Kerry/ McCain 2004

[Ben.]

This is from Politics 1…


KERRY-McCAIN 2004? A few weeks ago, we mentioned the idea that US Senator John McCain would be an intriguing VP runningmate choice for John Kerry. Of course, the problems with this option are that McCain is a Republican and has already endorsed Bush. Then again, McCain and Kerry are both decorated Vietnam vets and McCain really seems to dislike Bush (note: despite endorsing ush for foreign policy reasons, McCain constantly trashes Bush as fiscally irresponsible). Last week, McCain said he wouldn't be considered because he is pro-life and a free-trader -- but he didn't explicitly say "no" to the idea. A McCain staffer soon clarified that McCain plans to stay a Republican. On Wednesday, McCain seemed to reopen the door again to running on the Democratic ticket with Kerry. "John Kerry is a close friend of mine ... Obviously I would entertain it ... But I see no scenario where that would happen," said McCain on Good Morning America. Again note: McCain's answer again wasn't a "no."



Ok, ok I realise this is highly unlikely and at best this is probably a lot of hype about nothing that the “taking heads” on the net works have decided to float to boost ratings… but just ignore that for a moment and think how cool a Kerry/ McCain ticket would be!... I say this as a Dem who voted for Gore in 2000 but would probably have voted for McCain had he been the GOP nominee …but any thoughts about this?      

[agcatter]

Kerry-McCain.  Hmmm.  Could you possibly find two bigger egos anywhere on the planet?

That was a funny statement yesterday coming from a guy who is supposed to be co chairman of the Bush campaign in Arizona.  With John McCain it's always about John McCain.

[Wakie]

Kerry-McCain.  Hmmm.  Could you possibly find two bigger egos anywhere on the planet?

Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly

[agcatter]

or maybe Al Franken and Michael Moore.

The most dangerous place on the planet would be the area between McCain and a microphone.... any microphone...anywhere...anytime

[12th Doctor]

This will never happen.  There would be a Bush/McCain 04, long before there would be a Kerry McCain 04.

[Ben.]

Let this "Blue Dog" dream....

[zachman]

Why does everyone think McCain has anger problems? He is a perfectly nice and concerned guy.

If McCain does bash Kerry its over, if he doen't its pretty likely.

[Reaganfan]

How about Giuliani/McCain 2008 or McCain/Giuliani?

[zachman]

Giuliani is getting pretty old though. In 2016 he will be 72.

[angus]

This is from Politics 1…


KERRY-McCAIN 2004? A few weeks ago, we mentioned the idea that US Senator John McCain would be an intriguing VP runningmate choice for John Kerry. Of course, the problems with this option are that McCain is a Republican and has already endorsed Bush. Then again, McCain and Kerry are both decorated Vietnam vets and McCain really seems to dislike Bush (note: despite endorsing ush for foreign policy reasons, McCain constantly trashes Bush as fiscally irresponsible). Last week, McCain said he wouldn't be considered because he is pro-life and a free-trader -- but he didn't explicitly say "no" to the idea. A McCain staffer soon clarified that McCain plans to stay a Republican. On Wednesday, McCain seemed to reopen the door again to running on the Democratic ticket with Kerry. "John Kerry is a close friend of mine ... Obviously I would entertain it ... But I see no scenario where that would happen," said McCain on Good Morning America. Again note: McCain's answer again wasn't a "no."



Ok, ok I realise this is highly unlikely and at best this is probably a lot of hype about nothing that the “taking heads” on the net works have decided to float to boost ratings… but just ignore that for a moment and think how cool a Kerry/ McCain ticket would be!... I say this as a Dem who voted for Gore in 2000 but would probably have voted for McCain had he been the GOP nominee …but any thoughts about this?      

I dunno Ben.  Tough one.  A McCain-Kerry ticket is a winner, but Kerry-McCain...

Just so you know, "But I see no scenario where that would happen," is Yuppie Orwellian Newspeak for "Hell no!"

Now, I gather you're more on the right wing of the DNC, whereas I'm way out there on the left wing of the RNC.  Fair enough?  As a pure theoretical construct, the K/M ticket is worth considering.  But, let's consider the problems with that:

First, Democrats would feel betrayed.  Screw you I'll vote for Ralph.

