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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Feb. 13, 2008
/ 7 Adar I 5768
Can McCain actually make it happen?
By
Roger Simon
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
John McCain is going to have to take his campaign up a notch.
But, contrary to what some think, he doesn’t have to do that to win over the far right of his party.
The far right of his party hasn’t gotten the candidate it has wanted since Ronald Reagan.
What Republican power broker Ken Duberstein called the “radio talk show” wing of the party in this space last week certainly did not want George W. Bush as the nominee when he first ran in 2000.
Bush refused to endorse a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, and many on the far right preferred Gary Bauer (who ended up endorsing John McCain that year, because Bauer didn’t much like Bush, either).
The far right did not like Bob Dole, who made a point of refusing even to read the Republican Party’s tough platform on abortion. And George H.W. Bush once famously referred to the far right as “the extra-chromosome set,” which wasn’t exactly an olive branch.
The far right exerts what influence it can but takes what it can get.
(And if some want to bolt to a third party or stay home on Election Day, they will merely help ensure the election of a Democrat.)
McCain knows how far he has to go, and it is not all that far: He will continue to assure the far right that he is with them on the do-or-die issue of judges. At the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, McCain said: “I intend to nominate judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust [in] that they take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people’s elected representatives, judges of the character and quality of Justices Roberts and Alito. ... ”
Notice that McCain did not promise to nominate Supreme Court justices exactly like John Roberts and Samuel Alito, nor did he promise to nominate justices who would duplicate their decisions. McCain merely promised to nominate justices of their “character and quality.” And if you think there is some wiggle room in that, there is.
But McCain has earned his wiggle room. He almost certainly will be the Republican nominee. Which is why it is important for him to remember one thing: He has won a tough fight in a weak field. And the fight against the Democratic nominee is going to be much tougher.
For a party that values hierarchy and giving the nomination to the “next guy in line,” McCain was the candidate who fit the bill most closely, the candidate who was best known within the party, the candidate who had punched his ticket.
Nobody fit that bill perfectly. There was nobody who could satisfy the old Reagan coalition of social, fiscal and foreign policy conservatives. But McCain came closest and, to his credit, hung tough when it looked like he was out of money and out of luck last summer.
But the general election is going to be nothing like the primary election. McCain is going to have to run an extremely strong and energetic campaign.
There was a particularly interesting exchange between Mike Huckabee, who is still contesting the Republican nomination, and Tim Russert on “Meet the Press” Sunday. At the time, I thought the exchange was merely hilarious. Now, I am not so sure.
Here is the exchange from the show’s transcript:
RUSSERT: “You need 1,191 delegates; you have 231, as I mentioned. That means you need 960.”
HUCKABEE: “Mm-hmm.”
RUSSERT: “There are only 819 delegates to win. So how are you going to do that?”
HUCKABEE: “Well, you know, I don’t know how the math works out, but there’s always the chance something stumbles.”
Something ... stumbles?
Huckabee could be talking about McCain making a political stumble. But it is hard to imagine that happening at this stage of the game.
So could Huckabee be talking about some other kind of stumble, something that incapacitates or casts doubt on the health of the 71-year-old McCain?
I don’t know. I do know that in the general election McCain is going to argue that only he is strong enough to protect America against dangerous and tenacious enemies.
To make that point, McCain is going to have to radiate strength and vigor and portray himself as the man who is strong and energetic enough to protect America from its foes.
That is going to be one of McCain’s greatest challenges.
Wednesday: Can McCain boost it up?
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© 2008, Creators Syndicate
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