Real Maverick Conservatives vs. Phony Maverick John McCain, In their own words...

[McCamy Taylor]

“Goldwater loved America and its people; McCain loves power, and what it can do for McCain.” John Dean

John Dean writes about the differences between Barry Goldwater and John McCain and concludes that only loyalty to the Republican Party kept Goldwater from publicly repudiating McCain.

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20080502.html

McCain "is the classic opportunist--he's always reaching for attention and glory.” Ross Perot

Jonathan Alter interviews Ross Perot about his opinions on John McCain, which are similar to Barry Goldwater’s. McCain is driven by ego, in contrast to the image he tried to convey.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/94827/page/1

Inquirer: How do you feel about John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate?

Barr: He's a candidate. But I don't think he espouses anything resembling the philosophy of smaller government that I support. Anyone whose signature piece of legislation is destructive of the First Amendment can hardly call themselves a conservative. His view of civil liberties is very much in the Bush administration mold. I have major disagreements with him. His position of a lengthy occupation of Iraq is well known. I would disagree with him there also.
Article about Bob Barr the Libertarian Party candidate from this spring.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/news_breaking/20080502_Is_this_man_John_McCains_worst_nightmare_.html?page=2&c=y

In his remarks, Paul revealed that a McCain representative, who he did not name, had called him as part of what has been a recent effort to score an endorsement.
Later, Paul told The Times' Janet Hook the go-between was Gramm, a former Democrat who signed up with the GOP in the early 1980s.
In explaining why he rejected the overture, Paul -- perhaps underestimating the size of his following these days -- said: "I don't like the idea of getting 2 or 3 million people angry at me. ... I said absolutely no. It might diminish my credibility."
Paul, a Republican turned Libertarian White House candidate in 1988 turned Republican again, said Gramm pitched McCain as the potential president who would do "less harm'' than Democrat Barack Obama (not exactly stirring words).

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/ron-paul-to-phi.html