Video: RNC strikes a “Balance”
posted at 1:30 pm on July 6, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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The RNC has launched its first ad for the political season, a $3 million buy in four key states that focuses on energy policy. It paints John McCain as an agent of change, while Barack Obama as a defender of the party line. The Republicans want to start defining Obama as an obstructionist on energy, and in three of the four states, they may already have a head start:
Record gas prices, a climate in crisis. John McCain says solve it now, with a balanced plan — alternative energy, conservation, suspending the gas tax AND more production here at home. He’s pushing his own party to face climate change.
But Barack Obama? For conservation, but he just says no to lower gas taxes. No to nuclear. No to more production. No new solutions. Barack Obama: Just the party line.
The ad started running last night in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Obama lost in the first three states during the primaries, and with his refusal to produce more energy, the three Rust Belt states have little prospect of rebounding from economic turmoil from the loss of manufacturing. The kind of energy needed to create those kinds of jobs will be out of reach with continued obstruction of new energy production as well as the emissions caps that Obama envisions for his environmental policies.
That is just one aspect of this ad. It also targets Obama’s pose as a post-partisan figure who reaches across the aisle for solutions. Conservatives will gag on the “pushing his own party to face climate change”, and rightly so, but it makes the point that McCain’s the one with a track record of bipartisanship, while Obama gave a couple of speeches on the subject. It also signals that the RNC plans on highlighting Obama’s hard-Left instincts on policy, a welcome bit of hardball from the GOP, which leaves McCain free to stay positive.
Republicans lost Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in 2004, the latter by a hair. If the GOP can take two of these three, it will almost certainly spell defeat for Obama in the fall. Expect to see the RNC producing a lot more advertising in these states, and with their large money advantage over the DNC, they may make a lot of progress towards their eventual goal.
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Conservatives will hate these ads, but they will work in places like Pennsylvania. The RNC has a $200 million war chest to run them too. That’s the big reason Obama abandoned public financing.
rockmom on July 6, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Cap-and-Trade
say it ’til it hurts.
Then vote McCain.
normsrevenge on July 6, 2008 at 1:36 PM
I hope the RNC follows this up in Ohio and Michigan with some harder-hitting ads saying that Democrat policies will mean the end of the automobile industry in America. If all you want to drive in the future are tiny, Korean-made death traps, vote Democratic.
rockmom on July 6, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Barry finds the commerical untruthful and offensive. So when does the McCain campaign pull it ? Tonight perhaps ? Seriously.
JonRoss on July 6, 2008 at 1:40 PM
Interesting…that the RNC seems to be pressing bipartisanship re: McCain, right off the bat, while reminding voters that Obama is a party-liner.
JetBoy on July 6, 2008 at 1:42 PM
Should have left this part out.
a capella on July 6, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Strange, I remember during the Democratic debates Hillary and Edwards paired up against Obama because he supported using nuclear power.
Alan on July 6, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Subsidize a product made in Saudi Arabia with money borrowed from the Chinese — who could possibly not support that?
factoid on July 6, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Subsidize a product made in Saudi Arabia with money borrowed from the Chinese — who could possibly not support that?
factoid on July 6, 2008 at 1:56 PM
target’s McCain’s pose?
maverick muse on July 6, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Yeah, I can see why the RNC would push for McCain’s ability to reach across the aisle, but why push the “climate change” agenda?
JetBoy on July 6, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Seriously, are you still on about NC’s idiot Wright ad?
There are no parallels. none.
Squid Shark on July 6, 2008 at 1:58 PM
McCain can not pull the ad - It is the RNC that is running it.
ordi on July 6, 2008 at 2:06 PM
“The ad started running last night in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. ”
Big mistake to take Texas for granted. As the GOP always seems to do as the above short list indicates. Texas should’ve been on it. Texas is in play. There’s a lot of hostility between former Texas GOP voters and the GOP Hierarchy. Texas may very well go Blue in ‘08: link
The RNC seems to be totally unaware (or in denial) of the problems they have here in TX. The road signs are clearly visible. “Bridge Out Ahead”.
