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Don't underestimate McCain
Seattle Times.com ^ | February 7, 2008 | David S. Broder

Posted on 02/07/2008 5:30:10 AM PST by NCDragon

WASHINGTON — The continuing drama of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination should not diminish what John McCain has accomplished on the Republican side of this campaign.

The senator from Arizona still has to finish off the challenges from Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, but after Tuesday's victories in such key states as California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Missouri, and a commanding lead in delegates, the question is when, not if, he will secure the nomination.

What is more, he has emerged — despite all the negatives of the George Bush legacy — as a serious possibility to win the presidency in November.

On Super Tuesday, I placed calls to knowledgeable Republicans, Democrats and neutral observers to check their appraisals of McCain as a general-election candidate.

Arizona's Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, who sees her home-state senator at close range, said, "He is not to be underestimated." An Obama supporter, Napolitano said McCain is "a gifted campaigner with a great life story. When everything seemed to go wrong for him last year, I told people, 'Never write John McCain off.' "

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; illegalimmigration; mccain; mcmexico; quislings; rinos; shamnesty; vampirebill; vampirecandidate
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To: NCDragon

Now we must endure the flood of McCain apologists.


61 posted on 02/07/2008 7:43:42 AM PST by windsorknot
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To: j_k_l

en. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a longtime critic of pork spending, has introduced S. Res. 173, intended to make it easier to weed out earmarks in appropriations bills that are unauthorized or not requested by the president. Co-sponsoring the bill are Senators Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) If passed, the resolution would help restrain out-of-control spending by requiring 60 votes to retain an earmark if a senator raised a point of order against it.

Earmarking is often used by legislators to “bring home the bacon” to benefit their district or state even if the spending may not be necessary. Sen. McCain has long contended that most special projects inserted into annual appropriations bills are both wasteful and partial to legislators’ political motives.

By CAGW’s count, earmarks have increased by 346%, from 2,100 in 1998, to 9,362 in 2003. A resolution designed to question the objectivity of unauthorized appropriations is imperative as wasteful spending and pork barreling practices increase every year. Special projects spending has risen by 70 percent since 1998, from $13.2 billion to $22.5 billion in fiscal 2003.
http://www.cagw.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7007


62 posted on 02/07/2008 7:45:09 AM PST by TinaJeannes
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To: meandog

Are you saying you are a moderate?


63 posted on 02/07/2008 7:47:01 AM PST by Osage Orange (MOLON LABE)
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To: antisocial
If you dislike Conservatives so much, why do you post on a conservative website.

I don't dislike conservatives...I dislike conservative idiots who would commit the equivalent of GOP harikari and vote a Democratic ticket in the fall because of their hatred of the primary winner, who under GOP primary rules, has apparently won fair and square...

64 posted on 02/07/2008 7:48:05 AM PST by meandog (Please pray for future President McCain--day minus 327 and counting! <b>Vote Mitt=Get Billary!))
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To: All

http://www.taxpayer.net/TCS/letterstocongress/2007-03-28senatesuppamendments.html


65 posted on 02/07/2008 7:48:18 AM PST by TinaJeannes
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To: TinaJeannes
Wrong. Alito and Roberts would have been nominated and we now wouldn't have to worry about getting appointments via Super-majority when the Constitutional standard is "simple" majority.

McCain sided with the DEMOCRATS. Get that straight right now. Not even moderate Dems, but some of the most radical in Congress. He did so against a sitting Republican President and a Republican Majority in BOTH houses of Congress.

66 posted on 02/07/2008 7:49:56 AM PST by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: icwhatudo

I would neve vote for McCain. A few of the many reasons include his vote against barring terrorists from entering US - this is insane. He has too severe mental and physical issues. There are too many and too blatant lies for him to ever have credibility. He is the MSM’s candidate - MSM is determined to choose our candidates. His win is a win for MSM, amnesty lobby, and foreign interests.


67 posted on 02/07/2008 7:53:27 AM PST by Dante3
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To: TinaJeannes
McCain was "For Earmarks before he was against them." [His pal John Kerry should be proud].

In February 2006, McCain teamed up with fellow Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl on a bill to direct $10 million over five years to help create the William H. Rehnquist Center at the University of Arizona Law School.

I guess some politicians are "more equal than others".
68 posted on 02/07/2008 8:04:00 AM PST by j_k_l
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To: meandog

“I don’t dislike conservatives...I dislike conservative idiots who would commit the equivalent of GOP harikari and vote a Democratic ticket in the fall because of their hatred of the primary winner, who under GOP primary rules, has apparently won fair and square...”

So really you are more for the GOP than you are for conservatives. I’ve got a new handle for you-—GOPoodle


69 posted on 02/07/2008 8:35:53 AM PST by antisocial (Texas SCV - Deo Vindice)
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To: Polybius
I don’t underestimate McCain. He’s got the nerve to have Lieberman as his running mate and make amnesty his first priority when elected.

You can take that extreme position if you wish.

I guess McCains extreme too then:

There’s been plenty of speculation since self-described Democratic-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman started stumping for Sen. John McCain in December that Al Gore’s 2000 runningmate might reprise that role for his Republican friend.

