Crack Political Thinking
Franco ·
Jul 28, 2011 at 7:02am
Well, I guess John McCain has finally found the fiscal chops he lacked on the campaign trail. Yes, McCain is a political strategist of the highest order, a man who was roundly defeated by a virtual nobody with no experience or worthwhile credentials.
Since he failed as a candidate, he lacks a teleprompter and must stumble reading his notes. And who among us believes McCain has personal knowledge of the Lord of the Rings references he's making?
McCain reserves all of his best attacks for his own side. When it comes to his potential allies he takes the gloves off.
Just think for a moment. This man was the GOP nominee for President in 2008. Pathetic.
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Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
The delivery was weak and the hobbit line was gratuitous, but I'm on-board with all the rest.
Edited on Jul 28, 2011 at 6:22amSep '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
One of the many reasons I am not a Republican. Note his argument is if we don't back this proposal we won't win the next election. The voting public hates this. The Dems make the same calculations but have enough sense to not broadcast it. Would we have been substantially better off if McCain had won? I find it difficult to say with any conviction.
Sep '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
He's framing the debate for Democrats. You see, it's is NOT about embarrassing Obama as he implies, which is what the Democrat narrative will be. He's carrying water for Democrat talking points, as usual, and will do more damage to his own party out of personal feelings of spite. I believe the man is slightly deranged.
Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
I disagree, he makes the same point Bill Kristol, Paul Ryan, and many others are making in a more snarky way. I'd think you'd appreciate that approach. The tea party should have learned lessons from the Nevada and Delaware races. Had the GOP won those races, like they should have, it would be in considerably stronger position right now in this debate. Instead, the tea party are pushing a decidedly unconservative approach, gambling with the markets and the political fallout with a bizarre faith in the transcendental righteousness of their positions that will triumph no matter what. It really is pretty kooky.
Edited on Jul 28, 2011 at 6:29amJun '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Franco: ...
McCain reserves all of his best attacks for his own side. When it comes to his potential allies he takes the gloves off.
...
McCain's world view has always been more influenced by the NY Times than anything else. This tendency goes back to the Keating 5 imbroglio. He has learned nothing since then. Easily the worst Republican candidate for president in history.
Jun '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
BT: Sorry but he's influenced by David Brooks -- not Kristol or Ryan.
If only McCain did look to Kristol or Ryan for advice we wouldn't see him being wrong so often on so many topics.
Sep '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
BThompson
Had the GOP won those races, like they should have, it would be in considerably stronger position right now in this debate. Instead, the tea party are pushing a decidedly unconservative approach, gambling with the markets and the political fallout with a bizarre faith in the transcendental righteousness of their positions that will triumph no matter what.
McCain and other statist Republicans act as though these two defeats happened in a vacuum. They cherry-pick after-the-fact. This is logically kooky, or else you and McCain just think we are stupid. As though Mike Castle would have been a help and not a hindrance - as though the Tea party, which is an amorphous grass-roots movement, can somehow "strategize" . As though they can all agree among themselves to hold their noses and vote for the next in line regardless of his obvious connections to statists and Democrats.
I've been around long enough to see the results of years of this kind of thinking. Quality matters as much, and at this point more, than quantity. Would that McCain be replaced by a Democrat. What we would lose in quantity would be more than made up in quality.
Mar '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
His speech is not helpful in the midst of the debate we are having at this moment. He ought to be rebuking the democrats in the Senate for their failures with this kind of gusto. Moreover, fiscal issues have never been his strong suit. Lastly, the patronizing LOTR reference is totally unnecessary.
Even those of us who would hold our nose and vote for the Boehner proposal don't think its some ideal piece of legislation.
But where McCain does have a point is that it is meretricious to suggest that a Balanced Budget Amendment is possible in the current Congress. It is not.
The choice is between CCB, the Boehner plan, the Reid plan, and nothing.
If we do nothing, we take our chances with the market and allow Obama complete freedom to manipulate the payments the gov't makes. Surely those will be made in ways that hurt Republicans.
CCB won't pass the Senate or a POTUS veto.
The Reid plan fabricates savings in truly magical ways and gives the Dems a win.
So, Boehner's plan appears to be the best we can do under the circumstances, assuming it can get through the Senate.
Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Guess what, McCain isn't reading a speech he prepared. He's reading this OpEd from the Wall Street Journal.
I just realized that a minute ago as I started to read it.
Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Actually I and a lot of other conservatives I heard, talked about what a disaster both of those candidates were during the primaries.
So Sharon Angle and Christine O'Donnell are your idea of quality?
Edited on Jul 28, 2011 at 6:56amSep '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
BThompson: Guess what, McCain isn't reading a speech he prepared. He's reading this OpEd from the Wall Street Journal.
