McCain: I’ll balance the budget by cleaning up entitlement programs
posted at 9:29 am on July 7, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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John McCain will send a message to fiscal conservatives this week: he’ll take on entitlement programs in his first term. Pledging to balance the budget in four years, McCain will cut waste and begin overhauling Social Security and Medicare, a bold vision that presents an opportunity and a risk for the Republican. George Bush saw his second term run aground on the shoals of Social Security reform:
McCain is making the pledge at the beginning of a week when both presidential candidates plan to devote their events to the economy, the top issue in poll after poll as voters struggle to keep their jobs and fill their gas tanks. …
McCain’s emphasis on balancing the budget is likely to excite conservatives, who have remained skeptical of his candidacy, and provoke derision from Democrats, who will argue that it’s a warmed-over version of proposals that President Bush failed to enact.
The Democrats shrug off McCain’s pledge as unrealistic. He has a $400 billion gap to close, as the CBO predicts that kind of deficit in 2013 under current budget plans. Can McCain possibly do that with a combination of entitlement reforms and surgical excision of waste? McCain believes he can, and points to the essential problem in a speech he will deliver this morning:
This Congress and this Administration have failed to meet their responsibilities to manage the government. Government has grown by 60 percent in the last eight years. That is simply inexcusable. When I’m president, I will order a stem to stern review of government, modernize how it does business and save billions of dollars. I will veto every single bill with wasteful spending. We aren’t going to continue mortgaging this country’s future for things Americans don’t want or need.
My opponent has a very different record on this issue. He has sought millions upon millions of dollars in earmarks since his election to the Senate. In 2007 alone, Senator Obama requested nearly $100 million for earmark projects. I have never asked for a single earmark in my entire career. He supported the $300 billion pork laden agricultural subsidy bill. I opposed it. He voted for an energy bill stuffed with give-aways to oil companies at a time of record profits. I voted against it.
We grew spending by over 35% from 2000, when we had a $2.0 trillion budget. Some of that went to the war effort, but plenty of it came in other discretionary spending. And, as McCain tells Politico, the real spending problem isn’t in discretionary programs but in entitlements. The explosion of spending threatens to overwhelm the federal budget over the next few decades, but already accounts for 58% of federal spending.
In real terms, we have increased entitlement spending by 759% over the last 43 years. In 2007 dollars, we spent $582 billion in 1965, and in 2007 that has transformed into a $2.5 trillion boondoggle. What’s worse, the rate of increase has speeded up. We have added more than a half-trillion dollars over the last five years. It took 43 years to add a half-trillion 2007 dollars to discretionary spending.
McCain at least puts entitlements on the table as a problem in the bloated federal budget. Barack Obama has only mentioned entitlements in terms of expanding them, adding new taxes as a way to redistribute capital through the federal government. A real agent of change would offer solutions rather than the hair of the dog.
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To use another worn out expression, “The check is in the mail”
Just A Grunt on July 7, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Look at McCain trying to sound like a conservative.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
You FAIL, Juan.
fossten on July 7, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Sounds good to me, looks like the MDS naysayers are out early today.
Squid Shark on July 7, 2008 at 9:35 AM
When you rob Peter to pay Paul…Paul never complains.
And there are more and more “Pauls” in this country.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 9:36 AM
He wasn’t my choice, but he’s all I’ve got now and showing some fiscal courage will make it less painful to pull the lever for him.
Tim Zank on July 7, 2008 at 9:37 AM
McCain is coming into the fray after a really tragic run of a Democratic congress. Perhaps having the chief evil doers standing around the bust of FDR won’t be enough to put the SS topic back in the freezer. Also, the chickens are coming home to roost for their SS checks by the millions, so the Dems better start paddling their B/S canoe a lot faster.
Hening on July 7, 2008 at 9:40 AM
What stuns me about this site is the absolute clueless and juvenile posturing that poses itself as “conservative.”
Fact is I have issues with McCain. A lot of them. I told myself once I’d never vote for him strictly on account of McCain Feingold, as a matter of fact.
And none of those issues have gone away. The man simply is who he is.
However one thing he is, is truly rock-solid conservative on one of the most fundamental of principles, the protection of the public purse. He always has been. This is an issue McCain can most likely get some traction on, and with some clear moral authority as well.
The fact is that entitlement spending is completely out of control and will bankrupt this country. Now I know it’s more fun for several around here to pound their highchairs, proclaim themselves purer than all the rest and call McCain names, but who’s going to be a better steward of public funds for four years, Barry, or Maverick?
It’s our money, and one of them is going to get the job. There are no other options.
Typhoon on July 7, 2008 at 9:43 AM
And if he pulls this off?
What earmarks has he proposed?
