I saw the clips of McCain trying to calm some angry attendees of a campaign stop. I must go on record that I do like that he at least tried to "set the record straight" on the issue of Obama's religion, and that there was no reason to fear Obama. Now, granted, his campaign pretty much capitalized on ramping up that fear, but I did respect that he called Obama a decent man, and one he (McCain) respected for his accomplishments, etc.

 

If McCain could "turn around" the rhetoric, muzzle Palin's attacks, could he see a bounce back?

At times, McCain seems determined to follow Bob Dole's footsteps into political oblivion. Palin does not need a muzzle, she needs a running mate who shares her optimism and energy.

At times, McCain seems determined to follow Bob Dole's footsteps into political oblivion. Palin does not need a muzzle, she needs a running mate who shares her optimism and energy.

Exactly, McCain needs to attack Obama on things like ACORN.

At times, McCain seems determined to follow Bob Dole's footsteps into political oblivion. Palin does not need a muzzle, she needs a running mate who shares her optimism and energy.

 

 

I disagree. McCain needs a running mate th who displays integrity and a focus on the issues, instead of misleading attacks.

 

I have said before, and am saying again, I have no real issue with McCain. If he were to be elected by the people to lead this country, I have no real qualms with that result. I do question his judgement in choosing to blatantly try to capture disgruntled female Clinton voters. But, I am intrigued enough by the man himself to see if he could indeed be a "maverick" in the White House. I do think there's an inherent decency in McCain, although I was surprised by the nasty side I saw in Debate #2. I think, though, that that side was brought out, out of frustration. As someone who succumbs to such behavior herself, I can at least understand that.

 

While Palin may be more popular than McCain, as you've said in the past about Obama, popularity doesn't mean substance (loosely paraphrased and gleaned of multiple posts).

 

Again, if McCain had chosen someone (male or female) who I considered more legitimate, I would have considered very seriously voting for him. The fact that he is disdained by uber-conservatives is enough for me to examine his platform carefully. :lol: I'm not a flaming liberal. I'm obviously not an uber-conservative. I'm somewhere in the middle. If the most conservative of conservatives is less than enchanted, there must be something of him to consider for those of us in the middle.

Exactly, McCain needs to attack Obama on things like ACORN.

Maybe McCain needs to explain what it is about Obama that he respects. Is it his extremely liberal voting record? His failure to respect human life by denying the right of medical treatment to newborn babies? His shady political alliances and personal associates and his dishonesty in describing those associations? His practice of funneling tax dollars to those shady associates? Obama's failure to condemn the 527's and the Daily Kos for their despicable and dishonest smears against McCain's running mate?

 

McCain is acting like a man who either wants to lose the election or is so confident that he will win that he does not want to antagonize the supporters of the losing candidate. If the latter is true, then there must be one doozy of an October surprise in the works.

I disagree. McCain needs a running mate th who displays integrity and a focus on the issues, instead of misleading attacks.

 

I have said before, and am saying again, I have no real issue with McCain. If he were to be elected by the people to lead this country, I have no real qualms with that result. I do question his judgement in choosing to blatantly try to capture disgruntled female Clinton voters. But, I am intrigued enough by the man himself to see if he could indeed be a "maverick" in the White House. I do think there's an inherent decency in McCain, although I was surprised by the nasty side I saw in Debate #2. I think, though, that that side was brought out, out of frustration. As someone who succumbs to such behavior herself, I can at least understand that.

 

While Palin may be more popular than McCain, as you've said in the past about Obama, popularity doesn't mean substance (loosely paraphrased and gleaned of multiple posts).

 

Again, if McCain had chosen someone (male or female) who I considered more legitimate, I would have considered very seriously voting for him. The fact that he is disdained by uber-conservatives is enough for me to examine his platform carefully. :lol: I'm not a flaming liberal. I'm obviously not an uber-conservative. I'm somewhere in the middle. If the most conservative of conservatives is less than enchanted, there must be something of him to consider for those of us in the middle.

You consistently defended Obama before and after he selected Palin as his running mate. What I cannot understand is how religious people can support a candidate who actively opposed the state of Illinois' Born-Alive Infant Protection Act and then was caught lying about his reasons for opposing it. Why does such a man deserve anybody's respect and support?

 

How does any of the allegations that Palin has made about Obama top the nastiness of Obama accusing the folks at National Right to Life, Jill Stanek, and abortion survivor, Gianna Jessen, of telling "despicable lies" about his record, when they were in fact telling the truth?

You consistently defended Obama before and after he selected Palin as his running mate. What I cannot understand is how religious people can support a candidate who actively opposed the state of Illinois' Born-Alive Infant Protection Act and then was caught lying about his reasons for opposing it. Why does such a man deserve anybody's respect and support?

 

How does any of the allegations that Palin has made about Obama top the nastiness of Obama accusing the folks at National Right to Life, Jill Stanek, and abortion survivor, Gianna Jessen, of telling "despicable lies" about his record, when they were in fact telling the truth?

 

 

I did defend Obama, because I felt the attacks were unfair and biased. I also asked for people to give me reasons to support McCain. In response, I got more attacks on Obama.

