By Writer X
This is the type of gunfight westerns are made of but it won’t take place in Tombstone. It’s happening across Arizona.
That’s because it’s finally official: J.D. Hayworth has entered the race against John McCain for the People’s U.S. Senate Seat in Arizona, a seat that John McCain has kept warm since 1986. The other Republican candidate in the race, Minutemen founder Chris Simcox, has withdrawn his nomination and pledged his support behind Hayworth. Truthfully, Simcox hadn’t really garnered a lot of attention and polls had him in the single-digits in terms of voter approval. But those are the breaks when you’re not married to an heiress or have millions of extra dollars hanging around in your bank account.
When Hayworth formally announced his candidacy, he said something that resonated with many Republicans, and perhaps even Independents. It was even reported in our local newspaper, which makes no apologies for not being members of the J.D. Hayworth Fan Club. Hayworth said, "There are two John McCains: The one who campaigns like a conservative and the one who legislates like a liberal."
Well said, J.D.
It could be Hayworth’s first bumper sticker. At least a t-shirt.
So, the gloves are officially off.
And this past week, on a New York radio program, Hayworth also said something rather intriguing. If he wins, he pledged to stay in office for no more than two consecutive six-year terms, fueling speculation that perhaps he has bigger future political ambitions. Like the U.S. Presidency.
Meanwhile, John McCain is running across Arizona and around the country, stammering to anyone who will listen (or gives him a microphone) that he is a true-blue conservative. It’s suddenly cool to be Conservative. Who knew? Amazingly, McCain says it with a straight face. As I said in my last post for Commentarama, if only his record truly reflected that. He’s also been appearing on local radio so often that I’m beginning to think he’s moonlighting as a disc jockey. Lately, he’s been on the radio more than J.D. Hayworth ever was as a broadcaster before the McCain campaign booted him off.
Speaking of the radio, McCain’s PR firm has put together a radio campaign political ad that could definitely win an award—and not in a good way. I couldn’t find an audio link to share with you but here’s the text. As you read it, imagine the voice of a boozy woman who sounds like she just woke up from a three-day drunk, and you’ve got the woman’s voice who narrates his campaign commercials. With a smoldering cigarette dangling from her formerly red lips (at least in my mind), the woman says:
Of course, the boozy woman forgets to list all of the ridiculous spending bills that McCain has voted for, not to mention wildly unpopular legislation like amnesty, cap-and-tax, and McCain-Feingold as he gleefully gave the middle-finger to his constituents. Suddenly, it’s as if all that is ancient history. Or never happened.John McCain's running for re-election. Well, I'd hope so, why wouldn't he? It's not like our country is on the right track. It's a mess, Congress spending us into oblivion. We need McCain, standing up to the big shots, slashing spending; saying what no one else has the nerve to say. But, J.D. Hayworth? That's not what Arizona wants. He sounds conservative on the radio, but J.D. was one of the biggest spenders in Congress. In 2005, they passed a bill with six thousand five hundred pork barrel earmarks worth more than twenty four billion dollars. J.D. voted for every one. He'd be the wrong direction for Arizona. McCain's the right direction. Character matters.
The polls have been all over the place, from statistical dead-heats to 20-point leads by McCain. Regardless, Hayworth has his work cut out for him. Sarah Palin and Scott Brown are coming to Arizona to campaign for McCain too, much to the chagrin of many Conservatives. However, the former U.S. Representative Hayworth is politically savvy and could very well pull off an upset, especially since this appears to be the year of upsets across the country. But he’s going to need all the help, voter participation, campaign contributions, and energy he can get.
Still, if they could do it in Massachusetts, there’s reason to believe it could happen in Arizona.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
DUELING CONSERVATIVES
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27 comments:
Thanks for the update Writer X. Sounds like McCain's got a really poor ad team!
I thought it was interesting that Romney endorsed him yesterday. I wonder why he tossed himself into the mix? I wonder if this was an attempt to tap into the McCain favor network?
Andrew, the radio ads for McCain have been horrendous. Nothing like choosing a woman's voice who sounds like a drunk! And, yeah, I don't get the Romney endorsement but I think you're right. It's all about back-scratching.
Writer X, And idea if maybe it's one of the McCains? Maybe it was Cousin Lush McCain?
Andrew, in order to win this one, McCain is calling out all the stops, so nothing would surprise me. :-) No doubt it will be a family affair.
Looks like it’s going to get interesting in Arizona? Whether JD Hayworth can win or not, this will be good for the Republican Party, making them reaffirm their “conservative” credentials. Rush gave a plausible reason for Sarah, the MSM would pound her with, “McCain was good enough to be President, but not good enough to be senator from Arizona?” and she’s an honorable person. Romney however that’s probably kissing McCain’s ring to keep the hierarchy of the Republican Party in line, you know it’s his turn, like Bob Dole and McCain.
Disclaimer: I voted for Romney in the primaries, he’s a brilliant man, and would be far better than Barry or McCain. If he had run with the tenor of his withdrawal speech, he would have won, IMO.
Stan, I wondered the same thing about Romney. He only showed fire when he delivered his withdrawal speech. I'm not sure if his endorsement will have a big impact in Arizona, though. Even so, McCain is going to parade anyone and everyone who'll sing his praises.
Stan and X, I have to admit I had the same thought. When I heard his withdrawal speech, I thought -- where the heck has this been hiding?
WriterX: Your post was not only heartening, it was exciting. That's probably true more for me here in California than for those who don't live in either your state o mine. Hayworth sounds like a true conservative, and more importantly, knows how to fight. You have a good chance to throw out a mercurial Republican and get the Party back, and we have a chance to throw out a liberal Democrat. When Campbell or DeVore wins here, and Hayworth wins there, let's have a party on the California-Arizona border!
