Ack!
Posted on 02/23/2008 10:56:29 AM PST by Bob J
Ever since Super Tuesday a super debate has been raging on FR concerning John McCain. I was never a McCain supporter, in fact I penned the post Super Tuesday post "Official FR Drinking Thread" so we could together drown our common disappointments into oblivion.
FReepers seem to be moving into three distinct groups. The first are those that have always supported McCain, a lot or partially. There are those that don't like McCain but are willing to support him because they believe they will get some of what they want or to defeat what the see as the more critical danger, Obama or Clinton. The there's the third group, those that viscerally dislike McCain and vow never to vote for him for any reason.
The actions and motivation for support from the first two groups seem obvious...they would rather see McCain in the White House than a dem. But for the life of me I cannot understand some of the actions of the third.
Allow me to explain.
I understand you dislike McCain and the reasons why. He is far too liberal on many issues, he has stabbed conservatives in the back several times and he is too cozy with the dems. These are all defensible reasons to not vote for him or to vote third party and you have every right to vote as you see fit and for whatever reasons you hold. What I don't understand is why some here are making such concerted efforts to dissuade others from voting for or supporting him.
As flawed as McCain is there is no way a logical case can be made that we would be better off under Obama or Hillary (O&H). Even on most issues where McCain is closer to the left than to us, O&H are much farther to the left than he is and would do much more damage than McCain. On the issues where he is not, the WOT, taxes, abortion, etc., the differences are stark and this does not even take into count extended issues like judicial appointments.
So why are you working so hard, so viscerlly, so nasty, to turn votes against McCain? If you truly feel as you do than go sit out November or cast your vote for your 3rd party candidate. That makes sense. What doesn't make sense is why you push for a McCain and GOP loss.
It may be as simple as "misery loves company". It may be that you validate your own position by getting others to believe as you do. It may be that there are some dem propaganda plants on FR. I don't know but I sure would like to and I know others do as well.
BTW - I have errands to run this afternoon, I’ll let this thread find it’s own way and be ack later tonight.
Has he given the No Amnesty, Deport Pledge yet?
Two very simple reasons.
First the handwriting is on the wall for anyone willing to see it. McCain isn’t going to win. He’s winning primaries with around half the votes Hillary is losing with.
Second, I see no reason to vote for a losing candidate AND give the GOP a go ahead for a further leftward slide. Instead I’ll write in a conservative candidate to show what I want to see from the GOP.
I’m in the second group and voted for Fred in my state primary. I will vote for McCain to try to keep the Dems out of the WH, but in all fairness, I do have a lot of empathy with those in the 3rd group. I do understand how they feel and why they are doing what they are doing. Holding to principle is admirable. I am more of a Reaganite, I guess, in that I’ll take what I can get and continue to work hard for the rest, while fighting the worst of the left.
Well said!
It’s ok. There are many prodigal sons on FRee Republic. When they return home in August or October the fatted calf will be killed and there will be rejoicing.
Their absence will not be brought up as the joy of their return is celebraated. The family knows they have their reasons for the absence and thats all that need be brought up.
The savor of victory in the offing will replace the bitter taste of primary defeat in the spring.
Which way would you rather die, a bullet to the head or an arrow in the stomach? Either way, your gonna die. Take your pick.
If you elect McCain as President, he will define conservatism. I am not willing to allow conservatism to mean: pro-amnesty, pro-human-caused Global Warming, anti-first amendment, pro-terrorists-have-civil-rights or any of the other left-wing quackery John McCain has embraced over the years.
I also don’t see why I should be expected to be more loyal to the republican party than the candidate we nominated for President.
bump!
They will no more admit this than a cold war red will admit Hiss was a soviet agent. The reason is the same - personal statements of their own are on the line. The farther out they went in slandering McCain, the less capable they are of swallowing any of it and voting for him anyway.
It is a fool's errand trying to convince any of them. Just point out that no one need follow them and they are free to take themselves off in a huff and be as silly as they like. Simple. Also, it is so last week by now, nobody cares what they think.
“What doesn’t make sense is why you push for a McCain and GOP loss.”
A significant number of that group want to see the GOP utterly destroyed so that their favorite third party can take it’s place.
Some people just want to stay bitter 24/7, it’s in their genes, IMO.
Giving a McCain 4-8 years would disenfranchise the conservatives and the Reagan Democrats that cross over for many moons to come.
I am not completely behind this, but when politics are viewed farther out than 2-4 year blocks, a different picture comes into focus.
Thoughts anyone?
Well Bob, I'd imagine it's because people come to FR to debate the issues and attempt to persuade others to their viewpoint.
The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to
deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.
- Abraham Lincoln -
This is a vanity stupid.
Bob the problem is misery loves company and cutting off your nose to spite your face is not a sign of wisdom but gross immaturity. The idea of electing someone who will cause more damage is not sound as these setbacks are not easy to recover from. For example we are still suffering from Bubba’s excessive military cuts as it is difficult to reconsitute forces that are fully trained & battle ready. The shortage of ground troops has hurt our Iraq operation in many ways and we still have lots of work to do to undo Bubba’s damage. Obama can put us in much worse condition.
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.