Meet the new front-runner
posted at 7:20 am on January 30, 2008 by Bryan
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Rudy Giuliani is out of the race and will endorse John McCain. After Florida, McCain leads in the number of votes cast in all the GOP primaries and in the number of delegates. He did not win in Florida among conservatives but did win enough among Republicans and independents (yes, they voted in Florida) to win the primary. Going into several winner-take-all states on Super-Duper Tuesday, John McCain is the front-runner. Congratulations to him and his campaign. Once everything shakes out, we’ll probably see that the combination of the surprising Huckaboom plus the Rudy early state gambit gave McCain the opening that he needed while thwarting Romney’s own early state strategy.
McCain is a problematic front-runner, to say the least, from a conservative point of view. He openly lied about his own record on amnesty and Romney’s record on Iraq as recently as a few days ago. McCain has imbibed deeply of the global warming kool-aid and will take government action in that direction. He is weak on taxes and economics, he is so weak on border security that he still has former Mexican cabinet official and open borders zealot Juan Hernandez on his campaign, and he has built his “maverick” career on bashing conservatives and conservatism. None of that has mattered in the primaries thus far, though, and I think that says as much about the other candidates as it says about McCain. But on the positive side, McCain is seen as a national security hawk, and the votes of military and retirees went his way based largely on that. The GOP could do worse than nominate a bona fide war hero for the presidency, even while he presents serious problems on many issues. Our party at least takes national security very seriously and votes on it as a priority, something that can’t be honestly said of the Democrats. And for all his maverickness, McCain does vote conservative about 80% of the time. That fact gets lost in his high-profile betrayals of conservatives and conservative principles, and the existence of legislation called “McCain-Feingold” and “McCain-Kennedy.” He needs to work on something called “McCain-DeMint” or “McCain-Hunter.” Some sort of earmark-slashing tax cut package would be nice.
The other candidates have either failed to catch on so far because of poor strategy, taking stands at odds with the party base and personal peccadilloes; because they appeal only to a limited segment of the party; because they ran weak campaigns; or because their previous record of expediency came back to haunt them. Oddly enough, nearly all of those attributes could describe McCain himself to one degree or another, yet he’s the favorite to win the nomination now. Maybe McCain is the embodiment of all that’s wrong with the GOP right now. He is certainly both a reflection of its traditionalism and a symptom of its policy divisions. He may also be the logical outcome of the some of the fractures the Bush years have exposed. And maybe many of us are voting for him because it’s McCain’s “turn.” Republicans do that sort of thing, often to our detriment.
Conservatives can take heart from a couple of things. The nomination fight isn’t over, and if Huckabee drops out it’s a two-man race that may force both McCain and Romney to court the base in ways that at least McCain hasn’t up to now. Unfortunately, Huckabee isn’t likely to drop out any time soon, so if you’re for Romney, then you’re essentially taking on two candidates who have allied together against you and one of them is holding a cache of votes that you need. How do you capture them? And for all his business acumen, Romney isn’t a perfect candidate either. There is no such thing as a perfect candidate, but this group has carried more than its share of unique issues.
Even if McCain or a Democrat wins the White House, we conservatives can still win on issues as they arise. We beat back an immigration amnesty that had the support of most in the Senate and the Bush administration. We can do it again if McCain or a Democrat is dumb enough to try pushing it again. It will be more difficult, but not impossible.
But even while we can win on some issues, it’s worrisome to me that the more capitalistic party is about to nominate someone who has shown as little understanding of and respect for the private sector as the top two Democrats have. It’s worrisome that the top three candidates, McCain, Obama and Clinton, have little regard for freedom of speech. It’s worrisome that this election is turning less on issues and more on narratives and personality, on both sides of the aisle. These are serious times, and it just doesn’t look like the electorate is taking its choices very seriously. I don’t say that strictly because this or that guy won in Florida, but because overall it looks as though personalities, endorsements and empty slogans are having more of an effect on the vote than what the candidates actually say and do and what their records in and out of office reveal about them. While conservatism isn’t dead, it’s not in good shape and there are valid reasons to take a sober look and wonder where we go from here.
Wherever we go, despair ought not be an option:
Don’t quit, boys. For God’s sake, don’t ever quit. So long as there is room for hope, so long as victory is a possibility, so long as you have strength for the fight, you owe it to yourself to keep hoping and keep fighting.
Hope and courage must always go hand-in-hand. If you will spread hope and encouragement in this dark hour of disappointment, you will do more for your candidate than you know.
