I’ve been blasted here for my irrational fear of a McCain candidacy

[Stevendsmith]

This goes back a few years now. I’ll post about his appeal to “moderates” who are gullible enough to believe that McCain is a moderate, straight-talkin’ “good” Republican, and not the ultra-conservative, uber-hawk, Bush-loving, dangerous freak he is.

When McCain, was nearly out of money a few months back, and it looked like his bid for the nomination was just about done, I was so glad to be wrong.

But now he’s back again, and all my fears have resurfaced.

I’m seeing a McCain vs. Hillary contest for the White House, and I’m not seeing things ending well.

You know why?

Mr. and Mrs. Walmart idiot love them some McCain.

[CatWoman]

1. Gotta admit

I used to like him, until he showed his true colors.

We need SoCalDem to post pictures.

[calmblueocean]

2. My experience tells me you're right.

I just hope the rest of the voting public sees this and wises up in time.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. Not to worry!

[CatWoman]

4. that's the stuff!!!

:hi:

[Stevendsmith]

5. I really do appreciate the power of that image

Seriously.

But if you think that picture is a magic talisman against a McCain presidency, I think you're mistaken.

And anyway, what reason do we have to believe the Democratic opposition would even use it? You'll recall that the Dems only take the "high road" when fighting (see Kerry, John).

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. Think...MOVEON.ORG. THEY will use it for our candidate.

Obama or Hillary or Edwards are NOT going to lay down and take shit like Kerry did. I'm sure they will have a war room to immediately respond to the swiftboating.

[MADem]

13. This one is better....

[CatWoman]

16. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!

:rofl:

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. LOL...I do have to agree!

:rofl:

[rodeodance]

6. I am with you on that--I have said this before--I think McCain will give the Dems the most

trouble.

[MADem]

7. We'll talk after the convention, I'm sure. I think McCain is the man to beat, myself.

And I've been saying that for awhile. He's starting to look good to the people who supported some of those halfassed flakes who have fallen by the wayside. And he looks way better than Romney.

I think it could well be Clinton v. McCain...and then, maybe, just maybe, Bloomberg jumps in. He's seriously thinking about it. IF Clinton gets close enough to be able to lock in 2025 delegates BEFORE March, when Bloomie has to start working to get on the TX ballot, I think Bloomberg will jump in.

At that point, it's a crap shoot.

If it's just Clinton v. McCain, I call it for Clinton. Why?

*** People remember that they had money in the nineties and could afford nice things and the world didn't hate us and they weren't fucking AFRAID all the time.

*** McCain is undisciplined. He'll shoot off his mouth. He ALWAYS does. The media will be on him like a cheap suit.

*** Any GOP dirty trickster who tries to smear Clinton will get a heady dose of Keating Five/BCCI back in their faces.

Now, if it's McCain v. Obama, I call it for McCain--especially if he selects a rather vital and engaging VP. People will use the "experience" card against Obama, and he'll be relegated to the "Quixotic Idealist" category before the race even runs its course.

This is an analysis based on PERCEPTIONS, as I've seen them in discussions with others, to this point.

[Stevendsmith]

19. With respect

Here's where I think you are way off:

"The media will be on him like a cheap suit."

Have you watched any media coverage of McCain? The media LOVE HIM. They are the ones reponsible for the myth of Saint McCain the Maverick. Yes, they'll be all over him like a cheap suit alright, cuz they'll be giving him a tongue bath -- like they've been doing for years.

"Any GOP dirty trickster who tries to smear Clinton will get a heady dose of Keating Five/BCCI back in their faces."

They'll get a heavy dose of nothing. Democrats don't fight back; that wouldn't be "high-minded." After the Kerry experience, why in the hell should we expect the Democrats to run an effective campaign? They couldn't fight back and win against the Worst President Ever. How have they changed since then? Hell, they've gotten worse (see Pelosi, Nancy and Reid, Harry).

[MADem]

23. I have watched him. And trust me--they love him NOW.

They're TOUTING him for the nom...NOW. Once he gets it, they'll get all 'critical' on him.

It's what they do with frontrunners, doncha know.

Surely you've seen the dynamic?

I invite you to take a trip down memory lane and have a peek at the coverage they gave him during the height of Keating/BCCI. They damn near buried the guy.

If it bleeds, it leads.

Bill Clinton knows how to fight back. So does Hillary. Or were you asleep during his Presidency, and her first run for the Senate? That's ALL they did was fight back. They are absolute PROS at it.

Keep in mind, neither one of those PROS was RUNNING against The. Worst. President. Ever. And Al Gore didn't WANT their help. If he'd taken it, he'd be finishing up his second term, and Peace and Prosperity would be the order of the day.

[Warpy]

8. For what it's worth

I find nothing irrational about that fear, especially given the dispirited campaigns of both Gore and Kerry that led to victories so narrow the GOP was able to overcome them and steal the office for Stupid.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. But..but..he's a War HERO!! And, a walking advertisement for asylums.

