How McCain Could EARN My Vote

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

As opposed to Obama giving my vote to McCain:

I'm not happy with either of [Rice or Huckabee VP possibilities] for reasons I explained here, here and here. I have a bit of a dark horse candidate for the position. Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele.

Steele is the best of Rice and Huckabee. He's black, which will pull votes away from Obama just like Rice would. He's conservative, which is the side of the party McCain needs to shore up. Sure, he doesn't have Condi's name recognition or Huck's appeal to evangelicals, but Condi has never run for elected office (and claims she does not want to) and I believe that the evangelicals are robust enough that they will rally around a true conservative even if he's not an evangelical (although he did spend three years studying to be a Priest!). Since losing a 2006 election for the Senate seat of retiring US Senator Paul Sarbanes, Steele has gained media savvy. He currently appears on CNN's The Situation Room and various shows on FOX News as a political pundit. It sounds like he could be as effective as Huck with the media.

Steele has acted as a counterpoint to Obama before: At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Steele gave the Republican counterpoint to the Democrats' Barack Hussein Obama in a prime time speech, Steele's first major national exposure. And Steele knows how to run in adversity: Maryland is an overwhelmingly Democratic state, but he and Robert Ehrlich won the 2002 election 51-48%. Ehrlich became the first Republican elected governor of Maryland in 40 years.

Michael Steele is my pick to be John McCain's Vice President candidate. In an informal poll of conservative bloggers taken by Right Wing News (in which I did not participate), Steele finished second among Most Desired VP Choices for McCain (Hat Tip: Soccer Dad). By contrast, Rice finished fourth. Huckabee finished first - among the Least Desired VP Choices (Rice finished eighth among the least desired; Huckabee didn't even make the most desired list and Steele was not on the least desired list). Granted, that poll was not very scientific, but it may be indicative of where the 'activists' of the Republican party are headed.

Oh yes - almost forgot Michael Steele on Israel:

Michael Steele came down squarely on the side of Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and called for more time for diplomatic efforts. As a sovereign nation, Israel has the right to defend itself, said Steele. "Israel was attacked. I've been appalled by the fact that people seem to play that down and have gotten to the point where they are now blaming Israel for what's happening. A cease-fire will come on terms that are hopefully favorable to both sides, but certainly on terms that will not put Israel at greater harm or disadvantage," he said.

Because Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, Israel's strong reaction is justified, he said. "You don't give them any leverage or any upper hand in any conflict you have with them," Steele said. "Your goal should be to take them out. Period. As quickly as you can."
Source: Clifford Cumber inteview in Frederick News-Post Aug 8, 2006

In 2005, Steele visited Israel on behalf of the State of Maryland.

Maryland and Israel have so much in common, the state's lieutenant governor says, that they're like sisters.

From their similar population, to their mix of "traditional and avant-garde communities" to their "technologically based ... intelligent" work forces, they are "so compatible in so many ways," Michael Steele said in a telephone interview from Israel on Tuesday.

He was in the Jewish state this week to encourage Israeli businesses to set up sites in Maryland and, he said, start an "exciting new chapter" in the Maryland-Israel relationship.

Sponsored by the Maryland/Israel Development Center and coming almost exactly two years after Gov. Robert Ehrlich's (R) similar jaunt to Israel, the mission was the lieutenant governor's first to the Jewish state. Last month, Steele officially announced his candidacy to replace Democrat Paul Sarbanes in the U.S. Senate.

If anyone knows more, please pipe up

http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2008/05/mccains-vice-president-i-vote-for.html

There are plenty of policy reasons to choose Steele far beyond the happenstance of his skin color. The thought of Mr Steele as heir-apparent to the White House in 2012 (can McCain really eke out 2 terms at his age?) gives one much to smile about.

[DixieBelle]

Excellent choice. I like Steele. And if McCain chose him, when they start digging into his background, I will just grin from ear to ear when they stumble upon all that's been done to Mr. Steele by his ideological opponents.

[Lacarnut]

Sounds like a very good choice to me. Thumbs up!

[Wretched Excess]

he'd just get slaughtered in the MSM for "playing the inverse race card", or something else that they just invented.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

he'd just get slaughtered in the MSM for "playing the inverse race card", or something else that they just invented.

Well, conservatives would vote for Steele because he's a conservative.

The McCainiacs who want someone that can cross aisles would vote for McCain because Steele assuages their nascent white, liberal guilt. The MSM will fabricate anything so McCain may as well win with the right and center.

[Lacarnut]

he'd just get slaughtered in the MSM for "playing the inverse race card", or something else that they just invented.

Well, conservatives would vote for Steele because he's a conservative.