Second, Republicans would feel betrayed.  (but republicans usually get over that sort of thing a little easier.)

Third, and this is key, and has been stated by Supersoulty, If McCain was (even theoretically) interested in being VP, he would be Bush's VP, not Kerry's.

But most importantly, McCain is a loyal Republican.  Loyal Republicans don't sleep with Democrats.  Know what I mean?  

[angus]

To Clarify:

All the Republicans over at BJU think McCain's a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing.  n'est-ce pas, mon ami?  In other words, he's a "Liberal Republican" okay.  Very pejorative label, I think.  So of course he's angry all the time.  But he does love his country.  And he's an honest and honorable man.  At least the way I see it.  But given Kerry's record of voting in favor of Defense budget cuts, the only reason he'd want McCain would be to win.  Not because they see eye-to-eye.  Balancing out the ticket ideologically is one thing, and I'd advise Kerry to do just that, but picking a running mate who is your total opposite sort of defeats the purpose of trying to defeat Bush.  Wouldn't you agree?

[Gustaf]

Giuliani is getting pretty old though. In 2016 he will be 72.

Churchill, Reagan...

[dazzleman]

If McCain were to go on the ticket with Kerry, it would indicate that his ego and desire for revenge had overtaken his idea of what was good for the country.

I admired his behavior greatly when he visited Vietnam in 2000.  He said flat out while in Vietnam that the wrong side one, and when asked if he was concerned about the Vietnamese government's reaction to his comment, he simply answered that he didn't care what their reaction was.

I voted for McCain in the 2000 primary, and I still like him in a way, but I no longer really trust him.  He is such a maverick that nobody could ever know how he would really act if he ever got into office.  The fact that so many liberal Dean supporters like him gives me great reservations about him at this point.

[zachman]

McCain is like Jekyll and Hyde to me. When he is a maverick, and is thinking about what would be best for America he is like Jekyll. When he breaks character and says Bush is doing a fine job he is Hyde, his hypocrisy on this has mademe anry at him. But he can still redeem himself...

[zachman]

I can see that McCain is not really wholeheartedly behind Bush, and is only reading off his lines from the RNC. I do not see how McCain could have much respect for Bush, particularly a Bush campaign.

[angus]

Kerry-McCain.  Hmmm.  Could you possibly find two bigger egos anywhere on the planet?

bill'n'hill.

zachman, McCain does come off as a little schizophrenic, doesn't he.  But then, I'll call bush a big spending liberal in one breath, then say he's a great commander-in-chief in the next.  It's not uncommon for people to be able to see the advantages and disadvantages in a situation.  McCain's biggest problem, in my opinion, is his religious zeal for campaign finance reform.

Andrew Sullivan is still pining for a Kerry-McCain ticket:

http://www.andrewsullivan.com/

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

In generally, I would warn Kerry against choose a running mate who is too conservative (Bayh, Breaux), but for McCain, I would make an exception, if Kerry could get him.

A Kerry-MCCain ticket would win in a landslide, and could create real political realignment in this country.  Kerry and McCain would at least be united on the campaign's most important issues, since unlike Bayh and Breaux, McCain voted against Bush's recent tax cuts.

[zachman]

I think Kerry/McCain would definitely win, but it still wouldn't be a landslide. McCain causes too much contrast, and is not a good complement to Kerry, but is still a nightmare to Bush non-the-less.

[Reaganfan]

Giuliani is getting pretty old though. In 2016 he will be 72.

So. If anything, he will leave after his first term at 68, or his second at 72. Reagan was not even in his second term at 72.

[opebo]

I can see that McCain is not really wholeheartedly behind Bush, and is only reading off his lines from the RNC. I do not see how McCain could have much respect for Bush, particularly a Bush campaign.

I don't have much respect for McCain.

[© tweed]

Again, I think McCain would take the VP slot if Kerry offered it to him, but, I don't think Kerry will offer it.

[© tweed]

[zachman]

McCain would kill Bush on responsible national defense.

[© tweed]

McCain would kill Bush on responsible national defense.

He would kill Bush on almost anything.

[zachman]

That would fill Kerry's defense misperception.