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John McCain is already winning over voters who are most concerned about terrorism. He’s gotten social conservatives excited by picking Palin, and aiming to pick up some blue-collar, working class votes with her “conservative populism”. He’s going to try and make a large dent in the demographic of women. Now, there’s one key demographic he’s still got to shore up and he might just win this thing: fiscal conservatives.
Fighting pork and wasteful spending is nice and all, but Obama’s attack ads about McCain not offering a middle-class tax break have some ring of truth to them. That’s why I’m proposing McCain get together with Mitt Romney to announce some bold economic proposals lifted straight out of the Romney playbook (after all, Romney’s fiscal and economic prowess and his detailed economic plans are what drew me to him in the first place). Ideas such as:
Automatically, you get investors and seniors and anyone with a savings account more excited about your campaign, and by stressing the lowest tax bracket drop you highlight your commitment to lower and middle class workers. Throwing in some support for a balanced budget amendment would be icing on the cake.
I’m hoping McCain will lay out some ideas like these during his speech tonight, when tens of millions of Americans will be watching.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Absolutely, it’s clear that Obama/Biden are putting all their bets on economics/health care, that’s all they have left.
We need go on offense with our own economic vision.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:35 am
we need to win over dems and independents. none of these Romney ideas appeal to them. we should be talking about education, spending, interest rates, inflation, etc.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:44 am
You know what is funny to me…I am not sure if this was planned or not, but MANY of the remaining swing states are big hockey states. Think about it, New Hampshire, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Maybe not all of you agree that all of those states are in play, but you got to admit that it is pretty funny
September 4th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Cutting taxes are always easier than cutting spending. Just look at our “success” in managing spending. Every administration spends more than the last, including rock-solid Republican ones. The most recent six years of total Republican control is hardly a model of fiscal restraint.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I agree that tonight needs to be the economics speech. I would focus on spending, fiscal responsibility, lowering the cost of energy and health care, and restoring the fundamentals of the economy so that salaries will rise and people can get working again (as Bill Weld once said, the best social program is a job).
I can’t understand why simply suggesting that McCain should talk about economics results in lots of foaming at the mouth from our R408 readers (see my threads on the subject for proof of that).
September 4th, 2008 at 10:46 am
That sounds great, but he’ll need to explain how to pay for it. “Cutting Pork Spending” is abstract to most Americans who are weary of the low-tax deficit spending that they blame for the weakening dollar.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:48 am
The speech should have an economic focus, but only focusing on a story that makes sense for their ticket. I.e. “Energy is one of the key issues driving our economy down as it impacts not only your gas tank but all goods and services in the country. That is why I picked the governor who knows more about energy than anyone to help me get the economy going again.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
The speech should have an economic focus, but only focusing on a story that makes sense for their ticket. I.e. “Energy is one of the key issues driving our economy down as it impacts not only your gas tank but all goods and services in the country. That is why I picked the governor who knows more about energy than anyone to help me get the economy going again.”
September 4th, 2008 at 10:53 am
McCain needs a huge Middle Class tax cut. The folks at NRO have been calling for one for months, but he’s been treading water on domestic policy. Get a domestic agenda soon Mac, or you’ll squander some of this momentum that is building.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I have no problem with suggesting that he needs to present at least the underpinnings of a sound economic policy. One of my biggest disappointments with Bush has been that he could never seem to find his veto pen! I really don’t understand why we can’t seem to keep this three-legged stool from wobbling. The answer isn’t to keep cutting some off of one leg or another, it’s to find something to prop up the shorter leg. I think the choice of Sarah Palin went a long way toward that, but if Mitt Romney or anyone else can help prop up the fiscal leg, I’m all for it.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:55 am
It’s because you’re a little thick is all. You constantly ask for Sen. McCain or others to say what they have already said, many times, but you were apparently distracted when they said it. Unique among the front page posters here in that you seem to have no understanding of political discourse at the retail level. It just baffles you. Which baffles many of us.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:56 am
The answer isn’t to keep cutting some off of one leg or another, it’s to find something to prop up the shorter leg.
Great analogy
September 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Precisely. McCain is covering economics. But he’s doing so consistent with his own frame—energy, and energy policy is his frame. We have a petroleum based economy. Our dollar rises and falls with the price of our principal commodity, oil. Hence, we need to drill here, drill now, and diversify our energy base, e.g. nuclear, clean coal, renewable sources.
