In case you wondered: John McCain bows out of 2012 GOP race

With unusual ubiquity for a losing presidential candidate, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has been popping up all over the media these days.

So it was probably inevitable that he'd get the same question asked of virtually every breathing Republican in these, the Grand Old Party's Days of Disarray: Will you be running for president in 2012?

First of all, McCain's got to win Senate reelection next year.

Second, the party's conservatives still don't like him, although as long as he lost in November, they've pretty much shut up about it for now.

Third, he'd have to raise an awful lot of money, which he genuinely hates doing.

Fourth, if many Americans thought he was too old last fall, how would they feel when he's 76?

Fifth, Republicans do not generally do well running legislators for the White House. (Yes, yes, Nixon was in both the House and Senate -- and that turned out well, didn't it?)

It's understandable that some might wonder about McCain's political intentions. He remains widely respected for his military and political service, and he's been willingly all over TV in recent weeks, often critical of last November's victor, especially over Iran.

In fact, his Sunday talk-show appearance and Monday's outspoken Senate speech over Iran detailed here played an obvious media role in forcing President Obama to hold his Tuesday news conference and up his outrage rhetoric over Iran's protest-crushing, as analyzed here.

Asked at that news conference if McCain played a role in his Tuesday remarks, Obama, in an obvious bipartisan outreach, replied, "What do you think?"

The assembled media laughed at the dismissive disregard for his defeated opponent. Turning the question back on the questioner is, of course, a standard political ploy to dodge a real reply.

If you really think about it though, what Obama said is not only not an answer. It's not a denial.

Obama went on to acknowledge McCain's "genuine passion" for the issue and a universal desire for justice in Iran. Then, he added, "But only I'm the president of the United States." (Full transcript here.)

Which, McCain calmly concedes in this brief C-SPAN video below, is something he will never be.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[Blacque Jacques Shellacque]

"In case you wondered: John McCain bows out of 2012 GOP race"

Yes, YES, YES!!!!!

[Angel]

The gop is a disaster.to the commentator above,keep dreaming
McCain will never win,he is too old,not very smart,has no idea about what to do about the Eco
Nomy,too rich,he needs to think before he talks.he thinks he is the presideNt
McCain is too old to multitask

Can you imagine McCain multitasking like obama?he is too old
Obama is the best thing that has happened to this country.

Republican for obama

[Gekkobear]

No way...

I was sure the next election would be McCain/Dole vs Kerry/Dukakis... elections are double-elimination right?

Ok, well did you go ask Dole, Dukakis, Kerry, and Gore if they were planning on running again? Or did you assume that having lost once after getting the nomination they were pretty much done?

[skh.pcola]

"With unusual ubiquity for a losing presidential candidate [...]"

Yeah, because those 'tards Gore and sKerry just went into hiding when GWBushitler spanked their tailes in 2000 and 2004, repsectively. You need a better pair of partisan glasses.

Besides, McLame didn't win because he doesn't have conservative bona fides. Obama didn't win because a vast majority of the country desires a Marxist-in-Chief, but rather because McLame has no credentials as a conservative. All of you liberals keep crowing...your glee will come back to bite you when your commie is blamed for the mess that he's causing now and in the immediate future.