Hope and courage are two things in short supply these days. If you have either one, and especially if you have any amount of both, use them.
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It makes me sad.
Seems like Bob Dole all over again….
BobH on January 30, 2008 at 7:23 AM
Amnesty for 20 million illegals in under 2 years. Spanish required of all government workers, etc. etc. Goodbye the America I knew
jed58 on January 30, 2008 at 7:27 AM
Little bit of overreaction wouldn’t you say?
Bradky on January 30, 2008 at 7:29 AM
I cannot, and will not, vote for John RINO McCain.
SilverStar830 on January 30, 2008 at 7:29 AM
Maybe McCain can use some of his maverick man-love in the Senate to push the stalled judicial nominees through to a floor vote.
Valiant on January 30, 2008 at 7:29 AM
sad to think, if mccain wins the nomination, that for the last 3 presidential elections my candidate has been decided upon because he is basically the lesser of two evils……also kind of sad that if bush were able to run for a third term, i would vote for him again, and i think he would probably win…..
pmoshields on January 30, 2008 at 7:31 AM
If there is any shot at turning this thing around, we have to take it now. I’ve got three college age kids who need a future.
kflynn on January 30, 2008 at 7:35 AM
McCain vs. Hillary: I stay home and get tanked.
McCain vs. Obama: I still get tanked, but vote for Barack out of spite for McCain and for my general liking of Mr. Obama’s personality and charisma (even if his politics are nightmarish; not that McCain’s are much better).
America loses big time with any one of these three in office. I suppose I can just take solace knowing that it took a Carter… to give us a Reagan.
Jockolantern on January 30, 2008 at 7:35 AM
And to say the most, he’s Satan.
Ali-Bubba on January 30, 2008 at 7:36 AM
Exactly. Which is why all this drama about “goodbye to the America I knew” crap as seen above is maddening. People are sounding like the unhinged left over freaking John McCain. Relax.
Dash on January 30, 2008 at 7:37 AM
Floridians are douche-bags.
Super Tuesday Analysis:
Romney wins Utah
Romney wins COLO
McCain wins AZ
McCain wins CALI
Romney wins Idaho
Romney wins Montana
Romney wins MASS.
McCain wins New Jersey
The other 9 or so States are up for grabs.
CABE on January 30, 2008 at 7:38 AM
I’m thinking the same thing.
I may grow up and hold my nose and vote Republican, but I can’t say that for sure right now.
BobH on January 30, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Well, looks like I’ll be hanging in until Tuesday. If McCain keeps the Mo going, I’ll just put down my head and cruise through the next 4 years hoping our dem overlords allow me to keep some of my money. Maybe I’ll go get on some government program and “get mine” while the getting is good?
As bad as it would have been for the other candidates to win, McCain is the 3rd worse, barely ahead of HuckaGibot and RP. McCain will either lose or will govern as a liberal.
The SCOTUS will swing to the liberals and that is a real shame.
csdeven on January 30, 2008 at 7:40 AM
I don’t see that. In terms of a general election, McCain has taken the worst possible combination of stances: he’s ultra-hawkish on foreign interventionism, and AT THE SAME TIME he advocates releasing all the terrorists currently in custody and opening our boarders.
That’s not “partially conservative.” That’s a complete disaster. McCain’s taken hard-line positions in all the wrong places.
Meanwhile, Hillary has spent the last 8 years practicing Sun Tsu’s formless attack strategy against her own electorate. She voted in favor of the Resolution of Force, then whined about every single tactical decision Bush made. She has successfully positioned herself as the least-pro-terrorist Democrat candidate. And she shoved the world’s largest cork in her mouth on the issue of illegal immigration.
Between now and November, two things can happen: The war in Iraq can go well, or the war in Iraq can go poorly. If it goes well, Hillary can argue that those paranoid hawks are wasting money by keeping troops where they’re not needed anymore; and if it goes poorly she can say (as she’s said all along) that she was originally “lied to” by George Bush, and this proves she’s been right in opposing him every step of the way since then.
Either way, McCain is screwed. He has no room to move.
logis on January 30, 2008 at 7:43 AM
I know it is late in the game (way later than even “the Fred”), but does anybody know anything about this guy Jerry Curry that has announced? His website says he is a retired general but does anybody KNOW anything about him?
annexwcp on January 30, 2008 at 7:43 AM
McFibb, like Hillary, will apparently say anything to discredit anybody to get elected.
