John McCain: In the Catbirds Seat
Allan J. Ashinoff
December 02, 2006
As the Democrats prepare themselves to assume power in Congress in January, one Republican awaits the Democrats arrival. After an unsuccessful bid for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2000, Arizona Senator John McCain has worked diligently to present himself as a palatable choice to both Republican and Democratic voters should he choose to vie for the presidency once again. In light of recent events, this strategy appears to have been very wise.
To many Americans, Senator McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are seen as the only two realistic Republican candidates for President in 2008. Although Mayor Giuliani has the distinct advantage of being a national example of leadership under fire (and would likely carry the state of New York, and its 31 electoral votes, in a Presidential run), Senator McCain has been busy crafting allegiances of his own; allegiances which could yield national political and public support from every layer of the political spectrum.
In the Senate, McCain has exemplified bipartisanship by working with Democrats on issues like The Patients Bill of Rights (McCain-Edwards-Kennedy), Campaign Reform (McCain-Feingold), Global-Warming (McCain-Lieberman), and Immigration reform (McCain-Kennedy). To underscore his dedication to nation over party, McCain formed the Gang of 14 to prevent the Republican majority from using the ‘Nuclear’ or ‘Byrd’ option to override the Democrats use of the filibuster to block President Bush’s judicial appointments. To justify the calculated betrayal of his Party which ultimately enhanced public perception that the Republican majority was splintered, inept, and ineffective, McCain simply offered "Look, we won't always be in the majority." Was McCain, a well seasoned politician, taking an incredibly diplomatic posture or could McCain’s words have been a glimpse of some self-fulfilling prophesy? Again, in light of recent events, this strategy appears to have been very wise.
Now that the 2006 mid-term elections have concluded McCain’s Political Action Committee (PAC) Straight Talk America - named after McCain’s campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express - has been revived and is focusing its attention on 2008. The PAC - which formed shortly after McCain withdrew from the presidential campaign in 2000 – exists to raise funds which will be used to enable the Presidential hopeful to travel and contribute to party committees and candidates which could help him to achieve his goal. Although Straight Talk America has been a long term effective tool for Senator McCain, it is not the only ‘unaffiliated’ and ‘unauthorized’ entity dedicated to McCain’s presidential aspirations. Shortly, an initiative coined “Draft McCain for President” is to be introduced in 15 states. The Draft McCain Movement will portray to Americans that only Arizona Senator John McCain can “bridge the partisan divisions that wrack America today” and that only he is uniquely qualified to “implement policies that pragmatically solve America's problems.”
Senator McCain, by his actions, has prepared for many years for the day when his party would lose their mandate to govern. He has shaped his political persona such that he is viewed favorably by a diverse ideological range of voters. McCain has positioned himself to be seen as either liberal or moderate based on his words and actions over the past several years. Like a political chameleon McCain’s political disposition depends heavily on the temperature, the light, and the environment. But never in his constant political metamorphosis has the goal of building a broad voter base to become the President of the United States ever slipped his mind.
At 70, Senator John McCain is as in control of his political destiny as he can be. The savvy Arizona Senator has surmised that his efforts to assist many Republican candidates in key presidential primary states this election year will yield either wide support in the voting booths or in the mechanisms necessary to spread his message in 2008. Equally his willingness to support causes dear to the Democrats benefactors – who now have a foothold in Congress- like a Terrorist Bill of Rights, providing US Constitutional Rights for Terrorists, and placing limitation on free speech, have won him wide support from the liberal left; a level of support, no doubt, that the cunning Senator fully intends to make use of one day.
McCain’s manufactured ‘something for everyone’ persona has gained him broad support among conservatives, moderates, and liberals. The Arizona Senator has maneuvered such that he is no longer dependant on the Republican nomination to run for the Whitehouse. He is no longer strapped to any one political ideology which can shape his positions. McCain, “The Maverick”, has pursued the path - which has recently been validated by Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman- that if a politician is loved enough by his supporters, Party affiliation is not a necessary requirement to be elected into public office. In McCain’s case his supporters can be from any party, from any political ideology, and in any state. This reality, for better or for worse, makes John McCain a very powerful and influential man in Washington for the foreseeable future. Truly John McCain is squarely in the catbirds seat.
