A Good Play For Romney?

RCP is tracking delegates at link. There's a play here if Romney wants it - and it might not be bad. Based on my previous post, CW has to be McCain is toast. Romney could get between McCain and the nod and given Huck's appeal, his support falls off in many future states. Romney could go to the convention with enough to put McCain over the top. So, he takes the VP slot - builds a national organization in place for 2012. He's a young man and might be smart enough to pull it off, unlike Edwards. Maybe bolster his conservative cred over 4 years. And if McCain wins? Well, he is 72. Hmm.

Comments

[docweasel]

Yeah, I posted that link in your comments below, but by what mathematics do you get Romney with a chance to win? There are about 1100 delegates still outstanding, Romney, with about 200 and 1192 needed for the nomination, needs 1000 of the 1100. McCain will have almost 600 by the time the night is out and everything is counted. He needs half that, and Huckabee is going to get at least some.

Please, tell me what combination of wins gives Romney 1000 of the 1100 remaining delegates?

[jkatl]

I could see it if Romney could get some kinda guarantee that Mccain will only serve one term. I mean come on John in 2012 your gonna be 76 how about taking a break. In 2015 , Mccains final year if he wins and gets reelected we will have an 80 year old president. Nobody would work harder for the ticket than Romney and he would shore up the tickets conservative bona fides. I hate that word bona fides,especially since i've been pronouncing it fides, long I like tides for 30 years and nobody has corrected me. Heard it pronounced correctly for the first time this election season. Obviously its late and im getting punch drunk.

[Sara]

If McCain gets the nod, it will be an unstoppable Hillary/Obama ticket and you are looking at 16 years of the WH between them.

[jkatl]

I don't think Dan is suggesting romney gets 1100 delegates. He's saying Mccain is gonna be short of the 1100 and romney will have enough to push him over the top and Huckabee won't have enough to push mccain over the top. Mccain then has to make a deal with Romney.

[Sara]

If it gets to a brokered convention and no one wins the first round with enough delegates to put them over the top, all bets are off. The delegates, I think, are free to switch. That is when Romney's delegates and his 2nd place wins will come into play. The operative words being "I think," but I'm not for sure.

[docweasel]

That's far fetched after Romney's poor showing Tuesday. If he couldn't win then, the momentum McCain and Huckabee share will make Romney's winning of a majority of the remaining delegates a long shot.

Its risible that Romney couldn't even win half of McCain's total so far, but that he'll double McCain's totals from here on out.

He's done. It depends on how much more money he wants to spend. Also, he engendered too much bitterness for McCain to pick him as VP. Also, where is Romney's constituency? What would he bring to the ticket? Utah and Idaho?

Romney would bring nothing to the ticket McCain couldn't win himself. Romney, as showed yesterday, is poison in the South.

I know you guys hate Huckabee, but Southern voters don't. I'm guessing a McCain Huckabee ticket makes sense, would beat Hillary handily, shutting out Romney for many years.

[Sara]

The breakdown so far (wins, not delegates):

McCain = Arizona, [California], Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Delaware, Florida, South Carolina, Missouri

Romney = Massachusetts, Utah, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Alaska, Michigan, Nevada, Maine

Huckabee = Iowa, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia

[Bill Mitchell]

I thought California was CLOSED Primary?
Looks like we have FLORIDA SCAM, Part II.

Nationally, the average of MODS/LIBS voting in CLOSED Primaries has been about 25%. The average in OPEN Primaries has been 40%.

And now, in FL first and then CA, both CLOSED Primaries, we have 40% MODS/LIBS voting. Also, in both cases, we had a sympathetic Governor who was in a position to mess with the electoral apparatus. Arnold even said "Independents should be allowed to vote".

So are we to believe that in bothe FL and CA, there are 15% more MODS/LIBS that are Registered Republicans than ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY?

And of course, these go mostly to McCain.

In FL, the self-identified INDS/DEMS voting in our CLOSED primary was 20%. MODS/LIBS 40%.

Something is fishy as hell.

[BobInStamford]

Wow, dark days. Maybe the 90 year old man should team up with the mormon flip-flopper? Perhaps Willard should go back to hunting (he's been a hunter all his life) and marching with distinguished civil rights leaders. Adios, Willard!

