The mainstream media has coronated McCain the Republican nominee because he won a mere 36% of the vote in Florida. Were Huckabee not in the race, most of those Huckabee votes would be going to Romney and things would look very different. And Huckabee is doing this intentionally; he knows he has no hope, himself, of winning the party nomination, but he wants Romney to lose because he’s a Mormon. McCain is pro-life, and that's the only issue that Huckabee cares about.
The mainstream media, dominated by liberal journalists, likes McCain because he’s the most liberal Republican, often turning his back on conservative principles to make deals with Democrats on issues like immigration, global warming, and judicial nominees. That’s why the NY Times likes him so much.
The press has some moral principle against calling elections based on exit-poll data, but apparently that moral principle doesn’t extend to calling races before the voting even begins.
Unfortunately, this is bad news for Romney because the mainstream media is very powerful. People let the media tell them how to think. Only blogs are still supporting Romney.
McCain almost became a Democrat a while ago. Just another reason to keep blowing him I guess. For people who are so worked up about "democracy" the press and liberals (same people really) has basically no interest in letting the process play out. Things must be settled now! Once again, no surprise.
Also, I have enjoyed the liberal angst over having a black and woman both running and the subsequent crisis over who to dry hump. If only a black woman were running, things would be easier.
Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Ace, in a thread at Ace of Spades HQ, also pointed out yesterday that McCain accepted federal matching funds and that this could impact his viability as a candidate when up against the Democrats:
Comment #34
>>>What slays me is the thought of McCain becoming the presumptive nominee after Super Tuesday ... and then we've got TEN more months to go...
Well, you wont' see much of him in ads. Since he's accepted matching funds, he's got a cap on how much he can spend, and he's spent most of that. He'll be out of cash by the end of the primary season and will have to wait until August-September for the party convention before he can spend more raised money.
Which puts him in the same position Bob Dole was in, when Bill Clinton ran ads against him all spring and summer, weakening him to almost nothing before he even formally received the nomination.
Posted by: tommy | February 01, 2008 at 02:44 PM
"Which puts him in the same position Bob Dole was in..."
An excellent point, Tommy. Hopefully Republican voters will become aware of this fact, and consider it wisely.
BTW,
I beleive that the NYT, et. al. only like McCain because he wreaks havoc on the GOP.
They agree with his politics, but he's still a hated Repub, and they really wouldn't want to see him be elected. They just want him to destroy the GOP for them.
Posted by: slwerner | February 01, 2008 at 03:53 PM
What's funny is how the republican websites, blogs, and Fox News were all for the mainstay Republican candidates and never gave Ron Paul a fair shake - in fact they demonized him in most cases.
Now that McCain has bubbled to the top, the right wing is in angst about it: He's dishonest, too liberal, he sides with Democrats, he's the business-as-usual washington insider, etc.
They get what they've sewn. They always will. As for those of us who yearn for bold, honest leaders, those without IOU's and who will ride into town with a truly fresh agenda? We are screwed. Again.
Posted by: Dave | February 01, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Damn Sigma,
Your post pretty much read my mind. This is exactly what Ive been saying.
The Dems could't yearn for a more beatable candidate than Juan McCain.
Did anyone else notice how McCain had to use a teleprompter to give a victory speech after Florida. Romney cleans his clock in debates. I am cautiously optimistic about next Tuesday. Its not Florida, and Florida only has half it usual amount of delegates. There is only a 20-something delegate difference between the two.
Posted by: miles | February 01, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Sam Francis must be laughing in his grave, the GOP seems determined to committ suicide with Capt. McAmnesty: http://larison.org/2008/02/01/mitt-really-should-have-stayed-home-2/
Posted by: icr | February 01, 2008 at 10:12 PM
The Dems could't yearn for a more beatable candidate than Juan McCain.
I will bet $2500 that John McCain can beat Obama or Madame Clinton. The Republican machine will dig up dirt and start rumours about the Democratic candidate, and there are enough sexists, race realists, legally registered Hispanics, and loyal Republicans to ensure that the Democrats won't win.
