by Frank James
As he has done on other election nights since the start of January, Sen. John McCain tonight won the votes of anti-war Republicans.
This is causing some head-scratching, considering McCain's stance on the Iraq War. He has steadfastly supported the war though he criticized aspects of how it was managed, calling for a troop surge long before the Bush Administration embraced the idea.
So why is he getting these anti-war GOP voters?
Could it be that as the security situation has improved in Iraq, anti-war Republicans like other voters view Iraq as less urgent an issue than they once did?
Also, even though the are against the war, it may be that they agree with those opponents, even some Democrats, who say the U.S. needs to leave Iraq judiciously, only after ensuring that Iraq can defend itself and has the best chance to avoid becoming a failed state?
Perhaps they just like his personality more than Mitt Romney's, Mike Huckabee's or Ron Paul's.
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Comments
"Could it be that as the security situation has improved in Iraq, anti-war Republicans like other voters view Iraq as less urgent an issue than they once did?"
Wow, even Frank James can admit the obvious sometimes!
Posted by: Jeff | February 5, 2008 11:01 PM
The independent folks in NH voted for him, it was later discovered, b/c they thought he was anti-war. The problem is that the MSM often depicts him as a rebel - voters make wild assumption, therefore, that he must be an anti-war candidate. crazy, huh?
Posted by: shm224 | February 5, 2008 11:09 PM
Or maybe, Frank, "anti-war" Republicans includes people who are frustrated because the U.S. isn't doing ENOUGH to kill the terrorists?
Frank James knows Republicans like my pet poodle knows quantum physics.
Posted by: Patton | February 5, 2008 11:12 PM
Your poodle would be a step up from the current president. Can he pronounce the word nuclear?
Posted by: Tom O | February 6, 2008 2:26 AM
Frank James knows Republicans like my pet poodle knows quantum physics.
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Anti-war republicans are voting for McCain? Don't criticize Frank for not knowing what goes on in the republican mind, even a poodle would have an easier time with quantum physics than trying to understand republican lunacy.
p.s., I haven't met your poodle, but I'm sure he's smarter than Bush.
Posted by: Bruce Y | February 6, 2008 7:08 AM
This is the main reason I could never vote for McCain. He will bankrupt America. The republican party will ruin America claiming to save her.
Posted by: bill r. | February 6, 2008 7:29 AM
Attention Anti-War Republicans:
Mark the Date: April 8. Your National Convention will be held at booth 5 in the Berwyn Denny's. Figure 10 a.m.
Posted by: a blinkin | February 6, 2008 9:33 AM
What does a poodle have to do with quantum nuclear physics?
Posted by: N. Otter | February 6, 2008 10:26 AM
Your poodle would be a step up from the current president. Can he pronounce the word nuclear?
Posted by: Tom O | February 6, 2008 2:26 AM
Very sad and very true.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | February 6, 2008 11:48 AM
"MCCAIN SPEAKS"
I WAS A WAR HERO! I WAS CAPTURED! I WAS, I PROMISE.
I PUT MY PRESIDENTIAL BID ON THE LINE. MY CAREER ON THE LINE.
I PUT RONALD REAGON ON THE LINE.
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
AND NO WE!
VOTE FOR ME. VOTE FOR ME!
I WILL OVERTURN ROE V WADE, I WILL OVERTURN THE 2ND AMENDMENT, I WILL OVERTURN THE 22ND AMENDMENT, AND I WILL GIVE NO IMMUNITY TO MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE LIVED, WORKED, AND PAID SOCIAL SECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES, I WILL GIVE THEM A
"RUDY GIULIANI SKYWATCH PATCH"
I WILL MAKE BLACK PEOPLE RECONGIZE "THEY ARE NEXT"
I WILL MAKE SURE THE RICH KEEP ON GETTING RICHER, AND THE POORER GET POORER, UNLESS IT'S ELECTION TIME IN ARIZONA.
