Posted on 02/05/2008 11:01:38 PM PST by Fred
The next big hurdle for John McCain isn't the Feb. 12 primaries. It's his appearance tomorrow before the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, whose verdict on the Arizona senator could make or break his presidential aspirations.
The 6,000 Republican Party members expected to attend "are the ground troops that make up the conservative base," says David Keene, president of the American Conservative Union, which sponsors the yearly meeting. "And he's pretty much blown his credibility with these people."
CPAC has been an important stop on conservatives' calendars since Ronald Reagan showed up in 1973 for the first of 17 appearances. The three-day conference in Washington now draws thousands of people, more than half of them under age 26, who come to listen to the movement's stars and assess its presidential candidates.
Last year, Sen. McCain was the only declared candidate to turn down an invitation to speak to the group, which returned the snub by consigning him to fifth place in a presidential straw poll, well behind first-place finisher Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and Sen. McCain's rival for the Republican nomination.
Sen. McCain this year answered his CPAC invitation only after winning the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 8 and settled on a time only after his South Carolina win on Jan. 26. He will follow both Vice President Dick Cheney and Mr. Romney, plus a panel that ponders the question, "Is the GOP Still Lost?"
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
We’ve seen this movie before.
He’ll be a no-show.
Where is McCain’s heart? If he has one, it is not with us. He hearts democrats.
"If he's applauded, then we can spin it that he's being welcomed by the base that is important to win in the fall. If they boo him, then these are still the morons who haven't liked him for a decade, so no big surprise, and John looks like the bigger man for showing up and taking the abuse. But I don't think the latter will happen. Everyone understands the political stakes. John McCain is going to be the nominee, and conservatives don't want Hillary or Obama in the White House. They will support John McCain."
If you thought Romney was a flip-flopper, just wait. McManiac will show him what World Class flip-flop looks like.
The fun part will be, he’ll flip and flop, pandering to us for our vote, and he’ll still get his clock cleaned by the Dummies. Then, he’ll fade away into the nothingness that he really is.
Someone wake me from this nightmare. Let’s see what the RINO says, but I’m not holding my breath. I’m looking for the complete capitulation of his immigration stance, a reversal of his current view on the Bush tax cuts, and an assertion to appoint strict constructionist judges. Only then, maybe, maybe will I hold my nose and pull the lever for him.
Dude, McCain is just so unpredictable and onery, who knows what he will do..
If the conservatives at CPAC truly want to be smart, then all of them should get up out of their seats all at once and then walk out of the room just as soon as John McCain begins to speak! John McCain would be left with a bunch of empty seats! This move would really send McCain a message from conservatives.
Yeah, I know. I know it ain’t over, but it sure is shaping up to be McInsane vs. the Hildebeast. The WOT is an issue of utmost importance to me. The election of Hillary or Obama is not an option.
McCain would have to say almost nothing to get this job done. He will say less than that.
I like the earlier suggestions that we all send a head of lettuce to him a CPAC...
Screw McCain!!!
You're right, it's not an option, it is a virtual certainty.
What do we gain if we win the war on terror, but compromise our principles to do so? I submit the terrorists will have won if we vote for someone out of fear.
He’s gonna look around and say “Dammit, where’s Kennedy?!? You friggin’ lied to me!!!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.