http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/07/time-magazine-blog-romney-to-quit-toda y/

Whew.

Good.

Wow, what a surprising turn of events from just a few months ago. President McCain. I don't think so.

If it is Obama, maybe not, but if it is Clinton, say Hail to the Chief President McCain and VP Romney.

Uh, no. Clinton will win.

Obama is the better man for the job.

Agreed!

And Romney spent a ton too! That's gotta suck.

Mr. Huckabee is looking good!!!

Herb

I think if the Democrats put up Obama it could be another Bush-Kerry type of election where it goes right down to the wire.

If they put up Clinton, I think McCain will be the clear cut winner.

At least I hope so. I would like to think that the combined intelligence of the people of America is smart enough not to elect her. Although sometimes I'm not sure!

I think you guys are living in a dream world. McCain stands no chance vs Obama or Clinton, so keep dreaming!

Latest head to head polls give Obama a slight edge over McCain, and McCain a slight edge over Hillary, well within the margin of error either way.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/national.html

Interesting dynamics. McCain is much more attractive to moderates of either party, those who abstain from the Kool Aid of either wing. Obama has the best shot against McCain. He has absolutely galvanized the under-30 vote--against the status quo, which is code for Bush, but in the primaries, it's also personified by the Clintons. If she gets the nomination, it's hard to imagine Barack's people flocking to her camp. More likely, they'd just sit it out, just like the youth vote did in '00 and '04 (thanks a lot, kids). And Barack's voting record on Iraq reflects the nation's overwhelming sentiment.

McCain has problems of his own. The right wing of his party has been slamming him harder than Bill Clinton attacked Barack in South Carolina. And Rush, et. al., don't sound like they're ready to make nice.

McCain's fondest wish is to run against Hillary. The right's hatred of her is a powerful get-out-the-redstate-vote force. A bunch of Democrats I know dread the possibility of a Hillary candidacy, because even if she wins based on a strong showing in urban states, there will be such a massive anti-Hillary turnout that any Dem on the ballot in Montana, etc., is dead meat.

I think McCain could have a field day against Hillary.

One issue I see is that there is a lot of dissention amongst the Democratic ranks between Obama and his supporters and Hillary and hers. I honestly don't know if the two sides will get together for the main goal of winning back the White House. This is something that Obama can get through IMHO because he is really reaching out to the other side, and he is SO well-spoken. Hillary isn't, she isn't liked by many in her own party, and people on both sides see through the oil slick she leaves behind.

Everybody is bringing some serious meat to the table. Damn, I love it.

America is excited to be voting again. I think it is magnificent -- and a sure sign that most folks want change. That being said, I believe that our nation is not hyped in this cycle for a bunch of mudslinging and rhetoric. I think that the high road is the only road that any of the candidates can take if they want a real mandate.

A McCain vs. Clinton race will look familiar to some Americans: Bickersons fans. Studying the work of Don Ameche and Frances Langford would be valuable to strategists on both sides. Without good humor, both campaigns are doomed.

Divisive politics -- like old white candidates with jowls, fossil fuels and the goddamn war -- are firmly associated with the past. The strategy of the parties had better be about uniting these United States, or November will be quite cruel. IMHO.

Bye Mitt, you will not be missed.

IMHO Mitt doesn't stand a chance as a VP choice of McCain. More likely a Crist sp?, Huckleberry Hound, or Lieberman.

By the way has Lars endoresed anyone and is he lambasting McCain like Hannity, Limbaugh, and Dobson?

I agree Littlesongs, and one thing I like about a McCain vs. Obama race is that I feel that BOTH would be good uniters. McCain has always been one while in the Senate to reach across that aisle on many key issues and work with Democrats on a lot of things. Obama lacks the experience, but I am greatly pleased that he is so willing to name prominent Republicans as people who have helped move our nation forward when it needed it most and stood his ground in the face of fire from his own party, a Democratic party that largely cowered in the corner at the behest of the Reagan administration.

The last few Presidential races have been so much of the same ol' stuff, the partisan bickering and haggling on both sides. Even when Bush had this "compassionate conservatism" horseshit going on in 2000, many saw right through it, but he happened to be running against a man in Gore that was a bore and ran a horrific campaign, and he STILL only won with the Supreme Court's help. Kerry? Please. Clinton used his charisma to beat a Bush who was resting on his laurels in 1992, and Dole was not electable in 1996.

I'm digging this. A LOT.

As I have said before, Obama and Clinton will destroy each other with attacks over the next couple of months, giving ammunition to the Republicans in the fall.

The neo-cons will expand on Obama's admitted trying of cocaine and paint him as someone who does not support the troops, at the very least.

>>I'm digging this. A LOT.

