Where McCain went wrong...

[Stunt]

McCain to sew up the Republican nomination (he came so close to winning in 2000) spent far too much time pleasing the base and siding with Bush over the last 8 years.
McCain's views and policies are different enough to make a significant distinction between him and Bush at the time. Had he contrasted himself with the president we would see a totally different situation today. Not to mentiona all the personal attacks that McCain should not have let go in 2000; he should have stuck to his guns and maintained his 'maverick' status.

It's almost like the Republicans are admitting their mistake from 2000...unfortunately McCain is no longer the man from a decade ago. At this point McCain needs to come right out and trash talk Bush knowing the Republican base will never vote Obama. The president has a 24% approval rating...who is McCain afraid of offending? It's not like he'll get another chance in 2012

Obama has got a free ride this election...under any other circumstances, he would not be elected president. I have a huge amount of respect for the man, but I just don't think it was his time. Although given the choices I agree with most Americans that the Republicans do not deserve another go in the white house maybe not even for the next few elections. They have abandoned their principles of fiscal conservatism and family values in favor of corporate handouts and the old boys club.

I feel bad for all Americans today. How do you allow such mediocre politicians to take the helm of your country?

 

[nageov3t]

McCain never really had a chance at this election, after 8 years of GOP rule and with the president's approval ratings in the 20's.

without solidifying the republican base, though, odious of a task as it may be, he'd have had even less of a chance.

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: loki8481
McCain never really had a chance at this election, after 8 years of GOP rule and with the president's approval ratings in the 20's.

without solidifying the republican base, though, odious of a task as it may be, he'd have had even less of a chance.

I disagree...
Don't most hispanics not like black people, and Obama had a tough time with that group?
McCain should have left his immigration view and aggressively went for that group as hispanics make up tons of the population. Then shore up support with the base by advertising Obama as a baby killer and turn out the values voters united against democrats and 'activist liberal judges'.
It could have worked...
I am by no means a social conservative, but I know how it works with those fundies in the Republican party. Just take one wedge issue, don't take on the whole Bush platform and 8 years on your shoulders....like jeez...

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: loki8481
McCain never really had a chance at this election, after 8 years of GOP rule and with the president's approval ratings in the 20's.

without solidifying the republican base, though, odious of a task as it may be, he'd have had even less of a chance.

McCain certainly had a chance, but he needed the "X" factor on his ticket to combat Obama's charisma and "freshness".

He thought it was Palin. He was wrong. It will probably cost him the election.

 

[Stunt]

Should have picked Romney or at least Huckabee...Huck would have been fresh enough for McCain to win.
Clinton voters are not that dumb enough to just plain vote for a woman; they are all old ugly women who resent beauty pagent-like women...haha

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: Stunt
Clinton voters are not that dumb enough to just plain vote for a woman; they are all old ugly women who resent beauty pagent-like women...haha

:Q

When McCain first picked Palin, my wife and I looked at each other and figured "she'll either make him or break him."

She did both. Numbers skyrocketed after the pick, but then she spoke. Oops.

 

[chess9]

The political orthodoxy is to feed your base and never get out in front of your troops because you will get shot that way. You are suggesting both for McCain. He would have had to lead from a position well in front of his base. That just wouldn't work with conservatives. Liberals can be led from in front, and as a matter of fact the farther in front you are the more likely you are to be adored. We just haven't seen a whacky idea we wouldn't at least try once.

Having said all of this, there is a month left. McCain can still win this thing, although I think his chances are fading fast with this economy gone South. Old soldiers never die....

-Robert

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: Stunt
Should have picked Romney or at least Huckabee...Huck would have been fresh enough for McCain to win.
Clinton voters are not that dumb enough to just plain vote for a woman; they are all old ugly women who resent beauty pagent-like women...haha

I agree Huck would have been a much better choice. He's a good speaker, and he would of got the religious vote. And he's not stupid.

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Stunt
Should have picked Romney or at least Huckabee...Huck would have been fresh enough for McCain to win.
Clinton voters are not that dumb enough to just plain vote for a woman; they are all old ugly women who resent beauty pagent-like women...haha

I agree Huck would have been a much better choice. He's a good speaker, and he would of got the religious vote. And he's not stupid.

Huckabee would have turned off a lot of Independent voters with his religious views. Having said that, if I were just the slightest bit religious and quite a bit more conservative, I would have found him appealing if for no other reason than his sense of humor, which is still intact. (Unlike McCain) And, yes, Huckabee has a brain.