You can say he is more liberal on the borders, the environment, and other areas…but why attack him on the one area he is conservative in?
Oh, I know…it is called a “knee jerk reaction”, see his name and spew something negative…
The only tax increase he has ever voted for was on cigarettes (a big one of 283%, he called it a fee ala Romney), but that has been his only vote on tax increases.
He is perhaps the one senator that has truly taken on wasteful spending, and true to his “maverick” status, even when his fellow Republicans party lines have tried to force him to vote for these increases. You must have hated that…who is the RHINO? when it comes to spending?
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Ya, sure, you betcha!
The very same democrats who have spent the last 7 years obstructing and sabotaging everything proposed by Bush will help McCain cut entitlement spending?
Proving that McCain is as delusional and dishonest as the democrats.
You all can stuff that ‘MDS” crap right in your left ear.
rockhauler on July 7, 2008 at 9:49 AM
McCain may not be conservative on many issues, but this is virtually the only other area (besides the war) that I trust that McCain is fully conservative. He’s beaten this drum for years and one of the best things he could do for the party is to leave the paradigm of “compassionate conservatism” (i.e. spend a lot of our dough) and go back to the principles of low-taxes; cut spending.
Tim on July 7, 2008 at 9:50 AM
I tend to shut out someone’s argument (or lack thereof) when he/she refers to McCain as “Juan” on an issue that doesn’t even relate to immigration.
amerpundit on July 7, 2008 at 9:51 AM
The reason Peter doesn’t really mind is because there are so many of him. The cost is spread among the people and the benefit, which is significant is given to the few.
He has been trying to earmark millions of Mexican workers to our corporations for years now.
LevStrauss on July 7, 2008 at 9:54 AM
This is a high-stakes gamble. He’s taking on not only Obama but the whole Democratic Congress and more: the whole Democratic Political Machine. I have to assume that he understands the American people better than I do; I have to hope and pray he does because in this race with Barak Obama knocking at the White House door the situation is dire.
But maybe he is looking at it like this: Most people in the country don’t have the chance to vote against Pelosi or Boxer or Reid. But they’d like to, and if Obama becomes a surrogate, they will vote against him.
If it works, it will have been a breathtaking stroke. If it fails, the people will forget–but the DNC and RNC will remember, one in self-righeousness, the other in shame.
njcommuter on July 7, 2008 at 9:54 AM
All I can say is:
Please be true
Please be true
Please be true
ad nauseam.
It would be nice, it would be wonderful. A very good point was made earlier:
All I can do is hope, and not the Barry kind of hope, where I’m just hoping to hope and hopping on the hoping bandwagon because hoping sounds so great. This kind of change would be nice.
Please be true
Please be true…
LickyLicky on July 7, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Don’t give the same old tired lesser of two evils argument again. Lesser evil is still evil.
He can’t and won’t pull this off. You cannot cut $400 billion from the budget by squeezing pork. It simply can’t be done. You have to cut, slash, and burn SS and Medicare spending, and the Congress already proved they weren’t up to the task, and this was with a Republican majority!
This is nothing but pandering and political posturing. And for you to say this is the one area he is conservative in…what about Iraq?
fossten on July 7, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Please don’t feed the trolls…
PatriotPete on July 7, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Yeah, McCain, and amnesty for illegals is just going to be a great place to start, no?
Color me skeptical, but if McCain is so devoted to this, why are we just hearing about it? One gets the sense that his campaing revitalizers have stepped in and told him this is a winner and McCain said “okay” but that the initiative was not his.
Does any know where he stood on W’s plan to privative Social Security?
BigD on July 7, 2008 at 9:56 AM
So, let me get this right…the one senator that has an impeccable record on cutting waste, not supporting tax increases (for the past 20 years) is delusional? So his record is a figment of imagination? His voting record on wasteful and tax increases the past 20 years really didn’t happen?
How about if Bush would have used his veto more, and forced the Dems to take their increases public.
Wasn’t it McCain who proposed to have a 60 senate vote on all tax increases? Did you support that?
You little MDS guys should stick with a winning argument, like the borders, and not try to win one where he has a 20 year voting advantage.
This is one area you want McCain involved in, his record is the strongest in the Senate.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Bully for you.
fossten on July 7, 2008 at 9:57 AM
I think Obama said he’d eliminate the cap on wages subject to SS. It’s a sucky solution, but it would raise money for the system.
I don’t know what McCain’s SS plan is. (And if he imposes his stupid cap and trade plan, it doesn’t matter anyway.) To my way of thinking, the private account method, the opt-out method for the young, and raising the retirement age or slash the benefit is the preferred way out.
I don’t think this is McCain’s forte. I’d be much more curious to know who he’s going to listen to on the subject of entitlements, than on what he thinks himself.