[seekeronos]

As I said in an earlier thread ... (and it will never happen so long as the current liberal/moderate GOP establishment is running things)

...BUT:

The RNC should make new rules, refusing to seat any state delegation elected through an open primary or caucus or a forced majority vote (think WV) -- or one that allows people to cross-register on the same day (thus getting to vote in both D and R primaries).

Also, the RNC should encourage caucus states to switch to a direct primary voting system, and do away with WTA rules by eliminating a percentage of delegates from states so choosing to use these antiquated concepts.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that a valid, paid annual membership (tax deductible) along with a valid 9-month old party registry (token fee of $25 per member) in the national and state-level GOP should be a prerequisite for voting in the primary.... i.e., you would have to register as an (R) within 9 months of the primary, and hold that membership continually until the primary election day in order to vote.

[Fred Beloit]

Yes, Madame Clinton (aka the file misplacer) with thirty years of housewifery and lawyering for large corporate clients experience and M. Obama a charming, but sadly fatherless, waif with one year of Senate experience ("Yea or nay?" "No...Present") and the gift of gab do make a most formidable duo.

Tell me, oh BoobinBridgeport, which party has the best offering?

And is your favorite the war monger and war hawk Hillary? Or is the pacifist, in favor of hope and change, Obama your man?

[TheSpartan]

"In fact, I'd go so far as to say that a valid, paid annual membership (tax deductible) along with a valid 9-month old party registry (token fee of $25 per member) in the national and state-level GOP should be a prerequisite for voting in the primary.... i.e., you would have to register as an (R) within 9 months of the primary, and hold that membership continually until the primary election day in order to vote."

And further make yourselves the party of the wealthy? good choice...

[jkatl]

How Delusional is Huckabee saying in his speech yes its a two man race and I'm in it. Hopefully after some sleep he'll wake up and take a better look at the numbers. He really only won four states legitemately Al.,Ga, Tn., and his home state of Arkansas. West Va he should not have and would not have won w/o Mccain ordering his supporters to throw in with Huckabee. So he wins four states in the heavily baptist south, and the baptists are on record hating the mormons. In only two other states Ok., and Mo. did he not finish a distant and i mean distant third. Romney trounced him in 14 states and it would be 15 if W.Va. was played fair. Romney beat the Huckster in CA 34-12, NY 28-11, Il. 29-17, NJ 28-8, Ma. 51-4, Ar. 34-9, Ct. 33-7, Mn. 42-20, De. 33-15, Ut. 90-2, ND 38-20, Co. 60-13, Mt. 38-15, and Ak. 44-22 and the states Huckabee won or came in second Romney was close for example Ga was 34-30 for huckabee and Mo. 32-29 for Huckabee. And the total vote Romney killed him. So I think Huckabee needs to back off that I'm the number 2 guy now. Take a closer look Huck you got trounced and Mississiippi is the last state you'll likely have any shot at winning so not only are you not second man your not viable going forward and should get the hell out of the race.

[Fred Beloit]

Now, Boob, did you ever consider that socialistic government hand-outs are an investment vehicle for the stupid?

Here is what I mean:

"And further make yourselves the party of the wealthy? good choice..."

This deluded person, whose party platform is a huge and failing Ponzi scheme, thinks his party is the party of the working people. His party's political activists are among the nation's richest people and are responsible for keeping the Ponzi scheme going. The Kennedys, legions of Hollywood stars and big shots, Soros, Buffet, Gates, Murdoch, Clinton, the Google boys and the Vermont ice cream makers. If they didn't keep it going they would have to pay for the "free" hand-outs themselves through charitable giving. Instead they prefer that people who are actually the working people are forced to pay. These rich are then free to give to "the arts" at fancy-dress balls.

The Spartan has it all figured out. Off to work, Sparty. Hill and Bam Bam have plans for your future salary.

[Terry Gain]

If Huckabee is smart he'll approach McCain and offer his support in return for being his running mate. If he's really smart he'll make the same offer to Romney first.

[templar knight]

I'll be damned. Terry, that is the most sensible post I've seen about the Republicans. I'll go for that over McCain anytime.

