Redstate

Romney will be attending. Rudy won't be.

To understand McCain's philosophy, such as it is. He's essentially an "epicurian" politician in the sense that he willfully plays both sides against each other for his own advantage. Always has been. He's not really a hedonistic, Jerry-Garcia listening liberal but on the other hand he likes the fun and games that arise from not being a staunchly-believing Conservative, too. He's betting heavily that Mr. and Mrs. Middle America are just about where he is.

The frightening thought is that he might be right.

McCain is angry, deep down inside, that Republicans and Conservatives haven't given him credit for being right (in his view) about troop numbers in Iraq while still calling for a surge right now. He's deeply frustrated over the fact that for years he considered himself to be the Voice of Reason regarding Donald Rumsfeld and his mismanagement of the war, and he wants nothing to do with people who blew raspberries at him that entire time in support of Rumsfeld.

His recent comments bear that out completely: Rumsfeld was the "worst secretary of defense in history." McCain really believes that. And the problem is that he's also totally convinced that he was correct about the "boots on the ground" argument but feels slighted by people who said he was stuffed like a Christmas Turkey.

His campaign is running at least at this phase, on a note of anger: he is fundamentally *angry* at Conservatives for not doing more to Dump Rumsfeld before the 2006 elections, and not taking his advice sooner. That's why he's not going to show up at CPAC. He might finally burst a bulkhead, after all.

Like many, I probably won't vote for John McCain largely due to his personality and not his policy positions and so forth. McCain didn't attend because he is bitter, not because he isn't conservative enough or out of place ideologically. It is hard to believe he was a frontrunner as recently as two months ago, but he appears to be on a downward spiral now.

Whether Senator McCain is angry about it or not, it's worth mentioning that he was right and Secretary Rumsfeld, unfortunately, was wrong. At this point it's clear that Sec. Rumsfeld's attempt to turn the military toward smaller, higher-tech units while fighting a counter- insurgency (which must to troop-intensive to succeed) was a grave mistake.

I don't know if Sec. Rumsfeld will be remembered as the worst Secretary of Defense, but he certainly won't be ranked very highly.

McCain is a spoiler. He is toast. Forget him and mobve on. Romney is unproven and inexperienced in international issues plus he has flip flopped on a couple of issues. How many others will he flip flop on?

We need an experienced hand on the controls in today's world. Romney isn't it. There is only one in the republican party that is it and that is Newt. Say what you will about his negatives. if you are willing to cut off your nose to spite your face, you are hopeless anyway. He has the experience. He has the leadership ability. He has the organization and he WILL declare himself as a candidate later this year when his new book comes out. You heard it here first.

Great. Rudy, McCain and Arnold are the new center of the Republican Party. I want to vomit. I may make "global warming" a wedge issue. It is the biggest red herring in my lifetime. Even if they could ever prove it exists, they can never prove man made reguataions are going to anything to stop it. In the meantime, we'll suffer under more government spending and regulation and global socialism, while our econmeny and standard of living takes another hit in the global marketplace.

Hagel, and other GOP senators who have been at the forefront of amnesty/guest worker/comprehensive reform proposals apparently were kept out of the loop while McCain was brought into it behind their backs. Further, as Sen. Brownback was quoted, the amneded Senate bill last year--as horrible as it was (my words)--at least had a few enforcement measures; Brownback claims that he may not be able to vote for this current proposed legislation because there is little or no border security or other enforcement measures. Specter is his normally outraged self because he didn't get special attention. Apparently the other GOP senators mentioned aren't so happy about McCain's collaboration with the Democrats, either. So why did the Democrats rely only on McCain? The only answer that makes sense is that the Dems see McCain as their go-to guy. Pathetic.

He's got lots of friends. Like, for instance, Mitt Romney. From an Article by Evan Lehman in the Lowell Sun (which used to be here but has since moved), 3/30/06:

Gov. Mitt Romney Expressed Support … For An Immigration Program That Places Large Numbers Of Illegal Residents On The Path Toward Citizenship … Romney Said Illegal Immigrants Should Have A Chance To Obtain Citizenship.

Romney was quoted as saying:

I don’t believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country … With these 11 million people, let’s have them registered, know who they are. Those who’ve been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn’t be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country.

Oh, and here's Romney, standing firm with McCain in support of the immigration program:

Meantime, one of McCain's potential rivals for the GOP nomination, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has made it known that he supports the president's immigration position, saying that Republicans who have broken rank with Bush "made a big mistake."

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[F]or by the fundamental law of Nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred...

-John Locke

It's been a full five months since the Washington Post article, so it's entirely possible that he doesn't feel that way anymore.

