Mike Huckabee won two of the weekend’s three contests, and is contesting the third. John McCain’s margin over Huckabee in Virginia has shrunk from 32 points to 11 points over the weekend. That is probably not enough momentum to beat McCain tomorrow, but it is now possible that the de facto GOP nominee may not win a majority of the vote there.
Mike Huckabee has not changed in the past week or so. His fortunes have changed because he is NotMcCain. One inference that might be drawn is that the drumbeat of some McCain supporters for others to “shut up” and “grow up” is being ignored or defied. No doubt that some of them will see these events as confirmation of their thesis that McCain’s detractor’s are behaving childishly. However, even assuming for the sake of argument that these McCain supporters are correct, the McCain campaign will be hard pressed to ignore their detractors on the Right or the fact that telling them to “grow up” seems to be counter-productive.ÂÂ
McCain could simply wait them out and hope he can spare a few percentage points. However, McCain’s campaign reportedly is trying to mend fences with various conservative leaders, which suggests they have concluded that they may not have a few percentage points to spare.ÂÂ
The campaign might also consider reaching out to conservatives, though the media — and probably members of McCain’s staff — will fret about losing moderate or independent support.  But there are things he could do that would appeal to the conservative political junkies who oppose him without scaring off moderates and indpendents.ÂÂ
For example, as suggested by SeeDubya, he could boot Juan Hernandez and Richard Armitage from his campaign and assure the base that neither would hold any position in a McCain administration. Swing voters neither know of or care about those two (and others like them) , but people like Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Malkin would get the message. Obviously, McCain could still get advice from Hernandez, Armitage, et al. informally; there is no way he could be stopped from dialing the Reform Institute on the sly. Yet that is a far cry from placing such people in a McCain cabinet, where they would have a fair amount of discretion over the day-to-day formulation and implementation of policies that would fly beneath the radar of the vast majority of the citizenry. He could do a little staff re-tooling, ostensibly for the general election, drop it in a press release issued on a Friday evening and the vast middle which McCain seeks to keep in his camp would be none the wiser.
Grow up.
Yep, that’s working so well. Oddly enough, you don’t hear it out of camp McCain, just out of misguided supporters outside the campaign.
“Grow up.”
Translation: Listen to your betters. Stop acting like Kossacks. Get over yourselves. The country is moving left with or without you, and if you’re going to freak out over a little more fascism coming from the GoP, well, it’s without you.
Geez. You’d think we’d nominated someone who believes in
Global Warming,de facto amnesty,open borders,higher taxes,restrictions on free speech,closing Gitmo,Big Business as the Enemy, bringing the troops home tomorrow.McCain and his campaign is doing nothing to disavow the “grow up” people speaking on his behalf.
No, but inasmuch as McCain’s actions suggest he wants the votes, it’s probably incompetence, not the strategy. I suppose it could be good cop, bad cop, but it’s backfiring, so I would imagine they will figure that out at some point.
Here’s something that sums it up pretty good.
Get it out, let the tears flow.
McCain’s Kool Aide isn’t that bitter. I’m on my second cup. At first light it’ll burn a little when you pee, sure, but unless you’re knees buckle and you fall head-first into the toilet you’re not going to die.
Man-up.
Karl – You are more level-headed than I. You attribute incompetence where I would attribute malice.
thor,
I would go with the “let it out” at this point, as “man up” doesn’t seem to be doing the trick. If Johnny Mac did a little hand-holding, whisper some sweet talk gently, all the better.
One inference that might be drawn is that the drumbeat of some McCain supporters for others to “shut up†and “grow up†is being ignored or defied.
I think constantly insulting and attacking people for disagreeing with you isn’t a great way of winning friends and influencing people. The very rhetoric being used (like Hillary’s “fall in line” comment) is probably turning at least as many away as it’s convincing, don’t you think?
I like McCain more and more each day. John Bolton said he was a stand-up guy, and that’s good enough for me, really. Also I think Baracky is in danger of becoming president. That would represent really a lot a repudiation of conservatism I think. Let’s not have that. He’s a goofball I think.
but people like Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Malkin would get the message
Yeah, that he’ll pretend to listen in order to gain power. Seriously, Senator McCain isn’t likely to do that to begin with but even if he did, why did he hire them in the first place? Because he was confused about their positions?
