Posted on 10/23/2010 1:57:32 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
Republican political strategist Mark McKinnon – veteran of McCain and Bush presidential campaigns – acknowledged in an interview with David Frum that a third-party presidential effort for 2012 was not far off, and hinted at his involvement in one.
In the podcast interview, McKinnon, who was discussing his recent Daily Beast column “A Centrist Manifesto”, lamented that “there’s nobody that gets rewarded for bipartisan behavior, [and] in fact they get punished.” To that end, he said, “there is a very real possibility for a legitimate third party effort for 2012 … American voters are so hungry for more voice, and more choice.”
While reluctant to discuss the matter much further because announcements are forthcoming, McKinnon did let on that he was at least somewhat involved:
I’m reluctant to talk about [how a third party run would emerge] because I’m involved with some things that are happening that just haven’t been announced… it’s way more than gum-chewing. The appetite is there. Part of the problem is that there are some legal problems in the way. But there are some people working very hard to make sure that there won’t be those legal hurdles in the way… so that anyone who wants to run can run in 2012.
McKinnon suggested that an announcement related to such a third-party effort was on its way within the next few months, by “March at the latest.”
(snip)
McKinnon remained loyal to President Bush, saying that “I fully embrace and believe in the whole concept of compassionate conservatism, and I think we made great achievements in the area of AIDS funding and education reform.”
(Excerpt) Read more at fullcomment.nationalpost.com ...
We all know about Frum, but this McKinnon bit is fascinating.
McKinnon, the lifelong Democrat activist who used to work for Paul Begala—but then hooked up with W for the 2000 and 2004 campaigns and McCain in 2008.
What’s he about? Funded by, say, a Soros, looking to toss a Perot in to 2012 in order to help Obama? More Bush family shenanigans, as we know Jeb wants to run in 2016? Then there’s even the Mittster, whose MA handlers have been saying they are taking him moderate in position for 2012.
It’s of course laughable that we need more RINOs to keep spending down, I don’t know how they can even claim that without themselves laughing out loud. But someone is funding him good and early, before there’s reason to believe that the GOP won’t end up with another moderate, say Mitt Milquetoast, for 2012.
This is clearly what would please a DLC-style Democrat (which one might argue Bill Clinton, W, McCain, Frum and McKinnon all are), and if the belief was that it would re-elect Obama, of course what the radical left would want as well. So what are the possibilities? A Hillary/Mitt fusion ticket? Nah, even Mitt’s not selling out for number two.
Or, is it meant to be the RINOs’ counter-threat to the tea partyers saying they might splinter off if the GOP doesn’t get serious?
I really don’t know, but something is up.
Let all the RINO’s go into a third party, we’ll keep the Republican Party. Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me. Small government types win, RINOs get a way station to full socialism and America will win.
That’s a great list whenever you post it!
“No Barf Alert necessary. The name David Frum is sufficient warning.”
bttt
These parasites just don’t get it. You CANNOT compromise with folks hellbent on destroying America.
There are two things that come to mind here.
1.
The conservatives (including “social” conservatives) have been, for the last 35 years, the majority of the Republican Party. Because that wasn’t always the case, we have been like the horse, who doesn’t realize that we are larger than the “master” because we are shorter (lean on leadership positions) and get our carrots and apples from them. They have done whatever has been necessary for us to not realize our size, and to accept their role as master. They would rather lose elections than have the roles reversed, which is why they NEVER got too excited about Reagan.
2.
In negotiations of any kind, you never want to cede ground before the other guy. Over the decades, we have from time to time, talked about going third party (Bob Smith, Pat Buchanan). This time, with the Tea Party, we didn’t blink. We have numbers of participants, and we can take over, over time, in numbers. Now, it’s the Crists and the Murkowskis and Frums who are going independent and third party. They blinked.
Why now? Because when conservatism takes over the Congress after “compassionate” conservatism and McCainseyism lost the House, Senate and Presidency, the argument of meeting radical leftism with conciliatory centrism is GONE.
In light of the above, I believe the John B. Anderson Party should be formed. He is the shining prophet who foresaw the future of RINOism.
McKinnon is a traitor. It was his camp that gave Gore the debate prep manual for GW.
As for centrist. Someone needs to remind these jackasses that the only thing in the middle of the road is ROAD KILL
Down with RINOS!!
Rebellion is brewing!!
You can’t cure stupid, but you can vote them OUT!!
I’m still confused as to why this Canadian liberal thinks he’s relevant to anything in the US.
Frum and McKinnon are Vichy Republicans of the lowest order, I recall vividly that Frum repeatedly stabbed Sarah Palin in the back along with some of McCain’s own advisors.
McKinnon worked for McCain with the caveat “if you attack Obamao, I’m leaving” and leave he did, but McCain’s Campaign never really did go after Obamao.
Start a third party...do it, I still recall John Anderson in 1980 handing the election to Reagan.
Sigh. Well, that explains a lot.
Wonder who is bribing Frum?
Saved the best for last?
Perceptive.
Like O'Hatch saying he is more conservative than Bob Bennett, reelect him in the 2012 primary or he and all his dinosaur GOP buddies will become Murkowskis.
With bucks going to individuals, the old time GOP are, as we write, looking at their contributions and gauging their futures.
yitbos
One of the mysteries of life.
McKinnon was a lifelong Dem operative who surprisingly announced after the 1996 election that he was out of politics—only to reappear as a W man for 2000. That sure looks to me like a guy who is really still a Dem operative in deep cover. There are so many of them now that they are simply known as RINOs, but it’s useful to remember what they’re really up to.
right on the money
Memo to David Frum
Shut up. No one cares what you have to say.
Actually, before I read rabs' editorial comment, I thought Frum was going to write about some Canadian third party agent who was buying advertising for candidates. (The English used by our British and Canadian cousins is often amusingly different from the American version)
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