Tuesday, February 05, 2008
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The Importance of McCain's CPAC Speech
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
9:30 PM
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Just as Mitt Romney delivered a "Mormon speech," John McCain desperately needs to give a "conservative speech." Of course, the good news is that he is scheduled to do so at CPAC on Thursday ....
No TV ad will do the job. Solving McCain's base problem will require a personal visit to pay homage.
This is McCain's chance, and I think how he performs will tell us a lot about him. Here's why this is so important: I've asked a lot of Romney supporters why they are supporting him (considering his past positions). Oddly enough, they always tell me the same thing:
"At least Romney cares enough to pander to me."
Well, I don't know about pandering, but John McCain surely needs to reassure conservative voters. You see, conservatives feel like he doesn't care enough about us to even pretend to be one of us.
The CPAC speech will tell us a lot about McCain.
If it's a stump speech about him being a "foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution," we will know that is perfunctory pablum and that he didn't care enough to write something new. In that case, it is likely to assume he didn't want to give the speech, was probably talked into it by his staff, and isn't willing to humble himself by really trying.
But if McCain looks us in the eye, acknowledge problems, but promises ... promises ... he will make conservatives proud on issues ranging from Life, to Judges, to taxes. Then, he has a chance.
... Of course, this won't win all conservatives over. McCain will never win all conservatives over. But it would be a start.
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IMHO: I believe that the uber conservatives of my former part should split oof and form a new party, then maybe some of us independants will come back to the GOP. Senator McCain stands the best chance of keeping the Republicans in the whitehouse because of his mass appeal to the moderate republicans and the Reagan Dems. While i would have preferred Rudy be the canidate thah was not to be. With the turn out @ the Democratic primaries, this season the Republicans need a canidate that appeals to the masses, and sorry conservativs the issues you judge by seem more desperate attempts to initiate facism than anything else, i.e. Abortion is a personal idssue to be decided by the individual or couple, not society, and any group legislating it seems to not believe in personal responsibility which I thought the GOP was all about.
just the way i see it and don't even get me started on illegals and amnesty. but our god Reagan pretty much pouched any credibility we ever could've had on that issue |
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Sorry, Amnesty McCain cant be trusted! I wont vote for him under any circumstances and no matter what he says. He refuses to dicuss what he will do with the 21 million illegals in this country!
He refuses to discuss the meaning of the 14th Amendment> Surely the writers of that amendment were referring to former and current slaves about being born here, not people who sneak into our country under cover and have kids here!
I wont vote democratic, but will either write in a name or just skip the vote for President.
This man has no business background and knows nothing of economics. Our ability to defend this country depends on and has depended on the GDP of country. It is that thats pays for our military and weapons, and McCain knows nothing about it. Being a Senator is not ample experience to be President.
McCain simply has joined Kennedy and Dems to often to be trusted and while he speaks a good game at times, he has done nothing for us Conservatives! |
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John McCain could gain a personal audience with Jesus and say whatever he wanted -- and I wouldn't believe it. My opinions of John McCain have been formed over the last 8 years and formed by examining his behavior and his voting record.
I actually used to like the guy a decade ago -- when he DID resemble a maverick of sorts. At least, like Newt, he was regularly in the face of the GOP forcing it to question and re-evaluate at every turn. Like Newt, his provocation helped the party to always reassess and to refine itself as best it could. Ah, but those days didn't last long.
Now he is just a Democrat with an "R" after his name. His alleged conservative record for the past 8 years is non-existent. He can say and promise what he wants -- but his behavior and his voting record have shown what he is, and promises will never be able to undo both what he is and what he has done.
If the country is gonna' be brought down, let it be brought down by a Democrat, another Jimmy Carter that we can dispense with 4 years later. |
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If GOP wants to win, the nominee will have to come from an open convention. The possibility is not unheard of.
But if McCain really wants to win, he needs Romney or Rick Santorum for that matter.
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Ever since Coulter's rant about endorsing Hillary I have been posting that this was her attempt to make herself relevant. In a campaign cycle based on 'change' and 'hope' Coulter, a person of considerable intellectual gifts, realized that there was no place for her brand of poison pen politics. Craftily, she has laid the seeds for an argument that disaffected GOP voters determined the likely Democratic win this fall.
By way of prophylactic, well before this thesis was forwarded:
The House Democratics led the GOP in fundraising FIFTEEN to one.
In SC Obama alone garnered more votes than the top two GOP candidates combined.
In Fla Clinton garnered 100k more votes than the GOP winner without even campaigning.
Barack Obama earned a phenomenol million plus dollars a day in January '08 donations.
So please, don't go thers. |
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All three of our remaining candidates have "betrayed" conservatives in one way or another. I didn't vote for McCain and hope he doesn't get the nomination, but I will support him in the general election. |
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You can't prove that a bad president of either party will bring a good president of the opposite party. That's my point. |
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I'm saying Nixon gave us Carter because of Watergate, ect. Ford was not ELECTED. That's why didn't say Ford gave us Nixon. Nixon broke the trust of the American people. |
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Nixon gave us Carter?
Wasn't there another guy in there? Named like a car? Gerald Chevy.... no, Dodge. Gerald Dodge... wait! Ford, that was it!
Dude, I don't know how old you are, but I'm 59, remember the whole era VERY well because I lived through it, campaigned for Nixon's re-election in '72 in Chicago as a Vietnam returnee, and I gotta tell ya.......... you're way off base.
Theory is one thing. Experience is another.
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Nixon's disastrous demise gave us a terrible Democrat (Carter). Just because we get a Democrat for 4 or 8 years doesn't guarantee some conservative Reagan like Savior.
As for Nixon being the conservative of his era, there were many Conservatives that hated Nixon and wished for a more Goldwater like candidate. What good exactly came from Nixon's presidency? OSHA? EPA?Wage and Price Controls?
History Lesson for you, bad Democratic or Republican presidencies don't necessarily lead to a great Republican/Democratic President. |
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History lesson for you.
