Statement on Bhutto's Assassination

Here is, in full, John McCain's statement on the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto:

I was deeply saddened today to learn about the death of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. My deepest condolences go out to the family and supporters of this remarkable woman, an individual who paid the ultimate price for her embrace of moderation and rejection of extremism.

"The death of Benazir Bhutto underscores yet again the grave dangers we face in the world today and particularly in countries like Pakistan, where the forces of moderation are arrayed in a fierce battle against those who embrace violent Islamic extremism.

"Given Pakistan's strategic location, the international terrorist groups that operate from its soil, and its nuclear arsenal, the future of that country has deep implications for the security of the United States and its allies. America must stand on the right side of this ongoing struggle.

"In my numerous visits to Pakistan - to Islamabad, to Peshawar, even to the tribal areas of Waziristan - I have seen first hand the many challenges that face the political leadership there, challenges so graphically portrayed by today's tragedy. There are, in Pakistan, brave individuals who seek to lead their country away from extremism and instability and into the light of a better day. America, I believe, must do all we can to support them.

Last Man Standing

Robert Novak, in the Union Leader, explains that John McCain might end up the last man standing in the GOP nomination bid. A short excerpt:

But when Republicans get together privately, they tend to agree that McCain is the Republican most likely to defeat Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Even while some consider the old naval aviator as cranky and hot-tempered, he has not exhibited those negative characteristics in debates. Rather, he exudes a heroic aura that goes beyond managing New York City or the Utah Olympics. That quality is shown in his Christmas card television ad depicting a North Vietnamese prison guard making a cross in the dirt. McCain has managed to support the invasion of Iraq while criticizing President Bush's management of the invasion, and he maintains his fiscal integrity in a pork-driven, spendthrift Republican Party.

Read the whole thing here.

Lets face it, the 2008 election is going to be tough for the GOP. Congress and the President have made plenty of mistakes, and people are tired. A lot of Republicans don't agree with all of John's beliefs; I am one of them. However, I would rather get 80% of what I like, rather than 0% if Hillary or Obama gets elected.

Elect the Guy with the Knife

The NH Union Leader has an excellent article discussing earmarks and pork barrel spending. A short excerpt:

Congress cannot be trusted to end earmarks. If left to the legislators who use earmarks to get re-elected, there's no way this robbery will end. It will take a President to stop it. And there is only one candidate running for President who can be trusted to do that: John McCain.

Sen. McCain was first elected to Congress in 1982. In the 25 years since, he has sponsored not a single earmark. Not one.

His yearly haranguing of Congress for its pork-barrel spending has helped bring national attention to this outrageous pilfering of taxpayer money. Sen. McCain has pledged that if elected President he will veto every bill that contains an earmark. And those who know him know he means it.

You can read the full article here.

John's Christmas Story

It seems that the current "In" thing to do in Campaign 2008 right now is to release Christmas ads. Rather than release some generic seasons greetings ad, John has decided to share with us a short Christmas Story of his.

Mr. Taxman

John McCain's official taxplan is now out. You can read a more complete account here, but here is the basic layout:

1. Cut Taxes to the Middle Class
2. Keep Tax Rates Low
3. Eliminate Wasteful Government Spending

A briefing on the plant can be found here

State of the Race

Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are effectively tied in Iowa right now. Much buzz has been spent on Huckabee's rise in the polls. However, beneath the radar has been John McCain's steady rise in New Hampshire, where he is now just a few points behind Mitt Romney, according to Rasmussen.

The McCain Comeback never lost momentum, though it did lose some attention on the national stage. The team in New Hampshire is top notch, and John is campaigning as only he can. Between Huckabee's rise and this latest poll, the Romney team must be having a very bleak holiday season indeed.

P.S. Here are some important aspects of that poll, other than just the straight support numbers:

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Romney’s supporters say they are “certain” to vote for him on January 8. That’s little changed from the previous poll. However, 61% of McCain’s supporters say they are certain, an increase from 46%. That increase is especially impressive given the dramatic growth in support for McCain.

Romney's solid support is stagnant, while John's is growing. That, plus the following information is good news indeed.

Among New Hampshire’s Likely Republican Primary Voters, National Security Issues are deemed Very Important by 78%. Government ethics and corruption is seen as Very Important by 68%, immigration and Iraq by 66% each. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say the economy is Very Important in determining how they will vote.

There is no doubt that when it comes to National Security Issues, John McCain is the clear leader of the field in the Presidential field. No other candidate comes close. Given John's record on fighting on behalf of Earmark reform and against Pork Barrel Spending in Congress, along with the recent success of strategy he has long supported in Iraq thanks to General Petraeus, John McCain is the clear leader of the field on the issues that matter to the people of New Hampshire.

Endorsement Round-Up

John McCain has received a lot of important endorsements lately. Among them are many newspapers, including the New Hampshire Union Leader, the Portsmouth Herald, the Boston Globe and the Des Moines Register.

Also important, however, are the recent endorsements of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Senator Joe Lieberman. The latter is especially important for this election cycle. This is not going to be an easy win for the Republican party this year; unless the GOP can attract the independent vote and the crossover vote of people like Joe Lieberman, victory in Nov 2008 will be impossible. John McCain is consistently the conservative best able to draw independent voters to the GOP. Among all the Republican candidates, he fares the best poll after poll against the 3 likely Democratic candidates. If the GOP wants to avoid another blowout like 1964, John McCain is the party's best bet.

Sorry for the lack of Posting

I have been ill the last few days. Posting should resume soon.

Today's News

John McCain received another endorsement today, this time from New Hampshire's Salmon Press. Here is a short excerpt from their endorsement:

Sen. McCain is a man of great depth and character. He has demonstrated an enormous capacity for growth over his political career and his military record is truly heroic - in stark contrast to those of his opponents. As a congressman and senator from Arizona he has exhibited the ability to attract both sides of the political aisle. And yet he is a conservative in the best sense of the word: principled, unwilling to cave for political gain and an unbowed enemy of wasteful spending. His experience in foreign affairs and in military issues is unmatched in the field.

The full article can be found here.

An editorial in the Tampa Bay Tribune explains how John McCain deserves another audition.

Lastly, John gives us some thoughts on Wisdom and Common Sense in todays age.

Debate Going On

I almost forgot about the debate going on right now in Des Moines. Be sure to tune in. Right now CNN, Fox and MSNBC are carrying it.

Missing Week Round-Up

Apologies for the lack of updates, that trip created quite a back-log for me and I finally have time to refocus online.

Quite a number of endorsements recently, including that of Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and the New Hampshire Union Leader. The last is quite big, as the UL is the only state-wide newspaper.

John McCain also recently discussed US energy policy. This was capped by his energy strategy for America, in a speech he gave yesterday.

John also continues to poll best against all Democratic contenders, especially those most like to win, Clinton and Obama. I must admit, I still don't understand why so many Republicans support Rudy for reasons of "electability", when there is just no evidence to support it.

Back From DC

I have returned from my trip to DC, posting should resume shortly.

Off to DC

Sorry about the lack of attention paid to the blog recently, I am leaving for Washington D.C tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to update it there.

Ensure Strong Defense. Restore Public's Trust

John McCain, in the Des Moines Register, gives us a look at what his Presidency would be about:

I believe our nation's best days are ahead and remain committed to an America with a strong national defense; a smaller, more accountable government; a robust economy with abundant opportunity for all who seek it; and a nation of traditional values that protects the rights of the unborn and the traditional family.

