Tired of “everybody hates Mitt” stories? How about an “everybody hates McCain” story?
posted at 11:22 am on February 4, 2008 by Bryan
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
From today’s Washington Post. Unlike anti-Mitt stories, this one isn’t based on class warfare. Its central theme is that John McCain is a hothead who yells at and kneecaps fellow Republicans. His chief of staff’s defense?
[Mark] Salter scoffed at the idea that McCain is not fit to be president and said most stories about his temper are “wildly exaggerated.” He pointed to McCain’s success at “across-the-aisle cooperation” with Democrats as an example of how he would deal with Congress if elected president.
Yeah, like McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy, a pair of legislative abominations. If that’s how a President McCain would “deal with Congress,” no thanks. But the McCain camp’s instinctive defense here is interesting. Instead of always touting McCain’s recording of working with liberals, which we all know he can do, how about Salter or someone else in McCain’s camp giving us some evidence that McCain can work with conservatives?
There isn’t much of that, at least in the last few years. But there’s this.
McCain’s relationship with House Republicans has been strained for years. After stumping for more than 50 GOP candidates during the 2000 campaign, McCain dramatically scaled back his efforts in 2002 out of pique toward House Republicans who opposed his effort to overhaul campaign finance law.
Great. McCain sacrificed the GOP congress over his wretched CFR crusade. Speaker Pelosi thanks you, Maverick.
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: « Previous 1 2 3 4
Ask yourselves this question:
How much better would the world be today, if John McCain had defeated G W Bush in 2000?
Try to be honest.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 4, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Heh. Apparently their site counter hasn’t been clicking as rapidly as it should and the good folks at LGF took a cue from Allah. Time to recruit another herd.
Go for it, people. Register ASAP! In addition to snarking at each other here, you can snark at each other there.
NemoParticularis on February 4, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Yeah, civilized. McCain will look like a deer in the headlights as he is eviscerated by the media and the left’s political machine…wondering where all the civility has gone.
91Veteran on February 4, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Now you know how anyone who is against McCain feels about him.
The NY Times printing any classified information they can to sabotage the WoT…endorses McCain….after printing the MoveOn.nitwits ad.
Remember Durbin and his comparison of troops to Pol Pot? or Murtha and his calling Marines cold blooded murderers? How about Pelosi going to Syria? maybe Dingy Harry and many other surrendercrats saying the war was lost, before deployment of surge troops even reached the half way point? I recall Kennedy talking about the number of body bags coming home from the first Gulf War suggesting our military was not up to it. Didn’t he say much the same thing this time?
Remember any of the left and how they smeared the military after Abu Ghraib? same with the Koran in the toilet at Gitmo?
Anybody remember McCain standing up to these nuts? Loudly and publicly?
…instead, McCain reached across the isle whenever he pleased for his own selfish reasons.
91Veteran on February 4, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Nope keep ‘um Coming. >:}
Chakra Hammer on February 4, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Go to hell you troll! It wasn’t your love of country that was question and I’m not questioning yours.
Whining? Hardly! Insulted, enraged, and disgusted are more apt terms for what I feel you miserable piece of crap! I will not vote for McCain and if enduring the ignorant, moronic, bleatings of people like you is the cost of doing so- I’m perfectly willing to deal with it. You aren’t worth my time or effort to care about.
P.S. I’ve spent the last 24 years serving my nation proudly. What have you been doing during that time? Why is your opinion so damned more important that you can insult me because I object when those of your ilk call me anti-American for daring to rock the Tijuana experess? My guess is that you weren’t even born 24 years ago and this is just the typical hate-filled spiteful response that one has come to expect from McCain supporters.
highhopes on February 4, 2008 at 10:53 PM
The epitome of pyrrhic victory.
91Veteran on February 4, 2008 at 10:55 PM
WTF – the McCain haters are now fighting among themselves and shrilling troll troll troll at each other. This is exactly where all the poison will lead – to division and defeat in the general. I’d prefer McCain as our nominee, but by God I will get behind whichever candidate is the GOP nominee for POTUS, because the only winners from this insane infighting are going to be the Democrats.
