Posted on 06/07/2005 5:22:03 AM PDT by Gipper08
WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Mark McKinnon, the Austin political consultant who oversaw the advertising for President Bush in the 2000 and 2004 campaigns, has committed to help Sen. John McCain in a second presidential bid.
McKinnon - one of the president's closest friends and confidants and a frequent mountain biking companion - met with the Arizona Republican over lunch this spring in the Senate dining room to discuss his support, said a GOP activist familiar with the meeting.
At this point, McCain, who lost to Bush in a bitter 2000 Republican primary, is in the early but unmistakable stages of laying the groundwork for another campaign. And McKinnon has indicated he would review his options, should Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, run in 2008.
The White House has sent word that Jeb Bush should be taken at his word, that he will not run. Rice, just four months into her new job, is not expected to seek the presidency, though some top Republicans have suggested she might be considered for vice president.
McKinnon, vice chairman of the Austin-based consulting firm Public Strategies Inc., said on Monday he's had "friendly conversations with Senator McCain" but would not discuss his commitment.
"I like the senator a lot, but it is too early to speculate on his intentions, as he has said himself, not to mention mine," McKinnon said in an e-mailed statement. "My political focus right now is on a successful second-term agenda for President Bush."
McCain's political strategist, John Weaver, said the senator is heartened by those "encouraging him to run," but that he has not yet decided whether he will.
"He's not out organizing," Weaver said, "and he's instructed us not to do that, either....."
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(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Aren't you a genius. </sarcasm>
Bork was borked. Did you mean to leave out Justice Clarence Thomas?
BTW, Rudy was once a seminarian and has plenty of skeletons in his closet ....
In this Age of the Value Voter, among Rudy's huge liabilities is his personal life. Rudy's love life reads like a sordid tale from an X-rated paperback romance novel.
Rudy was first married to his cousin for 14 years, dumping her when he met Donna Hanover, then had the 14-year marriage annulled telling the Church he didn't "realize" his first wife was his second cousin.
Yeah, sure Rudy.
Mayor Rudy, while a married man and father of two, got involved with his third and present wife, escorting her publicly, and insisted his lover move into Gracie Mansion while he was still married to Donna.
Did we mention Rudy once endorsed a Democrat--Cuomo--over Pataki? And that Rudy looked the other way when his patronage appointee Russell Harding --Liberal Party's Ray Harding's son---was stealing $400,000 from the Housing Development Corp. and enjoying kiddie porn and gay vacations on the taxpayers dime?
In the Understatement of the Year, Sen Trent Lott recently warned that Guiliani's liberal views on abortion, civil unions and gay rights could make it "difficult" for him to win office as a Republican.
Trent forgot to add the Rudy would hunt down every gun, of every type, in every household in the USA and melt them down into scrap metal. Rudy doesn't need a gun. Like all rich liberals, he's got armed guards to protect him.
But I think the real vulnerability that Rudy has is his relationship with Bernard Kerik. Perhaps Rudy ought to tell voters how he plans to use failed HomeLandSec appointee Bernie Kerik's personal, business and political expertise to help him win public office (laughs uproariously).
Yep. And I'm one of them. No way. No How. Not with a Gun to my head or a Clinton on the ticket will I vote for McMaverick.
Well said. And, to put a crueler point on it, McCain is not exactly long on physcial. charisma himself. Bush's appeal to the ladies is a wholesome but undeniably vigorous one--active, loyal, steadfast. McCain turns his face when the camera comes around, trying to show his "good" side. His demeanor is frail when he's not gloating over his latest betrayal of conservatives, trying to score points with the MSM. Perhaps he can be of use as a distraction as we groom a better prospect...
He just doesn't have the juice. By 08, he'll be nearing his mid-seventies.
As for the neocons, I took pains to draw attention to the intellectual "wing"--I don't know that there's anything else to be concerned with. I invite you to do a long read by googling (or dogpiling) up "Balkan neoconservative" and "balkan neoconservative Kristol" for some rather alarming reading of the attitudes and philosophical foundations of these elitists. You don't have to be a paleo to distrust the neo literati--
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Mark McKinnon, the Austin political consultant who oversaw the advertising for President Bush in the 2000 and 2004 campaigns, has committed to help Sen. John McCain in a second presidential bid.
McKinnon - one of the president's closest friends and confidants and a frequent mountain biking companion - met with the Arizona Republican over lunch this spring in the Senate dining room to discuss his support, said a GOP activist familiar with the meeting.
