I don't think you'll find nearly as many conservatives claiming they'll leave the country if liberals win as vice-versa. We're typically a hardy lot who can stand some minor inconvenience such as the Other Guy winning form time to time, and are even to take such defeats as learning opportunities and bellweathers of what might be wrong with our side, not absolute wiener losers who pitch a hissy fit when they don't win and claim grand cabals of vote-stealers rigging elections instead of looking to their own party's problems.  

Poor babies.

Quote from: John MorrowFor McCain to turn out his base, he needs to convince the social and religious conservatives that he's OK.  

You really think so?  I think the base is going to vote Republican regardless, because they don't want a Dem in office.  They might grumble and gripe and threaten, but in the end they'll vote.  

Since I became of voting age, this is one of the few elections that I have no heart in.  Giuliania was the only candidate who mildly piqued my interest.  Even after all these years, terrorism is my biggest concern, with illegal immigration a close second (notice I said "illegal immigration" - not immigration - I don't mind immigration as long as it's documented - this is America, after all).  You can't effectively fight terrorism when you can't close your borders and none of these candidates seems interested in doing that anyway.  

So, I'll probably vote for McCain just because I think he'll be tougher on terror than the other two--or at least _perceived_ to be tougher by our enemies.  I've said it before--he's still a shit sandwich; he's just not a soggy one.  

Pete

EDIT - From what I've read, I like the gal from Alaska.  Not sure if she's experienced enough, but she seems to be the only VP who could bring something fresh and new to the table.

Quote from: WerekoalaWe're typically a hardy lot who can stand some minor inconvenience such as the Other Guy winning form time to time, and are even to take such defeats as learning opportunities and bellweathers of what might be wrong with our side, not absolute wiener losers who pitch a hissy fit when they don't win and claim grand cabals of vote-stealers rigging elections instead of looking to their own party's problems.

That's pretty funny, really.  Not that I'm claiming shrieky liberals aren't a bunch of pussies, but plenty of self-righteously hyperventilating conservatives exhibit what I figure is a pretty equal share of hysteria.  Feel free to replace "flee the country" with "stockpile guns and ammo and hunker down in the hills". If it makes you feel better to tell yourself that your erstwhile brothers-in-arms are free of the foibles that your chosen polar opposite display, knock yourself out.  But both extremes are populated by their fair share of pussies.  As you said, poor babies.

!i!

Yes, but most of the conservative pussies aren't elected officials calling for survivalists to take to the hills, unlike Kerry et.al. casting wary eyes on places like Florida and Ohio when things don't go their way and claiming they shulda won.

That said, as I've stated before, I'm not even a Republican, but I AM Conservative/Libertarian, so don't think I'm defending Republican sensabilities here.

Quote from: pspahnYou really think so?  I think the base is going to vote Republican regardless, because they don't want a Dem in office.  They might grumble and gripe and threaten, but in the end they'll vote.

There are two lines of argument that are a problem for McCain here.  The first is the idea that McCain is no better than a Democrat, at which point they'd rather have a Democrat for one term and another Republican to choose from than two terms of McCain.  The other is the idea that the anti-Republican backlash after Watergate gave us Jimmy Carter and Jimmy Carter, in term, gave us another Ronald Reagan.  There are people who want another Jimmy Carter to bring about a Republican rebirth.  And fueling that all are right wing message boards and talk radio still blasting McCain.  Personally, I don't understand it but apparently people do think that way.

Quote from: pspahnEDIT - From what I've read, I like the gal from Alaska.  Not sure if she's experienced enough, but she seems to be the only VP who could bring something fresh and new to the table.

If you like Palin, please vote for her here.  As I said, I really don't want McCain to pick Huckabee, who is in the final two against her.

Quote from: John MorrowThere are two lines of argument that are a problem for McCain here.  The first is the idea that McCain is no better than a Democrat, at which point they'd rather have a Democrat for one term and another Republican to choose from than two terms of McCain.  The other is the idea that the anti-Republican backlash after Watergate gave us Jimmy Carter and Jimmy Carter, in term, gave us another Ronald Reagan.  There are people who want another Jimmy Carter to bring about a Republican rebirth.  And fueling that all are right wing message boards and talk radio still blasting McCain.  Personally, I don't understand it but apparently people do think that way.

Also, don't forget that people are busy and voting does take some effort.  If they don't particularly like McCain, then unless they hate Obama with the fury of a thousand suns, they aren't going to bother to take the time to go stand in line for an hour just to vote for him.  They'll just stay at work or go home for dinner or whatever like normal instead.  Most people aren't all that gung-ho about politics or voting for the sake of voting - they vote when there's a candidate they like, and stay home when there isn't.

Quote from: jgantsAlso, don't forget that people are busy and voting does take some effort.  If they don't particularly like McCain, then unless they hate Obama with the fury of a thousand suns, they aren't going to bother to take the time to go stand in line for an hour just to vote for him.  They'll just stay at work or go home for dinner or whatever like normal instead.  Most people aren't all that gung-ho about politics or voting for the sake of voting - they vote when there's a candidate they like, and stay home when there isn't.

We're talking about the hard core Republican base, though.  IMO I think they'll vote just to keep a Dem out of the white house.  I think the strategizing about 4 years later looks good on paper, but most people don't look 4 years ahead.  

Anyway, back to my original point, this is exactly the sort of thing I was talking about:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MWZjY2YzZWVkMjdkMDEzMGQ0MjJkNTUyN2FkNmMzYTc=

How can people in positions of such power be so uninformed??? For the record, I wish someone had done the same for the other two candidates, because they're all doing it.  

Pete

Quote from: Ian AbsentiaFeel free to replace "flee the country" with "stockpile guns and ammo and hunker down in the hills".
!i!

Hey, I have to be ready when the zombies come! And by god, I've got enough stocks here to survive for years

It's well past time for a viable 3rd Party choice, but the two that run the show will never let it happen, especially since they control the election rules.

When I look at the three remaining candidates, I can't help but want to vote for someone else entirely.  Hell, in California, most Republicans are really old school Democrats and most Democrats are really Socialists.  The party names don't even mean anything anymore.  It is nothing more than a way to ID the participants in a continuous pissing contest.

Until a larger number of Americans realize the major problems with BOTH parties, there won't be a solid third option.  Until there is a solid third option, it is just going to be more of the same or worse.