Posted on 01/09/2008 11:32:33 AM PST by jdm
We're about to enter another of the regular blogger conference calls held by John McCain. This will, of course, be the first since his surprisingly strong victory over Mitt Romney and the rest of the Republican field.
He starts off by noting that he is "obviously very pleased" with the results. McCain credits his straight talk on the stump in New Hampshire. He has nothing much to offer for the Democratic Party result, maybe one of the few who haven't opined on it. McCain tells a story about hardening his resolve in a summer trip to Iraq with Lindsey Graham. The fall's focus on the war also helped motivate him to fight his way to victory in order to ensure that the war gets managed properly.
McCain says that Michigan is "one of Governor Romney's home towns," and he's assembling a team to help him win. Tom Ridge vouched for his credentials on border security, and he thinks that will play well in Michigan. Frank Keating, the former Oklahoma governor, will join him as well.
Questions:
* Will McCain support an executive order barring the funding of non-legislative earmarks? -- Absolutely. "People are sick and tired of the wasteful spending." Graham's there and misunderstood his answer, and he joked that he has to pay for a translator whenever Graham's around. More seriously, he says he wants to attack this kind of earmarking as President.Actually, I have to give McCain some credit here. He handled the win with humility, noting that he has an uphill fight in Michigan and South Carolina, but is confident he's on the right trajectory. He didn't crow about his win, and begged off opportunities to do so. I found the Phil Gramm reference very intriguing -- he's a man with whom conservatives can work, and having him on McCain's team may help in that regard.
* Does he look at the breakdown of last night's demos and feel some justification after all the negative ads? -- McCain doesn't want to call the attacks unfair, but he thinks they didn't have the effect Romney wanted. The strength as Commander in Chief also makes him feel pretty good, especially right after the Pakistan and Iranian Navy challenges.
* Can he duplicate the win in NH elsewhere? - History shows that whoever wins two of the first three contests usually wins the nomination. They have already begun building their efforts in Michigan, South Carolina, and Florida, and the money flow has significantly improved. He wants to stick with the town-hall format.
* He's happy with the endorsements of the state media in Michigan. It will still tough, as Romney has strong ties to Michigan, but he also had strong ties in New Hampshire.
* Economy - McCain says he has several messages here. He wants lower taxes, but wants lower spending as well. He also wants to see a lowered reliance on imported oil. Michigan is really hurting, and he wants to see job retraining and assistance for displaced workers. "We can't leave these people behind." He notes that the jobs that have been lost won't be coming back -- so let's start building the new jobs that will put Americans back to work.
* Will we see Lieberman out on the stump? - Yes. He will come to Michigan on Monday, on the eve of the primaries.
* Is he doing traditional fundraisers? Some, but most of it's coming in through the Internet. It's coming in "very strong".
* What should the Republican message be? -- Trust and confidence, stop the wasteful spending, national security, reduce the federal government, and fix entitlement programs. It's change -- but it's change back to the principles for which Republicans should stand. The Democrats talk about change but offer no specifics. We need to talk specifically about change.
* Qualities in a running mate -- Wants someone very good at national security, and strong expertise in areas where he has weaker credentials. He mentioned Phil Gramm could be on his team (Cabinet, perhaps) for his strength in economics.
* What do you make of Mike Huckabee? -- He's proven that debate matter, as he's done quite well in that format. He could have a very respectful debate with Huckabee, without vitriol. He's a good campaigner, "the kind of guy you wouldn't mind living next to you". He sees Huckabee as having the same weakness as the rest of the contenders.
McCain’s not going to be POTUS.
I know it was a tough day, but his “victory speech” last night really sucked
McCain is crazy.
“McCain’s not going to be POTUS.”
You better be right!
This old FR poll is pretty interesting.
Do you believe John McCain, the man who is personally leading the charge to shut down free speech on the Internet, should ever be considered as a presidential candidate?
No 91.7% 4,523
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=143;results=2
Heck -- didn't Pat Buchanan win New Hampshire in either 1992 or 1996?
Thanks for posting the behind the scenes material, however I don’t put much in stock w/ the Gramm mention. Gramm and McCain have been long-time friends. They have supported each others’ presidential campaigns for years, so it’s not surprising at all Gramm that would receive attention in the highly unlikely MCain presidency.
Which candidate has the most endorsements by leading conservatives?
I think Romney can pull it out, but I have serious, serious doubts about Fred. We’d be left with McCain, Huckabee (NOT a conservative), or Giuliani.
Ugh.
McCain can only win in states where democrats and independents can vote in the GOP primary. He’s also almost broke, so unless he can build fundraising momentum from his NH finish (and possible Michigan win), he’s going to be in trouble come “Super Tuesday”.
