This election has been the same story from the beginning, people don't care what goes into office as long as it's not more of the same. Obama's 'change' campaign was perfectly timed.
McCain is pro war. He does not stand a chance in November.
The problem is, come the general election, Obama is going to have to give his view on what the next course in Iraq should be. McCain was one of the few that supported Bush's "surge" tactic over the past 6 weeks that has yielded significant gains in Iraq. I think this will help McCain.
At the end of the day, the US is so divided politically, the politicians' stance on the issues gets pushed aside for the ideal - conservative or liberal. If McCain can get the conservative base behind him he wins regardless of his stance on Iraq.
The problem is, come the general election, Obama is going to have to give his view on what the next course in Iraq should be. McCain was one of the few that supported Bush's "surge" tactic over the past 6 weeks that has yielded significant gains in Iraq. I think this will help McCain.
At the end of the day, the US is so divided politically, the politicians' stance on the issues gets pushed aside for the ideal - conservative or liberal. If McCain can get the conservative base behind him he wins regardless of his stance on Iraq.
I completely disagree.
The republicans aren't showing up at the polls. The democratic turnout has been huge, much higher than the republican turnout.
Plain and simply, this election is about change and McCain will not change America. He represents another 4 years of War in Iraq and another 4 years of the slow slide into recession.
If the race is Obama versus McCain, I predict Obama takes it on a message of hope and change over McCain's status quo.
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Huge thanks to Dion for the signature!
What could happen is that the US has no alternative but to pull out of Iraq as it's becoming a money pit and they no longer control their own dollar. They could be broken just as the Soviets were broken by Afghanistan. The only thing keeping them on some kind of even keel is that they'll take most everyone's economy down with them.
The republicans aren't showing up at the polls. The democratic turnout has been huge, much higher than the republican turnout.
This is one of the unwritten stories of this election season. In Virginia, a traditional red state that has been carried by the Republicans in almost every election since the 1960s, twice as many democrats voted in the primary as Republicans. TWICE as many. Because it's basically the D.C. suburbs, Virginia may well be trending democratic, but this development may well put a wider number of states in play for the Democrats, while the GOP will strugggle to win the swing states they need--Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, etc.
A lot can change over the many months between now and November, but as of this moment, the picture looks very bleak for Republicans.
I don't think the primary turnout is indicative of anything except the fact that Republicans aren't enamored with their candidates. That's not necessarily a bad thing for them though.
I don't think we can predict election turnout by primaries... if faced with the "grim reality" of President Obama, the Republican voters will more than likely hold their nose and vote for the Republican candidate.
The trick is to convince the independents and swings.
If it gets into a Foreign Policy debate, Obama will get handed. Running away from a quagmire will only make a bigger problem with America's fingerprints all over it. History would record President Obama's withdrawal as starting the Iraqi Civil War, as well as President Bush's invasion.
Personally I think Obama is an idealist's candidate. In the days of pragmatism, he might winning this primary much simpler than winning the presidency.
I don't think the primary turnout is indicative of anything except the fact that Republicans aren't enamored with their candidates. That's not necessarily a bad thing for them though.
I don't think we can predict election turnout by primaries... if faced with the "grim reality" of President Obama, the Republican voters will more than likely hold their nose and vote for the Republican candidate.
The trick is to convince the independents and swings.
If it gets into a Foreign Policy debate, Obama will get handed. Running away from a quagmire will only make a bigger problem with America's fingerprints all over it. History would record President Obama's withdrawal as starting the Iraqi Civil War, as well as President Bush's invasion.
Personally I think Obama is an idealist's candidate. In the days of pragmatism, he might winning this primary much simpler than winning the presidency.
We are actually seeing that, strangely enough, there are a significant number of republicans that are much more offended by Clinton than by Obama... and there are many republicans who really don't like John McCain.
Obama is the president the US needs to get them back on their feet. McCain will be Bush 2.0... maybe mildly better.
Clinton would be a good president I think but I believe she would be divisive and be unable to unite the country properly.
The supporters of Barack Obama are widely varied, great in number, and very passionate. 8% of the voters in the democratic primary in Virginia last night were republicans. 72% of those republicans who voted in the Virgina democratic primary supported Obama. Interesting statistic.
I just don't see how McCain would have any hope of defeating Obama in a general election. McCain is pro war and Obama draws significant voters from all segments of the population. That's the end of the discussion.