The down side of this obviously is the electorate who are naive enough to get duped by it. Character is never mentioned anymore as part of the lexicon in political campaigns.
Starlink on January 30, 2008 at 7:44 AM
Correction: Floridians are senile douchebags.
But you’ve got a good point. Mormon voters will really boost Romney in Utah, Colorado, Idaho. Conservative residents of California are advised to call their local talk show hosts and raise holy hell.
Ali-Bubba on January 30, 2008 at 7:45 AM
No. What this “exactly” means is not goodby to America; it’s goodby to the Republican Party. Those are two very different things.
logis on January 30, 2008 at 7:49 AM
You forgot NEW YORK. and Connecticut.
McCain wins NEW YORK. he had a comfortable lead even before Rudy pulled out.
McCain wins CONNECTICUT, home of Joe Lieberman republicans.
So its 7 in play mostly in the south where Mitt has to battle Huckabee in places like Arkansas, Missouri and the like. tough sledding.
Always Right on January 30, 2008 at 7:50 AM
Kind of funny how the fate of the Republican Party, perhaps even the fate of the Constitution, may very well rest in the hands of some Mormons.
CABE on January 30, 2008 at 7:50 AM
The most depressing part is that this election is not turning on the issues at all. It’s all a pageant. Summary of platforms:
Rudy: “9 …….. 11!”
Huckabee: “I’m the biggest Christian… so when I lie about myself and others, Jesus forgives me.”
Thompson: “zzzzz”
Romney: “My mormonism is not an issue.”
McCain: “I’m a POW… So that gives me license to peddle transparent lies and tell my party they can suck it hard.”
Lehosh on January 30, 2008 at 7:56 AM
I think Romney should put out ads like the one in Michigan which focus on what he as president will do for America’s future. When Romney resorts to negative campaigning, he brings out the cynic in voters and that’s when he loses. No one agrees with McCain’s distorting of Romney’s words on timetables for Iraq, but when Romney called McCain ‘liberal’ at a rally, I wasn’t buying it and I guess neither did Floridians since Romney has been accused of having a liberal record as governor of MA. And his apologies of past positions don’t cut it if he’s just going to attack the other guy’s record. It makes him look like a hypocrite which is why he lost in Iowa.
barry norris on January 30, 2008 at 8:00 AM
Sounds like Bill Bennett is in the McDole tank.
Just cancelled my subscription.
stenwin77 on January 30, 2008 at 8:01 AM
It would be funny if later this week Fred Thompson comes out from seclusion and endorses McCain.
Complete7 on January 30, 2008 at 8:05 AM
Well, I’m changing my (R) to an (I).
What a wonderful primary system we have. It’s amazing to see how dumbed down the electorate is, and it’s sad to see how much race is a factor on one side, and religion on the other.
Just because the Dems keep moving left, doesn’t mean the Republicans do, too.
What a great time to be a lazy, irresponsible dumbass in America. Let’s tax the successful and give it to the losers. Hell, let’s import more of life’s losers, we have plenty of successful people to tax.
Speaking of losers, hey evangelicals, at least we might not nominate a Mormon (gasp).
reaganaut on January 30, 2008 at 8:06 AM
In the best interest of our country, keep your wits about you.
The idea that you stay home and let Billary or Obama become president is foolish.
Even in the worst case on the margins, McCain is better than either one of the Dems.
georgealbert on January 30, 2008 at 8:07 AM
Here’s a preview of the spin we can expect the Left to use against McCain. McCain’s Platform is less jobs, more wars.
BUCHANAN: Here’s a guy, basically, what does he say? The jobs are never coming back, the illegals are never going home, but we’re gonna have a lot more wars.
SCARBOROUGH: We’re gonna start a lot of wars! He has promised, for the record Keith, John McCain’s platform — and it certainly looks inviting for the fall — he has promised less jobs and more wars. Now that’s something we can all rally behind.