McCain had nothing to do with the Surge. His plan was the Baker Commission and Americanizing the war. The Baker Commission was a creature of John McCain and Senate Republicans. It was there price they demanded of Bush for continuing to fund the war in 2006.
This current posturing is merely a cheap political ploy for McCain to flop once again on Iraq and be on the winning side.
McCain position on Iraq blows with the polling data inside the GOP. 1st he is for it, then he is for it but the execution was all wrong. Then we needed “250,000 more boots on the ground”, then the war needs a political solution since it was militarily unwinable now the Surge is working and he is trying, fraudulently, to claim it was his idea.
John McCain, The unprincipled, opportunist the corporatist Rockefeller wing of the Republican Old Boy’s club wants to run in 2008!
God save the Republic! If the GOP runs McCain color this life long Conservative activist on the bench for 2008
The McCain win in New Hampshire was a real surprize to me & probably to him as well.
God these McCainicas are such Cult of Personality clowns. They merely scream slogans and sound bites. They cannot make a single serious argument for their guy. Instead they merely scream emotion bases slogans and sound bites.
Intellectually and politically John McCain and Hillary Clinton are opposed sides of the same coin. You get some variation on specific issues like Abortion but over all they share the same philosophical outlook. If anything, McCain has shown himself even more unprincipled then Hillary. Hillary at least will stick to her guns on this or that issue, McCain is total politician who would sell his mother to win a vote.
GOP runs McCain, color this life long Conservative activist out for the 2008 season no matter who the Dems run
McCain and Stem Cell Research Round-up
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO"
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO" Part II
U.S. Sen. John McCain is no War Hero
John McCain: The Manchurian Candidat
McCain Is Booed by Labor Activists
McCain Rides to Kerry's Rescue: "John Kerry is Not Weak on Defense" (Today Show alert)
John McCain SCREAMS AT 9/11 FSA MEMBERS FOR OPPOSING HIS BILL TO GIVE AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS
A number of articles on McCain. (some the same as above)
McCain Seeks to Change California Primary
McCain/Soros by Rabbi Areyh Spero
Soros' "Reform" (an article about Soros‘ instrumental hand in McCain/Feingold)
Not Child‘s Play [McCain/Schumer bill could effect FR?]
McCain's Letter (McCain aligns with Global Enviro activists)
The Turning Point on Global Warming (McCain and Lieberman Op-Ed Alert)
Climate bill sets stage for debate (Sens. McCain, Obama, and Lieberman join forces)
McCain: Global warming is fact, must be addressed [hurl alert]
McCain Looked into Caucusing with Democrats
McCain Still Disliked by Fiscal Conservatives (Club For Growth)
John McCain Goes Left for Money
McCain, Obama Make Deal on Financing
Sens. Snowe, Collins to head Maine exploratory committee for McCain
Double Talk Express. McCain in his own words. VIDEO
More YOUTUBE - McCain On Abortion (UH OH! YouTube Has a Video of Him in 1999)
The following links posted by raving nutter and lifted by me…
How Cindy McCain was outed for drug addiction(stole drugs from the American Voluntary Medical Team)
John McCain: Hypocrite by Mark R. Levin
John McCain and the Kemper Marley organised crime network
McCain and his Chicom Connections: Posts #17 and #18 by Calpernia
More links I found...
TEN REASONS NOT TO SUPPORT MCCAIN (Free Republic thread from 2000)
It depends on the meaning of “never” (McCain's Convenient Memory) **NEW**
Calm down, Johnnie.
Let me ask you a question.
When Fred drops out, will you support the candidate Fred endorses?
“McCain’s not going to be POTUS.”
So he’ll lose to Hillary?
I’m not in McCain’s corner (see tagline), but he’s got the best shot at the nomination right now.
OMG - MNJohnnie has been a GOP cheerleader almost as much as say Hugh Hewitt. For him to get ready to walk off the field is *bad*. It is a true reflection of how the real loyal party baes feels about the RINO traitor. MNJohnnie, I feel your pain.
I too am a broken-glass Republican.
The idea that I will lift a single finger to help McCain become president is anathema, for all the backstabbing things he has done to conservatives.
It’s great that he has a mostly conservative message though and Phil Gramm, my favorite senator. But that doesnt change his support of amensty, CFR, CO2 cap, votes against Bush tax cuts, gang of 14, bashing of the religious right, and many other actions to hurt the conservative cause ...
Let the sheeple pick the RINO they want, if it comes down to McCain and Huckabee conservatives will just have to wash their hands of it ... This primary is becoming a total Clusterhuck.
The poll results showed that McCain won because of liberals and moderates that hate Bush, the economy and the Iraq War.
You have about a month to stomp the sour grapes and then you’ll need to join Gramm, Kemp, and eventually Thompson, on the Express.
You said it first :)
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