LBJ's disastrous presidency led to two Nixon landslides, the conservative of his era.
Carter gave us Reagan.
Res ipsa loquitur.
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The RNC is who orchestrated this play. They wanted an amnesty candidate from the word go. The RNC is full of Bush appointees who want to merge us with Mexico and import more cheap labor for their donors. |
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Our response to McCain's speech will be big news for days if not weeks. I'm hoping we will not boo him, but if he says something stupid just not clap. Our best hope is a brokered convention. As for you McCain haters, who are you voting for instead? Huck and Romney both have severe liberal blemishes on their records. |
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Can someone explain to me if the CPAC has any power to tell McCain go away??? I wonder what and if they can do anything, if those of us conservatives will not vote for McCain?
Can the RNC have any say who is our nominee? I have read so many things, I am unsure what is fact.
If there is a way to get our voices heard, as well as acted upon, I and many other people will do it!
McCain is a disgrace! As my contacts overseas say....not many in the world trust America. Now our country is in the spotlight for possibly electing a dishonest man who has no integrity or morals. We will never be trusted if McCain is the President.
I will not vote for McCain, never! |
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So Republicans who run as Conservatives after McCain is presidency will cease to exist? They didn't go away after Goldwater lost and Nixon won. They are still here now after Bush. The Republican party will not all of the sudden turn left because of McCain. I know I won't. |
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That pretty much is exactly what I'm saying.
Your quote: "So your saying that if McCain is President that the Republican party will take a left turn."
Welllll....... duuuuuuuhhhhh!
I've bneen here in Lefitfornia since I got back from Nam in 1970, and watched exactly.... EXACTLY.... that happen.
Yes. You firmly grasped the obvious implications of what I wrote. |
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So your saying that if McCain is President that the Republican party will take a left turn. So all the Conservatives in Congress will just disappear, bloggers will go moderate, George Will turns into Paul Krugman, and average conservatives go left. That doesn't make sense whatsoever. I'm sure both of you will still be conservative so I have no reason to believe that the GOP will have the transformative change you suggest.
I understand your "periodically" argument, but it only proves correlation, not causation.
"Carter gave us Reagan"
Any candidate with an R next to his name could have won. Reagan didn't rise because of Carter, he was on his way up beginning with Goldwater. I could easily say Goldwater gave us Reagan. Or FDR's policies that were continued gave us Reagan.
"A McCain administration redefines the whole country -- and the GOP in particular -- into the mold of California. THAT'S my point, and if that doesn't give you big problems, that speaks more to YOU than to ME."
I won't support McCain until he is the nominee. You could equally say that the other two candidate's records have VERY big liberal spots on them can you not?
As for the "well if we let the Democrats screw it up then conservatives can get elected" argument, it's just crap. Clinton got a two term and Gore almost got his. You can't depend on Democrats to screw stuff up because what if we have a Republican congress to restrain them like in the 90s? |
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just how deep the distrust we have for him runs. We have sat by and watched our current President leave us, we did not leave him, he left us. I actually worked to get Bush elected 4 times, twice as Govennor of my state and twice as Pres. I will not make the mistake of voting for someone who is STARTING out a much greater a distance from me than Bush was when he won 2nd term.
There is absolutely nothingh McCain can SAY to convince me his Heart has changed, he still says he would Sign McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Feingold... and yet his "making nice" words will win me over. I know a RINO in wolves clothing when I see one. McCain will never get my vote, neither will Hillary or O-Man, I will just Write A Name In this year. |
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So far, John McCain has demanded that we give up
everything we ever stood for.
Caving in on "global warming" means the death of
personal AND economic liberty(Hayek says there
is no separating them).
Caving in on amnesty for illegals means the death
of American sovereignty and our system of laws.
Caving in on our Constitutional freedom of Speech
means the death of the rest of our freedoms.
Caving in to John McCain means the death of
Conservatism. And we will not budge.
If no one believes me, look at what happened to
England's Conservatives: they're dead.For good. |
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The words "Conservative Party" in England are almost deserving of a Saturday Night Live skit! |
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Because otherwise, all we're doing is letting the Dems/Libs set the agenda and the pace down the road to Leftism. The GOP moves Left, they move Lefter.
We're already far down that trail; enough is enough.
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So far, John McCain has demanded that we give up
everything we ever stood for.
Caving in on "global warming" means the death of
personal AND economic liberty(Hayek says there
is no separating them).
Caving in on amnesty for illegals means the death
of American sovereignty and our system of laws.
Caving in on our Constitutional freedom of Speech
means the death of the rest of our freedoms.
Caving in to John McCain means the death of
Conservatism. And we will not budge.
If no one believes me, look at what happened to
England's Conservatives: they're dead.For good. |
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I'll give you my point of view as someone who agrees with BrianR. It is about the long term needs of the country and the party we are thinking about. If McCain wins, and 5 years, 10 years down the road the republican party is identical to the democratic party, then we no longer have a two party system. Some claim this is already the case and I am inclined to agree.
Eight years of Clinton is the only thing that saved us from Gore. Yes, the country would be better off in the short run with McCain instead of Hillary or Barak but, the party would cease to have an identity. If the economy stalls, spits, and sputters for four years thanks to McCain compromising everything for media approval, then the republican party will be blamed and democrats will win a lot of elections.
The bottom line is short term sacrifice for the long term benefit of the country and the party.
The best way to get a real conservative is to let the people have the opposite for a while. I would rather they blame the democrats than the republicans for doing the exact same thing. |
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I don't CARE what issues the Dems are better on. What I CARE about is the redefinition of the GOP from the home of truly conservative principles into the Dem-Lite Party, and how that's a greater threat to the long-term viability of this country than a simple one-term presidency by a Dem.
We go through this periodically, and if you'd actually read my blog, I spelled it out, so I suspect you really didn't.
A McCain administration redefines the whole country -- and the GOP in particular -- into the mold of California. THAT'S my point, and if that doesn't give you big problems, that speaks more to YOU than to ME.
