Redstate

Posted at 10:23pm on May 8, 2008 REDSTATE ROUNDTABLE #9: The McCain Veepstakes

By Jeff Emanuel

Once again, RedState presents a peek inside the minds of those who make up the site's Editorial staff. This week, the RS Contributors debate Sen. McCain's potential Vice Presidential selection.

The big question: who should McCain pick? And, to revisit a question we took on back in February, should McCain try to make his choice early, or should he wait until close to the September convention?

Dan McLaughlin: I have laid out my own rules for who I think McCain should rule out , and I'll just say here that if the choice was mine to make today, I think my preferences would be SC-GOV Mark Sanford, RI-GOV Don Carcieri, and MN-GOV Tim Pawlenty, in that order, although I'm actually leaning towards the idea that Carcieri might be electorally the best bet in helping McCain crack Pennsylvania and maybe even New Jersey.

Continued below the fold...

Posted in 2008 | Elections | John McCain | Redstate Roundtable | Republican Vice Presidential Nomination | Veepstakes — Comments (105)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:24pm on May 8, 2008 Senator McCain and Judicial Appointments

By Rep. Tom Feeney

Over the last half of this century, the United States Supreme Court has frequently elected to decide what the law should be rather than what the law actually is. Through routine applications of substantive due process and an expansive reading of the Commerce Clause, the Court has elected to form the contours of American law from the bench rather than deferring to Congress and the States.

While The Supreme Court must review legislation through the lens of constitutionality, the role of our courts is to say what the law is, not what it should be. If the Court feels that a piece of legislation does not pass constitutional muster, then it may require the originating legislative body to make a second effort to comply or render the law inoperable. The Court should not make determinations of policy or social issues that are properly left to the consideration of publicly elected officials.

When the Court strays from strictly interpreting the law and the Constitution, we are left with abortions at a whim, brutal murderers receiving reduced penalties, and private property being seized by state and local governments for private commercial gain.

Earlier this week, Senator John McCain pledged that his judicial appointments would have "a proven record of excellence in the law, and a proven commitment to judicial restraint." As we approach the coming election, we must have leaders that are dedicated to upholding the rule of law and finding judicial nominees that are able to exercise the kind of restraint that Senator McCain promotes.

Senator McCain recognizes that the real and desired activism in our country is democratic rather than judicial. As Senator McCain mentioned, "Real activists seek to make their case democratically – to win hearts, minds, and majorities to their cause." Americans have a duty to be involved in the political process, to make their opinions heard by their elected officials, and to vote for candidates that reflect their values.

If our next President nominates activist judges to force an agenda that could not otherwise garner the approval of the people, he will betray the trust and silence the voice of the very people who put him in office.

Posted in 2008 | John McCain | Judicial Appointments — Comments (7)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:31am on May 7, 2008 If Pandering Is The Game . . .

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

It is generally agreed by those who are actually in the know when it comes to the specifics of trade policy and how free trade genuinely benefits America that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are moving Heaven and Earth to pander to protectionists for votes. But as Daniel Ikenson points out, in the runup to tonight's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, both pandering to free traders is the smart thing to do:

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Indiana's producers shipped $26 billion worth of goods to foreign customers in 2007 -- 14 percent more than the year before, and 80 percent more than in 2001. In fact, since 2001, the state's exports have grown at a rate one-third faster than U.S. exports overall. In North Carolina, producers shipped $23 billion worth of goods to foreign customers in 2007 -- 10 percent more than the year before, and 59 percent more than five years ago.

In 2007, exports accounted for 20 percent of U.S. manufacturers' total sales revenues -- the highest percentage in modern history. And nowhere in America is manufacturing more important to the economy than in Indiana, where the sector accounts for over 30 percent of the state's gross domestic product. Manufacturing is also more important to North Carolina's economy than it is to most other states, accounting for 22 percent of the state's gross domestic product, ranking it fifth among states in that measure.

In China, Canada, and Mexico -- the primary villains in the candidates' anti-trade narratives -- Indiana's producers are building relationships that are yielding extraordinary returns. Exports from Indiana to China increased by a whopping 36 percent between 2006 and 2007 -- twice the rate of total U.S. export growth to China, and nearly four times Indiana's exports to China in 2001.