[templar knight]

And I'll tell you why. Baptists and Mormons have way more in common than one might think. McCain might be derailed under that scenario. Someone get behind it. Are you listening, Dan?

[Sharon]

I was thinking about this last night contemplating who McCain could put on his ticket that would change my mind about voting for him. If he could reconcile with Romney, like Reagan did with H.W.Bush, it would be a winning ticket. The age issue would be moot because of Romney's young age and Romney would compensate for McCain's weakness on domestic issues with concrete plans for the economy and pushing for energy independence.McCain could then play up his foreign policy experience and national security credentials pitting his resume against Hillary and Obama who have no credibility in that area. If Hillary and Obama run on one ticket, that also means you have two senators with no executive experience which Romney brings to a Republican ticket. It would help Romney because at the end of McCain's term, he could run and the Mormon issue would be gone making for potential 12-16 years of republican presidents.Romney has to stay in to keep McCain from even considering Huckabee and blosing that scenario right out of the water.

[templar knight]

Sharon, I have two problems with your proposal. First, I really...really...really don't want to vote for McCain, although I will hold my nose and vote for him over Hillary or Obama. But I won't like it. The other problem is the South. If Republicans can't win the South, they can hang it up. No Southern strategy, no win, it's that simple. The Dems will sweep the South with a McCain/Romney ticket.

However, a Romney/Huckabee ticket will hold the South, and Romney will win the West. Then, it will come to a few battleground states like Ohio, Missouri, Florida and Arizona. I think the combination of Romney/Huckabee might just pick up those states. At least it's a better chance than a ticket let by McCain. Just my thoughts. If the riff between Mitt and Huck and their supporters can be mended. That's the only problem I see.

[docweasel]

Keep wishing Sharon. It won't happen, because despite for the blind love some of you have for Romney, he's a loser. He brings zilch to the ticket. Even conservatives don't vote him, and Southern conservatives hate his guts.

There is no valid reason to put Romney on the ticket to appease s few die-hard Romney fans.

Lastly, he's a dreadful politician. Overlooked by everyone is his terrible showing after spending more money than anyone, including Hillary, his inablity to win anywhere he's not a favorite son (I'll grant you Minnesota, that's about it) and his peevish whining over what is nothing but basic politics.

All you guys whinging about the rules, the fact Huckabee is playing spoiler, the dispensation of delegates, this is not new stuff. Romney has long enjoyed the reputation for a superior ground game and organization. He's supposed to be aware of all these factors and have contingency plans to meet them. He didn't. Before last night he had spent a million dollars per delegate. That's just bad politicking.

McCain soldiered on with no money, staff working for free, Huckabee has no money and swept the South.

Romney is the epitome of a guy was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple. His doom was sealed when he couldn't make the sale in either Iowa or NH, states he had practically lived in for 2 years and had a superior ground game and organization, especially Iowa. They saw plenty of him, and didn't like him. Neither does America, apparently.

McCain will pick a Southern conservative, I'd guess, maybe not Huckabee though.

[Chris]

I hope grandpa picks Fred! as his VP. 2 old men with a combined age near 150 dottering around the stage would be hilarious.

[Terry Gain]

"Romney a loser". Doc you know better than that. You are talking like a deranged partisan. Look at what the man has accomplished. From the top of his class at Harvard Law to a phenomenal business career to a succcessful governship in a very liberal state. Romney is the most qualified candidate for public offfice I have seen in my 61 years.

[Terry Gain]

If McCain wins and he doesn't try to unite the party by offering Romney the position of running mate he will prove he was a poor choice before the campaign even begins.

[TheSpartan]

I'm not sure I'd call his governorship here in Massachusetts too successful, he was a one term guy who wasn't likely to get elected the second time around so he got out to preserve his legacy.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

"In fact, I'd go so far as to say that a valid, paid annual membership (tax deductible) along with a valid 9-month old party registry (token fee of $25 per member) in the national and state-level GOP should be a prerequisite for voting in the primary.... i.e., you would have to register as an (R) within 9 months of the primary, and hold that membership continually until the primary election day in order to vote."

I agree with you 100%. I am 100% in favor of implementing this plan in every state, and in a very public manner. I can't imagine that this plan would drive away more potential voters than anything else the GOP has done in the past 20 years.

