McCain was the reason that I registered R in my first primary as a voter. I switched but I wouldn't be all that upset if he was elected. He (unlike the current batch of GOP folks we've had) is willing to compromise. That's something this country has needed for 8 years and it hasn't happened. I won't vote for him b/c he won't end the war in Iraq, but I agree with him or torture, GITMO, Immigration, etc.

Leatherneck, I agree with nearly everything you said in Post #10. Republicans who oppose John McCain had better plan to hold their noses and vote for him, because I think he's the only chance the GOP has to retain the White House.

Conservatives will not be the people responsible for nominating McCain if it happens. The party hacks who agree to rules allowing Democrats and independents vote in Republican primaries will be to blame. I believe that McCain lost among Republicans in Michigan by about a 2 to 1 margin. Republicans should be picking the Republican nominee.

 

McCain is a mean old man who has betrayed conservative ideals on a consistent basis for free TV air time. When the media takes the gloves off to support Hillary or Obama, McCain will snap. McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, Keating Five, voted against Bush tax cuts, Gang of Fourteen, believes in global warming mitigation, etc. Aside from being pro-life and supporting the Iraq War, McCain has little in common with mainstream Republicans and mainstream Republicans are conservative.

 

Huh? McCain spent 5 years as a guest of the North Vietnamese in the Hanoi Hilton. You think he'll snap under the pressure of an election? :lol: If you want to see who will likely cave under pressure, consider the pandering behavior of Romney and Huckabee in the past few weeks. With his campaign on the ropes, Romney disingenuously told crowds in Michigan that their manufacturing base could be revived if he was elected. Huckabee desperately pledged to round up illegals and throw them out of the country when it became obvious his Iowa bounce has floundered.

 

McCain doesn't sugar coat things in a cheap attempt to garner votes. I respect the fact that he voted against the Bush tax cuts because there weren't corresponding spending cuts identified. I believe the greatest risk we face as a country right now is our runaway national debt and the growth of entitlement spending. I haven't heard anything from any of the other candidates (other than Ron Paul) that gives me any confidence that they "get it" on this subject.

I guess I'm not a mainstream Republican by your standards. Funny, I've always considered myself one as I wrote checks to the RNC and Republican candidates; as I've walked streets for Bunning, McConnell, etc. And I think I've addressed the list of items that you've raised. McCain wants and has wanted to reduce taxes notwithstanding the misleading statements that he opposed the two Bush tax cuts. Seemed he had a very Republican based reason for wanting to do so: not allowing the budget to get worse. The Keating 5 issue was much ado about nothing and the investigator wanted McCain dismissed from the investigation. I guess you've forgotten my post on that issue and the proof behind my assertion. Gang of 14 was an effort to prevent the nuclear option from happening. Perhaps you are one that feels that compromise is never necessary and probably thought the budget impasse in Fletcher's first year was a good thing. I thought it was stupid, partisan politics on both sides.

 

McCain may be a mean old man; then again, I've never met him and don't make personality judgments based on TV spots. I also don't have the insight to know that he'll snap when the media takes the gloves off. I am impressed that you have that insight however. McCain lost the Michigan primary because he had the audacity to tell the truth: that the Michigan automotive economy will not recover to the level it was before little automakers like Toyota, Honda and Hundai came along. The fact that Romney was from the state and his father was a past Governor might have had something to do with the Republican vote there, don't you think?

 

To you, I like McCain, am some type of Republican that has betrayed conservative values. That's generally a new one for me. I've actually been accused of being to the right of Attila the Hun in the past. I am very pro business; very much against governmental interference in our lives but recognizes that the best interest of the country trumps individual rights (I'm pro Patriot Act); in favor of low taxes as a way to stimulate the economy; against the very concept of progressive income taxes and against the estate tax totally (as I don't think the wealthy should have a legal obligation to pay more, a moral duty perhaps, but definitely not a legal duty); against entitlement programs totally as I feel the more one relies on the govt the less they have to rely on themselves and their family which encourages the breakdown of families in America; definitely pro military; am pro life; thinks that a lot of environmentalists are over the top (but doesn't think we can blindly abuse the environment); and has some problems with the global warming sky is falling philosophy but would look at climate control measures on a cost/benefit basis. I'd say those positions makes me pretty conservative:D

My reference to McCain as a "mean old man" is how I believe that the mainstream media would frame his as a candidate in the general election. McCain does not excite the Republican base and the base has had decades to get to know McCain.

 

Huckabee, Giuliani, or Romney may or may not end up commanding enthusiastic support among Republicans, but the ability to spark enthusiastic support among Republicans in not in McCain's playbook. I think that a Republican who needs independent and Democratic votes to win Republican primaries epitomizes what makes a politician a RINO.

