America Votes 2008

[Julius Ratus]

I am seceeding from the Union. Ursusland is born.

 

You all are of course invited as honored guests of state.

 

Being a secessionist at heart, I am putting in my App for Citizenship in Ursusland, provided that my 1st and 2nd Amendment Rights carry over.

 

On topic: this is going to be a difficult election. I really can't tell the difference between the candidates, they all come from the same stock. I might put my vote where my mouth is and vote for a 'third party' candidate. I might vote for McCain if it looks like Hilarbama is going to get elected. All our options suck.

[Faustus]

As things stand now neither Hillary R. Clinton nor Barack Obama will go to the convention with the 50% of the delegate votes to get the nomination. Neither will be able to attain the 2,024 delegates needed to secure it without the delegates from Florida and Michigan.

 

If Michigan and Florida are allowed to have a

[Moonlapse]

Let's just leave the office of president vacant.

[cornelius_sulla]

Judging by the tenor of the posts submitted here, you could fill the position with any one of the candidates and it would still be pretty vacant.

[Primus Pilus]

Living here in Michigan, though I am definately not surprised I do find it rather amusing that the Dems are going to bother with a new election and that it's even being discussed. It was tried once and the party told it's members to F themselves. The Michigan Dems should tell them to shove it and let the national convention have fun fighting over which socialist will get to beat the real Democrat McCain in November.

[Faustus]

The Michigan Dems should tell them to shove it and let the national convention have fun fighting over which socialist will get to beat the real Democrat McCain in November.

You nailed it. But it can still be turned around if a way can be found to blame the Rs (to find the proper enemy to blame) for the mess the Dems have created for themselves. That has begun in Fla, where there is a history of election "difficulties" in D precincts. There Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, after first blaming Howard Dean and party honchos, came around to adamantly blaming the Rs on a recent Fox News Sunday.

 

Some of the volatility in the Dem party can be seen in the way candidate Howard Dean was 'ditched' after he made his famous 'scream' on winning the Iowa Caucus in '04. That too was soon blamed on the Republicans and Dean was given the Party Chair a year later.

 

It is the stuff of hope for HRC, and this promises to be the most interesting convention year since 68. Played well, they might even get the Rs to pay for another (watch for that) D primary, at least in Florida, and even if they don't it appropriately focuses attention on the proper "culprits".

 

And you are right on point with the problem Republicans have with McCain. This shows the flaw in a popular media pumping up their own nominee.

[Primus Pilus]

And you are right on point with the problem Republicans have with McCain. This shows the flaw in a popular media pumping up their own nominee.

 

That and the fact that the opposition simply wasn't compelling enough to rouse the party members against that media machine. Despite not really being much of a fan of the guy, I do believe that had Romney been a traditional Christian vs. a Mormon he would've won the nomination handily and Huckabee largely would've been a non-entity.

[Faustus]

I do believe that had Romney been a traditional Christian vs. a Mormon he would've won the nomination handily and Huckabee largely would've been a non-entity.

Given the truth in that, and that McCain needs chief executive experience in a running mate, would Romney be a good choice for the VP slot?

I for one, a personal choice, lean toward Gov. Barbour of Mississippi. His efficacy is supported by the Ds attempting to destroy him, as they always do with talent:

[Primus Pilus]

I do believe that had Romney been a traditional Christian vs. a Mormon he would've won the nomination handily and Huckabee largely would've been a non-entity.

Given the truth in that, and that McCain needs chief executive experience in a running mate, would Romney be a good choice for the VP slot?

I for one, a personal choice, lean toward Gov. Barbour of Mississippi. His efficacy is supported by the Ds attempting to destroy him, as they always do with talent:

[Faustus]

I like Perry in Texas... not sure if he has any interest in the job, but he provides stable conservative leadership from a large southern state. Perhaps too close to Bush though in that respect?

 

'Fraid so. Texans and friends of Bush (IMHO) are both verboten. Both he and Barbour are probably too smart to take the second slot. This is a measure of the power of the "sound machine". I do feel it has to be a governor. What that would impart, and better conservative credentials, are both things McCain needs most, especially considering his age; we have to consider the possibility there would probably be only one term for him.

 

But on the age score, I'm impressed! He may be a little stiff, but he is definitely not brittle.

[Primus Pilus]

But on the age score, I'm impressed! He may be a little stiff, but he is definitely not brittle.

 

Interestingly, on the age front, Bob Dole faced a similar concern at the age of 73 in 1996. 12 years later, while he may have some health issues at the age of 85, it's obvious that he was viable enough at the time. McCain is far more energetic than Dole was.

[cornelius_sulla]

But on the age score, I'm impressed! He may be a little stiff, but he is definitely not brittle.

 

Interestingly, on the age front, Bob Dole faced a similar concern at the age of 73 in 1996. 12 years later, while he may have some health issues at the age of 85, it's obvious that he was viable enough at the time. McCain is far more energetic than Dole was.

 

It's still not a good look for a politicians shooting for the top job, though, isn't it? Especially if your opponents are young and virile (and yes, I include Hilary in that category ) and you've had a practically senile old fart in office for the past two(?) terms. Isn't Dole proof? Age counted against him mightily, if I remember rightly, and he seemed much more youthful than McCain does at the moment. I also notice that the man is fodder every single night for Letterman and all of the other pisstakers - all of the jokes are about his age.

[Faustus]

It's still not a good look for a politicians shooting for the top job, though, isn't it? Especially if your opponents are young and virile (and yes, I include Hilary in that category ) and you've had a practically senile old fart in office for the past two(?) terms. Isn't Dole proof? Age counted against him mightily, if I remember rightly, and he seemed much more youthful than McCain does at the moment. I also notice that the man is fodder every single night for Letterman and all of the other pisstakers - all of the jokes are about his age.

Perception is reality. That is the mantra.

Dole had more than age working against him. He also had the fact that he seemed to accept defeat from the beginning and really never did campaign during the race. The nomination was more of an

[Kosmo]

Old age, with health issues including senility and death can be serious problem. FDR's illness was a great problem at the end of WW2.

[Primus Pilus]

health issues including senility and death can be serious problem.

 

Sorry Kosmo, I know exactly what you are implying, but reading this literally just made me laugh. Indeed, death can be a serious problem.

 

At least in FDR's case, it was the pre-television age. Much of his physical condition was well concealed. Today that simply wouldn't happen, though some things can be masked depending upon personality. Despite the speculation on Reagan's Alzheimer's condition during his final years in the White House, had he been afflicted by the full onset of the disease, it could not have been hidden. However, Reagan's ability to make himself the butt of a joke helped disguise it as well.