The McCain Thread

[Kelly]

Brownback has done some great work for bringing the Darfur Crisis to the forefront.....

 

[SentinelMind]

http://http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/05/fred-thompson-visiting-mccain/

CNN confirms that Fred Thompson will make a visit to McCain's Sedona, Arizona home this weekend. Thompson, who ended his presidential bid in January, is a longtime friend of the Arizona senator.



hmmm.... I think he'd be a good choice for McCain, he's been in the Senate (VPs are President of the US Senate). He'd provide the conservative, law and order credentials McCain needs. I think I read somewhere else he wanted to go back into show business, but who knows......


I hope McCain chooses JC Watts, consistent conservative, young, African American, the last black Republican of Congress, and only black Congressman I think to ever reject joining the Congressional Black Caucus, who was also fourth in line for the GOP chain of command in US House (after Speaker, Majority Leader, Whip) and he's run some successful businesses.

 

[The Senator]

Brownback has done some great work for bringing the Darfur Crisis to the forefront.....

He was also one of the first social conservatives to endorse McCain before it was cool.

 

[Kelly]

He was also one of the first social conservatives to endorse McCain before it was cool.

Well Browback gets totally outraged at some of the stupid ass bureaucracy that goes on in Washington.....and I think he thinks that McCain just won't put up with that kind of ****........

If McCain chooses Fred Thompson as his running mate, he will have lost my possible vote.....

 

[The Senator]

McCain-Thompson will definitely get the living dead vote...

 

[Matt]

Thompson would be a horrid choice for McCain. Two crusty old white men who are as big of insiders as they come.

McCain needs someone who is young, funny, charasmatic, and attractive. Someone with experience, but who is not a Washington insider. Conservative, but not tied to the Bush administration. Palin would've been ideal.

 

[souvlaki]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/dan-senor-condo.html

ABCNews’ Mary Bruce Reports: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is actively courting the Vice Presidential nomination, according to Republican Strategist Dan Senor. “Condi Rice has been actively, actually in recent weeks, campaigning for this,” Senor said this morning on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”

According to Senor, Rice has been cozying up to the Republican elite. “There's this ritual in Washington, the Americans for Tax Reform, which is headed by Grover Norquist, he holds a weekly meeting of conservative leaders, about 100, 150 people, sort of inside, chattering, class types,” Senor explained. “They all typically get briefings from political conservative leaders. Ten days ago, they had an interesting visit. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The first time a Secretary of State has visited the Wednesday Meeting.”

Senor explained that Rice’s history in public office would make her a prime candidate, especially in light of Senator John McCain’s emphasis on experience throughout his campaign. “What the McCain campaign has to consider is whether or not they want to pick a total outsider, a fresh face, someone a lot younger than him, a governor who people aren't that familiar with. The challenge they're realizing is that they'll have to have to spend 30-45 days, which they won't have at that point, educating the American public about who this person is,” Senor said. “The other category is someone who people instantly say, the second they see that announcement, I get it, that person could be president tomorrow. Condi Rice is an option.”

Horrible choice on McCain's part if this pans out.

 

[The Senator]

I can live with Condoleezza Rice. At least she's pro-choice.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Damn that is a long list of candidates! lol

 

[jaguarr]

I knew way back when that Condi would be after the VP slot. Doesn't mean she'll get it, though. She's inextricably linked with Bush and I don't know if McCain wants to perpetuate his association with the Bush Administration in the public eye a whole lot. I wouldn't if I were him.

jag

 

[Kelly]

Condi uh??????? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........interesting.......

 

[Matt]

That would pretty much ruin any attempt McCain would make to drift back into the middle. She would be a horrible choice for him.

 

[Handsome Rob]

I hope McCain chooses JC Watts, consistent conservative, young, African American, the last black Republican of Congress, and only black Congressman I think to ever reject joining the Congressional Black Caucus, who was also fourth in line for the GOP chain of command in US House (after Speaker, Majority Leader, Whip) and he's run some successful businesses.

YES! He's my choice for VP, too.

