GOP Former Gov: "He Is Not The McCain I Endorsed"

Former Republican Governor of Michigan William Milliken tells the Grand Rapids Press that he's "disappointed" in John McCain and the campaign he is running:

He endorsed John McCain in the presidential primary, but now former Republican Gov. William Milliken is expressing doubts about his party's nominee.

"He is not the McCain I endorsed," said Milliken, reached at his Traverse City home Thursday. "He keeps saying, 'Who is Barack Obama?' I would ask the question, 'Who is John McCain?' because his campaign has become rather disappointing to me.

"I'm disappointed in the tenor and the personal attacks on the part of the McCain campaign, when he ought to be talking about the issues."

Read the whole thing.

Comments

[tydicea]

Nobody recognizes or knows McCain. It being reported that his own mother is expressing doubt as to his being her son. He was caught addressing the American audience as 'My fellow prisoners.­' I ask you, does McCain even know who he is?

[peacegurl48]

Salient Questions:
WHO is John MCain and WHo is Sarah Palin? This mus t be asked again and again and again.

The latter question likely has many scary answers.

Bravo to the Republicans who are speaking out; the extreme right has demonized the Republican Party and this is not fair. McCain/Palin are playing to the reabidly extreme right.

[Michibama]

William Milliken is one of, if not the best governors Michigan has ever known. He was a quiet statesman of gigantic integrity and that is coming from a lifelong democrat who votes for the best candidate regardless of party. He was fiscally consevative and socially progressive. If he says McCain has disappointed the republican brand with the hate mongering and corrupt lack of any viable message to the American people, that is a huge understatement. This man always tells the truth!

[patianneb]

Gov Milliken is right ... 49 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri6vgj80DUo&feature=related

[irshvol]

hysterical sarah palin video!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1exiyBYnJ00

[marymansour]

I see the reasonable side of the GOP coming out in horror at the nastiness and outrageous tactics of the McCain/Palin campaign. I predict that the real conservatives - those of the ilk of Buckley, Hagel and Reagan - will split from the lunatic factor after this election. Those who admire the race baiting tactics of Mac and his moose, will form a new party possibly. I don't doubt for a moment that the John Birchers, David Duke and Ku Klux clansmen will flock to their side and be welcomed with open claws and tentacles.

[LMurphy418]

Maybe this is the pre-cursor to a three party system.

[zetacplus]

McCain and his henchemen could spin off and start the RRR, the Radical Religious Right Party, the rest of the sensible politicians could be the Democratic Republicans and the Democrats.

McCain and Palin have turned this election into something vile and ugly. They have crossed the line and don't deserve to even be running for the nation's highest office. They both are a disgrace to America and the principles the majority of American's believe in.

[mongus]

Thank you Governor Milliken. I voted for you and appreciate you comments about how McCain is conducting his campaign. You, and the rest of the Republicans I supported were honest and truthful. What has happened to the Republican Party, McCain, Palin, and the RNC.? They are a disgrace.

Their entire campaign is negative and shameful. We have a boatload of domestic problems to deal with, and John and Sarah are out there trashing Obama, instead of showing leadership?

Where are the rest of us former Republicans, and Republicans who are disgusted with this ugly attempt by McCain and Palin to use fear and hatred to drum up votes.

So, these two, John and Sarah, are going to bring dignity and respect back to the White House?

[JSW1948]

I've always known there are good people in both parties. The pictures I've had in my head since Palin/Mcain went so negative are those of "riots" at a proportion never before seen or heard of. Why is the Justice Department sitting back doing nothing? Don't they realize what these images are doing to our country? Do they care that the rest of the world is sitting back watching the USA fall apart?

[ritenow]

Here's the problem and the solution:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYX-HvCYaVA

[jatrig]

Why is it that whenever i refer to McCain as a "sociopath" my comment gets deleted? I can back up the label w/ proof -- and I don't think it's unfairly inflammatory, especially in comparison to some of the other posts? Can someone please explain?

[Punkynsnow]

I'm in total agreement with you. I've posted numerous times saying the same thing, it finally did get posted once. I think it fits both McCain and his running mate, I don't think it's at all unfair. I believe it to be totally accurate.
There's a great book out there called "The Sociopath Next Door". Very interesting reading.

[jatrig]

Definitely!! I think it's fair to say lots of functioning members of our society fit definition of sociopaths, including CEO's and the like, and probably even anti-social personality disorder. I don't get the censorship on here for comments that are actually substantiated.

[AlaskasRevenge]

Little Ashley sat on her mother’s lap and started crying.

With big tears rolling down her soft cheek she asked:

“Mommy, Why did Cindy and John lie to us?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60k9IZ1LRC0

http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palin-2006-vetting.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2BA_9QJRrE

[BillZBubb]

Wow, a decent Republican! Who knew? I thought they all went the way of the Dodo.

[jmcallahan]

They've been keeping their mouths shut for the last 8 years because the Bush machine rolled over everyone who didn't march in lock step. There have been a lot of smart and moral Republicans who have been muttering under their breath and a few, like Hagel, who spoke out. Obama wll be working for Unity and we have to help him build that bridge. It begins by seeing people instead of labels.

[PeepingTom]

There are so few. When there IS a middle-ground Republican, the entire GOP attacks him, saying he's too left. But then they all act like they're bipartisan and WANT to work with the left. Why can't everyone have an exchange and sharing of ideas instead?

[cheeriogirl]

Hey BillZBubb,

Please choose your words carefully. it appears that things are coming apart for the US politically as well. No more are there simply two parties, the Dems and Repubs. There is a larger group, comprised of members of both parties and many Independents, who simply want to move forward and change America for the better, by supporting the candidate who wants to unify our citizens.

McCain and Palin's actions this past week, have simply gone too far, and pushed many Republicans right out of their own party.

Let's welcome any Republicans or Independents who would like to join with us in our support of the Obama Biden ticket.

We are banding together as citizens of these UNITED STATES of AMERICA, and saying collectively that we DO NOT WANT evil vitriol, lies, and hate speech to represent us.

We want to be led by a President who will speak to us honestly, and help guide us through these trying times.

"We the people" want the best that America has to offer us!

Please join us in voting for the Presidential candidate who will unify us, and not divide us-

Barack Obama Thank you!

[snruB]

I would say there's two components to this response by the Michigan Republican Gov.

1) A general feeling of despair at the low road McCain has decided to go down

and

2) A recognition that "OMG, McCain has pulled out of Michigan, which indicates the Democrats are gonna lay a hurt on Republicans in this state come November, so I better say something bipartisan sounding"

[eggman]

To your second point, McCain ANNOUNCING he was pulling out of MI is 10 times worse than just quietly cutting back, especially for the state Republicans up for re-election. What are they supposed to tell their supporters? They're really mad at McCain in Michigan now.

[mairs]

Thank you to those Republican leaders who are putting our country ahead of their party. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[majorteddy]

Milliken was a good man, a practical man, one of the last of the Rockefeller Republicans, a breed hated by the Religious Right and the nutcases we have now.

[robotfog]

I see that bush, who could finally do the right thing, is staying out of it. I guess this is his legacy.

[comacoma]

He may be staying out of this but what freedoms are he and cheney stealing while we focus on the economy?

[eggman]

What's left?