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June 14, 2005
Be Wary of McCain-philes; Or, "If you think Bush is screwing up, turn to McCain"
Having sold out most recently in the filibuster compromise, John McCain finds himself the apple of the moderate eye, and by many accounts the Republican "front-runner" tag is purportedly a fait accompli. Last week NY Press' Russ Smith wrote that "[t]he GOP primary field is littered with cultural conservatives--say Sens. George Allen, Sam Brownback and the ineffectual Bill Frist--one or two deserving but unknown dark horses (Govs. Mark Sanford and Tim Pawlenty)," and the nomination "McCain's for the grabbing, despite the protestations (not at all unwarranted) by Bush-base Republicans...I wouldn't be surprised if Karl Rove is cooking up a deal right now with the phony campaign-finance reformer from Arizona to secretly pledge just one term in the White House before handing it over to Jeb Bush in 2012."
Today, E.J. Dionne unwittingly exposes the fraud at work here, by letting us in on a Big Secret from her strategy Deep Throat, whom she identifies, all mysterious like, as a "shrewd and loyally Democratic political operative": Psst. The Republicans will be "desperate to hold power" and, especially if they're still beset with "ethics problems," will look to the clean, moderate McCain to rescue Bush's legacy (Iraq) and stave off "bread and butter disconent" over the economy and the "quagmire."
Despite the insufferable self-importance ("I’m letting you in on a big secret here" – hey, thanks, E.J.!), Dionne's column reads like DNC talking points: (1) Iraq as quagmire; (2) Economy sluggish; (3) Moderates good; (3a) Bush-type ideologues bad; (4) McCain to the rescue. I suppose if one were to accept Dionne's fantasies, one might also agree that McCain is the Republican's last best hope. (Problem is, the electorate – particularly given the state of the Democratic Party – won’t leap at that storyline; for starters it’s the same one Kedwards banked on ("Help is on the way!"), and it was a loser; the left’s disarray since November confirms this, and their inability to formulate an alternative.) In the end, the McCain-to-the-rescue theme is a rouse by those anxious to re-judge the President and what he has come to represent. (Look at the Republicans! They’re desperate! Look what he’s done to them!)
But politics isn’t “Choose Your Own Adventure” (“turn to page 23 if the electorate thinks Iraq is a quagmire”). Try as she might to glean “bread and butter discontent” from Republicans’ recent missteps, Dionne and her comrades are simply pitiful, and wishful thinking won’t suffice to undo 2004. Voters crave leadership, not the kind of moderation McCain and Bill Frist eschewed a few weeks ago. This is one reason McCain – seemingly an ideal candidate, with an impeccable CV – has found it impossible to win nationally. Politically speaking, he embodies unelectable “compromise.” Ultimately, Conservatives should be wary of anyone claiming 2008 would be any different.
Posted by bill at June 14, 2005 09:46 AM
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