Well, "bizarre" seems to be the operative word here.

Bonus points for anyone who tallies up the number of times McCain's talking heads echo "bizarre" tomorrow on the Sunday gab fests.

Getting desperate. McCain came out much stronger than the White House did, and that's with Georgia have the 3rd most number of troops in Iraq (2000) and now having to pull them out en masse.

McCain is bought and paid for. When foreign governments are throwing your lobbyist ties in your face it's time you pack it in.

Obama echoed the remarks of basically every other American ally on this matter, McCain came out looking to go to war with Russia for crissakes.

"...The reaction of the Obama campaign to this crisis doesn't merely raise questions about Senator Obama's judgment--it answers them."

A well crafted soundbite. Watch that to reappear repeatedly as the messiah's judgment, his raison d'etre, is repeatedly called into question.

Race
Trust
Judgment

That is what will decide this race.

McCain has the heart and mind of a cold warrior. And he does indeed see everything through a military mindset. But he is right in the consistently critical tone he has take towards the Putin regime. Putin is a KGB thug that seems to want to trade soviet socialism for capitalistic facism. The Putin regime has crackdown on democracy and civil rights and has made some very questionable choices in terms of allies.
To clarify, I am an ardent Obama supporter. But I also think that it is dangerous for us a citizens to view every issue solely through the prism of the election.

Am I the only one who thinks the "bizarrely in sync with Moscow" is a weird hint at "Obama-is-a-Marxist" ?

McCain took a hard line on Georgia two weeks after his senior foreign policy advisor accepted a huge pay out.

Two days prior to this latest revelation, it was reported that McCain took a hard line on drilling two weeks after he cashed in with Hess.

He's bought and paid for.

Obama went to visit grandma and bodysurf

Oddly, didn't McCain and Obama sponsor a Senate Resolution to add Georgia to NATO? Well...we know why McCain sponsored the resolution. Obama had nothing but noble intentions (based on the evidence).

WAIT A MINUTE- Did anyone else notice anyting about that statement. Like sayings scores of people are dead and by way of defacto blaming Obama. This campaign is utterly ruthless. The reason Steve Schmidt will always be a protege and never a Karl Rove- is that there are no postive angles coming out of that campaign only snark and sarcasm. That might be cuter if they had MSM playing along- but if you read any of the latest AP articles, they are not as positive as they used to be. McCain is slowly painting DHL Ohio and Yucca Nevada and protecting swampland Florida.

How many more lessons can we afford?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/world/europe/10diplo.html?partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

This tired old man is using the many dead in Georgia as a polical ploy.

This was the only Republican that I once had a little bit of repect for.

He has now fixed that for me.

I think if Obama really wanted to, he could point out the fact that our position to help this particular ally is prevented by the fact that Bush's foreign policy choices have left us with fewer options and even fewer resources to undertake those options. I too have read the Stratfor (amongst other) analysis of the situation and suffice to say Russia has made a power move and there isn't shit we can do about it. I've been arguing for a few years that the worse part of Bush being president was that he was the person in the room alone representing America with the likes of frighteningly shrewd and cold-bloodedly pragmatic strategic thinkers like Putin (you don't have to like or respect the man to note that he has significantly strengthened his country). I remember cringing when Bush stated he and 'Vlad' were buddies. Moments like that are the reason we can't do anything about Russia's move now. Putin knows that Bush isn't his equal in terms of calculating what the realpolitik situation is here and as a result he can do what he wants with Georgia. The color revolution with our hands all over it and the arms, training and support (NATO?! are u kidding me?!) we've given Georgia recently are the reason the situation has escalated to this sad point. As noted by Moscow's use of its strategic bombing capability, they are playing for keeps. While it will never be proven, Georgia clearly thought its strengthened relationship with the West (read US) would provide it with an additional measure of security that the US would be utterly foolish to provide considering its strategically exposed position in the middle east and central asia. I hope folks didn't think those were merely empty threats about the so-called 'missile-shield' in poland. Don't be surprised if Georgia ends up not remaining an independent nation before this is finished.

Isn't it ironic that W, who is waging a bloody, illegal war in Iraq, is trying to intervene in Georgia?

