- The Cat

P.S. Bolton to have first pick and Liebs can have the other.

wise_man on August 20, 2008 at 2:31 PM

I’ve criticized you and some others in the past for defending McCain in cases where he shouldn’t be defended. Something along the lines of “Well, I’m voting for him, but don’t pretend he isn’t dead wrong on (insert whatever it was here)”. But this austinnelly seems to have gone too far. It’s like he goes after everything you say in every thread. Like I said, I don’t agree with you a lot, but personal attacks and “thread stalking” take it to a whole other level.
Example:

Are you really a repubican, Whizzman? Or are you a lib doing a stand-alone version of operation chaos?

I disagree with McCain on illegal immigration as well, but to say that defending a Republican that supports a particular piece of liberal legislation makes you a RINO or a liberal or whatever is hooey. This guy needs to chill out.

EJDolbow on August 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM

Don’t worry about the Huckatrolls. These are people that believe that no politician is entitled to come to their senses on any particular issue over the course of their career. Even though Mitt governed with pro-life policies, they’ll still continue to play that video over and over again. It makes them feel good about themselves and their socially conservative (but everything else liberal) leader, Mike “Taxpayer Funded Scholarships for Illegals and By the Way…Please, Please, Please Raise Taxes” Huckabee. The really bold, nutty ones like SaintOlaf will pull that “Mitt’s healthcare plan has $50 abortions” bull even though they know full well that the Democratic super majority (means they had the numbers to override any veto) in each house of the MA legislature put that in.

wise_man on August 20, 2008 at 1:15 PM

And what were they arguing over? Cornyn was trying to slow down McCain’s amnesty bill; and McCain told him to f-off. Basically, he was telling the border-enforcement first part of the base to f-off. Not sure who but the illegal aliens would love him for that, except maybe lickspittle supporters whose candidate can do no wrong.

Are you really a repubican, Whizzman? Or are you a lib doing a stand-alone version of operation chaos? McCain took a bath on that amnesty bill from both parties and you’re defending him on it? You’re either a wannabe provacateur pretending to be a McCain diehard, or somebody with so little attachment to the Republican platform and ideology that there’s no point in you even debating people; you have the same type of ‘defense’ the Clinton supporters had during the 90′s. Someone criticizes McCain, and you attack the person making the criticism, rather than addressing the issue. That’s what makes me believe you’re just a lib playing games; you argue like one. But you use sarcasm the way a second grader uses multi-syllable words; ie, very poorly so it’s hard to imagine you could stay in character if you were a lib.
But no, you’ve got me interested. Tell me how John Cornyn was dead wrong on the Shamnesty Bill and what a hero Backdoor John McCain was. Share the true story.

Romney has promised to do more to protect a women’s right to murder her child than even Ted Kennedy himself..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMdK0TWtks&feature=related

Mitt Romney was the Gov of Mass for 4 years and has a 100% pro-life record in that job.
If by pro life, you mean allowing $50 co-pay abortions with his universal health care plan then yes he did…

SaintOlaf on August 20, 2008 at 1:17 PM

This may account for McCain’s pro-choice trial balloon this week. It’s not about Lieberman or Ridge, or even Rudy. It’s about Mitt, because pro-lifers do not believe he is pro-life.

I think it’s probably true that McCain believes that there’d be little real harm in having a VP who was pro-choice, just as there’d be little real harm in having a VP who believed the Moon was made of green cheese, since in the normal course of events the VP is a bucket of warm spit, and even the P’s influence on issues like choice is limited, and in the abnormal course of events a VP who took over for a deceased P would be a caretaker, in particular a VP from the other party. In the one area that might matter – judges – Lieberman as President of a Republican Administration would be under intense pressure to pick a constructionist…

But that’s all idle speculatoin bordering on fantasy, I believe, because McCain is also aware that in the real world there would be immense political difficulty in selling a pro-choice VP, precisely because the social conservative choice on the presidential level is as much symbolic as real. It’s extremely important to committed pro-life people that their votes express their moral choices. Many would still vote for McCain over Obama, but many others wouldn’t, and their enthusiasm for an ambiguous ticket would be nil. If there was strong evidence that Lieberman would pull the Hillary voters over, or that McCain had to run away not just from Bush but from the whole Republican Party, it might make sense – but the polls and common sense indicate that his position is nowhere near that desperate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFMdK0TWtks&feature=related

Mitt Romney was the Gov of Mass for 4 years and has a 100% pro-life record in that job.

