Article

2008-01-30 Home Front: Politix

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by 2008-01-30 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

Why did Ronald Reagan leave the Democratic Party and register Republican? ... Reagan said simply: "I didnt leave the Democratic Party. It left me."

Goodbye GOP. Nice knowing ya. Sorry to see you go.

I didnt leave the Republican Party. It left me.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-01-30 01:59|| 2008-01-30 01:59|| Front Page Top

#2 Florida Democrats wanted their votes to count. The only way to do that this year was in the Republican primary. McCain got those votes.

Posted by Phelet Hapsburg7720 2008-01-30 02:52|| 2008-01-30 02:52|| Front Page Top

#3 McCain is no less conservative than Bush I and II, or Nixon or Ford, and arguably Reagan.
He is at least as solidly pro-war as GWB, which in this climate is saying a lot.
What I think is that some people are getting a little too picky, given the national mood. The realistic option for a conservative - and "realistic" should be any conservatives middle name, see Burke on the subject - is in fact to choose the lesser of two evils, not to hold out for some theoretical perfection. That sort of thing is the hallmark of the other side.

Posted by buwaya 2008-01-30 03:12|| 2008-01-30 03:12|| Front Page Top

#4 Crud.

Looks like this Nov, it realy will be a choice of "who causes the least nausea". I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Posted by N guard 2008-01-30 04:50|| 2008-01-30 04:50|| Front Page Top

#5 I wish I could vote for the Theoretical Ideal Candidate, but Theo ain't on the ballot.

I can live with either McCain or Romney because, as much as either of them might get wrong, they both get the One Big Thing (the GWOT) right.

Staying home in a snit means you help elect Hillary!/Obama/the guy with the nice hair. If any one of those three gets in, you get:
-- surrender in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- higher taxes
-- two or three more Ruth Bader Ginsburgs on the Supreme Court

Posted by Mike 2008-01-30 06:49|| 2008-01-30 06:49|| Front Page Top

#6 I agree with you Mike. Provided the Hilderbeast loses, I certainly hope when the smoke clears that congress will take a look at the anomoly of a former president championing his "wife's" run for the oval office. There is something inherently sinister with this entire situation.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-01-30 06:55|| 2008-01-30 06:55|| Front Page Top

#7 Everything Mike said, plus government takeover of health care and the conversion of 14% of the private sector economy to socialism, probably forever.

You think staying home to "make a statement against" against some less than ideal candidate like Romney or McCain to prove how angry and pure you are is noble? Bullshit. It's acting as foolishly and irrationally as any leftist. You've sunk to their level at that point.

Staying home and thereby getting a Dem elected will put in the bad guys, Americans everywhere will smack their foreheads and say "Gee, Mr. Pure was right all along and doubleplus extra smart, n' stuff", and will want a glorious revolution and create a society 100% the way you want it, and get rid of all the Gramscian and collectivist damage done by a Dem prez and his/her court appointees? That's the fantasy mindset of an angry sixteen year old. Grow up.

McCain and Romney are a long way from ideal from my perspective. Staying home to permit the election of others who are light years further away isn't going to help my cause more than if I voted for the RINOs. I don't like it, but that's the truth of it.

Posted by no mo uro 2008-01-30 07:18|| 2008-01-30 07:18|| Front Page Top

#8 Other than the fact that 17% of those who voted for McCain identified themselves as "independents", and 3% identified themselves as democrats, this may actually turn out to be to the benefit of conservatives.

That is, by forcing a brokered convention. All it takes is one vote, the first vote, not being able to pick a candidate. Then all the delegates are freed up.

The convention could decide it didn't like either of them, and pick a dark horse. Duncan Hunter ran a strong conservative campaign, but without offending anyone, so he would be high up among the choices.

Posted by Anonymoose 2008-01-30 08:19|| 2008-01-30 08:19|| Front Page Top

#9 I think McCains temper would be interesting to have in a President. Other countries might view him as a loose cannon and try not to piss him off.

Besides, he's not a KKKlinton.

Posted by BrerRabbit 2008-01-30 08:24|| 2008-01-30 08:24|| Front Page Top

#10 My brother and I discussed this last night. My first choice was Thompson, second is romney. Of all the candidates, I dislike McCain the most for campaign "reform" and the illegal alien issue.

