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Ex-President Bush says attacks on McCain "unfair"
Reuters (via Drudge) ^ | 2/18/08 | By Jason Szep

Posted on 02/18/2008 9:31:33 AM PST by meandog

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former President George H.W. Bush urged disgruntled conservatives on Monday to rally around John McCain, calling their criticism of the Republican presidential front-runner "grossly unfair."

The father of President George W. Bush said he was annoyed by attacks within the conservative wing of the Republican Party against the Arizona senator, the all-but-certain Republican nominee to face Democrats in November election.

Many conservatives distrust McCain because of his moderate views on illegal immigration and campaign finance reform and for having originally voted against President Bush's tax cuts. Persuading them all to vote for McCain in November will be a central challenge.

"His character was forged in the crucible of war. His commitment to America is beyond any doubt," the 41st U.S. president, flanked by his wife Barbara, told a joint news conference with McCain in a Houston airport hanger.

"You know, if you've been around the track you hear these criticisms and I think they are grossly unfair. He's got a ... sound conservative record but he's not above reaching out to the other side," he said.

"So I hear these criticisms and Barbara knows I get a little bit annoyed about them frankly," he said, calling them "absurd."

The elder Bush said even former President Ronald Reagan, an icon of the conservative movement, faced attacks from the right wing of the party, citing several quotations from diaries written by Reagan in his early years in office.

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


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; bush41; bushlackey; deathofthegop; liarbush; mccain; mccainunfit; nobush3; nomorebushes; nowaymccain; nwo; rinobush; rinomccain; saynotornc
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To: bmwcyle
I am a believer that talk radio should hold back on who they endorse. Call me old fashion but the voters need to make up their own minds. I realize that they have failed this time but things will not get better until the voter wakes up.

In Rush's defense (I can't believe I just wrote that), Rush hasn't endorsed anyone. Several weeks ago, he though it would be fun and amusing for entertainment purposes to get under Huckabee's skin. He has been going about McCain for some time now. Rush never in a hundred years ever thought they would be the only ones left on the ballot, as he painted himself and his audience into a corner.

81 posted on 02/18/2008 10:30:16 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: MortMan
Exactly, it’s just another liberal catch phrase/word. Our responsibility as voters is to vet ALL candidates for office.
82 posted on 02/18/2008 10:30:51 AM PST by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: Luke21
"You sure McCain will win Arizona?"

60-70% sure he will. McCain\Kennedy will garner enough illegal alien votes to keep it from a shutout.
83 posted on 02/18/2008 10:32:24 AM PST by j_k_l
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To: MinorityRepublican
Well lets see. I was in the sand box with second MEF during the '91 war and I remember going back to the states with Saddam still in power...but didn't save that on the internet, since there wasn't quite one yet, just genie and prodogy.

Likewise, I chat and e-mail with a Chinese/Kiwi school teacher, but her family didn't record their migration on the net that wasn't there.

all of this was vigorously debated in the news when it happened, and was common knowledge. Your question is very much like asking for internet links to prove Bob Denver's incarceration for drugs ended Gilligan's Island. Lots of people remember it, but not from internet sites that may have come into existance later.

84 posted on 02/18/2008 10:35:18 AM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: RTO
Like father, like son... like father.

Yeah, that apple didn't fall far from the horse, did it?

85 posted on 02/18/2008 10:36:28 AM PST by roamer_1 (Conservative always, Republican no more.)
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To: Dixie Yooper
I suppose Reagan was a RINO for having Bush as a VP, then?

and for signing the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Reach down deep in your heart and try not to hate Ronald Reagan. You really need to come to terms with your hate for him. He is dead you know.

86 posted on 02/18/2008 10:37:29 AM PST by ARE SOLE (Agents Ramos and Campean are in prison at this very moment.. (A "Concerned Citizen".)
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To: Man50D

McCain is winning the nomination fairly and according to the rules.

Obama and Clinton are the Socialists who will transform this Republic.

I will vote for McCain if he is nominated because he is the better choice.

I am a Conservative.

There is nothing Conservative about failing to use your vote effectively against Obama or Clinton and the Democrats who are the clearer Socialist threats to this country.

I did not vote for McCain in the primary, but I will not be responsible for a President Clinton or Obama in 2008 with Democrats controlling the Senate and House.


