McCain to Minnesota: 'Country first or Obama first' (Campaign Stop Today!)

Minneapolis StarTribune (aka The Red Star) ^ | 9/19/08 | Brian Bakst - Staff Reporter

[Shelayne]

Photos from the rally: (these are from my camera--they are not even close to the quality my friend got with her camera! Boo!) the long walk to the hangar

The crowd from my perspective

More crowd

View of stage--you can see McCain and the First Dude--and Pastor Steve (I am now cracking up because I see he is in a lot of my photos, and I had the camera over my head to get these shots. LOL)

That lady in the bright blue is Governor Palin

More of Palin and the others...

McCain and the First Dude (and Pastor Steve left of McCain--LOL)

Governor Palin (this is what I get for having children--I had to wait to get them on the bus; therefore sacrificing prime photo locale--darned kids! Just kidding!)

A group of young adults were wearing this tee

[defconw]

LOL, I wanted to go. But I am 4’11 and I can’t see anything in a crowd!

[SunkenCiv]

McCain goes after Obama -
Remarks from Greenbay Rally “Country first or Obama first”
YouTube | 9/19/2008 | John McCain
Posted on 09/19/2008 7:48:09 PM PDT by GVnana
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086317/posts

[RetiredNavy]

This is an easy choice, only 2 to choose from:

McCain - not perfect but a strong supporter of our way of life.

Obama - a Marxist and radical agitator, friendly with enemies of our way of life.

Vote for what the way you want your children to live.

[jan in Colorado]

Thank you for your reports and photos. I’m encouraged that they drew such a large, enthusiastic crowd in Minnesota!

[phill413]

The crowds were massive. Here are some more pics. Lots of media... McCaine making his points... Lots of fan fair... Worth the wait... Victory in Minnesota !

[Manic_Episode]

Between everybody we got pretty good coverage eh?

I had more fun than my 3 kids did but when they get older they will appreciate the memory.

Minnesota is such a battleground state I can't help but wonder if we might have another one of these again before Nov.

[phill413]

You bet.

I would expect a rally back in Minnesota towards the end of the race... probably at the Xcel Enery Center or Target Center.

I feel very good about our chances in November here in Minnesota.

[DoughtyOne]

Frankly, at this point I’m hoping Republican Senate in 2010. Other than that I don’t hold out much hope these days.

[DoughtyOne]

I realize a lot of people see as a choice between one of two men. I see it as a decision as to whether I will support either of them. The answer is no.

[phill413]

Here’s an artilce in our local paper.

John McCain on Friday erased any doubts that he intends to be the first Republican presidential candidate to carry Minnesota since 1972.
Speaking to a boisterous crowd of several thousand in a massive new hangar at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport, McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, predicted victory in the state in November, followed by quick action to cure the nation’s financial crisis.

“With this kind of enthusiasm and this kind of support, we will win the state of Minnesota,” McCain told the cheering crowd that waved “Country First” signs and red, white and blue pompoms.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_10512896

---

I’m feeling our chances of winning this year in Minnesota are very good.

[mplsconservative]

Here’s a little anecdotal evidence. We ventured 30 miles to the Eden Prairie McCain/Palin headquarters today for some yards signs for our house and some of our neighbors’ homes.

All of the McCain/Palin signs were gone. They had quite a few McCain ‘only’ signs. Luckily, a campaign worker saw my sons sad face and gave us a couple of the signs that include Palin’s name out of the private stash she has in trunk of her car. The rest of the nabes are going to have to settle for the earlier signs.

I take our experience as an indication that there is a lot of excitement for McCain and Palin in Minnesota. (Doing a happy dance! LOL)

[mplsconservative]

I realize a lot of people see as a choice between one of two men. I see it as a decision as to whether I will support either of them. The answer is no.

Okay. Go feel superior and whine and moan. That is always a very productive stance. /s

You see it as a choice between one of two men. There's a woman involved in this election too who just may be the future of the conservative party. Time will tell, but I'm voting for McCain/Palin. Letting Obama win by not voting is just stubborn and sort-sighted at this point. We'll deal with any cr*p that may come up later. With 0bama in office, we will more than likely lose any voice we've had. Are you willing to consider that possibilty?

[DoughtyOne]

That does sound encouraging.

[DoughtyOne]

I realize a lot of people see as a choice between one of two men. I see it as a decision as to whether I will support either of them. The answer is no.

