McCain on the Defense?

[just_a_car]

The Associated Press seems to think that McCain is on the defense: Electoral map favors a Democrat, has McCain playing defense - Yahoo! News

From what I gather, they think it's because of the way certain states voted in 2004; like that's the best barometer of how this election's going to go. Honestly, those that voted for Kerry might not like the choices they have on their ticket this year and the same goes for the Repub's, but it's not nearly as bad on that ticket.

[Cyrille]

I know that we 2d amendment supporters are united against the demoncrates even at least one liberal on this forum has thrown support to McCain unfourtuneatly we are a small school of fish in a very large pond, and I have no idea how many other "schools" are with us in this campaign does anyone?

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The candidates are all liars this time around. They all have instances where their character is challenged and history is investigated, They all are shady. McCain is working for the same people that slandered him in the prevoius election, Hillary....Don't even get me started, and Obama is bouncing around like a looney in a straight jacket(Just so ya'll know that J.Right crap is a sound bite from 15 years ago.) . They all hate guns deep down even if they are saying anything to get your vote. In my opinion citizens with guns is the greatest form of national security. I am up in the air all the way on this one. Don't like McCain at all (puppet) and I don't like the Dems much either. The guns we all love are going to be hurt either way this one turns out, so good luck to us all. They'll be prying it from my cold dead hand with the rigor set it. Do your research and Happy Voting

[Cyrano]

When I look at the reports from political pundits who supposedly know what's going on, the thought that comes to mind is one from a math professor of mine back when I was a cadet: "Dice have no memory." Conditions change.

The campaign 'landscape' is not the same as it was in 2004 or 2000. We have neither an incumbent running for reelection, or a veep looking to succeed the incumbent in the top job. It's the first time since, I think, 1952 that this condition obtains: an 'open' field. It's certainly the first time in my lifetime this has been the case. None of the three potential presidents has an elected connection to a President. (I phrase it that way so I can make a differentiation between Hillary Clinton and Al Gore. Gore was elected on the Slick Willy ticket. She was not elected at all and therefore bears no official accountability for anything done by the Clinton Administration.) That does make a significant difference.

None of the three has had to "mark their orders" in the political arena. McCain comes closest with the McCain-Feingold Law, but he did not sign that bill into law; George W. Bush did, which makes it his responsibility, not McCain's. The two Democrats haven't even come that close. Therefore, we can't really know what they will do if and when they win the office. Again, McCain comes closest because he commanded a training squadron while he was in the Navy; but a squadron command isn't the same as top command responsibility like being mayor of a major city or governor of a state where you have to account for your policies and actions.

Sure, some Republican campaign planners/strategists blackguarded McCain in 2004; they were Bushites supporting their candidate. That sort of crap is to be expected in primary politics. But the guy they backed last time isn't running this time. Their loyalty as party operatives is to the Republican Party, not specifically to Bush. In nine months, the guy they got elected in 2004 is out of politics. Like remora fish, political operatives need to find a new 'shark' to act as their host in 2008 and onward. Having locked up the Republican nomination, McCain is now "their guy," their new host. And they will back him until he wins the White House for four years or loses in November, whichever happens.

The same observation can be made about some of Slick Hillary's operatives. They worked on Slick Willy's two presidential campaigns and now are working for her. One way you'll be able to tell she's done is if the experienced operatives defect to Obama. So we can't give the fact political operatives that supported one or another president are backing a candidate this time out too much weight in the balance. They aren't soldiers sworn to a nation; they are mercenaries loyal to the paymaster, to make an analogy.

If we get down to it, I trust McCain, temper, age, health issues and all, far more than either of the two Democrats. I don't think he'll go after our civil rights, especially our Second Amendment rights, the way either Slick HIllary or Obfuscatin' Obama will. That doesn't mean I'm 100% behind him, though. At the moment, he's the best choice we have; but that's not the same as being the best choice for the job, period.

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well put Cyrano. The "loyal to the paymaster" is what I don't like. Im tired of seeing this over and over again. I need to see someone trustworthy and not puppetworthy. Though this may never happen, I'll hold out for truth.

[tbonecpk]

Well Cyrano brings up a huge point. McCain has combat experiance where as the other two do not know what it's like having bullets shot at them. McCain was a pilot flying F-4 Phantom II's off the USS Forrestal was takin captive and held in a POW camp for 3 years. sorry when it comes to the role of commander in chief I feel he has more than qualified because he knows first hand what combat is. granted kerry pulled the same card when he talked about the 3 purple hearts (failed to talk about that there is a statue of him and jaine fonda in Hochimin city (probably misspelled that)) but anyway.... just on that fact alone makes him the better choice imho