Video: McCain at CPAC–not quite The Uniter yet
CPAC attendee not on board with McCain
Update 8:15pm Eastern. Oy. Sen. John Cornyn endorses the man who cursed him out.
U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has endorsed John McCain for president. Senator Cornyn issued the following statement on his endorsement:
“In this time of war and economic uncertainty, America must have strong, principled leadership. National security is the first and most important priority of the federal government. We must have a President who will be a leader in the war on terrorism, who will do what is needed to protect our country and its people, and who will not buckle when the political waters become rough. In the Senate Armed Services Committee, and on the Senate floor, I have seen firsthand that John McCain has been right on critical national security issues. He is clearly the man for the job.
“Sen. McCain has also been a real leader on another issue that we have neglected far too long — wasteful and excessive Washington spending. I have watched John McCain take on the special interests and fight the tough battles on behalf of American taxpayers. While we have had principled disagreements on some issues, including some aspects of immigration reform, I am convinced that John McCain shares my conviction that we must secure our borders and restore respect for the integrity of our immigration laws. I will look forward to continuing to pursue these goals with him when he is President.
Just for the record: I am not convinced. One CPAC speech and a bunch of robo-calls repeating his “secure the borders” pledge are not enough.
Not at all.
Not when he has done nothing to repudiate his Soros-tied “Mexico First/”Free Flow of people”/”bloc, not a nation” Hispanic outreach director and his anti-English immersion national finance-co-chair.
***
I sat in the back of the ballroom for McCain’s speech. Here’s a short vid clip that gives you a sense of the mix of boos and cheers. The other half of the room also had a front-loaded contingent of McCain supporters and a back-loaded chorus of booers. (Update: Added more photos below.)
One thing I noted was that the crowd included a much larger continent of older attendees than the other sessions. A significant number of anti-McCain people didn’t make it into the room. One attendee told me the overflow room was raucously, anti-McCain–with only a handful of pro-McCain folks.
McCain repeatedly stressed his gratitude for the speaking opportunity and referred to his differences with conservatives in almost every other sentence.
I don’t think a CPAC speaker has ever stressed his differences so many times before the conservative base–not even Sam Donaldson!
I respect his decision to stand in the lion’s den, and I agreed with much of the speech. I found myself nodding as he touted his opposition to ethanol subsidies, national catastrophic insurance, and the Medicare prescription drug benefit. But I don’t for a minute buy his claim that he “respects the opposition” of his staunchest opponents, especially the anti-amnesty crowd. These are folks he has cursed and likened to Bull Connor-style bigots. He has done nothing to rid his campaign staff and finance board of the most extreme open-borders zealots.
I said he needed to do more than mouth the Right platitudes.
Still waiting.
To end on a positive note:
The best thing John McCain had going for him at CPAC was Tom Coburn.
McCain was joking when he said maybe he should “just sit down” after Coburn’s introduction.
A lot of folks in the audience wish he weren’t kidding.
***
The Club for Growth agrees with me: Less talk, more action…
Club for Growth President Pat Toomey released the following statement on Senator McCain’s speech at CPAC this afternoon:
“Senator McCain deserves some credit for making a conscious effort to reach out to conservatives at CPAC today, but over the next couple of months, he will need to go beyond talking about those issues on which he agrees with conservatives and address those areas in which we’ve had strong disagreements. More specifically, he will need to reassure conservative regarding his vision on tax policy; political speech during campaigns; global warming remedies; and his general approach towards regulatory matters.”
“In addition, the most concrete manifestation of McCain’s commitment to conservative principles will be his selection of an economic conservative running mate who will unify the Republican coalition. Clearly, an economic liberal like Mike Huckabee will be unacceptable to a majority of Republicans. Rather, Senator McCain will need to pick a vice-presidential candidate who embodies the Republican belief in limited government, economic freedom, and the power of free enterprise to advance prosperity for all Americans.”
***
I’ve heard pretty much the same thing Justin Higgins is hearing: Romney’s going to regroup the next couple of days and then work to help unite the GOP against Hillary or Obama. I asked a Romney guy if this meant an imminent McCain endorsement. He said he wouldn’t call it an “endorsement”…yet.
One more funny and half-snort-worthy tidbit: I received in my inbox what I believe is the first e-mail communication from the McCain that I’ve ever received.
Outreach, my friends. Outreach.
***
A few photos from the floor:
See what others have said
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Now that McCain, the liar, is the nominee, will he do the right thing and resign from the Senate like his hero, Bob Dole???
“this video is no longer available” error message for me.
No real choice now, as ANYONE would be less destructive to our country than Hillbama would be.
No longer available for me too. I want to see it too, we left CPAC early to beat rush hour.
Nice meeting you today, Michelle! Thanks for the chat and picture!
Try now.
I guess triangulation works. That speech wasn’t for those that have long, specific memories of the stabs in the back, especially not those that still carry those scars; rather, it was for the larger audience that semi-remember some things bad from McCain. Judging by the instant reaction, that had the desired effect.
Video now working. Graci.
nevermind, there it is.
Talked the talk, but will he walk the walk?
Not unless we put the proper planks in the platform then nail McCain’s feet to them.
What ya say MM?
The Party Platform is the last available leverage point we have short of denying our vote.
I’ve just mailed my voter registration card in having dropped affiliation to the Republican party. I yearn for the days when I could care less about politics.
Enough.
Compromising our First Amendment Rights with McCain/Feingold?
Amnesty?
Gang of 14?
Closing Gitmo?
Global warming?
Anti-tax cuts?
McCain and Republican party politics have nothing to say to me. I’m done.