The McCainiacs who want someone that can cross aisles would vote for McCain because Steele assuages their nascent white, liberal guilt. The MSM will fabricate anything so McCain may as well win with the right and center.

Soris is going to spend $40 million dollars on ads to smear McCain. Let them try it on Steele which could backfire on the dumb@ss liberal Dummiecrats.

[Wretched Excess]

he'd just get slaughtered in the MSM for "playing the inverse race card", or something else that they just invented.

Well, conservatives would vote for Steele because he's a conservative.

The McCainiacs who want someone that can cross aisles would vote for McCain because Steele assuages their nascent white, liberal guilt. The MSM will fabricate anything so McCain may as well win with the right and center.

I like steele a LOT, as well . . .  having said that . . . .

it would become complicated to point out Baroque Obama's utter lack of qualifications for the highest office in the land if we put a guy on the ticket "a heartbeat away" from the highest office in the land who's claim to fame is being lt. governor of maryland for one term, and then losing a senate race.

just sayin'.

[Crazy Horse]

Personally I like Sanford.

I do like Steele though, but WE brings up a great point

[Rebel]

Personally I like Sanford.

I do like Steele though, but WE brings up a great point

**** yeah to BOTH of those men.

However, I'm finding it harder and harder to vote for McCain.

[Wretched Excess]

Personally I like Sanford.

I do like Steele though, but WE brings up a great point

**** yeah to BOTH of those men.

However, I'm finding it harder and harder to vote for McCain.

his green speeches of the past two days aren't exactly making me swoon, either. 

[rich_t]

Personally I like Sanford.

I do like Steele though, but WE brings up a great point

However, I'm finding it harder and harder to vote for McCain.

You and a lot of other conservatives from what I've been hearing lately.  I for one feel the same way.

The guy has now apparently jumped onto the global warming wagon.  That is one more mark against him in my book.

[Wretched Excess]

Personally I like Sanford.

I do like Steele though, but WE brings up a great point

However, I'm finding it harder and harder to vote for McCain.

You and a lot of other conservatives from what I've been hearing lately.  I for one feel the same way.

The guy has now apparently jumped onto the global warming wagon.  That is one more mark against him in my book.

that isn't really a new thing for him.  he has been more than just a little green for a long time.  I think he overdid it with his comments on the kyoto treaty, but I don't recall specifically if he favored kyoto when the treaty was an issue or not.

[Chris_]

McCain cannot change enough in the allotted time to earn my vote.

[franksolich]

I dunno.

I have no problems with John McCain, but it's obvious many do.

Unless Clinton pulls it out, the guy is going to be up against the weakest presidential candidate the Democrats have fielded since George McGovern or Walter Mundane; he'd better take advantage of it.

Yesterday, in the Nebraska Republican primary, where the choices were John McCain and that guy from Texas, even though I fully intend to vote for McCain in November, I didn't vote in the presidential primary, just the primaries for lesser offices.

I wanted to send a "message" to McCain--as, obviously, did circa 2500 other Nebraska Republicans--that he's got some fence-mending to do, miles and miles of fence-mending, and he'd better get on it.  The prize of the whole United States minus Vermont is worth it.  It's in his grasp.

But he's not going to get it if he doesn't pay attention to those who have problems with him.

My suggestion to all of you uncomfortable with McCain is to keep bitching--constructively, of course--and sooner or later, he's going to hear you, and mostly heed you.  So keep the fire to his feet.

[Lacarnut]

What should get every Repubs attention is the fact that 2 special elections in LA & MS were held in the last 2 weeks and the Democrats won both that were held by Repubs. I think it is going to be a blowout in Nov. with the Democrats winning 60+ Senate seats which will make any legislation fillibuster proof. In other words, any liberal/socialistic legislation like national health service, increased taxes, cutting financing for the military, the war and intellegince, ant-gun laws, fair doctrine and a host of new social programs can be passed over objections of Repubs.

For the reasons stated above, it is imperative that McCain be elected. Not that I like him but because he will veto most of the stupid crap the Demos. will pass.

[john c calhoun]

What should get every Repubs attention is the fact that 2 special elections in LA & MS were held in the last 2 weeks and the Democrats won both that were held by Repubs. I think it is going to be a blowout in Nov. with the Democrats winning 60+ Senate seats which will make any legislation fillibuster proof. In other words, any liberal/socialistic legislation like national health service, increased taxes, cutting financing for the military, the war and intellegince, ant-gun laws, fair doctrine and a host of new social programs can be passed over objections of Repubs.

For the reasons stated above, it is imperative that McCain be elected. Not that I like him but because he will veto most of the stupid crap the Demos. will pass.

