Comments on: A Stunt Or A Principled Stand? http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Sat, 07 Apr 2012 09:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » McCain at SRLC: Dubai Outcry ‘A Mistake’ http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13999 Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » McCain at SRLC: Dubai Outcry ‘A Mistake’ Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:12:05 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13999 [...] John McCain took his turn at the SRLC last night, as we’ve already discussed, and, as Sean P points out in the comments, it wasn’t necessarily a friendly crowd. However, in addition to his much-appreciated comments on Bush and the War on Terror, he also was strong on the ports fiasco: Among the “straight talk” he offered to the delegates was the view that killing the Dubai ports deal was a mistake. McCain talked about depth of our relationship with the UAE, especially with regard to how much logistical assistance our Navy receives from Dubai, and how it was harmful to America’s effort to win the war for the hearts and minds of the Arab people around the world. He said he felt the decision to kill the deal was premature and not handled particuarly well by Congress: “The president deserved better,” McCain said to a smattering of applause. Now, I’ve been spotlighting McCain a lot lately, and I would vote for him in a minute if he is the Republican standard-bearer. However, I also like other candidates, notably Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee. Keep one thing in mind, though, particularly with Rudy G. and McCain. [...] [...] John McCain took his turn at the SRLC last night, as we’ve already discussed, and, as Sean P points out in the comments, it wasn’t necessarily a friendly crowd. However, in addition to his much-appreciated comments on Bush and the War on Terror, he also was strong on the ports fiasco: Among the “straight talk” he offered to the delegates was the view that killing the Dubai ports deal was a mistake. McCain talked about depth of our relationship with the UAE, especially with regard to how much logistical assistance our Navy receives from Dubai, and how it was harmful to America’s effort to win the war for the hearts and minds of the Arab people around the world. He said he felt the decision to kill the deal was premature and not handled particuarly well by Congress: “The president deserved better,” McCain said to a smattering of applause. Now, I’ve been spotlighting McCain a lot lately, and I would vote for him in a minute if he is the Republican standard-bearer. However, I also like other candidates, notably Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee. Keep one thing in mind, though, particularly with Rudy G. and McCain. [...]

]]> By: Sean P http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13996 Sean P Sat, 11 Mar 2006 19:04:10 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13996 I vote for stunt, but a shrews stunt nonethtless. Establishment frontrunners and candidates perceived as insufficiently Republican tend to underperform at these kind of straw poll events. This allows McCain to dodge a result that would have almost certainly been spun as a defeat, without shunning the base of the party, like Rudy did by avoiding the event altogether. I'm still nominally in Rudy's camp, but McCain is showing quite a bit more tactical smarts than I originally gave him credit for. I vote for stunt, but a shrews stunt nonethtless. Establishment frontrunners and candidates perceived as insufficiently Republican tend to underperform at these kind of straw poll events. This allows McCain to dodge a result that would have almost certainly been spun as a defeat, without shunning the base of the party, like Rudy did by avoiding the event altogether. I’m still nominally in Rudy’s camp, but McCain is showing quite a bit more tactical smarts than I originally gave him credit for.

]]> By: Well_Seasoned http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13994 Well_Seasoned Sat, 11 Mar 2006 15:54:01 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13994 I was a McCain Republican ... but he lost me when he teamed with Ted Kennedy (now there's a marriage made in hell!) on the McCain-Kennedy proposal for dealing with illegal aliens and border security. I will never vote for anyone that supports a guest worker program that gives amnesty-that-isn't-amnesty-but-really-is. NEVER. I was a McCain Republican … but he lost me when he teamed with Ted Kennedy (now there’s a marriage made in hell!) on the McCain-Kennedy proposal for dealing with illegal aliens and border security. I will never vote for anyone that supports a guest worker program that gives amnesty-that-isn’t-amnesty-but-really-is. NEVER.

]]> By: Grant W. Hastings http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13987 Grant W. Hastings Sat, 11 Mar 2006 02:48:15 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13987 Classy speech by Johnny Mc. I am a Rudy guy too. But I will pull the lever for McCain if he's our nominee. I don't agree with him a lot of the time. But he is a respectable man that has served our country almost his entire life. Classy speech by Johnny Mc. I am a Rudy guy too. But I will pull the lever for McCain if he’s our nominee.