Not a dime, not a vote.
If McCain is the guy this doesn’t mean we have to swallow all his ideas and proposals! His shazamnesty ideas are just plain old wrong and he should be vigorously encountered where ever and whenever he brings it up.
Let him start by firing his Mexico-first staff and committing to no amnesty in any way, shape, form or euphemism (i.e. “comprehensive reform”). Now that would be “outreach”.
Thanks for the different perspective of the room. On C-SPAN, it was all huzzahs.
Must be your browser, Mark. Here’s a direct link to it at YouTube.
Mccain at CPAC
Drink the Kool-Aid, assume the position. This message brought to you by The RNC and CPAC.
I wonder if he will be able to remember all the oaths of office he took, both military and senatorial. Whether his ‘word will be his bond’ or whether like his friend T Kennedy, lie cheat steal and ‘kill’ in the name of office. I think it is sad that this is the best we can do as a party for a nominee, but, Better than Hillary for sure… I think…..
While reading these threads today, I was struck by some of the immature and even vicious comments. I thought I had wandered into the Kos blog.
McCain is our nominee and we should note that he has moved toward a more conservative position on taxes and immigration. We won! We don’t need to flog the man just to feel better about ourselves!
The glass is half full and now we need to keep pouring. His advisor on judges is Ted Olsen and Steve Forbes is an advisor on taxes. As long as conservatives have a Republican to deal with, we are much better off than letting HRC or Obama appoint judges and direct the war on terror.
We’ve already had 8 years of McCain with President Bush surely we can suffer 4 more!
This “Marriage” needs to be arranged as carefully and formally as a 17th century alliance. Kenneth Blackwell had an excellent piece in todays NY Sun. Personally I believe the Republican Party needs to be, and be seen as, the party of opportunity and welcoming of loyal legal immigrants who bring strength to America. McCain dug this hole and I hope that he can fill it in so we can all “Move On.”
This song just about sums up my opinion of McShamnesty.
What else is there to be said?
I’ll start beleiving when he gets rid of Hernandez. And talks to Tancredo.
HOW THE CLINTONS WILL DESTROY JOHN MCCAIN
http://www.tothepointnews.com/content/view/3068/2/
Vietnam Veterans against John McCain
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/
Doesn’t look good for the old chap…
Fed Up
Romney is right, the Dems are hopelessly fractured. Republicans have also had a knockdown fight, but it’s over and time to heal wounds.
What McCain said today, sounded great…but talk is cheap. He’s got time now to sew up the wounds that HE, not us, created.
Actions MUST follow…giving Hernandez the heave ho, signing a pledge to secure the border, what I said earlier.
Nobody has a problem with his speech. He said all of the right things.
Who in their right mind would actually believe him?
If you are woo’ed by this man, you are a fool. His actions have been consistently anti-conservative. Even when he happened to vote conservative, it seemed to leave a bad taste in his mouth.
Good grief, must we review his *actions* again? They are listed here by others.
How much KoolAid do you have to drink to believe this guy?
All I have to say is Obama ‘08.
Hell will freeze over before I vote McCain. I’ll never forget the shamnesty. Ever.
I will never forget shamnesty either.
But does it make sense to withold a vote from McCain only to see one of two democrats — EACH OF WHOM VOTED FOR THE SHAMNESTY BILL TOO — get elected???
Isnt that like the old proverb about cutting off your nose to spite your face?
I also listened to McCain’s speech today. I found it as short on vision, as are his arms!
He said nothing to disabuse me of the notion that his rhetoric and recent actions are in the best interests of this country.
Of course, I believe people can change, and I hope he seriously reconsiders some of his recent anti-conservative movements. He just better not expect me to compromise my conservative principles, temporarily, just to put him in office. It ain’t gonna happen!
That’s pure fantasy, Vince.
Anyone know of a site that has McCain’s history? I wanna learn a little more about him.
Conservative purists prattling on and on about McCain’s principles….Bwhwahahahaha
Nowhere in life or nature is there anything so pure as the conservative idealist. It’s why they are destined to extinction: lack of diversity kills.
As for McCain’s history and background, start with the always contentious Wikipedia entry and then try McCain’s website.
Wikipedia covers his Pow years and the failure of his first marriage right afterward in decent detail.
They would have had no amnesty bill to vote for in the first place if McCain hadn’t invented and pushed it. You’re begging folks to forget the ringleader of the whole operation?
It’s my opinion that McCain doesn’t have a prayer of winning in November, unless, God forbid, there is another 9/11 in the USA between now and the election. I think we are safe from that until after the election because no terror group would want to do anything to defeat the surrendercrats. Terrorist watch what’s happening in the USA very carefully, and they know who their “friends” are.
Hey, Michelle, did you happen to see Juan Hernandez, or any other liberal McCain advisor in attendance?
God, how I’d like to just ONE time to actually cast a Presidential vote without one hand occupied by holding my nose.
The whole process stinks and needs to be changed.
Even with massive reforms, I fear, the conservatives seem to be outnumbered.
When there are more of them than us, we lose. We all lose.
True. I thank god every day for courageous senators like Jeff Sessions and Jim DeMint and crossovers like Byron Dorgan who shortcircuited this abomination. Talk radio and right bloggers managed to mobilize and defeat this disgusting piece of trash, and yes at the time I thought McCain was roadkill for pushing this through.
Fast forward to today, and here we are.
I cant forget McCains role, but thank god we stopped it and humbled the arrogant SOB. Now, maybe he sees that POLITICALLY he has to listen to the right on this issue.
