The Problem With McCain
I figure the time is ripe to have a frank discussion about John McCain’s 2008 candidacy. Being a lifelong Arizona Republican, I have been witness to McCain’s 25 years in politics - met him on a few occasions and voted for him every time I went to the ballot box. He is also the author of my favorite quote on the floor of the senate: (After 9-11 he remarked “To those of you who did this, we are coming. God may forgive you, but we will not.”) That being said, there are reasons why McCain’s front-runner status has caused such an outcry from segments of the Republican Party. McCain is a lifelong Republican who has supported his party and their candidates during his tenure in the Senate. After a fierce primary in 2000, McCain served dutifully as George W. Bush’s state campaign manager in 2004.
What bothers AZ Republicans and (to borrow his line) “those that know him best” is that McCain is as guilty as any candidate of the charges he is leveling at Romney. Senator “Straight-Talk Express” accuses Romney of advocating a withdrawal date from Iraq out of thin air. When pressed, McCain fumbles and looks at his note, focusing on a single word - “timetable” completely ignoring the 50 or so words that accompany it. McCain accuses Romney of flip-flopping regularly (I guess this stems from the timetable remark and Romney attending a Pro-Choice rally over ten years ago) yet holds up his immigration bill debacle as a willingness to listen to the voice of the people. What was he thinking drafting an immigration bill with Ted Kennedy? What makes him an expert on the issue? McCain claimed expertise in the debate by virtue of him being a border-state senator. I can witness to you that the reason McCain backed off and his plan failed was his own state rose up and told him it was not acceptable. Where was McCain’s judgment and experience then?
We remember the Keating 5, we remember McCain-Feingold, we remember McCain-Kennedy. Why is McCain not pressed on the quality of that legislation. He constantly barks that this shows he can reach out to Democrats and get things done. Wonderful, perfect! I think Arizonans would prefer he stay in the Senate and keep doing such a “wonderful” job of keeping the Senate functional. A willingness to work with Democrats should not be one of the tenets upon which our party is based. McCain also says he was a “foot-soldier” in the Reagan Revolution. Trust me, McCain is much more of a Goldwater Conservative than a Reaganite. Reagan would have bashed McCain for voting against those tax cuts.
A final note - after watching the debate last night, I was perplexed about another of McCain’s assertions and Romney’s response. McCain touted his military service as the overwhelming qualifier for Commander in Chief. I don’t know why Romney didn’t hit back by saying he would prosecute the war exactly how W has - by listening to his generals. When they say its time for more troops - that’s what they get. Bush’s national guard experience did not trump McCain’s credentials, yet he has provided Americans with security for six years. Romney doesn’t have to beat McCain on this issue, he just has to be close. He could also say that he would hold McCain’s national defense advice in the highest regard when he becomes president. Just a thought.
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Comments
Sorry but is useless to continue this argument, we should really be discussing why the broad and the colored fellow should lose. Really the broad because as Rush predicted a long time ago, “there is no way Hillary would lose the nomination” however she can’t control the general election. Let’s get over the fact that our most hated senator for our entire lives (the only Arizona politician I have not met in person by the way) is going to finally win the nomination. Even though he is broke, he has two past campaigns going for him, so he really doesn’t need to do much just no controversy and he will win. Then there is the 25% good luck with that 25% percent that absolutely will not vote for Mitt, there is no way that he can win if 25% of the entire nation will not vote for him. Which i have always said. No i know this isn’t about predicting the election but we can make ourselves look a lot better, when McCain wins to not be bitter about it. It is really our fault that it has come to this (Rush should be taking the blame as well) because our party especially Bush (who I love and think will go down as a far more important and greater President than Clinton, more likely standing next to Reagan) because Bush’s one weakness is his inability to get the world and America on his side by expressing his ideas. I know all of us support him but when that dike NOONAN starts writing articles blaming Bush for the decline of the Republican party we need to take it like men and not let that broad win. (I should forward this to Rush, if only I could remember where I put his email address)
One point… FYI fritoP. Super Tuesday is next week. Now is the time to discuss this. The nomination is not decided, people have allowed the media to portray McCain rather than checking his record.
Also, presidents have been elected with as little as 49% of the popular vote. your number of 25% is pulled out of thin air - I would like proof
good follow up article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/30/AR2008013003212_pf.html
I must say that I agree with Fritop on a lot this.