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Huge thanks to Dion for the signature!
We are actually seeing that, strangely enough, there are a significant number of republicans that are much more offended by Clinton than by Obama... and there are many republicans who really don't like John McCain.
Obama is the president the US needs to get them back on their feet. McCain will be Bush 2.0... maybe mildly better.
Clinton would be a good president I think but I believe she would be divisive and be unable to unite the country properly.
The supporters of Barack Obama are widely varied, great in number, and very passionate. 8% of the voters in the democratic primary in Virginia last night were republicans. 72% of those republicans who voted in the Virgina democratic primary supported Obam. Interesting statistic.
I just don't see how McCain would have any hope of defeating Obama in a general election. McCain is pro war and Obama draws significant voters from all segments of the population. That's the end of the discussion.
I'm not going to debate whether he beats McCain or not, but rather why he's the President the US needs to get them back on their feet? Going beyond his speeches and campaign of hope, what has he accomplished in Public life that would indicate he's the right president for the job?
We are actually seeing that, strangely enough, there are a significant number of republicans that are much more offended by Clinton than by Obama... and there are many republicans who really don't like John McCain.
Obama is the president the US needs to get them back on their feet. McCain will be Bush 2.0... maybe mildly better.
Clinton would be a good president I think but I believe she would be divisive and be unable to unite the country properly.
The supporters of Barack Obama are widely varied, great in number, and very passionate. 8% of the voters in the democratic primary in Virginia last night were republicans. 72% of those republicans who voted in the Virgina democratic primary supported Obam. Interesting statistic.
I just don't see how McCain would have any hope of defeating Obama in a general election.McCain is pro war and Obama draws significant voters from all segments of the population. That's the end of the discussion.
You show your bias in a huge way with the bolded statements. He's nothing like GW Bush... at all. McCain was undone in the 2000 primaries because he doesn't pander to the religious right, and because he has no qualms about backing the democrats if their ideas are better. Complete opposite of Bush.
Is Clinton divisive? Yep... but you can't tell me with a straight-face that Obama isn't. That's the neat thing with these primaries... there's no "safe pick" (which is good, safe picks are traditionally the worst (Stelmach) ) , they're all quite distinct with their own set of pros and cons. Personally, I think Clinton is better on the issues and a better Democrat candidate than Obama.
If McCain is a Hawk, Obama is a Dove, and neither are effective extremes on the global stage. Obama is dead wrong on Iraq... and he'll get nailed on that. Its too late to run away whether you like it or not. America owes it to the people of Iraq to fix the mess they made. McCain, Huckabee and Clinton recognize this to some extent, Obama doesn't.
I don't think its nearly as cut and dry as you think. You like Obama, that's cool. I believe he's way too idealistic candidate, with his head way too high in the clouds, and definitely not ready to be President. He's all style and very little substance. I don't see any way he'll "lift up the US" other than the fact that he's a great speaker that rails on a vague demand for change.
McCain is the only Republican candidate capable of cutting him down, and many pundits believe that Obama/McCain would not end the way you think.
I'm not going to debate whether he beats McCain or not, but rather why he's the President the US needs to get them back on their feet? Going beyond his speeches and campaign of hope, what has he accomplished in Public life that would indicate he's the right president for the job?
Step #1, in my opinion, for the US after the next election is to get out of Iraq. The war in Iraq is hemorrhaging funds from the US.
The only candidate I trust to get out of Iraq is Barack Obama.
This now steps into my personal views a bit, but I love his political platform. I am aligned with him in almost every political view.
Personally I believe that religion, in the Bush administration, has taken up too large a role in the American government and that it has guided too many of the policies of the Bush administration.
Obama's liberal views should provide some balance for the evangelical right-wing in the US.
Honestly I am going to sound like a member of his campaign team but the biggest thing he brings to the table is change. Change in health care, change in education, change in foreign policy. Perhaps the US can regain some of the allies that have become alienated during the Administration of Terror™.
Anyway, I guess I just watch him speak and read his platform and read about him and his voting record and it all makes me believe that he is a candidate who could truly revive the US if he becomes president. Return them to the status of respectable nation.
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Huge thanks to Dion for the signature!
The trick is to convince the independents and swings.
A common misconception in American politics is that elections are won by swing voters. Swing voters are a tiny wedge of the vote, and Karl Rove demonstrated pretty handily that given voter turnout, you don't need them to win. Elections in the U.S. are won by mobilizing your base in swing states. There's a massive difference.
As for primary turnout, I agree that it's only one indicator--but the others aren't exactly good news for the GOP either. A lot can change, but right now the Democratic base is more mobilized and happier with their candidates.
Obama, by the way, is popular among moderate Republicans and independents. I don't see a huge McCain groundswell in the cards if Obama is the nominee.
Something to keep in mind may be the 1988 US elections. The Dem's had record numbers coming out to vote in the primaries, but the Republicans won that November.
The difference may be that Reagan had record approval ratings for the republicans when he left office...Bush? ehhh not so much.
I dont understand the love affair with Obama. People are simply getting swept up in the hype. We'll see how good he is wen things start getting tough (in the Texas/Ohio primaries where Clinton should do well and in the general election).
The whole "Change For America" platform is one of the most overused political slogans in politics. It says nothing - "I dont like the way things are, neither do you, so I offer you change!" And people go crazy.
If it turns out to be Obama-McCain, Ill be happier because it wont be Hilary. But I still dont get the love affair. The guy is a great speaker and charismatic. I dont see him having the international experience to be effective and has run his platform on "change".
I dont understand the love affair with Obama. People are simply getting swept up in the hype. We'll see how good he is wen things start getting tough (in the Texas/Ohio primaries where Clinton should do well and in the general election).
The whole "Change For America" platform is one of the most overused political slogans in politics. It says nothing - "I dont like the way things are, neither do you, so I offer you change!" And people go crazy.
If it turns out to be Obama-McCain, Ill be happier because it wont be Hilary. But I still dont get the love affair. The guy is a great speaker and charismatic. I dont see him having the international experience to be effective and has run his platform on "change".
Well after the disaster that the Bush administration has become, I'd say change would be a good thing.
McCain just offers more of the same old, same old, albeit with more of an emphasis on the doing the war right while watching the economic bottom line.
This election has been the same story from the beginning, people don't care what goes into office as long as it's not more of the same. Obama's 'change' campaign was perfectly timed.
McCain is pro war. He does not stand a chance in November.
Right.
I guess I must be the only one who has a problem with people voting for Obama even though they have no idea what half of his policies are.
I dont understand the love affair with Obama. People are simply getting swept up in the hype. We'll see how good he is wen things start getting tough (in the Texas/Ohio primaries where Clinton should do well and in the general election).
The whole "Change For America" platform is one of the most overused political slogans in politics. It says nothing - "I dont like the way things are, neither do you, so I offer you change!" And people go crazy.
If it turns out to be Obama-McCain, Ill be happier because it wont be Hilary. But I still dont get the love affair. The guy is a great speaker and charismatic. I dont see him having the international experience to be effective and has run his platform on "change".
The inexperience is what is making him so likable. Can't teach an old dog new tricks.
The republicans aren't showing up at the polls. The democratic turnout has been huge, much higher than the republican turnout.
Plain and simply, this election is about change and McCain will not change America. He represents another 4 years of War in Iraq and another 4 years of the slow slide into recession.
If the race is Obama versus McCain, I predict Obama takes it on a message of hope and change over McCain's status quo.
And what does Obama represent?
A sudden 'change' in the recession, and a instant withdrawal in Iraq leaving the country in shambles?
What kind of screwed of plan is that?
Contrary to popular 'brainwashing'....Obama is not going to go into the White House and suddenly turn the country around 180 degress and make everything better. If the US is indeed heading into a recession, Obama will have to work through that, just like McCain. Unless he can secretly drop the price of oil 50 bucks, and cut ALL the pork out of the budget.
EDIT: I should clarify by saying that while Obama will certainly not turn Washington around 180 degrees, he can certainly 'start' to implement change, and try to make things different. But it won't be the change people are hoping for.
Which is unlikely, considering Obama is even more pro-government that Hillary is. So chances are, nothing gets cut, and the US chugs along with the same deficit.
You are expecting a lot....most of what won't happen.
Including the instant change in Iraq. Obama would be a complete fool to withdraw troops tomorrow....especially with the surge showing promising results.
Geez.
But hey, he'll change Washington. Good luck with that.
I wonder how he'll do once he actually has to present his platform.
