McCain fallout: What’s conservative talk radio’s next move? Update: Whither immigration?
posted at 10:53 am on January 30, 2008 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend |
printer-friendly
Medved used McCain’s last victory to flog the industry for being irrelevant, a dubious point given the fact that he’d won only open primaries to that point but decidedly less dubious this morning with J-Mac and Mitt splitting conservatives in Florida, 33-33. (It was independents registered as Republicans who put him over the top, natch.) What now? The Observer previews the spin:
[One claim] would be that the conservative punditry actually “won.” Mr. McCain has been getting stronger, they would argue, by embracing conservative positions in order to gain the nomination. Mr. McCain confessed that he had learned the lesson about immigration reform, that border control is essential before pursuing any legalization plan for those already here. He promised to retain the Bush tax cuts. He embraced his support of gun rights and touted his pro-life voting record. This, the conservatariat could contend, and not Mr. McCain’s global-warming ruminations or his role in the Gang of 14, is what helped him win.
They could, except that they’ve spent weeks accusing McCain of being a liberal Democrat who’ll quickly resort to his natural ways once elected. To claim now that he only won by tacking right is to admit either that the base is full of gullible morons or that they’re not listening to talk radio. The likelier spin, also identified by the Observer, is to follow the left’s playbook after Kerry lost in ‘04 and shoot the messengers by blaming Romney, Thompson, and Giuliani for being bad candidates. That would at least have the advantage of being true and would theoretically absolve talk radio — although if the knock on Mitt is that he can’t convincingly sell conservatism, the question becomes why, if Rush and Hannity are so influential, their own salesmanship isn’t enough to compensate. The answer may be that they, and he, can sell conservatism, but that “conservative” doesn’t mean “Republican” to quite the same extent it used to. Just a theory for now, but ask me again next Tuesday night if Maverickmania sweeps across the land.
My own hunch, which isn’t really a hunch so much as what I’d like to believe, is that McCain won because he’s the hedgehog to Romney’s fox. Mitt knows many things but McCain knows one big thing, i.e. Iraq, and when push comes to shove the GOP wants to win the war above all else. I’d like to believe that, only because the thought that Maverick won on the merits across the board is too dismal. Anyway, exit question: How does talk radio handle this week? Short of formally endorsing Romney, Limbaugh’s played every card he has on McCain, including an extravagant election day attack and a veiled threat earlier not to vote Republican in November if certain unnamed candidates are nominated. Does he go all-in by breaking his rule not to endorse in primaries and campaigning for Romney in earnest? If so and McCain sweeps Super Tuesday anyway, it’ll be final confirmation of the Medved thesis and the most humiliating rebuke since, well, since Giuliani’s vote totals last night.
Update: Yes, I’m aware that the exit polls put the economy ahead of Iraq as the most important issue, 45-14. And yes, I’m also aware that the guy who won admits publicly to not understanding economics as well as he should. I’m just … trying not to think about it.
Update: Another exit question: Is talk radio in better or worse shape than border enforcement right now? David Brooks and Bob Novak are already crowing about the irrelevance of Romney’s comparatively hard line against amnesty. That can be spun for the moment by pointing to Florida’s big Cuban minority. Same result next Tuesday, though? Not so much.
Update (Bryan): I think Brooks and Novak are intentionally missing the point re immigration. The fact is, McCain had to publicly track to the right on that and enough voters evidently bought it, at least to the extent that it neutralized Romney’s stance. Those voters didn’t hear about Juan Hernandez or the rest of the evidence that McCain’s conversion is insincere because the MSM didn’t report it. Talk radio didn’t do much with it either. Laura Ingraham brought it up, but I don’t think Rush or Hannity have. Novak and Brooks also fail to take into account the recent trio of immigration enforcement wins in NY, MI and MD. Those occurred under Democrat governors responding to pressure from the electorate, and the one in NY rattled the Clinton campaign for a while.
