[BRussell]

Why does everyone fawn over him constantly? Both Bush and Kerry have now run ads with McCain in it. Everybody wants his support. Lieberman ran ads with McCain in them in the primaries in NH. Both Kerry and Bush constantly invoke the great McCain. Democrats voted for him in the 2000 primaries, and yet he's one of the most conservative Senators.

What's his mojo? I don't get it.

[MacGorilla]

He is an independent thinker and an honest speaker. People are attracted to those traits on a politcian because they are (sadly) too rare these days.

[ThinkInsane]

He seems to be a decent, honest, and honorable man. George Bush and John Kerry seem not to be. It may well all be a matter of perception, but I campaigned for McCain in the 2000 primaries, and believe the country would be in a much better position if he was sitting in the oval office right now.

[vmarks]

He's the middle-ground. The moderate. The thing about defending the middle-ground is that it's the realm of little-ventured, little-gained. No controversy, but wooed by the more polarized on either end to make them look middle as well.

Egli chi va lentamente va sicuramente , solo mai arrivare.

[voodoo]

Originally posted by vmarks:


Egli chi va lentamente va sicuramente , solo mai arrivare.

Eeeeew! Italian

[CreepingDeth]

Yes, McCain is a moderate. He really isn't anything. He fits more into "Independent," but nobody, well very few, win under that. I'm not sure McCain would've been better.

[OldManMac]

Originally posted by vmarks:

Egli chi va lentamente va sicuramente , solo mai arrivare.

That's easy for you to say.

[zigzag]

I think that if McCain didn't have the POW record, he'd be just another Senator. It gives him a degree of moral authority that few politicians have - who (other than Bush's operatives) is gonna attack a military guy who survived years as a POW, even one involved in one of our most notorious political scandals? But that's still not enough - he lost to Bush, and he still has to play politics (note recent make-believe love-fest with Bush). But I'm glad we have him.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
He seems to be a decent, honest, and honorable man. George Bush and John Kerry seem not to be. It may well all be a matter of perception, but I campaigned for McCain in the 2000 primaries, and believe the country would be in a much better position if he was sitting in the oval office right now.

Originally posted by vmarks:
He's the middle-ground. The moderate. The thing about defending the middle-ground is that it's the realm of little-ventured, little-gained. No controversy, but wooed by the more polarized on either end to make them look middle as well.

Egli chi va lentamente va sicuramente , solo mai arrivare.

That pretty much sums it up.

I'd personally agree, he would have been great in office. I think he's the only person I can think of who I actually think would be a great president.

Kerry and Bush are about the lowest politicans out there. And that's what were offered.

But I'd very seriously look at McCain. Here my reasons:

- Honest - has no reason speaking out at his own party, or anyone else who he disagrees with.
- Moderate (good word vMarks). He's not far extreme right like Bush, or extreme left like Kerry.
- Experienced - he's got a better reputation with international policy despite his position than either Bush or Kerry. International community is very respectful of him... and that's important for us.
- Intelegent - No real need to expand on that, just listen to him talk, and it's pretty clear he isn't a bonehead puppet like George and John.
- Real/Charisma - I've got respect for someone who will do something like "The Daily Show", and take part in real life. He's willing to laugh at himself, and actually looks/acts/talks like a real person. Kerry and Bush do to many photo-ops instead. And it's just sickening. I hate press releases. But I don't mind real talking. That's one thing both Bush and Reagan did (which won quite a few people over). Both had no problem dropping the note cards and just talking. And those were the most informative, and respectable speaches a president ever gave.
- Respectful - One thing I've noticed is that he's never cocky, or arrogant (like Bush and Kerry). Small thing, but I think that's important for a president who the world is look at (and assumes represents America).

He fits my requirements: moderate (in the middle), independant (willing to step out of party lines), intellegent, and respectable in front of the world. Exactly what America needs.

Having thought about it a little more... I'd think he's a great choice for president. Perhaps next election?

zigzag:

I agree the POW status does give him some reputatation. But I kind of think that also gives him some more experience. He knows the costs of war, and he knows the evils of humanity (he's talked about bad things, and don't doubt that he's seen worse than he talks about). Personally that's what I'm looking for in a president. Someone who actually knows the effects of his decisions.

Kerry took the easier way through the war, Bush didn't even go. Yet both have the courage to put themselves on his level talking about the hardships they endured.

It's nice to know either way our president has no real knowledge of what war is. But they can be CIC.

