McCain isn't going to be on the ballot in November.

[cliffordu]

McCain's a shill. I've stated this in other posts, but really, folks, does anyone here actually think he is healthy enough to serve? Cognizant enough to serve? Does he have control of the basic facts of this world enough to serve?

How many facts does he get wrong on a daily basis? All of them? Does he have ANY policy that is worth anything?

He LOOKS like he is around for our ridicule and to facilitate our overconfidence.......


As I have said, I believe he will "choose" a VP candidate, then have an 'episode', or maybe he'll get too sick to complete the run for office.

His hand picked VP candidate steps into the breach, without the messy details of actual VOTES, and the powers that be have another 4 years to pillage. The 'base' will energize itself "For Johnnie" the war hero, the man who served his country his entire life....

I figure it'll be a real heavy religionist, so's to help the end of days along.....

[brooklynite]

1. Um, no

...this is the same Republican Party that nearly tore itself apart squabbling about McCain, Rudy, Fred, Mittens, Huck, etc. Suddenly they've got the organizational skills to swap out the last candidate standing? Not likely.

[AllentownJake]

2. I doubt this conspiracy

I think they did the math and realized its impossible for them to win this year.

McCain, Romney, Gullianni, and Huckabee weren't stars in the party and were put up as sacrificial lambs. The annointed one for this run was wiped out over maccacca. The GOP picks their candidate a few years in advance.

They are looking at 2012 and building up Crist and Jindal right now for that run.

[wmbrew0206]

8. It won't be Christ. Rethugs won't vote for a non-married man with rumors about his lifestyle

[cliffordu]

11. lol

[Max_powers94]

43. This dude has graveyard in his closet

[Bake]

47. PLEEEEEEEEEEZE don't spell his name that way!

It makes me nervous.

:rofl:

Bake

[Hugabear]

9. Crist scares me

I live in Florida, and this guy is as slimy as they come. He's worked his way up the political ladder, bouncing from one position to another, finally landing himself in the governor's seat. Way back when, before he even announced his run for governor, I jokingly said that one day he'd be our president. I truly think that this man will say anything, present himself in any way, to get himself elected. He's crafted this image of himself as a "centrist", but deep down inside, he's a conservative puke.

Remember, this is the same guy who had the nickname "Chain Gang Charlie" when he was serving in the Florida State Senate. Also, while I've heard some people say that he's "gay-friendly", he supported Florida's Defense of Marriage Act.

Don't buy into the whole Charlie Crist mystique.

[wmbrew0206]

16. Hell, his perm-a-tan scares the crap out of me

[Cosmocat]

27. Allen AND Santorum ...

IMO would have both cleared the field here ...

I agree that Allen was the dimwit figure head they had lined up first in order ... But, Santorum is tough, mean and smart as shiite ... I think he would have won this primary had he not lost his senate seat ...

[LynneSin]

31. Santorum lost his last election by 19 points so he brings nothing to the table

Sure he'll inspire the fundies to vote for the ticket but if he can't even bring home his 'home' state (which actually is Virginia even though he claims he, his wife & 6 kids live in a 2BR/1Bath house in Penns Hill PA).

[QueenOfCalifornia]

50. How could

you doubt for a minute that they are not all living really close together in that apartment? Did he tie the dog on the roof of the apartment?

:rofl:

[Cha]

37. Yeah, too bad about Bob Casey..

:D :toast: Bob Casey!

[Cosmocat]

28. Allen AND Santorum ...

IMO would have both cleared the field here ...

I agree that Allen was the dimwit figure head they had lined up first in order ... But, Santorum is tough, mean and smart as shiite ... I think he would have won this primary had he not lost his senate seat ...

[Hugabear]

3. I think you're wrong about that

Granted, there are many in the GOP who absolutely loathe McCain. They simply cannot stand his stance on many issues, such as immigration. And you're right, the man is old as hell, fucks up on a regular basis, and has the personality of a pitbull.

However, I think that the power brokers in the GOP are secretly hoping for a Democratic sweep in November. They want us to take the White House, and expand our control of Congress.

Why?

They know that * has absolutely wrecked the country. Fiscally irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy, two wars that show no signs whatsoever of ending, a housing crunch that has left many homeowners devastated, and exponentially rising gas prices have taken their toll on the economy, and they know it's only going to get WORSE over the next year or so. They want to be able to come back in 2010 and place the blame for the economy squarely on the Democrats, hoping to retake Congress like they did in '94. Then they'll find some charismatic religious right neocon to rally around in 2012.

