Bachmann Walks Careful Path in Contentious Arizona Race (Stays neutral)

WSJ ^ | 4/11/10 | Yogi Dreasen

[AuntB]

Given that McCain has spent the last ten years running for president, with more time in Iowa & N.H. than Arizona, I thought it would be interesting to see just how often 'the maverick' bothers to show up for Senate votes.

Well, guess what, as bad as Obama was, McCain was even worse. [snip]Sen. John McCain (AZ) -- the only current Republican presidential candidate who is a sitting U.S. senator -- has missed more votes than any other senator since Congress convened in January, with the exception of Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD), who spent months recuperating from a brain hemorrhage. According to washingtonpost.com's U.S. Congress Votes Database, Obama has missed 74 out of 93 roll-call votes (79.6%) since the end of the August congressional recess. McCain has missed 63 out of 93 roll-call votes (67.8%) since the end of the August congressional recess. But for the entire year, McCain has missed 79 more votes than Obama; since January, McCain has missed 212 out of 403 (52.6%) roll-call votes in the 110th Congress, while Obama has missed 133 out of 403 (33.0%) roll-call votes.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200711020015

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eiUNzrpxBo

AntiConformist911 — June 29, 2008 — Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) became the most absent member of the Senate. According to the Washington Post's votes database, McCain has "missed 367 votes (61.4%) during the current Congress." In fact, CQ reports today that McCain hasn't voted in the Senate since April 8.

On the other hand, J.D. Hayworth has missed only 1% of his votes in congress

McCAin

Hayworth

John Hayworth missed 95 (1%) of 7,172 roll call votes between Jan 4, 1995 and Dec 9, 2006.

The absentee rate is in red. The two thin black lines provide a context for understanding the significance of the absentee rate. The lower dotted line shows the median value for all Members of Congress in that time period. The upper dotted line shows the 90th percentile. A Member who approaches the upper dotted line is in the worst 10 percent of Congress.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400173&tab=votes

[Electric Graffiti]

Demint/Bachmann......

Is there anyone else taking the fight to the Rinos and Communists? I like their style. Not your normal politicians. Dare I say statesmen with the guts to burn down the Rat’s communist playhouse.

[Paperdoll]

The RNC still calling the leveraged shots? Of course! How could either Palin or Bachmann, self professed conservatives, not back J.D. Hayworth to the hilt?

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

She is wise to do this. McCain’s wife has lots of money, and will spend a lot to keep him in Washington. And for his part, he has a mean temper, and will go out of his way to stick it to someone who has crossed him.

Lots of people are rooting for J.D., but doing so quietly, out of fear of what will happen if McCain is reelected. Once he is out of office, there is going to be a huge, collective sigh of relief.

Maybe then they will remember, and help J.D. out.

[tumblindice]

She’s smart. She caught hell from the MSM, remember, for criticizing Zero and Sasquatch for their “anti-American views” and for the “re-education camps” rhetoric.
The press doesn’t want `truth to power’ speech (whatever that means, but I think it applies) unless they or their idols are the ones doing the speaking.
She knows McCain has the MSM in his pocket as a “moderate Republican” (or, egg-sucking demo-wannabe) so she’s laying back in the tall grass and they can’t attack her.

[Wissa]

She caught hell from the MSM, remember, for criticizing Zero

Not to mention that the RNC pulled their funding of her re-election campaign.

[Electric Graffiti]

“How could either Palin or Bachmann, self professed conservatives, not back J.D. Hayworth to the hilt?”

How much political power and clout does McLame and his merry band of limp-wristed RINOS like Lindsay Grahamnesty wield with in the GOP. I honestly don’t know.....too much in the past. Are things changing fast enough to save this party/country?

[tumblindice]

As a postscript, you would think that members of the `4th estate’ would be shamed by being constantly reminded with concrete examples of their one-sided, partisan bias that would make a murder of crows blush, but they just shrug and go back to work every Monday morning.

[spiderfern]

Yep, and anyone from Mohave County AZ interested in attending a JD HAYWORTH forum on May 22nd, please contact me for further info.

[bjorn14]

My answer would be “I don’t do endorsements for who am I to tell the great people of the State of Arizona who to vote for. I think they are smart enough to figure that out for themselves.”

Some of you FReepers get all wee-weed up over the slightest semantic. A neutral in this case is an the equivalent to HELL NO!

[drubyfive]

Does she have no convictions or no courage of her convictions?

[DoughtyOne]

IMO Bachmann was somewhat blocked by Palin. If she backs Hayworth it casts a shadow on her. McCain’s strategy pays off big time, two birds with one stone. Hawworth 0.5, McCain 1.5.

[kenmcg]

She did the right thing. Endorsements don’t count that much and only play into the RATS hands.Let the primary play out and then the Pubbie candidate won’t have to worry about what Bachman said at this stage. She very well could be a VP candidate as she is very impressive.

[AlanD]

I see her being Vice President before she becomes a Senator.

[rabscuttle385]

Go Michele!!!

[crunk]

Bachmann is one of the best! I hope she can stay above the fray and remain viable as a potential national candidate in the future.

[mkjessup]

Failure would be endorsing McCain.

Now THERE are two words that go together like ham n' cheese, and that's FAILURE and McCAIN.

Michelle Bachmann apparently has the political common sense that is lacking in others. Rather than give any support or endorsement to the RINO in the race, she stays neutral which works out to the benefit of the challenger, i.e., Hayworth.

Smart lady.

[mkjessup]

Failure would be endorsing McCain.

Now THERE are two words that go together like ham n' cheese, and that's FAILURE and McCAIN.

Michelle Bachmann apparently has the political common sense that is lacking in others. Rather than give any support or endorsement to the RINO in the race, she stays neutral which works out to the benefit of the challenger, i.e., Hayworth.

Smart lady.

[mkjessup]

Sorry for the double post, FR seems to be hiccuping at me.

[stephenjohnbanker]

You nailed it, as you always do. Bachmann can’t ask Sarah for help in fundraising, then endorse Hayworth.