Posted on 11/30/2007, 3:00:53 AM by tjark
Is there a case for John McCain?
Disclaimer: I haven not affiliated myself with any campaign or even made up my mind as of yet. I do live in New Hampshire.
Heading into last night’s debate I was experiencing the same problem many of us are facing this cycle, I am not thrilled with any of our candidates. Like most, I find some pieces from each candidate I like and hate. Prior to watching the debate if I had to vote I was between Mitt and Fred. Last night’s ridiculously run debate did help, but not solve my problem.
Fred Thompson gave some great answers but he seemed to lose focus when given more time on a response. I love his ideas, but I don’t think he can win a national campaign against someone like Clinton. At the simplest sense I can see a Nixon v. Kennedy type debate in HDTV that makes Fred look unhealthy and frail. If Fred’s ideas were coming out of someone like Mitt or Rudy it would be a slam dunk. Unfortunately, I hate to look at cosmetics but the sad truth is that to the large percentage of the voting public it DOES make a difference, and many uninformed Americans do make decisions on looks (see Kennedy v. Nixon).
Mitt sounds great on many issues, but I believed he struggled towards the end of the debate when he was put on the spot by the other candidates. The question that keeps popping up in mind, is he the Republican version of a John Edwards, a slick talking panderer? Clinton’s health care plan was actually Romney’s plan in MA….Those issues plus I think his faith (which should be a non-issue) will scare people off in a general election.
All of this brought me back to John McCain, who I think did very well in the debate. Yes there many things to quarrel with about with John McCain (some I will get into). First, I think most would agree that the most important issues are:
1. War in Iraq (Terror/Iran) 2. Illegal Immigration 3. Taxes/Spending
In terms of national security some anger was directed at McCain for speaking out against how things were going last year. He was one the leading architects of the Surge, a strategy that is ultimately working. McCain is arguably the best on the issue of war. Now the whole issue of “torture” is troublesome to those in favor of it. I admit I think that McCain has the wrong approach on a ticking-bomb scenario. However, when push comes to shove if that became an issue I highly doubt McCain wouldn’t compromise to save American lives. Though as McCain said, the real world is a lot different than the world of Jack Bauer. With looming threats from Iran and others I think McCain will have the most ability and credibility to keep the Islmofascists on the defensive.
The issue that most have a problem with McCain about is illegal immigration, especially his support of “shamnesty.” I don’t believe he was in the right then and I am still not sure he is now either. However, take one second and be realistic about the problem. We have over 12 million and counting illegal immigrants in this country, and this problem is not going away. Our country absolutely needs to start enforcing immigration laws and securing the borders. While our borders are being secured we have to understand this problem is not going away and will not go away. Thus why not make the best out of the situation? For a great perspective in McCain’s defense take a look at the article posted by Byron York titled “For John McCain, the Immigration Debate Before the Debate” at NRO. There needs to be some sort of realistic approach to the problem, understanding that segments of our economy and country rely on immigrant labor. Any illegal who commits any type of crime should be deported (even speeding) but those that are law abiding and who would start paying taxes (part of the Shamnesty plan) and work towards the process of naturalization should not be hunted down. If we just say close the borders without a system in place of dealing with the numbers of people that are already here will make this a problem for many years. I felt betrayed by McCain on this issue, but I was also not thinking realistically about those that are already here, McCain seems to be at least TRYING to deal with BOTH problems.
The third important issue is taxes/spending. For this I think we have to assume that the Dems will hang onto control of Congress, thus a lot of spending and expensive programs may make it through Congress. McCain has had a proven history of fighting spending and is also principled; McCain does not waver from his beliefs. So between Rudy, Mitt, Huckabee, and McCain who do you think will take a stand and actually use the veto pen? To me the answer is McCain, he seems most likely to stand up and not waver when facing flak from the public/Dems to stop new programs and excessive spending.
The biggest problem after reconciling my issues with “Shamnesty” is McCain stance on campaign finances. McCain-Feingold is not working and restricts First Amendment rights. Though even McCain will now admit that it needs to be changed. This is a bitter pill for us to swallow, but it may be a small price to pay for a solid leader on national defense, supporter of the military and reasoned leader.
The final issue that I feel a voter must ask is that of electability in the general election. Rudy will get nailed by the Clinton machine, Mitt seems flawed partially due to his religion (again this should NOT be an issue, but for some it is.), Fred is a great idea man but I don’t see him holding up to the rigors of the next 11 months of campaigning against a solid campaigner. To me it seems to lead to McCain, who outside of the Free Republic many John Q. Public’s still have a favorable impression of the man and his integrity will win out over Hillary.
I had to write this because I think a lot of us have written off his candidacy but he may be the best person we can get to provide leadership on the important issues that is also electable in a general election.
Then again, my opinion may change tomorrow…..
John McCain strikes me as a very unlikeable old man.
Well you can look at it this way. Let’s say you have 4 candidates that have a chance to win. Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee, McCain. Well, McCain is the only one who has ever been a conservative, at least at one time. Granted, he really stinks at times, he’s actually a conservative (somewhat) with a direct link to the Reagan Revolution.
The others are just posers, flip-floppers- goobers, etc...
Thompson looks really bad out there, folks need to just admit it already and move on. If Thompson could stop saying “ugh” every five seconds he might have a better chance.
I ain’t voting for him. McCain-Feingold is not something I’m going to forgive.
Well researched. Well written.
Welcome to FR.
Gird your loins.
“Is there a case for John McCain?”
You can make a case...........ABOUT John McCain.
You can make a case that he’s against free exercize of ideas prior to elections; al la McCain-Feingold.
.....that he lied through his teeth Wednesday evening when he said that the legislation he and “The Swimmer” Kennedy tried to ram down our throats wasn’t AMNESTY! Of course it was amnesty.
That’s just a small part of the case against McCain. Did I mention the Keating Five? Oh, never mind.
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and welcome to Free Republic, people are about to get mad because you might support McCain.
McCain is a “go with the flow” Washington insider/RINO ... he is weak and NEEDS approval from the WAPO and NYT crowd ... if you like Bush’s performance (minus the tax cuts) you’ll LOVE having McCain as president.
Neither is McCain-Kennedy.
Yes, but McCain-Feingold, Gang of 13 and Amnesty is hurting him a lot.
Case for McCain: President Hillary
Well... Unless you took the strawberries that is...
On that issue and with those candidates it's easy - Mitt Romney.
Yes, but McCain-Feingold, Gang of 13 and Amnesty is hurting him a lot.
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Aw hell ,, lets not forget the Keating 5... he should’ve resigned in disgrace at that time and been thankful he wasn’t going to the Levinworth Hilton...
McCain’s answers on “torture” last night show why he is not to be trusted with the Presidency. He was dishonest, irrational, and sanctimonious. You give a guy like that a lot of power and he’ll go right off the deep end guaranteed.
Hahaha - reference to Caine Mutiny - nice.
Well... Unless you took the strawberries that is...
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I always get the strawberries and the potted palm mixed up..
Actually I think that is saved for Ron Paul.
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