Posted on 02/07/2008 3:42:21 PM PST by americanophile
With the departure of Mitt Romney, all conservative hopes for retaining the White House have diminished. The 2008 Republican presidential nominee will be Senator John McCain.
Under the best of circumstances, retaining the White House following a two term presidency is difficult - in recent decades only Ronald Reagan was able to achieve this feat with the election of his sitting vice president, George H.W. Bush. This year, it is particularly difficult. No president in recent memory has been as despised by the left as George W. Bush. Between an expensive and unpopular war, worries over a souring economy, etc., Bush is anathema to the left and unpopular among independents. Their frustration over his policies and the sheer indignity they feel at having what they believe to be an ignorant and unworthy man who beat Al Gore and John Kerry leading our Nation is palpable.
Given these factors, it is hard to see how any Republican could be elected, but to make matters worse, the GOP is about to nominate the one Republican that will do more to dissuade the enthusiasm, and financial support of his own party’s base than any other.
McCain would be the oldest man ever elected as a first term president, and his stances on important issues combined with what many conservatives feel is the relish with which he opposes them on those issues, has made for bitter feelings. Moreover, despite his soft-spoken demeanor at victory rallies, McCain is not known for his magnanimity, and most conservatives are not optimistic that McCain will reach out to them with anything approaching the same spirit shown to those across the aisle. Indeed, McCain’s initial admonishment to his conservatives critics to “calm down” has done little to assuage that pessimism.
But it’s not all bad...
(Excerpt) Read more at gopublius.com ...
There's a lot of work to be done people!
Yep. We are going to need as many Conservatives in Congress as we can get to stop the flood of Leftist bad ideas heading our way from the next White House whom ever wins.
Congress is the only check we have left now and I fear we haven’t a prayer there, either.
We don’t just need conservatives in Congress, but conservatives with cajones.
Bingo! Any thought that we are going to elect a conservative Congress without electing the republican presidential candidate is pure fantasy. That simply doesn’t happen in a year when most voters are there to pull the lever for Hilary or Obama. We have a far better shot at the presidency than the Congress this year. And then you might hold the Congress steady without further losses.
There’s always a drop off in votes between president and every other office; many people only vote for president. Why not focus on the Senate seats and thereby also boost presidential voters? Also work to get a divided Congress - independents are much more likely to want too see a divided government even if the buy the liberal change fantasy for prez.
What would happen at the convention if something came out that totally discredited McCain. Something so bad that he was unacceptable as a nominee despite the number of delegates that he will have garnered?
We would probably have a very nast fight and still lose in November.
We need to get behind McCain and strongly, if we are to save our country. At the moment I don't think it will happen, I see all the hatred that is out here. It's a shame and it is about to give us a liberal Congress, White House and Supreme Court for the next generation.
The trouble is I have the same problem with my congressional representative that I have with the presidential race. I have one who ran as a conservative, beating out several others in primaries. This individual joined the Dems twice to vote to over ride the Bush veto of the SCHIP -Hillary care version.
The problem is we have to clean out the dead wood in Congress also while still having enough influence to put the brakes on the liberal agenda.
If this is our hope.....we’re doomed.....
How is any of that not extending the Reagan revolution? And Hilary/Obama are totally the opposite on every one of these.
This whole thing is off base. The GOP will be happy to limit ‘08 losses in the Senate to two or three. On the other hand, the House is within reach and that is what the GOP will hopefully be focusing on. The Senate may be possible in ‘10 or ‘12 when things line up better with regard to incumbents and open seats. And if McCain proves better than most people expect, that could help “down ticket” in ‘12.
I heard it too. There are issues there, but one speech isn’t enough to motivate people, he has A LOT of work to do - he needs to make the case!
But what about judges, foreign policy, etc., these things are the province of the Senate!
Yep, we have a problem. Keep your fingers crossed that McCain wins.
The article makes sense except for the line....
“The Republicans must put all their efforts into retaining every seat we have and doing our best to keep the Democrats from achieving a 51 member, filibuster-proof majority.”
51 is not filibuster proof....60 is.
Ping for later!
I know how much you love McCain. I thought you might appreciate this.
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