Posted on 02/24/2008 8:18:11 AM PST by jdm
The ascent of John McCain to the apparent Republican nomination has discouraged some conservatives, who have expressed a willingness to sit out 2008 and let a Democrat win the White House. They claim, hyperbolically, that no real policy differences exist between McCain and either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, and that having a Democrat take the blame for the coming debacle will make it easier to elect Republicans later. An interesting analysis of the direction of the Supreme Court in the Washington Post should serve as a reminder of one area that will turn out very differently:
The increasingly conservative court has said often of late that it is getting out of the business of finding a right to sue that is not explicitly stated in the law -- what lawyers call an "implied cause of action."
Two discrimination cases that the court heard last week, both concerning retaliation, made plain that a sizable number of justices are deeply resistant to finding such rights and to expanding those it previously recognized. ...
"I agree with you entirely that it would make sense to provide a cause of action for retaliation, but we don't write statutes," Scalia said. "We read them. And there's nothing in this statute that says that."
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wondered whether the court's respect for stare decisis should extend to cases it believes were wrongly decided, and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said he could not find a way to read the law that gave plaintiffs the right they wanted.
The election will present American voters with real choices on policy, especially on taxation, foreign policy, expansion of government, and national security issues, despite the complaints of the disappointed. It also provides a stark choice on the direction of the judiciary.
At least two Supreme Court justices will likely leave in the next four years, both of them from the Left, John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The election will determine whether the court continues to turn in a more constructionist direction, forcing policy back to Congress where it belongs, or whether activists can outlast the constructionists. Jurists nominated by Obama or Hillary will have a much different idea of the Supreme Court's role than those nominated by McCain.
Elections matter. The next President will have a mandate to determine the direction not just of the Supreme Court but the entire federal bench. Conservatives can either help ensure that the work begun to get the judiciary out of the policy-imposition business will continue or allow it to get reversed.
Really. People should have thought all of that through before they voted for McCain.
Don’t go trying to post silly articles filled with logic and reason on this forum. The REAL conservatives here are going to teach everyone a thing or two in this election.
They know how to elect socialists and are pledged to do their bit as punishment for all those who have strayed from the right and proper course. Supreme Court, entitlement programs, taxes, national security - no matter.
That's a nice straw man he sets up and knocks down. I don't argue that there are no real policy differences between McCain and the Democrats. I argue that with McCain's natural tendency to "reach across the aisle," we're likely to get similar results regardless of who wins.
I also think that with a Democrat as president we're more likely to see Republicans in Congress dig in their heels and put the brakes on some of the worse proposals; we would be less likely to see that resistance with McCain in the White House. I think a McCain presidency further muddles things and dilutes conservatism, perhaps transforming the GOP into a moderate party for decades, while a McCain loss may cause the party to return to conservatism when it sees its moderate nominee go down in flames.
It's a gamble, and I can see reasonable people taking either side, but let's avoid caricaturing each other like this.
Point out to me any evidence that McCain would even nominate conservative justices.
His adviser for judicial matters is Warren Rudman, who gave this nation David Souter.
It the people the chose and voted for John McCain - that thought he would be our best nominee - those are the people that have brought this mess about. I haven’t even had a chance to vote YET.
Why is the onus on conservatives to drop their convictions and not McCain? One mans opinion versus millions that oppose it.
A lot of words and no mention of amnesty being the real wedge between McCain and conservatives that refuse to endorse him giving away our country.
Regards
Too bad we don't have a candidate we can trust on this issue. I see McCain nominating more Souters and Kennedys.
You are right. With the open primary's democRATS and independants have had more say in selecting McCain than folks like yourself
Regards
You people that want to vote for McCain - go right ahead and do it, I understand your reasons for doing so. But get off the backs of people that have given it a whole lot of thought and prayer and reached a very difficult decision not to do so.
All the insults, threats and name calling in the world is not going to change our minds. In fact, it makes me even more sure that I've made the right decision. If the vitriole here, on a supposedly conservative site, is any indication of the spiteful mean tactics of McCain's people - I don't want to have any part of this party anymore. Flame on.
What angers the so-called “real conservatives” is Senator McCain does not hate the illegal Mexicans. The illegal Mexican haters had Romney to vote for, but they failed to support him.
Who really knows who they would vote for? Their selected candidate—Duncan Hunter—was not even in the contest and the fall-back candidate—Fred Thompson—did not appear to want to be in the contest.
As of today, it is to be noted that Senator McCain leads either Hillary or Barack in a 1:1 contest.
