My prediction for the next president of the United States...

[Poiuyt]

John McCain

I have two reasons why I think McCain will win in 2008. First, the media loves him. He is always called a maverick (even though he's not), a moderate (even though he's not) and a war hero (not). When was the last time you've heard anything negative about him? Compare that with Hillary or Gore. Hillary is called "angry" and the media never fails to say how divisive she is. Al Gore is still called stiff and is being demonized for his passion against global warming. Feingold represents the George McGovern wing of the Democratic Party, etc. There is some negative label for all the Democrats. McCain, on the other hand, is considered a lovable curmudgeon, even though his colleagues in the Senate don't like him because of his volatile temper (have you ever heard anyone in the media mention this?). Make no mistake, if the national media is going to give McCain a free shot, never grill him, never say anything about his past or his character, let him lie and make false statements without calling him on it, while speaking about him in positive phrases, he will win. I don't know why they love him so much, but they do.

The other reason I think John McCain will win is because Republicans are better at winning elections than we are. They take a win at all cost attitude. Republicans will lie, cheat, bite, kick, scream, and pound their feet in order to win. Witness the "Brooks Brothers Riot," where paid members of Bush's election committee rioted at the Dade County recount office, screaming and banging on the door like hooligans. But hey, it worked. Can you imagine Jimmy Carter instructing his people to do that? There is even very strong evidence that Republicans have done the ultimate to win the election, steal it outright via fraud. Democrats don't have anyone like Karl Rove or Jim Baker who would direct such an unethical and illegal campaign. I guess we feel that we are above such tactics. I heard someone say that Democrats would rather be right than win. Maybe so. I don't think I'd like my party to resort to such tactics.

I don't buy the argument that the right wing of the Republican party won't let him get elected, especially since his main conservative opponent (George Allen) just shot himself in the foot. If McCain can win for the Republicans, he will be their nominee. I don't think the RW would let Guilliani get the nomination, but McCain is conservative enough.

This is the way that I see it today. It could all change, of course, but I would need to see the national media start being a little bit more objective about him. Democrats will also need to develop some passion, not only passion for our cause, but also passion for winning. If it looks like the election is being stolen, we need to stand up and fight, like they did in Ukraine and are now doing in Mexico.

OK, it's just my opinion. Don't take it too seriously. Have fun flaming me!

[Captain Hilts]

1. Too old. The more you see him, the less you like him. nt

[Poiuyt]

15. You're right, he is old. And he has had health problems

He might not be healthy enough to run in 08. But I'd sure like to hear someone bring up his age when discussing presidential candidates.

[Strelnikov_]

21. Thats Why Jeb Will Be The VP Candidate

All part of the deal.

I figure 11 years of another Chimpco presidency will about finish this country.

[Joe Bacon]

27. No, I fully expect Jeb to be the 2008 nominee

And I would NOT be surprised to see LIEberman as his running mate.

[Captain Hilts]

30. Jeb's wife and children have all had problems with the law.

His wife for trying to avoid paying duties on a lot of imported stuff, George P. for stalking a former girlfriend and breaking into her house and the daughter for drug problems.

It might hurt him.

[Joe Bacon]

36. So what? Republicans are above the law

Gee, somebody killed Lori Klausustis and got a TV show in return.

Pickles killed her boyfriend and it didn't hurt her.

Republicans are above the law, they can do whatever they want and the press glosses it over!

[liveinabox]

51. Gee...

then there was Chappaquiddick, and Teddy still has a lifetime seat in the Senate in good ole Massachusetts.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

54. Don't forget

Oliver North sold weapons to Iran & he is now a Fox news contributor.

[Captain Hilts]

31. And he said in 2000 he'd be too old for 2008. Roll the tape! nt

[mcscajun]

2. There's no "attraction factor", no charisma, nothing.

No way does this person get nominated, much less elected.

[Tace]

3. I Figure McCain Will Get The GOP Nomination

Unfortunately for him, he's had the Bush "kiss of death," which may work against him.

[LA lady]

4. I don't think so

All my family and neighbours here are Repubs; they hate McCain. He is being foisted on them by the media.

[Vincardog]

just like Hillary is being foisted on us. NT

[Vincardog]

5. John McCain for President? After the a$$ whopping the Reich wing Nutz

gave him in the last primary!


