John McCain's mission: A GOP makeover

Politico ^ | October 2, 2009 | ALEX ISENSTADT

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Fresh from a humbling loss in last year’s presidential election, Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image.

McCain is recruiting candidates, raising money for them and hitting the campaign trail on their behalf. He’s taken sides in competitive House, Senate and gubernatorial primaries and introduced his preferred candidates to his top donors.

When the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy created a vacant Senate seat in Massachusetts, McCain went so far as to solicit former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling to run for the seat.

It’s all part of an approach that is at odds with most other recent failed presidential nominees, whose immediate response to defeat was to retreat from the electoral arena. But those familiar with McCain’s thinking say he has expressed serious concern about the direction of the party and is actively seeking out and supporting candidates who can broaden the party’s reach.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

You'd think he would take the hint, but no . . .

[ChiefKujo]

Senator McCain:

1. STFU and vote the right way.

2. You’re done.

[norwaypinesavage]

John, go home - to Panama. Even the Arizonans don’t want you any more.

[Nateman]

I’ve recently moved back to Arizona. It will be a great pleasure of mine to vote against him in the primary. Something I was denied the last time BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE WAS ON THE BALLOT!

[gov_bean_ counter]

It will be interesting to see the kind of crowds he draws vs Sarah Palin in addition to who is better at picking a winner. Of course we already know how this one is going to turn out.

[xcamel]

We already have a 3rd party...

[Doogle]

..McWuss left me, with an image I would rather forget

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Go away McLame.

[StarFan]

Good grief why doesn’t he just go away and take Grahamnesty with him. Enough face time for these two.

[mewzilla]

A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.

Thomas Paine

[iopscusa]

“My friendzzzz”, wonder if McCain will survive the AZ primary?

[mrsmel]

He loses the election, and then decides he’s just the person for the GOP to model itself after?

[dead]

Fresh from a humbling loss in last year’s presidential election, Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image.

Read that sentence again and again, and marvel at its stupidity.

[nhwingut]

No thanks... We need Palin republicans. Not McCain RINOs.

[GoldenPup]

All the old fool is doing is strengthening the opposition. His hubris and self-deception are as big as his ego.

RINO GO HOME

[Doc Savage]

The ultra=leftist Politico slurps this pap up! They love it! On the other hand, I HATE McLame and everything he DOESN’T stand for! I wish every politician in DC were defeated, humiliated and run out of town on a rail!

[WayneM]

You go, John. Lindsay Graham for president! Yeah - that’s the ticket!

[dirtboy]

It’s McCain in his full-tilt liberal mode - if something fails, the solution is to do even more of it so that it can succeed.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

McCain, put down the ego-pipe.

Accept the fact that half the people who voted for you did so because they correctly feared what Obammie and his Commies would do to this country, which they are currently doing.

STFU and look at the conservative revolution that is currently growing.

If you’re not going to help, then get the hell out of the way.

[newfreep]

When 60% of republicans in his home state reject him, juan needs to buy a vowel to solve the puzzle.

[southernnorthcarolina]

What this is really all about:

JOHN MCCAIN 2012 CAMPAIGN AD

The stuff of nightmares there.

[Dawgreg]

If he makes the party over in his own image, then we’re more screwed than I thought. No thanks McLame......just go home!

[Leisler]

You see this behaviour a lot in dying regimes. The Fwench Royalty had it before they were mass executed in the Revolt. So too in the events leading up to the 1917 Russian revolt and even in the later Soviet Collapse. You can see in even GM circling the drain where the upper management is one unbroken line of losers.

McCain, Romney, even GW Bush. Wishy, driftish, no or poor narrative, conflicted and all the while in a bubble of Royal Washington, a city I wish would just sink into the muck and take a million oxygen thieves( I wish that was all they stole ) with them.

[Bushbacker1]

If McNuts, Grahamnesty and the other RINO’s left the party, that would be a good start for a makeover.

[skikvt]

center-right? You have to be to the left of Karl Marx to have that perspective.

[backhoe]

Cap'n, nobody campaigned harder for you than we did-- including my normally apolitical wife.

Please, just go away and pipe down...

[LibLieSlayer]

I may never vote for a repubic again... why are they intentionally turning into dims?