As for the tax cut theme, does anyone remember that Clinton also promised a middle class tax cut? Does anyone really believe that Obama will follow through with his?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:05 am
dotan,
Maybe DaveG means that Republicans should tell stories about blind school-children of 25, being denied healthcare, and club-footed working mothers hobbling to the grocery store, because they can’t afford the gas to power the car. This is what is generally meant by “talking economics”. This is the only thing that distinguished Huck’s speech (which apparently did talk economics, according to DaveG) from Romney’s. I actually tend to agree that this is a helpful thing, but let’s not pretend that Democrats have been terribly more specific on actual policies. They’re just spending more time connecting it to real and imaginary concerns of working Americans. Which I’d note is necessary, because Dems have never been able to convince Americans they’re genuine without using this sort of heartwrenching populism. Arguably both McCain and Sarah can do it by just being themselves.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
New McCain/Palin campaign slogan: “It’s energy prices stupid!!” That on top of “Drill Here, Drill Now” should do the trick.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:14 am
#15
Exactly! Right now the only economic issue that most people care about is how much it’s going to cost to fill their gas tank. Most of us can see that the price of fuel is causing the price of everything else to rise. Yes, we all love tax cuts, but unless someone can show us how a tax cut is going to translate into less money in the minivan, it’s all just talk. I don’t pretend to be an economist, that’s not my area of study, at all, but I am a middle-class mother and that’s who, I think, we need to be targeting. I have been dismayed at the lack of interest there is among conservative women when it comes to national politics. Many of them don’t even know who’s running until it gets to this stage of the game. It’s really an area that we need to work on, because most of them agree with the Republican platform when you spell it out for them. I’m really hopeful that, if nothing else, the choice of Sarah Palin will get those women to take notice and become a little more educated about the issues. She may be a “hockey mom”, but, I suspect she resonates with all the moms of this nation.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Hallelujah! Can I get a few amens for my fiscal conservative lovin’ brother over here – Heavy M!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:38 am
btw I have been seeing interviews of Rep. Michelle Bachman during this convention, she is another strong woman who has a bright future in the party.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:41 am
#17 – word brotha
September 4th, 2008 at 11:42 am
They’ve shown little inclination to do so thus far. Last night was a huge wasted opportunity, in my opinion.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:46 am
#20 – Big S – why are you here?
September 4th, 2008 at 11:53 am
#21
To give my .02 on what McCain and Palin need to do to win. M.E.M. basically contended that force of personality alone is enough to convince voters that they’re genuine, which in turn would make them more believable on economic issues. I think that McCain and Palin are squandering valuable time in the spotlight – they NEED to talk in specifics and they need to start doing it now. Nobody can have a chance to believe them if they don;t actually ever say anything. The only things people are going to remember from last night are Palin’s vague and bizarre taunt about pit bulls with lipstick, and the community organizer lines. Anybody who watched the speech to figure out where, exactly, McCain-Palin would lead this country came away empty-handed. That’s not a good use of convention time.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Off Topic: I was just emailed Eric Erickson’s post on Red State about how SP continued her speech even when her teleprompter momentarily failed. Notably, this person is not a political junkie like me. He is not political at all. And yet folks are forwarding RedState blog posts around because they like this woman. A lot.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
#23
Too bad the Redstate post is not true. Sigh. I understand that the conservative base likes her a lot, but these Chuck Norris-esque facts just make them sound silly.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Big S, you are correct in that the RedState account has been, shall we say, embellished. But the point was that apolitical types WANT to believe this stuff about this woman because they like her a great deal.
But dude, you are one joyless f*&k. Lighten up. (And no, I am not calling for you to be expelled from the blog!)
September 4th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
What is even more silly is that we have a sexed crazed liberal media and wants to talk about bedroom talk instead of Energy and the ecomony. Bring it on.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Nice report about “The First Dude” of Alaska:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXe81ZdLp7Y&feature=user
September 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I did study economics….and our issues are being caused by 1) energy prices, 2) credit crisis, 3) weakening dollar, and 4) prolonged deficit spending by both the government and the American people (i.e. credit cards, etc.). On this last point, Keyensian economics is right that short term deficit spending is good in the short term. However, Classical economics is right in that deficit spending kills you in the long run.
For McCain it is simple…Most people don’t understand all this…However they do understand that the price of oil is too high. A simple message of oil is driving up costs on ALL goods and services and is the culprit in our sagging economy will ring true for everyone. And Obama cannot respond to this as he suggested that it would be good for oil prices to increase.
Net, “It’s energy prices stupid!!!” The Palin pick was perfect to hammer this home and change the whole conversation of the country.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I agree that McCain needs to get into some economic policy specifics. He can mention the tax cuts and spending stuff, but he really needs to get into how this will help your average American. He also needs to highlight the weaknesses in Obama’s plan.
By the way, my apolitical wife (who is also Canadian, so this is her first exposure to American politics) last night told me that the Republican Party seems so much more patriotic than the Democratic Party and she absolutely loved Palin’s speech.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
#25
Thanks for not calling for my expulsion.
You’re right – I am pretty joyless about the way McCain-Palin has gone in its first few days of life. I am not a Palindrone, and think that there are some serious issues with the direction and tone of the campaign.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Gallup tracking: Obama 49, McCain 42.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Big S,
I welcome you dissenting opinions to keep me grounded in reality. I love Palin being the VP pick, but I’m going to wait until I see some polls showing good news before I get excited. She does fire up the base though, and we need that or we’ll get slaughtered on November 4. She’s not enough to win though. McCain needs to really reach out to Democrats and independents. I don’t mean reach out to liberals. If he can get the conservative independents and conservative Democrats, that’s enough to win in a landslide. The country is 60% conservative afterall.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
The polls wouldn’t start moving until tomorrow (post keynote and VP speeches), and the McCain bounce shouldn’t fully materialize until Sunday or Monday. The magnitude and duration of the bounce will depend on how tonight goes.