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Well it would be nice. Can he do it? Probably not. I think the best we could hope is for him to veto everything in site and have enough fiscal conservatives in congress to keep things sane.
I have less faith in congress than in McCain. I’d like to think McCain means it.
Dash on July 7, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Coming Democrat translation: McCain hates poor people and old people!
CP on July 7, 2008 at 9:57 AM
http://www.ontheissues.org/Economic/John_McCain_Social_Security.htm
It looks like his positions on Social Security were pretty much aligned with Bush’s.
BigD on July 7, 2008 at 10:00 AM
You guys are barking up the wrong tree on this, his record is long and deep. His voting record is public.
There is no one in this race that even comes close to his attack on wasteful spending, earmarks, tax increases.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 10:00 AM
And his results will be the same as Bush’s. Meanwhile, every other liberal principle he espouses will come to pass.
fossten on July 7, 2008 at 10:03 AM
On this issue, without a doubt. His record backs up his statements.
But congress will have to override, veto after veto. It would be fun to watch congress squirm.
Bush’s big mistake was not taking on congress, McCain won’t have a problem doing that.
McCain is’nt running to make friends.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Another aspect to consider about SS. In spite of the financial peril it’s in, I suspect most Americans still think they’re going to get what they were promised, when they were promised.
People pay their own money in, and don’t consider it just another tax, like income tax.
If you mess around with the entitlement, or means test it, SS will become rightly considered just part of the regular income tax. Add the 16% or so workers pay for SS tax and medicare tax to your marginal income tax rate for fed, state and local, and so many people might find that they’re paying 50% or more towards tax. That won’t fly. The economy will sputter. People won’t work if more goes to the Gov’t than stays at home. Might as well move to Scandinavia.
This is really a hot potato financially and emotionally.
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2008 at 10:04 AM
A really admirable goal. However, he will have to fight a lot of people who use entitlements and social programs as a way to buy votes. They will fight to the death because to lose will be their political death. Unfortunately if you train people to be a parasite, they will become one. Without government handouts, a lot of folks just can’t survive. They might need a hand up, but not a handout.
DAT60A3 on July 7, 2008 at 10:05 AM
the way the system works though, Congress basically bribes the President into alot of the spending request over National Security issues. They threaten to turn on Iraq or some other highly important National Security issue which the POTUS needs majority congressional support with.
McCain would have to severly use up his political capital on the topic for real change in the area, possibly at the expense of national security.
jp on July 7, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Fixed and linked it for you.
fossten on July 7, 2008 at 10:05 AM
How we’re hurting our kids through entitlement spending is ridiculous. Every grandparent out there ought to be ashamed. Parents who support broadening entitlements ought to be ashamed. I can completely get behind McCain on this one.
We need to point out how entitlements hurt kids/grandkids. A lot.
beatcanvas on July 7, 2008 at 10:08 AM
.
Not to throw water on your argument, but more folks under 35 believe in UFOs than believe they will get social security. I think they are onto something…. I sincerely doubt I’ll get my money back, since the plans are to means test SS benefits in the future, and there is already a plan being worked on in congress to take IRA and 401K money out of our existing accounts, and replace it with more SS promissory notes.
Think_b4_speaking on July 7, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Better look at his record, congress will have to overcome veto after veto, in the public eye.
How many veto’s did Bush use?
Your “liberal prinicples” that he “espouses” are getting fewer and fewer as the facts of his voting record comes out. The only real (and it is serious) one left is his border, but Obama is the same or worse. So you would get Obama border, with all of the economic and geo-political mess as a bonus.
Looks like you guys will be pulling the lever for McCain, or hide your pocket book. 4 years of economic chaos, and you will be praying for a McCain…don’t think so, Google Carter …
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 10:09 AM
And no matter what we may want, we’re going to end up with one of the two evils. Still evil, but the less evil does less damage until we can get a non-evil into office.
amerpundit on July 7, 2008 at 10:09 AM
mccain is just blowing smoke:
right, ‘comprehensive’ ie another government plan. it will just increase spending. and where does that 5k come from? his wife?? right.
this is just stupid. why make new drugs if you can’t make a profit on them? and then where would our healthcare be?
why not just end them?
this is just smoke and mirros, no privatization of social security or medicare, which is what is really needed to solve the problem.
ain’t buying it there captain queeg.
right4life on July 7, 2008 at 10:09 AM
This is nothing new. I read all of this about the budget at perotcharts.com.
Vatican Watcher on July 7, 2008 at 10:10 AM
You are exactly correct, and completely blind. McCain has voted against all those increases in federal spending. All those spending increases that were passed by congress.
But you don’t care about the facts. When the facts clearly show that all those spending increases passed.