I just realized that a minute ago as I started to read it. · Jul 28 at 6:53am
The Wall Street Journal is one of the most liberal newspapers in America. They have a strongly conservative editorial page. We don't know who wrote this.
Jun '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Of course Senator McCain didn't even come up with this, nor did his staff. He's simply reading the WSJ aloud. http://urlshort.me/2zx And poorly at that.
Sharron Angle has pointed out how McCain campaigned for her against Reid last fall and now has no trouble mocking her candidacy (again, he's just reading the WSJ aloud, haltingly). She also pointed out that if he bothered reading Tolkien he'd find out that the hobbits are heroic.
I don't think she went too far when she called him Lord of the TARP. http://urlshort.me/2zy
Sep '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
BThompson
Actually I and a lot of other conservatives I heard, talked about what a disaster both of those candidates were during the primaries.
So Sharon Angle and Christine O'Donnell are your idea of quality? ·
Nope. Lacking statist sellouts on our own side makes for a stronger coalition. Are you padding your majority by adding the likes of Castle or are you watering down your resolve? Are you a strong majority that is effective, or are you recruiting fellows who will be used to undermine your own cause? This is important to consider.
And why ask Tea Partiers to act against their interests? Why not ask either Lowdon or Tarkanian to drop out? Angle won a three-way race. I mean why not, while we are being such savvy Monday morning quarterbacks, consider all the factors that led to Angle being nominated besides just blaming the Tea Party?
Edited on Jul 28, 2011 at 7:21amMar '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Yes, I think he's basically right, but lazily read the WSJ, rather than choose his own words, blissfully unaware of the reaction he would get.
Actually, I would be happy to be a Hobbit and return home, forget about politics, secure in the knowledge that we have a fiscally responsible government. That's maybe what the WSJ meant.
I went to a Tea Party meeting in Tucson in 2010 - Mr McCain was the only Republican candidate who didn't get a standing ovation, and he mixed up increasing taxes and reducing taxes - he's kinda like the crazy old uncle, but for his service to the country I am willing to give him some slack - but he should have retired once he forgot how many houses his wife owned.
Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Franco
The Wall Street Journal … have a strongly conservative editorial page. We don't know who wrote this.
I agree. Their oped page is top notch.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the conservatives who run the editorial page you were just praising, seeing as that's where this piece came from.
Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Right, but if you don't actually achieve a majority none of that matters. That's what the Tea Party can't quite wrap it's head around. Sometimes you go with the best choice available, and try to do better when another opportunity comes up. You don't piss away an opportunity out of self-righteousness and make the perfect the enemy of the good, or the best you can get right now.
Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
I think the point Ms. Angle may be too dim to appreciate is that the WSJ is pointing out that the tea partiers aren't actually hobbits, they just think they are.
Jan '11
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Larry Koler: BT: Sorry but he's influenced by David Brooks -- not Kristol or Ryan.
If only McCain did look to Kristol or Ryan for advice we wouldn't see him being wrong so often on so many topics. · Jul 28 at 6:45am
Well, that may be true generally, but it's obviously not true in this instance. Do you think Kristol and Ryan are worthwhile voices to listen to on this topic or not?
Sep '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
BThompson
Franco
The Wall Street Journal … have a strongly conservative editorial page. We don't know who wrote this.
I agree. Their oped page is top notch.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the conservatives who run the editorial page you were just praising, seeing as that's where this piece came from. · Jul 28 at 7:26am
I'm sorry but anytime John McCain reads something on the Senate floor, it isn't coming from a conservative. That's been pretty well established.
Secondly, the argument itself isn't the issue here. I think it might be best for Boehner's plan to be passed, I don't really know enough details to be sure.
What is really happening, what John McCain and others are doing, is sculpting the narrative. He's not making the argument, anyone can do that. His purpose is to get the idea out that Tea party and conservatives are only playing politics and trying to make Obama look bad. Coming from a Republican, this sounds more credible and can be reported by the left-wing media as such.
Aug '10
Re: Crack Political Thinking
Not for a minute should this thought (...substantially better off if...) inhabit any of the good minds here at Ricochet. With McCain as president, we would avoid having the slimeballs oozing in and out of the administration. Dont forget Van Jones, Kevin Jennings, Richard Trumka, Andy Stern, the 35 czars, the destruction of US contract law, a trillion dollar giveaway, Pigford, ATF, TSA, the list goes on and on and on.
McCain couldn't cause that much chaos and destructionif he tried. Republicans elect chairmen of the board types who have a very deep bench in the dugout. Can you think of one democrat Senator with any gravitas ? Oh yeah....Hillary Clinton ?