Likewise, Indiana's exports to Canada and Mexico have grown 9 percent from 2006 and 67 percent from 2001, eclipsing overall U.S. export growth to the NAFTA countries in both periods. North Carolina's exports to NAFTA have grown 46 percent over the past five years -- to $7.4 billion.

Read on . . .

Posted in Barack Obama | Economy | Free Trade | Hillary Clinton | John McCain | Protectionism — Comments (2)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:32am on May 5, 2008 In choosing between the evils of two lessers, I choose Hillary

How about a controversial statement for your Monday morning?

By Erick

I think, given the choice between Barack and Hillary, we should throw our support behind Hillary.

To be sure, Hillary is a threat to our freedom and would be a disaster as President. But when judging between the evils of two lessers, we must sometimes make tough choices.

I write from the premise that, regardless of what McCain does this Presidential season, the odds are still in favor of a Democrat in the White House. And from that vantage point, I think Obama has the potential to do more long term damage to this nation than Hillary Clinton.

Hillary has an iron fist that will first pound on the Democrats and media that opposed her. It'll be close to three years in the White House before she focuses on the rest of us. Obama, on the other hand, is both a piss poor manager and is a terrible judge of character.

While Hillary values loyalty, Obama is ready and willing to throw every one of his staffers under the bus so long as he does not have to throw one of his marxist friends under the bus. Obama really seems to buy into this "change" notion and the best I can tell, his version of "change" is to effect the proletariat revolution against evil capitalists. Imagine this dude's cabinet picks -- the friends he won't throw under the bus. He'd put people comparable to Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright and his wife into positions of power. He'd have no control over these people or would choose not to control these people. While the policy positions between Hillary and Obama are not far apart, the people Obama has chosen to surround himself with in public are far to the left of Hillary. How much further left are those he surrounds himself with in private — the ones we don't know about yet?

Put simply, Hillary Clinton knows she needs the right as a foil. Obama thinks, after the revolution is complete, the right will be irrelevant. He's Jimmy Carter and Woodrow Wilson wrapped up into one incompetent package with a ready willingness to let his friends on the far left run the ship of state.

Given the choice between Hillary and Obama, I'll take the one who, at the end of the day, is in it mostly for herself over the guy who is in it to see Marx's dream made real.

Posted in 2008 | 2008 | Barack Obama | Hillary Clinton | John McCain — Comments (40)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:26pm on May 4, 2008 Let's Start Calling Them "McCainocrats"

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

The New York Times came out yesterday with an article discussing the purported tendencies of what we are led to believe are legions of Republicans ready to jump across party lines to support Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama not just during the primary contest, but in the general election once one of them captures the Democratic Presidential nomination.

Some context follows:

1. CBS News reports that in a general election fight, McCain gets 18% of Democrats against Obama and 12% against Clinton.  By contrast, Obama and Clinton take 11% and 10% of Republicans respectively.
   
2. In the Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll, we find that McCain gets 22% of Democrats against Obama and 15% against Clinton. Meanwhile, Obama and Clinton take 13% and 6% of Republicans respectively.
   
3. See also this.

Maybe it is high time for the New York Times to run a piece on the "McCainocrats" and the danger that they pose to the Democratic Party. You know, to justify that whole "reality-based community" appellation for once.

Posted in 2008 | Democrats | John McCain | Party Identification | Republicans — Comments (63)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:51pm on May 4, 2008 Gray Lady strikes out with McCain?

Why does the campaign even bother?

By Soren Dayton

We know the stories. First, the New York Times runs an empty story about a lobbyist. They embarass themselves with no substance. Then one of their reporters attacks him on the plane and invokes his temper. Whiff again. Then they try something with some local project, and it demonstrates the cravenness of the environment lobby.

Well, they are at it again. But, as Ed points out, they are, at least, putting it on the editorial page. They are attacking him for not releasing all of his health records. Check out this pathetic hit job:

Senator John McCain is 71 years old, a survivor of an aggressive form of skin cancer. If elected, he would be the oldest man to become president.

