Posted on 05/16/2008 4:03:15 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
I must admit that I had just about given up on the notion that a Republican could win the White House this year. With an unpopular war in its sixth year and an economy heading into a recession, the political landscape had all the earmarks (excuse the expression) of a country that was ready to put another party in power. Additionally, with the history-making candidacies of the first woman and the first African-American with a serious chance to become the nations Chief Executive, it looked like curtains for the GOP. Add to that scenario the fact that conservative groups were trying to decapitate John McCain on his way to the nomination and then continued to swipe at him after he won, and it didnt take a Karl Rove to conclude that Clinton or Obama would be taking the oath in January.
All of that has changed since Senators Clinton and Obama have locked horns in one of the most vitriolic intra-party slugfests in recent memory. Senator McCain has been relegated to spectator status as he watches the two Democrats blow each other up with verbal grenades. The shrapnel from those explosions will continue to tear at the ultimate nominee in the general election. Furthermore, the person who does not get nominated will have an awful lot of spinning to do when it comes time to unite the party after a marathon of bloodletting. How could Hillary campaign for Barack after saying he cant win against McCain? How could Barack support Hillary after insinuating that she will say or do anything to get elected?
In one of the most recent attacks, she called him an elitist after he said rural Americans cling to issues like religion, guns and anti-immigrant beliefs out of bitterness over lost jobs. Commenting on her recent assertion that she was a hunter, he mocked her, saying, She's talking like she's Annie Oakley. These and dozens of other caustic comments are surely being recorded by McCain staffers and will be used to great effect during the final months after the Democrat Convention. But, chances are, McCain wont even need to use the corrosive sound bites that his opponents have provided him, because his strongest supporter is likely to be Hillary Clinton.
Mrs. Clintons inevitability notwithstanding, the fact is that Obama is going to end up with the nomination. Given her ruthless quest for power, that means she will have no alternative but to resort to plan B. She cant afford to wait 8 years to try again, hence, shell need to ensure that McCain becomes the 44th President. Then she can say I told you so to the party and prepare to run again in 2012. She wont openly back McCain; shell just quietly let her supporters know that Obama must be defeated. The reasoning will be that the Illinois senators success in the Primaries was merely an anomaly that must be reversed by her, once certain, and now delayed, inevitability. And, in the unlikely event that the superdelegates repudiate Obamas victories and hand over the nomination to Clinton, the Democrats will have a war on the hands as their largest and most loyal constituency bails out on them.
All of the aforementioned makes it a virtual certainty that the former Navy Pilot and POW will garner at least the 270 electoral votes needed to change his residence from the north wing of Capital Hill to Pennsylvania Avenue. Some Republicans may not be overjoyed to vote for a moderate conservative, but when they compare the liberal record of the other choice, whoever it may be; its a no-brainer. Some wanted Romney; others wanted Huckabee, neither of whom could be accurately termed conservative. Nevertheless, the Party has to deal with the candidate they have, not the candidate they wish they had.
In addition, they have to come to terms with another reality; no GOP candidate is likely to measure up to the unique attributes of a Ronald Reagan. He was a truly inspirational and courageous figure with the ability to lead without ever being petty. Well, John McCain may not be the Gipper, but he inspired his fellow prisoners and displayed outstanding courage during five and a half years as a POW. That experience makes politics look like a pillow fight. If were looking for strength and character in our leaders, choosing Clinton or Obama over McCain is almost laughable.
If yesterday’s travesty of a speech is what pushes Mccain into the presidency, then I am truly even more frightened than I have been so far.
I can’t decide whether McCain has suffered an aneurysm, is on super-powerful psychotic drugs, or is simply living in a fantasy world that none of us will ever experience.
Listening to his speech about the “accomplishments” of his first (only?) term in office, is scary s**t, man!
Don’t be surprised if McCain picks Hillary as his VP...
Just think about that for a moment...