So those two are sticking to their preferred storyline, but they’re wrong.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: [1] 2 3 4 »
If it turns out that McLame does in fact become the nominee, I will vote for him over the Dim nominee for one reason and one reason only: his stance on the war. Immediate withdrawl of our troops is not acceptable. That being said, there are dozens of reasons to vote for Romney over Juan, and I hope that Mitt will wear him down in the end.
Mallard T. Drake on January 30, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Are we actually at the point where talk radio needs a “strategy”? Air America needed a strategy because no one listens to it. Talk radio will do what talk radio does. Some will change their mind, some will attack, some will even encourage a third-party or encourage voters to sit out. Welcome to the free market.
Darin on January 30, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Rush isn’t the Republican Party, and the sooner he realizes it, the better for him and us. Endorsements at this point, only to be repudiated, will only harm him further. But think on the brightside! The influence of blogs will tick up to take his place.
Vizzini on January 30, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I’m not sure how I feel about Indies voting in Republican primaries but I will say this: Primaries aside, getting Indy votes is how you win the White House.
MikeZero on January 30, 2008 at 10:59 AM
My own hunch is that rush does not endorse Mitt.
Instead Rush begins an extended discussion of McCain vs Hillary, and what the best course of action is in order to preserve what is left of conservatism.
The REAL question is: Does McCain’s resurrection and the dismal failure of first Fred and now Mitt to put away the hated RINO really mean that Conservatism aint all its cracked up to be electorally? Is Conservatism, Rush-style, truly a MINORITY movement and is Reaganism really dead?
Always Right on January 30, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Well said and I concur
SoTX on January 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Drudge says a coming Rasmussen has McCain up by 8 over hillary and 6 above Obama. I for one welcome our new amnesty overlord, President John McCain.
Complete7 on January 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Its the war stupid not the economy
William Amos on January 30, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Thirty eight years later the Silent Majority speaks again. Hopefully Rush and the rest will respect it and not spite them.
THE CHOSEN ONE on January 30, 2008 at 11:01 AM
I think Centuries from now historians are going to look back at this election season and dub it “the election that made no F’ing sense!”
Zetterson on January 30, 2008 at 11:02 AM
The real question for Rush is who is better suited to run the White house McCain or Hillary/Obama. Those are his choices and he has to chose one of them.
William Amos on January 30, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I’m finished with Medved.
First Amnesty, then this….
pseudonominus on January 30, 2008 at 11:02 AM
To answer my own question:
After 8 years of domestic-policy RINOism from George Bush and given the resurgence of RINO McCain, you’d be hard pressed to make the argument that Reagan-Rush conservatism ISN’T really dead.
Or more precisely, the domestic policy conservatism of Reagan is dead, and all that lives on is a robust foreign policy conservatism tha Bush HAS followed and that McCain endorses.
Always Right on January 30, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I will vote for him over the Dim nominee for one reason and one reason only: his stance on the war. Immediate withdrawl of our troops is not acceptable. That being said, there are dozens of reasons to vote for Romney over Juan, and I hope that Mitt will wear him down in the end.
Mallard T. Drake on January 30, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Well said and I concur
SoTX on January 30, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Allahpundit, I’m scared! It’s all falling down around me!
Joshua P. Allem on January 30, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Limbaugh doesn’t endorse, he exposes.
McCain is Teddy Kennedy without the bloated body but with the bloated agenda.
Undermine the 1st Amendment.
Open the borders.
Lie to the indecisive.
Pander to the idjit vote.
The coronoation of this clown when he has about 90 delegates, and Mitt has about 60, when you need about 1180 to win, is laughable spin-doctoring.
Vote against McShamnesty.
Keep the Dem-lite McVain out so we can keep the Dems out.
He’ll lose against any Dem they throw up.
profitsbeard on January 30, 2008 at 11:05 AM
From John Derbyshire at NRO:
“Oh, stop whining. So what if the likely GOP nominee believes in restraints on free speech, higher taxation, bigger government, open borders, and 100-year U.S. armies of occupation everywhere from Albania to Zimbabwe? Romney believes in those things too — at least, he does when he’s in a room full of people that want him to.”
