Giving McCain A Second Look

An hour or so ago, while reading Jonathan Chait's piece, I started thinking about giving John McCain a second look. Given that even liberals are discovering a new dislike for the Clintons, a moderate Republican would likely capture a good number of Democrat votes, all but removing any chance of a Clinton II.

Then I read this Tom Bevan piece at RCP, describing what looks like an all but hapless Giuliani I've been watching taking another hit among Cubans, a vote he desperately needs, due to Mel Martinez's endorsement of John McCain. Looking at the RCP Florida polls over time, Rudy doesn't have a prayer if he doesn't really go at McCain. That's where all his support went when he cratered some time back.

Rudy's reputation is that of an almost vicious campaigner, who never runs from a fight. Yet, he hasn't tried to land a serious blow against McCain. I wonder to what extent he's already given up the ghost, realizing at some point his grand gamble has failed miserably. It's not even clear he can win in New Jersey and New York.

At some point he will likely have to throw in the towel and it isn't likely he'd throw in with Romney. He'd probably back John McCain. That's when I started to imagine a McCain administration. Rudy, a weak second amendment, weak pro-Life Attorney General? And if not Rudy, most likely someone else.

And that doesn't even begin to address the rest of the administration of a John McCain, all too quick to compromise with the most liberal of Democrats in the Senate and a past of treating conservatives with significant disdain.

For now, I've taken my second look and I have to pass. But if Rudy totally tanks and gets out, McCain could be unstoppable, riding a wave of Blue State wins to the Republican nomination.

Great. And he might still be able to win the general with many conservatives staying home, not because of who he is, but because of who he ain't: Hillary Clinton.

And for serious conservatives, that outcome might even be worse. At least with Hillary in the White House, we could probably take back the legislature in 2010.

Comments

[Roy Mustang]

There is no doubt that McCain can be an asshole. But should that be what determines your vote?

The real question is how much you are willing to sacrifice for pro-life policies, strict Constitutionalist judges, pork cutting and a win in the war against terrorists.

McCain is soft on illegals. He will build a fence and deport about 2 million illegals who have committed further crimes....but make no mistake, he will probably grant amnesty to the other 10 million illegals.

[Dan Riehl]

"he will probably grant amnesty"

If you read an editorial I wrote for the examiner some time back, you'll see I advocate compromise on immigration. But where you end up on that stems from where you begin. McCain will end up even weaker on that and other issues as he already is. His deeper record makes it clear, he's no friend to cons, pro-Life, or otherwise. I haven't swallowed the straight talk kool-aide.

[molon label]

"There is no doubt that McCain can be an asshole. But should that be what determines your vote?"

Yes, because he's sufficiently ego-driven and unstable to be unable to get things done with the bureaucracy and Congress.

Romney has flaws but will do better than most think in the White House. And, I think he can beat the Clintons or Obama. There's some steel behind that very even temperament.

[TexasFred]

I have a couple of buddies that support John McCain, I mean fervently support him, not quite to the level that the moonbats support Ron Paul, but these guys are seriously into their support of McCain, and for the life of me, I do NOT understand why, both seem to be really nice guys, intelligent, personable, all the things that McCain isn’t, I would have thought they would have seen through McCain by now…

McCain is an tired, worn out, old, angry little man and he suffers from, in my opinion, long term PTSD, I’m not saying this to denigrate his service to the nation in time of war, but I see these things in McCain, confusion, anger, an ‘everyone is out to get me’ syndrome, things like that, and as such, I feel that McCain’s Vietnam experiences, and what I believe to be long term PTSD, may very well be the major reason that we DON’T need him in the White House…

Not to mention the FACT that, speaking strictly politics, McCain is a lot closer to being a Democrat than he EVER was to being a Republican, McCain personifies the term RINO, Republican In Name Only…

The facts speak for themselves, McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, amnesty, is THIS the guy the Republicans want to be President?? If so, then the Repubs are exactly what I have been calling them for quite some time, Dem-Lite…

Referring to McCain as a Conservative is an insult to ALL Conservatives, and just to go on the record, I hope McCain falls flat on his face way before the RNC convention, but, I have a prediction to make, and I hope I’m wrong, but IF McCain gets the Republican nomination, look for Joe Lieberman to be his running mate…

Yeah, I know, that’s one of those ‘way out there’ predictions but the person that said it to me has said many things like this over all the years I have known her, and she’s been about 95% correct most of the time, and this time she has scared me, she honestly believes that a McCain-Lieberman ticket is a very real possibility…

[Cory]

Go Mitt!

[Fred Beloit]

Go Cory...to your cheer-leading class or you'll be late.

[Fred Beloit]

Oh and Cory, something to take with you. The very epicenter policy and substance of the entire campaign. A Mr. Matkin has put it all in front of us. When you combine this powerful concept with HOPE, it becomes the dynamic duo of modern political thought, in awe of which all we voters must all stand, or for that matter kneel, sit, lie, or squat. (ht/LGF).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEaS-K3j3M8&eurl=http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/