As president and commander in chief, I will protect the security of this great nation from all enemies. Today, we confront a titanic struggle against Islamic extremism that will not be won quickly or easily. But we will win it. While our ultimate victory is not in doubt, the length and intensity of this struggle remain to be determined. It is up to us and our determination for victory.

I, too, look forward to bringing our troops home, but I know that we must bring them home in victory and with honor. We must recognize that our enemies are in this fight to win. Be assured that I would employ all instruments of national power - military, intelligence, law enforcement, economic and political - to defeat them.

At home, Americans have lost trust in their government. The ambition of my presidency will be to restore that trust. I will fight to ensure a political process worthy of the sacrifices that have been made by so many to keep us free and proud and will see to it that the institutions of self-government are respected pillars of democracy.

You can read the full article here. Also, John hasn't written off Iowa, despite rumors to the contrary.

NH Primary Date Set

The final date for the New Hampshire primary has been set, its now January 8th, 2008. Less than seven weeks away.

News Round-up

Here is a brief round-up of some campaign news:

Things are going much better in Iraq, and John McCain points out you can tell by the Democrat's silence.

Also, as President, John McCain vowed he would only support negotiations if they would actually benefit the USA, not simply for the sake of appearances.

He also called for a re-importation of drugs from Canada as a way to help alleviate health care costs. This is all part of his health care plan aimed at cutting costs for Americans.

Still the Best Candidate to Beat Hillary Clinton

Some new polling numbers are out, and they show what we have known for a while now: John McCain is the Republican best suited to beating Hillary Clinton in 2008.

Update 11/22:

Given that Hillary is the likely Dem nominee, I suggest reading this and this.

Powerline on the Straight Talk Express

Paul Mirengoff, of the popular conservative blog Powerline, recently took the time to ride with John McCain on the straight talk express. I highly suggest you read the entire post here.

John McCain Hitting Stride

Here is the opening paragraph from Frank Donatelli's article at The Hill concerning John McCain:

Evidence continues to accumulate that Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) is making progress in his comeback effort to secure the Republican presidential nomination. McCain and dark horse Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are on the upswing, while the support levels for other candidates are either flat or actually declining.

Read the full piece here.

Other Further Items

On November 5th, John addressed a Conference on the Bio Economy at Ames, Iowa. Here is a brief excerpt of his speech:

Many Iowans have heard that I oppose federal subsidies for ethanol production. Some of you will have heard that I oppose a protective tariff against sugar-based ethanol imports from places like Brazil. Some of my opponents will describe my positions as opposition to American ethanol producers or, for some inexplicable reason, a personal dislike of Iowa. Neither is true, of course, and I appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight. But I have always believed before you can win someone's vote, you have to earn their respect. And I intend to earn your respect by being honest with you.

Yes, I oppose subsidies. Not just ethanol subsidies. Subsidies. And not just in Iowa either. I oppose them in my own state of Arizona. I am a proud of the conservative tradition that the government can sometimes best serve the interests of the American people by knowing when to stay out of their way. And I've always been reluctant to grow the size of government to do the business of the American people for them or to favor one industry over another or because one sector of our economy has better lobbyists than another. I want the government to do its job, not your job, to do it better and to do it with less of your money. I want our economy to grow, not the size of government. And I don't want government to divert resources from the growing industries that hold the key to America's continued economic success. Excessive and intrusive regulation undermines the flexibility needed for business success.

The full speech can be found here.

Also, if you missed it, here is an article at RealClearPolitics about why John McCain is, by far, the most experienced candidate when it comes to matters of foreign policy.

Senator Brownback Endorses John McCain

Senator Sam Brownback, from Kansas, has endorsed John McCain's bid to become America's next President. Here is his statement of support:

Today I am proud to endorse my friend and a true American hero, John McCain, for President of the United States. While I respect all of the Republicans running for president this year, John McCain is the only candidate who can rally the Reagan coalition of conservatives, Independents, and conservative Democrats needed to defeat Hillary Clinton or any other Democrat in the general election next year. John McCain has spent a lifetime standing up for human rights around the world, including a consistent 24-year pro-life record of protecting the rights of the unborn. John McCain alone has the courage, leadership and character to lead our party to victory in 2008 while keeping faith with our most cherished values -- life, faith and family.

John McCain gave this statement in response to Senator Brownback's announcement:

I am deeply honored to receive the support of my friend Senator Sam Brownback. Sam Brownback is a man of faith and compassion whose integrity and unwavering commitment to protecting the dignity of human life, both born and unborn, has been an inspiration to me. We Republicans must stand firm in our deepest principles to rally the conservative Reagan coalition and win a great victory next November. Sam Brownback's counsel and friendship will be invaluable as we work to achieve this worthy goal, and I thank him for his support.

I am sorry about the late posting of this news and others recently. I intend to explain, in further detail and in my own words, why this endorsement matters so much.

McCain: Experience to Lead

Republished in full from JohnMcCain.com :

Today, John McCain responded to recent assertions by Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Governor Mitt Romney that their experience makes them the most qualified candidates to lead the United States as President. While he respects his opponents' accomplishments, McCain welcomes the challenge to compare all of the candidates' experiences, so that the voters can make an informed choice about who is best qualified to be Commander-in-Chief from day one. Here is a brief summary of his qualifications:

• Graduated U.S. Naval Academy, 1958
• Earned flight wings, Pensacola, Florida, 1960
• Deployed on aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise in Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis
• Served as Lieutenant Commander aboard aircraft carriers U.S.S. Forrestal and U.S.S. Orinsky in the Vietnam War, flying and leading combat air strikes over North Vietnam
• Shot down over Hanoi, October 26, 1967
• Served 5 ½ years as Prisoner of War, 1967-1973
• Attended National War College, 1973-1974
• Served as commanding officer of largest attack squadron in the U.S. Navy, 1976
• Served as U.S. Navy's chief liaison to the U.S. Senate, 1977-1981
• Retired a Captain, USN, 1981
• Elected to U.S. House of Representatives, 1982
• Elected to U.S. Senate, 1986
• Has served on Senate Armed Services Committee for 20 years, now senior Republican member of committee
• Played a leadership role in Congress in every major national security issue since the deployment of U.S. Marines to Beirut in 1983
• Chairman of the International Republican Institute
• Chairs an annual senior delegation to a NATO conference in Europe
• Has travelled extensively, knows and has worked with scores of world leaders
• Has written about, spoken and debated extensively on national security questions for two decades

Because of his long and deep experience in national security, John McCain had the judgment to know in 2003 that we were making terrible mistakes in Iraq that would doom us to failure, and he said so repeatedly. Governor Romney and Mayor Giuliani did not. He had the foresight to call almost four years ago for the strategy we are now successfully following in Iraq. Governor Romney and Mayor Giuliani did not. And he played an indispensible leadership role in support of General Petraeus' new plan for Iraq against the united opposition of Senator Hillary Clinton and other senior Democratic leaders. Governor Romney and Mayor Giuliani did not. So, when it comes to experience, we think it's pretty clear who in this race has the right kind, who uses it to make the right decisions, and who has the courage to defend their position even when it is politically unpopular at the time: John McCain.

Why I Am Endorsing Sen. John McCain

Dr. Jerry Zandstra, formerly of the Brownback campaign, has endorsed John McCain for President. On October 30th he wrote an article at Redstate explaining his reasons for endorsing John. A brief excerpt:

Pragmatically, two recent polls (Fox News and News/Opinion Dynamic Poll) show that Sen. McCain is best positioned to defeat Sen. Hillary Clinton in the general election. Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney are 12 points behind Hillary.