DD
Darvin Dowdy on July 6, 2008 at 2:07 PM
OUT OBAMA ‘08!
This ad will do for the moment. But really, McCain needs Palin on his ticket to energize his complete image appeal! As soon as McCain gets his Cabinet organized to included Thompson, Romney and Guillianni, and focus on the CONSTITUTION, Iraq success thanks to the GOP, and innovative technologies WITH AMERICAN CITIZEN JOBS, the GOP will rocket to victory hands down!
“He’s pushing his own party to face climate change.”
Yes and no.
Yes, since the ad is addressing the undecided Democrat, Independent or whoever to vote bipartisan McCain.
When I heard that line, I thought of hardcore green peabrains craving their personal opportunity to shove their socio-sciencefiction down the public’s throat. For their cause, why share such glory? But they won’t vote McCain, anyway. And of course, the GOP base, left way out in right field waiting for the fly ball; but really, so long as McCain doesn’t ACT on his impulse (given the conservative VP&Cabinet), don’t throw down the glove. Just wait and kick him in the ass after bobama is OUT.
maverick muse on July 6, 2008 at 2:12 PM
So the RNC runs an ad saying that McCain is “pushing his own party to face climate change”?
Shouldn’t they have said McCain is pushing “us” to face climate change?
—————–
You apparently are.
misterpeasea on July 6, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Now that the AGW house of cards is finally coming down, the RNC surrenders.
(headdesk)
Oh, and “alternative energy” has become a magic wand - i.e. no need for specifics or results, just say it and everything will be okay.
Merovign on July 6, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Your damn right I am, when people start making parallels between that stupid ad and a real policy ad like this one.
Squid Shark on July 6, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Total parallel. McCain hadn’t even seen the add and all he knew was Obama didn’t like it. It was, somehow, RACIST. McCain went nuts. McCain has a disease that makes him want to compromise with Donks ad infinitum. They just have to put a slight frown on their faces and he folds. And yes I agree with your statement above, that Wright IS an idiot.
JonRoss on July 6, 2008 at 2:15 PM
The only “trouble” that BHO might incur in his financing would regard covering WHO provided the funds. As those INTERNATIONAL powerful origination sources that enable his campaign are not required to be revealed, BHO might not have any trouble.
One thing is clear, BHO is a front man for the worst powers.
maverick muse on July 6, 2008 at 2:21 PM
Just call Barry :
Barack “NO DRILLING” Obama.
Keep it simple and keep it direct.
Barry is an obstructionist preventing U.S. energy independence.
Along with the majority of his Party.
Democrats- the No Energy Party.
profitsbeard on July 6, 2008 at 2:23 PM
I am affronted by this unartful racist attack by the Republican smear machine.
Little Boomer on July 6, 2008 at 2:25 PM
A lot of us accept “climate change.” We just accept it as heliogenic (caused by solar activity), not anthropogenic (caused by human activity.). The climate changes (hotter or colder) in response to solar activity.
Wethal on July 6, 2008 at 2:27 PM
We’re all aware of your opinion of the ad. The idiot and stupid ad. That makes a really far-fetched and tenuous connection between politicians in NC who endorsed Barry, Barry, and Barry’s crazy racist pastor.
Wait, did I get that right? It’s all so six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon, I’m never sure I’ve gotten it right.
misterpeasea on July 6, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Climate change? What will it take for McCain to understand that the debate on this is just beginning? Did he just miss the cold hard facts of last winter? Record cold, record snowfall, snow in Iraq, etc. We’ve had a cool spring and a relatively cool summer. McCain aggravates me with his stubbornness. He takes a position and then in an effort to show his resoluteness he won’t change his position even in the face of evidence. He made a small concession with OCS drilling but is still against ANWR. The man has absolutely no guiding philosophy. He believes in absolutely nothing. Dammit hope he loses. If the country is going to go to Hell I’d rather have a REAL Lib lead the way. Then at least we can properly assign blame and maybe crush the ‘moderates’, the RINOs, the party of surrender to the Libs, once and for all.
