Who is McCain's Base? (Vanity)

Vanity | 7/27/2008 | Wasted Potential

[wastedpotential]

I have been in sackloth and ashes ever since the end of the Republican primary season dwelling on the mess we find ourselves in. Conservatives have watched the Republican nomination process get hijacked from them while they were debating whether our candidate should be socially conservative (Huckabee) vs economically conservative (Romney). Now we have McCain, who has historically proven to be mediocre at best on both sets of issues. His only strength was his view on the Iraq war.

Now that we appear to have turned the corner in Iraq, the whole withdrawal argument may be moot. If things continue this way, McCain will be reducing troop levels and bringing the home if elected president. So what is his candidacy about? If the Iraq war is basically won before the election, what is it that will define his candidacy?

Here's another question - who is McCain's base? Who will work the phones? Who will go door to door during the 72 hour GOTV? Who will organize and fund the 527 groups that can take shots at Obama that he can't (or won't) take himself, ala the Swiftboat Vets? More simply asked - who is passionate about McCain's candidacy?

The answer, to me is, nobody. Sure, a lot of us conservatives and disaffected union democrats will vote for McCain as the lesser of 2 evils, but who will "turn out" the voters? Who will sacrifice time from work and money from their budgets to see that he gets elected?

If I am right, I think that President Barack Hussein Obama will be in office come January, killing our way of life with an overwhelming Democrat Congress. Does anyone have a better answer?

[areukiddingme1]

If you look across the isle at the democrat party they are figuring out ways to peel off voters from the Republican (Conservative Party).

How have they started doing that, I only have to look no further than my own back yard; they have put up a candidate that is strong on defense, strong on social values, but still calls himself a Democrat. This man was once a one time proud Reagan Conservative and Secretary of the Navy - yes, I’m talking about James Webb. If you had told me ten years ago he would become a Democrat I would have laughed you out of the room. But, there it is, the first salvo fired in the war for the “strong on defense constituency,” and there will be more to follow — count on it.

Essentially, the Dems have pulled a page out of our play book and are now starting to beat us with what was once “our” issue.

And there will be more, they will continually try to find those issues in the middle or just slightly to the right of center (the low handing fruit issues) and they will continue to pluck them and beat us with them if we don’t rally around our candidate.

We (as a party) have to get strong here and not give in to the idea that somehow by not supporting John McCain, we will teach the Republican party a lesson for ignoring the Conservative base, because, we could possibly never win another election again.

The process is the process, the fact is we have to put better candidates forward that are electible, failure to do so will ensure many future trips to the woodshed — not so desirable (ala Bill Clinton).

[alice_in_bubbaland]

I agree...I don’t like it, but I will vote McCain. Obama must be defeated... period.

[Redbob]

Our choices weren’t limited to Romney or the Huckleberry: there was Fred, the was (cringe) Rudy...

If only Fred had had the drive that McLame has...

[calcowgirl]

He's also backed away from his cap and trade and climate change nonsense

I don't know if you and others saying this are intentionally lying, or have been misled yourselves. Either way, your posts are inaccurate.

His cap and trade program is one of his stated PRIORITIES. It is prominently dislplayed on his website.

Climate Change

John McCain will establish a market-based system to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mobilize innovative technologies, and strengthen the economy. He will work with our international partners to secure our energy future, to create opportunities for American industry, and to leave a better future for our children.

John McCain's Principles for Climate Policy

• Climate Policy Should Be Built On Scientifically-Sound, Mandatory Emission Reduction Targets And Timetables.

• Climate Policy Should Utilize A Market-Based Cap And Trade System.

• Climate Policy Must Include Mechanisms To Minimize Costs And Work Effectively With Other Markets.

• Climate Policy Must Spur The Development And Deployment Of Advanced Technology.

• Climate Policy Must Facilitate International Efforts To Solve The Problem.

John McCain's Cap and Trade Policy

John McCain Proposes A Cap-And-Trade System That Would Set Limits On Greenhouse Gas Emissions While Encouraging The Development Of Low-Cost Compliance Options. A climate cap-and-trade mechanism would set a limit on greenhouse gas emissions and allow entities to buy and sell rights to emit, similar to the successful acid rain trading program of the early 1990s. The key feature of this mechanism is that it allows the market to decide and encourage the lowest-cost compliance options.

(snip)

[dforest]

I never said Obama is preferable. I am not whining, I am just not going to vote for McCain. He was the final straw for me and the GOP.

I really cannot support McCain or Obama. This is no choice.

I am not bitter or anything. I really do not care for McCain. Hence I will withhold my vote. I will support conservative downticket candidates. McCain is like Richard Lugar in my state.

I will cheer the day Lugar is no longer a part of our government.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

I’m not trying to teach the Republican party a lesson. John McCain might just do that, though.
I simply won’t vote for a politician as flawed as McCain. Three deal killers: CFR, shamnesty, and embryonic stem cell research.
That’s two more deal killers than I needed.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

“We Suck Less” is a weak platform, but that’s all the GOP is offering in ‘08.

How about "I don't sweat much for a fat girl..."? Always find something nice to say about your prom date!

Regards,
GtG

[areukiddingme1]

I understand - those are very important issues and those are the kinds of issues that once the Republican candidate is in the White House we can pound home through the ACU. George Bush made similar promises in 1999 and 2003 — he never followed through because the ACU held his feet over the fire.

