John McCain in Neverland

This would be too funny -- if it weren't so depressing to see how far out of touch with reality some of our leading national politicians are.

It seems that presidential aspirant and U.S. Senator John McCain, speaking from the comfort of the Senate cloakroom, went on television this afternoon and told Wolf Blitzer the surge is working so well "I know for a fact of much of the success we're experiencing, including the ability of Americans in many parts ... to go into some neighborhoods in Baghdad in a secure fashion."

Blitzer then had the rare good sense to turn to CNN war correspondent Michael Ware, who is on the scene in Baghdad, to ask him for confirmation. Ware was abashed:

[I]f I have any difficulty hearing you right now, Wolf, that's because of the helicopter circling overhead and the gun battle that is blazing just a few blocks down the road.

Is Baghdad any safer?

Sectarian violence -- one particular type of violence -- is down. But none of the American generals here on the ground have anything like Senator McCain's confidence.

I mean, Senator McCain's credibility now on Iraq, which has been so solid to this point, has now been left out hanging to dry.

To suggest that there's any neighborhood in this city where an American can walk freely is beyond ludicrous. I'd love Senator McCain to tell me where that neighborhood is and he and I can go for a stroll.

No. No way on earth can a westerner, particularly an American, stroll any street of this capital of more than five million people.

I mean, if al Qaeda doesn't get wind of you, or if one of the Sunni insurgent groups don't descend upon you, or if someone doesn't tip off a Shia militia, then the nearest criminal gang is just going to see dollar signs and scoop you up. Honestly, Wolf, you'd barely last 20 minutes out there.

I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is talking about when he says we can go strolling in Baghdad.

Crooks and Liars has the videotape. CNN has a transcript of the whole program. Digby has edited it to highlight the McCain segment.