Posted on 03/27/2008 6:57:15 PM PDT by RDTF
WASHINGTON — When Bob Dole was running for president in 1988, top campaign strategist Donald J. Devine shuddered when John McCain accompanied the candidate.
"We'd be all over them. We didn't want McCain on the plane with Dole," Devine laughed. McCain was too unpredictable, too respected by Dole and too likely to offer him advice that was at odds with conservative dogma, he said.
McCain's never changed, said Devine, now the editor of an American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation publication. Other Republican activists, as well as people who've worked closely with McCain, offer the same assessment: As president, they say, you never know what McCain might do.
If there's one constant to his 25 years in Congress, the last 21 in the Senate, it's that McCain has voted with conservatives often enough to have a legitimate claim to have been, as he frequently puts it, "a foot soldier in the Reagan revolution."
But he's also bolted from the right often enough to invite suspicion from true believers. Asked if McCain could be trusted as a conservative, for instance, Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, smiled and said, "I'm going to dodge that question."
Chris Cox, chief lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, praised most of McCain's votes on guns, but quickly added, "We've had some high-profile disagreements."
-snip-
"He will probably be reasonably conservative on most issues," Devine said. "Not because he believes it, but because he knows that's where his bread is being buttered."
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
McCain’s record isn’t always conservative?? Ya don’t say!
No shiite, Sherlock!
Paging Captain Understatement
And he “can work with DemocRATS.”
“Seldom” Conservative would be the right adjective.
this is the headline Drudge is using:
McCain’s Unpredictability Worries Conservatives...
In other news, Shinola can be used to polish shoes.
Newsflash - McCain may not be conservative when elected.
Uh, this is about 6 months too late.
I am not sure whether this was supposed to be a hit or a supporting piece. Conservatives in geneal already knew how McCain vote. So, if the intent was a hit piece, it's not going to work. Many independents or Democrats, who despise their candidates, might find the 'news' positive, as they can consider voting for McCain.
Didn't McCain already announce he'll step down after one term? So there's nothing to slow or stop Juan McCain, he'll make a hard left turn back into Teddy Kennedy's lap as soon as he's elected.
Shocking!!!
/sarc
McCain is a good Democrat who is getting a ride with the Republican Party all the way to the White House, ...maybe. I don’t think McCain is going to be concerned with his conservative bread and butter once he gets there. Win or lose, McCain will be free of conservative restraints.
Yep, in other news, water wet, sky blue.
And the sun’s hot, and ice is cold.
I Hate that weasel! He is due to get his rear kicked!
Obama's Senate record NEVER conservative.
“Paging Captain Understatement”
and his cousin Captain Obvious!
“I don’t think McCain is going to be concerned with his conservative bread and butter once he gets there. Win or lose, McCain will be free of conservative restraints.”
Bingo. Why elect a guy who’s not going to give a damn about conservative philosophy—now or later? Better to ‘throw away your vote’ on someone who at least represents your political bent.
I wouldn’t trust that guy with bus fare.
Is there anything McCane is a right wing conservative on? I can’t think of one.
“Is there anything McCane is a right wing conservative on? I can’t think of one.”
Earmarks. Spending.
Voted for Roberts and Alito, Obama did not.
Will fight to win our wars and not turn tail.
McCain is better on taxes and social policy than the Democrats, in the sense that a mild cold is better than gangrene. Actually better on most things, but a moderate would be better than a left-liberal marxist leaner which is what Obama is.
ROTFLMAO No sh*t?
How much do these clowns get paid for writing this crap.
As he voted for Roberts and Alito, however, at the time, he stated Alito was too conservative, but now he has seen the light.
Yes, he is a liberal who is more moderate that Obama or Clinton, but he is non-the-less a liberal.
Since getting the Republican nomination he seems to have gone out of this way to upbraid conservatives. In his speech yesterday, he seemd like a globalist in the exteme.....a picture of political correctness.
Is this the best the republican party can do to provide a counterbalancing conservative to the far left of Obama and Clinton? It is a sad commentary.
Perhaps you and the rest who keep throwing out that tired line haven't heard of McCain's stance on the Scam of "global warming", where he wants to regulate you and tax you over something that does not exist.
“In his speech yesterday he said he is in favor of ‘carbon taxes’, in the manner of european models. “
I’m a conservative and I am for that, since we need to shift from taxing production to taxing consumption .... So, let go ahead with it, tax carbon and oil imports and other imports and sales (VAT/BTT), but only IF we cut taxes on income and investment and savings ... eg the 15% solution:
http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2008/03/fundamental-tax-reform-15-solution.html
“McCane used to be prodeath, now he says he is prolife.”
