Atlanta Weather

| Traffic

Search
Political Insider

Your morning jolt: John McCain draws Republican opposition

9:54 am February 15, 2010, by jgalloway

Arizona now becomes the latest battleground for defining Republicanism in a post-Bush era. This from the Associated Press:

Former congressman J.D. Hayworth is kicking off a campaign challenging John McCain for his Senate seat — setting up a showdown between well-known Republicans that promises to be McCain’s toughest re-election battle.

Hayworth, a conservative talk-radio host, is starting with a rally in Phoenix on Monday followed by a three-day statewide tour.

Conservatives in Arizona have long been skeptical of McCain, who carved out a niche as a maverick senator working with Democrats on key issues.

But McCain has consistently evaded political threats from the right and lately has staked out solidly conservative positions.

McCain also plans to campaign Monday, with a group of mayors set to announce their support for him at an American Legion lodge in Tempe.

Hayworth is positioning himself as the race’s reliable conservative in contrast to an erratic McCain who Hayworth says can’t be trusted to support Republican values.

Hayworth notes a series of McCain flip-flops that the talk show host calls “campaign-year conversions” on issues including gays in the military, climate change, campaign finance and immigration.

Just once, just for the sake of variety, we’d like to have an influence-peddling junket built around antique shopping.

Dale Russell of Fox5 News has e-mailed out a teaser for a piece he’ll have this evening on Gov. Sonny Perdue and others “accepting expensive trips from a local insurance company.” Hunting is involved, of course. Here’s the clip:

On the same topic of lobbying, here’s the latest work by my AJC colleagues Cameron McWhirter and James Salzer:

When John Oxendine’s stepson shot and injured a bystander at a private quail preserve last month, the accident caused public debate about hunting safety.

But at the state Capitol, it sparked discussion on another topic: shadow lobbying.

Under state law, all lobbyists are supposed to register with the state and report their expenses for the public to see. The policy goal: Let the public see who is trying to influence their elected officials and how they’re doing it.

But what counts as lobbying? Lobbyists and legislators say loopholes and lack of clarity in the law have made it impossible to tell when such off the books schmoozing crosses the line.

This may count as the first event of the 2012 presidential race in Georgia: The Emory University chapter of the Federalist Society has landed Mitt Romney for a 7 p.m. March 30 speaking event. Apparently, Romney is peddling a book – an autographing session will be held afterwards.

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.

  • Print

15 comments Add your comment

Angry Cobb Voter

February 15th, 2010
10:51 am

Sorry to veer off topic, but I think the AJC could/should cover this new scandal by one of the state senators and judges. These are yet more public officials that deserve to be booted for trying to put themselves above the law.

http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/6177624/article-Cobb-Police-bust-teen-drinking-party-at-judge-s-upscale-west-Cobb-home?instance=home_viewed#cb_post_comment_6177624

East Cobb SAHM

February 15th, 2010
11:12 am

Wow, that judge’s actions and her association with Mr. Wiles are just jaw-dropping. I don’t live in that senator’s district but if I did, I would be howling in anger like many apparently are.

Corey

February 15th, 2010
11:13 am

Sometimes Americans feel as though it’s fashionable to be angry. What are we really angry about? Back on Sep 11th ‘01 we witnessed a horrific attack on our homeland and we came together. The fall of 2008 our nation’s economy was headed off the cliff, and members of both parties took unpopular steps to rescue it. Now anger rules. What is all the anger about? Congress behaves the way it has always behaved. There really isn’t anything new about the way Congress behaves. The media has to focus on something so they pour into our living rooms a parade of individuals rallying here and rallying there; dispirates groups screaming “We want our country back!” Whom do they want it back from? These people are upper middle age to seniors. This group is grumpy by nature and fears change more than any other group. They are getting all of the attention right now because it’s a midterm election year, and generally young people, working people and minorities don’t pay much attention to midterm elections so insanity, anger and blind rage are front and center. These are the same people who have time on their hands to listen to talk radio day in and day out. Talk radio has always been wrapped in an anger package.

Atlanta Braves

February 15th, 2010
11:22 am

I can respect McCain because he has integrity and I know he stands for what he believes. That judge and state senator in Cobb, on the other hand infuriates me. In Georgia, we have a big problem with legislators who enact laws that they themselves don’t wish to follow. The sooner people like these are kicked out, the better.

Say One Thing, Do Another

February 15th, 2010
11:30 am

So many politicians say one thing and do another. That Cobb article is disgusting yet sadly representative of the current state of politics in our state today. Why isn’t the AJC covering the story as well?

Wounded Warrior

February 15th, 2010
11:39 am

McCain is a great soldier, but not a great leader. He needs to retire before he is rejected in 2010, like he was in 2008. Cobb recently reassigned a teacher that molested a teen girl, instead of firing him. He was assigned to another high school, with new prey.

Bill Orvis White

February 15th, 2010
11:56 am

I love John Sidney McCain, but he has not behaved as a true conservative throughout most of his political career. Sir, it hasn’t worked. You are a failed senator and a failed presidential candidate. It’s time to retire and fade away. Don’t come out like Jimmah with books and Habitat projects. Don’t whine about how you were treated. Just fade away, sir and let a true conservative take your place.

Note to above comments: 9-11 was an act of war by Saddam and his Iraqi subjects. GW Bush pursued those who trained the attackers and in the process, transformed a society into a democratic one. Our world is much safer because of GW Bush, Richard B. Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condy Rice, Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz. We came together for a brief moment until the far lefties like Michael Moore spread falsehoods about the Bush administration.

Now, we have today. Barack Hussein Obama has weakened us through his weak policies that coddles dictators and terrorists alike. Richard B. Cheney is right when he says that a devastating attack will happen because al Qaeda has been armed with nukes.

God Bless,
Bill

Bill ... Really?

February 15th, 2010
12:56 pm

Bill, are you serious: “9-11 was an act of war by Saddam and his Iraqi subjects. GW Bush pursued those who trained the attackers and in the process, transformed a society into a democratic one.”

Even the most staunch supporters of the W-Cheney-Rove regime now acknowledge that Saddam didn’t have ANYTHING to do with 9-11. And after initially doing the right thing and attacking Afghanistan, W went off course, didn’t finish the job there, and went into Iraq — sending our brave men an women on an unecessary and wrong-headed mission. We should have dealt with Afghanistan COMPLETELY by ridding the country of Al-Quaeda.

Everyone knows this now. To try to paint the decisions of the W-Cheney-Rove regime as proper is nothing but revisionist history at its worse.

Unbelievable!

Bill Orvis White

February 15th, 2010
1:24 pm

@Bill … Really? Wrong. I’m right and you’re wrong. It’s painfully obvious that Iraq has always been the problem. They are a clearly defined enemy in which al Qaeda trained within their facilities while they produced weapons of mass destruction. Those weapons which were bought by the enemies of the US way back when, were hidden from those weak inspectors — many taken over to Syria.
Now the Honorable Mr. Cheney says that we should be thanking GW Bush — not Hussein Obama — for ridding the world of Saddam, his sons, their subjects and their nukes.

John Sidney McCain got on the right path with this issue late, but not his running mate who could (God willingly) be our next president. Governor Palin understands that we need to strengthen our fight in Iraq, expand Gitmo and root out the terrorists wherever they may hide. She will do all this while lowering or eradicating taxe$, bringing back a culture of life and lifting regulations which hinder job growth.
Go away McCain and let fresh blood like Sarah take over.

Keith

February 15th, 2010
3:07 pm

“I’m Meghan McCain and I’m like, you know, like a progressive Republican.” The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Get John outof there.

Lee

February 15th, 2010
7:20 pm

Wow Bill, too much mercury in your diet?

ivan

February 15th, 2010
10:44 pm

I am vert excited about the right wing racists splitting up the Republican party. With rapidly changing demographics, the GOP is doomed: racism always loses in America!!!At least McCain is a sensible politician.

Georgian

February 16th, 2010
9:03 am

To: Bill Orvis White:

Wow! I feel bad for you. You have been deceived.

Bill Orvis White

February 16th, 2010
5:28 pm

@Georgian @Lee You are naive-head-in-the-sand-September 10th-Secular-Progressives who don’t understand that jihadists wish to kill us. They don’t want to speak with us. They don’t want to share dinner with us. They don’t want to respect our religions. They want to kill us — make us extinct from the Universe. If we wish to preserve a modern society, we must take the necessary steps to protect us from those who wish to destroy us and our way of life.

The Honorable President GW Bush and the Honorable Vice President Richard B. Cheney — MY leaders — are committed to this vision. Installed-”President” Barack Hussein Obama is a temporary blip in history who is ignoring the all-important War on Terror which is a war that lasts forever. This Democrat Obama-Pelosi-Reid nonsense will pass quickly.

First Sergeant

March 16th, 2010
2:48 pm

Bill Orvis White

For a minute, I thought your were serious!!! Whew! I knew no one could be that ignorant. You just trying to get us stirred-up. Good try though!!