But remember, not just McCain was at fault on Shamnesty. None of that would have ever happened if Pres. Bush had indicated early on he would veto anything with amnesty in it. But of course JORGE BUSH was right on board with McCain and kennedy, wasnt he….
Maverick, maverick is my name, maverick voting is my game Hurra Hruuh heh … so I am going to play the field, look over those Democrats, throw a little money their way, who knows what the Democrats will give me.
Such is the life of a maverick, maverick voter that is.
Doesn’t seem humbled at all to me, AR.
McCain: “See Mitt, you’re not the only one who can read conservative-sounding one-liners from a political adviser’s pen while gritting your teeth”
As for McCain’s record, Gun Owners of America (GOA) have lots of good info on his 2nd Amendment stances on their website.
Color me stupid, but why should a VP choice be the deciding factor? I can see the need to balance regional support: the South, whatever. . .but except in the case of a president’s death, when have VP’s decided oval office policy?
If there’s a bonafide conservative willing to risk creds on sharing a McCain ticket, then have at it; you’ll be risking political suicide on the slim chance that the Straight-Talker won’t be up to a second term.
As for me, I don’t vote for window dressing.
You got it backasswards, diversity for the sake of diversity kills……the USA as a “melting pot” no longer exist, and we are destined to be a divided nation forever, culture, language, politics, you name it…..A United America such as the one that helped us win two World Wars is history. Some believe that this is somehow a good thing…I don’t. Yes, diversity in politics can help get votes, because there are now more people riding in the wagon that pulling it. If you lose the panderfest, you lose.
Why no questions about Juan Hernandez? Because the RINO’s own the GOP. Most are open borders and don’t want the secret out, most share many of McCain’s views! Why do you think we were so worried last summer about shamnesty passsing. We have too many RINO’s. We had complete control of Congress and the White House, and the RINO’s could not even pass a voter ID law to ensure only US citizens vote. But now they investigate BASEBALL!
That’s not fantasy peeps, #26! When I fantasize, it’s not about politicians!
We screamed at McCain regarding immigration and he has moved in our direction. OK! So you say all politicians lie but I believe that they are just being “accomodating.” Whoever yells the loudest, they hear! I believe McCain is closer to our position than what the democrats are offering and I’m not just talking immigration.
If you are willing to let the democrats address your concerns, vote democrat. If you sit out or waste your vote on some 3rd party fantasy, then you have nothing to complain about.
That’s funny Vince, I thought McCain was immature, vicious and dKos like. Speaking to his base as if they were 6 year olds. I think the fool has forgotten who casts the votes. Maybe he’s too use to back door deals in the Senate and has forgotten that he needs a national electorate to support him, not just AZ, I don’t know and really don’t care. But the republicans no longer can claim the banner of Ronald Reagan. There is less than a nickles worth of difference between them and democraps. I for one will no longer hold my nose and vote for some power hungry idiot who treats the voters as an after thought. I survived the Carter years and will do the same with Hillary, Obama or that other liberal, McCain.
I’m with Michelle on this subject. Give McCain credit for attending and making what amounted to a very good presentation.
While he may have swayed some people over, my own view is that actions will speak louder than his words. What his performance today bought was an ear - he made an effort to reach out and I would be willing to make the effort to listen - and watch.
I am not among those who will vote for whomever the Republican nominee happens to be. While I understand that no candidate is perfect, I am not about to surrender my principles and values based on fear mongering or political expediency.
Truth hurts huh Zorro!
That’s the idea. Quid Pro Quo.
It’d come as no surprise if this is why Romney threw in the towel when he did. John McCain didn’t become the bete noir of purist conservatives overnight, and he won’t build the necessary bridges and mend the requisite fences (with those who can still be reasoned with) overnight, either.
It’s better to get started in February instead of June. Romney seems to understand that.
You can vote liberal if you want. I am a conservative, not a republican.
Is that what it’s come to? Making fun of McCain’s POW injuries?
Michelle lives in a blue state. That state will go democratic even if Pol Pot was running. She has the choice to go against McCain and vote for someone else. I live in a purple state-Virginia-we can go either way. We used to be red, but now we have a democratic governor and new democratic house/senator. If I vote against McCain and Republicans, I am voting for Clinton/Obama, even if I write in a vote, go Libertarian or Constitution Party. With the contest going to be so close in the Commonwealth State, I am forced…like it or not…to go with McCain, simply to add my strenght against the democrats controlling the entire government. That would be a disaster worse than Carter, if that is possible. It would take years/decades, if ever,to recover; much like FDR’s adminstration.
We have to stop rewarding bad behavior from these RINO’s. Life is not easy or fair. Either party still has to represent “We the people”. There is strength in numbers. Keeping these malcontents in office sends them the message that we are the “sheeple”. To paraphrase, in a backward way from “the Gipper”, “I didn’t leave the Republican party, it left me.”
there are those here that are ‘party’ loyalists. i am a conservative first. i am not loyal to any party, but to ideals and philosophies.
as the republican party is now moving left of center and is apparently more liberal than conservative it is not for me to move with them. i am conservative first and foremost. my principles are my standard bearer and i do not see the republican party maintaining those principles by the candidate they have chosen as the leader of their party. john mccain is a liberal. he has progressively moved liberal from the early 90’s. is ACU rating from 1997 to 2007 is 50.
That my friends is not a conservative nor is it a moderate, but a liberal. If McCain were truly a moderate I might be able to consider him as a viable candidate.
For those of you in love with the republican party over your ideals or principles, well you are the reason we have McCain versus a more conservative candidate. You, my friends, are willing to compromise. I am not.