Senator McCain was not first on my list, but those voting get to make the decision—not radio talk show hosts or others who can’t muster the votes necessary to win an election.
Won’t vote for a liberal period. Can’t be said enough. I don’t care if Jesus Christ himself said it was ok to vote for John the Traitor McCain.
I will not vote for a liberal.
So why should we trust McCain? McCain's adviser is none other than Warren Rudman, who was the John McCain of the 80s whenever the liberal media needed to get a sound-bite from a Republican whenever Reagan went "too far."
A McCain victory would just validate the fact that it's OK for the GOP to move to the Left and abandon conservatism. McCain doesn't have a clue about economics and he wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years.
But it really depends on McCain's VP selection. Now if McCain chooses a Mark Sanford, Santorum, or Rounds, then yes, I'd vote for him. But it looks like McCain will probably choose Jeb Bush and serve only one term. That'll kill the GOP right there.
Is that another Bush/McCain/Hernandez code word for racist? nativist? vigilante? bigot?
I'm looking at the republican party and what it is standing for right now & I don't like what I see at all.
I have been a staunch opponent of McCain for years. But given the severity of upcoming decisions that directly will set our path for decades, I have to throw my support to McCain. If my sons in the military, serving in Iraq and one just returned home from Iraq, support McCain, then the military perspective is good reason enough.
Our soldiers do not deserve being abandoned in mission by defeated retreaters of the demorat flavor.
Second good Reason.
We cannot succumb the Supreme Court to progressive doctrine. The Supreme Court is basically our last defense against having tyranny shoved down our throats. 1st and 2nd Amendment rights are on a continuous challenge. So are property rights with regards to sovergnity and personal use.
I realise that conservative voters are looking for a pie in the sky miracle that will bring us back to the good ol days. Right now it isn’t going to happen. So we better hunker down and understand that Obama OR Clinton will stand against everything we hold dear. Giving up anything to those progressive (socialists) will never be given back.
And I seriously believe that most of the complainers don’t have the forte’ of taking up arms in the fight for our literal lives against tyranny.
We know things with McCain aren’t perfect. But at least we know what direction he will take us. The Demorats call for change is non specific and that in itsself should be a huge concern.
Sorry, my state hasn’t voted yet, and when I do it won’t be for McCain.
i can’t think of a single Republican President in my lifetime who didn’t govern to the left of their stated positions as candidates. Including reagan. So following that trend I see McCain as a left leaning moderate candidate who will aim to please George Soros once elected. My sense of right and wrong won’t allow me to vote for him.
Sorry Ed, not voting for the S.O.B.
I will vote for Repubs down ticket thought so that President Obama has some opposition in congress.
Don't you ever get tired of flashing this red Herring BS.
I'm going to scare you, I'm going to scare you, while everyone knows insane would never appoint a conservative to the court.
The man said Hillary would make a great president. That's all anyone needs to know, he hates conservatives enough that I wouldn't put it past him to appoint hillary.
“The REAL conservatives here are going to teach everyone a thing or two in this election.”
Doubtful. No one apparantly learned a damned thing after the ‘06 debacle. I can’t see anyone learning from the whipping that is going to be November ‘08. I fully expect the RNC candidate in 2012 to be a Joe Liebermann “conservative.”
It's a gamble, and I can see reasonable people taking either side, but let's avoid caricaturing each other like this.
Unfortunately, straw man arguments, caricaturing, and mocking is all they have left.
“What angers the so-called “real conservatives” is Senator McCain does not hate the illegal Mexicans”
Far be it for me to attack an old timer on FR however that is probably the single most idiotic thing I’ve seen posted by someone not named “Dane.”
That's a good one, shows how badly misinformed you are, while Mexicans are the largest portion of the illegals, they only make up about 55 to 60% of them. I don't know of anyone who hates them, they just want them to have a good life in their own country.
Hey, no one answered your question. I wonder why?
Regards
“We know things with McCain aren’t perfect. But at least we know what direction he will take us.”
That direction is the EXACT reason I will never support him.
A McCain victory gives conservatives 3 years to get a 3rd party up and running with money. I would give McCain at least one year and see how his agenda pans out. Especially with a supposed DemoRat majority.
With the Rats, we know change will not be good, nor specific. Especially with a progressive super Rat as president and a Rat controlled congress.
Once again, conservatives are left with supporting the lesser of evils. If McCain is good enough for our military boys, we best not allow their mission to end like Viet Nam. DemoRats have guaranteed failure openly and frequently.
Well that's the thing. With McCain you never know.
However, we DO know that he will do whatever Teddy Kennedy tells him to do.