 

[SentinelMind]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/dan-senor-condo.html

ABCNews’ Mary Bruce Reports: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is actively courting the Vice Presidential nomination, according to Republican Strategist Dan Senor. “Condi Rice has been actively, actually in recent weeks, campaigning for this,” Senor said this morning on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”

According to Senor, Rice has been cozying up to the Republican elite. “There's this ritual in Washington, the Americans for Tax Reform, which is headed by Grover Norquist, he holds a weekly meeting of conservative leaders, about 100, 150 people, sort of inside, chattering, class types,” Senor explained. “They all typically get briefings from political conservative leaders. Ten days ago, they had an interesting visit. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The first time a Secretary of State has visited the Wednesday Meeting.”

Senor explained that Rice’s history in public office would make her a prime candidate, especially in light of Senator John McCain’s emphasis on experience throughout his campaign. “What the McCain campaign has to consider is whether or not they want to pick a total outsider, a fresh face, someone a lot younger than him, a governor who people aren't that familiar with. The challenge they're realizing is that they'll have to have to spend 30-45 days, which they won't have at that point, educating the American public about who this person is,” Senor said. “The other category is someone who people instantly say, the second they see that announcement, I get it, that person could be president tomorrow. Condi Rice is an option.”

Horrible choice on McCain's part if this pans out.

Doubt it will....

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: John McCain said he has not personally heard interest from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that she may have interest in becoming his vice presidential nominee but that he has the "utmost praise" for and that she is a "great American."
Sunday, while appearing on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," the Republican strategist Dan Senor said that "Rice has been actively, actually in recent weeks, campaigning for this [becoming McCain’s vice presidential nominee]."
"I did not hear that. I missed those signals," McCain said. "I think she's a great American, I think there's very little that I can say that isn't anything but the utmost praise for a great American citizen, who served as a role model to so many millions of people in this country and around the world. But as I mentioned to you, we're not talking about the process because it just then gets into things that could easily to spill over into an invasion of privacy."

Asked whether Secretary Rice's role in the Iraq War should be taken into account, McCain said that all those who were involved in the failed strategy in Iraq "bear some responsibility".
"Of course I have put responsibility on the president, [former Defense Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld, ah, as well as Condoleezza Rice and to a lesser degree Secretary Powell," he added. "But I think her overall record is really very, very meritorious."


This Senor guy seems to extrapolating too much.....

 

[Memphis Slim]

Huckabee is the strongest debater...and he'll get you back the social conservatives. Without them McCain is doomed.

 

[Tron5000]

I think Condi would be great for McCain. Hey, if he dies, we'll have a woman AND an African-American president! How can you go wrong with that?

She's been successful in every phase of her life. Her foreign affairs credentials are unmatched. She's highly intelligent, level-headed, humorous, passionate and trustworthy. And she knows more about the NFL than anyone on these boards. I like the woman.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Huckabee is the strongest debater...and he'll get you back the social conservatives. Without them McCain is doomed.

McCain doesn't need Huckabee anymore. Polling shows that the vast majority of Republicans are satisfied with McCain and McCain will win the core Republican states (the South and most of the Midwest) and swing states that lean Republican (Missouri, Virginia, Florida) anyways.

And Huckabee wasn't the strongest debater, he was the most charming and likeable. The strongest went to Ron Paul.

McCain doesn't have to worry about the conservatives. He has them already and they aren't going to vote for Hillary or Obama. He needs to get someone who will attract independents and someone who's views are mostly in line with his views but younger because it's very likely he could croak in office. He needs someone that is also very well liked.

That's why he needs someone like Sarah Palin, Charlie Crist, or Mark Sanford. Not a Jesus freak like Huckabee.

I think Condi would be great for McCain. Hey, if he dies, we'll have a woman AND an African-American president! How can you go wrong with that?

She's been successful in every phase of her life. Her foreign affairs credentials are unmatched. She's highly intelligent, level-headed, humorous, passionate and trustworthy. And she knows more about the NFL than anyone on these boards. I like the woman.

Condi's smart, but she's far too involved in the Bush Administration and he'll scare away independent support. Again McCain needs someone without ties to the previous unpopular administration like Sarah Palin, Charlie Crist, or Mark Sanford.

