John McCain: An Adult With Your Hard Earned Dollars
WALL STREET JOURNAL September 7, 2008, 10:00 pm Why McCain Is Running Against the News Media Peter Brown Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, specializes in polling of electoral battleground states, including Ohio and Florida. Full article Peter Brown Wall Street Journal Excerpts: Different Promotions Each Week This Week 7% Off Examine Delicious Home Style Dinners Under "Our Menus" One of the clichés of American elections holds that getting into a fight with the folks who buy ink by the barrel or beam television pictures into voters’ living rooms may be emotionally satisfying but politically risky. But among the more significant things that we learned at the Republican convention last week is that John McCain and Sarah Palin have decided that running against the news media will help them beat Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And, they are betting that although their frontal assault on the press might not go down so well in the Hamptons and in Hollywood, which are Democratic strongholds anyway, it will play in Peoria. The harshest commentary about Alaska Gov. Palin came from East Coast columnists and commentators, including some Republicans, who saw her as insufficiently qualified by D.C. standards. The GOP is hoping to capitalize on resentment of those news media elites, particularly in the heartland. Moreover there is a belief in the McCain campaign – one that seems to reflect the public’s perception — that the news media has been giving Sen. Obama much more coverage and more favorable coverage. A Rasmussen Poll this summer found 60% of voters said Sen. Obama was getting better treatment from the news media than Sen. McCain. Nearly half of voters — 49% — said reporters would help Sen. Obama while only 14% felt they would help Sen. McCain. THE NEW YORK TIMES A Glimpse of the New Republican Party By DAVID BROOKS Published: September 4, 2008 Full article David Brooks NYT Excerpts: Political parties usually reform in the wilderness. They suffer some crushing defeat, the old guard is discredited and the pain compels turnover and change. John McCain is trying to reform the Republican Party before a presidential defeat, with the old guard still around, and with a party base that still hasn’t accepted the need to transform. The central drama of this week’s convention was the struggle by reform Republicans to break through the gravitational pull of old habits and create something new. Before the convention, some McCain aides wanted to sunder the links to the past in one bold stroke: Name Joe Lieberman as the vice presidential nominee, promise to serve only one term, vow to take a hiatus from partisanship and work by compromise to get things done. That proved to be a leap too far. So McCain was pulled back. But he refused to stay there and pressed ahead by picking Sarah Palin. At first, this seemed like the fresh break he needed. Her career in Alaska has been nibbled on the edges, but the key fact is this: When the testing time came, she quit her government job, put her career on the line and took on the corrupt establishment of her own party.  Custom Search What Gustav Does How the hurricane affects the Republican National Noemie Emery 08/31/2008 8:30:00 PM Full article Noemie Emery The Weekly Standard Excerpts:
(1) Gets Bush out of St. Paul, where he would have given a speech that the media and the Democrats would have pounced on, and puts him in the eye of the storm, doing the nation's business, where he will be welcomed and greeted by friendly Republican governors. (2) Puts the spotlight on those friendly Republican governors--Haley Barbour, Charlie Crist, and most of all, Bobby Jindal, (the male Sarah Palin)--who will do their jobs competently, in contrast with the mess made three years ago by the Democratic governor of Louisiana, whose performance even at the time was compared unfavorably to that of Barbour and Jeb Bush, then Florida's governor. (3) Puts the spotlight especially upon Jindal, a huge favorite of and rising star in the Republican party, who has the chance now to prove himself under pressure on a truly huge stage. THE WEEKLY STANDARD Let Palin Be Palin Why the left is scared to death of McCain's running mate. William Kristol Full article William Kristol The Weekly Standard Excerpts: A spectre is haunting the liberal elites of New York and Washington--the spectre of a young, attractive, unapologetic conservatism, rising out of the American countryside, free of the taint (fair or unfair) of the Bush administration and the recent Republican Congress, able to invigorate a McCain administration and to govern beyond it. That spectre has a name--Sarah Palin, the 44-year-old governor of Alaska chosen by John McCain on Friday to be his running mate. There she is: a working woman who's a proud wife and mother; a traditionalist in important matters who's broken through all kinds of barriers; a reformer who's a Republican; a challenger of a corrupt good-old-boy establishment who's a conservative; a successful woman whose life is unapologetically grounded in religious belief; a lady who's a leader. So what we will see in the next days and weeks--what we have already seen in the hours after her nomination--is an effort by all the powers of the old liberalism, both in the Democratic party and the mainstream media, to exorcise this spectre. They will ridicule her and patronize her. They will distort her words and caricature her biography. They will appeal, sometimes explicitly, to anti-small town and anti-religious prejudice. All of this will be in the cause of trying to prevent the American people from arriving at their own judgment of Sarah Palin. No Contest INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Monday, August 18, 2008 Election '08: Last weekend's McCain-Obama protodebate made it clear why Obama won't keep his promise to debate McCain "anywhere, anytime." McCain, with a robust resume and details at his fingertips, won big. Full article INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Excerpts: It was only in May that Sen. Barack Obama cockily proclaimed he would debate Sen. John McCain "anywhere, anytime." But in June, Obama said no to McCain's challenge to have 10 one-on-one town hall meetings. After what happened at Lake Forest, Calif.'s evangelical Saddleback megachurch Saturday evening, we may have found that debating is Obama's Achilles' heel. Whether or not you like the idea of such events being held in religious venues, the plain-and-simple method of questioning used by Saddleback pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren revealed fundamental differences between these two men. "It's one of those situations where the devil is in the details," Obama said at one point. He could have been referring to his own oratorical shortcomings when a teleprompter is unavailable. We learned a lot more about the real Obama at Saddleback than we will next week as he delivers his acceptance speech in Denver before a massive stadium crowd. Chicago Sun-Times McCain, not Obama, was right about Georgia August 12, 2008 STEVE HUNTLEY shuntley.cst@gmail.com Full articles Steven Huntley Chicago Sun-Times Excerpts: Mention Georgia a few days ago, and most of us would have thought of the state evoked so sweetly in "Georgia on My Mind," the classic tune sung by Ray Charles. Very few of us had heard of the South Ossetia province of Georgia, the nation with the misfortune to have Russia as its neighbor, until war broke out last week. Like Kosovo, Bosnia, Kuwait and other unfamiliar places before, Ossetia reminds us that a small, remote corner of the globe can explode into an international crisis. One who was up to speed on Georgia and the menace it faced from Russia was veteran Sen. John McCain. He had visited the Caucasian nation three times in a dozen years. When fighting erupted, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate got on the phone to gather details and issued a statement Friday summarizing the situation, tagging Russia as the aggressor and demanding it withdraw its forces from the sovereign territory of Georgia. It took first-term Sen. Barack Obama three tries to get it right. Headed for a vacation in Hawaii, the presumed Democratic candidate for commander in chief issued an even-handed statement, urging restraint by both sides. Later Friday, he again called for mutual restraint but blamed Russia for the fighting. The next day his language finally caught up with toughness of McCain's. WALL STREET JOURNAL July 28, 2008, 7:00 am How McCain Could Win Over Undecided Voters Peter Brown Full article Peter Brown WSJ Excerpts: DELAND, Fla. — Verne and Lois Spence neatly explain why Sen. John McCain trails in his race for the White House, and how he could win the Oval Office when it gets to November. The couple isn’t sure whom they will vote for in November, but in the past they have generally backed Republicans for president. They are concerned about the economy, which gives Sen. Barack Obama a chance for their votes. Yet they are skeptical about Democrats on national security in general and Sen. Obama in particular. REAL CLEAR POLITICS July 20, 2008 Looking for McCain's Economic Veep By David Broder Full article David Broder REAL CLEAR POLITICS Excerpts: WASHINGTON -- Last Wednesday morning, The Washington Post published a poll of registered voters giving Barack Obama an eight-point lead -- largely because the voters said they trusted him more than John McCain on handling their No. 1 issue, the economy, by an astounding 19 percentage points. That noon, I had lunch with two veteran Republican operatives not working in the McCain campaign and asked them what they would recommend for the Arizona