ACU releases 2007 ratings: McCain gets a B
posted at 10:36 am on May 14, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The American Conservative Union has released its report on Congress for 2007, and John McCain will welcome the results. Despite missing a number of votes while campaigning for President, McCain voted often enough to win a rating of 80, a significant improvement over the 65 he got in 2006. That approximates his lifetime rating of 82.16 and gives McCain a little more ammunition for his argument to represent conservative values. ACU chair David Keene notes that Congress overall went in the opposite direction:
ACU Chairman David A. Keene said it is not surprising that the 2006 election has resulted in Congress taking a sharp leftward turn.
“Elections have consequences and the election of 2006 was no exception,” Keene said. “The overall average score of the House of Representatives fell from 53.1 percent conservative in 2006 to 42.91 percent in 2007 while in the Senate the average score in 2007 was 42.67 percent conservative compared to 49.5 percent in 2006.”
Keene noted that, under the Democrats, the House became more polarized with 62 members, all Republicans, earning a perfect 100 conservative rating up from only 8 in 2006, while those earning a perfect liberal score of “0” numbered a record 138.
Voting patterns in the Senate were more stable but still showed a move to the left. The number of Senators scoring a liberal rating of 20 percent or less rose from 40 in 2006 to 48 in 2007. Five GOP senators scored a perfect 100 percent conservative rating, the same as 2006, although the number of Senators scoring a perfect rating of “0” rose from 7 in 2006 to 21 in 2007.
The ACU looks at 25 votes in 2007 to generate their ratings. McCain missed all but ten of those votes, agreeing with the ACU on eight of them. One notable disagreement came unsurprisingly on the immigration reform package, while the other came on a stem-cell research bill that mandated the use of federal funds for research on surplus embryos at in-vitro fertilization clinics. Bush vetoed the bill, sitting with the so-called snowflake children whose embryos were “adopted” rather than dissected.
McCain supported the ACU position on the following bills:
- Earmark disclosure
- Protection for grassroots lobbying organizations
- Extension of Bush tax cuts
- Repeal of AMT
- Repeal of death tax
- Card-check, which eliminates secret ballots for union organizing
- Social Security benefits for illegal aliens
- DC Congressional seat
Otherwise, though, McCain scores at the average for the Republican caucus in the Senate:
The House Republican caucus actually scored somewhat higher, averaging 85.7 points, about five more than their colleagues in the upper chamber. Overall scores for the House and Senate are almost identical at just below 43, and the Democrats score equally poor in both surveys as well, just below 6.
How did Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton score with the ACU? Barack Obama actually scored marginally higher than his caucus at a 7, having supported the ACU on earmark disclosure alone. Hillary gets a big, fat zero for 2007, after getting a whopping eight in 2006, as did Obama.
For those who see no difference between McCain and the two Democrats, this serves as a reminder that while McCain drifts to the middle on some issues, a large chasm exists between the nominees that will face off in November.
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“…a large chasm exists between the nominees that will face off in November.”
Not large enough!
Al-Ozarka on May 14, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Yeah, yeah, we know.
F**k it, McCain 08′
Ars Moriendi on May 14, 2008 at 10:40 AM
So McCain’s only slightly terrifically crappy.
Stop putting lipstick on this pig of a statist “lifer”.
TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Still selling the guy? What’s to know? He’s been around forever.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Notice the standard deviation here. The Dems are overall much closer to 0% than the Republicans are to 100%. Who’s being more consistent and who’s doing the compromising? And McCain, the potential leader of the free world, is right in the middle of the pack of compromisers.
/barf
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I dunno, I think an 80 is a C nowadays, ain’t it? Used to be a B-. At any rate, McCain at 80% would be beter than Hussein at 7%, with the aggravating circumstance of being hectored by his wife to humble whitey at every opportunity.
Akzed on May 14, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Ahhh, another ketchup packet for my shitburger,thank you.
x-wing on May 14, 2008 at 10:46 AM
If Community Organizer Obama wins will he and his supporters regard that as a mandate for him to become the Country Organizer? And if so, what are they going to organize our country to do?
