John McCain endorses Hillary’s “good character, honesty, integrity”
John McCain is incapable of disagreeing with strict immigration enforcement activists without lambasting their character, honesty, and integrity. We’re “nativists” and Jim Crow-style racists who should just “f**k” off. He couldn’t help sneering at former GOP rival Mitt Romney’s business experience as dishonorable and greedy. And his personal vindictiveness toward GOP Hill staffers who have opposed his positions is well-known.
Contrast this treatment of people in his own party with McCain’s treatment of his supposed ideological opposite, Hillary Clinton. Yesterday, McCain was asked about his comment three years ago that Hillary would make a “good president.” If his explanation of the remarks to George Stephanopoulous is supposed to “calm down” conservatives, the McCain camp is 1) more out of touch with reality than I imagined, and 2) hurtling towards a repeat of the 1996 Dole/Kemp disaster faster than I imagined. When Hillary’s Democrat rival, Barack Obama, is doing a better job of attacking the ethically-challenged, truth-challenged, integrity-challenged Clintons than the GOP presidential front-runner, we are in deep doo-doo.
Here are the vid and transcript. Watch, read, cringe, discuss:
Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain of Arizona sat down with George Stephanopoulos on “This Week” today for a wide-ranging interview.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You’re a superstitious man.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: Let me say that I’m the luckiest man. You know, I don’t like to use superstitious. I just feel that I’m very lucky, and I like to have things that make me luckier.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So when was the first moment you let yourself believe “I’m going to be the nominee”?
MCCAIN: I haven’t yet.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You haven’t yet?
MCCAIN: Well, I think we’ve got to go through it. I think we’ve got a very good shot at it. I’m optimistic. But I think the time to do that is when [former Arkansas] Governor [Mike] Huckabee and the party decides that I am the nominee. He’s still in the race, and he said he’s going to stay in, and I respect that. So we’ll compete.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Back in 2005, you said, “I have no doubt that Sen. [Hillary] Clinton would make a good president.”
MCCAIN: Well, look, here’s — Sen. Clinton and I are sitting next to each other, and we’re asked, “Would she,” quote, “be a good president?” She would be a good president in the respect that I think she has integrity, I think she has all of the qualities that are necessary, but she has a very different philosophical view, the liberal Democratic view, than I have, which is conservative Republican.
So when you say “good,” she’s a good person. But we have strong differences in our views of government. I think she is a very good person. I think that Sen. [Barack] Obama is a good person.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But not good presidents?
MCCAIN: They certainly wouldn’t make the kind of president that I would be or I wouldn’t be running. You see my point? It’s not a, quote, “good.” I think they would work hard. I think they would be dedicated to the things that they believe in and stand for. I just have different fundamental philosophical views than they do.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But it sounds like you wouldn’t say the same thing today?
MCCAIN: I would say that they would be good in the respect they’re people of good character, honesty, integrity, when you look at that. Would they be good from a governing standpoint? Certainly not what I would do for this country.
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Jayzus. Is this all the GOP has to offer us in 2008? A illegal immigration pimp with a bad case of mood swings?
Ann Coulter: In 2006 — the most recent year for which ratings are available — McCain’s ACU rating was 65. That year, the ACU rating for the other senator from Arizona, Jon Kyl, was 97. Even Chuck Hagel’s ACU rating was 75, and Lindsey Graham’s was 83.
Since 1998, only four Republican senators have had worse ACU scores than John McCain — and none were from Goldwater country: Lincoln Chafee, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter. The last time McCain ranked this far down in his class, he was at the Naval Academy.
Does anyone wonder why I could vote for Hillary now?
I think we need more than the nose plugs being offered.
May I recommend this outfit in November.
Voting Attire
Politicians. It all depends on what you think “good” is, or was, when I said it then, not now.
Yes, we are. Thank you GOP.
I disagree with you Michelle.
Which I rarely do I might add.
I think John McCain is the SILVER TONGUE DEVIL extraordinaire.
He’s actually the cloth that the Democrat presidential candidates have cut themselves out of. He’s old style politician.
Distorting, Mischaracterizing and making patently False Statements is Routine and Standard Operating Procedure for any accomplished veteran politician.
The difference between 1996 and 2008 is we are at War now no matter how much the democrats try to deny or ignore that fact. I believe that at least 51% of Voters will be focusing on that aspect knowing that the Democrats own defeat and hate the military.
You’re not voting for Hillary Clinton Michelle for one reason and that’s to keep Bill Clinton out of the White House. I also don’t think you’re going to get the opportunity either for another reason and that’s “Obamamania”. The Party of the ignorant masses is going to nominate him.
I believe the Vice President selection on the Republican Ticket is going to carry much more weight this year than in any elections years past.
