Comments on: John McCain’s Delicate Dance http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Mon, 28 May 2012 07:24:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Jim_Satterfield http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-152995 Jim_Satterfield Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:37:40 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-152995 Dennis,<br><br> Do you really think that McCain should be allowed to get away with promising the Bush branch of the party the moon and the stars and then with a wink and a nudge to them pretend it never happened during the general campaign? So far as I can tell McCain only differs from Bush on a couple of issues. Dennis,

Do you really think that McCain should be allowed to get away with promising the Bush branch of the party the moon and the stars and then with a wink and a nudge to them pretend it never happened during the general campaign? So far as I can tell McCain only differs from Bush on a couple of issues.

]]> By: casualobserver http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-152994 casualobserver Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:06:59 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-152994 Dennis, having read both your post and Mark's, I will label myself as more aligned with your take than Mark's. To my reading, Mark's choice of words and tone seem more aligned with that of an idealist rather than a pragmatist. Moving to the middle may well be a "bold initiative", but I just don't feel natural moderates come to their mindset from an overabundance of bold initiative genes.<br><br>I see McCain's campaign as "Rovian" as well, but only to the extent there is political calculation and not dissimilar to Clinton1. My take is McCain slightly mishandled the Hagee thing, but more as a result of failure to fully vet the perception element rather than some natural affinity. Hopefully, he has appreciated the wake-up call it brought........not that he shouldn't continue to court their vote but rather employ the language that most of his other speechifying (that all the McCain dislikers seem to be oblivious to) contains. To me the "we may disagree on occasion, my friends, but my record is basically conservative" is exactly the type of position that can indeed compete for a coalition of 45% to 100% on a left to right scale.<br><br>As far as "big hype" over the Bush lunch, I see the hype coming only from the left blogosphere today......the MSM today seems to be more taken with the fisticuffs amonsgst the D's. Dennis, having read both your post and Mark's, I will label myself as more aligned with your take than Mark's. To my reading, Mark's choice of words and tone seem more aligned with that of an idealist rather than a pragmatist. Moving to the middle may well be a “bold initiative”, but I just don't feel natural moderates come to their mindset from an overabundance of bold initiative genes.

I see McCain's campaign as “Rovian” as well, but only to the extent there is political calculation and not dissimilar to Clinton1. My take is McCain slightly mishandled the Hagee thing, but more as a result of failure to fully vet the perception element rather than some natural affinity. Hopefully, he has appreciated the wake-up call it brought……..not that he shouldn't continue to court their vote but rather employ the language that most of his other speechifying (that all the McCain dislikers seem to be oblivious to) contains. To me the “we may disagree on occasion, my friends, but my record is basically conservative” is exactly the type of position that can indeed compete for a coalition of 45% to 100% on a left to right scale.

As far as “big hype” over the Bush lunch, I see the hype coming only from the left blogosphere today……the MSM today seems to be more taken with the fisticuffs amonsgst the D's.

]]> By: GeorgeSorwell http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-152993 GeorgeSorwell Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:16:37 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-152993 <blockquote>That’s politics; sometimes you have to get in bed with people you don’t like.</blockquote><br><br>So you'll be cutting the same slack for all other politicians?

That’s politics; sometimes you have to get in bed with people you don’t like.

So you'll be cutting the same slack for all other politicians?

]]> By: Macan http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-152992 Macan Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:18:06 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-152992 Mark Daniels said: "Many voters will cas their ballots for pols with whom they have philosophical disagreements whose characters they admire. "<br><br>Hmmm...well, that is a very interesting argument, I must say. I am not sure whether the evangelicals would parse the distinction so finely. <br><br>But then, I was shocked to see the inroads McCain had made with this group Monday . I had assumed he would be anatema to them, with his quasi-liberal views.<br><br>(Clearly betraying my ignorance of evangelicals here, as I only know folks of one evangelical church...nice folks, but puzzling to me how they find determinants for all sorts of actions in the Bible). Mark Daniels said: “Many voters will cas their ballots for pols with whom they have philosophical disagreements whose characters they admire. “

Hmmm…well, that is a very interesting argument, I must say. I am not sure whether the evangelicals would parse the distinction so finely.

But then, I was shocked to see the inroads McCain had made with this group Monday . I had assumed he would be anatema to them, with his quasi-liberal views.

