John McCain: The Geraldo Rivera Republican
Update: What Arizona Republicans think of John McCain: “Arizona Senator John McCain may be doing well in national polls but the folks back home that know him best don’t seem to agree. According to a straw poll taken on Saturday, January 19 of 721 Republican Precinct Committeemen from Maricopa County, Arizona, McCain’s home county, at their annual county meeting, 59.2% found him unacceptable for the GOP presidential nomination and only 11% find him acceptable.”
***
After spearheading a disastrous, security-undermining illegal alien amnesty bill last year with Teddy Kennedy, “straight-talking” GOP Sen. John McCain claims he has seen the light. In TV appearances, he vows to put immigration enforcement first. On the campaign trail, he offers a perfunctory promise to strengthen border security and emphasizes the need to restore Americans’ trust in their government’s ability to defend the homeland.
“I got the message,” he told voters in South Carolina. “We will secure the borders first.”
But how can McCain cure citizens’ distrust when his own credibility on the issue remains fatally damaged? He doesn’t believe his own election-year spin. And he knows we know it. This is cynicism on steroids with a speedball chaser.
Not all of us have forgotten how the short-fused Arizona senator cursed good-faith opponents in his own party (“F**k you!” and “Chickensh*t” were the choice words he had for Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn during a spat over enforcement provisions). Not all of us have forgotten that he voted against barring felons from receiving amnesty benefits under his plan. Not all of us have forgotten the underhanded, debate-sabotaging manner in which McCain/Kennedy/Graham/Harry Reid conspired to ram their package down voters’ throats.
His admission of the shamnesty failure is grudging and bitter. While he now tells conservative voters what they want to hear about the need to build the southern border fence, he takes a contemptuous tone toward physical barriers when talking to businessmen. “By the way, I think the fence is least effective,” he told executives in Milwaukee, according to a recent Vanity Fair profile. “But I’ll build the goddamned fence if they want it.” Straight talk? Try hate talk.
For all his supposed, newfound enlightenment about what most Americans want—protection against invasion, commitment to the rule of law, meaningful employer sanctions, an end to sanctuary cities, enforcement-by-attrition plus deportation reform, and an end to special illegal alien benefits that invite more law-breaking–The Maverick remains a Geraldo Rivera Republican. Like the ethnocentric cable TV host who can’t string a sentence about immigration together without drowning in emotional demagoguery, McCain naturally resorts to open-borders platitudes when pressed for enforcement specifics.
Instead of emphasizing the need for local and state cooperation with federal immigration authorities to prevent the release of illegal alien criminals or discussing 100 percent preventable crimes by illegal alien thugs who should never have been on American soil in the first place, McCain harps on open-borders sob stories. Several times over the past year, in response to citizen questioners who have expressed frustration with the lack of accountability for immigration law-breakers, McCain has responded: “I am not going to call up a soldier and tell him I am deporting his mother… I’m not going to do it. You can do it.”
But what if that mother had stolen an American citizen’s Social Security number to work here illegally? What if she had been previously deported, re-entered illegally, and had been convicted of previous crimes? What if she were part of a human smuggling ring? What if she had been working in a sensitive area—airport security, a military base, a port? Would he still refuse to abide by his constitutional obligation to provide for the common defense and secure the blessings of liberty for law-abiding Americans?
If McCain refuses to enforce immigration law against illegal alien parents of soldiers, what about illegal alien soldiers who used stolen or fake identification to get into the military? And why only illegal alien parents of soldiers? Why not illegal alien parents of police officers, teachers, doctors, and store owners? McCain’s selective enforcement policy is the exact recipe for immigration anarchy that we have today.
The hothead has succeeded in intimidating voters and eluding tough questions from the press by playing his rhetorical violin. There is a reason so many liberals in the media and the Democrat Party want John McCain to be the GOP presidential nominee. He gives them cover to continue smearing grass-roots conservatives.
In Michigan, the illegal alien parent-of-a-soldier-story was met with boos. McCain’s cheerleaders at the New York Times and other press outlets attempted to depict the detractors as insensitive and racist boors. Just as they did during last year’s ill-fated shamnesty campaign.
McCain has learned nothing. What about us?
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- Lump on a Blog » Blog Archive » The Carter Effect - Or No Thanks, I Think I'll Sit This One Out
- Michelle Malkin calls out John McCain « The Christ Follower Blog
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- Keith Burgess-Jackson » Politics
- Don’t Send A RINO To Do A Republican’s Job at Simply Kimberly | Blog
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- Michelle Malkin » John McCain’s open-borders outreach director: The next DHS secretary?
