McCain open to idea of being VP under Kerry

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » March 10, 2004, 5:07 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u ... rry_mccain

With that possibility, how many republicans would be more likely to vote Kerry over Bush if McCain were in Kerry's camp? I know I personally like McCain, one of the few Republican politicians I can say that about, and had wished he'd won the nomination in 2000.

Vetiria · Post by **Vetiria** » March 10, 2004, 5:11 pm

It's kind of strange since he's already campaigned for Bush during the New Hampshire primary. I think it would be a sure-fire way to get Bush out of office, though.

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » March 10, 2004, 5:14 pm

too early to dance a jig, but wtf

*dances jig*

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » March 10, 2004, 5:16 pm

Has there ever been a successful Dem/Rep ticket?

This would do nothing but help Kerry, he obviously wouldnt loose any of his core supporters being that the only alternative would be...that one asshole sittin in the oval office right now.
Yet this could draw a lot of moderate republicans over, maybe the best possible choice for taking out bush.

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » March 10, 2004, 5:26 pm

Not fond of McCain politically.

It really seems to me as if both major candidates are doing everything they can to depress me about the fact that barring a miracle one of them is going to be the next president.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » March 10, 2004, 5:26 pm

he also said "i cant imagine a scenerio where this would happen"

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » March 10, 2004, 5:30 pm

Oh, I know it's so stupidly unlikely to come to pass, I just thought I'd ask opinions on a food-for-thought basis.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » March 10, 2004, 6:05 pm

It almost seems ideal to have a mixed office. I'd have to give more thought on that, but at first pass, I like the idea of both a Dem and Rep in the whitehouse at the same time.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » March 10, 2004, 6:11 pm

at least with gridlock, Congress cant spend money hand over fist.

Please god give us gridlock again.

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » March 10, 2004, 6:18 pm

Voronwë wrote:at least with gridlock, Congress cant spend money hand over fist.

Please god give us gridlock again.

Gridlock currently looks to the best thing to hope for the next four years.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » March 10, 2004, 6:20 pm

I just think it speaks to how similar the two parties really are...

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 10, 2004, 6:46 pm

I like McCain. I'm not sure why Democrats would. He's pretty gung-ho military and military action. Are you selling out just to get a few votes?

I'd vote for McCain over Bush...but not for McCain as VP under Kerry. VP's are useless in office.

Richardson is a no go for the VP spot so it appears Kerry might be scrambling for some shock and awe value in his running mate.

Aaeamdar · Post by **Aaeamdar** » March 10, 2004, 6:53 pm

Seeing as Bush is far worse than any Democrat could hope to be, I'd see adding McCain as a big plus that will make me a little happier when I vote for Kerry this year. Absent some new found fiscal responsibilty on part of Bush though, Kerry could add Kenedy to his ticket and still get my vote.

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » March 10, 2004, 8:38 pm

Why do democrats like McCain?

Here's the big reason:

He's more of a fiscal conservative and tends to promote restraint in government spending. Say what you will about philosophies, but over at least the past 25 years, the democrats (at least in the executive branch) have been the party of fiscal restraint.

There's other reasons, too-- his positions on trade, for instance-- but that's the biggie.

Then, of course, he's also a war hero, immensely popular, and has credibility shooting out his ears. Most everyone likes him, democrats and republicans included. If the democrats could get someone they like into a position of greater power, well, why wouldn't they?

Of course, much of the interest would be because he would help Kerry beat Bush. So fucking what? These are political parties we're talking about here. These aren't judges sworn to uphold the law, these are slimy little fuckers like Karl Rove who are trying to get Bush the fuck out of office. How on earth is popularity not a valid criterion for nomination for public office? I bet there're lots of brilliant academics who would make wonderful vice presidents, but they're not going to get nominated because no one knows who they are. It's politics, get the fuck over it.

If you want to talk about hypocrisy, we can do that. I would actually love to discuss republican hypocrisy.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 10, 2004, 9:07 pm

Keep your grimy paws off the republicans! It's not fair because all the democrats suck so republicans can't steal one of them. What's next? Put George Sr on the ticket with Kerry? Dole will sell anything for a dollar. He'll do it!

"If my son can't kill Osama before he leaves office, I'll have his back on the other ticket to stay the course!"
-George Bush Sr

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » March 10, 2004, 9:09 pm

Nice dodge.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » March 10, 2004, 10:01 pm

Yes. Masterfully done. Braaaavooooo. *clap.. clap.. clap..*

Krurk · Post by **Krurk** » March 10, 2004, 11:02 pm

Found this just now, perhaps a bit more realistic.

"Advisers also say Kerry's commitment to intelligence reform would require picking a Republican Secretary of Defense to win Capitol Hill's support in the inevitable battle with the Pentagon, which controls 90% of the spy budget. They have floated John McCain's name as a contender."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/ ... index.html

For those who don't know how the CIA's budget works, the Department of Defense is responsible for alloting them an unspecified amount of money each year for their operations, generally considered to be between 5-10% of it's budget. However, the DOD actually maintains a much larger intelligence service of its own (DIA) that receives sufficiently more funding then the CIA. Because the CIA's budget is classified, it gives the DOD the ability to screw them over with virtually no recourse.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 10, 2004, 11:18 pm

Dregor Thule wrote:Yes. Masterfully done. Braaaavooooo. *clap.. clap.. clap..*

/bow

Sueven · Post by **Sueven** » March 11, 2004, 1:22 am

I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks for your contributions to this thread. You've done us all a service today.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » March 11, 2004, 1:56 am

Krurk wrote:Found this just now, perhaps a bit more realistic.

"Advisers also say Kerry's commitment to intelligence reform would require picking a Republican Secretary of Defense to win Capitol Hill's support in the inevitable battle with the Pentagon, which controls 90% of the spy budget. They have floated John McCain's name as a contender."

Yes, much more realistic. I wouldn't mind McCain as Secretary of Defense if a Democrat was elected president. It wouldn't make me vote for Kerry but I'd feel a little better if too many of the wrong chads were poked out on election day.