Posted on 11/11/2005 5:49:06 PM PST by blam
Straight-talking McCain reveals himself as a leader in waiting
By Alec Russell
(Filed: 12/11/2005)
Senator John McCain has all but launched a campaign to succeed President George W Bush, calling for a new approach to the war in Iraq and savaging the Pentagon's record there.
With the White House struggling to regain the initiative after a series of damaging blows and the Democrats lacking a leader, the maverick Republican has effectively taken charge of the political debate.
Sen John McCain: 'We should be ramping up'
In a hard-hitting speech, reminiscent of his 2000 bid for the White House when he ran as a candidate of candour and integrity, he criticised the administration for its trademark "happy talk" about Iraq. He also called on the Bush administration to level with the nation about the war's difficulties.
It was a terrible mistake to repeat the error of the Vietnam War, when officials kept saying there was "light at the end of the tunnel" when, in fact, "there was a train".
He was careful to defuse potential charges of disloyalty by focusing his fire on the Pentagon, not Mr Bush.
He also tore into the Democrats, making clear he was fully behind the war and did not believe pre-war intelligence had been hyped.
He called for the immediate dispatch of 10,000 more troops, even though, he conceded, that would lead to more casualties. With more than 2,000 Americans killed in Iraq, he accepted public opinion was turning against the war. But he argued that the Pentagon had sent too few troops.
"Instead of drawing down we should be ramping up," he told the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. "The stakes are higher than they were in Vietnam."
The Pentagon should focus on winning over communities rather than targeted raids on insurgents, he said, also criticising it for rotating out successful generals.
The speech was his second high profile move in as many weeks. Bolstered by his Vietnam vet past - he was imprisoned and tortured in Hanoi - he is leading a Senate campaign for more humane rules on interrogating prisoners, a move opposed by Vice- President Dick Cheney.
To stake out such discordant positions a year into a presidency would traditionally be foolhardy for an ambitious party man.
But with Mr Bush's fortunes at a low ebb and Republicans in Congress divided and mutinous, Washington feels leaderless and Mr McCain has decided to move centre stage.
He will be 72 on election day in 2008, three years older than Ronald Reagan was when he won the White House in 1980. He has repeatedly said he has not decided whether to stand for president.
But there is little doubt in Washington that the "Straight Talk" express, as his 2000 battle bus was known, is preparing to hit the road again. In that classic trick of presidential aspirants, he has just co-written a book called Character is Destiny, allowing him to tour the country ostensibly to market it, but in reality to market himself.
In 2000 he was the outsider. This time, however, he hopes to be both outsider and insider, "straight talking" while rallying the party's establishment with his reputation as a fiscal and foreign policy hawk.
You make great points....
So, what it boils down to, from what I have read this evening is:
The primaries will probably be MORE participated in for Republicans than the actual election might be.
It is imperative...that we not only get someone that can defeat the Democrat candidate...especially if it is Hillary, Kerry, Edwards or Gore....blech (I have been hearing hints the Daschle is thinking of running)...oy!
But, someone that will knock some sense into the Congress.
They keep saying that a Senator doesn't get elected because he has to much of a voting record...and not enough "management" experience...but, if you think of George Allen, he was a Governor...and he hasn't been in the Senate long enough to have too many "wrong" vote...BUT, he has been in the Senate long enough to go to the Senate and the House...
and tell them that he KNOWS all of the BS tricks that they used against Bush,...and they can't fool someone that knows how they work, up close and personal..
"I will never vote for John McCain, period!"
Ditto
Damn right. A leader doesn't use the word "quagmire" every five minutes, nor does he try to say the same damn thing every five minutes, only more tactfully. McCain just likes to hear himself talk.
Senator McCain has the same reason for wanting to be President that John Edwards did: he's unlikely to be relected as senator in his home state.
Just the fact that a british rag is chatting him up is the nails in his coffin.
He wouldn't win 40 states in any universe; let alone this one.
When he was in the '00 primary, the MSM loved him, the Liberals LOVED him and voted for him in the primaries, to pump up his numbers, where they could. When push comes to shove, there is NO way, NONE, that GOD forbid, he were to be the GOP '08 presidential candidate, that Dems would actually vote for him.
But we'll never be able to prove your opposition nor mine, since there is about as much chance of McQueeg winning the primary, as you have.
I see.
You state McCain would win forty states without any evidence to prove your claim. I state he couldn't even win the Republican 2000 primary. A historical FACT.
Take your own advice.
Against Hillary it would not be a difficult decision...I just hope the choice against her will be a bit better...
| Straight-Talking McCain Reveals Himself As A Leader In Waiting
|
Complete bravo sierra.
Remember that movie from the 80's called "The Right Stuff" ?
Well McAin't aint it. No RINO's for Pres in 08.
If it comes down to a matchup between McCain and Hillary, I'll vote for McCain.
What's the matter, facts a problem for you?
GOOD! Don't complain on the morning after the election either.
I probably would to.. I'll say this though. McCain is right in his approach to Iraq. Very right!
I wish RINO's were really an endangered species. Theres too many of them roaming the Senate halls to meet that status. Maybe we can vote out as many RINO's as possible in the primaries. Starting in Red states.
Daschle McCain in Az.
As do I. But like I said, if it's a matchup between Hillary and McCain, I am not going to vote for some third party, let alone entitle Hillary to the keys to the White House by electoral fiat.
"A Leader In Waiting"
He can wait forever, as far as I'm concerned.
yeah....
Generally the front runner 3 years before an election cycle ISN'T the front runner when that election comes around. A very good example of this is Al Gore and another will be John Kerry (if you take Hillary out of the equation).
I don't think that McCain will be able to handle the schedule much less get people excited to the point where he will get the nod.
That said, if he does, I will have to think about what I will do on election day.
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.
