Wash. Times reported McCain "gain[ed] political capital in elections," but offered no explanation
SUMMARY: The Washington Times reported that "Sen. John McCain [R-AZ] emerged from yesterday's elections as one of Republicans' only winners as Democrats made solid gains and both parties turn an eye toward 2008," but offered no explanation to support the claim. In fact, there are indications that the opposite might be true -- issues and candidates supported by McCain were repudiated by voters in the November 7 election.
In a November 8 front-page article titled "McCain gains political capital in elections," Washington Times reporter Stephen Dinan reported that "Sen. John McCain [R-AZ] emerged from yesterday's elections as one of Republicans' only winners as Democrats made solid gains and both parties turn an eye toward 2008," even as Dinan quoted a Republican strategist asserting that McCain assumed the role of "party stalwart ... in a cycle when it was not easy to be a party stalwart." Dinan offered no explanation as to how McCain -- purportedly campaigning for others as a "party stalwart" in a party that suffered significant losses -- gained any "political capital," other than quoting a Republican strategist saying: "There's going to be a batch of people who are going to personally owe McCain and there's going to be another batch of people who are going to have to rethink their view of him."
In fact, there are indications that the opposite might be true -- issues for which McCain has expressed firm support were repudiated by voters in the November 7 election, and two prominent Arizona congressmen McCain campaigned for lost their bids for re-election.
Iraq war
McCain is a strong supporter of the Iraq war, and as recently as October 20, during an interview with CBS News' Katie Couric, restated his position that the United States should send more troops to Iraq. However, the Iraq war, and McCain's specific position on the war, are very unpopular with the electorate. According to CNN's nationwide exit poll for the House races, only 17 percent of voters supported sending more troops to Iraq. By contrast, 55 percent favored withdrawing all or some of U.S. troops in Iraq, and those voters broke for Democrats by lopsided margins.
South Dakota abortion ban
In March, McCain issued contradictory statements indicating his support for a controversial South Dakota bill that sought to ban all abortions except in cases in which the woman's life was endangered. At the time, a McCain spokesman said that the senator "would have signed" the South Dakota bill but added that McCain "would also take the appropriate steps under state law -- in whatever state -- to ensure that the exceptions of rape, incest or life of the mother were included" -- without explaining how he could do both. According to a November 8 Reuters article, South Dakota voters rejected the abortion ban by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent.
Arizona same-sex marriage ban
McCain supported Arizona's Proposition 107, a proposed amendment to the state constitution declaring that "only a union between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage by this state or its political subdivisions," and even appeared in two television ads urging voters to pass the amendment. On November 8, the Associated Press reported that "by 51 percent to 49 percent, Arizonans voted down Proposition 107, which would have amended the state's Constitution to ban same-sex marriage."
McCain campaigned for and endorsed Arizona Republican congressmen J.D. Hayworth and Randy Graf, both of whom issued press releases (here and here) touting McCain's endorsement. Hayworth lost to Democrat Harry Mitchell by four points, while Graf lost to Democrat Gabrielle Giffords by 12 points.
From Stephen Dinan's November 8 Washington Times article:
Sen. John McCain emerged from yesterday's elections as one of Republicans' only winners as Democrats made solid gains and both parties turn an eye toward 2008.
The Arizona Republican, who wasn't up for re-election, rallied to the side of Republican candidates at 131 events -- a strong showing that displayed his rising popularity. His strength was underscored Monday when Charlie Crist, Florida's new Republican governor, chose to skip a scheduled rally with President Bush for an event with Mr. McCain.
"There's going to be a batch of people who are going to personally owe McCain and there's going to be another batch of people who are going to have to rethink their view of him," said Michael McKenna, a Republican strategist and pollster.
"He was a pretty solid party stalwart this go around, in a cycle when it was not easy to be a party stalwart."
A politico who walks around with his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. It's the same beef I have with Hillary Clinton.
McCain is still resting on his "straight talk" laurels from a coupla cycles ago. But for how long? Caving on the torture deal finally ripped it with me.
Is the most dangerous Republican in 2008. He is nasty, has a temper and in my opinion is more unstable than Bush.
he's decisive!
...that Arizona voters rejected the Bigotry-Against-Gays Amendment; I thought Arizona was relatively conservative. Either a lot of voters misread the proposition, or they are more enlightened than my own state, where the obscene Codification of Homophobia Amendment passed by a 4-1 margin. I may retire to Arizona.
Has a problem with Illegals Aliens, not gay marriage.
