Posted on 05/19/2008 9:29:55 AM PDT by seanmerc
John McCain is America's favorite kind of candidate. With his record of extraordinary patriotism and his distinctive Senate tenure, McCain is a nominee whom voters from both parties — and independents, too — could easily support.
But he has been dealt a terrible hand: a tanking economy, an unpopular war, a Republican incumbent whose approval ratings are at their all-time low and a gloomy national mood, with 82 percent of Americans saying in a Washington Post-ABC News poll last week that the country is on the wrong track.
Political scientists add all that up and predict that the Democrats are destined to win the White House. But I don't do political science; I do politics, and I'm convinced that McCain can still win, if he's willing to follow the road map below.
Stay the Course
McCain needs to not run as a traditional Republican, which is easy, since he's not one.
After all, how did an anti-torture, anti-tobacco, pro-campaign finance reform, anti-pork, pro-alternative-energy Republican ever emerge from the primaries alive? Simple: The GOP electorate, along with the rest of the country, has moved somewhat to the left. (In Florida, for example, exit polls showed that only 27 percent of Republican primary voters described themselves as "very conservative," while 28 percent said they were "moderate" and 2 percent said they were "very liberal.")
Meanwhile, McCain's likely rival, Barack Obama, has raised such doubts among voters that their concerns momentarily energized even Hillary Rodham Clinton's sagging campaign. With the help of the incendiary comments of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., Obama's negatives have been rising even as he nears the finish line.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Gee same advice he has been giving the GOP since 2004. Morris is a one note wonder
But, McCain is free to run to the middle. He won't get my vote regardless if he runs to Mars.
Why is there never any mention of Congress’s lower rating than the President?
LOL - I thought that I read that the 27-28% very conservative was up, not down, this year.
You’re right. Unfortunately, they [the GOP] just don’t get it. It’s ‘running to the center’ and abandoning their core principles and constituencies that has gotten them into this mess. So, what’s their solution? Run to the center, thus exacerbating the problem.
The Pubs don’t respect the people who got them where they are. Until they do respect their base, they will be in a continual mess, even with the Rats giving them as many targets of opportunity as they do.
I just assume McCain run whatever he needs to do to win (within “reason”), as long as he picks a conservative VP. His choice of VP sets more of a direction for Republicans, what with McCain being 71. Whoever he picks is akin to him moving the Ouija right or left on the Oiuja board of Republican politics.
Morris believes you CAN fool all of the people all of the time.
Dick Morris is a Democrat. He believes in Democrat policies. He supported Bush in 2004 only on the issue of national defense.
Who cares what his “advice” is? I don’t agree with his goals for America.
After all, how did an anti-torture, anti-tobacco, pro-campaign finance reform, anti-pork, pro-alternative-energy Republican ever emerge from the primaries alive? Simple: The GOP electorate, along with the rest of the country, has moved somewhat to the left.Actually McCain was FORCED on us as they tried to FORCE him on us in 2000. The difference this time is that Howard Dean staffers lead the McCain 2008 movement in 2006. They have accomplished their goal.
Run to the center? Can McCain make that big of a right turn?
McCain is already left of center. If he ran towards the center he would actually be moving right. Unfortunately, he is moving away from the center and even further left.
“Dick Morris: A Roadmap for John McCain [’Run to the center...”
So Juna is gonna tack to the right?
Wait, wait, wait. You forgot to precede this with “You can get Dick’s pieces for free at www dot dickmorris dot com”
;)
At least he’s an authority on....toes.
“Run to the center? Can McCain make that big of a right turn?”
I was wondering the same. I’m just one person but as anecdotal evidence, I have voted Republican since I was 18. Straight ticket, one lever every time. Not so much this time.
Morris has this one right.
McCain didn’t need this twit to tell him what to do. He is already gone past center left and his base is already holding its nose. (who may or may not vote for him) The way I see it is John will pander to the left and pick up some votes while losing many of the Conservative base votes.