I WILL KEEP MY PROMISE TO BE A 73 YEAR OLD ON THE WAY TO MY GRAVE "CONSERVATIVE" AND KEEP IN PLACE THE RONALD REAGON / DICK CHENEY TYRRANY UNTIL I'M CREAMATED OR IMPEACHED BY MY YOUNG VICE PRESIDENT, (SATAN)
Posted by: Roger Morris | February 6, 2008 2:05 PM
Roger while I have no idea what your comment says, (because normal people don't like all caps) I do know that seeing it in ALL CAPS IS ANNOYING!!!
Get a clue.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | February 6, 2008 4:20 PM
My poodle is smarter than Barack "I forgot to pay my taxes for 17 years" the gasbag, and more honest than Norm Hsu's friend Hitlery.
Posted by: Patton | February 6, 2008 6:04 PM
Ok, McCain got some votes from anti-war Republicans. What's your point? What other Republicans were running on an anti-war campaign? As I recall, none. Accordingly, it'll be a different ball game when he faces an opponent that isn't a lapdog war monger. What's this nonsense about the situation has improved in Iraq?
Posted by: andy42302 | February 6, 2008 11:40 PM
John McCain won't be antiwar in a million Years. In fact he wants us to be in iraq for 100 years. RON PAUL is the true antiwar candidate.
Vote Ron Paul 2008
Posted by: Bernie | February 7, 2008 11:16 PM
While I fully understand the angst of Conservatives in their policy opposition to John McCain blunders like Illegal immigration, Conservatives are beginning to amaze me in their inability to see the larger picture.
Many talk radio hosts have battled a McCain nomination. Even Focus On The Family Director Dr. Dobson (who I admire ) has declared his refusal to vote for McCain. This astonishes me because it’s the same as saying “if I don’t get the conservative I want, I’ll let the country go to hell in a hand basket:” This, in my opinion is very naive and unthoughtful - since our children will be growing up in the aftermath of such a decision.
Anti McCain pundits and commentators such as Rush Limbaugh have ventured the idea that perhaps we should sit this election out and let the Dems have a term in office, claiming it might pave the way for a future shot at a candidate he and others will like in four years.
While I understand these expressions of dismay, I think it’s shortsighted. Imagine the damage our country will endure if Democrats control all three branches of government for 4 to 8 years. .
This would give liberals what they will treat as a clear sign from America that is it ready to move sharply to the left. Conservatism will lose most of it’s teeth and the liberal agenda could easily reverse all of the progress we’ve made in the war on terror, Tax reduction, Pro Life, and other extremely important issue.
We can always address the issue of immigration again in 4 years. What we cannot afford to see happen is a liberal agenda that makes illegal immigration the least of our country’s problems. Our country may be so torn up, it won’t have the time to even visit the issue, like we can today.
There is no such thing as a quick recovery from 4 years of liberalism unchecked. We may be facing what will take years and years of damage to undo. What’s more, there’s no guarantee that it WILL be undone. The passage of even one single liberal law is extremely difficult to outlaw - as if Roe V Wade hasn’t taught us this already!
Rush Limbaugh and others may revel in 4 years of liberal destruction as a talk radio host who can use the material, however all it takes is one liberal judge appointed to the Supreme Court to unravel the one ace we’ve achieved in the last 8 years. This doesn’t occur to me as a smart decision for Conservatives to be making..
As Evangelical Conservatives know, Pride commeth before the fall, and I hope they will study that verse before deciding to approach this election with dismay rather than enthusiasm.
Questioning McCain was right and highly useful for a time and a season. But there are greater threats looming on our horizon than John McCain.
It’s time to put our differences aside and get with the business assuring our children, they will not grow up in a socialist, liberally dominated world. This may be our cross roads, and it is certainly no time to be staying home on Election Day.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://weeklyvice.blogspot.com
ThaLunatic Daily
http://thalunatic.blogspot.com
Posted by: Danny Vice | February 8, 2008 1:02 AM