Posted on 02/23/2010 3:02:47 PM PST by rabscuttle385
In critiquing Glenn Becks CPAC speech taking the Republican Party to task for failing to own up to its Big Government lapses, Bill Bennett cites various Republicans who have admitted the partys culpability. But see if you can spot the glaring problem with his defense of the GOP:
From Jim DeMint to Tom Coburn to Mike Pence to Paul Ryan, any number of Republicans have admitted the excesses of the party and done constructive and serious work to correct them and find and promote solutions. Even John McCain has said again and again that the Republican party lost its way.
If you didnt gag when you read this sentence, you are not paying attention:
Even John McCain has said again and again that the Republican party lost its way.
Even John McCain? The Republican party lost its way on core limited government principles because of McCains radical progressive agenda. Question for Mr. Bennett: Can you please provide the exact citation and context of the so-called admission you attribute to McCain?
Because to this day, McCain refuses to admit his own individual responsibility for supporting the pre-socialization of the economy started under George W. Bush and continued under Obama. And fellow Republicans continue to whitewash McCains fiscal irresponsibility record.
McCain has never admitted he was wrong about his support of:
The $700 billion all-purpose, earmark-stuffed TARP bailout;
The $300 billion mortgage entitlement bailout; and
The first $85 billion AIG bailout.
His latest McLame-est excuse for supporting TARP? He was misled. Via the Arizona Republic:
Under growing pressure from conservatives and tea party activists, Sen. John McCain of Arizona is having to defend his record of supporting the governments massive bailout of the financial system.
In response to criticism from opponents seeking to defeat him in the Aug. 24 Republican primary, the four-term senator says he was misled by then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. McCain said the pair assured him that the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program would focus on what was seen as the cause of the financial crisis, the housing meltdown.
Obviously, that didnt happen, McCain said in a meeting Thursday with The Republics Editorial Board, recounting his decision-making during the critical initial days of the fiscal crisis. They decided to stabilize the Wall Street institutions, bail out (insurance giant) AIG, bail out Chrysler, bail out General Motors. . . . What they figured was that if they stabilized Wall Street I guess it was trickle-down economics that therefore Main Street would be fine.
Nearly 15 months later, commercial lenders still are in shaky condition and the commercial real-estate industry is in trouble, he said. On Friday, President Barack Obama announced $1.5 billion in funding for new measures to help Arizona and four other states hit hard by the tanked housing market and by joblessness.
But McCain stopped short of calling the TARP a mistake.
Something had to be done because the worlds financial system was on the verge of collapse, he said. Any economist, liberal or conservative, would agree with that. The action they took, I dont agree with.
All the warning signs and red flags about Henry Paulsons incompetence and untrustworthiness were there before McCain joined the Chicken Little crowd. (See September 22, 2008, Why Henry Paulson must be contained.) Stalwart fiscal conservatives like GOP Rep. Mike Pence saw through the smokescreen and kept their heads. McCains trying to have it both ways refusing to admit he was wrong, blaming crapweasel Paulson for duping him, and creating the illusion that hell be competent enough to resist the next inevitable bailout temptation when White House, Treasury, and Fed officials hit the panic button.
He blew it on TARP.
Blew it on the auto bailout.
Blew it on the mortgage entitlement bailout.
Blew it on the AIG bailout.
Blew it on amnesty.
Blew it on campaign finance.
Blew it on global warming.
In short: McCain blows.
Ive already warned about McCain Regression Syndrome. The GOP hasnt even begun to cure itself.
“If he were a radical progressive why didnt he vote for the second AIG bailout? Such hyperbole lessens the effect.”
Grasping at straws, eh?
See post 19.
He has seen it a hundred times. In early ‘08 Norm was one of only three FReepers who openly supported McCain. The Kool-Aid is deep in this one.
I think that leftist wives such as Cindy McCain, Teresa Heinz and Laura Bush exert tremendous negative influence on their husbands. Bob
Post 19 says it all.
