Posted on 01/22/2009 2:13:10 PM PST by Bob J
There has been much talk of the 8 year BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) from the left but I think it's time we admitted there are DS's on the right and we have to look no further than our own backyard here at FR to find the most glaring example, McCain Derangement Syndrome.
McCain wasn't my preferred candidate. In fact, I'd have to go all the way back to Reagan to find my own preferred candidate victorious. But you never get everything you want in politics so many times you have to work with you got and make the best of it. Even if the candidate you supported doesn't get the nod at least you know you'll get some of what you want and on those issues that you disagree you'll at least have a seat at the table and an opportunity to change minds. If the opposing partys candidate wins you'll get almost nothing and a seat at the window looking in.
But the MDS people will have none of this. It's either political purity (THEIR political purity BTW) or nothing. Sometimes they remind me of petulant children threatening to hold their breath until they turn blue unless get what they want. Their virulent acrimony toward McCain is so intense that you couldn't post a thread or talk about McCains positions in an adult manner on FR without them descending on it like a plague of locusts, chanting their relevant but worn out jingoisms, attacking anyone with the temerity to desire a review of McCains +/- positions and poisoning any budding, rational discussion.
Their latest frenzy involves McCains support for closing Gitmo. Now to anyone with a shred of knowledge of McCains position on this it was not a surprise. He has always opposed some of the techniques employed at Gitmo and considering his war experiences at the Hanoi Hilton it was it really a surprise to any of us? Acting like child who just found a shiny new penny on the sidewalk they picked it up, stuffed it in their pockets and are parading around high fiving each other and telling everyone how "we told you so".
Really? Thanks for breaking news, Einstein.
But what I want to touch on here is the deeper ramifications of MDS and what it meant in this election. Bush lost by 7%, 53 to 46 (I believe). That means a 3.5% shift in the vote could have meant the GOP hanging on to the White House and the benefits associated with that, including but not limited to the nomination of Supreme Court Justices.
I saw the influence and impact the MDS group had here on FR and wonder how far that could be extended to the general voting public. The constant barage of anti McCain rhetoric, the calls for supporting a third party, staying home and not voting, not contributing to the GOP or ANY candidate that wasn't ideologically pure (again, by their own definition). How much effect did that have on the election? Was it enough to turn the balance in Obama's favor?
In my opinion it did. There is one thing we know for a certainty...it didn't help.
Generally to a man, the MDS people's hero is Ronald Reagan. But wasn't it RR's mantra to "speak no evil of a fellow republican"? These peoples main criticism of McCain is that he doesn't fall in line with central GOP/conservative orthodoxy and therefore should be opposed at all cost, going so far as calling for his defeat in the next election. But aren't these people engaging in the same actions for which they criticize McCain by not supporting the lawfully nominated and elected representative of the (entire) party for the Presidency?
Their, at best, inconsistent, and at worst sophist hypocrisy contributed to the/our GOP loss in this election and for that they should be called to the carpet at FR. Their jubilent mania associated with McCains announcement about Gitmo, the "I told you so's" and "There isn't a dimes difference between McCain and Obama" are not only intellectually vacuous but offensive considering their track record and hand in allowing the marxist community organizer into the most powerful office in the world.
I urge all FReepers to end your silence when it comes to the MDS people. Tell them what you think, how you feel and why you believe they were instrumental in allowing the greatest attack/defeat for the future of conservatism in the last 50 years.
If not on FR, where? If not you, whom?
Screw McQueeg and his little groin leeches.
McCain is history. Most here supported him against Obama, but McCain didn’t want to win this thing. He is now back to growel to the Democrats, which is the thing he does best.
Let’s forget him already, he’s done nationally and I doubt he’ll be Senator much longer.
And in order to 'speak no ill of a Republican', the person being spoken of would actually have to be a Republican.
McCain ain't.
L
Amen, can't top a perfect post!
I’m guilty. I have a right.
L
Most all of us got in line behind McCain during the election. He still lost. His conduct since then shows that he probably didn’t deserve the support he got then.
And I was one of those who managed to choke back my bile and vote for the SOB.
If you’re saying mccain is deranged, I fully agree. A deranged little turncoat pipsqueak.
Bush has 10 time the heart and class that McInsane has in his entire body. He WAS a great man and a hero, that time has long passed.
