Posted on 02/07/2008 7:01:12 AM PST by pwatson
Most leading conservative writers, radio hosts, and activists would probably concur that their liberal counterparts have never really connected with average Americans. Personalities on the right sell more books and get higher radio and television ratings. And until recently, conservatives seemed to be on an electoral politics roll begun in 1994 when the GOP retook the House. Within Republican ranks, for all the talk about crack-ups and implosions, the Reagan legacy still bridges divides between libertarians, social and religious conservatives, and national security conservatives.
By comparison, the left often draws flies. Win, lose, or draw, Democrats are prone to eat their own. Post-FDR, the last time that staunch liberals saw their favorite candidate elected president was never. In fact, the only time Democrats actually nominated a candidate who toed the liberal intelli-gentsia's line was 1972. George McGovern, who recently called for President Bush's impeachment (cue applause in Cambridge, Mass.), got 38 percent of the national vote.
But what is true for the liberal goose is true for the conservative gander. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan liked to quip, people are entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. John McCain is more conservative on more issues than average Americans are. By every standard measure (voting record and ratings, positions on major issues), McCain is conservative. Unlike his critics on the right, however, he is no ideological purist; he is conservative, but he is not what the pollsters call "very conservative." That is one obvious reason why he has such wide appeal. For even in our decidedly right-leaning mass electorate, few Americans, including few Republicans, answer to "very conservative."
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
John McCain as POTUS.
That's reason enough to switch to hard liquor.
My (partly) tongue-in-cheek prediction is that if Hillary loses the Dem nomination, the Weekly Standard will begin a full-court press for McCain to name her as his VP, or, better yet (in their view), step aside and let Hillary have the Republican nomination. After all, we need moderates, and she would stop Obama from winning. And any conservative who doesn’t go along is a whiner and should just shut up.
Yes, there are differences between hillary and McCain, but I’m illustrating a point.
The debate we are having is how far away from conservative principles can a Republican nominee (or probable nominee) stray before conservatives stop voting for him (or her)?
Some people have reached that point already. Others have not.
We’ll know a lot more - about the Republican Party, and about ourselves as conservatives - by November.
But it’s quite a risk to take, I’d say, flipping the bird to the party’s base at a time like this.
Maybe some Republicans don’t want to win if it means shaking up their comfortable Beltway existence, even as a minority? I don’t know.
So you condone gang of 14 tactics on judge appointments and continuous backstabbing of the conservative base and uncontrolled anger bursts?
We may not agree with everything he says, but overall, it’s a sobering reality... I agree with most of the article, unfortunately.
Oh I forgot the big one, AMNESTY.
One cannot always wait for the perfect candidate, but McCain is so wide of the mark for me that I can’t see myself supporting him, ever.
If we abandon our principles - on the border, taxes, civil rights for terrorists, judges, and all the rest - then we have given up the game. We will never be taken seriously again. For years, in any ideological argument, the other side will say “well, you’re a hypocrite - you can’t believe the issue (whatever one is being argued about) is that important if you supported McCain in 2008.
Support McCain this time, and give up all moral authority on conservative principles for all time?
And for what? No, Hillary and Obama sicken me, but I think McCain is also not fit for the job and would be bad for the country.
No thanks.
“For even in our decidedly right-leaning mass electorate, few Americans, including few Republicans, answer to “very conservative.”.... Oh really???? I want closed borders, reduced taxes, less government, illegals deported, Gitmo to stay open, aggressive pursuit of Muslim terrorists and the death penalty for any murder....To me, this is just conservative. To a liberal, it’s radical. T.S.!
That’s great. I just emailed that to several friends and family.
“He” and “her” are one in the same. Cut from the same cloth, only “he” has more loose threads to unravel in the campaign. She will use and abuse him in the general election, with or without conservatives supporting him. McCain is the liberals foundation for their tidal wave win. He’ll be easy to spot in November. Look for the drowned elephant laying on his left side, washed up on the beach.
We still have write-in privileges — that hasn’t been taken away, yet.
in terms of backstabbing i assume you mean Amnesty and McCain Feingold - both of which i cannot stand and do not condone. the “gang of 14” did achieve two SCOTUS appointments - Roberts and Alito - so it was not all bad.
i am no McCain fan but again my rationale is do i want someone who i agree with over 60% or 8%
and if you wonder where i get those numbers i will repost:
McCain ACU lifetime rank 82 2006 65
Hill 9 and 12
Bama 8 and 8
http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
Regardless of whether or not DiIulio's counting is accurate, Bush's margin of victory over Kerry was just 2.4%.
They will vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee - but for Hillary if she is.
I think he's trending to the Left.
But I am not certain.
What is his average since 2000?
Or do something desperate and pretend Mitt Romney is a conservative.
Bingo. McCain has the slimmest of chances of winning in the general election against either Hillary or Obama at this point and will probably be trampled, but in any event he can't even begin to start a campaign without conservatives supporting him. We need to stand our ground and either force the GOP to find a more conservative candidate or break free of this clown posse.
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