Still, I agree with Mike: for all his faults, McCain "gets" the War on Terror, and WAS pointing in the right direction when he called for more troops to Iraq.

The problem I see with McCain, if not with ALL the Republican leadership, is that they believe a vote for them is an endorsement and approval of current policies, when in reality they are merely the less evil of all the alternatives. I have, as yet, to figure out how to knock some sense into such narcissistic heads.

Posted by Ptah">Ptah 2008-01-30 08:27|| http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]">[http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2008-01-30 08:27|| Front Page Top

#11 As an aside, I do plan to vote Republican, both in the primary and in the general election, and will hold my nose and vote for McCain, mainly because the Democratic candidate (definitely coming from the current field) is definitely going to be a whole lot worse.

Posted by Ptah">Ptah 2008-01-30 08:29|| http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]">[http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2008-01-30 08:29|| Front Page Top

#12 If McCain gets the nom I really don't know where to go. I would like to vote for Obama for no other reason that it will put Sharpton, Jackson, and the rest of the race baiting industry out of business forever.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2008-01-30 09:01|| 2008-01-30 09:01|| Front Page Top

#13 The problem I see with McCain, if not with ALL the Republican leadership, is that they believe a vote for them is an endorsement and approval of current policies...

As an aside, I do plan to vote Republican, both in the primary and in the general election, and will hold my nose and vote for McCain, mainly because...

And you wonder why the 'pubs think they have a mandate! If anyone other than Romney is nominated on the Republican side, I'm voting a straight Democrat ticket. Most people I know, are doing the same thing. We plan to cut the GOP's throat and help plunge the nation into at least 4 years of abject misery.

Why? Because we are inexorably sliding that way anyway, might as well get it out of the way. Maybe a real tasty helping of socialism will cure the idiots of their delusions, maybe it will be the needed kick in the backside to do what needs to be done. Whatever, I predict the GOP takes a mauling...I hope so, they deserve it.

Posted by Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 2008-01-30 09:09|| 2008-01-30 09:09|| Front Page Top

#14 The talking heads don't even try to hide their joy at the prospect of McCain being the Republican nominee. It would guarantee a Dem sweep in November and put all those icky conservatives like Rush Limbaugh in their place. For me the only worse result than McCain would be Ron Paul. Something about McCain has always bothered me. Looking at his biography, McCain bio, explains it. He was a spoiled, self-indulgent rich kid who, with the exception of his time as a POW, has pretty much done as he wanted regardless of consequences. I don't trust him and think that as the Republican nominee will precipitate an electoral blowout worse than Hoover's.

Posted by RWV 2008-01-30 09:25|| 2008-01-30 09:25|| Front Page Top

#15 I agree with Mike on the GWOT.

A number of States are already making substantial progress on the illegal immigrant situation. Also, McCain is pretty good on earmarks.

There are some big problems with his arrogance, his self righteousness, his instinct to raise taxes, his incoherence on the GITMO situation and a host of other issues. But, compared to Hillary it isn't even a close call.

Posted by mhw">mhw 2008-01-30 10:28|| http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/]">[http://hypocrisy-incorporated.blogspot.com/] 2008-01-30 10:28|| Front Page Top

#16 If its Romney vs Clinton, I vote Clinton.

If its Romney vs Obama, I think long and hard. Maybe I cast a write in ballot.

If its McCain vs Clinton, I lean to Clinton, but listen carefully.

If its McCain vs Obama, I vote McCain.

There may not be many like me. Or there may be quite a few. Take it for what its worth.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-01-30 10:36|| 2008-01-30 10:36|| Front Page Top

#17 If its Romney vs Clinton, I vote Clinton.

If its Romney vs Obama, I think long and hard. Maybe I cast a write in ballot.

If its McCain vs Clinton, I lean to Clinton, but listen carefully.

If its McCain vs Obama, I vote McCain.

There may not be many like me. Or there may be quite a few. Take it for what its worth.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-01-30 10:36|| 2008-01-30 10:36|| Front Page Top

#18 A Hubert Humphrey Democrat or a raving Socialist power monger. Great choice. Both of whom will betray their oath office to the Constitution of the United States and surrender our southern border to the ruling caste of Mexico. To me that breaks the compact.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-01-30 10:45|| 2008-01-30 10:45|| Front Page Top

#19 I'll wait until after super Tuesday before I declare my property the United States of Vader and my secession from the Union.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-01-30 10:53|| 2008-01-30 10:53|| Front Page Top

#20 Instapundit:

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME: McCain Derangement Syndrome arrives. I understand people having issues with McCain, but people need to calm down soon. This is politics, the art of the possible, not the ideal. Some people on the right are starting to sound almost Kossack-like.

Posted by Mike 2008-01-30 11:23|| 2008-01-30 11:23|| Front Page Top

#21 Mike, when they offer us the choice of None of the Above, I'll listen. However, there also comes a point when the system is so rigged in the manner you get the candidate that it makes no difference. It's like a contest within the Chinese Communist Party over which flavor of rule is in style today.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-01-30 11:58|| 2008-01-30 11:58|| Front Page Top

#22 "I would like to vote for Obama for no other reason that it will put Sharpton, Jackson, and the rest of the race baiting industry out of business forever. "

No it won't. They can always "Uncle Tom" Obama if it comes to it, its what they have done with hundreds of others. They are being sidelined already anyway, on the whole they are no longer fashionable.

And annoying as those people are, in the big picture they and their ilk are just annoying insects. Best to ignore them.

Posted by buwaya 2008-01-30 12:00|| 2008-01-30 12:00|| Front Page Top

#23 Mike, I disagree.

I'd rather vote for Obama and Bring The Boys Home than send them out there to bleed and hollow out our industrial base to the point where all they're armed with are sharpened paperclips.

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2008-01-30 12:08|| 2008-01-30 12:08|| Front Page Top

#24 "For me the only worse result than McCain would be Ron Paul."

Really? Worse than Hillary Clinton? Worse than Barack Obama?

What color is the sky in your world?

And to "Grease Lord" I would say that you are precisely the type of immature, inverted reality-based submoron (not an epithet, but a diagnosis) that I referenced in a previous post.

Posted by no mo uro 2008-01-30 12:43|| 2008-01-30 12:43|| Front Page Top

#25 Wow, what a choice - the crash of republicans or the lollypop guild.

Posted by swksvolFF 2008-01-30 12:53|| 2008-01-30 12:53|| Front Page Top

#26 Procopius, I respect your feelings in this matter (and those of the other commenters expressing similar views), but you have to keep in mind, politics in not just the "art of the possible," it's the long march toward the possible. If you're hoping for immediate results, everything up to specification, and perfection ever after, you're on a fool's errand. The Left didn't get the power it has today by giving up in disgust after Henry Wallace lost to Truman in 1948, and we conservatives won't get the country where we want it to go by handing it to Hilbama in a fit of pique.

Go to the polls. Vote for the best available choice. After the election, get engage and stay engaged--support people you like in the primaries, volunteer, write comments and letters to the editor with the goal of persuasion. (Subtle hint: the Kos method of debate--daisy-chaned curse words and personal insults dirceted at the opposition--is not, on the whole, persuasive.) Work to convince people of the rightness of your cause, but don't be afraid to change your views if the evidence warrants. Repeat each election cycle. It's a long slog, but it's the only way.

Posted by Mike 2008-01-30 13:01|| 2008-01-30 13:01|| Front Page Top

#27 The loser in Florida was democracy.
Countless democrats and independents voted for McCain, when in FACT, only Republicans were allowed to vote in the Republican primary. Florida and dozens of other states have not clearly and honestly refined their voting to avoid voter fraud. This is an unforgivable failure of those states, and of the federal government. We should all hold our heads in shame because we allow our government the possibility of stealing an election. And the worst news is that now no regular citizen can run for office and win because it takes millions of dollars to win....another reason to hold your heads in shame. As a voter, I vote for my choice, not the one who buys a barrage of 15 second commercials and pounds the hell outta me with unrelenting mud slinging. I have a brain, for Pete's sake. I don't accept influence from the BOOB TUBE, so my choice would be unaffected by the unending mud slinging and breast beating. And yet, that is exactly what works. How stupid is America ?

Posted by wxjames 2008-01-30 13:05|| 2008-01-30 13:05|| Front Page Top

#28 What OldSpook said.

What makes you think McCain will be a good Commander in Chief? Because he was shot down over North Vietnam? I can admire his courage. I can be grateful for his service. But lot's of good men suffered more and served better and it doesn't mean they're qualified to be Commander in Chief.

What has he done since then? Endorsed the surge? OK. He got one right. But then, he endorsed the bombing of Serbia when they were fighting to counter Albanian/muslim invasion of the Serbian province of Kosovo. Now we're in the middle of an intractable problem there. That just proves to me that he really doesn't understand the WOT, at least not the way I understand it. He let the Albanians have Kosovo the same way he's letting Mexicans have California. What will he let them have next? Macedonia? Iowa?

What has McCain done about trade with China? Correct me if I'm wrong but I just went to his web site and couldn't find a word about it. I have a problem with that. How is it good for national security to run up a huge trade deficit with a country that has nuclear missiles pointed at us? Some people think China won't hurt us because they can't afford to lose our trade. But I think the Chinese are looking at the long term and not the next quarterly report.

And then there's the border. Yes, I believe our country has done a good thing in Iraq. But what good does it do to win Iraq if we lose our own country? And believe me, we're losing it while McCain, Bush and Clinton pander to the likes of Tyson Chicken, Vicente Fox and all the illegal aliens who will vote in this election. You don't think the illegal aliens will vote? Who's gonna stop them? Clinton didn't. Bush hasn't. McCain won't. These days he says he wants a secure border but he had plenty of time in the Senate to do something about it and he failed. I don't think that's good for national security.

I'll stay home in November if McCain is the Republican nominee because I hope that in 2012 Republicans will remember that a RINO cannot beat a donk. I think that's important enough to let a donk win especially when the RINO is McCain.

I'm not jumping up and down for Romney but he is our last hope. Hopefully, when the rest of them get out of the race and the choice is narrowed the rational, pragmatic Republicans will nominate Romney.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-01-30 13:27|| 2008-01-30 13:27|| Front Page Top

#29 we are inexorably sliding that way anyway, might as well get it out of the way. Maybe a real tasty helping of socialism will cure the idiots of their delusions, maybe it will be the needed kick in the backside to do what needs to be done.

Maybe. Or maybe, as with Britain and the EU treaty/constitution, during those 4 years steps will be taken that cannot be repaired afterwards.

That's not far fetched -- and it's a huge huge risk.

Posted by lotp 2008-01-30 14:02|| 2008-01-30 14:02|| Front Page Top

#30 Again, with all respect to those on the other side of the debate:

The political theory of "it has to get worse before it gets better" bothers me greatly. It's like those Dems who were--hell, still are!--rooting for defeat in Iraq because they think it will boost their prospects. Remember the clown who was hoping for another mass-casualty terror attack because he thought it would give the Dems a boost in the '06 midterms?

There's something vaguely creepy about that kind of thinking. Don't fall into it.

Posted by Mike 2008-01-30 14:08|| 2008-01-30 14:08|| Front Page Top

#31 Boy. A lot of sensitive egos out there.

You vote for the lesser of two evils, or the best of the bunch, because it's your obligation as a citizen of a free country that offers you that privilege.

Feeling powerless? Like the Kos Kiddies? Remember what happened to Teddy Kennedy's immigration shamnesty? {Hey. Come to think of it, wasn't McCain's name associated with Teddy's?} The majority of the country rose up and yelled and screamed, and it died, did it not? Hillary's health care 15 years ago? Killed by the Sheeple.

But just because other folks don't think like you is no reason to suck your thumb. How many of us here spend as much time writing our Congressman as we do Rantburging? Not me, but I have written dozens, and some I even get answers to! Even Queen Nancy wrote me back and said, (in essence) "Thanks for your opinion. Write you own Congress person, but your opinion is important to me."

When you don't vote, and you don't write, the only message they hear is every other person that does. Part of the problem? Stay home and whine. Part of the solution? Write your Congressman once a month and never, ever miss a chance to vote.

Posted by Bobby 2008-01-30 14:13|| 2008-01-30 14:13|| Front Page Top

#32 Maybe. Or maybe, as with Britain and the EU treaty/constitution, during those 4 years steps will be taken that cannot be repaired afterwards.

If you apply enough high velocity lead it can be undone. And that's where we're heading. Before it is all said and done, there is going to have be serious blood shed in this nation. Many of us have been preparing for that for quite some time.

I had hoped it could be rendered unnecessary or delayed another 10 years or so, but that isn't going to be possible.

There was someone that used to post here, I forget their nym, but they said something very interesting. I'll have paraphrase. They said that a situation can be rolling along, and you can be trying to get a handle on it, when in the blink of an eye it can spiral out of control and go over the edge.

Well, we're on that edge right now. 80% or more of Americans are fat, dumb and happy! Oblivious to the freight train that is about to collect them. I think we need to let that disaster happen as soon as possible, it is the only way we are going to be able to pick up the pieces and rebuild.

Posted by Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 2008-01-30 14:38|| 2008-01-30 14:38|| Front Page Top

#33 McCain vs Hildebeast?

I can't decide which is the lesser evil. I just can't do it.

McCain vs Obama? I might have to vote for Obama.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-01-30 14:43|| 2008-01-30 14:43|| Front Page Top

#34 Sounds to me like you're a little too ready for it, Grease.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-01-30 14:45|| 2008-01-30 14:45|| Front Page Top

#35 If its Romney vs Clinton, I vote Clinton.

If its McCain vs Clinton, I lean to Clinton, but listen carefully.

What's the point of having "hawk" in your username?

Posted by Crusader 2008-01-30 14:54|| 2008-01-30 14:54|| Front Page Top

#36 If it were domestic issues only, Id vote dem hands down, for either Clinton or Obama over either Romney or McCain.

I dont think Clinton is all that dovish. She DID vote for the intervention in Iraq, and shes never apologized for it. Shes been pro-Israel since her election to the Senate (granted from New York) and her husbands admin was pro-Israel (being friendly to the Israeli Labour Party doesnt make you anti-Israel to me). Shes recognized the threat from Iran, and all in all has been good on MOST for pol issues.

Shes not anti-EU like some of y'all are, but thats not part of being hawkish to me.

Shes joined the "time table on Iraq" chorus - that may make her someone willing to say things to get the Dem nod - I still think its clear she understands the need to get a satisfactory outcome in Iraq, and I think she will implement any timetable with that in mind.

I also think its essential that the WOT ceases to be a GOP project, and the Dems take responsibility for all the hard decisions involved, and can no longer snipe from the sidelines.

I have to weigh all that, as well as my opinions on domestic issues (I do have an interest in the country we are defending, as well as its defense) against my belief in McCains qualifications and his resoluteness on foreign policy in general.

As for Romney, I have no strong feeling for his resoluteness at all.

Posted by liberalhawk 2008-01-30 15:26|| 2008-01-30 15:26|| Front Page Top

#37 Bobby, Kiss my liberty loving ass. I am under NO OBLIGATION to choose evil, even if its the LESSER of the two.

McCain as he stands will not win. The press and Libs will drag out Keating, and a pile of other skeletons. And Conservatives will, justifiably, not lift a finger to defend someone who differs only 4% from Hillary. Its Bob Dole all over again.

Aside from that, McCain has been terrible on the process of getting judges confirmed - his betrayal with the Gang of 14 shows his disloyalty.

McCain-Feingold shackled political free speech, and he has not disavowed it.

McCain-Kennedy was amnesty, and he has not disavowed it - as a matter of fact he has a LaRaza type former Mexican Cabinet member as his Hispanic Outreach director - a fellow that said he wants "the seventh generation to think Mexico First" and wants open borders.

McCain-Leiberman creates a huge maze of government regulations and bureaucracy that ties us to the UN for "global warming" issues. He believes in the hoax of anthropogenic global warming.

McCain also voted against the tax cuts - and is now lying about his excuse for doing so.

Add in his lying about Romney's record, his endorsement by liberals due to his tendency to like liberal, big government policies, and hsi latest backslid, talking down conservative justices (Alito) then lying about it...