I’d have to concur. You get the man you deserve.
Drum on January 30, 2008 at 11:05 AM
John McVain may be for the war effort, but he will cause as much damage, if not more to the civil liberties as any of the DemCong.
His domestic policies will be devastating to the country and accelerate our decline to third world status.
If he is the nominee of the republican party, I will vote, but I will vote for the DemCong rather than sitting out. It appears the republican party needs another wake-up, 2006 wasn’t loud enough.
belad on January 30, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Here’s the rest from Derbyshire:
You already have a genuinely conservative candidate on offer. He’s just not slick enough for you. What, he has positions you don’t agree with? More than the other guys? Actually, I have heard very little complaining about Paul’s positions. What I have mostly heard is (a) He’s funny looking, (b) He can’t win, and (c) He has a lot of icky supporters.
The answer to (a) is to put aside the New York Times “Style” section for five minutes and think. The answer to (b) is, that if conservatism is going to lose big in 2008 anyway (newsflash: it is), it should at least make a stand, to inspire future generations. The answer to (c) is, get in there and swell the ranks of non-icky Paul supporters — there are plenty of us — to drown out the nutsos.
While you guys are crying into your light-blended crème frappuccinos, I’ll be making a campaign donation to help Ron & Carol celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary Friday.
Drum on January 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM
DING DING DING!
We have a winner!
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Rush and Levin will concentrate on teaching Conservatism, and I urge Hot Air to do the same. For example, persuading some scholars to donate time blogging the Constitution and Federalist Papers. Also would like education and discussion of cases that are before the Supreme Court.
RushBaby on January 30, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Talk radio’s not irrelevant. The death of amnesty proved that.
A combination of the Hillary effect (ABH), the media playing kingmaker, and simple wagon-circling (no one can be that bad) is probably what’s mitigating talk radio’s influence.
amkun on January 30, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Prob. helps to follow Jimmuh.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:08 AM
What we’ve got to do is get domestic-issues conservatives elected to the House and Senate to act as a stopgap against the Teddy Kennedy democrats and the McCain RINO republicans.
But is any effort being made there by the national Republican poo-bahs? Or are we in danger of having even LESS Republicans in Congress next year?
Always Right on January 30, 2008 at 11:08 AM
I think we’ve known for a long time this is going to be a tough election for the Republicans, regardless of who wins. The tides of the country are changing, and I think Republicans need a breather to get reorganized and refocused. A liberal president, should Hillbags or Big O win the election, will give conservatives something to galvanize against and build up support and unity again in the base. We need genuine conservative leaders. I forget where I read it, but someone said the current crop of GOP candidates look like they’re from the bar scene in Star Wars. And they all try to “out-conservative” each other. We need a real leader. To me, Fred was a glimpse of that, but he had the charisma of a wet mop and a weird throat-clearing compulsion. I couldn’t deal with crap like that during his speeches. Imagine if he was President…….anyway, 2008 is gonna be tough for us. We’ll just have to come back stronger next time, and I know we will.
mattyj86 on January 30, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Hillary
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Ha!
Vizzini on January 30, 2008 at 11:09 AM
That’s what Rush AND Hannity get for trying to shove the RINO ruDe down our throats. That’s what you get. . . McCain.
So now don’t go gettin all conservative-like now because your RINO didn’t win. Don’t go declarin Mitt Romney as the last conservative hope.
The problem I have with people like Rush and Hannity is that they don’t mind RINO’s as long as they are the Northeast liberal elite RINO’s, they are fine with them. You are correct AP, the Republican party is not the Conservative party, and it has not been for a long time.
Oh, and as for ruDe and his ruDe supporters. . . pwNeD! that goes especially for Hannity in his cheerleading outfit with the R for ruDe.
ThackerAgency on January 30, 2008 at 11:09 AM
I think they will be some grumbling until the general, then if McCain picks a running mate that is a true conservative all will be ok in talk radio. The call will be after 4 years of McCain they will have their man.