Is it true that McCain is concerned that the fighting in Georgia will spill over the border into Alaska?

McCain '08: When two wars aren't enough!

This is so stupid. Everyone is thinking about the election, but Putin Incorporated is thinking about internal Flexing and CRUDE OIL.

The initial military action didnt raise prices (since oil supply is not under threat). Now that McColdWar is engaged, the rhetoric heats up. Next step: Russia/Iran joint defense pact and maybe transfer of "peaceful" nuclear technology. Then $150-$200/bbl oil. Remember that demand for crude is only part of the equation that sets the price. Another big component is Access and Security.

Cant wait until you see Bears, Badgers, and Blackjacks patrolling from Iranian air fields can you. Man I hope that we arent about to play ourselves by getting intimately involved in a former Soviet republic. At the end of the day, we arent about to deter Putin and his apparachtiks from doing any damn thing they want in that region (which is totally in their sphere of influence). They know it, and we know it too.

Right now it is all talk! Frankly Obama played it right (cool). What are we about to do... put US troops on the Russian border? Is NATO going to do that while Russia supplies 80% of Europe's Natural Gas? Give me a break. This is a case of the Bear flexing its muscles for internal politics and us potentially walking into sustained higher crude pricing. Either way, Russia wins as this is on their front porch, unless we are ready to "switch to missles", which we arent.

And by the way, it may help folks to actually study up on Georgian history before we declare them the virginal democracy that is under threat. It would be good to understand the field before you hazard to walk on to it...

We are about to hand-deliver the "Axis of Oil" to Putin, Chavez, and the Iranian dude. I hope we are such fucking suckers. Putins soul is playing us like ATMs (and I dont necessarily mean money).

The sad part to all of this is that Georgia kinda served up a freebie to Putin Inc. by launching the action. I wonder what he was thinking in regards to timing/International sympathy. He could look at Chechnya to see how international pressure works on Russia, and that was before they became supercharged on petrochemicals.

For McCain, I see what he looks to get out of it, ala "I am old enough to remember how we handled Russia, and I was a footsoldier yadda yadda". The problem is that while capitalism to a degree triumphed over communism, it was replaced by clepto-capitalistic totalitarianism with major nationalist shoulder-chips. Instead of whole countries being the collateral damage of a potential stare-down, it will be our oil-fed economy.

Damn.

You're a celebrity.

You're an idiot.

The last refuge of a lost argument is name calling.

Say "G'night," Grampy McSame.

Obama has zero experience in Military matters and should just admit it instead of continually making an ass out of himself.

Clearly pandering to the large number of Georgian immigrants living in Florida.

If the US got involved it would be strictly secondary and no boots on the ground. My guess is it would involve a B2 Spirit bombing the exit side of the tunnel inside South Ossetia to cut off the flow of supplies to the Russian forces in South Ossetia. One Sortie would close the tunnel for several days. Regular sorties would keep it closed.

The US could relocate a flight of F-22 Raptors to Turkey to provide top cover and keep the Russians from invading Georgian airspace. An AWACS flight over the Caspain would make any Russian aircraft a sitting duck to even a few F-22's.

The intent would not be to actually fire on them, but to make the uncomfortable. The F-22 is invisible to their best radars.

Providing the Georgians with a shipment of advanced TOW missiles, which I am sure they have some of, would make life very hard for any Russian armored column that got too agressive.

Their tanks could never stop US armor piercing weapons, as was shown in Iraq and elsewhere.

It would not take a massive US commitment to make this turn ugly for Russia.

willpierce -

Georgia was seriously provoked. Separatists had been shelling civilians in numerous villages for the past month, and the Russian "Peacekeepers" did nothing to stop it. None of that is in dispute. These Separatists were engaging in offensive actions and skirmishes outside South Ossetia. They were also stepping up attacks on villages inside South Ossetia that were not seen as "reliable".

Georgia called for a cease fire to coincide with the Olympics, it is commonly done in conflicts like this. This is where it gets murky because the Georgians claim that the Separatists agreed and then kept on shelling, so they said enough is enough. Of course the Separatists and Russians claim otherwise.

By outward appearances it might seem as if Georgia escalated, but it is not like the broke a gentle peace. The got fed up and went for a knockout.

