NYT: McCain, in New Hampshire, Gets an Earful From the Right

[DeepModem Mom]

McCain, in New Hampshire, Gets an Earful From the Right
By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: September 18, 2006

CONCORD, N.H., Sept. 17 — Senator John McCain, who is battling with the White House over the interrogation and trial of terrorism suspects, on Sunday flew to New Hampshire — and right into a blistering editorial from the conservative Manchester Union-Leader that assailed him for standing up to President Bush on the issue.

Mr. McCain responded with a spirited defense, invoking his experience as a prisoner of war as he vowed to block the White House effort.

“This issue is not them — this issue is about us,” he said of terrorists, facing an audience sipping cocktails on a lush lawn next to a pool. “The United States has always been better than our enemies. I’ll tell you right now: one of the things in prison, in North Vietnam, that kept us strong was that we knew we were not like our enemies. That we came from a better nation, with better values, with better standards.”

After months of orchestrated peace, the battle with Mr. Bush over the administration’s effort to reinterpret the Geneva Conventions has put Mr. McCain back into a familiar position: bucking the White House and at odds again with some conservatives, who had already been wary of his ideological views.

The dispute is shaping up as an early chapter in a shift of influence in the Republican Party away from Mr. Bush as he approaches the final two years of his administration, and toward its presidential nominee of 2008. And it is spotlighting divisions in the Republican Party as prospective presidential candidates jockey for support from the conservative wing....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/18/washington/18mccain.html

[Renew Deal]

1. McCain doesn't have to please republicans in NH

The primary rules are crazy up there. People registered in a party can only vote in their party's primary. Independents can vote in either primary, but just one. So if an indy votes for a Dem, they can't also vote for a puke. Something like 80% of NH residents are independents. I think they call it non-affiliated up there.

One more thing. New Hampshire is a great state. Especially during the winter campaigns. I hope to be up there next year to help my chosen candidate.

[Rowdyboy]

2. Frankly, my friend, I have no idea how we're gong to deal with John McCain

and Rudy Guiliani in 2008. Personally, I think we're in for a tough road but I hope I'm wrong. We shall see.

[Renew Deal]

5. McCain isn't our problem until 2008.

Sometime after March. The pukes will eat each other alive until that point. As long as we don't put up Hillary, we'll survive. I think Warner, Clark, and maybe even Fiengold are good matches. That's assuming Gore doesn't run.

[Benhurst]

16. If the 2006 elections are stolen,

Jeb Bush will be the candidate in 2008.

[leQ]

19. is he even hinting at such a thing? i mean, i've thought all along we

haven't seen the last of bush.co. come 2008.

[Acadia Blue]

21. If Jeb is president, then our democracy is over and totalitarianism

right wing type in installed.

[yurbud]

6. I can see why GOP would want those two in general election but how...

would they get them past the knuckledragger base?

In the primaries, Jerry Falwell and an imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan would beat those two--by a wide margin.

[Rowdyboy]

9. You're probably right but these people aren't like us....

We are willing to fight to the death over minor points of principle. They aren't. While we insist on purity in our nominee, they will accept anyone who can win. John McCain and Rudy Guiliani can win and they are MORE than willing to accept a moderate if it allows them to keep power. After all, who nominates supreme court justices?

[yurbud]

10. are you talking about party leadership or rank and file? or the Dems?

In the Democrats case, their are two criteria: 1) can they win? 2) can they do so without incurring the wrath of corporate America?

That any republican is a corporate stooge is a given. Who they fear is their lynch mob base who they intuitively know could turn on a dime if their leaders start gettin' too reasonable.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. I doubt you'll have to deal with Giuliani as top of the ticket.

The only way he gets on the ticket is as a VP selection after the primaries. The crazy wing of the Republican party will never, ever accept him.

[leesa]

13. The guy who rubber-stamped everything Bush did? The guy who

was so lacking in moral fortitude he allowed Bush to falsely attack his family and spread vile lies and then hug and kiss all over him? Pleas. This guy is so weak, can't imagine how to defeat this slimy two-faced wimp?

[Rowdyboy]

14. The media worships the asshole and most people blindly follow

whatever they're told. He's "independent", a "maverick", an ex-POW "straight talker". You and I know that to be absolute bullshit. The man is a right-wing POS, but most people don't realize what a shill he has been for this administration. They see the media myth, which does frighten me. Dismiss him at your own risk, he scares the shit out of me. Four more years of right-wing supreme court justices.....

[DuaneBidoux]

20. McCain's age might be a problem for him.

He will be over 70 come 08. This was an issue for Dole. He would be the oldest elected President in history.

[David Zephyr]

22. I agree.

I can't stand McCain, but that does not diminish his favor with the national press and his image with the public as an "independent". Democrats discount this egomaniac at their own peril as he will be formidable in 2008.

[Finder]

12. Undeclared is the term...

and the primary rules are strict. Most of the undeclareds do not even vote in the primaries. Last time I checked the number was in the 63percent range.

McCain is popular with repubs up here.

[Tesha]

18. Indies in NH aren't that high.

> Something like 80% of NH residents are independents.

Indies in NH aren't that high. In very round numbers, it's more like
50% Indies with probably 30% Repub and 20% Dems. (But that's
a very crude estimate).

Tesha

[WCGreen]

3. What goes on inside the heads of so-called conservatives

that they agree to torture another human being on one hand and on the other say that AMerica is a beacon of liberty and justice to the world...

I am so embarrassed to be sharing the same country with them....

[yurbud]

8. same people who used to celebrate fourth of july with lynchings

[az chela]

4. Does this mean w wont be having b'day cake with mccain this year?

[yurbud]

7. Sen'er McCain, it just aint far, furst we caint do no lynchings....

...and now we caint torture no A-rabs. What's next? Yuh gonna tell me I caint have relations with my sister? Or my hound dog? I's gitten good money fur them pups cuz they's almost as smart as the full dog ones.

[Supersedeas]

15. is the WH punting to McCain as another Rovian election cycle pass

[goforit]

17. McCain is weak ....he'll cave in! But it will be a sad moment for a POW.