KBird on January 30, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Btw, Laura is spiraling into depression. She’s asking what it would take to get people to vote for Romney, i.e. say he’ll give the VP spot to Fred (who’s already out of mind for even FredHeads…)
Vizzini on January 30, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Nobody cares about what Rush Limbaugh or any other pundit says. People vote based on their own instincts and judgements. The people who are really influential are those capable of making reasonable, smart arguments. I’m thinking mainly of newspaper columnists like Charles Krauthammer or George Will, not some douchebag on the radio.
Baphomet on January 30, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Drum-
Ron Paul, with the “foreign policy of the Era of Sail” and one more “Blame America Firster” is better than “open the borders and let ‘my friends’ and my nation go to hell” while-posing-as-a-security-hawk McVain?
Right.
profitsbeard on January 30, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Had similar thought last night. Fifty years ago, the kinds of people who are commenting here would have been college professors/academics. Now that that American institution is overrun by treasonous libs, conservative thinkers sit in cubicles or isolated at home.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:11 AM
They only saving grace that I can see is if McCain taps Fred! for his veep.
I’d vote for him then, but otherwise… this upcoming election is going to be tough on my conscience.
Nineball on January 30, 2008 at 11:12 AM
*They = the
Nineball on January 30, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Stupid.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:13 AM
profitsbeard on January 30, 2008 at 11:05 AM
It’s over dude. Anyway you look at Super duper Teusday Mitt can’t pull it off unless Huckmania decides to split. Stop trying to come up with some miracle scenario and fall in soldier.
THE CHOSEN ONE on January 30, 2008 at 11:13 AM
My hunch…being a Floridian and former Fred guy that voted for McCain yesterday and that listens to all the radio shows and frequents this site (although I’m beginning to wonder why) is you really have no idea how phony Mitt comes off, and that is his main problem.
Case in point: he was in Tampa yesterday and said the following which was on one of the news channels down here. “I may be a Yankee but I embodied the best of good southern values.” Well thank you Capt. Pander, but a couple of points:
A) People even born along the coasts of Florida, like my wife, don’t consider themselves “Southern”
B) Most people that live in Florida were born somewhere else usually not the south
C) Those of us who are southern see Mitt as a bit of a carpetbagger.
So while I love you all and respect your opinions you can’t change what people feel in their guts. Mitt is just a chameleon whose spots are set to mimic whatever group he’s in front of.
McLovin on January 30, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Except that he’s not likely to do such a thing. He toyed with the idea of running with John Kerry in 2004, and he’s long been considering choosing Joe Lieberman now, although Lieberman ruled it out a few days ago.
McCain will not pick a conservative.
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:14 AM
honestly, i think the constant harping on mccain turned a lot of people off. it’s going to be a close race until the end, so you might as well settle down. romney and mccain are clearly the last two standing, and its going to come down to the wire, imo. This is an important election between cut and run tactics vs. finishing the job, raising taxes vs lowing raxes, and just as importantly..the possibility of 3 judges being nominated to the supreme court. its a big election..let the process and voters decide.
therightwinger on January 30, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Just disgust.
With Rudy’s departure, he loses complete credibility by pimping McCain.
Evidently, as pundits washed their hands of Fred, he’s staying clear of the social pressure to become a populist or to edify a socialist. But as Fred said, united we stand. And as that goes, divided we fall. Those who split the platform have our disgust, not our support.
If Mitt needs to get hard conservatives on his side, he needs to rebuild the conservative platform. Show and tell. Hollow promises never satisfied a hard conservative.