At this point, McCain, who lost to Bush in a bitter 2000 Republican primary, is in the early but unmistakable stages of laying the groundwork for another campaign. And McKinnon has indicated he would review his options, should Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice or the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, run in 2008.
A political maverick - he called his campaign advertising company Maverick Media - McKinnon first dabbled in politics as a Democrat and worked for the Texas gubernatorial campaign of Ann Richards, among other Democrats.
For the 2002 Senate race in Texas, McKinnon and his wife, Ann, contributed $4,000 to Democrat Ron Kirk against Republican John Cornyn. Later, the consultant apologized, saying the contributions had caused "some heartburn" for the Bush administration.
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Of two thoughts: I don't think McKinnon realizes the trouble he's bought .. especially with Rove working HARD against anyone not in the Bush camp OR
Rove (and BUSH) have given McVain their blessings ...
I will be most perturbed if it's the latter .. truly.
In NO way do i advocate the "moderatization" of the GOP. Such a statment is irresponsible on your part. An endeavor like that would be something that would have to be done across the board including senate and congressional seats. I am simply stating a moderate nominee would give the best chance of the GOP winning the WH in 08 in hopes of keeping our dominance in US politics.
Hillary is NOT a moderate. She does not fool anyone in the US with her antics. If she runs, we win hands down.
Giuliani would stomp any opponent from the DNC. His only problem is coming out of the GOP primaries. His stance on abortion and gun control has altered. From what i remember, i think he is becoming more gun rights oriented. I am not saying he's the best candidate on principles but he is far and beyond the leading candidate to beat a democrat in 08. Pence, Tancredo, etc etc are small fish. They dont have the financial capabilities or name recognition needed. They are a waste of time.
"Birds Of A Feather?"I don't think so. :)
McCain is about the only high profile GOP that I can think of that I can say I MIGHT think about sitting out voting for Prez in 2008 if he gets it.
He is UNWORTHY of being considered, imho.
http://www.greysquirrel.net/john.html
1) He does seem to have the ability to draw people to him . . . as do squirrels.
2) He also possesses the unique ability to make bitter enemies of neighbors . . . Just like squirrels!
3) He has suffered inhumane treatment at the hands of humans, giving him a most personal insight into the lives of everyday squirrels.
4) And finally, he does look like us. For example, the photo, at left, is certainly the face of a squirrel, fiercely protecting his nuts.
© 1997 graysquirrel@worldnet.att.net
This Website © Grey Squirrel's Page of Silliness 1998 All Rights Reserved
Even Hanoi didn't want him. The only reason they kept him as long as they did was because his daddy was an Admiral.
He was affectionately known as "Daddy's Boy" during 'Nam.
If McCain runs he will be the last Republican I vote for.
Tancredo in 2008.
You may not be aware that Reagan was a BIG backer of guest worker (bracero) programs as governor of California and expended political capital on it.
If a useless one-issue pandering obsessive like Tancredo is ever nominated for the presidency, yes, I will be verrrrrrry surprised. AND there would be every reason to be surprised. There would then be a new political party to replace a GOP gone mad.
Oh, wait, by Tancredo in 2008, perhaps you meant a target date for deporting him to, ohhhh, Mexico City by parachute, functioning or not?
When one's principles do not win, one does not win. When the principles of serious social conservatives do not win, civilization will collapse. Moral anarchy is NOT a desirable political agenda. [Everyone, please read those sentences again for the next three hours over and over and over again and for as much more time as necessary for them to sink in.]
One suspects from your posts that any of the foregoing would be acceptable to you as GOP nominees except, perhaps, on guns (assuming you are libertarian). After all, why care about 45 million abortions and counting? About same sex (or any other mix and match instances) anal abuse posing as "marriage" and being treated as though it deserved the same treatment (on taxes, Social Security, et al.)? Of course, they would each be a tad reluctant to lower taxes further or even to maintain Bush's tax cuts or to avoid incarcerating people for being self-employed businessfolks or for having too many kids or for educating their kids at home or for wearing mismatched socks or for not eating as much broccoli as the Hildebeast might dictate, but who cares so long as abortion is preserved along with alien "sexualities" posing as marriages? Right????
Call me old-fashioned. I am keeping my household pets indoors safe from the pseudo-amorous lustful attentions of Godless "Yeeeeeeargh Caucus" Demonrats (Would you dare allow Howard Dean to babysit YOUR beloved pets?), reds, social revolutionaries, most college perfessers, and liberal collaborationist pseudo-Republicans. And that includes protection for the canaries and the aquarium fish.
Keep trying.
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