Quote from: shewolfEnough that I don't like him. I know it's a stupid reason, but it's one of those things that screams pandering nancy bitch.

Early on, people didn't know for sure one way or the other, so that's not a big problem. If he STILL feels that way, that's another matter.

I'd support Lieberman simply because his support for Israel and Iraq has turned him from a VP candidate to a pariah among frothing lefties. Anything that raises their blood-pressure is a good thing.

Well, it's on his website. I wanted to see how far right he is, and while skimming I saw that. I remember that from the late 90s when I did my paper on video games and violence in college.

Although his Iraq and Israel polocies are a good thing.

See - here's the thing that I think Shewolf and Mr. Morrow miss the boat (and I hope calling you out in this way is not an offense as I hope you both know I harbor no ill will).

This is the general. McCain will do what he can to get the right of the party (the more socially conservative) but he can make that up if need be by going after the center - and Lieberman is perfect for that.

Especially if the most important issue to those middle income, middle class folks (after whatever anyone thinks the government can do for the economy) is defense/war in the middle east. Lieberman, as J Arcane points out, is more republican than some republicans on the issue.

So he gets the great PR of reaching across the aisle - to the point that as a presidential candidate he picks a running mate from a different party! - while not offending too greatly people from the more center leaning part of the party (and, quite honestly, probably some of the more conservatives who may not agree with Lieberman but respect him as a man of faith).

It's a smart move - which is why it won't happen.

EDIT: Cross posted with WK and SW - See!

Honestly, I lost interest when Thompson and Romney bailed - I have no interest in any of the remaining candidates, and may well not vote this time around.

Quote from: James J SkachThis is the general. McCain will do what he can to get the right of the party (the more socially conservative) but he can make that up if need be by going after the center - and Lieberman is perfect for that.

No, he's really not.  While he's conservative on a handful of issues including defense, he's a hardcore social liberal.  Yes, by Northeastern standards, he's more conservative than some Republicans (he ran to the right of Lowell Weicker, the Republican whose seat he took in the Senate with the endorsement of the National Review), but by national standards and his hawkishness aside, he's still a Northeastern liberal.  For McCain to turn out his base, he needs to convince the social and religious conservatives that he's OK.  Lieberman wouldn't do that.

Quote from: James J SkachEspecially if the most important issue to those middle income, middle class folks (after whatever anyone thinks the government can do for the economy) is defense/war in the middle east. Lieberman, as J Arcane points out, is more republican than some republicans on the issue.

McCain already has those people.  His problem is with the Republican base, many of whom consider him a RINO (Republican In Name Only).  If his base stays home, he loses.  It's almost impossible to overstate the contempt for McCain that can be found on many right-wing message boards and on talk radio programs.  Nominating a Democrat, even one on the outs with the national party, would be a slap in the face to the base.

Quote from: James J SkachSo he gets the great PR of reaching across the aisle - to the point that as a presidential candidate he picks a running mate from a different party! - while not offending too greatly people from the more center leaning part of the party (and, quite honestly, probably some of the more conservatives who may not agree with Lieberman but respect him as a man of faith).

He already has the center of the party covered and already has sound moderate credentials.  That's not what he needs.  As for being a "man of faith", Lieberman flushes a lot of that down the toilet with his unqualified support for abortion rights and other socially liberal issues.  While there are plenty of people on the Christian right who would support a conservative Orthodox Jewish candidate, many of them don't believe that Lieberman is the real thing.  The right-wing base had plenty of opportunity to talk about Lieberman in 2000, which is yet another reason to avoid having him on the ticket (do Republicans really want to remind the press and voters about the 2000 election and Florida?).

Quote from: James J SkachIt's a smart move - which is why it won't happen.

Go spend some time reading a right-wing message board, reading right-wing political magazines, or listening to right-wing talk radio.  All of this gets talked about and when they talk about McCain choosing Lieberman or even Hillary Clinton, it's a show of contempt for him as a RINO, not a suggestion for a winning strategy.

It would be a foolish thing to do and would guarantee his loss in November.

Quote from: shewolfThe thing for Fred is that he sounds like any number of good ole boys around here - sounds lazy and tired, but has the fire.

