April 25, 2007

McCain Announces Today

John McCain makes his formal entry into the presidential race today from Portsmouth, New Hampshire this afternoon:

Republican John McCain — senator, ex-Navy pilot and former Vietnam captive — is casting himself as the most qualified person to lead the country in wartime as he officially opens his second presidential bid and tries to succeed where he once failed. ...

McCain was largely using the speech and a four-day romp through early primary states and his Arizona home to make the case for his candidacy, outline his vision for the country and promise "common sense, conservative and comprehensive solutions" to the nation's problems.

The high-profile events also give McCain an opportunity to restart his campaign and inject momentum into it after a troubling four-month period. He went from presumed front-runner for the GOP nomination at year's end to trailing former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in national polls and ex-Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in money raised.

I have excerpts from the speech that McCain will deliver later today. Like most of his speeches, this is well worth the read:

We are fighting a war in two countries, and we’re in a global struggle with violent extremists who despise us, our values and modernity itself. If we are to succeed, we must rethink and rebuild the structure and mission of our military; the capabilities of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies; the purposes of our alliances; the reach and scope of our diplomacy; the capacity of all branches of government to defend us. We need to marshal all elements of American power: our military, economy, investment, trade and technology. We need to strengthen our alliances and build support in other nations. We must preserve our moral credibility, and remember that our security and the global progress of our ideals are inextricably linked. ...

Government spends more money today than ever before. Wasteful spending on things that are not the business of government indebts us to other nations; deprives you of the fruits of your labor; fuels inflation; raises interest rates; and encourages irresponsibility. ...

Our dependence on foreign sources of energy not only harms our environment and economy, it endangers our security. So much of the oil we import comes from countries in volatile regions of the world where our values aren’t shared and our interests aren’t a priority. ...

When I’m President I’ll offer common sense, conservative and comprehensive solutions to these challenges. Congress will have other ideas, and I’ll listen to them. I’ll work with anyone who is serious and sincere about solving these problems. I expect us to argue over principle, but when a compromise consistent with our principles is within reach, I expect us to seize it. Americans expect us to disagree, but not just to win the next election. They want us to serve the same goal: to ensure that a country blessed with our matchless prosperity, ingenuity, and strength can meet any challenge we confront.

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Comments (10)

Posted by richard mcenroe [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 10:00 AM

FINALLY! A GOP candidate I KNOW I can vote against!

Posted by RBMN [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 10:29 AM

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, except for some parts of the First Amendment."

Posted by SoldiersMom [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 1:49 PM

I like everything he says, I just don't trust the man who is saying it.

Posted by Closets [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 2:12 PM

I am disappointed with McCain's seemingly blind support for our "staying the course" in the Iraq war. I cannot understand how any person who served during the Vietnam debacle could support another such obvious blunder.

Posted by Carol_Herman [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 2:17 PM

If he brought a cake, it would look like one of those deals in an old age home; with 1000 candles lit on top. And, the man who has the birthday, lumbering forward, as Shakespear described old men: Sans teeth. Sans hair. Sans an ability to walk without a can (or walker.) In other words? The best is behind him.

Not on his rear end. But down the decades, into the passed.

He sure is ambitious, though. And, probably angrier at the Bush family business than I am.

Like you see in all campaigns; especially the ones that start years ahead of time; "great show. Great show."

But missing Ed Sullivan, standing in front of the curtain. You want black and white? That!, was black and white in it's platinum days.

Posted by Closets [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 2:27 PM

I am disappointed with McCain's seemingly blind support for our "staying the course" in the Iraq war. I cannot understand how any person who served during the Vietnam debacle could support another such obvious blunder.

Posted by NoDonkey [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 3:13 PM

John McCain is a patriot and a good man.

Just another example of how the Republican candidates are head, shoulders and torso above the dwarves on the Democrat side.

Posted by conservative democrat [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 9:12 PM

Dear negativeDonkey,mentally you are a dwarf. Everytime your mouth opens, vomit spews. You have no arguments, only hatred. I pity you and your kind.

Posted by Rose [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 25, 2007 10:00 PM

I would NEVER vote to send a man across the street to "water" McCain down if he were on fire.

While many are terribly excited about the potential of a Fred Thompson candidacy, the fact that he is a good friend of McCain's is enough to keep me from voting for THOMPSON, much less McCain.

I'm still in search of a good man - maybe Duncan Hunter is it.

Posted by TyCaptains [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 26, 2007 1:20 AM

Uhm....yay?