Bob Dole was a master builder of consensus as Senate majority leader. Now the former Kansan is trying to get radio talker Rush Limbaugh to give John McCain a chance. In a letter to Limbaugh, Dole wrote: “I believe our major candidates are mainstream conservatives and that our nominee will address our concerns by keeping taxes low, reducing corporate taxes, protecting and assisting the vulnerable, strengthening our traditional values, and above all, keeping America strong militarily, whatever the cost. Whoever wins the Republican nomination will need your enthusiastic support. Two terms for the Clintons are enough.â€
At least Limbaugh can’t argue with that last sentence, but a few minutes spent listening to his show today suggest Dole will need an army to get Limbaugh on McCain’s bus.
79 Comments
Limbaugh lower now; how low can he go!
Limbugers answer:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/05/limbaugh_weighsin.html
Eagle
This is not true.
Dole asked Limbaugh, and, tacitly, McCain, to support the Republican nominee.
Dole’s letter was not meant for public release.
Dole has not endorsed anyone, yet.
Dole criticized McCain for false statements McCain has made about Mitt Romney.
Dole criticized McCain for McCain-Feingold.
Dole criticized McCain for McCains opposition to tax cuts.
Furthermore, Romney’s response was made without Romney having full knowledge of the contents of the letter.
Romney is right about the Dole campaign.
Being a Bob Dole Delegate to the National Convention was one of the proudest moments of my life.
However, we ran a very bad Presidential campaign.
It might not be smart for McCain to remind us all of the fact the “Republicans nominate the next guy in line”.
Well, OK
What you say is a “half truth” — Dole was critical of McCain and you left that part out!
Also, McCain now says that “Romney attacked Dole, a war hero” — Another absurd comment from McCain.
Reactionary Romney says he doesn’t want Bob Dole’s support anyway.
SO now Romney has dissed TWO war heroes.
I guess it’s a tough habit to shake that. Having caught the bug trashing Kerry.
John Kerry was a “war hero” in the same way that Benedict Arnold was a “war here” — both were OK until they both switched sides!
Yup keep trashing veterans paulie.
Just like your guy Willard.
This is from the conservative town hall blog:
“Following up on Matt’s post below about Dole’s endorsement of McCain, Romney says Dole is the last person he’d like supporting his candidacy and McCain is demanding an apology.
Romney made these remarks on Fox News and on Laura Ingraham’s radio show.
Consequently, McCain’s camp has issued a statement that says:
“Governor Romney’s attack on Bob Dole is disgraceful, and Governor Romney should apologize. Bob Dole is a war hero who has spent his life in service to this nation and nobody has worked harder to build the Republican Party. Bob Dole deserves the respect of every American and certainly every Republican.”
The background on this is that Dole wrote conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh a letter pleading him to consider supporting McCain. “I cannot recall a single instance when he did not support the party on critical votes,” Dole’s letter said. [the full text of the letter is available here]
And now, some of McCain’s own supporters are backing up his call for an apology. Sen. Sam Brownback (R.-Kans.) issued a statement through the McCain campaign that called Romney’s comments “disgraceful.”
Willard Romney has a lot of money.
Maybe he should try to buy some class.
What a creep!
Dole did NOT endorse anyone, JR,
Therefore, anyone who says otherwise should be ignored!
Well
I ususally DO ignore the arch conservative town hall blog.
It was just the first hit I got when I googled “Romney says Dole”.
If Romney is SO reactionary that he reacted to an email he hadn’t even read, he’s no business even being considered for President.
We’ve had 7 years with an uninformed reactionary already.
“SO now Romney has dissed TWO war heroes.”
False logic. He did no such thing.
Coming from jr, who would spit on a soldier is a bit much.
McCain needs Hillary to win.
Why?
Because McCain and Hillary are both hot-heads who have said some very stupid things.
If McCain is our nominee, the soft spoken Obama will be able to capitalize on the verbal attacks McCain has made, against Members of Congress, over the years.
Hillary will have difficulty taking advantage of McCain’s temper — since Hillary has the same problem!
What Romney said was very, very mild, and understandable.
Type “Hillary Temper” into your browser.
Now type “McCain Temper” into your browser.
