Posted on 12/27/2007 10:15:19 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
From the Washington Post today:
McCain had been left for dead politically this summer, and now his decision to return to a state he skipped altogether in his 2000 bid for the White House is one of the many signs that the GOP contest for president is still in search of a front-runner.
McCain has surged back into a strong second place in New Hampshire, where former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the GOP front-runner there, returned Wednesday in the hope of shoring up his eroding poll numbers. The two men traded angry, long-distance insults that signaled an abrupt end to the convivial Christmas messages that Republican hopefuls offered voters last week.
Sure we've mocked him, given him insulting monikers, raged against his gang of 14, his outspokenness against President Bush, his fondness for illegal aliens, his votes against the Bush tax cuts-- but John McCain, formerly of the Straight Guy Express, or whatever it was the last time he ran, could handily beat Hillary! if he gets the nomination.
You know why. He was bound to surge after his brilliant Christmas commercial which included footage of him in bandages, having suffered as a POW (click link above). He finally advertised his strongest asset. Men may admire him for his service and sacrifice for the country. Women want to nurture him and comfort him and make him feel better.
If you doubt this, consider the research of marketing expert Clotaire Rapaille, as showcased in the Frontline documentary "The Pursuaders." It's the gut emotional response, a deep seated connection that a person makes which propels them to purchase an item or in this case, make a vote. I'll bet Frank Luntz's dial technology would see the numbers go through the roof when McCain's Christmas ad is shown, especially when contrasted with the other ads.
Michael Medved made the case that McCain was right about the "gang of 14" in that he foresaw that Republicans would lose their majority and therefore would need to maintain filibuster rights. He also argued that McCain had a good case for voting against the Bush tax cuts. McCain claimed he was against tax cuts if there were no proposed cuts to the budget in kind.
McCain has been a "straight talker" lately, and whether you agree with what he says or not, he is refreshingly blunt. He was right about needing the surge in Iraq, and, although he is wrong about waterboarding, in my opinion, he can be forgiven by voters because of his unique perspective as a POW.
Independents like McCain. Women would not feel guilty voting for him over Hillary! because of his hidden emotional vulnerability, and the average white male would vote for him over any democrat.
Are you calling me a “mccain pimp?” I haven’t been pushing for McCain. Or anyone. Am I supposed to say that Duncan could for sure beat Hillary! so that I won’t be called a mccain pimp? This is just my evaluation of the facts on the ground. That doesn’t mean I think Mccain is the best Republican. Hardly.
True...in the short-term.
But, in the long-term, the lower tax rate on a larger economy closes the gap.
From 2003 to 2006, federal revenues from the individual income tax grew from $794 billion to $1044 billion -- over 31% or almost 10% per year compounded. Source (pdf).
A sustained growth rate of 10% per year is going to recoup the short-term cost of just about any tax cut.
I'd agree, though, that tax cuts should be considered on their own merits -- not as a means of increasing federal revenues. Just like spending cuts should be considered on their own merits...
Because the potential damage to the country from having RATS control both chambers of Congress and the White House is nothing short of staggering.
If it McCain is indeed the man......don’t count on this middle-aged white guys vote. I see no difference between a President McCain and a President AnyDem.
They will stop at nothing to make sure both candidates, Dem and Republican, will be committed to open borders.
I would add Tancredo to the list. If the GOP had been serious about getting arses handed to them in 2006 they wouldnt run Rudy McHuckneyani. We should be fighting who would take the number 2 slot Hunter, Tancredo or Thompson. btw hunter is not even on my state's ballot.
that leaves out all the top tier repugnicans dont it? I agree :p
Ron Paul represents a Repub district. If you want to get elected in a Repub district, you gotta be a Repub. Judge Greer in St. Pete, who signed the execution order of Terri Schiavo, is a Repub. That’s the only way he would have been elected, too. I was a Dem for years because I lived in North Florida and there were no Repubs even running in local elections.
That’s just plain silly, in my opinion. The number one issue is the “war on islamofascism.” Do you really think McCain and Hillary! are on the same page in that regard? Do you think the military would agree?
I would have expected to see threads like this on McCain as much I would have expected to see pro-illegal alien ones on Freerepublic! :-)
Because the potential damage to the country from having RATS control both chambers of Congress and the White House is nothing short of staggering.
If McLoon is elected the result will be the same.
McCain would go down in defeat to Hillary by 60 to 40 percent. At least half the Republican base would stay home on election day.
? How do you explain that McCain has the highest favorable ratings of any candidate amongst all voters?
He's flip flopped like crazy.
he's the one guy who could beat Hillary right now.
I think Hillary would chew him up and spit him out, and even if he could beat Hillary, that is not a good reason to vote for him.
"Vote for X because he can beat Y!"
That was done with Arnold in California (Vote for Arnold because he can beat Davis!) and look at what they wound up with.
The problem is that the revenue growth matches almost exactly with periods where there is no tax cut. The initial revenue loss is never recouped to the government. The money remains in private hands and that is a good thing but the claim that it actually enhances the treasury is a myth that doesn’t stand up.
So What? I don't find an egotistical lunatic, not to mention proven crook, as well as the certain pro-Democrat Senate tool on the Republican side, better than Hillary. If McCain is the Republican nominee, I will not be voting for him. (I refuse to vote for Snarlin' Arlen either for some of the same reasons.)
Republican hopeful John McCain showed the highest favorable rating of all the candidates of any party - 55 favorable/35 unfavorable. Fred Thompson scored 43/34 and Mike Huckabee was tied at 42/42, while the rest of the Republicans were rated more negative than positive. Rudy Giuliani scored 44/49 and Mitt Romney scored 44/45. If the numbers don't change, GOP primary voters will have to ask themselves: Do we want to vote for a candidate whom most American voters don't like?
---I know quite well what we have in CA. Talk about ecotards...
Do you mean like it was in 1993 and 1994 when Clinton upon taking office said he would make the New Deal look like an administration that accomplished nothing in the way of passing socialist legislation?
Do you mean like the President and Congress who could not get Hillary care passed in 1993 although Democrats controlled the house, senate, the presidency and the supreme court?
The Clintons had the presidency in 1993 and 1994 and Democrats controlled both houses of congress. They actually accomplished no part of their agenda. But this time you say, they will work miracles and actually get things done.
Has Hillary REALLY become the worlds smartest woman? Have Democrats learned how to ram stuff through a congress they control?
What do they call the current Democrat controlled congress??? I believe they are called The DO NOTHING CONGRESS... cause they couldn't get crap done over a lame duck, lowest approval rating ever, George W. Bush.
I’m not so sure he could beat Hillary. Surely I am not the only one that would seriously consider voting for the Hildabeast before I’d vote for McCaine? Or, I’d possibly stay home. I cannot nor will not vote him.
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.