The Ghost of John McCain at CPAC [Romney, Huckster, others bash McCain "in absentia"]

The New York Times - The Caucus ^ | 2009-02-27 | Michael Falcone

[rabscuttle385]

Had Senator John McCain been walking the halls of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this week, he might have winced to hear his name taken in vain — over and over again.

But Mr. McCain wasn’t anywhere to be found. In fact, he wasn’t even invited.

Never a darling of the conservative movement, Mr. McCain appeared at last year’s conference as the candidate on the verge of capturing his party’s presidential nomination. The audience hurled boos his way when he mentioned his past positions on immigration policy.

Conservatives had disliked him, in part because of his stance on campaign finance laws. When he spoke last year, he said: “We have had a few disagreements, and none of us will pretend that we won’t continue to have a few. But even in disagreement, especially in disagreement, I will seek the counsel of my fellow conservatives.”

This year, the Arizona senator, was also roundly criticized — in absentia.

[rabscuttle385]

The Juan McCain Truth File. "I have great respect for Al Gore." —John McCain, October 2, 2008 FR Keywords: mccaintruthfile, mcqueeg, mcbama Please tag all relevant threads with the aforementioned keywords. This can be a very high-volume ping list at times. To join the ping list: FReepmail rabscuttle385 with the subject line add  mccaintruthfile. (Stop getting pings by sending the subject line drop mccaintruthfile.) Republican Commissar’s Warning: By joining this ping list, you may be subjected to the delusional rants and ramblings of McCainiacs, of "moderate" Republicans, of pragmatic conservatives resigned to voting for the lesser of two Democrats, and of countless GOP shills who simply want to meet a new overlord.

[Vision]

I’ll be there tomorrow and will be doing the same.

Thanks for the unsuccessful ego trip McCain. Everyone is the world saw it coming except you.

[wolfcreek]

Not really a surprise.

[hinckley buzzard]

I wonder why at a conference of conservatives that McCain is even mentioned.

[arealconservativeforachange]

RINO on RINO violence, I love it.

[humblegunner]

In fact, he wasn’t even invited.

Yeah, neither were the majority of folks.

Maybe that's why nobody gives a rats ass.

[TADSLOS]

CPAC lost any credibility it had with me as a viable conservative organization when they eschewed Ann Coulter and allowed the Straight Talk Express spectacle to stink up the place last year.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>>Still, the shadow of the 2008 presidential race loomed over the conference on Friday ...

This is the problem. Some conservatives are still replaying the 2008 primary race. No more RudyMcRombee's!

>>>>>Romney said.... Conservatives don’t enter each new political era trying to figure out what we believe.”

Conservatives don't, but you do, Willard.

[JRochelle]

Of those three RINO’s, McCain is the one with the most class.

Romney and the Huckster are idiots.

[HoosierHawk]

CPAC may be trying to resurrect itself by inviting Rush and ignoring McCain. I’ll tune in tomorrow to see what El Rushbo has to say.

[JRochelle]

I do believe Ann will be speaking there tomorrow.

[Darren McCarty]

I'm not a fan of Mr. McCain, but Huckabee and Romney have their own records to answer for as well if they want my vote in 2012.

I would like to see someone better than any of them step up to the plate. Huckabee raised taxes, and I don't know which Romney will show up on any given day.

[plain talk]

Of those three RINO’s, McCain is the one with the most class.

I'd rank them Romney, Huck, McCain and I'd prefer any of them as President compared to Obama.

[spectre]

We need new blood in our Party. Rejects need not apply.

[Tarpon]

New York Times — Sowing the seeds of discontent everywhere they think they can find them.

Shouldn’t we all just walk on by ...

[TheConservativeParty]

FYI, according to one of the info-babes on Fox News, Fox will be airing Rush Limbaugh’s speech at CPAC live, at 4pm Central on Saturday.

[gussiefinknottle]

Huckabee is also very pro illegal immigrant.

[DainBramage]

SCREW you MCCain and you too Huckabee...you gave him too us.

[AGreatPer]

CPAC doesn’t give Senior Citizens discounts. I’m not going.