Report: McCain ducking media to avoid questions about Palin
posted at 8:41 pm on January 8, 2009 by Allahpundit
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It’s a sore subject, apparently.
Sen. John McCain doesn’t want to talk about the presidential campaign, and he certainly doesn’t want to discuss Sarah Palin…
During a GOP-senators retreat this week at the Library of Congress, McCain told his colleagues that Republicans need to reach out more to diverse groups, rather than just relying on Christian conservatives, if they want to regain majority status, according to sources who attended the event.
“[McCain] talked about the lessons he learned on the campaign trial, and the ‘discussion’ he had with the American public and what he learned from it,” said one GOP insider.
But the man who once called the media his “base” has not done TV or press interviews lately, and he won’t do so for at least several more weeks, according to his aides. He especially wants to avoid discussions about his relationship with Palin, whose nomination as McCain’s running mate was either the best or worst thing that happened to his campaign, depending on who you talk to.
What’s eating him, specifically? Does he feel overshadowed? Bored with answering questions about the backbiting? Reluctant to get dragged into her war with the media? Just had enough of the whole “hockey mom” shtick to last a lifetime? You can run but you can’t hide, Maverick! Eventually he’ll be holding a presser about some bill on the floor and the question will come: “Senator, what do you think of Governor Palin’s statement that she’s had an ‘awakening’ on immigration and now opposes a path to citizenship for illegals?” And then all the bile’s going to come pouring out. Followed by him endorsing Tim Pawlenty in 2012, natch.
Also mentioned at the Senate retreat this week: A lecture about “tone” on immigration. Of course.
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You’ll have to ask campaign-Carl.
FloatingRock on January 8, 2009 at 10:39 PM
McCain is wise to stay away from the Obama-loving media right now. McCain is addressing his remarks to his fellow Republicans so as to help the GOP regain the White House and majority status in Congress. It is not a matter of avoiding Palin.
Phil Byler on January 8, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Hewitt put it nicely years ago: John McCain – great American, mediocre Senator, lousy Republican.
Kensington on January 8, 2009 at 10:41 PM
you ask him for me, and then get back with their names, buckaroo. Can you do that for me? Thaaaaaannnnnkkksssss.
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Lovely to see some posters in their usual trolling manner.
MadisonConservative on January 8, 2009 at 10:44 PM
However there becomes a time of uselessness. He reached that point in 2000 and continued to leave the conservative base and principles. His time has passed. The personal slurs come from frustration caused by the harm he caused the conservatives. You think he does not deserve the slurs, well the harm he has caused, because of his huge ego, is not deserver either.
Case in point is he does not have the balls to stand up for his choice of Gov. Palin. Without her the huge victory of Obama would have been bigger. I am so ashamed on McCain and myself, because I voted for him because of Sarah.
Wade on January 8, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Also: I think we can all dispense of the “He’s a great war hero!” argument vis-a-vis McCain. I respect his service, commitment, and courage in Vietnam. He displayed uncommon honor, fortitude, and valor during his imprisonment there.
But that was 35 years ago.
Given his treatment (as the leader, I hold him directly responsible for his team) of Palin during and after the campaign, the honor and the commitment to his fellow soldiers McCain exhibited back then has clearly faded.
Furthermore, McCain’s camp presented his POW experience (and thus his toughness, sacrifice for country, etc.) as a major reason to vote for him. The campaign offered his back story in exchange for my (and your) vote. Since I cast my vote for his ticket in November, I think it is fair to consider the transaction complete.
I don’t consider his personal history a viable barricade against criticism any more. And if you voted McCain/Palin, neither should you. It was part of the coin he spent to purchase our votes. It’s no longer noble; it’s just business.
McCain’s advocates: stop using it to silence criticism and accept that McCain couldn’t campaign his way out of a rice-paper bag. (And Palin constituted the core of his ticket’s appeal. Figure out a way to cope with the reality of that.)
McCain’s critics: it’s fine to comment on McCain’s personality/attitude, but stop using DailyKossack insults — we’re better than that.
Harpazo on January 8, 2009 at 10:45 PM
so you just looked in a mirror for the first time madison conservative? I’m so happy for you.
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 10:45 PM
oh, and by the way, you do know their names as well, right?
Care to list the names of the evil McCain campaign staff that McCain supposedly agrees with? You got those people’s names right? How about doing an old friend a favor and telling me who they are, huh tex?
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 10:47 PM
McCain has the characteristics typical of a Navy pilot (before you go medieval on me, I work with and around Navy pilots, heck some of them are good friends)
One such retired pilot has the following on his desk:
“It is said that Navy pilots are incapable of close relationships and deep emotional attachments. This is wrong, a Navy pilot is fully capable of those things, they are just directed at himself”
AZfederalist on January 8, 2009 at 10:49 PM
God made a ass for every seat. Critics have different ways to express. Lighten up
Wade on January 8, 2009 at 10:49 PM
it’s too late for that request.
the line has been crossed, and anyone who speaks the truth about McCain is a troll. Just ask madison conservative. Anyone who gives him the benefit of the doubt is not one of them. It’s a shame. We were better than that.
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 10:49 PM
This tired old rubbish illustrates McCain’s lack of understanding.
