My letter to John McCain that will get almost all of you hating me

[mrgorth]

Dear Senator McCain,

Enclosed, please find a picture of my family. The two little guys are my sons Gavin and Gunnar. They are 5 and 2 respectively. As a fellow father I'm sure that you understand that I have never known an emotion as strong as the love I feel for my boys. Running a close second, however, is the nauseating, almost paralyzing anxiety that George Bush will be reelected. Seeing this as a referendum on the imperial agenda favored by Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Feith, etc. I fear that my boys will be sent Iraq or whatever country Bush or one of his successors decides to occupy in the coming years.

Senator McCain, although my father is a democratic mayor of a Philadelphia suburb I have been a registered independent most of my life. That's because I feel, like most americans, that neither the democrats nor the republicans are always right. In 2000 I wanted desperately to vote for you for President. Almost everyone I know did. What the Bush campaign did to you in that primary is a disgrace. I still know many people, of all political stripes, who would vote for you for President if you ran. They know you are an honorable man who will cross the aisle for the right reasons. All that said, in 2002, when I was getting my Pennsylvania driver's lisence, I was asked what politcal party I wanted to register with. Seeing the direction the Bush administration was taking the country in and the democrats' lack of willingness to stand up to them, I registered as a Green. Since then, I registered as a democrat to support Governor Howard Dean, not because he was the super-liberal the media made him out to be, but because he speaks what's on his mind, is an honest man, perhaps to his detriment, and is not into "politics as usual". As you know, John Kerry will be getting the democratic nomination this year. While he may not have been my original candidate of choice, I think he is an honorable man. More importantly, I have to support him to get George Bush out of office.

That is why I am not asking, but begging, you Senator McCain not only to accept the role of Vice President to John Kerry but to "volunteer for service". I know this is asking a lot of you. However, since you are a friend of Senator Kerry's I know you like and respect him. Moreover, since you are not an idealogue, I'm sure you know that, although he is a democrat, he would be a much better leader to our country than George Bush. Frankly Senator McCain, I don't care how it happens. You can stay a republican, become an independent, it matters not. What matters to me is that, by running with Senator Kerry, you can show the country that this is not a partisan battle and that we can come together to rid the country of a great internal threat. Your presence on the ticket would also attract a lot of people who are middle of the road types that don't completely trust either party. Maybe we can also heal some of the hateful polarization that has gripped the United States. Please, Senator McCain, let's save the country. We can worry about the details later.

Thank you,

Mark

[ronnykmarshall]

1. How DAAAAAAARRRRRRRREEEEEEEE YOU!!!!

Incoming! Incoming!

:nuke:

[freetobegay]

2. Yawn

[shraby]

3. What you need to understand is

that if John McCain runs as Kerry's vp and they win, if something happens to Kerry while in office, we will again have a Republican president!! Please quit promoting John McCain.

[Melodybe]

8. I personally like Edwards for VP but your letter is heartfelt and touching

I think that you should keep writting to him, I want so desperately to like McCain. I think that in his core he must be a decent man, but his willingness to support Bush makes me not trust him and frankly it makes me naucisous.

I do really like your letter and I encourage everyone here to write all of their Senators. As soon as I have some time Trent Lott will be getting a long letter from me.

Thank you for your hard work, keep it up.

:kick:

[JI7]

11. well, he IS a republican

so i would say not to expect much from him. but be happy if he does something good just as with most others. don't try to look at him as you would a democratic or liberal person. he would be worse if he was like zell miller. claiming to be one of us but attacking us all the time.

[JohnnyFianna1]

4. Too bad, unless he changes to an Independent, then I'll still have to hold

nose to vote 4 him.

[Padraig18]

5. I don't hate you.

The one thing I think you fail to consider is the effect his selection would have on Democratic voters; most would find McCain's selection highly offensive, given the large number of extremely well-qualified Democrats available for the position. Were McCain to actually switch parties, the reaction would be far less negative.

No matter how much you admire Sen. McCain, you cannot ignore the electoral realities his selection as VP would have on the Democratic Party itself.

[mrgorth]

13. As I mention

Although I'm a dem and consider myself almost a socialist I do feel like an independent sometimes. I think most dems, the ones you describe, are so anxious to get Bush out that they would be OK with this esp., as you say, if he were to become an independent.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mrgorth]

12. .

:eyes:

[JI7]

7. but what if Kerry really DOESN'T want him on the ticket

kerry already admitted that he brings up mccain so much to annoy karl rove. and i'm sure if kerry was seriously considering it he would have talked to mccain some time ago and got mccain to switch to independent making a vp offer more acceptable.

[mrgorth]

10. Oh, hey,

If that's the case, no problem. Obviously I'm working on the opposite assumption.

[leyton]

9. I like your letter.

I like McCain for the same reasons you do. He's honorable and I hope he reads your letter.

Also, see: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/19/mccain.hastert/index.html

[Rowdyboy]

14. You have a perfect right to your opinion....I agree with your

admiration for Senator McCain, however, I strongly disagree with your interest in having him on the ticket. No flames, no hate, just honest disagreement.

Also, you right a "real purty" letter....

[felonious thunk]

15. He would have to become an Independent

But really, I'd rather see him do that in Senate than as VP. If the Democrats could work something out like they did with Jeffords, I think that's a great symbol for bipartisanship if the Democrats keep welcoming independents, and the Republicans keep disowning them.

[bowens43]

16. We don't need no stinking republicans.......

I have never voted for a republican and I never will. If McCains on the ticket, Nader gets my vote.

[HFishbine]

21. I'll do you one better

If McCain is on the ticket, I'll vote for Bush.