I miss you on Friday nights O’Reilly show Michelle.
aj …
Right on … I already have my gas mask and said so weeks ago here …
DesertLover prediction for the November election script is as follows:
1) Obama and Hillary neither one have enough delegates to win the Dem-o-crap nomination before the convention …
2) Clintons steal the nomination using a combination of super delegate votes and then getting the delegates counted from Florida and Michigan for Hillary …
3) Despite lack of conservative backing McCain wins in a landslide due to GOP anti-Clinton vote combined with all the disenfranchised and cheated Dem-o-crap voters against her over how she stole the nomination …
Hide and watch … Clinton tactics are predictable … but this time there will be a backlash like none they have ever seen before and that they can’t overcome for a change …
How would Mccain match up against the Goracle? There is still some speculation that Albore might end up the dem nominee. God help us. At least McCain would pursue the GWOT and “perhaps” even pick more conservative judges. Some talk that he would like Condi Rice as Veep. That’s great- she fits right in with the Arabist State Dept. kiss-muslim- butts set. But would she been seen as an aunt jemina/thomasina by blacks and women voters? In any case, it sure looks like a Senator as next POTUS. Ugh- what former senators have not sucked as Prez?
Just when I had convinced myself to swallow & vote for McCain this interview, and immigration lite came up. Calling Hillary & Obama persons of integrity just means that McCain (Keating 5) still either has no understanding or no committment to integrity. So we have three ethically-challenged contenders for the White House. I couldn’t believe that he praised them for “working hard”. I’m sure Stalin and Hitler worked hard too. He’s even worse than I thought he was, and with this, coupled with his disdain for conservatives, I’m sitting this one out. I think we’ll be better in the long run.
OT-
dl, I must have missed that somehow, As you know the pic is one of our finest (a navy seal) and thats how I used to change my daughters diapers minus the gun.
I’m planning a trip to your area for a spring training game and will coordinate details with you in the near future to share a ballgame and a hot dog.
The choices are what they are, Michelle. John McCain is going to be our candidate.
Yes, hes’ a moderate and of course you don’t want a moderate to represent the party. I suppose you can continue to rant like this all the way through November, but what good does it do?
He was chosen through a legitimate election process and he has a very high rating across the board in the conservative party, according to the latest from the Pew Research Center. The only people who refuse to back him are the petulant evangelicals on the right who are angry that he doesn’t pander to them.
This conservative is suggesting that you get over it, move on, and stop working so hard to divide the party.
Get behind our candidate even if you don’t like him, Michelle, and show your support to our troops and their families (who I can tell you know exactly what is at stake here, could care less about the fragile ego of the conservative right, and are becoming very angered and distressed by this kind of divisive talk).
Lifetime appointments of liberal judges, the upholding of Roe v. Wade for the next decade at least, more gun control, a military pullout in the Middle East that would bring dirty bombs and biological warfare on our shores. Are you really willing to bring all that to pass, Michelle? Is that the world that you want your children to live in, and mine? Think about it.
We are at war, and the threat from radical Islamic fundamentalism is very real. This is a critical election and we need a Republican in the White House, not a Socialist enabler. Let’s get him elected first, and THEN we can work on the issues.
Anything less would be patently irresponsible.
Whining endlessly about J.M. because you feel “disenfranchised” is unbecoming and very immature, in my opinion.
He’s not the perfect conservative candidate, yeah we get that.
You need to let it go.
mmm… tasty… we can vote for an old school pol that mischaracterizes, distorts and lies… or we can vote 3rd party or a dem.
back in his POW days was McCain ever offered the choice of the Lady or the Tiger?
Since McCain is a RINO, we have to pray his VP choice will be a good grass-root conservative. We know that McCain will open the borders, roll over for democrat FISA regulations, and extend the monstrous education bills on which he worked with the demorcrats. We know that he will not push for drilling in ANWR and he will not worry about stifling the free speech with the Feingold debacle.
But we have to get this POS elected to keep Hillary and Obama out of the White House.
Then can impeach McCain and boot his butt to wherever and let his VP take over.
Stop kvetching and whining about McCain alrealdy.
It’s getting old and does nothing to prevent the Socialists from taking over the Country.
Anyone who puts this:
in the same sentence to with Bill or Hillary Clinton, CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO RUN AMERICA because they apparently have a DISCERNMENT problem.
Hence why he still will not get my vote.
Michelle:
I really enjoy your blog. Your commentary is usually courageous and on-target. But you are wrong with this post. He was sitting right next to Clinton, for God’s sake. The question was a set-up by Stephanopolous, and if McCain had attacked her she would have been able to be the bigger person, blather on about ending “the politics of personal destruction,” changing the tone in Washington, etc. McCain neutralized that by his response. Couldn’t you see that Stephanopolous wasn’t happy with McCain’s answer? He kept going in for the kill (”But not a good president?”), hoping to get the nasty sound bite followed by Hillary’s “dignified” response. That line of questioning was classic Stephanopolous-as-a-Clinton-campaigner questioning.