But true Republicans are deeper than mere pragmatism. My reasons of principle fall into two categories. The first is that of ongoing issues and principles and consist of what are usually thought of as core positions in Republican platform. I have examined several years worth of comments and articles on Sen. McCain’s position on abortion. He is a consistent opponent of abortion. While some other Republican candidates, like Mayor Giuliani, are pro-choice or, like Gov. Romney, have only recently become opponents of abortion, Sen. McCain’s record is clear, consistent, and lengthy.

You can read the whole thing here.

Upward Movement in the Polls

The new Washington Post polls are out, and John McCain is up 7 points since the last poll was taken. This now puts him above Fred Thompson, although that is within the margin of error. The results were Rudy Giuliani at 33 percent, with McCain at 19, Thompson at 16, Romney at 11, and Huckabee at 9.

Lamenting Victory

Ossama Bin Laden, or at least, someone pretending to be him, recently released an audio lamenting how poorly things were going in Iraq... for Al Qaeda. Here is an article detailing John's response to the new tape. A small excerpt:

"Basically he encouraged the extreme elements -- Al-Qaida in Iraq particularly in the Sunni areas -- to join together and be more effective in bringing terrorism and murder and suicide bombings to Iraq and to Anbar province," McCain said. "It's a clear sign that we are succeeding in Iraq because people got very tired of Al-Qaida taking their young women, killing their young women, killing their people, and acting in the most brutal fashion that they are."

The Iraqi people are starting to recognize Michael Moore's "New Minuteman" for what they truly are: brutal thugs who are opposed at their very core to the concept of liberty.

War is Personal for McCain and Me

That is the title of an article at military.com written by Everett Alvarez. An excerpt:

John McCain and I have a personal interest in the success of the war in Iraq. Our sons are fighting in it. When we take positions on the war, it is personal. There are ramifications for our country and our families. We don't assert our opinions with disregard.

John McCain and I have something else in common which has shaped our view of this war. We shared several years together in a prison camp in North Vietnam. This Friday marks the 40th anniversary of the day John McCain was shot down over Hanoi and captured. At the time, we personally felt the impact when our nation's political will for that war eroded. We both chose the duties and risks that accompany the life of an aviator. We accepted our fates as POWs when we were shot down on bombing raids over North Vietnam. We did not like being propaganda pawns for the North Vietnamese, but we also did not expect our nation to give in to our captors' demands or to the growing U.S. public discontent. We expected our government to have conviction and to seek a resolution from a position of strength, not cave to expediency.

John McCain and I believe our enemy today in Iraq and around the world is radical Islamic extremism, a political movement just as anathema to freedom as communism was -- but amorphous, elusive and cowardly. The Global War on Terrorism is just that: global. It is greater than Iraq.

Be sure to read the whole thing.

News Update

Here is a round-up of some of the latest news on the campaign trail:

Effective Health-care and Freedom can Co-exist


John McCain Prays that war with Iran can be avoided


In a Fox news poll, John McCain stands up best among Republican candidates against Hillary Clinton. Considering there is a >90% that Hillary is going to be the Democratic nominee, this is big news.

John McCain Keeps the Faith

A Second Look at McCain from the National Review.

Also, here is John's speech to the Value Voter's Summit.

Lastly, here is another snippet from the National Review, specifically the Corner. Its one thing to say something, its quite another to mean it.


P.S. Don't forget about the Republican Debate tomorrow in Florida on the Fox News Channel. Be sure to tune in.

Brief News Round-up

Here is a brief round-up of some news relevant to the John McCain Campaign across the nation:

McCain Bouncing Back


Green Republicans Back McCain


McCain Health Care Proposal Focuses on Spending

Also, if you haven't had the chance yet, you can watch John at the latest Republican debate here.

McCain: Retool Jobs Programs

Liz Sidoti from the Associated Press has written an article concerning John McCain's proposal to reform Jobs Programs.

have lost their jobs -- particularly older workers -- adapt to a changing economy.

"Change is hard, and while most of us gain, some industries, companies and workers are forced to struggle with very difficult choices," the Republican presidential candidate said as he espoused free-market principles in a state that leads the nation in unemployment.

"But it is government's job to help workers get the education and training they need for the new jobs that will be created by new businesses in this new century," McCain added.

In a broad speech to Detroit Economic Club, the Arizona senator promised to rein in runaway federal spending, simplify the tax code, help U.S. industries become more competitive, and control spiraling health care costs. He also called for increasing fuel economy standards while maintaining auto safety.

He spoke to about 500 members of the group hours before joining eight GOP opponents in nearby Dearborn, Mich., for a debate primarily on economic issues. The setting was fitting. Michigan's unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in August; the nation's was 4.6 percent.

In the speech, McCain slapped at his rivals generally, scolding them for "claiming to understand the finer nuances of markets and management. In fact, success has nothing to do with fancy theory." He said free people are the strongest economic force in the country.

As he does routinely, McCain also assailed Democrats and accused their party's presidential front-runner, Hillary Rodham Clinton, of backing dangerous economic policies. "I will not let the Democrats roll back the Bush tax cuts," said McCain, who voted against the president's tax cuts but now supports them because he says that repealing them would amount to a tax increase.

Separating himself from Bush, McCain criticized federal programs intended to aide displaced workers, and called for:

Overhauling the unemployment insurance program so that it can retrain, relocate and assist workers to find new jobs. "It needs to be modernized to meet the goals of helping displaced workers make ends meet between jobs and moving people quickly on to the next opportunity," he said.

The full can be found here.

Republican Debate Today

Update: The debate is over, I will try and get a link to a video feed of the debate as soon as I can.

There will be another debate among the Republican candidates for President tonight, starting at 1 PM PST on CNBC, and then rebroadcast on MSNBC at 6 PM PST. Be sure to tune in.

Also, John McCain gave a speech to the Detroit Economic Club today. You can read the full speech. here. Below is a brief excerpt:

Since Adam Smith coined the phrase "the invisible hand," economists, philosophers, and others have debated the virtues of market economies. You'll even hear some presidential candidates claiming to understand the finer nuances of markets and management. In fact, success has nothing to do with fancy theory. The simple lesson of history is that there is no economic force on this globe that is stronger than free people and their desire to create a better life.

Ronald Reagan once said that "Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things. It is the continuing revolution of the marketplace. It is the understanding that allows us to recognize shortcomings and seek solutions." He spoke these words to university students in Moscow in 1988. Those students thirsted for freedom. We are blessed by freedom, but the importance of protecting it in every realm is a message that politicians desperately need to hear today.

New Michigan Web Ad

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Here is a link to the newest Web Ad, Bold Solutions.

McCain Pushes Social Security, Energy Reform

Mike Kalil, of the New Hampshire Union Leader, has written an article about John McCain's reform agenda. Here is an excerpt:

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said yesterday younger generations will suffer if politicians don't curb spending in Washington.

During a stop at Pinkerton Academy, the Arizona senator said voters lost confidence in Republicans before the 2006 midterm elections because spending was out of control. He promised to veto any wasteful spending if elected President.

Jo Jensen, 22, of Manchester asked McCain what he would do to fix Social Security for future generations without overburdening young people. Jensen is a member of the grassroots group Students for Saving Social Security.

McCain said politicians must work together to prevent the Social Security system from collapsing. Older Americans aren't at risk of losing their benefits, he said, but younger ones are if the problem isn't fixed.

"You've got to do it in a bipartisan fashion," McCain said.

McCain, who ran unsuccessfully for the party nomination in 2000, also said he would veto unfunded mandates from Congress if he's elected. He said that there are ways of making health care affordable and accessible without converting to a single-payer system.

