an article on republican leaders who used to support mccain but now have their doubts and are most likely supporting obama.
moby
GRAND RAPIDS -- He endorsed John McCain in the presidential primary, but now former Republican Gov. William Milliken is expressing doubts about his party's nominee.
"He is not the McCain I endorsed," said Milliken, reached at his Traverse City home Thursday. "I would ask the question, 'Who is John McCain?' because his campaign has become rather disappointing to me.
"I'm disappointed in the tenor and the personal attacks on the part of the McCain campaign, when he ought to be talking about the issues."
Milliken, a lifelong Republican, is among some past Republican leaders voicing reservations and, in some cases, opposition to McCain's candidacy.
During a stop in Grand Rapids on Thursday, Lincoln Chafee, a former Republican U.S. senator from Rhode Island, said he's voting for Obama and urging others to do likewise.
McCain campaigned for Chafee's unsuccessful re-election bid in 2006, but Chafee said he is concerned McCain has swung to the right, a divisive strategy that could make it difficult for him to govern.
"That's not my kind of Republicanism," said Chafee, who now calls himself an independent. "I saw what Bush and Cheney did. They came in with a (budget) surplus and a stable world, and look what's happened now. In eight short years they've taken one peaceful and prosperous world, and they've torn it into tatters."
As for McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his running mate, "there's no question she's totally unqualified," Chafee said.
Chafee said he has spoken with several other moderate Republican leaders, and "there are a whole lot of us deserting."
One of them is Phil Arthurhultz, a former Republican state senator from Whitehall, who was traveling the state with Chafee to drum up support for Obama.
Bob Eleveld is a former Kent County Republican chairman who led McCain's West Michigan campaign in 2000. This year, he has remained mum unless asked.
"I'm not supporting either of them at this point," he said. "Suffice it to say there are a number of people who have been strong Republicans in the past, including party chairs, who feel as I do."
He declined to name them.
In the past, McCain was more of a moderate known for his straight talk, Eleveld said.
"I think the straight talk is gone," he said, describing himself as a member of the party's moderate wing. "I think he's pandering to the far- right. That's some straight talk from me."
Whether they represent a widespread movement or a few disenchanted members in the Republican Party is unclear.
http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/10/former_governor_millike...
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Problem, never obvious.....
Reading this political journal entry, - ' some republicans themselves consider McCain as far-right ' - has cleared my struggling thought in my head. Thanks.
Moby, I think you can pitch up those entries more, especially under such critical circumstances we have actually. How can't you?!!
Why not more other celebrities too voice up like you.
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I honestly still don't know how exactly presidential election in the USA is carried on but this time I can't take 'what you'll get is what you'll see' attitude till November.
The issue of this election concerns the rest of the World.
I'd got a chilly sensation on the Georgia incident and then, the appearance of Sarah Palin has doubled this feeling. It's hard to believe for me this is happening in that vast leading country of the world. I worry how seriously are McCain & Palin conscious of all conflicts in the actual world; Israel-Palestinian conflicts and unstable moves in the surrounding countries - Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, plus many conflicts in African continent, worsening hot zone in Pakistan and Afghanistan, so on. I nearly scare with the idea that they might do their politics in a virtual world !?? .......it's no funny!
McCain's speeches give me an impression of anachronistic view which is based on the time of cold war (I haven't listened to all of his speeches or declarations, though). He speaks as if the world still has to fight for it. "To protect our country....", "To keep our country in safe" ... What?! ...Well, the key is how to keep the peace we have now, and we have to resolute conflicts and establish the safer balance in the world through diplomacies, negotiations, world wide talks, on this politically, economically, religiously tied planet. No thanks to supplying arms to delicate zones and taking offensive politics.
I don't think McCain has a right, healthy sight to be a commander of the USA in the future and I hope you won't look your country and outside world like Some Republicans do. It's not only a game of 2 political parties like medias tend to show (as usual). Hope majority of Americans use good reasons and responsibilities. Thanks.
I wish McCain had been president instead of Bush...
I agree with something that Bill Maher said recently, that it should've been McCain, the OLD McCain, the real maverick he actually once was, rather than this neo-con in maverick's clothing who is running today, that should've been president over the last eight years. Of course, I'd rather have had Gore or even Kerry but McCain would've been better than Bush, Jr. It seems McCain has made a Faustian deal for the presidency that has cost him the very essence of what was good about him.
the grand old party doesn't exist anymore
when i was member of college republicans during my undergrad years, pat buchanan told us that...
"what we lack in number, we must compensate with strategy, money and execution".
today, republicans are splintered and fragmented into various competing factions that are vying for power over the others for control of the party.
And i am no longer a believer or registered member of republican politics.
among mccain's moderate views, there are paleo conservatives, libertarians, constitutionalists, neoconservatives and goldwater republicans.
the idiot son entered office promising a presidency of "non-interventionism", "smaller government", "compassionate conservatism" (whatever that means) and more "individual liberties".
suffice it to say, none of these promises or ideals were even close to being fulfilled.
imo, true republicans are the very libertarian ron paul and michael pence of Indiana.
just adding on here
Unfortunately it's true for the democrats as well. The only thing that really keeps it from being obvious that the dems are splintered as well, is that we all hang out under the "bad republicans, no no" umbrella right now.
People aren't about loyalty to a party anymore. It's about the issues you believe in, where you want to see the biggest change, and who you think is capable of bringing about that change. Biggest problem is, that's how we always should have been voting.
P.S. - Ron Paul <3
Totally unrelated, but....
Were you in London today? I could of sworn I saw you getting on the tube.