May Juan McPain and Juan Hernandez working together finally shake you from your complacency!
Now, there’s something I would like to see myself, OC.
I heard much of the speech…
I know him to be a liar…
I could throw him a lot further than I believe him.
We have to pound the crap out of McCain until we get some real, quantifiable attention from him on the shamnesty issue. I still have to agree with Marshall Russ on the previous thread. I CAN’T abandon our troops to Hillary or Obama. I just can’t. That would be reverse desertion. Can’t do it. If they can handle serving under McCain as CIC, I’ll bow to their opinion and go with him. We’ll just have to keep on him, relentlessly. Pound the heck out of his website, etc. I just can’t turn our troops over to “Hil’Obama”. NO WAY. THEY are the key issue for this ex-Army guy.
McCain will have the shortest memory of what he said today of any person ever running for POTUS. He has crossed the divide so many times consulting with the other side they may need to replace the carpet. If he’d really heard and taken to heart the concerns of the conservative base on immigration, the state of Arizona would not have had to enact the recent laws they passed to preserve and protect the citizens. Had Mr. McCain heard the cries of Arizonans he wouldn’t have needed the likes of us to flood Washington D.C. with faxes, e-mails, and phone calls to stop his ludicrous shamnesty bill. His remarks on illegal immigration today said nothing, nada, ziltch about how to fix it. The people of Arizona elected him and he failed them miserably. Securing the borders is meaningless, until the breaking of federal law is addressed. You want fantasy? The border fence is fantasy!
Maybe his mouth has “moved in our direction” but there’s nothing in reality that means anything. It’s pure fantasy to think otherwise.
Wasn’t complaining, just stating fact. The only ones complaining are the doofs who thrust a dog of a candidate on the GOP - they’re furious no one wants to vote for the dog. That’s their mistake and no one else’s. They bare the entirety of the blame for what will be a massive McCain loss in November. They can’t blame the voting populace for their very bad candidate’s defeat.
I voted for Romney in my state’s primary but if Fred was still in it, I would have voted for him.
If McCain’s the nominee, that’s who I’ll vote for because I’m not a one issue voter. Sometimes you have to make the best out of a bad situation. You’re not always going to get the outcome you want but you have to keep working at it.
Mookie: I said NOTHING about POW injuries! If you have information that indicates that the length of his arms were “altered” by North Vietnamese doctors or torturers, please share it with me, and I’ll apologize for hurting your feelings. (I have never heard that arms get shortened by being broken…mine haven’t!) Otherwise, accept it for what it was…a comparison about his lack of vision, nothing more.
What was the Straw Poll (Seen in the pics) for?? Between Hillary, McCain or Obama….short straw gets first crack at destroying AMerica???
Someone help me out.. which language should I start learning?? Spanish or Arabic.. after 4 years with one of these as president..one of those languages will be the prevalent one here.
HMMM?
Folks, we can whine all you want, or we can DO SOMETHING.
If you want to continue as a lot of the posts above adn give up, then we can sit on our hands and resign ourself to Billary or Obambi or an unreformed unbound unrestrained McCain. Griping and moaning the whole way.
Or you can do something about it by making sure our conservative principles form the GOP platform.
“Doing something” does not mean you have to vote for McCain (I’m still not convinced), but a platform fight is our ONLY way of hitting the GOP back where the McCanaanites would feel it without completely surrendering control to the Country Club Repubs.
The *one* battle for us is the platform. Put planks there about Immigration. Border. Taxes. Judges. Global Warming Hoax.
A platform fight is our last chance at salvaging anything from this mess of a year.
Remember, the first step in getting a mule’s attention is getting a 2 by 4.
Grab your 2 by 4 Conservative Plank of choice (immigration, border, taxes, judges, global warming, etc), and help pound it into the GOP Party Platform - and from there up-side McCain’s maverick head to fully get his attention.
You have to ask yourself:
Are we “Conservatives” who will “take our ball and go home”, or are we Reagan Conservatives who will fight for our principles and get them firmly nailed to the GOP Platform? Its the only thing left.
Its time for that last battle in the fight for the heart of the party. Do you have the guts?
If you have the guts, grab a “plank” and start swinging like Buford Pusser.
We have 6 months to beat some sense into the party and McCain.
Hey Vince, I would have voted for Fred or Romney as well. Our primary hasn’t happened yet here in PA. We have RINOs like Specter and assorted congressmen so I’m pretty much sick of the representation we’ve been subjected to. There comes a time when one has to ask, why am I throwing my money away supporting a party that likes to piss down my back and then tries to tell me its raining? Nope, with McCain getting the nomination, he has just saved me $2,000 in political donations.
Now that the race is over, I can now switch from republican to “no affiliation”. I am through with the battered wife syndrome the “liberal” republicans likes to dish out as described by jellytoast over at Hot Air. Good bye GOP.
Really, he made three attempts at repackaging the same legislation all based on back room deals to give some 30 million illegal’s citizenship as well as retro active SS benefits to criminals that broke into our homeland.
He has no intention of enforcing the border and there are two very telling indicators that he will not.
One he got together with Kay Baily Hutchison to add an amendment that allowed DHS not to build or enforce the Secure Fence Act of 2006 the same day if was prevented from being passed in the Senate. 75 miles of fence have been built that is not dual layer and it is useless in preventing border crossings.
Two, he appointed Juan Hernandez to his campaign.
His own Republican Party in Arizona does not back him and they attempted to recall him with a proposition drive. “In the Unacceptable Category 427 out of 721 (59%) of the delegates declared McCain as one of their unacceptable candidates.”
