FR & McCain: What Happened? (Vanity)

Free Republic | Senor Zorro

[Señor Zorro]

August is rolling over into September and, before we know it, election day will be upon us. Perhaps it is merely my impression, but most here on FR seem to have settled down with the idea of John McCain both as the Republican nominee (which he is certain to be, regardless) and, even, as President of the United States. The initial candidate debate has all but faded and virtually all here have gelled back into the Republican camp instead of the "Republicans for Romney", "Republicans for Giuliani", "Republicans for Hunter", etc. ad nauseum, ad infinitum. No doubt, this is precisely what the party dons are happy to see: lively debate during the primaries and then the base falls lockstep in line with the leadership in their infinite wisdom.

And it makes me feel like I am in the Twilight Zone. Compare the tenor of the threads, between McCain's maverick moments during Bush's presidency, especially the "Gang of 14" incident, and now. Does anyone remember the hate for "The Maverick"? The "Traitor"? Two years ago, how many here would have voted for McCain. The reason for the change, most would say, is political pragmatism. We gotta stop Obama. How many here would pick Gerald Ford over Ronald Reagan today? Not many, I should think. Yet, when Carter won the general election, we, as a nation, got Reagan after Carter managed to spend four years highlighting everything that is wrong with liberalism. It is easy to say that we will take McCain so that we will not have Obama. It is giving up the long term good to maybe (I stress maybe; the winner of this contest will be far from certain) prevent a present evil. A lesser evil. That is precious little consolation.

As soon as that line is crossed, there will be no chance left of the Republican party going back. They know that the faithful will plod along, voting Republican though the Republican party has long since turned its back on their principles.

I will vote third party--not because I think that the candidate will win (numerically, I think it is all but impossible, though God works miracles in his own time). Nor because I think the candidate is ideal (if that were the standard, not a single human being could be elected to any office), but because I will not cross this line in the sand.

[MeekOneGOP]

Two years ago, how many here would have voted for McCain.

- - - - - - - - -

Try SIX MONTHS. I voted for Fred Thompson.
And that was here in Texas (in March) when McRINO
pretty much had a LOCK on the nomination.

McRINO was not even ON my list to consider,
for the reasons you list in your vanity post, Zorro.

BUT, now that he HAS picked a good and decent
VP runningmate, I might even consider taking off
the bumper-sticker that is on my car right now ...

And if so, guess I'll hafta come up with something
decent to replace it with. :)

[NYC Republican]

Jerk. You’ve spent time and energy blasting the possibility of a Romney pick, and you had no intention of supporting McCain under any circumstance. You’re a waste of bandwidth

[NYC Republican]

Nice... trying to twist my words... I didn’t say that being conservative is extreme. I said that you folks that try convincing others to allow H to win cause McCain doesn’t meet your definition of conservative are extreme

[NYC Republican]

I’m a liberal Republican? You’re beyond ignorant, and a liar to boot

[new cruelty]

I will vote third party--not because I think that the candidate will win (numerically, I think it is all but impossible, though God works miracles in his own time).

I have faith that there is hope yet for the republican party. As you said, God works miracles in His own time (an in His own way).

[NYC Republican]

How about a little intellectual honesty here... McCain is not a liberal... Stop with your lies, and your dumbass cause was effectively made obsolote with the Palin announcement... All that remains now are a few folks that would be ok with Mus H as the President... Most of us are more pragmatic...

[AmericanInTokyo]

no, kindly examine the record. i am correct on this account. you are a liberal, certainly the textbook definition of a “RINO”, and we know it. don’t try to argue the point, we have plenty of posts to prove it.

[NYC Republican]

Wow, you’re calling me a liberal... What do you base it on? My support of Romney? That’s all you’ve got? If that’s it, the STHU

[rbmillerjr]

A short sighted post in regard to the conservative movement.

The people that fight for conservatism at the local level are calling me up and are elated at this pick. They see the writing on the wall - Palin, has just been annointed as the future of the Republican Party.

Palin is a conservative.

If you can’t get behind Palin, who will likely be our Pres. nominee in 2012, then you need to take a more strategic look at the future of conservatism.

Real conservatives are elated and on cloud nine with this unexpected fortune.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Actually, sir, or ma'am (or both), I have been quite consistent and principled, so there are no surprises with AmericanInTokyo.