So now that it’s down to the gun again, Allahpundit and Co. want to claim rights over public sway. Your venom has already poisoned the crowd. You have yourself to thank for playing Brutus to conservatives, steering the GOP into the iceberg in order to get everyone off the conservative platform and into your divisive life boat in order to force the acceptability of Mitt’s rescue ship. Row, oarsmen.
maverick muse on January 30, 2008 at 11:15 AM
They allsucked for one good reason or another. That’s why your guy isn’t here either.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:15 AM
McCain v. Limbaugh
I don’t think Limbaugh is peddling influence. His listers are not mind numbed robots (as shown by his take on the Dubai Ports deal). This doesn’t spell an end for Rush. With the other “conventional” wisdom that he needs a Democrat in ofice to thrive, his influence increases with Hil, Obama or McCain, you can’t have it both ways.
infidel2 on January 30, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I’d like to see more analysis of the primary process itself, which appears to be so corrupt as to allow independents and, in some cases, Donkeys to determine the Republican caucus or primary “winner”.
Why does this system make sense?
T J Green on January 30, 2008 at 11:16 AM
The New York Times and the rest of the liberal media have been endorsing losers ( Think Gore and Kerry)for a long time now, yet no liberal will ever call them irrelevant.
This is just another attack on talk radio and Rush Limbaugh in particular.
The fact that liberals manufactured this phony “war” is expected. However, conservatives falling for it is quite troubling.
For the record, Rush haven’t endorsed anyone.
RMR on January 30, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Right. Because McCain is so sincere when he tells us he never supported amnesty.
Let’s repeat the important section from this post again:
Which category do you fall into?
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Moderates have always been the largest group in the Republican party.
bnelson44 on January 30, 2008 at 11:17 AM
That’s an interesting analysis.
Vizzini on January 30, 2008 at 11:18 AM
How ridiculous to say that HA brought somebody down. You know why Edwards isn’t Kingmaker?? Because Allah is. He’s on the phone right now discussing what position he’ll take in any number of administrations.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Whatever, dude. Kiss your country goodbye.
Drum on January 30, 2008 at 11:18 AM
I’m not sure what change anyone could expect from conservative talk radio. Regardless of their affect on elections, they have huge conservative audiences who aren’t about to change their views based upon an election. Rush, Laura, Mark and Glenn will always be speaking to a conservative audience and there will always be one to listen in.
Conservative talk radio’s next move is to continue doing what they’re doing.
orlandocajun on January 30, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Giuliani once had credibility?
Heh.
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:19 AM
It’s highly probable that Rush could become irrelevant, unless he calms down and gets behind the only Republican candidate that can save us from a Marxist like Hillary . . . and that’s John McCain.
rplat on January 30, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Very good point. Guess Rush will have to explain things more sloooowwwwly since apparently Rio Linda has a lot of people living there.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Now think about it: why would McAmnesty pick a VP that would tempt people to resurrect Lee Harvey Oswald? No, he’s going to pick someone who will make people pray that McAmnesty is healthy for 8 years.
Shay on January 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Question: Is McCain the Manchurian Candidate? I believe he very well may be.
The Democrats have managed to put their candidate at the top of both major parties. This is bad.
We have no choice. We can vote Democrat or we can vote democrat. We have no other choices. Are you listening William Amos? We have no other choices. And no, Rush does not have to choose between two non choices. And neither do I. For the record both of the choice suck equally because they result in the EXACT SAME THING. And no, the Dem nominee will not pull prematurly out of Iraq despite what they claim now in order to get elected.
Zetterson on January 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM
MegaDittos. . . . .Ya big jerk. : )
Texyank on January 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Let’s face it. We really did not have a conservative candidate since Fred dropped out.
What we got now is Duck Soup.
Kini on January 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM
As if the Constitution and Federalist Papers matter in any way whatsoever to establishment conservatives.
Drum on January 30, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Forget the relevancy of conservative talk radio. It would appear conservatives are irrelevant! Rush will be on as long as he has listeners and that hasn’t changed. His success has never been based on elections. How could it have been? It’s based on the desire of the audience to continue listening and they are.
I think we should be a little more concerned with why so many self professed conservatives hear what McCain is saying and hear what Rush is saying and conclude that yes McCain is the real conservative and that Rush doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
bburridg on January 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Amen. The primary system, imo, is seriously flawed and it doesn’t even come close to representing the “will of the people”.
My primary, in Indiana, isn’t until May. Now c’mon… I have absolutely NO say in which candidate the Republicans’ will pick.