One need only sweep up the ashes ;-)
I feel very sorry for McCain. He suffered as a POW.
However, when he suspended his campaign to go vote taxpayers dollars to save....what ever he was saving at the time..he lost me.
My leader does not do this.
BA
“Free Republic Opinion Poll:
Would you be for or against McCain?
Member Opinion
against 92.4% 2,989
for 7.6% 247”
TigersEye, where are you finding these FR polls, I’ve been looking for them. There are more McCain polls, none of which he did well in. Even the link you gave gives me a blank page.
Thanks!
McCain.....just another RAT, abandoning ship...
Sorry, I’m afraid they no longer exist on FR archives. I put that in my post in late ‘06 when I first began the collection of links.
Bill Bennett is no rock solid conservative either.
He doesn’t believe the Second Amendment confirs an individual right.
McCain is the Evil Genius of the Republican left - sitting in the corner of the Senate like a giant pallid spider, spinning endless webs of intrigue with the Democrats and trapping other Republicans in it.
I hope this bastard is finally flushed out of Congress this time.
Even if he WAS a decent Senator, he has been there too long. Elective Office was never intended to be a sinecure.
``I work in Washington and I know that money corrupts. And I and a lot of other people were trying to stop that corruption. Obviously, from what we’ve been seeing lately, we didn’t complete the job. But I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected that has become corrupt. If I had my choice, I’d rather have the clean government.’’
Sounds like a benevolent despot would be fine with him.
Unfortunately, Malkin is ate up with the “True Believer” syndrome. The problem with these kind of people is that they don’t know when to stop. I believe the Malkin types, and now Glen Beck, will “purify” the GOP of its economic progressives, and the end result will be a permanent minority party.
There will be some spikes when you get a goober-b*tt Democrat president like Obama, but in the long run the GOP wants to get “tough” right when people are losing their homes? How friggin’ smart is that?
And, right now, when Obama has crawled into the sack with Wall Street,and the GOP has this wide open chance to reclaim the country in a good way, by collaring Wall Street, what do they do? Crawl in there next to them...
parsy, who says they call the GOP party the “stupid” party for a reason
Anyone remember when the GOP swells backed Arlen Specter against Pat Toomey?
Yes, he had no problem restricting the 1st Amendment with his CFR bill. Political speech for me but not for thee.
I think some are misunderstanding what Beck, Malkin, et al are trying to do. The fact is, the Pubbies did such an awful job w/ their stewardship when the had control, that they ended up losing control of Congress, & ultimately the White House as well.
The mood of Congress has certainly changed since Beck started his crusade. I think the Pubbies are doing better, not great, but better since then. I think Beck, Malkin, et al simply want to keep the heat on lest they fall back into the error of their ways. Lets face it, its not hard to imagine them doing so given their recent history.
Many of the guys that handed the power back to the Dem.s are still there. Im glad Beck & Malkin are keeping their feet to the fire. Do you think the MSM will?
There is a wave of change sweeping the nation & we cant afford to have that wave snuffed out by complacency. Beck, & Malkin are some of the only ones willing to put it all on the line to make sure that doesnt happen.
Bottom line, whether you like Beck or not, people are talking & listening, & thats a very, very good thing. Its been a long time since weve seen that. If nothing else comes of Becks crusade, the fact that hes got people talking & listening, is quite remarkable & worth celebrating, whether one likes him or not.
It goes one step deeper.
Recall McCain's appearance on Imus, while McCain-Feingold was being debated. He stated that, given a choice between "good government" and "free speech", he would choose "good government" every time.
This is a man who has no understanding of, nor appreciation for, the Constitution.
You and I can say things like that. But, for a government official, it's just beyond the pale.
Like mother like daughter.
Great family. ;)
Are you listening Sarah?
A nice kick to McCain’s groin by Michelle.
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