Me too. Anyone who hasn't done so...should make a point of catching a full Obama speech. His words after South Carolina were classic...they're bouncing around You Tube...and his speech following Super Tuesday contained a phrase that grabbed me: "We are...what we've been waiting for." For anyone who's waited patiently through the mediocre likes of Kerry and Dukakis...those words ring true. He gives a better patriotic pep talk than anyone since, well, Reagan.

>>The neo-cons will expand on Obama's admitted trying of cocaine...

A tough sell, given W's history. Neo-con credibility doesn't currently have a pulse, anyway.

Watched one last night.

I'm liking the change message, some solid grabs at unity, and the younger vote potential is huge.

This time around, we need the kids!

"We are -- the ones we've been waiting for!"

Eastwood, that was a serious historic all-American goosebumps moment. I think that sort of optimism and spirit will do our country more good in the next four years than any amount of experience. Despite appearances, the job is not for a lone gunman.

After all, our President is not King. He or she must bring folks together for the common good. The last seven years may have subverted our system, but we still elect many people in Washington. They need to be bound together and inspired to work on making our nation great again.

8-years if this guy lives up to what we all hope he can be and do for this country!

Radioblogman, I'm gonna call BS on your predictions. Whether Obama or Clinton win the nomination, they will still handily beat McCain.

In fact, if memory serves, I think I remember you saying America wasn't ready for a black president or a woman? So far, that doesn't really look like the case, eh?

Vitalogy, I watched the returns Tuesday. It was no surprise Obama got most of the black vote, but Clinton got the Hispanic vote. There are not enough blacks in this country to defeat the Hispanic vote for Clinton.

Yet, I think this country is indeed ready for a black, asian, hispanic male or woman to be president. It is just that Obama and Clinton are not the ones to be the first.

So, how many blacks in Iowa voted for him? And, are the Hispanics going to turn around and vote for the party that will deport them, or will they vote for the black guy? So far, the race is a dead heat with Obama having the momentum and the money. As an Obama supporter, I'm happy and encouraged about that. However, if Hillary wins, people like me will be voting for her no question. I would NEVER consider voting for the party that will continue on with Bush's policies. The choice will be very clear: Same old shit? Or something different? I don't think the same old shit is going to cut it this year. It certainly didn't in 2006, and judging by the number of voters, there is even more energy now than in 2004 or 2006. This means big trouble for the GOP.

I find it silly to hear terms like black vote versus brown vote being bandied about. The American people are making their own decisions based on the facts they have been given. Reaching out to all of them is the responsibility of a good campaign.

Neither Democratic front runner has focused well on the two hot button topics for Hispanics. So, as I understand them, here they are in order of importance:

• Education.
• Immigration.

I have covered elections for more years than many of you have been alive.

I many, many cases, before an election, people will tell pollsters how they will vote, ie, yes, I support more money for schools, but then when they actually get to the polls or face their mail ballot, they vote against schools.

that is what is going to happen with the Democrats.

People support them upfront, because it is cool to say, wow! we are going to have either the first black president or the first woman president.

But when they vote, they will go for the one with the most experience. This country likes grandfathers.

McCain is going to campaign like Reagan, not Shrub, and he will capture the trust and heart of voters — even if he can't get their minds.

People in this country vote on emotion, not facts, and that gives McCain the edge.

I don't see McCain having any edge whatsover. He's gonna have a fun time defending Bush once the general begins, because that's what he's running on. His tax cuts. His war. His failed policies both domestic and foreign. Plus, no healthcare solution either.

People have had enough and will not be willing to sign up for another 4 years of Bush.

Once McCain gets the nomination, he will return to his moderate roots. He worked for campaign finance reform, guest worker status for immigrants and a variety of social programs that make the neo-cons go crazy against him.

McCain will garner the neo-con vote, though, because they could not bring themselves to support a Democrat.

Plus, McCain will get the silent majority vote.

The silent majority vote could go either way. I see Obama taking a LOT of those folks. He grabs you, he's the steak AND the sizzle. He's the most dynamite speaker and grabber of an audience I've seen since Ronald Reagan. Reagan really burst onto the national scene in support of Ford at the 1976 GOP convention and it vaulted him to the top. Obama did just that four years ago, will he follow the same fate?

I will grant you, Obama is a fantastic speaker. He has a preacher quality to his voice that captures you.

"We are the ones we've been waiting for."

Credit for that line actually goes to a woman named Lisa Sullivan, a young African American from Washington, DC. She was a smart kid from a working-class family. Educated at Yale to earned her PhD.

Lisa with all her education ended up working the streets of DC helping kids in trouble. Sadly she died at the age of 40 from a rare heart aliment.

Here words ""We are the ones we've been waiting for" are a powerful call to leadership and responsibility with a deep affirmation of hope.

