Michelle posits the end of Mike Huckabee. Possibly, but there's another path for Huck. He can garner enough delegates in the South to be a player at the convention. How would you feel about McCain/Huckabee in 08? With Huckabee being the youngest candidate in the field, he more than anyone can wait four, or eight years. McCain is on a quest to be President. He needs the Evangelical vote. Don't rule it out. Mark Levin ponders the same question.
The real question is whether Fred hangs around at least until the next debate. That will give him a forum to contrast his "Reagan conservatism" with Mitt and Rudy, while leaving McCain alone. He should get out and I hope he will. But might he stay another ten days to do for his long time friend McCain what he did to Huckabee in SC? I'm not ruling it out until he formally quits. No one can argue there's any point to his staying in, except for Jim Geraghty. With all due respect, that's logic I just don't get.
It'll be interesting to watch the polls in Florida. Though, as pointed out in comments at Hot Air, many people have already voted. The conventional wisdom says McCain can best Hillary. I strongly disagree. He's 71 years old, still has to trade on his horrific Viet Nam experience from over forty years ago to inspire support. It won't play in a general election the way it plays with the GOP. And because much of the base won't pull the lever for a potential president more likely to call Teddy K and Chuck Schumer, than someone who represents conservatives, into the White House to work out a deal, , the lethargy within the base will doom McCain in November.
Praise him for being his own man if you want. Speaking as a conservative, he's clearly not one of ours. The media wants John McCain. It isn't really because they think he can win. The Dems talk about him just as they did Huckabee: Oh Nooo! That's bull. I suspect they can hardly wait. National polls now are nothing but name recognition surveys.
John McCain may be a good man. But he is always looking back. The country will be looking forward next November. And by the time the opposition gets done with him, he won't hold his own in the face of an already worked up Democrat machine. Once you get beyond Iraq, which is looking like a non-factor, John McCain is too old and too uninspiring for the general electorate, at best.
McCain will beat The Scold. He won't beat The Messiah ( aka the charismatic foreign policy naif). If it's McCain vs Obama prepare for the next 9/11.
Posted by: Terry Gain | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 12:08 AM
In this space some time ago I said Fred would do what he knew he needed to do, namely take on McCain. I was wrong. He didn't. Sad really, because everytime I hear him speak he wins me over. I know I'm not the only one. I want a consevative president who understands what America is, what America means. He seems to be the only one who gets it.
There is hope. Not Obama hope but real hope. In 10 or 15 years guys like me who grew up hearing Reagan define what America is and what we stand for will be old enough to make a serious run for president. I think or hope in that time there will be the Reagan equivalent of Rush babies taking over the governors mansions the halls of congress and the presidency.
Posted by: Ralph | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 03:27 AM
How do I feel about McCain/Huckabee? I´ll laugh about the irony.
A cranky 71 year old senator whose selling points are that he is strong on defense and can reach out to Democrats. And a religious socialist.
Tell me again what is wrong with Giuliani or Romney? Where are the people now who spent so much time explaining that they are not credible conservatives? You think the media will still carry water for McCain once he is nominated?
Posted by: el gordo | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 04:22 AM
"How would you feel about McCain/Huckabee in 08?"
Invest in razor blade stocks, I would. Lots of wrist slashing, there will be.
Posted by: Yoda | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 06:48 AM
You say "He's not one of ours", I'd ask the question, which of the remaining candidates is? Fred clearly, but he's done. Outside of that? Romney is playing one now, but that's because it's what you want to hear.
Posted by: TheSpartan | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Spartan. Politics is the art of the possible. Romney has lived the most conservative life of any of the candidates. You want pro life? I give you his 5 children
Posted by: Terry Gain | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Was he prolife when he had his dog strapped to the roof of the car?
Posted by: TheSpartan | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 10:59 AM
"Where are the people now who spent so much time explaining that they are not credible conservatives?"
I, for one, am right here Gordo/Boob. I'll go further and add I could make myself vote for Giuliani. But that is as far left as I'll go. So far the Republicans by vote, by caucus, and by post and comment are indicating to me that I ain't no Republican. I'll accept that as I would any other bad news. I'll live with it. But they shouldn't look to me to join in on the fun. Shades of Bob Dole.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Such a sad, sad showing. 1 year from today President Clinton will take away your guns and put Morning After Pills in every high school vending machine in America. Amen.
Posted by: BobInStamford | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:06 AM
That's OK, Boob. Under the Democratics you will be paying a lot more for my medical care and retirement than you are now. I'm sure to need your funds more and more as the twilight years pass. Hahahaha. What a sorry-a-s Boob. Soldier and doctor on brave socialist patriot.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:33 AM
By the way, you pompous perpetrator of perverse proclivities, when will you help buy me a new car? But I won't worry. The Democraticic officials are probably already working on that policy.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Promised me a pony, Hillary did.
Posted by: Yoda | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 11:55 AM
That's right, Yoda, and Hillery, Reid, and Pelosi will make the Boob pony up for it.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 12:08 PM
No new cars for rednecks. Instead, they will be forced to repair the ones that sit on cinder blocks outside their trailer estates.
Posted by: BobInStamford | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 12:19 PM
A reasonable new, previously pampered Lexus will do, Boob.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Hey, if McCain's the nominee, I plan to vote straight Dem. If the country's going to be screwed, I prefer that there be NO RINO cover.
Posted by: SDN | Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 02:59 PM
"A reasonable new, previously pampered Lexus will do, Boob."
Not an American car? Can we question your patriotism now?
Posted by: TheSpartan | Monday, January 21, 2008 at 02:33 AM
No, nor my taste in cars either.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Monday, January 21, 2008 at 01:13 PM