Ralph Peters, despite his hawkish stance, makes a valid point. A Russian armored brigade is typically not at the readiness level to move in anything less than a few days to a week. This column was inside South Ossetia in 6 hours.

They planned or anticipated this, which says that they might at least be complicit in escalating this through more subtle means.

Putin is no saint, he has an agenda with this, and it is to stop Georgia from entering NATO and to control that pipeline, why else would they be bombing it?

There is very little the US can do...We screw with PUTIN he shuts down the European oil spigot.

The US and NATO will have plenty of justification for providing air cover for Georgia. The pipeline is a strategic interest of Western Europe, Turkey and Eastern European members. If it is true that Russia is targeting the pipeline, expect to see NATO fighers on air patrol based out of Turkey.

The Russian Army is still a piece of junk. I would not be surprised to see a NATO multinational force of "peacekeepers" en route to Georgia in the next week or so.

Russia is still a decrepit, dysfunctional country despite their recent oil money. They may manage to prevent the taking of South Ossetia outright, but the notion that Europe will just take it lying down is maybe a bit exagerrated.

Everbody is getting tired of Russia, including China. Iran is no great friend either, they are simply doing a business deal and they have argued all along the way.

Russia isn't going to nuke anybody unless they want to die a quick death themselves. MAD lives...except that it is not clear that many Russian nukes still work. Those that were jointly dismantled by US and Russian scientists were almost all found to be non-functional...dangerously radioactive, but many incapable of producing the desired fission reaction.

They have already lost an embarassing number of aircraft in just the last day. Their armored vehicles make a jaguar look like a Toyota in terms of reliability.

Russia is still a teddy bear with a disproportionately loud roar.

This is a highly counterproductive roar, because they likey guaranteed the rebirth of Nuclear Power as the replacement for the gas pipelines within 10 years. There will be 100 new 4G reactors under constuction within a year or two. This is all the proof the west needed that Russia can't stop tripping over its 2 left feet.

jeez louise -

I have seen the comments on every major website...what world are you living in?

I think Camp Obama messed up on this one...playing that kind of petty politics on a major national security issue is bad form. Lobbying ties are not why McCain would support a strong ally and soon-to-be member of NATO.

The implication was idiotic, quite frankly. It is like saying we support Japan because all the Hollywood stars who donate to Obama work for Sony Pictures. It is nonsensical.

There is no crime lobbying for a fledgling democracy who shares our basic values as a nation...especially when their foe is Putin, Mr. former KGB of Ukraine assassination attempt fame.

It was a silly move...I hate to say it. It makes it look like Obama is siding with Russia. That is not a good bedfellow...somebody should be fired for releasing such a nutty statement.

Sorry, those are the facts.

Yawn. What a waist of internet space, seriously.

Finally, a thread that contains intelligent discourse [well, excepting the boring to-be-expected from a certain fogy old troll].

To be frank that McCain campaign response sucked. He could of came up with something better than that one.

The personal attacks on John McCain here are vile, childish and divisive. I guess it must be frustrating for you folks that Obama is an inferior candidate and if its wasn’t for the fact that he is the first “Black” candidate to get this far in a run for President, he would be sitting on the sidelines with Jesse Jackson cheering on Hillary Clinton, who was obviously the Democrats best presidential candidate. But let’s get to the point:

What is the point of posting such hateful and spiteful comments folks? John McCain is out there seeing the people and fielding any and all questions from American people, in an intimate and vulnerable setting. Why are you bashing him with words of hate? It is clear John McCain is projecting courage and honor and a willingness to be forthright on the issues that matter to Americans. He is Mr. "Straight-Talk", and even if it doesn't have that "Champion Toastmaster" feel of an Obama preaching fest, at least McCain is answering questions directly and sharing his ideas, not preaching and dodging or avoiding answering the tough questions like the other media darling candidate. I hope Obama-Nation can stop posting personal attacks on a great American and encourage “their” candidate to come clean and stop avoiding the questions that will expose his past associations, inexperience, and hidden leftist, black liberation theological agenda.