While McCain may be wrong on some key issues, he is far more right than either Clinton or Obama. The next president will likely make 3 Supreme Court appointments. THINK ABOUT THAT. Imagine the nominees Clinton and Obama will give us. Can you say Sharia law? Come on, Michelle, get over your McCain enmity and remember what’s at stake in this election. So you didn’t get someone you agree with on immigration (though I do believe he now understands what the American people will and will not accept); you did get someone who wants to fight the war on terror and not surrender. That position alone doesn’t just distinguish McCain from Clinton and Obama, it makes him the only choice a reasonable American could make. Frankly, as Obama rises and continues to hold the rapture of the media, I am becoming scared. An Obama presidency will be such an utter disaster for American liberty and prosperity that I can’t imagine anyone in the conservative camp not fully supporting McCain. I was never a McCain fan, but HE IS THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN US AND A CLINTON OR OBAMA PRESIDENCY. Get on board, Michelle!
Stop kvethching? McCain is a poor candidate. He still hasn’t been adequately questioned about his latino outreach “Mexico First”, Juan Hernandez.
I am not so sure anymore. We have the worst congress in history and only have presidential contenders from this group of misfits. We made it through Clinton, we made it through the amnesty last year. If the American people band together like we did for amnesty, we can stop any president from ruining our nation. How much does it matter who is in office, when all three are so similar?
I read his answers as the comments any Senator would make about his colleagues.
It is political language and McCain seems to be trying to outsmart the media. Perhaps he is waiting for the next volley from either the Hillary or Obama camp, and is setting a trap before playing offense. He is trying to be above the fray for now. I don’t think, in a debate, his gloves will be off—or when things start rolling closer to November.
I can try to be optimistic on a Monday…
Seriously, you have got to be joking.
Gee…, I count at least at least four lies there…
aj …
Let me know … am traveling on business some right now … so hopefully I will be in town when you come over … I assume you are planning on taking in a “halo’s” game …
It’s up to the individual to “get on board” with whomever they please, Michelle is a reporter, alot of us wanted the conservatives hosts in all venues to get behind several candidates, maybe the next election it will be different. imho it should be, “go positive” for the best choice and build from there, but to deride them now is unfair. Voters need to pay more attention and be more informed than just watching the media drivin views of so called experts on television.
Just listen to some of the forums and the answers these people give and you know they havent been paying attention to whats going on in Washington.
That, Rose, is wishful thinking. McCain is most adamantly opposed by actual conservatives who know what that term means and have not forgotten it.
He is opposed by people like me, who have said for decades that character matters, and are not about to become hypocrites simply because the party with which we are aligned has offered us a candidate without character.
Others are free to follow their conscience…or their irrational fears.
McCain is NOT a moderate. He is a switch-hitter, which is a great deal more dangerous.
Falling into line is not an option in these circumstances.
We have to make a choice at the polls in November … no matter what we do it is obvious that the options we have available are not overly attractive …
The choice … Rinosaur or Dinosaur …
We get old-school, entrenched, lying, unethical, crapweasel politicians no matter which way it goes …
I don’t need to worry about the media..
I have the cspam video of McCain and crew calling me a racist, a bigot and nativists…
Sorry but McCain is no different than the Clinton’s…they’ll all eat their young to get ahead and HE IS NO DIFFERENT.
Ditto! That sums it up.
So he was for her before he was against her?
I had a little premonition we’d end up in something like this situation way back when Mel “Open Borders” Martinez became Chairman of the RNC.
And, gosh, boys and girls, here we are.
I’m still sitting this one out. Better for a Dem to bring on the looming disaster than someone who claims to be a Repub.
This is not a good man – sorry. He’s very slippery and deceptive – he’ll not convince me he’s a “conservative Rpublican.” Straight talk? Ha!
In the previous lead story thread, I said I’d be cutting and pasting Irish Rose’s synthesis of our arguments in favor of a Reaganesque mindset. I didn’t realize I’d be doing it so quickly.
This is a perfect synthesis of what levelheaded minds have been saying for weeks, now.
Ultimately, what else can be done? Vote third party? Stay home in a snitty hissy-fit? Spiral into ideological madness like Rush Limbaugh on meds and consider voting for Obama? If we want to preserve the potential this country has for returning to the values we hold dear, if we want to have a foundation on which to launch another attack against socialism, if we want the lights of the shining city on a hill that Reagan spoke of – the last thing you do is turn the country over to a small collection of hard-left socialists and watch them destroy it for generations to come with, if nothing else, liberal judges who will turn this country into a nightmare not in years, but months.
We all love you Michelle. We’re here because you’ve been a rallying point, a public lightning rod, around which many of us have gathered; a no-bullsh*t voice of reason who cuts – like only someone from NJ could – through the crap and gets to the fundamental truth of a matter. But I have to agree with the other posters. On this – on slamming McCain when he is clearly the presumptive candidate – knowing what the alternative could be, is, with all due respect, just plain wrong. It depresses Republican morale when we’re already trying to pull ourselves together for the fight of our life; it emboldens our enemies. This is no lecture, Michelle, just a heartfelt plea with a long explanation. We know McCain isn’t perfect. We get it. But this is what we have and this is where we are and the alternative is unacceptable. Now is the time to gather together to ensure victory. Not a perfect victory but good enough. Good enough because we cannot allow the alternative. This helps not a single conservative. We love you, but please Michelle, let it go.
We need to win this thing.