[GOPBasher]

17. I disagree with McCain for VP, but I also love McCain.

I disagree with McCain being Kerry's running mate. However, I agree 100% with you on your opinion of John McCain as a human being. I truly admire that man, even though I may disagree with him on many issues.

[Hoosier Democrat]

18. Very nice letter, mark!

I agree wholeheartedly with your plea to Senator McCain. Ideology aside, McCain is a man of honor and integrity. He is a man who loves his country very much.

As a single father of two teen aged sons, the very idea of The Usurper getting a second term scares the living hell out of me. My boys are the most important thing in my life and I fear the real possibility of them being sent God knows where in the wold as pawns in the neoCons perverted version of "Risk". By adding McCain to the ticket and running as a "National Unity Team", I think we could completely shatter the NeoCons.

Unfortunately, there are too many people who have taken this simpleton attitude of "Democrat = Good, Republican = Bad". i have never voted a straight ticket in my life and will not be doing so this fall. Many folks on our side are just as guilty as the Republicans of polarizing America. What we need is a constructive dialog between the moderate wings of both parties to come together to save our nation.

As to Senator McCain specifically, I think he would bring moderate Republicans with him, along with many Blue Collar Democrats like my neighbors and myself who truly admire him as a man of courage and integrity. Living close to Michigan, I saw Democrats cross party lines in drives to vote in the 2000 GOP Primary. They did so specifically to vote for McCain. When I supported Howard Dean's campaign earlier this year, it was because I saw many of the McCain positive qualities in Dean (straight talk, integrity, willing to take on the entrenched interests within his own party, etc).

In short, I don't think that McCain will be on the ticket. i think Kerry will probably go with a safe VP like John Edwards or Tom Vilsack.

[HFishbine]

19. "neither the democrats nor the republicans are always right."

So, on what issues do you think McCain would rightly lead as president?

[mrgorth]

23. If, God forbid, something happened to Kerry and McCain got the oval office

I think I could look forward to a non-idealogical, non-imperial foreign policy where the president actually knows the true hell of war. I think he would be fiscally conservative. I think he is an honest man and respects the environment. Now, do I think I could count on single payer health care out of him? No. It should be obvious that I want McCain for the express purpose of smashing Bush so bad he can't be appointed again. God willing, nothing happens to JK and he can do what he's supposed to. As I said, save the country, details later. It seems you think that a Pres. McCain would smash anything progressive JK did and approach BushCo. in sleaze factor. I disagree with this.

[HFishbine]

24. Thanks for an honest reply

The sleaze factor is not what I'm worried about. The president sets an agenda for the nation. If McCain should ascend to the presidency, the agenda (while perhaps having some redeeming aspects) would not be a liberal agenda. What makes the notion of McCain on the ticket so unpalatable is the the progressive agenda will be sacrificed.

Frankly, given the choice between four more years of Bush or the democratic party jettisoning progressive ideals, I'll take the former and sweat it out until the dems or another party stand up for liberalism. I refuse to vote for either the far right or the not so far right. My vote is an affirmation and I cannot affirm a representative of a contrary agenda, no matter how honorable he may be.

[Rainbowreflect]

20. I personally don't care for the idea of McCain for VP.

But I love your letter & hopefully it will make him reconsider his support for bush.

[mrgorth]

22. Thanks.

[mzmolly]

25. Aw, FWIW I don't hate you Mr.Gorth!

I am not supportive of McCain on the ticket, but I'd love it if McCain pulled a Zell Miller and endorsed John Kerry?!

I have respect for John McCain as he appears honest (a rarity in the Republican Party) he's just got a different ideology than I do.

I know the fear you have for your children as I have it too.

Here's hoping your sons and my daughter will see a much better future in 2004. :toast:

Kerry/????

Peace

PS-I hope to celebrate with all of you as the returns come in for a winning John Kerry! :hug:

[sangh0]

26. I don't hate you for that letter

I have no problem with people who lie to politicians. After all, they lie to us

[Desertrose]

27. I have NO respect for a man who relocates families to radioactive lands...

right here in the USA.


He screwed the Navajo bigtime here in Az and I have NO repsect for this man...even tho he is my Senator...

(for info- Google McCain+ Navajo + Bennet Freeze)

As Dems we are too desperate and will regret this ABB stance...we need to stand for something beyond that...and we are basically repub lite these days....

Peace
DR

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. OMG! He's a damn republican!

He chairs the AZ campaign to re-elect the chimp! I WILL NOT EVER vote for that man. When we have the likes of Wes Clark, Bob Graham, Hillary Clinton????? No way.

[Zorra]

29. I completely disagree with you,

and am extremely glad that John Kerry would never pick a conservative right winger like John McCain for his running mate.

Why don't you write to Dick Cheney and try to convince him to step down and have Bu$h appoint Howard Dean as VP in a republican administration instead of advocating the sabotage of the Democratic Party?

[mandyky]

30. I too wanted to vote for McCain in 2000

but shrub did his hatchet job on him. I am a registered Dem but I am very independent (ended up voting for Nader in 2000). But I am not sure I want McCain for VP. I think we Dems have to destroy as much as we can the power structure of the GOP, if we win. Also, John McCain doesn't like the office of VP, I believe he agrees with the VP equaling a bucket of warm spit theory.

I thought your letter was great. Having 5 kids, 3 which are boys, I second your emotions about the possibility of endless wars. Somehow, I don't think our daughters are safe either. And I think, no matter who gets elected, we'll see some form of draft into the military, unless we start treating the war on terrorism like the struggle for world peace by living AND promoting a possitive image around the world.