No Rush To McCain Here

Just as there are conservative precincts warming to John McCain, the counter-reaction is growing just as furiously. Check out this excerpt from Rush Limbaugh:

We are supposedly damaging the conservative movement. We should just shut up. Just sit by and watch all this stuff and let it happen and just be quiet. What is the point? By the way, it's aimed at people in talk radio. Why should we in talk radio "just shut up," and start supporting the front-runner of the moment? Especially when you realize that's what the Drive-By Media wants! Why should we in talk radio sit here and take our marching orders from the Drive-By Media and others in our movement who write what they write, for liberals in the Drive-By Media. Why should we do that. McCain, frankly, has shown conservatives little but contempt over many years.

Wonder what happens if McCain is the nominee? If McCain was able to reconcile with John Courson, he can reconcile with Rush Limbaugh.

Comments

Rush loves to pivot like that; suddenly, the question isn't "which conservative gives the best chance to win?" and it sure isn't an honest, objective look at McCain's conservative credentials. Suddenly, it's "you're not going to do what the MEDIA wants, are you?"

McCain is a conservative. Period. It's one thing to have a pet issue, but a lot of McCain's critics seem to have four or five, and anyone who differs on even one of them is suddenly a liberal. It's ridiculous, divisive, and inevitably attracts candidates who tell people what they want to hear.

Posted by Punditish | January 22, 2008 1:10 PM

So there is some upside to seeing McCain or Huckabee win the nomination.

I really don't get how Romney became the establishment candidate. Do Rush and his ilk just not have access to any newspaper reports about Romney's governorship?

Posted by Jayhawk Max | January 22, 2008 1:12 PM

So McCAin loses some far-right voters. He'll make up for it by siphoning indies away from a Hillary nomination for the Dems.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by matt | January 22, 2008 1:30 PM

Although McCain is being pilloried now, I would remain confident that if he is facing HRC in particular, he would be able to retain support from many of those on the right who currently criticize him...

Posted by ElectionNightHQ.com (McCain site) Publisher | January 22, 2008 1:35 PM

The best thing about either a McCain or Huckabee win is that it will finally demonstrate that the emporeor has no clothes. I'm sure Rush will find a way to spin it so that it turns out that he loved McCain all along, but it is funny to watch his impotent fury now.

Posted by Teresa | January 22, 2008 1:42 PM

John Edwards says polls show him beating McCain and the darling two cannot.

He's right, but I'm not sure I get why.

Yesterday's Rasmussen:

Edwards (46%) McCain (39%)
Clinton (38%) McCain (49%)
Obama (43%) McCain (46%)

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/favorables/election_2008_democratic_candidates_running_in_2008_presidential_election

Posted by Raoul O'Connell | January 22, 2008 2:03 PM

The press and the neocons (outside those with fealty to Mr 9/11) are all in the tank for McCain.

Fred Thompson, his dear friend and acquaintance of some 30 years Inside the Beltway, is out serving as wingman for McCain trying to keep votes from persons inclined to vote Romney or McCain. His problem is that if he is only running to serve McCains strategy and not getting much himself, it's hard to get the energy to campaign.

But Thompson gave his "hero" enough filched votes in S Carolina to give McCain a 3% "victory" over a divided field of 3 conservatives.

Now the media has pronounced McCain the frontrunner and ultimate winner...led by neocon shills like Novak eager to expand war to Iran and by NY Times staff eager to present another bitter old male warVet for the Clintons to outflank as easily as they did with Good Old DC Hand Bob Dole in 1996.

This with Romney leading in delegates and Rudy untested and no one knowing where Rudy's supporters break if he falters or when Thompsons "wingman for McCain campaign" fails.

This with a guy that has health issues, is the oldest leading Presidential candidate ever, is reviled by half his Party for his treachery and bad faith. Who was passed over for Admiral by the Navy on questions of temperment and judgment.

But who many in the Ruling Elites Inside the Beltway is felt to be OWED his shot...

No thanks. Why as a Republican should I vote for a Republican analogy to Joe Lieberman. If I want a centrist Democrat, I can vote for one that doesn't hide it.

Posted by chris ford | January 22, 2008 2:10 PM

JOHN COURSON???????? You don't know John Courson very well do you? First he and McCain share Richard Quinn as a consultant and John has heard Richard jump all over him for 8 yrs about supporting Bush in 2000. John is a nice guy, but he goes with the frontrunner. Trust me it didn't take a lot to get John to warm up to McCain. If they convinced you that some soul searching took place on the part of JC, he and Richard pulled a fast one on you.

Rush is a totally different animal. I don't know him personally like I do Courson. But I don know he was for square against McCain in 2000 and he is still against him today for the same reasons. I think Rush is secure enough that he feels he doesn't have to support McCain if he doesn't want to. Rush is a true movement conservative and McCain he knows McCain isn't. Sure he probably will support McCain in the fall(if he is the nominee and that is a big IF) just like he supported George HW Bush against Hillary's husband. But that doen't mean Rush isn't entitled to his opinion that the MSM is shoving McCain down our throats only to abandon him and re dub him a war monger in the fall.

Posted by Mark in SC | January 22, 2008 2:54 PM

mccain is a straight-talking maverick. it says so on his bus. can't you people read?

why would anybody be against a straight-talking maverick?

he talks in a way that is, i dunno, straight!

he exists in a way that is, i dunno, maverick!

romney isn't a straight talker, he flip-flops. is willardey.

his christianity isn't pure. it is mormaney.

mccain's christianity is straight-talkey. is pure.

rush is tubby-bubble. anal-cystic. drug addled. but is he straight talk? well, is he?

Posted by jay | January 22, 2008 2:56 PM

Won't vote for McCain or Huckabee. Rush is right...I can see myself for the first time not supporting the Republican candidate. Sad.

McCain and Huckabee represent the worst in the GOP field and I will look elsewhere to place my vote. Maybe a third party.....maybe Mitt and Rudy can run as Independents.

Posted by sheryl | January 22, 2008 3:23 PM

Per R. O'Connell above w/ Rasmussen poll-

Naturally, it's great to see that it is increasingly unlikely that Senator McCain, if he is fortunate enough to obtain the nomination, will not have to face Edwards in November.

Posted by ElectionNightHQ.com (McCain site) Publisher | January 22, 2008 3:37 PM

Rush makes a good point. McCain has gotten a significant pass in the U.S. media, while publications, like The Economist, has made the point repeatedly that McCain has engaged in the most prolific double talk of any candidate.

Posted by mikeVA | January 22, 2008 4:09 PM

I live in Southern California and it is turning into Mexico. "push 1 for English" is now the norm. There is tagging in my neighborhood and the schools can't give the free lunchs and breakfasts away fast enough. If I wanted to live in Mexico I would have moved to Mexico, but instead it is moving here! I may be called a new xenophope, but I want the Mexicans out of here! John McAmnesy and his shamnisty buddy Lyndsey Ghramnisty don't have America's best interests at heart.

John McAmnesty is an angry little man running on a war record that is over 60 years old.. what has he done for me lately.. amnesty???

Posted by Rob | January 23, 2008 6:43 AM

This is a timely article to read:

January 23, 2008
Why they Hate Mitt Romney
By Amy D. Goldstein
Have you noticed how all of the Republican candidates can barely conceal their contempt for Governor Mitt Romney? It goes way beyond the typical good-natured competition that usually is the hallmark of Republican contests. Senator McCain has snarled at Governor Romney in debates and Gov. Huckabee has tried to paint Romney as cold and uncaring, while Sen. Fred Thompson attacked Governor Romney right out of the box. This display of hatred usually is the hallmark of the Democrats.

