McCain: 'We're Coming Back!'

News Max ^ | October 31, 2008

[RobinMasters]

With four days to the presidential election, Republican John McCain intensified his underdog message in must-win Ohio on Friday, trailing in the polls but promising "we're coming back" in the race against front-running Democrat Barack Obama.

Obama has opened his lead in the polls by relentlessly linking his opponent to the unpopular President George W. Bush, a fellow Republican who is heavily blamed for the U.S. financial crisis, and whom voters perceive as the better choice to turn around the economy.

[roses of sharon]

[paudio]

You missed my point. I never said history will never vindicate him. I'm 100% sure it will, and Dubya knows it. Precisely because of it, I resent him for not fighting back when the media defines him and conservative movement. I'm not bashing him for what he did for the country. I am faulting him for what he did (or more precisely did not do) for the conservative and Republican causes--which I will argue below, might have negative effects to the country in the long run.

Yes, he has done good things for himself. And perhaps, for the country during this time. However, by not defending himself and the ideas that Republican hold--even worse, by absorbing blames for somebody else's mistakes like in the case of Katrina, he let the the image and brand of conservatism and Republicanism tainted. This, in turn, prepares the way for 0bama to get elected. If 0bama get elected and he succeeds in fundamentally change the United States, like he promises, whatever good thing Dubya achieved might be swept away by 0bama.

I cannot blame McCain for separating himself from Bush. Because Dubya didn't do anything to defend conservatism and Republican brand, the brand is tainted, at least for a short run. McCain has no choice but separating himself from him.

[lonestar67]

If you go to Whitehouse.gov, you will find a collection of speeches by President Bush. In any one of those speeches, you will find defenses of:

1. conservatism
2. his administration
3. his policies
4. the American people

The relentless uncritical recitation of “he never defends himself” is simply a way of rationalizing the selling out of Bush by conservatives. As you keep saying in your post. Its okay, he won’t defend himself. Its tautological. He defends himself all the time. I bet he will do it again tomorrow in his radio address. You don’t care. No one cares— but for 25% of us who remain loyal.

With that said, he is not up for election so I don’t much care. But you and other Bush critics are not entitled to your own facts— particularly at this point. Too many conservatives have decided not to defend Bush. That is the problem. Even if Bush did not defend himself, it would not justify failing to defend Bush. Bush’s policies are good. That will become painfully clear no matter whether McCain or Obama wins.

So consider an end to your rationalization, you are not helping your cause.

[Mad_as_heck]

Thank you for saying what needed to be said: GWB is a great man and a great president. He's had more catastrophes explode on his watch than every prez in the last 50 years put together. He's at least tried to address so many of the problems that this country faces. A man of courage, vision, and integrity.

Bush certainly has his faults (like all of us) and I've disagreed with him on a lot of issues but he has been lynched by the left, 'rats, and especially the media. I make no apologies or qualification for using so strong and loaded word. That's what it amounts to. If Bush has one failing its that he is too nice, too honorable, too honest. If leader has faults I'd prefer that kind.

[lonestar67]

That is a pretty fair assessment in my view.

[RobinMasters]

http://www.heritage.org/press/events/ev051707b.cfm

[nascent skeptic]

President Bush has done an incredible job of protecting this nation from further attacks.

Remember when, right after 9/11, he threw out the first pitch at the World Series pretty much right over the plate?

President Bush has made our safety his first priority - and has pretty much pitched a no-hitter, if not a perfect game.

Reagan had to allow the deficit to balloon in order to get the House and Senate Dems to go along with rebuilding our military capabilities, didn't he? Maybe the pattern has been similar with Bush.

[paudio]

Of course he said things like that now and then, but obviously isn't working. And what did he do? The fact is, he relied too much on his appointees, such as Scott McLeland, to defend the administration even when it's obvious the guy is incompetent. Admitting Katrina to be his fault was the point when ordinary people started to buy the media's story. Everything went down from there.

Again, I'm not faulting his policies, although some other conservatives may. I'm faulting his image management which create halo effect to the whole brand of conservatism and Republicanism.

[adopt4Christ]

I totally agree with you. President George Bush so far has been the most underestimated President we’ve ever had. I think he has set the bar very high. I truly believe that Vice President Palin has similar character and ability and vision and resolve that he does. McCain is a good guy, well-meaning, respected mainly for his military record, and has a “folksy” way about him that endears him even to Hillary. Sarah will keep his behind in line throughout his Presidency, I think. And then SHE will take her place in history — as the NEXT President of the United States.

I think the media will be shocked on Tuesday.

[jveritas]

It is in his second term that Bush and our brave troops won the war in Iraq despite all the defeatists and traitors at home who has wanted us to surrender including Obama.

October 2008 is the lowest casualty month for our US troops since the start of the war in March 2003. We lost 13 of our heroes in October 2008 in Iraq but only 7 were killed by hostile fire.

God Bless President Bush and our brave troops.

[jveritas]

Amen.

[lonestar67]

I like your way of thinking.

I also think the Media is going to be shocked by this reality on Tuesday.

[Just mythoughts]

It is in his second term that Bush and our brave troops won the war in Iraq despite all the defeatists and traitors at home who has wanted us to surrender including Obama. October 2008 is the lowest casualty month for our US troops since the start of the war in March 2003. We lost 13 of our heroes in October 2008 in Iraq but only 7 were killed by hostile fire. God Bless President Bush and our brave troops.

I could not agree more... I have always suspected that President Bush had to let the vote buyers in Congress have their take just to keep our military funded.

[Colonial Warrior]

It's for being a MARXIST and SOCIALIST, STUPID!!!

[DocT111]

McCain’s speeches have been passionate and energized. He has been getting better and better at the stump. The roar of the crowds are thunderous...

[ZULU]

If Obama wins Tuesday, you will be singing another tune.

Harriet Myers, Colin Powell, Dubai Port Scam, Ramos and Compean, the failure to defend our Mexican borders, Alberto Gonzales, Norman Minetta, trying to convert 25% of our foreign food aid to American cash pay-outs, a 750 Billion dollar buy-out of toxic loans,increased loss of American jobs overseas, a foreign policy which promotes globalism - on and on.

I guess we disagree about the Bush clan.

[iopscusa]

Awesome answer to the GWB bashing Lonestar!

[lonestar67]

The bashing of Bush is why the race is unreasonably close.

So your assessment is merely more wishful thinking on your part.

[ZULU]

I think what you call the cause is the effect, and vice versa.

Bush has no one but himself to blame. The warning came in the mdi-terms but the RNC ignored it.

[lonestar67]

You are rationalizing again.

Its pretty easy to make a list of people that can be blamed before Bush.

You might try starting with yourself.

I sometimes think the entire purpose of Bush’s existence is for Americans to make him their eternal scapegoat— a lengthy vacation from personal responsibility. That vacation comes to an end January 20, 2009. I will be glad to have this good man back in Texas. I will be amused to watch the moral pretenders flail away.