Not once during his campaign did I hear him focus upon freedom. I refuse to accept that there is a more diverse point of view.
Saltysam on January 8, 2009 at 10:51 PM
When you’re talking about their Harriet Tubman, heck yeah.
chunderroad on January 8, 2009 at 10:53 PM
Given the abysmal campaign and his failed strategy to get the vast moderate and conservative Democrat vote by reaching across the aisle, would you please explain why anybody with two working brain cells would use McCain to plan a strategy for winning future elections? Particularly when it appears that the strategy he is championing is the exact strategy that led to the defeat in 2008? Might be a little different if he were coming out and saying he had gauged the voters wrong and really should have worked to not alienate the conservative base, not appease the left nor be a stronger defender of his adversary than his supporters. He’s not, he’s proposing the same thing that got our backsides whipped in the last election.
AZfederalist on January 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
don’t forget traitor. Because he’s a traitor, don’t forget. And all that time he was voting with conservatives 80% of the time? It was all an act. He’s actually a democrat. And he ran with john kerry, his good friend for VP, twice. Don’t beleive me? Just ask tom dashele and madison conservative.
That evil mctraitor just faked his lifetime 80% conservative voting score so he can run for president and intentionally lose to Obama and humiliate Palin by not trashing her, only saying good things about her and because there were unnamed sources that he didn’t comment on …….. – that ‘proved’ that he hates her. That’s why he asked her to be his VP and brought her to the national stage while she was governor of alaska, and then bowed out of the picture to allow her to raise on her own, without the ‘taint’ of the evil mmcain … dontchankow.
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 10:58 PM
McVain’s actions sound Gore-ish to me – popping up only to further his own needs, but avoiding answering any questions.
Yep. That’s it.
madmonkphotog on January 8, 2009 at 10:58 PM
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Dude, the election’s over. You can let it go any day now.
(For the record, I voted reluctanctly for McCain. Palin helped it go down better).
cs89 on January 8, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Fark McCain…. Hey loser why don’t you just go away.
roux on January 8, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Either McCain is an honorable man who wanted to be president, but didn’t agree with some people who called him a muslim, cs89. Or (like so many people here) he’s a traitor, he’s really a democrat, he hates Palin, didn’t want to actually win and all of this was just a fake to get Obama elected.
It’s one or the other. Not both. You can use logic or emotion to come to this decision. If a good conservative acts like a kossak in regards to McCain, then how else will they emulate a liberal troll? It’s a simple question. If you want me to ‘let go’ and engage in the McCain bashing based on no fact whatsoever, then maybe I could. Sounds like fun, trashing a failed republican. Just like there other people here. Madison conservative woulndt call me a troll if I just acted like him and despised McCain. I guess I could do that. But then what would I do with that empty feeling I would get because I threw away my soul as a thoughtful conservative.
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I ONLY voted for the McC/Palin ticket because of THE “P” part of the ticket!!!!! I was watching closely and MIGHT have held my nose and voted for McC BUT…most likely I would NOT! I just did not WANT or LIKE him as the Republican candidate. I also felt that I did not get a VOTE our candidate…by the time TN voted, it was O V E R…THAT NEEDS TO END!!!
Had SP NOT been on his ticket, I would have voted everyone but President……as it was, I held my nose and voted Mcc?P because of HER.
As for contributing a PENNY to him…NOT IN THIS OR ANY OTHER LIFETIME!
labwrs on January 8, 2009 at 11:12 PM
No, you’re a troll because even though the election is long over and McCain lost, you still spend most of your time here attacking people and trying to enforce your narrative of pure McCain-love. You need to deal with the fact that few people here like McCain now, and an even smaller percentage liked him before you and a few others signed up during the election process.
Frankly, I’m tired of your enforcement attempts.
FloatingRock on January 8, 2009 at 11:14 PM
You are insane.
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Slightly off-topic but perhaps more constructive at this point:
Have any of you read Mark Krikorian’s article of Jan. 7 at National Review Online (link can be found at his post at The Corner) relative to the immigration debate? In a nutshell, he feels that the GOP should reframe the debate or “tone” (as some would say) so that it sounds less anti-immigrant and more quality immigration. Actually, it is probably a return to the policy I think this country used to have where immigration was allowed and regulated for a specific time frame and then shut-off for a few years to give the immigrants here time to assimilate and actually become americans. I think that a return to this policy might be very good for the country. Illegal immigration leads to non-assimilation and consequently negative feelings from the natives of the host country. Continually giving amnesty to illegals is not the answer – controlling the number of immigrants and assimilating them so that they actually become Americans and adopt our culture is the answer I think. What are your thoughts?
KickandSwimMom on January 8, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Nice try. We both know that the staffers were always listed as “anonymous”, since only a total fool would give an on-record blurb to the press that sabotaged his/her own campaign. So no, wise_ass, no definite names.
Furthermore, the specific identities of who started the negative Palin memes are irrelevant. The tepidity of the McCain campaign’s defense of Palin — particularly in sharp contrast to its vigorous defense of Obama — was integral in embedding the “anonymous” rumors about her into the already-negative media narrative. Had McCain’s staff members, in their discussions with the press, spoken glowingly of Palin, demanded the reporters who ran the rumors to cough up their names, and been vigorous in her defense (anyone remember how long was it before McCain spoke out against the attacks on her? I remember a stretch where his silence was noticeable. Don’t remember exactly when, however) I don’t think the rumors would have had anywhere near the longevity that they did. The campaign gave credence to gossip by its weak response.
