Thursday, July 19, 2007
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A McComeback?
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
4:37 PM
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John McCain was on Capt. Ed's radio show today, with a special message: "Any of our bloggers who are listening, come on, get on board!" he said. "Let's go out together. We'll have some fun."
This sounds a bit like the 2000 McCain on the bus.
The WaPost's blogger, Chris Cillizza asks if McCain is on the mend (H/t: Fonzie who says it's been too long since I've been called a "shill")?
In all seriousness, the media loves to build people up, tear them down, and then build them back up (see Martha Stewart). It would be a great media story if McCain rids himself of his "consultants" and then makes a comeback.
The media built up Howard Dean and then tore him down. Trouble was, they tore him down between Iowa and New Hampshire, with little time for him to regain his traction. In the case of McCain, he has months. And the media will need something to talk about during those months.
Already, you can see his press (and blog) coverage is improving (though it couldn't have gotten much worse). Are we witnessing the beginning of a McCain comeback?
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The hate some from some conservative circles for John McCain never ceases to amaze me. He's been consistently conservative on the issues that matter most. I strongly oppose the immigration bill. McCain pushed it. I won't rule him out as a candidate when there is a bigger picture here.
Most McCain bashers make up a minority of Republican voters, consist mainly of activists, and can't stand anyone who won't suck up to them. They don't get that McCain is still viewed favorably by the average voter. It reminds me of how the lefties treat "disloyals" like Joe Lieberman. Why? McCain acts on conviction and shows leadership, choosing not to play their game.
It is the mismanagement of his campaign and his support for the immigration bill, not his support for General Petreus' plan that has brought him down recently. He's taking on Harry Reid about Iraq when the supposedly "good" Republicans are running like hell away from this fight. McCain can still recover. He has the time and campaign skills to get back in this race. If you've ruled him out, you might have glossed over his relatively strong poll numbers despite the horrible press. NH and SC are very much in play for him to win.
As for Iraq and the greater conflict our nation faces, I know that among active military and veterans alike, McCain is the favorite as a potential commander in chief. They know character and leadership when they see it. It matters more to them than who was supposedly loyal to a party on a single vote. How many other politicians have two sons who are helping fight this war?
If you disagree with him on the issues than fine. But think hard before you call him names and assault his character. There is a more honorable way to express your political views.
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And to think he has a chance.....no way. McComeback? More like Mc Toast, burnt McToast.
The fork is already in McCain. He's done, and America is done with his flip flops and backroom sellouts. It's time for him to pack his saddle bags, saddle the horse, put out the campfire, and ride off into the southwest Arizona political sunset.
We thank him for his service in the military, but we condemn him on McCain-Feingold, and on the border sellout to Ted "The Chappaquiddick Swimmer" Kennedy.
Turn out the lights John, the fat lady is starting to warm up.........
Without appologies......... |
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While I don't see a McCain comeback as a presidential candidate, his departure from the scene given the national security challenges facing America is sad and apparently indicates just how little the war and terrorism really mean to most Americans. Absent McCain, there is quite literally no one in the race in either party who knows the difference between a tank and an APC. (OK Duncan Hunter knows) |
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I used to trust McCain when he talked.
In the last few weeks I have been seriously looking at creating a special issue 527. Campaign finance reform sounded like a noble cause a few years ago. Instead McCain sold the little guys, the ones he pretended to protect, a 180 degree lie.
He made it almost impossible for anyone to do anything effective in a campaign unless you are rich and can afford a lot of lawyers and accountants.
He passed an incumbent protection law that gutted the first amendment and shafted the little people while he pretended to protect their interests.
So much for McCain and his straight talk. He is very direct when he talks but his bills have hidden agendas that do just the opposite of what they say they will do.
The Fox poll suggests that he has about 9% solid support. Support above that level is fluid and can be moved to another candidate. Thompson also has about that much solid support as I recall. |
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McCain is SO over. The media didn't do him in; he did a fine job of that himself. |
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A McCain comeback to what? McCain/Feingold violation of freedom speech (WRTL v. FEC)? McCain/Gang of 14 blockage of extraordinary judicial appointments? or perhaps McCain/Kennedy and amnesty undermine of the rule of law and stimulation to more illegal immigration? McCain stands for nothing so there is nothing to come back to. |
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Foreman did make a comback (actually more than one) and won some sort of heavy weight title.
