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McCain and the Talk-Show Hosts [Helprin/ WSJ Insult Conservatives, Talk Radio]
Wall Street Journal ^ | 12 February 2008 | Mark Helprin

Posted on 02/11/2008 11:09:41 PM PST by zeestephen

"What a kerfuffle! Half a dozen talk-radio hosts whose major talent is that, like hairdressers, they can talk all day long to one client after another as they snip, have decided that the presumptive Republican nominee does not hew sufficiently close to their gospel.

"As anyone who has listened to them knows, the depth of their thought is truly Oprah-like."

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: helprin; mccain; mcmexico; talkradio
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To: IreneE

Bud Day

“Having stood side-by-side with John McCain on the battlefield, I know that he has the character and will to lead this great country. John McCain is the Commander-In-Chief our military needs during this generational struggle against global terrorism.”

Colonel Bud Day

Colonel George “Bud” Day is a veteran of more than 35 years military service. He served 30 months in the South Pacific during WW II as an enlisted member with the US Marine Corps, served as an Army reservist and Army guardsman between WW II and Korea, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the USAF in 1950. Colonel Day spent over five years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam. He has been awarded every significant combat decoration available from the US Air Force and is the nation’s most highly decorated officer, as well as the most decorated since General Douglass MacArthur. He holds nearly seventy military decorations and awards, of which more than fifty are for combat. Those including our nation’s highest - the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, and the POW Medal.
http://veterans.johnmccain.com/Supporters.aspx


81 posted on 02/12/2008 7:14:46 AM PST by TinaJeannes
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To: nikos1121
“The spineless bunch on this forum disappoint me.” ...”We have a much more chance of influencing McCain as president, esp on Supreme Court nominees, than we do with those two dems.”

I could not agree more except we would have virtually no chance of influencing SCOTUS nominations if the either dem wins. This alone (along with the war on terror) makes it necessary for us to support McCain, no matter what other problems we have with his positions.

82 posted on 02/12/2008 7:15:41 AM PST by jimbergin (GO FRED GO)
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To: IreneE

Joe Mobley

“John McCain is an American hero. Whether in the skies over Vietnam, as a prisoner of war, or during his service in the United States Senate, John McCain has always taken principled stands,” said Mobley. “He has also been the first to stand up for what he believes is right and has always worked for those of us who have worn the uniform of our nation’s military.”

Vice Admiral Joe Mobley had a thirty-five year career in the United States Navy, including tours as the Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga during Operation Desert Storm and Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. He spent five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, during which he shared a cell with John McCain for approximately six months.

Orson Swindle

“I know John McCain, the man,” said Swindle. “We served many difficult years together as POWs in Hanoi and have been close friends for over 35 years. He has integrity, intellectual depth and honesty, courage in the face of adversity, and a life experience that sets him apart from others. I have seen his true character under the harshest of circumstances and I can think of no better person to bring us together as a people, and to lead our nation through one of our most difficult times, than John McCain.”

Lieutenant Colonel Orson Swindle flew over 205 fighter missions in Vietnam as a member of the United States Marine Corps. He was held as a Prisoner of War for more than six years in North Vietnam. Swindle has been awarded over 20 military decorations for valor in combat including two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, two Legions of Merit, and two Purple Hearts.


83 posted on 02/12/2008 7:16:47 AM PST by TinaJeannes
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To: meandog

Ahhhh, meandog ... you’re as irascible as your beloved candidate! I will try not to dislike you despite your pitbull attitude, and I’m doing my best to be fair to John f’ing McCain, our new maverick RINO standardbearer.

NB. Most good hearted-folks dont use the “ultra-right neo-cons” together. As in:
“ultra-right”=Tancredo.
“neo-con”=Bill Kristol.


84 posted on 02/12/2008 7:40:35 AM PST by WOSG (Want to blame someone for McCain being the nominee? Blame the Mormon-bashers)
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To: nikos1121

Thanks, Nikos.

