All About McCain

[BDBopper]

So why are many people seeming to base their vote on the VP? I think there are several reasons

1. The primary season was very long and packed to the brim with candidates and the supporters of the candidates that lost had a bitter taste of their nominee in their mouth. The Democratic Primary season was long and bitter. Over in the GOP the least popular candidate beforehand ended up winning by default

2. Good, bad, or indifferent voting for a 3rd party Presidential candidate is now seen as a wasted vote and people were looking for an excuse to vote for either of the major parties.

3. It's very politically incorrect but no Senator who has been elected President has ever survived office (from various causes). With two Senators running against each other looking and even basing your decision on the VP makes a little more sense than usual in a morbid sort of way.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by BDBopper

So why are many people seeming to base their vote on the VP? I think there are several reasons

I think it is primarily that this is the news of the day. In another two months when it comes time to vote I think there'll be very few people who claim the VPs had much impact on their decision.

[innerSpaceman]

That seems to be a very prevalent Hillary theory. So, I'm wondering ... will she garner some respect from Obama supporters, and even some from Conservative Hillary Tin-Hatters ... if she wholeheartedly uses her unique position and status to destroy the threat Palin's gender politics?

[scaeagles]

OK, so if I understand what you're saying, you think Hillary gains political strength by campaigning harder for Obama by going after Palin? I agree that could definitely happen, but I wonder what it gains her considering her ultimate goal is the Presidency. Hillary will be.....69 in 2016? Is that right? Something like that anyway. I don't know if she believe she can wait that long, particularly not knowing what other young dems (like Obama) will be coming into the national mix.

I don't see Hillary being content with anything less than the Presidency. A cabinet position, and ambassadorship....nice, certainly, but not what she wants. If she resigns herself that she'll never have the Presidency and gives up on that, it certainly changes the near term political structure.

[innerSpaceman]

Whether that's her goal or not, she's smart enough to know she doesn't have the power to sabotage Obama's bid. The only thing she can do in her own best interests is to maintain her status in the Democratic party and bide her time. That's best done by putting on a happy face and campaigning as hard as possible for Barack.

As big an ego as she's got, I bet she's even self-aware enough to know she doesn't have the power to tilt the election his way, so she's really got nothing to lose and everything to gain by appearing to do her party-loyal best.


She's been given a golden ticket to do that more in the public eye by being a perfect foil for McCain's chosen ticket-mate. She'd be stupid to pass that up, and she's anything but stupid.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Whether that's her goal or not, she's smart enough to know she doesn't have the power to sabotage Obama's bid.

It depends. If she had something really, really bad on him she would have used it in the primaries. So she may not be able to sabotage him. It's really, then, about what her state of mind is and how burning her desire for the power of the Presidency is.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

It's really, then, about what her state of mind is and how burning her desire for the power of the Presidency is.

With the exception of being very disappointed, I think her state of mind is just fine. I didn't see any irregular face twitching or uncontrolled manic laughter. Just someone trying to keep a smile on their face, while being disappointed inside.

And as far as her "burning desire for the Presidency," since when is that a bad thing? Personally, I like seeing determination in a person. And just because she is determined, it doesn't seem reason enough to start painting her as if she is some sinister character in a political novel.

If McCain wins, two things happen - First, Hillary almost certainly runs again in four years. And second, the country is subjected to another four years of Republican policies. And that likely means a severe shifting of balance on the Supreme Court, not to mention all of the other impending damage that four more years of failed policies would mean. Hillary understands that the implications of the latter outweigh the gains of the former.

Hillary realizes that this was her best chance, and that part is sure to be eating at her. But she also understands that it is imperative that a Democrat get elected, if things like Roe V Wade are important to her, or alternative energy, or health care, or anything else she holds dear. And were she to sabotage the Obama campaign, it would inflict far more damage than any positive gains. She isn't that stupid.

I would like to see her gain a cabinet position. And who knows, maybe Biden will only stick around for 4 years, then she could slip into the VP role and be ready for 2016. I don't know. What I do know is that she's not this bloodthirsty vampire that she is made out to be. And even if she were, she still isn't stupid.

[tracilicious]

Besides that, call me naive, but I think Hillary might actually want what's best for the country. More Republicans are not what's best.

[CoasterMatt]

I think more Republican governing is what the country needs, but not in the guise of McCain/Bush types.

The last good Republican president was Bill Clinton.

[innerSpaceman]

Exactly. I never understood why the Republicans didn't adore him.


To me, that's when the Republicans revealed their true nature. Nothing to do with their principles of governance. Simply bickering party politics of competitive gamesmanship.


Bill Clinton was a Republican president through and through.