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Matt will be writing about how McCain lied to us, pulled the wool over our eyes, who knew? Gosh, he never lied before, seemed to have so much integrity. Ya, if you just fell off the turnip truck. Wake up Matt. Is anyone home? He is going to promise this time. Great. Swell.
A man who despises conservatives, has a track record of moving ever leftward is going to promise to be a conservative now and you are going to believe him? I've got some choice real estate and some really nice used cars for sale Matt. I am sure you won't need to see them though, I promise they are nice. |
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I feel the same about most those issues you explain about McCain. Your logic doesn't work though.
McCain leans moderate-left on some issues so I won't vote for him and instead elect someone who is FAR left. Where's the principal there?
Your blog doesn't explain which issues the Democrats are BETTER than McCain on.
"Try to elect RINOs and watch the whole country turn into California (where I live), a sight too ugly to ponder."
The alternative is to elect LIBERALS and watch the whole country turn in Berkeley. Which is better? Again the logic just isn't there.
I'd rather die fighting than give up my principles in some whiny attempt for a "party" .
It's not about party. It's about this country. I believe that John McCain will make a better President than the alternative. I don't agree with many of his positions, but it is better than the Democrats. Voting for the Democrats because he isn't conservative enough isn't PRINCIPLE. |
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is a scumsucking, amoral, boot licking, suck up. There, I feel better now. I have never felt inclined to personally attack a columnist here before but, Matt Lewis's statement that Romney supporters all say, at least he panders to me, is the most outrageous claim I have ever heard.
Matt, you wouldn't know a position if it bit you on the butt. If you are going to simply say Massachusettes is the most liberal state in the union therefore Romney is liberal because they elected him, then what is the point of having townhall, columnists, newspapers, or the blogosphere?
The attempt to portray Romney as pro choice or pro gay marriage simply because that was the law of Massachusetts and he pledged to fulfill his oath of office as governor is absurd. If your daughter has an abortion, even though you counseled against it, does that make you pro choice or an abortionist. By your logic, it does.
It is this type of smearing and mischaracterizing of positions that causes so many to simply not vote.
I think I need to stick to reading and commenting on the 4 or 4 columnists here that I respect and trust. The rest are nothing more than wannabe pundits spouting crap they know nothing about.
On topic, McCain will give the best speech of his life, say ALL the right things, have you, Matt, jizzing in your pants, and mean none of it and acually do the exact opposite when elected. All he wants is approval from democrats and media acclaim. I'm with BrianR. |
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We were writing at the same time, and your second post came up when I posted.
McCain (D-Lite)?
Is that a reference to my Dem-Lite Party?
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Swing by my blog, pard. Waiting for you. You'll love the new essay, just posted today.
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There are millions of us who usually vote GOP who WILL NOT vote for McCain, for a variety of reasons. For me it's the amnesty issue. Whatever the issue is, it is a bright line we will not cross. No amount of Hillaryscare, intimidation, name-calling or cajoling will get us to vote for McCain. He's in the wrong party. He is a liberal. I don't vote for liberals. When he loses, don't blame us, we tried to warn you. Flipping off half your voters is not a winning strategy.
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We the People of the United States of America have the right to have our borders and our laws respected and enforced.
If we wish to keep our representative Republic, and our rule of law, we must elect a President who WILL secure the borders and enforce the laws. The actions of the next President will determine the fate of this great nation. If citizenship becomes meaningless, this will no longer be the United States of America.
The primary responsibility of the U.S. government is to protect the territorial integrity and people of this country. They have completely abdicated this responsibility. Both parties have been complicit in this. We are being told it is not possible to control our borders, enforce our laws, and thereby control our destiny as a nation. Hogwash. We are being sold out by corporations intent on importing workers for jobs that can't be exported with the taxpayers paying the true costs, financial and human. If we act like sheep and don't stop the inundation across our borders, we will lose our country without a bleat.
It's time for a SECOND Party.
The corporate owners of The Unified Establishment Party* are already shifting funding from the RNC to the DNC. They don't care which one wins. They win either way. The RNC and the DNC are two divisions under the same ownership. The cheap labor express will be kept running, regardless of the will of the people.
*(h/t Pasadena Phil) |
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I'm not kidding when I say "die fighting" for my principles.
In 1969, when the Vietnam War was hugely unpopular, I dropped out of college (I later finished) to enlist in the Army and go to Nam, because I believed in the PRINCIPLES. I literally put my life on the line for what I believe.
Why would I possibly consider compromising on principles now? Just to "win" an election? If I did that, what would I have actually "won"? Nothing I believe in. |
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read my blog by clicking my name. WAY too many issues to try to capsulize here in the limited space available.
Bottom line: Nominate McCain and go down in flaming defeat. Try to elect RINOs and watch the whole country turn into California (where I live), a sight too ugly to ponder.
I'd rather die fighting than give up my principles in some whiny attempt for a "party" win that's essentially meaningless, the picture-perfect definition of "Pyrrhic victory".
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On what issues are they better than McCain on? How would they be better for this country? |
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I WOULD rather a Hillary or Obama win than McCain.
It's really that simple.
I hope that simple answer responds to your simple question.
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Would you rather of a Clinton or an Obama running the country over McCain? Seriously this has gone too far. I hope those that are here with me at CPAC will show respect to John McCain at his speech. He deserves more credit than those on the blogosphere give him. If you think McCain would be worse than a Hilary or Obama on issues than you are just plain wrong (except global warming). He would make a much better commander in chief than the Democrats and our country would be better off with him.
Note: I DID NOT vote for McCain in the primary. I'm just defending a good, patriotic man and our likely nominee of this party. |
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In my almost 59 years on this planet, there hasn’t been a day when we haven’t been at war, of one kind or another, in many cases with enemies who were far more dangerous than a bunch of disorganized Islamo-fascists (IF) in the Middle East. The Soviet Union had the power to totally destroy us (as well as all of civilization). The idea of subsuming all other issues to the war issue is very dangerous to this country’s future. The IF can’t destroy this country, but we can certainly do it to ourselves if we sacrifice all that makes us a free and viable society on the altar of war hysteria.