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[F]or by the fundamental law of Nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred...

-John Locke

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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

This bill is softer on illegal immigration than last year's according to the article. Thats not a flip-flop on McCain's part, its just more steps to the left. If Romney had a bad week, I would call McCain's abysmal. I also heard this morning that Mike DeWine will be McCain's Ohio Chairman. He can have him.

That's just hilarious. Hopefully Romney is working on sewing up Ken Blackwell as his Ohio Chairman.

I guess Taft wasn't available, eh?
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

Senator Brownback has been taking slams here at RedState from scads of Romney supporters for supporting the exact same legislation that we now know Romney was in support of as recently as September of last year. As far as I know, you've not been one of them, so I want to get you on the record - you're just fine with last year's proposal, but not this year's?

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[F]or by the fundamental law of Nature, man being to be preserved as much as possible, when all cannot be preserved, the safety of the innocent is to be preferred...

-John Locke

I would have been fine with last year's House bill.

From the article:

Asked for his views on the immigration bill the Senate is now debating, Romney said he did not know the details, but said of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants, “Let’s have them registered, know who they are, those who’ve been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn’t be here. Those who are here paying taxes, and not taking government benefits, should begin a process toward an application for citizenship as they would from their home country.”

He added, “I don’t believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country. I do believe in insisting that these individuals learn English, pay taxes, and don’t take government benefits.”

Romney wants to smooth the way for more highly-skilled immigrants. “If you graduated at the top of your class at the India Institute of Technology, welcome to the fast track to become a citizen of the US of A. We need your brain power.”

It’s pretty clear that contrary to Leon’s claim, Romney was speaking in generalities and not about the actual legislation that his candidate Brownback supported.

I'm not a South Park Republican, I'm a King of the Hill libertarian.

n/t

Romney's record in four years:

1) Helped stop driver's licenses for illegals

2) Helped stop in-state tutition for illegals

3) Helped end bilingual education

4) Negotiated a deal to let state police arrest illegals

Rudy' record - I hear crickets
McCain's record - I hear crickets
Brownback's record - I hear crickets

Brownbacks Record

All of Brownbacks Votes

I think Romney fully explained his position on Immigration on "This Week." Not exactly something to talk about Sam. Sam knocking Romney on immigration is like Romney complaining that Brownback is too handsome.

www.mymanmitt.com

Do the people saying Sen McCain is too old also think President Reagan should not have run in 1984, since he was older than Sen McCain will be in 2008?

would be at his FIRST inaguration. And BTW, McCain ain't no Reagan.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

. . . in programs that are popular among Republicans like Medicare and Farm Subsidies. As opposed to merely running against “waste, fraud, and abuse” and trying to scapegoat Democrats for the actions and inactions of Republicans.

Oh and I don’t think McCain would have cut and run from Grenada like Reagan did or negotiate with terrorists by selling the Iranians weapons in order to get our hostages back.

So yes, on two of the biggest issues facing our country today – overspending and the GWOT, McCain is definitely not like Reagan to which I say thank God!

I'm not a South Park Republican, I'm a King of the Hill libertarian.

increases. He did vote against Med Pt D. He hasn't spent any effort or political capital fighting farm programs, pushing for entitlement reform or fighting against pork. He "fought" for legislation that infringes on the First Amendment, he "fought" for legislation codifying "torture" and in the process he implied that the US military was "torturing" detainees.

Check your blood pressure, Reagan didn't "cut and run" from Grenada, I think you're referring to Lebanon, and he screwed up. Iranian weapons sales were to fund the Contras who stopped the run of Communism in Central America.

Reagan also won the cold war. At the time, McCain was still figuring out how to bilk cash from Charles Keating.

McCain's Senate record is deplorable. His record on the War on Terror and in Iraq is one of self serving opportunism. He's never made a statement that he didn't leave himself wiggle room or the ability to say "I told you so". He is standard fare in the Senate, a petty little man who needs the adulation of the media.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

First, McCain was absolved of wrong doing in the Keating affair.

Second, the US has used practices which fall under any definition of torture (sensory/sleep deprivation, stress positions, etc) and this is a huge problem both morally and practically.

Third, McCain and Coburn have done more in the Senate to expose and decrease earmarks than anyone else there.

And finally, McCain's stance on Iraq alienates a lot of moderates, who are his natural supporters, and aligns him with conservatives who already don't like him. So whatever his reasons political expediency is not one of them.

Keating Five... yeah, he wasn't indicted. Neither was Murtha in Abscam.