-Robert

 

[Squisher]

OP, I approve of this message.

I would also have liked that his tax plan didn't include any breaks for higher income tax payers. As much as I'm aligned with the principle of trickle down, the last two decades have seen too much of this money going into the pockets of individuals and not as efficiently used for wealth building.

As much as it would have been uncomfortable for him I would have also have liked him to utilize advisors that were squeaky clean, no lobbyist, no big oil, etc. He could have made some real hay from this given some of Obama's advisor's checkered pasts, banking, etc.

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: chess9
Liberals can be led from in front, and as a matter of fact the farther in front you are the more likely you are to be adored.

Yeah, Lieberman must really be feeling the love right about now

 

[JS80]

he beat Romney is where he went wrong.

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: chess9
Liberals can be led from in front, and as a matter of fact the farther in front you are the more likely you are to be adored.

Yeah, Lieberman must really be feeling the love right about now

LOL. Gotta' love Joe. He's a good man but he's nuts for the war. We all have our blind spots, eh?

Meanwhile, McCain is more than 40 points down on Obama on Intrade. The smart money is on Obama...I guess.
http://www.intrade.com/jsp/int...ex.jsp?selConID=409933

-Robert

 

[Vic]

McCain went wrong when he picked Palin. Had he picked Romney, then IMO he would be out in front right now (or at least hanging on) with some credibility on the economy.

IOW, I agree with the OP. McCain has run a poor campaign by spending too much time pandering to his base and not enough time with independents and on the issues. And now he's just intensifying this strategy, with his campaign practically pulling their script straight from the crazy lies and character attacks of the right-wing blogs and chain emails.

I have to admit it has me scratching my head, because it's not like the conservative base was ever going to vote for any Democrat, much less the "black Marxist Muslim" blah blah blah. It reminds me a lot of the 2000 and 2004 campaigns, when the left went way left and insisted Gore and Kerry pander to them or else, except this time it's the right that's gone WAY right and dragged their candidate down with them.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Vic
McCain went wrong when he picked Palin. Had he picked Romney, then IMO he would be out in front right now (or at least hanging on) with some credibility on the economy.

IOW, I agree with the OP. McCain has run a poor campaign by spending too much time pandering to his base and not enough time with independents and on the issues. And now he's just intensifying this strategy, with his campaign practically pulling their script straight from the crazy lies and character attacks of the right-wing blogs and chain emails.

I have to admit it has me scratching my head, because it's not like the conservative base was ever going to vote for any Democrat, much less the "black Marxist Muslim" blah blah blah. It reminds me a lot of the 2000 and 2004 campaigns, when the left went way left and insisted Gore and Kerry pander to them or else, except this time it's the right that's gone WAY right and dragged their candidate down with them.

they could have stayed home, though... and there goes any hope of holding GA, VA, FL, etc.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Stunt
Should have picked Romney or at least Huckabee...Huck would have been fresh enough for McCain to win.
Clinton voters are not that dumb enough to just plain vote for a woman; they are all old ugly women who resent beauty pagent-like women...haha

I think Huckabee would have been a great pick for him. From what I've seen of him he seems like a damned nice guy and he's very charismatic. He's just way too much of a bible thumper for my taste in public officials.

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: Stunt
Should have picked Romney or at least Huckabee...Huck would have been fresh enough for McCain to win.
Clinton voters are not that dumb enough to just plain vote for a woman; they are all old ugly women who resent beauty pagent-like women...haha

I think Huckabee would have been a great pick for him. From what I've seen of him he seems like a damned nice guy and he's very charismatic. He's just way too much of a bible thumper for my taste in public officials.

From their Daily Show interviews ( the only ones I've seen ), I'd agree. Huckabee seems like an affable decent guy. Romney just seems like an asshole. Kerry came out the same way to me.

I think McCain started to go wrong 8 years ago after he lost to Bush. He could smell a chance at the presidency and yo-yo'ed back and forth between interest groups.

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: Stunt
Should have picked Romney or at least Huckabee...Huck would have been fresh enough for McCain to win.
Clinton voters are not that dumb enough to just plain vote for a woman; they are all old ugly women who resent beauty pagent-like women...haha

I think Huckabee would have been a great pick for him. From what I've seen of him he seems like a damned nice guy and he's very charismatic. He's just way too much of a bible thumper for my taste in public officials.

