McCain Endorsed by the Keene Sentinel

John McCain wins another important New Hampshire Newspaper endorsement with the Keene Sentinel. The Sentinel Notes, "What we see in McCain is a grown-up; a known quantity with a 30-year record of public service; a conservative who is confident in his abilities and yet smart enough to seek counsel. "

Keene Sentinel (NH): John McCain
Editorial

John McCain has been traveling around New Hampshire telling potential Republican primary voters that they might not always agree with him if he’s elected president, but that they can at least be sure he will always do what he believes is right for the country. That’s a reasonable summation of McCain’s political appeal.

This newspaper does not agree with McCain on many issues.

We are concerned about his opposition to abortion rights, although we are somewhat reassured by his assurance that he does not advocate putting people in jail over the issue.

We were disappointed by his advocacy of the invasion of Iraq, but we understand his arguments that the state of U.S. intelligence in 2003 made the idea seem more appealing than it does in retrospect, and that the United States now has a national obligation to make the best of the mess we created.

As we have noted before in this space, McCain has never been the thoroughgoing Republican maverick that some people assume. Yet he is independent enough to impress.

Consider his efforts at campaign-finance reform — efforts that have not yet been successful, but that someday will be the key to putting the interests of the American people ahead of the special interests that grease the palms of shameless members of Congress. McCain’s passion on that issue no doubt grew out of his involvement in the Keating Five influence-peddling scandal in the early 1990s. Although he was cleared of wrongdoing, he once noted: “We are all tainted by this system.” That’s not an admission you’ll likely hear very many places on the campaign trail.

Recently, we have been impressed by McCain’s attitude toward illegal immigration, expressed at considerable political cost in a bill that was defeated earlier in the year. He now notes that any improvement in the situation will have to begin by better policing of the borders, but he continues to speak with humane concern of the people, and the families of people, who have put down roots here.

We are also intrigued, although not fully persuaded by, McCain’s recent venture into health-care reform. Like many other Republicans, he puts a lot of faith in private insurance companies, and he rejects the idea of health-insurance mandates. But he is proposing an end to restrictions on insurance availability from out of state providers, as well as significant tax relief for people who negotiate their own insurance arrangements. He has a quiver of proposals for reducing the cost of health care. And he wants to create a federal insurance fund to insure people who are turned down — or priced out of the market — by private insurers. “And it’ll be expensive,” he volunteers, with typical candor.

Where McCain most distinguishes himself from the rest of this year’s Republican pack is in the areas of life experience and force of character. He is not a single-issue candidate off on a frantic ideological jag. Although his political ideology has evolved through experience over the years, he has not changed his previous political positions en masse to appeal to the presumed prejudices and preferences of voters. Nor has he tried to craft a candidacy around an artificial persona who promises to save us all from terrorists, or from the devil. And, perhaps most important, he campaigns with decency.

What we see in McCain is a grown-up; a known quantity with a 30-year record of public service; a conservative who is confident in his abilities and yet smart enough to seek counsel. If he becomes the Republican nominee in 2008, the country has a chance of enjoying a substantive presidential contest, unburdened by fear-mongering and irrelevancies. The major candidates will differ sharply in their approaches to the many challenges we face, but their passion is likely to be tempered by civility.

By selecting John McCain on January 8, New Hampshire Republicans and independents have an opportunity to put the presidential contest on a constructive path that’s worthy of the nation and its finest aspirations, at a time when a sharp course correction is severely needed.

Another NH Paper Endorsement

The latest in a long string of NH media endorsements is the Valley News.

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It is entirely possible that at age 71, Sen. John McCain of Arizona is now making his last stand in presidential politics. That almost certainly will be the case unless New Hampshire Republicans rally to his cause in the Jan. 8 primary. We hope that they do, not only because McCain's life reflects the highest ideals of service to the nation, but also because he represents the best hope to liberate a party that is being held hostage to its own worst instincts.