So sad…and so true…!!!
John McCain…conservative…
One of the biggest lies of this new century.
So, are we into character assassination now at MM?
As none of us here know the candidates personally – not even Michelle – I submit that we are not in a position to pass moral judgement on anyones’ character, or suggest that they are lacking in honesty and integrity.
Perhaps the arrogant among us could use a reminder:
“Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way that you judge you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye”. (Matthew 7:1-5)
“Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in that you judge one another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things”. (Romans 2:1-2)
Powerful stuff Rose, and right.
Spare us your sanctimony and delay your up-chucking long enough to answer this question….
but for “ideological purity”, how do you find any support for the values expressed in your points?
Hmmmm…???
Do you honestly figure you will advance conservative values by ignoring them, and attacking those who refuse to ignore them with you?
I may have issues with McCain – but they pale in comparison to how strongly I dislike Clinton or Obama for President. McCain is not the best conservative Republican candidate for President. But put him up against Clinton or Obama and he gets my vote.
Irish Rose,
Oh and before I forget, don’t let anyone accuse you of attacking them when you have every right to express your view by referring to those with whom you disagree is fair generalizations. I know one guy – a real jerk – who consistently attacks first and then cries foul when someone hits back.
We’re trying to save a country here, each of us, in our own way. Don’t back down just because someone gets nasty. That’s how liberal democrats work. It’s unfortunate that some people in our own party work the same way.
Until the media bias is ended, it doesn’t matter which Repub is in office. They will get no support and be blamed for all the ills in the world.
It is McCain’s fault that we can’t trust him, for all of his cross carpet trips to reach out to the loons. McCain will try to be a uniter like Bush and wind up alienating us in his schemes. We need to push all rinos and dinos out of office. When they know they are easily replaced, we will have more of our “We the people” strength back.
Yes Rose, all three have similarities. Look at all the lifetime rinos, it is inevitable. They get infected with the socialist elitist disease when they are on the public dole for so long!
I absolutely despise this guy, and I will NOT accept him as my representative. I hate to say it, but there seems little point continuing a war overseas if we’re just going to open the borders and let them all in at home – I dare say we’ll be needing those soldiers back here to fight the war that will ensue on American soil soon enough.
The only reason McCain has the ‘popular’ vote as IrishRose puts it is because people are settling for him as there is little other option – why do you think Huckabee is doing so well now? It’s not because people want Huckabee, it’s because they don’t want McCain, but they still want to vote Republican.
This is a horrid horrid position to be in, where there is no choice. If I am able, I will write in a ‘no confidence’ vote when it comes to the presidential elections, unless something changes between now and then.
On February 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am,
This is it. No point in getting over-complicated about it. No point in pretending we or anyone has a long-range crystal ball about what will be best for the conservative party in years to come unless they recommend hard work and a nimble mind. No point in listening to people who pretend thay can forecast elections like a prophet.
Perfection is a fantasy.
Keep it simple. Keep it something we can realistically win.
Ragspierre:
Who’s ignoring conservative values?
I do know that we won’t advance conservative values by electing Oh!b♥m♥ or Clint♂n. Despite what anyone may think, Carter did not give us Reagan and Oh!b♥m♥/Clint♂n will not give us Reagan II.
We all know McCain’s Achilles heel is immigration reform. But if that issue is his Achilles, it’s also Oh!b♥m♥/Clint♂n’s Achilles torso.
As I said on another thread, if a man with 100% ratings from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (big business), the National Federation of Independent Businesses (small business), the Club for Growth (supply-siders), a 91% rating from Citizens Against Government Waste and an 88% from the National Taxpayers Union doesn’t make you feel comfortable about his economic policies, you may just be too hard to please.
Kinda reminds you of every rough patch in marriage doesn’t it? Do you SUCK.IT.UP, go to counseling (work for ‘10 and ‘12), and remember that the alternative is a nasty divorce (Oh!b♥m♥/Clint♂n) or do you fantasize about running away with the hot waitress at Chili’s (Hunter/Tancredo) with whom you realistically have no chance?
With all due respect, I disagree. It does matter which Republican is in office, but moreso it matters that a Republican is in office. Hillary or Obama will fill the courts in the wink of an eye with lifetime appointments of far-left socialists – can we agree on that? And that Hillary or Obama will sign anything that Reid and Pelosi put on their desks provided it’s far-left enough – can we agree on that? The media only matters insomuch as it influences elections. The only relevence the media has is that their laft-wing bias makes our job all the harder.
Ronald Reagan had many great words about what conservatives need to do to keep the country he and we love so much free and good and right. The first thing you do is vote for a Republican. He said nothing about perfection. He said nothing about sitting it out or voting third party. Let’s not spit on his legacy by turning this country over to a small clutch of far-left socialists which will destroy in no time everything Reagan held dear.
Join us, Rooster. We’re in the majority but we need everyone to stand together on this.
Tell you what I think, Rags.
I think that there are far too many petulant, self-serving conservatives who “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” (anti-abortion, pro-military, pro-troops, pro-conservative governance)…who are willing to throw all of it aside in an act of complete and utter hypocrisy that is so stunning it defies all logic, when confronted with a candidate who doesn’t “listen to them”.