Please. Don’t!
I’m not a McCain basher and have tremendous respect for his record of public service. But...four issues that he continues to support and even champion really make it difficult to defend him, at least for me.
1) Campaign finance reform
2) Closing Gitmo and military tribunals
3) Opposition to so-called torture
4) Illegal immigration and “path to citizenship”
His record on these issues is disgusting.
I'm all for bashing ideology that makes us lose.
“And I was one of those who managed to choke back my bile and vote for the SOB.”
As one of the main characters in MDS for months and months, and AFTER you probably convinced hundreds or thousands to NOT vote for McCain and suspend any financial contributions, you’re attempt to whitewash your actions by claiming to have voted for McCain is not only infantile, but absurd.
People call this the stupid party and you are the poster child.
Her’s why we keep moving leftward toward bigger and more intrusive government no matter who wins: Democrats choose the least acceptable candidate that they can support while Republicans chose the least UNacceptable candidate.
And here we are being told that we should somehow be sweeter toward McCain. Count me out. Until Republicans go on the offense instead of only playing defense (at best) we are lost. Go radical or go home.
It needs to be done.
I held my nose and voted for his running mate, but everything his detractors said turned out to be true in spades. We need to ban his name here, so we can forget and move on.
Let’s start with zotting this thread
Huh? I don’t get it, attacking McCain when he acts like a liberal (which is a LOT) is somehow a defeat for Conservatism?
The general election is over, now is the time to start house-cleaning. Many (most?) of us bit our tongues and voted for McCain because either Palin or to vote against Bambi, but now, McCain isn’t running and the last election is proof we need to get back to our values. These are the times we do that.
Maybe I should change the question, what has McCain done to advance Conservatism, both in principle and in the electorate?
When people start saying he starts hurricanes, then you can call it McCain derangement syndrome- but calling out liberal legislation and actions is simple political opinion.
McCain isn’t worthy of a thread on FR. Sarah was his best part, and he couldn’t wait to throw her under the bus. Forget him already. He’s a card-carrying liberal.
I agree with your sentiment....conservatives are going to have to accept more moderates or become totally irrelevant (politically).
However, McCain is not the place to start. If I never hear that POS again it would be too soon, but with him brown nosing Obama, I’m sure he’ll be in the news everday.
The difference between BDS and MDS is that McCain deserves it.
How's that working out for you, Bob?
Welcome to "I Love McCainville". Population: You.
Same here, but I look at it this way, I gave him my vote, can't bring myself to say I voted for him.
IMHO, I don’t think we need to ban his name, instead, we should call him out just like we do those who are like minded such as Barney Frank, Chuck Schumer, Barack Obama, etc. No better, no worse..
Uhh he almost single-handedly dismantled conservatism in america?
I disliked McCain from the beginning, and wasn’t going to vote for him until he named Sarah Palin as his running mate. I know there were plenty of others on this site like me, who only voted for him because of Palin. If, according to your opinion, I have MDS, so be it. I’ll tell you one thing, I will never, ever vote again for a RINO the GOP names as its Presidential nominee. Even if they choose a bona fide Conservative as their VP running mate, I will NEVER cast a ballot ever again for a RINO!! And those weak-kneed Freepers who whined and cried that we had to vote for McCain because he was our only choice had better steer clear of us in the future, because I doubt they will be treated fairly by those of us who relented and voted for puke.
I had hoped that his selection of Sarah Palin in September would put him back on the path to righteousness. But, alas, he only used her in a futile attempt to get her to drag him over the finish line.
Now that Oba Mao has been crowned, he can't wait to become the same nasty McCain who put media approval ahead of what is best for the country. To paraphrase our former vice-president-- f*** him and the horse he rode in on.
I’d actually call your thread ‘McCain-IAC Derangement Syndrome’...because the guy you are defending so vigorously has succeeded in completely dissolving the base and setting the GOP back decades...
Bump to rabs!
Oh yeah, I remember you. You're one of the libtards in training who said, "you go right ahead and hold onto your precious principles!"
Now that's what I call infantile rage.
Who are the real derangement syndrome sufferers here? How many times where wary conservatives told by the establishment to vote for McCain or else?
How many times have McCain stabbed conservatives in the back, reached across the aisle to Democrats, and criticized other Republicans (NC GOP ad) for being too mean?
