Posted on 11/08/2006 4:00:41 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
McCain gains political capital in elections
By Stephen Dinan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
November 8, 2006
Sen. John McCain emerged from yesterday's elections as one of Republicans' only winners as Democrats made solid gains and both parties turn an eye toward 2008.
The Arizona Republican, who wasn't up for re-election, rallied to the side of Republican candidates at 131 events -- a strong showing that displayed his rising popularity. His strength was underscored Monday when Charlie Crist, Florida's new Republican governor, chose to skip a scheduled rally with President Bush for an event with Mr. McCain.
"There's going to be a batch of people who are going to personally owe McCain and there's going to be another batch of people who are going to have to rethink their view of him," said Michael McKenna, a Republican strategist and pollster.
"He was a pretty solid party stalwart this go around, in a cycle when it was not easy to be a party stalwart."
"All of us Republicans are going to sit down together and listen to the voters, get the message from tonight, and we're going to shape not a new agenda but a return to the principles and philosophy of what we stand for and believe in," Mr. McCain said on Fox News last night.
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said the election provides a chance for Republicans to get back to principles: "I think it's going to have a purifying effect," he said.
As the 2008 potential candidates sort out the playing field, Mr. McCain is looking solid.
His efforts over the last two years included raising more than $10 million for candidates and local parties, and donating almost $1.5 million directly.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Jeez, can they wait for the dust to settle before they begin the coronation for '08? The media has decreed it will be Hillary versus McCain. I say, "no."
McCain is the MSM's toy.
Backstabbing works
That nonsense. He and his granstanding stoodges on the Detainee bill are part of this mess. McCain is politically dead
What, have the DBM decided to show a little mercy this morning?
I think McCain and his antics (granted, he calmed down as we got closer to the election) were at least in part responsible for GOP losses. He's virtually a Dem in many of his opinions and has been disloyal and even sided with the Dems in so many things that he gave the perception that there was no difference between the GOP and the Dems. Or that voting for a GOP candidate wasn't going to help, because they'd just follow the McCain lead and side with the Dems anyway.
Arizona voters resoundingly passed three anti-illegal immigrant ballot measures Tuesday and established English as the state's official language. The landslide victory - all four passed by a about a three-to-one margin statewide - sends a message that the state won't tolerate illegal immigration, said proponent Don Goldwater.
until somebody from Arizona shows up, let me be the skeptic; maybe McCain better run for Prez instead of Senator from AZ.
I know, the "unfunded" fence got passed in the house at the 11th hour, but the 11th hour is a little late to start rallying a demoralized base.
You can't create the biggest entitlement program since Social Security (unwanted by its primary beneficiaries), turn a blind eye to illegal immigration, and generally spend like drunken sailors (with someone else's money) and then expect the base to be with you on election night.
If this is true, McCain is finished just like his supposed running mate Lincoln Chafee last night.
"All of us Republicans are going to sit down together and listen to the voters, get the message from tonight, and we're going to shape not a new agenda but a return to the principles and philosophy of what we stand for and believe in," Mr. McCain said on Fox News last night.
McPain is right on this one point, but he also has to sit down and rethink his principles and philosophy as well. We don't believe McPain could possibly convince a vote out of us.
Did you read Hewitt's column this morning?..I'll ping you..he says that McCain should go away..
It was a lousy night all around. Republicans and all A,mericans are going to see two dark yars. In my heart I dont believe it will ever get so dark i can vote for McCain.
Frankly, I think it is downright silly to blame John McCain for the losses last night.
Cheers.
You may two choices. McCain or Guilliani. Take your pick. Look across the country and try to see who the American people could rally around from the GOP side.
Also, keep your eye on the Democratic house. I think they will try to rein in their kooks and try to look like the adults are back in charge. They know what their silliness did to their party in the past and I don't think they want to go back there.
This is going to be a long uphill battle IMHO.
Clearly, someone is brain dead.
McCain's antics in the gang of four have him marked by conservatives everywhere, except perhaps, in Az, not to mention that he isn't running for office.
Maybe he can sit down with his buddy Dewine.
Most depressing (and insane) headline I've seen today.
But the day's young, yet.
They started talking about the subpoena's last night on Msnbc.That was the only truthful thing Matthews said.He said with the house in control of the Dems watch the different subpoenas go out all over the place. Buchanan said on Imus that the end of the Goldwater conservative movement ended last night.
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