Posted on 03/03/2010 10:44:15 AM PST by rabscuttle385
My brother and I have a running conversation about whether it is a good thing that John McCain didn't become president. We both voted for him, but I decided early on, as much as I oppose every Marx-tinged thing President Obama stands for, I was glad Obama had won and McCain had lost. At least, I was glad McCain had lost.
That's because only out of ashes may the phoenix be reborn. The liberal-lite frustrations of a McCain administration would have smoldered on the Right but lit few fires, dampening the possibility of real post-Bush regeneration. From Bush's "compassionate conservatism" (read: liberalism) to McCain's compassionate bipartisanship (read: more liberalism), the nation would have continued to drift in the wrong direction. The "good" thing about the economy-crashing, military-breaking, ideologically mind-blowing Obama administration is that it puts us on a collision course that just might force Americans to bail and start over in a better way -- metaphorically speaking.
But also, McCain didn't deserve to be president, at least not under the false flag of "conservative." McCain is no conservative, a fact that stands out as he faces a serious Senate primary challenge from J.D. Hayworth, a genuinely conservative former U.S. Representative.
After all, John McCain co-wrote the bill providing, in effect, U.S. citizenship to some 20 million illegal aliens (that's why they called it McCain-Kennedy). He co-wrote the bill restricting political speech (McCain-Feingold). J.D. Hayworth opposed both. As for global-warming legislation -- sorry, "climate change" -- McCain used to lead the floor fight for cap-and-trade (initially known as McCain-Lieberman), but now even the New York Times has noticed McCain has gone mum on the issue and "is likely to keep his distance even more over the next six months due to a primary challenge from a conservative former congressman that threatens to end his Senate career after four terms." And yup, Hayworth opposes cap-and-trade. McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts; Hayworth, as he puts it, helped write them. McCain rules out enhanced interrogations and wants to close Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo). Hayworth supports enhanced interrogations, and wants to keep Gitmo open. The list goes on, but there's no need to draw a picture.
Except, maybe, for the benefit of -- how to put this? -- challenged conservative leaders. These include former Sen. Fred Thompson, and former Govs. Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, who, contradicting everything they ever got us to think they stood for, sort of have endorsed McCain. This may burnish "the maverick" with their conservative bona fides. But it also makes those bona fides look more than a little cheap.
Or maybe they just aren't who we think they are. But does it matter? Perception does seem to be everything. In November, Hayworth was polling neck-in-neck with McCain. After Sarah Superstar held out her coattails to McCain -- who, let's not forget, personally, and through his staff, publicly savaged her -- a January poll showed McCain leading Hayworth by 22 points.
So why is McCain running scared? Because he is running scared. At least that's one conclusion to draw from an initial Web ad released by the McCain campaign that stoops to smear Hayworth as a conspiracy nut unfit to serve in the U.S. Senate for having the audacity -- I call it common sense and a little grit -- to point out as a radio host that "questions will remain" until our commander in chief releases the paperwork associated with his birth currently under state seal in Hawaii.
Questions will remain, and do remain, and despite Hayworth spokesman Jason Rose's craven dodge: "Questions were raised on the air. They have been answered." No, they haven't been answered. And that's true largely because of John McCain.
Remember when presidential candidate McCain's own natural-born creds came under question because he was born in the Canal Zone? Naturally, he released his paperwork. He should have then called on his opponent, Barack Obama, to do the same -- naturally. Such leadership would have dispelled all corrosive doubts raised and perpetuated not by "conspiracy nuts" but by the unprecedented lockdown on simple Obama identification -- birth certificate, education transcripts and more -- by the Obama machine, fueled and oiled by a compliant media.
But he didn't -- another reason McCain shouldn't have become president. Now, if conservatives could just retire him from the U.S. Senate.
Diana West is the author of "The Death of the Grown-up: How America's Arrested Development Is Bringing Down Western Civilization," and blogs at dianawest.net. She can be contacted via dianawest@verizon.net.
