Continuing the discussion since the last thread accidentally went over the post limit.
Carry on
2008 Presidential Race Part Two
Continuing the discussion since the last thread accidentally went over the post limit.
Carry on
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LIKE John McCain, I always have. Any criticisms of his I've ever had have been mostly policy ones. I particularly haven't liked how far right he's had to go these last few years to get his party's nomination. We'd would have all been better off if he'd been the Republican candidate 8 years ago. He can sell Iraq all he wants now, but I don't believe that war happens without Bush and Cheney behind the desk.
VP Sweeps
I think there's a 75% chance McCain puts a woman on the ticket. I'm telling you, he's going to go after Hillary supporters hard. If he can find a woman with strong conservative credentials he can shore up two demographics at once. I don't think Rice has much of a chance because she's got a lot baggage, but she would hit 3 demos right off the bat. I'm wondering who's going to pull the trigger first, Obama or McCain?
"Dad, you killed the zombie Flanders!" "He was a zombie?"
Kay Bailey Hutchison - she was an incredibly popular Senator in Texas(I'm sure she still is). I've heard she's planning on running for Governor, but I think she'd make a great running mate.
I'd love to see McCain pick Schwarzenegger, but it probably won't happen. Arnold has been a phenomenal governor here in California, and really pulled this state out of all kinds of hell the previous governor had gotten it into, as well as had amazing economic and environmental programs. Also, it's nice to see him really focus on his job instead of going after it for fame. He's already got all the money and fame he'd ever need, so he can't be bought.
That's my two cents.
I don't think he can because he wasn't born in the U.S.
Arnold isn't a natural born citizen, so he can't serve as president, so he can't serve as VP because should anything happen to McCain, he'd be up. They'd have to re-write the constitution for him.
That, and the GOP is probably going to need a milquetoast leaning-right veep because most of the party considers McCain to be almost too progressive. They are really going to be burning the candle at both ends to try and reach to moderates without having the base simply refuse to get out and vote.
I thought Arnie's approval ratings in Kalifornia were in the dumpster?
The big concession speech is tomorrow. Maybe the situation will change in a month, but right now her chances at VP really look like they're in the toilet.
He got off to a rough start, but since about the 2 year mark he's been very popular.Originally Posted by Jedieb
Hillary did a very good job conceding and telling her supporters to back Obama. She seemed very sincere and I think this will help bring unity to the Party.
The election will not be won by trying to pander to a decreasing minority. It will be won by taking the ever expanding middle to left (which you did observe correctly), which is a mirror of what happened in Australia a year ago. If he picks a right winger to appeal to a group who frankly will never consider voting Democrat (and desipte what you would think, the right will most likely just grit their teeth and vote McCain anyway) then he's conceded the election and will lose big. He should pick a VP who will help win the center.
However, I suspect McCain will have a lot more problems than just trying to win the centre. For example, his economic advisor is Carly Fiorina and she's been mooted as possible VP.
If that name didnt just scare the hell out of you, talk to a HP employee and learn why she's the last person you want on a campaign.
With advisors like this, who needs enemies?
He's got his own pastor problems as well as a record of trouble with lobbists. The McSame meme is going to stick - He's too close to a President who is pretty much written off as the worst ever. Every time someone fills up a tank of fuel, they are going to think about fuel prices and blame the Republicans (in the main, the exact place blame should be placed). Unemployment is going up. The only reason why the USA isnt officially in recession is a quibbling over terminology. Consumer confidence is low and spending is way down. There's a hugely unpopular war that everyone who has a clue realises was opened under false pretense.
I feel sorry for him actually. The McCain of 2000 was a good guy and he really didnt deserve to be handed a dud hand like this. The McCain of 2008 is much different because he's had to pander to the right wing but I think he's still the good guy of 2000, just hamstrung by a party with a lot of problems and forced to pander to a support base who probably should be ignored, with a platform that's pretty much been a failure. He really needs to change things fast but I cant see how he can escape the issues he is presented with.