Buy Danish on January 30, 2008 at 8:07 AM
If the exit polls are right, the Floridians DID buy just that. Unfortunately, they were the difference maker in “Republican-only” Florida.
steveegg on January 30, 2008 at 8:12 AM
Dole 2: Electoral Bugaboo
saint kansas on January 30, 2008 at 8:12 AM
You are assuming that the Democrats and their “RINO” allies (like McCain) will make (or more-properly, have made) the same mistake as they did in the 1850s and allow a replacement opposition party to gain traction. Instead, all of the groundwork necessary to create a long-term one-party system, from a minority of the populace taking care of the majority of freeloaders to McCain-Feingold, has been laid.
steveegg on January 30, 2008 at 8:17 AM
Ah, Bryan, my friend, you have a lot more faith and hope than I do. As far as I’m concerned the Republican party has gone over to the dark side. I’m a Conservative Independent voter and as of today, that’s my new party. The Republicans can no longer take my vote for granted. They’ll have to SHOW me they deserve it ’cause they’ve already proven that talk’s cheap. Anybody else want to join me?
eclark1849 on January 30, 2008 at 8:22 AM
That’s not correct at all. I’ve seen this erroneously cited at several places in the blogopshere lately.
The fact is that a while back he used to have a conservative rating like that, but in recent years it has degraded precipitously, to the point that his conservative rating now ranks among the lowest of all Republican senators.
clark smith on January 30, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Ask again in two years.
Midas on January 30, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Just to set the record straight about a third party…I consider McCain a third party, not my Republican party.
McCain has
afoothalf his body in the Democrat party, and the other half in Mexico.right2bright on January 30, 2008 at 8:29 AM
Oh yeah, he supports the troops, just like every other candidate (Paul exempted).
right2bright on January 30, 2008 at 8:32 AM
To say the least is right. One second of Tim Russert gushing over McCain’s win last night was enough to enrage anybody who truly is a conservative says all that needs to be said about McNasty. JOHN MCCAIN IS THE DEMOCRAT’S FALLBACK POSITION!!! Do we really want to nominate somebody that is “acceptable” to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid or do we want to make this a real fight for principles that matter?
Rally around Romney and fight on!!!
highhopes on January 30, 2008 at 8:32 AM
Bryan,
Absent from your list of things disturbing about McCain is that he was in talks to jump parties and join the Dems in 2001/2,and to be Kerry’s running mate in 2004, yes?
A nice piece you’ve written, but much of it - for me - is all about putting perfume on the pig. McCain’s betrayals and decidedly unconservative behaviors are too much for me. I’m not voting for a guy with an expectation that I’m going to have to fight him for four years (or more) on issues like immigration, etc.
If I’m going to have to plan on that - why again am I voting for him? If a Dem wins I’ll have to do that - that I’ve had to with Bush is enough. Not going to willingly sign up for that.
Midas on January 30, 2008 at 8:34 AM
Once the anger has died down most conservatives will rally around McCain. On the Democrat side, Hillary has been getting some harsh treatment from the MSM. We all know that will stop abruptly the moment she secures the nomination. They’ll circle the wagons like never before. The new conservative media (NCM) should do the same for our guy, whoever it is. We have to be as partisan as the other side.
I think a lot of people are voting for McCain because he’s the most electable (they think). The Hillary factor is having a big effect on the GOP primaries. Who is most likely to stop the Evil One?
McCain needs us. He’s already reaching out. I just heard him on the Bill Bennett show. Bennett was happy with what he heard.
infidel65 on January 30, 2008 at 8:35 AM
I’ve made my decision. I won’t stay home, but I won’t vote for Benedict Arnold McCain, and I can’t vote for either of the two communists.
There are a number of other elections out there, House and Senate, local elections, to many to stay home and ignore. What I will do is simple. I will write in my choice for President and Vice President. It will be a vote for principle. Then I will go home and get tanked.
evilned on January 30, 2008 at 8:35 AM
Dude. Where do you people come from? jed58’s thesis is not an unlikely scenario if Juan McCain gets nominated.
HYTEAndy on January 30, 2008 at 8:36 AM
More than likely I’ll be leaving the President’s slot blank on my ballot in November.
bj1126 on January 30, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Yes McCain wants to do the amnasty to the country, but Hillary will do that and gut The Military, CIA, FBI . . .
- The Cat
MirCat on January 30, 2008 at 8:37 AM
As I’ve said all along, McCain is a great Republican candidate. He scores near perfectly in the top three groups of issues we care about: national defense/foreign policy, economics (despite the tax cuts issue, which he has explained) and finally social issues such as infanticide or gun rights. The rest (campaign finance, immigration, etc.) is purely secondary and has no importance. “Conservatives” would do well to stop behaving like children and focus on the real issues.
Baphomet on January 30, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Won’t Mac’s vp more than likely be the nominee in 2012? Lindsey Graham?
THE CHOSEN ONE on January 30, 2008 at 8:40 AM
LOL. God help us, but this wouldn’t surprise me a bit.
