Shorter McCain: The deaths and destruction of a terrorist attack pale in comparison to the damage it may do to my plans to become POTUS.

Just a new way to work the fear button. American politics is getting really predictable (and pathetic). Republicans have one idea and they work it to death: fear. Wait, two ideas: tax cuts.

Fear and tax cuts.

aka, he knows the surge hasn't really worked, so he is going to try to spin the violence as al-Qaeda trying to help the Democrats, so if Americans don't want the terrorists to win, they better stick with McCain.

This is basically part II of the "If Obama wins the terrorists will be dancing in the streets" bullshit.

And this crap from McCain is the kind of thing we call "patriotism". Sometimes I can only shake my head at this screwed-up country.

Actually, I hope the terrorists are listening to mccain, he would prevent an attempted attack. The terrorists want republicans in power to help them recruit, fund raise and give them american targets in the middle east. Republican policy has been osama's wet dream. Soooo, no video and no attack if you want a 3rd term of the king.

This is the guy who Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has endorsed for Commander in Chief, ahead of Senator Obama.

Hillary is the new Lieberman.

Another way to read this is if the Surge begins to completly fail and violence ramps up, it is only happening because Al Qaeda loves Democrats. He's just trying to weasel out of any fault if his boasts about Iraqi success come back to haunt him.

hey, I hope Johnny McBush keeps pilling on the fodder for the GE, and I agree with Urbinato that every time MR McCain makes these kind of statements both she and Obama should go on air to ridicule these scare tactics that avoid reality and slant public discourse in a dis-ingenious fashion. This is obviuosly another opportunity for the Democrats to show the true divide between themsleves and their Republican counter-parts.

Typical Republican bullshit, straight out of the Bush/Cheney playbook. And as per usual, it's the exact opposite of the truth.

All you have to do is ask yourself this: Does al Qaeda do better with a belligerent war-mongering president who's a terrorist recruiter's dreams, or with a president whose rhetoric and actions defuse much of the anti-American sentiment throughout the world? Does al Qaeda do better with a president who ties up most of America's military capacity in Iraq "for 100 years" or one who ends that diversion and focuses more effort on Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Personally, I don't think al Qaeda gives a shit who wins U.S. elections because to them, we're all infidels. But to me, there's also little doubt which U.S. president would be better for them in terms of recruits, resources and propaganda.

An attack in this country would tip the election FOR MCCAIN, not against him. Americans rally around the flag faster than anyone. And McCain knows this. It is why he is trying to get political gain off a "hypothetical" attack in case a real one (please God, no) never comes.

Of course the irony is that we are much more likely to get attacked because AQ understands that having a guy like McCain in the White House insures the shooting battle/jihad they seek rages on and on and on. He is the best possible recruiting for their extremist idealogy around, another shoot first, ask questions later President of the United States.

Wouldn't attacks theoretically help his chances?
The tendency seems to be that people embrace the "tough guy" politician when they're scared.

I guess he doesn't deem the "people will vote for me out of fear" spin to be favorable, though.

This kind of misleading rhetoric only works in deep red states where he will win. Good luck elsewhere, Johnny Mac.

The Republicans are really jealous of Israel. Similarities:

1. Both are opposed to separation of church and state, and religious fundamentalists hold inordinate power over the rest of the population.
2. There are occupied areas which require massive military spending.
3. The foreign policy is largely bellicose and unconcerned with world opinion of their actions.
4. The threat of terrorism is used to scare the populace into voting for macho leaders who promise to kill more brown people. Anyone who proposes non-military solutions is labeled a coward and an appeaser.
5. Fervent nationalism is expected from all, those who are objective are branded as traitors.

So when McCain says, "Yes, I worry about [a terrorist attack]" he means, "Yes, I get on my knees every night and pray for it." Fear is what keeps these people in power. Nothing to fear but fear itself, remember that?

Nonsense.

It is in al-Qaeda's interest for the US to continue to have a bellicose foreign policy.

Osama want Johnny.

"Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday he fears that al Qaeda or another extremist group might attempt spectacular attacks in Iraq to try to tilt the U.S. election against him. "

This wouldn't be a problem at all if we had gone after Al Queda and defeated them instead of invading Iraq. The fact that it is still a threat should be enough to prevent anyone from voting for Senator McCain.

McCain's statements vis a vis al Qaeda attacks tipping the election on him, are just more of the same as Bush has pushed since the 9/11 attacks. Fire up and scare the witless into buying the war all the time bit to vote for him to protect them. So, how good have the last 8 years been for you?

all the killing and destroying going on Iraq for past 6 years, he's worrying about loosing the election?! He openly says he will dig deeper into the dead end hole instead of getting out of it and at the same time he worrys that all the dirt would start falling on him -might get buried in there. HA ha!!

I think the best response for Sen. Obama (who is continually targeted as being anti-American) is that Sen. Obama is not concerned about attacks in Iraq tipping the election in favor of or against anyone, he is concerned about our fighting forces in Iraq and the people of Iraq who would be victims of this attack. A real commander-in-chief is resolute on the tasks ahead despite any political ramifications they might face stateside. That is why, even in the face of popular opinion, he had the judgment to point out that this war is a "rash, unjust, and dumb" one. That is why he will be focused on ending the war safely and promptly (because it is rash, unjust, and dumb). That is why Sen. Obama is more prepared to be commander-in-chief than Sen. McCain.

"As previous comments suggest, an attack on U.S. soil would most likely help McCain, as it would increase security fears among voters"

So McMaverick is auditioning Osama bin Ladin as a running mate? McCain-binLadin 08?

Is McCain sending a veiled message to the terrrrissssts and "emboldening the enemy"?

No...as far as I know.

See those polls upon the right? Ohio is saying Clinton should be on top of the ticket but they'11 vote for McCain either way.

"My friends, the surge is working. The surge is working. But things will get worse before they get better. Will we see violence escalate in the coming months? My friends, I have news for you, we ARE seeing violence escalate and I'll tell you why...I'll tell you why: because our enemies do not want to go head to head with me on the battlefield, and my friends, I don't blame them. This war is far from over and if you elect me I will chase Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell but I will take a somewhat circuitous route, an extended tour, if you will, through North Korea and Japan and China first. And then my friends he better be running fast because after Russia, I'll just be a few more countries away from those mountains we think he was hiding just after 9/11. And if we have actionable intel at that time about someone else getting to him first or that he died of kidney failure in 2002, my friends I promise you this; I will not stop until I bring his dental records to justice".

The entire GOP has turned into surrogate spokespeople for Al-Qaeda. The 'cavemen' have already done their job, yet these jackasses obsess over them to the point where they've become one with the 'terrorists'.. speaking about what they may or may not do!