Also, the ubiquity of reports about McCain staffers’ disdain for Palin, coupled with senior staff members (ex., Steve Schmidt) who certainly seemed less-than-enthused to have her on the ticket, indicates to me that there were at least some negative feelings within the campaign.
And again, as someone who has held positions of leadership before, I view McCain as responsible for the behavior of his subordinates. It was his name on the ticket, his team, and his campaign.
Harpazo on January 8, 2009 at 11:18 PM
It’s one or the other. Not both
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I guess I have to disagree with what I think you’re saying here. McCain is an honorable man, but wasn’t a good candidate. He doesn’t accurately reflect conservative Republican ideals, and our party would have been better off with someone else at the top of the ticket.
Unfortunately, the votes didn’t come out that way.
By “let it go,” I’m not encouraging you to bash McCain. You can of course keep doing whatever you want. From where I sit, it just seems kind of pointless to keep talking about him being a great candidate after the election he lost.
cs89 on January 8, 2009 at 11:19 PM
so in other words, you have no proof, just what other people claim and that’s good enough for you to think the worse about another human being. That’s awesome, Harpazo. Three HUZZAH!’s for you.
Huzzah!!
Huzzah!!!!!
Huzzah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:22 PM
And when did I do that?
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:23 PM
If feeding a troll is insane—I suppose I am.
FloatingRock on January 8, 2009 at 11:25 PM
it’s your inability to read a page and come to a reasonable conclusion about what has transpired. That as well as making crap up. You do that. A lot.
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:26 PM
Ain’t that the truth. He lost to Barack Obama. MSM Obama sycophancy and economic “crisis” notwithstanding, this election was winnable for McCain. Obama had to be hit hard, and hit hard constantly, and McCain (for whatever reason) apparently didn’t have the stomach for it.
ddrintn on January 8, 2009 at 11:27 PM
again. where did I supposedly claim that McCain was a great candidate? And while we’re at it, what are the names of the supposed McCain people who trashed Palin. You know, so I could see the facts and judge for myself.
…. still waiting.
In the interim, what I do have is a ’someone claims that someone said something and BY GOD! YOU NEED TO REPLY TO THESE UNNAMED PEOPLE OR ELSE YOU AUTOMATICALL AGREE WITH THEM!!!!
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Any losing candidate should have the moral integrity to take the full responsibility for the loss, and by extension have the common decency to STFU and let others lead forward.
drunyan8315 on January 8, 2009 at 11:32 PM
I see. Hot Air is now no better than DailyKos or DU. Well, since you belive that I assume you won’t be posting here anymore. Unless, of course, you’re comfortable being Hot Air’s version of a DU-ite/Kossack.
I don’t believe your assertion is true, however, particularly since you only seem interested in silencing views that differ with yours rather than engaging them in thoughtful discussion. I don’t hold a petty, deterministic view of human nature, nor of commenters here like MadisonConservative.
Now, I suggest you remember that this is only politics we’re talking about, specifically a twice-failed Presidential candidate. Unless you are a relative of John McCain, you need to reexamine your priorities in life, as you are WAY too protective of him. To the point of insult and irrationality.
Rerax, panda.
Harpazo on January 8, 2009 at 11:33 PM
ddrintn on January 8, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Bingo! +1
How in the world someone with a resume as thin as Obama’s got to where he did is beyond imagination. The fact he was able to win was partially due to McCain’s unwillingness to explore that lack of experience.
To the trolls, don’t try the “when he selected Palin, he lost the position to be able to use the experience argument”. Palin has significantly more experience than The One and was nominated for the #2 slot, not the top of the ticket. That fallacious “but Palin was even more inexperienced” argument was stupid when it was first floated, it’s still stupid.
AZfederalist on January 8, 2009 at 11:34 PM
And when did I do that?
wise_man on January 8, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Well, I’ve been reading HotAir intermittently for quite some time, and I seem to remember you being one of the most frequent cheerleaders for McCain for quite some time.
I’m not going to take the time to search previous posts for examples, and you may not have said verbatim that he was “a great cadidate.” You have been defending and cheerleading him for quite some time.
If I’m wrong about this, please accept my apology. Don’t think I am wrong about it, though.
cs89 on January 8, 2009 at 11:35 PM
I think the vast majority here agree with those sentiments, but it’s the amnesty supporters who need to change their tone. They’re the one resorting to allegations of racism and such.
FloatingRock on January 8, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Thanks for response FloatingRock. I think that if those of us here start talking and framing our arguments around “quality” immigration there will be less charges of racism. Actually, our argument would be so sensible that amnesty supporters would have a hard time defending their position on uncontrolled immigration.
The immigration debate is going to become a hot topic again and we need to get our ducks in order to combat the onslaught that is sure to come from the democrats and open borders folks.
KickandSwimMom on January 8, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Try reading my 11:18 PM comments again. Only this time try addressing my points rather than just firing off a vitriolic screed IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS!!!!!ONE!!
