Seems like that one time “Maverick” John McCain is falling like a rock (an old rock) in the way too early to matter polls. I still think that he would have won running away in ’08 if he had run as an Independent instead of sucking up to the Radical Right and the Bush administration. That ship has sailed, however. While hanging out at the National Review’s website (ahem…cough cough), I came across Ramesh Ponnuru‘s cover story interview with McCain. Here is an excerpt:
 |
|
The “maverick” pose |
Sen. McCain: I got some encouraging news this morning in the USA Today.
Ponnuru (reading headline): “McCain firm on Iraq war. . .” (McCain flips the paper over.) “Despite cost to candidacy”: even better. . .
Sen. McCain: (Laughs) Yep. They’ve got a poll that says 33 percent are much less likely, and 11 percent somewhat less likely to [vote for me]
Ponnuru: So do you think that’s already been costing you? That that’s behind some of the slides in the polls?
Sen. McCain: First of all, I don’t know. But second of all, I can’t worry about it. You just can’t, with something like this you just can’t let it concern you. The issue is too important. The sacrifice that so many young Americans have made already pales in significance to any cost that it may mean to me. You’ve seen these wounded kids, you know how much they’ve given.
Ponnuru: But is the country prepared to give more? The Post had a story on the front page that people want a deadline.
Sen. McCain: Well, I think that it’s the job of people like me to explain to them what’s at stake here. It isn’t just Iraq. I really believe that chaos will ensue, genocide will take place, and unlike after we lost the Vietnam War when they didn’t want to follow us home, these people want to follow us home. I think what’s at stake here is this entire struggle we’re in — you know I hate to use the word war, because then you give people legitimacy as soldiers — but the struggle that we’re in against radical Islamic extremism.
And so for me to somehow trim my sails on an issue like this would be just a disservice to the nation. [Link]
By the way, as an interesting side note. This post I wrote when SM was first getting started accounts for a large chunk of visits to our site even still.
Surprisingly no question regarding immigration which is a major sour point with conservatives. Very favorable interview though.
If McCain was to win in 2008, it would also be a win for desi’s. His adopted daughter Bridget who is of bengali background from Bangladesh would be the 1st daughter.
Plus she would be 16 next year so she would at that age where her life would start getting media coverage.
Clueless, you didn’t click on my last link did you?
He has more hair than Giuliani, therefore, he must win;)
Did he switch that around a forget the word ‘comparison’?
What a ridiculous interview from a conservative view point. This man-child Ponnuru is as lame as they get. Who can forget the smackdown he got from Jon Stewart.
First, no questions on IMMIGRATION. Hello? The NR gang is the biggest collection of hysterical xenophobes outside the Minutemen and still no question about Immigration. Then one soft ball question on Campaign Reforms which the NR people especially loathe! No questioning McCain on his previous opposition to tax cuts (now he is for them!) or his stance on the torture issue where the NR gang sides firmly with the President and opposes McCain.
Its sad to see McCain’s campaign going down faster than the titanic inspite of his new found love for the Christian Taliban. I will take McCain over Guilliani and Romney anyday.
A McCain-Leiberman front Independent front for 08 would really create some ripples.
“A McCain-Leiberman front Independent front for 08 would really create some ripples.”
Yeah, Santosh…some ripples. McCain’s kissing ass of Bush, who humiliated McCain and his family in prior elections has only caused his poll numbers to plummet. And Lieberman, please… the GOP is dying a slow and painful death. Witness the latest news: 4 guilty counts against Libby, ongoing investigations of Walter Reade, ongoing investigations of US attorneys fired by the Bush administration, Coulter’s latest screed at CPAC, etc. etc.
And,yes, Ponnaru is an idiot.
Doesn’t mean the GOP is dying!! Remember where the Democratic party stood just 2 years back?
except immigration,its an excellent interview by ponnuru,he has given a lot of importance to war against terror…thats the present concern for Desi’s as well as back home in India!!thanks for the link abhi.