The Official McCain 2008 Dead Pool Thread

[DjaugheOld]

Okay McCain has $2 million cash in the bank and $1.75 million in bills...leaving him $250,000 to play with.

So post a prediction date in which McCain officially calls it quits.

July 23rd, 2007.

[Mulli]

August 11, 2007.

[D-Dogg]

September 1st, 2007.

[Broncogirl1]

January 15, 2008 (day after the Iowa caucus).

[CardFan67]

This thread needs to be taken out of the "2008 Presidential election" section...

[DjaugheOld]

Originally Posted by CardFan67

This thread needs to be taken out of the "2008 Presidential election" section...

lol...don't worry when the date becomes official - I'll toss it here: 2008 NonPresidential Elections

[KloD]

The second McCain decided to stump for Bush his chances were all but over. In trying to gain republican support, he lost most of the support he had from the left and center.

[conraddobler]

Currently he's thinking of doing a Surge.

[krepitch]

I am just disgusted by anyone who makes the bolded argument below:

Surge brings progress to Iraq
By JOHN MCCAIN - Guest columnist

On Monday, Gen. David Petraeus, top commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, delivered his much-anticipated report to Congress on the progress of our new counterinsurgency strategy.

In short, Gen. Petraeus reported that the surge is working. Decreased sectarian violence, a diminished al-Qaida presence, improved cooperation with local tribes and, most importantly, Gen. Petraeus’ acknowledgment that troop levels could be scaled back as early as December all stand as evidence to that fact.

Just one year ago, al-Qaida controlled major portions of the Iraqi countryside and used its position of strength to incite sectarian violence. But now, U.S. forces are pushing al-Qaida out of former strongholds such as Anbar and Diyala.

As stability comes to the region, its impact is clear. The homicide rate in Baghdad has decreased by more than 50 percent. Running water has been restored. Schools, markets and hospitals have all reopened. The signs of progress are on the rise, and al-Qaida’s influence is declining.

In communities where U.S. forces have taken a foothold, the efforts of radicals have been minimized, and pro-democratic leaders are gaining influence. American troops are building coalitions with Sunni tribal leaders. For the first time, we are seeing members of the Sunni Arab community — who were formerly aligned against the forces of freedom — turn on al-Qaida.

While the news coming out of Iraq is increasingly positive, victory is not yet a foregone conclusion. Gen. Petraeus made one point painstakingly clear in his report: Now is not the time for surrender.

The future of Iraq and the greater war against radical Islamic extremism teeters on the decisions Congress will make in the coming days, whether to leave the job unfinished or to give our troops the time and resources they need for success.

I know the American people are frustrated about the situation in Iraq — the mismanagement of this war, the loss of treasure and of blood — and I share their frustration. But the American people have made it clear that they want our troops to return home with honor and in victory.

Now is not the time to surrender.

Now is the time to heed the calls of those who best understand the reality on the ground, and I am confident that no one has a better grasp on the situation in Iraq than Gen. Petraeus.

Gen. Petraeus said our troops need more time to allow the surge to continue to work. If we turn our backs on this new strategy now, we will leave certain chaos in our footsteps. And unlike enemies our nation has previously faced, al-Qaida will follow us home.

We must never forget this simple fact: The terrorists we face in Iraq today are the same terrorists who struck our homeland six years ago on 9/11.

Earlier this week, we launched the No Surrender Tour. It is my sincere hope that you will join former POWs, Medal of Honor recipients, veterans and me in rallying support for our troops and their mission. Together we can send a clear message to Congress that surrender is not an option.

Sen. McCain’s campaign Web site is www.johnmccain.com. This is the first of several candidate columns solicited byThe State on Iraq.

[Linderbee]

Wait, what??? Are you saying they're NOT???

[krepitch]

If these terrorists had been in Iraq in 2001 or 2003, it would be a different story.

[krepitch]

Originally Posted by Djaughe

How many terrorists do you need in 2001/2003 Iraq to make it a "different story"?

You're not gonna tell me Saddam was working with al Qaeda before the war, are you?

[conraddobler]

hmm fitting a McCain thread would devolve into this.

The fact is a lot of the money was from Saudi Arabia, we know this is true, we also know that particular sect hails from where.... ah yes Saudi Arabia, however they hold hands with our President, Saddam got hung for his troubles, perception I guess is everything.

[dreamcastrocks]

November 17, 2007

[Mulli]

mcbump