This? This is nothing!
Does anybody remember that website http://www.jibjab.com/originals/this_land with the “This land” song that was played out during the last election?
You will probably want to keep it in your favorites for the new version of this coming election.
Fleet
I would like to bookmark this thread.
If McCain is the nominee, I will use this thread to remind all of the Democrats that they can not attack McCain, since McCain is a War Hero.
How do you think that will work, in October of this year?
Let’s get serious. A Clinton presidency is a wet dream for Limbaugh. His pundantcy reached its nadir under a Clinton presidency.
It would be better if Hillary beat McCain for the conservatives.
Many conservatives believe that the key question in this election is:
Are there to be two multiculturalist open-borders parties or one? If McCain’s election were to make the GOP fundamentally similar to the Democrats on immigration, bilingualism, racial preferences, and all the National Question issues, that would be a resounding historical defeat for conservatives.
The willingness of a President McCain to cooperate with the Democrats would give such issues as an immigration amnesty a better chance of passage than under a President Hillary or Obama even against strong GOP resistance in Congress.
Opponents of such policies, despite enjoying majority support among the voters, would find themselves politically marginalized. On the other hand, a united Republican opposition might well stop a Democratic White House from passing these measures because its party would be nervous of finding itself on the wrong side of a popular issue in the next midterm elections.
And there is another factor this time. Any bill similar to the senator’s “comprehensive” immigration reform would accelerate the GOP’s relative demographic decline by creating new voters overwhelmingly likely to vote Democrat in a quicker time scale. This dominant Democratic majority would emerge fully only after a hypothetical President McCain left office, but its approach would cloud the future of every other Republican incumbent.
Hillary will stimulate more right wing opposition than McCain will. So she’ll be more constrained in terms of what damage she’ll even try to cause.
Oops, should have said “zenith” instead of nadir – those Freudian slips are hell, aren’t they?
Let me tell you something, the fact that WRONGME was more willing to have an endorsement from that disgusting criminal pig Rush LIMPBALLS over Bob Dole is very very telling. This is why McCain will whomp ole Willard.
Neocons will NEVER catch a clue. People do not want your strong armed tactics any longer. Dole is a decent guy, he just had a young, Charismic guy run against him. I would vote for Dole a million times over than I’d ever vote for Wrongme.
I don’t care how the right mistreats its own.
But consider what has happened here.
Romney is told that Bob Dole has emailed Rush Limbaugh endorsing McCain.
Romney is getting the info second hand.
What does Romney do? Does he try to confirm the facts?
No. He just says that an endorsement from Bob Dole is the last thing he wants.
This will not help Romney’s sinking campaign.
See, I told you, Republicans are nasty adn wil eat their own. I wonder if Dole will vote for HIllary if Romney wins?
PRICELESS!!!!!
Meanwhile – I saw a report that Huckabee won West Virginia.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23006750/
Maybe it’s time for that spoiler Romney to make way for Huckabee!
I still predict – McCain/Huckabee will be the ticket!
I think that a very telling fact is that with McCain being the only Senator on republican side less than a third of the republican senators have endorsed him.
Being known as a ‘maverick’ means only one thing, you’re willing to attack and hurt your own party.
why would a political Talk Show host vote for a politician that is trying to push thru the biggest violation of freedom of speech amendment known to man (McCain-Feingold) that is why no right wing talk show host will endorse McCain.. not hard to figue out here folks..
Ben
Romney won on the First Ballot, in WV, but with less than 50%.
McCain’s supporters then went for Huckabee, to deny Romney a win.
Huh I guess that makes Mike Huckabee and anyone who supports him mavericks attacking the party?
Sean Hannity JUST called Huckabee “McCains attack dog” and said that “a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain”!
Wonder how much Willard is fronting Sean and Rush to be his mouthpieces.
“I still predict – McCain/Huckabee will be the ticket!”
I agree Ben. Priceless!
JR
How much are the Democrats paying you?
Rhetorical quesion, of course.
Why is it so hard for you to understand that we can be sincere, as conservatives?
Most of us believe what we believe because we are patriots who think conservative policy is best for the country.