Yeah right.

[jen4clark]

6. McCain is (was?) probably a good guy

But I truly believe he's f'ed up in the head. How could he not be after what he went through in VN?

[magnolia]

34. Will you please stop saying he's a good guy.

HE IS NOT A GOOD GUY. When Clinton was president, McCain told jokes about Chelsea's looks, comparing her to a dog. Does that sound like a good guy to you????? It annoys me that even Democrats have been brainwashed by the media to think this guy is the second coming!

Bush totally trashed his family and daughter in the 2000 primaries. Yet in 2004 McCain sits back as Bush does the same thing to Kerry. He could have just stayed neutral, but instead went out supporting Bush. He is a snake or screwed in the head.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. A couple of problems:

There's his age. Another thing is the fact that the fundies don't like him (despite his recent sucking-up). He can try to capitalize on the faux-maverick thing to attract the non-fundies and remaining moderates, but he's trying way too hard to satisfy both the lunatic fringe Bushbots and the moderates, and I don't think he can do it. It's true that Allen might be self-destructing (fortunately; since he's even worse), and Giuliani won't fly with the hard-core wacko base, but that doesn't mean McCain is the shoo-in. The war is increasingly unpopular, even among many Republicans. My bets are on Hagel as things stand right now. He's got a conservative voting record which will satisfy most of the nutjobs, but he's critical of the war; this will only strengthen his position.

[sonroadera]

8. He'd be the oldest president ever elected.

He better chose his VP wisely.

[Serial Mom]

42. you mean "selected"

cause the repukes are setting elections up to "be close" so they can steal it again thru cheating in just 1 or 2 states!

[rep the dems]

9. I really, really hope you're wrong. Part of it's just my optimistic

side kicking in, but I don't really think McCain will win. You make some good points, but if another conservative like George Allen emerges into the race, I do believe many republicans will abandon McCain. We all know that McCain is no moderate conservative, but many far right republicans still don't.

[Nay]

38. Allen doesn't have a prayer, not after his "macaca" comment and

ludicrous 'apology' and 'explanation."

[zulchzulu]

10. McAin't ain't even to get nominated by GOP

Watch for that...

[FrenchieCat]

11. I do agree with you that unlike Democrats, the GOP will do whatever

it takes to win...and if they think it is nominating McCain, so be it.

They don't care how old, how dumb, how unexperienced, how ugly, how anything.......as long as they can see a winning road ahead, they'll do what is required. They learned that one good with Dole as a candidate.....

I don't underestimate or try to pretend that somehow they will use any logic beyond "winning is everything" to guide them.

If nothing else McCain's got the gravitas, the media (and the fact that they will make up for their shitty treatment of him back in 2000), and a POW story during a time of war for sympathy. That's much more than any other Republican contender has.....and so, that puts him up front.

So McCain, it could certainly be.

He signs up Romney as his VP (for the good looks)....and we are in for a rude awakening as to what Republicans will and will not do when their backs are up against a wall!

[Benhurst]

12. My prediction: After the successful (stolen) 2006 elections,

the Grand Old Party will turn to the man they whish they had picked in 2000, Jeb Bush.

After trailing in the polls, Jeb will pull one out of the hat, a suprise victory (enabled by computer voting and tabulation), which will be explained to a doubting public by the corporate media.

On that happy note, to bed.

[Sugarcoated]

13. McCain is to Republican's

what Lieberman is to Democrats. If you put yourself in those shoes it's hard to see him getting the support.

[Totallybushed]

14. Here's why you're wrong.

John McCain can NEVER win the Republican Party nomination. No matter who else supports him, the Republican base loathes him, and considers him a RINO (similar to a DINO). He just can't get the votes.

[Awsi Dooger]

16. I agree with that

I post occasionally on two balanced poltical sites and all the right wingers loathe McCain. I think he'll be a surprise early reject.

Guiliani, on the other hand, is championed by posters who I never dreamed would support him. It's backed up in the state polls, where Guiliani leads McCain big, almost without exception.

[Poiuyt]

18. Yes, but there's more to the Republican party than the far RW

In spite of McCain's efforts to align himself with Bush and Falwell, he is still considered a moderate (yes, I know he's not). There are a lot of people in that party who would like a moderate.