(Clearly betraying my ignorance of evangelicals here, as I only know folks of one evangelical church…nice folks, but puzzling to me how they find determinants for all sorts of actions in the Bible).

]]> By: MJDaniels53 http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-152991 MJDaniels53 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:10:56 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-152991 By the way, Macan, the reason for the estimated 5% reduction GWB's vote total in 2000 was a character issue. That's different from a philosophical issue. Many voters will cas their ballots for pols with whom they have philosophical disagreements whose characters they admire. Fewer will throw in with candidates with whom they agree, whose characters are suspect. The eleventh-hour report about Bush's DUI raised questions among those who particularly counted on character in their choice for president.<br><br>Mark Daniels By the way, Macan, the reason for the estimated 5% reduction GWB's vote total in 2000 was a character issue. That's different from a philosophical issue. Many voters will cas their ballots for pols with whom they have philosophical disagreements whose characters they admire. Fewer will throw in with candidates with whom they agree, whose characters are suspect. The eleventh-hour report about Bush's DUI raised questions among those who particularly counted on character in their choice for president.

Mark Daniels

]]> By: MJDaniels53 http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-152990 MJDaniels53 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:50:38 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-152990 Interesting thoughts, Dennis. Of course, I may be completely wrong about the strategy being pursued by the McCain camp. If I am wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. For example, while I said I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary Clinton won the Ohio primary, I thought that Obama would pull off the victory.<br><br>Mark Daniels Interesting thoughts, Dennis. Of course, I may be completely wrong about the strategy being pursued by the McCain camp. If I am wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. For example, while I said I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary Clinton won the Ohio primary, I thought that Obama would pull off the victory.

Mark Daniels

]]> By: John McCain’s Delicate Dance · One Looking http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-111046 John McCain’s Delicate Dance · One Looking Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:45:11 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-111046 [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...] [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...]

]]> By: Macan http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-152989 Macan Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:34:38 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-152989 "I respectfully disagree with Mark in his belief that conservatives have no choice but to vote for McCain. The have the choice to simply not vote and that could very well cost McCain the election."<br><br>This is very true, and was a central weakness in MarkD's analysis.<br><br>One indisputable example of this, that you did not cite, was the reaction of evangelicals to the revelation of Bush's 25 year old DUI record the Friday before the election in 2000. As expected by the Dem. activist who released it...the evangelical vote just stayed home. Karl Rove measured the loss at a full 5 point drop in one weekend.<br><br>If the religious right could sit out on Bush...they could far more easily sit out on McCain. McCain needs every vote against Obamania and, as the events of Monday showed, every vote plus a good exorcist against the unkillable Clinton. “I respectfully disagree with Mark in his belief that conservatives have no choice but to vote for McCain. The have the choice to simply not vote and that could very well cost McCain the election.”

This is very true, and was a central weakness in MarkD's analysis.

One indisputable example of this, that you did not cite, was the reaction of evangelicals to the revelation of Bush's 25 year old DUI record the Friday before the election in 2000. As expected by the Dem. activist who released it…the evangelical vote just stayed home. Karl Rove measured the loss at a full 5 point drop in one weekend.

If the religious right could sit out on Bush…they could far more easily sit out on McCain. McCain needs every vote against Obamania and, as the events of Monday showed, every vote plus a good exorcist against the unkillable Clinton.

]]> By: John McCain’s Delicate Dance · The Spin Doctor http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-111045 John McCain’s Delicate Dance · The Spin Doctor Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:31:02 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-111045 [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...] [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...]

]]> By: John McCain’s Delicate Dance http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-111044 John McCain’s Delicate Dance Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:02:37 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-111044 [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...] [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...]

]]> By: John McCain’s Delicate Dance · SmokeSignalz http://themoderatevoice.com/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/comment-page-1/#comment-111043 John McCain’s Delicate Dance · SmokeSignalz Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:53:42 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/newsweek-blogitics/18222/john-mccains-delicate-dance/#comment-111043 [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...] [...] â??7.62mm Justiceâ?? â?¢ wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt John McCain, the maverick Senator who was left for dead a few months ago, is now the Republican nominee. So, now comes the hard part for McCain: trying to keep moderates and independents attracted to him and not bug the hard right too much. There is a temptation among those of us who are moderates to say that it’s time for the conservatives to “sit down and shut up.” Their candidate did not win, John McCain did, and they aren’t going to vote for the Dems anyway. Indeed, my blogmate and fellow [...]

]]>