Straight Talk... not so much

McCain continues to self-destruct. From the Cunning Realist we hear that Straight Talk would have us believe that up is down or, in this case, that 15% approval is the same as 15% disapproval.

From this weekend's MeetThePress:

MR. RUSSERT: You are a veteran of Vietnam, and you understand when public opinion slips away from support of a war. Here’s the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll out this morning. And we asked, if Congress passes a resolution against the president’s position on more troops, should President Bush proceed? Yes, 30; no, 65 percent. Two out of three Americans, senator. And look at this breakdown by party. Democrats, 85 percent say no. Independents, voters you know well, 71 percent say no, do not proceed. And now 33 percent, one third of Republicans, say listen to Congress more than the president. Why should the American people, after they voted the midterm elections and have a Congress that says no to the president, why shouldn’t they be listened to?

SEN. McCAIN: Well, I understand their frustration and sometimes anger over the lack of success and lack of progress, particularly coupled with optimistic statements made time after time when things were not going well and deteriorating. At the time of the first Gulf War, only 15 percent of the American people thought we ought to go to Kuwait and get rid of Saddam Hussein there.

From the NYT, January 18, 1991:

The initial reaction by the American public to President Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq is positive, according the Gallup Poll.

Seventy-nine percent of those interviewed on Wednesday night said they approved "of the U.S. decision today to go to war with Iraq in order to drive the Iraqis out of Kuwait," while 15 percent disapproved, and 6 percent had no opinion.

Earth to McCain. Earth to McCain... come in please. You're embarrassing everyone.