While conservatives never had John McCain's ear, how disposed do you think he will be to listen to them after a campaign during which he tasted their steel?
Writing in the New York Post, columnist John Hurt warns of the obvious. John McCain may be campaigning as a conservative, says he, but once in office the senator will show his true colors and take a sharp left turn. Hurt opines:
He [McCain] claims the mantle of Ronald Reagan. He even claims the mantle of Barry Goldwater, conservatism's crack version of Reagan. But as McCain clinches the GOP nomination, he will begin his usual leftward lurch.
He will return to his lifelong positions as soft on illegal immigration, skeptical of tax cuts and favoring strong federal control over things like campaign financing.
This is correct, but it gets even worse. The truth is that, once having ascended to the White House, McCain will both have less incentive than ever to listen to traditionalist voices and more reason to despise them.
First, McCain will be once-bitten but not at all shy. What am I talking about? Well, think back to his support for amnesty; the Republican electorate was enraged, his poll numbers dropped to single digits and his campaign was left for dead. No one foresaw him becoming a Lazarus candidate.
Yet rise he did.
Now, what message do you think he has gotten? If he can come back from what Republicans considered to be the ultimate betrayal, he has to now figure that he is immune to the slings and arrows of traditionalists. He no doubt thinks he can impose leftist policy with impunity, for it will find favor with many liberals and moderates, and many conservatives — having short memories like everyone else — will have their wounds healed by time.
Then, there's The Wrath of John. McCain has a reputation for being temperamental, and he strikes me as a vindictive man. Thus, while conservatives never exactly had his ear, how disposed do you think he will be to listen to them after a campaign during which he tasted their steel? He will remember the words of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, James Dobson and others and may see nothing but red. They may taste his steel.
Mind you, this isn't to say that traditionalist criticism of him is unwarranted; I myself have joined that chorus of voices. But something tells me that McCain doesn't quite see it that way. I don't think he is going to become president, bay his passion, and conclude, well, hey, maybe those conservatives are right about a few things after all.
It will be hard for a cooler head to prevail because that's not what sits on McCain's shoulders.
SD@SelwynDuke.com
http://www.SelwynDuke.com
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This may all be a moot point because I don't think McCain is going to become president - period.
I do not like the alternative, which is Obama or Hillary, but I suspect our problems as a nation will end up being not the Wrath of McCain, but the pent up wish list of the Democrats who will perceive they now have "a mandate" to socialize the United States with all possible haste.
Comment by Steve Sabin | February 8, 2008
If McCain is nominated and elected POTUS I believe it will be for only one term mainly because of his age (72 in August). This job ages the person who has great and small responsibilities for the most powerful country in the world.
His selection for VP will be of utmost importance for the race to the Whitehouse. The Republicans want a staunch conservative in all principles of governance for "We The People…".
In the past selecting a VP from a particular region in our country to add delegates to the campaign for POTUS was essential for success. Today this is a choice of ideology in which McCain wants his VP on the same page as his.
He should select a VP who is against McCain/Feingold,the McCain/Kennedy Amnesty Bill and McCain/Lieberman Global Warming and Energy Bills and for drilling for oil in ANWR.
I don't believe the pundits, talk show hosts, radio talkers, TV talking heads, or evalgelicals will decide the outcome. It will be the professional, political parasites on the Democrat side who will decide in the proverbial "Smoke Filled Rooms" by their 800 "Super Delegates" who can legally choose either candidate.
Either way this goes, unless there is a clear winner,
whether the "Super Delegates" choose Senator Clinton or
Senator Obama as the Democrat nominee, I believe the outcome will become chaotic no matter which one is chosen and make Florida 2000 look like a rally for "can't we all get along".
I am saddened Mitt Romney had to suspend his candidacy for POTUS. It was an admirable and graceful exit. I feel conservatives will be rejuvenated and will continue our support for Mitt Romney for POTUS in 2012.
He, his family and over 4 million supporters spent a bunch trying to get there, but it was not meant to be in 2008. I believe this a blessing for Mitt Romney. During the next four years the whole world will know who he is, especially the prognosticaters mentioned above. McCain should name him Chair of the Republican National Committee. This would please a bunch of conservatives.
JFK was the only other candidate I have supported 100% for POTUS. I was shocked and stunned when he was asassinated. Yes, I remember the time, the day, the place, where I was and what I was doing.
It is a no brainer now for the Republican side of this fiasco of primaries and caucuses. McCain is the nominee. He will win or lose. Simple as that.
It appears there are four Democrats and one Libertarian still in the race. America is in for a long siege until 2012 regardless of the winner.
Moreover, I believe the conservatives are willing to let Senator Clinton or Senator Obama win this one to let them know how it feels when governance is blocked by the other party. The only reason conservatives will want McCain to win is the possibility of appointing two Supreme Court Associate Justice's to the Court. There is a strong possibility of this occuring within the next 4 years.
Comment by FromTheTop | February 9, 2008