Yes, Virginia, you DO have to respond to claims that someone claiming to be a campaign insider is smearing your campaign’s second-most important figure to the press. Because if you don’t, people will assume it’s true. There’s even a fancy political/legal term for it: qui tacet consentit.
And at the very least your own supporters will begin to wonder why the campaign’s not defending one of its star players. Either way, the campaign appears to be weak and fractious.
THAT is why McCain’s camp should have defended Palin with everything it had. She was officially the #2, and the campaign should have protected her as enthusiastically (or more) than she was attacked. Ditto for smear attacks on McCain.
That is one reason you have a campaign team.
Harpazo on January 8, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Don’t worry. Any argument with him where you disagree with him ends with his decree that you are mentally ill. Amazing how many people around him are crazy, but he’s the only sane one.
MadisonConservative on January 8, 2009 at 11:44 PM
you wont find wise_man saying that. he’s plays this game of acting like he didnt like mccain being nominated but because he’s a by god republican, and a better one than all of us he’s gonna support him, etc, etc. hell, read through this thread and he defends mccain and tries to refute the fact it was mccain staff that started trashing palin right after the election. because if someone doesnt have the exact name they have no business saying it happened! all the pundits in the party know it came from mccain, and johnny mac didnt do a thing cause he’s a dishonorable scum when it comes to any type of personal behavior.
chasdal on January 8, 2009 at 11:48 PM
KickandSwimMom, my impression is that the number of anti-immigrant sentiments expressed here is vanishingly small, and in fact I cannot remember even one (note: if anyone else can cite one, that does not refute my argument – given the volume of discourse here if they can cite 100 or more we can talk about it).
The amount of anti-illegal-immigrant sentiment is much higher, but should not be conflated with racism as the liberal mind so loves to do.
Personally, I love to see people from all over the world becoming Americans. As one who patiently and respectfully followed the legal process of bringing a loved one from abroad to this great country, I only ask that they too be here legally, and undertake the obligations that I and my family have undertaken.
Attempts to equate opposition to illegal immigration to racism are despicable… but of course, racism is the liberal’s stock in trade when it comes to “ideas”.
drunyan8315 on January 8, 2009 at 11:56 PM
Well said.
Harpazo on January 8, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Speaking for myself I’m not sure that “quality” is my primary concern. Certainly I don’t want criminal elements or welfare bums, but while I think having a preference for highly skilled immigrants is a plus, I’m most concerned that we stop illegal immigration and ensure that legal immigrants are thoroughly stewed in our melting pot.
This assumption is incorrect. It is already the case that our arguments are so sensible that, in reality, amnesty supporters have had a hard time defending their position—and this is why they’ve resorted to accusations of racism. The more sensible our argument is, the more accusations they will hurl. The truth is that many of these people have a vested interest in illegal immigration.
FloatingRock on January 9, 2009 at 12:03 AM
If McShame had any integrity, he would have dropped out of the GOP primary when his idiotic and traitorous shamnesty+citizenship bill was thoroughly rejected by the people – rejected like no other legislation I can remember. But McShame is an a$$, as he proved by staying in the primary even though he was thoroughly despised by a huge chunk of the base he needed to have any possibility of winning the White House. Even his mother knew how much he was despised.
progressoverpeace on January 9, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Good Gravy.. that is so true..
well done :)
DaveC on January 9, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Good thing Juan panders to the Hispanics, that got him a whopping 31% of the hispanic vote, Bush 43 got 40% in 2004.
omnipotent on January 9, 2009 at 1:09 AM
I hope that while at the Library of Congress John McCain did a bit of reading about the duty to protect his wing man, as he seemed to have forgotten that principle during the Presidential campaign.
Gohawgs on January 9, 2009 at 1:43 AM
Me too. I voted for McCain ONLY because he chose Governor Sarah Palin. She out classed him 9 ways till Sunday. She is a powerhouse. She gets 30,000 people to show in a town of 20,000 with three days notice and McCain can’t even get arrested. And he is the front runner. She carried him. Totally
Geochelone on January 9, 2009 at 1:46 AM
I think McCain’s jealous of her popularity. He only drew huge crowds when she was with him during the campaign.
And since the election, she’s remained a hot topic, being offered multi-million dollar book deals, invited to appear on tv shows, and he’s like Joe Biden, off in the corner starving for a piece of the limelight again.
The only way he can do that without Palin is to return to bashing the Republicans again.
I only voted for Sarah anyway.
labar on January 9, 2009 at 2:30 AM
McCain has serious character flaws and I am relieved he lost.
Those that still support him after all we know about his left-wing pandering are as demented as he seems to be. I’ll be sending checks to the opponent he hopefully has in the Senate primary.
Valiant on January 9, 2009 at 3:02 AM
I’m no fan of McCain, but I understand his situation. He knows darn well why he lost, and he just wants to move on and become the media’s favorite Republican again. I also believe that he doesn’t want to criticize Palin because he genuinely likes her, but praising her would displease the media. If he simply declines to give them the anti-Palin quotes they want, fine.
Needless to say, Palin will never say anything bad about him, and the media will make up their own anti-Palin stories if necessary.
Maybe another commenter already pointed this out, but isn’t it interesting that all the politicians named in this article are addressed by their official title, but the Governor of Alaska is just “Sarah Palin”.