 

[jaguarr]

I think Condi would be great for McCain. Hey, if he dies, we'll have a woman AND an African-American president! How can you go wrong with that?

*waits for the crap-slinging over gender or race being horrible reasons to elect someone to start*

She's been successful in every phase of her life. Her foreign affairs credentials are unmatched. She's highly intelligent, level-headed, humorous, passionate and trustworthy. And she knows more about the NFL than anyone on these boards. I like the woman.

And she's also forever associated with Bush and all the underhanded things that his administration has done while in office. McCain would be a fool to deliberately tie himself to BushCo by bringing one of their lieutenants on as his VP running mate. He's already going to get flogged by the Dems over his association with Bush. Why make it even worse?

jag

 

[SuBe]

*waits for the crap-slinging over gender or race being horrible reasons to elect someone to start*



And she's also forever associated with Bush and all the underhanded things that his administration has done while in office. McCain would be a fool to deliberately tie himself to BushCo by bringing one of their lieutenants on as his VP running mate. He's already going to get flogged by the Dems over his association with Bush. Why make it even worse?

jag

I can slightly agree with that. I believe that Rice should be a cabinet Member, but not VP. I would believe that if Rice was his VP Nod, there's too much baggage of the Bush Administration with her. Not that She's done a bad job at all, just the Bush isn't the Conservative his promised to be.

 

[rdh007]

Huckabee is the strongest debater...and he'll get you back the social conservatives. Without them McCain is doomed.

Ahhhhhhhh, but taking into account his social conservatism, can we safely say he's a...masterdebater???

 

[Tron5000]

*waits for the crap-slinging over gender or race being horrible reasons to elect someone to start*



And she's also forever associated with Bush and all the underhanded things that his administration has done while in office. McCain would be a fool to deliberately tie himself to BushCo by bringing one of their lieutenants on as his VP running mate. He's already going to get flogged by the Dems over his association with Bush. Why make it even worse?

jag

Many people already speak of McCain and Bush as if they're best buddies. McCain has supported "Bush's War," and Condi has been part of the administration. I don't really see it adding a dynamic to McCain's campaign that was not already perceived to be there.

 

[Tron5000]

Just 'cause Condi was in Bush's administration for 8 years, it doesn't mean she believes the same things as him. Just because they were very close, that doesn't mean she is aware of Bush's beliefs, even when they're broadcast on TV and radio (and sold on DVDs). She can just say she doesn't agree with Bush on many issues, but she can no more deny him than her black grandmother. She can distance herself.

 

[Zen]

Collin powel for either side... hes like some sort of wildcard in Uno, Draw four B*tch

 

[jaguarr]

Many people already speak of McCain and Bush as if they're best buddies. McCain has supported "Bush's War," and Condi has been part of the administration. I don't really see it adding a dynamic to McCain's campaign that was not already perceived to be there.

It reinforces a dynamic and perception that's already there. Big time. And not in a positive way, IMHO.

Just 'cause Condi was in Bush's administration for 8 years, it doesn't mean she believes the same things as him. Just because they were very close, that doesn't mean she is aware of Bush's beliefs, even when they're broadcast on TV and radio (and sold on DVDs). She can just say she doesn't agree with Bush on many issues, but she can no more deny him than her black grandmother. She can distance herself.

She can't distance herself at this point. She's been one of his top lieutenants and attack dogs for many years, now. Loyal to his cause and executing against it. She's very much a part of the BushCo machine and not just as a good soldier.

jag

 

[hippie_hunter]

Just 'cause Condi was in Bush's administration for 8 years, it doesn't mean she believes the same things as him. Just because they were very close, that doesn't mean she is aware of Bush's beliefs, even when they're broadcast on TV and radio (and sold on DVDs). She can just say she doesn't agree with Bush on many issues, but she can no more deny him than her black grandmother. She can distance herself.

Even if Condi was the exact opposite of Bush, she would still be tied to the Bush Administration because she is an integral part of it.

And McCain cannot have anyone who's been involved with the Bush Administration unless he wants the Democrats to actually have a genuine basis to call him McSame or McBush. I've constantly said it, McCain needs someone who isn't tied to the Bush Administration and follow his lines of thinking who can attract independent votes.