Arizona senator John McCain is certainly one of the best-known Republican presidential candidates but that notoriety hasn't helped him much when it comes to winning over the conservative base. He hasn't been helped by his support for the recent immigration bill debacle but I think McCain's overall problem has been that he is perceived as a sellout to the left, particularly the media left.
With his support continuing to plummet by the day, McCain doesn't have a lot of chances left to get back in the good graces of the GOP. Over at Slate (h/t Glenn Reynolds), Mickey Kaus wonders if the only chance McCain has left is to turn on his old friends in the liberal media:
A couple of weeks ago, Thomas Edsall wrote a piece on HuffiPo titled "Strategist's Agree: McCain's Only Option is to Turn His Back on Bush." According to Edsall
The only place left for McCain is to be the anti-Bush Republican.
Being the anti-Bush Republican would involve a) attacking Republicans for corruption and overspending, while b) arguing that in Iraq "Bush not only failed to win a winnable war, but that conditions in Iraq are so terrible that withdrawal is now the only reasonable alternative."
Hmm. Sounds as if McCain's only hope, according to the Huffington Post's analyst, is to start sounding a lot like Arianna Huffington. I'm not sure this is a promising way to win a Republican primary, even if the other Republicans split the Republican vote. And there's an alternative to turning against Bush. It's this: Turning against the media.
Republican primary voters don't much like the media, after all. They see reporters as hopelessly biased against the Iraq war and biased against Bush. Reporters were also hopelessly biased in favor of McCain--one reason Republican primary voters didn't much like him either. Or, rather, reporters were biased in his favor until he backed the war and embraced Bush. Now they're piling on the contempt and scorn--which gives McCain a double opportunity: he can bash the hated liberal press while casting himself as the embattled, principled defender of Republican policies even if it costs him his elite Washington friends.
Attacking the media is a tactic that has worked in the past for Republican candidates lacking mojo. Back in the 1988 campaign, George Bush 41 used Dan Rather's infamous attack on him to win back the GOP from Pat Buchanan. It also worked in 2000 when Bush 43 used a few counters against the media for their coverage of his ancient DUI arrest.
If McCain were to embark on a similar strategy, one coupled with a reversal and admission of error on campaign finance censorship, it just might work. Turning himself into another Bush-basher will never work.
—Matthew Sheffield is Editor of NewsBusters.
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McCain needs to drop out & Fast !
August 1, 2007 - 20:04 ET by VT Con ManHow many times is this guy going to run before he realizes he has no chance? He is a RINO, who has no credibility. Being a sellout to the media is just the cherry on top of his pile of mis-deeds as a Senator.
McCain and Finegold
August 2, 2007 - 15:06 ET by PAPA LThe downfall of McCain started when he teamed up with that dink Finegold on that anti first ammendment bill. Then he was on with Hillery Care. Then the Pro illegal immigrant bill. OH I almost forgot the anti torture bill remember that one no pantys on the terrorests heads etc. if they have any info that might help our guys live to fight another day. McCain you are truly dispicable.
I think it's possible the
August 1, 2007 - 20:13 ET by Jack BauerI think it's possible the probable top three Republicans are all (with varying degrees of subtlety) going to be running as an anti-Bush Republican.
It worked for Szarkozy in France who ran against Chirac, his party leader!
So alas for McCain his campaign is seemingly doomed unless three improbable events occur almost simultaneously.
Unlikey.
Jack, Unfortunately, they
August 1, 2007 - 20:29 ET by VT Con ManJack, Unfortunately, they may run with anti-Bush sentiments, but I will vote for the one with the best conservative principles...oh if it were that easy...
And yeah, McCain is out, way out. We need the red hot place freezin over before he is back on top of the pile.
McCain's last chance.....be a good soldier John
August 1, 2007 - 20:35 ET by Lame CherryJohn McCain got elected on the lie he was Conservative Barry Goldwater and the truth he was tortured and took it like a John Wayne man by Vietnamese terrorists.