I don’t agree with him a lot of the time. But he is a respectable man that has served our country almost his entire life.

]]> By: megapotamus http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13979 megapotamus Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:40:41 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13979 I'm no McCainiac but he is lately, by design or principle, waxing my ass right where it needs shinin'. The SOTU performance... I'm not sure why that didn't make a blogospheric crash when he was banging his hands together like a clockwork chimp to praise the indictment from Dub of porkbarreling. He'll always have a credit in my account for that. And I know his paws are far from clean on pork, CFR, borders and a host of other of my pet issues; though I'm as certain as I can get that he would be immaculate on the war. But I'm no swing voter. I'd go for a nice, ripe pineapple before a Clinton and Arlen Specter over any Democrat (probably) so Johnnie or Rudy or Mitt or whoever have already demographically banked me. Still, McCain is, I'm sure, making headway in the base at large as he is in my own, self-contained and irrelevant, estimations. I’m no McCainiac but he is lately, by design or principle, waxing my ass right where it needs shinin’. The SOTU performance… I’m not sure why that didn’t make a blogospheric crash when he was banging his hands together like a clockwork chimp to praise the indictment from Dub of porkbarreling. He’ll always have a credit in my account for that. And I know his paws are far from clean on pork, CFR, borders and a host of other of my pet issues; though I’m as certain as I can get that he would be immaculate on the war. But I’m no swing voter. I’d go for a nice, ripe pineapple before a Clinton and Arlen Specter over any Democrat (probably) so Johnnie or Rudy or Mitt or whoever have already demographically banked me. Still, McCain is, I’m sure, making headway in the base at large as he is in my own, self-contained and irrelevant, estimations.

]]> By: dmac http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13978 dmac Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:27:46 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13978 Rudy's my guy, but I'll vote for McCain if the Dems send up Hillary! for her coronation. It's not just that half of the country dislikes her - it's the thought of her hubby lurking in the background during her tenure in the WH. Remember what Bill and Hillary said during "their" (ahem) first run for office -"this is a partnership, as well as a marriage." True enough. No more political dynasties, please (and that includes Jeb Bush) - this is the US, not 18th Century Europe. Rudy’s my guy, but I’ll vote for McCain if the Dems send up Hillary! for her coronation. It’s not just that half of the country dislikes her – it’s the thought of her hubby lurking in the background during her tenure in the WH. Remember what Bill and Hillary said during “their” (ahem) first run for office -”this is a partnership, as well as a marriage.” True enough.

No more political dynasties, please (and that includes Jeb Bush) – this is the US, not 18th Century Europe.

]]> By: Dennis http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13975 Dennis Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:05:25 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13975 And leaving McCain out of this, it's nice to think this will probably send a few more Kossacks off the deep end. "See? They're trying to make Chimpy McBushaliburton president for life! Fascists! Fascists everywhere! They're coming through the windows!" And leaving McCain out of this, it’s nice to think this will probably send a few more Kossacks off the deep end. “See? They’re trying to make Chimpy McBushaliburton president for life! Fascists! Fascists everywhere! They’re coming through the windows!”

]]> By: Dennis http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/comment-page-1/#comment-13973 Dennis Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:15:15 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/10/a-stunt-or-a-principled-stand/#comment-13973 You could probably come up with a milliona variations of why he's doing this, ranging from idealistic to cynical, but overall that sure sounds like the words of someone who wants to take on the mantle of heir apparent. I've got my disputes with McCain, and I still prefer Giuliani, but if he's the nominee in '08, I can easily see myself voting for him. If it's some second-tier guy like George Allen, and the Democrats get sane and nominate some moderate like Mark Warner, I'm not sure how I would vote. You could probably come up with a milliona variations of why he’s doing this, ranging from idealistic to cynical, but overall that sure sounds like the words of someone who wants to take on the mantle of heir apparent.

I’ve got my disputes with McCain, and I still prefer Giuliani, but if he’s the nominee in ’08, I can easily see myself voting for him. If it’s some second-tier guy like George Allen, and the Democrats get sane and nominate some moderate like Mark Warner, I’m not sure how I would vote.

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