That question trumps any and all qualms about McCain. If you’d rather pass on learning the answer vote against Obama. It’s that simple.
miles on May 14, 2008 at 10:48 AM
It is not a legitimate 80% since if you weight the significance of bills he either sponsored or voted on, paticularly non-conservative bills, it would be a 30%.
Starlink on May 14, 2008 at 10:50 AM
LMAO!!!
kcd on May 14, 2008 at 10:51 AM
HAHAHA
Redhead Infidel on May 14, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Thus, and therefore, since McCain was/is a member of that Senate (that the ACU has also awarded such a low score to), the ‘rating’ for McCain makes no sense.
It’s like saying he’s a shark and the group of sharks swimming is a bad thing, yet there’s this one shark that’s cuddly. In other words, their very statement there disagrees with common sense and reason.
S on May 14, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I’ve not seen lipstick on McCain but I still know what he is and consvative is not it.
Democrats are running conservatives and picking up seats. The Republican Party would be wise to try it some time.
moxie_neanderthal on May 14, 2008 at 10:53 AM
They were not penalized for missed votes. Here are McCain’s 10 missed votes (almost half the total in the score of 25):
Iraq War—Cloture
Small Business Regulation
Coastal Drilling for Natural Gas
Energy Policy
New Student Loan Program
U.N. Peacekeeping Operations
Abortion and Sterilization
“Mexico City” Policy
Hate Crimes—Cloture
Health Insurance Expansion
Energy Policy—Cloture
Eminent Domain
Energy Policy #2
Alternative Minimum Tax Adjustment
We do not know, but could guess how he would have voted on many of these. He could have just made one conservative vote out of the 25 and had an ACU rating of 100%. The missing votes make these findings statistically insignificant.
Valiant on May 14, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Take a stand against McCain while you wait for the fabled “Perfect Republican Conservative” to come along, just don’t hold your breath.
I know I know, Mc isn’t perfect but he is what we have to work with this time around, deal with it. Or stay home on election day and deal with it but no whining at the consequences.
Bishop on May 14, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Yes, we know. But if a non-conservative is going to be President, conservatives have a right and obligation to fight to further their agenda. If he becomes President, McCain will have to face this every day. It’s a consequence of his political calculus and personal decisions. Don’t blame his critics. Was he not expecting to have any?
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Good post, Ed.
Mr Pessimism (me) squaks, but as Allah predicted I’m going to pull the lever. Reading the comments here, however, shows just how deep the divisions are. I don’t know if it is possible, at this point, to get the Mc-Nos and the Mc-Yes
groups to hold hands again. Stick with it. We all need a bit of gobsmacking these days.
Limerick on May 14, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Remember Michelle’s admonition that, when Hussein’s elected, “You won’t be able to go back to your apathy” etc? And since there will probably be three resignations from the SCOTUS the day after he’s in office, it’ll be Katie bar the door for Michelle’s agenda: which I fear more than Hussein’s.
Akzed on May 14, 2008 at 10:55 AM
That’s damn straight.
Redhead Infidel on May 14, 2008 at 10:57 AM
McCain is even better with the ACLU.
Dismantling Gitmo will give him an A+.
Aristotle on May 14, 2008 at 10:57 AM
YOU BUNCH OF MCCAIN HATERS!!! WTH is wrong with you people? Don’t you know that not supporting McCain will ensure the election of B. Hussein Oooooobaaaaaammaaa? That would equal the end of the world as we know it!!!
Didn’t you just read the OP where Ed said that McCain is a good guy? So what more do you need than for somebody else to tell you how to vote??? Just get your asses to the voting booth on time like the bunch of sheep that we know you are!!!
You whiners just suck it up and follow the campaign slogan, “F*ck it, McCain ‘08″ and STFU!
/sarc
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Correction- McCain missed 15 votes out of the 25- not 10! Add the Davis-Bacon Requirement.
Valiant on May 14, 2008 at 10:59 AM
If I choose to stay home on election day I’ll still have every right to complain about the consequences of the election. With a government as unresponsive as ours, refusing to vote is a reasonable and viable option.
