Posted on 02/23/2008 10:56:29 AM PST by Bob J
Ever since Super Tuesday a super debate has been raging on FR concerning John McCain. I was never a McCain supporter, in fact I penned the post Super Tuesday post "Official FR Drinking Thread" so we could together drown our common disappointments into oblivion.
FReepers seem to be moving into three distinct groups. The first are those that have always supported McCain, a lot or partially. There are those that don't like McCain but are willing to support him because they believe they will get some of what they want or to defeat what the see as the more critical danger, Obama or Clinton. The there's the third group, those that viscerally dislike McCain and vow never to vote for him for any reason.
The actions and motivation for support from the first two groups seem obvious...they would rather see McCain in the White House than a dem. But for the life of me I cannot understand some of the actions of the third.
Allow me to explain.
I understand you dislike McCain and the reasons why. He is far too liberal on many issues, he has stabbed conservatives in the back several times and he is too cozy with the dems. These are all defensible reasons to not vote for him or to vote third party and you have every right to vote as you see fit and for whatever reasons you hold. What I don't understand is why some here are making such concerted efforts to dissuade others from voting for or supporting him.
As flawed as McCain is there is no way a logical case can be made that we would be better off under Obama or Hillary (O&H). Even on most issues where McCain is closer to the left than to us, O&H are much farther to the left than he is and would do much more damage than McCain. On the issues where he is not, the WOT, taxes, abortion, etc., the differences are stark and this does not even take into count extended issues like judicial appointments.
So why are you working so hard, so viscerlly, so nasty, to turn votes against McCain? If you truly feel as you do than go sit out November or cast your vote for your 3rd party candidate. That makes sense. What doesn't make sense is why you push for a McCain and GOP loss.
It may be as simple as "misery loves company". It may be that you validate your own position by getting others to believe as you do. It may be that there are some dem propaganda plants on FR. I don't know but I sure would like to and I know others do as well.
Good questions here Bob.
I have always been behind door #2 and would also love to hear the reasoning of those behind door #3.
Be prepared. I sincerely hope you have your flame-retardants at the ready. I’ve peeked behind door #3 on the rare occasion and there are some real ghouls there.
:)
Some people think that we might be better off sinking McCain and at the same time send a message that candidates of his ilk need not apply in the future.
I viscerally dislike John McCain and I vowed many years ago to never vote for him for any office, for any reason. He has *continually* stabbed conservatives in the back for at least the last ten years. He’s a card-carrying member of Al Gore’s evil, anti-human, Stalinist Warmist cult.
Yes, he’s closer to us than Ubama or Hilldog. And yes, he would probably be a better choice, if the next four years was the only concern. Probably. But as far as I’m concerned, if there’s going to be an anti-conservative president, I’d rather it be a Democrat we can openly fight than a RINO we (and our Congresscritters) feel the obligation to defend and apologize for. Pubbies in Congress are more likely to fight a carbon tax if it’s proposed by Obama or Clinton than if it’s proposed by McCain.
Even if it doesn’t work out that way and Obama’s as much of a disaster as I expect him to be, I’d rather see a Democratic disaster for four years, and I’d rather see the rest of the GOP learn the lesson to never nominate this kind of moron again.
I’ll admit it’s a gamble, and I might be wrong. I won’t be spending any time insulting those who decide to support McCain, but I will defend my position from attacks. If McCain supporters want to keep up their tactics of insulting conservatives who aren’t on board I’m more than happy to reciprocate.
Another thread is discussing another allegation that McCain gave favors to lobbyist...the media has massive dirt on McCain. He will not win. The best we can hope for is somehow a new candidate will emerge...I don’t see how but this would be the best scenario. McCain will not win. He should never have been the candidate.
He cannot please Conservatives while in office and will have one term only. Thereby giving us 8 future years of a Liberal Democrat presidency.
You keep stating that. That doesn’t mean anything. In 2000 and 2004 more people voted the democratic primaries than in Republican primaries, big whop-tee-doo.
My Dad was a registered democrat in NC until the 90s. He did it so he could vote in primaries. He also voted for the candidate he thought the GOP could beat.
This is how I see it too. I doubt very much McCain can win-very bad candidate. Thus, this is the election we might as well hold our ground so we don’t have the same situation next time.
Great post Bob, but no amount of logic is going to convince those who hate McCain to change their minds. Their hate is so big that they want to see ill and evil upon the USA so they can see McCain defeated. The good news is that in the real world they are less than 5% of the Republican base and McCain will make up the difference and much more from moderates and independents.
I just don’t believe McCain has the temperament to be president. That is the first question I ask before I look at individual issues which I do agree with McCain more than the two clowns. I will vote down the ticket but not President this time around.
I am really kind of waiting to see who he chooses as a running mate. For the WI primary he was running commercials saying he finally heard us on immigration but why did it take so damn long?
Why couldn’t he hear us when we were melting down the phone lines on the Hill?
“Has he given the No Amnesty, Deport Pledge yet?”
Has Hillary or Obama? What makes you think you’ll get a better deal with them?
Well said, I’ve wondered about that also.
What is this obsession with defining conservatism? To some people Ronald Reagan wasn’t conservative enough.
There is a fourth group. People like myself at this point in time eight months before the election, who are holding back support.
McCain needs to move right and I take the wait and see approach.
Many have lost focus and fail to “see the forest for the trees”... I have had similiar discussion with those that have MDS and they refuse to allow logic to dictate their actions....
The number one issue facing this country in this election is:
1. The preservation of American freedom.
Some will argue like me that it means continuing on the strategic course of offense against the Jihadists that will tear our Freedom away by use of the tactic of Terror.
The only candidate that will effective do that is McCain.
Hillary will get us half measures.
Obama will resign us to defeat and isolationism, additionally he will tear the military apart and change the DOD from to the DOP.. (Dept of Peace)
Others on this forum will argue that strict conservative values are the only true way to Preseve American Freedom and they do not see the threat as clearly as I do. If we only want 911 to happen once we better be careful who we vote for.
“So why are you working so hard, so viscerlly, so nasty, to turn votes against McCain?”
I don’t care who you vote for.
“If you truly feel as you do than go sit out November or cast your vote for your 3rd party candidate.”
Options that I am taking under advisement
“What doesn’t make sense is why you push for a McCain and GOP loss.”
This actually DOES make sense if you look at it from a conservatives POV. Let me explain;
1. Juan does not deserve the job.
2. He has stabbed us in the back so many times that we now resemble a well worn pin cushion.
3. Rewarding his kind of behavior over the past 10 or so years will (win or lose) get you a Joe Liebermann “conservative” as your next Repube nominee.
Have you ever raised kids? If so, were you big into rewarding bad behavior?
Dearest Bob, people give their opinions on FR. That's why we post. Why would it be okay for the first two groups to opine and not the third?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.