However, please consider this; I was on Active Duty when that little dweeb Ross Perot prevented Bush 41 from getting re-elected. Guess what, we (the military) ended up the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (puke) and your taxes went up and the Military got a lot smaller.

And if you recall, when the war broke out and the MSM was slamming Rummy for the size of the military, he said, “You go to war with the army you have—not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.”

Obama has already said he would repeal Don’t ask, Don’t tell and I’m positive that he will cut defense spending to the levels that we saw during the Clinton administration to fund all his welfare promises so that if we ever have to go to war again (not if, but when) we won’t be trying to rebuild the military while trying to fight an enemy simultaneously, like we had to do on Rummy’s watch (sad, very sad).

[E. Cartman]

The base could get passionate about McCain if he were to choose a conservative running mate.

Here's an idea: how about "our" boy getting passionate about the base. Instead of kissing up to "La Raza," let him go on Savage. But, it ain't gonna happen.

He despises conservatives as much as conservatives despise him.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/BobbySchindler/2008/03/31/terri_schiavo_my_sisters_regret

“One of these candidates will be our next President, and the fact that they can make such statements with little to no fanfare from our secular media, or any noticeable outrage from the general public, is a chilling reminder of how far we have drifted as a nation.” -— Bobby Schindler

[bethtopaz]

This is only one of the reasons that I am voting for John McCain:

Obama on National Defense:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs

[calcowgirl]

...those are the kinds of issues that once the Republican candidate is in the White House we can pound home through the ACU

You mean like they did with the Prescription Drug program, or No Child Left Behind, or yesterday's massive Fannie/Freddie bailout?

Partisan Republicans won't fight if there is a President(R). When a (president) McCain starts pushing amnesty and global warming, folks on the McCain pinglist will be here telling us how we have to support it because McCain is our President. It's bad enough to have to fight liberals--even worse when they've infested your own party.

[calcowgirl]

[TheWasteLand]

I don't want to get into a position defending McCain - he's not a good candidate. Nevertheless, I don't like it when people claim I'm "intentionally lying" (BTW, how do you unintentionally lie), so here's Larry Kudlow's take:

Mac’s Off Cap-and-Trade.

Seems like a good example of "backing off", which to be fair is the same thing as flip flopping, to me.

[truth_seeker]

“The fact of the matter is, the republican party has allowed the media to make being a republican conservative a dirty word. That has to change.”

GOP and conservatives have come up really, really short on having good communicators lately.

GW Bush is supposed to be the chief spokesman and leader of his party.

There hasn’t been much “fight back” by him and other party leaders.

Gillespie was a good GOP leader. I can’t even tell you who holds that position, now. He is silent and ineffective.

[areukiddingme1]

Ouch...liberal? Anything but liberal, please.

I’m compelled to ask; what is the right answer then?

Because until we start putting electible candidates up, this is what our party looks like.

We must start finding those candidates now that can get elected four years from now or we are toast and just like we had to suffer through the eight insufferable years of slick willie, we will have to suffer through eight years of obamification of our taxes and our military.

There is entirely way to much at stake to allow that to happen - not now.

[areukiddingme1]

Can you believe I have never seen that — gee, thanks, now I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight.

[bethtopaz]

You're welcome! Here's a boilerplate that I e-mail people that don't know much about Barack Obama and are trying to make up their minds:

Here's are some articles and YouTubes that I've collected about Obama in the last few months.

Obama: Radical In Liberal Clothes: http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/07/obama_radical_in_liberal_cloth.html

Obama, Black Liberation Theology and Karl Marx: http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/06/obama_black_liberation_theolog_1.html

Obama and Live Birth Abortion: http://mydryfly.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/obama-and-live-birth-abortion/

Obama's Minister, Jeremiah Wright, where he was a member for 20 years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUbUBTlmAiA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk3LXvVlsI4&feature=related

Obama on National Defense: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs

Obama: How he got started in politics in 1996 in Chicago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZnlKC5vpyY&feature=related

These are just a few of the articles and YouTubes I have. If you want to know more, let me know.

If you want to know what other democrats are saying about him, check out these sites:

http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/fashion-shows/ (A Laundry List of Obama's Lies)

http://www.nobamanetwork.com/

http://tominpaine.blogspot.com/2008/06/obamas-seal-of-disapproval.html (This is my favorite Dem site - great writer!)

http://www.hellnobama.com/

Let me know what you think!

Beth

[calcowgirl]

Kudlow was reaching. Here was his theory: Since McCain didn't mention Cap-and-trade in his "Jobs for America" plan, maybe McCain was backing off. I suppose if he didn't mention Amnesty in the same plan, he must be backing away from that too? Of course not. It's too bad. I'd love it if McCain backed off. But he has continued to spew his nonsense on the campaign trail, pushing for his bogus "market based" cap-and-trade solution, calling it one of his top priorities.

As to lying vs. being misled, I made no judgment as to which. Misleading voters is what campaigns do--anything to WIN! A lot of people fall into believing false propaganda they are fed. Heck, that sorry Kudlow piece was posted at FR at least three times that I saw, all trying to create the illusion that McCain had somehow seen the light. Unfortunately, he hasn't.

[SlapHappyPappy]

Elections these days seem to be less about voting for a candidate and more about voting AGAINST a candidate.

I have been voting since 1988 and I can honestly say I was not passionate about anyone I voted for when it came to President. But I sure as hell was passionate about not letting the other guy win.