Wednesday, August 29, 2007

JOHN MCCAIN

John McCain: "I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight."

Exclusive to NRO, John McCain is sending a letter to 250,000 Republicans in early primary states.

In the letter, McCain lays out the four themes he'll be pounding on from now until the primaries: the War Against Islamic Extremism, Government Reform and Fiscal Responsibility, Healthcare Reform,and Judges.

What stands out to me about the letter? Well, McCain would never be so obvious as to throw gasoline on the are-Romney's-son's-chickenhawks fire. He would just obliquely mention that he's "a father of two soldiers and five other children."

McCain also focuses, at surprising length, on the debate about interrogation of captured al-Qaeda.

The second challenge that motivates my campaign and will animate my Presidency is the development of a comprehensive legal and diplomatic strategy that allows us to battle a modern threat without betraying the ideals that have defined our nation since its birth more than two centuries ago.  The world is watching, and we live in a time when the images we project cannot be erased.

I am not naive.  I know only too well the tools some governments have resorted to when threatened: indefinite detention without trial, torture of prisoners, and a belief that anything is permissible in dark places where power is the only law.  But these tools are not American tools, and the easy way is not the American way.  We must remain true to our ideals not in spite of the threats we face, but because of them.

At first glance, this seems like a tough sell to Republican primary voters, although we may see some mainstream media folk declaring "The Return of the Maverick." And yet, I think a not-insignificant chunk of the GOP understands the political dangers of being seen as "The Party of Torture." I would also note that any interrogation technique endorsed by a President McCain would likely be beyond reproach. This man knows torture in a way no other candidate does, and if he says a particular method doesn't cross a moral boundary, who has standing to argue?

On spending, I liked this line, stating what seems obvious, but no one wants to admit:

Controlling spending in areas such as defense procurement, earmarks, discretionary programs and entitlement programs won’t be easy.  It will be a test of resolve, and I’ll pass that test.  I don’t believe the same can be said for many of my Democratic opponents who are running for President.  Each of them has elaborate new programs to propose, but each seems to have forgotten that the first step is to get our fiscal house in order and end the corrupting influence of government earmarks.

If you're not willing to cut the small stuff, how will you find the guts to control spending on the big stuff?

His health care reform proposals are... eh, nothing shocking - medical records online, malpractice reform, deducting premiums from taxes, etc. A guy who's watching the race in New Hampshire closely told me that voters up there are focused on two huge issues, Iraq and health care, with everything else way behind. Additionally, he said that when it comes to health care, the voters supported everything and nothing - they liked all kinds of reform proposals, and yet weren't clamoring for any one in particular. Perhaps this is one of those issues where it's more important to have a plan than to have any particular plan.

On judges, take a guess at who this line this is aimed at:

Having come so far, I believe it would be a grave mistake for our party to lose focus by nominating a candidate whose commitment to restoring the proper role of the courts can credibly be questioned, or whose call for judicial restraint can be characterized by Democrats as reflecting political opportunism rather than longstanding principle.

Finally, McCain closes the letter in a way that would seem corny or cheesy from some other candidates, but fits him perfectly:

The Academy has been a training ground for thousands of America’s finest young men and women, but the tomb beneath its chapel is the final resting place of only one man.  He earned our rightful gratitude by fighting alongside countless others to defend America, but he gained his place in history with seven words.  The stakes are as high for our country today as they were when he first spoke them.  His answer to those who told him the odds were against him is my promise to those who stand with me in this campaign:  “I have not yet begun to fight.”  

(Of course, this invites the snarky rejoinder, "Okay, Senator, don't you think this might be a good time to start?")

Later this week, the McCain camp be unveiling a 14-minute biographical video; they think their man has a much more compelling life story than his rivals.

McCain obviously has tumbled significantly in recent months, but he's not dead yet, and I would suggest there are still scenarios he can win the primary. Basically, he needs help. 1) He needs Huckabee to not catch fire. 2) He needs Fred Thompson to not live up to the hype, and for a lot of Fredheads to feel the guy who they wanted to see riding in on a white horse just isn't living up to their expectations. 3) He needs Romney's low national poll numbers to become an issue, for Republicans to get nervous that he has such high negatives, and worry that after winning the nomination, Romney would get crushed by endless 527 ads recycling YouTube footage painting him as a flip-flopper. 4) If McCain can hang around and perform respectably until it's a two-man race between Rudy Giuliani and himself, he needs to make the case that nominating Rudy would tear the party apart, as pro-lifers and gun owners stay on the sidelines.

Impossible? No. Improbable? Yes.

08/29 11:48 AMShare