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[Edited on September 12, 2005 at 8:50 PM. Reason : can't read]

9/12/2005 8:50:15 PM

McCain is not moderate. His lifetime score with the American Conservative Union is an 83, he rang in at 72 last year (ie, he supported 72% of legislative positions also supported by the ACU).

Therefore, aside from various publicity stunts (like the judicial nominees debacle), he's pretty solidly conservative.

He'll never be elected President, though. He's too old, and he's a sitting senator with a long record to be torn apart. Plus Rove obviously doesn't like him.

Personally I again don't see why there is such a big deal over McCain. He's been remarkably ineffective at pushing his causes in the Senate (since when does being ineffective mean you're a maverick?). He doesn't strike me as particularly a straight-shooter; his record shows him to be a conservative who pipes up whenever it'll benefit him personally. That probably explains his cachet, if you think about it.

[Edited on September 12, 2005 at 9:19 PM. Reason : foo]

9/12/2005 9:18:37 PM

Who do you guys see on the GOP / DEM tickets in 2008?

GOP - Jeb (longshot), McCain (older than dirt), Frist (tard), or Guillaini (baggage, but 9/11 fever trumps baggage) George Allen (most likely)

Dems- Hillary (consistent with running unelectable folks), Kerry (see #1), whoever else. Bayh (if they've got any sense at all)

Interesting times. If Iraq continues to go down the shitter, Delay finally goes down, Plame, deficit spending, etc it'll be interesting how the GOP candidate distances himself from Bush. The Dems have proven to now know their ass from a hole in the ground politically but might pull a reasonable candidate for once.

It's the GOP's to lose at this point though. Rove is a fucking genius at this shit. The dems better be licking Carville's nuts early and get him on board if they want to have a prayer at winning.

My vote? Give me a moderate Dem and split the power. Our government functions better when these fuckers have to compromise or fight out decisions.

/independent

9/12/2005 9:48:54 PM

^^exactly. i don't understand how McCain gets this rap as an "ok Republican" with Democrats and a "traitor" with Republicans.

9/12/2005 11:44:03 PM

Quote :

"McCain is not moderate. His lifetime score with the American Conservative Union is an 83, he rang in at 72 last year (ie, he supported 72% of legislative positions also supported by the ACU)."

meaningless

9/12/2005 11:47:48 PM

Think of McCain as Bush without the religious right baggage.

9/12/2005 11:54:58 PM

it's my contention that edwards is going to make another run... i saw him speak the other day

9/12/2005 11:59:26 PM

^^well, another big difference is that McCain is substantially more fiscally conservative.

[Edited on September 13, 2005 at 12:03 AM. Reason : of course, it wouldn't be hard to argue that Bill Clinton was, too.]

9/13/2005 12:03:08 AM

Well, he wouldn't cut taxes without cutting spending. That's true.

9/13/2005 12:04:07 AM

and he's down with cutting spending, instead of increasing the dog shit out of it.

9/13/2005 12:10:39 AM

Quote :

"meaningless"

Are you kidding me? The ACU is a standard benchmark of conservatism in the legislature. They are perhaps the most reputable conservative watchdog group.

The leftist version of the ACU, the liberal Americans for Democratic Action, gives McCain a 9 out of 100 points for his lifetime legislative average.

The man is quite conservative.

9/13/2005 12:53:33 AM

It's been said, and I agree, that Bill Clinton was more of a classic republican than Bush II is.

-Fiscally conservative
-Socially fairly moderate for the most part

He's old school, and I'd vote for him at this point. Clinton with the pubs in the senate/congress would rock.

9/13/2005 1:26:10 AM

yeah, Clinton was overly maligned for sure. and yeah, he's more of an old-skool Republican than President Bush is.

9/13/2005 9:29:45 AM

McCain had his chance in 2000....hes not going to run again.

9/13/2005 9:34:34 AM

i don't know who the repubs are running
and i don't care

this guy has my vote and my support: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/

9/13/2005 9:35:27 AM

So another question: With the obvious 50/50 polarization of the current electorate, could McCain lead a black horse third party to power in 2008?

9/13/2005 12:48:19 PM

hell no.

9/13/2005 1:48:52 PM

Yeah I tend to agree.. however there are certain conditions that make it seem ripe to happen, even if it were not McCain. Then again, there are plenty of conditions that make it seem very unlikely.

9/13/2005 2:33:10 PM

I'm going to be hard-pressed not to vote for McCain if he does run.

I just like the man.

9/13/2005 9:55:31 PM