Spears, McCain not always pals

Erstwhile challenger Glenn Lindman raises and interesting point regarding S.C. Adjutant General Stan Spears’ endorsement of John McCain for president in ’08.

Ex.-1st. Sgt. Lindman notes that in 2000, our military commander was against McCain, backing W.

For me, this raises two rather obvious points:

  1. It’s insane for South Carolina to have a military leader so wrapped up in politics — a trait that makes us much more like a banana republic than any of the 49 other states.
  2. The GOP establishment really is in the McCain camp this time. But we knew that. Still, I like him anyway. McCain, that is.

22 thoughts on “Spears, McCain not always pals”

  1. mark g

    If there’s any position that should be appointed and not elected, its Adjutant General. That’s just one in a long list of badly needed reforms the general assembly will never have the gumption to deal with.
    I like McCain too, but he is toast. Given his support of the failed policy in Iraq, and his comedic performance in the Baghdad market last week, the GOP establishment is desperate for someone else.

  2. Brad Warthen

    FYI, I just unpublished a “Lee” comment on this post.
    Further, Lee and “Ready to Hurl” are trying their darnedest to join a certain unperson in exile. RTH was the main candidate for the dubious honor until Lee came back in such a big way recently, but I think Lee may be outdoing him in pure, hostile obnoxiousness without added value.
    This is just a heads-up. The affected parties can take note and adjust accordingly, or be all adolescent and defiant about it — in which case they’re gone. They sure seem to need this outlet more than this outlet needs them, but we’ll see. The choice is theirs.
    This IS going to become a civil forum, whatever it takes. If I ever decide that’s impossible, this blog will simply cease to exist.

  3. mark g

    I agree that free speech is enhanced by civility.

    Blogs work best when there is an open exchange of opinions without the vituperous commentary. and heck, it’s Brad’s blog– he can do what he wants.

    Did you see these recent articles in the NY
    Times?

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/technology/09blog.html?em&ex=1176264000&en=86cd8584d64a8bcd&ei=5070

    And this one…

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/fashion/08heckle.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

    Many people now think only their opinions matter. According to this article, even the hecklers have lost their civility!

  4. Dave

    No offense to Spears but I dont think he will deliver many votes to McCain. I think McCain is trying so hard that I actually feel bad for him as I dont think he can pull it off. Ravenel Sr. backs Rudy and Romney is picking up momentum. Ultimately who McCain ends up supporting will get the real boost.

    I pretty much agree with some need for civility but intense debates (arguments) are also interesting so I hope the nicey nice stuff doesn’t become the primary focus. I do agree that the Un-person needed to be exiled. But no one else that I can see.

  5. ed

    I don’t like John McCain for many reasons, not the least of which is that he was perfectly willing to eviscerate the first amendment for essentially what amounted to nothing more than scoring political points. The fact that Spears likes him sort of makes me dislike him all the more. In any event, isn’t the way he’s stomped on the conservative base in the Republican Party sort of a death blow to any chances he might have had to be POTUS? I mean, besides Brad, who in the “conservative” party likes him other than George S. Patton types who see only his POW history and blue blood RINOs who care nothing for real conservative values? Can he get elected on the strength of these factions alone? Has he ever made a good showing on this dubious strength? Ed

  6. bud

    John McCain is easily the most disappointing of all the presidential candidates. His stubborn support of the lost cause in Iraq combined with his boot licking of the conservative GOP is such a complete turnaround from his apparent pragmatic appeal that he displayed in 2000. He’s apparently even using the same PR company that the Decider used to smear him in 2000. Now that’s a disgrace.

  7. ed

    BOOya! Didn’t you just KNOW it was coming Brad? I THOUGHT it had been a long time since Mary had taken a gratuitous, inane and sort of obtuse swipe at you. You were overdue for an ambiguous and meaningless cheapshot and Mary came through as she always does. Ed

  11. Dave

    Brad, as soon as you vaporize the Un-person’s rants, then it doesnt exist.

    Jonah wrote – There are many reasons to have reservations about McCain: his love of regulation, his animosity toward free-marketers or simply his age and temper. But conservatives who claim that the war trumps everything but won’t even consider pulling the lever for McCain have some growing up to do.
    *****************************

    He has a point but many of us would consider pulling the lever for McCain, but it’s important to win. I am not convinced America will elect the oldest president ever and the Dems will beat that theme to death. I would rather win with a Rudy than watch Hillary and Bill ruin the republic.

