What the McCain campaign doesn’t need
Rich Lowry at NRO believes John McCain needs a new advisor such as Bill Kristol to help him focus on the “big picture” and end his constant zig-zagging on issues.
With all due respect, adding another Beltway political strategist to the McCain camp isn’t going to fix an un-fixable the problem. It’s not fundamentally flawed messaging, it’s a fundamentally flawed candidate. The sooner Republicans reconcile themselves to that, the better.
***
Meanwhile, as Ed Driscoll notes, the endless series of unforced errors by the Obama gaffe machine is being squandered. A damned shame.
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Categories: John McCain
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» Crusader Rabbit
The Old Glue Horse needs a fresh ourlook.
I could not agree more. However, what are we Republicans supposed to do with this fundamentally flawed candidate? We can’t get rid of him, and we can’t change his position on any issue, so we’re pretty much stuck.
I disagree…John McCain is still a conservative who has always supported Iraq war unlike others who have been flip-flopping.
I agree he may not be the best conservative candidate but he’s definitely better than most of the other republican candidates we had in field, except may be for Ron Paul. Surprised why Ron Paul could’nt make in spite of generating huge money.
Couldn’t help myself.
I believe that the Iraq issue is very important to most conservatives.
HOWEVER, the push for illegals to stay in the USA by our dear McCain is unforgiveable.
That will ruin him.
The illegals that commit crimes are more of a danger to us than the Iraq situation. Not to mention the entitlement programs they get on our dime. We should focus on that and I believe all other economic issues would fall into place.
Wake up.
Politics=hyperbole, subterfuge and suspense over limited choices.
reminds me of the old joke..
Billy and Bobby are buying bales of hay at $3.00 each and selling them down the road at $2.50 each.. at the end of the day Billy said to Bobby, “We’ve been working all day long and we are still in the hole, what’s going wrong?”
Bobby said, “I dunno, maybe we need a bigger truck.”
looking at that again and it can apply to any expansion of government.
#5 Gayle,
Not just his position on illegal aliens, put his belief in man-made global warming, his support for higher gas taxes to fight global warming, his opposition to drilling for our own oil, his support for gun control, his “reaching our” to everyone except his own party, his…..
I’ll play the McCainiac.
He’s better than Obama-lesser of two evils. If you sit on your hands and don’t vote come Nov., that’s a vote for Obama. So there.
/sarc
What the McCain campaign needs is rational, intelligent conservatives who can calm down long enough to understand that McCains’ moderate politics are not the enemy.
THIS is the enemy.
With Europe poised to become an Islamic State in only 15-20 short years, and America the next country on the short list, we need to lay aside the lesser issues until after the election and GET SERIOUS.
Weekly Jihad Report
Jun 14 - Jun 20
Jihad Attacks: 38
Dead Bodies: 173
Critically Injured: 294
Islamic terrorists have now carried out more than 11,317 deadly terror attacks since 9/11.
This conservative is not ready to turn our National Security over to a Marxist POTUS/CIC who uses the Winnie-the-Pooh approach to appease manipulative Arabs and murderous jihadists.
Are you?
Brad-sk, I couldn’t and wouldn’t have voted for Ron Paul because he’s another “get the troops out of Iraq” guy and therefore would be weak on National Defense. I’m disappointed in how weak McCain is campaigning, but I’ll vote for him in November. Staying home or writing in someone’s name is not an option for me.
I’m also disappointed that Mrs. Malkin is always putting him down. She’s helping to put Barack Hussein Obama in the Oval Office. I’ll probably catch flak because I’m voting for him, but bring it on; that won’t change my mind. I wish I had a better canidate to vote for, but I don’t. I won’t waste my vote on a Bob Barr either.
It’s going to be a long four years no matter who wins. I pray that whoever does win, somebody will hold them accountable. However, history does not bode well for the future.
I figured what it really needed was a firm belief in the little things that make our country great … like maybe some actual belief in the Constitution?
Actually we can get rid of him. He’s not the nomineee, yet.
On June 24th, 2008 at 10:05 am, henryinga said:
That makes two of us.
This mom to an active-duty US Marine would sure like to know why, but apparently Ms. Malkin isn’t interested in responding.
This place stopped making sense a long time ago, unfortunately.
What to do about the McCain candidacy is actually a very simple 3-step plan folks.
1.) Work to get McCain elected to avoid the Obama-nation train wreck that will ruin this great country forever.
