McCain’s biggest problem was that he had to campaign on “change”, just like the other guy. And why would people choose OLD change with McCain when they could choose NEW change with Obama?
The reason McCain had to campaign on “change” is because George Bush sat there like a punching bag for eight years, never having the guts to stand up and defend himself as lie after lie after lie from the rats and their newsrooms went left unanswered. Bush’s unwillingness to stand up and fight was an eight-year slap in the face to his bewildered supporters, including me.
The result was that the Democrat candidate could successfully tie his opponent to the easily-smeared punching bag, Bush, while the Republican candidate had little choice but to distance himself from Bush. What? McCain was supposed to defend a man who refused for eight years to defend himself? This situation left McCain between a rock and a hard place.
Throw in the “October surprise” and McCain never stood a chance in hell.
So yes, the November 4th Republican slaughter was Bush’s fault. No joke.
It is truly ironic that Bush defeated McCain in 2000 and then again in 2008.
Whew.... Brutal.
What did McCain tell the audience: Obama is a good man, nothing to worry about. That comment went viral all over the net. I believe it played no small part in so many people staying home on election day.. and those people staying home not only affected the outcome of the Presidential race, it could well be the difference in some of the congressional and senate races we lost.
What I am saying is in this equation, McCain does not get off scott free, he had a very dysfunctional campaign.... and, for a man who wanted to win, you don't let your staff -- on either team -- start leaking like a sieve to the media dissing your Veep candidate.
I've wondered about this for eight years. How can a President just ignore all the vituperative and never set the record straight? Clearly his unwillingness to fight back hurt himself, his party and even the country. McCain was no better. Yes, he is known for his little temper tantrums and name-calling in the Senate; but he acted like he never really wanted to win the election. Don't we have any tough guys? The toughest candidate was Palin. Is there something in the water?
“It is truly ironic that Bush defeated McCain in 2000 and then again in 2008.
Whew.... Brutal”
He will never say it, but I believe when it is all said and done McCain thinks the same.
Brutal indeed.
Totally agree.
“Bush sat there like a punching bag for eight years, never having the guts to stand up and defend himself as lie after lie after lie from the rats and their newsrooms went left unanswered.”
Let’s start from the beginning in January 2000 when he was “Selected not Elected”. It is quite convenient for people to rewrite history. President Bush had not even finished selecting his administration when 9/ll happened because of the long and protracted farce in Florida. 4 years later he was still considered “Selected not Elected.” So he followed his agenda and governed with a sunny demeanor all this while trying to prove he was “Elected not Selected”. I don’t agree with everything he did but I point this out because you say for 8 years and I don’t think that is totally fair assessment of reality.
Remember when Bush claimed, after winning so convincingly in 2004, that he "had political capital and was going to spend it"?
Who knew that he was heading for the craps table?
He spent his second term as a beaten man, uncapable of defending himself, his policy successes, or those who defended our country.
BINGO!!! No one's been beating that drum longer, and stronger, than I have... and no one's been blasted more for it... I stand vidicated... Bush has destroyed the party, and to a good degree, conservative causes for years, by NOT fighting back. What a DISGRACE