“McCain’s supporters then went for Huckabee, to deny Romney a win”
Want some cheese to go with that? Sounds like REPUBLICANS are repudiating Romney.
Ben, that’s how it sounded to me, too.
Maybe some of them are tired of hearing any lie just to garner votes. Maybe if ole Mittens WrongMe told the truth once or twice, people might vote for him.
VT, Sol – are you guys ‘LIBS’ now?
:)
From Breitbart
“But the former Arkansas governor beat his Massachusetts counterpart after delegates for John McCain defected to his side.”
fleetwood wrote, to JR,
“False logic. He did no such thing.
Coming from jr, who would spit on a soldier is a bit much.”
Pretty funny, coming from someone (like Fleeeeeeetwoooooooood) whose uniform-worship suggest that he’d lick the spit off a soldier.
McCains supporters want to deny votes to Romney because Romney is a threat to McCain.
Huckabee is no threat to McCain.
Huckabee can’t win!
Huckabee? We need him completely gone. That man is psycho.
McCains supporters want to deny votes to Romney because Romney is a threat to McCain.
Pretty close, but off the mark. McCain supporters want to deny Romney votes because ROMNEY is a lying asshole.
Romney is no threat to McCain.
Romney can’t win!
;)
Ben, I don’t think so for myself. The results in West Virginia today suggest “Game on”, however.
“Pretty funny, coming from someone (like Fleeeeeeetwoooooooood) whose uniform-worship suggest that he’d lick the spit off a soldier.”
It is true that I don’t hate them.
“The Best of the Worst” is the title of the linked piece, wherein the author blasts the “conservatives” for not having a realistic candidate to whom to turn to counter Sen. McCain, opining there are more McCains on the bench than Reagans. Interesting opinion.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/james_antle/2008/02/the_best_of_the_worst.html
We’re patriots over on this side too, Econ 101. Don’t hint otherwise. This liberal wore an Army uniform. I was liberal then, and still am.
Delegate Count:
Candidate Delegates*
John McCain 93
Mitt Romney 59
Mike Huckabee 58
Ron Paul 4
After today Romney will be spoiler #3.
Dennis – agreed 100%. My marine (Korea, wounded in action) father-in-law is right there with us – he is supporting Obama. Since I know him to be very level-headed and even-handed that means a lot to me.
I’m no fan of Dole, but he could kick Limbaugh’s ass with one hand tied behind his back. As it were.
Agreed CF2K – even with his LEFT hand tied.
Econ101
Posted February 5, 2008 at 2:03 pm | Permalink
Fleet
I would like to bookmark this thread.
If McCain is the nominee, I will use this thread to remind all of the Democrats that they can not attack McCain, since McCain is a War Hero.
—
Okay, We promise we won’t call McCain a traitor, wear mock purple heart band-aids at our national convention, or publish a book saying he didn’t deserve his medals.
Deal? Or should we forget all that and behave like Republicans?
Ben,
It’ll be like the Black Knight in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”: “come back, you sissy–I’ll bite your legs off!”
Econ makes a good point:
“If McCain is the nominee, I will use this thread to remind all of the Democrats that they can not attack McCain, since McCain is a War Hero.
“How do you think that will work, in October of this year?”
You’re exactly right, Econ. It would be just as despicable for us to lie, slander, and attack McCain’s war record as it was for the lying sacks of $h*t who did it to Kerry.
And I can guarentee you, we aren’t going to win that way.
We’re going to win by offering a better candidate.
Cap’N,
Indeed. McCain is Dead (unelectable) Candidate Walking. The media loves him, but no one else much does. So much the worse that the story of his inquiries into joining the Democratic Party has reappeared in the media:
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html
Bookmark this one, kids: it’ll come in handy over the next eight months.
It doesn’t matter whether the Democratic candidate is Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama: either one will DESTROY McCain.
Paul – and I won’t suggest that McCain’s time as a POW ‘damaged’ him psychologically.
As I did with War Hero Senator Dole (and that is NOT sarcastic) I can and will go after his positions on the issues. However, with BOTH Dole and McCain I can and do have respect for their brave service to my country.
Similar also for the service to my country by Goldwater and McGovern. And, for that matter, my father-in-law who left a knee-cap in Korea.