I understand where everyone is coming from. I’m disappointed it’s not Fred, or even Romney. But that’s in the past, and we need to play the hand we’re dealt. If we don’t win this, it will be far worse for the economy, the war, and the long term prospects for conservatism. If we don’t win this, plan on higher taxes, slower growth coming out of this business cycle, capitulation in the war on terror and more attacks, activist judges on the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary, a new “Fairness Doctrine” to undermine talk radio, renewed attacks on the Second Amendment, and I’m sure a whole lot more negatives as yet unforeseen.

And these people are threatening to hold their breath, stamp their feet, and sit out this election - as if a moderate to liberal Republican would be worse. Wake up people: Clinton and Obama are not moderates: Clinton’s playing one to get herself elected, and Obama is one of the most liberal members of the Senate. McCain won’t be perfect, but perfect is not an option at this point.


85 posted on 02/12/2008 7:48:32 AM PST by LouD
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To: LouD

“McCain is committed to winning...”

McCain is committed to McCain. Read about the origins of the surge, and you will find that the idea did not originate with McCain, as the legend is told by the McCain campaign, but with planners at the Pentagon, who had been arguing against the small force strategy all along, and rightly so. If you’re going to war, go with overwhelming force or don’t bother.

McCain jumped on the idea because he had a personal animus toward Rumsfeld and Bush, the war wasn’t going well, and he saw a political opening with the neocons, who could help him in his Presidential bid. And they repaid him, in spades, loudly jumped onboard his bandwagon even before it became popular.

Bottom line is, McCain made a political, not a principled military calculation. If he becomes President, and I don’t think he has a prayer, the political calculus will be much diffferent, and if he wants to stay in office, he will act accordingly.


86 posted on 02/12/2008 7:48:55 AM PST by LadyNavyVet (“I will offer a choice, not an echo.” Barry Goldwater)
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To: LadyNavyVet

I’m not a McCain fan either - but we’re not looking at McCain in the abstract, or McCain compared to some perfect conservative candidate, or McCain compared to Reagan.

We’re looking at McCain, compared to Hillary Clinton, or McCain, compared to Barack Obama.

In the end, it comes down to “half a loaf being better than no bread.” I don’t accept the theory espoused by a few here that the doomsday scenario is a better option at this point, because with a democratic congress, either Clinton or Obama will be able to do damage that we will be unable to undo. We have no choice but to play the hand we’re dealt, it’s a lousy hand, but maybe, just maybe, it will be enough.

If we win it, and merely hold the line for the next four or eight years, avoiding a major policy shift to the left in exchange for a few small ones, we can come back. Let’s use our power with McCain (and he needs us now, and he knows it) to push for a solidly conservative VP, who could become president in 2012, 2016 or given McCain’s age and health, maybe sooner.


87 posted on 02/12/2008 8:03:17 AM PST by LouD
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To: LadyNavyVet

“Bottom line is, McCain made a political, not a principled military calculation.”

That is in your opinion. In mine he backed an option that few were pushing even on this board! We may not like some of his stands, but they seem to be based on his principles whether we agree with them or not.


88 posted on 02/12/2008 8:11:03 AM PST by jimbergin (GO FRED GO)
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To: NoGrayZone

I think the hateful remarks are directed at McCain. I apologize for getting a bit testy, but I think we should unite behind the republican candidate and if elected hold him to the fire.

How can you sit this one out?


89 posted on 02/12/2008 8:26:24 AM PST by nikos1121 (Thank you again Jimmy Carter)
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To: NoGrayZone

I think the hateful remarks are directed at McCain. I apologize for getting a bit testy, but I think we should unite behind the republican candidate and if elected hold him to the fire.

How can you sit this one out?


90 posted on 02/12/2008 8:26:27 AM PST by nikos1121 (Thank you again Jimmy Carter)
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To: jimbergin

I agree...


91 posted on 02/12/2008 8:27:12 AM PST by nikos1121 (Thank you again Jimmy Carter)
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To: ncjetsfan

Indeed, I was thinking of the guy from ABC, or some network.
Thank you for straightening that out.


