Bush for McCrory Dangerous
Posted June 5th, 2008 at 7:52 AM by Jeff A. TaylorI understand the need to get people to write big checks by letting them say they went to an event with the POTUS, but Jack Hawke is playing with fire bringing George W. Bush in for Pat McCrory.
As we noted over the past few months, McCrory needs to be seen as an outsider — yes, a change agent — coming to Raleigh to clean up the Easley-Perdue mess. As such McCrory has more in common thematically with Barack Obama than Bush or John McCain.
In fact, McCrory is in many ways a GOP Obama — very good on TV, attuned to hot button issues, but relatively inexperienced in the issues of the office he aspires to and lacking depth. With these traits you minimize weaknesses by always moving forward, never pausing too long to give the other team a clean shot at you.
A fundraiser in Raleigh with a wildly unpopular sitting president makes for a pretty big target. Let’s see if the McCrory camp issues any stills or video of the event — or Bev Perdue operatives in the field have to create their own on the fly.
Bonus Observation: Doubt that Obama’s imagery is driving US politics right now? Take a look at the new-new McCain campaign slogan and logo. It is a direct cop of the Obama “believe” spiel, complete with sun rays. If even McCain is moving in this direction, McCrory needs to as well.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
McCrory and McCain are big-government Republicans, just like Bush. That’s why I tell people it is a wasted vote to vote for a Republican or a Democrat. Either way, you’ll get more government, more taxes, more bureaucracy, and less individual freedom. I suspect that the combo will drive a a record number of small-government types to the Barr for President and Munger for Governor camps.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:35 am
I don’t see it beneficial for any local candidate to attach his/her name to any national politician this year.
Kennedy and Byrd aren’t sure bet for dinner reservations much less a political rally, Nancy and Harry have proven themselves as useless as a teat on a bull hog even to Dems, McCain will put the audience to sleep before they can write a check, Obama will next be found to have had close ties to the Giancana family, Hillary is too busy kissing arse for a number two seat, and Bush… is Bush.
Is it too late to start a write in campaign for Colin Powell? The fact he isn’t part of all this is the number one reason he should be.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Regarding the bonus observation, I thought I remembered that McCain’s tone for the 2000 election was about Washington being broken and needing change, so I looked. From his speech:
I run for President because I want to return our government back to whom it belongs—the people. So that Americans can believe once again that public service is a summons to duty and not a lifetime of privilege. (Uses : the people)
I run because I believe deeply in the greatness of America’s destiny and in the goodness of our cause. (Uses : I believe)
Fixing a broken political system is the key to necessary reform in almost every area where the government touches your life. ( Uses : Broken)
My friends, our nation has a unique place in the world. We are the greatest force for good on earth. We chart history’s course. Yes, we must be involved in the destiny of other nations. But that does not mean we have relinquished our sovereignty. It means we have persuaded much of the world to share our ideals. And that’s not a cause for concern. It’s a cause for hope. (uses : hope)
We have a choice. We can continue to watch as the American people grow ever more alienated from the practice and institutions of democracy. (Uses : choice)
Regarding change, McCain used the words broken, believe, hope, choice, and people. Large portions of his speech talk about the things that need to be changed: lobbyists, special interests, pork barrel waste, power brokers, treating your money like lottery winnings, and a government for sale. Whose imagery is it? Who is copying whom? Should we give credit to Obama?
This line for the teachers is memorable too.:
There’s no reason on earth that a good teacher should be paid less than a bad Senator.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:03 am
That’s fair point, cr. But 2000 is an epoch ago in today’s political world.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:33 am
True. And McCain is not my first choice, But, when I think about what a liberal Obama presidency with a Dem Congress can do to our future, I had to reach for something.
The ‘masses’ are sort of hypnotized by Obama. CNN even asked a McCain supporter if McCain should even be making a speech on ‘Obama’s night’. As if Obama is more important than any other candidate, ever. The reverence for all things Obama is scary.
June 6th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I should also add that Obama is smart — he is smart, no doubt about that. And so is McCrory. That is why they do better adapting to changes and hopping from issue to issue rather than trying to build up some fortress “message.”
You watch, Obama will stumble as soon as he tries to add “substance” to his campaign.
June 6th, 2008 at 10:04 am
I have the audacity to hope!
June 7th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Unfortunately stumbling isn’t enough. He’s done that countless times and will do it again. When liberals do this, their constituents shut up for about a week and then rationalize, justify, and Move On. Obama could curse America himself and not lose a black vote and the rest of the media and liberal hounds would declare that we need to just understand more about black America and all the more reason we should vote for the man.
I don’t think the guy is really all that intelligent. I think he’s pretty average but has learned to shut up, and that if you don’t do in depth interviews, you don’t make mistakes. If you only read what others write, don’t take questions, and only make political speeches, you don’t show your incompetance. Granted, that is political smartness – not to be confused with intelligence.
On the other hand, who thinks you can make a speech for a liberal California audience slamming anyone who owns a gun or goes to church and think it won’t be heard elsewhere. He’s got his moments too, but the media rarely pays attention to such.
The media is in the tank. Had a conservative said he would “no more abandon Rev Wright than he could the black community” and then a week later threw him under the bus, that conservative could no longer be running for President and the press would see to it.