Chicago Tribune Endorsement of John McCain

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office

Sunday, January 27, 2008
703-650-5550


THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN

"To hear McCain speak of honor, of duty, is to wake up the echoes of John F. Kennedy urging Americans to ask not what their country can do for them. A President McCain would engage challenges domestic and foreign with the candid conviction that doing what's right may cost us. ... Mitt Romney has the skill set of a superb Treasury secretary. But, thus far, he hasn't convinced us he would be McCain's equal in confronting that dangerous world of 2008. ... [H]is constancy is that of a man grounded in crisp and clear principles that he doesn't exchange for the popular opinion du jour. ... We endorse him confident that as chief executive and commander in chief, he would meet the honorable standards he has set for himself and our country." -- The Chicago Tribune

Excerpts From "For The Republicans: McCain"

Editorial
Chicago Tribune
January 27, 2008

... Many Americans yearn for the holiday-from-history that was the 1990s. The Cold War had ended; the cataclysmic updraft of concrete dust and human DNA hadn't risen from Lower Manhattan .

But there will be no going back. The planet's lone superpower won't again have the privilege of ignoring -- of appeasing with strong words but soft pursuit -- the sworn enemies of this nation and its friends.

One Republican candidate for president dedicated himself to American honor, American duty, long before Sept. 11, 2001. The world of 2008 is the dangerous world John McCain unknowingly spent a military and political career preparing to confront.

To hear McCain speak of honor, of duty, is to wake up the echoes of John F. Kennedy urging Americans to ask not what their country can do for them. A President McCain would engage challenges domestic and foreign with the candid conviction that doing what's right may cost us. Maybe plenty.

His unswerving commitment to victory in Iraq is the likely template. He has never brooked defeatism because the consequences of defeat are so severe. McCain instead urged a troop surge to calm Iraq and, now that it's working, he deflects the credit to the general who executed it. ...

This much we know: If McCain says pork is a battle he'll fight, he'll fight it. And he'll do so in a way that helps Americans understand why Washington 's culture of earmarks -- My constituents first! -- softens us as a nation and dooms our children to debt.

McCain, like his fading opponent Rudy Giuliani, projects rigor. Mike Huckabee, stricken with the ambition of so many former governors with nowhere to go, is out of his depth. Mitt Romney has the skill set of a superb Treasury secretary. But, thus far, he hasn't convinced us he would be McCain's equal in confronting that dangerous world of 2008.

Four years ago, in mulling candidates for president, we wrote that U.S. voters often make choices based on their pet causes and economic interests. But, we said, citizens of a nation at war against genuine global threats don't have that luxury. To reinforce the point we quoted a leader who wasn't on the ballot, John McCain: "So it is, whether we wished it or not, that we have come to the test of our generation, to our rendezvous with destiny. ... All of us, despite the differences that enliven our politics, are united in the one big idea that freedom is our birthright and its defense is always our first responsibility. All other responsibilities come second."

Yes, all other responsibilities come second. McCain was correct -- and we were struck to hear him articulate the very same message to Americans in his victory speech after South Carolina 's primary on Jan. 19.

McCain isn't a repetitive robot. But his constancy is that of a man grounded in crisp and clear principles that he doesn't exchange for the popular opinion du jour.

That constancy, those principles, convince us that John McCain is the best Republican candidate for president in the Feb. 5 Illinois primary. We endorse him confident that as chief executive and commander in chief, he would meet the honorable standards he has set for himself and our country.

Read Entire Chicago Tribune Editorial: "For The Republicans: McCain"

John McCain: Straight Talker and Rush Limbaugh: The Sidney Greenstreet of Loudmouths

Click my post title for McCain and his Conservative critics

Mitt,I couldn't be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, its possible to get another. There's only one Maltese Falcon. MmmmmHa! Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday Morning, January 30th, 2008

John McCain has faced down plenty in his life - including a cascade of conservative critics, as well as the tin-foil hat crowd of Progressives, Libertarians, Trotskyites, and Body Thetans. Large in this body of antagonists is Rush Limbaugh - the Sidney Greenstreet of Loudmouths.

