McCain maybe one example of what is wrong with the GOP, but on the issues, candidates like Romney and Giuliani were far worse. By choosing Palin, however, McCain helped to energize conservatives and added 5%-10% to his final vote totals.
We conservatives, traditionalists and Republicans should be more concerned about how Obama is weakening America today and not get stuck in some dumb debate over how McCain is weakening the GOP. Its country first and party second in my book. The "sensational statements made by the likes of Tancredo and Beck", as you call them, serve no good purpose except to further undermine an already damaged GOP.
The fact is, the GOP lost in 2006 and 2008 because they abandoned conservatism. Any activism conservatives may be engaging in today, won't help the GOP. The GOP is still in a deep coma.
The enemy is Socialism and the aspects of Liberalism that threaten our Constitutional rights, national security, free markets, and the unborn. Only one prominent voice on the political stage is free of these adversarial characteristics. McCain is not that one person.
I understand how the numbers add up on the political balance sheet, but the GOP’s calculations prove to fail continuously - metaphorically bitch slapping those responsible isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Look, I have tremendous respect for McCain as a war hero, and I also appreciate the many accomplishments of those we often castigate. But we’re getting hammered because of the bad decisions and misrepresentations made these same members of the GOP - period.
We can’t flush them out, and the refuse to leave. What the heck else can we do besides the therapeutic act of insulting them?