[Sharon]

Docweasal: I really don't feel alone in my "love" for Romney. I have Rush,Sean,Mark Levin,NRO,Glen Beck,laura Ingraham,polipundit,Dan Riehl,Red State,Captain's Quarters and on and on also supporting his candidacy. You(the big Huckabee fan) are the lone voice claiming Romney doesn't know what he is doing. Neither McCain or Huckabee has been able to raise enough money to rival the dems. Wouldn't it be helpful to have Romney's wealth backing up the candidacy as well as all the free media the conservative blogs and talk radio bring to the party?

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

tk sez:"Baptists and Mormons have way more in common than one might think."

Dude I get the feeling that you dont know anyone in either group. "Baptists" can't even agree among themselves which is why most are not in the "Southern Baptist Convention". They run the gamit from Methodist lite to Holy Rollers to snake handlers man. They dont "hate" the Mormons, they strongly disagree with them.

[seekeronos]

For THC/Spartan:

"--- And further make yourselves the party of the wealthy? good choice... ---"

The token fee of $25... c'mon. That's like four Grande (the big size) latte-frappo-pinko-chinos at Starbucks.

Or two tickets to see a movie.

Or four slices of pizza and two large Pepsis (although you'd do better to get a large pie and two 99-cent litre bottles of pop).

And, unlike the consumer products I listed above, it could be made into a tax-deductible expense: i.e. you'd get some or perhaps all of it back in your tax refund (assuming of course, you have a job).

"--- I agree with you 100%. I am 100% in favor of implementing this plan in every state, and in a very public manner. I can't imagine that this plan would drive away more potential voters than anything else the GOP has done in the past 20 years. ---"

And yes, THC... you got the gist of my idea EXACTLY.

I very much want to alienate, drive away, and repudiate left-wing liberals and closeted socialists who want to skew my vote in a GOP primary.

If they don't register within 9 months and pay the registration fee, they don't need to vote in my primary. Of course, they are more than free to vote for whoever they want in the general election.

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

Seeker you are beginning to scare even me........and dat's sayin' sumpin

[Trista]

Romney/Huckabee could be successful, but it's not likely. Huckabee's negotiated with McCain to his advantage. Now, he would have to want to shove McCain out of the spotlight.

That said, I don't see Romney supporters thrilled with a McCain/Huckabee ticket.

I might consider supporting a candidate who vowed to put Romney in as Secretary of Treasury, whether that be Obama or McCain. (Yes, Romney and Obama have squabbled over this. Not sure it's likely either.)

Romney owns the economy like no other candidate running for office. He also has a large chunk of conservatives in his pocket.

Adding Romney to the Cabinet would be a smart move. Conservatives would get someone who advises the president on their issues and America would get someone who knows money. It would show that either presidential candidate is serious about listening to both sides of an issue. Obama could even pick up Republican votes, pushing him over the top for a win. Plus, we all know the economy is #1 on voters' minds.

After 4 years of excellent economic service, Romney would be even more qualified to run in 2012.

Wild speculation....that's all it is....we'll have to see what McCain, Huckabee, and Romney have up their sleeves at CPAC.

[seekeronos]

TK/WWS:

FWIW (hows that for an alphabet soup intro) ... I consider myself to be an Independent Fundamental Baptist. I attend a church which is pretty conventional - no snake handling or rolling about "barking" or "laughing" or any heretical nonsense like that. We sing a few hymns, with piano or taped instrumental accompaniment, and share what great things God is doing in our lives, and perhaps take prayer requests. Then we pray and give thanks to God, and of course, listen to an hour or so of Holy-Spirit lead preaching from the pastor, or on occasion, one of the elder deacons or other elder saints or perhaps a visiting missionary on furlough.

Most of our congregation had been pulling for Fred, and I think a sizeable number of us broke for Romney - yup, Mormon baggage and all. Some went for McCain (I'll still love them dearly as my Christian brethren on Feb. 6th) and one or two that I know of went for the huck.

But in the end, we are all still knit together as Christians first, Americans second, and (as far as I can tell, most of us) as conservatives third.

I'd venture to say that for many Bible-believing evangelistic (note the use of this word as opposed to "evangelical") and fundamentalist churches, this is the case, even if the numbers for the candidates broke significantly differently.