What did McCain do when FINALLY conservatives began supporting him because of his brilliant Palin pick. He didn't go after Obama hard, he "suspended" his campaign to do business as usual in Washington supporting the bail-out for rich financiers (which cost him his campaign) and threw Palin under the bus after his defeat.
Now he's back to his usual business - is it any surprise you're going to see conservatives upset about McCain?
I don't care if McCain was your 3rd, 4th, or 100,000th pick. He got nominated by cross-over Dems and independents. If this happens again in 2012 (and McCain is open to running again in 2012) do you think conservatives are going to cheerfully hold their noses again and vote for him?
Dude, get a clue. We're not sheep OK?
Q.What is the definition of a moderate?
A. A spineless wannabe conservative (in nname only)
Why? McCain (I’m being nice) has done nothing but stab us in the back. (I doubt you’ll get many if any postive posts)
I’m willing to never mention his name again if he would just retire.
Bush lost by 7%, 53 to 46 (I believe).
Well, I voted a straight Rebublican ticket, but the only one at the top who I voted for was Palin.
Well, I voted a straight Republican ticket, but the only one at the top who I voted for was Palin.
“Bush lost by 7%, 53 to 46 (I believe).”
Uh...I don’t think so...
How has that ever helped us? Conservatives are best when they foster Conservative values- the power of the individual. When was the last time you've heard a Republican really talk about what the individual can do in spite of the government? When was the last time you heard a Republican lift up people and say get government out of your way and you can accomplish anything? When was the last time you heard a Republican talk about the greatness of this country? The last time we had all of these was Reagan. Instead, you may get bits and pieces from some candidates, but most just have another version of "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"...
People have become addicted, we don't need moderates, that is like staying a nursing baby politically, we need to empower people and lift them up, not through government promises but by showing them they have the power over their lives.
Sorry. I voted for McCain and supported his campaign and worked 5 or 6 days a week in the last 4 weeks before the election but he has gone out of his way to prove just what a vindictive, self absorbed, backstabbing little bastard he really is. He and his houseboy Lindsey Graham make me sick. The way he stood by and let his campaign savage Sarah Palin made me sick. Now he’s waving the pom poms for Obama! I’ll never support the man again and I’ll never admonish anyone who ever criticizes him.
John McCain, and anybody who dares to defend him, are enemies to our Republic and our civil rights and liberties.
Choke on it, Boob.
I actually considered not giving my vote to McCain until he picked Palin.
Now that it's over, I wish I had stuck to my original plan.
Actually it was worse than this, and in some threads the same BS goes on today!!
McCain was nominated by Republicans because we knew that a conservative like a Tom Tancredo (on immigration), a Ron Paul (on economics), or even a flipped flopped conservative like Mitt Romney would get routed by Clinton or Obama. This theory held some credence when, after McCain picked Sarah Palin, the most popular governor in the country, he was leading Obama by 3 points.
So why did McCain lose? McCain did not lose because of Sarah Palin (most people here on FR understand this). Sarah Palin gave the bounce that McCain needed in August, but it was unreasonable to expect that a Vice Presidential nominee, especially a nominee who refused to change her positions to fit the winds of the time (like a Joe Lieberman), could singlehandedly win the election for the party.
McCain lost because he was too attached to the failed Bush economic policies in 2008, specifically the bank bailouts. Had he come out against the bailout, he would have won the election.
We learned our lesson with McCain. This was a good loss whereas conservatism can be energized without the weight of a moderate McCain administration.
I said I would NEVER vote for this turkey, but yet I held my peace after he got the moderate, social liberal, independents vote to grasp that nomination.
And went and begged his campaign for signs to put in my front lawn. And encouraged everybody I came in contact with to vote for him and Sarah. And I took my family and I went and voted because I knew what it would mean for a Bama win.... But I am NOT going to be insulted or accused of having a derangement syndrome over some liberal loving old man who could not figure out how to present what was at stake in order to win an election.
McCain lost because he did not really want to win, he took a liberal’s word about how campaigns would be financed after he gave the keys to the kingdom to the liberals in his get back at conservatives reform of campaign financing....
Please, your screen name use to have credibility to me when I came across something you had to say but NO MORE!!!!!
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.
