The Race for the White House Starts -- NOW!

[rollhead]

Nov. 10, 2006 — His party may have taken "a thumpin'," in the words of President Bush, but ABC News has learned that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his political team have decided it's full steam ahead for his 2008 presidential campaign.

Sources close to McCain say on Wednesday in Phoenix, he and a half dozen of his top aides huddled and decided to proceed more formally with his quest for the White House.

A presidential exploratory committee will be set up this month — perhaps as early as next week.

McCain's official, final decision will likely not come until after the Christmas holidays, when he will talk to his wife, Cindy, and his children.

[hornplayer]

Good for him.

[shrugs]

Meet the new boss......same as the old boss.......

[walto]

McCain's official, final decision will likely not come until after the Christmas holidays, when he will talk to his wife, Cindy, and his children.

What about his extra double-secret absolutely final decision?

And hey, I feel bad for a guy who's been so busy running for president for the past couple years that he won't have time to talk to his wife and kids about whether he's running or not until xmas. That kinda sucks.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by walto

What about his extra double-secret absolutely final decision?

And hey, I feel bad for a guy who's been so busy running for president for the past couple years that he won't have time to talk to his wife and kids about whether he's running or not until xmas. That kinda sucks.

With apologies to David Mamet, I'd guess he's just been "speaking of it" with his family, and now he's actually "talking about it."

Anyway, what are you trying to say? He used to be a nice guy and now he's a dick? He was always a dick!

[Monte Smith]

You bet the race is under way. Funny, but at the beginning of this year pundits were talking about an all-Virginia election where Senator Allen took on Governor Warner. Oh how the mighty have fucked off. It's a pity, too, because Virginia, the "Mother of Presidents," needs another son or daughter. It isn't enough that we put forth Washington and Jefferson and Madison and Monroe and Tyler and Taylor and Harrison and Wilson. Texas is catching up with us.

McCain's got a strong chance. I prefer Giuliani, but his chances are weaker. I don't know nuffin about Romney, but I'm prejudiced against Massachusetts. I don't want a Yankee in the Oval Office, might be worse than a Democrat. But I may put aside my prejudice on closer inspection. I'll be pulling for Hillary in the Dem circus. There I think we'll see some splendid competition.

What a race this will be!

[Scott Dolan]

Oh that Mitt is just dreamy!!

[Gordon B]

I'm for Armey but don't think he'll run or get far if he does.
I support Giuliani over McCain, Clinton over Gore. Romney hasn't revealed enough of his preferences for me to rank him.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Oh that Mitt is just dreamy!!

"Dreamy," yes. Presidential material, no. Hey, I know: Mitten should run for Governor of Missouri!! Maybe there he'd let out his Inner Mormon.

[GoodSpeak]

John McCain....again?

[ugh]

That guy will go all MOR on us right up until the crunch for the party faithful comes along. Then he'll fold up like a house of cards and spout the rightist line in support of whomever the GOP says he has to support.

We've already seen this one, Guys.



No thank you.

[cookie]

Based on what I know at this point (admittedly not too much) I would very seriously consider voting for McCain over H.Clinton.

While I supported Hillary early in her senate term, her turn to the more conservative side in the past couple of years disturbs me. I don't vote for people just because they're well-known and I don't vote for women just because they're women.

If the Dems insisting on running H.Clinton in '08, I think they're asking to lose. I would personally prefer to see Gore win their nomination. I think he's far enough from the Clinton years to have a shot plus his environmental work is attractive to progressive folks, especially younger folks.

[stonemonkts]

Originally Posted by cookie

Based on what I know at this point (admittedly not too much) I would very seriously consider voting for McCain over H.Clinton.

While I supported Hillary early in her senate term, her turn to the more conservative side in the past couple of years disturbs me. I don't vote for people just because they're well-known and I don't vote for women just because they're women.

If the Dems insisting on running H.Clinton in '08, I think they're asking to lose. I would personally prefer to see Gore win their nomination. I think he's far enough from the Clinton years to have a shot plus his environmental work is attractive to progressive folks, especially younger folks.

I think the Republicans would love to see Gore run, but I don't think it will happen.

I'm still behind Hillary Clinton.

She does what she does to maintain an edge for later, but behind all that is her record as a Senator, which has been superb, and what I still believe is a much more focused and willfull overall agenda which I suspect I would favor if and when she ever became President.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

"Dreamy," yes. Presidential material, no. Hey, I know: Mitten should run for Governor of Missouri!! Maybe there he'd let out his Inner Mormon.

Hey, why not? I mean our current governor, Matt Blunt, has really enjoyed letting his Inner Moron out.

[Scott Dolan]

Feingold is out.

Damn, first Warner, now Feingold. And considering Macaca Finklestein is pretty much done, the line-ups for the upcoming election season have changed quite a bit over the last couple of months.

[GoodSpeak]

I think Hillary Clinton isn't seasoned enough to make a run a the presidency. Give her one more term in the Senate and then let the horses go, bay-bee!!!

[cookie]

I agree, Goodspeak. If the Democrats run Hillary in '08, I don't think she'll win. I think she would do better in '12 after serving two complete terms in the Senate. It is my hope that with the Democrats in control of Congress, she'll start sounding more like a democrat and feminist again.

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by cookie

I agree, Goodspeak. If the Democrats run Hillary in '08, I don't think she'll win. I think she would do better in '12 after serving two complete terms in the Senate. It is my hope that with the Democrats in control of Congress, she'll start sounding more like a democrat and feminist again.

You think she's more likely to win sounding like a feminist than sound like a moderate?

There have been two Democratic Presidents since Nixon won in 1968. Both ran as moderates. Carter may be an ideological soul-mate with Al in NYC now but he sure didn't campaign nor govern that way in 1976-80.