Considering that he’s said he’ll work closely with and appoint Democrats to his cabinet, why not ask Hillary! to run as his VP if she loses the nomination?
He could jump start his Utopian era of true bipartisanship.
I thought about it for a moment. VP Hillary would arrange for him to be assassinated in a New York minute.
McNutts is NOT suicidal.
>>> McCain for president, not easy to say, but for the sake
>>> of the unborn I must support McCain
I understand ... and to the extent of the war and pro life issues, I agree, McCain’s the only possible choice . . .
But in EVERY OTHER WAY we are just sooooo totally screwed: There is nothing else that I can agree with McCain on. Naturally, we cannot ignore the above two issues, and maybe that’s enough to be getting on with...
But the devastation of this country, social policy, economy, energy policy, environmental policy, taxes, business and financial issues, and so on, and so on, McCain will decimate this country no less worse than BHO - in fact, it seems as if he’s trying to out-Barack BHO.
>I must admit that I had just about given up on the notion that a Republican could win the White House this year
I hope that is sarcasm because there are no republicans running for high office this year.
No matter what letter is after their name.
>>> McNutts is NOT suicidal.
No...but voting for him is like entering into a suicide pact. He is the final destruction of the Republican party as a conservative entity.
Rush has it right: McCain is part and parcel of the Republican elite that is turning the party hard left (at least “hard center”) away from conservatism. Something has to be done to save conservatism, but what.
We are just so totally screwed...
>>> I hope you are right about McCain winning! The MSM has not even begun to attack McCain. It`s going to be pretty bad! First they are going to rehash his wife’s problems with prescription drugs. They will say she stole drugs and allowed another person to be falsely accused of taking them. The Keating 5 thing will be examined like never before, we all know the age thing and temper stuff...it`s going to be messy. They are actually going to attempt to suggest that the John Haggee comments about the Catholic Church (which he has since apologized for) are no different than Rev Wright`s terrible comments. THEY ARE NOT EQUAL AT ALL.
Yeah...and McCain is not going to play in the same battlefield as the Dems.
Ironically: We all (including McCain) can agree that we should not negotiate with terrorists... But McCain will negotiate with the “social terrorists” of the Democrat Party, while taking pot shot after pot shot at our people.
No, but maybe Olympia Snowe...Just to keep it in the family, yaknow.
Hopefully it's only 10%.
RE :”when they compare the liberal record of the other choice, whoever it may be; its a no-brainer”
Rush put it great once again, We have to be FOR someone and something. It’s not enough to be upset about Obama. If McCain wins, and it’s unlikely, the broken bricks of the Republican party left by Bush will be dust. Time for Democrats to get responsibility for something bad, cant happen under liberal McCain as pres with a superdemocratic majority.
No but she has to walk a very fine line. If she truly believes that Obama cannot be elected then she'll campaign her ample butt off for him, figuring it will make no difference. But if she's wrong...
I did. And while I appreciate a good laugh first thing in the morning now I have to wipe coffee off my screen.
RE :We are just so totally screwed...
As we were in 1992. But 1993+94 were fun years, the only two years democrats were held responsible for anything in my lifetime(of voting). Note: Democrats have convinced voters they didnt win in 2006, that Republicans are still in power, everything bad is their fault(some truth to that as Bush had a majority for 5 years) and they are compassion and change.
So what you are saying is the MSM will just pick up old FreeRepublic threads. Heck, they might even talk about his out of wedlock black child.
The MSM is in McCain’s back pocket. The GOP has nothing to worry about on that front.
The only way McCain might have a chance is if he shuts his mouth. Every time he opens his mouth, bashing Republicans, saying no to ANWR,torture etc. he loses more and more votes.
After what happened in Miss. the other day, I can easily see Obama winning. God help us all.
I am a conservative. I no longer have a home in the Republican party. It is so sad to see the end of the United States un my lifetime, but I am resigned to it.
Well, better her than The Huckster! At least Hillary was once an active member of the Republican Party.
