TALK CITIZEN - 2007-2008

As a former listener to Rush- many years-, and a former constant viewer of Fox News, I am amused at the discomfiture of the "conservative media" lions. They had a conservative, articulate, experienced, candidate- Mike Huckabee- right before their eyes! Their dismissive and insulting deprecation of the former Ark. governor has now produced the prospective nomination of their least favorite candidate- John McCain. Indeed, the base had nowhere to go after Rush, Sean et al finished destroying Mike Huckabee. So we will have McCain and, with magnificent irony, probably have also the dismissed Ark. governor as VP! Take that Rush and Sean, and when the Huck finishes four or eight years as McCain's VP, he'll be odds on for the top job. Get used to it- payback is tough!

 

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The GOP establishment rallied around a candidate in Romney who doesn't connect with people, perhaps because they don't believe him. When Rush, Sean, and others decided to discredit the accomplishments and distort the record of Mike Huckabee, the base was left with nowhere to go.

There may not be a perfect candidate, but the GOP does well when it nominates a Governor who connects with real people - just ask the Reagan Democrats. But, come to think of it, the establishment didn't want Reagan either.

There is still time to rally around a conservative. Romney and Thompson had their chance and couldn't connect. Prove the pundits wrong: get behind Mike Huckabee.
 
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I am so sick and tired of These "COnservative talk show hosts (Who until recently I enjoyed listening to on a regualar basis) Calling Mike Huckabee a Liberal. It is very sad the hipocrosy. I am 100% behind Huckabee, and am a Bush supporter. These "Established" Talk radio hosts tear down a candidate like Huckabee for raising the State Sales tax 0.125% to improve the state's park system and natural resources. Whoa.... 0.125% tax hike?! Slow down there Mike! He's GONE CRAZY! Who needs Natural Resources anyway. They tear him down and distort his record. On the very next hand however they will defend George W. Bush until they are blue in the face.
 
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I normally listen to Laura Ingraham on the way to work and Hugh Hewitt on the way home. I stopped recently because of the consistent invective against McCain. I don't mind that they support Romney, but the harangue against McCain is too much. The primaries are far from over, but it will be interesting to see what they do if McCain wins the nomination. As a moderate Republican, I increasingly fear that the Republican party is leaving me and is becomming the party of the far right with no room for anybody in the middle. It seems that if a candidate or party member doesn't espouse ideology of a nut like Mark Levin, theyare no longer welcome in the Republican party. So much for the big tent.
 
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It is now obvious to me that Sen. McCain would be wrapping up 8 years in office had he not been "raceboated" in South Carolina in 2000. The war on Terror would have been prosecuted with much the same idea and tenacity, but with clearer strategy. What conservatives seem to forget is that our forefather, Senator Barry Goldwater, worked very well with his colleagues and friends across the aisle. He even referred to JFK as his "dear friend." President Reagan and Tip O'Neil worked respectfully and effectively also. Why such disdain for bipartisianship?

Leadership is not feeding the hungry lions red-meat, but occassionally showing them they can survive on leaner cuts of flesh. McCain is a truer conservative in the Reagan and Goldwater spirit, not the neoconservative spirit that talk radio has created its litmus test upon.
 
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Rush is a fake. He may be the figure of worship for many conservatives, but he does more to hurt the Republican party to help it. He perpetuates negative stereotypes, gives liberals material to validate their arguments against the GOP, and he tears down our best chances to win in elections better than any liberal could hope for.

I myself have several gripes with John McCain's policies. But I never doubt for a second his loyalty and devotion to this country. I also know that he is absolutely the best man to lead this nation while we are still at war, and the only leader who will end it the right way. To tear this respectable man down because of such trivial things as campaign finance reform or a silly, misguided, but ultimately failure of an immigration bill is ridiculous and reveals where one's (poor) priorities lie.

He is our best chance to win in the general election and anyone who would even joke about voting for Hillary or Obama before McCain is not a conservative.
 
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As someone who was brought into the Republican party by Ronald Reagan, I not only remember him fondly but also as the man he was rather than some silly ideal you Ross Perot conservatives think he was.
If you read his diaries you'll see early on that he talks a lot about how "conservatives" constantly questioned his decisions. No less than George Will accused him of "betraying" conservatism. The establishment didn't want him in much the way today's doesn't want McCain ( today's "establishment" being talk radio).
Reagan himself said that we didn't have to agree with him 100% of the time, so I would ask you what % do you think it takes to be a real conservative or to support John McCain.

Those of you who pine for Reagan really don't understand what he did, so I'll tell you. Ronald Reagan led a conservative movement and managed to govern the country as well. He cut taxes one year and raised them the next year. He blasted the Soviets and negotiated the first actual arms reductions. He blasted congress for budget deficits while never actually proposing a balanced budget but at least managing to slow the growth of government. He said he would never negotiate with hostage takers but sold arms to Iran (Iraq too just to even things out). In other words, he led with his principals but governed through compromise and even "realism" at times. Does that mean he wasn't 100% conservative, probably, but he was still my hero even when George Will disapproved.

For those of you who want to call John McCain a liberal despite a lifetime ACU rating of 82%, do a little homework and then get over the fact that Reagan was not just about conservatism but leadership. He was great man. Now he's dead and won't be coming back to life to save us. Get over it already.