John McCain enjoys lunch in Columbus, OH
-Ich bin ein Ohioan-
Barack Obama addressed a little gathering in Germany today as part of his international tour. According to the report, "Over 200,000 jubilant Barack Obama supporters shut down the centre of Berlin on Thursday evening to listen to the US presidential candidate give an impassioned speech on the global challenges of the 21st century."
Where was John McCain during all of this? Pretending he was in Germany.
"I'd love to give a speech in Germany ... a political speech or a speech that maybe the German people would be interested in, but I'd much prefer to do it as president of the United States rather than as a candidate ... for the office of presidency," McCain told reporters in a Columbus neighborhood known as German Village. Baghdad Johnny also "had a bratwurst for lunch." No word on whether he was wearing lederhosen.
Friday, McCain will meet with the Dalai Lama in Colorado and is widely expected to pretend he's in Tibet. I don't know what the hell they eat there, but look for McCain to have it for lunch. (TheLocal.de, Reuters)
-Headline of the day-
"Scarborough Defends McCain, Criticizes Bloggers ‘Eating Cheetos’ In Their ‘Underwear’."
For the record, I hate Cheetos -- as a Wisconsinite, they offend my respect for cheese. Seems to me there are better uses for fluorescent orange cheese powder than to cake it on what seems to be styrofoam. Maybe use it to dye deerhunters' coats or something.
What's MSNBC yacker Joe Scarborough so mad at bloggers about?
Seems we did something evil like set the record straight about McCain's claim that the surge preceded the Anbar Awakening. Can't do that. Facts are elitist -- or slobby. Someone send me the updated GOP talking points, I'm obviously behind.
I thought we were supposed to be elitist. Now what the hell am I going to do with all that brie and Merlot I bought? Can I still be all snooty while I sip lattes? And here I bought a beret and everything...
Thanks a lot, Joe. (Think Progress)
-And, about that 'surge...'-
Appearing before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday, former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi dissed the surge. It's not really his fault, since he was asked by Dana Rohrabacher what he thought of it. "Now, militarily, the surge has achieved some of its goals," Allawi answered. "Politically, I don't think so."
According to the report, "Allawi rattled off a laundry list of perils that still confront the Iraqi people: internal displacement of large numbers of people, millions of refugees outside Iraq, security forces he described as sectarian militias dressed in national uniforms, no enforcement of the national constitution, which he described as a 'divisive' document."
"So, if you measure the surge from a military point of view, it has succeeded," Allawi said. "But I don't think this was the [prime] objective, because soon you will have reversals. Security has not prevailed, and the key element in security is reconciliation, and building national institutions for the country. If this does not happen, then the surge will go in vain."
Ask for comment, John "The Surge Worked" McCain jammed a bratwurst in his mouth and signaled that it was impolite to speak with your mouth full. (MoJo Blog)