senator. "Get Alan Greenspan to run with you," said the first. "Or Warren Buffett," the second offered. WASHINGTIONPOST.COM THE FIX Chris Cillizza The Surprising Closeness of the Contest Full article Chris Cillizza THE WASHINGTION POST Excerpts: Despite a general sentiment that John McCain's campaign has gone through an extremely difficult -- and disorganized -- past month, a series of recent polls suggest that the Arizona senator remains within striking distance of Barack Obama with less than four months remaining until the November election. The relative closeness of the race between the two men has emboldened some Republicans who believe that as long as McCain can stay a few points back heading into the fall campaign -- when casual voters begin paying serious attention to the race -- he has a chance to pull off a major upset. "The fact Obama is not ahead by 20 [to] 25 points is because his policies are too far left for the American people," said Republican direct mail consultant Dan Hazelwood. "[Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael] Dukakis would be in an identical position to Obama right now." (Dukakis lost the 1988 presidential election to then Vice President George H.W. Bush 53 percent to 46 percent.) THE HILL Byron York The ultimately incorrigible John McCain By Byron York 07/09/08 05:38 Full article Byron York The Hill Excerpts: Last October, when John McCain’s presidential campaign was nearly dead, I went to Iowa to follow him around for a few days. The story felt like a eulogy. Few observers believed McCain could come back from the twin disasters of his campaign nearly running out of money and his disastrous stand on comprehensive immigration reform. Riding in a van from Sioux City to Sheldon, I asked McCain what had gone wrong. THE WEEKLY STANDARD Losing the Latino Vote McCain's prospects don't look good. by Matthew Continetti 07/09/2008 Full article Matthew Continetti Weekly Standard Excerpts: PLENTY OF COMMENTATORS, including yours truly, argued during the Democratic primaries that Barack Obama had shown a weakness with Latino voters which could last through the general election and help John McCain on Election Day. McCain, known for his strong support for "comprehensive immigration reform" including a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States, would be able to make inroads into this growing demographic group. The thinking went like this: When you combined Obama's perceived weakness with Latinos in the primary and McCain's strengths as a candidate, the Republican nominee could hope to do at least as well as, and maybe better than, George W. Bush's 40 percent of the national Latino vote in 2004. Well, here's a revised prediction. That's not going to happen. Obama has already shown strength among Latinos in recent general election polls, strength that will likely continue through November 4. Obama will match John Kerry's percentage of the 2004 Latino vote, perhaps do better. What's the reason for this revised prediction? I went to see the two candidates address the seventy-ninth convention of the League of United Latino Citizens (LULAC) in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. It was a study in contrasts. McCain spoke around lunchtime and received a polite welcome. LULAC officials noted the long-standing ties the senator has with the group and his support for immigration reform. The audience respected McCain. They didn't heckle and seemed open to hearing him out. Kudlow's Money Politics Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Mac Is Moving to the Supply-Side Full article Larry kudlow Excerpts: Sen. John McCain gave two economics speeches in the last 48 hours. They were very strong, pro-growth, and pro-energy production. McCain also is finally slamming Obama on taxes and energy. Yesterday in Denver, the senator said, “If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you. Sen. Obama is your man. The choice in this election is stark and simple. Sen. Obama will raise your taxes. I won’t.” This is good. Strong. I hope it’s the beginning of a Big Mac resurgence under the new management of Steve Schmidt, who is effectively running the campaign as of this past weekend. McCain also slammed Obama on energy, essentially labeling him Doctor No. In the Denver speech McCain said, “My opponent’s answer is no to more drilling; no to more nuclear power; no to research prizes that help solve the problem of affordable electric cars. For a guy whose ‘official seal’ carried the motto, ‘Yes, We Can,’ Sen. Obama’s agenda sure has a whole lot of ‘No, We Can’t.’” This also is good. WALL STREET JOURNAL No, McCain Isn't 'Doomed' By JOHN FUND June 27, 2008; Page A13 Full article John Fund WSJ Excerpts: Some pundits claim John McCain has no chance of beating Barack Obama. "The current bundle of economic troubles should doom any Republican hoping to succeed George Bush," says NBC's Chris Matthews. "It's almost impossible to believe that another Republican could get elected," insists Katty Kay, the BBC's Washington-based correspondent. They need to better understand the rhythms of presidential campaigns and show more humility in a year that's been chock full of political surprises. Some Democrats claim new polls by Newsweek and the Los Angeles Times showing Sen. McCain trailing by 15 points in each seal the deal on an Obama presidency. But both polls appear to be outliers. Other polls show the race to be close. Both surveys polled registered, not likely, voters. Normally, only two-thirds of those end up casting ballots, and nonvoters lean Democratic. Second, Democrats had a 14-point advantage in Newsweek's sample, and a 17-point advantage in the Times poll, with Republicans making up only 22% of respondents. That's an unusually low number. Most other polls have the party ID gap with a significantly smaller Democratic edge. REAL CLEAR POLITICS June 25, 2008 The Debate McCain Must Force By Dick Morris Full article Dick Morris RCP Excerpts: Have you noticed a change in Barack Obama's campaign? Instead of avoiding controversies over values, religion and race, he seems to welcome them and wade into the debates with an increasing enthusiasm. Characterizing how the Republicans will attack him, he predicted that they would criticize his "funny name" and add "and by the way, did you notice that he's black?" Obama used to go out of his way to avoid this kind of reference, but now he brings it on. Deliberately. WEEKLY STANDARD Obamanomics: How McCain can fight back--if he cares to. by Irwin M. Stelzer 06/30/2008, Volume 013, Issue 40 Full article Irwin Stelzer Weekly Standard Excerpts: Every day that passes makes one thing clearer and clearer: Barack Obama knows precisely what he wants to do to the U.S. economy, and John McCain is intent on proving his self-confessed lack of knowledge with a charming set of homilies. Start with Obama's proposal to raise taxes on all families earning more than $250,000 per year in order to finance a $1,000 tax cut for "middle-income" tax payers. Assuming that there is enough money to be had from taxpayers in that higher-income class to fund the cut for the much larger number of middle-income earners--a heroic assumption--McCain's charge that Obama is planning a massive tax increase doesn't apply to this overt redistribution of the tax burden. Taking from Peter and giving to Paul is not an increase in the taking. Nor can this rejiggering of the tax burden be dismissed out of hand. The transfer of income from one taxpayer to another does not reduce total welfare. Indeed, the Obama proposal arguably increases welfare or, to use the vaguer but more voguish term, "happiness." Economists, and this includes those working for McCain, know that the value ("marginal utility") of a $1,000 increase in income for someone earning $60,000 per year exceeds the loss in value, even of a greater sum, to someone earning $250,000 and more. So Obama can rightly claim that this one of his several tax proposals does not involve a tax increase, and makes a lot of people much better off at the expense of making a few peopleonly slightly worse off. Not bad policy. The NEW YORK TIMES McCain Sets Goal of 45 New Nuclear Reactors by 2030 By ELISABETH BUMILLER Published: June 19, 2008 Full article Elisabeth Bumiller NYT Excerpts: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Senator John McCain said Wednesday that he wanted 45 new nuclear reactors built in the United States by 2030, a course he called “as difficult as it is necessary.” In his third straight day of campaign speechmaking about energy and $4-a-gallon gasoline, Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, told the crowd at a town-hall-style meeting at Missouri State University that he saw nuclear power as a clean, safe alternative to traditional sources of energy that emit greenhouse gases. He said his ultimate goal was 100 new nuclear plants. Mr. McCain has long promoted nuclear reactors, but Wednesday was the first time that he specified the number of plants he envisioned. THE WEEKLY STANDARD Voting for Commander in Chief There can only be one. Frederick W. Kagan 06/16/2008, Volume 013, Issue 38 Full article Frederick W. Kagan THE WEEKLY STANDARD Excerpts: It would be hard to design a better test for the job of commander in chief than the real-life test senators John McCain and Barack Obama have undergone in the last two years. As the situation in Iraq deteriorated during 2006 and the war reached its most critical moment, both senators served on national security committees: McCain on Armed Services, Obama on Foreign Relations. From those positions, with access to classified situation reports as well as the public testimony and private advice of those who knew the situation in Iraq best, each man