Rush is the litmus test for folks who use the radio waves as their Political Sam's Club: Buy in Bulk, Freeze and Use. Rush got it down. To Rush Mr. Newt was the Lord Xenu of Conservative Doctrine and hung from Gingrich's fanny through the 1990's. 'Mr. Newt' exited politics - stage right - to compose Civil War Novels and treatises on deep political thought.

What's a shill to do? Square pegs stay in square - whadyacall'ems? -holes, I guess and round pegs in the round ones. Keep it simple. stupids! T'aint simple, Rush.

Radio is simple. Has been since Father Coughlin, Aimee Semple-McPherson, Billy Sunday and Nero Wolf. Sidney Greenstreet played Nero Wolf on the old radio. He also played a great villain in old Warner Brothers movies. He was fat, oily, and glib. Like Rush.

Rush has influence as well as political flatulence and John McCain has been his target for a long time. Limbaugh surrogates like Hannity and his Mother Hubbard side-kick Colmes toss vitriol at McCain, like four year old girls with bad arms. But Rush is masterful.

McCain appeals to most Americans, folks who vote Republican and folks who vote Democrat. Most Americans lead complex lives and deal with complex problems. Politics is nothing compared to a sick kid, a daughter on her third deployment to Iraq, a layoff at the newspaper, an evaporating 401(k) Plan, and rising taxes.

Straight talk beats a script every day of the week.

John McCain:Illinois Rally for John McCain February 1st!

To all:

Bring your friends, neighbors and relatives, email all your acquaintances, we want a full house on February 1st, to meet and greet the next President of the United States, Senator John McCain. We will have signs to hand-out, there will be ample parking, the national media will be there. This is the only event scheduled for Senator McCain in Illinois prior to the February 5 primary, so let’s make it a memorable one for this great American Hero.



COME TO A RALLY FOR

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN



Friday, February 1st

Doors open at 5:00 P.M.

Event starts at 5:30 P.M.



Odeum Sports & Expo Center

1033 N. Villa Avenue

Villa Park, IL

(1/4 mile North of North Avenue/West of Rte. 83)

John McCain: Al Gore Sings Commentary on the GOP Florida Debate!

Vesti la giubba,
e la faccia infarina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,
ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto
in una smorfia il singhiozzo e 'l dolor, Ah!


Ridi, Pagliaccio,
sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol, che t'avvelena il cor!

Get some more boffo arias at Ankle Biting Pundits! The Best on the Left and the Cream of Right!
Stand Up ! Sit Down! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Vote for John McCain all you Seminoles and Snow Birds! The Funny Stuff ends there Tuesday when the Polls Close!


Al Gore Opera Shot Thanks to Patriot and Patron Frank Nofsinger of the Great State of Connecticut!

John McCain: If Romney Loves McCain, All Americans Can Do the Same! McCain Helped Mitt Turn-Around the Olympics

Hey read it here - From Mitt Romney's brag-book on his Turn-Around of the Olympics.

Click my post title for Mitt's Mad-Love for Senator John McCain - the Next President of the United States.

John McCain: Trash Talk from Scarborough MSNBC: Joe's Squeezing His Little Blackberry!

Morning Joe can Fill it up!

4:20 PM - Thursday, January 24, 2008

Caught Florida former Congressman and MSNBC loudmouth Joe Scarborough saying that it makes him want to 'squeeze his Blackberry' when he reads editorial endorsements of John McCain. Que Hombre!

Not the Blackberry, Joe!

This lightweight is well positioned to shill for Mitt Romney prior to the Florida Primary. With Milky Matthews and Keith Olbermann, MSNBC has a history of anti-McCain antics.

Morning Joe is so mad he could 'squeeze his Blackberry.' Scarborough resigned from Congress a short time before a female aide of his died in his office and then went on to be a TV loudmouth. Some industry. Click my post title for that disturbing story from American Politics Journal.

A . . .With Both Hands fan and reader by the name of Walter G. offered this about the McCain trash talker and his obvious shilling for Mitt Romney:

. . . it's easy to pick up a few points in the polls if you're willing to "make all the promises you have to," like promising the people of Michigan that you'll bail out the Big Three in Detroit, and the people of Florida that you'll sit down with insurance executives to figure out a way to get all Americans to pay for insurance policies for people with beach-front property in hurricane-prone areas.

