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« Call It What It Is | Main | Hot Anime Nerds. »
January 20, 2006

GOP Re-embracing John McCain?

Republicans frightened of the Abramoff fallout are hoping Senator McCain's "maverick" status rubs off on them.

Methinks this could be the most awkward embrace since Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa hugged each other on the beach:

Republicans also turned to McCain, the occasional party maverick with the gold-plated reformer's resume and a demonstrated appeal to independent voters. GOP leaders covet that appeal as they look ahead to fall elections that will test their grip on power.

"Obviously, when you're looking at the issue of congressional reform, the first person you turn to in the United States Senate is John McCain, and we've done so," said Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

That was Tuesday, the same day that California Rep. David Dreier walked across the Capitol to see McCain about legislation House Republicans are trying to pull together to curb the influence of lobbyists.

Not that many years ago, Republicans were furious at the Arizona senator for his ceaseless, and ultimately successful, efforts to pass legislation designed to reduce the impact of big money on politics.

Hmmm. I may need a dictionary to understand the meaning of the word "successful" in this context.

I mean, whether you were for or against McCain's campaign finance reform-- I was against it, strongly-- what has it done to "reform" politics? It certainly has done nothing to stop lobbyists like Abramoff-- the ultimate "special interests"-- from exercising their influence in Washington.

I have no problem with money in politics. I have a problem with *secret* money in politics. Full disclosure, whether of individual contributions or large-scale contributions of the Abramoff variety, is enough for me. Hell, I'm perfectly okay with having a single person bankroll a candidate for office, as long as we know where the millions came from. Let the voter decide who is dirty and who is clean, instead of relying on this endless cycle of ethical pin-dancing. A cycle, mind you, that engenders not only constant partisan sniping ("He's dirty! No, she's dirty!"), but also reduces American confidence in the transparency and honesty of our government.

But why bother doing something as simple & straightforward as that, when we can instead institute even more complex bureaucratic rules dreamed up in the mind of John McCain? I'm sure those rules will work just as well as the last ones.

Well, work at getting John McCain the glowing press he so desires. But that's the point, right?


posted by Dave From Garfield Ridge at 07:00 PM
Comments



The most interesting thing about that article was this sentance:

"Republicans also turned to McCain, the occasional party maverick with the gold-plated reformer's resume and a demonstrated appeal to independent voters."

I've always heard the 'maverick' label applied to him, but the 'occasional' modifier is new to me. Maybe the MSM is starting to prep the battlefield for future elections by gently moving McCain back to a more mainline GOP status....or maybe I'm just reading too much into things?

Posted by: Grimaldi on January 20, 2006 07:07 PM

Gold-plated reformer's resume?!? Mister Keating Five? Mister McCain-Feingold? I'd chew off my voting arm before I'd pull the lever for that asshole.

Posted by: S. Weasel on January 20, 2006 07:36 PM

I'm with S. Weasel. This is not a man who embraces the 1st Amendment. Plus I think the elevator stops a little short of the top floor.

Posted by: BrewFan on January 20, 2006 07:44 PM

Second the emotion of S. Weasel and BrewFan. "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech." If Johnny McInsane can't get that one right ( lets remember that it is the first on the list) he does not need to go to the White house except for maybe the standard tourist tour.

Posted by: Enfant Perdu on January 20, 2006 07:59 PM

I wish that bigwigs in the Republican Party would read this blog.

Like several others before me, I could never vote for McCain. Even if it led to another dreaded Clinton presidency, I still wouldn't do it.

In my opinion, a moderate sleaze like McCain would hurt the Republicans more than four years of Hillary.

Posted by: adolfo velasquez on January 20, 2006 08:23 PM

Everytime they think there is A Republican Scandal™ they tell me I'm suppose to Embrace Maverick© McCain®.

Bullshit. I'd rather have Hillary-care.

Posted by: fretless on January 20, 2006 08:23 PM

While I personally favor full transperancy, their IS a case that can be made against it.
If you're dealing with a punitive sort of congress critter and he actually influences some sort of purchasing decision, if he knows you tried to hurt him, you can kiss your contracts goodbye.

And there still is no way in hell I'd vote for McCain.