Pax americana on February 4, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Yeah right. Your McCain/Rudy bias tells me you’d find some reason to bolt should Romney be the nominee. They would, why would you remain loyal?
I have no clue who “montana” is. He/she/it’s political leanings are a mystery to me. Yet he/she/it starts attacking me personally. That leads me to think that he/she/it is a McCain supporter because that is what you people do. Attack the person instead of dealing with the issues. Another thing you have in common with the Clintons.
highhopes on February 4, 2008 at 11:27 PM
I support Senator McCain, but I will vote for whichever candidate the Republican party chooses. I have not yet heard a McCain supporter say that if Romney wins the primary that we would vote for Hillary or stay home.
Yet, many of the newly minted, born again Romney supporters that seem to have jumped on his bandwagon in the last week are threatening to vote Dem or stay home if John McCain gets the nod.
You see, this is because they are “true conservatives”.
It all makes sense, once you smoke from the Romney pipe.
JayHaw Phrenzie on February 4, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Just got a taped phone message from Weasel Wilson (former CA governor Pete-(R)). He said to support open borders Insane; Insane will secure the borders. Hahahahaha. Weasel Wilson, “moderate” Republican who gave us energy “deregulation” in CA in the late ’90s, which led to gaming the system, which led to rolling blackouts, precursor to the Enron debacle. Hahahahaha. Weasel Wilson, who funded Cal-OSHA, who raised taxes during a recession. Hahahahaha. Do you see what you Insane-iacs are supporting and who supports him?
Feedie on February 4, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Borders are so over-rated.- John McCain.
(So is Barnes and Nobles.- Mike Huckabee.)
profitsbeard on February 4, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Let’s see,
McCain attacks MoveOn, check
McCain attacks Durbin, check
McCain attacks Harry Reid, check
McCain attacks Murtha, check
McCain savages Democratic defeatism, check
Pretty good. But I’m sick of pointing out the obvious to the McCain haters, who’ve never read anything beynd the poisonous shrilling of the egotists who would rather campaign for Obama/Clinton than support the Republican nominee. If you want to split the GOP by posting a load of BS, don’t be surprised if some of us try to stop you.
Pax americana on February 4, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Done frothing at the mouth? Feel better? Need a cookie?
I never actually attacked you, though with your thin skin any comments in your general direction seem to light you off like a sparkler on the 4th of July.
A couple of points:
1. I no longer give anyone a free pass just because they served in the military. John Kerry, Jack Murtha…you get the picture. I used too. No longer. Cindy Sheehan doesn’t have moral authority, nor do you. Or I for that matter.
2. I respect service to country, yes.
3. What I am trying to tell you is that you need to stop-drop-and-roll before you flame those of us who resist the urge to jump on McCain’s so-called Straight Talk Express. We are against his candidacy because we applied, truth, logic and reason.
4. Relax. Breath. Then think reasonably about why some people don’t support McCain. You’ll find it isn’t a derangement. You’ll find it’s based on his votes on key issues facing our nation.
5. I think your service in the French military was great. Heh, I jest! But seriously, get off your backpatting tour of “I served my country, what were you doing”. Very very lame.
Montana on February 4, 2008 at 11:56 PM
ps. Your guess on my age is wrong. But I wish you were right. I wouldn’t mind getting all those years back. Heh.
Montana on February 4, 2008 at 11:58 PM
This is the way it works. The elites in the GOP and media have pushed amnesty and their candidate of choice in opposition to real conservatism. The ONLY way this will change is if they think they will be abandoned and we won’t play into their strategy every time something like this comes up. They want McCain and they think even people who hate him now will eventually get behind him. This is their arrogance on display. The only way they will learn is if they are slapped hard enough across the face. If the traitor McCain is the nominee I will actively campaign AGAINST him and I will encourage everyone I know to do the same.
davenp35 on February 4, 2008 at 11:59 PM
You really are worried that John might lose the anti-shamnesty, pro free speech crowd, aren’t you? And, just the other day, The Chosen One told those folks to stay home because you could win without them. Heck, AP thinks it’s all just bluff anyway. Don’t worry about it. All will be well. No one will stay home, no one will do write-ins, or vote Dem. If they did, it wouldn’t matter anyway. Just a bunch of kidders having some fun. No one is serious.
a capella on February 5, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Great question. I really don’t know. I suspect about the same.