2.) Immediately begin working toward a better candidate for President in 2012 and make sure McCain only serves 1 term.
3.) Work toward electing a more viable group of conservative values candidates to Congress … Now and in 2010 and 2012. If you have a good choice this year go for it, otherwise vote against Dems to keep their Congessional control at as minimum a level as possible this election cycle. Begin working now toward a better choice in the next elections.
Take this seriously and realize that we are where we are because so many people sat on their hands for the last 2 years and allowed the MSM to make this candidate selection for us.
We cannot afford to wait until it’s too late again.
Once they get into the White House it’s a whole new ball game and I don’t want Odumbo pitching for my team.
I agree. But your stupid “jihad” is not one of the serious issues. This country is dying right now, while people like you obsess over what Arab terrorists might do inthe future.
Besides, the Iraqis don’t want us there any more.
ISSUES on ballots in Nov…
GO ….VOTE!!!!
DesertLover, that was supposedly the plan after 2004, when people relectantly supported Bush as the lesser evil against Kerry.
No more “lesser evils”. It makes us complicit in the death of our country.
Actually, Michelle Malkin cares more for our country than some pseudo-Conservatives that I’ve read here lately.
I note that I don’t support Obama. By the logic of some, that means I do support McCain.
Well, you begin by thinking for yourself and embracing independent thought. But what are Republicans “supposed to do”? They’re “supposed” to pull the lever for (R). Shrug off this idea of “supposed”, as if someone else is making your decision for you, and change it to “what am I to do?”
I laughed so hard, milk came out my nose.
Alright.
A fundamentally flawed candidate will get the republican nomination.
So what do we do?
Not vote for McCain?
Vote for Bob Barr?
Write in someone like Fred! Thompson?
What do we do. Michelle?
Because I would like the answer to this question.
So what you are saying is you wish you had a better Republican candidate to vote for, not a better candidate.
Calling you people sheep is an insult to sheep.
Actually, he’s strong on national defense, he just believes it begins at home, not on the other side of the world.
witless man
He will if people like you have your way.
They may be missing some unforced errors but I gotta hunch we ain’t seen the last of them. It’s actually playing to McCain’s favor to keep silent and be thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove all doubt.
It’s Obamas election to lose, and I think he’ll do just fine losing it.
#12:
because some people’s principles are stronger than yours, and they don’t compromise them.
The Iraqis are get the troops out of Iraq guys, which is why the war ends this December no matter who is elected.
On June 24th, 2008 at 10:13 am, flenser said:
Maybe not to you flenser, but I have one child with boots on the ground, a second child going into the Marine Corps this fall and a third child preparing for service over the course of the next two years.
They serve and are choosing to serve, because someone that they cared about very much, died in NYC on 9/11. The children of that women who were left to grow up without a mother certainly don’t think that the jihad is is “stupid” issue, and neither do I.
My vote is going to the candidate who GETS IT.
#1. You show your childish intellect (or lack thereof) when you mock my login name.
#2. I did not vote for McCain in the republican primary.
#3. “my way” is what, exactly. I am planning on doing my part in making sure that Obama is the next president. What is “your way,” making sure that Obama is the next president?
Sounds like the Bush rope-a-dope strategy. That worked out well, didn’t it?
Michelle Malkin,
It seems like posters like flenser and khan are writing the majority opinion on your site. Do you agree with them?
witless man, your every comment mocks your login name.
Thanks for sharing.
Bullseye.
McCain has spent so much time pandering to the MSM, pandering to illegals, and pandering to the environmentalists that on issues like illegal immigration and energy he has to flip-flop to get back to the conservative side - and on the former issue, he flips, flops, and flips back again, depending on his immediate honesty.
In short, he has no credibility on the issues that are important to not only conservatives (save for the war), but the country in general right now. And no credibility = fundamentally flawed.
#3. “my way” is what, exactly. I am planning on doing my part in making sure that Obama is the next president. What is “your way,” making sure that Obama is the next president?
Obviously I meant to type “is not” for myself.
On June 24th, 2008 at 10:24 am, wise_man said:
I would also like an honest answer to that question.
I dread this election…
Shouldn’t that be series?
So what? Iraq does not want your kids there, so they won’t be there regardless of who gets elected in November. The war is over.
Your fantasy of a generations long war will not happen.
OK, lets’ all sit here and watch the country go to hell in a handbasket while we wait for Mr. Perfect to arrive.
Yup, that makes a lot of sense.
