Will McCain run?

[ncteechur]

There was talk the other day that McCain did not look well. Although I hope he is physically in no danger, I also hope he decides not to seek the presidency in 08.

My second question is... Who will be the third party candidate this time? Will Nader try again and foil dem chances yet one more time.

If McCain doesn't run for the repubs, who will and who will get the nomination?

Frist

Allen

Graham

Romney

Pataki

[HockeyMom]

1. Ironic

Since McCain alienates the Reps base, and Hillary alienates the Dems base.

[Mrspeeker]

2. Dont care about the GOP

BTW it was the Media that foiled the election not Nader!
Its also funny for the media to portrait it in that way being as Clinton was elected and there was a third candidate party remember Ross Perot, and he got alot more votes than nader did!

[ncteechur]

5. true, true

[karynnj]

15. The RW always used that to say that it was why BC was elected

[ClassWarrior]

3. Yeah, most cowards do.

:rofl:

NGU.

[necso]

4. Yeah.

And when the neocons start beating-up on him again, again he'll just run away. (But he'll come back later to grovel and kiss the ring.)

...

Screw it, the man is of absolutely no use to us. He's a neocon appeaser and a wake-rider, a man who is never going to accomplish anything that proves lasting and worthwhile.

[DesertRat]

6. Definately will. n/t

[NJ Democrats]

7. McCain runs

he doesn't win the nomination, Allen does.

[Luke21]

8. Allen is the choice of the conservative wing

Allen looked bad on TV recently, and got his clock cleaned by whoever he was debating. He has been doing the "move to the center" thing that everyone talks about. He is unknown. That's his problem. He isn't even the most popular guy in his home state.

McCain is not just hated by the neocons. The religious right despises him with a furor normally reserved for Hillary and Teddy. McCain's face looks like the underbelly of a lizard. He has no looks, no personality, no core beliefs, and alienates his base. Hardly a winner. And I've never seen why Democrats would be interested in him. He votes one way and talks another.

Rudy G. is competent, but he is liberal on social issues, differing from the base on nearly every hot button issue. He might win a general election, but not the GOP primaries, and he's never run for anything higher than mayor of NYC.

That leaves Condi, who has no elective experience, nor public persona. Not exactly an imposing field.

[Virginia Dare]

12. Then they're idiots...

It may have worked here in Virginia, but Allen's got a long Senate record behind him. Trying to run as a moderate is not going to work for him again. He should be called out as the racist right wing asshat that he is.

[BlueIris]

24. GREAT assessment of McCain.

To quote a great American, McCain is a crass, obvious manipulator whose strongest skill is his ability to lie outrageously while appearing sincere.

Could you please explain one thing to me, since you clearly understand what McCain is: why does the religious right hate him? It seems to me he's exactly the man they want. From what I've seen, he's as skilled as John Roberts at deflecting questions about his anti-choice perspectives while making that attitude seem non-threatening, sane and sweet. That's what they want and need more than anything. As an added bonus, he masquerades as a moderate, (which as you know, is also inaccurate) which would further humanize the political face for the core of their agenda. Why do religious zealots hate him? (I actually haven't heard that much about this particular issue for McCain.)

[ChipsAhoy]

27. My Repub relatives hate McCain

They call him a traitor for being friends with Kerry.

[BlueIris]

28. Welcome to DU.

Just out of curiosity, is this your relatives' only reason for disliking McCain? If not, could you share others? What kind of Republicans are they? Does their religious faith factor into their decisions? In what region of the U.S. do they live?

I'm just curious because that's a complaint about McCain I haven't yet heard a conservative give.

[ChipsAhoy]

31. About McCain

I actually overheard two of my siblings discussing McCain. They said he goes against everything Bush throws out there, something about he can't be trusted to go along with the party (sigh) and the big thing was about his alliance with Kerry. I remember they said at the last election that McCain had more pictures taken with Kerry than with Bush, but only gave lip service to Bush.

Frankly, I don't know where McCain stands on anything. He doesn't interest me too much other than he stirs up the pot with Repub's. I like that about him.