I would trust him in his response to 9/11 (McCain) and his immigration stance is = GW Bush’s. Not sure on his tax and spend stance–couldnt be any worse than Bush. My guess would be we would be about in the same fix. But we would have missed out on all the good GW Bush jokes. Some are pretty dang funny–like Will Ferrel playing Bush on Global Warming.
I was a McCain supporter in 2000–until I learned of his stance on key issues. Haven’t liked him since. Don’t like him now. I warmed up to GW when I saw him handle the downed US surveillance plane on a Chinese island. I loved him in his first 4 years. I think he largely wasted his second term. I wouldn’t vote for him again.
I guess because I won’t vote for a guy in whom I do not trust, or respect, I am considered “deranged”.
Makes sense in our world of Hollyweird values. People who vote based on their beliefs vs political expediency are perhaps, deranged.
So be it. I’m a kook.
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 12:04 AM
And I find myself agreeing with davenp35 for maybe the first time ever. Strange times. *extends hand to stranger*
RushBaby on February 5, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Semi-psychotic kook, just so you know.
RushBaby on February 5, 2008 at 12:09 AM
I don’t care who McCain attacks. I care about:
1. What he votes for
2. What he pushes as legislation (campaign finance reform, shamnesty, hiding the SL scandal…)
3. How he conducts himself (his conduct on this campaign has been shameful–his lies, his half truths and his irritating smirk)
4. I care about how he flip flops on key issues when his new job is at stake (that goes for ALL candidates)
The more people call me deranged for not falling in line with the MSM and Liberal chosen Prophet of the Republican Party, the more I too will sit out this election if he is the Republican candidate.
I’d rather see Obama win.
And if Hillary wins, I can at least indulge in tasteless humor by calling her the Cankle in Chief.
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 12:10 AM
You’re the one shaking hands with a post! Meet ya in the round rubber room buddy!
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Bob Dole is a wise man.
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 5, 2008 at 12:14 AM
JayHaw,
How dare you think I’m so stupid to agree with this line of thought! McCain supporters haven’t been in a position of voting for somebody else or sitting out because the MSM has already annointed Juan McCain as the nominee. You idiots have never been asked to support somebody else and I seriously doubt you would apply the same comment “shut up and support McCain” if Romney was the nominee. I’m guessing your second choice is Clinton. Certainly nobody I’d support as a conservative midwestern Republican.
highhopes on February 5, 2008 at 12:22 AM
What is obvious? That McCain is liberal?
My point is that McCain will reach across to those who support this crap any time he feels, and has done so.
Running to the microphones to gain some attention offering weak denunciations doesn’t erase his other actions with the left.
As for MoveOn.nitwits, it didn’t take him long to start
sucking upclarifying.As for Durbin, McCain didn’t think he needed to be punished to badly for his reprehensible statement:
As for Dingy, so Time printed a speech McCain made at VMI. Big deal. He was already running for President and new which way the wind was blowing, but never called Reid out specifically.
Collegiality, you know.
Murtha? So the tough guy tells Murtha to get a life? Certainly he could have come up with something a good deal stronger in support of soldiers who were just called murderers before the investigation was done. How many of them have since been acquitted? If McCain is the White Knight looking to clean up Washington, he could start with a few of his “friends”.
Yet Johnny still managed to reach across the isle, in as sneaky a way as possible, to make a deal with Kennedy. All the while ignoring those whose vote he was seeking even then.
91Veteran on February 5, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Here is the guy who faints when he thinks someone attacks him.
You stay classy highhopes!
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 12:27 AM
You’re right: no McCain supporter I know would abandon the GOP or campaign with Clinton against Romney if he were elected. Perhaps because they have more loyalty, good sense, commitment to conservative principles and belief in the GOP than the demagogues and pseudo-Republicans who have worked themselves into a frenzy bashing McCain.
OK, so you have no problem with making abortion easier, surrender in Iraq, cutting back the military, tax hikes, open borders, homosexual marriage, holding Islamic appeasement conferences, protectionism, socialized healthcare, more pork barrel spending, liberal appointees to the SC…
McCain is committed to opposing all of these. Sorry, but I’m not going to surrender to the Democratic party just because the nominee doesn’t tick every one of my boxes.