Actually, he has a pretty good pro-life voting record. wobbles on stem cells, but otherwise good.
‘His comments on wars, yesterday, seemed to require that other nations sign on before we engage another nation in war”
“seem”? Either he said it or he didnt. The quotes I saw were not much different from what any good President would advocate - work with allies to achieve our common goals of security and a free and democratic world. Will have to recheck. I didnt watch/hear the full speech. I doubt its a position shift.
“Is this the best the republican party can do to provide a counterbalancing conservative to the far left of Obama and Clinton?” No, we missed opportunities for more conservative nominees. but the primary decision has been made, the die is cast. It’s McCain or alternatives that are far worse.
“Perhaps you and the rest who keep throwing out that tired line haven’t heard of McCain’s stance on the Scam of “global warming”, where he wants to regulate you and tax you over something that does not exist. “
I am intimately familiar both with global warming science, the hype around it, and what’s real and what’s not.
The warming hasstopped - 2007 is cold:
http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2008/01/2007-is-coldest-year-this-century.html
Globaloney fears shouldnt dictate policies:
http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2007/04/globaloney-fears-shouldnt-dictate.html
And my solution - Redneck Carbon Offsets:
http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2007/05/redneck-carbon-offsets.html
The “it doesn’t exist” claim is as absolutist as Al Gore’s exagerrations.
CO2 is increasing due to mankind;
there is a known link between CO2 and ‘greenhouse effect’ type warming.
The problem with the AGW crowd is they have bought into models that include a 4X feedback loop due to vapor and clouds that the science doesnt support.
Richard Lindzen and other ‘skeptics’ do not state that the CO2-related greenhouse effect doesnt exist; that would be nonsense. They more correctly point to the lack of evidence supporting the more extreme models that rely on the CO2 forcing including significant positive cloud and vapor feedback.
Without that feedback a doubling of CO2 would lead to perhaps 1.5C increase in temperature, a concern but not an imminent crisis.
I know that McCain’s lazy adoption of “conventional wisdom”, along with so many RINOs and Democrats and even conservatives - Newt, Frum, et al, is just kowtowing to the media ‘standard line’ on this issue as he does other issues.
But yes, even here, on energy and environment, Obama and Hillary are far-left and McCain has been a RINO centrist.
Environmental faddism hurts us:
http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2008/03/price-of-environmental-faddism.html
At least McCain has been critical of ethanol one of the worst policies on energy.
Even a ‘good’ president will fall for this stuff if it is too popular to stand up against. So the answer is to keep speaking up for the facts against the hype and media bias on the topic.
And as for this:
Even a ‘good’ president will fall for this stuff if it is too popular to stand up against.
The mind reels.
The GOP consists of eunuchs and Big Tent'ers and outright liars and thieves, and I for one have had enough. Let it tank.
If your defense of your favorite Presidential candidate begins with the words "At least", you might have the wrong candidate.
Good point. I imagine the asshats at McClatchy genuinely enjoy McCain stabbing conservatives in the back but not enough to support him in any way.
“McCain’s Senate record not always conservative”
(gasp!) NO! REALLY???? I had thought he was some conservative stawart or something!!!!
WHO THE HELL “WRITES” THIS EXCREMENT????!!!!
I woke up to two inches of snow on the ground this morning. It is almost April and I do not live in an area that is known for much snow.
Global warming my a$$.
Wow, I mustve forgot to vote...oh wait, 7 months before the general and my primary is still a month away but 'we missed the opportunity' ???
Liebrm...mccaine was a bucket of spoon fed sh!t to us... now its go along or else...
not this time...
LFOD...
I hope he comes up with some good jokes about illegal aliens spending my Social Security money and spreading third world diseases. I need a good laugh as I bust my ass to support my family, and he pisses away my hard earned money.
This article gets the “DUH” award of the day.
I love that! Thas tho funny.
"McCain's Senate record not always conservative"
I hope he comes up with some good jokes about illegal aliens spending my Social Security money and spreading third world diseases. I need a good laugh as I bust my ass to support my family, and he pisses away my hard earned money.
You lazy bigot!
(Just giving you a taste of what you’ll get under McBoob when you dare complain about such matters)
” If your defense of your favorite Presidential candidate begins with the words “At least”, you might have the wrong candidate.”
LOL ...
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