Sarah and Rudy did a great job setting the table, with Palin’s speech in particular clearing the air of all the “not ready” nonsense that’s been echoing around in the MSM. But that’s just allowed Mac to get a foot in the door. He needs another home run tonight for his bounce to really be material–as in drawing even or pulling ahead.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Yes, we did not see Obama’s full bounce until the weekend.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Most polling was done before Mrs. Palin spoke.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Kristofer,
Hate to ask a stupid question, but were you previously commenting under the moniker “palin for v.p.”?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Kristofer,
Hate to ask a stupid question, but were you previously commenting under the moniker “palin for v.p.”?
September 4th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Scott Rasmussen said this morning that we won’t really know the effect of Palin and McCain’s speeches until Tuesday of next week. I’m not one that lives and dies by the polls, but I’ll be interested to see how it falls out. I hope yet another blasted hurricane doesn’t interrupt the polling process. I would imagine it would be fairly important to measure the reaction along the Eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast and we’re expecting a Cat 4 storm in one of those places by Monday or Tuesday.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Here is the big question you guys can all answer. Start with 2004. Examine what changes have occurred in the country and the world since 2004. Then, assume a + or – value for the Republicans since they have controlled the Presidency for these 4 years and the Congress for half that time.
Then, look at EV’s and identify swing states that will move from Blue to Red because of these changes and circumstances over the last 4 years. That’s the problem folks, made worse by the early Iowa and New Mexico polling. The economy is the overwhelming issue and I have heard NOTHING in the last 2 days about this . Yet the polls tell us it is the most imporatnt issue with voters. Why poll if nobody chooses to believe the results ? People are not interested in ” nice” people. They are interested in results.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Since none of these candidates on both tickets knows squat about the economy, and the public says it is issue number 1, who do we get to talk to the voters Who really knows anything and can be credible on this???
September 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
He needs to do one thing before he talks economics though. Now that Palin has electrified the base of the party, McCain needs to specifically and forcefully rebut Obama’s claim that he is Bush’s 3rd term. These undecideds out there hate Bush. They are so desparate for “change” they are ready to buy the illusion of a pretty oasis that Barack is selling because McCain has been unable to separate himself from Bush with a lethargic base. But they will not listen to what Mac has to say if they think he is just Bush’s 3rd term. They will tune it out completely regardless of what he says. Yet we have the original maverick as our nominee. He needs to go up there and list all the issues where he has disagreed with W over the last several years, and perhaps even ask the convention audience, “Did I make you mad when I did that? Sorry, but once in a while a leader has to go against his own party. That’s something my opponent never learned while voting present in the state legislature. I’m John McCain, and in case you didn’t realize it, I’m not running for Bush’s third term I’m running for my first term. And this is what I want to do…” Then talk issues, especially economics.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
As a fiscal conservative, I want to hear how we pay for any of those cuts before I’ll go along.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I know Mitt is not too crazy about a cabinet position, but I think it could help the country if Mitt were to be asked an accept the job of Chief of Staff, with heavy involvement on the economy (including Social Security) , energy, and even Islamic Jihad. We so very badly need a problem solving specialist and McCain didn’t choose the only one that had those skills. Now, in order for the country to benefit, he has to have Mitt involved by making him Chief of Stafff, and giving him extra clout.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
neorep04 (#2) Matt is addressing what has been shown by several polls the past few months the top issue among Americans. I don’t remember the exact number, but it was upward of 30% of Americans whose top issue is economy. The next top issue was in low tens (I think immigration was it, but I have not seen those polls for a while). So yes, McCain does need to address the top issue — economy, and there is no other time to address this better than tonight, considering the number of the potential viewers. Whether he gets it could be a final nail in the Obama/Biden’s coffin, enough to secure the White House.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Cp (#15) You must have not seen the Palin speech last night. The motto of “Drill here, Drill now” is now “Drill, Babe, Drill!”. Seriously, that was what the convention crowd cries last night, over and over. So, let’s “drill, babe, drill!”
September 4th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
#45 SGS,
The phrase continually chanted last night was “Drill, baby, drill.” And from what I’ve heard (I missed his speech), you can thank the wonderful Michael Steele for that. Oh how I wish he won his race in Maryland…
September 4th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Joe Gibbs is a strong Christian man, and not bashful about saying so. Good speech.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
43 Illinois
Your devotion is outstanding. Mitt would indeed make a great C.O.S. (or Treas., Commerce, or veep, or Pres), but alas, he and Johnny Mac are not meant to work together. A great idea would be to appoint Mitt to the Fed, where his smarts would really be put to work, he’d have independence, and he wouldn’t have to deal with a stodgy and immobile bureaucracy. I think Benny B’s term as chairman expires in ‘10, and Mitt would be a great replacement, if he’s willing to pass on the next Presidential race.