True, Walter, but Joe never got around to Romney's positions other than his personal wealth and, instead, railed about John McCain being a traitor to all that Morning Joe holds dear - and it makes him want to 'squeeze his Blackberry!'


Only a tool would do violence to another tool.

John McCain: The DNC's Worst Nightmare! I'm a Democrat and I love John McCain!

Here is the script for a new John McCain ad - 'The Democrats Worst Nightmare.'

Hey, Democrats love John McCain - all the Democrat's I talk to in my part of Chicago, anyway. Now, the balloon-heads running the Democratic National Committee - Deano and his Lefty crew - Yes, McCain gives them the Night Terrors.

But, good folks who have long voted the Party of Al Smith, FDR, Harry Truman, JFK, Pat Moynihan, Scoop Jackson and Joe Liberman love John McCain.

Here's the script:

Script For "Democrats' Worst Nightmare" (:30-Web)

CHYRON: What keeps Democrats up at night?

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

HILLARY CLINTON: Senator McCain

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

BARACK OBAMA: John McCain

BARACK OBAMA: John McCain

HILLARY CLINTON: John McCain

BARACK OBAMA: John McCain

JOHN EDWARDS: John McCain

DEMOCRAT STRATEGIST BOB BECKEL: The Democrats do not want to run against John McCain.

CHYRON: They don't want to face him

THE WASHINGTON POST'S BOB WOODWARD: If you ask Democrats privately, what do you fear most? The answer is John McCain.

BOB BECKEL: We'd much prefer to run against Romney.

SYNDICATED COLUMNIST ROBERT NOVAK: The Democrats I talk to are really worried about a McCain versus Clinton race.

CHYRON: The only Republican who can beat Clinton or Obama

TALK SHOW HOST LARRY ELDER: When you match McCain up against Barack Obama or against Clinton, he is the only one of the prominent Republican candidates that wins.

BECKEL: It's a nightmare from my standpoint.

CHYRON: John McCain: The Democrats' worst nightmare

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

AD FACTS: JOHN MCCAIN 2008 WEB AD, "THE DEMOCRATS' WORST NIGHTMARE"

John McCain Was "The Real Star" Of Democrat Debate This Week, As His Name Came Up 15 Times During Course Of Night. "The Real Star? The three Democrats were on stage and President Bush was the primary focus of their complaints last night but Republican John McCain took center stage for part of the debate when Edwards predicted that the Arizona Senator will likely become the Republican nominee. Bush's name was mentioned 27 times while McCain's name came up 15 times during the course of the night." (Vaughn Ververs, "Starting Gate: Mud Wrestling Leaves Nobody Looking Clean," CBS News, 1/22/08)

Democrat Strategist Bob Beckel: "The Democrats Do Not Want To Run Against John McCain." "We rooted for Huckabee tonight and we didn't get there. The Democrats do not want to run against John McCain." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

The Washington Post's Bob Woodward: "If You Ask Democrats Privately, What Do You Fear Most? The Answer Is John McCain." "Let me just point out this: If you ask Democrats privately, what do you fear most? The answer is John McCain. That McCain -- we were talking earlier about transparency and openness, "straight talk," Chris was talking about the important notion, personal characteristic of authenticity. McCain has even something more, and that is -- and this is Democrats talking privately -- moral authority. And with the moral authority of his background, his kind of unflinching backing in the Iraq War, not just of the surge, but at the beginning when McCain diagnosed the problem in the war. We didn't have enough troops from the beginning. And he kept hammering on that. So there's a certain consistency, moral authority, carries a lot of weight." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 1/8/08)

Democrat Strategist Bob Beckel: "We'd Much Prefer To Run Against Romney." "We don't want him [McCain] to have the nomination. We'd much prefer to run against Romney. Certainly prefer to run against Huckabee. And probably our best shot we'd have against Giuliani." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

