Posted on 08/15/2006 2:35:56 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
GRINNELL, Iowa - Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) said Tuesday there is "lingering resentment" among some Republicans because of his primary fight in 2000 with George W. Bush.
Those feelings may complicate his decision whether to seek the presidential nomination for 2008, said McCain, R-Ariz.
"If I run, and we'll decide that early next year, there's a lot of work to do," McCain said as he began a two-day visit to Iowa, which traditionally holds leadoff caucuses in January of presidential election years.
"Here in Iowa there are parts of the party where there's still lingering resentment over the bitterness of the 2000 race," he said.
In 2000, McCain skipped the Iowa caucuses and opened his campaign with the New Hampshire primary. He beat Bush there, but the Texas governor overtook him in later primaries.
As he considers a possible bid for the GOP nomination in 2008, McCain has visited Iowa often. Most polls show him better known that other possible Republican candidates.
"Since we haven't decided whether or not to run, we haven't decided whether to compete here, but I think you could make the argument that it's very different than 2000," he said. "In 2000, I was the outsider and, you know, we could afford to pass up on Iowa."
This time, he said, "I think the nomination would be up for grabs, I really do."
McCain has worked to deflect criticism of his opposition to subsidies for ethanol, an important issue in corn-growing Iowa.
"My position on ethanol is support for ethanol when oil went over $40 a barrel," he said. He said soaring gasoline prices make ethanol competitive in the marketplace.
"I do not support subsidies, but I support ethanol and I think it is a vital alternative energy source, not only because of our dependence on foreign oil but because of its greenhouse reduction effects," he said.
McCain's visit included a stop Tuesday in Grinnell, where he campaigned for state Rep. Danny Carroll.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) speaks to reporters in Washington April 4, 2006. In a month when most voters would rather hit the swimming pool than debate tax cuts, potential 2008 White House candidates are swarming Iowa to win new friends, visit the state fair and maybe eat a pork chop on a stick. REUTERS/Jim Young
He needs to grow up and get over it.
I hate the jerk.
The "lingering resentment" isn't in "some Republicans" -- it's in McCain.
There is no resentment John, we simply learned what you stand for and have listen to what you say today and simply do not agree with you on many issues.
We also thing you and the rest of the Keating 5 should have been removed from office.
We just don't trust you John.
because of his primary fight in 2000 with George W. Bush.
Unbelievable how stupid these reporters are.
As for me, my resentment of John McCain has much more to do with his disloyalty to conservatism. It has to do with the astonishingly brazen attack on the Constitution that is the McCain-Feingold legislation. It has to do with the fact that he will say and/or do anything, any time, to anyone in order to get more face time with the media.
Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., questions Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006. Committee Chairman Sen. John Warner, R-Va., is at left. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
I don't have any resentment.
I simply think he's a flake.
"I'm just like Luke Skywalker, trying to get out of the Death Star. I'm telling you, they're shooting at me from everywhere. Everybody's against me. Governor Engler, Governor Bush, all the governors, all the senators. But we're gonna kill 'em, right? We're going to get 'em. I'm getting out of the Death Star, and we're gonna win the election!"
- John McCain (to a group of Saginaw High Shoolers)
THe lingering resentment has little to do with McCain's entry into the 2000 primary. Some of us actually backed him as an alternative to the party boss's choice of GWB. However, we begin to ask questions when the media got on his bandwagon. After his shameful pimping of campaign finance reform, many of his former backers (including this one) wouldn't vote for him as dogcatcher if he was the only candidate on the ballot.
LOL!!!!
The only lingering resentment from any Republican over 2000 is from his corner.
At least the fool is finally admitting he isn't as beloved as the media always tell the jerk.
Now there IS strong resentment of McCain...in my case I'd term it hate. But the source isn't 2000. The source is McCain's hatred for me, conservatives, Christians, his goal to destroy the conservative movement from within and constrict our rights..to side with Liberals, world opinion, protect terrorists, protect out of control judges...
Get ready to go down maverick. Few things about politicains animate me these days. Defeating you is one of them.
Image courtesy of Registered Media
I won't say McPain is the last Republican I would vote for president but he is towards the bottom of the list. There are a couple of other Rhinos I would put below him.
No Johnny Boy. The resentment comes from all the crap you've pulled SINCE then.
He's also upset because some of the men took his strawberries.
Look at the bright side - McCain is clearly looking for a face-saving way to bow out of the 2008 Republican primaries, which he already knows he does not have a chance of winning. Not because of long-simmering resentment among Republican voters at his unsuccessful 2000 run, but rather due to well-reasoned disdain for past legislative atrocities bearing his name or fingerprints (such as McCain-Feingold). This is a trial balloon to see whether he can get away with jumping out of the race via this red-herring before he gets his rear end demolished in an actual vote.