It’s nothing less than petulant, irresponsible, and frankly… juvenile.
And the more that I see it represented here at MM and elsewhere, the harder I lean towards the center.
Well the next President is going to be a Democrat maybe we should just put their names into a hat and pull one out. I don’t see any difference between them, except in their pandering styles.
On February 18th, 2008 at 8:45 am, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:
Yes, I know who you are talking about.
I’m an LGFer, I’m a redhead, and I’m full blooded Irish… no worries.
If you can’t consider a vote for McCain as a vote against Hillary/Obama then remember this fact …
It is also a vote against George Soros, MoveOn.org, and Kos supporters …
Doesn’t that mean anything folks? …
Dem-o-craps are bad enough … but when those Dem-o-craps are under the control of anti-American zealots such as Soros, who despises America and wants more than anything to bring this country down … you must stand up against those he supports … no matter what the alternative …
Phew! Stands back and gives Irish Rose a little extra room!
And you could not have made my point for me more clearly than that…
When confronted with a candidate who shares none of the values of conservatives who walk the walk and talk the talk our philosophy informs…
we…
GASP…
refuse to support him.
Respectfully, Rose, I think that is where you already live.
On February 18th, 2008 at 9:12 am, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:
Indeed.
I hold myself back, out of respect to our hostess.
Let’s look at the situation: McCain is in a studio with a notorious Dem shill, sitting next to a woman who has all the weapons she needs — scorn, tears, a loose-cannon hubby — to grab undeserved sympathy if anyone disses her, and we’re complaining because he gives a polite answer?
He was supposed to say “no, she’s a deceitful crapweasel and rightfully should be selling yarn in a dry-goods store,” I suppose.
It’s all phony as hell, as anyone who watches the Senate in “action” knows. The alleged respect politicians demonstrate toward one another (except for the Clintons, who will attack anyone if they see the slightest personal gain in doing so) fools no one. But it’s the norm.
Get with the program, MM. The attacks on McCain for anything and everything are beginning to look like a personal vendetta. You’re better than that.
Every day we learn more about the dangers of either a Clinton or Obama presidency. This is no time for slinging small rocks at the one alternative (albeit imperfect) to rampant socialism and surrender to terrorists.
DesertLover,
What do you understand about Soros funding one of McCain’s interest groups…er…policy study groups…?
Geez, guys…
maybe we should do a little history review.
Thought question—
why were Fabian Socialists successful when outright Marxists never were?
Who was Fabian in ancient history, anyhow?
A
Your refusal to compromise is self-serving.
My willingness to compromise comes because I have a son with boots on the ground overseas.
Your arrogant, juvenile petulance has the potential to indirectly cause the deaths of thousands of innocents… my son included.
I compromise, to prevent that from happening.
It’s all a matter of perspective.
You know, Rose, you’re making a good point that never even occurred to me. By being so ideologically driven to the point of throwing in the towel, what sort of example do some among us make for others who may be on the fence when it comes to conservatism? I was once a moderate/liberal if you can call knowing anything enough about anything to be such a thing when you’re only in your late teens/early 20’s. Reagan changed all that for me. I was inspired by his combination of heartfelt sentimentality and non-nonsense pragmatism. Most of all, like the majority in the country, I was inspired by his optimism. If there are no Reagans in our lifetime, we can remember the one we had. But among those who speak publicly for Republicans now, who is passing on his legacy of hope and optimism and no-nonsense practicality to today’s newer generations? You and I and so many others are in the majority, Rose, but if we don’t start pushing Reagan’s example, who will inspire the on-the-fence knuckleheaded youth just coming into adulthood now? All this petulant negativism is doing among some, I imagine, is driving them into the arms of the enemy.
Rose,
if we compromise principle…
for what are we fighting?
Doesn’t it just reduce to a squalid struggle for partisanship’s sake alone?
I hate to say it, but there seems little point continuing a war overseas if we’re just going to open the borders and let them all in at home – I dare say we’ll be needing those soldiers back here to fight the war that will ensue on American soil soon enough.
This is so true. I spent my last 19 years of my Army career in Germany. I even worked for a german UPS firm. If I did not have the proper permission to be in Germany, I could not have worked. I was not asked for any racial or ethnic background when applying to work. The german’s have a novel system, they ask what every job applicant which country are you a citizen of. The reason for strong workplace enforcement is because it opens up all the tax benefits of the german cradle to grave coddling. We are forgetting how massive a problem this illegal invasion is to our country. It is reaching every community by higher taxes, more expensive health care, criminal justice system, anti-assimilation tacticts by the likes of McCain’s Juan Hernandez.
I agree that we can’t protect our own border, why the hell are we still in Iraq? I am retired and love the military, but having been in the states for two years now after retiring, I can only ask…..”What the hell happened to the country I love so much when I started my overseas duty in 1987″?
On target as always, MrScribbler. Practical and down-to-earth.
