Wednesday, February 28th, 2007...7:34 pm
It’s That Little Twist, That Fine Line Between Clever and Stupid
I caught a bit on KJZZ yesterday about John McCain’s problems with Republican activsts. More accurately, I should say, John McCain’s problems with a vocal minority of Republican activists.
They interviewed Republican District Chair Rob Haney and Republican consultant Stan Barnes. Haney once again reiterated his litany of supposed liberalisms that McCain has engaged in.
Barnes was critical of Haney’s actions. Haney could learn quite a bit from Barnes, who is very conservative. When Barnes thought that Jay Rhodes was too moderate (we have to remember what Barnes would consider “moderate” though), he ran against him and almost won. When Barnes later mulled a run against Jeff Flake for similar reasons, he realized that victory wasn’t going to happen and bowed out. The man has his principles, but knows when to engage and when to retire from the field.
Compare this to Haney who is convinced that rigged “straw polls” and resolutions passed at district meetings are enough to bring down the most popular Republican official in Arizona. Instead of damaging McCain, it just makes him and his friends look foolish.
I don’t have much use for Barnes, but when he, as a conservative, says, “dude, pipe down,” that may be a good time for other conservatives to re-evaluate their strategy.
NB - Some think that Barnes wounded Rhodes enough back in that 1992 primary to make it possible for Sam Coppersmith to win. Probably not the result Barnes wanted, but I am glad to see that Barnes named his consulting group after him. Sort of.
6 Comments
February 28th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Barnes didn’t bow out of a primary fight w/ Flake. Barnes ran and lost 60-40 to Flake in 2004. Unlike his fight with Rhodes, whom he believed to be too moderate, Barnes thought Flakes is/was too conservative, or maybe too libertarian, because of Flake’s position on pork and immigration.
But he’s right on about Haney.
BTW, love the Tap reference in the headline.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
You can keep thinking that McCain is popular in Arizona but he is not running for senator this time. He is running for president and his numbers there suck.
You can say what you want about Haney but his faction of the party is not going away. McCain was a fool to go to war with Haney instead of just ignore him.
Oh and Stan Barnes is chairman of which Republican District? And has personally recruited how many PC’s?
February 28th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Well PhxKid,
Your going to be very disappointed when Sen. McCain is President McCain in 2009. Watch “Late Night with David Letterman” tonight. McCain will be the GOP nominee, Rob Haney and his gagle of McCain Haters are irrelevant!
March 1st, 2007 at 12:09 am
Tony,
I will actually be relieved that Clinton or Obama or some other Democrat did not win.
If Rob Haney is irrelevant why didn’t McCain just ignore him?
March 1st, 2007 at 11:53 pm
PhxKid,
You are correct that Mr. Barnes is not a district Chair. What you dont know is Mr. Barnes has been involved in Rep politics in this state longer than Haney (or probably you for that matter) have lived here. Stan was elected to the Leg from East Mesa when he was in his 20s. Stan has been helping Republican candidates for more than twenty years. That is more than I can say for Haney because (IMO) he doesnt help any Republican with his venom and hate.
Gerry,
you may want to check your facts re the 04 race. Barnes ran on a no amnesty platform, unlike Flake. Last time I checked that was a conservative issue.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:16 am
Jeff,
If people like Barnes are the majority of the party and Haney is so insignificant why didn’t McCain just ignore Haney?
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