For the Southern Baptists, I wouldn't be surprised if Mormon bias and Huck being a sleazy guy who played his "favourite son/good ol' boy" and "preacher" cards well is behind their choice...

... but I think that to say there is "Mormon hate", as in a deep, visceral hatred that is characteristic of the Devil's hatred for he things of God... as "docweasel" seems to think - is overstating the case quite a bit.

Well, "hatred" *maybe* in the case of the snake-handlers and holy laughter crowds. Those folks tend to read their Bibles a little different than the rest of us.

I think a better (and more accurate) choice of words would be is that the Southron Christians at large *do not trust* Mitt.

[seekeronos]

"--- Seeker you are beginning to scare even me........and dat's sayin' sumpin ---" (in reference to the $25/p-month GOP registration idea)

Ok. Make it $20 and six months, then. The idea is to keep things like what happened in FL and in the "open primary" states from letting cross-over voters from the (D)s and the far-left (I)s swamp the vote for their perceived stalking horse.

Which is what McCain is upon his own merits and deed: a stalking horse for a certain Hillary or Obama presidency.

I *could* find it in my heart to vote for McCain in the general, IF he listens to the conservative base's scraping their fingernails on the blackboard to get his attention:

He needs to pick Romney (remote chance) or better still, someone who hasn't generated any ill will in this race.

Someone like Jeff Sessions, or Tim Pawlenty (who has been connected to McCain's campaign) who has the bonafides to pull in conservatives.

This way, we can free ourselves up to start cajoling and fighting for the vacating and contested House seats and Senate seats to help curtail or prevent their slide into a (D) supermajority.

This year folks, we will be doing our very best if we can fight a defensive holding action until the 2010 mid-term elections.

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

"Independent Fundamental Baptist."

There's an example right there Seeker. Your description is diff from my Missionary Baptist upbringing. Your final statement " think a better (and more accurate) choice of words would be is that the Southron Christians at large *do not trust* Mitt." is almost spot-on except that it excludes non-Christian Southrons who don't like the Yankee Country Clubber attitude he exudes. Sorry Fred.

[TheSpartan]

"Independent Fundamental Baptist"

An oxymoron on the level of jumbo shrimp.

I gotta agree with THC...please do this plan, it would be the best thing you could do for the democratic party...ever.

Next you'll institute a literacy test.

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

"Ok. Make it $20 and six months, then."
Still doesn't calm me. Now I can be all over voter registration requirements (many of which would give our Boob a stroke) but no one should have to PAY to join any party. Actually, parties ahould only involve food, friends and fun.

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

"Independent Fundamental Baptist"

"An oxymoron on the level of jumbo shrimp."

Care to explain that oh wise one?

[Trista]

Well...I'm still hashing this through. If Romney and Huckabee could collect enough delegates to win the nomination, they could merge their votes and beat McCain. I guess it partly depends on whether or not Huckabee wants to be linked to a conservative or a liberal. Power is a strange bedfellow. It could cause him to get over his dislike of Mormons in a hurry. Whether he can *trust* Mitt or not is another issue.

I think Romney/Huckabee would be a more succeful combination than McCain/anyone. McCain is history in the fall, especially if he can't get Limbaugh/Coulter/talk radio on board. He will be torn apart from the inside. If Obama is the Democratic nominee, McCain is for sure gone. He will look like a grouchy old man next to the guy with vision, energy, youth, and hope for the future.

Maybe Huck and Mitt should make up.

[seekeronos]

"--- Still doesn't calm me. Now I can be all over voter registration requirements (many of which would give our Boob a stroke) but no one should have to PAY to join any party. Actually, parties ahould only involve food, friends and fun. ---"

I suppose you're right. It does set an uncomfortable bar for a few. Alright - toss the $20 fee...

But we do need a wider period of registration lockout - something to keep (I)s who want to vote in both primaries, or the closeted (D)s and lefty (I)s from spiking out party's primary punch with donkey urine.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I don't know what jumbo shrimp you eat, Spartan, but as someone who eats quite a bit of Asian (and specifically Japanese) cuisine, there are jumbo shrimp out there that are well worth their name by their size.

