BETWEEN THE LINES
Jonathan Alter
The McCain Scenario
Traveling with the candidate in New Hampshire, you see how he could be the GOP nominee.
They say that déjà vu is just a trick of the mind, but I felt otherwise when I got aboard John McCain's "Straight Talk Express" this week. Here was McCain the underdog surrounded once more by seven or eight reporters, answering dozens of questions at length as we rolled through the New Hampshire countryside. Up front, his longtime aide Mark Salter sketched out a plausible scenario for McCain to win here on Jan. 8. Even the messy interior of the RV and the day-old Krispy Kreme donuts smelled the same.
The candidate is 71, "old as dirt," as he likes to say, and shows it, especially in his hands, which still bear the imprint of his five and a half years of captivity in Hanoi, and in his face, where he suffered a bout with skin cancer several years ago. But he's thinner, more disciplined; that coiled energy and sharp mind dispel any idea that he should be disqualified for reasons of age. The spirit and good humor that made him so popular eight years ago up here remain intact, even if the jokes are a little stale. Whatever one thinks of his politics, it's hard not to have a good time with John McCain.
The meltdown of McCain's bloated and pandering campaign last winter was probably a blessing. If he were still the front runner he'd be a sitting duck. Instead he's preparing for a possible sequel to a legendary insurgent campaign in 2000 that for reporters like me was the most fun we ever had in politics.
I don't want to get carried away here, but stranger things have happened than for McCain to be the Republican nominee. If polls are any indication (and they usually aren't), Mike Huckabee will beat Mitt Romney in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses. But Huckabee's gospel style has little appeal in flinty New Hampshire, and Rudy Giuliani has inexplicably pulled his ads. That would leave McCain a clean shot at a wounded Romney.
In a new Rasmussen poll in the Granite State, McCain has already surged to within four points of Romney, who as the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts has been on the air here for five years. Once again independents gravitate to McCain. Should he even finish a close second, he'll beat the expectations spread, though he arguably needs to win in order to get the money necessary to stagger to the next primary.
That's Jan. 15 in Michigan, which McCain won in 2000 but is often discounted because it's Romney's true home state. Then comes the showdown in South Carolina. In 2000 McCain surged into the lead after his big New Hampshire upset before George W. Bush brought him down in the Palmetto State. But this time McCain wouldn't be facing the consensus choice of the GOP establishment there. He'd be up against Huckabee, who will be strong with South Carolina evangelicals but vulnerable with everyone else.
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Member Comments
Posted By: jlmeal @ 06/20/2008 12:01:02 PM
Comment: I like McCains 3R plan better:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JOHN McCAIN???S 3R ECONOMIC PLAN 2008
Abbreviated version
Progressive Candidate John McCain comes through for America with his 3R economic plan.
In the persona of Theodore Roosevelt, McCain???s plan just makes sense.
1. RETHINK: America must rethink the global views on what America is capable of in our current state of technology, engineering and the demands that face the world.
???RE-Think??? the basic job goals involve the dwindling retirement, health care and social security plans that are failing Americans. With a strong base and a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) America has a new bargaining chip in the way we live and the ways we retire.
The framework is already in place through existing laws to make this happen. The Progressive attitude of John McCain to get things done by crossing party lines will resurrect America.
2. REFORM: America must rise to these demands and compete aggressively in a global economy. American people must demand higher quality products and less restricted trade routes for Made in USA components.
The USA will reform its dead manufacturing base to create the most innovative and green-engineered products possible. We will compete in a world market along with other high quality products. Once again, the world needs American success in these new ways of manufacturing.
3. REINVENT: America and Americans must reinvent themselves to reach and maintain these standards and by sheer American ingenuity, control the world???s marketplace in the competitive manner, as we have always been proud to be #1. Can you hear Theodore Roosevelt shouting this?
Americans are going back to a 3R-schooling program where they are paid to reinvent their skills and learn new skills to design and lead their personal LLC, Corporation or joint venture company. That???s easy enough to comprehend and just as easy to implement. The 3R plan is designed as a six-month rapid advancement system. Graduates may return for additional skill enhancements from time to time, or step up after new advanced training in executive management.
McCain???s 3R is about technical, closely monitored and rapid hands on training from pros to create new pros. Thousands of currently-job-displaced ???once leaders in the manufacturing arena??? will be asked to train and play instructor rolls in the 3R plan. Paid, of course, as these new leaders will help create a whole new style of prosperous America. A new guard for Social Security.