reached an understanding of the facts on the ground and the interests at stake. And each proposed a strategy. It was as close as a presidential candidate could get to showing how he would respond to a national security crisis without already being in the White House. Both men's proposals are a matter of public record, available on the Internet. McCain set forth his in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute on January 5, 2007 (at an event marking the release of AEI's "Choosing Victory," which I wrote, outlining a strategy like the one Bush later ordered). Obama presented his in the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 " (S. 433), which he introduced in the Senate on January 30. We also know the strategy the president chose--the surge of forces he announced on January 10, very similar to what McCain described--and the outcome it has brought. McCain's recommendations drew on his conversationswith commanders on the ground in Iraq, where he traveled in late December 2006. McCain called for a minimum of three to five additional brigades in Baghdad and at least one in Anbar province. Their mission, he said, would be to implement the thus far elusive 'hold' element of the military's clear-hold-build strategy, to maintain security in cleared areas, to protect the population and critical infrastructure, and to impose the government's authority--essential elements of a traditional counterinsurgency strategy. WALL STREET JOURNAL Potomac Watch Kimberly A. Strassel McCain Should Run Against Congress May 30, 2008 Full article Kimberly A. Strassel WSJ Excerpts: When House Minority Leader John Boehner is asked whether his party needs to distance itself from George W. Bush, he likes to point out the president isn't on the ticket this fall. True. Several hundred incumbent GOP members of Congress are, however, and don't think John McCain hasn't noticed. With Congress's approval rating at record lows, the time is ripe for a slam campaign. Barack Obama won't do it, since his Democratic colleagues are running the joint. But it's a huge opportunity for Mr. McCain, who could play Congress's failings off his promises for reform. Even as Republicans sagely warn their nominee to distance himself from the president, they're beginning to see that his more productive option might just be to throw them – and Con Mr. McCain could take encouragement from history. Harry Truman managed a 1948 victory by trashing the "Do Nothing Congress." Upstart Barry Goldwater in 1952 told Arizonans that Majority Leader Ernest McFarland represented the mess in Washington, and snatched the Democrat's seat. Tom Daschle followed McFarland, after being pilloried for turning the Senate into a dead zone. POLITICO GOP strategists mull McCain 'blowout' By DAVID PAUL KUHN 5/23/08 Full article DAVID PAUL KUHN POLITICO Excerpts: It sounds crazy at first. Amid dire reports about the toxic political environment for Republican candidates and the challenges facing John McCain, many top GOP strategists believe he can defeat Barack Obama — and by a margin exceeding President Bush’s Electoral College victory in 2004. At first blush, McCain’s recent rough patch and the considerable financial disadvantage confronting him make such predictions seem absurd. Indeed, as Republicans experience their worst days since Watergate, those same GOP strategists are reticent to publicly tout the prospect of a sizable McCain victory for fear of looking foolish. But the contours of the electoral map, combined with McCain’s unique strengths and the nature of Obama’s possible vulnerabilities, have led to a cautious and muted optimism that McCain could actually surpass Bush’s 35-electoral-vote victory in 2004. Though they expect he would finish far closer to Obama in the popular vote, the thinking is that he could win by as many 50 electoral votes POLITICO GOP turns to McCain to reinvent party By JONATHAN MARTIN 5/18/08 Full article Jonathan Martin Politico Excerpts: In a delicious piece of irony, many dispirited Republicans, devastated by Tuesday’s special election loss in Mississippi, now believe their savior to be John McCain — a not-so-constant conservative many of them also have long intensely disliked. The logic: McCain, the vaunted maverick, can move the party away from President Bush and reinvent a Republican brand that, at the moment, is in tatters. “The public is prepared to believe that McCain is a different kind of Republican,” said Republican Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli, McCain’s point man at the committee. “This is not some political idea that was cooked up.” THE WEEKLY STANDARD California's Gift to McCain? The state supreme court imposes same-sex marriage. by John McCormack 05/26/2008 Full article John McCormack The Weekly Standard Excerpts: Eight years ago, 4,618,673 California voters--61 percent of those casting ballots--approved an initiative that stated: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." Last Thursday, four of the seven justices of the California supreme court struck down that law, ruling that it violates the "fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship." California chief justice Ronald George, writing for the majority, declared that "an individual's sexual orientation--like a person's race or gender--does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights" and therefore "the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples." "It looks like a fairly conventional liberal judicial activist decision," says Princeton professor of jurisprudence Robert P. George. "These guys had the votes, and they rammed it thro May 11, 2008 Is McCain Sailing Into a Storm? By Steve Chapman Full article Steve Chapman RCP Excerpts: The last couple of months have been springtime in paradise for Republicans: the loveliest of all possible seasons. They have been watching two Democratic presidential candidates in an endless battle to destroy each other -- a process that does not appear to enhance the chance that the eventual nominee will win in November. A recent Gallup poll shows John McCain leading both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in a head-to-head matchup. All this before Republicans even begin publicizing the worst that can be said about either of two candidates whose alleged defects provide a supremely target-rich environment. But it's easy to let the individuals involved obscure larger factors that may prove more important. In a hurricane, even handsome, well-built boats can end up underwater. And right now, the GOP looks as though it may be sailing into a perfect storm. REAL CLEAR POLITICS May 04, 2008 Paying for Health Care - Who and How? By Debra Saunders Full article Debra Saunders Real Clear Politics How can America control health care costs? I asked Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., an obstetrician and family medicine physician who prefers to be called Dr. Coburn. Coburn answered that there are two ways to control costs - through government, a la Clinton and Obama, who will have to rely on federal "micromanaging and (eventual) rationing," or through the marketplace, a la Sen. John McCain. While the marketplace is not perfect, it beats rationing and bad regulation. The McCain plan would provide an annual tax credit of $2,500 per individual or $5,000 per family. The idea is to encourage families to buy their own health care plans - preferably plans that save consumers money when they follow healthy lifestyles and make smart economic choices. Unlike Clinton and Obama, McCain would not require that insurers cover people with chronic illnesses. Instead, McCain proposes state "guaranteed access plans" for those patients. REAL CLEAR POLITICS May 03, 2008 McCain's Reform Prescription By Rich Lowry Full article: Rich Lowry Real Clear Politics Excerpts: If there's just one candidate of change this fall, John McCain will be the Horatio Seymour or James Cox of 2008 - a presidential also-ran all but forgotten to history. The only way McCain can hold the White House for the Republicans is if he trumps his opponent on values and national security and sells the public on a domestic reform agenda that keeps Democrats from sole ownership of the theme of change. Otherwise, Barack Obama will out-inspire him, or Hillary Clinton out-policy him, in a classic out-with-the-old election. McCain would seem a natural candidate of reform, given how often he's used the word during the past decade. THE INDEPENDENT If you want to see a display of pure political courage, then John McCain is your man Friday, 25 April 2008 Full article Dominic Lawson The Independent Excerpts: This week McCain travelled to recession-hit Youngstown, right in the heart of the old Ohio steel-producing belt – where Clinton and Obama had been most strident in their anti-free trade rhetoric—and told a town hall meeting: "The biggest problem is not free trade, but our inability to adjust to a new world economy. I can't look you in the eye and tell you that I believe those jobs are coming back... [but] protectionism and isolationism have never worked in American history." Reporters described McCain's speech as "risky". Indeed it was – he will need to win the support of such town hall meetings to secure the Presidency. It was a demonstration of pure political courage – something which Barack Obama has yet to provide: I can't find a single speech of his – brilliantly constructed and delivered as they are - in which he did anything of the kind. THE NEW YORK TIMES POLITICAL BLOG April 24, 2008, 12:54 pm As Democrats Fight, McCain Seeks the Middle Full article New York Times Excerpts: Having regained some force in Pennsylvania, the tornado of insult and innuendo that is the Democratic Party’s nomination fight