His base will be there for him; indeed, it will turn out in massive numbers. Wright has become the honorary chairman of McCain's get-out-the-vote efforts. It would be nice to think that race isn't a factor in American politics anymore, but it is. The growing fear of Obama, who remains something of an unknown, will drag every last white Republican male off the golf course to vote for McCain, and he will need no further laying-on of hands from either evangelical Christians or fiscal conservatives.
Not me.
Yes, I fear an Obama presidency, but it's congress who passes the stupid laws. McCain is just as likely to sign the insane bills as Obama, but with Obama we have a better shot at retaking the House and Senate over the next four years. With McCain, the GOP will be punished by the electorate for a decade or longer.
And he will lose.
Leftists will vote for a real lefty, and conservatives won't vote at all. Spitting on your base is a darned peculiar way to win an election.
He does and he doesn't. Morris wrote a piece and has opined about the Sarkozy victory in France despite an unpopular Chirac Presidency. What McCain and the GOP needs to do is create a populist agenda that is Federalist, Constitutional and Conservative in nature. Running on the populist Moderate babel will have voters flocking to the "Real Change" of Obama. Sarkozy won because he went to the right of Chirac on populist issues.
Dickie is, after all, despite all his intensive Clinton-bashing, a leftwing ideologue.
His analysis of the McCain situation is flawlessly absurd.
The only thing that the ‘08 presidential election has boiled down to for me is that the next president will not only be Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, but will also instantly be a war-time president. The bottom line is that I will not make our Armed Forces answerable to either Obama or Clinton which is why I am going to vote against whichever one is nominated.
Well said—this is the only trick this one trick pony knows.
And no, the base will not be there for you. Once you guys screw up 2008, we’ll have a Conservative Party running candidates for 2010 Congressional races.
We’ve had enough of the bait and switch.
The GOP can embrace their new fairweather friends—the moderates, Indies, and Dems. Yeah, they’ll be there for ya.
“with 82 percent of Americans saying in a Washington Post-ABC News poll last week that the country is on the wrong track. “
I don’t understand why I am the only that sees the contridiction in this statement and the advice we keep hearing.
If more people have moved towards Socialism and 82 percent think we are heading in the wrong direction then doesn’tthis mean 12 percent want us to continue our path to socislism while 82 percent want the country to move away from socialism?
Well he does have a point — McCain needs to move toward the center, and then after he gets there he needs to KEEP MOVING further to the right.
But, McCain is free to run to the middle. He won’t get my vote regardless if he runs to Mars.
&&&
Ditto.
And for those who want to claim that my failure to vote for McCain will bring us President Obama, I say, “Hogwash!” The country will get President Obama because the GOP refused to give the base a true conservative candidate; they gave the nomination to McCain because it’s “his turn”, apparently.
Don’t bet on it, Dick. The base is restless already. Between Keyes, Barr, and Baldwn, there is more third-party talk than I’ve ever heard.
McCain cannot be trusted.
The center? McCain ran past that decades ago. He’s out in left field holding hands with fellow liberals, staring at the sun and drooling.
MNJohnnie, the “you” in my post refers to the GOP, not to you. I agree with what you posted, but, on re-reading it, realized it could be misinterpreted. Sorry about that.
I strongly disagree with your take on Pres. Bush. I've met the man, followed him closely, and he is in it for ANYTHING but "himself." You may not agree with his ideas, but he definitely has done what he thought was right.
One main reason I don't buy the "true conservative" will win is 2006. There were simply too many VERY conservative senators and congressmen who lose, and it can't be blamed on "macaca" or Tom Foley. Talent, Burns, Santorum were very conservative as was J.D. Hayworth. DeWine, although he had problems with conservatives on some issues, still had a lifetime ACU rating of 86. Conservatives just lost in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Sometimes, we conservatives need to ditch the notion that the country is "always with us." It ain't. Churchill had to be a voice in the wilderness for 10 years against Hitlerism before he was accepted. The Brits had to sink into real depths before they elected conservatives and Margaret Thatcher. Our own Declaration stated that people will put up with evil or corrupt government much longer than they should, because, Jefferson said, it's the nature of people.
LOL!