His views are not far off Palin...that part doesn't bother me. I think most Americans are socially progressive and anything crazy would not be tolerated...see Bush. Where's illegal abortion, gay marriage amendment, stem cell ban? It's all talk to get the vote out. Republicans understand far right social views are insanely unpopular.

I would have less of an issue voting for Huckabee and he'd make me think about Obama far more than McCain...the "maverick" is making the decision easy.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: Vic
McCain went wrong when he picked Palin. Had he picked Romney, then IMO he would be out in front right now (or at least hanging on) with some credibility on the economy.

IOW, I agree with the OP. McCain has run a poor campaign by spending too much time pandering to his base and not enough time with independents and on the issues. And now he's just intensifying this strategy, with his campaign practically pulling their script straight from the crazy lies and character attacks of the right-wing blogs and chain emails.

I have to admit it has me scratching my head, because it's not like the conservative base was ever going to vote for any Democrat, much less the "black Marxist Muslim" blah blah blah. It reminds me a lot of the 2000 and 2004 campaigns, when the left went way left and insisted Gore and Kerry pander to them or else, except this time it's the right that's gone WAY right and dragged their candidate down with them.

they could have stayed home, though... and there goes any hope of holding GA, VA, FL, etc.

They'd gotten out of the house to keep Obama from winning regardless.

I've been trying the past few years to get a better understanding of this phenomenon, why the party/ideology on the downswing of public opinion becomes more radical and protective of their beliefs the more they fall out of favor. I assume it's a normal defensive behavior, but it is interesting to watch.

Oh well, still a month to go...

 

[sportage]

A few of us remember. A lot of us forget.

Text

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Stunt

I feel bad for all Americans today. How do you allow such mediocre politicians to take the helm of your country?

It's about the corruption of the system by big money and marketing, and bad voters.

FWIW, I was for Kucinich, but support Obama between these two.

 

[sandorski]

Agree with the OP. McCain spent decades being a Maverick, then did a 180 in 2004(ish) becoming just another Insider. He's trying to Market himself on his long ago "Maverick" reputation, but at the same time campaigning with Insider policies.

I kinda doubt he would win even without the 180 though. The Bush legacy is just too much to overcome.

 

[Xavier434]

McCain walked into this campaign at a disadvantage but he also had tremendous opportunity to rise beyond those disadvantages. He failed for a variety of reasons. I realize there is still a month left but I don't think it is possible for him to recover. Stranger things have happened, but when I couple the possibilities of him recovering along side with all of the media bombardment concerning econ issues amongst many other things that are counting against McCain I just don't see it happening. He is completely outgunned at this point and all of his reinforcements are either gone or useless now.

Originally posted by: sportage
A few of us remember. A lot of us forget.

Text

This.

I don't care if the man was acquitted or not. The way I see it is that he was either too stupid to realize the corruption that was occurring right in front of his face or he was in on it. Either way, that is the last person I want trying to fix this economic mess.

 

[Lemon law]

McCain ran against a rather lackluster Republican field in 2008. And then was the beneficiary as the rest of the field cannibalized each other.

Once McCain had the nomination wrapped up, his Achilles heel became apparent because he never commanded or led anything bigger than the plane he flew.

And the OP is correct, once McCain had the nomination won, like a deer in the headlights, he had no clue on how to lead.

In April of 08, he should have been working to assume command of the GOP, tapping their top organizers and talent, and seizing control of GOP fund raising. Then moved to the Senate to show he could break the Washington Grid lock, work with both sides of the aisle, and get some needed progress. In short, doing the things leaders do, namely leading and seizing the moment.

Instead McCain reverted to what he had always done, namely to build an image that lacks any real substance.

Allowing a real leader like Obama to catch up, and to grab the lead in the race, frittering away the time McCain could have gained, while Obama was otherwise occupied beating back Hillary.

And now Obama, after running a brilliant campaign, has already done much of what McCain did not do. And is the beneficiary of the inevitable GWB financial meltdown while McCain failed to do anything to distance
himself from the worst President in US history.

 

[GTKeeper]

The GOP has a stranglehold on McCain.

The whole notion that if the base stays home, McCain is doomed is kinda horseshit. McCain in 2000 overwhelmly appealed to independent voters. People are still asking 'where the hell is McCain of 2000'.

When he bought into the whole GOP and base thing, that's when everything fell down. All he had to do, was nominate Mittens for VP and run as Mavericks that will reform our government and return to fiscal responsibility AND NOT be afraid to say 'yea, defense spending will get cut, social programs will get cut, everything will get cut to get us out of this mess'.

That's how they would have won the election.