Posted By: jlmeal @ 06/20/2008 12:00:04 PM
Comment: Senator McCain, My original plan was far outdone with your 3R Plan. I applaud your choice to build a stronger America through workers versus my bad idea of robbing the rich to fund the projects! The speculators have been the problem for decades with sudden inflation and you solved it with the 3R plan!
IS this it in full?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JOHN McCAIN???S 3R ECONOMIC PLAN 2008
Abbreviated version
Progressive Candidate John McCain comes through for America with his 3R economic plan.
In the persona of Theodore Roosevelt, McCain???s plan just makes sense.
1. RETHINK: America must rethink the global views on what America is capable of in our current state of technology, engineering and the demands that face the world.
???RE-Think??? the basic job goals involve the dwindling retirement, health care and social security plans that are failing Americans. With a strong base and a higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) America has a new bargaining chip in the way we live and the ways we retire.
The framework is already in place through existing laws to make this happen. The Progressive attitude of John McCain to get things done by crossing party lines will resurrect America.
2. REFORM: America must rise to these demands and compete aggressively in a global economy. American people must demand higher quality products and less restricted trade routes for Made in USA components.
The USA will reform its dead manufacturing base to create the most innovative and green-engineered products possible. We will compete in a world market along with other high quality products. Once again, the world needs American success in these new ways of manufacturing.
3. REINVENT: America and Americans must reinvent themselves to reach and maintain these standards and by sheer American ingenuity, control the world???s marketplace in the competitive manner, as we have always been proud to be #1. Can you hear Theodore Roosevelt shouting this?
Americans are going back to a 3R-schooling program where they are paid to reinvent their skills and learn new skills to design and lead their personal LLC, Corporation or joint venture company. That???s easy enough to comprehend and just as easy to implement. The 3R plan is designed as a six-month rapid advancement system. Graduates may return for additional skill enhancements from time to time, or step up after new advanced training in executive management.
McCain???s 3R is about technical, closely monitored and rapid hands on training from pros to create new pros. Thousands of currently-job-displaced ???once leaders in the manufacturing arena??? will be asked to train and play instructor rolls in the 3R plan. Paid, of course, as these new leaders will help create a whole new style of prosperous America. A new guard for Social Security.
Posted By: jlmeal @ 01/22/2008 2:32:24 PM
Comment: John Lewis Mealer
The cold parts of Arizona
Dear Senator John McCain,
Very simply, my plan outline is as follows and although your ???experts without vision???
(as many experts seem to be) might scoff at it, we have no other legit alternatives for an immediate boost to both the American and worldwide economy.
I understand your desire to have a great economy world wide and urge free trade, but these are steps I believe and I KNOW America must follow to regain it's strength and world leadership role.First off, there is no way 200,000 troops coming home would ever be able to find jobs, so I am for the efforts in continuing our fight against the terrorists abroad for more than the obvious reasons.
I. US Citizens and corporations with more than ten million in capital in the banks around the world will be immediately taxed 20% of their holding WITH THE US' "GUARANTEE OF REPAYMENT PLUS NOMINAL INTEREST" IN FIVE YEARS.
II. The "investments" these people and corporations are taxed (volunteered if need be) would be invested into American work projects and the revamping of America's auto industry.
((I personally have an alternative to the petroleum internal combustion engine with ZERO CO2 emissions, and an auto design to compliment it that I WILL GIVE YOU and the U.S. provided it goes into production in 2008, to further this cause)). Also on the production scale is my no propane, no electricity home heat source for all of America that will greatly make our lives better. Necessity is the Mother of all Invention!
III. The illegal aliens across the US will be given the option to go home or report and pay the $5000 as per your plan. Another option for the able bodied ???illegals??? would be to enlist in the armed services and/or nationwide workforce to rebuild our great Nations roads, bridges, etc at a mediocre pay rate ((They are doing it anyway, so let's make the best of it)).
IV. Companies and businesses that keep manufacturing here in America shall be given a huge tax break to off set the free trade and lack of import tax from other countries.
V. Companies that reinvent and build new factories across America (such as off of the interstates in the west) can do so with huge reductions in taxes and with easy lending terms from these ultra rich investors throughout America.
VI. Monies from the ultra rich and mega corporations can also be bulked or individually placed into these processes and returns and write offs for each tax year up to the five years can be realized by them.
VII. Finally, but not the last thing to be addressed, is have the Congress and House and the ultra-richly-paid-government-employees to forgo pay or take partial pay while not actually working on the job (the big summer break) for the same five years. Possibly allowing them the same write offs or terms as the investors.
IT CAN NOT FAIL and take these as true famous last words.
John Lewis Mealer