McCain also reasserted his support for keeping troops in Iraq, holding oppressive governments accountable and reducing climate change in part by using more nuclear power.

The whole article can be found here.

America’s Strategic Vulnerability

John has just written a new article on the US and energy policy, which can be found at the National Review Online. Below is a small excerpt.

America’s dependency on foreign oil is a major strategic vulnerability for our nation. One element in al Qaeda’s war against us is to target the U.S. economy by driving up the price of oil in the hope that severe recession and higher inflation will follow. Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda terrorists have spoken many times about the need to “mount … operations accordingly” in order to hit energy supply points in the Middle East and other regions to spike oil prices. Moreover, while most of the world’s known reserves are in the Persian Gulf, oil supplies are no more secure elsewhere on the globe. In Russia and Venezuela, Vladimir Putin and Hugo Chavez have rolled back democracy and utilized oil and gas as foreign policy weapons. Nigerian supplies — our fifth-largest supplier — are endangered by internal strife. Oil’s availability is uncertain and its price at the mercy of countries where our values aren’t typically shared and our interests aren’t their first priority.

The full article can be found here.

Military Families Support Sen. McCain

Below is an excerpt from a piece in the Portsmouth Herald, by Michael Mccord:

During the Republican debate earlier this month in Durham, Mark Riss critiqued former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's comment comparing his sons helping his campaign to military men and women serving their country.

At the time of the debate, Riss and his wife, Deb, were awaiting the return of their son, Dan, from his second tour in Iraq as a member of the N.H. National Guard.

Riss, a Dover resident and Strafford County deputy sheriff, said the recent debate helped the couple decide to support Sen. John McCain. The couple also have been named co-chairmen of New Hampshire Military Families for McCain Coalition.

"That night at the debate, it was clear to me that McCain had the right idea," Mark Riss told the Herald. "It's a conflict we have to win. Not just Iraq, it's an ideological battle, a generational conflict. ... I like the fact that McCain was as horrified about the way the war was being handled as we were."

Deb Riss said every vote she has made in the past three elections has been with the war, and how it's been handled, foremost in her mind.

McCain "just seems to be very honest and sincere in what he says," she said. "He is compassionate and understands.

The full article can be found here.

One of the most important reasons why I support John McCain is his status as a veteran, and what he has done to help other American veterans while in office. I know, as do many others, that he will not ignore them or their needs, or betray their interests for political gain. I cannot say the same for others, especially Mitt Romney. To be honest, I don't really like him. As far as I can tell, he is a political weasel, a Republican version of John Kerry whose views shift in the wind as the political climate changes. I don't think I am alone in this belief. I don't agree with Senator McCain 100% of the time, but I do know that I can trust him to carry out what we do agree upon. I do not feel the same way with Mitt Romney.

Response to Columbia's Disgrace

Here is Senator McCain's full response to the President of Iran speaking at Columbia University:

I still find it astonishing and astounding that Columbia University would welcome the president of a country that has not only dedicated itself to a policy of extinction of the state of Israel, but as he is speaking, most of the lethal and explosive devices are being exported from Iran into Iraq, endangering and taking the lives of brave Americans who are serving. Meanwhile, Columbia University's belief in free speech does not extend to Reserve Officers' Training Corps units being allowed on their campus to attract outstanding young men and women to serve in the military.

I must say, that while I certainly think that Universities should be places where what could otherwise not be said can be said, if only to serve the interests of debate, this move by Columbia is foolish to no small degree. Debate cannot be advanced with a speech by this man. Ahmadinejad is a religious fanatic, he cannot be reasoned or debated with. This only goes to show that nearly any sin can be pardoned by the Academic Left, so long as you are anti-Bush/anti-Israel these days. Disgusting.

Address to the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference

John McCain spoke before the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Michigan on Saturday. Below is the introduction to his speech:

Thank you for that kind introduction. It is an honor to speak to this 27th biennial Republican Leadership Conference. I stand before you at a perilous time, a perilous time for our party but, far more important, a perilous time for our country.

We face an implacable enemy dedicated to our destruction. We face criticism at home and abroad. Some doubt that we can prevail against our enemies -- Islamic extremists that operate in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Just this month, terrorist plots were uncovered in Denmark and Germany that had the potential to kill hundreds or thousands demonstrating how serious the threat is, yet much of Washington remains mired in irresolution and defeatism.

Your conference theme of "Relying on our Roots" is appropriate for my message today. Michigan has a fine tradition of leadership in the Republican Party, including the late President Ford. But I would like to speak to you about another exemplary leader of our party whose roots of leadership and wisdom we should also remember and rely on. Three decades ago, a visionary politician described the dangers in the world. It was, like today, a time when some doubted America's goodness and greatness. Many argued for reconciliation with our global adversary. But this man held firm. He did not care what editorial boards wrote about him. He did what he thought was right. He criticized the liberal Democrats' foreign policy of weakness and vacillation. He called for resolve and firmness in dealing with the Soviet Union. And, he refused to condemn millions to perpetual Communist tyranny in the false hope that accommodating the Soviet Union would contribute to America's security.

You can read the whole speech here.

John's Address to the NRA

John McCain addressed the National Rifle Association today, below are his introductory remarks:

It is a pleasure to appear before you this morning. I see a lot of old friends here, friends like Jim Baker whom I worked with as long ago as the 1980s in the struggle to preserve firearms freedom. His hair was not so gray back then -- and I had a lot more of it.

This is a sophisticated crowd. You know politics, and you know politicians. You are pretty used to hearing aspirants for public office come before you and pledge fealty to the cause of the Second Amendment. You know you need to dig into a politician's record to find out where they really stand. You know some will change their position or have little record for you to judge. That is not the case with me

The full speech can be found here.

The Consequences of Surrender

John McCain is touring South Carolina right now on his No Surrender Tour, and made a stop in Greenville where he explained some of the consequences of surrender in Iraq:

With another Senate debate looming this week on a deadline for withdrawing from Iraq, Arizona Sen. John McCain said abandoning that country would lead to chaos and a period of national suffering at the hands of "evil, evil people."

Midway through his three-day "No Surrender" tour, McCain focused his brief remarks on Iraq in a packed VFW hall here, scarcely mentioning his Republican presidential candidacy.

"The strategy is succeeding," but hasn't had enough time to develop, McCain said of President Bush's troop surge.

"A date for withdrawal, I view as a date for surrender, that we would choose to lose. I don't believe we should choose to lose," he said.

McCain said that Democratic critics have "lost sight of a fundamental fact, that presidents don't lose wars and political parties don't lose wars, but nations lose wars and when nations lose wars, nations suffer."

Precipitous withdrawal, he said, would create chaos "that almost certainly would require us to come back" when Iran almost certainly moves to fill the void.

Islamic extremists are "evil, evil people ... dedicated to the destruction of everything we stand for and believe in," McCain said.

You can read the full article here, courtesy of the Greenville News.

Many on the Left like to say that we should leave Iraq, and immediately at that. Yet why do they want us to leave? To save lives? Pretty much every expert agrees that things will almost certainly fall apart after we leave, and an open, rather than a mostly contained, civil war will take place? So whose lives do they intend to save? American lives? Do they somehow think that handing the country mostly over to Iran, a nation which has waged a subtle yet real war against us for almost 30 years will save American lives? And after all, doesn't preferring to save American lives over Iraqi lives reek of a not-so-subtle nationalism that Leftists decry anyways.

John is right. Nations lose wars, but those on the Left who oppose this war don't care. They seek short-term gain for themselves, and ignore the long-term harm to this nation, and the whole world, from surrender.

