The Mischief of John McCain

CBS's Meyer: To The Annoyance Of Both Parties, Summer's Pariah Is Now The GOP Front-runner

(CBS)  This commentary was written by CBSNews.com's Dick Meyer.

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The Republican knock on John McCain is that he is a Republican beloved only by Democrats and reporters.

The Democratic knock on McCain is that he is the Republican they would least like to face in the fall.

Those aren’t hard knocks for McCain to take right now.

Republican primary voters seem to be finding ways to vote for him. As they come to believe he is the candidate Democrats fear most, they'll probably find it even easier to vote for him in the coming primaries. And John McCain will be the nominee of the party he invited himself to so rudely.

The perennial McCain-haters in the party’s pseudo-establishment and right wings might cry in their milk if McCain is the nominee. But they’ll be joined by Democrats of all wings.

A McCain nomination would provide many amusing ironies. The one that would be most vexing for the disorganized assemblage known as the Democratic Party is this: the 2008 Republican primaries have been uniquely un-Republican - lacking an early front-runner, unpredictable and divisive - yet they produced the party’s strongest possible general election candidate.

The irony for Republicans is that the mischievous, anti-authoritarian party gadfly they thought they had offed in the summer of ’07 might save their elephant hide in the fall of ’08.

Intra-party popularity can be overrated. Many Democrats were downright embarrassed by Jimmy Carter in 1976. Many Republicans - especially those endangered creatures once called “moderate Republicans” - were mortified by Ronald Reagan in 1980. And Democrats were freshly disenchanted with Gennifer Flowers’ lover boy in 1992. You get the idea.

Democrats would prefer not to run against McCain because of his well-known appeal to independents. You wouldn’t know it from listening to cable news, but roughly a third of the American electorate is independent (32 percent in the latest CBS poll). America isn’t red and blue. And these independent voters, oddly enough, are the ones who tend to be open-minded. Attracting them in a general election is a good thing if you’re interested in victory. (Traditionally, Republicans are rather more interested in victory than Democrats).

In New Hampshire, for example, a jumbo 44 percent of the voters in the Democratic primary called themselves independents. In the Republican primary, 37 percent were independents and 40 percent of that crowd went for John McCain.

Four national surveys this month have polled to see how John McCain and Hillary Clinton would run against each other. McCain won in three of the four polls. In polls pitting her against Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani (three polls each), Clinton won every time. (McCain batted only .500 in the four match-ups with Barack Obama, who also appeals to independents.)

Horserace polls so far ahead of the election mean very little but they do illuminate why Democrats aren’t as happy as they might otherwise be.

After all, Democrats, the polls say, like their candidates very much. Their top two candidates are well-funded. They have had a consistent front-runner and she dramatically fought off a challenger in New Hampshire and appears strong going in to Super Tuesday. The economic news keeps getting worse, which is ordinarily disastrous for the incumbent party. And the war in Iraq, which McCain has consistently and adamantly backed, keeps going and Americans keep dying there.

Democrats should be happy but they aren’t.

Democrats aren’t happy because of John McCain.

Republicans aren’t happy because of John McCain.

I expect Republicans will change their minds long before the Democrats.

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E-mail questions, comments, complaints, arguments and ideas to Against the Grain. We will publish some of the interesting (and civil) ones, sometimes in edited form.

[joyous88]

republican conservative like GW Bush and Macain are nothing more than criminals

[perception5]

Repubicans, there is an effort by America''s most corrupt institution, our MSM wolfpack press to prop up and promote through dirty progaganda..................John McCain.

There is a great struggle going on for Republicans that want Mitt Romney and a corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack that wants John McCain because they FEAR Mitt Romney the most.

..............Florida will go to Mitt Romney.....................GO MITT !!

...................... DOWN WITH THE CORRUPT LIBERAL ASSOCIATED PRESS !!!!!!!

[skyk-2009]

I am a Republican, and self describe myself as a conservative libertarian. Yet I have been a McCain supporter since the 2000 election. I really do not understand the GOP establishment''''s and conservative movement''''s dislike of McCain. Yes, he tends to march to his own drum, but that drum usually is sounding the same way we are. And he is an extremely honorable and able man.

I just do not understand the dislike.


Posted by amcalabrese at 11:13 AM : Jan 25, 2008
+ report abuse

I think the problem is that on MANY key issues he is more in line with the middle and mainstream Democrats than the present day Republican Party. McCain KNOWS he needs Democrats as Democrats need real Republican''s. That doesn''t match the leaders of the present day Republican Party or their goals.

[skyk-2009]

This can''''t be happening!!

Rush Limbaugh is trashing the REPUBLICAN front runner!!

He must be back on his meds.


Posted by im4honesty at 07:00 AM : Jan 25, 2008
+ report abuse

No Rush knows that McCain will distroy the One Party Rule Wing of the Republican Party. You see they can not exist without hate, without a "Wedge" to divide people. McCain takes away that "Wedge" in this election cycle. On the national stage, in a national debate, taken the record of the Republican Party none of these folks stand much of a chance BUT if they can hold together the radical rightwing base and keep it in control of the Republican Party, they can again resume the drum beat of "The Liberals did it". McCain though, if elected, has much more in common with democrats and would find common ground with them. Common ground is the last thing a One Party Rule person wants.