And I absolutely believe that MANY dems register as “independents” in order to influence the Republican process during the primaries.
Nineball on January 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I take it at Rush’s word when he says that he probably wouldn’t vote in the general election this time around. It is my understanding that he said that because he wanted to let his audience know how much McCain and Huckabee were bothering him.
In any event, we will find out for sure in about 40 minutes.
Weebork on January 30, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Fixed it.
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:23 AM
That sure caught my ear… say Mitt announces today that Fred!’s his running mate.
Oh yeah…
saint kansas on January 30, 2008 at 11:23 AM
At times like this it is always good to revisit your history. The History of the Repulican Party
bnelson44 on January 30, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Lol…I don’t think most of you understand Talk Radio much better than the MSM.
Asher on January 30, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Hell man, we know what sucks about Mitt. How bout some reasons your lover doesn’t suck.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Part of the reason immigration is on the back burner is because people think they “won” by defeating the amnesty agenda in June. Plus, the fight burned them out. The issue will eventually heat up again.
GogglesPisano on January 30, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Blowback. I like Rush a lot but between his constant attacks and the unhinged right crowd talking about the end of the party and all this… makes me want to defend McCain and I’m not a particular fan of his.
Seems like he’s under a withering assault and it’s reminding folks of how the unhinged left treats Bush.
McCain’s basically a good guy who makes more than his fair share of bad decisions on policy. People are going way overboard with this.
Dash on January 30, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Anybody that really believes John McCain is a “traitor” is completely out of their flapping mind.
rplat on January 30, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I don’t know about any other talk radio hosts, but I know that Rush has said many times that his commitment is to conservatism, not to the Republican Party. The GOP has just traditionally been the only option available to advance conservatism politically. Unfortunately, it’s also the party of shooting itself in the foot, and it’s working overtime on doing that this election cycle.
Well, speaking of hedgehogs, this pretty much sums up how I feel about McShamnesty. But it’s funny at least.
ReubenJCogburn on January 30, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Besides, as to this great influence that Rush has had in previous elections, why were both 2000 and 2004 elections very close in electoral votes? It was only the latter where there was a noticeable amount in the popular vote.
My point is that Rush is but one man, who does a job. He doesn’t command his followers to do things, that is nonsense. He informs them of his opinions and facts that are as accurate as he can verify them. He leaves it up to his listeners to make their own decisions.
You make the mistake of mixing what liberals do, which is run people’s lives, to what conservatives do.
Weebork on January 30, 2008 at 11:27 AM
This is exactly correct, and I can guarantee you that phone calls and faxes are not going to be enough to get the job done next time around. Anyone who truly cares about stopping illegal aliens and securing our border should start thinking about what they’re willing to do when the time comes to fight.
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I think you may be right. I’ve been thinking myself, since a conversation with RWS a few days ago, that the one issue overrides a multitude of sins. Frankly, I am reminded of what Lincoln said about Hooker:
You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm; but I think that during General Burnside’s command of the army you have taken counsel of your ambition, and thwarted him as much as you could, in which you did a great wrong to the country and to a most meritorious and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such a way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the Army and the Government needed a dictator. Of course, it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship.
Just about all the comments in favor of McCain are win the war, run the risk of the rest of what he brings.
Spirit of 1776 on January 30, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Care to elaborate?
Zetterson on January 30, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Fixed it again.
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:28 AM
You know, there IS another debate tonight.
I say Mitt ought to try a totally different tack tonight. Dont keep repeating the same old stuff about “Washington is broken…” that didnt work in Florida OR NH.
Firmly but respectfully challenge McCain on his CONSERVATIVE credentials on immigration, taxes, McCain Feingold. Ask him to prove to Republicans in the Reagan Library (where it is being held) that he is TRULY the heir to Reagan on domestic issues.
And FIGHT BACK against any idiotic liberal-agenda questions from Anderson Cooper the moderator.