John McCain will never be president unless in presidential succession of how many people need to die for him to be in line.
What John McCain needs to do is go back and be John McCain, be a good soldier John. Stop giving a cow crap about your funding by the gambling mafia and whatever else skeletons he has in his closet and go on the attack for the GOP and give something back to a party who employed you for 3 decades.
Everyone knows John what a literal fatherless child you can be when you throw down. Throw down soldier and take that Democratic hill out of treasonous China money Saddam laundering Hillary Clinton, comrade brother Barak Hussein Obama who by allah miracle got a million dollar book deal being a nobody and weasel John Edwards in where his tons of cash really came from and what he was really doing in Washington.
Charge Big John and rip them apart and then start on your media buddies as you know very well which ones are doing dope, who sold out in paybacks, who are molesting children, who got drunk and attacked some young gal or guy.....show America the real "pretty" of the molotov mob and expose this cesspool of disgusting debauchery.
Bring down the house John, because you are not invited in it. For that soldier, you will be rewarded as Sec. of War, as America is going to be in a world war in the next 8 years if things keep kicking the way they are. Come to the man you are in full circle John and help elect Fred Thompson as your main objective.
Be a soldier John and this time save America. Be a soldier as that is what you are and you never have been worth a coyote howl as a politician.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
I voted for McCain in my
August 1, 2007 - 21:11 ET by Del DolemonteI voted for McCain in my 2000 primary (NH) because he spent more time here than anyone else. In fact, he probably met just about every citizen who lives in "Cow Hampshire" who wanted to break bread with him. I have no quibbles with his politics or his integrity.
Unfortunately for him however, he was no spring chicken in 2000, and is 7 years older now. It's time for some new blood.
I would hope that if a Republican wins the White House in 2008 that he get a Cabinet position, most likely Secretary of Defense.
McCain should either retire or become a democrat.
August 1, 2007 - 21:40 ET by Dave RWhile I fully appreciate his service to this country and the hideous trials he underwent during same, Sen. McCain should spare himself, as well as his party, further embarrassment and just quietly retire.
Either that, or switch to the political party he seems to be far more suited for, and much more comfortable associating with.
Help Fred defeat everybody.
}}}----> McCain
August 2, 2007 - 02:24 ET by Cool ArrowWitness the number of responses in this thread, and draw your own conclusions as to whether there is anything resembling a parade still following McCain.
He can't even draw the Illegal alien vote at this point because the Dems have already bought them.
Sad, so sad.
I'd be shocked if McCain
August 2, 2007 - 04:58 ET by sarcasmoI'd be shocked if McCain disavowed the campaign-censorship bill that features his own name. Of course, I'm getting used to pleasant shocks these days, so I guess anything's possible. And talking about, not even directly against, news media figures like George Stephanopoulos certainly elicits BOOs from "my" crowd, so that's always a good idea. :)
What doesn't seem all that possible is McCain dropping out before the convention, no matter how many of his top campaign workers jump ship. I wish I recalled who it was, but someone once said that once you've run for the Presidency, "the only cure is embalming fluid." ;)
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
Cloaking Device Detected - Triangulating Now
August 2, 2007 - 05:12 ET by Free Stinkercampaign-censorship
That (among other things) tipped me off to this McCain character and why I don't want to vote for him . . .
I think McCain-Feingold was
August 2, 2007 - 05:27 ET by sarcasmoI think McCain-Feingold was John's delayed reaction to being the only Republican in the Keating 5 scandal (which kept Alan Cranston in office, effectively polluting the Republican party, too, by depriving "us" of a very sensible & non-corrupt Senate candidate named Ed Zschau, who could think for himself for a change!). If my theory is correct and he felt any guilt over the S&L mess, I wish John had found a Constitutional way to assuage it. Come to think of it, the S&L mess in many ways parallels the sub-prime mortgate-mess which -- until recently -- the media hasn't much wanted to discuss... Regulators, needless to say, have remained hysterical over other issues, pointlessly wasting my taxes.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
}}}----> Subprime mess
August 2, 2007 - 05:47 ET by Cool ArrowThat part I'll agree with you on, sarc.