[cliffordu]

6. That's the most reasonable account I've heard so far...

But do you think they're capable of letting go of the bright shiny object that is the White House and Congress for even ONE TERM??

[Hugabear]

14. If they think it can give them long-term control, then yes

They know that most people are absolutely fed up with the GOP right now. I really believe that they want to lay back, let the Democrats take the heat for awhile, then "reinvent" themselves, and portray themselves as saviors. I do think that some of them are willing to sacrifice a few years of power in order to secure even more power down the road.

[burythehatchet]

44. Sounds reasonable, but I believe there won't be much left to govern in 2012

Geometric acceleration of global crisis' is a bitch.

[TexasObserver]

4. Republicans aren't that clever. They're sneaky, but not clever.

Their game this year is to minimize the damage, particularly in congress. They expect to lose the presidency. They're playing defense in the congress, and that is where they will put most of their money. They'll let old John run with public funding, and funnel their money to the congress races.

[Blue-Jay]

5. uuhhh... OK.

I think your scenario is unlikely.

[yardwork]

7. I've worried about this scenario, but I didn't think Cheney would be on the ballot in 2004

I think that the Republicans are deeply in denial. And, John McCain is a loon and a moran, but he's also stubborn and ambitious. I don't think he'll agree to step aside. It's his turn to be preznet, dammit!

[Doityourself]

10. I think they will pump him with Formaldehyde to make sure he makes it to Nov. He's all they have...

[VolcanoJen]

12. So who will be the candidate? One of these losers?

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

And the only reason it wouldn't be one of these losers is because anyone else they could possibly turn to was such a loser they couldn't even run for the GOP nomination.

[CK_John]

17. Jindal or Palin, depending on our VP pick. n/t.

[VolcanoJen]

20. Jindal? There goes the entire "Obama isn't ready" GOP attack line.

Jindal contradicts the whole of their argument. And he's every bit as "exotic" as Obama... "exotic" being the new GOP codeword for, well, you know.. brown.

The GOP is out of candidates. Fred! proved that, didn't he? :-)

[Bake]

48. Fred!

A repub here at work commented yesterday that she would have to hold her nose to vote for McLame. I suggested that she write in Fred! Thompson, and you know what? She thought that was just a fabulous idea!!

:rofl:

Bake

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. This is wildly unlikely...

and you're assuming that McCain and/or the VP will win the election in November. It won't make any difference if McCain steps aside and his VP becomes the Republican nominee because, bad as McCain is, he's the strongest candidate they have right now.

[blondeatlast]

15. Disagree. there simply is no standout Republican this year. The RNC primary field was just awful

and this is just the strongest candidate they could find.

[Barack_America]

18. Um, didn't the majority of Republicans vote for McCain in the primaries?

Why would they be more likely to vote for another Republican in the fall?

As sad as McCain is, the Republicans picked him.

If you're going with conspiracy theories, McCain being forced to pick a Cheney-esque VP, then being "offed" after the election would be more likely.

What really happened this year is that the Republican brand sucks and everybody knows it. That reduced the number of strong Republican candidates who wanted to throw their hats in (versus wait another year). McCain had no choice but to go now (due to age) and was eventually selected because people believe he's some sort of "maverick" Republican.

[VolcanoJen]

21. The brand sucks so hard that the faithful won't open their pocketbooks

This has got to be giving the McSame camp heartache, for example:

http://thepage.time.com/2008/06/10/cq-many-former-bush-donors-havent-given-to-mccain-yet/

Analysis: Only about 5,000 of the 62,800 donors who gave the max contribution of $2,000 to Bush, or 8%, have donated to McCain as of April 30.

[sandyj999]

19. I Agree. Watch to see who he chooses. n/t

[hisownpetard]

22. I have had the feeling all along that McCain is not going to be on the ballot in November, so it was

weird to see those words in your subject line.

I don't know what the reason will be - probably something health-related - but I definitely think that, in November, the Repubs will
be running someone else.

Time will tell.

[shadowknows69]

23. Vacant puppets are the easiest control

[cliffordu]

24. You certainly have a point there....

[Shae]

25. I can't see the base energizing themselves for Johnnie

if he steps out anymore than they would energize themselves for him now. They aren't crazy about him.

More likely, if he were to get elected, he would be forced to step aside for whatever (health, death, incompetence) and his veep, who would be more to the base's liking, would step in.

[msallied]

26. I don't think such conjecture is healthy.

Or productive.

[BlueIris]

29. I've been worried about this for months.

My guess is: Mitt Romney. Then McCain is removed.

[grantcart]

30. The problem with your post is not that it doesn't make sense it does

but McCain won't go along with it.