- If It Ends Up Clinton vs McCain — Expect a Lot of Anger « An Angeleno’s View of the World
- Suddenly the government thinks the Mexican border is a mess « Brian Bonner
- Michelle Malkin » Novak: Bush won’t support Romney because of immigration
- Michelle Malkin » Super Tuesday night: Obamamania, GOP toss-up; Update: Romney takes Mass.; McCain wins CT, IL; Huck snags Ala.; Hill, TN and Okla.; Obama, IL; Watch Arizona
- Michelle Malkin » Shamnesty John McCain is back in full force: No, he never “got the message”
- Meet the open borders family: McCain, Hernandez, Soros, and the “Reform Institute” « Ignorance Is Futile!
- McCain Open Border policies « The Proligious Times
- Michelle Malkin » The return of McAmnesty the Democrat Suck-Up
- One Old Vet » Blog Archive » The return of McAmnesty the Democrat Suck-Up
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Categories: Immigration, John McCain
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McCain is wrong on most everything as a Presidential candidate and should not be any party’s nominee for the job.
But he served America honorably, above and beyond, and that cannot be taken away from him. Nor should it be.
My guess is that Sen. McCain’s time in service to his country, both as a pilot and as a POW very likely would outweigh your contribtion in serving America via our nation’s military. Am I correct?
John McCain’s straight talk express came down with a severe case of perroni’s disease of the mind. Since then the truth is twisted in unimaginable ways. Facts are bent because the end justifies the means.
dakine# 82 Glad to know the clear majority Don’t think it it right to enforce the LAW.I guess that makes me far right.
Cute one liners purplepeep
making fun of a Veteran who suffered at the hands of an enemy of the United States, is kinda tacky… dontcha think? What next? Are you going to join code pink outside Walter Reed?
I don’t like McCain’s policies on illegal immigration, but at least you know what you’re going to get, and he is not on a “give America away bonanza”.
Dear mtneer # 91 and dakine #89, if either of you know how to Google you would fine my comments about McShame’s valor is not something I made up. You two probably said the same of Kerry being SwiftBoated. As usually you bring little more than an empty plate to the table.
Yeah, radio, I must confess that
“he served America honorably, above and beyond, and that cannot be taken away from him. Nor should it be.”
was way too mean. (Or perhaps you have issues with reading comprehension? Eh.)
There are those who demand he be given carte blanche for his far left stances because he was once a POW. I disagree with that bizarre paradigm, but you’re more than welcome to run with it.
On January 23rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm, BobJones-77 said:
If it comes down to the Hildabeast or McVain, I will vote for the Hildabeast so the Libtards can take credit for destroying America for the next 4 years.
I’m afraid in 4 years after Hill/Bill there won’t be an America. Or at least one we could recognize.
To me what McCant did in Vietnam is irrelvant except, since he decided to use it as a basis to run for President it is a ligitimate area of discussion. McCant has proven he wants to give the country away to foreign illegal invaders. Just look at the bill he tried to ram through. He may once have been a hero but has since turned into a traitor. Which McCant is it that I would be voting for now?
Yeah, but ya gotta admire a guy who will arrange to be caged and tortured just so he could be President 40 years later. What planning!
(And they say Rove is a genius!)
I need everything I can get my hands on about McAmnesty. People I know up here who call themsleves conservatives are falling for him hook, line and sinker. Every time I try to talk politics with friends that used to appear sane, they keep talking him up. I’m spending all my time telling them everything I know. They were smart enough not to fall for Chucklebee. But they’re buying this guy’s story.
I’m gonna have no friends by the time this thing is over.
I am with you Marshall Russ. I will either sit it out or maybe allow a democrat show it’s colors and hope the congress continues it complete inept attempts at legislation.
Michelle, you might also want to remind your readers that McCain almost joined the Democrats back in 2001, before Jumping Jeffords beat him to it.
How is he NOT on a “give America away bonanza”, with his postions on immigration and global warming?
Flenser,
Do you have any links for that as I would like to be able to educate myself better on the topic.
What crucible has McCain been through?
And Romney does not have the backing of the power brokers in the republican party, McCain does. That is why he is the front runner, in spite of the bases hatred for him.
Here you go.
Any search on “McCain party switch” will find tons of similar stuff. He was also considering joining the Dems in 2004.
astonerii#109,
I don’t intend to sit it out but, I don’t believe McCain will be the candidate. He has alienated the base of the party and they won’t forget how he not only voted against conservative issues. He went out of his way to hinder them. He will probably get to the convention but, he won’t be the candidate.
McCain lost the Republican nomination in his last bid for the Presidency because he was too far left for Republicans. This time around, he has moved even farther to the left on taxes, immigration, stem cells, the treatment of GITMO detainees.
His service record, POW status & the prescient he exhibited regarding a new strategy (COIN)for the WoT are commendable and I have nothing negative to say about that. However, he is vying for the Presidency and he needs to be able to connect with Republicans on more than one level. Talk about a one trick pony.