Second, polling of Republicans shows that the war is actually their third priority, after the economy and illegal immigration. McCain’s terrible on both those issues.
Third, what makes McCain any kind of "expert" on war leadership? Because he managed to get shot down and captured? I want a guy who knows how to get captured in charge of national security strategy? That doesn't even make any sense.
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Perhaps you all are right about looking for another party. If you care more about your ideology than about the direction of this country in our war against Islamofascism then I welcome your leaving. That said, I didn't vote for McCain in the primary. I'm not saying you need to vote for him in the primary, but he is the best candidate available if he is the nominee. But to say that your going to take a stand on principle and not vote or even vote for Hilary/Obama shows that your principles are backwards. If you think winning the war on terror is important then McCain is your guy if he is the nominee. Not supporting him because he is iffy on other issues shows that you are missing the principles of country before party. IF you don't agree with McCain more than a Democrat, then you aren't a conservative. |
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-- CPAC is not the GOP. CPAC owes John McCain NO allegiance and should afford him NONE. I hope he is booed off the stage. If I were there, I would be booing the loudest.
-- I am waiting to see how Romney performs before I bail on the GOP. I'll stay in the fight as long as he is in it to win it.
-- If McCain is the party nominee, I will immediately start shopping for a new party. Sadly, it is a concept whose time has come.
-- I'm tired of the McCain Mantra: "Screw you Conservatives and your Conservative core beliefs, but you better vote for our guy or else!" |
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Lets examine why he has "gotten it". One reason and one reason only. He NEEDS us!!
He does not WANT us he needs us. That is it, Period!
This is the man who said he will build that g#$@#$n fence. This is the man who said Dobson,Rush,Sean... can go to he##. This is the man who has told the Party he does not like us, but now that he Needs us, he will win me over with speechs. NEVER!!
I have always judged a man by his Actions more than words. A mans Actions are closer to his Heart than words. McCains Actions have spoken loud and clear for years, Republicians, I dont care for you.
This is bigger than one man and one election and I will never cave into McCain so he can get His way. Never!
I will not stay home in November. I will continue to work to reelect my R-Senator and
R-Congressman, while working to get TRUE Republicans at the state and local level. Yet if McCain thinks one speech will win me over, he is drinking krazy juice.
I am Writing a Name in for President this year, if McCain is "our" man, but I will NEVER VOTE FOR him. |
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Mike Huckabee is not garnering just about as many votes as Romney. He very clearly can't win outside of states with large evangelical populations. Most people outside of the South don't buy the smooth talking Elmer Fudd act.
Also, just because someone is repeatedly called a conservative doesn't make it so. Huckabee is a social conservative. That is it. He is a fiscal liberal and is so ignorant in foreign policy areas that he is frightening. You will never convince full spectrum conservatives that Huckabee is a better alternative to McCain than is Romney. Most of us care about more issues than just abortion.
So while most Romney supporters don't like Huckabee because he is a fiscal and foreign policy liberal, most Huckabee supporters don't like Romney because he is Mormon. I ask you, which stance is more legitimate? |
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You don't spend a lifetime beating up on conservatives and then expect them to support you, unless you are John McCain or his pal Mike Huckabee. It won't happen. These two have too much history. McCain must laugh himself to sleep every night thinking about fooling the folks with his conservative talk.
As for the pygmie Huckabee, he helped McCain bring down a big man, but Huck is still a pygmie. The glee on his face was not that he had any chance of winning. He has zero chance of that. It was because he helped stop Romney. He is the most mean-spirited and spiteful candidate in either party.
I hope he gets on the ticket with McCain. He will then get to see pay pack when the fawning MSM turn on these two in favor of the Democrats. And there is plenty of history to humiliate them.
It will be a Dennis Kuchnich campaign with no money, no enthusiam, and just shame for the party who for nominating them. |
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While it is true that Romney and Huckabee tend to split the conservative vote, there are a few things to consider: While Romney has has nearly unlimitted cash flow to buy ads and push his campaign forward, and had the blessing of people like Hannity, Laura, and Rush, he still has not been able to pull more than a weak showing. Meanwhile, underfunded and overlooked, Mike Huckabee is garnering just about a many votes as Romney. The polls also show that if Romney were no longer in the race, Huckabee would stand a fighting chance against McCain, but if Huckabee were not in the race, Romney would not get a significant boost. So while you are busy fighting about who should drop out, the people have already decided that it really should be Romney. Also, many people were convinced by Romney's campaign and the press that Huckabee was not longer viable, and already made that choice when they voted yesterday, giving a larger boost to McCain. |
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If McCain comes to CPAC and does a little industrial butt kissing, are the new media bloggers going to sell out? I have a bad feeling that they will.
I'm already seeing hints here with town hall regulars talking about holding their nose, or emphasizing the 2-3 things in the conservative platform that McCain didn't urinate on during the past 8 years. They sort of avoid the big ones like immigration, gitmo, and his horrible carbon tax.
From what I've seen, many conservative bloggers are jealous of the power and influence the left wing nut job bloggers have with the Democrat party. The conservative bloggers were the driving force behind that stupid you-tube debate that was a easily predicted disaster. They like having power, and they like having access. The only way to keep that state of affairs is to cozy up to McCain; judging from the reactions of some bloggers last year to Ann Coulter's poorly judged remarks on John Edwards (ranging from burn her, ban her or boot her from the GOP)many bloggers are eager to turn on the old school conservatives like Coulter. I can see some of them easily jumping on the anti talk radio bandwagon. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a bad feeling that as the fawning coverage of McCain decreases in the MSM, it's going to increase in the new media as many bloggers attempt to curry favor. |
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One conservative's nominations for best McCain . . .
