McCaine “Clarifies” His Iraq Time Table

In an article on CNN, Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain claims his democratic rivals misinterpreted his comment last month on U.S. Troops remaining in Iraq for 100 years. He defended his belief that the War in Iraq which is nearing its 5th anniversary could be over soon.

“My friends, the war will be over soon … for all intents and purposes, although the insurgency will go on for years and years and years,” the Arizona senator said. “But it will be handled by the Iraqis, not by us.”

This is an interesting comment by McCain and I wonder if it will draw response from McCain’s conservative Republican opponents who would be more inclined to believe the war needs more time.

February 19th Primary Afterthoughts

This response comes late, but I digress. Obama picks up two more victories to bring his current “winning steak” to ten (this is beginning to sound like a sport) since Super Tuesday. This was to be expected as Hillary Clinton is putting most of her focus on the Texas and Ohio Primaries on March 4th (Vermont and Rhode Island have their primaries this day as well). McCain picked victories as well and is ever closer to officially earning the Republican nomination and I do not believe the New York Times report on a potential affair will have any effect on that.

Here’s an interesting article from CNN on Obama and his amount of patriotism. A reporter criticized the Ohio senator for not being patriotic enough

The reporter cited the fact that Obama once failed to put his hand over his heart while singing the national anthem…
The reporter also noted that the Illinois senator does not wear an American flag lapel pin, has met with former members of the radical anti-Vietnam War group, Weather Underground, and his wife was quoted recently as saying she never felt really proud of the United States until recently

I’ve always found it interesting in a post-September 11th America the amount of patriotism one has can be questioned and attacked. Does wearing a small pin really make you more an American than someone who doesn’t?

Another week, more primaries

Tomorrow, February 19th will bring once again another set of Presidential primaries. This week we have the Democratic primary in Hawaii and primaries for both parties in Washington State and Wisconsin. On the Democratic side I’m imagining more victories for Senator Obama as Hillary has shifted her focus to Texas. McCain is now only 360 delegates from officially securing the nomination for his party so the more telling story for that side now is can McCain reassure the more conservative Republicans he’s the right candidate for them

Obama’s “Super” Week Continues

Barack Obama has wrapped up his sixth consecutive primary victory in Virginia tonight. Early polls are showing Obama has nearly two-thirds of the vote in said state. 168 total delegates are at stake for the Democrats. On the Republican side the race in Virginia is too close to call at the time.

Obama’s momentum from winning the majority of the States on “Super Tuesday” has been strong in the subsequent week when he won all five primaries over the weekend (Maine, Nebraska, Washington, Louisiana, and Washington). This has to be one of the most exciting Democratic races in some time and it might be very possible no candidate will have enough delegates to outright win the nomination at the National Convention.

With Mitt Romney dropping out of the race it leaves only John McCain and Mike Huckabee left as candidates for the Republican nomination. McCain has a healthy lead and any chance of a Huckabee comeback will rely on the southern States and the more conservative vote.

UPDATE-Obama and McCain took the remainder of Tuesday’s primaries, continuing both their recent impressive victory streaks.  Obama now leads in total delegates however still is behind Clinton in superdelegates.  McCain is all but the official Republican candidate for President however Huckabee says he will not drop out until one candidate reaches the necessary amount of delegates.  His approach is a bit confusing, why continue to fund a campaign that needs an almost impossible comeback?  Perhaps this is all a bid to strengthen his chances of becoming the Vice President nominee