Ragspierre
I keep occasionally hearing the claim but as yet have not been shown any concrete evidence of what “policy study group” it was and whether or not the support was “open” or fed through some front group that people may or may not have known was Soros financed in advance …
Enlighten me if you can … you know I always try to substantiate things, preferably from multiple sources, before I form an opinion on them …
Ok so let me see if I get this right…. some people on this blog say they’ll never vote McCain – they detest him, his immigration policies suck, he’s more moderate,he’s not conservative enough, he’s a sell out of the Republican party, etc.
So you don’t vote – what does that accomplish? Well, if that helps put Obama or Clinton in office then what do you have? You have 4 years of a socialist, liberal in office. You have someone in office who brings no conservative Republican ideas to the Oval Office. You have someone who now has the power to possibly appoint justices to SCOTUS with a very liberal stance. You have someone who definently doesn’t want to reign in illegal immigration. You have someone that will tax the socks off of all Americans.
By not voting – you’re helping out the Democratic nominee. Now, if that’s your goal because you really want Clinton or Obama as President then I guess you may accomplish that.
There’s no way I can vote for Clinton or Obama in Nov. I disagree with them a lot more than I disagree with McCain.
People are expecting too much from the Presidential nominee – on both sides. No nominee will be perfect or hold all the virtues of their party. No nominee can ever make every voter happy and agree with each voter on their issues.
McCain is a politician. He’s not some heaven sent savior of our government. He’ll say what he needs to say to get as many votes as he possibly can to land himself in the White House. Just like Clinton and Obama will.
But I’d rather put a Republican in office than a socialist Democrat. So I’ll vote McCain to help him out as much a I can and to make sure that I don’t give an edge at all to Clinton or Obama!
Irish Rose,
As you have successfully communicated, clearly on the issue of principle, you don’t throw the country over to those with whom you disagree completely because you find it distasteful to vote for someone with whom you disagree with alot.
It’s going to be a long haul into November, Rose.
#57
Great post!
DesertLover
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56177
I like multiple sourcing.
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/01/25/meet-the-open-borders-family-mccain-hernandez-soros-and-the-reform-institute/
Google Soros funding McCain. Could be all of this comes from a single source, but I believe it is true, anyhow.
So, looks like Mr. You’re All Corrupt BUT NOT ME…
is dirty, dirty, dirty.
Come on, folks…
Why is a Fabian Socialist more dangerous…PROVEN more dangerous…than an outright Marxist?
Somebody step up….
On February 18th, 2008 at 9:30 am, Ragspierre said:
We’re fighting for our survival. Ronald Reagan understood that, and he understood it well. Try to follow his example.
As far as I am concerned, partisanship is everything in this election cycle. It should be to you, too.
A Republican in the White House is absolutely essential to our survival.
I’m not referring to survival of a political party here, I’m talking about our very survival as free people.
A Clinton or Obama administration will cause a catastrophic stripping of our basic freedoms, obliterate our economy, compromise our national security with devestating result, and destroy the fabric of this great nation beyond repair.
Yes, it’s a gloom and doom scenario. But it has come to this.
The very survival of the Western world is on the table, here… and its’ time for reality to trump ego.
Ragspierre
Thanks for the links … will check them out but at the moment headed out the door for the office …
DesertLover,
Some people are trying to make the claim that McCain is corrupt. Suppose for a moment it were to be true, if it could be catagorially proved. I wonder what that means in context? Are we sit out the election out of a sense of moral and ethical purity and let hard-core socialists, also corrupt, destroy everything we love about the United States forever? I’m at a loss to figure out what the practical point is of such people. Can you figure it out, DesertLover?
Who was it that determined that there is only about 4% difference in positions between Hillary and McCain? No matter which of the three get elected, we, Conservatives, and we, our Nation are SCREWED. So, in my estimation it is far better that a true socialist like Hillary or Obama is holding the reins than a make-believe “Conservative” like McCain. Look how far we’ve fallen since electing our current “Compassionate Conservative” President. Yup. Screwed, I tell you. Screwed.
I just love the picture of McCain and W hugging on Drudge’s site. It’s a real gem.
I’m about half-through Ann Coulter’s “High Crimes and Misdemeanors,” and have read at least a half-dozen books about both Clintons, and I must say that our good friend Mr. McCain hasn’t spent two seconds to step back and really examine who these people are. To say that Hillary is a “good person,” is like saying Albert Schweitzer was a “bad” one.
Also, I do not believe that Mr. McCain can possibly understand the full scope of the differences that exists between the irrational Marxist Democrats and their view of the world, and the one that exists in a real world where we’re fighting to keep our liberties and freedoms. We’re in big trouble…
Give it up. Get with the program. Shut up. Move on. Get over it.
Apparently it’s not only the far-left that looks to stifle opposition by shouting it down. Way to go team!
Talk show replies do not leave much time for deeply reflected answers that avoid unneeded repercussions. McCain was just being “diplomatic.” As Winston Churchill said, “when you have to kill a man [or wo-man?] it costs nothing to be polite.” Give him a chance to shoot his guns later.
