Posted on 02/27/2007 4:26:35 PM PST by pissant
It’s been a steady downhill slide for John McCain ever since rumors began that he was jumping into the 2008 presidential race. The GOP in Arizona elected anti-illegal immigration champion Randy Pullen as its state chair last month, sending a message to McCain that his moderate views would not control the GOP in Arizona. Immediately after Pullen’s election, the entire staff of the state GOP resigned, ostensibly because the candidate for state chair they saw as pro-McCain had lost. In addition, the New York Times recently reported that the recently elected Maricopa County GOP chairman (greater Phoenix area) Lyle Tuttle occasionally sports a button with “McCain 2008” crossed out.
Arizona’s local liberal PBS station, KAET-8 reports that 54% of Republicans in Arizona support McCain. However, their polls have been widely discredited in Arizona because of bias in the way the questions are phrased and the sample of voters surveyed, which frequently include registered voters not likely to vote (who tend to vote more liberal). And this particular poll was taken in response to a presidential straw poll by the Maricopa County GOP of Republican precinct committeemen which put McCain in 4th place behind U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. McCain also came out 1st in the straw poll’s list of “unacceptable candidates.” The straw poll was dismissed by skeptics for various reasons, many of which are discussed in detail on the Sonoran Alliance Arizona political blog. However, the question remains, which poll of likely Republican voters can you trust more – one which surveys Arizona Republicans active in GOP politics, or a poll by the local liberal PBS station which surveys all Republican registered voters, whether they vote or not?
McCain’s lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union is only an 83 – it’s continued to go down over the years. In 2002 his lifetime rating was 85, but in 2004 it plummeted to 72 and stayed at 80 in 2005. In comparison, presidential candidates U.S. Senator Brownback has a lifetime score of 95 and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter has a 92. McCain isn’t beating Republicans for the liberal Republican vote either, Giuliani is beating him by huge margins in virtually every poll.
McCain has alienated most Christian conservatives by calling them “agents of intolerance” and voting for federal funding of fetal stem cell research. His temper is well-known and considered a potential liability in the White House where life-and-death decisions must be frequently made in tense situations. His waffling on issues over the years have become frequent fodder for political shows like Chris Matthews’ Hardball as well as a barrage of videos on Youtube displaying his contradictory positions on multiple issues. Most conservatives don’t agree with the campaign finance bill he sponsored in 2002 with liberal Senator Russ Feingold, which cut off groups like the NRA and the Christian Coalition from contributing money to political parties – restricting free speech. As has happened in the past when campaign finance restrictions are passed, others just found a way around it, as was seen in the 2004 presidential race by 527’s such as Moveon.org and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
Most recently, McCain’s criticism of Bush’s former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld angered a lot of Republicans who view Rumsfeld as a hero. “We are paying a heavy price for the mismanagement, that’s the kindest word I can give you. I think Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history,” McCain said on February 19, 2007. This is how a Republican presidential candidate characterizes a top cabinet official from the prior Republican administration, with a barb declaring his secretary of defense as worse than even the most liberal Democratic secretaries of defense? Continuing to say off-the-cuff remarks are adding up against McCain and taking a toll.
McCain recently appointed conservative Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona to chair his presidential exploratory committee in Arizona. Unfortunately for McCain, it probably will not make a difference; his support among Republicans has eroded too deeply; his second wind at a presidential campaign has already run out of steam before it’s even officially started.
You ain't so bad afterall, Jimrob.
It could be for health reasons...
Yep, the old fireball Duncan Hunter will drop Rudy like a bad habit.
You are hoping that Hunter does not make the top tier, that much I know.
It wouldn't break my heart to see McCain drop out.
At best Rudy has even odds with McCain. Romney is a longshot. That said, I expect McCain will be the GOP nominee. Recent history strongly suggests just that.
1976
Reagan vs. Ford, Ford overcomes
1980
Bush vs. Reagan, Reagan overcomes
1988
Dole vs. Bush, Bush overcomes
1996
Dole coronated
2000
McCain vs. Bush, Bush overcomes
2008
Giuliani vs. McCain, undecided
I suggest and hope neither.
And my reply to such a call:
"Of course I don't want Hillary to be president - but Psycho McCain is not an superior choice when there are far more qualified and quality candidates out there...).
Anybody associated with the McCain-Feingold act should be tarred and feathered, and spend the rest of life begging with a tin cup on a street corner.
Politics is about discussion and compromise. I'm not saying no to Hunter, I'm asking him to do some friggin' work, cause his cycle needs kick-startin'. And I'm not saying oh hell yes to Rudy either. Our job is to create an influence that will be heard and agreed to by the final GOP runner. We can and should promote our staunchest conservative candidate to the hilt, but we should careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water by abstaining in the general. Either way whoever gets in the office will have to have been shaped by the conservative agenda (e.g., Rudy goes right on abortion real quick; McCain commits Hari Kari; ) if we present a rational and coherent voice,etc., etc.
Health issues are a good point. I recall the cancer on his face is often agressive when above the neck. I notice the cameras do not show the extent of the damage.
He has not been looking good lately.. I don't think he is going to run..
Is that the judgement of a man we want in charge of the Defense Department?
No plans at this point to abstain from the general. You are right, Hunter 2 years ago was not planning on running, hell, I doubt he was planning on running 6 months ago. First I heard his name floated was October. He is not running for ego, he is a very humble man, unlike the big 3. He is running because he does not like what he sees. Is he naive to think he can scratch his way into competition agianst the monied guys, perhaps. Or maybe he felt the hunger out there for a conservative alternative and has stepped up to the plate. His plan now is to compete in Iowa, SC and NH. He does not have the cash, though he certainly has many volunteers, right now to do much beyond that. His only hope is this: That the groundswell of support he is seeing from conservatives here and elsewhere, will translate into a groundswell of support in the GOP primary voters. Many here, regardless of the money and prestige a McCain or Rudy has, won't lift a finger to support them in the primary season. All the ads in the world won't change that. I've already convinced dozens of people to support Hunter in the primaries, and others here and elsewhere are doing the same. This early political season is giving him the opportunity to make his mark. If our efforts don't show fruit in the next few months, than what have we lost? Nothing. The big three will still be there, presumably, and we can pick who to support that's least offensive.
to remind all.......Cindy MC Cain was on local am radio a few weeks ago and alluded to Mc Cains REOCCURING melanoma and blantanly said " We are not all aboard on this presidential thing"......................I will say again, Mc Cain will not run for the presidential nomination........
Hell no.
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