Go fuck yourself, plebe.
OK, Karl, don’t man-up or man-down, or man-sideways because that’s called spooning in some circles.
I just don’t get all the muckracking. Yes, McCain has fucked up. His vote on ANWR and his co-sponsoring Bush’s illigal immigration stimulus package was downright stupid.
McCain’s always been fairly reasonable, or reasonable enough to admit he’s messed up in his past efforts to get something-anything done.
He’s still done a few good things and he’s a solid guy, as guys go. Piling on won’t bring about anything positive. Rush and Ann can blow me, well, at least Ann can.
I think I’d rather bitch about John McCain for a couple years than be left staring with this piteous uncomprehending glazed look limned with just a trace of horrified as Barack or Clinton ravaged this country’s soul for a whole term.
I agree, “grow up” is a put down. I tried it with more words a few days ago and was labeled “pompous jackass”. There is more than enough “I hate Son of Cain” to go around but I still don’t understand something.
What should be done about McCain’s presumed nomination and to what end?
That, I think is a fair question.
david – He can set a course for earning some votes. Getting rid of Armitage and Hernandez, at the bare minimum, would be a token 1st step. Having his proxies out calling names while he does nothing other than claim to be a Reagan R, with a record that does not support that, is not a good first step.
All you have to do now really is decide between McCain and some Democrat to be named later. It’s not really all that challenging I don’t think. You’re already familiar with certain of McCain’s less than optimal qualities and the Democrats have been screechy enough you probably already get what they’re all about too. The drama of it all was so last week I think. It’s more time now to start framing discussion of the House and Senate races than I think to worry much about the accomplis that are fait. There’s no reason that there can’t be two national campaigns I don’t think. Republican Congressional candidates don’t have to act like they’re getting all married to Sen. McCain. If they want to get some contract or messaging together independent of him I think that would be a healthy exercise really. What are the principles that a majority of those little monkeys can sign off on? I’m kind of curious myself.
I think I’m close to supporting Obama. Do away with the perfunctory charge of racism forever being hurled my way.
The perfunctory sexism charge I think I can get around by pointing out that I once made sweet, sweet love to my inner grrl, then didn’t demand she fetch me a beer afterward. Instead, we just cuddled and talked about how much we both like Sandra Bullock movies.
Yeah, what are we supposed to do? Volunteer to help install coin-operated tampon dispensers in every classroom in American? Volunteer to teach bi-lingual man-hater classes at community colleges? Volunteer to stand around at airports and shout obscenities at soldiers returning home from Iraq?
Vote for Billary?
Eff that. Son of Cain gets my vote. Anti-American Maxi-pad politics ain’t my thing. I’m a jerk.
There is more than enough “I hate Son of Cain†to go around but I still don’t understand something.
What should be done about McCain’s presumed nomination and to what end?
That, I think is a fair question.
You should decide whether you want to vote for him or not, just like all the other nominees. I’ll tell you what I think is a fair question: How come when people ask what do you think of John McCain as President and I say he seems like an okay guy but I really don’t like his past positions on principles I hold important so I don’t think I can give him my vote, I get labeled an immature hater?
Well really I think the idea that having McCain make some symbolic gesture like firing the one guy or hiring the other or saying this or that and then somehow he would be (just barely) palatable really underestimates the many many creative ways he can be a total asshole. He is what he is. Baracky is kind of what he thinks he is in a maybe sorta kinda way but he’s making that up a lot as he goes along. I don’t have to tell you about this Hillary Clinton person.
So as you man-up I’ll do just that.
Sorry, angry need’n to man-up man, I meant to say “soon as you man-up” I’ll fuck myself.
Hurry up. I can’t wait to get me some of me.
But there are things he could do that would appeal to the conservative political junkies
?
You don’t expect me to talk, do you, Goldfinger?
Those Democrat people will unionize the shit out of us and we’ll be all Frenched up with union dues and strikes all the time and that’s very hard to undo. Just that right there really bugs me. There’s other stuff too.