He appeals more to Independents and Democrats. Since he is on the Republican ticket (why I am not sure!), Republicans are left with well he is better than Hillary. Anybody but Hillary. Our backs are up against the wall and you people just want us to accept it… Well, not without a fight. I’ll go kicking and screaming to the voting booths, I’ll hold my nose and I will vote for McCain if that is what it takes. However, I will not blindly go into it. McCain does not represent Republicans on most issues. Period. I will first throw my support behind Romney, now that Hunter and Thompson are out of the race. That’s the way I see it.
Kinda makes me wish the Democrats were running Zell Miller so there’d be one candidate who I suspect a lotta us would feel good about voting for!
(”Spitballs!?”)
I would propose that giving McCain a pass on everything “because he was a POW” is the equivalent of the Dems well documented policy of always trotting out “victims” …
As the saying goes … “what have you done for me lately” …
and in the case of virtually everyone running on both sides of the aisle the answer is …
Nothing … Nada … Zero … Zilch …
Any questions?
All one has to do is to read comments on conservative blogs to understand why the MSM is supporting McCain.
McCain says that he’s now for border enforcement first, but he’s for amnesty second. He’s only rearranged his amnesty bill. Nothing has changed.
He should be running as a Democrat. He would probably beat Hillary and Obama. He’s not likely to be the Republican candidate.
Well not sure who has a problem with “reading comprehension”. I was kinda thinkin’ it might be in your brain housing group purplepeep.
I am saying nothing of the sort… concerning “carte blanche” for anything!
I’m saying (now read carefully) that his experience as a POW has given him strength that others cannot possibly have. Also, due to his military training, combat experience, and experiences as a POW, I think he would make a fine Commander In Chief.
I also trust him to keep his mitts off my guns, and to stand in the way of any leftwing democrats or republicans who would try to grab them.
As far as, his other liberal, left leaning domestic policies go, I’m not a big fan! My only consolation is that they are not quite as far left as the democrats. Even so, he’s not far off and I definitely don’t like that.
I don’t see how any of the other republicans are better, and I think Romney is just as liberal. He has supported and signed gun control laws, and I suspect he is not being truthful about illegal immigration.
Great column, and thanks again for reminding everybody of the vain, petty, choleric-tempered fraud that John McVain is. Straight talk my a$$.
How does having been a POW give him “strength that others cannot possibly have”?
How has this supposed strength manifested itself during a Senate career of pandering to the media and the left wing of the Democratic party?
Then you need to look harder. The only reason McCain even has an R after his name is that he was too slow to join the Dems in 2001.
I’m usually all over this stuff. I don’t know why I’ve never heard of this before. Watch the trailer…..
http://www.bordermovie.com/
We could use this out in theatres about now.
Remember that McCains choice for AG back in 2000 was Warren Rudman.
If you don’t know about Rudman, look him up.
So has McCain. He cosponsored a gun control bill with Lieberman. You could look it up.
I don’t mean to pick on you individually, but your comment was the first I saw with this statement, so you win. This load of crapola has got to stop!
You repeat the same old tired FALSE DICHOTOMY of Bush, McCain, et al, which ignores what the American people, both Democrats and Republicans, want, and the solution which is demonstrably working – in every state where it is being used. Your argument is disingenuous at best,and a bald lie at worst.
Stop this constant drivel of “We can’t deport 12 million blah blah blah THEREFORE we have to make them citizens.” We have to do no such thing.
You and McCain, and many other apologists are essentially awarding the stolen jewels to the convicted burglar! And even with a minor
finebribe, so you can correctly and legally call it not amnesty, it is WORSE. It is a reward of the ill-gotten goods to the thieves that came here to steal it in the first place. Followed by soliciting a bribe after-the-fact, which is no different than a BP agent demanding the same amount from someone about to illegally cross the border. Do you think that this policy will a) reduce, b) promote, future burglaries?Attrition through enforcement is lawful. It is eminently fair to citizens and patient would-be legal immigrants alike. It works. Why deny it? Why obfuscate the truth?
Here is your reality. No thanks. I vote for law enforcement over anarchy any day.
A leopard doesn’t change his spots. A quick check of McCains record is all it takes to make me sit out voting for POTUS, or writing in my own choice, should McCain be the Republican nominee.
I’d rather not be part of the problem, than be part of a McCain “solution”.
Flenser,
Thanks for the tip.
Yes, he is.
The McCain/Kennedy Shamnesty bill would have been the single biggest transformational bonanza, giveaway, and mistake of this century. In one fell swoop, up to 30 million law-breakers would have been awarded
instant(I exaggerate – it was really 24 hours) and permanent (no exaggeration here) residency and a pathway to citizenship.And no matter how high a fence we build and how many BP agents we hire, do you think that the NEXT 30 million won’t be packing their bags to cross our border?