McCain is by no means a perfect candidate, or, as he is the first to admit, a man without flaws. We disagree with him on several fundamental issues, including his longstanding opposition to abortion rights. Nevertheless, the case for McCain is a strong one: Duty and honor are to him living imperatives forged in family tradition, not mere rhetorical flourishes calibrated to the exigencies of the campaign trail. He should be just the ticket for Republicans astonished and appalled that, during the Bush years, their party has become identified with a brand of evangelical, anti-immigrant, big-government, borrow-and-spend “conservatism” that is antithetical to its best traditions.

The senator's current struggles in the polls are probably largely the result of his continuing support for the unpopular war in Iraq. It must be noted, however, that McCain's judgment in this matter has been vindicated in several important respects. He warned early on about the dangers of trying to fight a war on the cheap, with too few troops and without a comprehensive plan for victory. He was among the first to call for the sacking of Donald Rumsfeld, one of the chief architects of the fiasco. And he also, almost alone, was a vigorous champion of the troop-surge strategy eventually adopted by President Bush, which almost certainly has improved the security situation in Iraq, despite a lack of accompanying progress toward political reconciliation.
And although we do not agree with McCain's thesis that prompt withdrawal of American troops from Iraq would necessarily have dire consequences throughout the Middle East and the world, we do not dismiss it lightly, either. His case is plausible, and his credentials in national security matters impeccable.

McCain, of course, is literally battle-tested. He springs from a distinguished line of admirals and himself served with distinction as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War, when he was shot down over North Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for five and a half years. His stubborn defiance while being tortured by his captors is the stuff of legend. But just as heroic, we think, is his principled stand against the use of torture by the United States against detainees in the war on terrorism. He alone among the major Republican candidates seems to understand that failure to adhere to civilized standards of conduct during war not only puts our own servicemen and -women in jeopardy in the future, but also grievously wounds America's moral standing in the world.

Nor do we assume that a McCain presidency would necessarily be bellicose because of his military background. It is often the case that leaders who have themselves served in the armed forces have a fuller appreciation of just what committing troops to combat entails than do those who feel the need to demonstrate their toughness. It ought to be noted that McCain has a son now serving with the Marines in Iraq and another soon to graduate from the Naval Academy. It is difficult to credit the notion that he would be reckless with their lives or put them in harm's way without a compelling reason to do so.

There are other reasons to prefer McCain to the rest of the Republican field. He not so respectfully declines to pander to party orthodoxy on several important matters. He understands that sealing the borders is not a substitute for rational immigration reform; he disdains pork-barrel spending and the lobbyists who corrupt the public purpose; he remains a small-government Republican and a fiscal hawk; he does not regard the dangers of climate change as mumbo-jumbo cooked up by liberals; he champions campaign-finance reform.

Yes, by all accounts he has a short fuse. His candor can border on simple meanness. He would be the oldest man ever elected to the presidency if he were to prevail next November. But those flaws may be kept in perspective when his main competition for the Republican nomination comes from the likes of Mitt Romney, who combines a justifiable claim to executive competence with opportunistic serial flip-flopping; and Rudy Giuliani, whose life work in recent years has largely been to wring political advantage out of his response to the 9/11 attacks. As for Mike Huckabee, well, it is perhaps enough to say that he's no John McCain.

http://www.vnews.com/12192007/4445768.htm

Senator Lieberman Endorses Senator McCain

ARLINGTON, VA -- This morning in New Hampshire, Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) endorsed John McCain for President of the United States. Senator Lieberman issued the following statement on his endorsement:

"I have come to New Hampshire this morning to ask Republican and Independent voters to support John McCain in the first-in-the-nation primary on January 8.

"I know that it is unusual for someone who is not a Republican to endorse a Republican candidate for President. And if this were an ordinary time and an ordinary election, I probably would not be here today. But this is no ordinary time -- and this is no ordinary election -- and John McCain is no ordinary candidate.

"In this critical election, no one should let party lines be a barrier to choosing the person we believe is best qualified to lead our nation forward. The problems that confront us are too great, the threats we face too real, and the opportunities we have too exciting for us to play partisan politics with the Presidency.

"We desperately need our next President to break through the reflexive partisanship that is poisoning our politics and stopping us from getting things done. We need a President who can reunite our country, restore faith in our government, and rebuild confidence in America's future.

"My friend John McCain is that candidate, and that is why I am so proud to be standing by his side today.