 

As a person who feels that religion is important, I do have qualms about the abortion issue. But at the same time, and for the same reasons (religious), I feel the NEED for such decisions need to be fought by individuals and the impact is to be effected by each individual and community finding a way to fight the issue within their own realm of influence.

I did defend Obama, because I felt the attacks were unfair and biased. I also asked for people to give me reasons to support McCain. In response, I got more attacks on Obama.

 

As a person who feels that religion is important, I do have qualms about the abortion issue. But at the same time, and for the same reasons (religious), I feel the NEED for such decisions need to be fought by individuals and the impact is to be effected by each individual and community finding a way to fight the issue within their own realm of influence.

Infanticide and abortion are separate issues. A baby born alive is no longer a "non-viable fetus."

 

Obama lying about the circumstances of his vote is also a separate issue that calls into serious question his character. Accusing others of lying, when in fact, Obama was lying, is all the more reason to question whether Obama has the character necessary to meet the challenges of the presidency.

 

These are valid issues to raise during a campaign and I applaud Sarah Palin for having the courage to raise them. People should be outraged at the prospect of a man so lacking in character becoming president.

Infanticide and abortion are separate issues. A baby born alive is no longer a "non-viable fetus."

 

Obama lying about the circumstances of his vote is also a separate issue that calls into serious question his character. Accusing others of lying, when in fact, Obama was lying, is all the more reason to question whether Obama has the character necessary to meet the challenges of the presidency.

 

These are valid issues to raise during a campaign and I applaud Sarah Palin for having the courage to raise them. People should be outraged at the prospect of a man so lacking in character becoming president.

 

 

Well, as this thread (which I started) was to discuss the potential of McCain, and it's yet again been turned into a "raise questions about Obama" thread, I'll just write it off that again, there's no comment about McCain's potential.

Well, as this thread (which I started) was to discuss the potential of McCain, and it's yet again been turned into a "raise questions about Obama" thread, I'll just write it off that again, there's no comment about McCain's potential.

My post is entirely on topic. My point is that McCain is wrong to chastise his supporters for not respecting Obama because many of them, including myself, sincerely and fervently believe that Obama does not deserve such respect. We believe that an Obama presidency is something to fear. McCain should be debating Obama and Obama's supporters - not his own supporters.

 

If McCain runs the kind of McCain that you and Obama's supporters want him to run, then he will be trounced. That was the lesson of Bob Dole's run against Clinton and apparently the lesson was lost on Senator McCain.

My post is entirely on topic. My point is that McCain is wrong to chastise his supporters for not respecting Obama because many of them, including myself, sincerely and fervently believe that Obama does not deserve such respect. We believe that an Obama presidency is something to fear. McCain should be debating Obama and Obama's supporters - not his own supporters.

 

If McCain runs the kind of McCain that you and Obama's supporters want him to run, then he will be trounced. That was the lesson of Bob Dole's run against Clinton and apparently the lesson was lost on Senator McCain.

 

I see alot of Bob Dole in the way McCain is going about his election run. Unfortunately the way they express themselves is no way near that of Bill Clinton or Barack Obama.

I see alot of Bob Dole in the way McCain is going about his election run. Unfortunately the way they express themselves is no way near that of Bill Clinton or Barack Obama.

Dole was a quick-witted, smart, and funny guy. His handlers decided that if he campaigned as himself that his sarcasm might turn off the voters. So, for most of the campaign, he ran a dull, respectful campaign. By the time that Dole decided to be Dole, he was too far behind to catch up with Clinton.

 

I agree that McCain is also running a cautious campaign. Treating an inexperience socialist candidate like Obama with the same respect that an honest, well qualified candidate would deserve, only legitimizes Obama's candidacy and reassures voters who should be scared stiff of an Obama presidency.

If McCain could "turn around" the rhetoric, muzzle Palin's attacks, could he see a bounce back?

 

It's too late. The damage has been done.

 

In an election year following the Bush Presidency, conventional wisdom would suggest that a Republican wouldn't have a prayer. But, McCain wasn't a run of the mill Republican. His sincerity, proclivity for honesty, bipartisanship, experience, and heroism made him the most formidable candidate a Democrat could face. Despite Obama's popularity there were plenty of questions about his experience and his liberal voting record. I thought McCain would win this election. I said that nearly a year ago. What I didn't count on was him caving to conservative demands and running the dumbest campaign he could have possibly ran. This campaign has made John Kerry's look competent. I can't think of a single good decision this campaign has made since he challenged Obama to ten town hall debates in May. If you remember, this race was a statistical tie most of the summer. Now it's a drubbing.

 

If anything, I can only hope that pandering to conservative advice will adopt the stigma of a useless enterprise. It appears too late, however, as they've created their monster in Palin.

McCain is done. He's embarassing himself. Either the Republican party is trying to handoff this country's problems to the Democrats, or McCain is running for the Mr. Rogers award.

A question for the so-called middle of the roaders.

 

Why is an ultra-liberal more desireable then a conservative?

 

Obama is the most liberal candidate of my lifetime. Why is that acceptable but a hard line conservative isn't?

 

and FWIW I don't consider McCain OR Bush hardline conservatives.