McCain: Time to Kill the GOP debates

Sen. John McCain says we need to put a moratorium on Republican presidential debates before they drive up the unfavorables of the ultimate nominee any further.

He may be on to something. The debates are beginning to look like a cheesy reality show. We know that Newt will attack Mitt on Bain just as certainly as we know that Snooki will do jello shots.

We have had ample opportuni to assess the debating skill, temperament and demeanor of each of the four remaining candidates.

There is still a real and urgent need for the candidates to outline their positive positions on the economy, for starters. But this can be more effectively done in a substantive and serious policy speech rather than in a debate.

Sure, the debates are kind of fun to watch. People who do not follow politics are tuning in just to see who gets bloodied worse. It's great theater, but it is not the job of the Republican party at this critical juncture to entertain America. Our purpose must be to defeat Barack Obama.

Best Line of the Day

Sen. John McCain (quoting Sen. Tom Coburn) describes the Democrats' takeover of the health care industry: "No Child Left With a Dime." So true, it hurts.

McCain Calls a Terrorist a Terrorist

Sen. John McCain, who was in Louisville this Veteran's Day to celebrate the opening of the McConnell-Chao archives, said what many have thought: the shooting rampage at Fort Hood was an act of terror. WHAS has the video. McCain insisted that political correctness must not be allowed to impede national security.

Some argue that the Fort Hood shootings were a crime, perpetrated by a lunatic. To be sure, the tragedy is both a crime and a symptom of madness. That, however, proves too much: any act of terrorism -- including the attacks of 9/11 -- is both a crime scene and the product of insanity. What distinguishes terrorism from a crime is the political motivation of the person pulling the trigger or flying the plane. When, as at Fort Hood, the shooter screams "Allah Hu Akbar," there is no question as to the motivation.

Why Obama Made Nice to McCain

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting take on the real reason President-elect Barack Obama invited Sen. John McCain for a sit-down -- and it wasn't to heal the nation or show post-partisanship or any other such platitude. It was to begin the process of peeling away Republican votes needed for filibusters

In short, the Obama-McCain summit was a preemptive attack on Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's ability to hold his caucus together when confronted by Obama's policies.

As Kimberly Strassel writes for the Journal, Obama's meeting with McCain was

directed, pure and simple, at co-opting Mr. McCain's help against what Mr. Obama understands is now his biggest obstacle: Senate Minority Leader McConnell.

. . .

Standing in the way is Mr. McConnell, one of the shrewdest Senate operators in recent history, and a man who knows the institution inside-out. He also knows what his members want, and what he can demand in return.

The minority leader is already crafting ways to keep his caucus together to block Mr. Obama's more destructive proposals. If the new president wants 60 votes, he's going to have to fight for them, vote for vote.

Look for McCain to go all mavericky on us and sell out Republican principles. As time goes on, we may give thanks that he was not elected; it least now conservatives have an opportunity to regroup and develop candidates who actually believe in the party platform.

In the meantime, I give thanks that Kentucky voters were not duped by Bruce Lunsford's millions and returned McConnell to keep the firewall in the Senate.

McCain Won It

It was close; both candidates performed better than I expected. But Sen. John McCain won this first debate.

Although Sen. Barack Obama was more succinct than we've seen since Gov. Sarah Palin began giving him nightmares -- Obama didn't utter a single "uh" the whole debate-- Obama actually lost on the issue that he'd tried to hang around McCain's neck: temper. This, from the candidate who'd spent the week having his surrogates and spinmeisters suggest that McCain is "erratic," which is Obama-speak for senile and psychotic. All of the sudden, it was Obama who looked like he needed the time-out chair.

It was Obama who had the pursed lips, not McCain. Who knew that Obama, who boasted about his placid temperament to Diane Sawyer in her run-up to the debate, was the one who had a temper problem.

I'll wait for the the MSM to transcribe the debate to comment on specific answers. In terms of presence, however, Obama had more gravitas than I would have expected, though not as much as McCain. Likewise, though he'd taken more time to prepare, Obama appeared more nervous. It turns out that there is no experience like life experience.

Attire, though indistinguishable at first glance, said much about the two candidates. Obama wore a flag lapel pin -- after having eschewed such pins just months ago. McCain, the decorated war hero, wore no flag lapel. McCain clearly felt no need to wear his patriotism on his lapel, and with good reason. Obama's need to resuscitate the flag pin, in contrast, looked like a boy with big stereo speakers. (Readers who are too young to understand the metaphor, ask your parents; watch them blush.)