I wouldn't want someone with an honorary degree in medicine to perform surgery on me. Why? Because I'd want someone with experience. Why should the president of this nation not need cridentials?


The last election and this one have been a complete embarassment to the nation.... if this is the best America has to offer... were royally F***ed.

[Spliffdaddy]

"Intelegent - No real need to expand on that..."


Intelligent

I'd suggest our teachers are an embarrassment.

(i still love reading your posts, macvillage, don't get me wrong)

[vmpaul]

I think it's the back-up quarterback phenomena. Nobody likes the starter when things aren't going well. Nobody seems thrilled with either of the choices we have, including the people in their own party.

The fact is McCain hasn't had to take hard-line positions or play the political game as a hard as Bush or Kerry have till this point. Certainly as a US Senator McCain has taken more high-profile positions than others but there's still a level of anonymity until you go through the primaries and debate system.

I always cringe whenever the media starts talking about high poll numbers for politicians before the race starts. They did it with Powell every two years before he became SoS. Of course everyone loved him. He wasn't taking any positions that would alienate him from the electorate.

It'd be interesting to hear if the level of admiration would still be there from Democrats if McCain was the GOP nominee and he was taking the shots at Kerry that would be required.

[LoganCharles]

McCain like Bush exhudes 'likeablity'. However once you take the highest office, all bets are off.

The question I ask: If McCain were President and had invaded Iraq would he still be as liked?

I figure in politics if you want to go for the gold you're going to have to crack some eggs. McCain hasn't cracked any eggs yet.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by LoganCharles:
McCain like Bush exhudes 'likeablity'. However once you take the highest office, all bets are off.

The question I ask: If McCain were President and had invaded Iraq would he still be as liked?

I figure in politics if you want to go for the gold you're going to have to crack some eggs. McCain hasn't cracked any eggs yet.

That's not really true.

Bush has quite intense opposition before he even won the primaries.

McCain lost the primaries, but had quite a bit of backing. And still despite his loss, he's got quite a bit of backing.

Bush never had any bipartisian support. McCain has a strong foundation of it. Something no other politician right now has.

Bush had much more connections than McCain. His campaign was much better funded, and had much better republican organizers from day 1. Bush got people good at campaigning from day 1. And it made a huge difference. You also saw several Bush ads for every 1 ad from another candidate. His ad penetration was rediculus. That primary was by far more overdone than any other in history.

Unlike the Democratic primaries, everyone knew it was Bush going for president in 2000. There wasn't any question or doubt in regards to the outcome. The primaries were just a formality.

But considering the circumstances, McCain didn't do to bad.

[vmarks]

There's another element to this:

McCain has found a lot of affection from Democrats and Liberals in the mainstream media. His positions aren't so far off that he's a Republican even a Democrat can love.

Zell Miller (Senator from Georgia) and Ed Koch (former NYC Mayor) are finding affection from Republicans, as well as a Minnesota Mayor whose name slips my mind at the moment.

[BRussell]

Originally posted by vmarks:
There's another element to this:

McCain has found a lot of affection from Democrats and Liberals in the mainstream media. His positions aren't so far off that he's a Republican even a Democrat can love.

Zell Miller (Senator from Georgia) and Ed Koch (former NYC Mayor) are finding affection from Republicans, as well as a Minnesota Mayor whose name slips my mind at the moment.

The strange thing about it though is that, at least by his voting record, McCain is a very conservative senator. I don't understand why liberals would ever vote for him. Liking him is one thing, but you're not voting for a buddy, you're voting for a politician to enact policy. Zell Miller is as conservative as the most conservative Republican senators, and votes regularly with Republicans, so it's no surprise that he's like by Republicans.

I personally think the media likes him a lot, and that rubs off on people. But I'm not sure why the media likes him so much.

I'm not saying he's a bad guy or anything. I just don't see what the fuss is all about.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by BRussell:
The strange thing about it though is that, at least by his voting record, McCain is a very conservative senator. I don't understand why liberals would ever vote for him. Liking him is one thing, but you're not voting for a buddy, you're voting for a politician to enact policy. Zell Miller is as conservative as the most conservative Republican senators, and votes regularly with Republicans, so it's no surprise that he's like by Republicans.

He's really the only one left who isn't a religious zealot.

"God Told me" isn't really the answer people want for why they side one way.

McCain obviously realized that at some point.

And he's not very conservative. It depends what part of his record you look at. He's quite moderate compared to other republicans.