I'm gong to tell you how McCain could have won this election

[ThomWV]

Did you watch McCain's concession speech?

John McCain is a much better man than the last of the people people who supported him.

Here's how he could have won: If he would have made a reasonable choice for the VP slot - and there were many well qualified people he might have chosen from - and displayed any sort of sincerity at all about the positions of the Republican Party that he agreed with and remained silent on the rest he would be the President-elect right this minute.

Instead he picked an idiot and let himself be blown all over the ideological map. In the end he only had one issue, lower taxes, and even that was simply a continuation of the policy already put in place by his one time despised rival. You might ask how could such a man even come close to winning, but no matter what the reason in fact he did come close.

If nothing else this should tell us that there is much to do to strengthen the perception of the Democratic Party. McCain might have won.

I want you to just stop for a moment and consider what the fate of our nation might be if John McCain and Sarah Palin were in line to continue Bush's policies. Its frightening.

[liberal N proud]

1. Now is not the time to point fingers or blame anyone

We are just happy he took the course he did.

:rofl:

[ogneopasno]

2. Between his concession speech and his SNL appearance -- if that's the McCain that Obama had been

running against, if it were the McCain of 2000 who was on the ballot this time around, then he would have won. This candidate, McCain 2008, was a complete failure. A self-described maverick who let himself be bought and sold, who hesitated on the wrong things and pushed forward on bad decisions. I'm not saying Democrats were lucky, but McCain's actions sure didn't help himself.

[Richardo]

3. If he had picked Christine Todd Whitman or Kay Bailey Hutchison...

.... it would have been MUCH more competitive. Maybe a win.

[MissMarple]

14. That is exactly what I've been saying. Could he have blown it on purpose?

I suppose it's possible.

[magellan]

4. Yep, Palin is why he lost

It would've been a much closer race if he'd been given a moderate running mate. But the GOP seems intent on self-destructing by playing to its lunatic fringe and I for one won't be attempting to talk them down.

[IndianaJones]

5. I think he could have won by talking more about being a POW. nt.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Or still being one...........

[NoGOPZone]

6. It wouldn't have been enough

The GOP name is not one people trust right now, and with good reasons, particularly with the economic crisis caused by their failed policies.


As for McCain; yes, he showed a certain amount of class that eluded his freeper supporters. Nonetheless, during his concession speech what struck me first was not so much dignity but that he seemed relieved everything was over. The last week of the campaign, he looked both defeated and exhausted. He's probably glad he no longer has to put up with Palin.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Palin sealed his fate.

With a genuinely qualified candidate, it may have meant a victory for him.

He took a big gamble and he lost.

But the stupid hard right will never understand it.

[amdezurik]

9. no I don't think he had much real chance

simply because of the mis-treatment and malnourishment his body went through in Nam. It looks to me (not an expert, just my opinion) that if he had been able to really run in 2000 he might have lost or won but he would have then been able to run a decent campaign. 8 years down the road he just does not have the energy it takes and it seems the senility is kicking in to be able to be coherent 24/7 like a national campaign requires.

[The Craw]

10. Like Bush sr, McCain pandered to the batshit crazy right wing Christian fringe

McCain repeated Bush sr's error:

He pandered to the ultra right wing Christian fringe,and alienated both the Independents, and the moderates in his own party...

[JohnnyBoots]

11. If he had hired Mike Murphy and picked Romney.........so glad he went with Rove's guy and Palin!

[cobalt1999]

12. What's odd is both Gore & McCain gave their best speeches at concession time.

I think McCain had a shot before the economic meltdown. If he had kept that concession demenor during the campaign and he had picked someone like Olympia Snow, this election would have been much closer.

[orleans]

13. he could have won it if this country was deaf, dumb, and blind? n/t