Why I would like a Kerry/McCain ticket

[x-g.o.p.er]

Hear me out first, and look at this as an American, not a Democrat.

There was a time in America when politicians weren't driven like madmen by partisan ideology. They had issues they believed in very passionately, but there was a civility in debate, and at the end of the day, they came together as Americans to generally do what was in the best interest of the country, not their party. I like to think Tip O'Neil and Bob Michel were truly great Americans that had policy differences, but wanted what was best for their country.

I'm not going to go into why their is such political polarization in this country; that is not the point of this post. But I think we could all agree that it is to a point where it is detrimental to the country, and something drastic needs to be done so our government can get back to the people's business, if that is possible.

Republicans and Democrats need to come together and realize the other side consists mostly of average, decent people who want the same things in life--a decent job, a secure country, and an orderly society. Yes, there are political zealots on both sides that won't compromise an inch on anything, but that is not the majority opinion in either party. Most Republicans and Democrats like to think they would put country before party--that is why there are so many Republicans looking to vote out Bush--and why so many are now "x-g.o.p.er's."

Kerry and McCain would, I think, look to do what's best for the country as a whole, not a particular party. Having someone to give the president advice from a different perspective could be a good thing--it could present the topic at hand in a different light altogether, and possibly open up options to solve a problem that hadn't been thought out before. Since they are close friends, McCain would advise him as a friend who wants what is best for the country, not a Republican toadie, as some think.

I think they would attract a lot of voters who are disenchanted with the whole political process, and leave the Bush team reeling. McCain represents a lot that is good in Republicans--and yes, there are good Republicans. It could be the starting point that we could look back at 25 years from now and say that was when we started acting like a country again.

Then again, maybe not. But something needs to be done to fix this political mess. Something drastic.

This would be the definition of drastic.

Okay, flame away.

[KittyWampus]

1. If ANY Republican Would Do What's Best- They'd Leave The Party NOW

and go independant as a sign of protest against Junior ... every last one of them.

[PretzelWarrior]

2. that's really too much. come on...I think the guy is right.

your response is a classic case. I mean, there is room for disagreement on basic issues of the country, but if we had an admin that was more moderated by two guys from both major parties...we could have more sane dialogue and get more done to fix our problems.

The only people benefitting from current state are the cable news channels and other people getting political advertising money.

[KittyWampus]

5. Well, We DON'T Have A Moderated Administration

and if Republicans do NOT want to be associated with Junior and his Junta...

THEN NOW IS THE TIME TO DISASSOCIATE WITH HIM.

And finally,

ISN'T 20+ THREADS IN GD ABOUT MCCAIN ENOUGH? IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO START ONE MORE?

[Fovea]

11. I agree

How come we never see a Kerry Jeffords thread?

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. If that happens....

I will write in Attilla the Hun.

[x-g.o.p.er]

7. Why?

Do you think it would still be politics as usual? I don't want to get into a flame war, but I don't understand the visceral reaction some people have when this is brought up. I remember when Clinton named Cohen SECDEF many Repubs called him a traitor. I never understood that, either.

Are we so blinded by ideology that people would consider Atilla the Hun??

[greatauntoftriplets]

9. It will be politics as usual.

McCain is a republican who has voted with numbnuts 90 percent of the time and is actively supporting him.

Can I say it any more clearly than that?

On edit: Two supporters of this horrendous occupation of Iraq? More dead on both sides? No, we need to end the madness in the Middle East NOW!!!!

[movonne]

4. No, no, no. Do not need a rebug on the ticket...Until hate radio

goes there will not be a way of fixing this political mess, and the media is fair. I think political radio is all right but not this hate business. We have to get some kindness back in this country not all this I have got mine and to hell with you.

[caledesi]

6. I think the Kerry/McCain ticket is an absolute winner. nt

[pocoloco]

19. business as friggin usual!

[childslibrarian]

8. Actually

I agree it would go a long way towards getting rid of extreme partianship...But some issues (like Roe vs Wade) are non-negotiable...