To many Americans, Senator McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are seen as the only two realistic Republican candidates for President in 2008. Although Mayor Giuliani has the distinct advantage of being a national example of leadership under fire (and would likely carry the state of New York, and its 31 electoral votes, in a Presidential run), Senator McCain has been busy crafting allegiances of his own; allegiances which could yield national political and public support from every layer of the political spectrum.
In the Senate, McCain has exemplified bipartisanship by working with Democrats on issues like The Patients Bill of Rights (McCain-Edwards-Kennedy), Campaign Reform (McCain-Feingold), Global-Warming (McCain-Lieberman), and Immigration reform (McCain-Kennedy). To underscore his dedication to nation over party, McCain formed the Gang of 14 to prevent the Republican majority from using the ‘Nuclear’ or ‘Byrd’ option to override the Democrats use of the filibuster to block President Bush’s judicial appointments. To justify the calculated betrayal of his Party which ultimately enhanced public perception that the Republican majority was splintered, inept, and ineffective, McCain simply offered "Look, we won't always be in the majority." Was McCain, a well seasoned politician, taking an incredibly diplomatic posture or could McCain’s words have been a glimpse of some self-fulfilling prophesy? Again, in light of recent events, this strategy appears to have been very wise.
Now that the 2006 mid-term elections have concluded McCain’s Political Action Committee (PAC) Straight Talk America - named after McCain’s campaign bus, the Straight Talk Express - has been revived and is focusing its attention on 2008. The PAC - which formed shortly after McCain withdrew from the presidential campaign in 2000 – exists to raise funds which will be used to enable the Presidential hopeful to travel and contribute to party committees and candidates which could help him to achieve his goal. Although Straight Talk America has been a long term effective tool for Senator McCain, it is not the only ‘unaffiliated’ and ‘unauthorized’ entity dedicated to McCain’s presidential aspirations. Shortly, an initiative coined “Draft McCain for President” is to be introduced in 15 states. The Draft McCain Movement will portray to Americans that only Arizona Senator John McCain can “bridge the partisan divisions that wrack America today” and that only he is uniquely qualified to “implement policies that pragmatically solve America's problems.”
Senator McCain, by his actions, has prepared for many years for the day when his party would lose their mandate to govern. He has shaped his political persona such that he is viewed favorably by a diverse ideological range of voters. McCain has positioned himself to be seen as either liberal or moderate based on his words and actions over the past several years. Like a political chameleon McCain’s political disposition depends heavily on the temperature, the light, and the environment. But never in his constant political metamorphosis has the goal of building a broad voter base to become the President of the United States ever slipped his mind.
At 70, Senator John McCain is as in control of his political destiny as he can be. The savvy Arizona Senator has surmised that his efforts to assist many Republican candidates in key presidential primary states this election year will yield either wide support in the voting booths or in the mechanisms necessary to spread his message in 2008. Equally his willingness to support causes dear to the Democrats benefactors – who now have a foothold in Congress- like a Terrorist Bill of Rights, providing US Constitutional Rights for Terrorists, and placing limitation on free speech, have won him wide support from the liberal left; a level of support, no doubt, that the cunning Senator fully intends to make use of one day.
McCain’s manufactured ‘something for everyone’ persona has gained him broad support among conservatives, moderates, and liberals. The Arizona Senator has maneuvered such that he is no longer dependant on the Republican nomination to run for the Whitehouse. He is no longer strapped to any one political ideology which can shape his positions. McCain, “The Maverick”, has pursued the path - which has recently been validated by Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman- that if a politician is loved enough by his supporters, Party affiliation is not a necessary requirement to be elected into public office. In McCain’s case his supporters can be from any party, from any political ideology, and in any state. This reality, for better or for worse, makes John McCain a very powerful and influential man in Washington for the foreseeable future. Truly John McCain is squarely in the catbirds seat.
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