A Rapprochement With the Right?

Townhall.com ^ | 2/9/08 | Pat Buchanan

[StatenIsland]

On Thursday, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Sen. John McCain stood before thousands of conservatives he has done his level best to anger and alienate for a decade -- to ask for their support.

And he made a not unconvincing case.

What he said essentially was this. We have fought each other in the past, and we have fought side by side. And I admit to having made my share of mistakes. But if we do not work together, we lose the presidency. And if we lose the presidency, your causes will be lost, as well as my last chance to be president.

But if you will work with me, many of the causes for which you have fought -- one more justice like Roberts and Alito, retention of the Bush tax cuts, further reductions in tax rates, a more secure border -- will be taken up as the causes of my presidency.

Moreover, my door will be open and your voices heard. And none of this will happen if Hillary or Barack Obama wins, which will happen if we do not join forces and fight together.

Bottom line: If we don't hang together, we all hang separately. If my end of the dinghy sinks, yours will not stay afloat. And if I lose, you get your pound of flesh, but we will both be out in the cold as a Democratic Congress and president undo what was right about the Bush presidency as well as what was wrong about the Bush presidency.

So it is your call.

McCain is no orator. But the speech had humility and humor -- and put the ball back squarely in the court of the conservatives. For John McCain had just taken the first step toward a rapprochement with the right, by asking for an armistice and offering an alliance.

In 1964, as an even more acrimonious battle for the GOP ended at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, where the right hooted and booed Nelson Rockefeller, another Arizonan was far less compromising than John McCain. Barry Goldwater told that convention of conservatives that had just nominated him: "Anyone who joins us in all sincerity, we welcome. Those who do not care for our cause, we don't expect to enter our ranks in any case."

Conservatives now have a decision to make......

[nonliberal]

Forget the GOP. They are done. Throw away your loyalties to the party.

[oblomov]

Hmmmmmm.....

Buchanan said it a lot better than McCain did.

And it would be a convincing argument if anyone other than McCain were making it. But it isn’t the fact that we have been opponents, it is how he fought us that matters. For example, the accusations of the opponents of McCain-Kennedy being “racists” and “bigots” was beyond the pale.

This said, after watching (part of) the inane and callow “Yes We Can” Obama video on YouTube, I’m inclined to keep an open mind about McCain. As much as McCain might annoy me, I couldn’t put up with four years of that ridiculous, maudlin, Obamamania bullsh*t without self-medicating.

[LibLieSlayer]

If you want to actually have an impact of any kind in the coming election... you can register as a dim if you wish and help to decide who the next President will be. I'd rather eat a glass sandwich and wash it down with a Sterno shake. mcinsane will lose to either of them... he does not inspire America with a vision and a movement like Reagan did and juan does not enjoy his spouse being a powerful and much loved (amongst heathens) ex-President... nor does he have 900 FBI files on his opponents... and a muslim, gas-bag, empty suit, race baiter has fooled a bunch of rich, liberal white people and other supposed downtrodden (in lockstep) souls that he is the next JFK... his vision and future are as misty and defused as the small patch of grey matter between his ears. There is YOUR reality pal... and it SUCKS bigtime!

LLS

[Tut]

You will be eating crow if Hillary or Obama gets in and I don’t want to read any crying the blues from one of you guys when Hildabeast or Obamy become your president.

Instead of using all your time dissing McCain because you didn’t get your way and got your “feelings” hurt, you might as well buck up and do what you can to support what you think is the “right man” in your own state.

That is if case you want to sit at home and let the dems get control in the house and senate again as well. It’s your choice sport.

[panthermom]

I think we are fixin to hit rock bottom. Which may not be a bad thing. Once we’re there we can then climb out of this pit the elitist have thrown us into. To keep towing the line has put us where we are right now. We’ve seen it from congress on up. The past few years have been very eye opening, our leaders have shown us where their loyalties lie, and they ain’t with us. Time to start cleaning house big time.

[dowcaet]

The bigger problem is that all of those independents who voted for him in the primaries will probably vote for the Democrat in the fall. This is not looking good for the Maverick.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

You misunderstood what my point was. The battle is between those who believe in freedom, individuality, self-determination, charity and humility vs. those who believe in socialism, communal vs. individual, entitlement, and abdication of personal responsibility to the nanny state. The bottom line is that I will vote for the Republican nominee, because the alternative is absolutely unacceptable to me. That’s just my personal opinion, and I respect those that think otherwise, but I just do not see Hillary and Obama and McCain as all equivalent.

[sirchtruth]

So it is your call.

My Call, John? Get the hell out of my party you liberal coddling wanker!

[WorkingClassFilth]

Street level translation: ‘I’ve pissed in your faces in the past and I’ll probably do it again. But - if we don’t all try harder to get along, the big bad lefties are really going to really poop on your pie.’

So, having done all he could to subvert and thwart major conservative change in the past, we are now being called to rally with the principal of our Party’s Fifth Column in order to avert the disasters that we have fought to avoid all along.