Cartoon (Glen McCoy: McCain vs. GOP):
http://www.gocomics.com/glennmccoy/2008/01/26/
Photo-Op with Ted Kennedy (“on "Comprehensive Immigration Reform"):
http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/71308912.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImage s&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193875DCB1DD8387ABB3717169E2B975424A40 A659CEC4C8CB6
Flip-Flop Video: THE REAL MCCAIN (5 minutes)
http://therealmccain.com/
Quote: "Amongst grassroots conservatives, John McCain's name is an expletive . . . because he has made a name for himself by knifing conservatives time and time again for the amusement of his liberal pals in the mainstream media." (John Hawkins, “Conservative Nightmare: Republican Nominee, John McCain," Jan. 14, 2008):
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnHawkins/2008/01/14/a _conservative_nightmare_republican_nominee,_john_mccain
Behind-the-Scenes Betrayal: "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001 . . . former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks [in 2001] with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist." ("Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP," By Bob Cusack, 03/28/07, THE HILL):
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-ne arly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html
One-page overview of the McCain record on immigration — from NumbersUSA:
http://www.numbersusa.com/PDFs/mccainonepager.pdf
Tom Shuford, Columnist, EdNews.org
Lenoir, North Carolina
http://www.ednews.org/authors/117/Tom-Shuford-Columnist-EdN ews.org
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McCain's poked his thumb in my eyes so many times I'm totally blind to anything he might lie.... er, I mean, say.
Click my name to read a scathing blog essay entitled "Forecast for Hell: Chance of Snow Flurries".
There's a better chance a comet could land in my back yard than that I'd EVER vote for McCain.
Plus, 29 states (over half) have had their primaries, and McCain's only secured about 40% (less than half) of the delegates he needs for the nomination. Most of the rest of the primaries are closed, which means he can't get any help from "independants". Not good for that nut jobber at all. He couldn't even sweep California; he got 42%, and California apportions its delegates.
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He knows it and we know it.
IF he gets the nomination he knows he cannot win without us, so calm down Conservatives, we can negotiate with John McCain because he needs our votes.
Hillary or Obama do not need us to win.
McCain will lose without us and he knows it.
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I have to agree with Dr. Dobson in whatg he said about McCain. McCain is going to speak tomorrow, because he is a desperate pitiful man who needs Conservative votes. He can make promise after promise in the speech tomorrow, that others have convinced him to "act like a real conservative" and will write the speech for him. Sorry, Charlie, I have researched your voting record, comments about what you REALLY think about Conservatives, how you go along with the Liberals, and most of all how you talk down to real Conservative Senators, (using really bad, bad, nasty words.) I am concerned about your arrogant attitude and your uncontrollable temper that all the Senators are aware of and just ignore. I do not trust you, and I do not trust Huck, because it is obvious that you two have made some sort of deal. More than likely you have promised Huck the V.P. Hillary is so power hungry that she has info. about you while you were in Viet Nam. She will use that to win votes. We (true Conservatives) need Mitt Romney who has been consistent. a man of honor, an outstanding record, a problem solver, a man of faith and conviction, a role model for our youth, intelligent, and sincere. He is a REAL CONSERVATIVE...while you McCain and Huck are the ones who Need to be President because of your Huge Egos...Promises from McCain will be broken if you believe what he says tomorrow. No one wants Hillary, because she is corrupt and a blackmailer right along with her husband. However, Conservatives did not stand behind a candidate and support him. Now look at the mess we are all in....People are too lazy to really study the issues and read everything-not listen to the liberal media stations--but read, research, the candidates records. MITT ROMNEY HAS THE INTELLIGENCE AND CONSERVATIVE CONVICTIONS TO BEAT HILLARY.... |
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I do not like or trust John McCain but I will give him one last chance if he gets the nomination if he commits to the following actions to show he is listening to Conservatives:
1. He lists his actual top 10 judges that he will happily nominate for US Supreme Court justice. We can then vet this list.
2. He signs the NumbersUSA NO Amnesty pledge.
3. He signs the Americans for Tax Reform NO Tax Increase pledge.
4. He admits McCain-Feingold was bad law and will work with Congress to overturn it.
5. He drops his support of the global warming bill that will add $.50 per gallon to the cost of gasoline.
The first 3 are mandatory if he wants my vote.
The last 2 are also mandatory if he wants the votes and contributions of most Conservatives. |
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If the GOP thinks they can continue to import cheap labor for their donors at the expense of the citizens, they will. I will not vote for that again. If we continue to play the game of "the other guy is worse", we will lose our country. Sorry, but I will not participate in that game any longer. The GOP power brokers think we will vote for "anybody but a Democrat" so they can continue to ignore securing the borders and enforcing the laws. The levers of power and the money in the GOP are all in the hands of the cheap labor express. They do not want anyone who WOULD enforce the laws and secure the border. I WANT to vote for a GOP candidate in Nov.'08, I WILL NOT vote for any of the amnesty supporters. If it takes crushing the GOP so a new party representing American citizens can arise, so be it.
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The new party name sould be "THE RHINO PARTY"!!! |
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Ok if I vote I'll write in "NONE OF THE ABOVE"!!!! |
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LawDaddy, thank you for your comments I feel exactly the same way. We conservatives have a party who have left us.
They throw Rick Santorium, George Allen, Jim Talent, Tom DeLay, and Newt under the bus when the liberals and the MSM attack them instead of rallying to their support.
Now they want to attack Rush, Sean, Ann, Levin, Ingram for standing for conservative principals, and defend and nominate a person who has spit in the eye of conservatives and the Republican Party over and over.
Sorry one phony speech will not win this conservative. For the first time in my 62 years I do not have a candidate to for which I can vote for POTUS. |
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We the People of the United States of America have the right to have our borders and our laws respected and enforced.
If we wish to keep our representative Republic, and our rule of law, we must elect a President who WILL secure the borders and enforce the laws. The actions of the next President will determine the fate of this great nation. If citizenship becomes meaningless, this will no longer be the United States of America.