We have to stop the rewards of the ill-gotten goods (residency) if we are ever to stem the flood. And this policy is working just fine, thank you, in the four states that have adopted this policy of “attrition through enforcement” this past year. If you don’t believe me, listen here to the illegal aliens themselves telling you why they are going home.
I voted for McCain in 2000 and even sent him money. His vote against Bush’s tax cut was bad, but I just chalked it up to him being bitter over his loss. His stance and attitude on immigration lost me. Just saying “security first” won’t get me back. I want specifics and adamant pledges of action. I’m a republican in Florida and right now I think Guliani is getting my vote. I really want a fiscal conservative who’s strong on defense.
Great idea! And directions printed only in ENGLISH!
Western Union has a bonanza with this skim business – skimming a nice percentage off the top of $20B, mostly earned with 1) stolen ID – felony, 2) made-up soc. sec. number – a $250,000 fine, or 3) cash – IRS frowns on this.
Why is WU immune from harboring laws??
And B of A, Wells Fargo, etc. have joined in on the racket. How distant from a mafia business is this?
“I’m saying (now read carefully) that his experience as a POW has given him strength that others cannot possibly have.”
Yeah, that is an odd claim. I think what makes even less sense is that it should somehow erase McCain’s wrong stances and bad actions.
Let me make on thing clear to the vets on this site who support McCrazy.He’s a G&d D@mned traitor!I was in RVN 67-68 in the infantry, in the bush, actually fighting Charley, with two PHs to prove it; while McCrazy was sitting on his ass in Hanoi because he was dumb enough to get his stupid ass captured.By the way they didn’t take enlisted men prisoners, they shot us.McCrazy has been trying to give this country away to Mexico for years, and he’ll do it if the moron ever gets elected.If you people want to support this idiot you must have forgotten the oath you took to defend this country with your lives, I haven’t, and I wont vote for a traitor.
fred5676
Thanks … I was beginning to think no one had read that earlier post …
Anyone that doesn’t think it is true can easily verify that what I wrote about is in fact what is going on …
See if this works you up.
And this.
And this.
McCain and you are ignoring this proven policy.
Greysheepdog #123-
Thanks for the heads up on the film, Border. I just ordered the DVD. There is an article on the National Ledger about the film also.
http://www.nationalledger.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=11&num=13035
This film needs to be seen by every American.
This is good news (I refuse to become pessimistic):
Cochran of Mississippi endorses Romney
Mitt Romney claimed the endorsement today of a veteran US senator from the Deep South, Thad Cochran of Mississippi.
“At this moment our nation faces unprecedented challenges, and Governor Romney has the experience, vision and values needed to strengthen our country for future generations,” Cochran said in a statement issued by the Romney campaign. “Governor Romney is a man of outstanding judgment and strong character.”
Cochran had initally endorsed Fred Thompson, but the former Tennessee senator withdrew from the race on Tuesday.
The backing from Cochran, the sixth sitting Republican senator to join Romney’s team, should help Romney build his case that he has national appeal in the GOP.
Radio Relay, thank you, I completely forgot to mention your “spewing” on the Romney Health Care plan = Hillarycare. It was perhaps your biggest misrepresentation of opinion as fact.
You clearly do not understand the plan that Romney put in place since you are saying it is = UK or Canadian healthcare systems which is basically what Hillarycare is. Romney used private healthcare companies to mandate health insurance – I’ll be the first to admit I don’t care for mandates but what he did is make the private world (you know, the health insurance companies that beneifit from insuring the healthy and maybe insuring…..the not so healthy and the poor)share in the burden. IMO it was not a perfect free enterprise solution, but it was not as bad as Hillarycare or Obama’s plan.
I haven’t heard what McCain’s plan would be, nor do I care, people above this post have mentioned all the other reasons to vote McCain out of the polling booth, GITMO, waterboarding=torture, tax cuts, etc. He’s a liberal, and he and you being veterans (no I am not one) are not enough reason for him to get my vote.
Although, being the daughter and sister of Veterans and sister of a really demotivated border patrolman, I have the greatest respect for ALL men & women who wear/or did wear any uniform that defends our borders. Including McCain, I just don’t trust him on anything that comes out of his mouth in the last 10 years.
Exactly!! This Zogby poll is the only one that ever offered all three choices – mass deportations, amnesty, and attrition through enforcement. Every other poll ignores the 3rd choice.
50% of Dems want attrition through enforcement, and 11% of Dems want mass deportations. Only 36% want the policy of Hillary, Obama, Edwards, McCain, Rudy, and Huck (at least by his record).
This is a winning strategy for 2008. A proven strategy that the legislatures in four states have adopted – including McCain’s own Arizona, whose Dem. governor signed the law!
A law which must be working, because the Mexican government is complaining about it after only 16 days in effect!
twoninerkilo said (#131):
I don’t want to denigrate your service, but I do have to ask how you felt about Republicans passing out purple bandaids to belittle John Kerry’s purple heart.
I, too, am here in the desert – surrounded by financial institutions and WU outlets in supermarkets, all contributing to the giant sucking sound of $20B annually leaving our economy, earned by the illegal workers “contributing to our economy.”
I plan to read the (English version) of one of the forms and maybe make a big stink with my Congressman if I can’t wire as much as an illegal can. Or maybe just tell the clerk (in halting pseudo German or Swedish accent) that I am not a citizen.
Great news! And with his endorsements from Tancredo and Sheriff Joe, maybe we can nominate the only remaining candidate that is not a guaranteed signer of Shamnety ‘09.
fred5676
FYI …
The rules are posted on the WU signs in detail at the service counters in the supermarkets that are in their system. It is not on the forms you fill out to send or receive funds.
Is it just me or does anyone else find it gut-wrenchingly funny that McCain got more votes than Ron Paul on this question?
FOX NEWS continues to say illegal immigration is the number two issue for Republican primary voters.Numberusa rates John McCain in the bad catagory along with the Democratic candidates with Romney scoring best amongst all candidates left in the race but McCain is the frontrunner??I guess either people are clueless about McCain or they actually want more illegal immigration!
I have a good friend who was a Kiowa pilot in Iraq in 2004, forced hard landing, broken back, now all better. He was risking his life to guard the ‘front door” on the WOT, while Bush was leaving the “back door” of our borders wide open to “undocumented workers” and lots of OTM’s – including illegals from every terror-sponsoring country. I wrote Bush a very nasty letter at the time.
McCain’s heroic record does not cut him any slack on inviting 12 to 30 million strangers in the back door. Border security is part and parcel of national security. If you don’t believe that, then I assume you double-bolt your front door and leave your back door wide open.
I DO trust McCain – I trust him to sign Shamnesty ‘09.
I do NOT trust Romney to do the same. He is the last standing candidate, of either party, who hopefully will not sign Shamnesty ‘09.
I have contributed to Tom Tancredo (just to keep the issue front and center during the debates), Hunter (I am a declared Hunter delegate), then Thompson. Mitt is the last hope on this issue.
And if you wanted to support a veteran, why not Hunter? He is a VN combat vet (Ranger and Airborne) and his son has served 3 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. And he understands that national security includes border security. Too bad he’s gone – maybe SecDef???
Hillary would destroy our country. McCain would destroy our country AND our party. How would we clean up after that? I will never be complicit in a McCain presidency.
He is the “frontrunner” with support of about 25% in the polls. We’ll have to see if he can get majority support.
You7 know, I’ve repeatedly put forward a question about Rudy vs anyone else that no one has taken up. This time I’ll turn it around:
In voting for a President we’re hiring a person to fill the job of President, which is an executive, not legislative job (like a senator), and the responsibilities of the two jobs could barely be more different. We’re all, every one of us, the human resource managers for the nation, and should be reading not what they have said, but their resumes in terms of what they have done. Nobody cares if someone was on the high school chess team for 4 years, we need to know what they’ve manifestly accomplished. I could roll out a dozen for Rudy (and have done in the past) But just to put this issue about McCain into prespective:
Talk is cheap. What has McCain actually accomplished in tangible, manifest terms in an executive job of responsibility which has any bearing on his suitability to be President of the United States? I’m serious about this. What on earth has he ever done as a senator or otherwise that makes him a suitable choice to be on the short list for President of the United States?
Any takers?
I just voted (in early voting) today in the Florida primary. I voted for Mitt Romney for no other reason than to keep John The RINO McCain out of there. The candidate I wanted, Tom Tancredo is long since gone. As some folks here wrote, Mitt Romney may be our only hope of electing a strong borders candidate.
On another matter, I voted for Florida’s Amendment 1 to help lower our property taxes. Doesn’t do much but all the carping by the groups opposed to the amendment convince me to vote for it. Everytime the voter get a chance to vote themselves a tax cut, you hear the same “kiss your essential services goodbye” tripe from the tax & spenders.
Actually what “belittled” Kerry’s PH was the fact that he wrote himself up for them after he’d scratch himself with a fingernail. That was disrepect for those who truly deserved them.
But America easily saw through “Kommander Kerry” reporting for duty and told him to “go report himself”. Maybe he should write himself up for yet another PH for his brusied ego.
Fred, you’re gonna hate this one when you see MM’s new post up about Hunter endorsing Huckabee. I do really admire the son, but no longer the Father.
I did. And yes, I am sick.
Now I am a FORMER Hunter delegate.
Please tell me this is a Seinfeld rerun of Bizarro World.
Alphonse said:
100% border security may not be possible, but it doesn’t have to be. Remember, the purpose of a dam is not to stop the river, it is merely to control the flood waters. If a few thousand find a way under or around a 30′ double wall studded with spikes and capped with razor-wire, it’s better than the flood of hundreds of thousands of illegals we have to cope with each year now.
My commenting on this ‘blog has declined lately, due to postings like this one.
McCain may not be my first choice for a Republican candidate, but if I waited to vote for President until a candidate came up whose views I shared 100%. . .well, I’d still be waiting to cast my first Presidential vote. . .and would likely wait the rest of my life for the chance.
If McCain gets the nomination, I will vote for him in earnest, rather than put Obama or Clinton in a position that would allow them to appoint supreme court justices, and sign legislation making McCain’s border stances appear xenophobic by comparison.
The absolutist nature of this sort of attack writing on our party’s primary candidates is quite sad, really, and serves only to add to the disillusionment of mainstream Republican voters who, judging from primary results so far, do not necessarily agree with the views of those in this particular echo-chamber.
Yashmak, you sound as though this blog is the only place where McCain’s policies and actions are being scrutinized. Until there is a nomination, I believe it is only right and fair that we continue to scrutinize the policies and actions of the candidates, good or bad.
I come here for opinions, even if they are not my own.
You admit that McCain is not your first pick. There must be a reason for that, right? Most here don’t expect 100% compliance with our own ideals. It’s mildly insulting to suggest that we do.
Based on the debates that we have on these threads, it’s hardly an echo-chamber.
Bingo Yashmak…spot on.
ya know mngirl you might think you’re being strong an forceful by using offensive terminology in making your point … but truthfully you’re just being rude..
If Romney has rude people such as yourself supporting him, then he also must be a jerk… even more reason for me not to like him…
Oh, and he did impose hillary’s health care plan
Thanks!
Isn’t there one decent conservative running for President? Someone who would say, “uphold and defend the Constitution”, without laughing?
Now illegal aliens are mad at their giant pipeline, sucking $20 B out of our economy every year.
The people who keep saying it’s impossible to secure the borders must be open-border supporters. There is no other reason they would believe something so entirely wrong as to say we cannot secure the borders. Sometimes I think maybe they are saying we can’t stop every single illegal from entering the country. I’ll give them that, but, the right kind of fence, enforcing laws against employing illegals, and deporting those we know are illegal would drastically reduce the number crossing the border into the USA, and it would also drastically reduce the number who are here. Literally millions would self-deport if the simple act of enforcing current laws would just be done.
How can anyone just throw up their hands and say, “there’s nothing we can do”?
Wow, so far no one posting on this board wants to defend their chosen candidate on the basis of what that candidate has accomplished. So far we’re hearing “war hero this” and “so-and-so would do that (like anyone can tell a lie from an honest intention on the part of politicians) but no one wants to look reality square in the face and say “this is what my candidate accomplished and why those accomplishments demonstrate he’ll be a good candidate”.
Sad. Awful. Pathetic. And unfortunate.
To those on the board who comsistantly knock candidates without offering support to a single one, I suggest that they’re just liberal shills trying to erode support from within the party. Don;t like someone? Fine. But who do you support? Flenser, for example, has supported no one, but said he’d vote for Hillary if McCain gets the nod. That’s the kind of propoganda we need to watch out for.
In the last Democrat debate all three candidates treated McCain as if he were going to be the Republican nominee.
Did this just happen, or was it planned to help McCain BE the nominee?
fred5676
thanks for the Forbes link … hadn’t seen that …
My commenting in other blogs where this sort of thing is occurring has declined as well. It was not my intent to single out this one, as much as to point out a disturbing phenomenon. . .the tendency for these discussions to degrade into what seems an attack of sorts. The obvious impression I get here is that we shouldn’t vote for McCain for ANY reason. That’s how Michelle’s post reads, anyway. I don’t believe that is true. Many here seem to share that point of view, which is extremely dangerous. I don’t begrudge them their opinion, but I dread the possibility that it might lead us to a term under either Hillary or Obama when these individuals stay home, instead of voting.
– Salt
I don’t know Salt, comments on this topic and others regarding primary candidates to the effect that they would stay home rather than vote for X. . .there are an awful lot of comments like that. That’s the absolutism I’m referring to. It’s ugly, and smacks of a mindset not grounded in cause/effect realism.
Some seem to think that withholding their vote somehow does a service to this country, by “letting the candidate know” that they disagree with his (or her) stance. That’s a bunch of hooey. A given candidate isn’t going to know that he didn’t get X thousands of additional votes because of one reason or another. The reasons people don’t vote may at best get a newspaper article or two, or get hypothesized about on web logs. The only thing that REALLY gets counted are votes. . . .