The Surge in Action

John McCain is enjoying a surge of support, even as the surge in Iraq meets success. The two are not unconnected, John has been emphatic on keeping firm in the War on Terror. There is perhaps no greater supporter of the change in tactics that are now being employed in Iraq.

The latest Fox news poll has McCain support increasing nine points in a month, attracting the attention of the folks at the Corner as well as Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit.

The ABC's John Berman covers a McCain Resurgence in Iowa.

Folks, remember those famous words of Yogi Berra:

"It ain't over till it's over."

No Greater Slander

There have been some truly despicable actions and accusations by the Democrats and various sundry Leftist groups concerning General Petraeus' statements before Congress.

John McCain called on leading Democrats to condemn these actions, especially the vile ad placed by MoveOn.Org in the New York Times. They either did nothing or equivocated. Here is John's response to this cowardly silence:

I remain deeply disappointed by the failure of leading Democrat presidential candidates to personally and publicly denounce the smear tactics used against General Petraeus by MoveOn.org. There is no greater slander to a soldier than an accusation of betrayal to his nation. I do not understand why those seeking to be commander-in-chief have yet to forcefully denounce, in their own words, this McCarthyite attack on our commander. I hope they would reconsider their silence and not let this slander of an exceptional American stand."

Hillary Clinton fired off a cheap shot at the General, and Senator McCain, a distinguished veteran, didn't let her get away with slandering an American who has served America faithfully for over 30 years:

Senator Clinton said that believing General Petraeus' testimony requires a 'willing suspension of disbelief.' I think it willingly suspends disbelief to not repudiate an advertisement run by a radical left wing organization that impugns and dishonors the integrity of a man who has served his nation with dedication all of his life. If you're not tough enough to repudiate a scurrilous, outrageous attack such as that, then I don't know how you're tough enough to be President of the United States.

I am disgusted by the Democrat's actions, but not really surprised. The level of civil discourse in this country has been falling for years, and Leftist groups like MoveOn.Org have been prime movers in that unfortunate trend. I see this only getting worse as the election draws ever nearer. When people ask me if I could support a Democrat for national office, I always respond that I could, if that person was willing to take an action against groups like MoveOn.Org. Sadly, I don't see that happening anytime soon. Of all the national level Democrats, only Joe Lieberman has consistently taken stands like that, and in response Leftists grouped up to defeat him in the primary, forcing him to run as an independent. I suspect that '08 will the ugliest election since 1860 or 1864.

Senator McCain Statement On Patriot Day 2007

John McCain offers his thoughts on this day:

No American who witnessed the events of that day will ever forget what happened on September 11th, six years ago. As we watched the towers fall and the Pentagon burn, the realization sank into the heart of every one of us: America was under attack.

"We lost a great deal that day - thousands of innocent lives, our sense of security - but our nation stood strong. We united, first in sorrow and anger and then in the recognition that we were attacked for who we are - a people united in a kinship of ideals, committed to the fundamental truth that all men and women are created equal and endowed by God with inalienable rights.

"We united as Americans, and we must, whatever our disagreements, stick together in the great challenge of our time. On this day, let us recognize those heroes lost on September 11, 2001, and others who subsequently sacrificed their lives in the War on Terror. They will not be forgotten. Let us also, in their memory, remain united as Americans as we continue to battle the forces that threaten our country and the cherished ideals for which we stand.

Source here.

Statement By John McCain On Moveon.org Ad

John McCain has responded to the add placed in the New York Times today by MoveOn.org that attacked General Petraeus:

In today's New York Times, the anti-war group MoveOn.org launched a McCarthyite attack on an American patriot and our commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus. This is a man who has devoted his life in service to our nation and has defended America in many battles over many years. Now he is the target of a despicable attack in one our nation's most visible newspapers. No matter where you stand on the war, we should all agree on the character and decency of this exceptional American. I would hope that the Democratic Congressional leadership and Democratic presidential candidates would also join me in publicly condemning this kind of political attack ad and the organization responsible for it in the strongest terms possible.

Listening To Petraeus

Below is an excerpt from an article contributed to the Wall Street Journal by Senator John McCain and fellow Senator Joe Lieberman:

Today, Gen. David Petraeus--commander of our forces in Iraq--returns to Washington to report on the war in Iraq and the new counterinsurgency strategy he has been implementing there. We hope that opponents of the war in Congress will listen carefully to the evidence that the U.S. military is at last making real and significant progress in its offensive against al Qaeda in Iraq.

Consider how the situation has changed. A year ago, al Qaeda in Iraq controlled large swaths of the country's territory. Today it is being driven out of its former strongholds in Anbar and Diyala provinces by the surge in U.S. forces and those of our Iraqi allies. A year ago, sectarian violence was spiraling out of control in Iraq, fanned by al Qaeda. Today civilian murders in Baghdad are down over 50%.

As facts on the ground in Iraq have improved, some critics of the war have changed their stance. As Democratic Congress man Brian Baird, who voted against the invasion of Iraq, recently wrote after returning from Baghdad: "[T]he people, strategies, and facts on the ground have changed for the better, and those changes justify changing our position on what should be done."

The full editorial can be found here.

Once again John McCain stands firm in his support for our troops and their mission in Iraq. John McCain has been calling for changes in our strategy for years, and now that the changes are being enacted, he is committed to seeing them followed through. As Commander-in-Chief, John McCain will make sure that defeat is not snatched from the Jaws of Victory.

John McCain's Speech to the California GOP

Here is Senator McCain's entire speech to the California GOP at the annual Convention:

Thank you for that kind introduction. It is an honor to speak before the Golden State Republicans at your convention. I stand before you at a perilous time, a perilous time for our party but, far more important, a perilous time for our country.

We face an implacable enemy dedicated to our destruction. We face criticism at home and abroad. Some doubt that we can prevail against our enemies Islamic extremists that operate in Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Just this week, terrorist plots were uncovered in Denmark and Germany that had the potential to kill hundreds or thousands demonstrating how serious the threat is, yet much of Washington remains mired in irresolution and defeatism.

Three decades ago, a visionary politician described the dangers in the world. It was, like today, a time when some doubted America's goodness and greatness. Many argued for reconciliation with our global adversary. But this man held firm. He did not care what editorial boards wrote about him. He did what he thought was right. He criticized the liberal Democrats' foreign policy of weakness and vacillation. He called for resolve and firmness in dealing with the Soviet Union. And, he refused to condemn millions to perpetual Communist tyranny in the false hope that accommodating the Soviet Union would contribute to America's security.

Fortunately, this man, Governor Reagan, became President Reagan. How different would our lives be had he not won election in 1980 and 1984? Does anyone believe a liberal Democratic President would have called the Soviet Union an "evil empire" or would have stood up to the nuclear freeze movement? Can you imagine a liberal Democratic President saying communism should be left on the ash heap of history, or calling on Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall? While many Democrats tried to defund weapons systems and freedom fighters, Ronald Reagan was steadfast and he was right. Thanks to his leadership, the Soviet Union dissolved and the Cold War was won on our terms.

Today, the challenges are at least as severe as they were when Ronald Reagan stood tall. And, today, the differences between Republicans and Democrats on national security are every bit as stark as they were 30 years ago. Today, leading Democratic presidential candidates vote against funding for our troops engaged in war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Today, leading Democratic presidential candidates question whether there is a war on terror, offer to enter into unconditional negotiations with our worst enemies, and talk about countering the forces of radicalism by advocating surrender to them in Iraq. If the Democrats get their way in Iraq, if we cede Iraq to al Qaeda, how long will they stay the course in Afghanistan? We face grave challenges in the Middle East: halting Iran's nuclear ambitions; protecting our democratic ally, Israel; supporting moderate voices in the face of the killers of Hamas and Hezbollah; defending Lebano n's sovereignty in the face of Syrian and Iranian aggression. Does anyone seriously believe that we can better meet those challenges in the aftermath of an American defeat in Iraq? It is irresponsible to think so, and any man or woman who does isn't prepared to lead our country in the struggle against Islamic extremism.