Midas on January 30, 2008 at 8:42 AM
Have heard some reports in FL of Independents and NPA’s going to the polls and able to vote if they ‘choose’ a party on the spot (without actually joining that party). If true, exactly how does this help us choose our candidate? I guess election rules just don’t matter anymore. Next we’ll have illegals demanding driver’s licenses and free healthcare…oh wait..DAMN! We’re all screwed!
dandy on January 30, 2008 at 8:43 AM
It’s about time someone pointed that out. Thanks, Bryan.
jgapinoy on January 30, 2008 at 8:45 AM
I’m still standing by my prediction that J-Mac will pick Fred to shore up conservative support.
jgapinoy on January 30, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Gee, you conveniently left out immigration…you “would do well to stop behaving like
childrena child and focus on the real issues”.And how could he score perfect on economic issues when he admits not knowing anything about the economic issues.
Great, moving into a difficult economic period and you want to choose someone who admits he doesn’t understand economics. At least Mitt can speak to that…
right2bright on January 30, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Republicans and many on this blog getting exactly what you have asked for. Good luck with McCain. He isn’t a RINO - he is what a Republican is nowadays. You all hate Ron Paul so much - now you can suck on McCain as your Presidential nominee. You call people like me a “Paultard” (I guess you are implying a special form of mental retardation - that’s hilarious). I guess all of us Paultards and all of you smart people can sit back and enjoy our time with the next President of the People’s Republic. Don’t worry - the government will just print more money.
King of the Britons on January 30, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Spot on.
JetBoy on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Considering that Mormons are generally very conservative Repubs for the most part, that isn’t such a bad thing.
I’m troubled by the win because the media-darling McCain does get a big push going into super-tuesday. If the Huck would just wake up and realize he’s a long shot, it would get very very interesting next week.
Luckedout on January 30, 2008 at 8:50 AM
But who believes McCain won’t shaft us as President just as he’s shafted us all along as Senator?
The specter of Hillary may scare us enough to vote for McCain, but what conservative is a sucker enough to believe McCain when he promises he won’t shaft us in the future as he has in the past?
clark smith on January 30, 2008 at 8:51 AM
I was confused about this too. I thought this was for registered Republicans only.
Luckedout on January 30, 2008 at 8:53 AM
What does that even mean? I mean do you even know or is this just raw emotion spilling out onto a keyboard? Goodbye to the Republican Party what, forever? For 4 years? What?
Goodbye like it will be just Democrats now? Or no “true” republican will ever run again ever ever?
The idea that somehow John McCain will sunder an entire party in any sense at all is just silly. Again, bizzaro Kos. Have fun storming the gates or whatever.
Dash on January 30, 2008 at 8:56 AM
Shrillery/BamBam or McCain… ?
We’re screwed for the next 4 years.
Bring on the 2012 apocalypse.
rockbend on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Let me get this straight…immediately having 20 million illegals become legal is a “secondary” issue? Are you f-n high. Are you going to pick op the tab for these people? What party do you think these 20 million new citizens will vote for? I can’t believe you made such a ridiculous assertion. The overwhelming response to Shamnesty cjearly indicates it is not a secondary issue. I hope you’re bilingual or currently taking Spanish lesson.
jwp1964 on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Infidel,
Think about what you just posted. You are expecting we conservatives will eat our anger and just go along with getting a man nominated who doesn’t have any respect for our values? No thank you!
I mean this sincerely and it is not posted in anger. If the choices boil down to Hillary Clinton or John McCain I will not vote for President for the first time in my life.
I simply don’t see one iota of difference between a bitter liberal Democrat and a bitter liberal RINO. They both want amnesty, gay marriage, gays in the military, higher taxes, immediate withdrawal from Iraq, etc…..
Why should I vote to destroy my nation when so many Floridians are willing to do the job that real Americans won’t do?
highhopes on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 AM
We all need to begin sending contributions and “buck up” messages to the dwindling true conservatives we have left in Congress. (I’m biased, Texas has given us two solidly conservative Senators.) These men and women are going to have to take a page out of the Democrat’s book and fight to kill just about anything coming out of the White House… YES EVEN IF IT’S “MAVERICK.” He’s only got about 10 years left on this planet. What the hell does he care if he screws the country up really good on the way out? Screw the future John, it’s all about you!
Sugar Land on January 30, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Timely reminder. If it turns out that conservatives are relegated to a minority, we’ll have to put some energy into learning and teaching. This country is on its way to being turned completely upside down, and it will be up to us to preserve the vision of liberty, and inspire others to start working to get it back.