DerKrieger on July 6, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Oh for *’s sake, you’re still here??
wise_man on July 6, 2008 at 2:34 PM
But profitsbeard, this may offend Barry’s sensibilities, and therefore John McCain’s. Do we really want to be so mean and partisan ?
JonRoss on July 6, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Gas tax suspensions, off-shore oil drilling and nuclear power are all incredibly racist.
Damian G. on July 6, 2008 at 2:37 PM
NEWSFLASH FOR THE MCCAIN CAMP: The climate is suppose to change.
Maxx on July 6, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Actually, McCain has proposed specifics, including his “battery prize.” While such batteries would not be a source of alternative energy, they would make it far easier to utilize the alternative sources we already have.
Actually, it changes in response to a whole lot of things. Human activity surely accounts for some of any change that is occurring, but we don’t know how much. Anyone who says it’s 0% or 100% of the contribution is clearly ignorant or promoting a political point of view.
Big S on July 6, 2008 at 2:50 PM
So it’s somewhere between 0% and 100%. Right….
Wethal on July 6, 2008 at 2:55 PM
I thought the increased temp on Jupiter, etc would have ended this debate. But the dogma is strong.
Spirit of 1776 on July 6, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Yup. There’s a great deal of difficulty in establishing the size of the contribution, since we can’t fix enough variables, and the lengths of the various cycles (e.g. solar cycles) involved are often too large to make our data useful in predictions. Note that there are many ways that human activity can alter the climate, aside from just greenhouse gas emissions. Changes in the surface characteristics of a large part of the Earth, and the alteration of the concentration of cloud-promoting compounds (e.g. DMS) and particulate matter (e.g. soot) in the atmosphere are also ways in which we can cause fairly large changes.
Big S on July 6, 2008 at 3:07 PM
If McCain were an honest man; If he actually believed in this crap he would take a couple of days off the campaign trail and actually introduce some legislation.
But no. McCain and the RNC are just pandering (and not even doing that well); Elect McCain and his energy policy will go back to what it was six months ago: No drilling, no refineries. We MIGHT get another nuclear generating station or two started under McCain…. But I doubt he will let us mine our own uranium to run it. Most of his energy policy will consist of hoping for a miracle…. A 200% effective solar cell that grows on trees or something like that.
The only way we are going to see a sensible energy policy in at least the next four years is if we get the legislation passed BEFORE either one of these idiots running for President gets inaugurated.
As I told you and told you; as evidence from the man himself has proven time and time again: McCain NEVER really changes his mind once he decides something.
LegendHasIt on July 6, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Thanks for that insightful contribution.
You forgot to call me a LYING LIAR WHO LIES ABOUT JOHN MCCAIN! And a LYING LIAR WHO IS PROBABLY PAID BY THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN, AND WHO WANTS TO SEE OBAMA ELECTED!
MCCAIN ‘08: MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN 5% OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE!
misterpeasea on July 6, 2008 at 3:10 PM
So it’s somewhere between 0% and 100%. Right….
Because there are no measurable values of less than 0% and more than 100%. Safe bet…
The proponents of anthropogenic global warming have the burden of proof. I’ve been a Philadelphia lawyer for 30+ years. I know a bit about burdens of proof.
Saying the effect is something more than nothing, but less than everything does not advance the AGW advocates’ case one bit.
Before we enact regulations and add new taxes, AGW advocates must prove: 1) the approximate degree to which human activity is responsible and: 2) the approximate degree to which these new programs and regulations, financed by new taxes, will have an effect on AGW.
They have thus far failed to make their case, if only (but not only for this reason) because so many AGW agitators (Algore, Edwards, Hollywood Gulfstream liberals, Dems in Congress who drive two blocks in SUVs) fail to live by the rules they would impose on others.