Mr. Wednesday Night on January 9, 2009 at 3:09 AM
See. Liberals just can’t handle strong women.
peacenprosperity on January 9, 2009 at 6:02 AM
The GOP backstabbed McCain? The GOP establishment got behind this loser. He was a terrible candidate, a terrible manager, a terrible communicator. We simply were given the worst candidate possible and it got the results it deserved
I do agree that libertarian/conservatives turned their backs on him, but that was of his own doing. He has completely adopted socialist principles such as carbon taxes, that’s why guys like myself couldn’t stand him. It was definitely going to be Bush 2. I supported him only AFTER he chose Palin.
True_King on January 9, 2009 at 6:24 AM
Mr. Wednesday Night on Janurary 9, 2009 at 3:09 AM
technopeasant on January 9, 2009 at 6:32 AM
I thought the Hispanics were supposed to be in McCain’s corner or at least that was what McCain campaigned on during the primary season. When SP was brought on board I never heard one pundit mention that she would be assigned the role to solidify the Hispanic support: yes evangelicals, yes conservatives, yes the pro-life crowd, but no to Hispanics. That was McCain’s job. He’s the immigration expert. McCain failed miserably. Next to Obama garnering 20% of the ‘conservative’ vote, the next damaging stat was that McCain only garnered 31% of the Hispanic vote while Bush got 43% in 2004. I have not heard many pundits address this. Perhaps the template purported by the MSM that Sarah Palin caused McCain the election is seen to be more appealing and damaging to the GOP; McCain is the past Sarah Palin is the future.
technopeasant on January 9, 2009 at 6:43 AM
I don’t think ANY Republican needs to be taking advice from McCain. McCain needs to retire before he makes a bigger fool of himself and the GOP.
You heard it first here, J.D. Hayworth BEATS McCain in the primaries for McCain’s Senate seat in Arizona. WOW, an actual CONSERVATIVE in McCain’s seat!
nelsonknows on January 9, 2009 at 7:15 AM
There ends up being a lot of wasted space with the obligatory, constant reiteration of our mutual respect for McCain’s military service. Let’s all agree that he served our country well and thank him ONE MORE TIME. Instead of wasting more time and words of praise and thanks, just type *Thanks* and move on. We’ll read this as being respectful toward his military service and you can then get on with the subject of your post.
tgillian on January 9, 2009 at 7:34 AM
Scoreboard Wizz_Man, Scoreboard.
Captain Juan Queeg United Federation of Planets needs to go back to the future of bi-partisan, actually unipartisan, $ociali$m and let the GOP get back to its natural role of being the guardian of personal liberty and Constitutional freedom.
McQueeg/Feingold was not the work of a conservative, McQueeg/Kennedy “here have amnesty if I can’t prove you don’t belong in 24 hours” was not the work of a conservative, his persistent and constant bit@ing and whining aiding the donks versus the GOP majority and Bush was not the work of a Republican. Loyalty to Captain Queeg is an absolute one way street as regards him receiving it and never giving it.
Your laughable attempts at enforcing your narrative of who he has become, what his nomination and defeat mean were laudable right until he gave his concession speech he had obviously practiced for more than the speeches needed to get victory.
“thanks for the change”
The fact that the esteemed, most noble, greatest American ever to run for the office, etc etc etc Senator never quite wrapped his head around the fact that he was the MSM’s mistress while Bambi was the gal they wanted to marry says volumes about him and McQueeg’s fans. They swore the newsies would at a minimum treat him more fairly than they would any other GOP candidate and a lot of us warned that the newsie fawning would vanish the minute he secured the nomination.
Go run a google on “McCain not who we thought he was” and watch the “moderate” “loyalty” to the GOP when the chips were down.
I detest McCain for his bills, his actions, and his words. He was a great prisoner who maintained honor, and in all likelihood his happiness and the Republic would have been better served had he decided to become the Anglo representative of La Raza while running Cindy’s beer company. Instead we got a guy who when faced with defeat sharpened his knives for his own party back in 2000. The media made what was once grade-a conservative rotten meat through their feigned adulation for his “MAVERICK!”.
I held my nose and voted for him, gave him my money, and my time out of fear of Bambi and loyalty to my party.
Pity he could not run as hard as he could for the big chair on those two planks himself.
If he was unwilling to go for the throat he really should not have required the feeding of his ego to the point he guaranteed a (d) in the White House through his inability to hit the skinny black kid as hard as he deserved and needed hit.
sven10077 on January 9, 2009 at 7:47 AM
You and “the chosen one” kept telling us McInsane was the ONLY one who could beat the Dems. i remember back in the spring of 08, you guys kept throwing the current polls in our faces screaming and gloating how easy it was going to be.
I told you then, “let’s talk in October about polls.”
YOU WERE WRONG! Your only issue was Iraq. McCain might not have betrayed his country but he certainly betrayed the conservatives over and over again.
He mishandled Sarah, just like he mishandled his campaign. Accept it.
stenwin77 on January 9, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Mac can run and should hide. Palin will overshadow him wherever he goes.
Palin is showing how to take on the media. Her point isn’t that they are malevolent (or not just malevolent) but mostly unhinged.
McCain doesn’t have the stomach to take on the Dems, the media elite, or his pork barrel cronies in Washington. Why shouldn’t he hide?