The world Ronald Reagan faced was a dangerous one, but more stable than the world today. It was a world where we confronted a massive, organized threat to our security. Our enemy was evil, but not irrational. And for all the suffering endured by captive nations; for all the fear of global nuclear war; it was a world made fairly predictable by a stable balance of power until our steadfastness and patience yielded an historic victory for our security and ideals. That world is gone, and please don't mistake my reminiscence as an indication that I miss it. If I'm nostalgic for it at all, it is only an old man's nostalgia for the time where he misspent his youth. That world, after all, had much cruelty and terror, some of which it was my fate to witness personally.

Today, we glimpse the prospect of another, better world, in which all people might someday share in the blessings and responsibilities of freedom. But we also face a threat, and a long war to defeat it, that is as difficult and in many respects more destabilizing than any challenge we have ever faced. We confront an enemy that so despises us and modernity itself that they would use any means, unleash any terror, cause the most unimaginable suffering to harm us, and to destroy the world we have tried throughout our history to build.

As we meet here today, in Iraq and Afghanistan, American soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen are fighting bravely and tenaciously in battles that are as dangerous, difficult and consequential as the great battles of our armed forces' storied past. As we all know, the war in Iraq has not gone well, and the American people have grown sick and tired of it. I understand that, of course. I, too, have been made sick at heart by the many mistakes made by civilian and military commanders and the terrible price we have paid for them. But we cannot react to these mistakes by embracing a course of action that will be an even greater mistake, a mistake of colossal historical proportions, which will and I am as sure of this as I am of anything seriously endanger the country I have served all my adult life. Like you, I want our troops to come home, but I want them to come home with honor. The honor of victory that is due all of those w ho have paid with the ultimate sacrifice so that sacrifice is not in vain.

We have new commanders in Iraq, and they are following a counterinsurgency strategy that I have called for from the beginning, which makes the most effective use of our strength and doesn't strengthen the tactics of our enemy. This new battle plan is succeeding where our previous tactics failed. Although the outcome remains uncertain, we must give General Petraeus and the Americans he has the honor to command adequate time to salvage from the wreckage of our past mistakes a measure of stability for Iraq and the Middle East, and a more secure future for the American people. To concede defeat as many leading Democrats now advocate -- would strengthen al Qaeda, empower Iran and other hostile powers in the Middle East, unleash a full scale civil war in Iraq that could quite possibly provoke genocide there, and destabilize the entire region as neighboring powers come to the aid of their favored factions. The consequences would threaten us for years, and I am certain would eventually draw us into a wider and more difficult war that would impose even greater sacrifices on us.

Let me be clear: choosing to lose in Iraq would hand a victory to the radicals in control of Iran. As Iran's president recently crowed, "soon we will see a huge power vacuum in the region [and] we are prepared to fill the gap." Iran has been engaged in a proxy war against our forces in Iraq for years. They are actively arming Sunni and Shia radicals with advanced weapons and on the ground training. Twenty seven years ago, the radical mullahs in Iran released American hostages held illegally for more than 400 days rather than face President Reagan. It was the first victory of his presidency and we should heed the lesson it holds for dealing with Iran today: determination and resolve, not accommodation and appeasement, are what Tehran heeds.

Ronald Reagan warned of the need for firmness and vigilance in the 1970s. Unfortunately, we did not heed his wisdom and we paid a horrible price for weakness and inattention toward the threat posed by Islamic extremism in the 1990s. But today, our defeat in Iraq would be even more catastrophic, not just for Iraq, but for us, and I cannot and will not be complicit in it. I will do whatever I can to help avert it. That is all I can offer my country. It is not much compared to the sacrifices made by Americans who have volunteered to shoulder a rifle and fight this war for us. I know that and am humbled by it. But though my duty is neither dangerous nor onerous, it compels me nonetheless to say to my fellow Americans, as long as we have a chance to succeed we must try to succeed. And I believe that if we persevere we can succeed on the battlefield of Iraq and in the larger war against Islamic extremism.

I have many responsibilities to the American people, and I try to take them all seriously. But I have one responsibility that outweighs all the others and that is to use whatever meager talents I possess, and every resource God has granted me to protect the security of this great and good nation from all enemies foreign and domestic. And that I intend to do, even if I must stand athwart popular opinion. I will attempt to convince as many of my countrymen as I can that we must show even greater patience, though our patience is nearly exhausted, and that as long as there is a prospect for not losing this war then we must not choose to lose it. That is how I construe my responsibility to my country. That is how I construed it yesterday. It is how I construe it today. It is how I will construe it tomorrow. I do not know how I could choose any other course.

War is a terrible thing, but not the worst thing. Our military men and women have endured the dangers and deprivations of war so that the worst thing would not befall us, so that America might be secure in her freedom. The war in Iraq has divided the American people, but it has divided no American in our admiration for the men and women who are fighting for us there. It is every veteran's hope that should their children be called upon to answer a call to arms, the battle will be necessary and the field well chosen. But that is not their responsibility. It belongs to the government that called them. As it once was for us, their honor will be in their answer not their summons. Whatever we think about how and why we went to war in Iraq, we are all those who supported the decision that placed them in harm's way and those who opposed it humbled by and grateful for their example. They now deserve the distinction of the best Ameri cans, and we owe them a debt we can never fully repay. We can only offer the small tribute of our humility and our commitment to do all that we can do, in less trying and costly circumstances, to help keep this nation worthy of their sacrifice for us and for the world.

In 1974, Ronald Reagan gave his famous "Shining City Upon a Hill" speech and concluded by saying:

"We cannot escape our destiny, nor should we try to do so. The leadership of the free world was thrust upon us in the little hall of Philadelphia. In the days following World War II, when the economic strength and power of America was all that stood between the world and the return to the dark ages, Pope Pius XII said, The American people have a great genius for splendid and unselfish actions. Into the hands of America, God has placed the destinies of an afflicted mankind.'

We are indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth."

It was my privilege to hear Governor Reagan deliver that speech. I had recently been released from a long involuntary captivity and was seated as Governor Reagan's guest. His words ring true today when, once again, it falls to America to lead the world against a global threat as the last best hope of man on earth. It is a privilege beyond measure to live in a country that has sacrificed so much for the cause of freedom. I have lived a long, eventful and blessed life. I have had the good fortune to know personally a great many brave and selfless patriots who sacrificed and shed blood to defend America. But I have known none braver or better than those who do so today. They are my inspiration. And I pray to a loving God that He bless and protect them.

Thank you.

Transcript source here.

The McCain Surge

Steven Hayes of the Weekly Standard writes that John McCain, described as out of the game by many, is far from out of the fight:

Tempers flared as a horde of journalists jostled its way through the headquarters of Granite State Manufacturing last week. "Where are you from?" demanded a cameraman with a shaved head toting an unwieldy television camera on his shoulder. His question was directed at a tanned TV news reporter with Lego hair who kept thrusting his Fox 10 microphone in front of the candidate. "You should tell your cameraman that he's not the only one here! He keeps walking right into my shot!"

It was crowded. There were also two boom microphones, seven television cameras, ten still photographers, and at least a dozen print reporters.