Wait… is thor really McCain posting with a nickname? You know god of thunder and all that, would fit his ego. What’s his IP?
Uh, I’m like 73. You can start without me. Just don’t forget to service that Johnny Mac whippersnapper first.
@ #7 Man-up
Throw in a “Nancy” or “Nancyboys,” and I vote your boy.
But it’s too late now…
1. I would love to hear some examples of Mac admitting he’s messed up anything. Illegal immigration? He says he gets it, but publicly complains about the “G-d-mned fence.” Has he admitted to opposing the Bush tax cuts based on class warfare rhetoric, or is he lying about it his opposition being based on a lack of spending cuts? Has he admitted that Big Pharma has saved more lives than he has yet? Has he apologized for broadbrushing defense conractors as profiteeers? Has he admitted that ANWR is not actually the same as the Grand Canyon? Really, let’s have some examples of Senator Humble.
2. Inasmuch as Mac is selling himself as a “true conservative,” perhaps someone can explain how the desire to do “something-anything” meshes with the sales pitch. Mac gets grief for wholeheartedly throwing himself into supporting the wrong things.
Too late, baby, actually.
Though we really did try to make it.
Wait… is thor really McCain posting with a nickname?
If he is he needs to lay off the homo-erotica. McCain-Feingold was all the fucking my ass will ever need, thank you very much.
@ #7 but unless …you fall head-first into the toilet you’re not going to die
Whose toilet?
I’ll fuck myself
Not with your dick.
Karl – Well said. There has been plenty of lip service, but so far, no happy ending.
Gosh, these pretzels are salty.
McCain… a little staff re-tooling
BUMPER STICKER !!!
REACH OUT POEPEL !!!
Seriously. Actus manages Teh Outreach.
Open up a Lemonade Stand, Jeff.
Where are you heading, friend ?
Wherever the people are as green as their politics. Friend…
~ Teh Music Man ~
They’re asking for it.
Aimed at “them,” K.
Come to think of it, what do we call, respectfully, “Them?”
I mean, “Moonbats” is taken…
Breaking in a new expresso machine, guins?
Or something.
@ #7
Sorry, B, I’m stuck on stupid.
MCCAIN ‘008 !!!
IT ONLY BURNS AWHILE !!!
I apologise for misquoting you, thor.
MCCAIN ‘008
IT’LL BURN A LITTLE WHEN YOU PEE !!!
I think I’m close to supporting Obama
With Nancy Pelosi as Veep.
“The Only Difference Is The Little Outfits. And The Ears.”
You in?
GIANT ANTS!!!
Half man… half ant… he is MANT!
Yeah and, um, John McCain is, like, um 71, and I’m laying a $5 that can wrassle you to the ground and shake the dentures out of your head.
He’s got a temper and a I-can-still-kick-ass gleam in his eye.
Don’t worry girls, the polls indicate John McCain will easily get the national man-up vote.
polls indicate John McCain will easily get the national man-up vote
Oh. Who you votin for, thor?
All I can say is, it’s just as well Georgia already did its primary. Because if it had already come down to McCain vs. Elmer Gantry, I would have drawn a Dem ballot when I went to the polls.
As much as I’m not going to vote for McCain if he’s the nominee, I’m ten times as much not going to vote for Huckabee if he somehow manages at this late date to turn being !McCain into the nomination.
There just ain’t no justice in this world.
For the Man. Duh.
Oddly enough, I always mentally insert the “Duh” whenever thor comments.
John McCain doesn’t cry on message boards. Take his lead.
OTOH, I can’t rehydrate quickly enough. I’m done for…
Nah, McCain doesn’t cry on message boards.
He’s more like the a stepfather with a bad unpredicable temper. Everyone tiptoes around the house lest they bring attention to themselves and get a whipping …. you never know how bad it will be and when it will come, but it WILL come.
No particular offense to stepfathers meant. Just setting the scene.
He’s got a temper and a I-can-still-kick-ass gleam in his eye.
I wouldn’t mistake the gleam of madness and joy over kicking conservatives in the crotch with toughness.