Wethal on July 6, 2008 at 3:19 PM
VERY GOOD AD.
Sir Andrew on July 6, 2008 at 3:19 PM
uranium mining might just start up near his wonderfully pristine grand canyon and there aint jack he can do about it!!
chasdal on July 6, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Pay higher taxes and government will pretend to control the weather. Sorry, already bought one similar to this this scam. Similar to ‘just doing the jobs Americans won’t do’.
Last I looked, the sun was still on holiday. Might I suggest the MCAMENSTY straight talk express try the truth?
Drill here, drill now, pay less. Yep, I support drilling in the ‘grand canyon’, if that is what it takes.
tarpon on July 6, 2008 at 3:31 PM
There are plenty of folks on the right who claim that there is no connection between greenhouse gases and climate change.
Well, we have proof of how the mechanisms might work, and can show evidence of anthropogenic changes in these factors. This is a policy argument, not a legal one, so “burden of proof” does not apply.
Big S on July 6, 2008 at 3:37 PM
If Texas is in play then McCain’s doomed. That would tell me he has zero, zip, nada chance in Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
seanhackbarth on July 6, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Now youve got it.
Squid Shark on July 6, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Yeah, I used to be in the business, and have actually done some exploration of several of the old mines that are actually in the Canyon itself.
LegendHasIt on July 6, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Check the data — you know, actual votes, instead of the crap you get from pundits. Only two Senators voted less frequently with Reid than McCain. Brownback, Cornyn, Thune, all voted with Reid more than McCain.
See the Club for Growth blog.
rightwingprof on July 6, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Let them eat cake.
Limerick on July 6, 2008 at 4:05 PM
I like turtles.
hillbillyjim on July 6, 2008 at 4:20 PM
One of the things that the hard liners of both parties seem to forget is that the whole country is sick to death of politicians who are inflexible and follow the party line even to the detriment of our national well being.
The people of the nation want the people that they elect work together to come up with solutions that work and are good for the nation. They do not want anymore agenda BS out of either the radical left nor the hard right-in essence the country is telling both sides to stick their “litmus tests and agendas” where the sun don’t shine.
The people of this country know deep down in their hearts that we are now playing for keeps, that we can no longer continue this decades long ideological war within our country. I hate to break it to the moonbats and the Democrats but most people will not be siding with them if push comes to shove. And push will be coming to shove very soon.
Nahanni on July 6, 2008 at 4:45 PM
I may have my doubts about global warming, but most people believe it is real. However, most people also want to do more drilling and have no intention of freezing to death in the dark..global warming or no global warming.
McCain supports more drilling as well as alternative energy sources and by making mention of the global warming issue he can reassure people that he cares about the environment.
I mean come on, we have Newt Gingrich making ads with Nancy Pelosi about environmental concerns. The truth is most people do want balance in these issues. They want more solutions and less ideology.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 4:53 PM
rightwingprof:
McCain’s conservative standing is a lot better than Obama’s. And those are your choices. Bitching about it won’t change anything.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 4:55 PM
He’s pushing his own party to face climate change - in an ad paid for by the RNC?
Jaw-droppingly stupid. Like McCain, the editors must take weekends off.
Buy Danish on July 6, 2008 at 4:55 PM
I will have to agree with this. Maybe I am just paying too much attention to the political world but I can’t help but think that if the Donks and moonbats and courts continue to operate at the edges of the constitution, other groups may decide that they are also done with constitutional government, and things could spin out of control in ways we can’t imagine. And the Donks, moonbats and judges can scream all they want but they are the ones who are kicking the legs out from under constitutional government.
JonRoss on July 6, 2008 at 5:00 PM
A fraudulent hair, at that. The results in Milwaukee were highly suspect, and Kerry’s victory in Wisconsin likely came via the votes of illegal voters.
irishspy on July 6, 2008 at 5:04 PM
I think its a good ad, it shows and also is parallel to Obama’s “Most liberal Senator” voting record..