Okay. Go feel superior and whine and moan. That is always a very productive stance. /s  I'm not sure why it seems to you that when I express my opinion it's a whine or a moan, but when you voice yours it isn't, but I don't buy into your definition.

You see it as a choice between one of two men.  I see it as whether I can support either of them, and as I have said, I cannot.  Each one is unsupportable IMO.  I have said for over a decade that I would never vote for the likes of John McCain, and I won't.

There's a woman involved in this election too who just may be the future of the conservative party. Time will tell...  Yes, I agree.  Time will tell.  I've looked back at the historical instances of vice-presidents following their presidents.  In the last sixty years, there hasn't been a real good track record of it.  Palin is also faced with the difficult task of being saddled to a guy like McCain, his crew, the Congressional Republicans, the RNC, and the fickle Republican primary voters.  Frankly, I wish her good luck.  She's going to need it.

Right now she is basking in the glow that is made possible by McCain, his subordinates, the Congressional Republicans, and the RNC needing her to string along the Conservatives.  After January 20th, 2009, she is no longer an assett.  She will then be the tie vote breaker in the Senate, if one ever comes along.  Other than that, she's powerless.  She'll be a lady in waiting who will be asked to be a team player for John's agenda, not the McCain/Palin agenda.  That was a ruse.  There never was one.

What happens if Palin disagrees with John?  At that time the McCain staff, many of the Congressional Republicans, and the RNC begin to exert pressure to get her to back him publicly.  And in some instances that is going to become quite painful.  How does this effect Palin?  Does she refuse to play along and get slammed, or does she simply fall in line to support the McCain agenda?  You see, I am concerned about what effect having to spend four or eight years under McCain will have on her.  And when it comes time for her to run as for the Presidential nomination, do the same primary voters who gave us the likes of McCain find Palin a worthy candidate?  I am by no means convinced of that.  If McCain's staff, the Congressional Republicans, and the RNC have to marginalize her to get McCain's agenda through Congress, she may be damaged goods by the time she gets to run.  And if they don't have to take her to task, it may be because she has been convinced by then that you have to play along to get along.  Washington, D.C. has had that effect on many people who have been elected to office to serve there.

...but I'm voting for McCain/Palin.  I encourage you to do so.  I'm not here to get anyone to adopt my views.  I am simply voicing my views when the subject comes up.

Letting Obama win by not voting is just stubborn and sort-sighted at this point.  Not voting for a person who is intent on granting amnesty to between 20 and 35 million illegal aliens in this nation is not just being stubborn.  It's not being short-sighted either.  I recognize what those normalizations and the resulting chain immigration will do to our nation.  I also know that a generous worker permit visa will essentially legalize the flow of foreign nationals into our nation, that used to happen illegaly.  In fact there was a provision in the prior McCain/Kennedy Immigration Reform act that allowed the number of legal worker permit visas to grow by 20% each year.  At the end of ten years we would be looking at around ten million worker permits per year on top of normal immigration.  After looking at McCain's history, I realize this isn't the only problem with him.  And so, he will never get a vote from me.  In this instance, the lessor of two evils is too evil for me to vote for.

We'll deal with any cr*p that may come up later.  No, you won't.  You think you will, but you get to exercise your voice once every four years.  After that it turns to begging.  McCain is a man that will serve at his whim, not yours.

With 0bama in office, we will more than likely lose any voice we've had. Are you willing to consider that possibilty?  You have a voice right now, and look what you are doing with it.  This third-way triangulation has Conservatives so tied up in knots that they will back the likes of John McCain and slam other decent Conservatives who refuse to.

Look, do what you think is best with my blessing.  I can't join you this time.

[mplsconservative]

Thank you for your detailed response. I just came in for the evening. I’ll be able to respond in detail in the morning.

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you.

[mplsconservative]

I'm not sure why it seems to you that when I express my opinion it's a whine or a moan, but when you voice yours it isn't, but I don't buy into your definition.

Fair enough. You were simply making a statement which I mischaracterized as whining. You were not.

I see it as whether I can support either of them, and as I have said, I cannot. Each one is unsupportable IMO. I have said for over a decade that I would never vote for the likes of John McCain, and I won't.

Obama is unsupportable because he is a Marxist, anti-American thug. McCain, before his choice of Palin, was barely supportable IMO. While I disagree with some of his stances, at his core, he is proud of this country and is willing to defend it militarily. That is a distinction that makes the difference for me.