BINGO....

and for any supposed conservatives or repukes here that can't stand the thought of Mccain ...

well, for gods sake, you voted for GWB 2x w/ no problems, so don't get all righteous on us now.... GWB is prolly THE most liberal republican we've had in 100 years ....easily....

mccain is more conservative than Bush on money, therefore he is more conservative PERIOD, because nothing gets done w/out the money....

vote for mccain or STFU & move to china or something since you seem to love GWBs leadership these past 8 years.... because if you don't support & vote for mccain, as lacarnut said, the Dems will have  a clear run at everything thanks to GWB's horrendous, horrible presidency that has left the GOP/conservatives THE most unpopular & worthless party in decades...

hillary/obama  with a filibuster proof, Soros funded, Dimrat congress & senate will be the END of the republic....all because some of you dumbass's continue letting the media make up your minds

mccain is a hero, is against earmarks/keynsian government & the man does not hate america ...what the f**k else do you want??

[Wretched Excess]

What should get every Repubs attention is the fact that 2 special elections in LA & MS were held in the last 2 weeks and the Democrats won both that were held by Repubs. I think it is going to be a blowout in Nov. with the Democrats winning 60+ Senate seats which will make any legislation fillibuster proof. In other words, any liberal/socialistic legislation like national health service, increased taxes, cutting financing for the military, the war and intellegince, ant-gun laws, fair doctrine and a host of new social programs can be passed over objections of Repubs.

For the reasons stated above, it is imperative that McCain be elected. Not that I like him but because he will veto most of the stupid crap the Demos. will pass.

BINGO....

and for any suposed conservatives or repukes here that can't stand the thought of Mccain ...

well, for gods sake, you voted for GWB 2x w/ no problems, so don't get all righteous on us now.... GWB is prolly THE most liberal republican we've had in 100 years ....easily....

mccain is more conservative than Bush on money, therefore he is more conservative PERIOD, because nothing gets done w/out the money....

vote for mccain or STFU & move to china or something, because if you don't support & vote for mccain, as lacarnut said, the Dems will have  a clear run at everything thanks to GWB's horrendous, horrible presidency that has left the GOP/cosnervatives THE most unpopular & worthless party in decades...

hillary/obama  with a filibuster proof, Soros funded, Dimrat congress & senate will be the END of the republic....all because some of you dumbass's continue letting the media make up your minds

mccain is a hero, is against earmarks/keynsian government & the man does not hate america ...what hte f**k else do you want??

I can't believe you just said something so . . . reasonable.

[DixieBelle]

^maybe he hasn't had enough coffee this morning

[franksolich]

^maybe he hasn't had enough coffee this morning

I dunno, but given his mellowness, it looks to me as if our esteemed colleague John C. here had a healthy breakfast brimming with fiber.

Good job, John C., sir.

[john c calhoun]

^maybe he hasn't had enough coffee this morning

I dunno, but given his mellowness, it looks to me as if our esteemed colleague John C. here had a healthy breakfast brimming with fiber.

Good job, John C., sir.

lots of fiber , 2 eggs over easy, green beans & a whey protein shake....!!

I even lifted weights this morning   !!

plus my team won their first game last night,  we STOMPED the commissioners team 8-4 !!! (mighty mites baseball)

joe torre, watchout, JCC is up for skipper of the year  ....

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

I'm not sure I will even vote this year.

Sadly for America, the defeatocrats are right, McCain is nothing less than a 3rd term for President Bush, because McCain supports the exact same things I found untenable in President Bush - specifically immigration.

I have no problem with people wanting to come to this country to better themselves, HOWEVER, it has to be done in accordance with current immigration laws -- namely they enter this country L*E*G*A*L*L*Y.

The recent crackdown on illegals by ICE and Homeland Security has FINALLY gotten the attention of an increasing number of illegals, because the flow of illegals LEAVING the U.S. has been increasing.  I want ICE and Homeland Security to lean even harder on illegals.

The federal government should very heavily penalize EMPLOYERS who hire illegals, up to and including a MANDATORY 10 year prison sentence and a MANDATORY $ 5 MILLION fine.  Failure to pay the fine WILL result in confiscation of their business.

The federal govenment MUST also construct a continuous triple layered barrier along the border from the gulf of mexico to the pacific ocean consisting of an anti-vehicle barrier followed by two ELECTRIFIED 12 foot high fences seperated by 50 foot wide anti-personnel minefield.

The federal government MUST also terminate automatic citizenship for children of mexicans born on U.S. soil.  American taxpayers are having to pay far higher taxes because mexican women PURPOSELY enter the U.S. when they begin labor pains because they know that child will automatically become an American citizen - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!