Supporting a RINO like McCain isn't a good way to get it around here, pal.
Posted on 01/18/2008 7:28:43 AM PST by a77
Eight years ago we urged voters in South Carolina's Republican presidential primary to support John McCain. His record since then has left us even more convinced that the Arizona senator should be the 2008 Republican presidential nominee.
Not only has the senator continued to live up to the "straight talk" theme of both campaigns, he has provided the country with positive leadership in critical areas. Well known for an independent streak that has led to deviations from the party line, John McCain mainly reflects mainstream conservative values, as evidenced by his calls for less government regulation and a reduction of federal spending, his opposition to tax hikes, his advocacy of Social Security and Medicare reform, his push for an overhaul of the tax code, and his support for a strong defense.
It is in the latter area that the senator, a former Naval aviator who survived more than five years in captivity in Vietnam, where he suffered physical and mental torture, has been the most effective. His was the knowledgeable voice that got the administration's and nation's attention when he spoke out on what was going wrong with the war in Iraq. He also was among the earliest and most steadfast supporters of Gen. David Petraeus' successful 'surge' strategy.
Never one to duck the tough issues, Sen. McCain has taken the lead on a reasonable solution to the illegal immigration dilemma, which he described to us in a recent interview as one of the most heartfelt emotional issues he has dealt with in his 26 years in Congress. His state is among the most adversely impacted, and he knows better than most the need to secure the borders before any new reform legislation goes into effect. He believes the failure to seal the borders as promised in connection with the discredited 1986 immigrant reform effort is at the root of much of the current public frustration.
While political hay can be made by calling for the blanket deportation of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, that's unrealistic. The senator's more sensible approach calls for deporting the estimated 2 million who have committed crimes while in this country. The remaining 10 million would be punished through fines, required to learn English and to get in line for citizenship behind all others who are here legally. He makes the irrefutable point that it is the federal government's failure to act that is giving the illegal immigrants de facto amnesty.
The McCain spur to congressional action on immigration and other critical issues would be the power of presidential persuasion coupled with his willingness to use his bully pulpit to "call the names" of those who refuse to come to the table. He would preface negotiations, he said, by offering to give all the credit to those willing to work toward a solution. "Politicians," he reminded us, "crave approval." He's also ready to play tough with those who refuse to cooperate by "telling the American people" who "won't sit down with me." That's the kind of straight talk a lot of politicians in Washington would be loath for their constituents to hear.
In fact, the senator clearly feels regular communication with the American people has been sorely lacking. He pledges press conferences at least once every two weeks and also said he would go on television once a week — even if only C-SPAN would cover it — to update the American people "on what's happened where our young people are in harm's way."
In terms of national defense, what he describes as the 'war against radical extremism' would never be far from his thoughts. While he believes al-Qaida is on the run, "it is by no means defeated," and Iraq will continue to be the central battleground. He is encouraged by signs that there is an increased recognition around the world about the nature of the struggle, and he is well equipped to make America's case in the international arena. Certainly as the victim of vicious torture at the hands of the enemy, there is no one more credible to reassure this country and the world "that we will never torture another person in American custody."
He has equal credibility on the domestic side, particularly for his opposition to wasteful spending in general and, specifically, such hot-button, pork-barrel earmarks as a $230 million Alaskan "bridge to nowhere."
The senator notes that he has never asked for an earmark for his state in all his years in Congress and rightly believes that public disenchantment with his party is due to the level of pork-barrel spending that occurred on the Republican watch. He pledges to veto every single piece of legislation that contains an earmark.
What's more, he will make sure the American public knows about such earmarks as the $3 million allocation to study the DNA of bears in Montana and promises to do so with a bit of "good natured" chiding, much in the style of his mentor, Ronald Reagan. We could use more of that kind of humor in Washington.
The 71-year-old senator's also willing to poke a little fun at himself, momentarily pretending to doze off, for example, when the media ask age-related questions, including whether he would be too old to withstand the rigors of being president. In a serious vein he points to the energy level he has displayed during the debates and campaign, noting that age questions should be balanced with those of judgment and experience.
He notes that in the eight years since he first ran, America has been attacked and currently is engaged in two wars. He rightly points out that this is no time for "on the job training."
John McCain correctly gauges the nation's thirst for a problem solver who can cross party lines. He points to Sen. Joe Lieberman's endorsement of him in New Hampshire on national security issues, despite differences on domestic issues, as a "singular" moment in that campaign and as evidence of his ability to attract independent and Democratic votes.
On Saturday, South Carolina voters will once more have the chance to give him the boost he needs to be the Republican nominee in November. Of all the contenders in that primary, he has the best chance of forming bipartisan coalitions to solve this nation's domestic problems and the most credibility and experience in international affairs.
For the good of the country, give tried and trustworthy Sen. John McCain the chance to be president with a much-deserved S.C. Republican primary victory.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
send your “common sense” in for an overhaul . . . at least a tune-up.
And inform yourself about 10,000% more about McChurian. Talk to folks who know in AZ.
Yes, give McCain what he deserves! A swift boot out!
Which reminds me. We seem to need some new voters in Arizona that won’t re-elect this lying, non-Conservative.
Apologies, that post got away a little early...it happens!
I stand by my statement, though....IMO the Clinton machine would handily obliterate McCain. The man needs no further humiliation than what he seems capable of bringing upon himself.
Good point. Excluding military operations in the ME, I can't think of very many.
I found Mark’s take interesting.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YjUzOGY0ODA1YzBmNjFhOWE5NWU0OTY5NTZiOGNhOGQ=
McChurian?
Is that supposed to be funny?
“I respect his military service to a point ...”? What the heck does that mean?
See ... I have no problem if you don’t support him because of his policies. That’s perfectly fine. What I don’t understand are these slanderous remarks about his time as a POW.
The guy was serving his country, sacrificing his life, and acted more courageously than 99.9% of us here posting on this board. There is no need to denigrate POWs with this “manchurian” candidate nonsense and baseless brainwashing comments.
Are you going to question the sanity of all our POWs that have made it alive? Ironic statements from somebody who I would assume would “support our troops” inside his little mind at some point.
MNJohnnie,
Can you please post your extensive list of Bush’s accomplishments for this noobie?
That’s all against McCain? Soccer mums would rather vote for an abortionist rat?!?!
I would love to give McCain exactly what he deserves...a swift kick in the pahtooty.
If Thompson goes down tomorrow, which of the remaining do you call a Republican and not a Rino? If you select Romney, let me know and I will enlighten you on his record.
I agree with you somewhat there. The MSM, like McCain when is used as a foil against Bush and the GOP. If McCain was to be the nominee, they would turn on him and he would probably get alot of outbursts caught on camera.
. . . America will deserve what it gets. By default, every protest group in the country will be lining up for their share of the political and economic spoils of a war they will not have to fight any longer.
I'm not referring to the W.O.T., but only the aggregate of each group's separate special interest battles against true constitutional government.
Just what has the illustrious senator done that would make any conservative want to vote for him?
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