Posted on 02/10/2008 2:25:41 AM PST by Catphish
WASHINGTON--Arizona Senator John McCain eked out a narrow victory in the Republican Party's caucuses in the northwestern state of Washington, the state party chairman announced late Saturday.
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee earlier Saturday defeated McCain in Republican presidential primaries in Louisiana and Kansas.
McCain, 71, a Vietnam war hero, is far ahead of his opponents in the delegate count and is the party's presumptive 2008 presidential standard bearer, though he faces opposition from core Republican conservatives.
With 87 percent of precincts reporting in Washington state, McCain led with 26 percent of the delegates, against 24 percent for Huckabee and 21 percent for Texas Congressman Ron Paul.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who earlier dropped out of the race without announcing an endorsement, won 17 percent.
Nearly 13 percent of delegates reported their preference as "uncommitted," while another 1.1 percent reported their preference as "other," Washington state Party Chairman Luke Esser said in a statement.
While I appreciate your position, I am too old to say that. My 91+yr old mother used to tell me and the other kids, “Never say never and always avoid always.”[her humor was intended] Also, be aware that at age 61+, I rarely vote FOR someone, the majority of the time I am voting against someone else - I would have never selected McCain as the standard bearer for Republicans but for the country’s sake, I cannot sit idly by, much less vote against McCain by voting for Clinton, a worn out, stuffed suit or Obama, an empty suit.
Thank you Mark.
I appreciate your mother’s wisdom and your post.
However...
I have watched McCain on CSPAN.
I have read about his voting record.
I have watched his relationships with the Democrats.
I have read about his health issues.
I can see how old he is.
While there is good and bad in everyone (myself included of course); I could not in good conscience vote for McCain.
Thank you for your feedback.
After living in Arizona for for 4 years and seeing his (IMHO) mental instability, I cannot vote for him. I will vote.
I too will not vote for McCain nor huckster. So far 2/3 of the voters have voted against these two wannabees.
With the GOP going down the drain it’s difficult to enjoy Hillary and her machine taking a beating.
26% = narrow victory. Emphasis on “narrow.”
I understand Jet Jaguar.
My family and I will vote and when it comes to the vote for the President; we will either be leaving that blank for the first time ever or voting in a 3rd party.
We’re praying about this.
“With the GOP going down the drain its difficult to enjoy Hillary and her machine taking a beating.”
I agree.
A win with 26 percent of the vote.Not exactly settin’ the world on fire is he.
A page right out of the DhimmiRat Instruction manual...
Claim as a victory, an election in which over 70% of those voting, didn’t choose you...
Un-friggin’-believable.
There is no consensus in the GOP at this point. Best we can hope for is that the electorate can force a brokered convention, and have a chance to turn the GOP ship aright.
Failing that, I will be looking for a third party candidate in the POTUS race; and, focusing on congressional races, local races, and legislative issues in this election cycle.
Doesn’t look good when McCain can’t even get a plurality of Republicans in right leaning states like LA, KS, AL, TN, etc. If he is the nominee I think he will win those states in the general election but this has got to be a sign that GOP voters are hardly enthusiastic.
McCain Fiendold,
McCain Kennedy,
McCain Lieberman,
McCAin Edwards,
Opposed overturning Roe v. Wade, Would not have nominated Ailto, Gang of 14, Opposed Tax cuts for the rich, Opposed repeal of death tax. More recently, Mr. McCain has told conservatives he would be happy to appoint the likes of Chief Justice John Roberts to the Supreme Court.
But he indicated he might draw the line on a Samuel Alito, because he wore his conservatism on his sleeve.
Therein lies the problem that many conservatives have with John McCain.
It is the nagging feeling that after all of his years of chummily bonding with liberal reporters and garnering favorable media coverage from them that the Arizona senator is embarrassed to be seen as too much of a conservative.
On Roe v. Wade, here is another McCain Gem,
WASHINGTON (Sept. 13) - Senator John McCain (R-Az.), a leading contender for the Republican nomination for President, said on August 19, Certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand.
On Taxes, McCain sounds pretty much the same as Teddy Kennedy. I invite your attention to the following.
Second, Senator McCains stated reason for opposing the Bush tax cuts rhetorically allied him with the most radical anti-growth elements of national politics. Senator McCain argued, I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle-class Americans who need tax relief.[7] Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) sounded a similar theme, saying, Now, they are proposing more of the same, more tax breaks benefiting only the wealthiest among us,[8] as did Democratic Representative Maxine Waters (CA-35): I voted against the Republican tax cut plan, which is an irresponsible tax cut that will further undermine the nations struggling economy at the expense of middle-class American families.[9] Senator McCains eager embrace of grossly inaccurate class-warfare demagoguery demonstrated, at best, a painful ignorance of pro-growth economic principles.
Third, Senator McCain not only voted against the Bush tax cuts, he joined leading liberal senators in offering and voting for amendments designed to undermine them. All in all, Senator McCain voted on the pro-tax side of 14 such amendments in 2001 and 2003. These included such odious measures as:
An amendment sponsored by Senator John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) to prohibit a reduction in the top tax rate until Congress enacted legislation to provide a prescription drug benefit[10] An amendment sponsored by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) against full repeal of the Death Tax.[11] This vote is in keeping with Senator McCains 2002 vote against repealing the Death Tax[12] An amendment sponsored by Tom Daschle (D-SD) and co-sponsored by Senator McCain to limit tax reduction in the top tax bracket to one percentage point[13] Finally, John McCain recently claimed that he has never voted for a tax increase,[14] but the congressional record tells a different story. As Chairman of the Commerce Committee in 1998, he sponsored and voted for an enormous 282% tax increase on cigarettes.[15] Senator McCain defended the proposal as a fee[16] rather than a tax increase, but his semantic tap dance doesnt change the numerical facts. Despite his occasional constructive votes on tax policy, Senator McCains vigorous opposition to and misguided rhetoric against the most pro-growth tax cuts in twenty years should make economic conservatives very worried about the tax policies that would emanate from a McCain presidential administration.
The Washington GOP suspended counting votes over 9 hours ago with the promise to continue the count “in the morning.” Apparently, At that point, McCain had taken the 2% lead that the AFP reported as a “victory.” The morning shows are reporting the caucus as “too close to call.” Has anyone ever heard of a count suspended at 10 p.m. on an election night with 13% of the count remaining?
Only 26% of the vote, when he is obviously going to win the nomination? With 17% to a guy who had dropped out, and 13% going to ‘other’?
Guess I’m not the only no-Juan republican.
Does he get to make a speech with that victory? Spin it Johnny, spin it.
"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 Palelologus
How did McCain win, if they still haven’t counted 13% of the vote? They suspended the count 10 hours ago, said they’d finish it in the morning. We haven’t had any new numbers since last night, but now we’re told McCain won? What is going on in Washington?
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.