[harper]

18. Well then, you better rethink your love-fest with McCain

Cause he's anti-choice.

[Killarney]

56. He could always change his mind like Kucinich did.

[ulysses]

10. He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

He's a Republican.

Get it?

[shraby]

12. Not only does he

support Bush, but if he were on the ticket as Kerry's vp, if something happened to Kerry in office, we'd be back where we started with a Republican president.

[wildmanj]

13. very true

plus john mccain was one of the backers for the deregulation of the cable industry saying competition would cut cable rates----looking back and with cable rate doubled---still wondering when competition is going to kick in---and also, how many millions did mccain pocket from the cable industry

[rumguy]

I like the idea because it would mean a Kerry presidency with possible

bi-partisan support...

But McCain is such an ardent supporter of the Iraq venture, and he has been from day one.

I can buy people voting for the IWR hoping that Bush wouldn't fuck it up. But even when it became obvious Bush was fucking it up McCain kept up his very vocal support.

[Bake]

14. The days of bipartisanship are over. This is the Polarized Era.

Thanks to Limpnuts.

And the thing is, policy differences DO MATTER. Republican (notice that I refrained from my usual "Repuke" designation) policies hurt too many people. The tax cuts for the wealthy result in service cuts for the people who need it most. Spending vast sums on defense means less money for social services. Even the "non-evil" people who sincerely believe they want what is best for the country, if they support these kinds of policies, are sincere but WRONG.

I don't despise McCain the way I do Smirk. I think he may genuinely be a good man. But he's wrong on policy 90% of the time (or more). And policy matters.

Bake

[Lou_C]

15. Kerry would need hundreds of body guards around him at all times

That ticket is the most ridiculous thing that I have heard in a long time.

The republicans are a desperate bunch.

[David Dunham]

16. It would be a winning ticket.

[JVS]

20. Yeah, for the Republicans. They'd win no matter how the election goes.

[BillZBubb]

35. I don't understand your logic

McCain would be VP. So what? Kerry would be the one appointing judges.

Kerry would be the one making environmental decisions--and McCain is actually coming out of the cave on those issues. He might become a convert.

Kerry would support Roe no matter what McCain said.

etc. etc. etc. on issue after issue--except Iraq. If you think the Repugs would win on that, well, we might as well give up now.

[JVS]

36. BFD! There is more to politics than Roe v Wade.

McCain as VP would destroy the party's claim to be a viable alternative to the Republicans. Under the scenario you describe above we'd just be the pro-choice wing of the GOP. This is capitulation. We'd be nicely on track to offering the public a choice between a republican nutcase and an Arlen Specter type "reasonable" Republican. If our party does that, it deserves to perish.

[BillZBubb]

38. You obviously didn't read or understand my last post.

Not just pro-choice, but solidly pro-environment. Not just pro-choice, but solidly pro-individual liberty (through the courts). Not just pro-choice, but for sustainable economic growth with the benefits not going only to the wealthy. Not just pro-choice, but pro-securing America's economic future without destroying Social Security. Not just pro-choice, but restoring America's credibility in the world. Etc. etc. etc.

It's really sad that you wear the blinders that you do. The only way Kerry/McCain would resemble the Repugs is in Iraq--and even that is a stretch. The differences are huge, but you can't see it. Sad really.

[JVS]

39. No I can't see reason to back McCain because McCain backs Bush

Don't even get me started on how discontent I am with the extent that Kerry has backed Bush as well.

The conservatives already have their own party, the Republicans. They can keep their stinking mitts off of ours.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. I understand and agree with some of your points, xgoper. But:

1. The Republican party, and that includes most of its Senators and Congressman who traded in their own voice and integrity and gave it to the emperor, has not conducted itself in a way so that it deserves legitimacy. The act of putting McCain on the ticket would give the Republicans a claim to legitimacy they do not deserve. Even if Bush was swept out in a popular/electoral landslide the Repubs would point to McCain as VP showing that their party and policies had not been repudiated by the public. The goal of demonstrating bipartisan good faith, both politically advantageous for the upcoming election, and desireable for the healing of the nation after the Bush debacle, can be achieved by putting someone like McCain in a senior cabinet post.