[cfin5]

It''ll be a good day to see Senator McCain drop out of the race. This guy is a Bill of Rights "LOSER". There was not one good excuse for him and Feingold to destroy the 1st. Amendment. Removing what ever perceived Bull in the china shop by destroying the shop sure takes some unconstitutional intelligence. The dem''s ought to have given him some kind of oath breaking medal of honor for that. Only a constitutional "BENEDICT ARNOLD" like the trojan-sheep McCain can accomplish feats like this. The likes of him were Gen. George Washington''s greatest enemy. Governor Shucksonme is of the same caliber......"WE THE PEOPLE" need Ron Paul this time around to start cleaning up the unconstitutional mess were in!

[macusweil]

McCain was part of the free spending Republican majority for too long. Their irresponsible fiscal policy and the senseless invasion of Iraq are directly to blame for the current economic crisis in this country. Record borrowing and nothing to show for it either!!

I''m voting for the only "true" conservative candidate, Congressman Ron Paul in the Feb 5th NY GOP primary.

[oscarez]

amcalabrese ... It''s about control of McCain by the party. McCain is his own man and that scares the h*ell out of the Republican puppet masters. I am a life long Democrat but I think I could vote for McCain.

[buddhabman]

The question will be with McCain will occupy the White House? the straight talker who got Bushwacked by the GOP establishment in 2000 or the Bush a-- kisser who decided to sing the praises of a failed foreign policy because he wanted some of W''''s $$$ backers?

and can the country afford to find out?

careful examination will show that Mr Straight talker is actually talking out of both sides of his mouth - sounds familiar?


Posted by jncc1701

Right on point. A McCain/Liberman ticket will be about as Hawkish a camapaign as you will ever see. They will be formidable, but America will definetly have a choice. 100 more years of Iraq, a new war with Iran or NOT.

Obama 08

[jncc1701]

The question will be with McCain will occupy the White House? the straight talker who got Bushwacked by the GOP establishment in 2000 or the Bush a-- kisser who decided to sing the praises of a failed foreign policy because he wanted some of W''s $$$ backers?

and can the country afford to find out?

careful examination will show that Mr Straight talker is actually talking out of both sides of his mouth - sounds familiar?

[tucano2]

Frankly we do NOT see any difference between the "Open Borders" or the "AMNESTY" candidates the Republicans and the Democrats are promoting.

[amcalabrese]

I am a Republican, and self describe myself as a conservative libertarian. Yet I have been a McCain supporter since the 2000 election. I really do not understand the GOP establishment''s and conservative movement''s dislike of McCain. Yes, he tends to march to his own drum, but that drum usually is sounding the same way we are. And he is an extremely honorable and able man.

I just do not understand the dislike.

[chrisl45]

Last Saturday in Seattle, I went to a John McCain South Carolina party and had a good time. I learned a lot, and am proud to support him. Thank you John for not only everything you have done for the US but for teaching me.

[hwy71so]

Last night on Fox, the reporter claimed, "key endorsement for McCain". I was expecting a national leader of some sort. How can Fox deem Sylvester Stallone as a "key endorsement"? Well, yeah, I suppose if its about the ENTERTAINMENT value...

I am a moderate conservative and my candidate of choice was pushed off the boat. The only one I would endorse, (my endorsement means less that that of PeeWee Herman) would be for Hunter, but he''s gone so, I''ll just have to check the "R" box and hold my breath. If I were to check the "D" box, I''d have to hide in shame... How embarrassing is the Democratic party!

I know, let''s vote for Norris and Stallone, Okrah can head the dept of agriculture... Oh yeah, Jon Voight endorsed Guiliani, so we could make him the secretary of Georgia and all banjo playing organizations... Might as well turn the court over to the Jesters!!!!!!!

[im4honesty]

This can''t be happening!!

Rush Limbaugh is trashing the REPUBLICAN front runner!!

He must be back on his meds.

[dgwooster]

Independents should make up 100% of the electorate, not 33%. George Washington didn''t want ANY political parties..

[jerr11]

McCain is the real thing.

He''s a genuine war hero, unlike the two LIARs in the white house, Bush and ******** who hid from the war.

But McCain''s a warmonger.

He''s responsible for the killing fields in Iraq too.

The blood of 4000 Americans are on his hands.

Instead of being elected, he needs to be investigated and brought to justice for condoning and abetting the crimes of the Bush/Cheney war profiteering conspiracy.

[p-syrus]

Your off your chump.

Given McCain''s support for corporate corruption both in the Keating days and latterly with his backing of Bush & Company''s "no bid contracts", his complete lack of government experience outside of the senate, and quite frankly his excessive age, he is not a formidable candidate for the fall.

After the last seven disastrous years of Dubya, we don''t need another president who falls asleep in cabinet meetings.

His policies are just a continuation of the Bush swill we''ve been dealt since 2001.

McCain''s opportunity was 2000. He chose back then to roll over and take it in the shorts from the Bushies. The old man''s day has come & gone.

This is just his last "hurrah".

[PollM]

Who do you believe is the Democrats'' worst nightmare is?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1627


.

[joelbuckley2]

In 2000, when he lost to George Bush, John McCain got 237,000 votes in South Carolina.
In 2008, he received only 143,000 votes, only 60% of his 2000 total.
South Carolina voters like McCain even less now than in 2000.
He just managed to eke out a victory with only 33% support because there were so many other candidates.

He''s not another Ronald Reagan.
He''s another Bob Dole. An OLD war hero who''s been in the Senate too long, lacking in ideas, and likely to lose to Clinton in the general election.

[rushlimpdrug]

*** meyers

*** meyers

*** meyers

Just wanted to prove a point about meyers and CBS:
They don''t know Dicckk ! !