Posted on 02/06/2008 3:11:00 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Despite what the pundits, talking heads, and self-annoited experts say about the Republican race, it is more muddled and more up in the air than at any time since Iowa.
Why?
Because 60 percent of the Republican Party is against John McCain.
And the more a dour Tim Russert or an arrogant Chris Mathews says that, “the Republican race is, for all intents and purposes, over,” or this one, “it is very hard to see how John McCain can be stopped,” the more agitated conservatives get.
That translates to “we lefty pundits who dominate the TV airwaves want McCain so we will just proclaim him the inevitable nominee.”
But conservative GOP voters are rebelling against McCain; yes, he gets moderate Republicans and independents who come into the GOP primaries. But the base — conservatives — are voting against McCain.
So I ask you this question: How can the Republican Party, with a huge base of conservatives, nominate a candidate who hates them and who they despise?
This is the crux of the dilemma that is ripping the GOP apart now. Ann Coulter’s "Hannity & Colmes" diatribe was more than amusing. It raised this question: Who do conservatives hate more, John McCain or Hillary Clinton?
The question, more than any answer, is instructive: The fact that we are even talking about this shows how divided we Republicans are and how unaccepting of John McCain we will be.
We feel like he is being jammed down our throat by the left, and by the same inside-the-beltway GOP establishment that has been, frankly, wrong on just about everything from amnesty to Dubai Ports World.
The two candidates opposing McCain are both having difficulty cobbling together enough support on their own to defeat McCain; they are splitting the conservative vote and enabling a moderate-to-liberal win.
And Huckabee is clearly in the tank for McCain. Yesterday’s rigged convention in West Virginia was designed to deny Mitt Romney a “Romney Wins West Virginia” headline running all day long on cable TV. While within the rules, it was a petty, ugly example of the "real McCain" at work.
As the so-called GOP front-runner he should be above that kind of thing. But it tells us he is still more afraid of Romney than he is of Huckabee. Therefore, conservatives are increasingly going to rally to Romney from here on out.
And what Romney now needs to do is simple: pick an upcoming state — a crucial one — and make it a mano-a-mano race, Romney vs. McCain, and win it!
It is time Romney beats Mccain one-on-one because if he cannot, then McCain will win the nomination by default.
But if Romney draws the line in the sand and beats McCain, then we have a new race on our hands. The conservatives will rally to Romney and McCain could still be stopped.
So, Mitt, get going and fast.
Your task is a difficult one: take on not just McCain but the entire D.C. establishment.
Let it all out . . . get angry; show some passion. Embrace the talk-radio hosts, as they represent the GOP base.
Take on McCain and squash him, and soon, maybe in Ohio.
Make the economy the issue.
Do us all a favor.
“Romney is no Reagan, but he might be able to get you some government health insurance.”
I encourage you to read the Heritage Foundation’s take on Romney’s plan, why it’s completely different from Hillary’s government run health care plan, and why they endorsed Romney.
With 22 states to go, I keep hoping it is possible for Romney to pull it off! The next three states are Louisiana, Washington, and Kansas on Saturday. Hopefully the conservatives in those states would give Mitt the wins. Don’t know how many delegates are involved, but everyone counts!
He ain’t better. Gov. Sleazebag is worse.
Those voters I would say, are the social leg of this party and they are made up off Bible believing evangelicals.
They too, more than likely, do not like McCain and would not vote for him. BUT here is the crux of the problem. They will NEVER vote for Romney either because he is a Mormon.
Just as it is for many here, a matter of principle to never pull the lever for McCain, it is a matter of principle for them not to pull the lever for Romney.
You can scream religious bigotry all you want, but that is a hard fact that many refuse to see.
Honestly, look at the demographics and how the vote was split and tell me I am wrong.
Very imaginative! I say if we have to lose, let’s do it right since everything else in this matter has been so screwed up - And I’m serious, not being sarcastic.
*BUMP*
And I’m twice as repulsed.
“get angry; show some passion.”
Just show you got balls. That would do it.
Romney is absolutely FINISHED. There is no path to the nomination and no chance those supporting Huckabee will switch over to Romney. Accept that reality.
I will be voting for Fred Thompson.
I am hoping there is a conservative revolt and third party.
There is no way that a demoralized, divided, and apathetic Party (GOP) can possibly compete with an energized, enthusiastic, mobilized and passionate Party (the democrats). If that isn't a recipe for an democratic election landslide, I don't know what is.
Even Hillarly couldn't unite the GOP at this point.
Where was I now? Oh, yeah, I was saying:
My candidate (Thompson) lost and I'm not sure who I like best of the remaining candidates (Huckabee, Romney, McCain and Ron Paul).
On the three "legs" of conservatism:
I think Huckabee is probably the strongest when it comes to cultural issues, which are important to me.
I think McCain is the strongest of the four when it comes to national security issues.
None of them have impressed me when it comes to economic issues.
I hope that clarifies things. ;-)
Huh? Why are you lecturing me about Romney, when I suggested a way The Huckster could win?
I figure it this way. I’ll vote McCain if, AND ONLY IF, Hillary is the opponent. If Obama is the opponent I vote Third Party or just hibernate.
She would've if Fred or another REAL conservative had been the nominee. Otherwise, what's the difference?
Oh please. Completely hysterically hypocritical of YOU to accuse anyone of drinking the kool aid. The ONLY way anyone can still be supporting Mr "Apologies to Pakistan for Bhutto getting wacked" Huckabee is if they are drowning in the kool aid.
Your boy has the fewest delegates, cannot win any of the remaining states, has total crap for a political organization, has no money, is finishing dead last in the polls with NO support anywhere in the Conservative media.
Huckabee has ZERO chance of beating McCain. NONE.
Utterly amazing after listening for decades to Christan Conservatives complain about the Republican Establishment bigotry towards them, to watch them turn around an express the same bigotry for a candidate based on nothing but his religious views.
That's the problem. Many (most?) Republicans don't like McCain, but there are not many Republicans that are thrilled with Romney either.
Being viewed as the lesser of two evils has never been a great way to win an election.
So will MCCain. Can you think of another?
you know what people...I don’t care. Not one of the three left standing is who I wanted. The American public is used to this...heck, it happens on American Idol all the time.
But come November I will show up and vote for OUR side.
I agree completely. That’s why I said,,,,”....at this point”.
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