Paper carries Helen Thomas op ed blasting McCain...day before he arrives.

[madfloridian]

At top right on the editorial page...nice and large. They even changed the title to say: "McCain Goes Right, South (to Lakeland)".

The op ed by Thomas is not in the online edition, but I found it elsewhere. The title change is a thing of beauty.

http://www.wesh.com/helenthomas/8512055/detail.html

The Arizona Republican -- who failed to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 -- is the most visible Republican on television outside the White House and seems to never pass up an opportunity to appear on Sunday talk shows.

All of this appears to be part of his effort to transform his image as a maverick independent so that he can make his pitch to the conservative Republican base that will vote in the party's primaries and caucuses two years hence.

McCain's focus is on southern states, where he will have to show his dedication to the conservatives who dominate the GOP. He will be the main speaker at the Lincoln Day dinner in Lakeland, Fla., on April 8. Later this spring, he will deliver the commencement address at Liberty University at Lynchburg, Va., the school founded by evangelical leader Jerry Falwell.

Asked to explain his change of attitude toward the evangelist on "Meet the Press" last Sunday, McCain said, "I believe that the Christian right has a major role to play in the Republican Party. One reason (that) is so is because they're so active and their followers are. And I believe they have a right to be part of our party."

McCain also has gone out of his way to cozy up to President George W. Bush after their bitter rift during the 2000 presidential campaign. McCain has said he does not look back in anger at old political battles. That's wise -- he's going to need Bush's backing in a presidential bid.

Kudos to the Ledger for carrying this op ed by Helen Thomas today.

[rodeodance]

1. yah Helen. get the people up to speed on this goose.

[PATRICK]

2. McCain's alternative

if he had a conscience or any faith in what he believes(whatever that is now) would be to launch a breakaway party comprising Conservatives and traditional GOP lockstep voters and cut loose from the dynasty plutocrats(the minority now juggled to the top that is, not all the rich folk) and the looney and corrupt machine).

If he believes he can't succeed in doing something true but can in playing the game he is kidding himself disastrously. Whatever is bad he is protecting. Whatever he hopes for he is damning. And the issue is still in doubt! Even if he made President. he is drowned in deception, lost in wrong hopes, hopeless in any good to be achieved. What the Viet Cong couldn't do he has allowed Bush to do publicly- to himself and America.

Many of these "champions" have similar choices and most are similarly failing, but McCain is spectacular by example, a true horror of self-degradation that does harm the nation. He has lost faith in everything and clings with tongue to boot with a single delusion hurting us all.

And he is not alone in delusions about the present bases. Their existence is enabled by this craven hypocrisy for only a lie can prop up another lie and one reveals the other.

There are no more honest GOP constituencies. You are free, except in the traps of your own mind, to risk creating true ones. And while we may lament the fatal failures of our own good leaders, the leadership of the GOP stands a black void.

[madfloridian]

3. Katherine Harris has a table for 10.....an article from the same paper.

This article is by the used-to-be-pretty-fair political editor who turned into an apologist/suck-up to Adam (Opie) Putnam...our cute little red-head who is 5th in line in the culture of corruption. I mean Rufty loves Opie, he just defends him on everything.

This article is trying so hard to defend McCain, pump him up, make him sound so righteous that they have to call in Darryl Paulson...the TV pundit who is supposed to be neutral but who is also so obviously Republican.

http://theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060407/NEWS/604070345/1004

By Bill Rufty
The Ledger

LAKELAND -- For one night, Lakeland will be the center of the Republican Party in Florida.

A horde of Republican notables will gather at The Lakeland Center to hear U.S. Sen. John McCain speak at the Polk County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday evening.

And about Katie Harris, and about Darryl (supposed to be neutral, but really Republican pundit)Paulson and his excuses for McCain's appearance at Liberty.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, who is running for the U.S. Senate, the two gubernatorial candidates, the four Republicans seeking the state attorney general's post and the GOP candidates for chief financial officer all have purchased tables for 10 ranging from $500 to $1,000 for the event. The event will the largest single fundraiser in the local GOP's history.

..."But with the 2008 elections approaching, he has tried to repair his relations with Christian conservatives within the Republican Party. On a national news interview program, he backed away from earlier statements he had made about the Rev. Jerry Falwell being an "agent of intolerance." He has even accepted a speaking engagement at Falwell's Liberty University. While some may question his change of heart, University of South Florida political science professor Darryl Paulson said there is nothing wrong with being pragmatic.

"I have difficulty in faulting a person who is doing politically what he has to do to get elected," Paulson said. "Obviously, he has come to realize that you are not going to win it by spitting into the wind.

"All candidates have to compromise. Husbands and wives compromise all the time," he said.

So welcome to the Republican Party of Polk County, Senator McCain. It is one of the strongest bastions of the kind of Falwellism you are catering to...that is to still be found in Florida.

[Dr.Phool]

4. Is that "Howdy Doody looking nimrod" gonna be there?

We'll be having Rod Smith, and several congressional candidates at Withlacoochie River Park tomorrow morning.

[madfloridian]

5. He will be introducing McCain...he is the big shot here.

According to the Ledger, Opie never does anything wrong. Even when he had rallies with Ralph Reed in a church here...or maybe a couple of churches.