The primary responsibility of the U.S. government is to protect the territorial integrity and people of this country. They have completely abdicated this responsibility. Both parties have been complicit in this. We are being told it is not possible to control our borders, enforce our laws, and thereby control our destiny as a nation. Hogwash. We are being sold out by corporations intent on importing workers for jobs that can't be exported with the taxpayers paying the true costs, financial and human. If we act like sheep and don't stop the inundation across our borders, we will lose our country without a bleat.
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McCain has no integrity, is a liar, is dishonest, has no values, has been proven over and over he can not be trusted. He does not represent conservative values!
I too think we should form a conservative party and let the Repubs. have McCain, Lieberman and all the rest of the liberals.
I will not lose my belief system and vote for McCain, just to vote Rep. McCain is not the choice of conservatives. He also is not the best the Dems have to offer.
He will not give a truthful speech at the CPAC, he is not honest. His speeches are the same old thing...he will not change his direction..he is 71 years old and hasn't changed in the past, what makes you think he will change now? McCain will say what the rep. want to hear, all the while laughing inside. Romney will put him to shame. Huckabee will give a church sermon, Paul will try and give from his heart. If McCain is their choice, so be it.
The dems will win in Novemeber, because Hillary Clinton is more conservative than McCain! |
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I agree. It's time to form the Conservative Party of America.
The McCainiacs as much as told us to leave lastnight.... I'm ready.
National security, border security, family values, Christian values, these are the things that made this the greatest country in the history of the world, and these things have been abandoned by BOTH parties. |
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Seven words I NEVER thought I would write. Not in a MILLION years. |
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Maybe he could just show them this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI
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I am fairly new to Townhall. My brief expeience here has been a rude awakening. I came here, hoping to find a conservative groundswell. Instead, I found mostly conservative sell-outs, moderates, and liberals who literally adore John McCain. As a conservavtive, it is BAFFLING.
Still, I congratulate Matt Lewis and the other John McCain worshippers for successfully dismantling the GOP. You've achieved your goal, and you did it without resorting to dirty tricks and bigotry.
In the end, you are left with a weak candidate who is clearly not a conservative, who is barely a Republican, and who is sure to lose against Barack Obama in November.
Perhaps, from the rubble you have helped create, the party of Lincoln and Reagan will rise again as a conservative beacon.
Until that day, my money and my support will go elsewhere.
It will be fun to watch your little tryst with McCain end with you feeling sore and torn and him feeling satisfied. |
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I've thought about this. I think McCain may want to get booed at CPAC.
Think about it: He could easily use this as ammunition to show all the Undecideds, Independents, and Hillary hating Democrats how "mean" we conservatives are and get their votes.
Maybe it will work.....maybe.
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Stuff it. McCain has not changed his mind on anything. I'll be a maverick, NO VOTE FOR MCCAIN!
McCain will get my vote when I'm dead, like a Democrat in Chicago. |
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What is really troubling is McCain made his Victory speech last night with Liberal Joe Lieberman and probably his Mexican government representative Juan Hernandez on stage with him.
McCain will say he is conservative and then meet with Teddy Kennedy behind closed doors to discuss the next Liberal legislation to shove down the American people's throat.
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There are a few statements that McCain can make that will get me to vote for him:
- I no longer support amnesty for illegal aliens. I will seal the border and I will veto any legislation that will legalize illegal aliens who are currently in this country.
- McCain-Feingold turned out to be bad law and I will work with Congress to overturn it.
- I will keep the tax cuts in place and drastically reduce the size of the Federal Government.
- I will veto any legislation that has pork contained in it.
- I am scrapping my support of the global warming bill that will add $.50 per gallon to the cost of gasoline.
If McCain really wants to unite the party, that's what he needs to say in my opinion. Unfortunately, I agree with some posters who think that we'll get the obligatory rhetoric from him and he'll probably get booed off the stage. |
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It has been a hard fight, and the wounds are still fresh on both sides, but I want to win in November. It is time for McCain to reach out to conservatives and for conservatives to meet him half way.
Is James Dobson really going to help a pro choice Democrat canidate take the White House and appoint pro choice Supreme Court justices?
Are we going to retreat from Iraq?
Are we going to allow Democrats to raise taxes?
This is overall much bigger than McCain and Romney and any of us individually (including Dobson, Rush, Hugh, Ingraham, etc.). There are serious issues at stake that we cannot ceed to the Democrats. |
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juschill writes:
"Raising taxes? He voted for higher taxes. He doesn't care about lower taxes.
More government in healthcare? He'll stay out of it? He's demonizing health providers and insurers and drug companies. Of course he'll promote government intervention in health care. Be rational. What on earth would make you think otherwise?"
McCain has never vote for a tax increase (just didn't vote for bush tax cuts, hes voted to decrease taxes on other bills.
McCain favors a free market solution to healthcare. He's talked about it and his plan is on his website.
You cannot rationally tell me that a McCain Presidency would be worse for the COUNTRY (not party) than a Democrat.
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Joe said: "suck it up and support McCain because of Hillary"
Why?
What has McCain done but as James Dobson said: "Stick his finger in our eyes every chance he gets?"
Listen to what his mother says, she will tell us what McCain is thinking. She famously told us that the McCain expects Conservatives to hold their nose and vote for him.
It will be very hard to vote for McCain and more importantly donate and work for him with our fingers firmly pinching our nostrils.
Joe, you have been pretty good at poking fingers in peoples eyes as well. |
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In McCain's acceptance speech last night, you have a glimpse of what he will say at CPAC. McCain tried to "make nice" with Romney and Romney supporters. What came through was not graciousness, but a smirk and a hand not stretched out to Romney, but to grab Romney's supporters and money.
What McCain really wants to do is take a victory lap with his hands raise and both middle fingers extended.
McCain will attempt to hide his real feelings at CPAC just as he did last night. He will deliver a speech which is a thinly veiled attempt at graciousness with the stain of his contempt clearly seeping through. What McCain really wants to do is take a victory lap with his hands raise and both middle fingers extended.