Unless they have something really damaging about him that they can spring on it - he will stay on just to fight to the end.

I don't think he even cares if the Republicans take a bath - in a way it will be perfect revenge for the party that slimed him.l

In the meantime Veto Beer with Earmarks.

[cliffordu]

36. That's the thing, grantcart - I don't think we have everything we need

to make a clear assessment of his health....The guy gets goofier by the day....It'd be funny if it wasn't so tragic...

I'll take one of those veto beers, if you have a nice CHEEZY earmark to go with it....

[PatGund]

32. Hows this for scary.....

The only person Bush can't give a presidential pardon to is Bush. And if it looks like the GOP is going to lose, there's no way they're going to leave themselves open to legal charges.

So, Bush pardons everyone he cans, resigns.

President Chaney picks McCain as his VP, pardons Bush, then resigns.

McCain suddenly is going into the general election as an incumbent president.

[wiggs]

39. What makes it scary is its feasibility. nt

[onenote]

42. what is scarier is that folks think its feasible.

Its not. Stop worrying about monsters under the bed and get out and do the real work of electing Democrats.

[sandyj999]

52. I am going to do both. Just wait and see. Don't give up on Jeb yet. n/t

[onenote]

54. The chances of someone with the last name bush being on the Repub ballot in 08 are zero

Last night, after preparing a witness for a hearing that was held today, a group of us went to dinner, including some former Democratic staffers and some former repub staffers, all currently lobbyists. We were talking about the conventions and the repubs (who both worked for members in the repub leadership) were talking about how little they are looking forward to the convention and how there is a real concern about the fact that the party has to give bush a platform to speak but how no one really wants him to. The professional politicians in the ranks of the repubs are totally pessimistic about November.

[sandyj999]

53. Delete dup

[WeDidIt]

33. This is the election where the GOP Purists get the chance to say

"See, we told you running a 'maverick' wouldn't work. Now go back to pushing our end times agenda!"

They'll ahve about twelve years of infighting before a piece of teh GOP coalition is able to take control and make a real run for it.

[NeedleCast]

34. Yes, He Will

It's too late for the Republicans to change gears now. Even the Souther Baptists are getting behind him (sort of) now.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

35. Hope he will be - easy pickins.

[cliffordu]

38. I hope he stays in, too, but NOTHING is ever this easy....

I'm just sayin'.....

[wiggs]

40. The Newt. nt

[blogslut]

41. While I have my concerns about his health

...and the likelihood that he'll make it all the way to November, I'm not sure I ascribe to your theory of Senator McCain as some sort of wooden horse. The Republicans haven't a single, outstanding candidate to offer this time around. The replacement person/VP would have to be immediately recognizable and admired. There just isn't anyone who can fill that description on the GOP side.

[newmajority]

45. If the neocon nazis currently backing Grandpa McLoon couldn't have him on the ticket

They would try to bring back Mayor 9u11ani, since many of them started out this campaign in his camp. Mittens may have the delegates, but he's the corporate money guy, not the Islamophobe that these bastards need to keep the PNAC agenda going.

[sudopod]

46. RON PAUL!!!!1111oneoneelevn

:rofl:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

49. The Problem With Your Scenario Is There Is Not A Credible Candidate Waiting In The Wings

Jeb Bush would be a strong candidate but George Bush* ruined the Bush brand name...

[QueenOfCalifornia]

51. Well....

very interesting but your theory is as weird as my girlfriends theory that the real McCain died or is in a mental hospital someplace and the guy we are watching run around to townhall meetings is a body double. I keeeed you not. She believes it. I told her she needed to up the meds....

[Mike L]

57. That thing in his left jaw is a VC implant.

They activated it when he got the nomination. He's the real Manchurian Candidate.

[Mike L]

55. Lieberman as VP would do it.

"I figure it'll be a real heavy religionist, so's to help the end of days along..... "

[GoneOffShore]

56. "Crash" will make it through November

And then crash yet again.

According to a retired Marine colonel friend of mine, McCain was no hero, "He fucked up and got caught."

[goclark]

58. I with you, he is just a place holder they have someone in the wings

I just feel it.

Rommney is who I think it is ~ at least he is awake.

[weezy2736]

59. K

And not the good "kick and recommend, YAY" kind of K- more like a "Nolan Ryan-Roger Clemens-Randy Johnson combo of death and destruction" K.

[1Hippiechick]

60. What I wanna know is if he can't even read a TelePrompter, how is going to debate on his feet? Or,

is it going to be canned speeches like I saw today. I want to hear him ATTEMPT to debate Obama!!!

:kick: