A Fitting Heir to Bush (Slams Senator George Allen)

The Nation ^ | 2/13/06 | Ari Berman

[areafiftyone]

George Allen, the not-so-bright, tobacco-dipping, football-quoting Senator from Virginia, is quickly emerging as the right wing's potential answer to John McCain come 2008. Allen solidified his standing as an inside the Beltway rising star by winning the Conservative Political Action Conference's '08 straw poll on Saturday, besting McCain 22 to 20 percent. He also won the title of "America's Best Senator" from Muslims for Bush.

Since we're likely to be hearing Allen's name more and more in the coming months, let's take a look back at what he thinks of the pressing issues of the day, starting with the selection of Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. From the New York Times, January 31, 2006:

Here is what Senator George Allen of Virginia, who is considering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, said when asked his opinion of the Bernanke nomination.

''For what?''

Told that Mr. Bernanke was up for the Fed chairman's job, Mr. Allen hedged a little, said he had not been focused on it, and wondered aloud when the hearings would be. Told that the Senate Banking Committee hearings had concluded in November, the senator responded: ''You mean I missed them all? I paid no attention to them.''

The heir to Bush, only dumber.

[MikeA]

Any demonrat can get the anti-gun, pro-queer, abortion vote, their stance on the issues will gain no GOP votes.

McCain isn't anti-gun, "pro-queer," and most assuredly isn't pro-abortion. His record on these things is quite the opposite.

Yes, Guiliani had to adopt those positions to run NYC, but I doubt these would be things he'd crusade on as president. Clearly he'd recognize the need to leave these things alone to govern the more moderate and right of center American electorate as versus the very liberal NYC voters.

[arasina]

There IS an exception to every rule.

Every tumor isn't cancerous either.

The Koran supercedes ANY other creed and belief, ergo like the one cancer cell that survives radiation treatment, it can again reproduce the organism's eventually death.

Bottom line? Islam is incongruous with all other people, just as Democrat Liberalism is incompatible with the principles of the Founders.

EXCELLENT post, QTF16!

[Sabramerican]

Sorry, I have no idea how that happened. I clicked a few times because it was stuck going through but they were all within a half a minute. How they showed up minutes apart is a mystery to me.

[GermanBusiness]

Mike A makes a good point about someone needing to be able to go "off script". I am thinking that a really cool Iraq War veteran is going to run for the Republicans in 2008. I can think of a few who are still active duty now, but may not be for long if their country needs them more in politics. I also predict the same thing for the Democrats, except they might not run a vet who is "cool".

Whoever runs for the Republicans, has to be someone who could post like a decent FReeper.

Someone like me for instance. ;-)

I could make someone like Barbara Boxer wish she could just curl up under a rock in the fetal position. I have at least 5 major points to discuss on every subject near and dear to the leftist mind...and each of these points is something that always leaves liberals gasping for a response and looking for the exit door.

Example: What two countries were our main enemy in Vietnam? Will you answer Senator Boxer? Senator Boxer? The audience is waiting for a response. Next question: Did China and the Soviet Union split up their Comintern Alliance when Nixon made peace with China in 1972? Will you answer Senator Boxer? Senator Boxer? The audience is waiting for a response. Next question: Was South Vietnam no longer strategically necessary to defend after the Comintern split up? Senator Boxer? Are you there? Why are you curled up in the fetal position?

On Iraq...which world leader was the only one to praise the 9-11 attacks? Senator Boxer? Why did Libya give up its Iraqi-funded nuke program? I just gave you a big hint....

Why are you curled up in the fetal position again Senator Boxer?

[ClaireSolt]

Allen is 6'4" tall and played quarterback at U VA. That is exactly the kind of man we need, not more bantum roosters who bicker like babies. No, you wont see him get down in the mud and wrestle with Babs or Chuckie. Why bother? He's a leader who gets things done. Anyone who compares him to Howdy Dowdy needs to get a new tape measure.

[trubluolyguy]

You need a solid candidate who handles himself well

---

So long as it's Rudy or the backstabber? No thanks.

[Blackirish]

Yep...I think it will be Rudy G. He out polls everyone....and despite some lefty social positions still polls well with conservative Republicans.

Allen is the pick of good ol boy republicans and after 2 good ol boys clintoon and W.....the country is ready for a change. He won't win the nomination much less the presidency

[Sabramerican]

Both Giuliani and McCain win California and New York. No Democrat can beat them.

[gardencatz]

oh, ok...thought you were talking about the nation...lol.

