January 7, 2008
Mac-a-Whack?
Every time I think I can support Senator McCain because of his capacity to be Commander-in-Chief, I spill across something like this
I missed this but kept on hearing about how well Governor Romney did, so I dug this up on YouTube. McCain is probably the best on trade and certainly the best on immigration (for a Prosperitarian), but this is a deal breaker. If we want John Edwards to be President, get the real one -- he has much better hair!
His criticisms may be factual, though not correctly placing blame with the government, and his solution of having "pharmaceutical companies competing to take care of our medicare and medicaid patients" doesn't bother me.
It's remarkable that this post was virtually coincident with mine on John! below. I'm curious what you, a previous John! supporter, think of the "if" there.
Posted by: johngalt at January 7, 2008 12:45 PMI saw yours when I posted mine, it did seem an interesting juxtasomethingorother.
I'm still pragmatic enough to consider electability -- which has always concerned me with Senator Thompson, have we not just had eight years of a plainspoken, southern conservative? You and I know the differences, will others?
Baehr's pragmatism speaks to me, and his suggestion that Giuliani was genetically engineered to oppose Senator Clinton has a ring of verisimilitude. But I don't see McCain as necessarily the best chance to win, certainly not enough to look the other way on positions like this.
Posted by: jk at January 7, 2008 1:04 PMYou give John! a surprisingly generous free pass on this. The two quotes I would highlight are (from memory) "We don't have re-importation from Canada because of the power of the Pharmaceutical lobby" and, when Governor Romney says "Don't turn the Pharmaceutical companies in the big, bad, guys" McCain interjects "well they are."
He got the GOP buzzword of competition in there, but his entire speech was in opposition to free market forces in health care. He is obviously seeking more regulation of the sector. Close your eyes and you'll hear Senator Edwards giving the same speech.
Posted by: jk at January 7, 2008 1:15 PMThe best defense I can offer Mac for "well they are" is that it was a quip during a quick back-and-forth that he'd explain more fully if given the chance.
That explanation might be, "Drug companies charge higher prices for US pharmaceutical sales to compensate for artificial price limits in places like Canada. Allowing US consumers to purchase from Canadian pharmacies will force a market correction to this inequitable situation. You see, Canada can't afford to block re-exportation of pharmaceuticals or their softwood lumber exports are at risk (from a Congress determined to hold them accountable.) Drug company profits will be affected and they'll have to raise prices somewhere to compensate. Medicare and medicaid reform to ensure competition will keep those prices from rising in the US and they won't be able to afford Canada's arbitrary price ceilings anymore."
Of course, this is the pragmatic Mister McCain speaking, not the idealist johngalt.
For my part I'd just rather have President McCain than President Obama.
Posted by: johngalt at January 7, 2008 3:27 PMAnd the generosity continues.
I will always be able to support Senator McCain. I just need to focus on his commencement address to the Midshipmen and try to forget this little exchange. I will likely support any GOP nominee over any Democrat. Huckabee vs. Obama would take some soul-searching. I would rather lose that one and try another time.
I just reject Mr. Baehr's assertion that McCain is more electable than the rest. "If" I were convinced of that, I would be well tempted to support John!
Posted by: jk at January 7, 2008 3:49 PMThere were two moments that I meant to mention in my debate comments that I simply forgot. This was one. The other was when Charlie Gibson scolded the Dems for being wrong about the surge.
McCain would not be my first choice (nor my second, and perhaps not my third) choice for the nominee and this is part of the reason. He has that little thing inside him that believes that the government can fix every problem. The media calls this "maverick". I call it "liberal."
Posted by: Harrison Bergeron at January 7, 2008 4:29 PMIs my pragmatism showing? Those 80,000 new caucus goers in 94% caucasian Iowa who chose Obama have got me spooked. Suddenly I'm not as concerned about the purity of the GOP nominee.
How about Fred! as John's veep?
(I might wake up in the morning and decide this was all a bad dream.)
Posted by: johngalt at January 7, 2008 7:21 PMYour pragmatism is showing.
You have every right to be afraid, but I would keep in mind how dynamic these things are. A few weeks ago Giuliani and Clinton had things somewhat in the bag, and Gov. Huckabee was hb's bad dream.
Do you really buy the argument that McCain is the strongest candidate?
Posted by: jk at January 7, 2008 7:57 PM | What do you think? [8]