"I have worked closely with John for many years on many issues -- from stopping genocide in the Balkans to combating global warming to creating the 9/11 Commission and enacting its recommendations into law. I have seen John, time and again, rise above the negativism and smallness of our politics to get things done for this country we love so much. I have watched him, time and again, work across party lines to make our country safer and stronger.

"John McCain has proven that we can trust him to do what is right for our country, not only when it is easy, but when it is hard; to do what is necessary, not only when it is popular, but when it is not; and to tell us the truth, not only when it is easy to hear, but when it is not.

"As President, John McCain will bring America together again. He will inspire a new American unity and a new American patriotism. He will push all of us to work together to solve our biggest problems, and defeat our most dangerous enemies.

"Throughout our history, succeeding generations of brave Americans have risked their lives for the cause of freedom -- which is America's cause. Throughout his career, from the ranks of the military to halls of the Congress, John McCain has made freedom's cause his own. He learned the ideals of patriotism and service from his father, he taught them to his sons, and he will hold those ideals high as an inspiration for all Americans.

"When it comes to keeping America safe in this time of war, John has proven that he has the experience, the strength, and the character, to be our commander-in-chief from day one. I have traveled the world with John, so I can tell you how much he is liked and admired by leaders across the globe. He will be a President our friends will respect and our enemies will fear, and a President who will lead our nation on the world stage with purpose and principle.

"When others were silent, and it was thought politically unpopular, John had the courage and common sense to sound the alarm about the mistakes we were making in Iraq and to call for more troops and a new strategy there. And when others waivered, when others wanted to retreat from the field of battle, John had the courage and the common sense to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge in Iraq, where we are at last winning.

"You may not agree with John McCain on every issue, but you can always count on him to be honest with you about where he stands, you can always count on him to stand for what he believes is right for our country -- regardless of pressure from politicians or vested interests. And you can count on him to be restless in pursuit of progress. In that sense, John McCain is the real change candidate in this race for the Presidency.

"There are many fine people running for President. Many of them are good friends of mine. But I have concluded -- and I hope you will, as well -- that John McCain is the candidate who can best reunite our country and lead us to victory in the war against Islamist terrorism.

"The nomination for President remains wide open, so on January 8th, New Hampshire's voters can -- and I hope will -- make history and send John McCain from the Granite State to victory.

"Thank you."

More New Hampshire Newspapers Endorse McCain

Senator McCain is leading the pack with New Hampshire Newspaper Endorsements. First, the Union Leader endorsement, now the Salmon Press endorses Senator McCain stating he could "become among our greatest presidents". Salmon Press publishes a number of local papers around the state, here is their endorsement...

"Salmon Press (NH): New Hampshire’s Salmon Press Endorses Sen. John McCain

Abraham Lincoln once observed that before you can become a statesman you have to get elected.

U.S. Sen. John McCain has the right stuff to become a statesman, indeed to become among our greatest presidents, but standing in his way is the prickly business of having to get elected. Once considered the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, his presidential campaign stumbled in the early going — in part because he refused to bend his principles — but is now gaining some momentum. We hope that momentum continues, for in our judgment John McCain towers over his political rivals and is our unwavering choice in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary next month.

Sen. McCain is a man of great depth and character. He has demonstrated an enormous capacity for growth over his political career and his military record is truly heroic — in stark contrast to those of his opponents. As a congressman and senator from Arizona he has exhibited the ability to attract both sides of the political aisle. And yet he is a conservative in the best sense of the word: principled, unwilling to cave for political gain and an unbowed enemy of wasteful spending. His experience in foreign affairs and in military issues is unmatched in the field.

Sen. McCain’s support in Iowa is anemic, mostly because he correctly refuses to support the ludicrous ethanol subsidies currently enjoyed by Iowa farmers. Indeed, it is hard to imagine him stooping to the kind of pandering that has marked the candidacies of other Republican suitors, particularly that of Gov. Mitt Romney.

New Hampshire occupies a unique position in American politics. It is the only state in which presidential campaigns are run at the retail level, and because that is so, New Hampshire voters have exerted an enormous and historical influence over those who would occupy the White House.