MITT NEEDS TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND BOLD AND DIFFERENT TONIGHT. IT MAY BE HIS LAST CHANCE.
Always Right on January 30, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I guess we let the Hispanic vote in Florida decide who the GOP will nominate for president. Without it, McCan’t is yesterday’s news.
volsense on January 30, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Mitt teaming up with Fred would be a huge mistake. I’m starting to believe more and more that the only people who care about Fred, or about immigration, or about other non-issues are commenters right here at HotAir.
Baphomet on January 30, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Make your own comments but leave mine alone, jackass.
rplat on January 30, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Gee,
Fun to see all these people who were whoring for Rudy all these months jumping to defend McCain now.
highhopes on January 30, 2008 at 11:30 AM
McCain has been doing so well only because the GOP has been infected with liberalism, or rather, is increasingly inclined to submit to the siren song of liberal guilt. Voters, politicians, it’s all the same. One shudders to think that this is the result of that infamous “compassionate” word inserted in front of the word conservative back in 1999, but as ye sow shall ye reap. When you give any Leftist premise the moral high ground (by accepting its supposedly good intentions) you, sooner or later, lose the battle. The electorate is awash in New Tone, and Global Warming advocates like McCain are now riding the wave…
Halley on January 30, 2008 at 11:30 AM
And as for the “irrelevance of talk radio”….
well I have two words for you who doubt talk radio.
Harriet Miers.
Always Right on January 30, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Those are your comments? I could swear they were copyrighted by the McCain campaign. You really wrote them yourself?
Gregor on January 30, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Ohhh burn… I put every candidate into my “will he kill the motherf@#$%&” scenario that Clinton had when they saw Osama from a predator. Mitt will take a poll or ask a focus group; Fred, Rudy, or McCain would ask to drop the bomb himself. Who is left in the race? We can agree to disagree on the merits of either candidate but that’s the calculus I use, and is why I campaigned for Bush in 2004 despite him basically being a big government, amnesty loving guy himself.
My name is taken from the movie “Superbad” not because of any McCain reference.
McLovin on January 30, 2008 at 11:31 AM
+1
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:31 AM
You guys are killin’ me!
But you love fear, war, empire, the nanny state, and big government more than you do liberty. Stop pretending.
If you didn’t love these things, you’d see that Ron Paul is your man.
You’re presently in denial because McCain is exactly what you are and you don’t like what it looks like.
Be honest for once!
Drum on January 30, 2008 at 11:31 AM
The Michigan message. Deregulation, lower taxes, investment in science and tech sprinkled with Reagan optimism.
Spirit of 1776 on January 30, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Harriet Miers fell because she was not the optimal candidate. Talk radio had a role in it, but she would have been shot down in the Congress in any case.
Baphomet on January 30, 2008 at 11:32 AM
McLovin on January 30, 2008 at 11:31 AM
My McBad.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Are you smoking crack? see, orlandocajun on January 30, 2008 at 11:19 AM.
McCain has damaged the republican party i.e. amnesty, Mc-Finegold etc. et al. Rush is conservative he will have an audience regardless of McCain. Even if people are putting on their full body condoms and voting for McCain on the war they will still want to hear how he is wrong on his liberal issues.
ditto
infidel2 on January 30, 2008 at 11:33 AM
I was thinking about this during Bush’s State of the Union Adress. When he listed his agenda for his final year in office amongst that list was to again try to push “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” against our will again. He even went so far as to demand that those in the country illegally now get some sort of “pathway to citizenship” with the deal, ie Amnesty. So we know this is going to come up again. And we know it is going to be this year.
So what we are going to have is Republican voters everywhere around the coutry getting riled up AGAINST the candidate they nominated to be at the top of their ticket. All the while, there will be an election underway. What will be the result of this? The defeat we are going to experience in ‘08 is going to be so lopsided it will be like nothing we have ever seen before in the history of this country. The harder they inevitably push for Amnesty, as President Bush, stated he would in his SOTU address the more lopsided the election is going to be.
Thanks Florida. The same people who couldn’t figure out the butterfly ballot in 2000 have just laid this senario out before us. Lovely.