These losers claiming to have been hoodwinked by lenders are lying.
They bought with nothing down at variable rates they just knew would stay low. In effect all they did was rent the property until the rent got too high.
They have a God given right to go broke as far as I'm concerned.
Any bailout will just trigger more gimme gimme defaults.
The bailout will be Santa
August 2, 2007 - 05:50 ET by sarcasmoThe bailout will be Santa Claus. We're going to need to prepare, intellectually, to run against Saint Nick. But some people, like me, are still angry about the Chrysler and Citibank bailouts. It won't be easy.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
}}}----> Chrysler
August 2, 2007 - 06:00 ET by Cool ArrowI can't fault Chrysler for the '70's loan. They repaid with interest ahead of schedule.
The loosening of the Credit card restrictions to trap Americans in the wake of the 3rd world bailout, however, resonates to this day.
Recent legislation allowing CC company A to increase rates to maximum based on a late payment to CC Company B, is unforgiveable.
I currently have 1 CC with a $300 limit and have a glorious time discussing the ethics of slavery when these kids give me their spiel about 0% interest for 60 days and the moon thereafter. All from their clandestine boiler rooms in New Mexico or Tonga or Sri Lanka or wherever.
look at it like poker (at least, I do)
August 2, 2007 - 06:31 ET by sarcasmoI agree that they paid it off (unlike Citi, which should be as broke as LTCM, Amaranth, etc.) but the point of being against that particular governmentally-induced gamble wasn't whether or not the bet would pay off. (Other huge bets haven't, anyway!) The people against it were against the principle of taxpayers being even possibly held responsible for the stupid decisions of unions and corporate executives.
It really is a principles-thing that trumps the "nice bet" aspect for me, and the fact that it set a dangerous precedent. The problem, which looked very much like a big moral problem for former Large-L Libertarians like the old me, was the following:
It seemed that by purchasing the Democrats (hello, corrupt unions!) and buying the Republicans (hello, corrupt corporate executives!) one could influence US policy in ways not only not contemplated by the framers of the Constitution, but really forbidden IMO. And these badguys got to remain protected from competition by Constitutionalists -- whatever they called themselves -- by monopolistic (ok, duopolistic!) ballot access restrictions.
Even though it seems hidden, and isn't well-shown on TV, there's an interesting morality play going on in just about every poker game. This is especially true once you know the other players. You can't get away with too much without getting called, but if you never try anything & take no risks, you also won't win. The government, during my lifetime, has been playing in a "morally wrong" way and taking too many risks, even though they've gotten away with a lot. Risk is appropriate for investors in business, but governments should stick to taking minimal risks in very limited areas with the taxpayers' money.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
McCain & the Media
August 2, 2007 - 10:09 ET by pilsenerWhile attacking the media is always welcomed by Newsbusters readers, it's not where McCain needs to focus.
He needs to attack Democrats and their policies, naming names and going for the jugular. mccain-FEINGOLD, mccain-KENNEDY, BIPARTISAN-mccain, GANG of 14-mccain, needs to become the McCain who knows where all of the Democrat skeletons are buried, who knows about earmarks, lobbyists, and sticky-palmed Democrat politicians, who recognizes Socialist policies when he hears them, and is finally willing to point directly to the corruption that was used to sell McCain-Feingold.
If he uses his remaing political capital with the media to attack Democrats and the bureaucracy, he has a slim chance. Attacking the media would be counterproductive - besides - the media will attack McCain as soon as he goes after Democrats.
}}}----> Sluggo's chances
August 2, 2007 - 11:19 ET by Cool ArrowI don't give Sluggo a chance in hades. He's finished.
Last Hope? You Bet!
August 2, 2007 - 13:44 ET by ThalpyAlong with countless unappealing attributes John felt compelled to go and hug Ted! Jeez.
"You please all, you please none."