Tuesday could be big..All Three Candidates get to drill Petraeus

[Ichingcarpenter]

(Mods, if you want to move this go ahead.)

I really cant't stand Petraeus and hope both committees send him through the coals
so that all that's left is a dying ember that will extinguish this War and Occupation

WASHINGTON — When John McCain grills Army Gen. David Petraeus this week during Senate hearings on the status of the Iraq war, voters may pay more attention to McCain and two other would-be commanders in chief than they do to the top U.S. military commander in Iraq.

Petraeus and U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are scheduled to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday. McCain is the panel's top Republican, and Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton is also a member.

Later Tuesday, the two officials are to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Democratic Sen. Barack Obama will ask questions.

The political stakes at these hearings are potentially huge for all three presidential candidates.

The one-on-ones with the war's key American military and diplomatic figures are probably their last public chance to engage these officials for months, and the Qs and As should offer not only insight into the candidates' thinking on the war, but also into how they'd deal with those in charge of the conflict.

The risks for McCain are probably greatest, analysts said, because he's been unrelenting in his support of the unpopular war. Should that war turn uglier before Election Day, it could leave the Arizona senator particularly vulnerable.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/32849.html

[hobbit709]

1. Will there be any hardball questions

or just more posturing?

[gateley]

3. Man,

why didn't I read your post before I wrote mine? You summed it up concisely.

Last week, during the SFRC Iraq hearings (when there were no presidential candidates participating), the questions were tough and the Committee made it clear that it wasn't buying any more of the bullshit. Boxer kicked ass!

[gateley]

2. In a way, good...

but in another way, their campaign personas may get in the way.

Last week during the SFRC Iraq hearings, the members of the committee were forthright and up front in their questioning and grilling of the guests. Although recorded and televised, most likely relatively few people were tuned in.

With The Big Three taking part in hearings next week, I can't help but believe they'll use this opportunity as another platform to campaign, and they'll be playing to the audience, weighing all their questions with how it'll come across in the sound bite. Maybe I'm too cynical (nah) but I'm not sure we'll get an accurate representation of how they would approach the witnesses if it wasn't going to be a media op.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. I hope all the hearings are telecast live on CSPAN 1 or 2

I was gonna watch it anyway since I loathe this bastard and his surge.
I didn't expect the candidates to show up for this but that just
brings more icing to the cake. I had read that the democrats have been
really preparing for this since many things hang on his testimony.

The problem with McCain vs. Hillary and Obama is: he has no one
in his corner to fight for him, whereas both of the Democrats candidates have
People on the committees that can get really tough on Petraous without
the political repercussions that might entail if they had asked the questions

I'm hoping it will not be just a bunch of hot air, because Petraous has failed
as far as I can see.

[Clear Blue Sky]

4. A good chance for all of the candidates to have to talk about a real issue.

I hope they are all in attendance...

[applegrove]

6. I bet they wipe the floor with him - Clinton and Obama that is. McSame will

be kissing his ass no doubt.