These factors are not disqualifying, but they impose on Mr. McCain a larger duty than usual to provide detailed, timely disclosure about his health. So far, he has failed to meet this obligation to voters, even though he is now the presumed Republican nominee. ...

The McCain campaign says it will make his health documents available and arrange for follow-up questioning of the candidate’s doctors on May 23.

Lemme guess how this played out. NYT wanted to write a (hit) piece on this. They asked for more details on his health. The McCain campaign responded with a solid date, something that the campaign is very accountable for, and then they New York Times attacked anyways.

Why does the campaign even bother with the NYT? Their readership is collapsing. Their reporters like Rutenberg and Bumiller are embarrassing the paper and demonstrably lowering its standards. Why even invite them on the bus and plane anymore. The campaign doesn't invite the DNC, why its surrogate?

Posted in 2008 | John McCain | Media Bias | The New York Times — Comments (4)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:05am on May 2, 2008 Willfully Ignorant Media Gives Obama Activist Pass to Ask McCain About the C-Word

By Erick

My, my how the media is lazy.

From our good friend Gateway Pundit we find that a Democratic operative asked John McCain at a townhall meeting if he'd ever called his wife a c**t.

How did the media describe the guy? A Baptist minister.

Who is the guy?

Marty Parrish, Joe Biden's former office manager. He's also an Obama supporter.

Naturally though, the Des Moines Register was too dumb to realize who the guy actually was.

Parrish, a 45-year-old Baptist minister and technology business owner, said he attended the event specifically to confront McCain about the rumor.

McCain, however, handled the incident like a pro.

Here’s a transcript of today’s remarks:

PARRISH: This question goes to mental health and mental health care. Previously, I’ve been married to a woman that was verbally abusive to me. Is it true that you called your wife a (expletive)?

MCCAIN: Now, now. You don’t want to … Um, you know that’s the great thing about town hall meetings, sir, but we really don’t, there’s people here who don’t respect that kind of language. So I’ll move on to the next questioner in the back.

The audience gasped at the question and applauded at McCain’s handling of it.

Remember, the left will stop at nothing this year. Nothing.

Posted in 2008 | 2008 | Barack Obama | Joe Biden | John McCain | Marty Parrish — Comments (63)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:31pm on May 1, 2008 "McCain to talk judges in North Carolina"

By Feddie

Confirm Them has the details.

Posted at 11:08am on May 1, 2008 The McCain Veepstakes Rules

Please Consult This List Before Touting Your Favorite Choice

By Dan McLaughlin

The hottest topic in Republican circles, ever since John McCain iced the nomination, is who he should pick as his running mate. There are many interesting names floated, and McCain will have good reason to make a show of talking to a bunch of candidates for the job, as a way of courting different groups and party leaders and feeling out people who might end up with other jobs in his Administration.

But realistically, there are a number of constraints on what kind of candidate McCain can or should pick. The Vice Presidency isn't like other appointments, since he or she is independently elected and can't be fired. And McCain's choice will be of particular significance for a few reasons. First, because of his age, voters will want more assurance than usual that his running mate is ready to step into the job at a moment's notice. Second, also because of McCain's age, he's seen as less likely to serve two terms; his running mate, win or lose in 2008, will have a leg up to be the heir apparent in 2012. And third, many conservatives are unhappy with McCain as the party leader, and want to see that the moderates have not taken permanent control of the party.

Let's start with the Don'ts, which will be especially important in this process. I'm not saying that McCain will necessarily follow these rules, but he should and I suspect he will. And I'm not saying that it's impossible that he will take someone who breaks them, but it will be a very heavy burden to overcome, and probably fatal for anyone who violates more than one of them. (This list is not necessarily presented in any particular order of importance).

More below the fold...

Posted in 2008 | Condoleezza Rice | John McCain | Mark Sanford | Mitt Romney | Tim Pawlenty | Veepstakes — Comments (297)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:26am on May 1, 2008 Presidential politics return to Michigan (GOOD!) while another few thousand jobs leave (BAD!)