Econ — HOW MUCH ARE THE REPUBLICANS PAYING YOU??
Dole kissing Limbaugh’s ass, as though limbaugh is “king maker’.
Obama’s latest speech on http://www.c-span.org – scroll down to “recent events.”
“People [in Washington] don’t say what they mean and mean what they say. And they’ll say anything to win. Everyone knows all the tricks they play.”
“If John McCain is the nominee . . . then John McCain won’t be able to say to me ‘you voted for that war too,’ because I didn’t.”
“I am happy to have a contest with John McCain or Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee because their ideas are bankrupt. And the Americans know it. . . And a lot of Republicans know it too.
So, yes, I’m reaching out to Republicans. ‘Cause they want to switch teams. They’re looking and saying ‘this thing is not working out.’ And that’s how I’m going to build a coalition and govern . . . “
I wonder why CF, if McCain is this dead candidate walking, that he does so well in head to head polling with Hillary (wins) and Obama (tied). Not that I’m a big McCain fan, but I’m not going to be stupid about it like the pundits. I would certainly vote for him over the Dems.
Perhaps Hills is going to endear herself to us somehow and thus destroy McCain? (Well, she could endear herself to me by promising not to raise her voice or yell. Shiver….) Dems best hope Obama wins the nomination because Hillary fatigue is coming fast.
OK, you good little Democrats need to start heading for your caucus. Have fun.
Ha! I hope McCain gets the Repub nomination…what the heck will Rush do? His head will explode..hopefully.
But then Mary, what would he do on his show if he had nothing to be veeeeerrry emotional about?
I’d like it to be Romney – and then beat him like a rented mule. THEN watch Rush’s head explode!
linda – see you tonight!
A comment in defense of John McCain. Romney likes to tout his ‘business experience’; however just what is that experience? Corporate raider. I’m not sure that really involves much in the way of building and running things.
I recall an old military guy who once told me that he had more respect for a guy who had to get his hands dirty at least once in a while. Perhaps McCain has some practical knowledge – particularly in science and engineering. It is sure clear to me that Romney does not have such knowledge. All he knows is how to wheel and deal.
It’s snowing like a sumbioch out here. I heard the interstate is either closed or about to be closed. I bet that secures the vote out here for Obama. Older voters wont brave the ice and snow.
But then, there arent many YOUNG voters out here.
hehehehehhee…
Looks like there’s snow on the way to Wichita as well. Wonder how this might affect the caucus sites here tonight?
Well, IF (big if) obama’s voters are younger than Hillary’s, I think it helps obama. I also think his voters are more bot like, and will brave the storm.
I do remember though, that Al Gore’s 2000 campaign said the “youth” vote would put them over the top and win them the election. And he did get more votes than bush. However…
ALL the pundits said before the election that if your campaign depends on the youth vote, yer skrewd. ‘Cause “youth” just doesnt get to the polls the way the old folks do.
It will be interesting to see how the “youth” angle plays out.
I think obama will win Kansas, despite the heroic effort of Pmom and others. The democrats in kansas are much like the republicans nationally. They fall in line with whatever their party leadership tells them to do.
And the KDP is very invested in obama, just like governor “leadership”.
g’night guys – off to caucus
Wow Joe “dead intern” Scarborough and Pat Buchanan are just TRASHING Bob Dole on MSNBC.
Who cares about Limbaugh and his ilk? He’s an entertainer, who needs to be ranting about something to keep his audience. The fact Limbaugh is against McCain is all the more appealing to mainstream Americans. For every vote McCain loses from diehard Limbaugh fans, he will pick up two from moderates who see Limbaugh’s opposition as a badge of honor for McCain.
Hey farmlady,
Be safe out there!
I don’t know about Obama. He’ll probably win in Kansas but I’d sure like to see Hillary win here just to see the look on Kathy’s face!
At 6:30
This is the delegate count, according to CNN:
111 McCain
94 Romney
47 Huckabee
0 paul
Dennis
Posted February 5, 2008 at 3:23 pm | Permalink
We’re patriots over on this side too, Econ 101. Don’t hint otherwise. This liberal wore an Army uniform. I was liberal then, and still am.”