You can drink the GOP kool aid, that is your right, but please stop with the delusions of grandeur.
The facts about this man are overwhelming. He has been out to sabotage or destroy the RNC with the help of the Rockefeller Republicans. He is a member of the CFR that want to create a North American Union and giving an Amnesty is crucial to the plan.
IMHO-This whole RNC election primary was rigged from top to bottom starting in Florida with a Republican Governor Christ allowing independents to vote for McCain and a back room deal with the Huckster. If you think that W Virginia was an accident you are naive. California had massive voter fraud too where registered republicans went to the polls to find they had already voted or their registration was changed to independent preventing them from casting a ballot for the primaries.(See Rodger Hedgecock’s website)Not a peep from the MSM BTW
Of course, I cannot file a complaint with the FEC because it has been shut down just in time for this election. I did not get my presidential ballot on election day and was prevented from casting my absentee vote except for the propositions. I was denied the Presidential vote and had to request a provisional ballot. Here is a youtube video demonstrating another RNC voter that was disenfranchised.
Do you think it is any coincidence that the FEC has been shut down just in time for our elections?
Until the CPAC speech that John McCain gave today, I had no inclination to vote for anyone for President for 2008. Thanks to his speech I have now changed my mind. I’m going to vote for Obama because he will be the second coming of Jimmy Carter. The speech John McCain gave was very weak and the part that got me to change my mind on voting (or the lack of) is the fact that he loaded CPAC with his supporters. The slime ceasesly gushes off that man. Today started the Chinese New Year and it’s the Year of the Rat, how fitting!
With the empty suit in office, Barrack would be one huge debacle just like Carter was and the lovefest for him will be over. Hopefully, just hopefully a Reagan will arise to the challenge in 2012. Maybe a DeMint/Jandal or DeMint/Watts ticket.
As of today, John McCain will be finished because of his former scandels will be shown to the ones who never knew of them. The muzzles are coming off and Hillary will unleash the newshounds on him. It will be a slaughter and they will gorge themselves on his fetid flesh. There will be no way for the GOP to shield from their merciless attacks starting with the Keating 5. He is the media’s darling no more.
If the MSM was able to deep six George Allen over use of the word “Macaca” just you wait until they unload on McCain for saying GOOK!
People keep saying he’ll appoint a Conservative Supreme Court Justice but yet Warren Rudman “the man who helped get Justice David Souter (LIBERAL) appointed to the Supreme Court while George H W Bush was in office” is in McCain’s campaign.
People keep saying that he learned his lesson about giving amensty to ILLEGALS but yet Juan “Mexico First” Hernandez is in McCain’s campaign.
You can tell a lot about a person by the people they surround themselves with.
Lastly, I’ll leave a quote from George W Bush. “We have a saying here in Texas, Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice and you won’t get fooled again.”
Conservatism is dead! Long Live Conservatism!
I actually feel physically ill.
No need to feel sick nyc, all things come to pass. It all works out in the end. Have Faith.
I have said that I could enthusiastically support Romney, Thompson, McCain and Giuliani in the general election. They are all fine men. I was heartbroken Giuliani lost, but am immediately backing McCain.
We have 2 options at this point.
1) Tear McCain’s eyes out, ensuring a Hillary Clinton victory and pure misery for conservatives.
Or, we can…
2) Shut up, knock it off, and FALL INTO LINE! After he wins, conservatives can then fight him when he is wrong.
President George W. Bush is a good man, but conservatives took him to the woodshed on steel tariffs, Harriet Myers, and other areas of concern. As a reward, we got Sam Alito.
Do none of the right wingers in this country remember 1992? Conservatives savaged the first President Bush, stayed home, and were rewarded with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Yes he was wrong to screw over the gun owners, and he also raised taxes. So instead we got somebody who was worse on guns and taxes, and virtually every other issue.
Logical reasoning must trumpet raw emotion. We can work with McCain, or face a Clinton even worse than the first one.
So for those who are teetering over the cliff of sanity, again…
Knock it off!
FALL…INTO…LINE!
Terrorists everywhere hope that pettiness rules the day, allowing us to sabotage a man who would ruthlessly kill them everywhere.
We are at war, and we need a republican President that is hard right on the war.
John McCain is that man.
I pray that those on the right wake up and realize that something beats less than nothing.
Respectfully,
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
http://www.blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com
I feel almost like a battered wife being told by her abusive husband (McCain and the GOP establishment) how he has changed and wants me back after his pretty sounding speech. Packing the front of the room with your supporters does not convince me at all. Thanks Michelle for giving us a better perspective from the back of the room.
The only way he will get me onboard is by actions not nice sound bites with conservative sounding principles. Like a abused woman that has had enough this time I will not go back to the GOP or support McCain. Actions speak louder than words and he has still surrounded himself with people like Juan Hernandez. I am just waiting for him or the GOP to turn and slap conservatives around again. This conservative is not willing to hold my nose and get slapped in the face for supporting the party ever again.
The cycle of abuse stops here!
I encourage everybody to do what they feel they should. But my guess is that you’d have better luck beating your head against the wall for 6 months. As for pounding, well, McCain has told the grassroots base to go pound sand….
Boomer said
That had to confuse Mcinsane being in the front of the room and not in the back room.
My back is still bleeding from McCain /Kennedy, and now he’s reaching out to me?
This is the same fool who spent months trying to convince us that amnesty wasn’t amnesty. No thanks. I’ll just write in somebody.
Boo.
I find it funny how people keep saying take one for the team. They forget to tell you that you are taking it up the rear.