By RightMichigan.com

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

He was here just over a month ago, touring a Ford plant back on February 21st.  And now he's coming back.  Who?  I'll give you a few hints... he's a guy.  He's running for President.  He's actually invested in Michigan this campaign season with staff, mail, radio, TV and all sorts of assorted political chum purchased from local vendors.  He talks about Michigan issues and has taken an active interest in the domestic auto industry.  If you do the math on February 21st it's only been sixty-nine days since he last visited even though our election was held long ago... and he didn't even win it!

Posted in Breaking News | John McCain | Michigan | Ron Gettelfinger | UAW | www.RightMichigan.com — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:33pm on Apr. 30, 2008 John McCain: Now Officially a Natural Born Citizen

By Ben Domenech

Following up in previously published posts: as David Freddoso reports, John McCain should now be officially recognized as a natural born citizen.

Posted at 1:38pm on Apr. 30, 2008 AFL-CIO desperate to stop "defection"

Spending big bucks to keep their party together

By Soren Dayton

The AFL-CIO is sending out mail attacking John McCain, according to the Hotline. To whom?

The piece has been sent so far this cycle to more than 400,000 swing voters, notably those much-courted Reagan Democrats living in OH, WI, MI and MN.

Note that "Democrats" are swing voters. These "swing voters" are Hillary Clinton primary voters. These are people who have a high likelihood of becoming McCain voters.

AFL-CIO is terrified that its members are going to vote for John McCain. These are those white working class voters that Barack Obama seems incapable of appealing to. They are going to trash John McCain to their own base for the next 6 months.

This is not a sign of strength. They are going to be spending $53m more on this. That's a sign of desperation.

Posted in 2008 | AFL | John McCain | unions — Comments (10)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:48am on Apr. 30, 2008 FactCheck.org Agrees - DNC Takes Over Obama's Lies

By California Yankee

On Monday I went after Howard Dean and company for picking up Obama's lies with another less than truthful ad.

Now FactCheck.org has examined the Democrat's latest prevarications and found, once again, that the Democrats' ad "twists" what Senator McCain actually said:

The ad twists the sense of McCain's words by showing images of war, when he was really talking about a peaceful troop presence. Imagine how different the ad would seem if it showed images of, say, American troops walking the streets of Tokyo or Seoul and had included what McCain said about "Americans ... not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed."

Anyone who didn't already know the fuller version of McCain's answer could easily be fooled into thinking that McCain would be perfectly happy to see the war continue. McCain has said quite clearly that he considers Democratic proposals for a quick withdrawal from Iraq to be "surrender," and so deadly fighting could well continue longer under a President McCain than under either a President Hillary Clinton or a President Obama. But what the DNC ad conveys is the opposite of what McCain said.

Read on, there's more.

Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | DNC | Economy | Howard Dean | Iraq | John McCain — Comments (3)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:03pm on Apr. 29, 2008 Obama: Weak On The Issues

But At Least He's Got A Good Beat The Kids Love To Dance To

By Dan McLaughlin

There's a growing school of thought among Republicans that even despite his massive fundraising machine, pop culture cache and messianic aura, Barack Obama may yet turn out to be a much weaker general election opponent than Hillary Clinton. Hillary is certain to be a competitive candidate, but has enormous built-in negatives; any election involving her is likely to be very closely divided. But Obama, while he seems to have a much higher ceiling, also faces a much more significant risk of getting completely Mondaled. And a new poll from Rasmussen helps explain why - even moreso than Hillary, Obama matches up terribly against McCain on which candidate is more trusted on a host of key issues. Here's the key findings in tabular form:

Obama's inability to crack 40% against McCain on the central issues of the day makes him look less like a transformational political figure and more like the incumbent president's 34% approval rating. Note that McCain matches up so well against Obama despite "generic ballot" questions showing that the Democrats as a whole are more trusted than Republicans on a number of these issues. (Note also that McCain unsurprisingly beats Hillary handily on the ethics question).

Is Obama actually the easier target? Maybe, maybe not; any one poll is just a snapshot, and it's a long way to November. But more and more Republicans are eager to find out.

Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | John McCain | polls | rasmussen — Comments (14)/ Email this page » / Read More »