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.
LOL!
If the McPresident candidate chooses Lieberman as his VP, that’ll be it for me. As things stand now, I’ll hhold my nose and pull the lever for him but sliding further to the left is too much. At this point, I will vote for a third party candidate - the game’s over anyway.
It’s possible that two old men could say the right things enough times to capture the public imagination. /sarc
Why not go further and let McCain pick Hillary then? After all, Hillary voted for the war too.
I knew that FReepers would start spewing this "he's still better than Obama" BS. If McCain picks Lieberman, I'M STAYING HOME.
McCain will not pick Lieberman...
a Classic case of don’t believe everything you hear...
However, I wouldn’t be surprised if “Joe” got a good spot on the administration - I’d love to see the Rats swallow their teeth with that
Not in a million years but if he does I’m done.
McCain is beating Obama in ‘likely vote’ polls.
ABC had to make-up something to try and undermine McCain.
Who? Katie Couric?
Why, because it rules out Duncan?
I like Joe,
You believe anything you read in print?
I don’t think this will happen, but even if it does, there’s nothing that will stop me from voting for McCain this fall.
I will support Obama if McCain picks Lieberman. There is no way I can support the TOTAL DESTRUCTION of the Republican party. Better to try to take away the bullets than him commit suicide. Same goes for Hillary or Bloomberg. Everyone else is negotiable.
Oy!
I think the rabble has been roused.
Ok, you’re given a break -— This time.
Just the liberal media trying to NOW pick our VP!
They were successful in ‘picking’ our candidate..so why not give it a shot?
(eye roll)
ROFL. McCain wouldn’t pick Hunter if he was the only republican on earth left. That was ruled out before it was even a fleeting thought.
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