'McCainism' Could Set a Radical Path for the GOP

NPR
March 19, 2008
By Mara Liasson

All Things Considered, March 19, 2008

In a presidential election year in which a black man and a white woman are each staging historic candidacies, John McCain — the maverick Republican — may be the most radical party nominee.

While both New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama are making unprecedented bids for the Democratic nomination, both are also orthodox party members who deviate very little from the mainstream. The same can't be said for McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee.

As fellow Republican and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sums it up: "John McCain couldn't be a status quo person if his life depended on it."

Gingrich knows something about boom-and-bust cycles in politics. Right now with the Republican Party in retreat, he thinks McCain might be just the change the party needs.

"McCain may turn out to be a surprisingly timely break in what would otherwise have been, I think, a Republican disaster," Gingrich said. "His willingness to do what he believes in, and not care about the political conventions will certainly break up both the pattern of domination by the regular Republican establishment and the pattern of movement conservatives defining the party."

McCain won the nomination in spite of opposition from large wings of the Republican establishment and the conservative base. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of McCain's closest allies in the Senate, says McCain could now have a profound effect on his party.

Gingrich says that McCain is determined to figure out how to have a governing coalition that encompasses about 60 percent of the country.

"He understands that the red-versus-blue base mobilization is crazy in the long run. It works for one election. Then it is destructive," he said.

In 1992, former President Bill Clinton called himself a "new Democrat" when he wanted to move his party to the center. In 2000, Bush called himself a "compassionate conservative" when he wanted to break with the hard edge of the Gingrich revolution.

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By Anonymous @ Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:08 AM

We have a Republican sitting 2nd term President, that has divided the country and it’s own party so much so that not since Lyndon B Johnson has this country felt such a separation from it’s leaders and a feeling of betrayal by it’s Government.

And that leaves little if any belief in the American people right now as to whether another Republican President would not do more of the very same thing.

This is not to say that Bush has made such bad decision, or that he is Evil in some way.
But that even in his 2nd term in office he has failed at public speaking and at invigorating the public.
John McCain in order to win this Election has to got to change, he appears extremely timid, he doesn’t show any commanding control when he speaks and really he needs to distance him self from our current president, because If you told me “Hey president Bush endorses John McCain for president, I would think more of this no way!.

There was a saying speak softly and carry a big stick, John McCain comes across like he speaks softly and is afraid to even carry a stick.

He has got to come across to the people with an intellectual redric that informs the public based on facts and core principal beliefs by educating the General public, he needs to reach out to the Democratic center appeal to the moral majority that he can and will unify the great division that exists in our country today between the people and it’s government and unfortunately this stems from the leadership brought forward by our current sitting president..

I have heard him speak several times and each and every time I heard him, I found no eloquence to his speaking, I found no control in convincing me of his plans, I was not moved or inspired.

His speech writing staff has got to go, this man needs to sit down and study the techniques, crafted and mastered by Regan, because truth be told I believe that what this country is yearning for and desperately seeking is another Ronald Regan to save them

By Wally @ Monday, March 24, 2008 11:30 AM

Trying to Emulate Democrats or Socialists has never been and will never be a winner for RINOs. *************
In the first election of President Bush II, the "Compassionate Global Moderate" at least acted like a Conservative by ignoring Washington Elites. The mistake Bush II made was the decision to ignore the American Serfs that Supported him. *******************
The Amnesty Maverick is Ignoring everyone but the Washington Elites in a bipartisan comprehensive fashion. The RINO is a replica of the '96 Dole Campaign ... Stamping his feet while saying ... "Its my turn! Its my turn!". [sigh]

By ericrobinson @ Monday, March 24, 2008 2:36 AM

First, McCain won't win the general election, but even if he should, he doesn't have the charisma or eloquence to create widespread support from the general population, and unless the next president can get the People fired-up, no significant changes will happen. We will be taxed more, lose more of our freedom, and all the social problems facing us will be worse. Getting the parties to work together is BS. The Parties are the people who have created all our problems, not solved them.

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