The Gang of 14's Legacy: John McCain's Burden

Townhall ^ | 11/18/06 | Hugh Hewitt

[Dolphy]

"Judges are the most important," Senator Schumer said.

And in what race were they up front with that? None, so why people continue to criticize and analyze this last election, we can thank McCain who took the "most important" issue away from Republican candidates.

[firewalk]

.

[GoLightly]

You are correct, but crossover votes get counted the same as all of the votes by party members. You see your state switching over to closed primaries any time soon?

I don't see that happening in my state, though nominees of both parties are usually determined before I get to cast my vote anyway.

[GoLightly]

I know it's wrong for me to say, but a little off world intervention in the area of his health would be most helpful...

[Gritty]

What Senator McCain needs to do --urgently, right now-- is to come clean and admit he screwed up with the Gang of 14

Right.

And while he's at it he can also apologize for saddling American freedom of speech with McCain-Feingold, backstabbing us on illegal immigration, putting terrorists first in line for Constitutional Rights, opposing tax cuts,...

...on second thought, McInsane can forget apologizing. He should be treated as last weeks fish guts as far as the Republican Party and the decent citizens of this Republic should be concerned. He's not just a failed man, but a deeply malevolent one as well.

His agenda is "McCain", not "America".

[LadyNavyVet]

I don't wish the man ill, but I do wish he'd realize that he'll never be President and bow out gracefully.

[GoLightly]

I don't wish him ill either. A small scare would do. Narcissism is incurable & blinding.

[GoLightly]

BTW, now that JFKerry has been thrown under the Donkey bus, there is some unfinished business that could serve a useful purpose were McCain to get the GOP nod. Reports of some of our POW's in Poland were swept under the rug, so we could more "normalize" our relationship with Viet Nam. McCain & Kerry were in charge of that sweeping job. If he goes third party, if his ticket looks in the least bit threatening to the Donks, expect to see lengthy articles about it.

[nothingnew]

Good article....did Hugh actually write this? There's so many typos that at times it was difficult to read.

FMCDH(BITS)

[AdvisorB]

If the Conservative Republicans are to win in general elections in 2008, we may need McCain to go fourth party, if as I suspect, the Tancredoites bolt the 2008 GOP convention. I think that is what Tom wants to do in 2008. Realistically, why wouldn't a conservative backbencher with a popular cause, want to generate the kind of headlines that the liberal/leftist media would give to any candidate that split the conservative vote; a split in the conservative ranks that would most assuradly allow hitlary to insinuate herself into the Oval Office?

[stevem]

What Senator McCain needs to do --urgently, right now-- is to come clean and admit he screwed up with the Gang of 14, and in a huge way, a way that he now sincerely regrets.

McCain has been sticking his thumb in the eye of conservatives one day and groin kicking them the next on fundamental conservative issues for years. Regrets are useless. Regrets would be similar to Hubert Humphrey admitting that the "Great Society" was a mistake. Interesting but useless. There is still a huge mess to be cleaned up by the people that do the heavy lifting.

This last election proved that support from conservatives isn't an entitlement. It's earned. For the life of me I can't see what McCain could do by 2008 to earn support to get him elected President. If the GOP, even state by state were to grant him the needed delegates for the nomination, it would prove a death wish.

[traditional1]

DeWhiner got his butt kicked out of the Senate because of his wussie votes with the Liberals....and now we have the Communist Sherrod Brown to replace him....nice goin' RINO's....

[M. Dodge Thomas]

With both houses in Democratic hands, the decision not to make it easier for narrow majorities in the Senate to have their way appears to me to have been one the smartest decisions Senate Republicans made in the last 2 years.

[okie01]

For Senator McCain to argue that the sacrifice of constitutional principle in exchange for the confirmation of three or four judges in 2005...

Senator McCain is only too ready to sacrifice constitutional principle. First, McCain-Feingold. Then, the Gang of 14.

Senator McCain has spit on the Constitution two too many times for him to be considered for the office of President.

[okie01]

I almost expect McCain to go third party.

Which, very likely, is Hillary's plan.

It's possible, though, that in a three-way race, McEgo might steal more Democrat votes than Republican ones.

[okie01]

With both houses in Democratic hands, the decision not to make it easier for narrow majorities in the Senate to have their way appears to me to have been one the smartest decisions Senate Republicans made in the last 2 years.

You don't think that, given judges appointed by a Democrat president, a narrow Democrat majority in the Senate and a GOP mionority trying to mount a filibuster, the 'Rats wouldn't enact "the constitutional option" in a heartbeat?

[M. Dodge Thomas]

You don't think that, given judges appointed by a Democrat president, a narrow Democrat majority in the Senate and a GOP mionority trying to mount a filibuster, the 'Rats wouldn't enact "the constitutional option" in a heartbeat?

Probably not - for the same reasons the Republicans didn't.

One thing to keep in mind is that low-population states have disproportionate political leverage under current arrangements, and their Senators - Democratic and Republican - are well aware that if the rules were changed for confirmation votes it's likely they would be charged for other votes as well. So the issue goes beyond just inter-party differences, it reflects geographic differences that transcend party.

[GoLightly]

It's possible, though, that in a three-way race, McEgo might steal more Democrat votes than Republican ones.

I think he'd need one of the gang of 14 from the other side of the isle to pull it off.

[muawiyah]

Warner isn't running again. He's gotten so stiff from arthritis and old age, and so unbalanced from runaway senility, it's inconceivable that he could be a Senator.

He's long overdue for retirement anyway.

[Sybeck1]

bump for 2008!