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—I was going to write something about this before, but I see Captain Ed beat me to it. The Democratic race is incredibly close and the Democrats' emphasis of proportional delegates suggests it might stay close to the bitter end. If the nomination breaks for Hillary on the basis of superdelegates it could be a DISASTER for the the Democratic party and severely alienate the black vote. GOP strategists should start thinking up strategies now to reach out and court the black vote if that happens.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MmY1MmU5ODA1YTFlNj lhYjUwMjc1ZGVlMWYwYTA5NmY=
If McCain can rally conservatives at CPAC and start the general election race things, we could take advantage of this. I know many of you are bitter, but McCain is a conservative and is far far better than Hillary or Obama.
Mac, Mitt, and Huck (and even Ron Paul) supporters unite, the only thing you have to lose is four years of Hillary in the White House.
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Please, Do not fool yourself or think you can fool us. We know John McCain, we are those who are keeping this a race. If you feel that his offering us some "Cake," is going to work, think again. He could promise me personally, to my face that he was going to seal the border, withdraw his amnesty plan, open up a second Gitmo, Overturn Roe V. Wade by himself, appoint Scalia, Thomas Alito and Roberts Justices and guarantee me Celestial Glory, and would laugh in his face and say hello Satan, I know man cannot live by bread alone. He is a liar just like his father. He is a devious as the devil himself and can be trusted as much. Do you get why what ever he says means nothing to us? As for Romney, I was skeptical, but in following his campaign, his speeches and commentary, I know I can trust him. He has been powerfully consistent despite the pejoratives spoken against him. Most conservatives have had issues with him. But among the three mainstream candidates, he has run by far the most honest, issues based campaign. Huckabee, knows he cannot win, he insists on playing spoiler for McCain and thereby creating a divide between Romney and McCain. It is politics at its worst. |
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"As a loyal McCain supporter, I beg John McCain to reach out and embrace his critics. We have a lot of common ground."
With all due respect (and I sincerely mean that), how can reasonable people possibly overlook 10+ years of reprehensible actions and buy into some meaningless words from a double-talker like McCain?
Are people supposed to now believe that he really didn't mean McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, Gang of 14, higher taxes, tobacco company shakedown, Alito's too conservative, Ginsburg, etc. just because he now invites them to a couple of parties?
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No matter what McPinnochio says, we will all know that it will be lies. Too bad many will fall for it like blind sheep.
At least Romney is truthful. He has lots more honor than Mc. Just because a person was a war hero 30 or 40 years ago doesn't mean he is anything worth looking at today.
Just another Washington insider. Power corrupts and ultimate power corrupts ultimately. all of Washington should be fired and replaced by real people. |
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Don't Coronate McCain just yet. From here on there is only one open primary and that is TX and it is an open primary/caucus.
Further, only MS and LA are Southern which is bad news for Huck.
The McCain opposition has some time to really open up on him now.
Romney would be dumber than a fence post to pull out now. He can run this at least into a brokered convention.
Sorry Joe you are decent person but McCain can be stopped. |
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It makes more sense for Romney and Huck to cut a deal as they tend to offset each others weaknesses.
Huck really does not do anything for McCain in the general. |
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The only way McCain is going to get the nomination is to cut a deal with Romney or Huck. Even then it may not work. If this goes to a brokered convention McCain will lose.
There are 463 uncommitted super delegates plus the LA uncommitted delegates.
McCain has a long way to go before he gets to 1192.
He also has fierce opposition. |
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"If you stay home on election day and give the country to Clinton/Obama then you vote for losing the war, raising taxes, raising spending, weakness against terrorism, more government in healthcare and the economy, and losing the supreme court. Try and be rational."
McCain is the only one who can protect us from imminent doom?
Raising taxes? He voted for higher taxes. He doesn't care about lower taxes.
More government in healthcare? He'll stay out of it? He's demonizing health providers and insurers and drug companies. Of course he'll promote government intervention in health care. Be rational. What on earth would make you think otherwise?
He also is blaming mortgage companies for lending to people who can't pay for these loans when he'd prosecute them if they didn't under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
Supreme Court? Gang of 14. Voted for Ginsburg. Wouldn't nominate an Alito. And will he really nominate a justice conservative enough that would overturn McCain-Feingold? Be rational.
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"Crybaby Conservatives
Rush, Mitt, Laura, Coulter, Hugh, (the list goes on), need to go back to Politics 101 and study what conservatism is again. Or they can just let the GOP voters keep teaching them. Limbaugh's Losers will be licking their wounds again tomorrow. The next big vote is with their radio ratings going down. "
That ought to convince them to vote for your guy in the general election. Keep insulting them. That'll make them turn out in droves.
I've never understood the thinking behind: "He can go a long way by making such-and-such speech." Maybe I'm overestimating people, but I don't think they're that stupid that one speech would override years and years of built-up mistrust.
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If you stay home on election day and give the country to Clinton/Obama then you vote for losing the war, raising taxes, raising spending, weakness against terrorism, more government in healthcare and the economy, and losing the supreme court. Try and be rational. I didn't vote for McCain in the primary, but I am smart enough to support him in the General. I am a conservative, but country comes first and McCain will be a much better commander and chief than a Democrat. |
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Let me fix that title for you, "The Importance of McCain's CPAC Speech"...
"The IMPOTENCE of McCain's CPAC speech"...
No point. You ain't gonna win the real conservatives over, McQueeg.
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Just watched "Patch Adams" I see. LOL!
Instead of being worried about the fracture in the party, maybe we should be REJOICING about it!
Like Rush (and Reagan said), you may win one or two elections by choosing "electabilty" for principle, but this CONSERVATIVE wans the GOP to get back to the conservative message...protect us, lower taxes, lower spending, and the ability to conduct commerce without undue regulation.
I am a CONSERVATIVE FIRST and a Republican second.
If the GOP wants to be a "Democrat Lite" party, then we are doomed to being in the minority again or the next 20 years.
