So, John McCain is coming to our lovely land to talk about being green...and raise no small amount of cash.
Inevitably, his messaging on this topic will annoy some conservatives, thus reminding them why they're not exactly bursting with excitement to have him at the top of the ticket. Meanwhile, it should nevertheless be an important step forward in the November-focused themes McCain will need to woo non-conservative voters. This includes especially the suburbanites who place great importance on environmentally sensitive policies (for reasons more often related to feel-goodism than deeply considered policy thought, but I digress).
What's interesting is that another GOP Presidential hopeful made the Northwest the site of a major environmental event: George Bush in 2000. He made a prominent stop in Haskel Sough near Monroe to talk salmon restoration and national parks.**
The event is notable in political lore since it came the day after the infamous "RATS" story broke, giving the Bush campaign all sorts of headaches. However, the Pacific Northwest helped turn the narrative. National media types do not expect Republicans to talk conservation and love for the environment with some skill, thus reasonably good national coverage of the stop helped relegate accusations of subliminal messages to the back burner.
McCain's visit isn't likely to be as an important stop in the flow of the campaign compared to 2000, but it should be intriguing either way.
**Trivia footnote: the Monroe visit almost included a pit stop by W at the Totem , a somewhat famous greasy spoon in Everett. A number of us on Slade Gorton's campaign staff helped 43's team put together the visit and the photo op was perilously close to being reality.
Posted by Eric Earling at May 07, 2008 07:57 PM | Email ThisThe race is McCain's to lose. If he pisses off enough conservatives and libertarians with stunts like this green bullshit, he just might blow it.
Posted by: Jeff B. on May 7, 2008 07:57 PMWhy? He will not reduce government is the short answer. The long answer is McCain Feingold, His stance on the war, his stance on the Fed dept of education, his opposition to tax cuts, his proposed budget (just as big as todays budget), his support of fiat money and the federal reserve, etc...
Posted by: Lysander on May 8, 2008 05:42 AMMcCain has a very bad habbit of slapping his own party and helping the dems. Yet he rarely goes after the dems.
Many of us will hold our noses and vote for him because the dems are FAR worse then McCain.
Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't! )-:
If McCain does make it and continues to play his slap the Rep party he will only be a 4 year prez and that's it.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on May 8, 2008 06:24 AMApparently ordinary Americans like you and me send them money. The more people contribute the more the candidates have to spend. This year we saw the advent of the money bomb where large groups of people coordinate on the internet to give the candidates money in a small time period. Pretty wild stuff. =P
I understand the party coffers are relatively empty, so is that where the money went?
That would be my guess, people are donating to the individual and not the political party they belong to. McCain seems to be trying to fill the party coffers by having people donate to him and the GOP at the same time. that's pretty easy when you have $2,300+ to blow, I don't know how well that goes over with the small time donors.
See comments by Jeff and Lysander, along with my disgust for his disregard for most of the constitution (the 2nd Amendment being the biggie that he does not read). His stance on the sovereignty of the US (i.e. open borders) is just another in a long list of reasons that I will not voter for this guy.
Before anyone tells me that "not voting McCain is the same as voting for a Democrat" let me tell you:
a) I didn't say I am NOT VOTING. First, there is the congress and local offices. Secondly, I am voting for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party. He is a really good guy - I had read many of his articles before he got nominated a few days back.
b) Not voting is not the same as voting Democrat anyway. I'm tired of hearing that.
Yes, I know my man won't win. It is time to do the right thing (well not the 1st time - I have voted libertarian for president since after both Reagan elections.
BTW, WVH, I know you say you are religious - you really should check out what Chuck Baldwin has to say - a little more logic, lots more faith, and a more decent human being from this other "pastor" from Chicago who's name escapes me.
Feminism, darn those empowered Women who want to be something other than housewives and follow men around like puppies. God forbid they ever want to go out and earn a paycheck and be self-reliant contributing members of society. =P
Multiculturalism, apparently Rev. Baldwin has issues with the 1st Amendment's Freedom of Religion clause because he certainly seems to have lots of problem with non-Christian religions. Wonder if he wants to round them up and put them in work camps?
