Quote from: StuartI wouldn't rule this option out. :raise:

Neither would I. I have always said that one should never, ever, underestimate the Democrats' ability to make a truly gargantuan effort to overcome any and all barriers to losing an election.

RPGPundit

McCain will be the next president of the US of A. I knew it.

Of course, it's slightly lame to say that now. :haw:

Quote from: RPGPunditNeither would I. I have always said that one should never, ever, underestimate the Democrat's ability to make a truly gargantuan effort to overcome any and all barriers to losing an election.

RPGPundit

Pundit, I don't always agree on your view of US politics, but this is about the most accurate statement you've ever made.

Wow, Huckabee got Missouri. And West Virignia.  I thought he'd only pick up a few southern states.  Still, doesn't look like it's quite enough right now to counter McCain.

Just a thought (and one obviated by the Good Assyrian's suggestion of him being McCain's running mate) but do you think the culture conservatives on the right will look at Huckabee as a Ralph Nader, splitting the hardcore vote so McCain can run up the middle?

Quote from: walkerpJust a thought (and one obviated by the Good Assyrian's suggestion of him being McCain's running mate) but do you think the culture conservatives on the right will look at Huckabee as a Ralph Nader, splitting the hardcore vote so McCain can run up the middle?

That's actually the conventional wisdom on the rise right now here in the US - that Huck is hurting Romney.

In the twist I didn't see coming, Huck is doing very well tonight. Beating McCain in Missouri?

Quote from: walkerpJust a thought (and one obviated by the Good Assyrian's suggestion of him being McCain's running mate) but do you think the culture conservatives on the right will look at Huckabee as a Ralph Nader, splitting the hardcore vote so McCain can run up the middle?

I suspect that the GOP's real concern of a split would be Ron Paul running as an independent.  He has a very loyal following that could shave off a few, very critical percentage points from their candidate in the general election, putting him in the Nader role of spoiler.  Then again, one might argue that Paul might draw off a little of the anti-war wing of the Democratic Party as well.

I wouldn't expect Huckabee to go it alone, even if he doesn't make the ticket.  He proved his mettle and came out of this looking like a major contender.  I suspect that he would just wait 4 years and look forward to a pretty rosy scenario no matter who won in 08.  McCain will be definitely too old in 2012, and if Hillary wins the Republicans will be looking for *any* way to make sure it isn't an 8 year presidency.


TGA

Quote from: walkerpJust a thought (and one obviated by the Good Assyrian's suggestion of him being McCain's running mate) but do you think the culture conservatives on the right will look at Huckabee as a Ralph Nader, splitting the hardcore vote so McCain can run up the middle?

I think that I misread your post...

To answer your question (I think), I suspect that there may be some cultural conservative backlash, but all will be forgotten if they are running against a Clinton ticket.  That's why I think that Huckabee is a natural choice for running mate.  It gives McCain enough cover from the right wing of the party, and it gives the right wing enough red meat to be satisfied and fall in line in order to beat Clinton.

If the Democrats nominate Obama, however, I suspect that the McCain will have a hard time winning without a major cockup.  But as Pundit has pointed out, that is not out of the realm of possibility...


TGA

Quote from: SpikeAmusingly: When I read the political pundits I saw hate for Huckabee when he was surging ahead in Iowa, and now that McCain is in the lead, it's nothing but hate for the McCain... this from the nutjob pundits from the Republicans.

Which is a real shame, because, for the first time in years, an old school Republican who represents broad, traditional party ideals looks like the ticket-winner.  The notion that the Republican party has become so dominated by fractious special interest groups that it effectively hobbles them when they have a candidate with bi-partisan appeal on their hands is...well, absurd.

As for the McCain/Huckabee idea being put forth, I have noticed that McCain is playing very nicey-nicey with Huckabee in the last week or so, now that it looks like Huckabee is falling decisively behind in the primaries.  Is he possibly courting Huck as a VP running-mate? Or is he just courting delegates who've felt committed to the Huckabee campaign?  And much the same goes for the recent pleasantries between Clinton and Obama since Edwards dropped from the race.  Are they courting each other as running-mates (tee-hee, yeah, right), or are they courting each other's delegates?