EMD on January 9, 2009 at 8:25 AM
Floating Rock:
What I mean’t by “quality” immigration was not necessarily the people who come in but the result once in. In other words, by limiting the people who come in (numbers wise and skill wise) and then assimilating them into american culture before allowing more immigrants in would greatly enhance their quality of life here because they would be law-abiding tax-paying citizens and that in turn would be a win-win all the way around.
KickandSwimMom on January 9, 2009 at 8:44 AM
The GOP backstabbed McCain? The GOP establishment got behind this loser. He was a terrible candidate, a terrible manager, a terrible communicator. We simply were given the worst candidate possible and it got the results it deserved.
This is the most accurate comment on this thread!
Well done True_King
Keemo on January 9, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Is he really saying that he lost the election in part because he relied too much on Christian conservatives? Yeah, good luck with that.
Hey Mav – you did your own maverick thing and blew off the Christian conservatives and wanted to play nicey nice with your opponents, Obama and the MSM. You wanted to be nice with everyone – except the Christian conservatives.
You are responsible for your loss dippity. If you really believe what you believe, you should have run as a democrat – you would have had a fighting chance. And so would the Republican party. But you go ahead and keep thinking it was everyone else that caused the loss.
Thank you for your service to our country – you have done enough. So do us all a favor and let someone serve who actually represents us.
JeffinOrlando on January 9, 2009 at 8:50 AM
T-Paw, ha-ha-ha!Come to think of it, he does look like the early leader for ‘least trusted’ candidate of ‘012.
james23 on January 9, 2009 at 8:53 AM
I have called two. At most three people crazy. Because that is how they were acting. I speak the truth about McCain and to floating rock, this is “pure McCain-love.” I am pointing out “pure McCain hate” from the likes of you. As well as “pure McCain lies” and “pure McCain bias to believe any false rumor based on no fact whatsoever”. Again, this comment comes from me because of your behavior and your actions. Oddly enough, it’s because they have acted insane. Or lied. SUch as your false claim of “Any argument with him where you disagree with him”. I disagree with quite a few people here. And most – just about all of them are doing so in a more emotional, rather than logical manner. But not insane. And you, madison conservative, think that the world revolves around you. And I point that out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see make another comment along the lines of “Any argument with him where you disagree with him ends with his decree that the world revolves around you.”
wise_man on January 9, 2009 at 8:53 AM
One of few guys left in the blogosphere who still gets wood for McCain.
james23 on January 9, 2009 at 8:56 AM
John McCain invited Sarah Palin to the dance then left her standing on the dance floor. Fortunately, Sarah Palin has since shown the political/civilian version of honor and courage in the way she has dealt with the fallout from the campaign. Sen. McCain on the other hand, is MIA with regard to any kind of support of the person he chose to be on his team. I wonder if Mrs. McCain had anything to do with the whackjob of rumors and backstabbing that was directed at SP? Meow.
Monkeybrains220 on January 9, 2009 at 9:04 AM
I pulled the lever for Palin and against the Marxist.
Where do I send my $$s to take him down in Arizona now?
The senile RINO….let’s roll.
ex-Democrat on January 9, 2009 at 9:05 AM
John McCain has never said anything bad about Sarah Palin. He has only spoken of her highly.
Sarah Palin has never said anything bad about John McCain. She has only spoken of him highly.
But these two pesky little things called facts don’t bother to get in your way, do they, monkey brains?
wise_man on January 9, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Jetboy, I hope you don’t get paid for the astro-turfin. Not even close to credible.
ex-Democrat on January 9, 2009 at 9:08 AM
I took that pledge a few days ago. I’ll add that I believe McCain was psychically damaged by his trauma at the hands of the communist barbarians, and finally found a safe haven where he could get by in the secret fraternity called the US Senate. When he had to run for something bigger than the Senate version of Ms. Difficult Diva, he was like that groundhog that pops out of his hole every Feb 2… he saw the sunlight, didn’t like it, and crawled back in. I hope he stays there.
drunyan8315 on January 9, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Axelrod should get his money back.
the_nile on January 9, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Right, but what I wouldn’t have given for a little of that famous contumaciousness when the Bush-Paulson-Reid bailout-palooza was tee’d up in October.
james23 on January 9, 2009 at 9:26 AM
This loser lost an election, now he’s trying to destroy the base of the Republican party in a vengeful act.
Glad I didn’t vote for the bastard.
leetpriest on January 9, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Of course, you’re right about this. However, when asked about people on his campaign staff who were putting her down, she didn’t exactly refute the story, did she?
cs89 on January 9, 2009 at 9:34 AM
No surprises here…I’m back to my 2006 assessment: He’s a liberal, global warming, open-border traitor with Stockholm syndrome.
Christine on January 9, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Me too. I think there are a lot of people like us.
abcurtis on January 9, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Edited for clarity.
MadisonConservative on January 9, 2009 at 10:04 AM
McCain may or may not be a lot of things, but I will never, ever call him a traitor, either to the country or his party. McCain is an American who stood for America in a Hanoi prison. While I dont agree with him politically, and voted for him reluctantly as the lesser of two evils, he is and always will be an American hero. Obama cant say that about himself.
