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California Debate: McCain Reminds Conservatives Why They're Suspicious Of Him
redcounty ^ | 01/30/2008 8:26 PM | Jubal

Posted on 01/31/2008 11:52:04 AM PST by Checkers

Except for a brief time before his exit when I decided to vote for Fred Thompson, this presidential contest marks the first time in my entire life I have been undecided in a GOP nomination fight.

Going into tonight's debate at the Ronald Reagan Library, I was strongly considering voting for Sen. John McCain, in spite of McCain-Feingold and other heresies. After watching McCain in action tonight, he'd have to make a heckuva case in the next few days to keep me from voting for Romney.

There were a number of flash points tonight that pushed me away from going with McCain. First was his exchange with Mitt Romney over his charge that Romney supported fixed timetables for withdrawal. McCain was obviously misrepresenting what Romney said. Even Anderson Cooper pointed out that Romney had not called for publicly fixing deadlines for withdrawal.

Yet even after his misrepresentation was made plain to him, McCain stuck to his story and continued insisting that Romney had said something that Romney clearly had not -- and at that point it just becomes a lie. And that's significant for a man who has built his campaign on honor, straight talk and honesty.

Then there were a series of cheap shots that really ought to be beneath McCain. First, he talked about leading a naval squadron out of "patriotism, not profit."

Very nice coming from a guy who's been on the government payroll his whole life, courtesy of those like me who are pursuing profits. I'll keep that in mind next time I perform my quarterly rendering unto Caesar. I salute McCain's military service, what's with spitting out "profits" like it's a dirty word. My politically astute shook her head and remarked that McCain sounded like a Democrat.

(Excerpt) Read more at redcounty.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ca2008; gopdebates; mccain; rino
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Continued from above:

Then there was McCain's cheap shot at Romney's leadership of Bain Capital when he talked about Romney buying and selling companies and "people losing their jobs." Is Michael Moore on the McCain economic advisory team now? McCain seemed to exhibit an almost self-destructive impulse to remind people of his admission that he still needs educating in economics.

Finally, there was Anderson Cooper's bizarre question "Would Ronald Reagan endorse you, and why?" That question, in the Reagan Library of all places, was the moment for all four candidates to observe Reagan's Eleventh Commandment and talk positively about themselves. Yet, McCain fumbled the opportunity to rise above and be gracious, instead beginning his answer with a cheap shot at Mitt Romney for (presumably) his changed stance on abortion.

There remains much for conservatives to like about John McCain. Unfortunately, he spent the debate reminding this conservative about all the things I don't like about McCain -- to the benefit of Mitt Romney.

The McCain campaign contacted me today and arranged a one-on-one meeting with McCain surrogate Bruce Herschensohn tomorrow, the subject being why McCain should be the choice of conservatives. I have enormous respect and affection for Bruce Herschensohn, and I'll try to enter the meeting with an open mind. But McCain certainly hasn't made Bruce's job any easier.

1 posted on 01/31/2008 11:52:06 AM PST by Checkers
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To: Scarchin; Rb ver. 2.0; Bird Jenkins; Y Ceratotherium; WOSG; jschner; patriciaruth; ...

ping


2 posted on 01/31/2008 11:53:24 AM PST by Checkers (I'd say John McCain is a Dick Nixon, but Nixon didn't hate Republicans.)
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To: Checkers
McCain hates Conservatives.

He thinks there is something wrong with Conservatives.

Remember his "agents of intolerance" speech about Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson?
3 posted on 01/31/2008 11:53:45 AM PST by elizabetty ("Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." .Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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To: Checkers

Prior to the debate, I decided that I would force myself to vote for McCain because of Iraq. Now, after seeing him go off the deep end like that, I’m completely disgusted by him, and I won’t ever vote for him.


4 posted on 01/31/2008 11:54:13 AM PST by Shadow44
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To: Checkers

McCain came of like a dirty little weasel in the debate. He is just plain arrogant....not a good quality for a president.


5 posted on 01/31/2008 11:57:17 AM PST by TheLion
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To: Checkers
...what's with spitting out "profits" like it's a dirty word

This is what really makes me think he's a RINO. Anyone who works against the economic engine that makes this country what it is will not get my vote. Hillary's a socialist in Dimocrat clothing and McCain is...you know, I don't know what he is, but I don't like what I'm seeing.