Cindie

[Beagle8U]

"McCain isn't anti-gun, "pro-queer," and most assuredly isn't pro-abortion. His record on these things is quite the opposite."

You must be forgetting McCain's "gun-show" bills, or his "be nice to terrorists bill", and when has he taken a stance against queer marriage?

When has he been anything but wishy-washey on pro-life?

Sorry, IMHO they are both slugs.

[Dr. Thorne]

It's difficult to find info re: Ari Berman's background and education, but this is what I've found:

He started writing for The Source, a music magazine, while in high school.

He matriculated to Northwestern where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. (Personally, I'm sure that a cocker spaniel could earn a journalism degree if it kissed the leftist professors' butts enough.)

He travelled to Europe where he was involved in some program that studied the workings of various governmental organizations including the UN.

He has held a few fellowships in far-left organizations like the Nation Institute Puffin Foundation and the Public Concern Foundation.

He used to blog at the Daily Outrage (now defunct)at The Nation's website.

He is a garden variety leftist and a pretty simple lad at that.

Here he is:

Senator George Allen's CV:

Senator Allen holds a B.A. in History with distinction as well as a law degree from the University of Virginia.

1983 – 1991 Virginia House of Delegates

1991 – 1993 U.S. Representative, elected in a special election

1994 – 1998 67th Governor of the Commonwealth

2001 – Present 51st United States Senator from Virginia

Senator Allen was unanimously elected a member of the Senate Republican Leadership as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2002. In the 2004 election, under Senator Allen’s leadership, Republicans picked up four seats in the U.S. Senate.

In 2005, Senator Allen was also appointed to serve on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Senator Allen is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – the Senate committee charged with the consideration of treaties and the declaration of war. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Foreign Relation Committee’s Subcommittee on European Affairs.

He is a member of the influential Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, as well as the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

Here he is (with someone else):

Hmmm...between Allen and Berman which is the more accomplished and educated fellow?

[redgirlinabluestate]

See comment #13, written by me. George Allen may be right on many of the issues, but he is the wrong candidate to keep the White House in the GOP's hands. Read my comments as to why...post #13.

I agree with you. Never as president -- at least not now. I was championing George Allen for VP with either Rudy, McCain or ?, but his recent appearances have been less than impressive. Of course, his ability to articulate his thoughts does not mean he does not have great ideas or that he would not be a good leader, so maybe he deserves more time to prove himself. Yet, maybe Mike Pence would be a better choice for VP after all.

[jpl]

Do we really need to worry about this now? We're still two years away from the Presidential primaries for goodness sakes.

[GermanBusiness]

I would sooner vote for Allen than McCain. So guess we're not the same person stuck in a timeline mishap. McCain lost me when he insulted the Swift Boat Veterans (calling them liars).

Giuliani has the power to take all 50 states. If a choice between him and Howard Dean...Alabama and Wyoming would vote Giuliani. Giuliani's main problem would be the black vote (not Bible thumpers) if the Dems played the race card on him.

But I think the Rep candidate will be an Iraq War veteran who will leave the officer corps in the next two years to run.

[Beagle8U]

"Both Giuliani and McCain win California and New York. No Democrat can beat them."

Any Demonrat wins those states also, you prove my point!

[FishFace222]

Not this sh*t again--Republican's dumb, dems intellectually superior.

It was tried with Eisenhower (won 2 presidential elections)
It was tried with Nixon (won 2 presidential elections)
It was tried with Reagan (won 2 presidential elections)
It was tried with GWB (won 2 presidential elections)

Let's hope the Dims keep that strategy up.

[GermanBusiness]

[Both Giuliani and McCain win California and New York. No Democrat can beat them.]

This is true. But the Swift Boat Vets will remember McCain calling them liars. I don't see McCain winning the primaries.

[redgirlinabluestate]

The next President of the United States is John McCain, Rudy Giuliani or a Democrat.

Whether we like it or not, you are absolutely right. Remember, if only Ohio had gone the other way, we'd have President Kerry (shudder). We really cannot afford to fool around with an unknown when a possible Hillary presidency is a possible consequence. We could be wrong, but I don't think so.

[Final Authority]

I don't hold anyone in high regard who gives their children last names for first names, or, give them stage names at birth. The names are backwards, shouldn't it be, Allen Tyler, or Allen Brooke? I'd like to have copies of the yuppie letters they send out for Christmas, that says everything I'd want to know.

[Sabramerican]

I am not sure of your point because so did Reagan.

My point is that you either want to keep the White House Republican or you do not.