But in reality folks, I’ll dedicate this song to Hillary as she fades into the sunset after June 3rd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxu6iQ28arw&feature=related
I am already getting my brain around the almost inevitable fact of a President B. Hussein Obama in 2009.
The way I look at it, the good ship GOP with captain McCain at the helm regards Reagan conservatives as the rats they plan to politically exterminate. On the other hand, we are on a stormy sea, and if the ship sinks right now we all drown!
There are no Republicans running this year -- there's only McCain.
Obama, if he gets the nomination, may self destruct and put McCain in the White House. However Congress will remain controlled by the Democrats now with veto proof majorities so the tax and spend will continue little different than if Obama were answering that 3 am phone call.
I would not be surprised.
All thats left to do is write the epitaph on the tombstone.
As a Conservative and a non Republican looking on I see that this doom and gloom rhetoric is coming from, of all people, those RINO’s who have caused this premature death.
Life is a beach and then you die but the Republican party is a long way from being dead.
Once again those of the airhead, wishing and hoping variety of left wing Democrats have gotten many Republicans suckered that life is over as Conservatives have know it.
Rest in peace thou once loyal and faithful servant.
“But the devastation of this country, social policy, economy, energy policy, environmental policy, taxes, business and financial issues, and so on, and so on, McCain will decimate this country no less worse than BHO - in fact, it seems as if hes trying to out-Barack BHO.”
Did not McCain say he would fight to extend the tax cuts? Corporate taxes, health care, pork, entitlements, spending? McCain is better than Obama on any of those. Much better.
But the devastation of this country, social policy, economy, energy policy, environmental policy, taxes, business and financial issues, and so on, and so on, McCain will decimate this country no less worse than BHO - in fact, it seems as if hes trying to out-Barack BHO.
Did not McCain say he would fight to extend the tax cuts? Corporate taxes, health care, pork, entitlements, spending? McCain is better than Obama on any of those. Much better.
BUT...let’s not leave out of the equation the “Do you believe him” factor. I believe that people are what they SAY they are in their unguarded moments.
All the self-imposed “changes” in positions that McCain has articulated since getting into the race are meaningless to me. I need to evaluate him based on his totality. I don’t trust his word on anything but what he’s already proven himself: the war and very little else, such as abortion.
And don’t blame me ... “Maverick” has had years to change and prove himself...and he has failed to do so. It’s too late.
Isn’t Bob Weir, like, the Grateful Dead’s guitarist?

How cynical of you. Regardless of who’s president, enjoy your pouting for the next eight years.
Post the peckerwood graphic. Thanks!
Keep posting that pic.
It won't be getting better. There is no sense going around getting more frightened all the time. Book a ride on the Magic Bus to India and find a reasonably priced guru. It won't change anything but you won't be so worried about it.

“The MSM has not even begun to attack McCain. It`s going to be pretty bad!”
Are you kidding? That’s going to be great!
What hurts McPain is McPain himself. He really keeps telling prospective voters NOT to vote for him — he doesn’t need them. But mostly, people do see him a third term for GWB and reject that notion.
I’m’ reminded of a certain fellow I once heard say “If you don’t like what BobDole has to say... the exits are Clearly Marked!”
I don’t know if this is a winning strategy. Sort of like saying mature people know we need to raise taxes.
Yes but if McCain wins the adults will still be in charge. If Obama wins it will be pizza parties and grabass all night long in the WH like it was with Clinton. That’s how we lost naval vessels, embassies, and the World Trade Center.
Every morning I wake up knowing I need to vote for McPain in November, and by evening he’s opened his mouth and turned me against him again. Somebody on another thread said therefore I need to vote in the morning, and I probably will.
At least I’ll be happy if he wins and sort of sickly satisfied if he loses too.
I cant decide whether McCain . . . is on super-powerful psychotic drugs . . .
Congrats. That was a brand new cheap shot.
Bump. The blasted socialists have coopted both nomination processes.
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