Pax americana on February 5, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Tim Pawlenty and Norm Coleman are for John McCain, I’m in Minnesota..
Go McCain!
Chakra Hammer on February 5, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Not sure how to make it any more clear than I already have Pax…
I do not vote Party line. I vote per my beliefs.
There is a Senate and House ya know.
The President isn’t a dictator, despite the fondest wishes of Hillary.
As others have stated (and their words fell on the deaf ears of party loyalists as have mine):
If McCain is the President, Republican reps and senators won’t know to fight his liberal agenda. If Hillary or Obama become President, at least Republicans will know they should fight.
In any case, if McCain is the nominee, he will lose. Again, as someone stated before, a race between two liberals will see the truest liberal win. That means Hillary or Obama over McCain.
I’d rather Romney be the nominee but, eh, it’s all about party loyalty right? And the party, being disloyal to it’s members may see fit to put McCain up for election.
See how muddled it becomes?
And again, for clarity, I. Do. Not. Vote. Party. Line.
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Bob Dole is a wise man.
THE CHOSEN ONE on February 5, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Bob Dole is indeed a wise man. He can recognise demagoguery when he sees it, particuarly when preached by people who should know better.
Pax americana on February 5, 2008 at 12:56 AM
You absolutely did! I’m not an idiot so stop with the McCain tactics as if I am going to forget stuff that just happened!!! Goddamned Troll!!!!
Ignoring the fact that a “couple points” means TWO not five:
1. I no longer give anyone a free pass just because they served in the military. John Kerry, Jack Murtha…you get the picture. I used too. No longer. Cindy Sheehan doesn’t have moral authority, nor do you. Or I for that matter.
So why do you mock my 24 years of military service? I’m honestly not looking for any appreciation of my career. I just resent it when my patriotism is questioned. Truth be told, I downplay my career because the real appreciation needs to go to those who are currently serving in the combat zones- not those of us currently stateside.
2. I respect service to country, yes.
Yeah right. Facts not on your side here with your comments. I’ve never been part of the French army. So that “respect” must be mighty well hidden behind your arrogant trash talking.
3. What I am trying to tell you is that you need to stop-drop-and-roll before you flame those of us who resist the urge to jump on McCain’s so-called Straight Talk Express. We are against his candidacy because we applied, truth, logic and reason.
I have never supported McCain.
4. Relax. Breath. Then think reasonably about why some people don’t support McCain. You’ll find it isn’t a derangement. You’ll find it’s based on his votes on key issues facing our nation.
I have never supported McCain
5. I think your service in the French military was great. Heh, I jest! But seriously, get off your backpatting tour of “I served my country, what were you doing”. Very very lame.
Hey, I have served my nation (as John McCain has). On this fforum, my patriotism has been questioned for the simple fact that I think Mitt Romney is a better choice for America. There was no backpatting implied because that stuff should go to the troops in the field. Please point out where I suggested otherwise!!! Nevertheless, I would suggest that 24 years of serving the nation on active duty and going where I was told gives me SOME latitude in discussing these issues without being branded a whiner.
highhopes on February 5, 2008 at 1:00 AM
So Dole is wise enough to suggest demagoguery when discussing someone’s record?
Would he recognize a bigot? or a nativist? as demagogues?
91Veteran on February 5, 2008 at 1:01 AM
You silly Frenchman! thoughtyou stated that people were “deranged” in their anti-McCain stance. I took issue with that. If I was wrong about your stance, my bad! If I am right about your stance, than well, I am right (as usual, har har).
But seriously. STOP going on an on about your service. I could give you my credentials but no one really cares. Your 24 years in the military do NOT entitle you to ANYTHING, expect a very nice retirement package!
Everyone can have an opinion. Stop suggesting that yours matters more. If we listed all those who served, we’d be here all day. And night. And tomorrow….ad infinitum.