Zetterson on January 30, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I will not vote Mccain because he has a proven record that when the push comes to shove, he will side with the liberals. Over, and over, and over,again. Romney I can hold my nose to vote for.
Rush, Hannity, Levin, etc have no influence on my vote. If anyting, they encourage listeners to think for themselves and make their own decisions.
conservativegrandma on January 30, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Ol’ Rash Limbaugh is easily manipulated. All the lefties have to do is diss him or twist/repeat his words, and his listeners get a week or more of him talking about his favorite subject — himself.
Any time they care to do that, they could hand Texas over to Mexico without a peep from him.
MrScribbler on January 30, 2008 at 11:42 AM
John McCain certainly is a traitor to his party and conservatism.
This pointless and relentless “war hero” crap is puerile and idiotic, and is the very reason that the Republican Party is about to nominate a non-Republican for the Presidency. How freaking infantile.
Reagan was no “war hero”, in fact he basically sat out the biggest war of them all, but he was a Republican, through and through.
btw- I once met Audie Murphy, years ago, shortly before his death, down in Austin when I was a teenager. That was a REAL war hero. Don’t compare that POS McCain to him. Audie Murphy didn’t go into politics and lie his arse off and crap both on our constitution and his staffers and had an big Admiral for a daddy , but at least he got to screw scores of gorgeous Hollywood actresses and drink a lot. RIP.
TexasJew on January 30, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Good idea RushBaby.
The only problem is AllahPundit doesn’t think blogs have any influence whatsoever on public opinions at large (other than being an echo chamber for the believers), so therefore that is why he doesn’t post anything substantive this morning.
But rather, he resorts to posting an utterly stupid blog that has the douchebag Medved in the headline, so as to attract blog refresh hits, in order to pay the bills.
AllahPundit is becoming the irrelevant one in all this.
He has an opportunity to influence readers and the public at large since it is read by our opposition (LA Times, etc.), by posting thoughtful persuasive blogs like Bryan does.
But noooo, his only game plan, to is to get blog hits and stay as “cool” as possible by not pissing off too many people that oppose us.
Such an utterly despicable waste of bandwidth, as is Medved use of radio waves.
Mcguyver on January 30, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I always like what you write, and see that you are understandably venting (accurately) like mad this morning, but…
I am forced to acknowledge the logic of the argument that if McCain’s election over Hillary will help our soldiers in the field, that would have to be reason enough to pull the lever for him.
JiangxiDad on January 30, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Regarding talk radio somehow being able to prove it’s worth in an election cycle or that it is somehow discredited just because candidates they support don’t win is sort of a non starter. To be balanced about it why aren’t their any questions asked about left wing talk radio? Is even the most revered pundits and mass market media operators admitting that liberal radio doesn’t move the masses?
I think this comment from AP is closet to the truth.
That is the impression I am getting. There is a conservative wing of the Republican party but it is being relagated to a minority status now. Too many now vote Republican simply out of some Pavlovian reaction to Democrats, not because of any conservative principles. I think most Republican voters nowadays think conservatism is not destroying the rain forest in Borneo. They need to get a dictionary and look up conservation and conservatism to distinquish the difference.
Just A Grunt on January 30, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Go command a flying f*ck at a rolling donut.
I stopped taking orders once I got my discharge papers at the DLI/FLC.
profitsbeard on January 30, 2008 at 11:47 AM
And I would really like to know why you think ‘my guy’ is.
I haven’t endorsed anyone nor have I said I would vote for anyone other than Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets - and he’s how a LEADER should be.
Note to LAURA INGRAHAM. . . if you are looking for a positive role model coming out of the entertainment industry, you don’t need to look any farther than Chris Paul. He has no tatoos, he’s a good kid (grandfather was a Baptist preacher), and he’s the best basketball player in history.
But who Jianxi, who do you think is ‘my guy’? I’m DYING to know.
ThackerAgency on January 30, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Comment pages: [1] 2 3 4 »