will now touch down in four more states. But while Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama regroup this week, John McCain is off doing something that, while lacking the same kind of drama, has a significance of its own. Mr. McCain and his advisers decided this week to embark on a tour of some of the places that symbolize the fragility of America’s promise, even if they aren’t the kind of places that Republicans often go: Selma, Ala.; Youngstown, Ohio; New Orleans; Inez, Ky., the Appalachian town where Lyndon Johnson once touted his War on Poverty. There’s plenty of political artifice here, of course, and Democrats have been quick to deride the tour as a cynical publicity stunt. In a blast e-mail, the Democratic National Committee pointed out, for instance, that Youngstown is far better off today for having received the kind of congressional earmarks that Mr. McCain has vowed to veto if he becomes president. (Now there’s an interesting strategy for the fall: “Vote Democrat, the Party of Pork.”) But Mr. McCain’s hard-luck tour should not be so blithely dismissed, if for no other reason that it may reveal something about his theory of the electorate that presages a break with his party’s recent past. By Matt Bai By David Jackson, USA TODAY Full article David Jackson USA TODAY Excerpts: YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — As he stood outside a shuttered steel-fabrication plant here Tuesday, Republican John McCain said "education and training" and not "the siren song of protectionism" would help revive economically troubled areas such as Ohio's Mahoning Valley. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, spent the second day of his "It's Time for Action Tour" — aimed at areas often ignored by his party's candidates — bucking the opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) expressed by labor unions that dominate Youngstown's politics. POLITICS BLOG: McCain's next stop: Inez, Ky. While he defended free trade during a town hall meeting, McCain said other nations have violated the principle at the United States' expense. Los Angeles Times John McCain takes a tour off the beaten campaign path By Michael Finnegan and Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers April 22, 2008 Full article Michael Finnegan and Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times Excerpts: SELMA, ALA. -- It was an unlikely setting for Republican presidential hopeful John McCain to campaign in Monday: the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where black protesters were beaten in a 1965 march for voting rights. McCain joined hands later with black women who sang gospel spirituals to him as they rode a ferry across the muddy Alabama River near Gee's Bend, a community famous for its quilts and for its role in the civil rights struggle. Chicago Sun-Times April 18, 2008 STEVE HUNTLEY shuntley.cst@gmail.com Full article STEVE HUNTLEY Chicago Sun-Times Excerpts: We've heard a lot of talk about change from Democrats in this political season. Yet it is John McCain who proposes the most useful change by shaking up Washington's bipartisan culture of spend, spend and spend some more while funneling tax goodies to fat cats. A pledge to end corporate welfare, a one-year pause in discretionary spending, a threat to veto earmark-stuffed bills and a promise to keep taxes low anchor the economic plan McCain outlined this week. Reining in Washington's proliferate ways sounds like a typical Republican agenda. (OK, maybe not that corporate welfare part -- but that's what makes McCain an appealing maverick.) However, promoting those goals is a challenge for a GOP candidate this year because spending by Congress and handouts to powerful interests mushroomed while the Republicans ruled in the Senate, House and White House. It got so bad that Democrats captured control of the Congress two years ago partly on a promise to impose fiscal discipline on Washington. Examples from the Journal's article. "Being able to provide a guiding economic narrative is not just a matter of having a catchy soundbite, a la the "ownership society." It's essential for two reasons. First, it offers voters an explanation of how we got to the current moment, which means why the economy is struggling. The two Democrats already have their story: The 1990s were a golden age for the middle class that has been ruined by Republican tax cuts that rewarded only rich lenders and speculators. Mr. McCain needs a different policy narrative. Second, a guiding philosophy shows voters that future decisions will be made according to a set of principles they can understand. Example: A month ago, Mr. McCain gave a speech saying it wasn't the government's obligation to rescue those who took out loans they couldn't afford. Then last week he, ahem, supplemented that view by supporting an FHA-guaranteed loan-restructuring program in what looked to be a bid to compete with Democrats in the housing bailout auction. Without some guiding principles, voters are left to wonder whether Mr. McCain's next lurch will be to the populist left, where his instincts sometimes run, or to the fiscally conservative right, where he is also sometimes found." Wall Street Journal McCain Economic Plan To Show a Mixed Approach By LAURA MECKLER April 15, 2008; Page A4 Full article Laura Meckler WSJ Excerpts: PITTSBURGH -- Mixing austerity and tax cuts, Sen. John McCain is laying out an economic plan that includes increased Medicare premiums for wealthy seniors and a one-year freeze on spending along with a proposal to review a vast swath of federal programs. In a major economic speech Tuesday, the likely Republican presidential nominee also acknowledges economic distress among students and families. He plans to aid students caught in the credit crunch who may have trouble obtaining college loans and to call for another big tax cut -- this one helping families with children. U S NEWS & WORLD REPORT A Q&A With McCain Adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin April 14, 2008 03:16 PM ET James Pethokoukis Full article James Pethokoukis U S News & World Report Douglas Holtz-Eakin is the director of economic policy for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign. He's also a former director of the Congressional Budget Office. I recently caught up with Holtz-Eakin at McCain campaign headquarters and chatted with him a bit about taxes, the size of government, and energy policy. Excerpts: Are we headed toward bigger government? Senator McCain's position is that there is a role for government, and the primary thing is that you identify government's role and make sure that it does it well. The striking thing that has come out of the campaign is the degree to which the American people have lost trust in their government to pursue genuine national priorities, and there are three instances in which this gets voiced pretty clearly; probably the most vivid is the immigration debate, where people simply did not believe that the federal government [would secure the borders]...so Senator McCain made it his commitment that he will secure the border and have the governors of the border states certify that it is secure before any other steps on immigration are taken.... And earmarks have led to the undeniable perception that Congress is interested in taking care of their friends and not the nation, and [earmarks] have led to political corruption and in some cases criminal corruption. And the third is trade...where the perception is that trade deals are no better than earmarks, and that is really troubling and you have to fix that before you do anything else as far as getting the government's role in the economy correct. [People] want it to work, they really do. In an article titled Embrace Your Inner Teddy Roosevelt by Irwin M. Stelzer, writing in the Weekly Standard, scheduled for April 21,2008. Mr. Stelzer writes: "The senator from Arizona is presenting himself as the inheritor of Teddy Roosevelt's view that America is "a great nation, forced by the fact of its greatness into relations with the other nations of the earth, and we must behave as beseems a people with such responsibilities." For him, domestic policy is inextricably bound up with foreign policy--only a nation with a strong, growing economy is sufficiently self-confident to bear what TR called "the heavy responsibility" of projecting "the cause of free self-government throughout the world," and has the wherewithal to discharge that responsibility. Add to that his admiration of Ronald Reagan's efforts to define the role of government as an institution that will "stand by our side, not ride on our back." On Immigration Mr. Stelzer, discussing Teddy Roosevelt points out the following: Teddy Roosevelt on immigration said "We need every honest and efficient immigrant . . . who brings here a strong body, a stout heart, a good head, and a resolute purpose to do his duty well in every way and to bring up his children as law-abiding and God-fearing members of the community." Let's hope John McCain follows some of the priciples above. Apr 10 01:39 PM US/Eastern By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press Writer Feb.2008 Obama 51% McCain 41% April 7-9 2008 Obama 48 McCain 45 Margin of Error 3.1% "Republican Sen. John McCain has erased Sen. Barack Obama's 10-point advantage in a head-to-head matchup, leaving him essentially tied with both Democratic candidates in an Associated Press-Ipsos national poll released Thursday. The survey showed the extended Democratic primary campaign creating divisions among supporters of Obama and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and suggests a tight race for the presidency in November no matter which Democrat becomes the