I don't think John McCain will run for president in 08

[Stinky The Clown]

His age and his health issues (one of which was a potentially very serious cancer) will both become issues.

People vote for president with an assumption of an 8 year terms. McCain would be 72 if he assumed office in 08. St. Ronnie was only 69 and look what that got us. Even if techincally healthy when he assumed office, with McCain's health history there is a high likelihood of serious health issues affecting him, even in his first term.

While I certainly understand that he's popular in some circles, he's far from a slam dunk for the 08 nomination. In the end, reason will prevail with respect to his ability to serve two terms and he'll be sidelined. The best he *might* hope for is a Veep slot, and even that, it seems to me, is a long shot.

Guys like Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd (or Burt Mustin - does anyone remember him?) are really rather quite rare. Staying not only healthy but lucid, as we all know, gets more difficult with age. A man with McCain's health history, it seems to me, runs an even higher risk of not having it all together long about 75 or so.

[acmavm]

1. As far as lucidity goes, I think McCain's already got some

problems.

[SteppingRazor]

2. I usually agree with you, H2S, but I gotta disagree this time...

McCain's hubris will force him to throw his hat in the ring. And given the list of other candidates for the office, rapacious greedheads and dangerous lunatics to a man (and woman, on the outside chance Rice runs), McCain's got as good a chance as anyone.

[Stinky The Clown]

27. How about just these two ........ ?

McCain or Hagel.

Who wins?

[lyonn]

3. He has lost the straight shooter imagine and is now

a fence straddler. Seems he has learned some tricks from the bush bunch also, it's showing in his style and bs.

[MichiganVote]

4. I concur. There are younger, stronger and hungrier Repub's than McCain

[diddlysquat]

5. He's done a lot of sucking up for nothing then.

[lyonn]

6. They can't help themselves, politics and the limelight gets

in their blood. Just look at Lieberman! What will they do, start lobbying? Good money but no headlines.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. It looks to me like maybe Giuliani, Hastert, or someone like that...

I guess they could try George Allen, but he'd have to win his seat back... I don't doubt they'll try Jebba the Head at some point in the future but not '08.

Perhaps there will be an actual race instead of an anointing like with shrub.

Even the shrub voting, well of people I live and work among seem to feel that Frist is a loser and has no chance. Dude has the least personality of anyone, ever. Although I fail to see the "charisma" in the simple minded persona they have created for shrub, too.

On edit: I don't think Strom was particularly lucid in his later years, which is why I think it is PARTICULARLY shameful for him to have continued to be elected to his seat.

[MADem]

14. Ole Strom....

A bit off the main topic, but the reasons that Strom kept his seat were as follows:

--He had an AMAZING staff, from the senior staffers to the interns. Love them or hate them, agree or disagree, they were GOOD at what they did.

--His seniority meant that his office could command and demand pork and prestige.

--His constituent services were the BEST in the Senate. Bar none. If you called his office, or wrote, or emailed, someone got back to you. And helped, or explained why they couldn't help, or directed you to the appropriate agency for help. Any new Senator setting up his or her office would do very well to follow that model--they really had their act together.

--He was a "longest serving" oddity; a point of interest for his state.

I know, doesn't make it right, but those are some of the reasons...!

[Capn Sunshine]

8. I remember Bert Mustin

He was a regular in a bar we had back in the 80's. He's been an old man as long as TV has been around; he played an old man in the 50's and he played an old man the last show he did in the 80s. Quite a raconteur, and chicks dug him.

[Totallybushed]

9. McCain might

win the Democratic nomination if he ran in their primaries. The Democrats seem to love him a lot more that the Republicans do. At least by what I read.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Umm... I don't think so.

[Totallybushed]

17. It was a joke.

He has no chance of getting the R nomination.

[DUyellow]

13. no

the guy is a republican.

[Totallybushed]

18. See post 17 n/t

[DUyellow]

11. are you kidding me

The pubs will use him like they always have. He is one of the few republicans that Americans will trust to fix this crap in Iraq, and the republicans know this. He is in the running.

When that time comes, we just have to remind everybody that he is a republican and he will go republican every time just as he said on meet the press.

[opihimoimoi]

12. He comp'd himself with the BUSH HUG....and, he is not a HERO

in any sense of the term....

[Stinky The Clown]

19. The 'Hero' thing ........

I don't denigrate his service one iota. He served and he did the best he could. But .....

