Dems should choose another candidate?

[pinkeye]

from the village voice, that pinko-commie rag ;)

Mondo Washington
by James Ridgeway
John Kerry Must Go
Note to Democrats: it's not too late to draft someone—anyone—else
April 27th, 2004 11:45 AM


WASHINGTON, D.C.— With the air gushing out of John Kerry's balloon, it may be only a matter of time until political insiders in Washington face the dread reality that the junior senator from Massachusetts doesn't have what it takes to win and has got to go. As arrogant and out of it as the Democratic political establishment is, even these pols know the party's got to have someone to run against George Bush. They can't exactly expect the president to self-destruct into thin air.

With growing issues over his wealth (which makes fellow plutocrat Bush seem a charity case by comparison), the miasma over his medals and ribbons (or ribbons and medals), his uninspiring record in the Senate (yes war, no war), and wishy-washy efforts to mimic Bill Clinton's triangulation gimmickry (the protractor factor), Kerry sinks day by day. The pros all know that the candidate who starts each morning by having to explain himself is a goner.

What to do? Look for the Dem biggies, whoever they are these days, to sit down with the rich and arrogant presumptive nominee and try to persuade him to take a hike. Then they can return to business as usual—resurrecting John Edwards, who is still hanging around, or staging an open convention in Boston, or both.

If things proceed as they are, the dim-bulb Dem leaders are going to be very sorry they screwed Howard Dean.



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Additional reporting: Alicia Ng and Phoebe St John

[scm77]

I think they should dump Kerry and go with Kucininch. That little elf would certainly win. rofl

[Romulus]

The only "real" chance they would have is to put Joe back on the ticket. Hell if they did I might even vote for the guy. Otherwise, I will bring the tissues for all you Kerry fans in November.

[Tane Angle]

It's the lesser of the two evils, I hate to say it. Personally, I say we all write John McCain on our ballots. p-) But barring McCain, Kerry is the least bad choice. Have a good one all, and just some thoughts...

[Haiw]

Are you jumping on the political campaigning band wagon here TA? ;) Who is this John McCain fellow anyway?

[cut]

It's the lesser of the two evils, I hate to say it. Personally, I say we all write John McCain on our ballots. p-) But barring McCain, Kerry is the least bad choice. Have a good one all, and just some thoughts...

I like McCain a lot too, how did he lose to Bush?

[Gringo]

I reckon, both parties should change they're candidates.

Bush is incompetent and Kerry is too 'changeable'.

Do u reckon anyone would notice (or care) if we switched John Kerry with Kerry McFadden?

[American Patriot]

I don't like McCain's voting records. To me he's a Republican in name only. I also think he's an attention whore.

However I forgive him since his bad traits are a result of how Charlie treated him during his POW days.

[Nizark]

Thats the funny thing, everyone thinks that G-Dub is a lock to win, which he isn't. While granted no one cares about kerry as a person, we want someone who simply isn't bush. The military is overwhelmingly pro bush, and from someone who serves in the national guard, all they show is fox news in the mess, so yeah, mil guys are generally republican. There is no one else out there and even if there was someone else out there, it would be the same situation with people either FOR bush or FOR anyone who isn't bush.

[Retard]

all they show is fox news in the mess, so yeah, mil guys are generally republican. .

I think you got that backwards. Mil guys are usually conservative, so they like Foxnews best. I was in the military way before Fox existed & most guys were still very conservative.

When there was just the networks (then later CNN), I'd watched the news & be pissed by the end of the program because of their liberal slant.

[Tane Angle]

Haiw, what do you mean jumping on? p-) I've got three kids in public school today and will be in college in before too long, I'm trying to sell this house and buy a new one somewhere else (as yet to be determined where), we have two cars to pay for, all that. I'd be an idiot not to be paying attention. p-)

John McCain is the senior Senator from Arizona. He's pretty much the most respected-and gustiest-man in American politics today. He has more credibility than most of the rest of the senators combined. This stems from two things-he votes on issues the way he wants; and he was tortured as a POW for 6 years in Vietnam.

On the issues, he walks on both sides of the aisle, and actually represents his constituents. He is an elected representative who actually represents his electorate. That is why sometimes he votes with the Dems, and sometimes votes with the Reps-he does what is best for his people. This endears him to many, but annoys many too. He is not, however, a waffler. He knows what he stands for and makes no secret of it.

Very strong on defense, very strong on halting global warming (mainly for national security reasons), strong on serving his people, nearly everyone I know loves McCain, regardless of their party affiliation. I know far leftists, moderates, and far rightists who all think McCain is just the greatest thing since pre-sliced bread.

In Vietnam, he was a fighter pilot. He was offered a nice cushy desk because of who his father was (McCain's father was running the Vietnam War). Shot down, McCain was tortured. Then the Vietnamese found out who he was, and told him he was free. McCain refused to leave without every one of his fellow POWs, and so the Vietnamese tortured him even more. He didn't leave men behind. Every President since JFK has, but McCain knows what it is to be left behind.

If John McCain said "Let's go to war," I don't think I'd have as much a problem as when Bush or Clinton or anyone does, because McCain knows what war is. He has seen humanity at its worst.

Today, he can make or break a candidate's election hopes. He campaigns for Democrats sometimes, though for Republicans far more often. Most times, when he supports a candidate, that candidate wins the election. His friends in Washington, from what I understand, range from Ted Kennedy (the arch-Democrat, though not actually an arch-liberal) and Bob Graham to Elizabeth Dole and Bill Frist. Especially Ted Kennedy.

He isn't perfect, but who is? Of everyone in American politics today, I think he'd be the best president. And I think he'd actually be a great president, able to unify the parties to finally get things done that help both sides; he wouldn't just be a "least bad choice."

He lost the Republican primary in 2000 to Bush for two reasons-McCain is not a particularly rich man, especially as far as US Senators go; and Bush mudslinged McCain like there was no tomorrow.

Have a good one all, and just some thoughts...

[Haiw]

Sounds like a great president, a good politician, but a bad election-race player (at least.... for American standards). Wouldn't mind swapping him with Bush. :D

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Bush mudslinged McCain like there was no tomorrow.
Good point Tane I read the Financial Times and at the time McCain was running he was catching a lot of flack from big business and Wall Street they really had it in for him.

[Tane Angle]

Great man. He's just not much of a politician. p-) That's why I like him, though. It shows there is hope for American politics yet. :D

[Haiw]

Actually if a good guy like him can't get in power because of all the election mudslinging that show that there isn't hope. :(