You are absolutely correct. I did not vote in 2008 and do not regret it. McCain would have been Obama in slow motion and we would have been blamed this way the wishy washy moderates get a good dose of what they voted for.
BTT
I voted for Palin.
Provided we survive Soetoro’s attempt to destroy the U.S., Diana West is right.
How will she feel after Obama has appointed two huge Liberals to the Supreme Court?
“After all, John McCain co-wrote the bill providing, in effect, U.S. citizenship to some 20 million illegal aliens (that’s why they called it McCain-Kennedy). He co-wrote the bill restricting political speech (McCain-Feingold). J.D. Hayworth opposed both. As for global-warming legislation — sorry, “climate change” — McCain used to lead the floor fight for cap-and-trade (initially known as McCain-Lieberman), but now even the New York Times has noticed McCain has gone mum on the issue and “is likely to keep his distance even more over the next six months due to a primary challenge from a conservative former congressman that threatens to end his Senate career after four terms.” And yup, Hayworth opposes cap-and-trade. McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts; Hayworth, as he puts it, helped write them. McCain rules out enhanced interrogations and wants to close Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo). Hayworth supports enhanced interrogations, and wants to keep Gitmo open. The list goes on, but there’s no need to draw a picture.”
There you are.
Endorsing McCain is the worst thing Sarah has ever done—in her whole life.
Whoever is in charge gets blamed by the general public.
McCain would be taking heat for all the ill in the world right now and the media and the general public would only see that ‘R’ attached to his name.
Without Obama, the conservative movement thats happening right now would not be happening.
Thanks DUmmies
A mighty dangerous game you played with your (our) liberty and freedom. Hope you can pat yourself on the back....you and the author of this article.
With a McCain presidency? The WH would not have been intionally packed with rabid marxists, pedophiles, tax evaders etc etc. Yes....I hope all of you that sat at home on November 04, 2008 are quite smug and happy with your decision to throw the United States of America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, under the bus.
Thank you for your continued ‘patting yourself on the back’ attitude.
ole juanny wouldve led us to a cliff, and obambam wouldve been a slam dunk in '12, and very well couldve been positioned to do even more damage in a year than he has so far...with larger majoritys in both houses to boot...
I basically agree.
With Obama in the White House it gives Republicans and conservatives a chance to rebuild their brand.
“How will she feel after Obama has appointed two huge Liberals to the Supreme Court?”
McCain voted to confirm Justice Breyer and
Ginsburg.
McCain doesn’t object to liberals, he is one.
The attitude that Obama's presidency is a good thing for conservatism is about like someone saying they're glad their daughter got raped because it made her learn self defense.
“That’s because only out of ashes may the phoenix be reborn. The liberal-lite frustrations of a McCain administration would have smoldered on the Right but lit few fires, dampening the possibility of real post-Bush regeneration. From Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” (read: liberalism) to McCain’s compassionate bipartisanship (read: more liberalism), the nation would have continued to drift in the wrong direction. The “good” thing about the economy-crashing, military-breaking, ideologically mind-blowing Obama administration is that it puts us on a collision course that just might force Americans to bail and start over in a better way — metaphorically speaking.”
That is how I see it. It has to get worse before it gets better, so I want it to get worse as fast as possible and get it over with. And if some people reveal their true nature in the process, so much the better.
And for the Phoenix to rise from the ashes, you have to have ashes.
Neither alternative is attractive.
She gets a wider reading audience this way. There’s more money in hating on McCain, than hating on Obama.
Save the sarcasm! I did not elect Obama. McCain was beat in a landslide, I just refused to continue the pointless election of more Rino’s to compromise our country away. The American people elected this asshat and they are getting what they elected they just don’t like it. John McCain was the worst possible choice of the people we were running. He has proven to be wishy washy RINO and I’m glad he is not up there compromising our freedoms away. There was no chance of us retaining the presidency because of Geo. W Bushes sellout.The selection process was front loaded with liberal states as it always is. WE will win by running conservatives not Rino’s.
Outstanding post!!!
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