Yes, I agree. Time will tell. I've looked back at the historical instances of vice-presidents following their presidents. In the last sixty years, there hasn't been a real good track record of it. Palin is also faced with the difficult task of being saddled to a guy like McCain, his crew, the Congressional Republicans, the RNC, and the fickle Republican primary voters. Frankly, I wish her good luck. She's going to need it.

History does repeat itself, more often than not. I have to take the tack of being optimistic and believing in the good will of the thinking American people.

Right now she is basking in the glow that is made possible by McCain, his subordinates, the Congressional Republicans, and the RNC needing her to string along the Conservatives. After January 20th, 2009, she is no longer an assett. She will then be the tie vote breaker in the Senate, if one ever comes along. Other than that, she's powerless. She'll be a lady in waiting who will be asked to be a team player for John's agenda, not the McCain/Palin agenda. That was a ruse. There never was one.

What happens if Palin disagrees with John? At that time the McCain staff, many of the Congressional Republicans, and the RNC begin to exert pressure to get her to back him publicly. And in some instances that is going to become quite painful. How does this effect Palin? Does she refuse to play along and get slammed, or does she simply fall in line to support the McCain agenda? You see, I am concerned about what effect having to spend four or eight years under McCain will have on her. And when it comes time for her to run as for the Presidential nomination, do the same primary voters who gave us the likes of McCain find Palin a worthy candidate? I am by no means convinced of that. If McCain's staff, the Congressional Republicans, and the RNC have to marginalize her to get McCain's agenda through Congress, she may be damaged goods by the time she gets to run. And if they don't have to take her to task, it may be because she has been convinced by then that you have to play along to get along. Washington, D.C. has had that effect on many people who have been elected to office to serve there.

All of what you stated could come to fruition, or it might not. I tend to be pessimistic in my view of things, so I understand where you're coming from. Palin's nomination to me, indicates McCain's acknowledgment of the power of the conservative base. That gives me optimism and I hope it would help shape a McCain administration.

I encourage you to do so. I'm not here to get anyone to adopt my views. I am simply voicing my views when the subject comes up.

I appreciate your opinion. However, by stating your views in this forum you must admit you are trying to be persuasive. I certainly am and I'll admit it. I can't abide the thought of an Obama presidency.

Not voting for a person who is intent on granting amnesty to between 20 and 35 million illegal aliens in this nation is not just being stubborn. It's not being short-sighted either. I recognize what those normalizations and the resulting chain immigration will do to our nation. I also know that a generous worker permit visa will essentially legalize the flow of foreign nationals into our nation, that used to happen illegaly. In fact there was a provision in the prior McCain/Kennedy Immigration Reform act that allowed the number of legal worker permit visas to grow by 20% each year. At the end of ten years we would be looking at around ten million worker permits per year on top of normal immigration. After looking at McCain's history, I realize this isn't the only problem with him. And so, he will never get a vote from me. In this instance, the lessor of two evils is too evil for me to vote for.

Immigration is a huge issue, though not the only one. I will fight tooth and nail any legislation that gives illegals amnesty. With Obama, that fight goes away completely.

No, you won't. You think you will, but you get to exercise your voice once every four years. After that it turns to begging. McCain is a man that will serve at his whim, not yours.

You have a voice right now, and look what you are doing with it. This third-way triangulation has Conservatives so tied up in knots that they will back the likes of John McCain and slam other decent Conservatives who refuse to.

I get to exercise my voice on a daily basis, not simply through voting, but by being a citizen of this proud country. As citizens we can change things. The illegal immigration situation can be changed if enough of us make our voices heard. People on FR have made a difference and we will continue to make a difference. I have faith in my fellow conservatives.

Look, do what you think is best with my blessing. I can't join you this time.

There may not be another time if Obama gets his way. Talk radio, and most likely FreeRepublic will become a thing of the past thanks to the Fairness Doctrine being reimplemented in an Obama administration. Do what you think is best too. That is all we can do.

[RetiredNavy]

“I realize a lot of people see as a choice between one of two men. I see it as a decision as to whether I will support either of them. The answer is no.”

The point I was trying to make is that it is NOT a choice between 2 men, it is a choice between keeping our representative republic and freedoms and following europe into socialism.

As I said before, vote for the America that you want your children to live in.