Comments on: Bold Prediction: McCain Remakes the GOP http://www.achicagoblog.com/2008/05/09/bold-prediction-mccain-remakes-the-gop/ Living and breathing in the Second City Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:16:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Patrick http://www.achicagoblog.com/2008/05/09/bold-prediction-mccain-remakes-the-gop/#comment-1842 Patrick Tue, 13 May 2008 14:25:57 +0000 http://www.achicagoblog.com/?p=359#comment-1842 The problem isn't with the "conservative rank and file". It's with unlimited (as in term limits) politicians who learn the system, which is that the way to get reelected is to pander. In very few cases is the pandering to a conservative base. They learn from Kennedy and Ted Stevens and the dozens of other elite-class rulers who have made a living off the public teat forever. The Republicans were propelled into the majority in 1994 by ideas, and in a handful of years forgot all of the lessons that got them where they were. After 50 years of being in the minority, they thought, why can't we suckle for a while? If McCain picks Huckabee, I'm writing in Fred. I absolutely will not vote for a ticket largely picked by Democrats (in the primaries) and who intend to punish conservatives by trying to get elected as left-center RINOs. Bush Sr got what he deserved by having us "read my lips". Dole was a pathetic candidate. That got us Clinton. McCain will get us President Obama. The problem isn’t with the “conservative rank and file”. It’s with unlimited (as in term limits) politicians who learn the system, which is that the way to get reelected is to pander. In very few cases is the pandering to a conservative base. They learn from Kennedy and Ted Stevens and the dozens of other elite-class rulers who have made a living off the public teat forever. The Republicans were propelled into the majority in 1994 by ideas, and in a handful of years forgot all of the lessons that got them where they were. After 50 years of being in the minority, they thought, why can’t we suckle for a while?

If McCain picks Huckabee, I’m writing in Fred. I absolutely will not vote for a ticket largely picked by Democrats (in the primaries) and who intend to punish conservatives by trying to get elected as left-center RINOs.

Bush Sr got what he deserved by having us “read my lips”. Dole was a pathetic candidate. That got us Clinton.

McCain will get us President Obama.

]]> By: Mike http://www.achicagoblog.com/2008/05/09/bold-prediction-mccain-remakes-the-gop/#comment-1832 Mike Mon, 12 May 2008 13:11:01 +0000 http://www.achicagoblog.com/?p=359#comment-1832 I respectfully disagree. I think spending is the ONLY issue (outside of maybe Iraq) where McCain is going to govern as a conservative. I agree that he is concerned with "bipartisanship," and will likely give in on just about any other fight. But my guess is the spending is one he'll stick on. In a lot of ways, the conservative rank and file is the exact opposite isn't it. They want to fight about everything EXCEPT spending. Immigration, Judges, Partial-Birth Abortion, Terry Schiavo, we were noisy as hell. But it took a loss in 2006 to get Republicans wise to the spending problem. I respectfully disagree. I think spending is the ONLY issue (outside of maybe Iraq) where McCain is going to govern as a conservative. I agree that he is concerned with “bipartisanship,” and will likely give in on just about any other fight. But my guess is the spending is one he’ll stick on.

In a lot of ways, the conservative rank and file is the exact opposite isn’t it. They want to fight about everything EXCEPT spending. Immigration, Judges, Partial-Birth Abortion, Terry Schiavo, we were noisy as hell. But it took a loss in 2006 to get Republicans wise to the spending problem.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.achicagoblog.com/2008/05/09/bold-prediction-mccain-remakes-the-gop/#comment-1828 Patrick Mon, 12 May 2008 02:16:33 +0000 http://www.achicagoblog.com/?p=359#comment-1828 In a word, no. He won't bring fiscal discipline, because he's much more interested in getting along with the other side than leading. See Gang of 14, McCain-Feingold, et al. So when the even-more-Democrat Congress starts flinging spending bills at him, with the sycophantic media guffawing like Muttley to Dick Dastardly, he will find it hard, in the spirit of bipartisanship, to refuse. We'll be longing for things as minimally wasteful as the Bridge to Nowhere. In a word, no. He won’t bring fiscal discipline, because he’s much more interested in getting along with the other side than leading. See Gang of 14, McCain-Feingold, et al. So when the even-more-Democrat Congress starts flinging spending bills at him, with the sycophantic media guffawing like Muttley to Dick Dastardly, he will find it hard, in the spirit of bipartisanship, to refuse. We’ll be longing for things as minimally wasteful as the Bridge to Nowhere.

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