And I’m the guy who suffers ‘MDS’?
rockhauler on July 7, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Everyone who says McCain is rock solid on this issue is overlooking one shattering fact: The guy wants illegal immigration and cap and trade. Those two things alone will make balancing the budget impossible. Not improbable, impossible. Well, not without an 80% tax bracket for basically everyone (well, except for all the newly unillegal aliens).
So, don’t give me the cost-cutting crap. He’s going to take more and more of my money to pay for illegal alien welfare, education, healthcare. He’s going to give more and more of my money to combat an entirely fabricated crisis, one he lacks the intelligence to recognize and fight.
So, I won’t be holding my breath for a balanced budget under McCain. He can’t do it, and still surrender to Mexico and Algore.
Darksean on July 7, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Hey, if you are a one trick pony, then who are you going to support? Obama on the borders or McCain? If you only see one issue, it won’t matter to you.
You apparently do not have a job or kids to raise.
But some of us see others issues as well.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 10:16 AM
McCain has only 2 strong issues available to him: Energy Independence and Obama’s Empty Suit.
I’ll vote for John McCain against Obama, but his claims of massive entitlement reform and vetoing all bills with earmarks is absolute lunacy – it wouldn’t happen even if McCain was chosen to be KING!
McCain’s credentials on earmarks and excessive spending are solid. But he can’t ever seem to bring himself to criticize Senate Democrats, and I just cannot imagine him winning a legislative poker game with Ted Kennedy. Tie this with McCain’s willingness to have the federal government regulate EVERYTHING, his misguided beliefs on global warming, and his willingness to expand entitlements to illegals, it is clear that government would continue to expand dramatically under a President McCain.
pilsener on July 7, 2008 at 10:17 AM
The reality is that even a rock ribbed fiscal conservative will be fighting a liberal spend thrift congress , with the minor exception of the blue dogs.
Trying to reduce entitlements aka democrat bribery of voters, will take a minor miracle to do.
With likely dem gains in seats this will mostly be wishful thinking.
But pair up Obama and they will shoot for the moon.
However even with all their talk of war spending versus other spending they want to add , the war is almost all deficit spending and they have less and less room each year left out of revenue to add on any more spending to required items without going deficit spending themselves.
CommentGuy on July 7, 2008 at 10:22 AM
In the over 20 years of voting in the Senate, show me the tax increases he has voted for…then you can talk about
this is what they call an incoherent statement
Ummmm, what economic school did you go to?
This post is really bringing out the MDS people. The one area McCain has absolute authority and history on, and he is attacked for stating what he has been doing for decades. The one area most conservatives would normally embrace and applaud…not raising taxes, cutting entitlements, balancing the budget, using the veto, vote against raising the minimum wage, there has not been a senator with a better record on these things…who had a better record that was even thinking of running?
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Given McCain’s past history, he’ll have to forgive me if I don’t believe him. Its just talk.
If he actually meant what he said, then it stands to reason that there should be some past record of his efforts to stem entitlement growth. I don’t see any. Perhaps some of you could show me.
GT on July 7, 2008 at 10:26 AM
mccain has a past history of being a fiscal con hawk…
jp on July 7, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Pretty good one, thank you. Besides, as a CMA I’m not exactly talking out of my ass here.
Tell me something: Do you think adding 20 million illegals to the welfare rolls, to the classrooms, to the hospital emergency rooms won’t cost anything???? Do you have ANY idea how much of our budget, how much of our tax money is ALREADY going toward this?
Then, we’re supposed to curb our economy (read: treasury receipts) by telling companies how much carbon they can emit?
And you ask what economic school I go to??? LOLOL!!
Lots of strum and drang, I’ll give you that.
However, all of that is simply for naught if he gets amnesty and cap and trade through. It will virtually blow the budget and anything resembling cost control.
Darksean on July 7, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Very strong move by McCain to start talking about this.
America has been on a collective borrowing and spending binge for a decade or more. We have run up our credit cards, bought houses we can’t afford, given our kids all the latest gadgets and fancy vacations without regard for the cost. The government has waged an expensive war and increased handouts to every interest group to buy more votes.
Now we face the hangover. Most middle-class families are struggling to balance their own budgets and get out of debt; they are furious with a government that won’t do the same. They intrinsically know that America simply can’t afford the kind of budget-busting spending initiatives that Obama is talking about. They fear a bankrupt government that won’t have the money to make their Social Security payments when they retire. If McCain can make them really fear a runaway liberal Congress with a liberal President signing every new spending program they want, this could get very interesting.
rockmom on July 7, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Great points, but they will be wasted on the McShamnesty sycophants. They only see MDS, a cop-out but there nonetheless.