The Republican party must be repudiated decisively in this election, and the message not clouded.

2. We can't have a Republican in the chain of command/succession of the White House. No way after this gang of criminals can we give such a strong incentive for JK to be assassinated.

Among other reasons.

[ablbodyed]

23. This is the most cogent statement....

yet. Kerry/McCain is a chimera that will never happen, THANK GOD.
I'd like to like Mc, but he's TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO conservative.

[ibegurpard]

24. These are EXCELLENT reasons as to why this is a BAD idea.

:thumbsup:

[HawkerHurricane]

21. Why I wouldn't want a Kerry/McCain ticket...

The story goes like this...

Feb 05: BANG! Oh no, President Kerry has been shot!

Mar 05: President McCain, in order to balance the top slot, you should pick a conservative Republican to be the Vice President.

Apr 05: BANG! Oh no, President McCain has been shot!

May 05: President Jeb Bush, what are your orders?

[napi21]

22. Yes, McCain is a Pub, but he is a fair man who fights for his beliefs.

I think I can see his dislike of Bush showing through quite often. Yes, he is supporting the Pub candidate, but I since he also publicly stated his support of Kerry as an honorable war hero, he smashed Roves political ads too.

I must say, there are lot of people who are really tired of the vicious hatred between the two parties, since the Nixon impeachment threat. It really needs to stop somewhere. I'm positive that was the main reason the Pubs were determined to get rid of Clinton from day one. Retribution for Nixon.

I can think back to the Kennedy campaign when I wasn't quite old enough to vote (you had to be 21 then), and I don't remember the viciral hatered that exists today.

I guess that's why I try to ecplain to all of you why I don't hate McCain, or Snow, and a few other Pubs. I detest the Bush's, Delay, Frist, and a lot more. I think Ted Kennedy would be as bad for America as Bush is. (And I agree with Teddy almost all the time.)

[ulysses]

25. that's nice and shit.

He's a Republican.

He supports Bush.

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He's a Republican.

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He's a Republican.

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He's a Republican.

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He's a Republican.

[Tansy_Gold]

29. Ulysses: I chuckled the first time

I laughed out loud the second time.

Best post of the entire week-end!

Tansy Gold, Arizonan against McCain.

[ablbodyed]

26. Conservative hatred killed....

Kennedy. I remember those times and the hatred was JUST under the surface.

[sendero]

27. Screw McCain..

... and the horse he rode in on. He sucks it up for Bush* every damn time even making comments in defense of the crap going on in Iraq prisons, this from a POW. It is un-fukking-believable.

Fuck what the Reps want. They have mangled this country beyond recognition and have REFUSED any and all efforts at bipartisanship for over a decade. FUCK THEM, we are not going to give them one effing ounce of the pie that will surely be ours as more and more people wake up the reality of their stinking governance.

Dems are always the ones taking it in the backside and then extending the olive branch. THIS HAS TO STOP. You cannot negotiate with liars and thieves, and we should go for a solid Dem ticket or go home.

There was a time when I was all about compromise, all about finding common ground, that is history. There is just no middle ground with these people. They poured gas on it and burned it up. It is not there, and people should stop wasting their precious time looking for it.

When the real Reps kick the idiot fundamentalists and neocons out of their party for good, then maybe we'll have something to talk about.

/end of rant :)

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

28. Don't forget: McCain would be the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

And quite frankly, we can't trust McCain to vote President Kerry's way.
He's voted Bush*s way somewhere like 90% of the time.
I still think McCain as veep is the most ridiculous idea I've heard recently.

[KG]

30. boy, that will show those pesky naderites how wrong they are

about there being no difference between the parties. :D

[ulysses]

48. LOL!

:thumbsup:

[Zorra]

31. I'm a lifetime Democrat. Please don't try to sell me any RW bullshit.

I have looked at John McCains voting record in detail. He is not an acceptable choice for Vice President in a Democratic administration.