Chakra Hammer on July 6, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Is McCain going to lose Texas? I see, are all those conservative Texans going to go out and vote for Barack Obama the most liberal Senator in the US Senate because McCain’s conservative rating is 82% instead of 90%?
McCain supports more drilling than Obama. Obama’s environmental policy is more draconian than McCain’s. The idea that people who thought McCain was too moderate or liberal would vote for or even let Obama win strikes me as bizarre.
This is not a bad ad. We can deny the existence of global warming or climate change all we want, but most Americans care about this issue. They really do. I think that in time this might pass. At least to some extent. When New York City does not go under water people might begin to think the whole issue has been hyped just a tad. But striking a balance right now is not a bad thing. It beats letting Obama win. My God the man might create a Department of Global Warming and let Gore run the damn thing.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 5:17 PM
No thanks for your idiotic contribution as usual.
He wouldn’t recognize the truth even if it bit him in the arse.
wise_man on July 6, 2008 at 5:18 PM
No they don’t, they really don’t..
environmental issues are always low on the list of priorities..
Chakra Hammer on July 6, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Terrye look at this…
http://people-press.org/report/323/both-sides-reject-compromise-in-iraq-funding-fight
Now.. look at these charts…
Top Campaign Issue
http://people-press.org/reports/images/323-4.gif
then look at this..
Ideology of the Candidates
http://people-press.org/reports/images/323-5.gif
As you can see, McCain is closer to all the voters..
Rudy was actually the closest
(And was my first choice.. McCain will do.. )
Chakra Hammer on July 6, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Yeah, I got a kick out of that too.
Of course he isn’t. Barry’ll carry Travis County, of course; probably Harris and even Dallas (County, that is.) But my guess he’ll even do less well here than Dems past because I’m betting McCain beats him–or comes close–in the valley.
The last thing McCain or the RNC need to be doing is spending money in the very expensive media markets of Texas. We’re still red through and through.
Typhoon on July 6, 2008 at 5:43 PM
dont be surprised if a lot Texans stay home or write in someone else. you underestimate how badly mccain’s amnesty has gone over here.
chasdal on July 6, 2008 at 5:46 PM
But, um…I live here too. Maybe you overestimate. Or maybe you underestimate the abilities of Texans to spot a snake-oil selling huckster when they see one.
I don’t.
Whatever McCain’s flaws, Mr. Hawaii/Harvard/Hype Park just ain’t the type of guy to carry Texas.
Ever.
Typhoon on July 6, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Here, here! I like the idea of McCain saying he’s proactive on energy. There is nothing wrong with pushing research into new energy sources - e.g. the battery prize. And I like that McCain is for nukes and domestic drilling (even though I wish he would be for ANWR drilling).
But I agree with you that the RNC never should have put an ad out there saying that McCain is “pushing” the party to “face” climate change. That concedes too much to the Dems - namely, that anthropogenic global warming is real. Sorry, but the science on that is too B.S. and too politically motivated for me or the GOP to accept. Just freaking dumb.
Outlander on July 6, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Amnesty in Texas??
I grew up in Oklahoma and I am over 50. I can remember towns and cities in Texas decades ago where English was a second language. You can walk from ElPaso to Mexico. Most of the court cases the feds faced when they started building the wall down there came from Texans.
Texas is a big state, we all know this. Bush was the Governor of Texas and his immigration policy as president was the same one he had when he was Governor, and yet people voted for him.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 6:05 PM
And that is called no change, as in nothing has changed, things are the same, it is not an issue, therefore the whole thing is just stupid. Period. You can change the name of it as many times as you like but, and I know I am repeating myself, still no change.
kahall on July 6, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Chakra:
I am sure that McCain is closer to most voters. I am also sure that most voters care about environmental issues. It is being shoved down their throats 24/7, how could they not care? I know people who think that global warming is responsible for the flooding here in the Midwest. Is it more important to them than the high price of gas? No, it is not. That is why if McCain can strike a balance and act as if he cares about the environment but also wants to do more drilling and create more alternative sources, people will respond positively.