He’ll run to the center, after the primaries Obama will run to the center, and then the rubes will see nothing but a crothchety old man pandering ineffectively while the “Rock Star” has bimbos swooning over him left and right. Verdict the rubes take the “Rock Star” regardless of what Morris says.
I honestly don't believe it's pandering. IMO, McCain truly thinks that he can now and forever blow off the conservatives, and that he intends to try to get past Obama by getting the support of the "Hillary Democrats."
If he does that he will sound better to conservatives, no?
I don't think he is constitutionally able to consider such a right turn, though.
“Between Keyes, Barr, and Baldwn, there is more third-party talk than I’ve ever heard.” Me, too, and I’m in FL, supposedly a safe McCain state.
When Rasmussen polls include minor parties, Obama beats McCain by 4 points. Right now, the Libertarians are pulling 7% of the Rep. vote and 8% of the independent vote. Ras isn’t polling the Constitution Party for some reason. And then there’s always Ron Paul waiting in the wings.
McCain has no safety net. If he swings for the moderates and misses, he’s toast. And he’s done it to himself by dissing the base.
Morris also deserved calumny for boosting Huckster’s star just at the right moment to take out Romney and help McCain.
“McCain is free to run to the middle. He won’t get my vote regardless if he runs to Mars.”
LS, I’m shocked. I thought you were more practical and not a bitter-ender type.
I will readily vote McCain simply as a vote to stop Obama and the left-wing triumph that is quite possible if Obama sweeps. I am very concerned. I do not believe conservatism and the America we believe in will survive an Obama-Democrat majority. It will be as significant, in the wrong way, as LBJ 1964 to 1968 was.
” His base will be there for him; indeed, it will turn out in massive numbers. Wright has become the honorary chairman of McCain’s get-out-the-vote efforts. It would be nice to think that race isn’t a factor in American politics anymore, but it is. The growing fear of Obama, who remains something of an unknown, ...”
The more I know about Obama, the more I know he will be an utter disaster for the country and for the ideals of freedom that we believe in.
Yes, the #1 reason to vote for McCain is Barack Obama.
“Yes, I fear an Obama presidency, but it’s congress who passes the stupid laws. McCain is just as likely to sign the insane bills as Obama,”
- NOT AT ALL. On Taxes, McCain is for cuts, Obama is for hikes. the Democrat sweep will see DC be more liberal than its been since 1965 and 1966. We had ‘landmark’ legislation thta created programs that NOW COST ABOUT $600 BILLION A YEAR!
One thing in particular: Socialized healthcare with Obama, more free market view from McCain.
” but with Obama we have a better shot at retaking the House and Senate over the next four years. With McCain, the GOP will be punished by the electorate for a decade or longer. “
Your view is speculative - GWB gained seats in 2002 and 2004, and Obama may well keep his majority if he avoids the mistakes of Clinton 1993, then we are up s**t creek without a paddle. Maybe you are right that the GOP brand will suffer from association with McCain, but I think we ought to do what is best for the country, not what is best for the party.
Here’s a solution btw to help keep the GOP on the ‘right side’: SUPPORT CLUB FOR GROWTH. They are RINO hunters, and they are also supporting the best free market GOP Senators, like Sununu. we are far more effective if we knock out the RINOs in primaries than by staying home for the general election and letting the leftist Democrat beat the moderate Republican.
If true conservatives like Hunter and Tancredo couldn't get above single digits, in a GOP *primary*, that tells you all you need to know about the state of conservatism today.
I strongly disagree with your take on Pres. Bush. I've met the man, followed him closely, and he is in it for ANYTHING but "himself." You may not agree with his ideas, but he definitely has done what he thought was right.
Absolutely. It is distressing that cheap-shot attacks on Bush pass for conservative wisdom these days. They do a disservice to him and to the truth. Bush has in many ways been a great President.