Syndicated Columnist Bob Novak: "The Democrats I Talk To Are Really Worried About A McCain Versus Clinton Race." "The Democrats I talk to are really worried about a McCain versus Clinton race. They would love to have Romney in because they don't think he's electable." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

Talk Show Host Larry Elder: "When You Match McCain Up Against Barack Obama Or Against Clinton , Is The Only One Of The Prominent Republicans That Wins." "It is certainly true that McCain -- when you match McCain up against Barack Obama or against Clinton , he is the only one of the prominent Republican candidates that wins. So he is probably going to be a more formidable candidate ..." (Fox News' South Carolina Primary Coverage, 1/19/08)

Democrat Strategist Bob Beckel: "It's A Nightmare From My Standpoint." (Fox News, 12/3/07)

John McCain: LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER ! Eyeeeeiiiiiii! McCain Takes the Louisiana Caucus!

Dat dere's Thibodeaux Hickey operating a Cajun Microwave on Bayou OwnSe'F celebrating John McCain's Winning of the Louisiana Caucus!

Click my Post Title and Dog My Cats for the Official Louisiana GOP announcement!

Crawfish Pie and Etouffe! John McCain Carried the day! My Tante Marie's boys Thibodeaux and Boudreaux Hickey on Bayou OwnSe'f called to say that John McCain's surge has taken the Geat State of Louisiana.

Boudreaux and Thibodeaux went huntin'and got lost in the woods. When Boudreaux began lamentin' dere fate, Thibodeaux said, "You know, I heard that the best thing to do if you get lost is to fire tree shots in da air." So dey did dat, and waited a while. When no rescue party showed up, dey fired tree more shots in da air. Finally, when dere was still no response, Thibodeaux said, "Well, I guess we better fire tree more shots." "OK, if you say so," said Boudreaux. "But somebody better come soon--we about out of arrows!"

Thanks to Spiceycajun.com

www.spiceycajun.com

John McCain: Stormin'Norman & Straight-Talkin' John!

This almost sound like the title to a late 1950's Coasters Hit:

'Stormin' Norman and Straight Talkin' John!'

The man who wiped out Saddam's goons in four days and the man who will lead America in the War on Islamist Terror are in league: General Norman Schwarzkopf has endorsed Senator John McCain.

Click my post Title for this great story!

John McCain _ Fred Thompson Bows Out

This from Chicago Tribune!

At 1:27 PM Fred Thompson dropped out of the GOP Race for the White House! Well done, Senator!

A Real Patriot and Gentleman, Fred Thompson, has served his Nation with his insights and opinions; criticisms and admonitions. Fred Thompson elevated the debate in this race.

John McCain: Hero v. Illinois Same-Old/Same Old GOP - the Folks that Imported Nutty Al Keyes!

This is Mr. Roland Vanderwagon of Nice Streets Terrace, Wasp Hollow SubDivision, Unincorporated Lake/Du Page County - He Has a Cordial Hatred of John McCain and all of His Straight Talk!


This is pretty much the rest of us.












I love the boys and girls at Illinois Review! John, Frannie, Mark, and especially George ! Shoot, a Democrat gets treated better by these folks than on the snarling, humorless Daily Kos wannbee sites here in Illinois.

They provide the editorial and feature ground work for the Progressive Tin-Foil Hat whinners at Illinois Reason - or as I call it No Comment Alley View: If Robin Vagicill or whatever his name is - did not prompt his sock puppets, no one would read that Blog but me - it's amusing and like watching little kids play Ghost and Super Hero: dead serious but harmless.

John McCain still faces an uphill battle against GOP (I AM THE REAL CONSERVATIVE)establishment.

Today my buddy John Ruskin posts a fair question as to John McCain's stand on Tax Cuts - well, kinda fair as John pulled out McCain's response from 2000. Click my post title for the Illinois Review post.

John McCain is a leader who brings together all Americans. My daughter is a McCain delegate - Irish Princess college girl to be sure - and so is Thomas Hayes. Tommy Hayes is an African American Pro Boxer/ Chicago Police Department Candidate - same age as Nora, of the Not-Two-Nickles to Rub Together Hickeys.