Darksean on July 7, 2008 at 10:35 AM
One of the most regrettable realities of the 21st century.
fourstringfuror on July 7, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Cut spending on one hand and increase spending to stop the natural occurence of climate change.
Johan Klaus on July 7, 2008 at 10:39 AM
What about illegal immigration. What about illegal immigration. What about illegal immigration…..
Johan Klaus on July 7, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Yea, the message is he despises any kind of conservatism. He didn’t vote TWICE for the tax cuts under Bush.
He is a fool if he thinks many conservatives will believe his lies (don’t even start me on him buying into the cow fart hoax and how much that is going to break the US economy and the “pristine” wasteland known as ANWR).
How fiscally conservative is it to undermine the rights of Americans so that the Chamber of Commerce can subvert employment laws for demeaningly cheap labor and then belittle those who disagree with you?
If he gets my vote it will be with four years of NON-STOP of holding his feet to the fire on conservatism or he’ll be Carter without the foreign experience….
Juan McVain a fiscal conservative. Best joke I’ve heard all day….
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 10:45 AM
President Bush’s idea for personal accounts using some Social Security tax money was a good one, but it was poorly sold. Instead of talking about “rates of return” which go over most people’s heads, he needed to pull out a concrete example of a 25-year-old investing $1,000 a year in the stock market, and having more than $100K at retirement age, without it costing him anything!
Bush also got stuck in “campaign mode” traveling around the country for three months in 2005 touting his plan to a few thousand people at each stop, while Democrats talked to the media and their MILLIONS of deluded listeners about Bush wanting to “privatize” or “take away” Social Security, and how THEY were going to “save” Social Security, by doing NOTHING. And the sheeple ate it up, and nothing was done, and Social Security will go broke in 9 years, if nothing is done in the future. The problem with Bush was, he didn’t talk to those who really mattered–a few swing Democrats in the Senate who could have voted for cloture with 55 Republicans at the time.
McCain’s new proposal could work to his advantage IF he has sat down with some fact-based economic gurus, without rose-colored glasses, to crunch some hard numbers about how much would it cost, how much would young people benefit from the reform, how much benefits for current retirees would change, how much the retirement age might have to be adjusted, etc., then he needs to SELL it to the American people, USING THE MEDIA, which is the only way to reach the sheeple who could benefit most from this.
If McCain got elected on this platform, he might still fail to get the reform passed through a Democrat Congress, although McCain does have a history of working with Democrats to get things done. But if it’s sold properly, McCain could then publicly blame the Democrats for failure to reform Social Security, which could cost them in the 2010 elections. Still, it needs to be tried. Does Obama have anything better, other than a massive tax increase?
Steve Z on July 7, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Cap and Trade. Voting against tax cuts. I guess NEITHER is a good steward of OUR MONEY WE EARN……Senor Juan McVain is not that trustworthy….he’s a politician at best and a senile fool at worst. Sorry if my sense of humor and the play on his name [justly deserved] offends your delicate senses.
Politics ain’t for wimps, Typhoon.
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I want to believe. I do.
But how do we cut entitlements when we’re going to “legalize” 12-20 million + folks, a majority of whom use/abuse those same entitlement programs?
Some of what McCain proposes seem likely contradictory to what will probably happen.
Just like on his tax stance. He has said and done some good things with taxes, barring NOt voting for the Bush tax cuts.
But how does he balance that with his “cap and trade”? C&T being a MASSIVE tax INCREASE as well as expansion of government?
Like the commenter above “please be true, please be true” but how do we work past the obvious contradictions?
catmman on July 7, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Instead of beating an abstract little drum like “entitlement programs”, McCain needs to concentrate on pounding on the huge OIL DRUM of ENERGY INDEPENDENCE and DRILL HERE DRILL NOW PAY LE$$.
Keep It Simple Senator.
Oil prices (gas, heating fuel, etc., etc.) are SERIOUSLY damaging the economy, now.
profitsbeard on July 7, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Well, that’s Congress for ya. Didn’t Pelosi and the Dem’s run on a platform of lowering gas prices when they took over Congress? And it’s more than doubled since.
JetBoy on July 7, 2008 at 10:52 AM
One of the problems with Social Security is that, although younger people today probably don’t think they’re going to get it, they also have not been paying big chunks of their paychecks into it for years and years. Unless you are really, really wealthy, the longer you pay, the angrier you get at the thought of having had to just kiss it all good-bye when you could have been doing something much more meaningful with it. People in corporate America are also seeing their pension formulas changed mid-career. For people in the 40 or 45 to 60 range, having to make significant readjustments to your financial planning at this stage is very stressful.
BigD on July 7, 2008 at 10:55 AM
LevStrauss, you may like this “observation” which resembles the Juan McVain acolytes mantra, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need (or needs)….”
