'Stormin' Norman' Schwarzkopf goes for McCain: The Swamp
The Swamp
Chicago Tribune
Posted January 23, 2008 7:01 AM
The Swamp

schwarzkopf%201991.JPG
Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf chats with his tank troops at Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, January 12, 1991. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty)

by Jill Zuckman

Orlando, Fla. – One of Florida's most famous military men, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, has put his weight behind Sen. John McCain's bid for the presidency today.

"Stormin' Norman" Schwarzkopf, a retired four-star general who was commander of the Coalition Forces in the 1991 Gulf War, became well known to most Americans with his daily, televised press conferences describing the course of the war. As the co-author of the plan for Operation Desert Storm, Schwarzkopf's strategy was so successful that the ground war concluded in just four days.

"Sen. John McCain has served our country with honor in war and in peace," Schwarzkopf said in a statement. "He has demonstrated the type of leadership our country sorely needs at this time. For that reason, he has my complete support."

In the highly competitive Florida primary, McCain is seeking every advantage to appeal to conservative members of the military and veterans that make up as much as 40 percent of the Republican primary electorate. During the last two days, McCain has zipped across the top of the state from Jacksonville on the Atlantic to Pensacola in the Panhandle.

McCain, whose central message is his mastery of national security affairs, has been reminding voters that he used to live in the state – both in Pensacola and Jacksonville. He did his flight training in Pensacola and commanded his squadron out of Jacksonville after he returned from five and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

A group of prominent veterans, including Sen. John Warner, the former Secretary of the Navy, and a number of former prisoners of war during Vietnam, are campaigning separately for McCain, hitting communities that are home to large numbers of active military, National Guard and Reserve members, and military retirees.

Schwarzkopf is not in Florida today, but may appear with McCain at a later date.

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Comments

Of course, one angry madman supporting another.


Stormin Norman did it in four days.(141 KIA, 458 wounded) Chimpy, and all his bad choices of military leaders are still in Iraq longer than WW11. (4000+- KIA, 40,000+- wounded) The Gulf War was Poppy Bushes war. Too bad for all of us that Chimpy has Daddy issues and Cheney has--God knows how many issues.

The 2006 elections were suppose to get us out of the Iraq black hole, and possibly look in to war crimes re the Cheney/Bush admin. Well, it seems to me as though Chimpey/Cheney either "found" something on Pelosi--that they now very strongly want immunity for--or else Chimpy and Pelosi are sleeping together. (an ineffable visual) What else would explain why "impeachment is off the table"--for all the Cheney/Bush "misinformation", and why we are STILL in the choke hold of Iraq while Iraq continues to slide by and do nothing for itself? We can't keep throwing money at it. America and the world are going down the financial tubes due to the Cheney/W. Bush invasion of Iraq. McCain thinks we might possibly want to be in Iraq for 100 years. Great.

BTW Thank you Cheney/W. Bush for letting foreign interests buy up America, and send us to second world status--while we were preoccupied with your bogusly created Iraq invasion. How is that super highway to and from Mexico going? Why, in the Patriot Act, did you allot more money for border control on the Canadian-American border, rather than on the Mexican- American border? Can't get into Canada with a DUI. By contrast, anyone with any possible criminal or terrorist background can get through the flimsy Mexican-American border. Way to go with American "homeland" security and your nebulous "war on terror".


Actually, Vivian, "Stormin' Norman" wanted to go into Iraq and remove Saddam from power way back in 1991. George H. W. "Poppy" Bush was the one who told him he couldn't.

You can't lionize Schwarzkopf and pretend he didn't want to extend the Gulf War at the same time. It's disingenuous.

This is a great endorsement for McCain. This will turn a lot of democrats and independents but more importantly bring the mass of Florida's republican "defcons" (defense conservatives) even more strongly into the McCain camp.

If Schwarzkopf would've had his way in 1991 we wouldn't be in this mess we're in today. Thanks a lot, George H.W.


John McCain is most honorable and able of the bunch ... most appropriate that General Schwarzkopf says as much. Just hope the American public sees this also as previous presidential primary election did not leave any good options.


More proof that John McCain is the candidate for the Military Industrial Complex.

Vote for McCain if you want the military controlling the civilian government, rather than the other way around.


And now Stormin' Norman can help McCain get Osama bin Laden!


Jeff--I have no problem with Stormin Norman--he did it in 4 days, and I believe he had a different opinion about the W.Bush/Cheney invasion, too. Norman seems to be a good guy--and I did compare lower statistics of 1991 with the high statistics of the current Iraq mess. Funny how Poppy put the breaks on Norman while Jr says leave it to the leaders on the ground. I think it is the Bush family and Cheney who have hurt us terribly--along with the R, and now, the D congress who allow the killing to continue for nothing.


Jeff--I have no problem with Stormin Norman--he did it in 4 days, and I believe he had a different opinion about the W.Bush/Cheney invasion, too. Norman seems to be a good guy--and I did compare lower statistics of 1991 with the high statistics of the current Iraq mess. Funny how Poppy put the breaks on Norman while Jr says leave it to the leaders on the ground. I think it is the Bush family and Cheney who have hurt us terribly--along with the R, and now, the D congress who allow the killing to continue for nothing.


Stormin Norman knows another American hero when he sees one. These real life conservatives are fed up that while they were diverted by the prosperity of recent times, the right wing ideologues cam and hijacked the picture. Well, we're takin America back to Competence!
Go Mac Go!