Bugler on May 14, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I eagerly await comments from the McCain-deranged crowd on this.
Especially on the social security denial for illegals, which puts a little kink in the “Juan McCain” thing…
JetBoy on May 14, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Ed, seriously… stop trying to sell McCain to us. The man is an unqualifiable joke; his speech a couple days ago on the dangers of global warming and how we need to follow the precise path that liberal wackos (such as Algore) want us to follow had me tearing my hair out in frusturational rage.
And don’t tell me to stop whining, you pansy-ass Republicans; I’m sick and tired of being told to just shut up and eat the excrement sandwich again. Why don’t you all be the ones to close your mouths for a change and listen to what a conservative presidential nominee can and should be? I have principles to stand by and see upheld as a conservative, dammit, and McCain violates a great many of them.
A “B” from the ACU? HA! A “C-”, at best.
Jockolantern on May 14, 2008 at 10:59 AM
O.K., O.K., right, I admit it, Michelle Obama’s the Monster in the room. So, therefore, is Obama.
I’m just more than angry that the GOP has this quagmire of delegates so determined to get McCain in the White House that they’d run the risk of…of…well, doing what’s been done to the Party, to the nation, to us as individual Republican voters. Obviously, McCain’s representing some delegate-dough that is keen on certain objectives that I fear we have not yet been informed of and that scares me. But Michelle the Monster scares me more.
S on May 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM
I spoke too soon…
JetBoy on May 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Well, if McCain ran as a Democrat, he would be considered a “Conservative” Democrat. Ever thought about that?
What we’re really dealing with is an ignorant American population that will pull a lever for “hope and change”, and the Democrats know it. The dumbing down is nearly complete. It’s going to be a Democratic Tsunami I’m afraid.
kirkill on May 14, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Actually you spoke too late, but why quibble over your usual untimeliness…
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:04 AM
wow, as bad as the BDS is on the left, the MDS is at a fever pitch here!
kirkill on May 14, 2008 at 11:05 AM
You whiners just suck it up and follow the campaign slogan, “F*ck it, McCain ‘08″ and STFU!
/sarc
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 10:57 AM
You’re right. I can’t wait to get my monthly $1600 electric bill in a couple of years, get on my bicycle, ride to the drop box and know that I sending off most of it to a carbon credit company owned by the multi-billionaire Al Gore’s business partners.
Thank you John McCain!
TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Something you won’t hear from the Dems:
From: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004412459_mccain14m.html
RBMN on May 14, 2008 at 11:06 AM
This shows that facts confuse most people. When you come up with a stat that is valid, and it doesn’t reflect what some faithfully believe, they shut down their mind.
McCain is in the middle of the conservative pack. If you have your own studies or stats, lets have them. But they will be based on your “feelings”, not a measured stat like these.
Sorry that you are confused by facts…but then so are liberals.
And so much for the argument that there is no difference between McCain and the Dems…oh yeah, that’s not what you “feel”.
right2bright on May 14, 2008 at 11:07 AM
When someone looks you in the eye and lies, they have a serious character flaw and is not to be trusted. McAmnesty and now McWarming suffers that ailment.
Afraid you are right kirkill. When there is no visible national elected conservative leadership, what are people supposed to vote for?
This is a perfect election to show the difference between the Marxist Democrats and Conservatives, and all we have to fight with is McAmnesty.
tarpon on May 14, 2008 at 11:08 AM
BDS was used to point out an irrational hatred by his political opponents of anything the President wanted to do. That’s not what’s going on here. Opposition to several specific actions/positions of McCain is not derangement. Your attempt to trivialize his faults, and paint his political opponents as unnerved is well known. Why you do so isn’t. Yes, he’s better than Obama. So am I. But I would make a lousy President too.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:09 AM
In a 3 way race I’d pick the candidate with the biggest malkins, Hillary.
Barralanche?
TheSitRep on May 14, 2008 at 11:09 AM
And under Obama it’ll be better? We’re going to end up with one of two people: Obama or McCain.