nominee. McCain is benefiting from a bounce since he clinched the GOP nomination a month ago. The four-term Arizona senator has moved up in matchups with each of the Democratic candidates, particularly Obama. " Rick Davis a campaign adviser says: "If you took a poll today, people would be able to identify [McCain's] name, 90%. They'd probably know he's a former Vietnam Veteran and maybe a senator from Arizona," Davis said. "It's a classic mistake made by most national campaigns, that they assume that if everybody in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida knows you, you must be known nationally." About an ad which included McCain's prisoner of war experience Davis said "It's relatively inexpensive, which is what I find most attractive about it," "This ad will appear in other states as we get through the queue, and obviously the current political environment affords us some time to take advantage of this and do these kinds of educational weeks," he said. "It gives us the opportunity to do something that not many people have written about or talked about, is that we have a Spanish language ad up too." Senator McCain Raised Approximately $15 Million In March. Sen. John McCain's fundraising was improved over previous months Official estimates suggest he raised about $15 Million in March, the highest amount raised in one month since early 2007 significantly above his average of $2 million per month the average of approximately the last year. The final number is still not known. The campaign's goal of about $57 Million through the start of the Republican convention seems well within grasp. McCain's fundraising team has also been asked to raise $100 illion to go into the Republican National Committee's Victory Fund. Victory Fund revenues will be needed in the fall. WALLACE: Senator McCain, welcome back to "Fox News Sunday." MCCAIN: Thank you, Chris. It's nice to be back. WALLACE: Your advisers say that you are going to campaign in places that Republican presidential candidates usually don't -- inner city, rural Alabama, Appalachia. Do you plan to run as a different kind of Republican? MCCAIN: I believe that the party of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan -- that that's a tradition of the Republican Party, that we need to go all over America, and not just the specific places you're talking about, but compete hard in every section of the country -- for example, California. California can no longer be written off, in my view. And that means going to all parts of that state and reaching out to Hispanic voters, independents, others. I know that you know, Chris, that one of the recent trends which may not have been as understood as well as some other things is that there's this dramatic rise in the independent voter registration, whether it be in my state or all across America. The independent voter will make an even larger difference, I think, in the 2008 election. So I have to energize our base, get the independents and the old and new, quote, "Reagan Democrats." WALLACE: I think you might agree that Republicans have too often been portrayed, and perhaps too often acted, as the party of the haves at the expense of the have-nots. You're here today at the Civil Rights Museum, but it has come to our attention that in 1983 you voted against the federal holiday for Martin Luther King. You voted in 1990 against civil rights legislation. Isn't it going to be hard to reach out to all those groups given your history and the history of the party? MCCAIN: Well, let me say in 1983 I was wrong, and I believe that my advocacy for the recognition of Dr. King's birthday in Arizona was something that I'm proud of. The issue in the early '90s was a little more complicated. I've never believed in quotas, and I don't. There's no doubt about my view on that issue. And that was the implication, at least, of that other vote. But I was wrong in '83, and all of us make mistakes, and I think nobody recognized that more than Dr. King. To be continued... In 2005, one Senator was a “Taxpayer Super Hero” but no Senator received that status in 2006. The closest to that level were Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), John Sununu (R-N.H.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), all of whom had the highest score of 95 percent. Barack Obama 30% Hillary Clinton 14% On the other end of the scale, Sens. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) all received a score of zero percent. In 2005, the lowest score was 4 percent. ### "Davis pointed to five subgroups he said would be key to a victory in November. Those include "WalMart Moms," frugal suburban voters lower on the economic scale who Davis estimates will make up 17% of the electorate, and "Rehab Republicans," historically GOP voters who have grown disaffected, and a group from which Davis estimates McCain needs four out of five voters to win. Younger voters, Davis said, will be a new frontier for national Republicans. While thousands pack rallies with Barack Obama, the campaign and the RNC will work together to figure out new ways to attract those younger voters. Acknowledging Obama's popularity and the higher turnout his candidacy has generated, Davis said he won't give up on the demographic. "If Barack Obama wins the nomination, we need to fight him for every youth vote we can," Davis said. Reaching out to social networkers, which Davis defined as "Facebook Independents," will be key as well. Fiscal conservatives -- "There's a reason there's no taxation on the internet," he said -- the group is more likely to become an activist on their candidate's behalf." Date Published: April 1, 2008 "Where does Lieberman meet McCain? (Answer: Iraq)" Publication: Denver Post Author: David Harsanyi Full article David Harsanyi Denver Post Excerpts: Sen. Joe Lieberman is one of the most polarizing figures in American politics. Hated by the progressive left and bizarrely embraced by many on the right, his story tells us plenty about the state the politics in America. None of it pretty. Al Gore's vice presidential pick in 2000, Joe has had a tough go of it since. A staunch defender of the war in Iraq, the senator ran afoul with his party, lost in a Connecticut primary, became an independent (though he still caucuses with Democrats) and, finally, endorsed his friend and colleague, Republican presidential candidate John McCain. "Well, I say that the Democratic Party changed," Lieberman told ABC's "This Week" this past Sunday. "The Democratic Party today was not the party it was in 2000. It's not the Bill Clinton-Al Gore party, which was strong internationalists, strong on defense, pro-trade, pro-reform in our domestic government. It's been effectively taken over by a small group on the left of the party that is protectionist, isolationist . . . and very, very hyperpartisan." “We just started this process of getting together a list of names and having them looked at, and I don’t know how long it takes,’’ Mr. McCain said in a radio interview Wednesday morning with Don Imus. “But if I had a personal preference, I’d like to do it before the convention to avoid some of the mistakes that I’ve seen made in the past, as you get into a time crunch and maybe sometimes don’t make the announcement right.’’ Mr. McCain, 71, told Mr. Imus “I’m aware of enhanced importance of this issue given my age.’’ Howard Dean said the following: "While we honor McCain's military service, the fact is Americans want a real leader who offers real solutions, not a blatant opportunist who doesn't understand the economy and is promising to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years." But four years ago Dean said this about John Kerry "The real issue is this," Dean said in March 2004, when endorsing formal rival Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., "Who would you rather have in charge of the defense of the United States of America, a group of people who never served a day overseas in their life, or a guy who served his country honorably and has three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star on the battlefields of Vietnam?" It is interesting to hear Alan Colmes incessantly harping on double standards by Republicans on tiny issues that most people have never heard of while Democrats typically give us daily doses of the Dean type. John McCain's latest video highlights not just his own military career but also that of a family which has shown serious dedication to service of the country for many decades. The senator himself is a graduate of the Naval Academy who went to war without flinching, unlike Bill Clinton, who used various tricks to avoid the Vietnam War. Don't voters have to give serious thought to the differences between a man with his background and a young Senator, who like most of those in his party seem to always treat national defense as something not to worry about too much . When national defense also takes much of the money that could be redistributed to his constituents he has another reason to downplay our war on terror. If Barack succeeds in getting more funds redistributed to his constituents, he gets their vote. Hillary wants in on that redistribution every bit as much as Barack and aside from her hair raising not so "excellent adventure" in Bosnia or the after effects of her "misspoke" because she was tired, there is also the fact that husband Bill once bragged about how he "loathed the military." Among some of the military personnel who were assigned to the White House, Hillary's disdain was just as clear. As a practical matter she learned that America as a whole, loves and respects its military and so she made her adjustment accordingly. NEW YORK POST RESTORING GOP PRINCIPLE By JACON SULLUM March 29, 2008 "ON Friday