. . .it's a falicy that there is an illegal alien problem anywhere in the U.S.
...it depends on how you define 'problem'... to me, it seems the folks who whine the loudest about the illegal 'problem' in this country are also the ones who benefit the most from their presence (cheap labor, etc). That's that ol' hypocrisy thing again...
TO THE TOP OF MY LUNGS...... And I will never hire a illegal. Do me a favor. Hire some to do your yard. When they break thier legs, who pays?
You are a pathetic, pathetic appeaser.....
I certainly honor the time McCain spent in Vietnam, especially as a POW, but at some point, those laurels must break through to reality. He hasn't been true to himself since he went to Bob Jones University (or was it some other evangelist univ.?), which gave the repubs. a pass for all the disgusting things they did to him in the primary against bush. Then the torture acquiescence, and the last straw--his jumping all over Kerry for his bad joke, when HE KNOWS FULL WELL that Kerry would never disrespect the troops--that would be like disrespecting his mother, of which I now think he might be capable.
subject 2: Media Matters needs to track and comment on the supposedly-jovial Glen Beck on CNN Headline--what a trip he is! Spews lies right and left, but with a smile, which can be unfortunately very disarming to so many people.
subject 3: JOHN EDWARDS FOR PRES. IN 2008!!!!
I could not agree more. It surprises me that CNN stoops to this level but, I guess they have to put up competition for their rival, Faux. Fortunately, Dreck is only on Headline Prime so far, which is CNN Trailer Park Edition, in my opinion. I also found it disturbing that CNN actually rolled out Coulter in the final run-up to the mid-terms. As if she is actually a reasonable 'pundit' when in fact, I sincerely believe she may be a sociopath. I hope she does some time for her little illegal voting bit, we would all be better off.
>>>"[McCain] rallied to the side of Republican candidates at 131 events -- a strong showing that displayed his rising popularity."<<<
Given the tremendous losses Republicans suffered, you could make a "strong" case that he hurt their causes.
He will get plenty of mileage from this fact alone. Much like Hills will do also. As the race tightens up in the primaries these front running name recog types tend to get winded and fall back.
Maybe some new blood from both parties will emerge with no baggage to carry and we can have an honest open debate for ideas this time around...nah, probably not but it was a nice thought for a sec...
But we can always hope.
I remember Bush talking about the "politcal capital" he "earned" in 2004 . . . That "capital" sure went a long way, didn't it? I'm thinking McCain's currency is worth about as much as Bush's is now.
But he's squandered so much of what he once had that he's still in the red, and will probably never break even.
Cheney will resign soon for "health reasons," and Bush will take McCain as his new veep. Then Bush will resign and McCain will be president before '08, running as the incumbent (after pardoning Bush and Cheney).
That is a believable strategy and it is the type of thing Bush would attempt to pull off. As incumbent, McCain would harder to beat. I once respected him before his ambitions superceded his ethics. Cheney is certainly not bringing anything positive to the table. Maybe he will invite Dubya on a hunting trip, 'accidently' shoot him and then die of a heart attack.
However, a nomination for the office of Vice President must be confirmed by both Houses of Congress.
I ussed to have a measure of respect for McCain back when he was called a maverick. He took positions you could support, but since his 2000 comapign was sabotaged by the Rove - Ops, he seems to have sold his soul for the chance to run, unhindered for the presidency in '08. First the trip to Liberty University, where his kissed Jerry Falwell's fat butt (to secure support from "the base" no doubt), then he knuckled under to Bush on the military commsions bill (to look tough on terror ), now he's support things that I don't think the old McCain would have supported.
I agree with Hogprint, we need new blood in the political arena.
Ah thank yer doon a heckuva a job, Donnie. BTW...yer farred.
Of all the Republican leaders he is the one who saddens me the most. He sold out the main reason why anyone would vote for him...that he was different from the balance of the leaders. He is neither a full time member of the group that Junior Bunnypants in the White House sucked up to nor can he be in line with the mainstream conservatives in his party. He has totally given up definition of himself and I'm afraid the MSM will simply prop him up right until '08.
McCain's party gets hammered, so he, as one of the now marginalized Republicans, mysteriously gains an advantage in 2008, for nothing exudes power and leadership as much as sitting at the kiddy table while the Democratic grownups chart the course of the country.
Get ready for two solid years of shameless MSM spin-tronic lies as a means of bolstering GOP image in the eyes of the Donkey dazzled electorate.