87 posted on 02/18/2008 10:38:01 AM PST by TSchmereL ("Rust but terrify.")
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To: hiredhand
They show up, but there are NOT many...and they just get the crap beat out of them, and digress to insults out of frustration. But they don't have a lot of fight left in them, and they give NO good reasons to support the turd. They can see what's coming...especially since we keep telling them.

The party loyalists knew in their guts that they lost the White House when Romney withdrew. Maybe Romney would have lost too, he had his own problems, but he had a shot of beating Clinton or Obama. McCain is a sure loser.

The anger is misplaced. If we couldn't nominate Thompson (and support for him was overwhelming on FR) we can't lose the election for McCain. It's the far larger number of conservatives that can't stand McCain that will seal his fate.

We just have the bad manners to remind them of this metaphysical certitude.

88 posted on 02/18/2008 10:38:02 AM PST by MaxFlint
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To: RTO

Big time bump RTO


89 posted on 02/18/2008 10:38:07 AM PST by ARE SOLE (Agents Ramos and Campean are in prison at this very moment.. (A "Concerned Citizen".)
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To: Dixie Yooper

It is not Rush’s fault. It is all in the hands of the voter. The American voter is the problem.


90 posted on 02/18/2008 10:40:20 AM PST by bmwcyle (I am the watchman on the tower sounding the alarm.)
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To: MaxFlint
We just have the bad manners to remind them of this metaphysical certitude.

Metaphysics has certitude?

I think that's maybe epistemologically equivalent to cream cheese. :-)

91 posted on 02/18/2008 10:45:35 AM PST by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)
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To: TSchmereL
I will vote for McCain if he is nominated because he is the better choice.

I am a Conservative.


The better choice between Socialism and Socialism isn't a choice. Those two statements taken together couldn't be more of a contradiction.

I did not vote for McCain in the primary, but I will not be responsible for a President Clinton or Obama in 2008 with Democrats controlling the Senate and House.

You will be responsible for voting a Socialist into the White House and advancing the Socialist cause.
92 posted on 02/18/2008 10:45:48 AM PST by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: meandog

“So I hear these criticisms and Barbara knows I get a little bit annoyed about them frankly,” he said”

Frankly I’m more than a little annoyed with the Bush Family doing anything it takes, including joining with the Dims, to push ahead with AMNESTY, while REFUSING to secure our borders. So when we lose the WOT in our own backyards Mr. Bush, you’re going to see a whole lot a people more than just a little bit annoyed.


93 posted on 02/18/2008 10:49:02 AM PST by Kimberly GG (God Bless our true conservative patriots..... Duncan Hunter & Family!!)
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To: Man50D

You are certifiably deranged if you think a McCain Presidency would be as bad as a President Clinton or Obama in 2008 with Democrats controlling the Senate and House.

You are unhinged by your anger at McCain. You are not thinking clearly.

This is the end of my conversation with Man50D.


94 posted on 02/18/2008 10:49:03 AM PST by TSchmereL ("Rust but terrify.")
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To: Racehorse
Metaphysics has certitude?

One a scale of one to ten it does.

95 posted on 02/18/2008 10:49:52 AM PST by MaxFlint
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To: meandog

This coming from the man that gave us 2 terms of Clinton.


96 posted on 02/18/2008 10:50:18 AM PST by Post-Neolithic (Money only makes Communists rich Communists)
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To: meandog

At the endorsement event today, it was a a bit disconcerting to see McCain and GHWB dodder up onto the stage there. It kind of resembled something you might see in a retirement home. Is that the image the GOP is going for? I just don’t see how this is going to energize all these independents and democrats.


97 posted on 02/18/2008 10:51:01 AM PST by mtrott
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To: MaxFlint
Romney was just as bad a candidate, and equally unelectable. The problem wasn't when Romney withdrew, it was that so many wasted time and money on him Instead of a conservative. The Right to lifers, certain Christians, Second amendment people, and anti gay agenda people see Romney the way you see McCain. They were never going to be placated, and Romney was a wasted effort.
98 posted on 02/18/2008 10:51:18 AM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: ARE SOLE

Ronald Reagan was my hero. The only presidential candidate I ever truly voted FOR in 2 elections. All the other elections from Ford through GWH, I have voted against the Democrats by voting for whoever the Republican was. I will do the same in this election and so would Ronald Reagan if he were alive.


99 posted on 02/18/2008 10:52:31 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: bmwcyle
The American voter is the problem.

That's kinda like saying there is no problem.

100 posted on 02/18/2008 10:54:56 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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