One main reason I don't buy the "true conservative" will win is 2006. There were simply too many VERY conservative senators and congressmen who lose, and it can't be blamed on "macaca" or Tom Foley. Talent, Burns, Santorum were very conservative as was J.D. Hayworth. DeWine, although he had problems with conservatives on some issues, still had a lifetime ACU rating of 86. Conservatives just lost in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Right on. The idea that this is all about the GOP being too moderate is lunacy. We have serious issues with the base, but that is only a part of it. Basic issues of war, economy and trust have hurt GOP brand. People are much more accepting of big Govt now than 10 years ago. Partly to blame are GOP leaders who stopped articulating smaller Govt, but partly its change in voter attitudes. War footing perhaps?
Sometimes, we conservatives need to ditch the notion that the country is "always with us." It ain't. Churchill had to be a voice in the wilderness for 10 years against Hitlerism before he was accepted. The Brits had to sink into real depths before they elected conservatives and Margaret Thatcher. Our own Declaration stated that people will put up with evil or corrupt government much longer than they should, because, Jefferson said, it's the nature of people.
We above all have to shed the phony and easy whistling past the graveyard that if we try something that worked 14 years ago that it will work again. NO CAN DO.
Here's a bright spot: Jindhal won in Louisiana. Look into that race read the tea leaves. What is his message, agenda, positioning, capability?
Your kind voted for Perot and gave us eight years of Clintonism. Gonna make yourself proud and do it again?
BTW, 2 years of Clinton gave us the first GOP congress in 40 years. In one year, they accomplished more than all the congressional Republicans had in the previous 40. But after 1995, they had a chance to really do something . . . then nominated McCain,er, Dole.
That's the key, though. There has to be a clear message, organized around a handful of core ideas. Drill for more oil. Build five new nuke reactors. Save the young people (by saving SS and Medicare).
I'm not a "dead ender." I think there is a time for a strategic redeployment. Even Wellington moved his troops back when they were being slaughtered---to more favorable ground. Our favorable ground is to re-constitute a core minority that can block Obama and design a new Contract with America. This is going to require a serious purge of the blue-boods, and the only way that can happen is with heavy battlefield casualties. You said it yourself in your other post---Republicans are whistline past the graveyard thinking they can be Dems lite. They have to offer a RADICALLY different alternative, be prepared to pounce on Obama WHEN he falls (because he will---he's too incompetent not to) and be ready with real, energized, focused candidates for 2010.
Interesting. I wonder if he's polling on Keyes or if he is ignoring Alan likemost of the media seems to hve decided to do. I guess in BigMediaWorld, only one black at a time is allowed ot run for President. (In fact, there may well be three on the ballot -- Keyes, Obama, and for the Far Left, Cynthia McKinney.)
But by all means vote your conscience, if it makes you feel better and elects an Obamabeast.
The only thing you can possibly blame Perot for is that, by and large, he criticized Bush more than Clinton, and his presence largely took the spotlight off Clinton's sexual scandals that MAY (I emphasize may) have gotten some press attention. But that's doubtful.
But if right now I could trade Bush (whom I love) and a Dem House/Senate/statehouses/governors for Clinton and the 1994-1995 GOP House and the energy and idealism of that period, I'd do it in a minute. Aside from the WoT (big aside, I know), we got more accomplished as a majority in the House, even without the Senate, than we did by owning all three branches of government.
Imagine that, a Faux News Contributer with more “Raw-Raw McCain!” rhetoric...... And we’ll all just drift happily to the middle, Whoopeee!
Haven’t we already done that? How well is that workin’?
The party is way too moderate. It has abandoned its base and contradicts the will of the people with pieces of crap like Dubya’s amnesty bill.
Nor do we have a clear agenda. We are now basically wandering vagabonds representing every end of the politcal spectrum from libs like Specter and Snowe to TRUE Republicans like Coburn and Mike Pence. We can win the people back by repudiating the big government “moderate” label and by turning the GOP back into an instrument of conservative change, not just blurry non-democrats.
Im swear, the apologists for the Ted Kennedy wing (i.e., Juan McCain, Arlen Specter) of my party utterly sicken me. Who the hell are we now? What happened to all of the ideology of the Reagan Revolution and the Contract with America? Think about the answer to those questions...
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