terms! i am just wondering if or when they will redefine just exactly what winning means.
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