So, what you are counseling is that we vote your deepest, darkest fears…
instead of our brightest, purest principles.
Which is just what I’ve heard you saying all along.
We should be “mature pragmatists” like you and others here, because you see our nation as too fragile to accommodate conservative ideas now.
Who is the sunshine patriot here again…?
Once more…why is a Fabian Socialist MORE dangerous than a frothing-at-the-mouth Marxist?
On February 18th, 2008 at 9:49 am, Dandapani said:
You think our borders are compromised now? Do some homework and find out where Obama and Clinton REALLY stand on the two issues of national security and foreign policy.
Then do the same for John McCain.
When you’re done with that, read this.
Then come back here, and we’ll discuss what being “screwed” really means.
I have a lot of personal misgivings about voting for McCain as does my military husband. We both do not like him and what he’s “brought” to the GOP for years. That said, he is the only thing standing between us and the insanity that the Dems will bring the nation.
Another thing that grates on my nerves are all these so-called Republicans voting for Obama in primaries. I don’t know what their motivation is (perhaps a protest or stealth strategic vote) and I don’t care. Obama is bad news and how do you run against his whole hope jive?
None of the three “mainstream” candidates fits what many Americans want addressed: deportation of illegals now, secure borders, reforming trade deals (which the Dems promise but whose pockets have they been picking?), Social Security reform, healthcare reform (and not universal either), infrastructure improvement, tax cuts made permanent, strong military, educational choice, etc. Those are things I believe in.
How much does John McCain or any of the other “mainstream” candidates believe in this platform? None of them will be good for this country so, unfortunately for me, it will be a lesser of 3 evils.
The ignorant (and I do agree with the previous posters on this point) among us fall for the hope and unity, class warfare schematic every time. Dems promise everything under the sun so people don’t have to worry about taking care of themselves. This is not what our country is all about but many Americans well ceaselessly whine about what they’re “entitled to” whether or not it’s actually true.
I disagree with what another poster said about the War. Many Americans really don’t care about the War or about our military. You can see it in the two-facedness playing out right now across America – the whole “I support the troops not the war” jive. It’s a convenient plattitude but in the real world it isn’t really that simple. Many Americans are naive, only care about themselves (or what they’re saying right now that benefits the country as a whole but it’s really about them) and that’s why they’re voting for Obama.
This is a turning point election. All these people really need to address term limits, not just how to solve people’s healthcare woes. However, all three (Clinton, Obama, McCain) don’t have the honesty or the strength of character to admit that they are all so a part of the system that nothing will ever be changed.
I question that we are at war at all. When was the last battle? This is what nation building is. The only difference is that we are paying for the nation building and for the security of Iraq while we are ignoring the security of the US.
That is simple. Being screwed is having McCain as the alternative of Obama/Clinton.
Just how is McCain going to debate either of these two liberals? His campaign manager already stated that he wouldn’t speak out against Obama. So why would anyone want to vote for McCain, he can’t even tell you why he is different from the other two candidates. We are in a heap of trouble folks.
On February 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am, Ragspierre said:
If you don’t have those same fears, Rags, then you’ve been living with your head in the sand for the last seven years. Here’s the cure, do your homework.
Yep, pretty much sums it up.
On February 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am, Mister P said:
My son assures me that we are.
He could be wrong though… hes’ only a Marine after all. What could he possibly know about it?
I totally agree. We have Barack Hussein Obama, who is likely going to be the nominee. He is very close to Islam, 90%+ of Muslims want him to win so they can destroy our country, he has the most liberal voting record, and he has been endorsed by the communists and terrorists around the world.
Isn’t that McCain’s point? It is time to stop whining about McCain. The quote is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and what is he supposed to say with Hillary right next to him? He has stated he has fundamental differences with Hillary. In any case, Hillary is not going to be the nominee. It is going to be Barack Hussein Obama.
BTW, there seems to be quite a few new posters of this site, INSISTING they will NEVER vote for McCain and will even vote for the most socialist candidate over McCain. I’m thinking of Ragspierre in particular.
This type of thing always happens in election cycles. You have to wonder how many liberals there are pretending to be conservatives who are trying to have conservatives not turn out in the election. Evidently, losing the war in Iraq, giving terrorists victories around the world, stopping any spying on terrorists’ conversations in the name of “civil rights,” stopping missile defense, etc. doesn’t bother Ragspierre and these other phonies. . .just as it wouldn’t bother a liberal. HMMMM. Makes you think.
Great points, Irish Rose.
This is exactly what a McCain presidency will bring. It is obvious that he is comfortable working with the democrats and very uncomfortable working with the conservative republicans. (This is the whole point of Michele’s article). With a democrat in office, the republicans can regain the conservative base and counter the moves of the democrat. With McCain in office such resistance would be futile.
It makes no difference what was dug up years ago. Of course, politicians are actors. Of course McCain wasn’t my first choice, but he is now.
I couldn’t care less what Ann says. She is irrelevant and her books should be burned, just my distaste for her favoring Hillary.
I’ll take McCain over Hillary and Obama and pray a lot, thank you.
Yawn.