But if the GOP truly wants to be the party for Conservatives, then they better start acting like it.
I am reading Newt's book REAL CHANGE. THIS is what the GOP SHOULD stand for. Get a copy. |
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He is going to need LOTS of cash.
I hope I get a 100 "begging letters" from him, so I can tell him to "FORGET IT" 100 times.
I hope I get a 100 phone calls to help with his campaign (as I have volunteered for the GOP since 1980, so I know I am "on the list") so I can tell him "FORGET IT" 100 times.
I haven't decided who will get my vote among VA Republicans to replace RINO John Warner who we have finally gotten rid of. But if the ultimate Senate nominee is "McCain-like", he ALSO can kiss my vote goodbye.
News flash for McCain...THERE ARE MILLIONS OF US THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY!!!
While I am not pissed enough to actually vote for a Democrat (I am not into hurling as a rule), I will definitely sit out the Presidential race and only vote for the Congressional races...maybe. |
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The RNC is the stupid party and will get exactly what it deserves. |
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Hopefully McCain will drop his Senate seat in quest for the Presidency. Then we won't have to be concerned about this pariah anymore and can concentrate on defeating President Clinton/Obama's agenda. |
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We in Oklahoma do not have a write-in spot on our ballots. |
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Time to pull out of the race, you couldn't change enough positions to convince enough people you were a real conservative and you couldn't buy enough votes to make a difference. I hear some hedge funds are looking for new ceo's. Good luck on your return to the business world. |
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..is not for me. My feelings aren't hurt; I'm a big boy. I know how to win, and I know how to lose...
I am concerned with the state of the party. I don't like seeing us get fractured the way we are. It's bad enough the country is split between liberal and conservative, but now we've got an inter-party split.
This is dangerous and could lead to a disaster in November... |
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I'm not such a crybaby when they call for my money, am I? The fact that Rush, Sean, Laura, Mark, et al haven't caved to the poll leader only reinforces my belief that they are actually true to their principles. If anyone thought that they were in the RNC's back pocket, I guess that idea is now shot. |
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When I heard McCain's Hispanic Outreach guy was none other than Smiling Juan Hernandez, I knew John McCain has heard nothing we have had to say.
Smiling Juan Hernadez
We know who he is, we know his loyalties are to Mexico, we know he wants to erase our borders and immigration laws.
JOHN MCCAIN, YOU NEED A NEW HEARING AID
Smiling Juan Hernandez
In case you don't know him, he used to work for the Mexican govt., lately he has been shilling for "rights" for illegal aliens in this country. He has said he wants Mexicans to remain Mexicans even if they are living here. His loyalties are to Mexico, not U.S.
Questions for illegal alien apologists like John McCain:
Why does The National Council of the Race (la raza in spanish) and the Chamber of Commerce get to negotiate a "Comprehensive Shafting of The American Citizens" behind closed doors? Since when does an organization representing foreign nationals breaking our laws get to rewrite our immigration laws to suit the lawbreakers? Isn't this akin to allowing NAMBLA to rewrite our laws regarding child predators? Or allowing organized crime syndicates to rewrite racketeering, gambling, prostitution, and extortion laws?
We The People are being told by our representatives that we should sit down and shut up while they invite in the entire world. We The People should get some say in this matter. Another amnesty will set off a stampede like we have never seen before. There is not much time to save our country. All the money and power are on the side of shoving this amnesty down our throats. The RNC wants an amnesty candidate, don't vote for one. |
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Please do NOT stay home. You must vote. You do not have to vote for Hillybama or McAmnesty. There are always other parties and people on the ballot. You could write in Joe Oliva. The important votes are for House and Senate seats. Conservatives MUST win seats in the House. The House is where things get done. It was the passage of H.R. 4437, an enforcement bill, in Dec.05 that sparked the illegal alien protest marches and moved this issue to the front burner. It was the Senate that tried to jam amnesty down our throats. The D's that won seats in '06 were conservatives running on enforcement platforms. One of them, Heath Shuler D-NC, introduced the SAVE Act. Call, e-mail, or write your Congressman and urge support of this legislation. Enforcement is what Americans want, not amnesty.
Amnesty is a losing proposition.
I don't think Hillary is stupid enough to step in front of this bus.
McCain is.
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The Stupid Party
The RNC wants an amnesty candidate.
Don't vote for one.
Another amnesty will result in Democrat majorities for decades, or until they are supplanted by the La Raza Party, why doesn't the RNC know that? How stupid do you have to be to import voters for the opposition at the same time you alienate your own voters? Nominating any of the amnesty supporters is a losing proposition, we will not support them. If the GOP intends to surrender our sovereignty and abandon the rule of law, they will find in November 2008, that they still have their big money/cheap labor donors, but they do not have voters. GOP-RIP |
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McCain will never win THIS conservative over.
Also understand that while I will never vote for a Liberal like Obama or Hillary I will also actively oppose the Senator. It's not just about "sitting out."
If he is the nominee, there are simply NO acceptable "choices." |
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McCain can only convince those conservatives who are too gullible to see through his rhetoric.
I repeat yet again; Better Hillary than McCain. Better a fast death for the country than a slow, lingering death.
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McCain is the only guy with an ego bigger than the most powerful position in the world- the president of the USA. He is unstable and mean spirited in every sense. I will not ever vote for him. My vote is a testament of trust. And who thinks for a minute that he wont run for a second term?? |
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Romney wasn't pandering, he gave hearfelt speech on the role of religion. McCain is an enemy to conservatives.
This is depressing. First time I'll ever be voting Democrat or sitting out an election. |
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What are you smoking? McCain HATES conservatives and thinks he can win without us. He's stabbed us in the back too many times to count.
Is it possible, Matt that you STILL don't get the hatred the base has for McCain? I think they should give him the cold shoulder at CPAC. Especially for his ignoble campaign tactics against Romney.
He is short in the character dept, and long in the snarl dept. |
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