Torture. Sensory deprivation, sstress positions, etc are NOT torture under any definition but McCain's and the most liberal people on earth. It is only a huge problem with people who actually use real torture but like to bash the US. That whole line of "problems" is just crap.

Coburn has been out in front on earmarks. McCain made sure Phoenix got a new SDO building. Generally, McCain mouths the right words on spending but he is unwilling to spend any political capital on it. He also doesn't seem to be able to get his good friends on the other side of the aisle to cooperate with him on any kind of legislation. Well, except for Dashle who worked with John to cob up the dumbest piece of "tax cut" legislaion ever to not be introduced.

I certainly hope you're right about alienating moderates. And I never accused him of "political expediency", it is "media expediency".
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

Torture is definined by most people as the use of intense physical (or sometimes psychological) pain to break the prosoners will to resist or coerce him to reveal information. Sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation, stress positions etc. fit that definition. More importantly, they do not work. The head of West Point and three FBI interogators went to LA and chided the producers of "24" not long ago, on the grounds that torture does not work. The Head of Marine Corps intelligence has said it does not work. In fact in the Korean War, several captured Americans signed confessions to all sorts of crimes they hadn't committed after being subjected to the same tactics we've used recented (stress positions, sensory deprivation, etc.).

Sleep dep, stress positions, heat/cold and techinques like water boarding - none of which leave any lasting effects - work about 100% of the time. What does not work so well is extreme pain, burning, ripping out fingernails, etc. Those things, in fact, ARE torture and people will make up stuff to get you to stop. And those things, BTW, have been outlawed for years by US statute, treaty and the UCMJ.

McCain's exercise in mental mastrubation on this subject changed absolutely nothing except the perception of the US military. His efforts on this were absolutely disgraceful.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

In North Korea US servicemen confessed to crimes they had not committed after being subjected to stress positions, heat/cold etc.

repeatedly beaten. Your argument is simply silly. First of all, this type of interrogation doesn't happen in the field, it's in controlled environments and it's done by trained interrogators. We've learned a thing or two since 1951.

Exactly what would you propose? Perhaps granting these folks full constitutional rights, including the right to have an attorney present during questioning? And since these folks have no clue about the concept of "constitutional rights" perhaps we should just assign them an attorney prior to any questioning.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

And since these folks have no clue about the concept of "constitutional rights" perhaps we should just assign them an attorney prior to any questioning.

As the attorney isn't a female, doesn't eat pork, doesn't handle dogs and doesn't ever touch the terrorist's Koran. Wouldn't want to start engaging in torture, would we?
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

Don't forget that anything "degrading" fits under McCain's definition and violates the terrorist bill of rights as well. Are you going to claim that "most people" consider degradation torture?
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

I think we've gotten waaaaay too loose with the use of the word "torture." What you're describing here isn't torture -- it's things designed to bring about enough discomfort to make them want you to stop. They're definitely coercive activities -- which we should (obviously) be employing to extract information from people who aren't exactly motivated to give it up.

But....torture? Who the hell are you, Andrew Sullivan? I've read some stories about real torture. And I fully agree that we should never allow ourselves to engage in that sort of activity. But these are things like cutting off fingers, various uses of acid, electric current, and extreme heat.

When we start using the term "torture" to define anything from sleep deprivation (which has been done to me personally in the context of fraternity initiation) to placing somebody's limbs in a burning fire....then we've lost the word entirely.

Nobody thinks we should engage in torture, Ryan. But to say that we can't use coercive techniques that rely on physical or mental displeasure of any kind in order to gain intelligence is not only absurd, it's likely suicidal in this kind of fight.

If you want to argue against these things, knock yourself out. But, please, do us all the favor of refraining from using alarmist terminology to describe them. To do so is a massive slap in the face to people who have been subject to actual torture....and there are such people.

As a matter of fact, most of those techniques are used by US trainers on US troops in the context of escape and evasion training. I've been waterboarded and have experienced sleep dep. I'm no worse for the wear. I know probably 100 guys who've been through the "whole nine yards" of things that McCain is trying to call torture. Nobody has nightmares or walks with a limp. (They all remember it, though.)

McCain WAS tortured in N. Vietnam. Real torture. And that stuff has been outlawed for decades for US interrogators. My bone to pick with McCain is that he took a real world, deplorable action against him personally and his fellow prisoners and mutated that into a method to get media attention by leaning on his "moral authority".
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

Sleep deprivation and stress positions are torture? Wow, I was being tortured as part of my military training.

Sorry, your "any" definition of torture isn't everybody's definition.

