The General Election Begins Tonight
June 4th, 2008 at 12:14am Mark Noonan
From John McCain:
Tonight, we can say with confidence the primary season is over, and the general election campaign has begun.
Each American faces a decision this election and the choice between my candidacy and Senator Obama’s could not be more clear. This is a change election. But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change; between going forward and going backward.
The right change recognizes that many of the policies and institutions of our government have failed. The right kind of change will initiate widespread and innovative reforms in almost every area of government policy from energy to taxes to government spending and the military.
The right change will stop impeding Americans from doing what they have always done, overcome obstacles and turn challenges into opportunities.Today, I humbly ask you to join my campaign for the right change, as we move forward together as a nation.
The wrong change looks not to the future, but to the past for solutions that have failed us before and will surely fail us again. Like others before him, my opponent seems to think government is the answer to every problem. That’s not change we can believe in.
My friends, we’re not a country that would rather go back than forward. We’re the world’s leader, and leaders don’t hide from history. They make history. If we’re going to lead, we must reform a government that has lost its ability to help us do so.
I don’t seek the presidency on the presumption I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save my country in its hour of need. I seek the office with the humility of a man who cannot forget my country saved me. I assure you that if I’m elected president, the era of reform and problem solving will begin. From my first day in office, I’ll work tirelessly to make America safe, prosperous and proud. And that, my friends, is the kind of change we need.
Indeed, and John McCain asks for support - here’s the place you can go offer it.
I’d like to take a slight time out here and ask all Americans to pat themselves on the back a little bit - for all the left’s claims that we’re a bunch of racist morons, we have - after all is said and done - nominated a black man to be the standard-bearer of one of America’s two major political parties. This is rock solid proof that race is no bar to success in America - though, of course, the left will continue to make this claim, and if Obama loses, the left will blame racism for the defeat (in the left’s view, radical leftism can never be the cause of defeat).
While Hillary, at this moment, hasn’t actually conceded, there is no way she will wind up as the Democratic nominee, so the national campaign does, indeed, begin tonight (though, Hillary, if I may put a bee in your bonnet, there’s no shame in running as a third party candidate…especially after you carry your fight to the convention and make it a nasty political free for all). And the choice is clear - victory or defeat in war; strength or appeasement in foreign policy; freedom or socialism in our economy; life or death for our unborn, and for those who are ill, and won’t find an actual place in Obama’s magical health care reforms. Obama is Jimmy Carter on leftist steriods - four years of Carter nearly wrecked our nation, four years of Obama will wreck it.
John McCain proposes tough government reforms, and while many of us have many exceptions to take with him (most notably in campaign finance reform), we can rely upon is that John McCain will tell us the truth, and he will challenge the entrenched special interests which own the Democratic party body and soul. The “change” Obama brings is just a change from having a government which seeks the greater good to having a government which seeks to divvy up the pie (and that pie, dear readers, is you and I) amongst competing, corrupt interests who paid a high price to get their man into office - or do you think the lawyers ($387 million to Democrats since 2000), unions ($228 million to Democrats since 2000) and entertainment industry ($85 million to Democrats since 2000) are donating out of altruism? When you spend that much money, you are expecting something in return - in the case of these three major donors, it will be no curbs on business-destroying lawsuits, revocation of voting rights for non-union workers and no attempts to reign in an entertainment industry which becomes more depraved in its product every year. That is what Obama brings as “change”. You want it?
For our troops, for our Iraqi and Afghan allies, for our long suffering friends in Israel, for our small businessmen, for the culture of life…for all of this, we must elect McCain President of the United States of America. The choice is clear, the challenge is strong - but with faith in God and a conviction that right makes might, lets jump right into this campaign and do the right thing, always.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats, Republicans
33 Comments
1. Gaijin | June 4th, 2008 at 12:42 am
People are tired of the same old neo-con politics. McCain voted with George Bush’s policies 95% of the time last year. Change, laughable!
Iraq has lasted longer than WWII did for the US. The economy is headed for/ is in a recession. The national debt is at an all time high. Reagan and Bush account for over 50% of this in just 16 years. Somewhere between 80-90% of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Your parties out going president is forever dancing with the lowest poll numbers ever!
There will be change you can believe in, and believe that it will come from Obama and not come from McCain. There will change in Washington. I hope you guys like watching from the sidelines. Americans are over it…
Peace, Gaijin
2. Mark Noonan | June 4th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Gaijin,
We shall see - but there is, as of yet, no indicators that Obama will win big…so, if GW and the GOP are as unpopular as everyone seems to think, then there’s something really, really wrong with Obama…
3. Thrower | June 4th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I think McCain had the makings of a fine president but he threw away his chances of appealing to the political middle when he tacked sharply right to win the Republican nomination. All of that pandering to extreme elements of the party are out there on You Tube for eternity and it’s not confidence inspiring. At this point I have no clue which McCain would actually govern.
I don’t fear he would be the third Bush term so much as I fear he would be the second Hoover term. The new president will have to negotiate through an economic minefield and will either have to get us out of Iraq or get them to greatly reduce what it costs us to stay. McCain is too wedded to current policy to pivot on that soon enough.
The guy who is least like Bush will win. Contrast the excitement surrounding their speeches tonight and you see Obama makes McCain look bland. Americans are hungry for change and there are subsets within the electorate that will turn out as never before. Obama will win.
4. kjstrouble | June 4th, 2008 at 1:21 am
In fact, based on what I heard recently from several of my more liberal co-workers, Obama has a lot of work to do to convince them that he is an appropriate one.
5. Casper | June 4th, 2008 at 1:22 am
As I’ve said before, the two biggest factors in this election are the economy and Iraq. Where we are in November in both those areas will determine the election.
6. Jeremiah | June 4th, 2008 at 1:29 am
The same here, kjstrouble, everyone I’ve talked to, all of them Democrats, have said the same thing - that they do not trust Obama.
BTW, Mark, a mighty fine post!
7. Thrower | June 4th, 2008 at 1:32 am
We tend to hear what we want to hear KJS. I have no liberal friends considering voting for McCain, and several lifelong Republican friends are seriously considering Obama. It doesn’t help that two are business owners who are suffering in the California economy and all of us are losing equity faster than the Padres are losing games. But hey, that’s SoCal. It may be different where you live.
8. Mark Noonan | June 4th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Thrower,
Great…except for the fact that Obama kinda dragged over the finish line tonight after coming in about half a million votes short of Clinton in the late contests; he’s not popular among hispanics, blue collar whites or parts of the Jewish population and polling shows a virtual dead heat between him and McCain. In other words, Obama’s support may be very enthusiastic, but it might not work out to a majority.
Now, McCain has his own problems - weakness among Evangelicals and a mistrust of him on the part of a majority of movement conservatives. If McCain really had sealed the deal with these groups, he’d probably be polling above 50% and on track to cruise to victory…but, he’s not. He’s not enthusiastically supported…but he is supported by all of those who mistrust Obama, which seems to include a majority of independent voters.
Will it be a high turn out election? A low turn out election? There are cases to be made for both - given that both Obama and McCain have trouble with their respective bases, it might be that a lot of hardcore Democrats and Republicans just sit it out…and if that happens, its anyone’s guess about how it comes out. On the other hand, a desire to win the war and preserve conservative gains (especially in the courts) might make GOPers grimly determined to win…while the pizzaz of Obama might get Democrats just enthused to the skies…and, heck, the youth vote might actually show up on election day for the first time ever.
Its a big bunch of “who knows?”.
9. Mark Noonan | June 4th, 2008 at 1:56 am
Jeremiah,
Thanks - as for me, I’m going to start a Divine mercy Novena for both candidates tonight (for all you non-Catholics out there, this means I’ll be asking God to shower his mercy upon McCain and Obama for the next nine nights; enclosed as they both are in the merciful heart of Our Lord, I’m hoping they’ll turn to God for guidance during the next 6 months). Naturally, I’ll also do a seperate prayer asking for God’s particular blessing on McCain’s effort and that he win, if that be God’s will.
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11. Thrower | June 4th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Excellent response Mark and I appreciate a debate on its merits. You might be right, but McCain has been on offense for two months while Obama has been pummeled on two sides by Clinton and McCain. The “liberal” press has covered things like the Reverend Wright non-issue because garbage sells over mundane things that people will actually vote on. McCain’s “reverend” problems will receive equal coverage from here on out.
Current polls reflect relentless negative news on Obama, most of it courtesy of the Clinton attack machine. The free ride McCain has enjoyed is over. Look for Obama to be the story from here on out and Clinton to fade away like the “old soldier” of McArthur fame.
Where are Hillary’s supporters going to go? Do liberal women want to elect a guy whose Supreme Court appointments will insure the state owns their wombs? Will blue collar workers vote for a guy whose economic staple is making permanent tax cuts for people like me? Will young people vote for a war party whose “Bush Doctrine” carries a high risk that a draft will be required to provide bodies to pay the price for global rather than national defense?
My thinking reflects what I see. I was in California at what I think was the beginning of the conservative revolution. I don’t think it started in the early 60s with Goldwater; it started in California in the late 70s with the Jarvis-Gann amendment (Proposition 13). With that decisive vote, we abandoned the notion that government could solve our problems as people thought it had done in easing the sting of the depression, winning World War II, rebuilding Japan and Europe, and using the G.I. bill to launch the expansion of the middle class. Proposition 13 was the beginning of the conviction that government was the problem.
