The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I swear, if McCain gets the nom against Hillary, I will vote for him as a nod to national reconcillation.

I find this puzzling. Although, I must say, you are certainly not the first liberal I have heard express that if Hillary and McCain get the nomination, they will vote Republican.

Basically McCain's platform has been that there are going to be lots more wars and he wouldn't have any problem with seeing the Iraq war last 100 years. Personally, I would vote for an ostrich before I would back someone with that mentality and see it played out over the next four or, potentially, eight years.

I understand that you don't like Hillary, I understand that it is important to take a stance. But the ultimate importance, IMO, is that we have someone who is willing to defend this country against any enemy, but not someone who keeps a box of tissues nearby to assist them in their fantasies of perpetual war.

Granted, McCain is playing to the base. Granted, he is a veteran of war and, unlike the chimp in command, actually has some clue as to the horror that is war. But, in the event that he isn't just pandering and actually feels this way, I will have a glaring eye, and more than a few words, towards any Democrat who gives him their vote, should more wars of aggression break out. There is a bigger picture here than just a visceral hatred for someone because they are a Clinton. There is too much at stake, IMO.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

I understand that you don't like Hillary, ... There is a bigger picture here than just a visceral hatred for someone because they are a Clinton.

No, you misunderstand. I like Hllary, always have. I would like her to be president of the united states. Personally, that's who I'd choose (if she were the Dem nominee ... there are other Dem candidates I prefer).

But Hillary is one of the most divisive figures in American politics. Perhaps even more so than George Bush. I think Republicans hate her with far more venom than Democrats hate Bush.

And so I'm willing to vote for someone who will not keep half the country absolutely despising the president. I haven't liked that sensation the past seven years ... and just because it would now be "my guy" (er, gal) in the White House doesn't make the quasi civil-warness of it any more palatible to me.



As for McCain, I've simply always admired him ... even when I don't agree with him. I don't think he's a war monger, and I don't get the impression he'd be out to invade other countries willy-nilly. His stance that we're going to maintain a military presence in Iraq doesn't concern me. We are whether he's president or not. Name the place on earth where the U.S. has conducted military action and not retained a presence for ever after.


Frankly, I don't think Hillary's any more of a "peacemaker" choice. I think there's something to STC's assertion that she's going to strive to demonstrate the bigger (invisible) penis.


I'd still rather she win for the whole woman president thing (and the Bill as First Fella gimmick). But I'm reluctant to vote for the reviled person, even if it's not my "team" that reviles her.