So, why do the other candidates hate Mitt Romney? Several reasons:

1. He can win. Governor Romney appeals to economic conservatives and could appeal to foreign policy conservatives based upon his understanding of the issues. Most non-partisan foreign policy wonks who have briefed the major candidates tell me that Romney "gets it" better than any other candidate -- even better than those who have held high profile office for decades. Moreover, he is the candidate that the Democrats most fear.
2. Jealousy -- from his hair to his appearance to his family to his money - these are all reasons for deep seeded, if unseemly, jealousy. This green-eyed monster makes its appearance in almost every speech or presentation, in the form of a joke, a jab or a veiled reference.
3. He isn't beholden to interest groups. Governor Romney's wealth frees him from any influence that interest groups could apply to others - especially those who lack funds or who are Washington insiders. He doesn't need them, and that scares the interest groups and their allies. He is not of the game and wants to change it - and his personal wealth allows him to do so. He really can change Washington.
4. His brains - not only is he one of the smartest people ever to seek the presidency (having earned a Harvard MBA and JD simultaneously), but he understands the complexities of the issues that America faces and is able to devise workable solutions. Just look at his proposal for an economic stimulus and compare it to what the other candidates are proposing. Romney clearly can lead this country through economic challenges.
5. His wealth -- again. While he has raised more than any other candidate, Governor Romney doesn't need to raise the money in order to continue. Nevertheless, he understands that successful candidates must have people invested in their candidacy in order to succeed. He has learned the lessons of past wealthy businessmen who make vanity runs for the White House. The other candidates have to constantly raise money in order to continue their campaigns.
6. His experience. The rest of the Republican field has been in politics in one form or another for most of their adult lives. Governor Romney came to public service after having a successful career in which he directly created jobs, saved jobs, invested in new companies and turned around failed businesses. He even fixed both the Olympics and the failing state of Massachusetts. More than any other candidate, Governor Romney's experience is most directly applicable to the average American's situation.
7. He believes that America's best days are ahead of it, and not a memory. Governor Romney is a man of the future, not of the past. He sees America as a beacon of freedom for the entire world, and not a country limping toward its last days. His infectious optimism is informed by his business experience, his love of country and his family values. His can-do spirit is the antidote to defeatism masked as "straight talk" or "reality."
8. His beliefs. When all else fails, Governor Romney's opponents attack his religion in the hopes of sowing fear and loathing. Not only is this unseemly, but it is dangerous. We have seen this type of rhetoric before - in the 1920's and 1930's - from the likes of Henry Ford and Father Caughlin and others who sought to disenfranchise whole segments of the American population. Governor Romney believes in the common American faith of democracy and religious freedom, as he so eloquently stated in his speech "Faith in America." These are the values our Founding Fathers codified in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Why do the Republican candidates hate him? Because they don't have any answers to his challenges. They seek to undermine him by using personal attacks more worthy of a middle school playground than a presidential contest. This is politics and Washington as usual, and choosing any candidate that employs these tactics will only get us more of the same. One would hope that Americans could see beyond these base attacks and choose the candidate who is best for the country - Governor Mitt Romney.

Amy D. Goldstein is an occasional contributor to American Thinker.

Posted by Wendy73 | January 23, 2008 12:32 PM

Thanks, Amy Goldstein. Finally someone that "GET'S IT" and can explain things so well.

Posted by MArilyn | January 23, 2008 3:45 PM

Way to go Amy Goldstein - one of the best articles I've read in a long time!!! Another wonderful article is by Michelle Malkin. It is titled: John McCain: The Geraldo Rivera Republican. It is awesome!! I agree with Rush when he says that the most dangerous thing to America is ignorance!!! The records of the candidates are very easy to find if our public would just read and seek the truth!! I live in Texas and we have fought McCain's "Dream Act" amnesty bill all summer. Ignorance truly is dangerous!!

Posted by kimmie | January 24, 2008 2:55 PM