But for your edification --

"Independent Fundamental Baptist"

- Independent: we are governed at the congregational level only, and do not answer to any particular synod, (arch)diocese, patriarchate, council, or convention. Our selections of pastors and deacons and other church servants (ministers) are done by the authority of the Bible, with the prayerful assent of the congregation members.

- Fundamental: we believe in the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, as contained in the King James Bible 1611 for English speakers, and other Textus Receptus derived translations (such as the Lutherbibel 1545 in German, the Reina/Valera 1569 in Spanish, etc. etc.) to be our authority, our guiding document and binding covenant between God and man, and between Christian brethren.

- Baptist: we believe in the salvation of mankind only through the grace given by God (Eph.2:8-9) through the redemptive death of God the Son (Jesus Christ) on the cross, and His resurrection three days later; we receive baptism by water as a symbol of our death to sins and rebirth into eternal life in Christ Jesus, in obedience to Christ's great commission.

This is a real basic explanation.

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

seeker: You make me laugh man. Now I'ne no idea what the other 49 do but in NC, we indies can vote in either primary but not both and you must show proof of residency in this state. At least for now anyway.

I like jumbo shrimp for the barbie but only because prawns are so hard to find. I do not know why our friend Sparty was trying to act like chrissy. He usually is worth a discussion rather than making useless, smart assed comments. Eh, I guess everyone has a bad hair day. Hope you feel better soon there Sparty!!

[IslamoLlama]

"McCain is history in the fall, especially if he can't get Limbaugh/Coulter/talk radio on board. He will be torn apart from the inside."

Yeah, they really held him back in the primary. Without the right wing noise machines at his throat, this primary could have been a real landslide for McCain - I mean, he could have scored three times as many delegates as Romney if he'd only sucked up to the conservative base like he was supposed to. Wait? What? He did score three times the delegates as Romney? Well, I'll be.

Still, he really needs Limbaugh's help come November.

"If Obama is the Democratic nominee, McCain is for sure gone. He will look like a grouchy old man next to the guy with vision, energy, youth, and hope for the future."

Almost makes you want to vote for Obama on principle. *snicker* Damn that Islamochurian Candidate is good.

[docweasel]

Trista: you show a basic ignorance of how the delegate process works. You can't "merge" your delegates. You can have a delegate headcount, and if McCain doesn't have enough on the first ballot, Huck could ATTEMPT to throw his to Romney, but at that point all delegates become free agents and can basically vote their whim.

And that's also taking for granted Huckabee WANTS to join up with Romney, which he has shown no affinity for yet. If he supported Romney, he would have dropped out and endorsed him, helping Romney with Evangelicals. He didn't.

You're also assuming McCain won't pick up a prohibitive number of delegates and not win by acclamation first ballot. I'd take the bet he'll get the 1192 delegates he needs (he has over 600 already with 1100 outstanding, according to CNN).

Even Hugh Hewitt has thrown in the towel. Its over.
He's urging everyone (including Romney and his supporters) to back McCain.
http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/b7d8fd20-1313-4229-a4a7-5325a3815908

Also, he has an ironclad reason not to sit it out or cross over IF you really are a conservative:
"There are seven reasons for anyone to support the eventual nominee no matter who it is: The war and six Supreme Court justices over the age of 68."

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

"Almost makes you want to vote for Obama on principle."

I think he will get a lot of rep/indie votes anyway but especially if 1) McCain is all the reps have and 2) He ever quits making "feel good/hope" speeches and gives up a plan. The very reason most of us Indies avoid the parties is because we're sick of the same old samness of the partisans. This election most underscores the obviousness that one rich, white guy is little different from the other rich, white guy. You may assume that I use the term "guy" to include that female too.

[seekeronos]

OK, Doc... I'll take your McCain, if and only if he picks a viable (and by this I mean, *not* Huckabee) conservative Southron politician.

I've mentioned Sen. Jeff Sessions (or Pete Sessions of TX might pass muster). Pawlenty is also good, though he is a more of a Reagan Westlands guy. Pulling the South is crucial in the general election.

Either Sessions and/or Pawlenty are relatively young enough, they don't pull with them the baggage of this primary season, and they are conservative.

