I really liked the guy. But unfortunately he changed after the 2000 repub primaries. Bush dirtied him up and gave him a black eye. He felt the sting and it really got to him and that's when the straight-talk express lost its wheels. But I genuinely believe that he's not truly what he showing these days. After losing to Bush, he decided his "maverick" ways won't get him into the white house and became one of "them". He embraced the repubs campaign strategy of using scare tactics and twisting words. I bet he's saying to himself "how the hell did I get into this mess". I think deep down inside he knew choosing Palin was not anywhere near his ideal choice but went along with it because he was desperate to win. He even doesn't like dirty politics as you can see the campaign uses Palin to take the cheap shots at Obama while hesitant McCain is told "we know what's best for you". I am a democrat and voted Obama but it would have been harder for me to choose had this been the McCain of '00 instead of Karl Rove's mutated version of '08. Even with that, if he does win today, I think we'll see flashes of his previous self. I don't think McCain will be Bush 2.0. What are your thoughts?
McCain of 2000, with a VP like Ridge, and yes, I could have voted for that ticket. I think he could have won the nomination had Karl Rove not existed in 2000. ima, what was the frontline piece like? I missed it...
Sorry, I'm not buying it, and never have. Dems had about as much genuine concern for McCain as Rebubs had for Hillary in the primaries. Sure, you love him when he reaches across the aisle and helps your guys, but when it comes down to it, you'll never pick him over someone from your own team. Now there's nothing wrong with that, but please, spare us the poor Johnny act.
I liked the 2000 McCain, but I like Obama more than any incarnation of McCain. (Old McCain would have been my pick over Kerry in '04. Bush gets my vote over New McCain.)
mccain shouldve take romney over palin 1.romney looks like a president 2. he rain bain capital, a huge corp, thats exactly what we need in this economic crisis a proven leader, not sarah palin, but nonetheless they got my vote
What are you babbling about? I never said I'd vote for him. I said it would have been a harder choice than it is today. I definately would have taken a longer look at McCain than I did for this election. Reread my post spare us the dumb Johnny act.
I did and they did an outstanding job with the biographies of both Obama & McCain. In watching the segments about McCain's history, especially the footage of him in the POW camps, I couldn't help but feel moved by all that McCain has been through in his life - he truly is a great American. Overall, I felt that the Frontline piece offered many reasons to be proud for either a McCain or Obama presidency and that's something that I really haven't seen from other news outlets. Quite a refreshing change of pace, if you ask me. One thing that Frontline did do a good job of pointing out is that despite the remarkable career that McCain has had, the position he finds himself in today is entirely of his own doing. The alignment with Bush on several issues over the past 4-6 years and his reconciliation with the religious right has effectively alienated many of the supporters that he had during his run in 2000. His mismanagement of the '08 campaign at various times and the selection of Palin as his running mate also hasn't helped matters. It's just a shame that the two-party system has forced him to be anything but a 'maverick' in the run to the White House, as it doesn't really allow for McCain's true personality to shine. Regardless of who wins tonight, we can all be thankful that this was a hard-fought race between two very deserving candidates. Above all else, we're at least getting someone besides W.
Baloney about "two-party system has forced him to be anything but a 'maverick' in the run to the White House, as it doesn't really allow for McCain's true personality to shine". If McCain hadn't hired Rove-ite Steve Schmidt in July to start the mudslinging and if he had chosen a legit V.P. instead of insulting independent voters' intelligence with Palin, things would have turned around. Instead, he panicked. His campaign stalled and he hired Schmidt to jumpstart it. There wasn't enough "enthusiasm" so he selected Palin the day after the Dem convention to steal the spotlight. These were short-sighted decisions that killed him him in the long-run. If McCain had been more patient, momentum would have turned his way eventually and he would have closed very hard on Obama and probably beaten him. But, instead, we found out the "maverick", "warrior" and "patriot" doesn't have the mentality or skillset to be president. The two-party system didn't stop McCain from winning, his own flaws did.
Selecting Palin is winning a battle but losing the war. If he had stuck with being 2000 Mccain I can see very easily my whole family voting for him. As it is it is 3 for Obama and one no no vote.
I guess that's what I get for posting in here... First, let me say that my point was not McCain losing as a result of the two-party system. And I agree with you saying that he isn't winning because of his own flaws - I even noted in my original post that "the position he [McCain] finds himself in today is entirely of his own doing." My point is that the two-party system just does not lend itself well to candidates who have a history of bucking their own party, which John McCain does. In his political career, McCain has burned many bridges with various members of the Republican base, and yet he still wound up as the party's nominee. He realized that there was no way to win the election without the support of the base of his party, which I think contributed to the horribly bad campaign decisions that he's made and that you described. Had McCain not been so concerned with appeasing the Republican base, I think he would have had a completely different approach to the campaign.
If McCain had run as the guy from 2000, I am not sure whom I would have voted for in this election. DD
Just a thought...McCain may have been more desperate than normal, considering his age he will not get another chance to run again (at least I highly doubt it).
CONTROL FREAK......... POWER HUNGRY...........Which explains his shift to the extreme right? IMO........SELL OUT........ thats why a man I use to respect truly disappointed me the last few years.
Yes, if he would have selected Romney instead of Palin, polls would have been very close the whole time. People were just itchin to find a reason not to vote for Obama but then Palin stepped into the scene and here we are today. I personally would have liked to see DaDakota's replies ending with "HO HO HO, this is real folks!"
