I'm surprised that some conservatives are defending Senator John McCain's decision to appear in what Drudge is calling a "raunchy boob-fest". Susan Estrich is right to point out McCain's earlier advocacy for cleaner movies and question the Senator's judgement. I watch R-rated movies, so I'm not necessarily angered by his participation in this one (though I have little desire to see Wedding Crashers). What irks me is the obvious hypocrisy. One of the primary things rightists like to nail leftists for is saying one thing and doing another -- form over substance -- so I resent such a prominent rightist politician giving ammunition to the opposition.
Steve from Disaster, Love, Vengeance and Dust says that a stint at the Hanoi Hilton entitles one to "hang out with your wang out as you see fit", but again, that's not the point. The point is that words and deeds should be consistent.
Art Green at Conservative Eyes dismisses the cameo and hypocrisy as not "something people will look towards when choosing someone for President". In my experience, people who lie and are insincere about little things will lie and be insincere about big things. We'd be smart to learn about a candidate before he has opportunities to make bigger mistakes as President.
I think Stu at Red State Rant best captures my own opinion. He points out that many conservatives already question McCain.
Ms Estrich ends with the statement ,"In the end, what may be at issue is not whether conservatives share McCain's sense of humor but whether they come to question his judgment." Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of things I like and respect about Senator McCain and find his life story fascinating and inspriring. In fact I think we probably share the same sense of humor. But even with that, what I think Ms Estrich fails to realize is that I, and many other conservatives, already began questioning his judgement and conservative credentials many years ago. Pity.
True enough, and I doubt the Senator from Arizona will ever get the Republican nomination for the Presidency. McCain is a "maverick" in the same way as Howard Dean (though to a lesser degree). He speaks to a certain niche of supporters, but can't appeal to the party as a whole. He could possibly win an election against Hillary, but he won't get the chance to try.
Both McCain and Giuliani will never be the Republican nominee for President (and that's sad; I'd probably vote for either one of them).
They're too moderate for the religious right, who currently controls the Republican party.
It does speak, though, to the current state of affairs in American politics. Whether it's Howard Dean on the left or Bill Frist and Rick Santorum on the right, America's vast ideological center is being abandoned. There's glaring hypocrisies on both sides. The Right has abandoned the fiscal concerns of conservatism and the Left has abandoned.. well.. take your pick.
I suppose it's all well and good for MW to say that he chooses not to harp on those on the Right when they do something stupid... and that people like me should be happy when those people do stupid things... but what's more to the point is that MW SHOULD always criticize people on the Right when they do stupid things because it's a betrayal of principle and because those blunders potentially jeopardize the balance of power that the Right currently enjoys.
I cringe along with everyone else when Howard Dean barks out yet another strident diatribe. So where's MW's criticism of the prescription drug plan (a huge new entitlement) or the tariffs imposed on the steel industry (a move that restricts free trade)?
I think this post was about McCain, not tariffs imposed on the steel industry. Besides, MW can criticize whomever and whatever he likes.
And just what exactly is "America's Vast Ideological Center?" I'd like to send them a letter about all those pesky liberal running around the freeways with
Kerry/Edwards bumpersticks on their Priuses, slowly fading into oblivion due to sun damage.
He could possibly win an election against Hillary...
On what planet? Say the screwball express does get the nomination- do you really expect that he will draw any dems away from a Clinton ticket? The GOP would be so fractured (think: third party splitsville) Hillary would walk away with an electoral landslide.
Agent J: You know, I don't really give a damn what the post is about. I addressed it and added other information. It is not up to you to decide what should and should not be written on MW's site. If anyone can, it's MW.
Yes MW can criticize whomever and whatever he likes... and you'll notice that I never said he can't. I'm simply calling on him to criticize more of the things that, as a conservative, he should be outraged that his own "conservative" peers are doing.
America's vast ideological center is more populous than either the far right or the far left. People with Kerry/Edwards stickers on their cars are no more automatically on the far left than people with Bush/Cheney 04 stickers on their cars are automatically on the far right.
Look at the pot calling the kettle black! Read your first comment:
Mark: Criticism of prescription drug entitlement. Criticism of steel tariffs.
Agent J: Yes, I was calling on MW to do what I asked him to do. He's perfectly free to ignore it. It is ultimately up to MW to decide what he posts on his site, so my original statement applies. If anyone should be talking to me about posting things that aren't quite on-topic, it's MW... not you.
I suppose it was a poor choice of words on my part, though, to say I don't give a damn about what the topic is. What I meant was that I don't give a damn if YOU have a problem with what I posted not being entirely on-topic.
So you have no idea what the ideological and political center is? Well, I guess you did originally equate seeing a Kerry/Edwards sticker still on a car as sign of there being a liberal in the driver's seat.... so I guess I shouldn't expect you to know anything about what the ideological center is.
MW: Good. You've neglected to criticize plenty of other blunders, though. I know that you don't want to criticize every one of them... but as I said earlier, I think you should.
Mark:
1. Contrary to your nebulous point about MW being the only monitor on illogical thought, I, too can recognize BS when I see it. I saw it and commented on it. Tee hee.
2. Think before you speak.
3. I wanted to know YOUR definition of the vast ideological center. I'm perfectly familiar with the term itself, but you, being an ideologically lonely figure, must have a completely different definition of it entirely. Forgive me for trying to see YOUR viewpoint.
4. I see you have appointed yourself as official whiner of MW's site. Welcome.
Mark-
Not satisfied with the level of blunder criticization here? Perhaps you should ask for a refund.
Better yet, get your own blog and gripe all you want. I'm sure plenty of folks will be happy to tell you what you should be writing about.
So, what does anyone think of a Jeb/Condi ticket?
Agent J:
1. Not sure what you're talking about.
2. I do... but while we're on the subject, what does having a Kerry/Edwards sticker on a vehicle make the driver again? I believe you said a liberal.
3. It is interesting to see you jump to conclusions about not only my ideological affiliation but about what I, because of that affiliation, must think the ideological center is. In reality, my ideological affiliation is slightly left-of-center but is perhaps best described as libertarian. My idea of the vast ideological center is probably very similar to yours.
4. I'm flattered, but no... I'm not officially anything on MW's site.
gaw: Got a problem with what I post here? Too bad.
No thanks, I don't want my own blog. I thought about it more than a few times, but decided against it.
And now back to the regularly scheduled program...
McCain behavior means that if he does get the Republican "nod" somehow, his actions clearly show he's after the moderates and the libs, and split the Right and hope to eek out a win for President. He's writing off the Right, and as MW clearly stated, you can't trust that kind of behavior and judgment.
Even if McCain did none of the things you've all said he shouldn't have done, including this movie thing, he'd have no chance of getting the Republican nomination. His stance on the issues is too moderate for the religious right hegemony that controls the GOP.
gaw: I think America is tired of Bushes, so I doubt Jeb would do well. I'm also not sure a black woman could win against a white man, but perhaps against a white woman? Maybe I'm overestimating prejudices.
TF: The republicans will be in big trouble if McCain goes 3rd party.
MW: Yes, the Republicans already did significant damage to their stance among independents. They can't stand to also lose moderate Republicans and expect to keep control of either Congress or the Presidency.
Well, I guess you did originally equate seeing a Kerry/Edwards sticker still on a car as sign of there being a auto parts liberal in the driver's seat.... so I guess I shouldn't expect you to know anything about what the ideological center is.