McCain, Obama....A year of shifting

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

The America people are calling for a end to the nonsense of the last 28 years.

The republicans are on the verge of nominating John McCain.  A candidate that has appeal to more than just the republican party.  He can attract independents and cross over voters.  The reaction from the republican conservatives is hardly stellar.

Let's see when was the last time we had a candidate that had broad appeal?  24 years ago folks.  That candidate was Ronald Wilson Reagan. 

Yes, the left wing of the democratic party,  some posting on this board,  considered Reagan an idiot and a moron.  They have spend the last 28 years bashing him.  We all know your so much intellectually superior to the masses, so you must be right.  Forget the truth he got over 90% of the electoral votes TWICE.  Yes, continue to appeal to 10% of the electoral votes.  You're so damn smart to save us from ourselves.

Meanwhile the republican party base has narrowed it's appeal to pure conservatives and evangelicals.  Forget the Reagen democrats and the cross over voters.  They are not "pure" enough for them.  We don't want their votes.  You are so morally superior that you going to save us from ourselves.  Your so intolerant that you'll turn your back on solid Republicans.  May I remind you of George H. Bush and how he was abandoned by the base for Ross Perot. He committed a sin.  He raised some taxes to lower the deficit.  Throw the bum out  to teach us that we didn't follow your narrow agenda.  Support a 3rd party candidates.  Give us Bill Clinton instead.

The party has turned into something that was rejecting very capable people such as George H Bush, Tommy Thompson, Tom Ridge, Colin Powell, John McCain, Rudy, Mitt Romney ( not the flip-flop version, the 2002 version ), Lamar Alexander among others.

Well, my fellow republicans, we supported more conservatives candidates such as George W. Bush, now is time for a change.  The whole republican party beyond just solid conservatives and the evangelicals are on the threshold of nominating a centrist.  On some issues center right and on some issues center left.   Yes, a centrist.  There is a centrist portion of the republican party, get over it. 

In terms of the democrats, Obama has made a real solid challenge.   Where the party is going is open.  You have the choice to gives us one of the most divisive politicians with Hillary or a different candidate Obama who appeals to independents also.  No other democratic candidate represents the intellectual superiority wing of the democratic party better than Hillary.  Her whole campaign is to come to Washington to fight and she's best qualified to fight.  Well, if you want to keep fighting, send us Hillary.  If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get.  Unless you're going to 60 LIBERAL senators, you'll lose.  You're not getting 60 Liberal senators.  It's a stupid approach doomed to lose.

Obama on the other side represents a different approach both to foreign policy and working with republicans.  My god, Obama understands that Ronald Reagan was a transformational president.  He took our tax rates down 24 categories to 3 categories and lowered top rate from 70% to high 30's.  I don't see any of the political left calling to go back to 24 categories and 70% tax rates.  He had ideas even if Obama didn't agree with a lot of them.  Somebody willing to not reject all republicans ideas as those from the idiots.  Imagine  !!!  May I remind democrats that Kennedy cut taxes while being quite liberal.  He did so because the time called for it even if it wasn't in the liberal play book.

Now may be the time to do some tax adjustments to handle deficit and social security not because it's the agenda of the left or they are beating the right.  It may simply be the right thing to do not an agenda item.   

I'm optimistic that the democrats may also give us a candidate that independents and centrist republicans could support even though his is a solid left candidate.   One who will consider other ideas and not just follow an agenda.

I sense a shift in 2008 beyond Red/Blue states. 

I hope I'm right

Go Mac go

Go Obama go

Let's end the nonsense
     



 

[Andy25]

FULL ACK

There was nothing possible worse for the USA and the world
than the presidency of GWB.

Any way it goes, it can't really get any worser.

Or can it? I sure hope not!

The next president will either be McCain, Obama or Clinton and all these three outperform
the current "president" even on their worst day in every issue.

[J. J.]

I think pollwatch99-b sums it up perfectly.

The difference this year is that the Republicans are very like to nominate McCain, and the Democrats are very unlikely to nominate Obama, this time.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

"There was nothing possible worse for the USA and the world
than the presidency of GWB."

Obama has the ability to be a transformational President and if nominated, I believe he will win.