Speaking of which, seema good opening to post this again...rooting for Ravenal...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669283/posts
For several decades, being a United States Senator from South Carolina meant long-term job security. The late Strom Thurmond (Democrat/Dixicrat/Republican) served South Carolina in the United States Senate from 1955 to 2003. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (Democrat) served it there from 1966 to 2005.
Senator Thurmond's successor, Senator Lindsey Graham, is on track to begin a new tradition for South Carolina's United States Senators -- one term and out.
Manuel Miranda, Chairman of the Third Branch Conference, an organization dedicated to realizing the dream of a judiciary that interprets the law, instead of making or even revising it under the guise of interpreting it, is circulating a letter to South Carolina conservative Tom Ravenel requesting him "to run as a Republican candidate for The United States Senate from South Carolina in 2008."
The full text of the letter to Mr. Ravenel:
"We the undersigned hereby request your commitment to run as a Republican candidate for The United States Senate from South Carolina in 2008. Your reluctance to make a decision now is understandable; even admirable. 2008 is three years away [Note: now, actually TWO]. But recent events add urgency to this decision.
By helping Democrats abort the fight to end judicial filibusters, Senator Graham has revealed how much he cherishes the supposed 'traditions of the U.S. Senate'. We, his constituents, do not share his reverence for tradition or his preference for comity over victory. We are appalled that our country, founded by men so courageous they put their very lives at risk, is being held hostage by a minority of men and women so tentative and so timid, they equate a mere Senate rule change with violence.
Senator Graham said it would 'blow up the Senate' and that by averting a rule change, the Senate is 'back in business'. To this we add: Yes, business as usual. When the time arrived to confront Democrat obstructionists, he shrank from conflict and chose compromise over victory. After Senator Graham participated in the backroom deal, he made several bewildering statements. Among them was this one: 'I will not use this job to hate people. There are some people on the right and the left, who expect you not only to vote with them, but to hate the people they hate. Count me out.' We do not equate political opposition with hatred. We did not ask him to hate, and we will not respond to the heated rhetoric he directed at us by returning a similar outburst toward him.
"Lindsey Graham is a fine man and no doubt made his decision in good conscience. He chose to make a deal with Senator John McCain and the rest of 'The Gang of 14', in the belief that compromise was preferable to victory. In the past, he said he believes judicial nominees deserve an up or down vote. But belief is not the same as commitment. It is his prerogative to change his mind and follow Senator McCain instead of his party's majority leader and his president.
However, it is likewise our prerogative to change our minds. We would now prefer that you be our Senator instead of Lindsey Graham. You conducted yourself honorably in your 2004 campaign for Senate; a campaign won by Jim DeMint. You fought hard, and conceded gracefully in a close primary. In the general election campaign, you supported Mr. DeMint much more than the minimal amount that sportsmanship and party loyalty require. You supported his candidacy warmly, enthusiastically and even financially. He won by a wide margin. It was his time then. It is your time now. We trust you will answer the call and commit soon, if not immediately. We wish to send you to join Mr. Jim DeMint to represent the great state of South Carolina in Washington as a member of the United States Senate."
Senator Graham, it's a shame, but you have yourself to blame.
And you WERE cautioned in advance.
Wendy E. Long, counsel to the Judicial Confirmation Network -- "an organization of citizens joined together to support the confirmation of highly qualified individuals to the Supreme Court of the United States...to ensure that the confirmation process for all judicial nominees is fair, and that every nominee sent to the full Senate receives an up or down vote" -- foresaw that you would join what became the Gang of Fourteen and posted this plea to you on National Review Online's Benchmemos on May 20, 2005, more than a year ago:
"Breaking News: Lindsey Graham Going Wobbly?
"Breaking news: Word is that Lindsey Graham may be a lynchpin in a bad deal being cooked up on judges. Lindsey, can you hear us? We will not be able to hold back a primary challenge if there is some backroom deal with your name on it backstabbing the president's judicial nominees. Politics and principle happily converge here: Every judge, and the American people, deserves an up-or-down vote. Those wishing to fortify Senator Graham can contact his offices...."
That was more than fair warning, Senator.
Still, you abandoned the principle that "...[e]very judge, and the American people, deserves an up-or-down vote." "It is worse than a crime, it is a blunder," said the Marquis de Talleyrand, referring to Napoleon executing the Duc d'Enghien?
It was a betrayal of the people who elected you, AND a blunder, Senator Graham.
Michael J. Gaynor is an independent columnist
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