Posted on 04/25/2008 9:37:21 PM PDT by pissant
John McCain is in the midst of a "Time for Action Tour," which could perhaps better be named his "Bash Bush and the Republicans Tour." First came his demand that the North Carolina Republican Party withdraw its ad criticizing Barack Obama's choice of Jeremiah Wright as a spiritual mentor. On NBC this morning, this is how McCain answered questions about the ad:
VIERA: The ad says Obama's, quote, "just too extreme for North Carolina."
Now, you have called this ad degrading, and you've asked the state party to pull it. But so far, they've refused to do that.
Why do you think they're not listening to you, a? And why do you believe they would continue to raise questions about Senator Obama's patriotism?
MCCAIN: They're not listening to me because they're out of touch with reality in the Republican Party. We are the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, and this kind of campaigning is unacceptable. I have said that. It will harm the Republicans' cause.
It is, however, McCain who is out of touch with reality if he thinks a Presidential candidate's closest personal and ideological associations are somehow off limits to scrutiny.
Next, McCain took up Bush-bashing. Touring New Orleans, he repeated the Democrats' view of Hurricane Katrina as, pre-eminently, a story of Bush administration incompetence. On ABC this morning, Chris Cuomo, of all people, asked McCain about his attack on President Bush:
Chris CUOMO: John McCain is taking direct aim at the Bush administration. The senator toured New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward as part of his "forgotten places" tour and sharply criticized the response to Hurricane Katrina, calling it disgraceful. He said the leadership failure after the disaster could be traced straight to the top, and he told our Claire Shipman it would not have happened on his watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MCCAIN: I've come here and told these people, "Never again. Never again will a disaster, either natural or manmade, be mishandled in this fashion."
It may be that the Hurricane Katrina mythology is so irrevocably fixed that McCain loses little by subscribing to it. More troubling is his willingness to bash the Bush administration's economic record, contrary to his own prior, more reasonable, statements. Once again, from NBC:
VIERA: You know, Senator, the DNC also began running an ad this week that questions your judgment when it comes to the economy. They're beating up on you, sir.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)MCCAIN: We have had a pretty good, prosperous time with low unemployment, low inflation. I think we are better off, overall.(END VIDEO CLIP)
VIERA: We're hearing that the same week that gas prices are inching up to $4 a gallon, food prices through the roof. We're seeing rice now being rationed. So, how is the average American to believe that we are better off?
MCCAIN: Well, I've said repeatedly American families are hurting in America. We're in a recession. I have plan of action and change. And it's not increases in taxes, which is -- which Senator Obama and Senator Clinton want.
VIERA: So, Senator, you do not believe we are better off, by any means, than we were eight years ago?
MCCAIN: Oh, no. No.
The fact is that, as McCain has said, we have enjoyed "a pretty good, prosperous time" during the Bush administration, with low unemployment and low inflation. While the economy is troubled at the moment, it is indeed better off, following a period of sustained growth in GDP and real compensation, than it was eight years ago, when the dot-com bubble was bursting.
It's one thing for McCain to think that he needs to distance himself from the Bush administration, but if he thinks he can win by attacking his own party and out-Bush-bashing the Democrats, he is sadly mistaken.
So which Dem are you supporting, Hillary or Obama?
What is amazing is that a third party candidate has not emerged. Perhaps it is simply the memory of the raw stupidity and flakyness of Perot that prevented it this time.
However, it is still early in the cycle. Someone else in a few states could really ruin a Republican’s day come November.
Any Republican who would not vote for him and allow a Dem to take the White House is nuts.
I truly believe that, no conservative in their right mind will vote for him. We can expect an Obama or Clinton to be our next president! God help us all!
We have THREE Democrats running for President, no conservative republican will vote for any of them.
It's coming. There will be a Conservative choice, whether we all support it or not...
Lol! Suuuure there will be. Who Alan “Slave Reparations” Keyes? Bob “Drugs really aren’t all that bad afterall” Barr? Please. You people won’t be happy until a Dim is President.
I’m beginning to wonder if conservatives are real Republicans afterall.
There surely will be, and you should hope that it is so, as that would be the only dim chance there is to save this nation from the Liberals.
Who Alan Slave Reparations Keyes? Bob Drugs really arent all that bad afterall Barr?
"Slave reparations" is a false charge, cast in the worst light, so I would assume the same wrt your accusations against Barr.
I will vote for either, which is far more than I will do for McCain.
Please. You people wont be happy until a Dim is President.
Then so be it. If all that is accomplished is keeping the traitorous bastard from the levers of power, then we are in fact, that much better off.
In the mean time, if a Conservative throws his hat in the ring, there will be a chance of success... Far more chance than the silly suggestion that McCain will do any better 'picking up the middle' than Giuliani did (or Dole).
The democrats are trying to give republicans a chance to win this election.
But party hacks are saying "No thanks. McCain is our candidate."
They just want to retest the Dole Theorum.
Why on earth do you say that???????
It wouldnt be inaccurate to describe FEMAs response as a disorganized brothel. And the aftermath in New Orleans remains an unacceptable shocking mess.
In these criticisms McCain isnt revealing anything new or clever: he is merely stating the bleeding obvious.
>>>>>>>>>>>................................
yes it was obvious> but you miss the point: Fema and most gov agencies are boondoggles from the get go..staffed with those who cannot hold a job in the private sector.
What McCain could say is: Government (socialism)was the problem -we need less of it. Not a bigger fatter FEMA.
I prefer a herpetological comparison: McCain's a copperhead; Obama's a cottonmouth; and Hillary's a rattler.
That should be,"which Dem are you supporting, Hillary, Obama or McCain"?
IF I had to choose among those three, Hillary because McCain sucks. But I intend to vote 3rd party. I don't vote for Democrats, no matter which party banner they run under.
That comment says all I need to know about you. McCain is definitely the right guy for you. You may have wandered onto the wrong site. FreeRepublic was founded by one of those "wacko fringe" guys.
btw, that is a very liberal thing to say.
I like rattlesnakes. Hillary is more like a banana slug with fangs.
Why do you like rattlesnakes? Since, from time to time, I’ve considered keeping a nonpoisonous snake, this is a serious question, not a sarcastic remark posing as a question.
Why do you like rattlesnakes? Since, from time to time, Ive considered keeping a nonpoisonous snake, this is a serious question, not a sarcastic remark posing as a question. .... libstripper
I like rattlesnakes because the prep time for the recipe is a lot less than for banana slugs.
Deep-Fried Banana Slugs and Green Tomatoes
What do you consider to be the "wacko fringe"?
Those who don't believe in global warming?
Those who want the borders enforced?
Those who favor smaller government?
Do tell, please.
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