Also, Obama's "run out the clock before America sizes him up" strategy, may have worked against the great Senator Clinton, as he backed into a nomination there, but it won't work as November closes in, the VPs are selected, and America ignores the media's love affair with Obama, and focuses in on both candidates and discovers why Obama will not participate in town hall debates. Shhhhhh.. his dirty little secret - He is hiding something, and we all know what that is

Regarding the war in Georgia, its times like these that we will miss having the moral authority that Bush and his hooligans pissed away by invading a country that was no real threat to us. Warmonger John McCain supported that war and its hard to imagine a war he would not support because he still carries bitterness over our experience in Viet Nam.

At a time when America faced one of its most challenging moments in recent history, John McCain stood strong and couragious and chose to protect America to no end; his opponent did not. Senator Obama instead chose to give a speech against invading Iraq to find the WMD's. Here is the most troubling part and the "clear" message in Obama’s action here and one that the media continues to overlook or sweep under the carpet: ALL evidence and intelligence at that time, prior to the invasion of Iraq, pointed to the fact that WMDS were in the possession of a Tyrant who had used them before, and was posturing and being less than cooperative with resolution 1441. This was a test of who amongst the representatives that we as Americans elected to keep us safe were willing to do their job and protect America. The majority of those in office chose to act, as they should, on the side of caution, in the best interest of the safety of the American people, (with the majority support of America) and take the necessary action to protect America. Obama decided to NOT protect America. I repeat, chose NOT to protect us Americans! He decided instead to take the chance on this Tyrant passing WMDs into the possession of terrorists and using them against America. OK, rookie mistake by Obama, right? Well, then, when America was struggling in Iraq because of a Rumsfeld led failed war strategy, John McCain stood up in the face of resistance within his party and was perpetually vocal that America needed a change in strategy in order to “win” the war in Iraq. John McCain supported the surge and accepted nothing less than 100% victory for America. Senator Obama staked his entire campaign position on leaving Iraq right away, in the state of chaos, showed a lack of confidence in America’s military and a willingness to accept defeat. These two examples clearly show that Senator Obama does NOT have the character of a true leader; John McCain obviously does!

America needs a leader like John McCain. He is trustworthy, honorable, and has proven he possesses the leadership, courage and wisdom to make the tough decisions and put America before his party and political ambitions. I believe John McCain will go down in history as one of America’s greatest presidents, if given the opportunity. I believe in john McCain! - God be with all of you and God Bless America. ~ Mark Caro (Mccain4usa)

This is f-ing hilarious. Is Obama also conspiring to tamper with our precious bodily fluids? McCain is a fusty old fart who's attacks have about as much bite as tapioca pudding.

A UN-sponsored group was investigating Iraq's weapons and had found none before Bush decided to invade. He supported the UN only as long as it was convenient for his goals. All intelligence did not support the idea that Iraq had weapons. A lot of it was bogus, as has been conclusively determined by the absence of weapons. And its now coming out that there was active cooking of the intelligence by Bush and the White House who pressures the CIA to forge evidence of weapons.

The invasion was done on false pretenses. No weapons were found. The reason for war was not there. And McCain was right there with Bush stampeding the nation into war.

The nation doesn't need McCain. He is an old fart that is running very low on marbles. He can barely complete a sentence. He will be completely nuts in a few years.

Mccain4usa,

Beginning a post with, "At a time when America faced..." is so very persuasive. My 14 year old running for class president could use your help.

hello_world -

I love people like you who have such limited thought capacity such that you have to reduce the commentary of others into "concern trolling" as if that has any fundamental meaning.

I actually talk strategy and perception, and you argue in dogmatic robotics, like too many of my fellow Obama supporters. You have no ability to critically assess what it takes to win, you just regurgitate talking points that only make sense in the left-wing blogosphere.

You assume that the rest of the populace will be persuaded by endless chants of McSame...McLame...Mc. That is very intellectual. I spend an hour each day defending myself for the fact that my views align with some of the 3rd grade style comments out there from Obama supporters. It is embarassing.

Obama's stance on such a major issue as this cannot be "John McCain has a former lobbyist on his campaign". That is crazy. It is not leadership. By releasing statements like that it allows the media to create that perception. I thought Obama's statement was great, but what does highlighting a lobbyist who worked for a fledgling democracy that is facing off against an increasingly tyrannical GOLIATH do to diminish John McCain? NOTHING!