The party is disenfranchized and riddled with internal guilt. McCain is not the best nomination in the world but i really think alot of Repubs are going to stay home from the general election this year so we need someone to pick up the moderate votes if we want a prayer at maintaining any power.
Kind in mind that veteran republican congressman are retiring in droves… we are not talking about gaining any seats in either house, but are going to lose our shirts. A republican president, no matter how moderate, is better than a united democrat house, senate and white house.
Here you go tai- at least it aint as bad as being a fag, they got a long way to go. I agree I think that McCain makes good conservatives look stupid. And who is to say that th 25% percent is just democrats, those 25% are more likely conservatives.
http://thehill.com/mark-mellman/romney-and-the-mormon-question-2007-07-25.html
“At least seven polls over the last couple of years have asked in somewhat different ways about public willingness to support a Mormon candidate for president. The responses are remarkable for both their magnitude and their range.
On the high side, Rasmussen found 43 percent willing to push an anonymous button on their telephone signaling they would never vote for a Mormon presidential candidate.
Gallup brings up the low end, with 24 percent telling live interviewers they would not vote for “a generally qualified person for president who happened to be a Mormon.”
To be sure, there are worse sins than Mormonism in the public mind. Forty-three percent would refuse to vote for a “homosexual” and 53 percent would reject an atheist, but voters are substantially more willing to admit anti-Mormon feeling than to acknowledge unwillingness to vote for a black (5 percent) or a Hispanic (12 percent), let alone a Catholic (4 percent) or a Jew (7 percent).”
Another one- maybe you should have picked another religion for your candidate cause it ain’t happening.
As long as there is someone opposing the cackling, crochety old man and his sidekick “cruella look-alike” then I will vote for that someone else…I’m not ready to throw in the towel as some here (along with the rest of the media) are willing to do…I don’t like him, and no one has to make me vote for him.
Wow… I am impressed with the obstinance of Megan. I must say there are parts of me that think that letting the whole ship sink will allow us the opportunity to craft an entirely new ship, but I have a real problem with handing that much power over to people who have made Detroit the utopia it is today.
Like I said, I have never voted for McCain but I will against any Dem…
Megan is correct and she should hold her ground. Primary elections are the time when republicans decide who will be the face of their party. IF McCain’s appeal to independents and democrats was so vital to winning the white house, how in the heck did W pull it off in 2000 and 2004.
Also, those polls were mostly taken before the Romney religion speech and long before the real heat of a primary, As I predicted, the mormon question hasn’t been whispered for months, especially in the real fight for this nomination. Since Huckabee made his crack, his support has plummeted.
My point is still that Mitt Romney is the most qualified conservative candidate on the Republican ticket. I don’t see any comments from FritoP, or trn arguing that. All I see is fear.
HILLARY CLINTON AND BARACK OBAMA WILL NEVER SERVE AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. mark my words
Deadspin Super Bowl Party anyone??
…sorry, just trying to lighten things up…all these Good Conservatives arguing makes me anxious…
This is not over… I will have fritoP. converted or die in the attempt. These are demons we are confronting
You are right… Romney is more conservative and frankly one of the best candidates to ever run. I dont need to tout his business record.
Unfortunately we are not in the same political climate of 2000 or 2004. Moderate Republicans have run for the hills and more extreme conservatives are mad at the irresponsiblity of past republican policies. I do not think we will have the same turnout and McCain will pick up votes Romney couldnt.
Lets not forget that voters turn out for candidates that inspire hope. Hatred of Bush did not turn out enough votes to stop him being elected. Hatred of Hillary will not turn out republican voters either.
Your article is excellent. Tai-Pan, I hope you don’t mind that I used your story (giving you proper credit, of course) on my own blog: http://dontconfusemewiththefacts.blogspot.com/
BTW trn, you know I am with you on this one. Its that friggin’ pinko commie fritoP. that must be destroyed.
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I will say right here and now that I have never voted for McCain and always voted for the libertarian against McCain. I think he is maverick on issues that dont matter and just mess everything up (ie. McCain Feingold). But right now he is on spot with all the things the Republican party is wrong on (ie Immigration, spending…).
However, the republican party is fragmented like the Democrats have always been and the dems are united. I think we kindof need McCain right now. I have supported Mitt the whole way but in the interest of our party, Mitt needs to have a frank backroom talk with McCain and see what they can work out. They are two very capable men who have alot to offer.
With that said, I will vote for McCain as president if he is the nominee. Rush is a fool to hint that he would not.
My 2 cents