The vehemence that some Republicans (e.g., Ann Coulter) have for John McCain has apparently caught some folks by surprise. Not me. But, cooler heads should prevail for there is ample reason to support him over anyone the Democrats might nominate -- as demonstrated by Dafyyd ab Hugh at Big Lizards:
You all know I'm not particularly a fan of John McCain, and I didn't vote for him in the California primary. But even so:
- McCain supports the most important policy for our survival: War against global hirabah;
- He supports efforts to significantly cut spending, and especially to eliminate earmark corruption;
- He is pro-life;
- He supports lower taxes today, even if he voted against them in 2001 (probably out of vindictive pique against George Bush);
- He opposes same-sex marriage;
- He supports free-market health-insurance reform, not socialized medicine;
- He supports tort reform;
- He supports more drilling in America than we allow today, even if not as much as want to see;
- He supports the RKBA as a "fundamental, individual Constitutional right;"
- On space issues, he supports the return to the Moon and a manned Mars expedition.
On every single one of these vital issues, he is on the opposite side of both Obama and Clinton.
Even on the issues where he parts company with most conservatives -- campaign-finance "reform," border control, global warming, how to treat terrorist detainees -- he is nowhere near as far left as those other two.
Roger that.
He has the extra-added benefit of support from the so-called "conventional wisdom" (the same sort of conventional wisdom that said George W. Bush in 2000 couldn't win the Republican nomination, and later said he couldn't win the general election but that's neither here nor there, is it? Is it?). This race for the Republican nomination isn't over. However . . . .
Many folks who aren't Republican have worked very hard to make John McCain the Republican nominee. Now they are very close to getting their wish. Luckily, they probably will not be very happy to have their "wish" come true. McCain will be tough to beat as long as he doesn't have a health scare of some sort.
John McCain will rival Michael Dukakis for success in the general election. He is too polarizing(among Republicans) and is thought to be treacherous on too many core issues. It's funny how many say they will vote for the enemy rather than a traitor! Fair? Maybe not, but it is what it is. Also,and most profoundly, like Hillary, he is not history; he's nostalgia.
Posted by: lrey | February 03, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Roger that, indeed.
There are only 3 possible results of the elections--and 2 1/2 of them leave the conservatives well-positioned for the 2012 election:
1--Dhimm victory--totally discredits the squishy moderate strategy.
2--McCain victory, but a failed administration--no-one will want to defend a 76-year-old enraged loser--again totally discredits the squishy moderate strategy.
3--McCain victory and a successful admin--simply proves that McCain was not as liberal as he postured the past 10 years, and he [may] deserve a new term. He'll still be 76 years old.
JB, let's make a million $$--we'll design/sell a bumper sticker, "VOTE MCCAIN" with a prominent nose being prominently held by prominent fingers.
Posted by: JewishOdysseus | February 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Gentlemen, gentlemen.
I've been preoccupied for months now trying to pull off a surprise birthday party for the wife and now that I have pulled that off, I'm exhausted. Just when so much is happening politically!
I'm trying to pull out of my slumber and I just read a nasty Frank Rich column on Hillary and the first 75 or so comments posted in response.
Wow.
In the black community, there exists a large segment of folks who unconsciously believe that African Americans have had to carry the water on the Affirmative Action front but white females have been the primary beneficiaries. That subplot explains the outrage in the black community that overflowed when people saw the way the Clintons were playing their hand in South Carolina.
Very bad move by Hillary.
What does this have to do with McCain? I can't say with any precision just yet but I know that it does.
This election cycle is going to be historic.
Posted by: RattlerGator | February 12, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Hahaaaaa, another clean sweep by Barry Hussein tonight, I'm honestly rooting for the guy since he is putting the wooden stake thru the Klinton "dynasty."
To me this is more important than ensuring a GOP win--EVIL MUST BE PUNISHED!!
Posted by: JewishOdysseus | February 12, 2008 at 11:07 PM