Well said Boomer. With all due respect to Blacktygrrrr, I will not fall in line for a back stabber like McCain.
There is a very ominous feel about this quote coming from this man. It meant one thing for Edmund Burke and the classical liberals. In our times, and I believe McCain as a liberal democrat would agree, it has a quite different implication: your liberty (life and property) will be at the mercy of my and my friends notions of social justice.”
Be afraid, be very afraid.
Translated into English, this is what he said:
“I take back nothing I have said or done in the past. If you don’t like it, tough. It will be easier to win with you, of course, but I and my democrats friends will do it without you. I owe you nothing.”
“Sure I ‘respect’ the differences between us, but so what? That and ten bucks will get you a latte at Starbucks. Deal with it. You’re losers. You should be used to it by now.”
“You are basically what we establishment Republicans refer to as ‘bright, shiny object conservatives.’ We dangle a little tax cut here, a little right to life there, a Reagan this or a Reagan that and you coo and smile and fall for it every time. Give us a break. You have no where to go, so why should any of us kid you? If you were really activists, really determined to change the party, you would be out in the streets or would have taken over the party and run us out of town years ago. In other words, you would be democrats. But you aren’t, you’re stuck with us, so forget it. The Republican establishment is your master and will do whatever it wants or wishes with you — and with little imagination you know what that is. And there is not a damn thing you will do about it. So boo freakin’ hoo!”
Zorro,
I want to make it crystal clear that I respect the people that disagree with me.
Your passion runs deep, as does mine.
We must win the War on Terror, and we must defeat Hillary Clinton.
Also, the Supreme Court matters.
Respectfully,
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
Tygrrrr, It’s going to be Obama in the general. Youth vs Age. Left Vs. Left. Which wins? Obama is actually getting the young voters to actually vote! There is real momentum there that is going to be hard for a cranky a$$ oldtimer to overcome. Especially when he’s busy beating his base over the head with his cane.
Conservatives need to keep fighting and have faith (I agree, Zorro).
I am as sad as anyone about Romney. I was at work today, when I heard about his resignation,and could not comment before now.
I can only hope McCain chooses wisely in his VP—someone who will help us unite and fight against Hillary or Obama.
It is still not too late, GOP. It is not the race we wanted to run, but it is the one we have to win, and the race that is set before us (borrowing from Hebrews 12:1). Things happen for a reason, although we don’t see it now.
I don’t like McCain, but am going to see what happens. Romney took the high road today, unlike Huckabee. He saw the writing on the wall and has set himself up for the next race.
I am hoping for a good VP ticket now (not Crist, not Graham, not Lott, not anyone divisive in immigration).
Romney or Thompson would make great VP’s.Condi Rice is another that would seal the deal for me.
McVain will give him the more than an F-bomb next time (besides Cornyn was a shamnesty traitor…forget him)
I’m right there with you, Michelle. Actions speak louder than words.
Faith, someone once said, is believing in things that just ain’t so.
I simply have no idea why people believe this liberal democrat war-hero is going to appoint conservatives to the Supreme Court. It is not going to happen. The first thing he will do (just like any other democrat) is consult with Ted Kennedy. He will be consulting with Ted Kennedy a lot, just as he has in the past. Then the Republicans will get behind McCain’s, sorry, I mean Ted Kennedy’s choice(s). End of story.
The man is a liar and a bully. No good will come from him as president.
Is the rumor true that McCain is considering Elvira Arellano as a running mate?
Where do I get an Obama blog banner? I’m serious.
Condhimmi Rice would be your conservative choice for VP?
BarryF, McCain is going to have to work very, very hard to win me over.
He is going to have to say the right things, for starters, answers to Jeff Sessions ideas about illegal immigration
…..as I am in my mid sixties, I don’t worry so much about myself anymore, but I am deeply saddened and depressed at the prospects that lie ahead for my 4 kids and 4 grandchildren…..
This is not the country that I grew up in in the 50s: National pride, work ethic, strong families, very low divorce rate, stay at home Moms, decent Hollywood movies and TV, people going to church, neighborhood picnics, one American car in the driveway, ‘57 Chevy Convertibles, board games with Mom & Dad in the evening, the senior prom in the HS gym….. No internet, no cell phones, no Iphones, very little Hollywood trash, no gay issues, no Hondas or Toyotas, no CDs or DVDs……
I watched Romney and McCain’s speech today. I made sure that I had a television at work.
I live in northern Michigan where jobs are sparse in the winter.
So there I was installing a floor for six dollars an hour and Romney comes on. I stopped to listen (I support Romney), and I was shocked to hear what he ultimately wound up saying. I was heartbroken
I don’t know what it is about Romney, but I have always felt that he was the right man for the job. Even though the campaign rhetoric became boring I understood that it’s hard to keep a message fresh and innovative for such a long period of time, during a rapid fire primary season.
My gut instinct told me that Romney would lean down the government spending machine, and spend money only where needed.
I am not a tax and spend republican. But I felt that if the pork could be reigned in and the long term entitlements could be gotten under control that maybe someday there could be legitimate Renaissance Zones around the country that could BORROW from the government with the caveat that the money is paid back with interest over an agreed upon period of time.
Isn’t that America investing in Americans? Wouldn’t a program like that with the proper accountabilities be an asset to our national infrastructure.
I would rather see depressed regions loaned money by Americans to Americans, than money gifted with no plan.
These people will eventually pay taxes.
I would not want a program like this run by the government. I would like to see a coalition of local corporations submit a regional business plan and then have that plan run through a group of bankers and accountants that would judge the plan on it’s merits and feasibility.