Chris, thank you for the bittersweet backstory. It is heartening to know that her words have become immortal, and may yet see her dreams come true. Heaven could use some absentee ballots.

Thanks, Chris. When I heard Barack say those words the other night, I got the same chills that Littlesongs described. Flashed on another famous challenge that began, "Ask not...."

Mr. Huckabee is looking good!!!


The HUCKster is toast!

VP nod maybe...

Doofus Lars Larson was just on MSNBC's Dan Abrams show and he said the reason Mitt Romney didn't win because of religious bigotry. Rachel Maddow correctly pointed out the voters were Republicans.

Carl Rove was on FOXNews and he said that the HUCKster has NO CHANCE!
WOW! Carl Rove had a RINGING endorsement of McCain!

Funny that Lars would be playing the bigotry card.

But you know, there may be an element of religious discernment at work here. Mormons do sincerely believe some things that stretch the standard paradigm. We heathen are not included in their celestial plans. McCain, on the other hand, is pretty much an earth-dweller who realizes the planet is not flat, evolution is fact, and both sides have some pretty good ideas. Which makes him the toughest competitor the GOP can put up against either Democrat.

Lets put it this way, If Clinton gets the nomination I am voting for McCain, if Obama gets it then I am voting for Him.

I know several people that feel this way as well.

"If Clinton gets the nomination I am voting for McCain, if Obama gets it then I am voting for Him."

If true, then this makes you an idiot. Clearly you don't stand for anything if you'll vote for Obama but not Hillary. They are essentially the same as far as policy goes. McCain is completely different. So how you can go from one set of policies to the polar opposite tells me that you really don't care about policy. And, I'm not surprised several people you know feel that way, as like minded individuals tend to hang out together.

Now, as for Mitt Romney, you bet your ass he lost because of religious bigotry. Southern evangelicals absolutely hate mormons. Why do you think Hickabee did so well in the south? And as Rachel Maddow correctly pointed out, is that it was a Republican primary, so all the bigotry was conservative based!

"If Clinton gets the nomination I am voting for McCain, if Obama gets it then I am voting for Him."

I think Mc74 never had any intention of voting for Obama. I'm making my observation based on his comments of the past year.

Then thats your problem, you should not attempt to think. Just follow the status quo and Bahhhh like the rest of the sheep.

Troll.

Boy can't you just feel the love.

"If Clinton gets the nomination I am voting for McCain, if Obama gets it then I am voting for Him."

That sounds like a good strategy. Aside from voting for Mike Huckabee, the only thing better would be a vote for Nader.

Herb

One thing I see missing from this particular discussion is the likely effect of the economic downturn, which despite the stimulus package, looks like it will only get worse.

History shows in such times the party in the White House loses big.

When all is said and done, I think that once again:

"It's the Economy Stupid!"

"Doofus Lars Larson was just on MSNBC's Dan Abrams show and he said the reason Mitt Romney didn't win because of religious bigotry. Rachel Maddow correctly pointed out the voters were Republicans. :-)"

There is no more of a religious bigot than Larson, who thinks if you are not Christian, you will go to hell. But who would want to be there with him?

The economy trumps all, largely because greater numbers of people cannot afford to be bigots.

So, I'm a troll for calling you out Mc74? Do you not have any principles? Do you realize just how different Obama's platform is from McCain and how similar Clinton's is to Obama's? To change platforms so drastically because of your hatred of a woman president is pathetic and indicitave of someone who doesn't really know what they are talking about. Let's see, are you for staying in Iraq, or getting out? Are you pro-choice or are you anti-choice? Do you favor tax cuts for the rich and budget deficits, or do you favor the middle class and balanced budgets? These are black and white issues, and McCain and Obama are on the opposite side of the spectrum. You are simply willing to cut off your nose to spite your face. Smart people don't participate is such foolish and destructive behavior.

"Then thats your problem, you should not attempt to think."

This is why I would never make a good conservative -- I spend too much time thinking. Sometimes I may be wrong, but at least it was my decision, not someone else's that I followed blindly.

> Doofus Lars Larson was just on MSNBC's Dan Abrams
> show and he said the reason Mitt Romney didn't win
> because of religious bigotry.

I'm a bit surprised that he would bring charges of bigotry against Republicans, but I don't think that this makes him a doofus. On the contrary, I think that he's right! The bigots wouldn't trust a Mormon President simply because the Mormon doesn't use a King James Bible. The bigots could care less about whether Romney behaves in a moral fashion or whether he supports ideas that are moral. No, because the belongs to a church that is not doctrinally "correct," he can't be a good Presidential candidate.

Then thats your problem, you should not attempt to think. Just follow the status quo and Bahhhh like the rest of the sheep.

Troll.


Pot meet kettle