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McCain’s Decent Conservatism

February 12th, 2008
By DENNIS SANDERS

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As I was coming home tonight, I listened to some of John McCain’s victory speech after winning today’s Potomac Primaries. I found the speech interesting, because it seems to offer a window into John McCain’s philosophy and character. I could be totally wrong, but he seems to offer a more decent and civil conservatism that is far different from the stuff we are used to hearing.

He does go after the Democrats, but he seems to express what is wrong with their ideas instead of saying that they are evil. He expresses a desire for small government, stating that government isn’t the answer to every problem, but without all the anti-government rhetoric. He is willing to listen to those who disagree with him.

There is no talk about “family values” or other hot button issues.

This is a face of the GOP that I think many people would like to see; a party that is dedicated to small and efficient government, one that is strong on defense and willing to work with the opposition for the common good. This is a message that can reach across party lines and attract independents.

McCain is far from perfect. His more tempered brand of conservatism might be too little too late after eight years of a disastrous Republican presidency. But at least for tonight, I saw a Republican and conservative that I could be proud of.



This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 8:18 pm and is filed under Newsweek Blogitics, Conservatism, John McCain, Republicans, Conservatives. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Viewing 13 Comments

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    I did find his Obama references to be funny "Fired Up and Ready to Go?" That was cute.

    His line about hope being a platitude is not likely to be a winner in the general election. Hillary has tried to nail Obama on his refusal to jump into specifics in his stump speech and hasn't knocked him off his stride. I doubt McCain will either. What's more, Americans like that hope talk. McCain might turn himself into a bitter crank - a Bob Dole - if he's not careful with this line.
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    McCain (though for some reason, the Republican Party can't seem to get its head around it) is the best possible outcome for them this year. Easily their best chance to snatch a victory from defeat's jaws.

    Unfortunately (for their November prospects) he has so damaged himself to secure the nomination (and still, they demand more blood from him) that he has wounded himself, perhaps mortally, in the general. Ten-thousand years in Iraq?! Bomb-bomb-bomb Iran?! "Only the most deluded of us could doubt the necessity of this war?!" And on and on (yeah, I know this cuts both ways, but still...) And don't talk to me about Rezco, or Hugh Rodham for that matter. There's always the "Keating 5" and on and on to talk about.

    He's a good man whom I've held some respect for in the past (Hell, I've personally spoken to him a few times, and own an autographed copy of "Faith of my Fathers"). I don't mean to cross any lines here, but what he's had to endure to kowtow to the "base" in earning the nomination seems, in its own way, as bad as the torture of the VC. I mean, at least they were never able to force him to sell his soul to them over and over again while the video tape recorded it all for the entertainment and public critique of his torturers.
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    Nice post.

    Nothing wrong with kowtowing to the base so long as the base you're kowtowing to is the base you claim to represent. There's some ambiguity here concerning McCain. Where does his allegiance truly lie. Many conservatives aren't sure. He hasn't exactly been a classical conservative and the party has largely betrayed those ideals. That betrayal goes by the name of neoconservativism. Every four years (except in the case of Bush) we somehow all lose are friggin minds and think that this nominee, candidate, whatever.....will be the One. Afterward we light a cigarette and wonder what the hell happened. Don't be surprised when nothing changes if Obama or Hillary is elected. Don't be surprised when McCain can't fix the economy (Presidents don't possess that kind of power) or deliver on other promises he has made. It's just the party spirit which has rendered us temporarily O.O.O. until reality kicks in. For now, I'll be watching.
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    "He is willing to listen to those who disagree with him."

    I heard his speech too and it was interesting. What he first said was that he would make his case for his plans when in office. Then he went on to say that he would listen to others. I think he only said he would listen to others to sound reasonable, that he has taken a lesson from Bush's criticism. I came away with the feeling that he has plans and will push them through. I think good evidence of this is his comment on staying in Iraq for 100 years. He was very emphatic about that and he doesn't show any inkling of willing to listen to other plans. Most Americans want out of Iraq, so how can McCain say he will listen to others, when he won't budge from his own position.

    Bottom line, McCain came across the same way as Bush does when Bush says he wants to work with others. It sounds good, but he doesn't mean it.

    McCain didn't need to talk about hot button issues in this speech (and it would have only cost him votes if he had). McCain was wise to stick with statements that the broadest possible cross-section of Republicans can agree with. It was a victory speech and he used the time well. Because he avoided hot button issues, he seems more reasonable.

    McCain's speech was interesting and a generally good message, it's just that his positions (and I'm mostly thinking of Iraq) don't support his rhetoric.

    BTW: I think Obama and Hillary (and McCain) were off their game tonight with their speeches. The speeches weren't bad, but they've all done better in the past. They all seemed tired (and I would be too). Just an observation, not a criticism.
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    McCain has zero chance to win the presidency unless the media catches Senator Obama is bed with a live boy or a dead girl.

    The real question is how much positive affect the Democrats will get down ticket from Senator Obama. The Democrats have a real chance of getting to 60 seats in the Senate and making the Republican Party irrelevant to politics.

    Also, will an Obama Administration use mainly retreads from the Clinton Administration for political appointments, will there be a Chicago mafia, or will it be the return of the Ivy leaguers?
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    I don't know what an Obama Administration will look like, but I expect it to be filled with both Dems and Reps. If Obama truly wants to involve the whole country and bring us together, his administration must have Reps. If it does have Reps., then when he goes to Congress with his policies (maybe not all policies) the Reps. in congress will have a more difficult time of casting his proposals as partisan.
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    You have a point, SD, in that the Presidential race is obscuring the races for other seats in Washington as well as in the state governments. A number of GOP members of Congress are retiring this year, if I recall correctly. The door is wide open to the Democrats.
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    I cannot think of a single Republican who could be appointed to a position in an Obama Administration other than in a token position such as a pointless cabinet position.

    If Senator Obama follows the Clinton model, his staffers will basically ignore the cabinet and departments and do things on their own. Considering how close Senator Obama plays it to the vest, I cannot believe he could bring in more than a few trusted advisors.
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    Nice post Dennis, glad to see not all moderate R's have been taken in by the cult of Obama. This my not be the best election to try to get a more moderate Republican in but it's the best shot we got. If McCain does lose (which I know is a real possibility against either Dem) the right wing is going to put the loss on moderates.
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    I think it would be good to remember that on these very same pages a few months ago everyone here was writing McCain's campaign obituary and, either gladly or sadly, remarking on HRC's insurmountable lead. It just goes to show things change and will continue to do so.

    What I like about McCain recently is his focus on improving his speaking and speeches. To the extent he can just get a day to day sound bites established as a reasonable sounding person........and bite his tongue whenever he is feeling inclined to give one of those glib one-liners.......so that we don't have to listen to stockboy repeating out of context answers for the next 9 months........ that will be a satisfactory accomplishment for the time being. He isn't going to make converts out of too many TMV'ers, but maybe he will out of the genuine moderate/swing voters out there.

    The experience gap is real and it stands to reason that a whole lot of people will give it high credence.