I like Rudy. I guess the idea of having two old white guys on a ticket is not a good thing, but I would not mind seeing him as VP.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 6:11 PM
And if people in Texas write in someone else and let Obama win they might as well vote for Barack. Same difference.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 6:14 PM
There’s a fair chance that future campaigns will go this way: the party coffers used to bring down the opponent, the candidate’s funds used to build him up. Whether we’ll see this in other races would make a good discussion.
njcommuter on July 6, 2008 at 6:17 PM
Barack Obama might pick a young black man to be his VP, but I doubt it. He’ll probably pick someone different to balance the ticket.
If McCain picks Rudy, or Fred, then it will be the ticket with the two old guys. While they might do just fine as president and vice president, most political observers & pundits would also suggest someone to balance the ticket. Mitt Romney might be okay. And Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal might also be very good choices, but I would much happier if I could vote for one of them as president, with McCain as their VP. Oh well.
wise_man on July 6, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Don’t think so. McCain is flat-lining here in PA. He should drop the climate change claptrap–which is for college kids and Hollywierd types who will vote for Obama, and sets off BS alarms in regular working class folks in PA– and emphasize drilling in ANWR and offshore, and more nuclear plants. People want action now to increase the supply of energy.
james23 on July 6, 2008 at 6:26 PM
The RNC should also have a check list ad of negative accomplishments by the democratic energy policies for the past 50 years, and highlight the democratic Congressional floundering since they took the majority. Hit ‘em where it hurts, and include all of THEIR corruption.
I’d love to see RNC ads promoting the rule of law to support law enforcement ALL LEVELS SIMULTANEOUSLY, promising that the next Republican President is sworn to uphold the law of the land without reform designed to alleviate government employees of their Constitutional responsibilities! SCOTUS: no fabricated or omitted documents allows! POTUS: no open borders allowed; no illegal aliens welcome! Governors and Mayors: no sanctuary contrary to rule of law.
McCain, get on the Constitutional platform that Fred Thompson constructed up to date according to the highest legal standards! Put Palin on board to resuscitate your image. Can’t you picture them advertised on PBS/cpb shown before every children’s program:
Vote for Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty ‘08!
maverick muse on July 6, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Some of us who actually read and study — and don’t follow the knee-jerk “let’s all drive our Hummers over spotted owls” party line of people like Rash Limbaugh — know there are benefits to reducing pollution, recycling, increasing fuel economy and developing new energy sources.
It’s a question of balance. Al Bore is unbalanced; people who understand the benefits of ecological responsibility minus the hair-shirt self-flagellation, return-to-the-stone-age mentality and carbon credits scams will eventually triumph, and will prevail sooner if this doesn’t turn into a war between the rabid zealots on both sides of the issue.
Seems to me that’s what McCain represents, and I have no problem with it.
MrScribbler on July 6, 2008 at 6:36 PM
While Mitt may be 3 years younger than Giuliani, his excess “whiteness” basically cancels it out. Yes, McCain-Romney would be perceived as just as “old and white” as McCain-Giuliani.
Big S on July 6, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Giuliani would be the first Italian-American that should cancel out the first 1/2 African-American..
Chakra Hammer on July 6, 2008 at 6:55 PM
For some, perception is reality. When people decide who they are going to vote for, in their minds, they have an image. And McCain-Romney would tend to look a little younger than McCain-Giuliani, or McCain-Thompson. In my opinion.
wise_man on July 6, 2008 at 7:15 PM
I don’t want to get into ethnic score-keeping, but…
I’ll agree to that, to a certain extent, on the age issue. However, as if we are worried about how “white” a certain ticket seems (I’m not, actually), Romney is one of the two or three “whitest” guys in the country. Top ten, anyway.