If we want to make a difference, we should send McCain a letter. We shouldn’t enable the presidency of Hillary or Obama just to make some sort of misguided point.
Jeez Conservative Cat. . .still harping on Flenser? Hasn’t that particular dead horse been beaten on enough by now?
Oh, the Clintons would just love McCain to be the nominee, are you kidding? It’s suddenly senator vs senator, while takes the “relevant experience” issue out of the equation which is huge for Hillary. Another senator is just what she’d love. They could praise his service lightly and damn his age, flip-flops and label him as a pro-war hawk prepared to sacrifice our most precious blood over a mismanged war.
They’d like nothing better than to paint him aa a white-haired, dotering war-monger whose values and accomplishments are hopelessly antiquated. A nice man – but.By the time the gigantic and almost endlessly financed Clinton machine, enabled in part by a gigantically biased press, was through, they’d crush McCain like a bug…. and Hillary would just waltz into the White House.
Yashmak,
Just a polite reminder, since he’s still running around like mad very loudly bashing whomever the front runner is at the moment.
I am sorry to say, Yashmak, but you sound like a free speech bashing person! Why are our opinions and expression of free speech dangerous? Is this what McCain supporters stand for? WE, free thinking and still free to express ourselves conservatives do no expect 100% but we expect more than 1%, which is what MCCain offers- IRAQ IRAQ IRAQ IRAQ IRAQ. If that is all he has to offer, a war that has cost is trillions with no real show for it here in the homeland, than I don’t want him. And I support the war because we need a voctory there. If you actually read this blog, you will notice that it is McCain’s record that is discussed more than anything else. Is that dangerous? And his record other than on IRAQ is abissmal. Point to me 1 single piece of legislation which he has penned that has somehow benefited the conservative movement or our country. Stop trying to squelch our free speech. I am trully offended by your remarks. And I have every right to say that. Hillary and McCain are not in power yet.
Mr_Conservative_Cat, I do find this election year to be sad, awful, pathetic and unfortunate.
I have had and continue to have a very hard time finding a candidate I feel like I can get behind. I look at what each of them has done and am not overly impressed. I have also listen to what they say they will do and, based on what they have done, find it hard to believe it is much more than election year posturing for votes.
Now, I would never say that I would vote for Hillary instead. She has said nothing that would make me think she would take a wildly liberal approach to how she would try to govern. She takes a very socialist approach in how she thinks our government should be. And, I have no doubt that she would do her level best to do that.
But, I don’t have to be happy about what the alternatives are. As I have said in numerous other threads on Michelle’s blog, I feel as though I am left to choose between the lesser of many evils.
So, I have no particular candidate to push as my conservative savior this election year. I wish I did.
Barry,
At least someone sounds like they’re thinking these days! I suppose then you’ll vote for whomever the R candidate is rather than Hillary?
As you look over the candidates, what about their executive experience as it applies to the Presidency interests you?
I have mulled Giuliani’s experience as mayor, as well as Romney’s and Huckabee’s as governor of Massachusetts and Arkansas, respectively.
But, it just hasn’t sparked the interest for me. Granted, executive decision-making experience should be a huge plus. Senators have no experience operating autonomously and making hard decisions on their own. Their forte seems to be filibustering and debating. There isn’t much call for that as POTUS, except for trying to maneuver preferred legislation through Congress.
But, I digress. I haven’t been too impressed with Giuliani’s, Romney’s or Huckabee’s records as executives in their respective local or state governments.
I take serious issue with Giuliani’s sanctuary city approach. Yes, I know – illegals shouldn’t fear repercussion for reporting when they have been the victims of serious crimes. But, that was not his only instance of impeding the reporting of illegal aliens to the Feds for deportation.
I also have issues with Romney’s healthcare approach in office. There is also the issue of his history on illegal immigration. I hear him talk about his conservative beliefs but also realize that he comes from Kennedy and Kerry country and hear him talk about working with a Democrat majority in state government. I worry too much about compromise on his part in major areas to claim small victories.
And, then, there is Huckabee’s record in Arkansas. The whole issue with the Mexican consulate irks me to no end. His loose social positions bother me. Yes, he is pro-life. But, he is too loose with the purse strings on taxpayer money. I have heard him talk about the court mandates and how they funneled money into the roads there and how “improved” the roads were. But, for anyone that has driven through Arkansas on I-40, that wouldn’t be too hard to accomplish.
Are my concerns legitimate? They are to me. Illegal immigration is a huge issue for me. Does executive experience seal the deal for me? Not necessarily.