This was not what I expected when I decided to join John McCain for the launch of his fall campaign. For much of the summer, the only stories about McCain's campaign told of its demise and the imminent end of his political career. The conventional wisdom in Washington: He's finished.

McCain has certainly had a difficult few months. His fundraising has been weak, his spending excessive, his campaign staff gutted. He favored Bush-style immigration reform; GOP primary voters do not. And he is the most outspoken proponent of the unpopular Iraq war among the candidates.

One commentator after another has informed us that McCain's support for the war dooms his campaign. Even with positive reports out of Iraq from the unlikeliest sources--Carl Levin? Hillary Clinton?--the prevailing sense is that McCain is playing an unwinnable hand.

McCain thinks they're all wrong, and he's betting his candidacy on it. In appearances across southern New Hampshire last week, he spoke mostly about the war and the need to win it. This week, he will travel through several states with pro-war veterans in what his campaign is calling the "No Surrender Tour."

If this were poker, he'd be all in.

You can read the whole article here. Thanks go to the Corner for the link.

John McCain's Statement on the Latest OBL Tape

Here is John McCain's response to the latest (apparent?) video from Ossama Bin Laden:

The release of the purported bin Laden video starkly reminds us that there is no greater responsibility for a president than to protect America from attack and to command our military forces in a time of war against a barbaric enemy -- an enemy plotting every day to kill Americans.

"Osama bin Laden and his henchmen must be hunted down -- and as president, I will. Al Qaeda terrorists and the violent, aggressive ideology they propagandize must be defeated across the globe, in Afghanistan and in Iraq, which bin Laden's top lieutenant calls al Qaeda's central battlefront against the United States. My presidency will be al Qaeda's worst nightmare.

"This is no time for equivocation and waffling from politicians on the need to succeed in Iraq. As Ronald Reagan would say, now is a time for choosing. With General Petraeus set to testify before Congress next week, we can choose to continue to support the new strategy and the real progress -- not apparent progress -- our troops have made against our enemies in Iraq. Or, we can choose the path of surrender by undermining our current military campaign through funding cutoffs and congressionally mandated troop withdrawals.

"You know where I stand. I believe you can't be serious about fighting the war on terror unless you are serious about fighting and defeating al Qaeda in Iraq. We can succeed if we don't lose our resolve.

Focus Group: McCain Wins GOP Debate; Rudy Disappoints!

John McCain stood strong in the GOP Debate last night, and this commanding performance was recognized by the people of New Hampshire.

Update: The Des Moines Register agrees:

John McCain turned in his best performance of the 2008 Republican presidential campaign during a debate Wednesday night in New Hampshire.

His blunt, candid answers were reminiscent of the "straight-talking" McCain we saw in the 2000 presidential campaign. His good showing should provide a little lift to his troubled 2008 bid, an effort he's struggling to get back on track.

One measure of how effective McCain was came from two of his opponents, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani, who praised him and quoted from his positions during their own answers to questions. You can't ask for a better commercial than to have one of your opponents, Giuliani, say he'd be supporting you if he weren't running. Huckabee lavished high praise on McCain for his service to the country.

McCain was blunt in telling the audience the troop surge was working, that the United States had to finish the job in Iraq, that he opposed torturing prisoners for information, and that he wouldn't sign a no-tax-increase pledge that's popular in New Hampshire.

Huckabee also had a good night. He correctly ducked a hypothetical question about what, precisely, he would do in response to a nuclear Iran. And he looked presidential when he stood up to Ron Paul's badgering about the need to immediately get out of Iraq.

John McCain: Courageous Service

Called to Serve, Ready to Lead.

Tomorrow's Veterans Need John McCain Today

A brief message from Central Coast Co-Chair Donna Jordan:


Remember, no other candidate is a better friend of America's veterans than John McCain.

The Fight for Freedom is an Honor

Courtesy of Maggie O'Brien at the Des Moines Register:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain continued his Labor Day weekend tour of Iowa today at a ceremony unveiling a veteran's monument in Neola.
McCain was the last of a half-dozen speakers at the event, which drew a crowd of about 300. Many wore fatigues or military uniforms.
McCain said while war is tragic, the fight for freedom is an honor veterans share and understand.
"Most veterans know, war is an experience we would not trade," he said. "We might be proud to have overcome the paralysis of terror...to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves."
McCain's morning western Iowa stop was part of a holiday weekend of campaigning in the state - his first visit since the Iowa State Fair last month. At a visit to a rural Gladbrook home Sunday, McCain's remarks focused on the fate of the Iowa caucuses, saying that Iowa and New Hampshire should remain the traditional leadoff states in the presidential nomination process.

The full article can be found here.

Convention Calling

The California Republican Convention is fast approaching. For those who missed it before, they can find further information here.

Statement By John McCain on Second Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Quoted in full:

On the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we pause to remember the victims, family members, and all affected by the tragedy. Let us not forget the bravery and courageousness of everyday heroes who provided a sense of hope in a city of despair.

"The failure of government's response to Katrina is one example of why Americans have lost faith in our government. In the wake of a disaster, the federal government must move expeditiously to aid residents in need. We must use the lessons learned to ensure the federal government and Department of Homeland Security performs better in the tests of future disasters to come.

"I praise the citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast for their continued resilience and perseverance in rebuilding their communities. Though the storm has long passed, its devastating effects remain. It is important on this anniversary for us to remember our neighbors who are still in need of our support. Our government must do better in the face of natural disasters and as president, I pledge that it will.

Source here.

Statement By John McCain On Remarks Today By Iranian President

Here is the full statement by Senator McCain concerning remarks made earlier by the President of Iran:

Today, we are reminded again about the consequences of failure in Iraq and why the surge and the current counterinsurgency campaign must continue. Iran's Holocaust-denying president today told the media that 'soon we will see a huge power vacuum in the region' as the American effort in Iraq collapses and that his regime is 'prepared to fill the gap' in Iraq. Some time ago, Ayman al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's lieutenant, warned his terror network to 'be ready' to extend the 'jihad wave' to other nations once they 'expel the Americans from Iraq.' This is why it is imperative we give General Petraeus the time and support he needs to continue implementing his new plan, which even leading opponents of the surge, including Senator Clinton, acknowledge is succeeding, and do everything necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

"In the coming month we will face a fork in the road. We can pursue our opportunity for victory in Iraq, strengthen our hand in the larger war against Islamic extremists, and make our nation more secure. Or we can fold our tents, embolden our enemies, throw a region into instability and greater conflict, and increase the risks faced on American soil. That course will make the world a more dangerous place."

Source here.

California Republican Convention

The California Republican Convention is fast approaching, taking place from September 7th through September 9th. One of the invited guest speakers includes none other than Senator John McCain. Also attending will be Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other prominent Republicans. There is still time to pre-register for the Convention, which closes August 25th at 5:00 PM. Be sure and pre-register to save money, and to ensure you can get passes to those events that interest you. The official website of the convention can be found here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section, or e-mail me.