In my view the 'hero' thing is a tad over the top if one compares the facts to the true meaning of the term. He was a fighter pilot who managed to survive some very awful circumstances. Apart from being a survivor, his heroism is no greater than any other person who served in combat. Don't take my view as a put down of **any** person who served in combat. I honor them all and am nothing but greatful to them for their service. My point is that calling someone a hero for the simple, lone fact of having served kinda dimishes the term for those who truly deserve it.

His first 'event' was crashing a plane while still in training. Nest he had to punch out of another plane when it developed engine trouble. Not uncommon, but not 'heroic' either (beyond the inherent heroics of even *being* a pilot!). Second only to his POW status was his surviving the horrible fire on the Forrestal. He survived by clambering from his cockpit and crawling across the burning deck to rescue. And then there was his serving 5+ years as a POW in North Viet Nam after being shot down. During that time there was that statement he signed .... but so did others .... generally, I can let that go.

All in all, he was a survivor. But hero? I guess I can see the term fitting .... maybe kinda sorta .... in a stretch.

[KoKo]

15. If he runs the questions you raise will be big issues and I don't think he

will win. We will be in such a mess by '08 no one is going to want a man of his age in power. Even the worst Repugs. I suppose he could run with a VP who is a young puppet or maybe the Repugs could put Gingrich as the VP...but they both would have enough baggage even the RWingers would have a problem covering it up with their "Swift Boaters," and sharp toothed harpies at it.

[EST]

20. You make some good points.

Consider too, the anointed one will have to follow in the current mold and I think it doubtful that McCain would even consider, after his long fight to get there, becoming a sock puppet to the goons in charge.

Of course, he does such a good suckup nobjob that he might be able to curb his enthusiasm until after he secures the nomination.

[KoKo]

25. He does seem to go "back and forth." I just think his age might

make some of us "hoping for change" have a pause that he could last through four years...unless a younger VP would convince Americans that if Bush was a "two-termer" with Cheney as the Poppy Policy Person...that McCain could to a reverse "switcheroo" and pick a younger Conservative Star as his VP that would make Americans feel that the VP is more important in American Politics than the President. :shrug: It would be AMAZING if the Repugs could pull that kind of "switch off" in reverse once again..

[Stinky The Clown]

26. The times they are a-changin' ........

..... and what you suggest could actually happen. Don't ever diminish the strength of their 'team-think'. If they tell their sheeple who they should vote for ... they will. Get some buzz and the go-along Three Monkey Media on the job and they could just do it.

[KoKo]

29. You know what's interesting about the point you make..is that

I think we Dems need to be in a place these days where we base ALL our STRATEGY on "How they will WIN AGAIN!"

You know they have the Voting System locked up...(Gore vs. Bush, 2000) and there is enough overwhelming evidence of "Disenfranchisment of Dem Base Voters" and we know the Machines are CRAP that States were forced to take under HAVA Act...so...when one puts that all together...it would seem that we Dems should be figuring we are going to "Lose" once again ...and doing MEGA STRATEGY to MAKE SURE WE DO NOT!!!

So...I'm looking for "MEGA STRATEGY!" Anywhere I can find it I feel PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT and SUPPORT...those who see what I see. :shrug:

[BlueManDude]

16. He's running but don't be shocked if Hillary does not. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

21. On this point .......

.... I've always taken Sen Clinton at her word.

[snowbear]

22. Regarding his age and medical status...

Gotta agree w/H2S... Have you seen his close-ups lately? The guy just doesn't look well -- AT ALL. Especially the area on his face he's had so many problems with in year's past.

I don't want him to be our next President, but I do hope he's not relapsing.

[Leo 9]

23. Talk of his running is just hype.

The right wing media say he's running, on the one hand in order to bash him, and on the other hand to make it seem like they might give him a chance, which they won't.

[Imagevision]

24. McCain's to freegin old...

[rhombus]

28. McCain is definitely running

No turning back from his ego trip.

[BootinUp]

30. This is also my assessment

I think a lot of repukes like their chances with a McCain candidacy if they overlook this one factor.

[klyon]

31. I think they will run a salamander in 08

:crazy:

[saltpoint]

32. If McCain's health holds, he's going to be in strong contention for the

GOP nomination.

If it doesn't, he's going to become the compromised old man to the Republican "moderates" and he's always been the traitorous demon to the Republican fundkie nutcases. Throw in a sudden hospitalization and he's very vulnerable to other contenders.

I'd love it if Hagel won the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary and the appalled fundie Right threw their support to Brownback. "Moderate" Hagel and fundie nutcase Brownback duking it out for first-ballot delegates at the convention, and then Hagel prevailing and Brownback bolting to run as an indy, splitting the Republican vote in 08.