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 ...
I don't hate McCain, he's simply not worth that kind of energy.
I actually have Faith in John McCain....
......Faith that he will once again stab us in the back, while lying to our face.
McCain is as big a viper as Hillary and B. Hussein, never forget this is about John McCain and only John McCain.
It's all he cares about, he doesn't give a flip about you, me or the Constitution.
Don't believe me, thats fine, I faith that if you watch McCain will unfortunately prove me right, to all our detriment.
Just got a fund raising letter from the RNC. Threw it, unopened, in the trash.
No. He will not be able to contain his arrogance and inherent anger. He will browbeat conservatives instead.
By the way, I think the best way to “welcome” Juan would be to stand with our backs to him in silence. I plan to ignore his supporters and the MSM.
“Sorry McAmnesty, you and the liberals are going to have to win this one one your own.
“Just got a fund raising letter from the RNC. Threw it, unopened, in the trash.”
This is the RIGHT approach.
Conservatives have been fighting a two front war...the RATS and RINOs. It’s to the point where some folks need to ask...”Stay home or vote for another RINO?”
I am of the opinion it MIGHT be better to let Obama get in...two yrs later after he screws up the house and senate can move right as in 94. However Clinton is dif...if the beast gets in its over!
One thing for sure...conservatives need to re-group.
I am more of scorched earth kinda I guy....I dont care if hillary wins. I am ready for the fight. We get yet another Rino in they will just inch step us to socialism and guys like you will just say well he is only doing 80% of hillary would I am glad for the 20 % he didnt do. we will have 4 years to build up a REAL CONSERVATIVE and the country will be good and $*cked up with hillary in charge. She can go to the dustbin and we would have another Reagan. I can vote in confidence for the LP or CP this go around....at least they are conservatives.
Liberty,
I’d be more inclined to agree with you were it not for 1, if not 2 likely SCOTUS vacancies coming up during the next 4 years.
How about this scenario:
McCain chooses a true conservative for veep and then opts not to run for his second term (for reasons of health, age, etc)?
1 if not 2 likely SCOTUS vacancies coming up during the next 4 years.
I believe that McCain is sneaky (evidence of WV) and will make a deal with Democrats on who to chose for Supreme Court Nominees. They won’t be to our liking.
Well, he’s on record as almost idolizing Scalia.
Also, his gang of 14 resulted in 2 of the most controversial judges getting an up or down vote (Brown and Owen). Furthermore, Roberts and Alito were approved without much in the way of opposition, in the spirit of comprimise.
Personally, I believe he will nominate to our liking. Even if he doesn’t, his less-than-desirable nominees would still likely be preferable to anybody that Hillary or Hussein would nominate.
It should be obvious that among the general population of Republicans, the fear of the continuing war and coming war with Iran trumps all other issues.
All other issues are trumped by this fear. McCain is percieved as a warrior and the only candidate to be trusted to wage war.
The war is the issue
He will push this theme at CPAC
I predict he’ll do a polite “in your face” defense of himself as a ‘straight talking guy with independent thoughts and you should want that kind of independence that can cross party lines” speech.
It’ll wear well with the MSM and can’t hurt him with CPAC.
the pool is kinda of thin of conservative judges to pic for supreme court, thats a lost cause.
I dont understand those who tell us to suck it up and get behind McCain without giving us any other reason except he is better than Hillary (who isnt?). We wont win with the slogan, “anybody but Hillary”. Remember, that slogan didn’t work for the Democrats in 2004 when they would cry “Anybody but Bush”. You can’t excite the voters unless you can inspire them with who you are, not scare them about who your opponent is. You can’t just fight against someone or you are bound to lose. You have to inspire and animate the voters with ideals and values that they themselves agree with and not just tell them, “well I am no good but I am better than that other one.” You have to give the people something to go to the polls for or they are not going to go. So I challenge any McCain supporter to give me a reason to go to the polls other than to beat the other candidate. That wont work if the voters don’t believe in what McCain is saying and I don’t believe him. So give me a reason to vote for him and not one to vote against Hillary because I wouldn’t do that anyway. Until I get a good reason I am writing in Mitt’s name on the ballot.
And another thing, I keep hearing about his 82% Conservative record but that is just a number to me, show me his conservative record, show me what he has done to advance our values, so far on every important issue that has come before this nation he has almost always been on the wrong side and went against conservative values.
I hope that Mitt Romney points out that McCain’s carbon tax is far more costlier than the income tax cuts that he has promised to make permanent (even though that will not be in his power).
82% is lifetime. I’m sure over the last few years it’s not even close to that.
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.