And McCain wore a red and white striped tie. It was patriotic (like Obama's solid red tie) but nonetheless made the point that McCain was an Republican of a different stripe. To the extent that Obama's goal was to hang George Bush around McCain's neck, Obama lost.

For National Security, McCain-Palin Beats Obama-Biden Any Day

According to ABC News, Senator Barack Obama had this to say when asked today by ABC News commentator George Stephanopoulos about whether he had ever considered military service:

The Democratic candidate said he briefly considered joining the military after graduating high school, but decided against it.

"I graduated in 1979. The Vietnam War had come to an end. We weren't engaged in an active military conflict at that point. And so, it's not an option that I ever decided to pursue," he said.

What a wimpy answer, and further confirmation that the "Community Organizer" has no real grasp of national defense. Obviously Senator John McCain is far and away the better choice to protect the country -- not simply because McCain understands the military from having served with bravery, but also from his having strongly advocated national defense for many years.

Obama apparently needs a refresher course about 1979. That year was the low point of Democratic appeasement policy of the Carter administration. It was in the middle of the Iranian hostage crisis and the point in the Cold War when the USSR invaded Afghanistan. For youngster bloggers, rent "Miracle on Ice" and you will get a taste of what a mess the country was in under Democratic rule.

That Obama claims he considered joining the military but didn't in 1979 only demonstrates that he, like Carter, lacked an understanding of the importance of a strong military to protect the nation's interests. It took President Ronald Reagan, with the support of congressional leaders like John McCain and Mitch McConnell, to restore strength to a military that had been so depleted during the Carter years.

Palin, like Obama and Biden, did not serve in the military, but she has raised a son who understands the value of military service and, in fact, has enlisted to serve in Iraq. And though she is three years younger than Obama, Palin thus far has exhibited a toughness that instills far more confidence in the public than that exhibited by Obama, who shows disturbing Carter-like tendencies on foreign policy issues.

And, of course, when it comes to the gut check of who you would trust to protect you, McCain-Palin wins hands down over Obama-Biden.

Obama probably knows more about bowling than he does about the military.

(Photograph by Sgt. Jacob A. McDonald, U.S. Dept. of Defense)

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Excerpts From Senator McCain's Speech

Sen. John McCain has an impossibly hard act to follow, given the rave reviews of Gov. Sarah Palin's speech. There is simply no way he can top her speech. Instead, he needs to remind America of relentless independence and honor. He needs to remind America that we know who he is, and though we may not always agree with him, he will always be straight with us and put country first.

Here are excerpts from the prepared text of his speech. He will likely deviate from the text a far amount. But here's what he's planning to say tonight:

On running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin: "I’m very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country. But I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming."

On solving problems in Washington: "The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn’t a cause, it’s a symptom. It’s what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you. Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That’s how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."

On love of country: "I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s."

Fred Thompson on McCain

Here are excerpts from the remarks that Fred Thompson will deliver tonight to the Republican National Convention.

McCain's qualifications to be president:

"This is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders. Strength. Courage. Humility. Wisdom. Duty. Honor. It's pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, 'Who is this man?' and 'Can we trust this man with the presidency?'"

McCain's does what is right – not what is popular:

"He has been to Iraq eight times since 2003. He went seeking truth, not publicity. When he travels abroad, he prefers quietly speaking to the troops amidst the heat and hardship of their daily lives. And the same character that marked John McCain's military career has also marked his political career. This man, John McCain, is not intimidated by what the polls say or by what is politically safe or popular."

McCain's commitment to reforming Washington:

"But while others were talking reform, John McCain led the effort to make reform happen – always pressing, always moving for what he believed was right and necessary to restore the people's faith in their government. Confronting when necessary, reaching across the aisle when possible, John personified why we came to Washington in the first place."

McCain's ability to restore integrity to our government:

"My role is to help remind you of the man behind the vision. Because tonight our country is calling to all of us to step up, stand up, and put 'Country First' with John McCain. Tonight we are being called upon to do what is right for our country." T

The McCain campaign is hitting hard on the campaign theme "Country First," and tonight will emphasize service.