I am considered an independent voter in Texas.
Though I favor democratic
canidates usually, I will
probably more consider John McCain in this election.
I have great respect for
Stormin Norm and glad he is
backin McCain. Wish he would
re-enlist and straighten
this mess out.


President George W Bush is not known for his grip on military matters, his one time secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld filled that vacuum dangerously, Sen. John McCain will bring to the Oval Office a necessary dose of military realpolitique, you know it makes sense, vote for him.


Nice to see a prestigious endorsement by General Schwarzkopf for Senator McCain. Especially since certain party members i.e.Tom Delay are trying to blackball him and the dem hate mongers can't wait to post such negative comments. They'd do well to monitor their own canidates.


Nice to see a prestigious endorsement by General Schwarzkopf for Senator McCain. Especially since certain party members i.e.Tom Delay are trying to blackball him and the dem hate mongers can't wait to post such negative comments. They'd do well to monitor their own candidates.


So, Viv, you agree with General Schwarzkopf, then, that Saddam should've been removed in 1991? Nice to have another hawk in the fold.

McCain's the only candidate with the military experience to get the job done.


Jeff--You asked me a question--then answered it yourself. You have interseting powers of extrapolation. Please don't speak for me.


It is time for the Republican voters in the Sunshine State to help their party select the most electable Republican candidate for President of the United States in the General election. Because of our present difficulties, both domestic and abroad that we and our country face, it is imperative that our party retain the White House in the General Election. With out a Republican President, the values that our great party holds in high esteem, will be imperiled by the unchecked power of a Democrat majority in the House and Senate. There are more voters registered as Democrats than Republicans in our nation; there fore, for any Republican Presidential Candidate to be elected, they must be able to effectively win a majority of the Independents that vote. One candidate has shown himself to be the most able to win those voters. To become President, a Republican must be able to win in the south and they must be able to win in Florida. The ideal candidate should also be able to capture the votes of moderate Democrats in a general election. It is vital for our party to have a candidate who can retain the 55% of the Hispanic vote that our current President won in the last general election. Selecting a candidate that chooses to demogauge, instead of leading on the immigration issue, will not retain 55% of the Hispanic vote. There is one Republican running for President who has shown the ability to deliver more than just the votes of our party members that it will take for us to win in November. There is only one man running for President who has consistently out polled, head to head, all of the Democrats left in the race. There is only one person running for President, whom the Democrats fear in the General Election. That one candidate who can win the White House for our party, in the November General Election is Senator John McCain. The only thing left to find out is if John McCain can win in Florida that is the decision of the Republican voters of Florida. The voters in Florida have determined who has become President in the last 2 general elections. Republicans in the Sunshine state have an historic opportunity to actually pick the eventual President if they prove to the nation that Senator McCain can win in Florida. Florida your time is now, your nation is waiting, your voice is more important than any other, at this time. Choose greatness, choose wisely, make our country proud, and choose Senator McCain.


Great that you are supporting Mr. McCain.


Ilike milk and cookies


I would like to establish association between Senator John McCain and the late Timothy McVeigh, American home grown terrorist who commited a horrible crime against other Americans on American soil in April 1995. Senator McCain and McVeigh both are of American citizenship, served in American armed services, medal of honor recipients, NRA (national rifle association members and supporters), Right Wing supporters, Desert Storm supporters, angry men towards those who disagree with them, and inflict frustration and disdain for those who get in their way. I think Sarah Sarandon, republican and actress in Hollywood, said it best "Palin is like Pontius Pilot the Governor, and Jesus is like Obama, Community Organizer. Well if you know ancient history, (wink, wink) I betcha you will read that Pilot had to seek exile since he was judged and sentenced by jury in trial of his peers to either commit suicide or drink poison for his punishment. Jesus, as stated in the Bible, got the best seat in the universe, to sit at the right hand of God. Need I say more? (Wink, wink) Since McCain/Palin are seeking of the same failed policies of President Bush in this failed economy, failing war in Afghanistan, failed health care system, inability to find Bin Laden, international terrorist and alledged mastermind of 9.11, is still alive and at large. What has Obama said he would do?without hesitation, get Bin Laden, what President Bush hasn't been able to do. You are "darn right", Change is on the way, and it is Change Now with Obama, Biden and Clinton and the Democrat Party. I don't want my tax dollars supporting the rich any more, especially since Gov. Pilot was, I mean McCain/Palin are of the rich. God has disdain for the rich, and in Proverbs especially and explicitly reads "The rich man will assist with the poor or he will find his fate in eternal condemnation", and also reads "Don't worry about the rich, they aren't to be envied".
Socrates, a philosopher who taught logic and philosophy in his time, was found guilty by his peers by trial and jury, and sentenced to death by drink of poison. Today, we find logic and philosophy taught throughout the globe in law schools, which is the same democracy that we have in the United States of America. Republicans don't want or like change and Democrats do inspire change now. Vote Obama/Biden and Clinton for a better and world of hope that is of inclusion not exclusive of the rich only club. Remember McVeigh who died less than 13 years ago didn't die with remorse but with hate and eyes open wide for the world to see his hate of those who aspire to inspire hope and goodness for the better good. With Ayers, he has stated remorse, and shown remorse through his good works and desire for the betterment of the common good. It has been over 40 years ago since Ayers showed his disruption, and has changed his direction towards a better world through his ability to change. Ayers doesn't and hasn't had influence over who McCain and Palin accuse. Christ is about change. Pilot was about lack of desire to change. Who came out the real winner, Christ or Pilot? Need I say more?


Go McCain,
Vets4McCain


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