Wrong. It’s both - and adding another open-borders, global-warming-supporting, wrong-more-than-he’s-right, political-insider, neo-conservative hack won’t change anything with his campaign. In fact, it will fit right in with his message, the message of “stay the course”. Stay the course not just on the war, on everything.
The fact is, McCain has a message that he’ll be unable to win with, and he’s a candidate who can’t win. We should start taking bets on just how badly McCain is going to get slaughtered.
If you say so…he does get his mail at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Because bitching about McCain is great while the republican primaries are ongoing. Whats the difference between doing this now, and the day before the election? Because what I see here every day is the democrats & our ow home ‘operation chaos’ being perpetrated onto us here. It seems to have one purpose, to solidify opposition to McCain and help to make sure that Obama is the next president. I don’t want to see that. This is a two man race. You get either one or the other. And that is it. If you refuse to support the lesser of two evils then you are absolutely going to get the greater of two evils.
I would like to see more solutions being presented here, and less bitching about how McCain is a POS candidate.
I can’t decide if he’s going to be a conservative a moderate or continue being a maverick and reaching across the aisle.
Considering he is much better than the alternative, I wish he would ether campaign to win or drop out and let someone else run.
The problem is that the Republican establishment doesn’t care. They don’t understand that there is a problem with McCain. They think McCain is the solution to the issues with the ‘Republican brand’.
The problem is that we need at LEAST one more party. Why, or should I say How, is it that this country that is supposed to be free only has two choices for the most powerful position in this country? We chastise Iran for their wacky leader, but he was one of about 20 politicians in that election.
I don’t understand why we have to choose Coke or Pepsi, Cocolate or Vanilla, Black or Red, light or dark. Can’t we figure out a way to have more than two bad choices for this deal?
What are we to do? The main thing is to support local conservative candidates in state and other national congressional contests. The president doesn’t matter as much as the congress does. And the national elections don’t matter as much as the local elections do.
But what we NEED to work on moving forward is getting at least ONE more viable candidate to choose from. We should have 5 viable candidates each election in such a free and open society. Why do we allow ourselves to be ruled by a mere 2 parties who are only interested in party loyalty over loyalty to country?
Then petition the government to change the rules.
John McCain was not my first choice in the primaries but he is now. I have never voted for a “perfect” candidate for President and don’t expect I ever will.
I want McCain to win. I will vote for him in November. This election is not just about me.
I encourage those who are considering a protest vote or a sit-out to seriously consider the alternative over the long term. A healthy economy is hard to build but easy to destroy.
The government didn’t set up a two party system. . . the two parties did.
McCain plays a part in the campaign finance crap. Why does he get 85 million taxpayer dollars? Why isn’t that money to anyone who is running for President?
I’ll tell you why. . . because the self serving government voted to support *GASP* itself. (on our dime)
and why 5 when we can have 10. If 10 isn’t enough, how about 30. The more viable candidates, the more open and free we will be.
I much prefer an ice cold cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper from Sonic. Just sayin.’
Future of US role in Iraq.
A partial list of folks who want “principled” conservatives to sit out the General Election:
The New York Times
Al Qaeda
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Daily Kos
the Sierra Club
Kim Jong Il
Maxine Waters
Madeleine Albright
Osama Bin Laden
Al Sharpton
Joe Biden
Rosie O’Donnell
Harry Reid
Nancy Pelosi
Richard Holbrooke
Jesse Jackson etc. etc. etc. etc.
i vowed to myself in the 90’s that if McCain ever ran for President I would not vote for the man. My principals. I will not vote for him. I am voting American Constitutional Party. I cannot live with myself, if I voted for someone as liberal and as unscrupulous as McCain.
Security against the terrorists begins at our Border. And, NO McCain does not get that, he does not get that simple aspect at all. We keep our borders safe and we are less likely to experience another attack. So don’t tell me John McCain gets it, cause he has missed that simple criteria to security. And, it is very simple.
I resent those of you that scream that to not vote for McCain is a vote for Obama. Well, it is stupid people like you that have allowed the two parties to gains so much power that there appears to be only two options. The greatest fear of our forefathers that there would become only a two party system. You sheep play right into that quite handily. The media down plays the other parties, why? Because they are the Democrat Party and could not handle more competition. If, people realized there were more choices out there then the two parties would not have the power they currently possess. There is only one way to diminish the power these two worthless parties have, to begin to vote in the candidates of other parties like the Constitutional Party, Libertarians, Greens, etc.
