I listened to McCain's announcement and it reminded me of a quote from Reagan - see below. Unfortunately for Senator McCain, it wasn't in a very good way.
I imagine you'll be able to find reax to McCain's announcement for the Presidency at Memerorandum and Hot Air will likely have the obligatory video. Here's the text. What stuck out for me isn't likely to make the evening news:
They won't accept that firemen and policemen are unable to communicate with each other in an emergency because they don't have the same radio frequency. They won't accept government's failure to deliver bottled water to dehydrated babies or rescue the infirm from a hospital with no electricity. They won't accept substandard care and indifference for wounded veterans.
True, perhaps - but I doubt what can government do for you really measures up to the type of rhetoric conservatives want to hear:
"When I'm President I'll offer common sense, conservative and comprehensive solutions to these challenges.
Comprehensive is a word that's been in the news via the immigration debate. I doubt it's a word Conservatives are longing to embrace. I'm reminded of something Reagan said:
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
I doubt McCain will be able to conceal his big government ideology enough to genuinely appeal to grassroots conservatives, despite his strong support for the war. And he certainly can't claim the Reagan mantle while mouthing the very types of government promises Reagan so opposed.
I watched a couple of minutes of his speech, and he certainly was not Reagan-esque in his delivery. He actually sounded tired and off-cue. The crowd applauded when they were supposed to, but McCain would continue his delivery, pause mid-word for the applause, and repeat the word he already began. The whole thing sounded bad.
Posted by: Ken | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 02:27 PM
Reagan must have had FEMA in mind when he made that remark.
Posted by: nova | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 02:32 PM
I'm hoping for a Fred Thompson/Duncan Hunter ticket... although the way things are shaping up, the Rapture will probably come before the GOP has enough sense to pick folks truely in the mold of Reagan.
Posted by: seekeronos | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 02:35 PM
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Yes, terrifying. How did that whole Katrina thing work out for you guys again? Oh yeah...you lost the confidence of American voters in a midterm election.
The Gipper said a lot of things, but his most relevant legacy at this point in GOP de-evolution seems to be the repetition of "I can't recall" when giving sworn testimony.
Posted by: caustics | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 02:45 PM
Caustics - "Yes, terrifying. How did that whole Katrina thing work out for you guys again? Oh yeah...you lost the confidence of American voters in a midterm election."
Um, you do realize you are proving Reagan's statement correct, right?
Posted by: Ken | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Also, refresh my memory as to when Reagan said "I can't recall" when giving sworn testimony.
Posted by: Ken | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Ken - Um, No.
Ken - Tower Commission.
Posted by: caustics | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 03:11 PM
From the speech: "Thirty-four years ago, I came home from an extended absence abroad. While I was away, I fell in love with my country."
That at least, shows a type of class that puts him head and shoulders above any of the rest. Certainly classier than Kerry, who makes much of his brief Viet Nam service.
(For those few who might have missed it, that "extended absence" was 5 and a half years in a Vietnamese POW camp.)
He does have a few faults (not the least of which is not thinking through the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill, that ended up letting George Soros pump millions into his left-wing advocacy groups like MoveOn.org).
Posted by: ZZMike | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 04:07 PM
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Perhaps that was less an observation and more a prophecy?
And McCain does remind me of Reagen, but only in-so-far as he's spent the last 6 years doing alot of acting.
Posted by: Zifnab | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 04:32 PM
To be clear, the quaint notion "I'm from the government and I'm here to help" would have dovetailed nicely with "shock and awe" deliveries of food and water to crucial areas during the Katrina aftermath. But, you know - terrifying - Saint Ronnie would have spun in his grave.
Posted by: caustics | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 05:06 PM
I'm from the government and I am here to help sounds like Hillary Clinton to me.
Posted by: nova | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 05:32 PM
I think Katrina proved you cant count on the government in an emergency.
Posted by: nova | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 05:34 PM
On the other hand, the fact that Bush oversaw the biggest expansion of federal spending since The New Deal sure smells a lot like "I'm from the government and I'm here to help" to me.
Which is it wingnuts?
Posted by: caustics | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 06:13 PM
"
On the other hand, the fact that Bush oversaw the biggest expansion of federal spending since The New Deal sure smells a lot like "I'm from the government and I'm here to help" to me.
Which is it wingnuts?"
I'll field this one, as most good wingers are still groggy from the Coors Lite-induced hangover they incured while watching NASCAR ... last weekeend. Clearly, the answer is: "LOL u r st000pit!!!!11one3 Bush r00lz!!1one11"
Posted by: Legalize | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 06:23 PM
Legalize,
Could you explain what this means, please?
"LOL u r st000pit!!!!11one3 Bush r00lz!!1one11"
Posted by: Legalize | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 06:23 PM
Phoenix
Posted by: Phoenix | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 08:45 PM
Phoenix, I think that might be queer code. Legalize, caustics, nowinger and ec1009 have been meeting on Dan's blog quite a bit lately, and I'm beginning to get suspicious.
Posted by: templar knight | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 10:10 PM
"queer code" ??
hahahaha.......
Speaking of queer codes... Artie/Carl/Victor/Kelvin/BobinStamford..... have you noticed he never comes more unhinged than when I talk nasty? I mean, it's as if the very thought of a WOMAN talking trash just flips him out. He forgets to capitalize letters in his rush to call me 'trailer trash'..... I'm wondering. You know?
I think I'll offer him a blowjob next time he surges on.
Posted by: Phoenix | Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 10:31 PM
reagan like? yeah, ready to take a nap and have his diaper changed! mr mccain, you're too freaking OLD and the stepford wife with you needs just a little more plastic surgery! NOT
Posted by: mike | Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 08:06 AM
Gee, Phoenix, I had forgotten some of Hairy Bob's various and sundry nicks. I think his main problem with you, Phoenix, is that you are a woman. He's jealous. Hahaha!
Posted by: templar knight | Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 10:53 AM
hahahaha! Mebbe so. I'll offer the BJ and see what happens. haw haw...
Posted by: Phoenix | Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 12:43 PM