As one of the few non-Republicans here, I refuse to believe that there is a weak and incompetent Republican Party in place. America is a "pays Republicain", I think it will always remain so.
Posted by: David Alexander | February 01, 2008 at 10:49 PM
race realists,
All 700 of us aren't going to make or break the election, I'm afraid. :-D
Besides, very few race realists will be showing up to vote Juan McAmnesty into power.
Posted by: tommy | February 01, 2008 at 11:34 PM
All 700 of us aren't going to make or break the election, I'm afraid. :-D
Oh come on. Don't underestimate your numbers. I'd imagine that the number hovers around 70 million, if not twice that...
Besides, very few race realists will be showing up to vote Juan McAmnesty into power.
I think they'd take their chance on Juan McAmnesty than the Senator from Illinois who inherited low IQ from his daddy, or the faux-liberal white woman.
Posted by: David Alexander | February 01, 2008 at 11:58 PM
McCain is pro-life, and that's the only issue that Huckabee cares about.
Now you're buying into Huckabee's persona and not paying attention to the ambitious man behind that mask. The obvious reason for Huckabee to help McCain is that he can strongarm McCain into accepting him as VP. Not a great goal, but I think Huckabee is realistic enough to see that the Presidency is out of reach this time around.
Posted by: bbartlog | February 02, 2008 at 12:07 AM
"People let the media tell them how to think."
Really? So this is why George Bush got voted in twice?
Is this your plan in life? To blame conspiracies and make up excuses for everything that doesn't go your way?
Posted by: DML | February 02, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Huck is almost certainly auditioning for Veep, but I think McCain will drop him like a bad habit come convention time unless he needs Huck's delegates to get over the top.
I know I'm biased, but Fred Thompson is the drop-in candidate for any Veep slot, Romney or McCain. He's a policy nerd, he's almost unblemished as a conservative (to shore up the base), and he "could be President" if he had to.
Posted by: GOP Lurker | February 02, 2008 at 12:21 PM
I'm not so sure Thompson is a logical choice. It's true that he would provide ideological balance for a McCain ticket, but his age would be a big negative for anyone looking forward to 2012. Plus it would be easy for the Dem candidate to portray the Republicans as the doddering Centrum-silver ticket, and neither Thompson nor McCain is in good enough physical shape to really stuff that charge back in their faces.
Romney probably feels (rightly or wrongly) that he doesn't need a conservative for ideological balance. I don't know what a good choice for him would be, but I don't think Thompson gets him much besides some regional balance.
Posted by: bbartlog | February 02, 2008 at 12:41 PM
McCain/Thompson, the all-ugly-senior-citizen ticket. I don't think so.
A VP should either be (1) someone who is young and good looking and good at making campaign speeches; or (2) someone who will help win a crucial state. Thompson is neither.
Posted by: Half Sigma | February 02, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Hey, I'll bet Thompson's sexy 30 year old wife doesn't consider him an ugly senior citizen.
I'm beginning to think I should have gone into politics.
Posted by: Rain And | February 02, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Hey, I'll bet Thompson's sexy 30 year old wife doesn't consider him an ugly senior citizen.
She's 41 years old...
Posted by: David Alexander | February 02, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Oops, I was thinking of Kucinich's woman. Though Jeri was 35 when they got married.
Hilarious:
In mid-December 2007, the Associated Press asked some of the 2008 candidates what their favorite possession was. Whereas Rudy Giuliani said his grandfather's pocketwatch, Fred Thompson responded tongue-in-cheek, "trophy wife."
Posted by: Rain And | February 02, 2008 at 03:11 PM
What made them think Thompson's answer was tongue-in-cheek? Sounds to me like he had a senior moment-of-honesty.
Posted by: Rob | February 02, 2008 at 03:49 PM
What's so great about Romney? He seems like an empty shell to me.
Posted by: James | February 03, 2008 at 12:36 PM
They think he's more conservative than McCain. I just think he's a smart guy who's proven himself capable of doing things in the real world and is thus unlikely to be as moronic as W, even if I dislike his political philosophy. YMMV.
Posted by: SFG | February 03, 2008 at 01:06 PM