Posted on 12/07/2006 4:53:28 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
Former GOP Senator Al D’Amato said Republicans will "race to the center” in 2008 to make up for losses in the 2006 elections, and Sen. John McCain will be the man to lead them there.
D’Amato, appearing Thursday on Fox News Channel, said the Republican Party was hurt in the elections by the "morass” in Iraq and the ineffectiveness of a GOP-controlled Congress to pass meaningful legislation.
He also said President Bush was damaged by the appearance that he didn’t do enough to help Hurricane Katrina victims, with the image of Bush "flying over” New Orleans in a helicopter viewed by Americans as showing he was "out of touch” with the tragedy.
D’Amato said McCain can help bring voters back to the party for the 2008 presidential elections.
"If we have someone who demonstrates strength and compassion, like a John McCain, if we stay away from issues which almost trivialize the political process, like gay marriage . . . that’s nonsense. We shouldn’t be about that.”
D’Amato said Republicans may not favor McCain now, as some polls indicate, but he predicted that will change during the upcoming presidential campaign.
"If you have a McCain candidacy, you are going to capture the middle,” D’Amato said. "We will have a more moderate Republican tone, tuition assistance, an immigration policy that deals with reality . . . and stay away from bashing gays.
"He’s going to be the nominee,” D’Amato said.
See #120.
McCain has wreaked havoc with conservative beliefs and with Pres. Bush's presidency. I will not support him. Ever.
Gingrich's problems are personal. McCain's problems, besides his betrayal of conservatism and his party's president, were corruption. He will not win even IF he's supported by the base.
Gingrich has the ability in front of the camera and microphone, and he has the conservative principles.
"I guarantee you that I will vote against McCain in both primary and general.
My only issue is how to register that general election vote in a coherent way that causes the defeat of McCain."
A vote against McCain will be a vote for Hillary.
"Gingrich's problems are personal."
Kind of like Clinton's.
"Gingrich has the ability in front of the camera and microphone, and he has the conservative principles. "
Agreed. But his "personal" problems will sink him with the base. Without the base he is toast. Welcome President H. Clinton.
McCain's problem will be the primaries. Where true Republicans actually vote. That's why I fear a Perot by him.
There is no difference between McCain and Hillary. Both are socialists.
Vote for the devil I know or the devil I know....in which case I'll find someone else or some other way to vote.
If the Republicans put McLame up as their candidate, you can start working on saying "President Hillary Clinton", without puking up everything you ate in the last 12 hours.
Al did one thing right, he called Schumer, 'putzhead'.
From a policy perspective, I support Newt completely. He's the epitome of the ideas conservatives that drove the Reagan revolution and the GOP ascension in 1994. He may be only candidate intellectually capable of forging an ideologically driven campaign...the rest of the field is more "image driven" IMHO.
That said...I think he's a no go. His best bet to influence policy is to run for Zell Miller's Senate seat when he retires...I just can't see Newt shedding enough baggage to make it.
I don't like McCain and would prefer someone else...maybe Romney...even Rudy...but if I have to hold my nose and vote for Farmer John to keep the Hildabeast from getting the Whitehouse, I will do it. So help me I will...
Hillary! in the Whitehouse strikes me as one of those dark tragedies one finds in comic books...the evil witch gets the enchanted stone, the magic crystal, the golden key and brings terror to the pastoral countryside.
Maybe we need a brave Princess...my daughter is really into these Barbie movies that cast her as a brave girl overcoming fear to battle evil. Who could be our princess?
(Condi Rice? )
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
By Einstein's definition, voting for RINO's is insanity.
Can't imagine him keeping his cool when dealing with the idiots in the MSM.
Well, don't for RINOs. Vote for real Republican conservatives.
This is not rocket science, Einstein.
D'Amato is despicble...and the fact is he hates Guiliani...absolutely hated him...
the quote to the GOP party when Rudy became mayor of NYC was something to the effect "this guy (Rudy) is bad news"...
D'Amato is thinking like the "northeastern state liberal" Republican that he is instead of trying to think like a "truly conservative from flyover country" Republican, which represents the majority of the U.S. The political mindset of most northeastern Republicans is of a very liberal mindset. All liberal RINO Republicans all over the U.S. continue to be out of touch with what the conservative wings of the Republican Party are presently thinking when it comes to overall U.S. politics. Even among GOP conservatives, we have our social conservatives, our fiscal conservatives, our "small government" conservatives, our "big government" conservatives, our religious conservatives, our "libertarian" Republicans, "establishment" Republicans, "reform-minded" Republicans...and how is the GOP truly supposed to regain their political majorities again in '08? The Republican Party is too "politically splintered" right now, and I don't believe that two years will be enough time to successfully get the GOP solidly together if they are even ever able to get together at all ever again.
A vote for McCain will be a vote for this...
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO"
SEN. JOHN McCAIN: THE ULTIMATE "RHINESTONE HERO" Part II
U.S. Sen. John McCain is no War Hero
John McCain: The Manchurian Candidate
John McCain, you treasonous bastard, I challenge you or any of your traitorous cohorts...
McCain Is Booed by Labor Activists
McCain Rides to Kerry's Rescue: "John Kerry is Not Weak on Defense" (Today Show alert)
John McCain SCREAMS AT 9/11 FSA MEMBERS FOR OPPOSING HIS BILL TO GIVE AMNESTY FOR ILLEGALS
A number of articles on McCain. (some the same as above)
McCain/Soros by Rabbi Areyh Spero
Soros' "Reform" (an article about Soros‘ instrumental hand in McCain/Feingold)
It was the pull away from fiscal conservatism and the unpopular Iraq War policies that did the GOP in this year. A push towards the center would open the doors towards a hyper majority like the Democrats had during the 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, & 1970s. I support moving to the center if that means we become more libertarian on economic issues. I'm sick of compassionate conservatives with their glossed over welfare state. The GOP has turned into a bunch of cowardly liberal democrats.
hmm looks like the fonz is a conservative again.
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