Yes, religious faith factors into a lot of things in my family. As for location, they are spread out across the South and Mid-Eastern states. But, we do get together quite a bit for everyone living so far apart. Most of them try to leave me out of the conversation loop when discussing politics. LOL

[Flabbergasted]

9. Probably if he's healthy.

They are priming him with the torture bill etc as a republican who didn't walk hand in hand with Bush.

[Yupster]

20. Agree Flabbergasted

If his health is up to it, he's running for sure.

I think he's positioned himself very well as a reform candidate who has hugged Bush enough to become acceptable to the GOP base.

If there's a front-runner in the republican primaries, he almost always wins. That's true even if everyone knows he can't win like Bob Dole.

If McCain's health is okay he runs and wins the republican nomination and has a 50-50 shot in the general election.

[Catchawave]

10. Huckabee ?

Gov of Arkansas ?

[saltpoint]

11. McCain's probably REAL interested in the job and is keeping a

high profile.

He's more personable than the CAT BUTCHER or the smarmy George Allen, but McCain's health might be a factor.

If he's healthy, he's a formidable candidate.

If he withdraws for health reasons or other reasons, I expect Allen and Hagel to duke it out, with Allen prevailing. Unfortunately.

McCain's personableness just isn't enough for a lot of progressives, given that his voting record is very right wing and he tripped along after Dubya campaigning against fellow veteran John Kerry in 2004.

[BlueIris]

25. "Probably"? The only reason we haven't seen an impeachment yet

is because the GOP is waiting for McCain to get his shit sorted out. To me, McCain is obviously dicking around, keeping his stronger feelings about Bush's increasing insanity to himself, taking his sweet time to decide whether he has a better chance at easily picking up the nomination if he is pro-Bush or anti-Bush, and working up which spin he'll spew once the Party picks a replacement for the talking heads they've stuck in Congress to follow once Bush has been removed. All this, while the neo-cons try to weasel their way into at least Iran and the clock ticks on countless other possible disasters that can be prevented and will be avoided if Bush is yanked in time. The GOP won't make a move to serve Bush with articles though until they know McCain's plans. If a deal had been reached, Bush would already be making obvious preparations to step down. As far as I can tell, he isn't, and if something...truly fucked up happens before Bush goes, that's on McCain more than anyone else in my eyes.

Senator? Could you please sack up, get your shit together and get this show on the road? I'm kinda sweating over here.

[Virginia Dare]

13. What about Rudy?

[mdmc]

14. mccain, pataki, rudy are all fine with me...

[Yupster]

21. Rudy will do as well as the last NYC Mayor

to run in the Republican primaries, John Lindsey.

He's completely pro-choice and that's just not something the Republican base will compromise on. Cabinet position, sure, but president, nope. He'll get 3 % in the first two primaries and then drop out.

[mtnsnake]

16. I think McCain is way overated as far as his chances.I hope he's their man

If anyone's a flip flopper it's McCain.

I also doubt Giuliani could win. I don't think he'd have quite the attraction in the red states that he would need to gain their confidence. He'd be looked at with skeptical eyes as some kind of an outsider or something.

Pataki has lost lots of his steam. Whatever charisma he had is all but gone.

[orleans]

17. Will McCain Run? (away!) n/t

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

18. i still say the fundies would back giuliani in a primary if hannity sez

their religion is republicanism first and wingnut christianity second

[Clarkie1]

19. Probably, and the only one who can defeat him is Clark. eom

[Dulcinea]

22. Probably.

But he'll never get the nomination. The fundies hate him & would stay home in droves.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

23. Both McCain and Giuliani have been courting the fundamentalists.

They're definitely both running.

[ChipsAhoy]

26. Jeb Bush

That rumor will not die that Jeb Bush will run in 2008.

Damn, one of my neighbors has a J'08 sign in his window. I asked him what it was and he said it's for Jeb. *sigh*

But, this country has got to be tired of saying President Bush. I know we are!

[BlueIris]

29. Yeah, he wishes.

I'd sooner believe that I am going to become president than that Jeb Bush ever will.

[ChipsAhoy]

30. hahaaa!

Good answer!