It enables McCain's charge that the only thing Obama can come up with is another of this overused "old politics, lobbyist ties" attacks. That line of attack is fine for domestic issues, it won't work on a major foreign incident like this. It suggests a lack of understanding of the gravity of this situation. World War I started with less than this people!!!

Obama needs to be careful how much he pushes this whole lobbyist line as well. Despite what most of us like to believe, if you go to opensecrets.org he as taken $20M from "Lawyers and Lobbyists" vs. McCain's $7M. He has also take twice as much from "Single-Issue Ideological" groups as McCain. The gap will widen once McCain stops fundraising. If you think that is not a devastating attack ad in the making, you haven't been in politics wrong.

He needs to tread carefully...Axelrod used to be a "consultant" to Excelon and the McCain camp knows it...they are waiting to spring that one on us as part of their October Armageddeon strategy. There are some attacks they are not making because they know that people really do not start to pay attention until October...we should not get too comfortable.

There is no way you can raise the kind of money that Obama is raking in and not get a lot of it from industry...he has gotten $50M more from industry than McCain. I know the Obamabots will explode on me for mentioning that fact, SO GO LOOK IT UP ON OPENSECRETS.ORG.

I am not making a value judgement here, I have no problem with companies pursuing their best interests by donating to a candidate who supports their views. But Obama has stated that he does, and he is taking money left, right and center. It is a dangerous game to play...

...although I am starting to like the way that Gallup poll is moving...McCain will not have the stamina to keep up his pace of campaigning for another 2 months. By the time the debate roll around he will be a mess...

RexKC, I appreciate what you are saying here, however, you missed my point. True leadership is acting is accordance to the facts and not being afraid to make the tough decisions, even if the that decision may end up being scrutinized by those that disapprove. McCain acted to prevent and protect America from more attacks from Al Quada. That is always the correct decisions. Senator Obama had no way of knowing if Saddam did or did not have the WMDs. He chose to take the chance on America's security at a time when we were at war with Al Quada, and we can not have a person with this character flaw running America. Sure, now folks can come out and posture like arm chair quarterbacks. That's the easy part; the best arm chair coaches are 100% correct after the game is over, right? What about during the game? Where are all these "smart" coaches?

We can go back and forth on this forever, but there is no way Senator Obama can talk his way out of his error in judgment in deciding to NOT protect America.

I have to trust that our next President is not going to be like Jimmy Carter and ring his hands for 444 days in fear if we are in the midst of an international crisis.

McCain is a leader I can trust to keep America safe.

Humanity critic - Being afraid to act in the best interests of America's security is a character flaw that Senator Obama showed very clearly and one that I will not accept in a President. I am sorry if that upsets you. I trust both McCain and Clinton to keep America safe. That's my #1 priority on my list of the issues. The others isues I can be open minded on.

- Senator Obama failed the test on my # 1 issue.

Nominate Clinton and then I will be open minded on the two candidates. Otherwise, John McCain is clearly the better choice while America is at war in a extremely dangerous world.

Why are you attacking me? I didn't refer to your approach to our national security as that of a spineless worm, did I? Let's keep this civil, otherwise I will stop responding to you. Your ignorance of foreign affairs doesn't bother me at all. There are tons of folks just like you that can't seem to understand that America's number one priority in regards to foreign policy is keeping America and our allies safe and in a position militarily where we can keep the world safe from people that use WMDs on their own citizens. That's the number one priority. Regardless of how others around the world view America, we serve a useful purpose in the world and help other countries to sleep at peacefully at night with peace of mind, not to mention we have been the most charitable / giving nation on earth for decades and if countries around still do like America, it doesn't much factor into whom I choose as President.

I am looking for a president that will keep my brothers and sisters here in America safe and free. .

Such a delightful trip into yesteryear,,,,, McCain stoops to wallow in the delights of the old Red Scare ploy,,,,,, next shall we endure the Yellow Peril - great Olympics ad - or the Beastly Hun buck and wing of a century ago?

