Now that Romney is out..

[Flunkie]

So now that McCain is the Republican nominee, it's hard to say whether the Republican party will unify with him or remain fragmented and upset. I think it's a safe bet that immigration is going to be a big issue that he is going to have to waffle on to get the rank and file in line with him. I think McCain beats Clinton, but I'm not so sure McCain beats Obama. Clinton and McCain are not so far apart in ideology, where Obama is much further left. McCain vs Clinton gives Clinton haters in the Democrat party and Independants somebody to not feel so badly about voting for. McCain haters in the Republican party simply won't cross the lines (except those that believe in the 1 bad Democrat term theory).

[Embar Angylwrath]

Let's see who his running mate will be. I think a McCain/Powell ticket would scare the beejeesus out of the liberals.

[Ddrak]

A McCain/Powell ticket would scare both sides because they'd probably work strongly towards a bipartisan government instead of the us vs them mentality the GOP has had since '94. You'd get the authoritarian nuts screaming for daring to talk with the "Liberals" and the Democrats worrying that they'll have a hard time winning if the GOP plays friendly. McCain/Rice would be similar I think because as far as I know Powell doesn't intend to get into politics.

However, I wouldn't be surprised to see McCain end up with someone farther right to appease the vocal authoritarian wing of the GOP.

Dd

[Arathena]

So now that McCain is the Republican nominee, it's hard to say whether the Republican party will unify with him or remain fragmented and upset. I think it's a safe bet that immigration is going to be a big issue that he is going to have to waffle on to get the rank and file in line with him. I think McCain beats Clinton, but I'm not so sure McCain beats Obama. Clinton and McCain are not so far apart in ideology, where Obama is much further left. McCain vs Clinton gives Clinton haters in the Democrat party and Independants somebody to not feel so badly about voting for. McCain haters in the Republican party simply won't cross the lines (except those that believe in the 1 bad Democrat term theory).

I also think it is going to hinge on McCain's VP selection, and how much he gives the appearance of listening to the VP. A good, fiscally aware, moderate conservative with McCain's ear could go a long way towards patching up with the base. A Darth Cheney Jr. or a centrist sockpuppet, though, are going to piss off the deep base, and while they won't cross lines, they will stay home. He needs a better known version of Mark Schweiker. I liked Romney, but I don't think he'll be able to mollify the base quite enough for McCain.

Rice would be interesting, but I don't think she can shake off enough of the neocon tar.

[Embar Angylwrath]

Powell is pretty much bullet-proof on the right. Not many coservatives will openly attack him, because of the blow-back they'll get. Powell has a stellar rep, as politicians go, and he carries the image of honesty and integrity, which Hillary doesn't have, and Obama hasn't developed.

Republicans have a tendency to coalesce early. They'll accept Powell even if they don't like him, because they sure as hell don't want Hillary or Obama to win.

[Finglefinn]

Powell is 100% win for the Republicans across the board.

[Partha]

Powell would be a trouble pick for McCain - he neither excites conservatives or induces liberals to cross-vote. All anyone has to do to destroy his credibility is to keep playing the UN speech over and over.

Insiders at CPAC are supposedly telling McCain to offer the VP slot to Haley Barbour.

[Embar Angylwrath]

Powell would be a trouble pick for McCain - he neither excites conservatives or induces liberals to cross-vote. All anyone has to do to destroy his credibility is to keep playing the UN speech over and over.

Insiders at CPAC are supposedly telling McCain to offer the VP slot to Haley Barbour.

Personally, I think Barbour would be a mistake. The guy oozes cloak and dagger politics. Not so much for his current stint as governor, but before, when he was a lobbyist, and later, head of the RNC. Lots of skeletons there.

[Finglefinn]

Powell is the ultimate non-politician choice and an interesting juxiposition next to either Dem nominee; a black man or a former first lady and whoever their running mate would be.

[Flunkie]

Where are you all getting Powell from? I haven't heard much about him in the last 4 years, is he interested? I think he could have beat McCain and won the Presidency if he was interested in running. As far as I know he is pretty firmly retired from the Government. I hope McCain picks a bigger name the Haley Barbour, he needs someone well known like Huckabee or Romney are now.

[Finglefinn]

Ahnold.

[Arathena]

Ahnold.

Can't.

[Finglefinn]

Joke. I know he's not a natural born citizen.

[Embar Angylwrath]

Powell would be a trouble pick for McCain - he neither excites conservatives or induces liberals to cross-vote. All anyone has to do to destroy his credibility is to keep playing the UN speech over and over.

Insiders at CPAC are supposedly telling McCain to offer the VP slot to Haley Barbour.

Partha.. where are you getting that info from? I'd be interested to review it.

[Partha]

CPAC info comes from Bob Novak.

Powell's a non-starter due to, among other things, his recent lack of support for the war, anyways. McCain is already unpopular enough (he got booed at CPAC several times) - he can't afford to completely turn off the base. So he has to pick a firebreathing red-meat type for VP. Barbour fits the profile, Huckabee/Powell don't.