Giuliani might be a darling right now, but he has some SERIOUS baggage. I'm guessing a lot of people don't know that he kicked his wife out of Gracie Mansion so he could bring in his mistress.

[Awsi Dooger]

24. I'm just reporting what I've read on those websites

I know all about Guiliani's personal baggage, plus the issues that supposedly make him very unlikely to be the nominee. But on those balanced forums the Republican posters favor Guiliani by stunning margin, whether they are moderate or far right.

I don't know how the other side thinks in terms of nominees so I'm merely mentioning it here, what I've read in dozens if not hundreds of posts. McCain is basically shunned and dismissed, just like we think of Lieberman, as someone above posted. They consider Guiliani their best chance to win so they embrace his candidacy regardless of issue differences, and love the supposed tough guy image from 9/11. If it changes on those sites I'll report it here but it's been so dramatic i doubt that will happen.

On edit: I should mention that when I say right wing posters in regard to those balanced sites it's the way I think of them when I'm there. I'll see a user name and if he's a Republican-type I stamp him as a right winger for reference purposes, whether he is moderate or hard right. So when I write "right wingers" here it's merely toting the term from those sites, instead of breaking it down to slightly right leaning or hard right. No matter how far right they are, they seem to prefer Guiliani for their nomination, by significant plurality if not outright majority. Of course, it could be merely the vocal ones, the ones who blog, and not representative of what happens in the primaries.

[Sugarcoated]

26. Even the Southern Repubs?

We're NE people, Philly area. My little bro who is a registered Indy but leans slightly to the right surprised the heck out of me by insisting the candidate WILL be Guiliani and he will vote for him in a second. McCain for VP. I didn't even mention to him the Guiliani baggage since I know it means nada to him, but privately I doubted Guiliani would get past the fundi/south electorate. But I'm hearing more and more people around here saying similar things. I'm becoming convinced he's a serious contender - maybe the one to beat.

[Totallybushed]

35. Maybe there

are a lot of people in the RP that would like a "moderate". Not enought to get John McCain the nomination, though.

And believe you me, whatever dirty laundry Rudy, or anybody else, has will come out in the primaries. Including the Democratic ones.

Fun, fun, fun for all.

[mucho macho]

45. RUDY

would get the MAFIA vote

[Totallybushed]

47. I don't think

Rudy has a chance, either. He's on the "wrong" side of too many issues for the base, although given his "national security" positions, they would probably vote for him if he did manage to win the nomination. Same for McCain.

I suspect a dark horse candidate will win the Republican nomination. Tancredo, perhaps. And, of course, the Republican nominee will win the general election, just like they will this November election because NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT ELECTION FRAUD, now have they?

[Contrary1]

17. And McCain's always lugging

this 180 pound tumor/albatross around. I don't think for a single
second Bush would do anything to help him get elected.



And look at what just 6 years has done to these two:

[wiggs]

19. Two things would have to happen

First, he's going to have to pull his face out of Bush's armpit and distance himself from the administration. He has to show he would be much different than these guys. Competent.

Second, since he would probably be the most hawkish candidate out there, a perception of significant new threat to the US might put him in a position to squeak by. Those republican voters out there want to vote republican...they won't vote democratic....so when an excuse comes along (new threat), they can place this reason above all others and vote McCain.

[Rene]

20. Wes Clark / Russ Feingold is the ticket

[Captain Hilts]

32. Go, baby go!!!! nt

[snowbear]

22. Poiuyt, sorry but YOUR candidate will not win dude..

He's too old..



He's too angry..



He lies through his dentures..



And he bends over and let's the ReTHUGS do whatever they want to him.



Forget it!

[Sugarcoated]

23. Where did you get that picture???

That's a scary one!

[snowbear]

25. It's on Google images.. along with this one:

"Miss Republican 2006"



Wow.. she sure looks a lot like Rush Limbaugh

[flaminbats]

28. if just one Republican supported universal healthcare..

that might be enough to win my vote for President...but never fear, that will never happen! why bother to win a majority of votes, if the party in power can always hold power just by always winning the electoral college with certain states?

sooner or later arrogance will bring the Republicans down, but how long will crime in government be ignored?

