Posted on 07/30/2008 6:57:53 PM PDT by pissant
He’s going to transform the party — by turning us into hawkish Democrats? Nuance.
There’s a bigger point — and this initial volley, they say, lays the groundwork for it. They will be sharpening McCain’s message that he, not Obama, is the true change agent, a man who’s repeatedly taken unpopular stands, made the hard calls and forged bipartisan alliances.
Part of the calculus now is how his VP choice will further sharpen that message. There is significant support among top McCain advisers that he make a “transformative” pick who would change the Republican Party — someone who would appeal to moderate Republicans and Democrats…
A person who fills that bill, these advisers say, is Joe Lieberman.
Lieberman, an Independent Democrat, flatly denied his interest to ABC’s Ron Claiborne earlier this month, but McCain is now seriously considering him as that “transformative” pick, sources tell ABC News…
What’s more, some McCain advisers believe Lieberman would dramatically enhance the point they are now trying to make about Obama in this “celebrity” ad campaign.
McCain and Lieberman are anti-celebrities, the argument goes. They have, as one top adviser said, felt the heat after taking unpopular positions because they were willing to do “what’s right for the country” — whatever it meant for their own popularity.
Good news for that unpredictable five percent in the middle he needs to win, not so good for, er, everyone else in America. Are evangelicals going to vote for a guy who scored 100% on NARAL’s annual report card? Are Reagan conservatives jittery about McCain’s maverickiness going to feel reassured knowing Al Gore’s choice for VP is waiting in the wings? Is the left going to reach hitherto unscaled heights of apoplexy at the thought of the one pol they hate more than George Bush somehow ending up on the Republican ticket? (No, no, and yes, respectively, if you’re scoring at home.) Think of it in practical terms. Assume the worst happens and through some misfortune Vice President Lieberman becomes President Lieberman. Either the Democrats’ animus towards him results in hopeless gridlock in Congress or the breach is healed and we’ve got a lefty executive working with a lefty legislature towards common goals — Iraq excepted, of course. I like Liebs; I don’t like the idea. But the signs are there if you’re willing to look…
Exit question: Maybe the left, true to its proud tradition of honoring dissent, will forgive Joementum his apostasy? Hmmm.
I sure hope so. I think choosing Lieberman just further alienates conservatives while only really benefiting in lowering the Jewish vote for BHO.
Would be great if McCain hits a homerun by choosing someone like John Thune or Mike Pence.
Maybe we need to find a way to fight SCOTUS we cant be held hostage on selecting candidates because of who we THINK they will nominate, have no confidence mccain will select a conservative for SCOTUS. Besides folks where are we going to get these conservative judges to be selected? the pool is getting thin.
Haha, I think tom ridge would be worse than lieberman. Maybe this whole mccain thing is a rouse too,so when the convention happens, Romney is the presidential candidate...altho I still wont him.
Ridge would be far worse than Lieberman in terms of helping the ticket. Listening to Ridge is like listening to paint dry. I can barely think of a duller Republican.
I may not even vote , the retardicans didn't even bother to field a candidate for Arkansas' 2nd district. The one they had in 06 was a pretty strong conservative, that was probably why they didnt fund him.
if you guys had pulled your weight to ensure there wasnt a Mccain candidacy then we would have this problem geezzzzzzzzzzzzz I DIDNT EVEN HAVE A FRICKING CHOICE by the time the PRIMARIES reached MY state Mccain was SELECTED!!!Some of you guys wont do what needs to be done to PURGE the RINOS. Will a obama presidency be bad, yes but mccain will tug is in the same direction just take longer, the ole frog in warm water trick. I am ready for the WORST. I cant help it the rest of you have no backbone.
I like Lieberman but what I think he ought to do is to wait until Obama makes his pick and then select Palin.
how come the dems get to have a “recreate 68” and we don’t? If some of you are only voting for mccain because you fear obama why don’t you create a ruckus at “our” convention? Hell if I wasn’t in Baghdad I’d join you.
besides isnt he working for UAE?
If Obamessiah pick the Kansas gov. McCain picking Palin will look like a ‘me too’ pandering to women.
McCain said he would appoint on that model. He’s upfront and has many moderate if not liberal views but a deciever he is not. Obama doesn’t go there. SCOTUS and the Military is deciding my support. Four years of Obama is unthinkable to me in this fast world.
The second-place far-fetched scenario was this:Here's the post where my first far-fetched scenario looked like it was possibly coming to pass.1. McCain picks Joe Lieberman as his VP choice.
2. The Democrat middle (American Jews) breaks for Lieberman over Obama (Bradley effect).
3. At some point McCain steps down, citing health reasons, or dies in office.
4. So instead of the Democrats setting out to elect the first woman president, or the first black president, the Republicans end up electing the first Jewish president.
-PJ
ABC - which is so clearly in the bag for Obama - is now treated as a source for things relating to the McCain campaign and we are expected to believe it?
“ABC: McCain “now seriously considering” Lieberman for VP”
Wow. He REALLY wants me to stay home.
“Not even John McCain is that arrogant or stupid.”
Now now, lets’ not underestimate the man.
“I think Conservatives are being stupid if they reject Lieberman just because he is liberal.”
WOW. I can almost remember when IT MEAN’T SOMETHING TO BE A CONSERVATIVE!
“We are where we are and the option now is Ginsburg or Alito. (JMHO)”
So you believe a POTUS just puts people on the USSC or did you forget that the Senate is and will likely remain in DEMOCRAT control? Think they might have a say in what kinds of judges make it to the court?
“In the abstract, it doesn’t really matter who has Veep is as long as McCain doesn’t die in the next 4-8 years.”
He’s 72. A (recent) cancer patient. He could drop in the next 4 to 8 minutes and no one would really be all that surprised.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.