RushBaby on January 30, 2008 at 9:06 AM
You could not have said it better. You pick the best you can in all situations. Throwing up your hands and walking away in disgust is foolish at best and, with all respect, self-centered, self-righteous, childish behavior.
Look at it this way: saying you’re not going to vote because the slate is not perfect is like a kid saying he’s not going to eat his peanut butter sandwich because the crust has not been cut off. You can bet that we he’s served up a Limburger cheese croissant and told it’s the only thing he can eat he’s gonna be wishing he’d taken the crusty peanut butter.
It’s likely this race is gonna come down to Hillery and McCain. And it’s likely to be a close race. In my book, anyone that walks away from this fight in self-righteous indignation is throwing in the with democrats.
Rod on January 30, 2008 at 9:12 AM
At least the party could coalesce and fight a real liberal instead of fracture while defending another RINO.
blatantblue on January 30, 2008 at 9:18 AM
There is no such thing as not voting, and there is no such thing as protest voting. Any Republican who does not support Romney is actively supporting McCain.
This is especially true for Mike Huckabastard. If he actually cared about the things he claims to care about, he would acknowledge that he cannot win and would withdraw and endorse Romney. As it is, he is either too caught up in his own selfish pride or is actively shilling for McCain. I wish his followers could see that. The Huckster could end this thing today.
Nosferightu on January 30, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Just made a donation to Romney. The thought of eight years of McCain…you might as well erase the border from the map.
WisCon on January 30, 2008 at 9:25 AM
It isn’t about childish or foolish behavior. It is about sticking to your guns and not betraying the beliefs of the conservative movement. To imply that it would somehow make us children isn’t a well thought out implication.
Our movement needs someone who is truly representative of us. What is childish about not supporting a man who has constantly stabbed this movement in the back and made his living off of being the black sheep to the conservatives?
blatantblue on January 30, 2008 at 9:25 AM
McCain May Win, Romney Can’t - Dick Morris, The Hill
bnelson44 on January 30, 2008 at 9:35 AM
SECOND LOOK AT BOB DOLE!
ronsfi on January 30, 2008 at 9:38 AM
For those of you who are going to pick up your marbles and go home - well - I respect and share your conservative values and frustration but the only thing I can figure is that you’re either very young or you’ve led very sheltered lives. The Stones said it best 40 years ago when I graduated high school and then got drafted (government sanctioned kidnapping) to fight in Vietnam: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
Rod on January 30, 2008 at 9:38 AM
I don’t think there’s any maybe to it. In the last 8 years, little by little, the GOP has sacrifice one conservative principle after another, until there’s almost no conservatism left. McVain, a man that has made his living the last 8 years siding with liberals on one big conservative issue after another is the perfect embodiment of what’s wrong with the GOP right now - assuming what’s left of it desires to actually be a conservative party.
Perhaps it’s time for conservatives to face the face that we are just about (if not completely) irrelevant in the GOP and that it’s time to look for (or make) a new political home.
thirteen28 on January 30, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Like where? Lithuania?
ronsfi on January 30, 2008 at 9:41 AM
I hear theres an oil platform in the atlantic for sale.
ronsfi on January 30, 2008 at 9:42 AM
If George W. Bush can become President, then Mitt Romney can too.
WisCon on January 30, 2008 at 9:44 AM
You need to read the article before commenting.
bnelson44 on January 30, 2008 at 9:44 AM
It also says a lot about the voters. All of the big brains of the conservative movement have come out for Romney. I’ve donated to Romney and I’ve already voted (absentee) for Romney in California.
John McCain will hand the GOP it’s worst defeat in decades. But, that may be OK, if we only to suffer 4 years of a Democrat in the White House, increased taxes, a terrible recession. And, then Romney can run again as the true conservative who can fix the terrible economy in 2012.
If McCain wins the nomination. I’ll not only not vote for him, but I will have to seriously consider registering as an independent.
Do we really want as the head of the GOP someone who has supported:
Amnesty for Illegals
Restrictive Environmental Laws
Restricting the 1st amendment
Raising Taxes for Social Security
Fuel Economy Mandates from the Federal Government
Criminal Trials for Terrorists
Stem-cell research on human embryos
And someone who has opposed:
The Bush Tax Cuts
The Marriage Amendment
Waterboarding Terrorists
Drilling in ANWR
Overturning Roe V. Wade
Those are not positions of a party I want to belong to. Perhaps this is the end of the Republican party.
joncoltonis on January 30, 2008 at 9:50 AM
We don’t need the little Dick to know that, even I admit Mitt is a better person than McCain to run the country, but he can’t win. Mitt can’t win, it will be all over when Calif. and NY cast their votes.