I think you people here should back off.
abcurtis on January 9, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I will agree John McCain and Sarah Palin have both spoken highly of each other. I would expect that as they are both civil people. However, it’s a fact that John McCain went on Jay Leno after the election and brushed aside the mudslinging that had come from his staff and landed on Ms. Palin as ‘politics as usual’. He brought her in to that pit, he could have put an end to it … unless he agreed with it or, as I suspect, he did nothing about it because someone very close to him wanted Sarah Palin to look bad. I’m not offering that as fact … just my opinion. If I had to vote again and it was McCain/?? v. Obama/Biden, I’d still vote for McCain.
Monkeybrains220 on January 9, 2009 at 10:06 AM
He’s a politician.
What’s the freakin’ surprise?
If he ignores the press until the day he dies I’ll have more respect for him.
You think McCain could put an end to the Palin bashing? LOL, oh, that’s funny.
bridgetown on January 9, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I don’t think much of Juan. He thinks like a modern soldier. Or a liberal Arizonian. Problem is, those ideas don’t solve our real problems as a nation. One example is his feeling that illegals are selfless troops that need acceptance. And you can’t have people in your unit making ethnic slurs or otherwise creating too much dissention.
OK, I am at a loss about the disorganization of his campaign but I think that poor people around him and a lack of energy may be to blame.
Juan did not lose the election on his own faults. Check the polls. As I recall, he was leading till the media/Democrats and their animation of President Bush as an issue, Palin exposed her flaws and limitations and the finance issue buried the forte of the Republicans. The coup de grace was the campaign suspension and the complete desertion of any Republican principles let alone conservative precepts.
IlikedAUH2O on January 9, 2009 at 10:13 AM
abcurtis
The American public showed that they did care about Juan’s hero status. Conservatives would be fools to keep giving him praise, passes and party prominence. A community organizer with no great love for this country or at least its dominate culture, distinctions or possibly experience was elected. Some say the guy is not clearly a citizen!
If your theory was true every MOH winner should be nominated. Will not work.
IlikedAUH2O on January 9, 2009 at 10:20 AM
His failure to attack The One as the absurd figure he was made Juan the ideal candidate for the affirmative action creep from Illinois to face. Juan needed a medium dose of Dick Morris and Ann Coulter. You had to go after The One on deep, dirty problems. He was too cute otherwise. Americans have been watching films with wonderful, perfect blacks for decades. Who would they like (and who would remove guilt)? This ‘pulling punches’ lost him many average Americans. Although they probably thought he was a nice, old man.
For real conservatives, also, the campaign made many of us sick. But this was was against the backdrop of a constant desertion of conservative principles and ’sleeping with the enemy’ during his career. Finally, that acceptance speech got to real conservatives. But it was too late, naturally.
IlikedAUH2O on January 9, 2009 at 10:41 AM
McCain is afraid to say what he wants to say about Palin…he probably blames her for his failure.
If he was in her corner, he would make a point of stating that and telling people to lay off…but he doesn’t.
Whatever he had 20, 30, 40 years ago, has been diluted by his years of living on the government dole…he is more interested in keeping his relationships alive, then to defend a loyal “non-senator”.
If he defended Palin, his democrat senators would attack, and he isn’t willing to be honorable, and give up power.
right2bright on January 9, 2009 at 10:52 AM
McCain was McCain’s biggest stumbling block. He could not man-up and defend his VP choice against scurrilous MSM hacks and the Peggy Noonan faction in his own party.
So instead of an experienced Prez and a less experienced VP, we have an inexperienced Prez and a VP whose experience in cringeworthy.
clnurnberg on January 9, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Unfortunatly IMO even if he holds back from saying exactly those words he will damn her with faint praise even when it reflects more negatively on him than on her. IF – as some here delight in thinking – Gov Palin is dumb as a rock, what does picking her as VP candidate say about McCain? That he was so desperate to be elected and cared so little about our country that he tried to pander to voters by picking a deathknell running mate? Shame on him. The Dems were already on the road to picking a disaster for the country – why should the Reps join them?
If MCCain had been a better candidate he would have been able to reach Independents while leaving the Conservatives to Palin. Whether she drew in the cocktail conservatives or not, no one can refute that Palin did bring the far-right back into the mix. That was something McCain could never have done. Do the Noonans & Parkers of the party think they can win elections without the Christian Conservatives?
katiejane on January 9, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Yep. Makes you wonder how “intellectual” they really are.
cs89 on January 9, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Oh my God this means Sarah Palin is sunk! She’s being dis’d by John McCain – who’s adored above all others by the grassroots conservative base of the Republican party! Whatever shall Sarah Palin do now?
/yawn
Note to RINO’s – McCain lost – he’s irrelevant. In fact – his failure to speak well of Palin actually increases her stock among conservatives – who had to cringe while they saw her “modify” her positions on issues like faux global warming to match McCain’s.
McCain is soooo over. Get over it RINOS
HondaV65 on January 9, 2009 at 12:21 PM
That’s like listening to the New England Patriots tell you how to have a perfect season. McCain LOST because he was WRONG. The ONLY thing he did was ‘reach out to more diverse groups’. He lost and concluded that that was the best plan.