Big S on July 6, 2008 at 7:27 PM
I hear that Obama is thinking about Bayh. He was a popular Governor here in Indiana in spite of the fact that he is a Democrat. He was also a super delegate for Hillary. I am not sure what effect that might have on the race here. I can not imagine Obama carrying Indiana. But I have a difficult time imagining Evan Bayh losing the state.
But Bayh has gone left since he went to DC. That kind of pisses people off around here.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 7:56 PM
McScribbler:
I have to agree.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Rightly so!
Mallard T. Drake on July 6, 2008 at 8:22 PM
You can say that again.
steveegg on July 6, 2008 at 8:51 PM
You have to remember that “bipartisanship” goes but one direction, and that is a direction I don’t approve.
steveegg on July 6, 2008 at 8:53 PM
here’s what bipartisanship gets you. and after mccain defended kerry back in 2004. kerry is right about mccain having bad judgement. mccain doesnt know who to trust. those he has worked w/ the most on legislation will now stab him in the back. next up kennedy, followed by feingold.
mccain, endorsed by the nytimes for GOP presidential candidate. thats reason enough for conservatives to skip voting on the presidential race this year.
chasdal on July 6, 2008 at 10:06 PM
“defended” how?
wise_man on July 6, 2008 at 10:11 PM
McCain did not defend Kerry. The man spent years in a POW camp, he just did not want to question Kerry’s medals is all.
And chasdal, the NYT endorsed McCain by saying he sucked but not as bad as the others. They also endorsed Hillary and no doubt between now and November they will endorse Obama.
And for Chrisake people McCain supports drilling off shore. He supports building nuclear power plants. sheesh.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 10:40 PM
And you know what? If George Bush or John McCain either one had publicly supported Swift Boat Vets those vets would have been seen as nothing but Republicans pulling off a political dirty trick. The Democrats did their best to make them into that anyway.
Terrye on July 6, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Sean Hackbarth: Hope I’m dead wrong. I’ll gladly eat crow on this if my prediction turns to the contrary. On 11/5/08, if McCain takes TX, please do come throw some jabs at me. I’ll be as happy as a pig in mud if he pulls it off. I’m simply hoping that the GOP begins to realize that Tx “ain’t” what it used to be. They’d best not take it for granted. Lots has changed. They need to send in a damage control team. My opinion.
Terrye: Usually about once a week or so, we here in the Houston area get treated to reports in the Chronicle regarding some family that died in a fiery car crash as the result of some drunken illegal smashing into them. Last week it was an HPD Officer. And the illegal was a Vietnamese man. Ran the police officer over and killed him. Its been estimated that there are 400K illegals in the greater Houston area. Hospitals, neighborhoods and schools are suffering. You and all your northern GOP’rs can continue to live life with your head stuck in the sand. Out of sight - out of mind. But if you think Texans are going to be ignored, think again. The situation has deteriorated tremendously since “W” was governor. The comparison you make is simplistic and about 10 years short of reality. Darvin Dowdy
Darvin Dowdy on July 6, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Oh, we’re back to this. And I almost missed it.
I absolutely love it when the so called ‘conservatives’ on this site advocate not voting for McCain. Which is - by a complete coincidence - exactly what the democrats also want us to do. So Obama can be the next president. In the interest of fairness, I am resolved to suspecting that these people who regurgitate this democrat talking point are actually ‘conservatives.’
In which case, I’ll offer this suggestion. If you don’t like the winner of the republican primaries, and you don’t want to support the man that your precious Fred Thompson is endorsing,and you also understand that by not supporting McCain because he is the ‘lesser of two evils’ - you are ( by default ) helping to ensure that the “greater of two evils,” Barack Obama will be the next president, and that is a ( repeat with me ) a bad thing. Because if McCain loses, there is no guarantee that the next republican nominee will be any more conservative than McCain, because a McCain loss will somehow teach the GOP a lesson. Example: When the voters punished George Bush senior for his ‘read my lips, no new taxes’ betrayal, and then didn’t vote for him, or voted for Ross Perot, then the results of punishing Bush for not being conservative enough was: EIGHT years of Bill Clinton, and everything his presidency did to the whitehouse and this country, and then Bush’s son won the presidency after that. So how did that work out for you?
