John McCain

[BarbaraGordon]

So I just read this great portrait of John McCain.
It's in the February issue of Vanity Fair.
I thought it was too long to read online so I bought the print copy at Barnes and Noble.

A sympathetic portrayal but basically makes the case that he'll be unable to convincingly appeal to the conservative elements of the party.

[MikeWaters]

The GOP is headed for suicide if it embraces the far-right.

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

The GOP is headed for suicide if it embraces the far-right.

Maybe short term suicide. They will come to their senses.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

So I just read this great portrait of John McCain.
It's in the February issue of Vanity Fair.
I thought it was too long to read online so I bought the print copy at Barnes and Noble.

A sympathetic portrayal but basically makes the case that he'll be unable to convincingly appeal to the conservative elements of the party.

It doesn't appear that the conservative elements of the party have a candidate to vote for so far this cycle. McCain is too moderate. Giuliani is too liberal. Romney is too Mormon (and flip-floppy). Huckabee is too much of a long-shot. Gingrich is too polarizing. It will be interesting to see if there is a surge to the right or if the that ground will remain unoccupied.

Do you think you could end up voting for McCain?

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by YOhio

It doesn't appear that the conservative elements of the party have a candidate to vote for so far this cycle. McCain is too moderate. Giuliani is too liberal. Romney is too Mormon (and flip-floppy). Huckabee is too much of a long-shot. Gingrich is too polarizing. It will be interesting to see if there is a surge to the right or if the that ground will remain unoccupied.

Do you think you could end up voting for McCain?

Sam Brownback and Duncan Hunter are trying to fill that super conservative void. They are not the best candidates, but they are hoping to capitalize on the percieved deficiencies of the major candidates to the far right. Also, tom Tancredo is trying to fill the David Duke slot in the primaries, and that can count for extreme conservatism.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

Sam Brownback and Duncan Hunter are trying to fill that super conservative void. They are not the best candidates, but they are hoping to capitalize on the percieved deficiencies of the major candidates to the far right. Also, tom Tancredo is trying to fill the David Duke slot in the primaries, and that can count for extreme conservatism.

Those three may be able to get the conservative base, but they won't get party money. These three guys (and Huckabee) are all playing roles that have been played out in the past. Gary Baur, Alan Keyes, Orrin Hatch, Steve Forbes, Phil Gramm, Pat Buchanan, John Kasich, Robert Smith, and Lamar Alexander have all failed in their attempts to win a nomination while only appealing to the conservative base.

The key is finding a candidate with mainstream appeal and money who can convincingly dance the conservative kabuki long enough to win the primary. I'm not sure that guy has been, or will be, found this cycle.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

Maybe short term suicide. They will come to their senses.

I hope so. I'm more right of center than most people, but I'm also smart enough to understand that I need a candidate to concede a few things in order to get elected. Unfortunately, the only candidate I've voted for since 1992 was the one I felt was the lesser of two evils, not the one who I felt was the better person for the job.

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

tom Tancredo is trying to fill the David Duke slot in the primaries

please...

[RockyBalboa]

Maybe I'm different, but McCain seems to have such a wooden personality I don't see how he'd ever be a good fit in The White House.

Not saying he's a bad guy, as I clearly respect what he's endured through his life, but he's just not for me.

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by Venkman

please...

You are welcome. I am pretty proud of that line. It just came to me. It is such an honor when inspiration strikes.