92 posted on 02/12/2008 8:29:57 AM PST by patj
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To: LouD

McCain’s voting record is pretty conservative when you take it in total.

I remember the Carter years. I don’t want to sit through 4 years of another “inspirational” presidency just so it will set us up in 2012. That is dumb, and for that to come out of Ann Coulter’s mouth has her sounding more like the liberals who she condemn when they have their own temper tantrums.


93 posted on 02/12/2008 8:31:02 AM PST by nikos1121 (Thank you again Jimmy Carter)
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To: NoGrayZone

I think Duncan Hunter was the closest to my ideals, but it was clear from the start that he was unelectable. Thompson was arthritic and without the fire in his belly to run an energetic campaign. Romney sounded better each day and in fact, I think he would have made the best president of all the candidates out there. I still would like to see him on the ticket as VP.

If McCain puts Huckabee on the ticket, I’ll hold my nose and vote...but I’ll vote.

If you’re talking about McCain, then I disagree with your tagline...


94 posted on 02/12/2008 8:38:06 AM PST by nikos1121 (Thank you again Jimmy Carter)
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To: LouD; TinaJeannes; nikos1121; jimbergin

Thank you and others for courage and sanity on this site - and, yes, specifically for your affirmations of duty, honor and country.


95 posted on 02/12/2008 8:40:29 AM PST by mtntop3
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To: NoGrayZone

Oh, and one more thing. I’ve taken some exerpts from McCain’s GOPAC speech. Please read and tell me where you disagree “smart gal?” :-)

From McCain’s speech to GOPAC:

Common sense conservatives believe in a short list of self-evident truths: love of country; respect for our unique influence on history; a strong defense and strong alliances based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility; steadfast opposition to threats to our security and values that matches resources to ends wisely; and confident, reliable, consistent leadership to advance human rights, democracy, peace and security.

We believe every individual has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach his or her God-given potential. We believe in increasing wealth and expanding opportunity; in low taxes; fiscal discipline, free trade and open markets. We believe in competition, rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor.

We believe in work, faith, service, a culture of life, personal responsibility. We believe in the integrity and values of families, neighborhoods and communities. We believe in limited government in a federal system, individual and property rights, and finding solutions to public problems closest to the people.

We believe in the rule of law and equal justice under the law, victim’s rights and taxpayers’ rights, and judges who interpret the Constitution and don’t usurp, by legislating from the bench, the public’s right to elect representatives to write our laws.

Common sense conservatives believe that the government that governs least governs best; that government should do only those things individuals cannot do for themselves, and do them efficiently. Much rides on that principle: the integrity of the government, our prosperity; and every American’s self-respect, which depends, as it always has, on one’s own decisions and actions, and cannot be provided as another government benefit.


96 posted on 02/12/2008 8:41:57 AM PST by nikos1121 (Thank you again Jimmy Carter)
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To: nikos1121

“I apologize for getting a bit testy”. Thank you. I apologize for my sarcastic tongue.

I’m not sitting this one out. I will be focusing my future efforts on the House and Senate. I cannot however, pull a lever for someone I distrust a little less than others.

With that said, I think both sides of this argument are at an impasse.


97 posted on 02/12/2008 9:14:01 AM PST by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: Undertow

You’re a better man than I. I can’t get past the screeching lead-in bumper music.

I commute to audio books - free courtesy of my local library.


98 posted on 02/12/2008 9:18:24 AM PST by NY.SS-Bar9 (DR #1692)
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To: nikos1121

“Please read and tell me where you disagree “smart gal?” :-)”...okay smarty pants, lol!

“Common sense conservatives believe “....”We believe”

Including himself as a conservative. =)


99 posted on 02/12/2008 9:24:13 AM PST by NoGrayZone (A Lesser Evil Is Still Evil.)
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To: NoGrayZone

That’s it? :-) That’s the only place you find fault. Come on, be honest, you’re as surprised as I was to hear him say that. Ronald Reagans couldn’t have said it better.


100 posted on 02/12/2008 9:32:29 AM PST by nikos1121 (Thank you again Jimmy Carter)
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