Posted on 03/10/2006 9:54:42 PM PST by WKB
We knew that Trent Lott was getting cozy with John McCain, but after just listening to Haley Barbour speak is there another Mississippian ready to get on board the Straight Talk Express?
Addressing a not-quite-full ballroom in the after-dinner slot, Barbour picked up the McCain banner of the weekend: all the straw polls in the world pale in comparison to the task ahead in '06.
And later, in emotional remarks about the impact of Katrina upon his native state, the governor singled out McCain for praise, saying that the "deficit hawk" came to the aid of Mississipi as they sought federal relief to rebuild the coast. Barbour said that McCain carried the message that the package that Sen's Lott and Cochran were pushing was "really a conservative solution."
The mentions of McCain, though, won little applause from the audience. In fact, Barbour seemed to in general almost lecture the group, directly prodding them for applause at one point.
Beyond the McCain bouquet, Barbour spoke of two necessary components for the GOP to be successful this fall. First, "big turnouts help Republicans." Barbour alluded to his own race in '03, which drew the most voters in the history of the state, and Pres Bush's 04 re-elect as examples.
Second, he said "when campaigns are about issues, Republicans win." Barbour asserted "that most Americans agree with us on the issues." Dems, Barbour said, want to focus elections on "emotion, scandal and personalities."
Also notable was Barbour's taking two direct knocks at the news media -- of which there were many prominent members in the back of the room. He said that it was they, the press, who were driving the unhealthy obsession with '08 WH politicking. Further, he praised the Bush admin's response to Katrina, saying that the feds were of great assistance -- "despite the complaints of the news media." Incidentally, Barbour also said that "faith-based group have been the backbone of our recovery," drawing immeditate and sustained applause from the true-believing audience.
Clearly still consumed (and for good reason) by all things Katrina, Barbour closed his remarks by saying that "it may be years, but the Mississippi Gulf Coast will be back bigger and better than ever before." At this, Barbour won his biggest and longest ovation yet.
MS ping
Or... Hillary with Mclaim as her VeeP..
Even though McCain's daddy is from MS, it would be hard for him to win the South.
But, Haley can...;o)
McPain could/would beat Hillary.
However, McPain could not win the primaries, he has no conservative support.
Barbour is a leading candidate, IMO.
The ticket will be Giuliani/Rice
With those 2 baby killers I see that as a nightmare.
McCain is unelectable.
Except in one circumstance.
If he's running against Hillary.
In that case; Hillary wins California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, DC, Hawaii...
..and McCain wins the rest.
A LANDSLIDE.
Name one state Hitlary can win that Kerry did not.
You can't.
Hillary - the only candidate more unelectable than John McCain.
To paraphase another Freeper:
Listening to a Hillary speech is like hearing two chalkboards mating...
Reagan80
:The ticket will be Giuliani/Rice. Rumsfeld will become Press Secretary, Tommy Franks Secretary of Defense and Bolton Secretary of State.
Don't wake me up...I'm having a lovely dream!"
The only elected office he has held is Gov of Mississippi and he is in his first term. Vp maybe though not prez
Democrat or Republican?
Only one thing worse than a democrat....... a RINO... because they are in your camp as Moles..
Giuliani is a liberal. In much of the south he is considered even worse, a Damnyankee liberal. NYC is viewed as an alien planet, populated by strange creatures.
What in the heck are you talking about?
Pro-choice means just that...baby killers.
Your "points" on YOUR thoughts on choice are well taken.
But, we ALL know what "choice" means.
They designed it that way.
They didn't want to be known as pro-abortion.
"I'm surprised that the South did NOT appreciate good leadership during 9/11."
Being one who was stranded in MS when this happened...yes...
I very much appreciated his leadership.
We ALL did.
"Being a woman I would feel a lot safer with Giuliani than George Allen or McCain?"
Well, I could say that "being a woman" you are very short-sighted, and have blinders on.
LOL
As much as I like, and appreciate, Giuliani, I will never vote for a pro-abort, pro-gun control man who has lived his life the way he has.
I would absolutely LOVE to seem as head of the CIA, State, or Homeland Security, though.
Tell that to the peanut farmer.
Dang!
to seem = see him.
A contraction I just now made up. ;o)
Giuliani simply could not be trusted on social/cultural issues. More specifically, I don't think he could convince the base that he would be an ally when it comes to judicial nominations, and really that is what it all comes down to. Senator Lott told of how Giuliani protested to him about claims that he is pro-gay marriage, saying that he had never been so and was instead in support of civil unions (Lott told him that in Mississippi the two things are one and the same). The problem is that the base has come to realize that proclamations of personal views are meaningless in light of judicial supremacy. What really matters is the type of judge one would pick to serve on the Sup Court. Do you think Giulian would have picked either Roberts or Alito?
McCain also has a big problem with the base, and one of the ways he could address it is to use his 'straight-talk' credibility and promise (as Bush did) to appoint conservative judges who believe in judicial restraint. This is the only way I can see him overcoming his role in the Gang of 14, but as with Giuliani, I doubt he will even make such a pledge, and if that is the case, then the only explanation will be that he doesn't care about one of the few things that should unite all conservatives.
Of the two, I think McCain has a better chance than Giuliani because the former can at least point to a career marked by many conservative votes.
Really, these political dynamics are in part a result of judicial activism, and yet another reason to end such behavior from the Courts. If the Courts had refrained from getting involved in things it has no business being in, then there would be no national Culture War as we now know it. Most of the contentious social issues would have been settled at the state level, and if people were secure in this, then such social/cultural issues likely would count for less in picking our Presidents. Then a proven and effective leader like Giuliani would have a better chance, because voters in conservative states wouldn't have to worry about the imposition of leftwing values on them from Washington D.C.
I'd vote for Barbour in a minute. I'd never vote for McCain, he's a turncoat and I'm not what but sure that he's got a major screw loose.
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