Why John McCain Is An Idiot

It was five years ago today that George Bush put on a flight suit, stuffed a couple of rolled socks in the crotch, and landed on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Then, with a huge "Mission Accomplished" banner in the background, our fearless leader basked in the glow of America's triumph in Iraq.

As things started to go south, the White House started coming with excuses for the banner. They said it wasn't their idea, that it was the crew's, and that it referred merely to the mission of that one single aircraft carrier. Even today, with some 3900 American soldiers dead and buried since May 1 of 2003, that banner continues to haunt the Bush administration. And now, thanks to a new ad from the Democratic party, it is coming back to bite the Republican who hopes to follow Bush in the Oval Office.

Yes, John McCain certainly seemed to know what that banner meant when he was interviewed on CNN about six weeks later:

There are those who wonder if Americans still care what's going on Iraq. After all, our nation is faced with an economy that's going down the toilet and gas prices that have tripled over the last seven years. Many people, the thinking goes, are just tired of hearing about Iraq.

Let's hope that's not true. America's sons and daughters continue to die in this ill-conceived conflict. Our nation's prestige abroad has been shattered. And the costs associated with this conflict will be with us for years. The blood from the Iraq war continues to stain Bush's hands, and John McCain sees no problem with it.

Whatever other concerns we may have, let us remember that.