Since you're an aspiring Freeper debutante, I'll let you in on a secret known only to a certain select few here:
There are three Democraps in the race. Count 'em! 
Posted on 05/11/2008 4:13:06 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) - While John McCain is practically assured the Republican presidential nomination, many party members are having a hard time accepting him -- and showing it with symbolic votes against him in primary contests.
The Republican nomination battle has been all but decided for over two months. Still, some Republicans used the April 22 Pennsylvania primary and last week's votes in Indiana and North Carolina to register their unhappiness with the de facto victor.
Some vote for libertarian Texan Ron Paul, who has refused to quit the race and has racked up more than one million votes, according to his campaign.
Other Republicans keep voting for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and former governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas -- both markedly more conservative than McCain -- although both have long since dropped out of the race and endorsed him.
As many as 25 percent of Republican voters want a different candidate to represent their party in the November 4 presidential election. In Pennsylvania, 27 percent opted for Huckabee or Paul; in North Carolina and Indiana on May 6, McCain opponents earned 23 percent of the vote.
The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper, calculated that McCain had garnered no more than 45 percent of the Republican vote since January.
McCain's reputation as a party maverick and a compromising moderate has left the party's most conservative and ideological members disgruntled.
He focused this week on winning their backing, delivering a major speech on legal issues and promising to nominate conservative justices to any possible new Supreme Court vacancies, as President George W. Bush has done.
"I have my own standards of judicial ability, experience, philosophy, and temperament," McCain said.
"And Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito meet those standards in every respect. They would serve as the model for my own nominees if that responsibility falls to me," he said, pointing to Bush appointees.
Even so, McCain carefully avoided mentioning thorny subjects like abortion and homosexual unions, on which he has staked out much more moderate positions than members of the party's religious right.
On Thursday, McCain vigorously denied voting in the 2000 presidential elections against Bush, his main rival during the Republican primaries that year.
Popular liberal pundit and Internet blogger Ariana Huffington had published a report that shortly after the election, McCain revealed during a dinner that he did not vote for his party's nominee.
"I voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004," the Republican candidate insisted on Fox News. "And not only that, far more important than a vote, I campaigned everywhere in America for him."
While such defenses might help the Arizona senator woo the most conservative Republicans, it carries great risks.
A Wall Street Journal opinion poll last week showed only 27 percent of Americans approved of Bush's performance. And 43 percent said they worried that McCain "will be too closely aligned with the Bush agenda" -- a worry Democrats are already moving to exploit.
That spells trouble for McCain with the potential swing centrist voters McCain needs to defeat his Democratic opponent, Senator Barack Obama or Senator Hillary Clinton.
Never send me a filthy FReepmail again. At least have the guts to post your slime in an open forum for all to see!
Ageed 100%! But, since the liberal media picked our guy for us, we really have no other choice. I'll hold my nose and vote for him and hope for the best. The alternative (democrat) scares the bejeebers out of me.
Doubt seems to imply that there is a chance for McDole to change minds. I’m searching for a proper word to describe what he is facing with the sizable group that will not vote for him and cannot have their minds changed.
Yep, that he is.
But remember - incrementalism is A-OK!
Since you're an aspiring Freeper debutante, I'll let you in on a secret known only to a certain select few here:
There are three Democraps in the race. Count 'em!
I believe that McCain is as much a ‘Rat as the other two, that’s why I cannot vote for him. Because he “changed” in 1998, I will not look at his history before that. Since then, he has gone out of his way to side with the enemies of this country and with the enemies of Conservatives. No, thank you.
I’m not about to defend McCain, but I still contend he’s not a socialist. And as far as I can tell, he never considered joining the Democrats or becoming Kerry’s running mate either.
Having said that, promoting a strong national defense, limited government, spending reform and pro-life issues has marked one as a right leaning Republican. The fact McCain has joined forces with liberals on several critical issues, doesn’t help his chances of getting enough of the conservative voters -— mine included -— to elect him POTUS. Nonetheless, he will garner most conservative votes come election day.
The fact that the GOP has moved leftward in recent years is not lost on this conservative. You still have to use the intellect that God gave you to make a rational decision.
Reactionary absolutism and fringe extremism employed to rail against reality, serves no good purpose.
This is the most disingenuous, phony, EnviroNut, comment this A-Hole, RINO, could have made.
If I had any doubts before (which I have been wavering) THAT STATEMENT DID IT FOR ME.
Sorry, all, after voting since 1964, (including twice for that other F'N RINO we have presently in the White House) I just can't take it anymore.
I am convinced that McPain thinks he will get the majority of the conservative vote simply to keep the Beast and B.O. from winning.
If he wins, ok, but it won't be with my vote and I could care less if Hitelry or Hussein gets elected
NO MORE RINO!!!!!
What makes you think it will survive a McCain presidency any better?
Gee, I cannot imagine why. Surrender to the Left with the same demagogary about Energy Policy we have been hearing out of DC since 1978!
Yo John, if you are going to be Dem Lite we may as well have Obama so the Dems get the blame for this disaster waiting to happen in Energy Policy
Fake.
And while he only promised to nominate conservative justice for the Supreme Court, he said nothing about actively working to secure their confirmations, and remained silent about nominating any conservatives to the lower courts. Anyone with half a brain knows MacCain's word is worth little more than warm spit, and true to form, he'll do what he's done his entire political career, "F" over the nation's conservatives.
Re: infantrywhooah
“This account has been banned or suspended.
Perot's election wouldn't have been possible without the dim-witted Poppy Bush. (Like father like son?) If the party's only selling sh_t sandwiches, they shouldn't be surprised that they have no takers.
I believe he went on a unplanned spring break.
Real shame...
I know, It is easy to get heated here. Thats when personal self control kicks in.
I guess he is off getting some self control.
Which is precisely why MacCain's friends at the MSM weren't about to give him coverage.
It is true the "real" conservatives can defeat Senator McCain. But to date they can't elect anyone either.
I would rather have someone who has a mind of his or her own and who disagrees with me, than a person who simply panders to what I or others believe.
My biggest worry about Senator McCain was summed up by Brit Hume today. Brit noted that McCain claims he is putting off discussing Wright and other issues and anticipates his age won't be an issue as well. As Brit noted, this is what a presidential campaign is about--attitudes and feelings about the candidate.
Somehow even reasonably intelligent people have become victims of "political correctness." There is such a thing as vulgarity and rudeness but putting certain aspects of a person's temperament or history off limits is not included as vulgar or rude.
People who have a sufficient will to power to run for president have to have big egos and, hopefully, thick skins. There can be no hidden meanings or secrets too dark or personal to discuss. If a candidate wants surcease or absence of criticism on a particular issue, they can say that and the electorate can take it into account.
Generally, people who run for high office have a desire to succeed and dominate in a masterful way. From their point of view what is "good" is what is "good" for them and what is "bad" is what is "bad" for them. The rest of us are inclined to keep a short leash on them by insisting on a certain amount of transparency, humility and openness to criticism. No one has accused of Senator McCain, Clinton or Obama of being "humble." The candidates might try to create this image from time to time, but our only real ability to pick the best means we have to access any and all information. Even when the candidates think this information or inquiry is "bad" from their perspective.
Also, don’t forget that one-worlder MacCain supports ratification of The Law of the Seas Treaty.
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