John McCain Stands Firm in Support for Victory

Senator McCain spoke before the national convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars today, along with Senator Clinton. John Hanna of the AP reports:

New military tactics in Iraq are working but the best way to honor U.S. soldiers is "by beginning to bring them home," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton told war veterans Monday.
Clinton, seeking the Democratic nomination for president, praised the work that soldiers have done in Iraq but described the government there as "on vacation," leaving American troops in the middle of a sectarian war.
Later the Veterans of Foreign Wars were told by Sen. John McCain, who is seeking the GOP nomination, that withdrawing from Iraq would be a historic mistake - far worse than previous U.S. missteps in the country.
McCain said he understands that Americans are "sick and tired" of the war, which he said hasn't gone well. Still, he said Gen. David Petraeus and other military leaders deserve patience.
Petraeus, the U.S. commander who will report to Congress on progress in Iraq next month, told the group that in some areas, partnerships between coalition forces and Iraqi soldiers are "quite robust." He also said that Iraqi losses have been three times those suffered by the U.S.-led coalition.
Clinton and McCain spoke to hundreds of members of the VFW, which is holding its annual convention in Kansas City. On Tuesday, Democratic candidate Barack Obama and former GOP Sen. Fred Thompson are to speak. President Bush arrives Wednesday.
The hall where the candidates spoke can seat 6,000 people, and both Clinton and McCain drew about half that for their late-morning speeches. The crowd was mostly friendly to Clinton and offered polite applause throughout her speech. McCain, a former Vietnam War prisoner of war, received a warmer reception - and louder applause during his remarks.

Source here.

Once again, John McCain shows that he remains the most committed presidential candidate to victory in Iraq. He understands that while the challenges may be grave, the price of failure will prove far more costly than perseverance.

Update: I forgot to mention that you can read the whole transcript of John McCain's speech here. A small excerpt:

As we meet, in Iraq and Afghanistan, American soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen are fighting bravely and tenaciously in battles that are as dangerous, difficult and consequential as the great battles of our armed forces' storied past. As we all know, the war in Iraq has not gone well, and the American people have grown sick and tired of it. I understand that, of course. I, too, have been made sick at heart by the many mistakes made by civilian and military commanders and the terrible price we have paid for them. But we cannot react to these mistakes by embracing a course of action that will be an even greater mistake, a mistake of colossal historical proportions, which will and I am as sure of this as I am of anything seriously endanger the country I have served all my adult life.
We have new commanders in Iraq, and they are following a counterinsurgency strategy that we should have been following from the beginning, which makes the most effective use of our strength and doesn't strengthen the tactics of our enemy. This new battle plan is succeeding where our previous tactics failed. Although the outcome remains uncertain, we must give General Petraeus and the Americans he has the honor to command adequate time to salvage from the wreckage of our past mistakes a measure of stability for Iraq and the Middle East, and a more secure future for the American people. To concede defeat now would strengthen al Qaeda, empower Iran and other hostile powers in the Middle East, unleash a full scale civil war in Iraq that could quite possibly provoke genocide there, and destabilize the entire region as neighboring powers come to the aid of their favored factions. The consequences would threaten us for years, and I am certain would eventually draw us into a wider and more difficult war that would impose even greater sacrifices on us.

Senator McCain will be on the Charlie Rose Show, August 20th

More information can be found at the following website:

http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2007/08/20/1/a-conversation-with-sen-john-mccain-r-az

Be sure to tune in.

Update 8/22/07: For those who missed it, the interview can be watched online here.

Ready to Command

Could you give an order that would put a loved one in mortal danger?

That is the title of an article by Paul Alexander, in Best Life Magazine, on John McCain. John has two sons serving in the military right now, and knows the full responsibility of what it will mean to be Commander-in-Chief. Here is a brief excerpt from the article:

It’s a cool, sunny June morning in New Hampshire, and Senator John McCain of Arizona stands on a makeshift stage in the center of a crowded firehouse. He’s here in the town of Gilford, population 7,500, doing what he has been doing in one way or another since 1999: running for president. Today he’s holding a town-hall meeting for 200 or so potential voters, as a large press corps—I count at least 10 TV crews—covers the event. They’re here because, of the 18 candidates who are officially declared for either the Republican or Democratic presidential nomination at this point, McCain is arguably one of the most famous. And it was in the state of New Hampshire, on the chilly evening of February 1, 2000, where he crushed Governor George W. Bush of Texas by 17 points in the primary—an upset victory that first put McCain on the national political map.

This time around, the questions are different than they were seven years ago; some of these voters have family members fighting in Iraq. Then again, this is a different campaign. I covered McCain during the 2000 election, and it was clear to me that he relished the role of the insurgent. It fit his character perfectly, since he had been a maverick for much of his life. In 2007, McCain entered the race as the front-runner, but so far he has trailed his rivals in fund-raising and polls. In July, he was forced to shake up his campaign, fire 50 staffers, and deny that he was dropping out of the race. Among independent voters and Democrats who have favored him in the past, he has been eviscerated for kowtowing to old enemies in the Bush White House and the religious right, and within the Republican Party itself, he has taken blows for stands that are unpopular with hard-liners, such as passing campaign finance reform and teaming with Ted Kennedy on immigration. And then there’s the war.

0907TPC_mccain_inline3.jpg McCain soldiers on, apparently unconcerned about his rivals and criticism from the media who once treated him as their darling—a Republican they could embrace. But he has never been the anointed one and is not comfortable in the position. In his 25-year political career, he has been a natural outsider who challenges the system, or a bipartisan peacemaker who brings both sides together, but never the establishment’s candidate. If he finds his voice in this campaign—and many observers believe he must—it will be an expression of his determination to follow his gut no matter what, for better or worse.

In Gilford this morning, audience members ask him about the war in Iraq, fighting terror­ism, and immigration. McCain is animated and affable onstage, often lacing his answers with his singular dark, sardonic humor. (He is known for frequently quoting Chairman Mao as saying “It’s always darkest before it is totally black.”) Today, McCain eventually directs the topics to one with which he is always comfortable: the American military. While joking with an audience member who had graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, McCain brings up the subject of his son John Sidney McCain IV, nicknamed Jack. McCain himself was the third John Sidney McCain to go to the United States Naval Academy; Jack, 21, entering his graduating year, is the fourth.

“You know, my son Jack attends the Naval Academy, where he has zero demerits,” McCain says in his even, deadpan delivery. Then after a pause for comic effect, he adds, “I got so concerned, I had DNA tests run just to make sure he was my son.”

The full article can be found here.

John McCain knows war. He knows how terrible it truly is, but he also knows that there are things worse, far worse, than war. No other candidate, in either party, matches John's military experience, or the wisdom he has gained from it. No other candidate is as ready as John to assume the awesome, and crushing, responsibility that is Commander-in-Chief. Help make sure that it is John McCain that leads this country in the fight ahead.

How You Can Help

The McCain Team in San Luis Obispo is looking for volunteers to get our California campaign rolling. Right now, we are committed to building a dedicated network of volunteers in the county to help spread the message that John McCain is the right man to lead our country in these troubled times. Recruiting supporters for the campaign is crucial to our success in the state. Nothing strengthens a campaign more than a strong organization, and recruiting supporters and volunteers early on will help us build the strongest organization in the county, and in the state as well. Talk to people whom you know to be Republicans, or independents. John has always had strong independent support, and this will be important in the primary, and critical in the general campaign. Direct them to the campaign website: JohnMcCain.com if they want to find out more.


Donate!

Even a little goes a long way. The Republican Party has always relied on a larger number of smaller donors than the Democrats. Even 25 dollars can go a long way towards helping keep the campaign going.

Welcome

Welcome to SLO Citizens for McCain, the blog for the John McCain Campaign here in San Luis Obispo County. This Web Log will be the perfect place to

• Communicate with other supporters of Senator McCain here in San Luis Obispo County
• Learn the latest news about the campaign, in the county as well as state-wide and nationally
• Volunteer and discover out how you can help the Senator's Campaign
  
• Find out about meet-ups and other events inside the county, or even help organize your own
• Read important or interesting articles about issues that affect our nation
  

Be sure and stop by daily, to learn the latest on what is going on here in SLO County