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 1:05 AM
Opps an errant cut/copy killed my earlier post, correct above…the post was to “highhopes” (or as I call him, hautespoir)
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 1:07 AM
91Veteran on February 5, 2008 at 1:01 AM
Bob Dole became the nominee in 1996 because it was “his turn.” Lord deliver us from these fossils! John McCain’s final “turn” was 2000 and he lost. Time to move on from that. In 2008 we need a real outsider unaligned with much of the GOP establishment. That’s Mitt.
Romney/Thompson 2008!!!!
highhopes on February 5, 2008 at 1:08 AM
Good point!
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 1:10 AM
I remember it well….and remember how the media savaged him as a buffoon. I recall one media jackal making fun of him holding a pen in his one hand before it was pointed out he did so because of his wounds in WWII.
That lasted all of about three minutes lest it offer too much contrast from Bubba.
I believe Dole was more honorable in his politics than McCain ever could be.
91Veteran on February 5, 2008 at 1:21 AM
Muddled is what I would describe your claims here.
That is exactly what Hillary will become with Democratic hegemony in Congress. The POTUS is the easiest thing for us to win this year. There is a whopping great majority to overturn in the House, and twice as many Republican than Democratic marginals in both Houses to defend. By torpedoing McCain we will have no chance of averting complete Democratic hegemony.
Wrong. We will have a moderate conservative against extreme liberals, one of whom is the most liberal Senator in Congress. In such a race the centrist will win. McCain is the most likely to beat Hillary/Obama of all the GOP candidates: Huck and Romney have little appeal among independents.
Nonsense. How can the party be disloyal to its members when the nominee is elected by those same members? It is respecting the choice of those GOP voters that is important, even if our first choice candidate is not the winner. That is what loyalty to the GOP means.
You may not be a card carrying GOP member, but if the conservative principles mentioned in my last post mean anything at all to you, you would not be shouting for Hillary/Obama.
Pax americana on February 5, 2008 at 1:28 AM
Your’s is a lost cause. No one tells me who I should support. Certainly not a political party, and yes, establishment Republican’s do actively push us towards candidates.
Witness the Bob Dole “Hush” letter to Rush Limbaugh. Much like those of on the internet blogs who say my opposition to McCain is misplaced, or worse, deranged.
I will NEVER vote for John “Shamnesty” McCain. Ever. If that means suffering through Dhimmitude for 4-8 years, so be it.
We will NOT help the Republican Party by selling our (or at least my) morals and believes for a short term win that would be a McCain 4 years–if by a miracle he wins against his fellow Liberal opposition.
Sorry Pax, your points are good–yes, but they do not change my mind on voting per my beliefs vs party loyalty.
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 1:35 AM
McCain is running on a platform that says your jobs are not coming back, the illegals are not going home, but we are going to have more wars. If you don’t like it, vote for Hillary.
- Patrick J. Buchanan
The way things are going, I may just have to do that.
MB4 on February 5, 2008 at 3:52 AM
Good points.
I vote the same way, as per my deeply held beliefs. John McCain does not mirror my beliefs and I will NOT vote for him.
The republican party has been on a steady swing to the left for a number of years now and McCain has done nothing to stop it and has actually helped it.
He has been called a “moderate”……meaning that he is conservative on some issues and liberal on others??
Tell me McCain supporters…..which of his liberal stances do you support him on?
And he can reach across the aisle all damn day if he wants. There is a reason we have more than one party in this country. It is because we have people with different visions of what this country is supposed to be about and the liberals are working day and night to change this country into their socialist Utopia. You do not “work with” those people, you STOP them. McCain won’t stop them.
So you vote for the guy, your “moderate” champion.
The way I see it, “moderate” just means SURROUNDED.
Talon on February 5, 2008 at 6:37 AM
The first three items on the Mitt-wits list of accomplishments. This is what they are voting for
right2bright on February 5, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Oh my, I LIKE that! I will steal it for my own use, thanks!
Montana on February 5, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Why should someone with 100% government experience and 0% private enterprise experience have the moral high ground??? Doesn’t this at least partially explain McCain’s proclivity to tell everyone to “shut up and do what I say”?
You can only buy into this “morally-superior in all things ’cause I’ve been a war hero” BS if you’re a big-government advocate. The rest of us are still thinking that all men are created equal.
landlines on February 5, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Wasn’t Benedict Arnold a “war hero’?
right2bright on February 5, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4