Anyway I digress. Romney made a statement that made me feel so outraged that I had to sit down and endure a wave of loathsome disgust.
“Today a report came out that most government workers make more money than the average American, and the government unions are constantly demanding more for less”.
“are we to become the next France?”
His comments about the moral principals of a close knit family (and to me that also means a close knit country) really hit home.
People up here in NW Michigan help each other. We know when someone is in need. We don’t wait for them to ask for help. They won’t. And there are to many areas around the country that are in the same boat.
We go to their home and leave food in their refrigerator, and sometime in the near future we get paid back.
When McCain came on to speak later in the day I felt like it was all a big joke to him. He has no passion. He is scripted. His heart and mind don’t sync. And when he bragged that he was known as a Maverick I wanted to jump through the television screen and grab him out into the real world of the common man who wants independence and a real job.
To the republican candidate I say this to you:
WE WILL WORK! GIVE US JOBS!!! NOT WELFARE!!!
PRCalDude, I have a lot of respect for Condi Rice. She is not my first choice, but I’d rather have her than Crist, Grahamnesty, or Lott-sa other Southern politicians. McCain had better choose a conservative (not Huckabeast, either).
I am chosing faith and hope (not Hope, Arkansas) over despair at this point. I am not a quitter.
They still don’t get it. Folks like McCain and O’Reilly are saying build the fence now and “take care of the 12-15 million later” meaning fence now, amnesty later. The message they refuse to hear is fence now, amnesty NEVER.
I wasn’t finished, hit submit instead of preview, however I think you get the drift…. I’m off to the fridge for a beer or two and some college BB.
winmkr, thanks for the above comments as I can tell they are heartfelt. I was sad,too. Keep fighting for these principles.
Thanks blacktygrrrr, the respect is mutual. I appreciate and enjoy reading you words here at this great community Michelle has provided.
As little as a year ago, I would agree with you on this issue. But in my view, McCain has shown himself dishonest not trustworthy. I hope if he is elected he will appoint conservative judges but I doubt he will. I just don’t trust him.
It’s obvious that the battle for immigration (and conservative values in general) has been lost at the presidential level.
I plan to put my energy into fighting the battle in the legislature. We’ve already told one President where to stick his amnesty plan, why can’t we do the same to the next President?
It’s time I started supporting Jim Ogonowski in his bid to unseat John Kerry in Massachusetts.
Thanks Lindsay, keeping the Faith will bring us to victory in the end. As Michelle has pointed out in an earlier post, there is more at stake than just the top of the ballot. I will keep fighting for conservative causes and candidates, just not as a republican.
Nice list, I’m in my mid-60’s also and I am so thankful to have lived during those times. It more than makes up for being old now. My kids, however, have a future that is not going to be the pleasant experience I had, not even close.
I cannot believe I am hearing this: maybe we should give him a chance BS. Sorry, but McCain will have to change 180 for me to ever vote for him. Again, I would rather have 4 years of CArter like and then a real conservative. He will loose anyway, the guy can barely speakm he has no life in him, it reminds me of watching weekend at Bernies. One caveat, if Mitt is his VP, I will consider voting for this man, hoping Mitt becomes president.
AS TO STRATEGY: The dems ruined our primaries by voting in them when theirs didn’t reall count. So, why don’t we return the favor? Screw theirs up. I still have not voted in TX. Only question: should I vote for Hillary or Obama? Since I cannot hold my nose and vote for McCain, I am thinking, vote for Obama since I really don’t think this guy will ever get elected in a national election: he stands for nothing and he has no bill clinton to sweeten the deal for some people. Any thoughts?
These comments really are getting out of hand. Strong opinions are expected but this descent into adolescent obscenity and vituperation is what I’d expect from commentators at DemUnderground or DKos. One of the reasons I am a Republican is that I believe in a set of values that include a respect for decency and honest disagreement. Civilized freedom of political discourse is supposed to be what we stand for. Otherwise the whole contest between us and the other side becomes as pointless as a Junior High popularity contest. The stakes are real here. My disagreements with Senator McCain’s positions on issues as important as McCain-Feingold and Amnesty are serious. Anyone who helps the Socialists to argue that Conservatives are either ineffective elitists or ignorant reactionaries is providing ammunition to the enemy. My argument is not with someone like Ann Coulter who says she will not vote for McCain. That is a defensible position and strident advocacy is her job. Besides she is so cute. Those who claim to be on the side of liberty however who engage in abusive diatribes on blogs like this are “creating a hostile environment” and doing a greater cause a terrible disservice.
I’ve been writing my Govenor and State Senators and Representatives to pass the Oklahoma and Arizona imigration laws but I am one guy in a sea of liberals, but it has’nt stopped me from taking action in my own state. I believe that is how it will have to be done because I don’t think it’s going to happen at the federal level.
Forgotten Jorge Boosh already? He, until it was too late the darling of the MainStreamBlogger/”Conservatives” (how many times have we seen rants decrying “BDS?”), was the poster boy for throwing the borders wide open.
I guess the True Believers will continue to trash the imperfect (but better than the Democrat alternatives) McCain until they have destroyed him.
Sad. Unhelpful. Childish. Destructive.
This seems like backsliding am I the only one that notices that a Clinton or McCain presidency, will put us in the Reverse position? I was watching Comedy Central, Jon Stewart had on Tom Brokaw they call McCain a moderate and they are so happy, that he is going to take back the Republican party, from the far conservative right. So what does that tell me, Democrats like McCain, who they believe is a Moderate Republican. I don’t need a Liberal endorsement from the opposing party.