And, for the others who advocate not voting for McCain because Ron Paul lost, or you support Bob Barr, then I would hope that you get drunk using your brain cell destroying alcohol of choice, and then go play with a loaded shotgun. Conservatism will be greatly benefited as a result.
Thank you.
wise_man on July 6, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Well put O wise_man. We are down to two choices. McCain or Obambi. We need to stay engaged here and vote AGAINST Obama.
A BHO win might in some odd way be good for the Republican party because it would ensure 8 years for the next Republican after he’s is done trashing the country for his 4 years. That would be unthinkable because (to quote McCain) it’s country first, party second.
Give your money to the hardest hitting 527 that comes up. McCain’s going to try and play the gentleman here and that’s not gonna help things. I”m going to donate to this year’s version of the Swift Boat Vets For Truth; as soon as they come on the scene.
Mojave Mark on July 7, 2008 at 1:27 AM
The Republican Party is a dead rotting carcass with a few decrepit old leaders stumbling around like zombies in a horror version of ‘Weekend With Bernie,’ handcuffed to a corpse.
- Larry Hunter
So I guess that would make John McCain, Juan McBernie.
MB4 on July 7, 2008 at 4:53 AM
Is he? I haven’t seen any recent polls. But the surprising thing about the primaries was that Obama won only two of the four bedroom counties surrounding Philly. If McCain spends a good deal of time courting the voters in those four counties, he may swing PA red.
As for Bayh, since I lived in Indiana for most of my life and had Hostettler, Sodrel, and Hill as my reps, I doubt very much that putting Bayh on the ticket would significantly affect Indiana’s vote. The only way Obama can win Indiana is with magically appearing “votes” from Lake County (not unlike the primaries). As the man said, Bayh swung far to the left as soon as he got to DC.
rightwingprof on July 7, 2008 at 6:44 AM
Groan. Who’s the “we” in “we are worried about having a couple of white guys on the ticket”?
You have never supported Mitt, and this is clearly just a silly talking point you’ve pulled out of your hat.
Buy Danish on July 7, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Here are the RCP poll #s for PA. Read em and weep. McCain led in several polls earlier in the year; in recent weeks he has slipped badly, even though Hillary, who was strong here, has dropped out. This after a pretty substantial media buy for McCain’s dumb global warming ad.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_mccain_vs_obama-244.html#polls
james23 on July 7, 2008 at 9:17 AM
Wow, you only hope I go kill myself? Well there’s a winning argument. Why not decide next to take it upon yourself to go out and kill the apostates who believe differently than you.
You’re not too far away from that as-is, are you?
But keep your threats and psychosis slightly veiled. I’m sure everyone still respects you simply calling for the death of your political opponents; oddly, not opponents on the other side either, but opponents nominally on your side.
I wonder how you expect all Democrats to die if you want apostate Conservatives to suicide for your political goals… How about the Green Party? Nader supporters? Communist/Marxists?
Do you have death wishes for all of them as well, or are you saving your death wishes for Conservatives who disagree with you?
gekkobear on July 7, 2008 at 12:58 PM
He’s pushing his own party to face climate change.
Is that a joke?
Drill Now, Drill Here, Pay Less!
Another insult to the right wing! McDole needs to reach out to his base.
Dpet on July 7, 2008 at 3:00 PM
He IS reaching out to HIS base.
It is just that we aren’t members of that base.
LegendHasIt on July 7, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Like I said, conservatism will be greatly benefited as a result.
wise_man on July 7, 2008 at 5:51 PM