I wonder if the Manchurian Candidate will choose his soul-mate Arlen Spectre as his running mate in order to sew up the cancer sympathy voting bloc?

[noname07718]

I am looking for a leader and a fighter who will not take a raft of sh*t lying down from his opponent. Lets wait and see if he can redeem himself in my eyes before I pull a presidential choice. I enter this period with a large bias against J. Mc. And he will have to prove himself before I vote for him. If he doesn’t, I will cast my vote for every name on the ballot from tier 2 on down, but not for president. I would rather let the politicians know that my vote is important to me and split my ballot and let them know I think before I choose.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Excellent! You do, indeed, have the knack. One thing, though - you’re style is still too open and honest. One day, that could land in front of a bullet pocked wall...

Good luck on your new career!

[Travis McGee]

Don't listen to McCain's promises of the moment: observe his actions. This is the man John McCain chose to be his "Hispanic Outreach Director." Hernandez is a verified traitor. Born in Dallas he decided as an adult to become a dual-national Mexican citizen. His last "real" job was serving in Mexican President Vicente Fox's cabinet as his "American Reconquista Director." After that gig ran out, he worked for George Soros funded internationalist foundations, like the one that published his book.

Hernandez believes all Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the USA should become dual citizens and consider themselves Mexicans first, "to the 8th generation." The "New American Pioneers" proclaimed in his book are the illegal alien invaders he urges to become settlers in the USA.

And this is the man McCain chose for his "Hispanic Outreach Director." In the past week he was asked about this choice, and McCain said he chose Hernandez because he agrees with his positions.

Juan Shamnesty McCain is precisely a treacherous liar.

Remember: Benedict Arnold was also a genuine war hero, who lost a leg and suffered months of agonizing recovery...before he became a traitor.

[Ignatz]

And I admit to having made my share of mistakes.

Mistakes? MISTAKES?!? Violating the First Amendment, and by extension his oath of office, was no FREEKIN' mistake! It was an act of subversion.

[Tarpon]

Courage ... Picking Bob Dole II in a sombrero without the inspiration, energy, vision and charisma of the original.

Save your money, It’s going to be bad ...

Onward to sorting the House and Senate races and narrowing down my potential new friends and future adoptees.

[Tut]

I’m with you 100% or more.

I have no idea if Clinton or Obamy would actually make good on their campaign promises or if they will be able to if they try. I just don’t want us to test that theory out. If they wind up with the Presidency, the leadership in congress and Senate... it just can’t be good news.

[LibLieSlayer]

If you truly believed in the vision of Reagan you would understand exactly what I am doing. I will vote for every Conservative on my down ballot. I will and I am donating to Conservative candidates... but when it comes to mcnasty... you rinos and moderates are on your own. It’s sink or swim time for Nelson’s wing known as the “Big Tent moderate movement”. Reagan stated it most eloquently:

“A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.”

“I don ‘t know about you, but I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, “We must broaden the base of our party”—when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.”

“I do not believe I have proposed anything that is contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. It is at the same time the very basis of conservatism. It is time to reassert that principle and raise it to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.”

Ronald Reagan CPAC 1975

---

Like I said... you have to believe.

LLS

[Grimmy]

My opponents say I am too open and honest. I ask you, my fellow faithful devotees to the mystical (R)! Is openness and honesty bad? I never lie, unless I wish to tell you an untruth. And I only tell you what you wish to hear me say, so is it really ever not true, regardless of the facts?

Facts are what they are. Sometimes a fact is true, sometimes a fact is false. It is still fact! And, what is true, what is false? Does that really matter when you are hearing what you wish to hear and are made happy by it?

Happiness is the comfort of loyalty to the (R)!

[cgbg]

So what are the alternatives in the real world?

Look, you can think tactically or you can think strategically. Tactically McCain _may_ be better than a Democrat, but I could argue either side of that issue. But, strategically, McCain is a disaster for the Republican Party and future of the conservative movement. You do _not_ want RINOs in power. Then we will have a choice between liberals and liberals for the next ten elections. We need the RINOs to lose so we can take the party back after the Democrats screw up their four years.

Carter begat Reagan.

One step backwards, two steps forward.

McCain is a servant of the New York Times editorial board. That is understandable for Democrats, and we run against them on that basis.

For a Republican it is unacceptable.

McCain must be defeated.

[Tarpon]

Vote for the loser — Or if you really feel bad about McAmnesty, skip voting for him, then just get in the House and Senate races of your choice. Giving time or money to a Democrat is not worthwhile, let the RINOs fund and work for McCain.

I contend that once the drive by media swift-boating of McCain starts, he will be a lost cause anyway. A little reading about him goes a long way.

Work towards improving the conservative brand in the House and Senate. It’s the only way to stave off a fascist America.

[WorkingClassFilth]

You’re hired - with a bonus incentive of backpay to 1984!