Unfortunately, he didn't come off like that in other regions of the country.  It's why he never caught on when he decided to run.

Quote from: shewolfWRT Palin- the wiki article made her look pretty good. But would she want to leave, as she's such a young govenor? The other option would be the Louisiana govenor - he's done a lot of good down there but he wants to finish the job.

She has plenty of reasons not to leave (not the least of which is trading Alaska for Washington, DC) but I think McCain should certainly consider her and I'd be pleased if she was offered the job and accepted it.  It's her outdoorsy sportswoman credentials that I think would go over very well with the good ole boys down South and in places like rural Pennsylvania.  I think they'd love this picture, though it would probably drive the PETA people nuts.  (That picture is from her official Alaska biography page, which also has a picture of her out on a commercial fishing boat.  Her official page suggests she also has decent environmental credentials.)

Quote from: WerekoalaHonestly, I lost interest when Thompson and Romney bailed - I have no interest in any of the remaining candidates, and may well not vote this time around.

Would McCain be able to convince you to vote for him with the right running mate?

What do you think of Sarah Palin or Bobby Jindal, for example?

Quote from: John MorrowShe has plenty of reasons not to leave (not the least of which is trading Alaska for Washington, DC) but I think McCain should certainly consider her and I'd be pleased if she was offered the job and accepted it.  It's her outdoorsy sportswoman credentials that I think would go over very well with the good ole boys down South and in places like rural Pennsylvania.  I think they'd love this picture, though it would probably drive the PETA people nuts.  (That picture is from her official Alaska biography page, which also has a picture of her out on a commercial fishing boat.  Her official page suggests she also has decent environmental credentials.)

Very true - except people like my brother-in-law who think a woman either is too soft or too PMS-y to be President (depends on the day and his drunkenness - half or a full case) God, I *hate* the south sometimes :rolleyes:

Quote from: John MorrowWould McCain be able to convince you to vote for him with the right running mate?

Only if I thought he might die in office.

This thread is beginning to look like a "Mirror, Mirror" version of Tangency: 2004.  All we need to make it complete is for people to start declaring that they're moving to Canada* if the fucking Dems win in November.

!i!

(*Okay, maybe Berlusconi's Italy is a more appropriate option.)

I'm not moving to Canada no matter what. I'm also not beating my chest or ripping my hair out like Tangecites love to do in an effort to out-martyr their comrades. I'm merely stating my opinion and moving along.

By god, I 'll move to France! (The new guy apparently is a right winger and all )

Crazy... Wait... if this is 04 Tangency, does that McCain's gonna lose? *cries*

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaThis thread is beginning to look like a "Mirror, Mirror" version of Tangency: 2004.

I was there (on Tangency in 2004).  I'm not seeing it.  Then again, Obama Derangement Syndrome isn't nearly as common a Bush Derangement Syndrome.

Quote from: John MorrowI was there (on Tangency in 2004).  I'm not seeing it.

I didn't think you would.

!i!

(P.S. Really, it was only intended as a gentle jab -- at Werekoala mostly -- for the expression of disappointment among the Republican voters that there's no candidate worth voting for, and that they might just sit this election out.  Does that sound familiar?  And wouldn't Obama look just bad-ass sporting a goatee?)

Quote from: Ian Absentia(P.S. Really, it was only intended as a gentle jab -- at Werekoala mostly -- for the expression of disappointment among the Republican voters that there's no candidate worth voting for, and that they might just sit this election out.  Does that sound familiar?  And wouldn't Obama look just bad-ass sporting a goatee?)

Maybe I simply didn't notice the left's unhappiness over Kerry among the Bush hatred, but I don't think the left was nearly as unhappy with Kerry (until after he lost) as the right is with McCain, and still few on the right are talking about heading to the hills if Obama wins.  As I said a while back, I don't think that either Obama or Clinton can win, though I suspect the Republicans are going to take a beating in the Congress (and probably deserve it).

By the way, the people on the right who do talk about leaving the country generally talk about New Zealand.  They've largely written Europe and Canada off, though some might consider Alberta or British Columbia, especially if Quebec ever got out of Canada.