"McCain did little to dissuade Washington Wire of that notion. The Arizona senator was speaking Wednesday evening at town hall-style meeting at T-Bones Steakhouse and Saloon in Lake Wylie, S.C. (Atmosphere: various taxidermied critters on the wall, including a skunk.)

“He’d be a great partner in any endeavor, including joining America together,” McCain said in response to a question on the Lieberman factor. “Let’s reach across the aisle, let’s work together for America. That’s what Joe Lieberman is all about.” "

70 posted on 02/07/2008 8:43:15 AM PST by icwhatudo (Why should I be loyal to the party when McCain never was?)
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To: Dead Corpse
Problems with your list. McCain voted against Bush's tax cuts and against making them permanent. He didn't like Alito because he was "too conservative". I haven't heard him say squat about reigning in spending. He gets a C- rating from the GOA and his ACU ratings have been dropping like a stone since he started making his Leftward run for the Presidency. No thanks...

Okay. You've convinced me: Hillary/Barack are who we need to run this world for the next eight years. Based on your arguments, the Hill/Barack team is the one we can agree with 100% of the time.

Thanks.

71 posted on 02/07/2008 8:44:50 AM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: icwhatudo
At a jammed press conference on Sunday, McCain was asked if he might pick Lieberman as an unconventional running mate. "I say that after next Tuesday, if we win, there would be that consideration," McCain said, adding that "I would be honored to serve by his side in any capacity."
72 posted on 02/07/2008 8:46:34 AM PST by icwhatudo (Why should I be loyal to the party when McCain never was?)
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To: Right_in_Virginia
How about pushing for a brokered convention? Instead of just taking the liberal media darling of the day as your Savior?

Even Romney would be better than McCain. Huckabee would be even marginally better still. The Crazy Uncle Paul is even more "conservative" still even with the rest of his "warts".

Too bad the only two "real" conservatives running have dropped out. Hunter or Thompson would have been our best bets.

73 posted on 02/07/2008 9:09:32 AM PST by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: Osage Orange
Are you saying you are a moderate?

I believe my profile more or less sums up my political leanings...but there are a few additions.
I am pro-life but would not condemn a woman getting an abortion UNLESS it is done after the first 14 weeks of of pregnancy (then I consider her a murderess of an infant).
I do not hate homosexuals, I consider them different HOWEVER I do not understand any sexual relationship (straight or gay) with a constant influx multiple partners.
I would like to see a comprehensive immigration reform package that would require most illegal aliens to get in line but I would not support a policy that resembles ethnic cleaning (IOW, illegals that have been here more than 10 years--who have been taxpayers, speak English, and are not criminals--out within 90 days).
I fully support a low-paying/volunteer 2-year national service obligation for all 18-year-old citizens of the U.S. (military, Peace Corps, police cadets, public service, etc.)
I believe everyone besides millionaires to have a chance to run for Congressional and gubernatorial offices, even it takes federal financing to do so.
I support tort reform, plus libel and slander laws to extend to celebrated persons and public officials.
I would support a national sales tax.
I consider pay day loan makers as well as certain credit card bankers to practice usury.

74 posted on 02/07/2008 9:22:30 AM PST by meandog (Please pray for future President McCain--day minus 327 and counting! <b>Vote Mitt=Get Billary!))
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To: Dead Corpse
How about pushing for a brokered convention? Instead of just taking the liberal media darling of the day as your Savior?

It's not the liberal media that's chosen McCain...it's the votes.

Even Romney would be better than McCain.

Well, that's a done deal.

Too bad the only two "real" conservatives running have dropped out. Hunter or Thompson would have been our best bets.

Yup. Snap out of it and get used to it. Your choice now is: Hillary/Barack for eight years or McCain.

75 posted on 02/07/2008 11:12:49 AM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: Dante3
His (McCain's) win is a win for MSM, amnesty lobby, and foreign interests.

What's Hillary's win a win for?

76 posted on 02/07/2008 11:14:37 AM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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To: Right_in_Virginia
It's not the liberal media that's chosen McCain...it's the votes.

Votes by cross over liberals for a candidate they know they can beat? Yippee...

Your choice now is: Hillary/Barack for eight years or McCain.

Because of you RINO herd types, you've doomed us to an unelectable choice. Thanks for nothing...

77 posted on 02/07/2008 11:15:13 AM PST by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: Right_in_Virginia

The same. The MSM, amnesty lobby, and foreign interests.


78 posted on 02/07/2008 11:15:54 AM PST by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: NCDragon

Make no mistake, I do not underestimate McCain. I know full well that he is completely capable of selling out the GOP.


79 posted on 02/07/2008 11:16:35 AM PST by Hoodat (The whole point of the Conservative Movement is to gain converts, not demonize them.)
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To: Dead Corpse
The same. The MSM, amnesty lobby, and foreign interests.

Hopefully, you will rethink your personal animosity and educate yourself before the general election. Right now you are too blinded by personal disappointment to be a credible voice in this debate.

Take care.

80 posted on 02/07/2008 11:19:42 AM PST by Right_in_Virginia
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