Posted by: HowardDevore on January 20, 2006 08:28 PM

Let the voter decide who is dirty and who is clean, instead of relying on this endless cycle of ethical pin-dancing.

Not to point a finger of blame or anything, but did you parrot the silly kabuki routine about how the Swift Boaters were completely independent actors?

Posted by: scarshapedstar on January 20, 2006 09:13 PM

I. Don't. Like. McCain.

I voted for him as the, "least objectionable candidate," in the last election. I am embarrassed by a lot of his shenanigans, but until the Rep. Party in AZ comes up with another candidate, I'm stuck with this RINO! Maverick? I'm thinking of another, "M," word.

Posted by: JannyMae on January 20, 2006 10:58 PM

So scar,
What is it that matters to you?
Whether the Swifties were truthful or were independent?
Your boy Jaques produced what, one guy who contradicted even a part of their story on his lies?
I guess in that case, it would be better to argue their independence rather than the inconvenient facts of his history.
And then the voters decided, leaving you in a long-term bitter tailspin which you seem only too glad to share with masses of people who don't give a shit about you.

Posted by: rickinstl on January 20, 2006 11:03 PM

We should demand that Vietnam return his brain.

Posted by: guinsPen on January 20, 2006 11:13 PM

McCain is too much of a risk for this country he is the author of the CAMPAIGN REFORM FINANCE FERORM BILL

Posted by: spurwing plover on January 20, 2006 11:33 PM

Not to point a finger of blame or anything, but did you parrot the silly kabuki routine about how the Swift Boaters were completely independent actors?
Posted by scarshapedstar at January 20, 2006 09:13 PM

The Swiftboaters weren't independant - they relied on my $60 donation.

Posted by: adolfo velasquez on January 21, 2006 12:29 AM

I voted for McCain in the 2000 primaries and sent him money. Everything since has convinced me the man is a egomaniac extrodinaire. I'd chew off Weasel's arm before pulling the lever for McCain ever again.

Posted by: Clark on January 21, 2006 01:23 AM

You're all nuts. McCain is wrong about a lot of things. His faith in campaign reform and his trust in regulation not the least of which. But if you have that level of distaste for a career Republican which has rubbed the GOP wrong but never failed to stand alongside in the end, then you need to spend your time straddling Drudge's fence.

And take it from a 16 year Marine, do not even compare John McCain to that disloyal piece of shit John Kerry. His willingness to befriend that fucking turd is simply more misguided and wishfull thinking. But John Kerry was and is an opportunistic asshole while John McCain was and is a bona fide American hero.

God knows what took McCain to the point of being so overly optimistic and insistant on believing the best in people (as I frequently do not). I can only imagine that survival of his ordeal in Hanoi required the rejection of all negative thoughts and the insistance on pursuing the end of the rainbow.

Finally and most emphatically, if you would support that shrieking mechanical Communist Hillary! over John McCain, then take this from the bottom of the Gunny's heart:

Fuck You

Posted by: Biff Boff on January 21, 2006 03:34 AM

Biff, "McCain is wrong about a lot of things." That part about sums it up.

Agree about Hillary though. Just thinking about her as President feels like someone dropped a fresh popsicle down the back of my neck.

Doctrinaire Stalinists tend to be a little rough on the republican form of government.

Posted by: Enfant Perdu on January 21, 2006 06:43 AM

Oh, and one more thing: "But John Kerry was and is an opportunistic asshole". If only that is all he was and is.

I want to see what his military personnel file really says about his separation from the service.

Posted by: Enfant Perdu on January 21, 2006 06:46 AM

I strongly suspect that if full disclosure were operative in the recent talk-up of supposed conservative lust for McCain, we'd find that McCain's pimps--oops, excuse me--his "consultants" have begun strategically planting stories and spreading a little green (including to a few conservative bloggers).

I credit McCain with integrity, selflessness, and beneficient intentions about equal to the same character traits in Shrillary, and support his candidacy with the same enthusiasm I feel for hers. Driving stakes into the hearts of their ambitions and campaigns is less important than removing the threat of Iran's apocalyse-yearning leadership, but not by so wide a margin that I can significantly lessen my anxiety by turning from consideration of Iran's current intentions to consideration of McCain's or Hillary Rodham's.

Posted by: Levans on January 21, 2006 10:53 AM
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