Posted on 10/31/2005 4:10:43 PM PST by conservativecorner
The GOP had their chance to dethrone Spectre and they passed. It is not easy to do now in midterm and GOP leadership has not shown the courage to do anything.
Judging from his comments today, I think Specter will support Judge Alito. I agree that Chafee, Snowe and Collins are lost causes, and we shouldn't waste a second on them.
McCain is the real wild card. He refused to come out in support of Alito today, and he knows that he'll be the toast of the MSM for the rest of his life if he manages to torpedo the nomination. He also that what he decides will carry a lot of weight among the more moderate GOP senators. You just know he's just relishing his position now, knowing that by being coy, he's guaranteeing himself lots of media fawning and feting for weeks to come.
OTOH, he knows that conservatives are watching him very closely and have the power to destroy any 2008 Presidential hopes he has if he goes against Alito. McCain may well be the most important Senator in determining whether or not Alito is confirmed. God only knows what he'll demand of the White House to buy his support, and I shudder to think of it.
Folks, every conservative candidate has a web site. Here you can find out how to donate direct.
Leni
"It is not easy to do now in midterm and GOP leadership has not shown the courage to do anything."
I think they've begun to take note that we're not confusing words with actions, here.
That is why the conservative base exists though: to light a fire under their elected representatives' posteriors.
Good summation of McCain.
Agreed. However, unless THIS Congress delivers a confirmation on Alito, and something substantive and immediate on illegal immigration before the mid-terms, I'll never donate again. This Back-of-the-Bus Republican has had it.
"God only knows what he'll demand of the White House to buy his support"
I've come to learn that arm-twisting is not a one way street.
McCain is the front runner for the Presidential nominee. Even McCain will realize the support Alito has and would not dare be the roadblock. McCain is smarter than that, although not much smarter than that.
If McCain goes against Alito, McCain will go from GOP frontrunner to non-contender overnight. Unless McCain wants to be Hillary's running mate, he will not oppose Alito.
"McCain is the front runner for the Presidential nominee."
In whose estimation? I find him a bit disturbing, myself. And, that sense arises from more than his being a political dilettante.
My view on the GOP, which I share with other conservatives, is:
"Don't leave: take over."
In the meantime, always a good idea to indulge innate distrust of redistribution of your money by a centralized committee, namely the RNC. Plus, giving directly to candidates/causes gives you more of a say.
Certainly he is. McCain is an egomaniac and there are dozens of polls showing McCain and Guilliani in front of all other GOP nominees and even beating Hillary. McCain is drolling at the prospects of being president. He is not going to blow it here. I would be large sums on this. I don't think McCain has a realistic chance unless he becomes tax cutting, spending cutting, social conservative. McCain could fool enough people to win, if he runs to the right.
I know -- bet they don't follow McCain again down this foolish path! I have been chuckling since they rushed to get out the word.
He knows conservatives DESPISE HIM. I've never met any conservative that would EVER vote for him. He's committed a cardinal sin of constitutional matters in a little number call CFR. He can not swear to protect and defend the constitution when he actively works to dismantle it, and silence the voice of the people. He bashes the President to his face and behind it as well. Disgusting little commie loving gargoyle.
IMO, McCain has kept below the radar since his taking over the senate with his gang of 7 (SEVEN) . Linsey is the mouthpiece for the gang. He, vice president, is speaking on for president McCain. So both are in the bag for Alito.
"McCain could fool enough people to win, if he runs to the right."
I'm not in a mood to be fooled, and that mood has enough momentum to last until 2008. I don't think I'm alone in that, either.
Who said McCain is the frontrunner -- he cannot win in Republican primaries -- last time he won in States with crossover votes -- once we got to Super Tuesday and Republican only voter states, McCain was toast.
"Don't leave: take over."
I like it.
Unless the Dims and liberal interest groups manage to manufacture some smear against Alito that McCain thinks gives him enough cover to go against the nomination and still keep his Presidential hopes alive. It doesn't have to give him that cover - it just has to be enough to make him think he can buck the conservative base.
Don't forget that McCain thought he could win the 2000 nomination by trashing Christian conservatives and relying on RINOs and Dims crossing over to vote for him in the primaries. That was a serious miscalculation, and the question then becomes whether or not he learned anything from that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.