If he wins, it will be by the smallest of margins. I cant see how he's going to win comfortably. Which is a pity because if he had won in 2000, I'm not sure we would be seeing this insane mess he's got now. I think things would be a lot different.
Certainly wouldnt have paid $1.75 a litre for fuel tonight. On the other hand, USA holidays are looking incredibly cheap.
You might have the PNAC guys, paleocons, big business, etc vote for him irregardless but if he leans away from the base, I don't think they'll be able to really squeeze much cooperation out of the religious right, who have been somewhat of cuckold spouses to the party for a while. I think they're fairly likely to be no-shows if they get too alienated.
Maybe this could become a bit of an election issue
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6...929/358/534586
I do very much hope that frankly criminal jail and circumvention of any convention is slammed down on hard. I'll be interested to see what McCain and Obama have to say on this.In a 5-4 decision today written by Justice Kennedy, the Supreme Court has ruled that foreign nationals detained at Guantánamo Bay retain the constitutional privilege of habeas corpus, and that such rights were not validly stripped by Congress in passing the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, as the procedures in provided did not constitute an adequate and effective substitute for habeas corpus and were therefore unconstitutional.
TIME.com has had some interesting articles regarding potential VP choices for both candidates. Probably the most interesting comment I read was that if Obama were to choose a female VP that doesn't have the surname Clinton, hardcore female Clinton supporters with leave en masse (I was thinking that a female VP might placate them, but now I'm not so sure).
How to Pick a Veep
http://www.time.com/time/politics/ar...813762,00.html
Obama's Military Veep Options
http://www.time.com/time/politics/ar...813929,00.html
(there was another article that actually looked through potential VP candidates with their pros and cons, but I can't seem to find it now.)
__________
"A Jedi must remain focused. Mastery of the Force requires that all unnecessary activities be purged from daily life."
As I keep saying, he doesnt need to worry about fake Democrats and angry cat ladies. Real democrats will fall in and are already doing so in a big hurry. It's a pity Time has fallen for that false premise.
What he'll do is do exactly what he usually does - do exactly what he feels is right, not what others want. The mere fact he has Caroline Kennedy involved with VP vetting says a lot.
Frankly McCain's the one who has bigger problems. And this says it all
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6...670/890/536096
Compare and contrast to McCain. Even as just a photo Op, it really highlights Obama's message and makes the Republicans look pretty bad. And I note Obama's campaign is also urging donations to the Red Cross and other relief agencies as well as co-ordinating help.
Some of the states that are affected have the cahnce to swing to Obama in Novemeber. It's things like this that will get remebered.
I still feel the economy will doom MCcain. 99% of the time when the economy is bad the incumbent party gets the blame.
Yes true but the problem the Repubs have got is that it's not the only reason not to vote for them. You could include five or six headlining issues (iraq, McCain, quality of downstream candidates, corruption, the Bush factor, the "We want change" factor, GOTV.... ) and come up with quite valid reasons.
It's pretty sure the Republicans are going to be murdered in downstream elections like Senate and Congress - the Democrats will increase majorities there. What i get the sense of is that the USA will be a lot like Australia was last year - the electors were waiting bats in hand to give the incumbents a belting. And absolutly nothing was going to change that (tax cuts, the economy goign well, generally good news for the Govt....), even as far out as 9 months we saw polling pointing to it. The electorate had made it's mind up a year in advance.
Is the USA already decided? Signs to me say yes.The other thing that is not good for McCain is.... why should anyone vote for him? That question seems to be coming up and it's appropriate. As the front of a party who's pretty much screwed up everythign in the last eight years, why should they get another chance?
Awesome Obama video ^_^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q969q8fs1Vc
Obama has opened up a 15 point lead in the latest Newsweek poll. He also leads big states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Still, I would get too overconfident as Dukakis had a 20 point lead on Bush Sr back in 88.
An excellent article discussing the issues relating to vetting a Veep:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmag...80621_9379.php
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