Who Now For Pres??? McCain???

General General Discussion
1

OK, I’m not trying to start a war here but, who do you support for Pres and why? I’m particularly interested in 2nd amendment issues, but other issues are important as well such as War on Terror, Immigration, Taxes, etc.

I think that any of the Dem. candidates would be bad for RKBA, besides the fact that I don’t agree with them on many other issues as well.

I’m a Republican, but none of the candidates really excite me. Now that Fred Thompson has dropped out of the race, I don’t know who to support.

Huckabee? Maybe, but I don’t know that he’s electable in the general election, plus he did some pretty non-conservative things as gov. of AR. I think he’s the best on RKBA issues though.

McCain? I respect his service in Vietnam, and agree with his war on terror stand. He seems pretty unpredictable on social issues though, sometimes siding with the dems. Don’t know where he stands on RKBA. Does anyone? I think he could beat Hillary in the general election though.

Guliani and Romney? Hard for a southerner to get fired up over them. I don’t think either one would be good for 2nd amend, though I do respect Guliani’s stand on war on terror, and Romney on economic issues.

Again, not trying to start a war, just interested in what other gun owners think.

Thanks!

Keith

2

My guy was Fred. I have no interest in any of the other candidates. I also won’t let the Republican Party scare me into voting for whichever liberal they nominate just to “stop the Democrats.”

I don’t want President Hillary but she won’t cause the fall of the Republic, either. The Republicans need wise up - there’s a reason why they have earned the nickname “The Stupid Party.”

3

Good question.

As it stands right now Huckabee will get my vote but obviously he has to actually win his parties nomination. If it comes down to McCain verses Osama :smiley: / Hillary that’s a no brainier – McCain will get my vote and I will damn proud of it.

While I might not agree with every position McCain has taken over the past thirty years he is a proven leader, with real world stage issues experience. He is not buying a nomination because he’s a billionaire or having it handed to him like the Presidency is some family air loom handed down because of connections.

But I also agree with TheKatar that the world will most likely not end if any of these clowns get into office. America has endured crap Presidents before and history shows we will survive it. Some of us might not like it, but that’s an historical fact. That being said having a President tied to NYC coffee shop & San Francisco liberals (I hate using this word) does scare me. I could say the same thing for having Oprah Winfrey as the next Secretary of State because she’s a celebrity and kicked in huge election donations. Freshmen senators w/ zero experience playing the race card also scare me.

Thank God, I don’t see much chance of either of them winning a national election.

4

If there are two things I try to avoid talking about the most they are religion and politics. Everyone (or most people) have their own opinions (which they are entitled to) but some people just take it too far and try to push whatever their beliefs are on you, and if you don’t agree they look down on you. That being said, I also welcome intelligent comments and debate. I learn a lot from what other people say (factual things) that I wasn’t privy to before. Here is an excellent place to brush up on all the candidates and their views (voting records, if applicable, are also included). Just click on their picture at the top and it summarizes their stance on important issues.

http://www.issues2000.org/default.htm

Likewise, this site asks you how you feel about issues, and how important they are to you, then tells you which candidate you are most compatible with. I don’t think you should leave your ultimate decision to this site, but it does a good job of saying which candidates agree with you on which issues.

http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460

Now, after all that, I’m torn between Romney and McCain. I have a great deal of respect for McCain and all that he’s done (plus he’s a fellow Naval Academy alumnus) and I welcome his stance on gun control (punish criminals, not honest people who have guns). The only thing that keeps me going in head-over-heels is his stance on immigration. He wants to cut down on illegals, but he also is very soft on illegals that are already here…offering them education benefits and so on. Anyway, to each his own…

5

The Musket (or it’s modern equivalent) and the RESET BUTTON…

The R’s have “nice guys,” a couple with good families (shows the type of men they are), but all are going in the wrong direction…

Rmpl

6

I dont like Mccain. I dont trust Mccain. But if I were a single issue voter, and that issue was gun control, Mccain isnt a bad way to go

John McCain on Gun Control
Republican Sr Senator (AZ

I know how to use guns; but I don’t own one
Q: Tell us about your gun collection, roughly how many you own, what your favorite make, model and caliber is, if any of them require a tax stamp?
A: For a long time I used a lot of guns, including carrying a .45 as a pilot flying in combat over Vietnam. I know how to use guns. I don’t own one now.

Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida Nov 28, 2007

Prosecute criminals, not citizens for gun ownership
John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right. We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens. Gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime. Law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their rights because of criminals–criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway.
Source: Campaign website, www.johnmccain.com, “Issues” Sep 1, 2007

Don’t hold gun manufacturers liable for crimes
John McCain opposes backdoor attempts to restrict Second Amendment rights by holding gun manufacturers liable for crimes committed by third parties using a firearm, and has voted to protect gun manufacturers from such inappropriate liability aimed at bankrupting the entire gun industry. McCain says, “Neither justice nor domestic peace are served by holding the innocent responsible for the acts of the criminal.”
Source: Campaign website, www.johnmccain.com, “Issues” Sep 1, 2007

Opposes restrictions on assault weapons and ammunition types
McCain opposes restrictions on so-called “assault rifles” and voted consistently against such bans.
McCain opposes bans on the importation of certain types of ammunition magazines and has voted against such limitations.
McCain believes that banning ammunition is just another way to undermine Second Amendment rights. He voted against an amendment that would have banned many of the most commonly used hunting cartridges on the spurious grounds that they were “armor-piercing.”
Source: Campaign website, www.johnmccain.com, “Issues” Sep 1, 2007

Ban cheap guns; require safety locks; for gun show checks
McCain favors outlawing cheaply made handguns called Saturday night specials, and favors mandating safety locks on certain guns. He said he is intrigued by new technology that electronically identifies a person handling a gun, allowing only the owner to fire it. McCain rallied Senate Republicans behind a Democratic measure requiring background checks at gun shows.
Source: Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press Aug 17, 1999

Supports ban on certain assault weapons
McCain said he was open to voting for an assault weapon ban, depending on the details.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “McCain Calls for Hearings” Aug 17, 1999

Voted against Brady Bill & assault weapon ban
McCain spoke generally of the need for some tighter gun controls on hardened criminals and children. In Congress, he pressured his colleagues to require background checks for buyers at guns shows, and he supported a requirement that trigger locks be sold with handguns. But the Senator opposed the two major gun-control measures of recent years, the 1994 ban on several types of assault weapons and the Brady Bill, which required a 5-day waiting period for handgun purchases.
Source: Todd S. Purdum, New York Times, p. A14 Aug 17, 1999

Guns are a problem, but so are violent web sites & videos
If you want to take every gun in and dump it in the ocean, I’ll still take you to a Web site where it teaches children how to build a pipe bomb. And I’ll take you to a Web site where the worst kind of hate language that is terribly offensive to all of us exists. I can take you to a video game being sold to our children where the object of the game is to kill police. I understand the importance of weapons, but to define that as being the major cause [of youth violence], there’s a whole lot of causes.
Source: Todd S. Purdum, New York Times, p. A14 Aug 17, 1999

Punish criminals who abuse 2nd Amendment rights
We need to focus on halting the spread of violent crime and punishing violent criminals who abuse their Second Amendment rights, while preserving those same rights for law-abiding Americans.
Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Press Releases” May 10, 1999

Youth Violence Prevention Act restricts guns for kids
McCain has introduced the “Youth Violence Prevention Act.”
The legislation would:
prevent juveniles from illegal access to weapons and punish those who would assist them in doing so
prohibit juveniles who commit acts of gun violence from purchasing guns in the future
sentence juveniles convicted of violent crimes under adult guidelines
and punish juveniles who illegally carry or use handguns in schools.
Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Press Releases” May 10, 1999

Repeal existing gun restrictions; penalize criminal use
McCain supports the following principles regarding gun issues:
Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
McCain says, “There are penalties for criminals who use firearms.”
Source: Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998

Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES would:
Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime
Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect
Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was brought
Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations
Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety devices
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005

Voted YES on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence.
Vote to pass a bill that would block certain civil lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers of firearms and ammunition, mainly those lawsuits aimed at making them liable for gun violence. In this bill, trade groups would also be protected The bill would call for the dismissal of pending lawsuits against the gun industry. The exception would be lawsuits regarding a defect in a weapon or ammunition. It also would provide a 10-year reauthorization of the assault weapons ban which is set to expire in September 2004. The bill would increase the penalties for gun-related violent or drug trafficking crimes which have not resulted in death, to a minimum of 15 years imprisonment. The bill calls for criminal background checks on all firearm transactions at gun shows where at least 75 guns are sold. Exemptions would be made available for dealers selling guns from their homes as well as members-only gun swaps and meets carried out by nonprofit hunting clubs.
Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S.1805/H.R.1036 ; vote number 2004-30 on Mar 2, 2004