Huh? McCain spent 5 years as a guest of the North Vietnamese in the Hanoi Hilton. You think he'll snap under the pressure of an election? :lol: If you want to see who will likely cave under pressure, consider the pandering behavior of Romney and Huckabee in the past few weeks. With his campaign on the ropes, Romney disingenuously told crowds in Michigan that their manufacturing base could be revived if he was elected. Huckabee desperately pledged to round up illegals and throw them out of the country when it became obvious his Iowa bounce has floundered.

 

McCain doesn't sugar coat things in a cheap attempt to garner votes. I respect the fact that he voted against the Bush tax cuts because there weren't corresponding spending cuts identified. I believe the greatest risk we face as a country right now is our runaway national debt and the growth of entitlement spending. I haven't heard anything from any of the other candidates (other than Ron Paul) that gives me any confidence that they "get it" on this subject.

McCain has a quick temper. He will lash out in anger at the media when they stop giving him the kid glove treatment, which will no doubt happen if he gets the nomination. As for snapping under the pressure of the office, I don't believe that we will ever find out because he has zero chance of ever being elected president.

McCain has a quick temper. He will lash out in anger at the media when they stop giving him the kid glove treatment, which will no doubt happen if he gets the nomination. As for snapping under the pressure of the office, I don't believe that we will ever find out because he has zero chance of ever being elected president.

 

I don't know what your basing that on. Besides being the current front-runner, he's the only Republican that polls show beating Democrats in the general. Now, those polls are meaningless, but they do show a general trend among voters, and that trend is that McCain can garner national support. If Republicans trot out a hard-lining conservative, rest assured they will lose in a landslide. As for the rest of the thread, I agree with everything leatherneck and H has said.

I don't know what your basing that on. Besides being the current front-runner, he's the only Republican that polls show beating Democrats in the general. Now, those polls are meaningless, but they do show a general trend among voters, and that trend is that McCain can garner national support. If Republicans trot out a hard-lining conservative, rest assured they will lose in a landslide. As for the rest of the thread, I agree with everything leatherneck and H has said.

Did you consider Ronald Reagan a "hard lining conservative." Do you think that anybody in the race is as conservative as Reagan was? Reagan had no problem winning elections by articulating conservative principles. Bush's problems stem from the fact that he has been a big spending moderate and incapable of clearly articulating conservatism even if he were so inclined.

Did you consider Ronald Reagan a "hard lining conservative." Do you think that anybody in the race is as conservative as Reagan was? Reagan had no problem winning elections by articulating conservative principles. Bush's problems stem from the fact that he has been a big spending moderate and incapable of clearly articulating conservatism even if he were so inclined.

 

This is not 1980. The political climate in the country right now could not be more different. The anger and acrimony directed toward George Bush is at a fever pitch. Being in the same party as George Bush is going to be enough of an obstacle for any Republican this race. Being a big conservative (what the vast majority of people, correct or not, consider George Bush) is an even bigger obstacle. Voters aren't going to re-elect "another conservative Republican."

This is not 1980. The political climate in the country right now could not be more different. The anger and acrimony directed toward George Bush is at a fever pitch. Being in the same party as George Bush is going to be enough of an obstacle for any Republican this race. Being a big conservative (what the vast majority of people, correct or not, consider George Bush) is an even bigger obstacle. Voters aren't going to re-elect "another conservative Republican."

ala Congressional races of 2006 and Presidential race of 2000.

Leatherneck, I agree with nearly everything you said in Post #10. Republicans who oppose John McCain had better plan to hold their noses and vote for him, because I think he's the only chance the GOP has to retain the White House.

 

I think that you and LN are correct on this one.

Leatherneck, I agree with nearly everything you said in Post #10. Republicans who oppose John McCain had better plan to hold their noses and vote for him, because I think he's the only chance the GOP has to retain the White House.

 

You might turn out to be correct.

 

I was a supporter in 2000 but by the time KY came around the race was over and GW became the only choice.

McCain is the one republican that I would most consider voting for. For me, it depends on who gets the democratic nomination.

Leatherneck, I agree with nearly everything you said in Post #10. Republicans who oppose John McCain had better plan to hold their noses and vote for him, because I think he's the only chance the GOP has to retain the White House.

 

I think that you and LN are correct on this one.

If H and mcpapa agree that McCain's a swell guy, I think my point is proven.

You might turn out to be correct.

 

I was a supporter in 2000 but by the time KY came around the race was over and GW became the only choice.

 

I voted for McCain in the 2000 primary when I lived in Michigan and he won there, but of course faded in the race for the nomination.

McCain is the one republican that I would most consider voting for. For me, it depends on who gets the democratic nomination.

Same Here .