Lets just say John McCain is too flawed to vote for even when you consider Keating, his temper, his age, etc.

McCain can still win me and other conservatives over, but he has a lot of work to do to repair the repeated thumbs to the eye he has administered gleefully over the past 8 years.

Start with firing the "Dual Citizen" Hispanic Outreach director and a WRITTEN promise to not enact ANY amnesty or guest worker program until after the dfnece is build and internal enfrocement is in place. Reject any Soros organization money as well.

Promise to not do ANYTHING about global warming until at least a year worth of study and review with two teams - one on each side of the issue, and publish BOTH sides of the case on anthropogenic global warming - to see which is the more grounded and scientifically valid path. No Kyoto, no treaties that cripple us while leaving China and others to run rampant and decimate what manufacturing we have left.

Swear on a stack of Bibles to appoint strict constructionist/originalists to the Supreme court and to attempt to do so for the appellate and district courts.

Border, Environment, Judges.

Thats a start.

If he cannot get it right on those 3 vital issues, then he is not getting my vote - he will damage the nation just as surely as Hillary or Obama woul given they hold the same policies in those areas.

If he really wants to unite the party and get the conservatives back on board, do all of the above, and talk to his "old friend" Fred Thompson about fixing social security and the tax system (dual track approach), and promise to uphold resident Bush's executive order on extra-legislative earmarks (i.e. ones not explicitly in the bill, but hidden).

If he REALLY wants to be president, then ALL of the above plus choose a solidly conservative but telegenic "Balancing" VP (Steele of MD comes to mind), and take a pledge to be a one-term president if he can achieve his agenda - call it "Shaking Up and Cleaning Up Washington". Pre-Appoint SecDef Hunter, AG Giuliani, SecState Bolton, Sec Commerce Romney, and a solid CoS. Run as a team.

If he does not come around, he will surely lose, because Conservatives like me have had enough of his Bullshit.

Truth is we may need a "Jimmy Carter" to get to our next "Reagan" - be it Gov Jindal of La or Gov Sanford of SC. Obama or Clinton would both serve that "Carter" (malaise, one term) role well - 4 and done, and we own 2012 (get the Congress back in 2010)

Posted by OldSpook 2008-01-30 15:27|| 2008-01-30 15:27|| Front Page Top

#38 Sounds to me like you're a little too ready for it, Grease.

There is no such thing as being "too" ready! Don't confuse preparation for eagerness. There are some of us that have been watching very closely as history has replayed itself. And there is no doubt in our minds where it is going, only the time line remains to be revealed.

Posted by Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 2008-01-30 15:29|| 2008-01-30 15:29|| Front Page Top

#39 If the trunks run McCain and the Libertarians don't run Ron Paul, I know where my vote goes. I'm not voting for a donk wearing a trunk mask, even a Scoop Jackson donk.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-01-30 15:35|| 2008-01-30 15:35|| Front Page Top

#40 I cannot vote for Hillary under any circumstances-period! Eight years of those clowns in the White House more than enough. Both Slick Willie and Hillary are a couple of lying, self-aggrandizing, self-serving, power hungry sociopaths. The "trunk" choices are not so good but they are better, in my opinion, than what the "donks" offer.

Posted by JohnQC 2008-01-30 16:54|| 2008-01-30 16:54|| Front Page Top

#41 ...and the Libertarians don't run Ron Paul...

Goodness gracious.

Posted by Crusader 2008-01-30 17:14|| 2008-01-30 17:14|| Front Page Top

#42 If the Libertarians don't run Ron Paul, they'll run someone just like him. The Party's official platform is to surrender as quickly as possible.

Posted by Mike 2008-01-30 17:25|| 2008-01-30 17:25|| Front Page Top

#43

If he REALLY wants to be president, then ALL of the above plus choose a solidly conservative but telegenic "Balancing" VP (Steele of MD comes to mind), and take a pledge to be a one-term president if he can achieve his agenda - call it "Shaking Up and Cleaning Up Washington". Pre-Appoint SecDef Hunter, AG Giuliani, SecState Bolton, Sec Commerce Romney, and a solid CoS. Run as a team.

From your mouth to God's ear, OS. That would be a pretty good team.

If not SecDef for Hunter, Homeland Security would be a good bet, too. Unless you were--I mean, John McCain was thinking of tapping Tom Tancredo.

Posted by eLarson 2008-01-30 17:29|| http://larsonian.blogspot.com]">[http://larsonian.blogspot.com] 2008-01-30 17:29|| Front Page Top

#44 I will never vote for Clinton ...

McCain stinks mightily, but J-C, I'll take magnum nose-plugs and pull the lever if need be.

Too bad Fred didn't put more into the fight..

We Have Good Folks RBees.

Duncan Hunter
Tom Tancredo
Michael Steele
Fred Thompson
Alan Keyes

If the Repubs had half a brain cell they'd chose one of the tens of thousands of Conservative Hispanic Veterans who have gone on and become very successful businessmen out here in Caliphornia, or the greater South West.

WE Have Good People but a horrible party machine out here in Caliphornia.

Posted by RD">RD 2008-01-30 18:53|| 2008-01-30 18:53|| Front Page Top

#45 WE Have Good People but a horrible party machine out here in Caliphornia.

That phrase pretty much covers all the blue-blood republicans that run the damn party too. Combined with the MSM rooting for the most liberal (R), little wonder Fred Thompson or Hunter ever got going.

I think this election will break the current republican party since the mass of unwashed, republican plebes will sit this election out.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2008-01-30 20:39|| 2008-01-30 20:39|| Front Page Top

#46 Sorry, Spook, that makes you part of the problem.

Posted by Bobby 2008-01-30 20:57|| 2008-01-30 20:57|| Front Page Top

#47 Compare wid NEWSMAX COLUMNISTS > MCCAIN CANNOT UNITE REPUBLICANS + MCCAIN PROMISES MORE LAWS AND MORE GOVERNMENT.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-01-30 21:39|| 2008-01-30 21:39|| Front Page Top

#48 So McLame 'steamrolls' along with 36% of the vote?
Let's have this discussion a week from today, look at the real numbers, see if the brokered convention is in the cards like I suspect it is. (First Rino that pulls a Dole and mentions Mc14 has earned the nomination, ...it's his turn to the woodshed with no slack.)

Posted by Omung Squank9908 2008-01-30 21:56|| 2008-01-30 21:56|| Front Page Top

#49 I'm w/PTAH. I can't stand McCain but I will hold my bile & pull the lever if he gets the nod.

FWIW - my guy was Fred. Romney was a distant 2nd. Rudy next, then the Hucksterbee. McCain last. If Ron Paul had a grip on the war he would've been the guy.

Hillary? Obama? LOL. Besides raising taxes and playing class warfare they have almost no record of real gov't service. Obama is barely a one term sen. Hillary's a joke. W/out willie she's no one. If you count making very bad decisions and never running a staff like a Gov as experience then hillary has a lot of it.

Gimme a break LH. Hillary is no warrior on iraq, and most of us in the mil dislike her. You think we forget how the clinton's viewed us in the mil?

I also like how the dems dupe the union mooks to vote for them & then same dems have no problem offering amnesty to those who will be competing in the labor market for union jobs. Thus driving wages down for real Americans by flooding the market w/more available illegals. Both these clowns will raise corporate taxes and then cry foul when the corporations head overseas - economic retards.

I agree w/Grease wrt preparing for some crap coming down the pipe. Hopefully not in my lifetime, but what the heck if it does happen......all enemies, foreign & domestic. TJ had a quote for a patriots duty toward a tyrannical govt.

A govt that will not honestly enforce its own sovereignty but will send its sons to maintain the sovereignty of a nation 8K miles away is at least negligent and at worst reckless. I went to iraq twice to fight a war only to find my elected officials don't have the f*cking balls to protect our own borders. How many American civilians die each yr due to illegal aliens drinking & driving, violent crime, taking up space & resources in the ER? I guarantee it's more then the # of soldiers that died in Iraq in a yr.

As it stands now methinks Romney is the best hope for the GOP. He's far from a perfect candidate but he's better then McCain. Has a proven grasp of the economy and a fairly clean record. Ask Fred to be the VP.