—-
Dennis
There are liberal patriots. I never meant to imply otherwise. Please look to the context of my comment.
JR always wants to know who is “paying” conservatives to be conservatives.
That is an insult.
Most of us, on both sides, get involved because we believe in the cause.
That is what I meant.
No offense intended.
———
Ben
I did not say that McCain was “damaged” by his time spent, as a POW.
I said that it has changed him.
You are smart enough to agree, even if you are not honest enough to admit that agreement here.
It is only fair and kind, when trying to understand the man, and what makes him tick, to wonder about his temper.
McCain’s hot temper is legendary.
Hillary’s temper is legendary.
Hillary and McCain are BOTH hot headheads. The public will want to know why.
OH, CNN polls the “unpleged” delegates. That is why the numbers are different:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#R
Interestingly, according to a local television reporter, Mike Huckabee pledged three national delegates to Ron Paul in exchange for his backers’ support. Not confirmed. Sounds a little odd, as Huckabee doesn’t exactly have a ton of delegates to throw around.
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDAyYzM5Y2NiZmU0NmU5NDFhZmNlMTQzNTJhN2E1ZTk=
Sol Dev
That would mean that Huck is a better “wheeler dealer” than I gave him credit for —
Why deal with Ron Paul?
Because, Ron Paul won’t matter at the National Convention — and —
Huck can NOT be a “king maker” if the King is already crowned!
I do not dislike Huckabee, I simply don’t like populism. It is hard to tell what a populist will do, when the chips are down. Populism is not leadership.
However, If Huck made a deal with Ron Paul, rather than making the deal with only with McCane folks — that is interesting.
Sol Dev
And the only place where Huck might have the “clout” to give up 3 very prized Delegate slots would be where?
This will cause him some headaches.
I know.
I have been in the “delegate selection” committee before. You can not make everyone happy.
Everyone wants to go.
Everyone claims to have been with you since the stone age.
Everyone who is not tapped, to be a delegate, is mad and hurt.
Who gets to pick the state or states that give up 3 delegates?
OUCH!
My point was that the MSM seems to have glossed over this quite important if not odd development.
Politics makes strange bedfellows.
I appreciate you bringing up this stuff — I only pointing out that it will painfull, to someone, to KEEP that promise.
Some lower level political hack (my job once) will have to say “Sorry, we have 3 less Delegates to the Convention, due to a promise Huck made”
One other thing:
Huckabee has absolutely NO authority to enforce his promise at all.
He will have to offer something, to the Huckabee people, in order for them to volunarily give up 3 seats.
We are talking about State Party rules, in each of the States. Huck has no power, but he does have influence, at that level.
No offense taken. Just edgy I guess. Sorry.
“JR always wants to know who is “paying” conservatives to be conservatives.
That is an insult.”
I never called anyone “unAmerican” there paulie.
You did that to me and also to sol, a Ron Paul supporter.
I stand by what I said and you reposted. MOST mainline Republicans are no deeper than their own wallet.
Actually, we all vote our pocketbooks to some extent.
However, the volunteer work that any activist puts in is rarely rewarded in monetary terms.
Dennis
Its ok.
Blogs sometimes leave something to be desired— You get in a conversation with one person, and then others read it without the prior info, that might have even been on another thread.
I can be short sometimes, when in a hurry, busy with work or family.
I appreciate it that you, sort of, asked what I meant. I really appreciate it that you accepted my explanation.
Rush and talk radio will be radioactive tomorrow.
Their boy Romney is finished.
The only places he is winning is where no one lives.
And from my fingers to fate’s ears.
Just now, MSNBC calls California AND Missouri for McCain.
And with that, the attempt by Willard Romney to buy the Presidency ends.
Even McCain thinks Romney is a good man, he has said so.
Secretary of the Treasury?
Who knows.
LBJ and JFK
HW Bush and Reagan
Ford and Reagan (Reagan went out and campaigned for Ford, after a very bitter primary)
The Romney vs McCain split will heal.
MSNBC reports “tomorrow will be day of frank discussion in the Romney campaign.”
More?
A visit by Romney to Kansas in advance of the Saturday Republican caucus here is now in doubt.
J R sings … “Turn out the lights, the parties over.”