I for one am going to hold to my values. I have one vote, and one conscience, and neither one of them can vote McCain. PERIOD. As far as I am concerned, I will have to live with the two evils no matter which one gets in. And, to me NO McCain is no different than Obama. PERIOD.
McCain doesn’t get the simpliest security and economimc measures: Secure the Border and stop illegal immigration. These two will keep us secure and improve the economy.
I would like to see an honest answer from Michelle Malkin. Is she on that list?
Yes, it certainly does.
And I find myself logging on to this site that used to be a bastion of conservative common sense and find myself thinking, “WTF?”
I don’t even recognize this place any more.
McCain will destroy the economy just as surely as Obama will. And with McCain, the Republican party will get stuck with the blame.
Resent the statement all you want. It’s the truth.
Call us names, it won’t change the fact that this is a two man race.
I agree. But I think there should be a law that there are at least 5 to choose from (publicly financed) instead of this oligarchy that we have now. I don’t think the founders ever envisioned a two party system in a free society like this.
Bill Kristol is an out-and-proud warmonger. He comes with a lot of baggage. McCain would do well to stay away. McCain’s best bet is to put out fluffy “I am proud of America” ads that play to McCain’s patriotism. Won’t get me to vote for him, but that’s the sort of things that general election voters eat up.
Considering… And they will both screw up the country equally. But McCain will not only destroy the meaning of the word ‘Conservative’ even more than Bush has, but he’ll pull the GOP farther to the left, so next election will be even harder for you to stomach.
Yay for McCain!
Funny thing I used to support the Republican Party under the same premise.
Michelle, your analysis so rings the bell. I’m in a quandary regarding: the sooner Republicans reconcile themselves to that, the better. We have been so hammered to hold our nose and vote for McSwish. Does this directive still hold our should we let a dead man drown.
So would I.
What say ye, Michelle?
witless man
There is nothing wrong with “the rules”. The only thing preventing America from having free and open elections is the existence of people like you, convinced that everyone must vote for a Democrat or Republican.
dangit. i meant #14 (Irish Rose) in post #28. sorry about that.
And you base this opinion on what, exactly?
I changed it for you. Townhall is always waiting if you need some more GOP indoctrination.
McCain supports ‘cap and trade’ (which will raise energy costs), talks about ‘unconscionable profits’, supports amnesty for illegal immigration which will exacerbate the entitlement program problems that he and other conservatives refuse to address (merely kicking the can down the road for their children to solve - pay for).
Um, voted against the Bush tax cuts.
Then petition the government to change the rules.
#1. Stop mocking my name.
#2. “people like you” …. I am doing nothing of the kind. Do you think that a protest against McCain by either sitting out the election or voting third party will get us 3 more candidates next election cycle, and not the two that we have been (that joke of a charlatan Ross Perot, notwithstanding)
Remember, conservatism transcends political party. Conservatives are sick and tired of our name being drug through the mud.
#64:
I’d say the two of you should put the computer down if either of you would even entertain the notion that MM wants Obama to be elected. Please, leave your poorly constructed “logical” arguments in the trashcan where they belong and try to engage in intellectual honesty.
none of the things you listed will destroy the US economy in the next 4 years.
What’s wrong with the McCain campaign is that it is a self contradiction. On one hand it wants to be independent of Bush and Republican orthodoxy. On the other hand, McCain seems to support every orthodox Bush policy.
He’s a down the line maverick. He’ll change everything and nothing.
Would that be the same New York Times which endorsed McMoron in the primaries and has been a vocal cheerleader of his for decades?
Irish Rose
Ever stop to wonder whether or not it’s you who has lost her common sense? Because you sound pretty disconnected from reality in your comments here.
The question is: On June 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am, willie peter said: A partial list of folks who want “principled” conservatives to sit out the General Election:
So you agree that when more conservatives “sit out the election,” that the only conclusion is that Obama will be the next president?
I’m not mocking your name. The name you gave yourself is the mockery.
The New York Times wants McCain to lose to Obama.
witless man
And you think I’m mocking you in calling you witless man.
Michelle writes re: McCain:
You must see McCain has some tremendous strengths. He’s not going from one issue to another like some typical “pander bear” (as the late Paul Tsongas might say). He’s more likely to do what he’s saying he’ll do than any candidate, just look at his record, he’s one of the most prolific and effective senators out there. Though I think of him as some think of master criminals … “if only he would use his talents for good instead of evil (e.g. McCain-Feingold-Kennedy-Lieberman), he would have accomplished so much”. He DOES need good input to guide him though. He’ll take it and it seems he’d really benefit from it too. As prez he’ll benefit from us holding his feet to the fire.