I don’t necessarily vote Republican or Democrat. I vote conservative, both fiscally and socially. So, typically, I end up voting Republican. But, felt in 2004 that I was left with little option for a candidate that was representative of me. I did vote for Bush. I could not stomach John Kerry. So, Bush was my only option. But, if I had had a person that I saw as better, I would have voted for them.
I can tell you for certain that there is no one on the Democrats’ side that interests me in the least as a possible recipient of my vote.
All this said, I am still, basically, undecided. What a pickle to be in with Super Tuesday quickly approaching.
Well, it’s a pickle and it isn’t.
Those are all negatives, though Rudy isn’t exaggerating when he says his office was reporting zillions of illegals to the Feds and the Feds weren’t doing anything – the NY MSM reported often when this subject came up how “coldhearted” Rudy was trying to “strip millions of their dream” and how the wonderful liberal Feds (Clinton was mostly in office at those points when this issue came up) were stopping his heartless prosecution of “hardworking immigrants”. The problem Rudy faces in this election is that the rest of the country doesn’t know all this, and when you consider that the magnitude of his problems – illegal aliens, the size of his budget, et all, dwarfted just about every other state - that’s a shame.
Anyway, look at the good that the candidates have done in executive leadership roles. I’m not sure what jumps out from Mitt’s resume that stands up to Rudy’s. Indeed, nobody’s stands up to Rudy’s in my mind and I’d love someone to take the challenge: put your candidate’s accompishments up against Rudy’s. The real accomplishment, not just the talk.
You seem super reasonable on a board where alot of people are taking very extreme postures as of late and not citing their candidates relevant executive accompishments. So let me ask you this: if I tell you that Rudy turned a deficit into a surplus in America’s 3rd largest economy (more than Mitt’s) while consistantly lowering taxes and increased the quality of life for the city (not everyone of course but there’s no such thing as 100% in anything), was gigantically tough on crime and was electible enough to beat a liberal democrat in NYC, would you consider casting your vote for him in the upcoming primary, and if not, if I can ask, why not?
Ok! I will…what’s the number?
Question to McCain: Where do you draw the line? Would you make the call if the soldier’s brother robbed a liquor store? If a soldier’s sister was busted for cocaine use? If a soldier’s father killed someone? If a soldier’s cousin raped a child?
-RealImmigrantChick
Again with the sort of comments demonizing any dissenting viewpoint. I never said that rational opinions opposed to McCain’s political positions is dangerous. I love it when people put words in my mouth. I’ve already clarified this once. The problem I’m addressing are those who DO seem to expect their candidate to match their views 100%. Obviously, if that’s not the case for you, I wasn’t referring to you.
And FYI, I’m not a McCain supporter per-se. However, if it comes down to a choice between any of the Dem candidates or McCain, I’ll then CERTAINLY be a McCain supporter. . .which should be clear from my earlier comments.
– R.I.C.
I’m not trying to do so. Nor would I. I must admit, I find it worrisome you would think comments as innocuous as mine are an attempt to squelch free speech. I guess a simple disagreement with your viewpoint is an attempt to “squelch free speech”. That’s rather telling.
As usual, Yasmak is the voice of reason. Good posts. RIC, back to the drawing board.
Yahmak,
I agree with the sense that you’re trying to subvert free speech. It’s subtle, but instead of debating the issues, you tend to focus on the idea of people saying their positions. It’s nuanced, but you should be aware that it very much comes across like that, and considering you took 2 posts to respond to that charge, I have a feeling you know it.
I voted for Mitt in the Florida primary, only reason he has the best chance of beating McCain. Rudy is toast down here, it seems.
RadioRelay said ..
Never backed away from his support of the military? I really have to wonder if you truly are a Vietnam Vet … What is the deepest pain of the Vietnam War? It is the POW/MIAs that were left behind and unaccounted for. Put McCain’s POW status on hold for a moment and examine what he has done to the POW/MIA Issue since 1973 when he returned to US Soil.
McCain’s behavior while on the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs was entirely against any of the credible evidence that men were left behind, still alive or that the DoD’s efforts to account for these men was nothing but sheer duplicity. He yelled at witnesses who didn’t agree with them, interrupted them and even brought the sister of a missing serviceman to tears with one of his finger-pointing name calling fits.
Fast forward a few years and after a lot of hard work on behalf of said POWs/MIAs, strong legislation was added to the Missing Service Personnel Act of 1995. POW/MIA Families were finally breathing a sigh of relief – it was now punishable for DoD officials to lie to families, among other things.
He gutted that bill the first opportunty he got and made future missing military personnel cases even more political by having decision made in Washington rather than by leaders on the ground.
I could go on and on …
You go stand at The Wall in DC and ask the ghosts what they think of McCain.
And for the sake of full disclosure, those POW/MIA familiy members? I happen to be one. 4o plus years and counting … Thanks to McCain.