Then the definition of war has changed much since my Viet Nam days. I find it offensive that you USE your son as some kind of straw man to prove your points. I assure you during Viet Nam we were losing 50-100 soldiers each day in vicious battles in which the enemy occupied most of the country. It was a fight between enemies. It was a fight we eventually lost. Tell me, when was your son’s last battle? What was it called and who was the victor.
I also assure you we didn’t have leaders who would tell us waterboarding was torture.
I don’t think it’s all from naivete or selfishness, emjem. I suspect there’s a fair amount of “Bush-Republican fatigue” in the country that makes the “change” rhetoric resonate. It’s a natural human phenom and probably a good part of Hillarys’ problem in fighting Obama, I believe. Unfortunately the GOP is offering the Second Coming Of Bob Dole this time around.
This is turning out to be a very productive discussion, keep it going folks.
I’m off to some vital business for a while… I’ll check back in later.
We are fighting for the Oval Office, not the Throne of St. Peter. The principle I fight for is to put the more conservative candidate in office.
If you disagree, please show me where I’ve gone astray.
Translation..you aren’t as “experienced” as me to make an educated comment because you have not been commenting on this site long enough…
Hmmm, sound familiar???
Mister P, #82
Her son is in a battle everyday and if you think otherwise you are sorely mistaken.
That is a lie. I never said I would vote for anyone for President.
You need to do others the minimal courtesy of reading what they say, and truthfully dealing with it.
Yup, MrP, I have family deployed in Afghanistan – I find it disturbing the GOP would run a candidate who is hellbent on protecting those plotting against both American troops and civilians.
DesertLover post #6 I have to agree with your prediction of how the Clinton’s will steal the nomination.
I used to put on my flying helmet to change my son’s stinky diapers myself.
The more I see McCain in action the more he is starting to sound like a Democrat. He has already acted like one for the last couple of years. We really are screwed!
Ronald Reagan, Election night Eve, 1980:
“But just as important as how we vote is that we vote. Every vote cast on election day means that we the people have taken a hand in shaping our nation’s future.”
His words ring as true today as they ever did. And with all due respect, he disagrees with you now as much today as he ever did.
Hillary or Obama will hold the reins temporarily if elected, but the wholesale, irreparable damage they will cause with judicial nominations will haunt and ruin us for the rest of our lives. Try to remember that.
That is not a given. We’ve had Demos in charge of Congress for two years and their disastrous performance has not motivated and mobilized the base to regain control in ‘08.
What? You’re not a commie, Rags?
But I agree, it tends to diminish ones’ point if they construct strawmen to argue against.
What is the alternative?
That wasn’t a rhetorical question. The alternative is a President who will not be able to question prisoners at all because he/she will allow prisoners to have a taxpayer-funded attorney present during questioning.
all, i am not looking for perfection. i am looking for a conservative. i will have to look outside of the republican party. as i am a NA, which is not affiliated. i have no party. i can vote my conservative heart all i want.
PERIOD. so don’t try to convince me that somehow i need to vote republican to save this country. please, fearmongering never has worked on me. i believe that the republicans lost the vote the day the chose mccain. those voters actually believed the lying media and the lying adds about him being unbeatable. now the truth is out, he can’t beat Obama and he is in a statistical tie with Clinton.
forget it, he can’t win. he won the republican nomination by dems and independents voting for him. if it had been a strictly republican ‘closed’ primary he would have been sent packing long ago.
bush was a moderate and look what it got us. now, we have john mccain a liberal. there is no going back to conservatism for the republican party. it is just as liberal as the democrat party.. wake up folks ..
I do disagree with your conclusion, but I am not in a position to suggest you have gone astray. I can ask you pointed questions, but I am not your conscience.
Of course, quite a few here cannot stand to have pointed questions posed. I suppose that has something to do with their consciences.
I’m clear on the “not Throne of St. Peter” principle (no pun intended, really).
But, would you not agree that a man who is…at most…”more conservative” than others, but who we know to be a fellow traveler with them, and to have no character for truthfullness, is not a man who deserves our support?
Can we…should we…tell the nominating system that brought us this burlesque of an outcome that it is OK by us?
I simply say we cannot.
I know we are in straits…we’ve been in them before. I would argue we have been in far worse ones, which is not to minimize our current real peril.
We can’t let fear masquerade as “pragmatism”. It isn’t, and never was.
On February 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am, Mister P said:
I’ll respond to this one before I leave, mister.
His service to this Nation would be no less honorable or less important than yours was, if he was pushing papers at headquarters or sitting in front of a DOD computer somewhere.
He’s not, but thats’ beside the point.
Later.
oh folks i am voting. please, don’t think that i am not just because it won’t be for mccain.. i will vote by writing in or chosing a more conservative candidate from another party.
time for the conservatives to wake up. the republican party is no longer conservative but very liberal.
All scenerios are fantasies of “what will happen”, so nothing is a given, TexasT. Politics will surprise you, but not always pleasantly.
But on this the dynamics are different; Congress runs much better against a President than the other way around. Think “Contract with America”.