McCain could be a solid ONE term president and I believe he will win if Hillary is nominated.  If that occurs, Obama will defeat him, his VP or whoever the republicans nominate in 2012. 

Hillary is the flip side of George W. Bush; the liberal alter-ego who is highly partisan also.  Her presidency I believe would mark time as Bill Clinton's did. 

In terms of George W., it appears that this has been a bad presidency for the US.  I say appears because if two unlikely things occur it could yet become an ok presidency which divided the world and US but still produced results.

IRAQ needs political unity even if the future ( 25% chance ) and Irasel & Palestine settlement this year ( 5% chance ).

To achieve them George W.  needs to be very, very lucky

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

"The difference this year is that the Republicans are very like to nominate McCain, and the Democrats are very unlikely to nominate Obama, this time"

If Obama is not nominated this year, I believe he will beat McCain in 4 years. 

[JohnnyLongtorso]

What exactly makes McCain a maverick? The only issue I can think of that he doesn't conform to the conservative party line is immigration.

Also, it wouldn't matter whether Hillary or Obama is president. Republicans will fight tooth and nail to block every piece of Democratic legislation regardless. It's what they've been doing since last year.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

"What exactly makes McCain a maverick? The only issue I can think of that he doesn't conform to the conservative party line is immigration"

McCain/Feingold Campaign Finance reform is hated by base.

McCain is softer on tax cuts.  He wanted targeted tax cuts in 2000 campaign for the
    middle class.  The base worries that instead of across the board cuts he'll
   compromise with Democrats on more targeted type cuts.   They are unwilling to
   accept that the tax cuts expire in 2010 and compromise may be necessary.

McCain supported Sandra O'Connor and would likely nominate judges like Roberts or O'Conner vs Thomas type judges.  The base blamed O'Conner for not getting a right wing conservative court. 

McCain supports Global warming initiatives hated by the base. 

McCain believes drug company prices should be lowered and that they are gouging the American consumer and Government.  The base supports free market no matter what...

McCain has a long history of not following the republican play party book so the base worries he isn't solid enough.  Too independent. 

I'm sure there are others

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

It's almost guaranteed that McCain or his VP Giuliani will lose in 2012 if the GOP wins this year anyway. No party has held the White House more than 12 years in the history of the US with the exception of FDR who was in office for four terms. The Dems will certainly win it in 2012 barring a wonderful first term my McCain with tremendous economic growth and an end to the Iraq war.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

No party has held the White House more than 12 years in the history of the US with the exception of FDR who was in office for four terms.

I assume you are talking about the twentieth century, since that is certainly not true of the nineteenth century.

[Хahar 🤔]

The America people are calling for a end to the nonsense of the last 28 years.

That includes the Reagan administration.

I don't see any of the political left calling to go back to 70% tax rates.

Me.

[Person Man]

"What exactly makes McCain a maverick? The only issue I can think of that he doesn't conform to the conservative party line is immigration"

McCain/Feingold Campaign Finance reform is hated by base.

McCain is softer on tax cuts.  He wanted targeted tax cuts in 2000 campaign for the
    middle class.  The base worries that instead of across the board cuts he'll
   compromise with Democrats on more targeted type cuts.   They are unwilling to
   accept that the tax cuts expire in 2010 and compromise may be necessary.

McCain supported Sandra O'Connor and would likely nominate judges like Roberts or O'Conner vs Thomas type judges.  The base blamed O'Conner for not getting a right wing conservative court. 

McCain supports Global warming initiatives hated by the base. 

McCain believes drug company prices should be lowered and that they are gouging the American consumer and Government.  The base supports free market no matter what...

McCain has a long history of not following the republican play party book so the base worries he isn't solid enough.  Too independent. 

I'm sure there are others

This doesn't make him a maverick, it makes him a centrist....but this is predicated on the fact that he will not nominate judges that will not overturn the last 30-50 years of jurisprudence and that HE WON'T stop Kyoto. I would perfer a highest tax rate at about 42 or 43%, by the way.

[8 out of 11 is not deserved]

For the person who wants to go back to 70%; lol

Some folks want to go back to the Gold standard also.  Ain't happening.

Raising high end ( depending on what it's going to fix like social security) may be needed but not for some pet entitlement program