If by pro life, you mean allowing $50 co-pay abortions with his universal health care plan then yes he did…

McCain ever been accused of trying to win Republican hearts and minds with nuance and subtlety? When he shouted “f- you” to Sen. Cornyn last year?
Outlander on August 20, 2008 at 12:31 PM

Its one of the reasons that some like him. In the same way that Cheney told Lehey to F off.

McCain gets points for thinking outside the usual Republican box, reminding everyone that he’s capable of defying anyone and open to working with traditional political opponents, without actually having to do anything.
CK MacLeod on August 20, 2008 at 12:49 PM

I understand misdirection, anchoring, and such. But given McCain’s historic antipathy toward conservatives and his “straight talk” inklings, forgive me if I’m not suspicious that McCain is serious about a pro choice nominee.

Since when has McCain ever been accused of trying to win Republican hearts and minds with nuance and subtlety? When he shouted “f- you” to Sen. Cornyn last year?

Outlander on August 20, 2008 at 12:31 PM

This is a presidential campaign, not a backroom blowout.

You can look at it as “anchoring” if you want. You might also want to consider that McCain is a military man, from a long line of military men, surrounded by military men, who reads military history for pleasure… and you probably don’t need any of that in your background to know that misdirection is a basic tactic, and highly effective when properly executed. He’s even got Laura Ingraham virtually begging to be heard.

The only risk to this tactic, in this case, was that the base reaction was so unified, negative, and powerful, and the indications of a pro-choice pick so definite, that McCain looked like he had been weak in the face of the revolt – tool of the right-wingers… First, that doesn’t fit his image at all – backing down easily under fire. Second, they haven’t laid down any markers, just hints, and it’s perfectly within both his and Joe’s interests to keep them alive, both for the reasons already adduced, also to advertise his bipartisanship, and raise Joe’s profile and reward him for his stalwartness. McCain gets points for thinking outside the usual Republican box, reminding everyone that he’s capable of defying anyone and open to working with traditional political opponents, without actually having to do anything.

Well-played, Mav!

with the caveat that Senator McCain name, at the same time, Joe Lieberman as his Secretary of Defense or Secretary of State.

Hahaha. Can you imagine an Orthodox Jewish Secretary of State? I don’t think Joe’s up for that job, but it’d be awesome to watch European/Middle Eastern leaders’ heads spin around like in the Exorcist.

Outlander on August 20, 2008 at 12:31 PM

IMHO, McCain is simply not going to talk about the process and any decision until the announcement. Too many people would be affected by it. He decided to keep silent on it, and he is.

Mitt Romney is a pro-choice pick.

(Big S runs for cover)

Big S on August 20, 2008 at 11:44 AM

Cute but Silly and a Lie.

Mitt Romney was the Gov of Mass for 4 years and has a 100% pro-life record in that job.

That means that Mitt Romney has a 100% pro-life record as a politician.

But guys, take a step back here. Anchoring and other negotiation strategies involve nuance and subtlety. Since when has McCain ever been accused of trying to win Republican hearts and minds with nuance and subtlety? When he shouted “f- you” to Sen. Cornyn last year?

INGRAHAM: And I’ve got to tell you I’m looking at the rundown here, about 85% of the questions are about your vice presidential pick and here’s one of the questions. How could you consider selecting someone who opposed the federal partial birth abortion ban and was one of the eleven original cosponsors of the radical freedom of choice act as your vice president given your pro-life stance how could you do that?

John McCain: The one thing I can’t do Laura and I’ll talk about anything you want to but the process that we’re in. I just can’t do it. We get into this endless series of questions and comments. There’s already been things out there in the media, he’s already made up his mind, he’s going to announce on such and such a day. I have not made the decision and we’re in the process, and if I say anything more than that I guarantee you there’s going to be another one of these firestorms. Obviously we’re going to be announcing soon because we have no choice, but I got to tell you it’s one of the toughest things I’ve ever done because we have so many highly qualified (audio cuts).

INGAHAM: Can you at least say whether there are certain positions that are non-negotiable for your vice presidential pick?

John McCain: I can’t talk about it because if I do I would get down a slippery slope. I think I made it very clear Saturday night that I have a pro-life record, that I have pro-life policies and my administration will have pro-life policies.

INGRAHAM: Well just to, again I know you’re not going to go into it any more but I’m just going to tell you from the conservative perspective we are literally imploring you to not turn your back on your great pro-life record over decades now by doing now and I’m just putting that out there Senator.

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/