Another red herring used daily here, insane McCain has shown time and again he will do what his friend teddy wants. So he will do as they wish here as well.
“Point out to me any evidence that McCain would even nominate conservative justices.”
There is NO evidence. No guarantee. No 90 day warranty.
McCain = Amnesty and that’s a GIANT “NO” in my book.
“omitted bray”
Not familiar with, but will pay closer attention.
“They claim, hyperbolically, that no real policy differences exist between McCain and either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton...”
I haven’t seen much of this argument. McCain, is the more moderate Democrat of the three, but still the most dangerous to the Republican Party. Once he destroys it, there will be no stopping the future Obamas and Hillarys, or anything else the left throws at us. That is the trade off. Get a moderate, populist Democrat for the next four years, or take the hit with Obama, and let him damage the Democrats while the Republican Party can still come back. The counter argument is that Obama will do so much damage there will be no coming back. That might be true, but I’m going with the choice that might give us a chance down the road. But if you like McCain, good luck to you.
You just listened to your own small echo chamber and when the real results came out, you couldn't handle the truth.
Exactly right. Whether he is Conservative enough or that he is not the perfect candidate is not the issue. The people have chosen our candidate and we have to decide who the best of the two are.
Those who don’t vote are not espousing Conservativism and certainly are not doing anything heroic. They should be shunned and despised more than the ones who gave us Do Nothing Nancy and Dirtbag Reid.
Pray for W and Our Troops
I got a chance to vote in Missouri. I supported and sent Fred Thompson money and he dropped out well before I had a chance to vote.
So I voted for Romney. He ended up 3rd.
I sympathise with the millions of people who have not had a chance to cast a primary vote.
The whole election process, in my opinion, has been hijacked by open primarys and the MSM’s opinion directed polling.
We get McCain as a front runner. Then the NYT tries to cut him down with false stories. This election is far from being decided by voters.
If we are ever going to control this process, we have to force our state parties to have closed primarys, with registration at least 30 days before the primary.
Delegates have been swayed in states that traditionally vote DemoRat in the general election, but allow independents to cross over.
On the other side, the Demorats are close with two candidates. Why is that? Because they influenced the GOP primary process with the cross over “independent” vote knowing either candidate was a secure choice on the DemoRat side.
I too am incensed by McCains amnesty position. But thankfully our state and many others are taking an initiative to make life tough for illegals. At least on the State level, politicians are still accountable to the people. There is still hope.
Now look what you started.
“You just listened to your own small echo chamber and when the real results came out, you couldn’t handle the truth.”
Open primaries, blue states first. Conservatives never had a chance.
If you're not a writer - you should be! Thank you for saying what I feel, but cannot put into words. You've said it all right there.
“They should be shunned and despised more than the ones who gave us Do Nothing Nancy and Dirtbag Reid.”
Wow. More than the RNC huh?
Neither you nor I have any idea who McCain will nominate for the Supreme court. That is the problem.
As for taxes, John McCains amnesty will amount to the largest earmark (read new taxes) in US. history as well as spell the end of the two Party system.
We will be forced to pay to be replaced in our own land. We will have to chose between lefties and communists.
If McCain wants to be President He is the one that needs to yield on this. Not us.
Regards
See, that's just it. You don't know what direction McCain will take you and the rest of us. All you have is the hope that he won't be as bad as we all fear Hillary or Obama would be.
Excuses, excuses. Face it your message isn't selling, where it counts, with GOP voters.
“That direction is the EXACT reason I will never support him”
I hope you are stocked up on arms and ammo and well trained. I don’t know which invasion will come first, commies or jihadi’s. Both are guaranteed by DemoRats.
Agreed. Even with Jorge, we only got Alito because the conservative base raised a ruckus. If we'd gone along with what he wanted we would have been stuck with Hair-yut My-ers. Getting Jorge to give us two conservatives was hard enough. With John Sidney McCain expect most of the nominees to be about as conservative as Frau Ginsburg.
Well now, sounds like you all got it wrapped up then. If we're so insignificant and impotent - why waste all this energy arguing and trying to convince us to vote for him?
You wanted McCain - you got him. Good luck with that.
It’s easier to blame everyone but ourselves. We have a tired message and our “immigration/deportation” platform is a joke. Just look how bad Tancredo did yet we still pound our chests shouting Deportation, like that is something the Country wants.
Pray for W and Our Troops
So I guess surrender in Iraq is what you support. We know Teddy has endorsed Obama, not McCain.
Don’t even bother to vote if you don’t support the troops and their mission. We know Teddy hates the troops and the mission.
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