McCain at SRLC: Dubai Outcry ‘A Mistake’
John McCain took his turn at the SRLC last night, as we’ve already discussed, and, as Sean P points out in the comments, it wasn’t necessarily a friendly crowd. However, in addition to his much-appreciated comments on Bush and the War on Terror, he also was strong on the ports fiasco:
Among the “straight talk” he offered to the delegates was the view that killing the Dubai ports deal was a mistake. McCain talked about depth [sic] of our relationship with the UAE, especially with regard to how much logistical assistance our Navy receives from Dubai, and how it was harmful to America’s effort to win the war for the hearts and minds of the Arab people around the world. He said he felt the decision to kill the deal was premature and not handled particuarly well by Congress: “The president deserved better,” McCain said to a smattering of applause.
Now, I’ve been spotlighting McCain a lot lately, and I would vote for him in a minute if he is the Republican standard-bearer. However, I also like other candidates, notably Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee. Keep one thing in mind, though, particularly with Rudy G. and McCain.
It’s to be expected that hardcore conservatives of the type that attend these events will be pretty hostile towards them – that’s neither a good thing or a bad thing, it’s merely a reflection that they are too moderate for some activists. Elections are never REALLY about the partisans, however – they are about two things: the average voter and the money men. McCain has earned some big, big points in a lot of people’s books by supporting Bush not only when the going gets tough, but ESPECIALLY when the going gets tough.
Rudy is young enough to wait until 2012 or even 2016, in all likelihood; he may yet run, but if he intends to, he had better keep a close eye on McCain, who may start running away with this thing…
I’d vote for McCain just because he is such a moderate. One of the few left in Congress imo.
I think that McCain is right on the ports issue. Killing the port deal hurt our standing in the Arab world (something that would be good to improve, especially with how badly it has been trashed in the last four years) and had little to do with port security.
Senator Chuck Hagel had this to say about the port issue: “This ports issue has been blown out of all proportion. This company would have nothing to do with security at our ports.” I thought that it was interesting that McCain and Hagel, the two Republican “mavricks” were two of the few to stand beside the President on this issue.
For 2008, I think that McCain or Hagel would both be excellent candidates.
I’m supporting Giuliani, at least early on. And I can’t say I’m a John McCain fan, I just don’t like him much. But he keeps on talking like this, and I might start to like him more.
Just one thing worth noting, Mark; Giuliani was born in 1944, so he’ll be 68 in 2012 and 72 in 2016, and both will be a looong way away from Sept. 11, 2001. Granted, McCain will be 72 in 2008, but I think Giuliani’s time is now or never.
Well, that 2016 is looking pretty hard to see, I’ll admit…