“They chose dishonor. They will have war.” - Winston Churchill

If 72 is too old to be President, then Reagan should not have run for reelection because he was older than that. You had said that McCain's 72 at inauguration is too old. If that's true, it doesn't matter whether the candidate has been President before or not. If Ronald Reagan could preside into his mid/late seventies, why can't John McCain? Besides which, McCain has already proven that his constitution is pretty robust, I think, by spending more years being tortured in N Korea than many soldiers pend in the service altogether.

And the fact is that if he served two terms, McCain would be older than Reagan.

I really don't care about his age. It's a non-starter with me. If John McCain was 40 and had the resume he's got I would still say he totally, completely unqualified to be POTUS.

He was tortured in N. Vietnam not N. Korea. And FWIW, I have no problem with his military service. It just doesn't qualify him to be POTUS any more than Jack Murtha's service qualifes him. My problem with McCain is everything he's done since he got out of the military.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

Actually, McCain was tortured at the Hanoi Hilton which was in Vietnam and during the Vietnam War, not North Korea. Your credentials on identifying what constitutes torture and where it takes place are slipping.

As for constitution, by your "any" definition of torture he was tortured during his Navy survival training as well.

“They chose dishonor. They will have war.” - Winston Churchill

Rudy may not be going to this meeting, but Rudy isn't putting the knife into Republicans.

I don't understand why Sen. McCain is doing this -- perhaps to be popular with the MSM? Whatever the motivation, it's not going to work, no matter what.

. . . when McCain doesn’t go to an event. When Bush and Giuliani (both of whom are demonstrably more liberal than McCain) don’t attend the same event, it’s because of legitimate reasons.

With McCain it’s just because he’s a Mean Guy Who Secretly Hates Conservatives And Is Always Looking For The Chance To Screw Them Over Because He’s Both An Egomaniac And So Insecure Needs To Do Whatever Makes The MSM Happy ™.

Kind of like how Bush was both “stupid” and an “evil genius” at the same time.

I'm not a South Park Republican, I'm a King of the Hill libertarian.

I don't care who goes to this event or any event. I'm sure many people care about that but I for one don't.

My problem is that Sen. McCain recently and very publicly attacked the performance of Sec. Rumsfeld and the Bush Adminstration. That is very different from not speaking at some inside-baseball type conference. What Sen. McCain is doing has the broad effect, even internationally, of undermining the President and the Republican Party.

No other Republican candidate is acting like that as far as I know. Sen. McCain is certainly breaking Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment!

It is very clear that Sec. Rumsfeld's Iraq policy was a serious mistake. The focus on fewer troops was clearly wrong for a counter-insurgency, and there was clearly insufficient planning for the occupation. The Administration's handling of the war needs to help from anyone to be discredited at home and abroad: it is patently clear that great mistakes were made.

John McCain is a US Senator. When confronted with Defense policies that have come close to losing a war, would you have him pretend not to notice? Politics should stop at the water's edge. It does no one any good to encourage disastrous military policies.

Look, you may have a point burried somewhere in this rambling of Talking-Point-O-Matic™ output. Can't find any at the moment, though.

Just to let you know, one is certainly free to shill for Johnny Mac on this site. It's not well advised however to puke-out a string of well-worn and argued-to-death talking points in the process.

Just some friendly, unsolicited advice. FWIW.

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So libs, how's that Congressional Resolution to end The War™ coming along?

had no great errors, strategic or tactical? Please identify the SECDEF, POTUS or Supreme Commander that made no errors in the prosecution of a major conflict. The heroes of WWII certainly made plenty of them.

I just despise people that air our imperfections out in front of our enemies for their own political and personal gain/satisfaction. POTUS replaced the SECDEF and is going forward with more troops. Only opportunists and petty individuals make it a point to pile on past decisions. McCain falls into one of the two or both camps.

Even if McCain is right, how does his slamming on Rumsfeld advance the cause of victory? It doesn't and his petty tendencies are what cause many to question his fitness for command.

Fine, sometimes he's right, many times he's right. But he is petty, very petty.

“They chose dishonor. They will have war.” - Winston Churchill

In 2000, the Democratic Primaries weren't contested. It was all Al, all the time. People could switch at no cost. This time, the primaries he has to do well in are going to be contested on the D side. I doubt Hillary is going to blow everybody out before April.
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Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled, or hanged. — J. Michael Waller

BUT< I think Rudy has the better chance of defeating Obama in 2008, let there be no mistake, He will be the nominee, not Hillary. (unless she has him assassinated)

"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle

It's 52% for Rudy, 43% for Hillary. But Rudy's lead continues to grow...