[Robbins]

29. Mccain

If Democrats nominate Hillary and Mccain is the Republican nominee He will win. Against Mccain
only Gore,or Feingold,or Edwards,or Clark could win. While I will vote for the eventully Dem nominee
Hillary can't beat Mccain. People need to understand that.

[TayTay]

33. Wasn't McCain with Bush when NOLA drowned

Wasn't he eating Birthday cake while the citizens of NOLA and the Gulf area were suffering through the after effects of the worst disaster in American History.

What did John McCain say the George Bush that day? Did he urge the Pres to go back to DC and start working to ensure the safety and health of the affected people in that region?

McCain claims to be on a straight-talk express about government waste, fraud and abuse. Please name me one significant law that McCain pushed for in this area and what it did?

This guy has feet of clay and he can be had. We have to have the will to take him down. He was involved in the banking scandal of the late 80's - early 90's. He plans on disregarding his own paltry campaign financing limits (as stated in the McCain/Feingold Act.)

He is not inevitable. He is a deeply flawed guy with a huge, self-serving ego, a really bad temper and a phony reputation for 'straight-talk.' He can had.

[Catchawave]

37. GOP nom will be a Gov !?

My prediction: Far removed from Bushco ties (NOT JEB!). Keep an eye on Romney and Huckabee.

I think McCain lost alot of his base when he didn't defend his family against the Rove Machine smears during the '00 primaries.

http://www.bartcopnation.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_top...

[ncrainbowgrrl]

53. I agree with you on Huckabee as a possible nom.

Especially with all of his diet/ healthier america stuff.

[cali]

39. Guaranteed to implode.

and you're wrong about the base of the repuke party. They viscerally hate McCain to a pathological degree. Judging by countless threads over in freeperville, they prefer Guiliani to McCain.

[Cosmocat]

40. Yeah ...

I think Guiliani is more in line with the people in power ...

I agree with the origional post about the OBVIOUS media bias toward McCain, against any democrat, except for some bizarre reason Joe Biden ... However, as badly as he wants it, McCain just is not cut from the same cloth as the snakes that really run the party ... He is doing as much as he can to get in line with them, but in the end, I think he gets pimped out by them ...

Jeb is the X factor ... I worry A LOT about any ticket with him as VP, cause that is going to be the ANNOINTED set ...

[mucho macho]

44. I BET

the pubbies actually try to run CHENEY for lack of a stronger candidate. Remember, he wasnt even on the short list for VP either.

[blm]

48. Agreed - McCain couldn't HANDLE the Vietnam normalization and relied

HEAVILY on John Kerry's calm and skills to get him through it. He even acknowledges that in his book - which I would guess is also available ON AUDIOTAPE.

[Douglas Carpenter]

41. your predictions sounds frighteningly possible

[mucho macho]

43. NO WAY

McLame can be swiftboated by us just like the pubs did to Kerry. Theres a long record of internet websites citing McCains preferential treatment in N. vietnam, some rumors of collaboration with the enemy,even a NVA statue of him supposedly, and a veterans group against him. Far more than what was leveled at Kerry in 04. He would be TOAST. Hope he dOES get the nod.

[WFF]

55. I think this is the staute

"The next stop on our tour of Hanoi is Truc Bach or Silk Lake. This small lake in the heart of Hanoi is the site where John McCain landed after ejecting from his airplane over Hanoi. Today, Silk Lake is a popular gathering spot, with colorful paddleboats, food stands and scenic views. There is a monument marking the spot where Senator McCain was pulled from the water by the citizens of Hanoi."

http://home.earthlink.net/~mccb/hanoi.html

[Libby2]

46. Oh fuck, just kill me now. nt

[newportdadde]

49. Mr. "American's wont pick lettuce for 50 bucks an hour." ?

[dback]

50. National Review this week dissed both McCain & Giuliani

Both seen as too liberal, and don't toe the party line hard enough.

If primary voters call the shots, the Republicans are going to push Sam Brownback (finally, a Kansan who's not Bob Dole!). The Christian Right LOVES him, and he'll be seen as the antidote to the "disappointment" that Bush has been. (For them, he's not conservative ENOUGH!)

[KansDem]

52. You mean this "John McCain?"