Democrats and the Democratic platform are what is best for the US. If Democrats had a majority in both Houses and controlled the executive branch, none of the insanity that is destroying our country would be happening. What is happening in America today is entirely the fault of republicans and a republican agenda. Our country is a mess. When Clinton was President, this country was in great shape.

Now, republicans have fucked EVERYTHING up. We have been attacked. We are at war. The world hates us. Our nation is in debt. The environment is being trashed. Our educational system has been trashed. Our constitution has been trashed. Our civil rights have been trashed. Our media has been compromised. Our voting system has been compromised. People can't afford to medical care or medicine. Etc, ad nauseum.

I am looking at your statement as an American, not as a Democrat. I am putting my country before my party, and judging from past history, I'll say this:

Republicans are an imminent threat to me, my family, my friends, my land, my health, my livelihood, and my country. Republicans don't do a damn thing that is any good for this country. Why should we want bi-partisanship? It's like making a deal with the devil - the country is going to lose.

If you are an ex-Goper, I am glad, welcome to the Democratic Party, and I am happy for the country.

But please don't bring any RW baggage with you. We are Democrats, because the republican agenda does not work. It never has, and it never will.

[FailureIsNoOption]

32. Why should we want bi-partisanship?

Perhaps to avoid civil war? Anyone thinking full control by Dems without bi-partisanship is possible without a shooting war is dreaming.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

33. Bipartisanship is fine. Repub on the ticket = not fine.

Despite the Repub's incredibly shabby treatment of Dems since 2000, it need not be a Tutsi/Hutu scenario. But bipartisanship can take the form of an influential Repub like McCain occupying a senior cabinet post. But nowhere in the chain of succession or on the ticket. See all reasons cited above.

[Piperay]

54. I agree...

repukes will stop at nothing even if it involves a shooting war to keep the Democrats from gaining control.

[x-g.o.p.er]

52. I'm not selling any RW bs....

I agree that what has happened has been disastrous for our country, and I think part of the problem has been the polarization of the two parties away from the common good towards extreme ideologies.

How is a genuine attempt at bipartisanship RW bs?? I'm not suggesting Kerry adopt Republican policies or adopt a conservative agenda--far from it. If McCain were to be a VP candidate, he would have to Endorse Kerry's platform. Period.

I am suggesting that to break this vicious cycle that politics is currently in, we need two men who are willing to step above the fray and want to try to change the discourse between the two parties.

I just think Kerry and McCain might be those two men.

[IronLionZion]

34. I'd rather have McCain run on his own Republican ticket

but that will never happen. Howard Dean supporters know why. (And George McGovern and Barry Goldwater too) Fuck the establishment! They don't allow independent thinkers who they can't control.

[last1standing]

37. I'm ready to vote Kerry/McCain...

As soon as you can convince me with some policies of McCain that I can actually support. I love the idea of making nice and offering an olive branch to heal the rift in our country, but this is an election of ideas, not a sitcom where everyone gets along at the end of the episode. McCain is a sincere man who has voted to undermine nearly every single progressive bill that has been put before him. He voted to impeach the best president in the last fifty years, and actively campaigns for the worst president in history.

Please tell me, what makes McCain a good vice presidential nominee for John Kerry?

[Solidarity]

40. OK

All I can say is that you typed a lot of words without saying anything!

[screwfacecapone]

41. Mccain is too cool to be a republican anyway

If Kerry chooses Mccain as his running mate, Then it's O-V for Bush. The only thing that would save him at this point is osama's 'capture', another terrorist attack, diebold's election fraud machines, or whatever the 'october surprise ends up being'.

[leesa]

42. McCain is a full-fledged Bush supporter...ALL Republicans

have supported this monster well past any point of decency. Screw the Republicans. They are unthinking cruel, greedy bastards.

If you support this monster on the ballet then you are simply a Republican trying to sneak on board the filled-up lifeboats while the ship is sinking. Fix your own damned party and clean up their ethics!