Not only did HE lose, but HIS poor performance cost the GOP NATIONWIDE all the way down the ticket. Until he recognizes this and apologizes, nothing he says concerning campaigning is 100% WRONG(other than you have to win 2 of the first three R primaries to get the nomination).
ThackerAgency on January 9, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I meant, EVERYTHING he says is 100% wrong.
ThackerAgency on January 9, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I am not and have never been a professional politician but I know enough about being a political standard-bearer that you are supposed to defend your side, including the members of your team to the death and attack the other side with as much relentless passion and intensity that one can muster. Unfortunately for McCain he never learned this. It is Politics 101–basic stuff. In a military sense McCain learned how to fight to the death, but in the political arena he behaved like a pussy cat, especially when it came to defending Sarah Palin or allowing late-night comedians to make fun of her.
technopeasant on January 9, 2009 at 2:26 PM
He brushed aside the mudslinging because he didn’t want to dignify the anonymous comments with a response. This isn’t the first time a politican has done that, and I’m sorry but it’s not an endorsement of the anonymous comments because he didn’t refute them. If someone from the campaign wanted to say that Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country, then they should say this publicly. How was McCain supposed to counter the anonymous comments by people when Sarah Palin supposedly said something where McCain wasn’t there in the first place. It would have been nice if he said that these people (assuming they were actually in his campaign in the first place, but we don’t know that for a fact because no one knows their names) are scum, but like I said, he decided to take the high road and not participate. If you honestly think that this action of his was some sort of proof that he agrees with these anonymous comments that supposedly came from his campaign, I can’t stop you. I won’t try. But I do see this as a ridiculous attitude to have and if might comment on this like I’m doing now to provide the alternate view.
McCain could not have put an end to it, as you suggest. The only people who could have put an end to it is the reporters who carried the anonymous comments to the public. Again, what are their names? If we don’t have a name, someone to stand up and make the charge, then there is no way to somehow ‘put an end to it’ when it began as ‘anonymous comments’ from some people supposedly in his staff who might not really be telling the truth in the first place. When I hear anonymous comments, I don’t take this as the truth, only to be debunked when someone else denounces them. It’s up to these people to prove the allegation in the first place.
Since you state that this is your opinion, again, I am not on a mission to make you think otherwise, but I won’t call you crazy because you are clearly stating this as an opinion, not a fact.
Another reason I’m glad to address you in a civil manner is that you understand that in a battle between McCain(warts and all) and Obama, you know who you would get behind and hope to win. It’s only the idiots here who trashed McCain and believed the worst about him based on no logic or fact whatsoever (and have some bizarre concept of me with this “narrative of pure McCain-love.” ) that I will identify as being insane. Because they are acting insane.
Monkeybrains220, I am pleased to agree to disagree with you. Have a good weekend.
wise_man on January 9, 2009 at 4:49 PM
I worked on the McCain campaign folks. Let me tell you the John McCain campaign in general and John McCain in particular made choices which lost the campaign. Sarah Palin was not one of those choices. John McCain’s unsuspending/Suspending of the campaign when the financial crisis hit (and Obama’s doing nothing) wounded John McCain’s image as the “Sober hand” we need in a crisis. John McCain allowed Obama to run to the right of him on Taxes. Obama’s tax cuts weren’t cuts and McCain could have painted him up on that and he didn’t. In big Pro-Life areas McCain nor his proxies never talked about just how Pro-Abortion (not Pro-Choice) Obama was. In Pro-Gun areas he never talked about how Pro-Gun Control Obama was. In an election which needed a Comparison and Contrast Obama Contrasted himself with John McCain and John McCain never contrasted himself where it mattered with now President Elect Obama. John McCain was to good to do what it took to win an election.
karasoth on January 9, 2009 at 5:02 PM
wise_man
But if the comment was made about Obama McCain would have called the guy out in a second. That is his cowardice. It also goes against the morals and ethos he claims to hold
karasoth on January 9, 2009 at 5:13 PM
McCain told the woman in the town hall that Obama wasn’t a dirty aye-rab, like she was under them impression. Telling the truth about Obama, and then not going into the gutter with the unnamed sources who anonymously claimed that Palin thought Africa was a country, among others …. =/= cowardice on his part. And the person who supposedly make these comments wasn’t man enough to stand up and give his or her name. The doubt was not on McCain, but this anonymous source. I didn’t think it was true. Again – the claim was without merit.
In my opinion.
wise_man on January 9, 2009 at 5:19 PM
and the primary difference is that the woman in the town hall who claimed that Obama was a muslim aye-rab .. was speaking directly to McCain.
As I have stated before, McCain has never said anything bad about Palin. He has done nothing but praise her. And Palin has never said anything but nice things about McCain. If there were something there, she has had ample time and opportunity to say that McCain was a jerk for not coming to her defense. But she has not. Maybe she, like him, didn’t want to dignify the anonymous comments allegedly from the McCain camp – but we still don’t know any names whatsoever to confirm that they were …. And this little pesky fact doesn’t seem to matter for sh*t with some people.
wise_man on January 9, 2009 at 5:25 PM
wise_man
Yet again if anyone on his staff said this kind of stuff about Obama McCain would have canned them in a new york minute and rebuked them. Thats moral cowardice and hypocrisy on his part
karasoth on January 9, 2009 at 5:58 PM
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