Thank You Michigan, For Stopping McCain - Political Forum

superdude17* · 01-17-2008, 12:18 PM

Source: North Star Writers Group - Syndicated Commentary: Opinion, Humor and Features

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January 17, 2008

Thank You, Michigan, for Stopping John McCain’s Coronation

The Michigan primary vote is in and Mitt Romney has won a solid, but not huge, victory. This makes three different winners of the first three primaries, very possibly four of four and even five of five should Fred Thompson do well in South Carolina and Rudy Giuliani likewise in Florida.

This Republican presidential nomination is nowhere close to decided, which is without question depressing the mainstream media something awful. Save perhaps for the Romney victory speech, their coverage Tuesday evening had all the enthusiasm and cheerfulness of your average funeral. They were hoping for a second primary victory for John McCain, which in their minds would provide them sufficient justification to forcibly crown McCain the winner, running endless stories of his “unstoppable momentum.”

That plan now has to be scuttled, and Romney's win duly reported. Oh, some will overplay that too, claiming that he went from “nearly dead” to “front-runner status” based on one state. But it won't nearly be the orgy of premature coronation that a McCain victory would have been. The senator's attempt to let the media and a bunch of liberal and independent crossover voters bum-rush him to the Republican presidential nomination has been, at the very least, greatly slowed.

For that, we owe Michigan voters thanks.

But beyond all the immediate horse-race effects, there is a larger story that explains what's going on here and why it's all so meaningless. The fact is that anyone could've predicted these three results – Mike Huckabee in Iowa, McCain in New Hampshire and Romney in Michigan. Each state's populace was ideally demographically suited to each of those candidates. The prominence of evangelicals in Iowa, crossover voting liberals in New Hampshire's open primary and Romney's family history in Michigan (his father was once governor there) means that none of these three states could have come out any other way.

And when you see how slim the margins of victory were for these candidates, in spite of the built-in advantage each had, they are hardly victories to crow over. Add to that the overall division amongst the five main office-seekers, and one could make a convincing case that the winner was None of the Above.

And yet, unbelievably, the media seems surprised by all this. Perhaps it's disappointment that they cannot try to crown King John I the top Republican based entirely on the support of non-Republicans, as they were undoubtedly so looking forward to. I don't know.

But now we move to South Carolina, the first conservative primary state and the first closed primary. Which means that those who have been dependent, if not thriving, upon non-Republican voters or friendlier liberal ground will not find it nearly so fertile.

Imagine that – actual Republicans and conservatives selecting their party's candidate! (Insert Macaulay Culkin “Home Alone” double cheek-slap facial expression here.) I mean, it's only their party. What right have they to play any role in deciding whom their standard-bearer should be?

And if things turn out as they very well might in South Carolina and Florida, we'll be staring a good old-fashioned brokered convention in the face, Super Tuesday or no Super Tuesday.

All that front-loading of the primary schedule, and for what? Absolutely nothing. Serves them right, if you ask me.

McCain stopped (or at least significantly slowed), the media and their polls were made to look foolish yet again (three primaries, three misses; or should I say three strikes and they're out?), and a presidential primary season that actually lasts a season – or two or three.

I'll say it again: Thank You, Michigan!

Here's some straight talk: McCain says "we must accept that fact that these jobs have gone overseas and are never coming back." He should be ashamed. Ronald Reagan would NEVER say something like that. A positive outlook, like that of Rudy and Mitt's are what get you votes, Senator. Maybe you have been into Washington.

Senator McCain went to Washington to make change. However, he was changed as a result.

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Big Brother · 01-17-2008, 12:47 PM

Wait till Saturday...

RealClearPolitics - Election 2008 - South Carolina Republican Primary

superdude17* · 01-17-2008, 12:53 PM

he's increased too fast. he's definitely going to take a huge hit, and already has throughout the country. you can only pay the papers so long McLame

billybones468 · 01-17-2008, 12:56 PM

I am ashamed that the voters of Mich were stupid enough to vote for a man simply because his dad was gov. I believe someone already told you that you don't have to be a neo con to be a republican so stop calling everbody but Rudy a Rino.

Troianii · 01-17-2008, 12:56 PM

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Originally Posted by superdude17*

he's increased too fast. he's definitely going to take a huge hit, and already has throughout the country. you can only pay the papers so long McLame

McCain will fall back down a bit, but he won't take a huge hit. He's risen to such prominence for a few big reasons. He is the only candidate with serious military experience, which use to be almost a prerequisite to running - and South Carolina has half a million veterans. McCain is also the most popular from either party among independents, and that gives him an edge in all open primaries. But where McCain wins the base is his electibility. Giuliani use to be the man to beat the Democrats, but now we have a man who is a bit more conservative and is better able to beat the Democrats.

Caltex · 01-17-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybones468

I am ashamed that the voters of Mich were stupid enough to vote for a man simply because his dad was gov. I believe someone already told you that you don't have to be a neo con to be a republican so stop calling everbody but Rudy a Rino.

He doesn't listen =(. Too much kool-aid.

If anyone's a RINO he is, since he's not old enough to register to vote.

billybones468 · 01-17-2008, 12:58 PM

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Originally Posted by Caltex

If anyone's a RINO he is, since he's not old enough to register to vote.

LOL

Albinonewt · 01-17-2008, 01:15 PM

I don't thin McCain wins South Carolina, I don't care what the polls say. South Carolina is historically hostile to McCain and I think it'll reject him again.

(I hope)

francois60 · 01-17-2008, 10:44 PM

Here's some straight talk: McCain says "we must accept that fact that these jobs have gone overseas and are never coming back." He should be ashamed. Ronald Reagan would NEVER say something like that. A positive outlook, like that of Rudy and Mitt's are what get you votes, Senator. Maybe you have been into Washington.

Reagan wouldn't have promised Michigan workers their old jobs back. He would have encouraged them to get new jobs.

Times change. And I'm not sure McCain said those jobs went overseas, but if he did, he was wrong. The primary reason manufacturing jobs of all types are being lost is automation. Even in China, manufacturing employment is dropping.

superdude17* · 01-17-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albinonewt

I don't thin McCain wins South Carolina, I don't care what the polls say. South Carolina is historically hostile to McCain and I think it'll reject him again.

(I hope)

He doesn't stand a chance. He is going down. He is relying on Joseph Lieberman (who is the real candidate, IMO). He is a Democrat in heart. No way to run a campaign for a top endorser to be a Independent who swings Democrat, used to be one for 20+ years, while trying to gain conservative and moderate Republican votes. He's done. He would screw us. He wins, we have a democrat next year running this country, which will result in civil war

Wouldn't you say?