Globalism is apparently an attempt to dissolve the borders and erase America from the planet. I have yet to see anybody calling for the repealing of America's borders. Nationality is still a source of pride among people of all nations, especially in the US.
Sorry Dave, but Chuck Baldwin to me sounds like your typical "Judgment Day" Christian who plays on peoples fears about the future (will little Johnny have to go to school with those hispanic kids from down the street?) to get himself elected.
That democrat's name is John McCain.
You don't know squat about him. Why don't you go check out his speech at the party's convention? The guy is in the right on all the issues that matter to me.
In just 10 % of the time you spend spouting nonsense in the comments here in one day, you could check out that you-tube (or you-tube-like) video. Write back after you do. I wonder if you will feel the same about the man.
Oh, and yes feminism sucks, multi-culturalism sucks, and globablism is not the best thing for every American either. However, I don't recall that as the highlight of Baldwin's 15 min (or so) speech.
Try coming in from Honduras or Guatamala into Mexico, Catorze, and see how long you stay in a Mexican jail, and see how many new holes you will have in your rear-end from your time with the Federales.
Like I said, you don't know squat. I'm beginning to that should be a blanket statement about your knowledge of the world in general.
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 8, 2008 12:10 PMTry coming in from Honduras or Guatamala into Mexico, Catorze, and see how long you stay in a Mexican jail, and see how many new holes you will have in your rear-end from your time with the Federales.
Like I said, you don't know squat. I'm beginning to think that should be a blanket statement about your knowledge of the world in general.
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 8, 2008 12:11 PMhttp://endofmen.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/offical-ipcc-computer-model-is-wrong/
Posted by: tg on May 8, 2008 01:28 PMI read the bigoted crap he had posted on his website...ironically named Chuck Wagon (not for human consumption). His writings seem to give a pretty good indication of what kind of individual he is.
What difference would that make? It's freakin' open to anyone.
Really, seems to me Congress passed a bill putting a giant fence across the southern border. Illegal immigration is supposedly down due to higher enforcement
The guy is in the right on all the issues that matter to me.
That's all that matters, I have no problem with you voting for him. I vote on the issues that matter to me, those are not the ones espoused by Rev. Chuck or his party.
Oh, and yes feminism sucks, multi-culturalism sucks, and globablism is not the best thing for every American either.
Feminism sucks? You want us to go back to living like the Mormon cultists in Tx? Women married off at 15, not allowed to work outside the home, not allowed to pursue the same basic freedoms that men have? Do you feel threatened by idea of WVH as an argumentative intelligent black woman with a PhD? If so, then it sounds like you're with the right party.
Here's a little history lesson for ya Dave, all great nations eventually fall. America is having it day in the sun, and eventually something better or stronger may come along and replace us as the leaders of the free world. Mongolians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Turks, English, etc...all fell at one point or were replaced with a new way of thinking that changed the world.
Globalization is going to happen whether you resist it or not. Trade and commerce makes the world go round. Isolationist nations that sit by the wayside are doomed to fail and become relics of history.
You are right in that in a democracy where our only choices are bad ones (clinton, Obama, mccain) we are all damned regardless of how we vote.
But we can work this year to improve our choices next year. That is the answer to why Ron Paul is still running and why so many people are still supporting him. They want his brand of republicanism to lead the GOP to give us better choices in the future.
It is about time we stop damning ourselves to such poor choices!
Posted by: Lysander on May 8, 2008 05:27 PMJust the one thing: "Globalism", OK, I don't think Baldwin meant "globalization" when he said "globalism". See, he is much smarter than you Cato, so he uses the proper term.
He is talking about the N. American Union crap, our Supreme Court making rulings based on "international precedent", the U.N. - gun control nuts, etc.
I agree that "globalization" is not a force that US law ought to or can stop anyway.
BTW, just to add, first order of business if I were prez. - tell UN: Start packing your shit. You've got 3 days to get out of NY. Do you know how much rent that building can generate?
Posted by: Dave Lincoln on May 8, 2008 06:49 PM