I’m still holding out hope that somehow Obama can beat Hillary.
If Hillary is President, I guarantee Bill will be on the Supreme Court before the end of her first term. Think of how much damage he could do to the Constitution from that position.
Sorry mate, McCain is not MY nominee. I’m now an Independent Conservative. I don’t see MY nominee anywhere. The RNC has to do better to get my vote.
Condi Rice?
Condi Rice??
Condi I Know What It’s Like to Be Palestinian Rice?
Let’s just cut to the chase.
As of now, the illegals will overcome and overpower our country.
It’s OVER.
There is nothing we can do to stop it.
We have tried and failed.
Conservative values are no longer followed in Washington by the GOP.
They have betrayed the very party that voted them into office.
I will not vote for McCain.
I will pass on voting for a presidential candidate.
Then I can live with myself knowing that I did not go against my principles.
Is McCain better than Hillary?
No. Equal pods with different size peas…..that’s it.
Same here.
People have been saying that we have to vote for McCain because of the Supreme Court, without mentioning that he would need the support of a Republican Senate in order to get conservative justices appointed. At the moment, it looks like the Senate will be at least as Democratic as it is now, so even if McCain were to be elected he’d be far more likely to appoint a Kennedy or Souter than a Roberts or Scalia.
And if we did get a conservative/Republican majority in the Senate, that would likely compel whomever is President to nominate a right-leaning candidate for the Court. So focus on the Congressional elections now, especially the Senate ones.
Michelle,
Any idea where the rent a mob of McCain supporters came from?
I see some McCain people are already trying to stop free speech, tellign us what we can/should and what we SHOULD NOT write. I have not read anything immature on this blog, not at all. Most of the comments are on substance and most people on this blog are CONSERVATIVES, NOT repubicans. So, please don’t tell us what to say or how to think. As far as I can tell, McCain is not president yet and he has not pushed any laws regulating what we can say on the Internet, when it is consructive, and even if it were not. Comments like the speech hampering ones only make me much less inclined and SCARED to ever cast a vote for the like of McCain.
Hey gayle, it ain’t over–conservatism. I understand your not voting for McCain, as I feel that way alternating with “no, I will fight against the Democrats.” True McCain Derangement Syndrome.
I firmly believe this is how conservatism will be reborn.
I can only be depressed for so long, now going on 24 hours, without a spirit of optimism and fight taking over that feeling.
I will go down fighting. I may not vote for McCain, but I will not give up on conservatism or fighting against illegal immigration and the liberal bias of this country.
Our ancestors fought against much worse, so I get that in perspective.
Don’t quit.
I’ll vote for some of the other offices but for president, I cannot vote McCain. I’ll write in Fred Thompson or give it to the dem side.
Think about it, everyone pretty much backed up Bush. Do we want everyone to fold to McCain when he tries to push amnesty *again* or when he tries something worse.
You know he will do it, look how many times MM had to put up that night of the living shamnesty stuff. It will come back, and we wont be able to stop it.
Oh, and the McCain-bots “shut up” style comments only tell me that this guy and his people not only don’t plan to come our way one little bit (to conservatism) but continue to insult us and think that fear against the libs will make us vote for him. FEAR WILL NOT MOTIVATE ME, EVER. Bring it on baby! So the more you try to make me afraid of Hillary or Obama, the less likely I am to vote for your guy, McCain. He is unacceptable, PERIOD. Get used to it. HE is not changing his 20 year style of hating and working against conservatives. We are not changing either. Myself for one, I am no longer a republican. I am a conservative, that is it. the GOP means nothing to me. Adios GOP! I will only vote for conservatives, for any office.
i will vote in November. since i am in the PRC, i have the luxury of seeing how things are going back east befor i vote after w*rk.
if the Dem is rolling over McLame, i will vote Libertarian, even though they tend to be crazier than a bedbug about certain things.
if it’s close, i will vote for the Democratic candidate. better either of those obviously untrustworthy morons than the “Psycho Rino”. at least my back will be safe because Hildabeast & Hussein will stab me from the front “for my own good”.
i will then come home & have a few drinks…..*strong* drinks.
#31 — They would have had no amnesty bill to vote for in the first place if McCain hadn’t invented and pushed it.
Nope, if McCain had won the day, his give-away-America-Amnesty would have gone on to the President for signing into as law. But again, without McCain the Senate ringleader driving it to the point of insane obsession, there would be no Amnesty bill to sign at all. So you’re back to square one with that diversion attempt.
LOL, “imperfect” - another diversion - sorry, but you’ll need a better strawman that that, lad.
Johnny’s on his own course to self-destruct in November, he doesn’t need any help. We can only hope he doesn’t take out too many good, reliable congressmen/women with him on his way to McGovern-like irrelevancy.
I fail to see how anyone that claims to be a conservative can claim to a republican…they are no longer the same.
Once again “I did not leave the party, the party left me”
McCain’s a liar on the hard conservative issues and those congressional supporters are no better. Lost a lot of respect for Coburn and Allen today…be hard to trust either of them again.
McCain is still playing dirty…
in Washington D.C.
With this commercial
http://gretawire.foxnews.com/2008/02/07/this-is-a-giant-waste-of/
I’m a conservative, and I’m still doing a Snoopy dance about Romney dropping out.
MAC IS BACK!
Sorry, y’all…there ARE conservatives for McCain. Maybe you should step out of the echo chambers and you’ll see why.
THAT would be a nice silver lining, wouldn’t it?
Numbers 16 - for those of you who need a bit of comic relief.