March 21, a House Appropriations Committee Web site was so overwhelmed by legislators' wish lists that it crashed, forcing the committee to extend the deadline for earmark requests until the next Monday. Most members of Congress seem to think the problem with earmarks is like the problem with the committee's server: not any particular person's demands, just all of them together. On the face of it, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, and the two remaining contenders for the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, take a different view: All three supported a one-year moratorium on earmarks that the Senate recently rejected by a wide margin. But only McCain has taken a principled stand against the pet projects that legislators love to slip into spending bills." Portman has experience in legislation as a member of congress and also the House Republican leadership. He has experience in executive government, serving in the cabinet of Mr. Bush. He has been a diplomat serving as the U.S. Trade representative and finally in economics he served as the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He comes from a swing state (Ohio), and being only 52 years old presents a nice contrast agewise to Senator McCain. Finally he scores a very respectable 89 percent lifetime score with the American Conservative. McCain adviser Steve Schmidt was asked about allegations McCain was blocking [Heath] Schuler’s legislation, titled the Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement Act. Earlier this week Shuler claimed progress on moving the bill through the House was “going great until McCain blocked it.” Shuler, a former NFL player, apparently made the statement John McCain was asking Republican members of the House not to sign a discharge petition to advance the bill in a series of phone calls. Schmidt replied, "The comments with regard to the phone calls are false and makes you wonder if Heath Shuler had one too many encounters with a line backer in his previous profession and where he came up with that from." "I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers," Mr. McCain said. "Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy." "No assistance should be given to speculators, or people who bought houses to rent or as second homes." "I will consider any and all proposals based on their cost and benefits," Townhall.com McCain: Collaborate More With Allies By LIZ SIDOTI full article Liz Sidoti Townhall.com Excerpts: Republican John McCain on Wednesday called anew for the United States to work more collegially with democratic allies and live up to its duties as a world leader, drawing a sharp contrast to the past eight years under President Bush. "Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed," the likely presidential nominee said in a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies," McCain added. Coming days after his trip to the Middle East and Europe, McCain's speech was intended to signal to leaders abroad _ and voters at home _ that he would end an era of what critics have called Bush's cowboy diplomacy. McCain never mentioned Bush's name, though he evoked former Democratic Presidents Truman and Kennedy. According to those reporters who have worked and reported on the McCain campaign, he is a constant source of energy who essentially wears those reporters out at the end of long days of campaigning. This is not a surprise. Mr. McCain was raised during World War 2.He grew up in an era when Americans did not blame America for trying to make the world safe for Democracy or cop out for narcissistic purposes as some do so easily today and then blame any circumstances that comes to mind for their ungratefulness at being an American. Then John McCain went out and lived the toughness that many men of those times experienced. Interestingly, at this moment Hillary Clinton has just been caught in one of her many shameless lies and her surrogates are using tricky words and phrases to call this blatant lie everything but what it is, a shameless lie. The Washington Post gave it 4 pinocchios, it deserved 5 Just think, the choice could be between a man of lifetime integrity, experience and great service to his country or a woman with no real experience, a lifetime of lying and scandals, and the use of government to advance her own career. Just think of the millions of Americans who are totally happy to follow and support such low standards, when they will have a choice to vote for a man of such high standards. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of McCain's closest allies on Capitol Hill, told National Journal, "I think what John will do at the end of the day is pick somebody primarily with the idea in mind of being able to continue policies that will lead to victory in the war on terror, and who has an understanding of where he would like to take the country domestically, and is willing to pick up the gauntlet, so to speak." OPINIONS: House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio: "We need someone who is younger, a solid conservative, and someone who can fill the position," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, says. Mr. Boehner believes that one of the governors will be the choice of the senator. Fellow Republican in the Senate, Trent Lott also leans toward a governor. Former senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, also thinks a governor and especially someone outside of Washington will be and should be the choice. Governor Mitt Romney is supported by many conservatives. Another name starting to come up more regularly is Rob Portman former member of the U.S. House, along with having headed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and a former trade rep. McCain and Romney: Mitt's moment - at last? By Joan Vennochi Globe Columnist March 23, 2008 Full article Joan Vennochi Boston Globe Excerpts: A McCain-Romney ticket makes political sense for the GOP. John McCain and Mitt Romney fought bitterly as presidential candidates and don't seem to like each other very much. But, to quote Vice President Dick Cheney in his recent interview with ABC's Martha Raddatz: "So?" Comment About John McCain by Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard Luckiest Man in the Race Full article Fred Barnes Weekly Standard Excerpts: John McCain is one lucky fellow. Of course you can make your own luck, as the saying goes. That's what McCain did with great courage to survive five-and-a-half years at the Hanoi Hilton. And he made his own luck again by advocating a surge of troops in Iraq that later proved to be successful. In winning the Republican presidential nomination, however, McCain has mostly been just plain lucky, no thanks to his own fortitude or foresight. Conservatives inadvertently aided him by failing to line up behind a single rival. Mike Huckabee ruined Mitt Romney's strategy by beating him in Iowa. And Rudy Giuliani helped by pulling out of New Hampshire and fading in Florida, allowing McCain to sneak ahead and win primaries in both states. Now Democrats are boosting McCain's chances of winning the presidency by prolonging the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. "They are eating their own," says Dick Morris, the onetime adviser to the Clintons. The result, for the moment anyway, is that McCain is inching ahead in polls matching him against Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. From Townhouse.Com American Taxpayers Beware By John Boehner Friday, March 21, 2008 "House Republicans have taken a stand against wasteful Washington spending by calling for a complete freeze on all "earmarks" and pork-barrel projects. While our challenge has largely fallen on deaf ears — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, could shut down the earmark process tomorrow if she wanted to — our cause has a strong ally in Sen. John McCain. Mr. McCain has been a leader in the quest to end pork-barrel spending and has led by example — the senator, like myself, doesn't request earmarks. He strongly supported a one-year moratorium on all earmarks in the U.S. Senate. And as president, Mr. McCain has promised that any "earmarked, pork-barrel bill that comes across my desk, I'll veto it." Mr. McCain's opposition to wasteful spending is a breath of fresh air to taxpayers who foot the bill for congressional spending sprees. Americans aren't interested in paying for teapot museums, peanut storage and "monuments to me," where congressmen name buildings and other projects after themselves. And with families feeling the pinch of high gas prices and skyrocketing health care costs, they're certainly not interested in tax increases." From: THE WASHINGTON TIMES Petraeus politics There seems to be nothing but truth and accuracy about everything in the testimony of General Petraeus to congress, each time he has appeared. In September Democrats were downright insulting with Hillary Clinton using the words, "the willing suspension of disbelief", which fell just short of calling the general a liar. John McCain has strongly supported the surge since its inception and has in fact staked his presidential bid on a successful continuation of the effort. Full article The Washington Times In comments to the Financial Times John McCain expressed beliefs suggesting, for example the importance of building an enduring peace, with the phrase "working together" central to that outcome. He expressed concern about Russia heading back in the direction of autocracy, and also voice concerns for the planet. He said: "At the heart of this new compact must be mutual respect and trust. We Americans recall the words of our founders in the Declaration of Independence, that we must pay “decent respect to the opinions of mankind”. Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed. We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies. When we believe that international action is necessary, whether military, economic or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we, in return, must also be willing to be persuaded by them." In the end, the senator said, it is the Democratic nations that must bring this about Realism In Iraq By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY March 18, 2008 4:20 PM PT Full article Investors Business Daily Excerpts: War On Terror: As John McCain and Dick Cheney observe progress of the surge in person, new revelations show how important Iraq is to al-Qaida. Electing a Democrat president would squander our gains. Top Democrats are so committed to the position that liberating Iraq will go down as a monumental blunder that the most powerful tsunami of facts will not change their minds. Meeting this week with top Iraqi politicians as well as with Gen. David Petraeus, Sen. McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, provided a strong dose of realism about our forces' future there. From: Washington Post Monday March 17, 2008 "McCain was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, according to Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih. While Salih did not see McCain on Sunday, he said McCain's "message has been consistent in the past saying Iraqis have to take responsibility and deliver on political progress." Salih said it was important for Iraqi politicians not to get involved in U.S. domestic politics but that his colleagues were "keenly aware of the debate in the United States." Most important, he said, was a "solid long-term partnership" with the United States and a commitment that the American government "continue to look at Iraq as an important mission that cannot be allowed to fail." "Abandoning Iraq is not an option," he said." Full article Washington Post Conservative Republican senators have introduced a series of tough illegal-immigration measures. In the House of Representatives, Republican members are trying to force a vote on an enforcement. They have picked up some support from conservative Democrats. Recall that McCain sponsored a bill with Ted Kennedy that had much consideration for Hispanics, but was reviled by most voters of both parties. Hispanics applauded McCain's efforts, so as of now he is popular among them, even though he has pledged emphatically that "he gets it" with what the American people want, secure borders before any consideration of any kind. Should the firm stand on ending the illegal aspect of coming to America be held against McCain or for that matter Republicans. It shouldn't be. In America, a man should be supported for being firm in his desire to see that nation's laws upheld. "Since 2000, the federal budget has increased 72%, to $3.1 trillion from $1.8 trillion. The national debt is now $9 trillion -- more than the combined GDP of China, Japan and Canada. Add in Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security commitments, and as a nation we are staring at more than a $50 trillion hole -- an invisible mortgage of $450,000 for every American family. Hope alone won't carry us through the valley of the shadow of debt. The fact that neither Mrs. Clinton nor Mr. Obama has made cost-cutting a part of their political vocabulary is a clear indication that they would increase spending. In fact, Mrs. Clinton has already proven skillful at snagging pork. Over the past few years alone, she has attached some $2.2 billion in earmarks to federal spending bills. Mr. McCain has asked for exactly $0 in earmarks. And while Mr. Obama's oratorical skills have been inspiring, his proposals would entail roughly the same $800 billion in new government spending that Mrs. Clinton proposes. To his credit, Mr. Obama admits that his spending proposals will take more than three clicks of his heels to fund. He would pay for his priorities with a bevy of tax increases which he hopes taxpayers won't notice." Full article Mark Sanford Wall Street Journal Spending: John MCCAIN: "But we have got to get spending under control. And we have got to secure our borders. And we have got to get them re-energized. You were around in the 2004 and 2000 races, I saw President Bush energize our base. We have got to energize our base again. And I think I can do it with a strong conservative message. But we also have to get independents and we also have to get old and new Reagan Democrats." Ending Earmarks: Yes! Raising Taxes? John MCCAIN: No. And look, here we are, Americans are hurting, you know that, I know that. These are tough economic times. Do we want to raise their taxes and have the government take more of their money right now when they are facing these challenges? I look forward to this debate between myself and Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. I will be respectful, but it will be vigorous. And one of them is taxes. We can't raise people's taxes, particularly at this particular time. And if you don't make the present tax cuts permanent, then you are going to -- every family and business in America is going to experience a tax increase. That is what this permanency of the tax cuts is all about. Favorite Supreme Court Justice John MCCAIN: I would have to say Roberts, probably. I think -- and I think particularly in his position as chief justice. I think he is really a remarkable leader. I respect and admire Alito. Scalia I have disagreed with on a couple of things, but the fact is he is a staunch conservative. But I would have to say Roberts. But the important thing -- the important thing is nominate judges who have a strict interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. And that is going to be a big job for the next president because everybody says there could be at least two vacancies on the United States Supreme Court. On HillaryCare John MCCAIN:We tried this. We've seen this movie before back in 1993, OK. And it is a government takeover and there is nothing -- it's one of my -- it's not an original line but it's a great one. Nothing is going to be more expensive for America than free health care. OK? And we can make America the highest quality health care in the world, affordable and available and it's not the quality, it's the cost. And we can put in a lot of incentives that bring costs down and make it affordable and available and let families make the choices of health care of their families rather than the government. Speaking in New Hampshire, which has voted Democratic in recent presidential elections, McCain said "I love it here" and made it clear, he intends to return regularly in hopes of capturing this state's modest 4 electoral votes. Because of his "Maverick" reputation, McCain enjoys strong support among moderates and independents. McCain aides are said to be devising a strategy, that would pay serious attention to winning 20 to 25 states that are normally blue states and in the Democratic camp. Some of the states being given serious attention are Washington, Oregon, in the far-west and Wisconsin in the mid-west and in the northeast Connecticut is not completely out of the question because he has the backing of Joe Lieberman. Also in the mid-west, Michigan seems to be very much within reach at the moment Also in the east, Pennsylvania is now a distinct possibility. The landscape is getting more and more interesting Some Democratic spokesman have been suggesting that John McCain has no more or maybe not as much experience to be considered as the most capable person for leading the war on terror. Liberals/Democrats blatantly do a selling job that Hillary's claims about various influences she's had in important foreign affairs, are actually so. Invariably, those closest to such events usually suggest she had little to do with her claims, although there sometimes is a person or two who has some statement that makes the claim possible. We must remember, these are two people who have been caught in many outright lies, or have lied by their silence or in Hillary's case the 57 "I can't recalls" statements she made in one trial. There have been plenty of other of these, such as her cattle-future trading, or the missing files that showed up in her office. There have been too many of these to remember. Neither McCain or Clinton have direct experience, but McCain knew enough about military battles to be very influential in the highly successful Iraq surge, among other factors. A combat pilot with many missions and a 5 year prisoner of war plus much more experience in the Senate would seem to tip the scales so far in his favor when viewed by any objective person. From: Townhall.Com McCain Scolds Obama, Clinton Over NAFTA By GLEN JOHNSON Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Full article: Glen Johnson Townhall.Com Sen. John McCain said Tuesday that proposals by Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton to use pressure tactics to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement could undermine U.S. trade relationships with other nations. "We've got to stop this protectionist, NAFTA-bashing," the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting told a town hall meeting at Savvis Inc., an information technology company. McCain said his potential Democratic opponents were wrong to threaten pulling out of NAFTA to force Canada and Mexico to negotiate more protections for workers and the environment in the agreement. Senator McCain had a full medical screening on Monday. He has previously been treated for skin cancer. His dermatologist performed a cancer screening over the past severak weeks. Results from all the exams will be released April 15. The senator