[comradebillyboy]

11. Let me note some additional facts

that may allay your fears.
1. McCain is loathed by the republican establishment
2. As you correctly point out he is not a moderate, but a hard right wing puke, and this will come out in the general election campaign, if by some miracle he thwarts the republican establishment and beats out Mittens
3. The evangelicals hate him

he may have some appeal to independent voters, but lots of pukes will sit this one out if McCain is the nominee. I really don't see any unifying republican candidate. Most of my shooting buddies are republicans (what a shock) and McCain is an anathema to them, and there is no one running they really like. All any dem has to do is play back old Rush Limbaugh tapes of el rushbo smearing McCain.

So as I see it McCain is quite beatable, his main supporters are the professional MSM types who have their collective noses up his ass.

[thunder rising]

12. Even many Republicans know they have been had

this primary IS the election. I don't think it matters who we put up is going to change the outcome. My choice is Obama. Hillary indeed has the experience to know what to do on day one ... whatever looks the least offensive on day 1460. To be more to the point, the job on day one is to start campaigning for your second term.

[DU9598]

14. McCain = Bob Dole

His Senate votes - on many sides of most issues - will wear down the straight talker. He is old, boring, and stale ... just like Bob Dole.

[movonne]

15. I guess all the war people will be for him...if you want to stay in Iraq

for 50 years McCain is the man....I think obama or hillary can bring out enough dirt to bury him...his age, he is not a well person, all this war talk. and pandering to the religious right

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. Plus the MAJORITY of Americans want us OUT OF IRAQ. That's what the '06 election was all about.

McCain won't win. Warmongering isn't "cool" anymore. We also have the Veterans who have come home to homelessness. Iraq is falling apart at the seams, Afghanistan is imploding with the Taliban resurgence and Pakistan is on its last leg. Then throw in all the domestic issues. The economy lays at the repuke's feet! McCain is a repuke. He'll never win.

[Virginia Dare]

20. The average freeper's hate for Mccain is far more irrational..

and I quote:

"If you Republicans don't mind McCain's positions, then what is it about Hillary's positions you dislike? They're the same!"

-Rush Limbduh

[JDPriestly]

21. I agree with you.

I woke up this morning with the realization just how serious this problem is.

Edwards is the only candidate who can beat McCain.

Hillary will seem shrill and obnoxious compared to McCain who has a quiet manner.

Obama will seem too young, inexperienced and foolish compared to McCain's age and wisdom.

Neither Hillary nor McCain has the positive energy that will compare favorably to McCain's rather tired demeanor.

Edwards, on the other hand has tremendous positive energy and is extremely knowledgeable about the issues. Edwards has just the right kind of experience and confidence to make McCain look like the boring, kindly but ineffective elderly gentleman that he is.

Edwards responds to questions in language that people understand. Hillary and Obama take 30 words, many of them too long for the average American SuperBowl fan, to answer the simplest question. By the time Hillary and Obama have answered the question, the average ADD American's mind has wandered a couple of hundred miles. Edwards gets right to the point. Only he can win against BombIran, BombIran McCain.

[Benhurst]

24. After several choruses of Kumbyyah, McCain will disolve into tears,

admit he was wrong, and resign from the Republican party.

[CK_John]

22. Overheard by a friend of a friend of a friend that Paris H claimed he stayed

at grandpa's hotel for a long time and never paid the bill.

[ileus]

25. remember most rpubs consider him a democrat....

[Beetwasher]

26. McCain Is Not Healthy Enough To Make A Real Run

After the primaries he will be wiped out and probably near death. It may be harsh, I'm not saying I'm happy about that, but it's the truth.

[Poiuyt]

27. McCain has already refused to commit to running for a second term

[Neshanic]

28. You sir are absolutely right. This is not going to go well if McCain is the guy we run against.

Moderate reuplickans will vote for him. Conservative Democrats will vote for him.

This will not be pretty if he is the one.

[applegrove]

29. I worry to that McCain will attract independant voters and has the best

chance of any Repuke to take the WH.

[AZ Criminal JD]

30. If you think of the American people as "Mr. and Mrs. Walmart idiot"

It is no wonder you fear the election. You couldn't get anyone elected to anything with that attitude.

[Stevendsmith]

31. Sorry, but...

I do believe a large and electorally decisive swath of Americans are politically braindead, conformist, consumerist drones who will lap up the media narrative of Saint McCain.

[AZBlue]

32. Oh no, you're right, you have every reason to be worried.

McCain is an ass (pardon my language, but no other word would really do) but he's got many Americans hoodwinked - take it from an Arizonan. He pretends to be what he isn't - and he does appeal accross party lines to those who don't pay much attention to poltics or the news or reality...in a word, the majority of Americans.