Will McCain "pull a Jeffords" and jump ship?

[caledesi]

Here's a little background on what's happening. I, for one, never thought he would quit the Repug Party, but after reading this...I wonder. Also, the Repugs HATE him. Check out Freeperville sometime to read the vitriol.

http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=1611

Maverick McCain rips GOP
By Noelle Straub
Friday, April 2, 2004

WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain yesterday unleashed an attack on his own party, saying the GOP is ``astray'' on key issues and criticizing President Bush on the war in Iraq.

"I believe my party has gone astray,'' McCain said, criticizing GOP stands on environmental and minority issues.

"I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy,'' he said. ``But I also feel the Republican Party can be brought back to the principles I articulated before.''

The maverick senator made the remarks at a legislative seminar hosted by U.S. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Lowell) as he again ruled out running on a ticket with Democrat John F. Kerry .

The Arizona Republican took on President Bush for failing to prepare Americans for a long involvement in Iraq, saying, ``You can't fly in on an aircraft carrier and declare victory and have the deaths continue. You can't do that.''

McCain said the U.S. should seek more U.N. involvement in Iraq. ``Many people in this room question, legitimately, whether we should have gone in or not,'' he said, adding that that debate ``will be part of this presidential campaign."

As he departed the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin

[David Dunham]

1. McCain is fishing for VP and will get it.

[handywork]

2. Do you really think so?

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I have trouble seeing this

GOP will see him as a traitor, DNC will never trust him. And DNC will not trust Kerry for not bringing a Dem Veep into the Senate.

[handywork]

4. yeah I guess I was feeling the same way...

But I keep thinking what it would do for finally uniting america rather than dividing it. Dispite the fact that I don't agree with McCain on a lot of things.

[On the Road]

5. I Think McCain Figures He'll Probably Get the Party Back

after Bush is disgraced in November.

Who are the Republicans going to turn to if they lose the Senate, much less the House? Bush has dragged most of the leadership by association and compliance.

[Bozita]

6. Yup, and if Dumbya wins, McCain leaves and goes indy

[Beer Snob-50]

7. McCain as VP would be a smart move!

I think many moderate Repubs will cross over, he will also bring many independants into Kerry's camp.

[RamboLiberal]

8. I know it's not that popular at DU - but I'm in the camp

of McCain running as Kerry's VP. I think it would be a landslide. And I'd like to see the GOP get back to being a party where I could occassionally vote for one of them. I want to see them get back to having people like Jim Jeffords, the late John Heinz, etc. instead of the whack jobs that seem to populate and run their party now.

[caledesi]

11. I totally agree with your mindset RM...

The "old" Repug Pary was NOT that bad. I mean there was some civility between Dems and Repugs. Today though, with the "Coathanger Coalition - RW Fundies) and the rest of the crew, there is such vitriol between the two parties...and Rush is to blame to a lot of this.

Hey look, I am old enough to remember Ike. No problem there. I think he was a good president, even though he was a Repug.

Kerry/McCain - yeah I can see it and actually think it would be good.

God, when was the last time we had two different parties as Pres and VP? History people?

[watercolors]

14. I agree also

Perhaps it could pull this country together, and I feel itwould be a winner!

[maggrwaggr]

10. no, because Dems like myself would STAY HOME

ntt

[caledesi]

12. Even if you knew we would win and get Bush* out?

I say get him out at all costs.

[maggrwaggr]

15. I would not vote to support one-party rule in the U.S.

voting for Kerry is bad enough.

With McCain or any refucklican on the ticket, I would not vote.

[bicentennial_baby]

17. Same here

No way, no how.

[Beer Snob-50]

18. it wouldn't be one party rule!!

I think McCain could bring a new dynamic to the political process. He would reachout to many of the moderate repubs and get many of the programs that we as democrats care for passed.

[maggrwaggr]

22. one word response: ugh

I'm really not interested in becoming a republican just so we'll get republican votes.

no thank you very much.

[Desertrose]

23. amen...give up this McCain shit....please

it sure as hell will give Nader a lot more votes.... I still can't believe anyone here on *DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND* for gods sake, is seriously suggesting this let alone saying it would be a GOOD thing??

let it go.....McCain is a repub and is my Senator and if you think he gives a shit about the little people any more than Kerry does you are all just plain nuts.

Peace
DR

[bif]

9. He may hate this administration-but he's a Republican first

He'll never leave the party-except maybe to run as an independent

[emc]

13. Look at it this way

We need a win----I personally want bush out at all costs----there is no way this country can take another four years of this asshole administration----This is the first time I have ever considered leaving this country for what it has become...If I were much younger I would possibly consider it, to me whats is going on in Washington dc, and I lived there for many years---(30)is the worst that I can ever remember....political rancor...

Something has to be done for the people of this country ---the working people, not the upper crust, like social reform with health care ---equality in income distribution...etc.

This constant bickering between parties isn't doing anything for the American public and thats whats important, not politics and who said what of did what----

I'm not willing to take a chance and loose the white house again--a ticket of Kerry and McCain, would be a guarantee, throw mud all over Bush and friends, possibly reform politics and maybe for once get something ---a dialog started in Washington, were politicians can get something done for Americans and not just bicker all the time...

Whats new in party switching anyway---its done all the time and even if its not done, there is a lot that can come out positive---

I say Take the white house back----

This crap about he a republican and I cant communicate with him is just that ---crap---what has to happen is the republicans have to be educated again to the fact that this is nation, not a two party system with have and have nots...

ANSWER----I believe some one said in an earlier discussion of this that Lincoln had a democratic running made-----

[pmbryant]

16. Very interesting comments. Wants to be in Kerry's cabinet?

I think there is no way he will be the VP pick. But he could be opening up the possibility of serving in a Kerry cabinet, while remaining a Republican (a la William Cohen under Clinton).

:shrug:

Peter

[Donkeyboy75]

19. I don't think he has alterior motives

Call me a sucker, but I think he is a rare politician (in the mold of Kucinich) who actually says what he believes, and stands up for principles. Even though I vehemently disagree with him on many issues, I have a lot of respect for McCain because as far as I know, his policies do not change with the latest poll data.

[robbedvoter]

20. Grrrr! he works for W's reselection committee!

All this "maverick" crap turns my stomach. he is a right winger who manipulates the press. like Powerll (more right winger than Powell). He was one of the 2 senators voting AGAINST emergency funds for NYC after 9.11! called 2 Dem congressmen who went to Iraq and said a war is unecessary - traitors...:argh:

[Killarney]

21. Independents love him (my thoughts)

Republicans hate him like we hate Zell.

Independents, however, LOVE him. They think he has incredible integrity and love him for not toeing the party line like the rest in Washington.

I wouldn't want him as VP, but my dream come true would be an October surprise that John McCain has become Independent and is officially endorsing John Kerry for President.

That would win us so many swing voters.

[Desertrose]

24. I'm not so sure indys *love* McCain

where did you get that???

Not in my section of AZ- he is loved by repubs definitely...Indys?...not really.

Peace
DR

[Killarney]

25. Maybe it's a geographic thing?

I'm in the Northeast... the Republicans here HATE McCain and call him a Democrat (used as an insult). The independents here, however, love McCain... they consider him a moderate.