  12. ed

    Mary, you are on SUCH a high plane…I don’t think I could EVER understand your erudite and profoundly intellectual thoughts and writings with my little ‘ol brain. All I can do is look at you and wish I was like you. You’re so smart. Tell me again how I get a buck fifty back for every buck I send to Washington. Please? Pretty please? ‘Splain it to me agin Mary, woncha? And keep making those oblique, obtuse and vitriolic comments about a man you don’t even know. It makes you look ridiculous and I enjoy the puff of smoke and the bang when your comments get blown up. Ed

  13. ed

    Support for McCain is a recipe for failure. In the short run, he probably can’t win the presidency and a vote for him would be a vote that didn’t support a GOOD conservative candidate. In the long run, if a miracle happened and he won, the country would be damaged. He is not fit to be president on many levels, starting with age and health, but going WAY beyond those. Ed

  14. bud

    Etch this in stone. No pro-quagmire candidate for president will be elected in 2008, period. Wake up war mongers, the vast, and growing majority of Americans are sick to death of the war and want it over. That’s the issue that counts. Issues such abortion, taxes, trade and the economy are side shows. The big event is the war in Iraq. Not the so-called war on terror, or other security issues but quagmire in Iraq. That’s the bigee. You don’t have to like that but it’s a fact. Poll after poll after poll confirms what the 2006 election made crystal clear.
    It’s no accident that McCain’s fund-raising is trailing the other GOP hopefuls. Even many Republicans are opposed to the war. McCain will never get elected for that reason. The only chance any Republican has is if Bush can somehow get us out of Iraq by the summer of 2008. Otherwise it’s Hillary or Obama.

  15. bud

    From Rasmussen:
    2008 Republican Presidential Primary
    Romney Passes Gingrich, but Remains Fourth in Polls Despite Fundraising Success
    April 10, 2007
    Mitt Romney topped the GOP field in the fund-raising race for the first quarter and moved past former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the race for the Republican nomination. However, while ahead in cash, the former Governor of Massachusetts remains fourth in the polls. The top three positions are unchanged this week with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 27%, Arizona Senator John McCain at 16%, and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson at 14%. Those figures are virtually unchanged from a week ago.
    Although early this shows the utter hopelessnes of McCain’s chances to be president. How can anyone still think he has a chance.

  16. Dave

    Its funny how the liberals and CFR supporters and the drive by media convinced everyone that all this money is corrupting politics. But then, they use money raised as the metric to see who is the frontrunner. Its all about money in getting elected on a national scale and CFR was an attempt to keep people like me from contributing while the communist Soros could spend all that he wanted to spend.

  17. ed

    Right Dave. The Supreme Court has, I believe, held repeatedly that donating money is the practical equivalent to free speech. If that is true, and I believe that it is, then let’s get rid of all limits upon money donations and expenditures in politics. I say that the only restriction on monetary donations and expenditures should be that all donors should immediately be made public and all expenditures by candidates should be too. That way we know who is “saying” (by spending and donating) what, and who agrees (by accepting donations) with whom. Ed

  18. Dave

    I think McCain is a genuine American hero but he lost me when he teamed up with the surrender monkey Findgold and perverted our constitution. I also blame W for signing the law into effect. We now see what it got the GOP in 2006, loss of the Senate and House while the America haters loaded up with election spending on the masses of apathetic and illiterate Americans.

  19. ed

    You go Dave! I agree with just about everything you say, except that there are many more reasons to dislike McCain than just McCain-Feingold (although that IS an excellent one). For instance: His undying love for the camera. His willingness to subvert and pervert the presidents’ plans for petty personal aggrandizement. His desertion of and disdain for true conservatives in his party. His idiotic position on the border and immigration. His ridicule of the south. Yes, John McCain is a man I love to hate. Ed

  20. Ready to Hurl

    Wow! You’ve convinced me. McCain is the best Rethuglican candidate to end the Iraq meat grinder and GOP domination of national affairs.
    Run, John, run.
    I may even contribute to his campaign.
    PS I’m still chuckling over his “stroll in Baghdad.”
    Not so funny was his attacks on the patriotism of Dems attempting to fulfill their constitutional duty to check and balance Dear Leader. Hey, maybe that’s the kind of sentiment that makes him Brad’s favorite.

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