Me, I prefer to avoid Marxism…..imAo
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 10:56 AM
At the risk of feeding the trolls, let me ask a question. Fossten, what makes you any different than a rabid Obama supporter? You are here day in and day out arguing against McCain with the same passion as the foolish, idealistic Obama supporters chanting “Hope! Change!”
It leads one to believe that you are emotionally invested in an Obama victory. That does not make you a conservative at all. You made the argument that by allowing Obama to win, he will mess things up so badly that a new “Reagan” candidate will swoop in to save the day. Keep dreaming. There is no guarantee that such a thing will happen at all. What then?
It is time for you to hold your nose and vote for McCain.
DCGamer on July 7, 2008 at 11:00 AM
McCain lacks the ability to deliver a simple message. I agree with the previous comment. KISS there John.
Mojave Mark on July 7, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I am confused. Were you referring to the Keating 5 were he joined the democrats again?
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Typhoon on July 7, 2008 at 11:04 AM
It’s the same old same old same old same old same old same old same old same old same old same old same old same old we get every blasted four years regardless who the goofs are who are running. So what else is frigging new here?
pilamaye on July 7, 2008 at 11:04 AM
The words are right. If he’d said the opposite, trolls, then go bitch and moan. But McCain’s message is right.
Right. But again, it is high time that McCain quit trying to be the soloist without his ensemble Cabinet that will MAKE his Presidency. Given the Constitutional platform already hammered out in modern text by Fred!, McCain has his former contenders to call and get aligned as a team; Thompson (State), Romney (Treasury), Guillianni (Attorney General). Give Huckabee either the Pastorial position in Congress or let him try fronting for the presidency as the Press Secretary since he loves broadcasting. Give the VP invitation to Palin who provides the PERFECT complement to everything about McCain; where he appears weak, her strength is brilliant. Also, former competitors need to work as a team for FULL STRENGTH, no favorite one upping the others and no prima donas other than McCain.
There is no way that Obama could beat THAT McCain Team, with or without Hillary, with or without the press, with or without private funding from international secret sources. Obama would be limited in votes to the absolute fringe ubertards. In America, the screamer only gets one vote, the same as the silent thinker.
maverick muse on July 7, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Ohhhhh…
Well I sure am glad you pointed that out to me. Here I thought politics was about the marshaling of argument, about the creating of common cause, about having better ideas, presenting those ideas to the citizenry, getting elected and then forming governing coalitions.
But it’s not about any of that. It’s about name calling.
Thanks for the enlightenment.
But I do have a question for you: Did you think up that hilariously funny, roll-on-the-floor-can’t-seem-to-quit-laughing-Leno’s-surely-looking-to-hire-you-as-a-writer sobriquet “Juan McVain” all by yourself, or did you just borrow it from some other politically enlightened name-calling soul?
Typhoon on July 7, 2008 at 11:05 AM
McCain has always been strong on this issue in the past, so I don’t any good reason for the incredulity in many of these comments. McCain’s record on fiscal restraint is stronger than Bush and his fellow congressional republicans.
phronesis on July 7, 2008 at 11:05 AM
So, Senator McCain wasn’t in Congress?
I don’t get what in the world your point was or is.
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 11:05 AM
A guy who’s living large off his wife’s inheritance pledging to cut retirement benefits?
That will go over well with voting seniors!
alphie on July 7, 2008 at 11:06 AM
For all you “hold the nose” types, there’s a website for you.
http://getdrunkandvote4mccain.com/
BigD on July 7, 2008 at 11:05 AM
BigD on July 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM
This is a good start by McCain. However, he’ll need to be a much more effective spokesman for changes in Social Security and Medicaid than was GW Bush, whose efforts along the same lines in 05 were sincere but weak, frankly.
james23 on July 7, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Simple – he/she IS an Obama supporter.
Arguing for his/her crappy candidate isn’t going to move the needle at HA.
But he/she can help Obama by keeping Republicans at home on election day or by persuading them to waste a vote on some clown like Bob Barr.
These guys are all over the blogosphere, cut and paste, same arguments, same name calling.
The border fence uber alles crowd are the Obama-nation. Psy-ops. Real “conservatives” are not going to get suckered by these people.
NoDonkey on July 7, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Aren’t you the one who has been complaining about burdening our children with debt? Now that somebody actually proposes to do something about it, they’re wrong? What gives? You can’t have it both ways.
phronesis on July 7, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Bush took on McVain (who was in congress), whose lips were plastered {no pun intended} to Teddy, the Swimmer, Kennedy’s butt on tax cuts. TWICE!
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 11:11 AM
So, show me where he voted to increase taxes, show me the entitlements that he proposed, the earmarks…gee you can’t.
Now show me where the evidence against McCain was in the Keating five?
Robert Bennet was the special investigator hired by the senate sub-committee to investigate. He specifically recommended “no charges” against McCain because there was no evidence. Amazingly in this country you need evidence to convict someone, something you obviously have not heard about.
However, if you want to find “evidence” you can read the hit piece in the NYT in January of this year. You would love it.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:15 AM
That’s quite right. McCain recent record on tax cuts is troubling. He is certainly worse than Bush in that department. But McCain’s record on spending is very good. It is one of the few areas where McCain has stuck to conservative orthodoxy better than most conservative republicans.
phronesis on July 7, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Excellent
Can’t be quoted enough.
They are the same people who call in to talk shows and say “I have voted Republican my whole life, but I just can’t do it now”.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Were those links or rants? No link was working.
Now what tax increases has he voted for?
What earmarks?
Name anyone else that was running for Pres. that had a better record on keeping spending down.
Looks like you are the one who is picking and choosing.
And take a deep breath, relax, and fix your links…MDS will do that to you.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:22 AM
[Waving raised hand] Ooh, ooh, ooh, call on me teacher, I know the reason! I know!
The answer is Ron Paul. I mean Bob Barr. I really mean, uhh, Barack Obama!
Oh wait. You said good reason. Yeah, there isn’t one of those. Not that it’ll matter to the self-aggrandizing True Believers™ among us…
Gilda on July 7, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Classic NoDonk, your my hero :)
Squid Shark on July 7, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Absolutely. I’ve seen the same exact cut and paste anti-McCain posts by so-called “conservatives” at difference sites.
Nothing he does will satisfy them, because they ARE rabid Obama supporters.
Wish this site had an ignore feature, I’m tired of reading the same tired arguments over and over. Almost like the Ron Paul supporters found a new hobby.
NoDonkey on July 7, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Looks like you are going to support McCain, his plan is to use private accounts.
His forte, is his 20 year voting record on cutting entitlements, going against even the Republicans to cut spending, earmarks, and tax increases.
For all of you against McCain, this is a losing battle, you should stick with the borders where he is actually on the record weak. Instead of attacking a 20 year consistent record.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Here’s a question or two for all you mature, thoughtful, and reasonable McCain apologists. Which may have been asked, but not answered.
How in the world is McCain going to reduce entitlement spending, or even keep it at “only” 58% of the federal budget, while giving tens of millions of poor, uneducated, unskilled people access to the welfare state?
How in the world can he say with a straight face (and how can you believe) that he’s not going to raise taxes? Cap and trade is a TAX. On everybody. He claims that he believes that lower taxes are good for the economy, but he’s going to advocate for some nice, big taxes (and a big bureaucracy to go with them) on energy use.
How, again, is he not going to raise taxes to hand out money to millions of new welfare recipients while simultaneously balancing the budget?
And how is he going to be able to pass his preferred budget and taxes through a Democrat Congress?
Thanks,
A little, immature, irrational, MDS-suffering troll
misterpeasea on July 7, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Then you didn’t look, he is one of the most tight fisted when it comes to earmarks, entitlements, tax increases.
I won’t link, because his record is all to obvious. Do a little (and I mean a little) searching and you will find his record on these things one of the highest ratings (for conservatives) in the Senate.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Here’s some:
Gray testified that several U.S. senators had approached him and requested that he ease off on the Lincoln investigation. It came out that these senators had been beneficiaries of $300,000 (collective total) in campaign contributions from Keating. McCain received $112,000 by 1987 from Keating and Keating’s relatives and employees to McCain’s Senate campaign, more than any of the other Senators. In September 1987 National Thrift News was the first media outlet to break the story. In October 1989 The Arizona Republic reported that in addition to campaign contributions, McCain’s wife and her father had invested $359,100 in a Keating shopping center in April 1986, a year before McCain met with the regulators. The paper also reported that the McCains, sometimes accompanied by their daughter and baby-sitter, had made at least nine trips at Keating’s expense, sometimes aboard the American Continental Corporation (parent of Lincoln) jet. Three of the trips were made during vacations to Keating’s opulent Bahamas retreat at Cat Cay. McCain also did not pay Keating for some of the trips until years after they were taken, after he learned that Keating was in trouble over Lincoln. Lincoln Savings and Loan’s collapse is said to have cost taxpayers $3.4 billion.
misterpeasea on July 7, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Eventually they will get tired of trying to override his vetos.
Squid Shark on July 7, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Achtung! The ORDER has been given.
Who are you to tell another American to “hold the nose and vote?”
Are you the reincarnation of the spineless John Dickinson or just another Rino Appeaser? Or P-Diddy: “Vote or die.” WTF?