Why would anybody think that the Democrats can win in 2008 without capturing the center?
I don't know if HRC will win, but she's certainly electable as long as she continues to work the middle.

[Sandi22]

They say she is terrific at bringing everyone together to get things done, that she is a consumate politician in the everyday workings of government, doing good works for her state, as well as the country, besides pleasing all, or most, of her contemporaries in government. They say by the time the elections come about she will have pretty well cemented her position within her party, and If she would just quit playing nice with the most radical elements in both parties, quit telling them what it is they want to hear, I would be more for her. They, the politicians and the pundits are amazed at how she is doing, at her savy and her skills. Do I ever wish that at times she didn't have that disturbing tin ear.

[jesus marion joseph]

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

I think Hillary Clinton isn't seasoned enough to make a run a the presidency. Give her one more term in the Senate and then let the horses go, bay-bee!!!

I'm guessing that the only way she would run in '12 is if the republicans won the 08 election. Otherwise she'd risk one of those "if he runs against me I'll whip his ass" type moments a la Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy.

[cookie]

Originally Posted by Gordon B

You think she's more likely to win sounding like a feminist than sound like a moderate?

There have been two Democratic Presidents since Nixon won in 1968. Both ran as moderates. Carter may be an ideological soul-mate with Al in NYC now but he sure didn't campaign nor govern that way in 1976-80.

Why would anybody think that the Democrats can win in 2008 without capturing the center?
I don't know if HRC will win, but she's certainly electable as long as she continues to work the middle.

I'm talking about how she might win MY vote. And I didn't say she'd win in '12. I said she'd do better. I'm not sure she could win at all because despite her "bipartisan" efforts, there's a lot of Hillary hate out here. Quite frankly, I'm sick of the Democrats playing nice to the Republicans. I don't want bi-partisanship. In bi-partisanship, they all become the same.

I realize that the reality is that you have to "play to the middle". It's nice for politics as usual; terrible for real change.

'Course, as Sisco would remind us, the Democrats haven't been an opposition party for a long time if ever.

[Sandi22]

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

EX-NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI FORMS COMMITTEE TO PLAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by cookie

I'm talking about how she might win MY vote. And I didn't say she'd win in '12. I said she'd do better. I'm not sure she could win at all because despite her "bipartisan" efforts, there's a lot of Hillary hate out here. Quite frankly, I'm sick of the Democrats playing nice to the Republicans. I don't want bi-partisanship. In bi-partisanship, they all become the same.

I realize that the reality is that you have to "play to the middle". It's nice for politics as usual; terrible for real change.

'Course, as Sisco would remind us, the Democrats haven't been an opposition party for a long time if ever.

You do realize the opposite of bipartisanship is essentially forcing your will on all others, right? Isn't that what you supposedly hated about the Republicans?

And no, Hillary would have even less of a shot in '12. She'd be running against an incumbent. And most likely one from her own party. and considering she'd no spring chicken anymore, I'd say it's '08 or bust for HRC.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Sandi22

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

EX-NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI FORMS COMMITTEE TO PLAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

What shocking news.

*zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............*

[Sandi22]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

You do realize the opposite of bipartisanship is essentially forcing your will on all others, right? Isn't that what you supposedly hated about the Republicans?

And no, Hillary would have even less of a shot in '12. She'd be running against an incumbent. And most likely one from her own party. and considering she'd no spring chicken anymore, I'd say it's '08 or bust for HRC.

I've heard this as well. '08 is her best shot.

What a huge field of contenders are in the wings. More and more will be out there, at least this is how it's looking so far. Even Joe Biden is putting in his bid I've heard.

Who was it that the Neo Con's (not the GOP) would have wanted to run? Jeb? Not hearing much of him these days. Wonder who it could be?

Who will the more moderate voices want to run, the mainstream GOP, is it McCain? He certainly switched back and forth to placate the Cheney/Bush team, so I wonder what promises they made to him for his cooperation in some policies, if any. It just seemed so strange for him to play nice with them after the family insults and talks of mental instability on McCains end, the administration fighting his beliefs, his policies, his stances. It all looked to be just too odd. Instead of a smackdown, they were agreeing with one another once again. All of this after what seemed to me to be dirty politics in the extreme, and to get over it so quickly and easily has to make one wonder what actually happened behind closed doors. Those slams weren't just politics as usual. They even went after his family.

[Sandi22]

Not shocking, but now it's official.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Sandi

Even Joe Biden is putting in his bid I've heard.

Yeah, he made an announcement months ago.

Who was it that the Neo Con's (not the GOP) would have wanted to run? Jeb? Not hearing much of him these days. Wonder who it could be?

After last Tuesday I think they got the message that they are all but done. But I don't know the answer to your question. Macaca Finklestein would have been the likeliest candidate for them. Jeb won't run. I think Brownback had mentioned he might join the fray. He'd be ideal for that wing of the party.

Who will the more moderate voices want to run, the mainstream GOP, is it McCain?

Sure. Mehlman had announced earlier this year when he was on Russerts show that he was already raising funds for McCain's campaign. He and Guiliani would be the two moderate candidates.

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by cookie

I realize that the reality is that you have to "play to the middle". It's nice for politics as usual; terrible for real change.

Real change is usually bad and always polarizing. Gridlock keeps politicians from doing bad.

[Sandi22]

Perhaps not as much "bad", yet somehow they do manage.

[hornplayer]

Originally Posted by Sandi22

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

EX-NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI FORMS COMMITTEE TO PLAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008


http://abcnews.go.com?CMP=EMC-1396

well now, THAT really made my day.... NOT!!!

[Jeffrey Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Gordon B

Gridlock keeps politicians from doing bad.

No. It allows them to divide the evil doing more evenly.