Sen. McCain needs New Hampshire now. If he can win or show well here, his candidacy will not only survive but will thrive as Republicans finally grasp that they have a giant among them, one, who alone among Republicans, can defeat the Democratic nominee in what looms as a Democratic year.

Salmon Press publishes 11 newspapers in New Hampshire – The Littleton Courier, Coos County Democrat, The Berlin Reporter, The Granite State News, Carroll County Independent, Meredith News, Record Enterprise, Winnisquam Echo, Gilford Steamer, Baysider, and The Mountain Ear. "

http://www.salmonpress.com/118241.112113body.lasso

Curt Shilling Explains Why He Supports Senator McCain

Curt Shilling details the reasons he is endorsing Senator McCain for President. The following is an except from his blog 38pitches.com.

"I want someone in office that WILL look out for America first. Whether you agree with me or not isn’t relevant, it’s my belief that the time is now to elect a man/woman into the office of President that is, and has been, a true American from day one. Someone with values and beliefs that won’t stray from those to make the ‘right’ or ‘popular’ decision. I guess I am looking for someone that I trust, someone with the integrity and honesty I would want to protect my family were I not here. That person, in this next election, is John McCain to me. "

National Review - The Man to Meet America's Challenges

By Kissinger, Haig, Engleburger, Schlesinger, et al., National Review
October 5, 2007

By George P. Shultz, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander M. Haig Jr., Lawrence S. Eagleburger, James R. Schlesinger, John F. Lehman Jr. ,R. James Woolsey Jr. and Robert C. McFarlane

Today the lives of all Americans are affected in countless ways by forces and events from abroad - seemingly beyond our control. Never before in our history have we experienced an international climate of such complexity, posing at one extreme, threats of incalculable destructive power, and at the other, means and opportunities for lifting humankind to a quality of life unparalleled in human history.

Whether we deter the former and advance toward the latter must not be left to chance among officials whose inexperience requires them to rely on trial and error while learning on the job.

Consider the panoply of problems before us. Over the past generation the power and ambition of radical Islam have metastasized from cells rooted in the Middle East to infect societies throughout the world. Well financed and disposing of weaponry with enormous potential, this ideological menace threatens the stability and way of life of every country on earth.

Separately, but related, through our reliance on energy resources largely under the control of threatened regimes, energy dependent countries have become vulnerable to the disruption of vital resources that could impose economic ruin on much of the world's economy in a matter of weeks.

Further, the risks inherent in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are well known yet remain outside effective control.

Even in the domain of commercial enterprise - historically a blessing offering only positive enhancements to our quality of life - globalization has posed new challenges for America that were unimaginable even a decade ago, generating an urgent need to fashion a better international framework that will enable us to capture the best of globalization, help workers better cope with the challenges, avoid new crises and maintain functionality in commercial and financial markets.

Notwithstanding these challenges, however, there is scope for advancing prosperity for all through the careful exploitation of science and human creativity under enlightened leadership. Whether our country is capable of orchestrating our pursuit of such a course depends fundamentally on who leads us in the years ahead. Never before has there been such a premium on experience and proven leadership. For that reason and in sober consideration of what in our judgment it takes to govern the United States: the ability to parse problems correctly, to bring sound analysis to bear, to define viable strategies, to integrate resources, engage allies, and move decisively to lead our country to viable lasting solutions, we have concluded that Senator John McCain is the most qualified candidate to become our next president. We strongly endorse the candidacy of Senator McCain and as a matter of deep personal conviction, call upon all Americans to join us in that judgment.

George P. Shultz

Henry A. Kissinger

Alexander M. Haig Jr.

Lawrence S. Eagleburger

James R. Schlesinger

John F. Lehman Jr.

R. James Woolsey Jr.

Robert C. McFarlane

Boston Globe: Schilling Endorses McCain

Senator John McCain can boast another big-name endorsement - and hope some postseason magic rubs off on his campaign.

On his weekly appearance on WEEI sports radio yesterday, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said he will support McCain in the 2008 presidential race. "I'm voting for the guy that I know is going to be the same person four years from now that he was when elected," Schilling said.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/15/clinton_says_she_would_not_back_drivers_license_plan/