No Way McCain: The Downgrading Of Conservatism

2/11/08 | Self

[Nextrush]

John McCain is a "strong conservative."

That's the message that President Bush put out on "Fox News Sunday" yesterday.

How does one define "strong conservative?"

Is it defining waterboarding of terrorists as torture like John McCain has?

Is it when one wants to close down Gitmo like John McCain does and give suspected terrorists the rights of American citizens.

And speaking of the rights of American citizens, is a "strong conservative" one who wants amnesty and a path to citizenship for people who enter America illegally.

Well, that's one where President Bush and Senator McCain have been on the same side.

And then there's the McCain-Feingold anti-free speech legislation. Senator John McCain proposed it and President George W. Bush signed it after opposing it during the 2000 election.

I just don't see how a "strong conservative" could gang up with 13 other senators to prevent approval of President Bush's conservative nominees to federal courts.

That's John McCain who did that, by the way.

Does a "strong conservative" oppose President Bush's tax cut plan like John McCain did?

If we're going to accept the definition of John McCain as a "strong conservative," then we're going to have to change the definition of "conservative."

For instance if John McCain is a "strong conservative," does that make Hillary Clinton a "conservative" and Barrack Obama a "moderate?"

And on the other hand does that make President Bush an "extreme conservative" for disagreeing with McCain on some of these issues? Heck, does that mean Ronald Reagan was an "extreme right winger?"

While we've gone through September 11th and its aftermath seeing a strong leader defending our nation, we've also seen signs of a liberal attitude from this same leader about spending billions of dollars on everything from AIDS in Africa to the Medicare prescription plan.

President Bush's self-described "compassionate conservativsm" has included all that and when it came to court nominations, the infamous Harriet Miers nomination to the Supreme Court. Fourtunately, conservatives got John Roberts and Samuel Alito for raising our voices to demand strict constructionists on the court.

I suspect that a President John McCain would require us to raise the decibels quite a bit more often than we have to now.

But getting back to my point, considering all the wasteful spending proposals from Washington including elaborate fisacos like the trailers during Hurricane Katrina and now the current election year "stimulus package" that looks like vote buying by incumbent politicians, is it safe to say that President George W. Bush has lowered the standard of what one calls "conservative" in this country.

And now we're supposed to accept John McCain as a "strong conservative" successor to him.

I guess you'll all want to pick up the theme of national security and I think that's an important one.

Many think McCain should be elected on that alone.

But what is going on in regards to national security right now.

Have you heard any speeches about the "Axis of Evil" lately? No, you haven't.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker is involved in talking to the Iranians right now. You'll notice violence is down in Iraq. And then there's the National Intelligence Estimate saying Iran has suspended its nuclear weapons program. Is there a quid pro quo? What's going on with our foreign policy?

The United States has cut a deal with North Korea that will supposedly end their nuclear program. Does anyone believe that?

And what about the Middle East in general. There is a push to get Israel to cut a "peace agreement" with the Palestianian Authority as Hamas rains down missiles daily from Gaza. President Bush seems bent on getting some kind of agreement before he leaves office next January.

The conflict will not end until Israel's enemies are defeated. A "peace agreement" would be folly and only compromise Israel's security.

Will McCain carry on that initiative as a "strong conservative?"

Frankly the "strong conservative" thing to do would be to allow Israel to defeat its enemies. I admit the Olmert government is weak, but still let them defend themselves.

McCain called for more troops in Iraq and it looks like the President synched with his ideas by having the surge.

Will there be anymore synching on Gitmo later this year?

The stage for the "strong conservative" McCain has been set, but does that mean we have to attend the show. For now, I say no.

I'm still looking for a "strong conservative" frankly because there's no way John McCain fits that suit.

And if all the obviously not conservative policies described above are "conservative" it looks to me like "conservative" is now considered something a lot less than "conservative."

I will vote my conscience in the Pennsylvania Primary on April 22nd.

And I hope Mike Huckabee does well tomorrow as the alternative to John McCain in Virginia and Maryland.

[Nextrush]

The wicked witch could shrivel up and die this year herself.

Its so wild out there.

Some people are really bitter about this McCain business.

I’m collecting signautures to get delegate and state committee candidates on the ballot for the PA primary and some people feel like “the system” has stolen their chance to vote for their candidate.

These folks won’t support anything or anyone so they won’t even sign for these candidates to even get on the ballot.

What is there to be afraid of anymore?

We the people will endure, survive and prevail in the end.

These political hacks can’t scare any of us anymore.

[LibLieSlayer]

He was trashing Reagan by trying to draw liberal parallels with mcnasty. Don’t try to spin like carville... you can’t.

LLS

[sanchmo]

He was illustrating how no candidate or president has a “prefect” record, even Reagan.

You’re the one that’s trashing everyone on this board who doesn’t agree with you. At least in this one case with unjustifiable accusations. Doesn’t help your cause much.

[LibLieSlayer]

I have no case to make but Conservatism... I do not try to make anyone on FR vote any way but the way they want to vote. I state that mcnasty is a pos liberal not worthy of our party and that I will not vote for him under any circumstances. I point out that Reagan taught us to avoid men like mccain... I quote Reagan... and a list of the most vile derogatory accusations are made against Reagan without context. He was not perfect... but to compare Reagan at his worst with mccain at his best is sacrilege. It is your movement that trashes and attacks... and it will be your movement and candidate that will lose in November. I cannot help it if your side doesn’t see things this way... but you will after the election.

LLS

[fweingart]

#19 was more than mere food for thought.

[Caipirabob]

JOHN MCCAIN: CONSERVATIVE ON CONSERVATISM

"Loose cannon" McCain is a disaster in the making for the republican party. The RNC has the foul stench of Soros and Socialism all over it now.

[OnRiver]

he didn’t “constantly and consistently”....do you know word definations and no one has ever gotten rankings from the left and right groups that shows he is a conservative.....you cherry pick to make your case and totally ignore facts,,,,,is diahonesty a conservative tradition in your family ...

[OnRiver]

bOY ARE YOU DEAD WRONG...Reagan would have voted for McCain just like his wife will. She loves him....but then I guess you know more about him than she does. I suggets you read his letters....there in book form....then come back and spew your lack of knowledge...

[LibLieSlayer]

I worked for him twice... I actually talked with him more than once... did you? He loved Nancy dearly. Reagan and his wife were entirely different people. You are one pathetic shill.

LLS

[OnRiver]

did you work for him when he came out for the Brady Bill after leaving office....I met him...he was a human being like the rest of us...as for as being a shill...I suggest your actions are inline with being a shill....Reagan would never talk with your hate about anybody especially a fellow Republican....

[LibLieSlayer]

Your team is filled with hate... my team is filled with disgust and disappointment. Your Party will soon come to an end... it will be rebuilt in the image of Reagan... and when are you and your sycophants going to quit trashing Reagan to promote mcnasty? Reagan was not perfect... Jesus was and they crucified him for it... but Reagan’s pronouncement of Conservatism and his vision of America were touched by GOD. mccain rips all over that vision and leaves attack dogs like yourself to clean up the pieces. You will not easily sweep me under the rug... your politics are as abhorrent to me as mcnasty’s and pelosi’s are. Sorry... it is not personal... but it is a real divide for TRUE REAGAN Conservatives.

LLS

[Bull Market]

“2. Speak no ill will against fellow Republicans.”

That rule implies that said Republican must have actually acted like a Republican most of the time. McCain works with Democrats more than Republicans by a long shot.

Can anyone list any significant McCain-Republican authored legislation? The McCain-Democrat list is quite long.

[Ulysse]

And you are a “strong conservative” playing the game of the strong socialists and pro-islamists

[Nextrush]

I am not a troll-leftist infiltrating this site but see McCain as not much more than what he will claim he is, a “national security” candidate.

Taxes, spending, the false notion of “climate change” and much more are inherent in McCain’s system of publicly expressed opinions.

That’s liberal and left to me and the talk shows, web sites can’t use emotional arguments to blind people to McCain’s liberal record.

The MSM will of course support the Democrats and put McCain down every chance they get. But that’s always been their game since the days they would trash Nixon and Ford (both of them RINO “moderates”).