Posted by Broadhead6 2008-01-30 22:10|| 2008-01-30 22:10|| Front Page Top

#50 Bobby - no. Hell No.

You want to see the problem? Look in the mirror you arrogant ass.

Complaint pliable useful fools like YOU are the problem. You just bend over and take it. You and those like you are the enablers of the power brokers and party apparatchiks that would betray our nation bit by bit. You're like the frog being boiled slowly - your brain still hasn't registered the fact that they are heating you up bit by bit.

I laid out the case, and how McCain can overcome it. But moral midgets and cowards oc conscience like you are unwilling to even push back for vital things like the border, proper immigration policy, no on antrhopogenic global warming until both sides publicly make the case (and not just the MSM's version), no on bigger government, etc.

Ahnd in case you still havent figured it out, re-read this: "Of Mexicans who move to the US", Hernandez has said "I want the third generation, the seventh generation, I want them all to think 'Mexico first.'" These are Americans that Hernandez is talking about. Does John McCain agree that they should always "think 'Mexico first?'" Thats the man who began serving as John McCains "Hispanic Outreach Director" last year and is still at his side - and served as a Mexican Citizen at the Cabinet level.

The company McCain keeps...

And you ignored ALL that to willingly become a lemming for the GOP.

There's a word for folks like you who surrender your liberty to false duty of a political party:

SLAVE. Thats where you end up if you fail to draw the line somewhere.

I stand for my principles. And am willing to take my lumps.

But what I'm not willing to do is let a condescending prick like you lecture me about obligation and duty.

I've put my life on the line. I've given up time with my family, I've given up large chunks of my life where instead of getting rich like others, I protected this nation for foodstamp wages. I gave it up, and its worth it. I know what it costs.

So I will not vote for or sanction someone who will throw away my sacrifices and those with whom I served, and destroye the soveringty of this nation. Especially a lying untrustworthy egomaniacal jerk like McCain. (Keating ring a bell?)

And yes, damn skippy I'm pissed by people and politicians like you who are selling out your princples. It. Does. Not. Work.

In my opinion, you and those like you are so f'd in the head that you have confused duty to country with party loyalty.

They are NOT the same. Get that through your head.

I do not owe the GOP squat. Neither do you or anyone else. If anything, they owe ME for the the time talent and treasure I have given them as a volunteer over the decades.

I will vote, and it will be my own conscience - and right now, any conservative can withhold his sanction from the presumptive D (Clinton/Obama) and R (McCain) candidates in good conscience. And any collectivist societal "obligation" to vote against my princples and conscience you invent to the contrary is just that much more bullshit.

What I will do is support conservatives. When the GOP runs one, I will vote for him or her, and work hard to get him or her elected.

One thing to remember - it took the near demolition of the moderate Nixon/Ford GOP in 1976 and the misery of 4 years of Jimmy Carter for us to get the Reagan Revolution.

Now get your head out of your ass.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-01-30 22:12|| 2008-01-30 22:12|| Front Page Top

#51 And if you need further proof, go look at tonight's debate - McCain kept repeating a lie about Romney and timetables, kept chancing the subject when questioned on the economy, resorted to jingoism and class warfare stuff instead of STRAIGHT TALK.

John McCain is a small-minded egomaniacal jerk, and it showed tonight.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-01-30 22:38|| 2008-01-30 22:38|| Front Page Top

#52 It also didn't help having rudy endorse mccain. I guess I shoulda seen that coming.

Posted by Broadhead6 2008-01-30 23:04|| 2008-01-30 23:04|| Front Page Top

23:52 Broadhead6
23:19 gorb
23:14 gorb
23:10 Redneck Jim
23:09 www
23:08 Redneck Jim
23:08 Alaska Paul
23:05 Redneck Jim
23:04 Broadhead6
22:56 WTF
22:41 Redneck Jim
22:40 KBK
22:38 DMFD
22:38 OldSpook
22:34 Broadhead6
22:31 Redneck Jim
22:26 Broadhead6
22:25 Pappy
22:24 JosephMendiola
22:24 DMFD
22:20 JosephMendiola
22:18 g(r)omgoru
22:18 Broadhead6
22:17 Sluns Lumumba7109