[Q]

43. History shows us that it was the Republican party...

...that was taken over by Neocons and religious zealots who later refused to work with or compromise with Democrats. This is what you see now with a RWing congress that has left the other side out of the decision-making process. It's simply incorrect to suggest that Democrats have been as rabidly partisan as the 'new' right.

- Threads like this intimate that all the Democrats have to do is COMPROMISE ONE MORE TIME and everything will be okay. Sorry...but we've already compromised our party to the point where we no longer stand for the traditional values and principles that once made the Dems the 'party of the people'.

- McCain is a warmonger...plain and simple. I watched his speech as he fell in line with teh Bushies and suggested Iraq would be a cakewalk. He's NOT on our side or the side of peace.

- I know many Democrats that wouldn't vote for a ticket with a GOPer as a running mate. This isn't compromise or bipartisanship. It's suicide.

[bicentennial_baby]

44. Thank you

I agree 100%.

[JVS]

45. Megadittos on that terrific post Q

;-)

[Astarho]

46. Why I wouldn't

McCain holds an undeserved level of respect among many especially Democrats. Many don't know about the numerous skeletons in his closet.

Keating Five - McCain went to great lengths to help racketeer Charles Keating, who swindled taxpayers out of billions. Keating re-imbursed him with campaign contributions and vacation trips.

Black Mesa - McCain helped force many Navajos onto the site of the worst radioactive spill in the country, an act of genocide.

A cursory google search will reveal much more.

As an American, I don't want a corrupt, genocidal scumbag like McCain on the ticket. I think he represents the worst we have to offer and it would not convince those disenchanted with the politcal process to become involved, since it would be more business as usual.

As a Democrat it tells me this: We surrender. We can't win unless we bring a republican on and we do not believe in our message. Also it would paint a target on Kerry. Any "swing voters" we bring in would be offset by the sheer number of Dems who would go 3rd or stay home.


"Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father." -- John McCain

[dave29]

47. This Liberal would love to see it.

I'm as liberal as they come - and I'm fine with this ticket. The second you hate your enemy, the second you are doomed to be at war in perpetuity. I'm tired of partisanship - it has led to nothing but cotastrophe for the country.

How can we hope to resolve wars abroad if we can't resolve them in our own backyards?

The country needs to be United. Both of these men are products of a failed war and are witnessing another one take shape. Maybe we can finally put this crap behind us. If there was any chance of that, I would jump all over it in a heartbeat.

Plus, McCain and Kerry are true friends. When two people on opposite sides of the aisle truly get along, you know there is the ability for compromise built in.

[unkachuck]

49. No McCain from a newbie....

McCain as VP would just be another manifestation of our single capitalist party state pretending to offer choice....did we run out of Democrats?

I'm not talking about non-multi-millionaire type Democrats....that would be rare and expecting too much....but the plain old multi-millionaire variety that carries water for any corporation.....surely we have plenty of those who could become VP instead of McCain.....

If Kerry picked McCain as VP, the left-wing of the Democratic Party should take a hike....it would be an enormous slap in our face...

[JVS]

51. Welcome to DU

Great first post.

[ulysses]

50. "I'm tired of partisanship" - sucks for you

because it isn't going anywhere in your lifetime.

Plus, McCain and Kerry are true friends.

Hark! The tremulous strains of "Kumbayah" in the distance!

Wank. Complete load of crap. John McCain may be a really nifty guy and may have run against Bush in 2000, but he's a stalwart Republican and the supports Bush in 2004. There is no "there" there.

[Classical_Liberal]

53. McCain is a republican

He is just a pre-religious right republican. I don't think pro-Iraq war is the wave of the future, and I think this move is part of the neocon salvaging effort. They are dumping Bush you know?

[Padraig18]

55. I'm not having a fucking Republican shoved down my throat!

FUCK McCain and FUCK the idiotic idea of putting a God-damned Republican on the FUCKING Democratic ticket!

:grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke::grr::nuke::puke:

[Killarney]

57. I would vote for Kerry/McCain

but, I'd also vote for Kerry/Mickey Mouse, so I guess it doesn't mean much. :)