But unless McCain does the political equivelent of shaving his head, becoming a preacher, and gaining 80 pounds in the next couple weeks, his comeback will be nearly as successful as Foreman's. |
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Matt Lewis,
Sonny Jim infers a good point.
Matt, you appear to suggest that McCain's collapse is the fault of the media, as your "The media love to build someone up, tear them down, then build them up again !" mantra hints at.
McCain is responsible for sticking his finger in the eye of every conservative constituency.
As Hugh recently stated on his radio show, "If you happen to be a conservative, then at some point McCain has insulted you."
McCain isn't always accessible, either.
He ditched conventions by CPAC, National Review, Heritage, and Club for Growth because he feared being challenged by tough questions by the conservative base.
He dodges phone calls from conservative talk radio hosts such as Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager, and Rush Limbaugh who McCain KNOWS plan to ask him tough yet fair questions about his record.
Matt, you're like the heartbroken girl in the Lifetime cable channel movie of the week, waiting for the James Dean rebellious dude to change his bad boy ways.
He's just not going to change.
And we're not going to change our minds about selecting him as the nominee. |
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His gargantuan ego just won't let him admit it for now, same as he arrogantly continues to try to push his dastardly amnesty bill down the throats of Americans.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. |
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I wouldn't mind seeing a "McComeback", 'cuz some of the other GOPers are just such pandering weasels. Either that, or they have little chance of winning. In stark contrast stands McCain - he says what he believes no matter what. Even when I disagree with it, it's still refreshing. He's so "Anti-Politician".
But is the media tear-down really complete enough to officially begin the rebuild for a comeback? Also, is McCain just too darn pro-Iraq War, in his straight-talk way, that he can no longer achieve media-darling status?
I would enthusiastically support McCain if he could pull it off. Some of the other candidates are nausea-inducing pandering weasel politicians. Others have no substance. That, or they just totally suck, like Tancredo and Paul.
I'm willing to forgive a few past mistakes (McCain/Feingold, not supporting Bush tax cuts). I trust McCain when he talks, and if I have to hear about the tragic, hard reality of Iraq, I just like hearing it from an honest-to-God hero like McCain.
Something I learned about McCain that I like: He said he'd sign anything that would simplify the tax code! Something like, oh I don't know...The Fair Tax??? That's a big one for me. Whoever the nominee is, they need to support this. It forces the Dems into having to defend the IRS. Republicans should do more of that sort of thing. |
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is as likely as George Forman making a comeback!..............But at least Foreman has cool grills to market. |
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McCain may actually be useful in SC and FL.
Since it is now clear that Fred actually did lobby 3 administration officials for abortion and got paid (NYT).
McCain may be able to pick up some social conservatives in SC and FL who will not vote for Romney but who can not in good consciousness vote for Thompson. |
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until we get some detached and impartial commentary from Joe. |
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If his fundraising continues to go the way it has, and Fred Thompson lives up to the hype, he could be out by Labor Day.
If he stays in......he is not going to compete in Iowa, he need to get 2nd in Iowa and win South Carolina to have a chance on February 5th.
I see him finishing 4th in New Hampshire and dropping out of the race. |
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Romney will do whatever he needs to win IA. McCain is not in the straw poll he will not win IA.
Romney and Rudy have home field advantage in NH and most of the independents are voting for Obama this time. McCain does not have the voter pool he needs to win.
SC is a free for all. McCain may have a shot at it but it will take a lot of money. Thompson has a natural edge. Romney will work very hard for SC as a win there makes his nomination. Rudy will not play dead.
McCain will not have the money to compete on Super T. He can email and talk but GOTV takes a lot of money and so do Ads. |
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I my opinion McCain has way too much baggage to ever win in the primary. First it was McCain-Feingold. Then it was the "Gang of 14". The last straw was McCain-Kennedy.
Yes, I appreciate his service in the VN war and his stand for the war in Iraq, but what has he done for us lately besides support the Iraq war?
He is too much of a maverick to be counted on and he loses his temper all too frequently. His campaign has been a disaster and demonstrates his lack of ability to manage. If he can't manage his campaign, how in the world could he manage a whole country in the midst of a crisis. |
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McCain will be a pain to the other candidates. Beyond that, the numbers are not there for a come back.
If Rudy were kidnapped by space aliens and Thompson started campaigning for McCain instead of running then maybe. |
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Why don't you get it? The media didn't build McCain up or tear him down.
Never.
Ever.
Never.
'You get it? |
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"This sounds a bit like the 2000 McCain on the bus."
More like McCain's slipped *under* the bus. |
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