And, as Rush is elaborating on now, McCain would need a viable, younger conservative man to help offset the full-court press the socialist-coddling MSM is going to unleash on him the very minute the nominations are handed out.

I'd back McCain/Fred without regret, but I do not see Fred taking such a handout from McCain.

[seekeronos]

"--- You may assume that I use the term "guy" to include that female too. ---"

Can I also assume it covers affluent half-black crypto-muslims too?

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

"Can I also assume it covers affluent half-black crypto-muslims too?"
I take exception to "crypto-muslim" since he made a public profession of Christianity, which NO Muslim would ever do, but otherwise lump him in with the others, yes.

[docweasel]

I have not, nor have I ever had, any especial love for McCain. He is the lesser of evils. I was a Guiliani backer, and still think , if he could run a goddam campaign he would have been a great chief executive.

I always disliked and distrusted Romney, and knew enough about politics to know he can never be elected president of the US. He's too one dimensional. He has zero broad appeal. And yesterday proved that to be true.

Basically, McCain is the best we can get this year. We can't afford to let the SCOTUS be taken over by 6-7 young liberals who will sit for the next 2 decades, perhaps, and who have the reins over election rules and can put the Dems in permanent majority.

If that happens, all the 'take our ball and go home' people will feel justified, I guess, saying "that's what we deserve for nominating McCain".

Very hollow victory, and very damaging to the country.

People give way too much stock in McCain's basic stands to what he can actually get done. Naming Justices IS something he can definitely do and I back him for that. That, and the war.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

"I very much want to alienate, drive away, and repudiate left-wing liberals and closeted socialists who want to skew my vote in a GOP primary."

I understand that. However, these are not the people who you should ultimately worry about. Blaming infiltrators is paranoia of the highest order. Don't get me wrong; I'm happy that you all believe this to be the case, and I am happy that you do not seem to appreciate the public perception of the Republican Party. The fact that you are proposing a restrictive membership process to gain entry to the Party, and to PARTICIPATE in voting, pretty much affirms my belief that GOP establishmentarians really do not get why the GOP lost in 2006, and why it will lose by a wider margin in 2008.

The public has simply grown to despise the GOP establishment, and the Party has done nothing to dispell this. You only encourage it with every successive tactic, message, plan, public statement, etc.

Again, by all means, please continue marching your Party to total irrelevance. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. :)

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

"and the Party has done nothing to dispell this."

There, right there we meet in total, 100%, undeniable agreement forever. At least the other guys pretend to have a different message once in a while. I think we should stop the party foolishness.

[seekeronos]

For Doc W:

I for one, am not certain that McCain would choose strict constructionist judges, much less fight for them when they came under fire from the majority DemCong.

He probably would put in the liberal-moderate (or a moderate-conservative who would turn into the next generation's Earl Warren).

For WWS:

According to the practice of al-Taqiyya, a Muslim who live under "persecution" in the Dar-al-Harb ("House of Conflict"; the non-Muslim majority world, i.e. the West in particular) may practice deception to hide his allegiance to Allah and to his prophet.

This would be, in practice, crypto-Islam, and a practitioner of Islam under these circumstances would be a crypto-muslim.

Thus, I suspect Obama to be a crypto-muslim, practicing al-Taqiyya deception while claiming to be a Christian, with the hopes and intentions of not only ending the war against Jihadism, but to open dialogues with Jihadist-sponsoring dictators and despots.

[seekeronos]

"--- The fact that you are proposing a restrictive membership process to gain entry to the Party, and to PARTICIPATE in voting, pretty much affirms my belief that GOP establishmentarians really do not get why the GOP lost in 2006, and why it will lose by a wider margin in 2008. ---"

You misunderstand, THC.

I want to stop opposing party operatives from interfering with the internal decision making process of the party.

I do want to convert so-called "moderates" and independents away from nanny-statism and welfare toward constitutionalism and self-sufficiency.

I want to encourage the potential voter to embrace liberty, responsibility to self, responsibility to family, and to community, and not the "how to get something for nothing" mentality the Dems seem to foster.

And while doing this, I want the party to put forth candidates who will win elections, but do so based upon their principles, and not by playing to a template made by and controlled by the leftist media giants, the various talking heads, or a bunch of know-nothing entertainment elites in Hollyweird.