We conservatives are just outnumbered… there not a lot of conservatives having litters of children or brazenly strolling across the border.
The country is going to go with Obama and the liberal lunacy. Everyone says that Reagan defeated the Soviet Union and now the USA is BECOMMING the Soviet Union.
#76:
I’m not going to play your logical fallacy games. That is all you have (besides name calling) in this thread and in any other that dares to criticize and question McCain.
Just make it a lottery with every natural born, taxpaying citizen elegible of becoming President. Just throw the tax returns in a pile and pull one out…
It’ll become like Jury Duty.
Or better yet, the late Isaac Azminov’s suggestion… anyone who shows the slightest aspiration for the office is automatically ineligible.
I will respond to you when you decide to grow up.
flenser said: #38
I normally do my best to ignore the stupidity of trolls like you but this one can not be left unchallenged … your are being an absolute A$$ … many here have relatives serving in our military so people like you can speak freely … and I will not sit by and let you insult everyone serving and their relatives with your pompous MSM lies and characterizations …
You are also crossing the line when you insult everyone’s intelligence by repeatedly quoting the MSM mantras that have been disproven repeatedly by others, including our gracious hostess when she traveled to Iraq to get the true story …
So when were you in Iraq getting the story from the people there? …
The everyday Iraqi has appreciated our presence and the opportunity they have been given to have a say in their country and their own lives …
It is only the radicals and Iranian stooges like Sadr, the jihadists, the Al-Qaeda sympathizers, the NYT fools and unfeeling people like you want us out before we complete the job …
Why don’t you do us all a favor and go back over to KOS or Huff-n-Puff where you and your comments will fit in better with the others that believe like you seem to believe …
#82:
It’s too bad you can’t answer a simple question.
McCain is pragmatic. He’ll change things incrementally, because that’s how the system works, but he will change things. Obama on the other hand is clueless as to how things work and how to change anything.
#82:
I am not participating in the “name calling” that is going on here. Please re-read this page so you can correctly comprehend what is going on here.
Thanks.
Sounds a lot like Fred Thompson.
Of course, I’m not allowed to say that anymore, lest I be accused of voting for Obama by criticizing McCain.
Is this an attempt at parody?
Right, the economy is already destroyed with the policies and practices of:
- Massive budget deficits.
- Financing our federal budget through borrowed money from China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
- 52 trillion in unfunded liabilities (social security, medicare, etc).
- Devaluation of a currency
- Massive increases in the money supply.
- Waging a war we can’t afford.
- Producing so little in this country.
- Importing so much into the country.
- Lying about inflation, and growth numbers.
- Saving nothing.
- Borrowing to feed our insatiable consumption.
So lets add on Global Warming legislation, more welfare programs, more defense spending, higher taxes, and pay for it all through more inflation and borrowing, and our economy will crash before the next president even has time to brush his teeth in the white house.
and Michelle has to answer to you toolbags why?
Michelle,
if you or anyone else connected to the site is reading this page, I would really like to know what constructive comments you would have about this election. And about this flawed candidate.
Please. I am asking you, please.
Hey ajmontana. I would never refer to you as a tool bag.
Kristol is terrible. McCain should talk to Dan Quayle about Kristol before adding him. He was Quayle’s chief of staff and Quayle says in his book that Kristol is a notorious and habitual leaker.
What part of the job is incomplete?
The point, which the McCain supporters keep glossing over, is that he’ll change things in a left wing direction.
This is the man behind McCain-Feingold, McCain-Lieberman, and McCain-Kennedy. I don’t want him making the changes he wants to make.
#86:
I’d be happy to answer a simple question or any question you may have, even though you continually ignore the answer. What I will not do is answer your strawmen arguments, distortions, and misrepresentations.
If you want Mrs. Malkin to answer a question, there’s a nifty little link at the bottom of the page that shows you how you can ask her a question. You can even click it! It takes you to a new page with more links! Isn’t the interwebs fun?
This site is still a bastion of Conservative thought - if certain people would bother to read what is actually posted by Michelle, See-Dubya, and some others of us.
I also note that at the top of the comments it says:
It wasn’t that difficult for me to find.
—————————————
Thanks Flenser #75