My position on supporting liberals and RINOs was made a very long time ago, actually in this case, nearly 8 months ago.

Do feel free to acquaint yourself with the facts. Thanks for listening.

[NYC Republican]

To use the old phrase, everybody to the left of Atilla the Hun is a liberal to you... You’re an extremist, who needs someone to be 100% in lockstep with you, or you’ll not support them. Good riddance... Mainstream and solid conservatives applaud this move, and are now voting for McCain, even if he’s far from perfect. You can go and sulk in the corner.

[AmericanInTokyo]

You support liberals for President, you are doing so as we speak, and as I said and of course will continue to say. I am sorry, truly sorry, if you take offense with the facts being presented.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Sure thing there, skipper. ;-) You bet.

Thank you for your input.

[Ladysmith]

You can never say “Never!” as I’ve had to tell myself.

McCain is getting my vote for three reasons:

1. Keeping the Marxist OUT of the Oval Office!

2. Replacing United State Supreme Court justices.

3. Getting a conservative in the White House (Palin.)

McCain doesn’t thrill me but he has been running a pretty darn effective campaign so far. Adding Palin to the ticket was simply brilliant and an answer to prayers above.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Not necessarily, "my friend".

You left out sycophants, toadies, camp followers, jayhawkers, absconders, scallawags, lowlifes, scumbags, yahoos, zipperheads, bootlickers, kabanmochi, etc. etc. etc. Everyone, not just "liberal". Overwhelmingly, most are in the Democrat party, but we have a fairly good share in the GOP it seems.

[rabscuttle385]

McCain is not a liberal... Stop with your lies, and your dumbass cause was effectively made obsolote with the Palin announcement...

Okay, let's assume you're right and that McCain can be judged by the company he keeps, in which case his associations with Joe Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Russ Feingold, and others completely outweigh his one-day infatuation with Sarah Palin. And, let's not forget the part where he was spotted hanging out with (and pandering to) the Mexicans on July 4, 2008 of all days!

McCain was a leading proponent of both amnesty for illegal aliens and for introducing Al Gore's carbon credit hogwash here in the United States. He was a primary sponsor of bills for both issues. And, he regularly "crosses the aisle" (how pragmatic!) to sponsor "bipartisan compromise" (in other words, to help the Democrats pass liberal legislation such as McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Lieberman, and so forth). And, he recently and openly supported bailing out private corporations with taxpayer money. Now, you were saying that he's a conservative?

Most of us are more pragmatic...

The word "pragmatic" in this context belongs in the same box as "bipartisan compromise" and "crossing the aisle."

I am sick and tired of "conservatives" and Republican liberals from New York, New Jersey, and other northern states of telling me what to do. First, y'all took over Northern Virginia and turned it blue with your "pragmatism" and now you tell me to vote for McCain (a liberal RINO) or else.

[new cruelty]

Michelle Malkin, one of my all time FAVORITES in Conservatives... I spit on her new found position.

That's impressive.

[rabscuttle385]

To use the old phrase, everybody to the left of Atilla the Hun is a liberal to you...

To use another version of that old phrase, everybody to the right of Obama is a conservative to you.

[mad_as_he$$]

I think your analysis is incomplete. Most strong supporters of alternatives have picked up and gone somewhere else or have just decided to stay out of the mess. I still do not like or trust McCain and never will. My hope is Palin serves out the largest part of his term in her own style and does not let the DC corruption influence her.

See my tagline.

[Campion]

And we are still dealing with the mistakes of the Carter administration! Don't think so?

The WOT was started by al Qaeda, which was sheltered and protected by the Taliban. The Taliban arose from Pakistani influence on the power vacuum in Afghanistan after the Soviets left. The reason the Soviets were there in the first place was the weakness of Jimmy Carter. It's a straight line from the fecklessness of the Peanut Farmer to 9/11.

Iran is run by mad mullahs, and is working on building a nuclear bomb, today, because Jimmy Carter couldn't bring himself to support a longtime American ally, the Shah.

How many wars, how many dead Americans will be the result of an Obama presidency? What will an Obama presidency do to what's left of the Constitution? You're assuming everything's just going to be hunky-dory after Obama packs the courts with judges who think the First Amendment only protects the Left, and the Second Amendment is a dead letter? Obama's already showing his socialist M.O., trying to intimidate radio stations into silence -- and this is while he's a candidate!. Imagine what he'll be like when in office!