By the way...where's General Wesley Clark in all this?  He'd make an awfully appealing counter to McCain's claims to being the only one in the race with foreign policy experience.

!i!

Well, that was an interesting night.

Obama & Clinton still neck and neck, though politcos say that she will endup with a ~70 delagate lead after lastnight. However, the states that do their thing this weekend are largely expected to go to Obama which will bring the race into a dead heat.

On the other side, Huckaboob isn't dead yet but Romney might as well be. Fine by me because I could actually see myself voting for McCain.

McCain VS Obama seems to be the dream election for me, I'd be happy with either of them as president.

My thoughts are in today's blog entry.

To sum up: McCain is winning, Huckabee won the "Incest States", and now its come down "to the wire" for the democrats, which I considered the worst-case-scenario for them.  The following contests won't resolve fuck all; and look for a very messy convention and legal battles as the Clintons try to force their fake Florida delegates to count.

RPGPundit

Quote from: McrowMcCain VS Obama seems to be the dream election for me, I'd be happy with either of them as president.

You know, that's very much what I was thinking back in 2000 when, for a while there, it looked like it could possibly be a race between McCain and Bill Bradley.  I remember thinking, "Wow.  Two smart candidates with similar platforms, but with different philosophical approaches to how they'd implement their plans and achieve their goals.  I'll really have to think about whose philosophy can be more practically realised."  The counter-complaint was that McCain and Bradley were too alike, that the voting public needed a more definitive difference between the candidates. Of course, McCain was slandered and the DNC went the easy road with "Four more years!", polarising the electorate with empty campaign promises.

Do I sound jaded?

!i!

Quote from: RPGPunditMy thoughts are in today's blog entry.

To sum up: McCain is winning, Huckabee won the "Incest States", and now its come down "to the wire" for the democrats, which I considered the worst-case-scenario for them.  The following contests won't resolve fuck all; and look for a very messy convention and legal battles as the Clintons try to force their fake Florida delegates to count.

RPGPundit

I could very well see a "coalition" McCain/Huck ticket.  McCain without a more conservative running mate might be open to a 3rd-party attack in the south.

Yeah, the Dems would be smart to go with Obama, I think.  Sure, some Republicans and right-wingers hate her, but he's got nothing on Hillary in that department.  I'm talking militias arming themselves hate.

Quote from: RPGPunditMy thoughts are in today's blog entry.

To sum up: McCain is winning, Huckabee won the "Incest States", and now its come down "to the wire" for the democrats, which I considered the worst-case-scenario for them.  The following contests won't resolve fuck all; and look for a very messy convention and legal battles as the Clintons try to force their fake Florida delegates to count.

RPGPundit

Who won the "incest state" for democrats? you know, they had primaries for them in those very same states, too, right? Honestly, Pundit - sometimes you show just how baised you can be (not to mention ignorant of the US).

Quote from: Zachary The FirstI could very well see a "coalition" McCain/Huck ticket.  McCain without a more conservative running mate might be open to a 3rd-party attack in the south.

Yeah, the Dems would be smart to go with Obama, I think.  Sure, some Republicans and right-wingers hate her, but he's got nothing on Hillary in that department.  I'm talking militias arming themselves hate.

There won't be a third party run from the right. The worst that will happen is that the more conservative voters would stay home. (Maybe Ron Paul...maybe).

Huckabee as VP is not a bad choice - as he showed yesterday, he can bring the south, which is where McCain shows weakness.  The question is, does Huck have enough pull as a VP candidate to overcome the sheer dislike the conservatives have for McCain. That's a huge task given immigration reform, taxes, and the one that makes me, personally, really question McCain - campaign finance reform...

Quote from: WerekoalaIt fits well into the "Have Republicans Stopped Beating Their Negroes" template.

I'm sorry, I missed this earlier.  When did the Republicans stop beating their negroes?

This is a rather crude commentary, but it does make a point, if a wildly rhetorical one: If I vote McCain in a race against Obama, does that mean I'm voting to keep the black man down?

Well, does it, Whitey?

!i!