Actually, he has a 22% lifetime score and 17% for this Congress. Meanwhile, Bob Barr (who many anti-McCainers say they’ll back) is a consultant for them.
amerpundit on May 14, 2008 at 11:11 AM
…from the comments it is obvious the hunt for the “perfect conservative” continues unimpeded — veto proof majorities in the senate and house will be the likely result.
Bradky on May 14, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Given his push for amnesty I say these results are bogus.
Is it possible somebody bought off David Keene?
EJDolbow on May 14, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Meh, straw man argument anyone? We’d settle for a mainstream conservative, not a liberal like McCain. What you’re doing is trying to put pumps and jewelry on a pig and call it a supermodel.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Oh yeah, 15 nobodies on HA decide the election. That’s funny.Won’t have anything to do with the Rep. candidates, the Rep. leadership, etc.– just the malcontents on HA. Wow.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:16 AM
And under Obama it’ll be better?
amerpundit on May 14, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Well, to take the Devil’s advocate position, at least people will know who to blame.
With McCain, the Dems get cover.
That’s the entire McCain/RINO problem in a nutshell:
They destroy the Republican brand.
TexasJew on May 14, 2008 at 11:16 AM
You support Ron Paul, right?
amerpundit on May 14, 2008 at 11:17 AM
I too am one to blame the RNC more then McCain. Johnny Mac is Johnny Mac. He is the Maverick and nothing will change that. The RNC, on the other hand, is supposed to lay out the playing field, mark the ball, and move the chains. They are too busy drinking beer and watching the cheerleaders. The party has turned into three core groups, lifers-illegals-compromisers and these issues have a lock on them.
I haven’t seen any hope that those groups are going to be able to set aside their differences and vote for McCain as a block. The fact that McCain has adopted the Lieberman strategy of straddling the fence only makes the groups shout louder. What a group doesn’t get has become far more important then what they will get.
Our opposition is united in ignorance while we are divided in details.
Limerick on May 14, 2008 at 11:17 AM
So…what rating does Huckadouche get?
Jaibones on May 14, 2008 at 11:18 AM
He got 8 out of 25 answers right. That may be a ‘B’ in Journalism School, but anywhere else that’s WAY less than an ‘F’.
I suppose that’s another symptom of our nationalized education system: “Oh, no. Jonnie didn’t get those answers wrong. He just thought they were too hard, so he didn’t feel like answering any of them. How can you hold him responsible for that?”
logis on May 14, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Yes I do. But I would have voted for Fred or Mitt. And by the way, my state still hasn’t voted in the primary. So much for “every vote counts.”
Sorry to derail your argument before it gets started.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:18 AM
He missed 15 of the 25 votes they used for this rating. . . that’s good?
I really can’t believe they even considered ’social security benefits for illegal aliens’. Why not just vote for Medicaid for Bin Laden? It is just proof that Washington DC loves spending everyone else’s money.
Wouldn’t it be better to leave such a conservative stalwart like McCain in the senate and remove the more liberal Obama from the chamber to make the senate more conservative? Wouldn’t we miss such a great conservative voice in the senate. The senate NEEDS conservatism like McCain – come on man, take one for the team. Don’t leave the senate for the White House. We ‘need’ you. (/sarc)
ThackerAgency on May 14, 2008 at 11:19 AM
McCain gets a B-, while Obama and Hillary get F’s. I’ll take the B- any day.
Steve Z on May 14, 2008 at 11:20 AM
The GOP got tossed in 2006 and since then they have managed to do squat to reform themselves, meanwhile the dems are waiting to get a clean sweep this year and really eff-up your worldview.
At least McCain can be pressured by the conservative electorate to do what we want, granted it may not yield anything but its possible. Obama wouldn’t give a flying shiite what you have to say and that is the hard truth.
More damage can be done by the left in the next four years than could ever happen under McCain; I would rather deal with a little mess than a big one.
Bishop on May 14, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Ed,
People aren’t looking for a conservative this year. They are looking for someone to get us out of the hole Bush put us in.
bnelson44 on May 14, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Well, there is always Ron Paul…his tin foil hat has protected him and his followers from all things liberal.