Here is my response to What Kind of John McCain will we get - raised by Pal Ruskin:
Brother Ruskin,

This is the John McCain I have come to know and love: ( from Blogs for McCain)

McCain introduced "a slew of cost-cutting amendments. While many of these measures did not pass, they served an important role in shining a glaring light on congressional profligacy. These amendments include:

A 2006 amendment to cut $74.5 million for various agriculture programs[17] A 2006 amendment to cut $6 million for sugarcane growers in Hawaii[18] A 2003 amendment to reduce funding for the Yazoo Basin Backwater Pump Project in Mississippi[19] A 2002 amendment to eliminate $2.5 million for coral reef mapping of the waters off the coast of Hawaii[20] A 1998 amendment to cut $78 million in projects from an emergency supplemental appropriations bill[21] A 1994 motion to kill an amendment to provide $40 million for the conversion of a New York City post office into an Amtrak train station[22]
Senator McCain has also voted against a number of pricey bills, even when most of his colleagues preferred to toe the party line.

These include:

A vote against the 2003 Medicare prescription drug plan[23] A vote against the Farm Security Bill in 2002[24] A vote against the 2005 Highway Bill, one of only four senators to object to the pork-stuffed bill[25] A vote against providing Amtrak with an extra $550 million for the fiscal year 2007[26] A vote against $2 billion in milk subsidies[27] One of fifteen senators to vote for Senator Tom Coburn's (R-OK) amendment transferring $223 million for the "Bridge to Nowhere" to the repair of a Louisiana bridge damaged by Hurricane Katrina.[28] Senator McCain was also one of only thirteen senators to vote for an amendment by Senator Coburn to eliminate $950,000 for a parking lot for the Joslyn Art Museum in Nebraska[29] A vote for welfare reform[30]

John McCain is about governance...not politics.

In answer to your question you would get John McCain - not an empty suit; not a great former mayor; not a great actor; not a great
Preacher; not a great Blimp owner/Revolutionary . . .

. . . You'd get a great American!

John McCain:Illinois Young Professionals for McCain January 23rd Meeting

Illinois Young Professionals for McCain
Kickoff Meeting!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
6:00-7:00PM
Brehon Pub, 731 N. Wells, Chicago, IL.

Join fellow supporters of Sen. John McCain for President at Brehon Pub (back bar) as we gear up for the Feb. 5 primary in Illinois. Learn about Sen. McCain and how you can help him win Illinois and represent the Republican Party this November!

Contact/RSVP to Shawn Healy at buckybacker97@yahoo.com or 312.505.6579

The McCain- The Surge is ON!

I decided to give John McCain the Old Irish Tribal title of "The" - what the hell I used Yeats yesterday and it is my Blog.


John McCain Surges in Tri-State Area, Remains Best Positioned to Win Key Feb. 5th States



Numbers Show McCain on Top

· In recent polls, John McCain has surged ahead of Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani in both of their respective home states, Massachusetts and New York.

· In New York and Connecticut, McCain leads Giuliani by double digits. In Connecticut, McCain leads by 23; in New York, McCain is ahead by 10.

· John McCain is ahead of Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Bay State by 27 percentage points.



CONNECTICUT

Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut

McCain 39%

Giuliani 16

Romney 11



NEW YORK

Siena New York Poll

McCain 34 %

Giuliani 24

Romney 10



NEW JERSEY
Rasmussen Poll
McCain 29%
Giuliani 27

Monmouth Univ/Gannett New Jersey Poll
McCain 29%
Giuliani 25



MASSACHUSETTS

State House News Poll

McCain 45%

Romney 18

*Independents prefer McCain to Romney by a 47 to 20 percent margin.





John McCain Maintains Strong Momentum, Continues Building Organizational Strength

· John McCain won the key states of New Hampshire and South Carolina and is well positioned to win Florida, which will propel him to victory in the February 5th states.

· Senator McCain continues to secure key endorsements and build strong grassroots organizations in every February 5th state.

· Today, John McCain will announce a strong leadership team in Connecticut, including the endorsements of a diverse group of key leaders.

· Senator McCain will also roll out a list of CT statewide grassroots leadership and coalition chairs today.