LLS

[MissMagnolia]

Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image.

Therein lies the problem.

[Grunthor]

“Fresh from a humbling loss in last year’s presidential election, Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image.”

He thinks that conservatives will go along with this. He really does.

[JSDude1]

Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image

BOZO, Leave the GOP alone, we rejected you, and your center image!

[Caipirabob]

I’ve recently moved back to Arizona. It will be a great pleasure of mine to vote against him in the primary. Something I was denied the last time BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE WAS ON THE BALLOT!

Right there with you.

I had delayed registering as a Republican on arrival. I've made my decision and will register again as a Republican. Voting against McCain and hopefully sending him into a comfortable retirement will be one of the first pleasures I enjoy at the voting booth here...

[arthurus]

Where do they get off calling him “center right?” He is, at best, Center left drifting lefter. His effect politically is hard left because he supports the permanent socialist truncation of the economy that is Cap&Trade and the creation of the permanent SocialDemocrat majority with Amnesty.

[Melchior]

The Politico, which has become a house organ for Democrats, mentions only Schilling and Kirk of Illinois (a RINO indeed). There was mention of a meeting when McCain introduced forty candidates to his East Coast elitist power base (he does not have a West Coast base). If I were a Republican running for office for the first time, I think it would be wise to eschew McCain and work with or begin building the local power base. Use the internet and the blogs to gain name recognition. McCain is poison.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Adios, Captain Strawberries.

[MBB1984]

Yes, his campaign for President was such a sparkling success!

[noname07718]

Go away John. Please, just go away.

[ravingnutter]

No, John...just GIVE IT BACK to those of us who are TRUE conservatives! NO MORE RINOS!

[Colvin]

My Mission, not to vote for GOP Rino’s

[indylindy]

If the GOP doesn’t shut this old man and his bud Linseed up, they are going to guarantee a 3rd party and an O win again.

YOU were rejected old man, now go away.

[jnsun]

John McCain is an A-1 certified member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), as is a whole host of media moguls, Clintons, Rockefeller, Albright, Bush, Bronfman's, etc.

I wonder if I (Johnny Suntrade) can give a talk at their brand new digs?

Oh, but Sarah Palin is not a member.

[Iron Munro]

When Obama commands his National Civilian Security Force to start rounding up patriots and constitutionalists McCain will be there to defend him and to rubber stamp bills giving him money and authority.

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set, we've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

-- Barack Obama, July 2008

[greenhornet68]

Hope AZ wakes up and gets rid of this guy in 2010. He’s gone downhill ever since he left Hanoi.

[LoveUSA]

he has expressed serious concern about the direction of the party

and the reason the Republicans are in trouble is because we're not centrist enough? Has he been to Congress lately?

(alternate comment)

Yeah, that's why McCain lost, because the Republican politicians have been too conservative.

[Always A Marine]

Never forget that George Washington's greatest general was named Benedict Arnold. Nothing one has done in his past excuses a later betrayal of his comrades. John McCain is doing the bidding of our political enemies, and has gone over to the other side.

I voted for Sarah.

[TexasFreeper2009]

The GOP’s mission should be to get McCain to retire!

I have had ENOUGH of this idiot for a lifetime!

[rawhide]

If his idea of a makeover is anything like his daughter’s idea, then I’m voting democrat.

[Leisler]

Republican citizens are the problem. We're the problem. Us expressing ourselves, communicating our values is in McCain/RNC world 'the problem'.

Do I sense something backwards ?

[Iron Munro]

Hope AZ wakes up and gets rid of this guy in 2010. He’s gone downhill ever since he left Hanoi.

Yep.
I have great respect for everyone who serves honorably and scacrifices for our country.
For years I (and countless others) gave him the benefit of the doubt because of his POW years.
But his service and POW experience do not justify his stance on many political issues and I cannot support him or respect him as a politician.

If it was not for the enthusiasm Sarah Palin gave to conservatives, Obama would have beat McCain by an additional 10 million votes.
.

[Cheetahcat]

his preferred candidates?????????

Get the Hell out of here Juan you American hating Traitor.

[Antoninus]

Man, I hope he gets spanked in the Arizona primary.