said everything was fine. "Like most Americans, I go see my doctor fairly frequently." McCain's next consideration is fundraising. John McCain is not only supporting the Bush tax cuts, he is proposing a cut in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. This would be great for America. In early 1993 Ireland tarted cutting its corporate tax rate which eventually went down drastically to the present 12.5%. Ireland took other steps to cut government and regulations and made it very favorable for businesses and even giant corporations to set up headquarters there. Many did. Before that Ireland was so much in the doldrums, it was known as the "sick man of Europe." To get meaningful work, many young workers had to go elsewhere. Ireland has become the envy of Europe since these cuts Beyond President Bush's endorsement of John McCain, it looks as though many old pros that helped elect and re-elect the president will be helping Mr. McCain. Among those are, supposedly, Steve Schmidt, Bush’s man, shall we say at finding weaknesses of the opponent, and Mark McKinnon, the president’s media strategist. It is reported they will essentially be in the same role for McCain now. But other big-names that will be assisting McCain are lining up including Ken Mehlman, who directed Mr. Bush’s 2004 campaign. . Karl Rove recently contributed to McCain's cause and is said to be coming on board as an advisor. Dan Bartlett, formerly a top aide in the Bush White House might be coming aboard, along with a lady named Sara Taylor. All of the above are seasoned pros who, win, lose or draw know what running a campaign is all about. From USA Today McCain has opening with Hispanics By Raul Reyes Full article Raul Reyes USA Today Excerpts: Every Sunday night my family gets together in East L.A. for tamales, enchiladas and a few helpings of political discourse. Recently we had a heated debate on the relative merits of Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama. True to the Latino demographic, nearly all 15 people around the table were for Clinton. My younger cousins and I were the only ones backing Obama. But what if Clinton doesn't get the nomination, I asked. After a pause, my aunt remarked that then she might consider voting for John McCain. Her comment brought thoughtful nods from the others in the room. I was shocked. You see, I come from a long line of true-blue Chicano Democrats. But my family's reaction indicates that Democrats can no longer take the Latino vote for granted. Being political free agents may serve us better in the long run. That realization has forced me to take a more open-minded look at McCain. At their Wednesday meeting John McCain said he was "honored and humbled" to have the president's support going into a tough general-election campaign. "I appreciate his endorsement," McCain told reporters, indicating he does not intend to distance himself -- at least not too much. "I intend to have as much possible campaigning events together as is in keeping with the president's heavy schedule." Democrats are attemptin to link McCain and Bush, who has the job approval of only about 32 percent of Americans. Separately, a group launched a $1.1 million ad campaign called "McSame" that links McCain's positions with those of Bush. The Democratic National Committee made itself heard issuing the following "John McCain Offers a Third Term of George W. Bush." John McCain and the president appear to be on the same page on issues, such as terrorism, Iraq, immigration and taxes. George Bush and John McCain have had a strained relationship for some time. The 2000 presidential nomination contest caused a serious strain between the two. But by last year, McCain strongly supported the president's surge strategy in Iraq. From: TIME By MICHAEL SCHERER The Luck of John McCain Full article Michael Scherer TIME Excerpts: Despite his superstitions, John McCain likes to describe himself as "the luckiest man you will ever meet." Most of the time, he is speaking of the past — the fire he narrowly escaped on the U.S.S. Forrestal in 1967 or the the five years of torture and confinement he survived in Hanoi. But that luck continues to this day. His victories Tuesday in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont sealed for him both the Republican nomination and one of the most remarkable runs in modern political history. So it was not much of a surprise Tuesday night when McCain clarified his position on destiny before hundreds of supporters in Dallas. "I have never believed I was destined be President," he said at one point, between the cheers. "I don't believe anyone is predestined to lead America." Still there is no denying the good fortune that has helped McCain secure the nomination. Just two months ago, the Arizona Senator was still a distant long shot, operating a bare-bones campaign on a bank loan with a dilapidated staff of mostly unpaid advisors. Then almost everything broke his way: Mike Huckabee won Iowa, crippling the powerhouse campaign of Mitt Romney. Rudy Giuliani abandoned New Hampshire, allowing his moderate supporters to shift to McCain. Fred Thompson stayed in the race until South Carolina, bleeding enough votes away from Huckabee to allow McCain to win that key state. Even Huckabee seemed to cooperate, devoting crucial days to a foolhardy effort in Michigan and swearing off any negative attacks on McCain before he bowed out of the race Tuesday night. John McCain III was born August 29, 1936.He is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He is the leading candidate for the Republican Party nomination in the 2008 presidential election. Today March 4, 2008 is a day in which Senator McCain could make it official and become the nominee. Four states are holding primaries. Texas, Ohio, Vermont and Rhode Island. In those four states, 256 Delegates are at stake. The amount needed to win the nomination is 1191. Senator McCain needs 172 more, he already has 1019. It is no sure thing he will get the nomination tonight, if not he should come within a hair, with many states remaining. There seems no doubt the nomination is his and soon. Both McCain's grandfather and father were admirals in the United States Navy. He attended the United States Naval Academy and graduating in 1958. He was married in 1965 and divorced several years later. He became a naval aviator, on a carrier. During the Vietnam War he was shot down and badly injured. He spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war, enduring substantial torture. He was released in 1973. Senator McCain retired from the Navy in 1981. He has recently remarried, McCain moved to Arizona and entered politics. In 1982, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's 1st congressional district. John McCain served two terms in the House, later being elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona in 1986. He won re-election to the U.S. Senate in 1992, 1998, and 2004. John McCain constantly refers to himself as a Conservative Republican while at the same time has developed a reputation as a "political Maverick." McCain has been described as defiant of much Republican orthodoxy on several issues. Totally cleared of any wrongdoing, in the Keating Five scandal of the 1980s, he was instrumental in bringing about campaign finance reform which eventually led to the passing of the McCain-Feingold Act in 2002. Many conservatives are still angry with McCain over this legislation which they consider government control over the constitutional right of free speech. From: Club For Growth Press Release McCain is Right on Social Security Washington – The Club for Growth praised John McCain for his support of personal savings accounts for Social Security even in the face of a fresh deluge of criticism from the Left. A long-time supporter of personal savings accounts, McCain was attacked anew by the liberal media for reiterating his support in a Wall Street Journal interview for the kind of market-based reforms that will give workers a greater return on their Social Security taxes and relieve them from the ball and chain of government dependence. The Left continues to attack McCain—as they did President Bush—for wanting to dismantle Social Security, but this line of attack is political demagoguery at its best. McCain actually wants to increase benefits by giving workers the freedom to invest their payroll taxes in the market. This way, their taxes can grow and accumulate as financial assets do, instead of forcing workers to send their hard-earned money to Washington so Congressional Members can spend it on Bridges to Nowhere and Hippie Museums. In contrast, Senators Obama and Clinton have embraced or contemplated raising Social Security taxes in order to maintain the program’s solvency—a short-term solution that further exacerbates the already meager returns workers receive on the taxes they pay into the program. Furthermore, Senator McCain is the only candidate in this race to oppose raiding the Social Security Trust Fund for other government programs. Both Senators Obama and Clinton have voted to continue raiding the Trust Fund, preferring to spend America’s payroll taxes on wasteful government programs and pork projects (Roll Call #89, 03/22/07). “When it comes to tackling Social Security’s impending crisis, it is clear that Senator McCain is the only candidate in this race willing to stand up for taxpayers,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “We encourage the Senator to continue to make the case for market-based reforms of Social Security to the American people. American taxpayers deserve more than the tax increases and wasteful spending Senators Obama and Clinton are offering them.”
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