6 posted on 01/31/2008 11:57:33 AM PST by econjack (Some people are as dumb as soup.)
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To: Checkers

May I remind everyone that this statement “First, he talked about leading a naval squadron out of “patriotism, not profit.” ........that McCain lead that squadron because he was “ordered” to. It wasn’t his idea. McCain sat there during the debate with a smug face.....as though the debate was a waste of time. Also, consider immigration. We hear now that one of McCain’s advisers is Juan Hernandez and is on the payroll of the Mexican government. The guy actually works for the Mexican government. Anybody else hear this?


7 posted on 01/31/2008 12:01:00 PM PST by RC2
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To: Checkers

In this debate he made me think he was what you might get if you crossed Senator Byrd with Putin.


8 posted on 01/31/2008 12:01:39 PM PST by top 2 toe red (Politics are about compromise, not about getting everything you want.... Truthsearcher)
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To: RC2

His huge plans to make us a third world country with his amnesty plan and his GREEN plan should scare the heck out of any sane person.

Let’s drill in ANWR


9 posted on 01/31/2008 12:02:17 PM PST by JaneNC (I)
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To: Checkers
My politically astute shook her head and remarked that McCain sounded like a Democrat.

Assuming he was speaking of his wife, I wonder if his wife (or anyone else) is astute enough to notice that all of them sound like Democrats.

10 posted on 01/31/2008 12:02:35 PM PST by HoustonTech
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To: Shadow44
".....and I won’t ever vote for him."

So who ya gonna vote for? Obama?

Just wondering?? As usual, the choices will be slim!

11 posted on 01/31/2008 12:03:05 PM PST by FixitGuy (By their fruits shall ye know them!)
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To: Checkers

Thanks to profits companies are able to expand their business, hire more people who then pay taxes, see their stock go up and those of us who have 401ks see how we benefit when a company can grow its profits.
McCain did take cheap shots at Romney, telling Romney about how he can spend all his money, well, at least the guy would be helping to stimulate the economy. McCain is short tempered, we could clearly see this back in 2000.
Anyone remembers how rude he was to Maria Shriver?


12 posted on 01/31/2008 12:03:25 PM PST by psjones (u)
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To: Checkers
A vote for McCain is a vote for the second coming of Lyndon Johnson (father of "The Great Society.") Wouldn't your rather have at least one Republican to choose from next November?

McConan the "Republican"? Just say NO!

13 posted on 01/31/2008 12:03:37 PM PST by sourcery (Electile Disfunction: The inability to get excited about any of the available candidates)
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To: Checkers
Come on Checkers, don't be so harsh on McCain. After all, he has reached out to Conservatives, and has even offered a bridge to Conservatives. Unfortunately, it is a draw bridge, and is already in the "up" position.

McCain's "bridge" to Conservatives.

14 posted on 01/31/2008 12:04:07 PM PST by lormand (Paulrhoids(TM) - The Hemorrhoids of American Politics)
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To: FixitGuy

whichever side wins, were gonna lose.


15 posted on 01/31/2008 12:04:40 PM PST by abstracTT
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To: FixitGuy

Simple, I’ll leave my ballot blank. I’ll vote for republican congressmen though.


16 posted on 01/31/2008 12:05:01 PM PST by Shadow44
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To: RC2

Yep, I’ve seen many posts here regarding Juan Hernandez and McCain.


17 posted on 01/31/2008 12:05:54 PM PST by psjones (u)
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To: Checkers
McCain was caught in a lie, and refused to back down, very reminiscent of the Clinton's.

His jealousy of Romney's business success also reminds me of liberals.

His absolute refusal to answer the question about his Amnesty bill, says a lot as well.

McCain keeps saying in a very dismissive way that he will seal the border first. But he has NEVER said he won't give amnesty...he may call it something else, but he will give amnesty.

And lastly, he sounds just like the leftists when it comes to global warming.

He was endorsed by the New York Times, the Democrats and the ENEMEDIA love him. What more do we need to know about this man to know that he is NOT a conservative, and he should not be the Republican Party's nominee!!!

18 posted on 01/31/2008 12:06:17 PM PST by jan in Colorado ("It's easier to believe a lie one hears 1,000 times than to believe a fact that one has never heard)
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To: FixitGuy

Just heard that Obama is the most liberal guy in the senate. Dang, I knew he was liberal, didn’t know he was worse than Hillary.


19 posted on 01/31/2008 12:07:12 PM PST by psjones (u)
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To: jan in Colorado

Democrats want McCain to win. They say it would be tough to beat him, but what they are really saying is they can’t beat Romney. Why else would the Times back him......they are Democrats.


20 posted on 01/31/2008 12:10:18 PM PST by RC2
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