LUCILLE: Let's Hear What John McCain has to say. . .

Comments

[Eric]

No doubt the McCain supporters will criticize that video as taking things out of context. But deep down they know it's accurate.

[Monty]

Interesting this politics thing. So much attention to how and when Hillary will 'gracefully bow out'. And, it seems it is all about seeing if she can raise more money to get paid back what she lent to the campaign. And, now we will get down to brass tacks on the real battle between the two parties. Will be interesting to see how it plays. I haven't yet bumped into ANYONE who is good at predicting campaigns. There are so many 'talking heads', but I haven't found one that is good at predicting. What would 90% of the people we know have said 12 months ago if you had said you have a crystal ball and the candidates will be Obama versus McCain? Back then Giuliani seemed unstoppable on the Republican side. Romney seemed prominent. McCain has never been a preferred conservative candidate. Obama was too new, and Hilary seemed unstoppable. What happened in the meantime ? Poor tactics by Giuliani and Clinton? What else?

I am not happy about Obama. When we get to know him we will find that he is too far to the left and generally too 'wishy washy'. (Before you respond, let me remind you that I have not been happy with any republicans either. So, please don't respond by stating that he will be better than Bush and the republicans. That is a given). As I had read the tea-leaves, there would be one of two scenarios that would develop once the republicans had one candidate and the democrats were left fighting. One scenario was that the democrats would do so much damage to each other that McCain would benefit. The other scenario was that they would hog the airways, and McCain would not. So, they would benefit.

Ironically, what I think has happened is a combination. Firstly, there was a scrap, but I think the 'damage' is not so great. Hilary will pursue a graceful exit that will unite the party. If she doesn't, she will be hated. So, she will. Shortly there will be a largely united effort aimed at winning the election. In the meantime, Obama has improved as a candidate. Let's face it - Being a candidate gets better with practice - Like tennis. Both Hilary and Obama look better on the stump than they did 12 months ago. Unfortunately, it is too late for Hilary. In the meantime, McCain has not been seen. Obama says he has been 'given a pass'. I dont agree. Who was it who said - 'There is only one thing worse that being talked about - That is - Not being talked about'? McCain has 'not been talked about' for the past couple of months. I dont think this is a 'pass'. I think it is oblivion. So, I think he has more to benefit by returning to the lime-light, than he has to loose by getting more scrutiny. The polls will get closer once it becomes 'one on one'..

How this will all now play out is difficult to predict. And a number of items could change it drastically, such as Terrorist activity, which would favor McCain. Or further economic decline, which would favor Obama. But let's see - I prefer McCain. I am not super enthusiastic about either. Any republican candidate at this moment would be behind. The republican party has been a disaster. It doesn't mean conservatism is bad. It means this has been a sloppy, corrupt, group of panderers. McCain is the underdog. But, we really dont know how it will all play out - And there is no 'talking head' out there who does..

In the meantime, 100,000's are dying in Asia in earthquakes and cyclones and nobody is noticing...Edwards is 'being talked about'. China is not.

[Lucille]

I felt all along that McCain would be the best hope for the GOP - the rest had too many negatives; Mormonism, Guiliani's scandal ridden past and poor, poor judgement on Kerick, to name a few. McCain has this (undeserved) profile as a maverick and a man of integrity.

Undeserved? Well, let's look at the definition of both words. Can someone claim to have integrity when he brazenly panders to the religious right by shifting positions on "agents of intolerance" not the least of which was accepting and being proud of an endorsement by Hagee? He's also gone from saying he wouldn't tinker with Roe v Wade to saying that he'd work had to overturn it. He voted against the Bush tax cuts and now suddenly supports them - with no real justification for his change of heart. And what about the immigration legislation that he CO-SPONSORED? Now he says he would vote against it!

In an earlier election, he and especially his family was eviserated by Bush's minions, yet he's turned his back on his wife and child to now embrace this man. Turning the other cheek is one thing, but what he has basically turned his back on was the race baiting and slime that Bush's team used against him.

But, mostly, it's his willingness - just like Hillary - to say or do anything to get elected. "I wanted them to think me still an honest man, who simply had to cut a corner a little here and there so that I could go on to be an honest president." That's from McCain's 2002 memoir.

As for being a maverick, how can he claim that when he's voted with the Administration 95% of the time? So although saying "better than Bush" isn't an argument, saying "same as Bush" is. His "maverick" reputation comes more, I think, from his bad temper and his willingness to get nasty with his fellow Senators and their staffs. Hopefully, we'll see some of this during the campaign.

Speaking of which, yes, he's been somewhat ignored lately, but throughout the primaries and whenever he's on tv or radio, the press throws him softballs. Even Jon Stewart. He knows how to play them and they like him for giving them access. But did you ever hear HIM asked why he doesn't wear an American flag pin, which they skewered Obama over? Or did they ever question his turnaround on torture? Or his cozy relationship with lobbyists (who actually make lobbying phone calls from the "Straight Talk Express" bus)? Or his "proud to be supported by" hate mongering ministers?

No. On those issues and many others he's gotten a free pass from the National media. But not from the Arizona media. Take some time to read what they think of him. . . .not much.

As for Hillary, I don't blame her for sticking it out, but I do abhor her tactics especailly her latest "white hard working people" comment. Disgraceful. I can understand why she is reluctant to stop - not only the money but also just the momemtum. But with John Edwards endorsement for Barack, she needs an atom bomb dropping on Obama to pull it out, I think. but who knows?

The thing that cracks me up is the real possibility that an attack will help McCain and the GOP. they are the guys who have screwed up so much, given Al Qaeda an incredible recruitment tool and let Afganistan go to pot (or poppy as the case might be). Believing that the military needs and deserves unlimited funds while ignoring the actual people in the military who do the work doesn't bode well for success. No plan before going in. No plan to get out. No oversight for the billions and billions spent with contractors (remember how they said using contractor s would save us money?). Running up unbelievable debt and no oversight of the financial and mortgage industry, leading to finanacial chaos and no funds to invest in the country to help us out of this global crisis (yes - if there wasn't such huge debt the government could create infratstruxture and other jobs to prop up our economy instead of a silly stimulu s package and the 2-3 mailings I got telling me how great it is for the economy).

So, is Obama weak and too liberal? History has shown that the people who actually get things done are the ones who can inspire and create consensus. Barack has a history of working compromises, though he starts out from the left. He is eloquent thus able to inspire. He' s a real uniter - just ask anyone from Chicago where divisions are really deep. And he is smart. All of those things have been lacking and I don't think McCain can do them. His idea of compromise is cursing out his opponent, berating congressinal staffers and occassionally finding common ground. Sorry, i think if he's there we can look forward to 10 + years more in Iraq (was that a timeline he suggested?), more hatred for the US and war spreading to Iran and elsewhere. that's what the military contrators, oil executive and Blackwater want - you know, the military industrial complex Eisenhower warned against.

I also think this primary season has actually helped Obama. He slew a giant, got to deal with tough issues and put them behind him, became a better campaigner on a one to one basis and won the fight with Hillary. He's more seasoned and a fast learner. Not to say dealing with her is like dealing with the sleazemasters like Rove, but it's a good scrum.

[Blam123]

I prefer hearing what Barack Hussein Obama has to say about his terrorist minister

[Arnie]

Who in their right mind would vote for this guy?