Sorry to hear Scott Brown will be whistle-stopping for McCain, but as we know, political debts have to be paid. I hope your fellow Arizonans realize that too, and don't draw too much of a positive conclusion about McCain from it, nor a negative opinion of Brown. In much the same way, I think it would have been dishonorable of Palin not to give McCain at least a token endorsement, despite the rumors that McCain's people treated her poorly. Romney's endorsement of McCain will probably have as much of an effect as a Robo-Romney on Red Eye. Good for a laugh or two, but no real significance.
How funny is it that he can't even get good advertisements? His statement about being misled on the bank bailout bill was crazy too. I guess we're supposed to believe that all those RINO moves were a mistake?
Thanks for the update on the race! I'm soooo pulling for McCain to lose, LOL.
I really like this --
Hayworth said, "There are two John McCains: The one who campaigns like a conservative and the one who legislates like a liberal."
Heh heh.
Keep us posted. :)
MegaTroll: What can you expect from the guy who had Carly Fiorina as his chief financial adviser in the presidential campaign? The same Carly Fiorina who now has "Demon Sheep" and fake endorsement ads running?
LawHawk, while I haven't agreed with everything that Hayworth has done, he's spot-on with the big issues. He's also pretty articulate and can take McCain's punches. Right now, McCain looks a little desperate and befuddled. Hayworth needs to keep up the pressure (and, in fact, turn it up a few more notches), and I hope they schedule a debate or two.
Hey, I'm all for a celebration party when the time comes. Vegas, maybe? ;-)
Mega, yes, great catch! Whenever a mistake is made, it's always somebody else's fault. The bank bailout is only the latest. During his lackluster presidential campaign, it was his campaign handlers. The blame game doesn't play very well in Arizona.
Crispy, that makes two of us! No doubt there will be more as the election cycle unfolds. I'll be glad to share. :-)
i can't get over the folks getting in line behind mccain. i keep asking myself: what are they getting out of the deal...
WriterX: How about a victory dance on Hoover Dam? At the end, we could toss John McCain and Barbara Boxer into the river below.
Patti, my guess is that Romney is planning another run and, for some reason, thinks an endorsement from McCain will help him.
LawHawk, that sounds like an excellent plan. I'll bring the pomegranate martinis.
WriterX: One of my spies just e-mailed me to let me know Fiorina is at it again, and it relates to McCain. Fiorina tweeted "Red State calls it like it is. Tom Campbell is a RINO." In fact, Red State didn't say that. One occasional commenter said that, not the editors or compilers of the blogsite. And she neglects to mention that the very same commenter had said in an earlier post that RINOs infecting the Senate should all die. He attacked "the McCain Wing" of the party, and said "they should push out Carly Fiorina in California." Since McCain backs Fiorina, I think we can draw a logical conclusion. The non-support of Red State seems to be of a fabric with the non-endorsement of Scott Brown. Fiorina learned at the knee of her master, John McCain. If you can't get support from genuine Republicans, make something up or distort something someone else said.
LawHawk, Fiorina has turned into a trainwreck. No doubt she'll take another tip from McCain and simply blame someone else when she can't escape her own stupidity.
McBane is a drain on the Conservative vein.
Please Arizona put that RINO out to pasture.
Thanks Writer X, perhaps Fiorina and McCain are using the same atrocious PR team?
Skinners, you're welcome! Yes, it's possible they're sharing the same PR team. It sounds like Fiorina's ads are just as annoying as McCain's.
WriterX,
For me McCain committed the unforgiveable act of Heresy when he formed the Gang of 14 and stopped the judicial appointment of the judges. Despite what the Dems say the filibuster rule never applied to the advise and consent rules of judicial appointments so who cares what they said at the time.
In Florida when it came our time to vote I gave $100 to Romney (first time I donated to a candidate in over 15 years) only because he was the most likly to b eat McCain. I could not believe the party put someone I felt was not just a traitor to conservatism and our President but the Party itself. It was not until Palin's speech that I decided I would vote that election. Prior to this I was going to sit it out in protest. Since I was 18 I have yet to fail to vote in an election.
What I see going on is the establishment, worried how the MSM will harang us if the party standard bearer is tossed out. When are the party movers and shakers going to wise up and dismiss the propagandists that claim to be the real news. I mean honestly I would not go to a party thrown by the NY times if they paid me. I don't know what sway they hold.
Someone should have had a talk with McCain and said hey time to retire.
Indy, now that it's election season, McCain never brings up the Gang of 14. Imagine that. ;-) In fact, if it weren't for election season, I have no doubt he would have voted for the recent Jobs Bill which does little to create any jobs. McCain, unfortunately, has no intention of retiring.
I'm another AZ guy, and Writer X's description of the McCain ads is absolutely dead on. I fully expect to hear the sound of retching in the background of those ads when that drunken lush finishes her tired admonishment of J.D. Hayworth and disinterested support of McCain.
I was originally worried about us losing some of McCain's seniority in the Senate if J.D. won, but at this point McCain's probably burned so many bridges that it's irrelevant.
I've always considered J.D. to be a bit of a blowhard without a whole lot of true leadership skills behind that slick voice, but frankly I'm so sick of McCain that I really don't think he's worth preserving as a lifelong fixture.
Wahsatchmo, I'm with you. I'm very tired of John McCain. And, thanks for the laugh. "Drunken lush" describes that woman's annoying voice perfectly.
Ok, I had to laugh at that -- the woman throwing up in the middle of the ad. That would be worth a viral hit on youtube! :-)
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