The incompetence of the Bush administration has blown that belief up, and the shame is that it was never really tested. Republicans have been militaristic, wasteful and corrupt. I have no confidence that Democrats will be much better but I think the bums will be thrown out and the anti-Bush will win the White House.
12. Obama08 | June 4th, 2008 at 6:02 am
This is an indicator that race is no longer a factor huh? Did we watch the same primary?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-q4MDQ0cDI
13. Magnum Serpentine | June 4th, 2008 at 7:21 am
I did not see in george’s third run for the white house speech, anything about fixing the economy or getting our troops out of Iraq now, these things are what the citizen is concerned with.
Just a lot of fluff is all I saw in george’s speech from Minnesota last night, stuff he used to launch his third run for the white house.
the republics would have you think that abortion and gay marriage are important but they are not important to the citizens of this nation. Those two issues are at the bottom of the list of concerns of the citizens. the Economy and getting our troops out of Iraq are far more important.
14. Pain | June 4th, 2008 at 7:28 am
What did McCain’s advance team do go to every trailer park in Kenner with fistfuls of 5 diollar bills driving 15 passenger vans to round up that crowd?
John McCain better hope that is the worst speech he gives during this campaign because if he looks like that and emotes like that in a debate he will be compared to Nixon in 1960 and that is a political death sentence.
15. extramedium | June 4th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Mark -
Do you really think that God takes sides in elections (or wars or big football games)? If McCain doesn’t win, do you reckon that it’s because God didn’t “vote” for him, so to speak? Perhaps you are not praying for God to tip the contest in your favor, but rather for God to see to McCain’s good health (and he is pretty old, come to think of it).
I’m just curious. I thought voting would fall into the realm of free will from a Christian’s point of view - something man decides, for better or worse.
16. Robin Naismith Green | June 4th, 2008 at 7:29 am
13. Magnum Serpentine | June 4th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Senator McCain was speaking from Kenner, LA last night
17. SEW | June 4th, 2008 at 9:29 am
The media messiah is now the illegitimate “nominee” for POTUS! Delegate votes aren’t votes or counted until cast at the Denver convention. And Florida/Michigan voters have been disenfranchised. Until the votes are counted Barry Hussein Obama is a fradulent and illegitimate candidate.
Yes Operation Chaos Can!
18. neocon | June 4th, 2008 at 9:38 am
“And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.” - JFK
“At this defining moment for our nation, we should be proud that our party put forth one of the most talented, qualified field of individuals ever to run for this office……..They are leaders of this party, and leaders that America will turn to for years to come.” - Obama
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” - JFK
“Change is a foreign policy that doesn’t begin and end with a war that should’ve never been authorized and never been waged. I won’t stand here and pretend that there are many good options left in Iraq, but what’s not an option is leaving our troops in that country for the next hundred years - especially at a time when our military is overstretched, our nation is isolated, and nearly every other threat to America is being ignored.” - Obama
“Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house……We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.” - JFK
“And it’s not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians - a policy where all we look for are reasons to stay in Iraq, while we spend billions of dollars a month on a war that isn’t making the American people any safer.” - Obama
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” - JFK
“She needs us to pass health care plan that guarantees insurance to every American who wants it and brings down premiums for every family who needs it…… to recruit an army of new teachers and give them better pay and more support;……That’s the change we need.” - Obama
19. Obama 08 | June 4th, 2008 at 10:01 am
@ SEW
You realize if those delegates were counted 100% instead of 50% Barack would still beat Hillary right?
20. SEW | June 4th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Obama 08
You realize as I stated delegates don’t vote until the convention, right? They have been counted by you lefties, but they haven’t even been cast yet! And by those delegates I don’t mean just Florida and Michigan and the rest of the USA, but primarily the superdelegates, who can’t vote until Denver. Pledged does not mean cast or counted. Obviously you don’t understand democracy. Correct.
21. SEW | June 4th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Obama 08
And you realize that if Florida/Michigan were counted, the magic win number goes up, right? Didn’t think so. Pledged votes aren’t votes until cast, and Barry Some Obama doesn’t win without/until pledged votes [not states] are cast at the convention. Not before.
Illegitimate nominee.
22. David B. Schmidt | June 4th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
“Selected not Elected” except it is a legitimate complaint this time.
23. Obama 08 | June 4th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Well McCane challenged Obama to some debates today you better let him know he needs to wait for a nominee haha
24. Magnum Serpentine | June 4th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Robin,
McCain opened his mouth, and the voice that came out and the tone of voice at that, was that of george.
Ever see a baseball game where the coach is thrown out of the park, well he really doesn’t leave but goes back to an area behind the dug out and the assistant coach gets instructions from him. This will be the same if george wins a third term to the white house. McCain will be the assistant coach who runs around the corner at every crisis to get instructions from george. HA! I bet that george will not even leave the white house. McCain may have to rent an apartment.
That would be a laugh.
Yep, all I heard during “McCain’s” speech was george.
25. phnx | June 4th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Normally a VP doesn’t help the Presidential candidate in any significant way. This election could be different if Obama choses Hillary. Most pundits say that will significantly help his chances in November, otherwise a large part of her constituency would be vulnearble to appeals from McCain. How strongly Hillary campaigns for Obama will send a message to her supporters on which way to go.
While is is extremely unlikely, what if Hillary were to be offered, and accept, the position of VP on the McCain ticket?
This would really throw a monkey wrench into American politics. It could even have the possibility of ending the Democrat and Republican parties by creating a three party system.
McCain and Hillary are not to far from each other on policy, both swing to the left. If Hillary were to run with him, you could expect a large segment of the conservative base of the Republican party to leave and never return to form the Conservative party. This would include me and a number of the conservative posters on this site.
Obama would lose the election but be the head of a far left party which could be called the Socialist Workers Party, truly reflecting their ideology.
And McCain and Hillary would be the leaders of the left of center coalition, called the Labor Party.
I’d be curious to see what others think of this possibility.
26. SEW | June 4th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
HRC and McCain are close on policy and have much more mutual respect for one another. HRC does not like BO and it is mutual. Give credit to HRC on both counts.
McCain/Clinton is a vastly better ticket than Obama/anyone. Beyond his voting record and empty suit are his racist and anti American associates. Good riddance Barry, and good riddance to the far left if that were to occur. I could go for it given the circumstances of McCain as is anyway. It would be awesome for all the far lefties to be placed where they deserve to be.
27. FmrMarine | June 4th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
SEW;
LOL
I think the klintoons are POISON, I say AMF to both of them.
The GOP needs a mantra to counter the “Bushs third term”…….This could b.hussein …jimmah carters SECOND term.
28. FmrMarine | June 4th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
OR
hugo chaves CO President.
29. Thrower | June 4th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
It won’t happen Phnx. Can you imagine Republicans putting Clinton one 72-year old heartbeat away from the White House? Whould she be pro-life? Abandon universal health care? Suddenly support long term occupation of Iraq? Control her ego-maniac husband?
I don’t want her anywhere the Presidency for either party. I’m afraid she’s gone nuts. After years of being buffeted between right wingers who hate her and a philandering husband whose antics must be damaging to her mental health, she’s engaged in a love fest with a subset of the population and she can’t let go of it. Once she throws in the towel the show is over.
30. phnx | June 4th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Personally I don’t think it would happen either. I certainly wouldn’t vote for that team, but I’ll bet that many would.
My guess is that the country is split 33% +/-5 between conservative, liberals and independent (middle of the road)
It would split both parties and create tremendous turmoil, but given that their is no credible conservative opposition. Assuming that the two would garner the independents and a 15% of the dems, and 10% of the republicans, with the rest sitting out, they would win.
More than likely, Hillary will give tepid support to Obama, hoping that he loses. That will make her the logical democrat candidate in 4 years.
31. Some Assembly Required | June 4th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
phnx, thats a fair assessment, though I think Clinton comes with far far to much baggage. Obama will have a tough enough time with gaffs and rev wright as it is, he doesn’t need Bill’s legacy and Hilary’s shenanigans to add to it. If anything I think Clinton could motivate the republican base into action. I mean it’s common knowledge how much they hate her. If the democrats run on ‘Anyone but Bush’ the republicans run on ‘Anyone but Clinton’. Regardless, I’m glad to see these dynasty’s come to an end. All that needs to be done is to nip Chelsey’s political career in the butt and we can move on.
32. Thrower | June 4th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I would love to see a third party too but unlike you, I would join it. I’m guessing that at least 50% of the country would love a moderate direction that is socially liberal and fiscally conservative. People who want either a nanny state or theocracy would be left on the margins where they belong.
I also disagree on Hillary ever being a viable candidate again. She has permanently alienated blacks with her “kitchen sink” strategy against Obama which has damaged him at least in the short run. Her blind ambition which makes a lot of us nervous and borders on a mania. And her husband could never survive a close examination of his personal finances and those associated with his library. He has gone from being a tepid plus to a huge minus. They are over.
33. Some Assembly Required | June 4th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Thrower, I agree completely. I like Ralph Nader in 2000. I’ve seen a few disturbing things since then about what both parties, specifically the democrats did to him since. I genuinely thought he might have been the man to create a truly moderate party. I guess were just not ready yet. Saying that, Obama may very well be the first step in that direction. It will be interesting to see just how Liberal he goes when he becomes president.