I am sorry, but I cannot take any supporter of Ron Paul serious when they attack McCain…I mean really, someone thinking Ron Paul has any credibility? I will almost bet that the hard core Paul supporters, spend most of their time playing video games. That is what they attach their reality to, video games.
That is why the McCain people appear to be so much in his camp, we know that the only real attack is coming from either a liberal, or a Paul-nut (maybe a couple of Mitt-wits).
right2bright on May 14, 2008 at 11:22 AM
So he voted conservative 8 out of 25 votes. Anyone think he intentionally skipped the majority of the votes in order to get a higher score just in time for the election?
You McCain supporters act as though there is no logical reason to distrust McCain. Have you forgotten the times he’s led the charge against Republicans? The resentment here is well-earned.
Esthier on May 14, 2008 at 11:23 AM
That’s well said. And it describes where we’re at as a people as well. The only way change will come, is when one philosophy wins. McCain is something of a caretaker– like von Hindenburg. “Change” will happen while he’s President, but not primarily because of him. Behind the scenes and under the surface, the next phase begins.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:25 AM
“Oh yeah, 15 nobodies on HA decide the election. That’s funny.Won’t have anything to do with the Rep. candidates, the Rep. leadership, etc.– just the malcontents on HA. Wow.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:16 AM”
long live the blogosphere…
Bradky on May 14, 2008 at 11:25 AM
I was going to point out the irony of a Ron Paul supporter settling for a “mainstream conservative”. I haven’t been able to put out a negative post about Paul without 24 people telling me how RP is the “only true conservative” in the race and “The Only Man Who Can Save America”.
amerpundit on May 14, 2008 at 11:25 AM
This is why I love Ed. No nonsense. Just common sense approach.
Rightwingsparkle on May 14, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Well, actually, here’s McCain’s record since 1990:
2007 80
2006 65 Average for Republicans 81 Average for Democrats 11
2005 80 Average for Republicans 86 Average for Democrats 12
2004 72
2003 80
2002 84
2001 68
2000 81
1999 77
1998 68
1997 80
1996 95
1995 91
1994 96
1993 83
1992 85
1991 86
1990 87
So which year do you think represents how McCain will actually govern?
I’ll take the American Thinker’s opinion over yours, thanks.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Well, this just shows you that your assumption and stereotype of all Ron Paul supporters is wrong.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Ron Paul got a 77 rating, worse than McCain’s.
The problem with this is where Paul isn’t conservative he tend to be in the far-left extreme and in arguably more important areas of governing, atleast for a POTUS. SO I think it should be weighted in his case downard.
anyway, bottom line. McCain is more conservative than Ron Paul, something that for some inexplicable reason(rhetoric?) flies over the head of many paultards
jp on May 14, 2008 at 11:29 AM
“fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:15 AM”
Anytime a Paulnut disagrees with me I more convinced of the rightness of my opinion…
Bradky on May 14, 2008 at 11:29 AM
McCain has proven time and again that he can easily resist pressure from conservatives.
I’m not trying to be insulting, but I don’t understand what makes people think McCain is any easier to pressure than Obama. I prefer McCain over Huck, but I’d even bet that Huck is easier to pressure.
McCain’s entire reputation is created off of the impression that he isn’t beholden to anyone, not even his own party. Obama’s running on a platform of unity. He hasn’t earned that reputation, but it’s still what he’s running on.
Esthier on May 14, 2008 at 11:29 AM
By the way, here’s the money quote from the American Thinker article that I linked:
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:30 AM
I wonder if Ron Paul missed any votes. I wonder what McCain’s rating would have been had he DONE HIS JOB and voted on all 25 issues. If McCain doesn’t see the need to vote, neither do I.
ThackerAgency on May 14, 2008 at 11:31 AM
It depends on the meaning of a B-. I’d like to know what he would have voted for the ones he missed. That might have dropped his grade down to a D-. Didn’t he miss the vote for his own ‘immigration bill’, or was i having another nightmare?
I agree with all the folks who just can’t stand the stench of a liberal RINO.
Christine on May 14, 2008 at 11:32 AM
ok, but compare McCain who is conservative in many areas to Obama. Only one of the two will be POTUS next year.
McCain has taken liberal positions for political reasons, the things he sides with libs on the mainstream generally agree with which is why he’s so popular nationally and those scoring 100 in this are unelectable.
jp on May 14, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I seem to recall that Clinton and Obama rarely vote either, sometimes even when they’re present. Must be a new thing. Might try it myself.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:33 AM
I’m not trying to be insulting, but I don’t understand what makes people think McCain is any easier to pressure than Obama.
Because its a sad fact that the dems will have bigger majorities in the houses, add in the Presidency and ask why on earth would Obama give any thought to what conservatives have to say? He could ride right over just about anything the GOP tries to get done.
You let Obama take the WH and there will be the ‘Great Society Part II’ coming soon to an America near you.
Bishop on May 14, 2008 at 11:33 AM
That really bothers me. We pay these people to do a job, to cast a vote on issues that supposedly matter and often times they just skip out on it.
Esthier on May 14, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I’m glad you hold Randall Hoven’s opinion in such high esteem. This is the man who thinks Ron Paul is “bizarre”.
Sorry, but when every supporter I’ve encountered has been the same, you kind of get used to it. That’s like saying I’m stereotyping someone for thinking that they, a Bush-loving Conservative Republican, is likely to support the war in Iraq. In 99% percent of cases, you’d be right.
amerpundit on May 14, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Figures the Paul-biters would try to hijack the thread and make this about Ron Paul in order to stave off the righteous drubbing that McCain’s taking today.
Here’s the problem with your analysis. Paul’s biggest negative is his foreign policy, which, if you take that out, actually puts him ahead of McCain by a bunch. And frankly, the war isn’t my biggest issue, which is why I can support him. In my opinion, his views on civil liberties and economics far outweigh his foreign policy shortcomings.
McCainiacs love to discount his illegal alien and Gang of 14 foibles, so fair is fair.
And I repeat, I would have voted for Fred or Mitt. Please don’t ignore that as you flame. It makes you look like you have tunnelvision.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:35 AM
“I agree with all the folks who just can’t stand the stench of a liberal RINO.
Christine on May 14, 2008 at 11:32 AM”
…okay let’s practice saying “President Obama…in the news today Pres Obama…Obama appoints Hillary to SC…Obama and Pelosi agree something must be done to combat carbon…Obama appoints Carter to solve mideast once and for all.. Bill named as UN Ambassador…”
2920 days of those kind of headlines because of the sharia like devotion to the perfect conservative who never existed…
something smells but it isn’t McCain
Bradky on May 14, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Sorry to point this out, but you are using anecdotal evidence to back up an ad hominem argument. In short, you’re going nowhere fast.
Can you debate the substance of McCain’s voting record, or are you going to continue to insist on being off topic?
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:38 AM
LOL good one!!!
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Common sense? How about pragmatic for the GOP?
Spirit of 1776 on May 14, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Since the option we have is only to choose the speed at which we arrive at Great Society II, it doesn’t really matter much, does it?
Your scare tactics don’t work. Try something else. Maybe personal attacks or something.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:41 AM
That’s a good point, but if they have a large enough majority, McCain won’t be able to do anything either, especially not if they can override his veto (assuming he would veto).
From where I currently stand, the only reason to support McCain is because of the war on terror and Iraq. And even in that, I’d rather have someone who doesn’t want to close Gitmo.
Honestly, I’m completely undecided on him. I just wish he’d try to court us a little.
Esthier on May 14, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I’ve debated the substance of McCain’s record many times before on this site. I’ve made it clear that I have no personal love for McCain and opposed him in the primary, but I’m backing him because either him or Obama will be president.
McCain was wrong on immigration, just as he was wrong on several topics. But I understand it’s him or Obama in January regardless of what I want, and I’m taking the one who will do the least damage to the nation until we can get a true conservative into office.
amerpundit on May 14, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Two things can smell.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:42 AM
It’s curve-grading at its finest. Given that most of what McCain and the other Pubbie members of the bipartisan Party-In-Government had to do the last year and a half was merely oppose the headlong rush to socialism promised by the ‘Rats, it’s all relative.
Also, missing 15 of 25 votes should earn, at best, an Incomplete.
steveegg on May 14, 2008 at 11:43 AM
I’m with you. sucks.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Foreign Policy and Economic Policy are directly related, which is one reason why Paul is so terribly bad, that and his lying and spreading moveon.org crap.
on 9/11 the Jihadist targeted our financial capital for a reason, it was estimated to be a $1 Trillion dollar Economic Hit to our economy and by extention the modern worlds.
If we abandon the Middle East, oil supplies will be severly limited. Oil fields may be blown up and Iran is certain to shut down the shipping lanes that a huge chunk of the worlds oil comes through. This would cause a Global Depression, millions if not billions would likely die of starvation, in the winter time many elderly would die from the cold, etc.
You can not seperate Foreign Policy from Economic and domestic related terrorism issues(Terrorist Survelliance, patriot act…). National Security is a Civil Liberty, its also an Economic Liberty by extension.
plus the Austrian brand of libertarian economics is way too mystified and really not practical. I’ll take the Friedman brand anyday over it.
jp on May 14, 2008 at 11:44 AM
“Your scare tactics don’t work. Try something else. Maybe personal attacks or something.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:41 AM”
Nah, Paul cornered the market on scare tactics with his Nazi newsletter association
Bradky on May 14, 2008 at 11:44 AM
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Gang of 14 foibles? What a cretinous statement. It was thanks to McCain that we got Alito and Roberts in the Supreme Court in such a way that allows filibustering to continue. If it wasn’t for McCain the GOP would be in a much worse situation now that the Dems have majorities throughout Congress.
Pax americana on May 14, 2008 at 11:46 AM
McCain scored as high as he did because he was able to avoid voting with the Democrats on all of those votes he conveniently missed. Let’s celebrate!
Buddahpundit on May 14, 2008 at 11:47 AM
What a bunch of freakin whiners. The topic at hand is McCain vs. Obama. You play the cards you’re dealt and you don’t sit around whining about it (unless you’re Phil Helmuth ;^) Anyone here want to make the case for Obama being a better choice than McCain. Or that somehow by not voting for McCain you won’t be helping to elect Obama?
db on May 14, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Math isn’t on their side in that argument, so they’ll stick to anti-mccain/gop rhetoric to get obama elected.
jp on May 14, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Not really. It’s the selling of McCain as a conservative. Nothing wrong with voting for the guy, and holding his feet to the fire every day. He better get used to it. And why feel sorry for him for getting the grief? He gets to be President.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:51 AM
There’s where your logic falls apart.
Electing McCain will not ensure that we get a true conservative in office.
Thank you for admitting that McCain is not a true conservative. It completely trumps any attempt of yours to defend his record.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Scared the crap outta me.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Good point.
“I got to be President.”
— Bill Clinton
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:54 AM
It works for him. The man is brilliant at Hold ‘Em.
Esthier on May 14, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Unfortunately it is the bitterness and warped logic of these whining pseuds who are driving people into the hands of Obama.
Pax americana on May 14, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Speaking of cretinous…
McCain is at least partially responsible for those majorities. While we were clamoring for Washington to fix the border issue, he was fighting against the tyranny of waterboarding and bullying GOP congresscritters to vote for Shamnesty.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:56 AM
“Scared the crap outta me.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:52 AM”
LOL – the Paultards wandering the convention will be more like a bunch of wide eyed trekkies or for the old fogies here the Hare Krisnas at LAX many years ago. Irritating but pretty harmless…
Bradky on May 14, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Now you sound like Obama himself.
Nice job, elitist.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Oh, it wasn’t his loons. It was the Congressman.
JiangxiDad on May 14, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Ah, so your new tactic is to move the goalposts and flash/distract from your own errors. How very…amateurish.
fossten on May 14, 2008 at 11:59 AM
That’s going into the hopper for Comment of the Day™
steveegg on May 14, 2008 at 12:00 PM
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