Newsweek outs McCain’s choice to manage national convention

Vetting the company we keep

This current Newsweek magazine article has created enough swirl around lobbyist and McCain insider, Doug Goodyear, that the man tapped by the GOP presumptive nominee to run the September Minneapolis/St. Paul convention, stepped down after the story broke. Goodyear’s tenure was short lived.

Obviously, Team McCain had good reasons for concern.

Had your fill of politics?

….at least for the moment?

Humorist Andy Borowitz provides some much needed comic relief.

AZ GOP State Convention

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Most of the McCain “unity slate” delegates won positions for the upcoming national convention—scheduled for September 1 - 4 in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

McCain was nowhere to be seen today as his minions worked the crowd on his behalf and uniformed security officers, (expecting an insurrection perhaps?) were ubiquitous. A sight to behold.

The Arizona Republican Party web pages give a glimpse into the whirlwind activities.

The resolutions all passed by acclimation, to the chagrin of Paul Hickman, AZ Chief of Staff for Sen. John McCain, who shouted a loud, “No!” Several of the resolutions were strong anti-illegal immigration measures.

It was a long day. Any state delegates in attendance who would care to comment, this is your chance.

Tenacious Nader keeps hope alive…for himself

Ralph Nader, 74, is not a quitter. He doesn‘t like the ‘spoiler’ term often applied to him, either, as he reenters the presidential race, running as a third-party candidate. He has qualified for the ballot in Hawaii and New Mexico.

“Spoiler is a contemptuous word of political bigotry,” he said during an hour long speech to about 80 voters who gave him a standing ovation. He was on a stop through Arizona as he tries to win a spot on the state ballot, according to the daily.

“It’s a privacy issue”

“My husband is the candidate.”

Republican voters: Sending a McMessage?

Over one-quarter of GOP voters withheld votes from nominee

North Carolina Republicans not keen on McCain. Check out these stunning percentages.

Continually updating election results in today’s primaries

Indiana returns are available here.

North Carolina results can be seen here.

FOX News provides additional election coverage.

Holding their noses for judges?

Will his promise of appointing socially conservative jurists to the federal courts be enough to entice conservatives, long distrustful of John McCain, to mark their ballots for him? Alexander Bolton writing for The Hill provides an excellent analysis.

Earlier this year, the advice his own mother gave to conservatives was, “Hold your nose” and vote for Johnny.

But, motherly advice aside, a fundamental issue of contention for conservatives has always been sanctity of life. McCain gives lip service to being pro-life and has even managed to garner some endorsements within the pro-life community. But the fact remains he has voted in support of embryonic stem cell and fetal tissue research and routinely uses the same jargon as Democrats when discussing abortion.

Watch this video

and you’ll hear the big tent philosophy from his own lips. Having mastered the art of understatement, McCain refers to abortion as “unpleasant.” He also advocates “going back to the platform of 1980 and 84.”

Those words say more about his views than a vague campaign promise to appoint conservative judges and justices, made with his back to the wall.

McCinco de Mayo

Señor John McCain’s presidential campaign has launched a Spanish language Web site to mark the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

“Keep that faith, Keep your courage, stick together, stay strong, do not yield, stand up! ” he urged the cheering Hispanic audience. The video is available on his new Spanish language site.

McCain’s support for a sweeping immigration overhaul that would have greased the amnesty skids for millions of illegal aliens in the United States, infuriated many in his party. As a candidate, he now says congress should focus on border security first. The unanswered questions are, “First? Before what?”

McCain then went into pastoral mode, saying that we “are all God’s children.”

Reuters reports on McCain pitching mucho woo.

And, McCain’s campaign announced that he will attend the La Raza Annual Convention in San Diego on July 14, 2008.

Michelle Malkin reports the campaign justifies his appearance by framing it as a gesture of inclusiveness and outreach that is “part of his commitment to talking with all Americans.” Yes, they see it as an act of tolerance to legitimize the militantly open-borders, anti-immigration enforcement, ethnic nationalists who call themselves “The Race.”

Monday morning presidential polling results from Rasmussen

 The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows Hillary Clinton with a four-point advantage over John McCain, 47% to 43%. At the same time, McCain leads Barack Obama by an identical margin, 47% to 43% (see recent daily results). Tracking results are updated daily by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. In these match-ups, Clinton is supported by 78% of Democrats, Obama by 67%. McCain leads both potential opponents by four percentage points among unaffiliated voters.

Twenty-seven percent (27%) of White Democrats prefer McCain over Obama. Thirteen percent (13%) pick McCain over Clinton.

In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, Obama now attracts 46% of Likely Democratic Primary Voters while Clinton earns support from 45%. A week ago, Obama led by eight.