Voted NO on background checks at gun shows.
Require background checks on all firearm sales at gun shows.
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)50; N)50; VP decided YES
Reference: Lautenberg Amdt #362; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-134 on May 20, 1999

Voted YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations.
The Hatch amdt would increase mandatory penalties for the illegal transfer or use of firearms, fund additional drug case prosecutors, and require background check on purchasers at gun shows. [A YES vote supports stricter penalties].
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)48; N)47; NV)5
Reference: Hatch Amendment #344; Bill S. 254 ; vote number 1999-118 on May 14, 1999

Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows.
Vote to table or kill a motion to require that all gun sales at gun shows be completed by federally licensed gun dealers. Also requires background checks to be completed on buyers and requires gun show promoters to register with the Treasury.
Reference: Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-111 on May 11, 1999

Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks.
Vote to table [kill] an amendment to make it unlawful for gun dealers to sell handguns without providing trigger locks. Violation of the law would result in civil penalties, such as suspension or revocation of the dealer’s license, or a fine.

7

Ron Paul is still the only limited government minded, strict constitutionalist, conservative left in the race. I’m voting with my wallet this time. Although I have my doubts that anyone with a “R” next to their name can win in the general after the last 8 years of deficit spending, increased entitlements, questionable legislation and an arguable war. I’m not saying that the Dems will do any better but the electorate is a fickle bunch and they’re pissed at Bush and Republicans in general, I however am just indifferent.

8

Huckabee stands alone:D

9

Admittedly, it is a rather sad state of affairs when you find yourself with no real enthusiasm for any of the potential candidates. I too was disappointed that Fred Thompson’s once-promising bid just didn’t pan out.

Who would have ever thought this was the year we might find ourselves voting against someone we can’t stand, instead of voting for someone we wholeheartedly support?

Politics. Pffft.

Chief

10

I know that Huck has been saying the right things, and he looks promising. I just hope he isn’t reciting the 2nd just to try to get that brass ring. “The NRA endorsement”

11

Thanks for your opinions so far guys. Keep 'em coming.

Right now it’s a toss up in my mind between McCain and Huckabee.

If I thought Huckabee could beat Hillary, I think he’d be the one to nominate. But according to many polls and opinions of many pundits, he couldn’t beat her because he doesn’t play well outside of the Bible Belt. But then again, polls and pundits are often wrong. I have little doubt of Huckabee’s stand on the 2nd amendment.

Either way, I’ll vote against Hillary or Barack Hussein Obama.

12

Concur.

I could live with the likes of Huckabee, but I don’t get the sense that he has sufficiently broad appeal to overcome the baggage that is sure to be be attached to any Republican candidate on account of the current administration’s unpopularity.

It’s going to be a knife fight in a phone booth for the GOP no matter who ultimately gets the nod, but what frightens me is the fact that our national polarization has left an increasingly broad – if increasingly lost – swath of independent voters out there that seem to respond more to pop culture than principle. Many of them will no doubt find themselves consulting their Magic 8-Ball just prior to heading for the polling place. Scary stuff.

Chief

13

I think this is the way I’m leaning also. Gun rights is one thing but it doesn’t mean jack when we’re in a really bad recession or even in depression and milk costs $20/gallon. Will the Dems be able to change? Who knows, but I’m looking for change somewhere. Since I’m an undeclared voter, I guess I’ll have to wait until the nominations are finalized before I really look into the issues and decide.

14

I might know one thing that might disuade you from a Hillary Presidency -

Chief Justice William Jefferson Clinton

15

Like I stated earlier, those scare tactics won’t work on me anymore. WJC has been disbarred anyway. You think that nomination would pass through the Congress? No F’ing way. The worst that could happen is that Bill tries to run the country, which would be better than if Hillary tried to do it by herself. Or Bill will become ambassador to or Sec General of The UN which is a perfect role for him.

16

You don’t have to be an attorney to sit on the Supreme Court.

17

My suggestion for posting in this thread is to state your opinion and not try to convince anyone else of anything. Otherwise it will surely wind up shit-canned.

18

QFTMFT.

I even shot FDT’s Presidential announcement at his house. When he dropped I was beside myself.

If this is all the Republicans can come up with then we are doomed.

19

Maybe I am crazy, but I feel that the candidate’s view on the GWOT is more important than their view on gun rights.

Lets not forget that our Nation is at war…

20

War On Terror is definitely important to me. But so is the 2nd amendment. And the border. And lower taxes. And economic growth…

I’m easy, I just want it all. :smiley: