USA Presidential Politics - 2008

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Compromise means reaching across the aisle for bipartisan efforts where inaction is just as bad as staying in your corner and not giving an inch. Pandering to your base for the sake of earning votes is not a compromising, it's selling out.

Guiliani is taking an unfair beating here and that was not my intention. I respect him for sticking to his beliefs on social issues that are not popular with his base. I think moderates, disenfranchised Dems and independents dig him, but you underestimate the unfortuanate power of the religious right in your party if you think being a pro choice, gay rights, divorcee with spotty "family values" isn't going to seriously hurt him.

If only he weren't so into torture...

I think you are wrong on this one. The media like to make a big deal out of it, and the Dems hope it's so, but I think when it comes down to crunch time, Republicans (right and middle) are going to look at the alternatives and go with who they think can win.

[Jacko]

Based on the historically small amount of money the Conservatives are contributing to their candidates, I suspect that "they" generally do not feel strongly about any of their candidates at this point..(or they are just in a serious funk)....someone is going to have to find a way to change that soon...or Fred's going to come in at the last moment to try to pull Conservative butt outta the fire.....and by then, it will likely be too late..or maybe just not enough campaign managers around.

[Just Lucky]

Ya know, I've been looking at how the Republicans are moving the primaries and the caucuses up. Me thinks this is being done to help Thompson. I think strongest elements in the Republican party are awaiting his announcement and the big bucks will flow.

Whatcha Think?

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

Ya know, I've been looking at how the Republicans are moving the primaries and the caucuses up. Me thinks this is being done to help Thompson. I think strongest elements in the Republican party are awaiting his announcement and the big bucks will flow.

Whatcha Think?

I think it's like the Dems waiting for Gore to run and it aint gonna happen? No bucks for the GOP, comparitively. What's up with that?

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by melliedee

I think it's like the Dems waiting for Gore to run and it aint gonna happen? No bucks for the GOP, comparitively. What's up with that?

Thompson is loved by the religious right. I figure there going to play it close to the vest until they can't wait any longer for him to announce.

I think lobbiests and actors make lousy Presidents. He's lobbied for some interests which might not be popular in his own party. Given the problems the religious right have with Mormons and pro-choice candidates I'd think he stands a good chance of being the nominee.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

Thompson is loved by the religious right. I figure there going to play it close to the vest until they can't wait any longer for him to announce.

I think lobbiests and actors make lousy Presidents. He's lobbied for some interests which might not be popular in his own party. Given the problems the religious right have with Mormons and pro-choice candidates I'd think he stands a good chance of being the nominee.

He could get the Reagan nostalgic heydey vote, but personally I think the GOP is going down this election and they know it. I'm not so happy with the Dems either, as I don't think either of my guys is getting the nod.

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by melliedee

He could get the Reagan nostalgic heydey vote, but personally I think the GOP is going down this election and they know it. I'm not so happy with the Dems either, as I don't think either of my guys is getting the nod.

I know we share an appreciation for Kucinich. Who else are you likin'?

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

I know we share an appreciation for Kucinich. Who else are you likin'?

Kucinich, beyond touchable as far as my own social/political views (and it burns me he is labeled as a crazy hippie when he is actually smart, decent, steady, all that) Obama (still see as new blood and hope for the party despite recent diversions trying to throw him off) and Richardson (wild card, but he is strong in debates and enough of an "outsider" to bring the kind of change I want?)

I voted for Edwards in the last primary, but starting to think he's all talk and no substance. Hillary I have defended on this thread on several occasions, yet that is usually when she is being taken down for personal/appearance reasons. Would do the same for Condi Rice; crappy business this boys club, but not enough reason to get my vote.

I'm still undecided? You?

[Just Lucky]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Kucinich, beyond touchable as far as my own social/political views (and it burns me he is labeled as a crazy hippie when he is actually smart, decent, steady, all that) Obama (still see as new blood and hope for the party despite recent diversions trying to throw him off) and Richardson (wild card, but he is strong in debates and enough of an "outsider" to bring the kind of change I want?)

I voted for Edwards in the last primary, but starting to think he's all talk and no substance. Hillary I have defended on this thread on several occasions, yet that is usually when she is being taken down for personal/appearance reasons. Would do the same for Condi Rice; crappy business this boys club, but not enough reason to get my vote.

I'm still undecided? You?

I'm thinking of voting either Edwards or Kucinich in the primary. I tend to make my primary vote my "new deal" Democrat vote. For me these two seem to come closest to where I feel a progressive party. I'm leaning to Kucinich. I am a realist and would be mightily and happily surprised if he were to win a higher office than the one he holds now. He really hits home on many issues for me so in a miniscule effort to move the party left he ,at the moment, looks to be getting my vote.

More concisely, undecided. Lean left!

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

I'm thinking of voting either Edwards or Kucinich in the primary. I tend to make my primary vote my "new deal" Democrat vote. For me these two seem to come closest to where I feel a progressive party. I'm leaning to Kucinich. I am a realist and would be mightily and happily surprised if he were to win a higher office than the one he holds now. He really hits home on many issues for me so in a miniscule effort to move the party left he ,at the moment, looks to be getting my vote.

More concisely, undecided. Lean left!

Hear that! I call my primary vote, my "pie in the sky." In a perfect world, you know?

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Kucinich, beyond touchable as far as my own social/political views (and it burns me he is labeled as a crazy hippie when he is actually smart, decent, steady, all that) Obama (still see as new blood and hope for the party despite recent diversions trying to throw him off) and Richardson (wild card, but he is strong in debates and enough of an "outsider" to bring the kind of change I want?)

I voted for Edwards in the last primary, but starting to think he's all talk and no substance. Hillary I have defended on this thread on several occasions, yet that is usually when she is being taken down for personal/appearance reasons. Would do the same for Condi Rice; crappy business this boys club, but not enough reason to get my vote.

I'm still undecided? You?

I think I understand the Kucinich "hippie" labeling to some degree



I do tend to agree with most of what you say politically, melliedie....even the Gore/Thompson "running" comparison...with Thompson being the one much more likely to run because of the very poor level of common support for any one candidate by the conservatives..they are certainly in a malaise regarding their candidates...IMO, the only prospect of Gore running might be a run at the last minute only if Obama and Clinton completely "Howard Dean'ed" somehow during the primary....as smart as they both are, that is not likely to happen.

At this point, I am undecided as well, and find Obama the most interesting and exciting...by the end though, I want the winner...

[MWC]

I'm remaining uncommitted for now, as well.
What was that rather depressing statistic voiced at the AFL-CIO debate -- over 400 days left before the election?

A lot could happen between then and now.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Jacko

I think I understand the Kucinich "hippie" labeling to some degree



I do tend to agree with most of what you say politically, melliedie....even the Gore/Thompson "running" comparison...with Thompson being the one much more likely to run because of the very poor level of common support for any one candidate by the conservatives..they are certainly in a malaise regarding their candidates...IMO, the only prospect of Gore running might be a run at the last minute only if Obama and Clinton completely "Howard Dean'ed" somehow during the primary....as smart as they both are, that is not likely to happen.

At this point, I am undecided as well, and find Obama the most interesting and exciting...by the end though, I want the winner...

Maybe it's because I come from an exceptionally loud and emotional family, but I never though Dean's meltdown was all that bad? They made it like he was ready for the asylum, playing that clip over and over! I like it as a verb, though.

[MWC]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Maybe it's because I come from an exceptionally loud and emotional family, but I never though Dean's meltdown was all that bad? They made it like he was ready for the asylum, playing that clip over and over! I like it as a verb, though.

I am not from a loud family, and I still don't understand the brou-ha-ha about the scream. I thought it was good, red-meat campaigning!

Dean must have been looking for an out, and the uproar in the media may have been the out he was looking for?

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by MWC

I am not from a loud family, and I still don't understand the brou-ha-ha about the scream. I thought it was good, red-meat campaigning!

Dean must have been looking for an out, and the uproar in the media may have been the out he was looking for?

Just to be clear...I was talking more about succeeding so well at the beginning of the primary only to fail miserably later on....for whatever the reason is...