It is now up to each one of us, what we are going to do with our votes…I suspect Hillary will seek out more of the middle ground as the campaign begins to settle, and try to pick up a few of those disgruntled Republican votes. Obama will move to the left to pick up the voters who are abandoning Hillary.
The race will be Obama to the far left, Hillary to the middle left, and McCain straddling the line. Right on military, left on immigration, economics (he admits he hasn’t a clue), social to the slight left.
*
The decision will be, do we waste our vote on McCain (or Mitt), or try to move the Dem towards the center?
*
barring any unusual disaster or major mistake.
right2bright on January 30, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Republicans have a choice now. Don’t vote because you hate McCain because of principle, but, that would mean a Clinton or Obama President and you will have to live with the harm they will bring and may never be able to fixed. Can you live with America being a looser in another war but this one may come back to haunt us.
KBird on January 30, 2008 at 9:57 AM
It’s not about supporting the man but being mature enough to realize that there are times in your life that you are going to have to make difficult decisions. There are times when you will need to choose the lesser of two evils to ensure the most does not dominate. If you truly believe that a democratically controlled congress and executive branch can irreparably damage this county, you will do everything within you power to mitigate that disaster. Sitting and your hands and saying you had nothing to do with the mess we will assuredly find ourselves in proves what?? To me, in only proves you did nothing to help stop it.
Rod on January 30, 2008 at 9:57 AM
I’ll say it again: did I accidentally click the HuffPo link?
Honestly, this comment section looks like a 12 car conservative pile-up. “I won’t vote for McCain.” “So long America.” “I’d rather have my eyeballs pierced with a red hot needle than vote for McCain.” (OK, I made that last one up).
I find it ironic that the same people who claim McCain is not a true conservative also say that they won’t vote Republican this election if he is the nominee. That’s just precious: what better way to demonstrate your conservative bona fides than by providing de facto support to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?
I supported McCain in 2000 and had George Bush rammed down my throat by “the establishment.” I bit my tongue and supported him for the past eight years. Sort of like John McCain did.
Mitt Romney, despite his recently discovered conservative credentials, will not win a national election. Against anyone. He’ll beat the far-right drum, and moderates and independents will begin to see GWB II, just with better hair and no southern twang. Election lost.
John McCain is leading in the national polls among Republicans, and yet here in the Hot Air comments section, support for him elicits cries of “troll” and “moron.” Really now. Is the far right starting to behave like the far left?
One final question: in year 3 of a Clinton Administration, when you’re filing your tax return and scratching your head, when Iraq’s been renamed “Al Qaeda,” and when you’re being forced to listen to Bill Clinton prattle on about nonsense, will you really take comfort in the fact that you stayed home instead of voting for McCain? If the answer is yes, then your ego has gotten in the way of your principles.
Potfry on January 30, 2008 at 9:59 AM
Mitt is on a bus somewhere trying to figure out how he can still buy this thing.
THE CHOSEN ONE on January 30, 2008 at 10:01 AM
McCain isn’t ideal, but he does lean conservative in many areas. In my book, a 60% conservative beats a 90% liberal any day, particularly in the middle of a war. He will preserve, protect and defend the constitution of this country, in spite of his liberal leanings. With respect to this, I have serious doubts that either Clinton or Obama will do the same. They are much more likely to surrender and cause lasting damage. After the smoke clears, the most important thing is the overall health of our country and the preservation of our Constitutional form of government.
If McCain wins the GOP nomination, a President McCain will act counter to conservative principles in some areas, but conservatives can beat him in many of these areas by resorting to grass-roots lobbying. When it comes to the roles of commander-and-chief and foreign policy executive, it would be foolish for conservatives to be complicit in electing a liberal President in the middle of a war. That is a risk that none of us should be willing to take. If we lose the Middle-East to radical Islam in the next five years, there will be no future political victory that will compensate for the carnage that will follow. What we are fighting in right now is not a cold war. It is a very real and bloody war where entire countries/regions hang in the balance. If we are complicit in allowing the resurgence of radical Islam, the next war will involve a nuclear confrontation that will make previous wars look like a walk in the park. We need to ask ourselves if we are willing to risk the future of this nation and perhaps the rest of the world just to see McCain lose. Conservatism will mean absolutely nothing, if we allow liberals and radicals to take control of everything that we love.