It's amazing that posters like McCain4Usa can come here at say things like the only reason Obama is the nominee is because he is black and falsities like:

John McCain is correct on all the issues: cutting taxes, energy independence, strong foreign policy, and health care.

After making such statements, McCain4Usa, how can you expect to have any credibility left? You should go to redstate.com so you can find like minded rednecks that actually agree with your racist and highly under informed BS. There's a reason why McCain is resorting to Britney Spears ads, because he knows he can't win when it comes to arguing on the issues. McCain right on health care? Wahahahhahah. That's the biggest stretch I've ever seen. Maintaining tax cuts for the top 1% of America in order to grow the divide between the rich and poor and squeeze a middle class that America built itself on? A middle class that Obama supports tax cuts for? An answer to energy independence by drilling for domestic crude that will have minimal effects on American pocketbooks and has economists across the spectrum deriding it as nothing but a political stunt? An energy policy focused on building more nuclear plants when they are so many more promising energy sources out there that are clean? A foreign policy that includes talking with our enemies as well as the use of force, which is precisely what all presidents have employed until Shrub took office? And now you're attempting to say that a guy that finished 5th from the bottom of his class in HIGH SCHOOL is more qualified than one that finished in the top 1% of his class at Harvard Law School? Who upon his entrance application to Harvard didn't even list his race because he wanted to be accepted on merit? And you're pushing a guy that knows nothing about economics, and his poor grasp of foreign policy is so blatant that he claims multiple times that Al Qaeda is training in Shiite Iran. Who had to be surrounded by aides to correct him when he went to Israel and became befuddled on a reporter's question about settlements? Whereas Obama had one aide along who never had to assist Obama with the interview, as Obama had a strong grasp of the facts and nuances?

McCain's judgment on the war was wrong just as Hillary's judgment was, which was particularly egregious since they had access to senate intelligence reports that revealed how flimsy the case of WMD's was. This was one of the many reasons Hillary lost (outside of poor planning and horribly wasteful campaign) was that she voted to authorize a war without having read through the reports. Senators that DID read through it recognized how light it was and therefore did NOT vote for the war. And you think we'll be safe with a McCain that does not read intelligence reports before voting on something as important as going to war? Obama rightly spoke out against the war despite not having access to such intelligence reports, but knowing that attacking a country that poses no threat to the American people would only damage our country in lost blood and treasure and in itself is morally reprehensible.

Whatever you're smoking must be some pretty good rock, because your claims come across only as outright delusional.

mccain4usa,

I can't believe I'm actually going to respond, but here goes:

I appreciate your shock and concern for my parenting skills. Apparently teaching hate is something you are familiar with. Personally I try to avoid it. What I do enjoy is debating on specific policy. Just name one stance John McCain has taken( in a bit more detail than say,"strong foreign policy") that you believe will serve the country better than that of his opponent.

JTHB, we don't have to ask what the georgians think you twit, CNN is already acting as their spokesperson.
Face it, Sakashvilli was trying to make a deal with the devil (bush). This sad excuse of a leader actually believed that if he pushes ahead with a military solution to a local territorial dispute the united states would cover him.
The complete shock on his face when he realized that no one would back such a boneheaded maneuver and that he now faced the prospect of massive russian retaliation was rather entertaining. But but... I went to college in the west... help me! cried the fool.

You can repeat the sensationalist claptrap from the media (russia attacks georgia is just a much better headline then georgia starts regional dispute) or you can take it for what it is... Sakashvilli made a very bad bet, and will wind up losing everything in the process.

You want to talk agression? Just what exactly gave Sakashvilli the idea that launching rocket attacks into a civilian population was a good idea? On the eve of the Olympics no less... Georgia lost any sympathy cards the second they decided a military operation against civilians was justified. Cry about how it was a setup by the russians all you want, anyone stupid and evil enough to contemplate such a course of action deserves what's coming to them.

This is so 'bizarre' it must be for the Fox news crowd where the just download the stuff into their brains without distinction.

But it also feels like insanity, mental illness, perhaps early signs of senility are creeping through the McCain camp. On the other hand it also seems like some 7 year olds are making this stuff up and seeing what he public will swallow... laughing all the way.