Some of us are fighting for the soul of the nation and not willing to be ruled by the new George III = Congress, POTUS and the 4.5 waste of matter members of SCOTUS ( Souter, Bader-Ginsberg, Kennedy {he only warrants 1/2 American since he is so enamored with socialist Europe}, Breyer the half-wit, and geezer Stephens.
Get over yourself and deal with freedom of political speech. I lived as Carter as governor and president so don’t preach to me about commies. I have knowledge of them up close because of him and his fellow travelers.
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Thanks – so when exactly did Obama capture your little heart and how much money have you sent your immortal beloved?
NoDonkey on July 7, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Well, you got one thing right!
Gilda on July 7, 2008 at 11:36 AM
If you are truly “fighting”, then you have to be realistic.
A far-left Congress with an anti/non/un-American Predident like Obama will be the perfect storm from hell.
McCain ain’t perfect, but he’s miles better than putting George Soros’ catamite into the Oval Office in 2009.
NoDonkey on July 7, 2008 at 11:39 AM
I saw where you said this earlier in the thread, and thought it was a good point. Also, fwiw, I fully intend to vote for McCain. If his SS plan is like Bush’s, great. Now it’s true I don’t much like McCain, so I intend to criticize him when he veers off course.
JiangxiDad on July 7, 2008 at 11:39 AM
That’s called socialism. Not exactly what we were founded on as a nation. Can’t handle a few play on words. Ask Supreme Court Associate Justice Thomas of the Great State of Georgia if he would rather be called Juan McVain or be high-tech lynched.
Think before speaking might be helpful, typhoon the buffoon. Joke intended.
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Great example of some mature, rational, thoughtful McCain apologists. Thank you for the thoughtful response to my questions.
Here’s one of the arguments/questions I’ve been cutting and pasting ad nauseum, because none of you wise ones have even attempted to address it:
The party of the President loses seats in Congress in the mid-term elections. The Republicans are projected to lose seats in the 08 election, and McCain hasn’t shown much (or any) inclination to campaign for anyone. Do you want the Republicans to lose more seats in the mid-term elections?
Now, call more names.
The vetos of John “Bipartisan, Reaching Across The Aisle To Get Things Done” McCain?
misterpeasea on July 7, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Well aren’t we the little dancer. “strum and drang”, and what tax did vote to increase, what earmarks did he promote.
I will keep it simple with just two question, so you won’t have to “strum and drang”.
Ummmmm, btw, the 20 million or more are already here. Since you are the economic guru. What ethnic group is the fastest growing middle income group?
And so your idea is to go out at night with a pillow case, and yell “here Mex, here Mex” and then capture them and put them in a cage and send them back south.
See, it is easy to be demeaning about your ideas.
The impact is horrendous, the emergency rooms in CA at 9 pm is ridiculous. The schools are negatively impacted, there is no doubt, and for the past couple of years I have posted such. Thus the statement, attack McCain on the borders.
However, his borders and Obama’s borders may be similar…you, as an economic expert, state therefore they are no better then each other in the economic arena. That unless we “control” the borders we can never have economic balance…I disagree.
Could you show me the information that there are 20 million illegals on the welfare payroll? Then I will begin to listen to your rant.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Don’t watch Leno.
Senor Juan Hensley McVain EARNED the nickname.
Any other useless musings from you or have you been stretched intellectually enough for one week; and it’s only Monday.
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 11:43 AM
We can handle it, it just makes you sound like an idiot and turns off people from you argument.
Squid Shark on July 7, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Show us his votes on tax increases, and earmarks. Show us the earmarks he has proposed.
Then we will know how much you really know, and how much is MDS.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:45 AM
As we all should, and have.
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I didn’t know John F#$%ing Kerry was running again. Thanks Alpha Victim for the update, TROLL.
Branch Rickey on July 7, 2008 at 11:46 AM
So in other words, you would rather throw out a straw man argument, then answer the question truthfully.
Hence the name MDS…
right2bright on July 7, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Do they actually make Obama t-shirts in your size?
Here’s a question for you – what makes you think the DEMOCRAT President with a fillibuster-proof DEMOCRAT majority that you seem to want so very badly, will allow Republicans to campaign or to compete?
Do you really have any concept of the sort of people we are dealing with here? Do you naively think that they really care about fair elections in 2010, once they’ve consolidated their power?
They are the party of voter fraud. They stole millions of votes in 2000 and 2004. They will likely steal tens of millions this year.
Whether or not McCain campaigns for Congressional Republicans is irrelevant – most campaigns are won on local issues and a President is not going to make an impact on any more than a fraction of the 460+ Congressional campaigns in an election year.
It’s irrelevant compared to barring Obama from the White House.
If you aren’t an Obama supporter, why are you doing everything possible to get him elected?
NoDonkey on July 7, 2008 at 11:51 AM
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