NuclearPhysicist on January 30, 2008 at 10:05 AM
What’s the net gain/loss for McCain if he repudiates Juan Hernandez, fires him from the campaign, and finds some sanity on the illegal immigration problem in the United States?
Romney for VP? I’m having nightmares that Huckabee will be the VP.
gabriel sutherland on January 30, 2008 at 10:06 AM
No, Juan Hernandez will be the VP.
jdawg on January 30, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Take a deep breath, and remember, the Republic will survive.
Unless Huck gets VP nod. Then all bets are off.
brak on January 30, 2008 at 10:12 AM
With him being the front-runner, in a McCain/Hillary race, who’d be the best choice for McCain’s VP?
Rod on January 30, 2008 at 10:15 AM
NuclearPhysicist on January 30, 2008 at 10:05 AM
So, just “shut up and go along with what the establishment says?” No, thanks. I’ve had it with these limp-wristed, mealy-mouth, lying, backstabbing, power-hungry politicians. No More. I will not vote for any RINO ever again. If it means a marxist in power for a few years, fine. As long as the marxist has a “D” behind thier name, instead of an “R”. I am never voting for someone just to keep someone else out. That’s no reason to vote for someone. McCain hasn’t given me any reason to vote for him - I can’t even trust what he says. I certainly won’t vote for him just to keep Hitlery out.
jdawg on January 30, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Whatever reachout McCain does now will only last as long as the election. He is going to say and do whatever it takes to get elected, and then revert back to his original positions. With that said, you have to decide if you can live with his positions on imigration, taxes, terrorist prison location, and waterboarding and everything he has stood for, because thats what he is, a RINO, and don’t kid yourself that he isn’t. Judges, Border Security? Its is not going to happen. Ask Mitt if he lost to Honest Straight Talk John McCain.
kflynn on January 30, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Exhibit A.
Potfry on January 30, 2008 at 10:19 AM
I can’t believe you people! McCain barely slid by Romney in FL. I’d bet on Romney any day of the week in a one on one debate against Hillary or Obama. You guys give up too easily.
kcd on January 30, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Actually, dude the fact that Mitt lost proves that your idiotic vote-buying scenario is as worthless as the rest of your commentary.
Buy Danish on January 30, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Does it matter? McCain/Obama! Hillary/Obama! Same thing.
kcd on January 30, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Potfry on January 30, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Hola mi hermanos y hermanas! Hola Amero! Mi case as es su casa.
JustTruth101 on January 30, 2008 at 10:28 AM
The Crist endorsement obviously helped McCain. I just thought it would have helped him a lot more than it did. Crist is very popular in Florida. He has George Bush like Texas ratings. Keep an eye on him for 2012.
I think Romney wins Florida if Crist endorsed Guiliani.
gabriel sutherland on January 30, 2008 at 10:34 AM
I did read the article ace, and yeah, McCain is more electable than Romney. But what were the odds that W (little experience, relatively unknown) was going to knock off the sitting VP Al Gore and become President? Don’t throw up the white flag yet.
WisCon on January 30, 2008 at 10:37 AM
With all due respect, it’s a bit naive to think that the damage that can be inflicted would last only a few years. The Supreme court sanctioned the murder of unborn children 35 years ago. The threat we face now from Iran can be linked right back to Carter’s failure to support the Shaw. The damage that Hillery can inflict can permanently scar this county. This is not a game of Monopoly where we get to pass “GO” every few turns.
Rod on January 30, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Hey KBird,
McCain won in stupid Florida, not the nomination. There is still time and motivation to make sure the rat bastard traitor* McCain doesn’t get to run in the general election. Let’s not forget that point- this isn’t a done deal.
*McCain has a great life story and served honorably in the military. He has betrayed the party and now expects all to “suck it up” and nominate him despite the fact he has more in common with Teddy Kennedy than Ronald Reagan. I have no intention of voting for the smug Quisling.
highhopes on January 30, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Amnesty for 20 million illegals in under 2 years. No judges like Sam Alito. Restricted speech. Bill after bill from the dem congress signed. Hello late term abortion. Hello morning after pill given to jr. high schoolers. Hello gay marrige. Goodbye America.
I won’t support McShamnesty. I’ll stay hoome.
HotAirExpert on January 30, 2008 at 10:48 AM
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