Another 2008 candidate rant: McCain is beyond useless.

[Firespirit]

Allow me to bask in the temporary smugness of having seen this split coming a mile off. Like many, I knew McCain wouldn't get the support of the right-wing loony base no matter how far he bent over and begged for it. Not that he shouldn't have it, of course -- McCain, as he has amply shown lately, is a neocon. By all rights, they ought to support him. But it would seem that far-right nutjobs are as delusional and misinformed as their counterparts on some nameless left-leaning websites, who support style over substance and then mope about "electability" because it was the MSM meme for JK's rise in 2004.

McCain sucking up to Dobson

So it seems that McCain isn't "intolerant enough" for Dobson and his deranged flock, because he doesn't support a Constitutional ban on gay marriage. (But opposes the concept itself.) At least, he claims to hold this position -- who knows what this falling-apart-at-the-seams buffoon actually thinks, or what he would say if his political survival came down to it? Anyway, Dobson has pledged never, ever, ever to support McCain as long as he doesn't think that Big Brother should take a dump across the Constitution in order to dictate who can and cannot get legal recognition for their relationship.

McCain knows who controls the GOP nominating process. I'll give him that much. But I'm paying attention to both sides of the 2008 field, if for no other reason than because I'll be hearing about it pretty much every day for over a year.

What a sad, sad group so far.

Of course, the Dems who have announced are better than the Repubs. Since my least favorite contender has not yet entered the race, I can honestly say that everyone who's in has something of value to bring to the plate. But none of the announced candidates has the full package. Maybe if you put the best qualities of all of them together, you'd have it, but I'm not even sure of that.

I think the "Gore for President" people are extremely delusional now, trying to convince themselves that he is considering making a run, but once I get past the mind-blowing mental acrobatics they take, I can understand their point of view. They want their guy, yes, but they also want something that isn't there yet. They're dissatisfied with those who are out there. Aren't we the same?

At least it won't be much longer for us.

[whometense]

1. I love your rants.

Don't stop posting them.

I agree with your assessment, and as well on the person who I assume is your least favorite.

Heard this this morning on NPR (telephone interview): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6881708

Pardon me while I retch.

She channeled EVERYTHING Kerry has been saying about Iraq for at least a year - without attribution, of course. Anyone who sees her as a leader needs to have his or her head examined.

[karynnj]

2. Interesting comments

I hope the last sentence is true soon! (though it's not clear that being first (for the others) will be an advantage. I'm not a 100% sure that the Gore people are delusional - in a way they have the opposite of what we do. Gore has given absolutely NO real signal he is considering it and they thrive on the fact that there has been no "Sherman-Like" denial - but there are periodic media people begging Gore to do so.

I do think we are nearing the wire, as a result we will likely see more "Please Gore" and sadly more "Go away Kerry" (though there are no "Go away, Kuchinich" or "Go away, Gravel" - which is interesting) I agree with you that - without these two - there are many people dissatisfied with the choice.

[whometense]

5. In my more rational moments,

(few though they are) that JK is actually really well positioned. And then I assume I'm just indulging in wishful thinking. ;-)

[Firespirit]

6. It's a funny thing

Depending on who you ask, there are people who are absolutely convinced that our guy is out -- the MyDD blog first and foremost; they won't even include him in 2008 candidate research that they do. I really want to see those smug little chatterbox twits with egg on their faces. That type of blogger just irritates me and always has. It is from that general direction that a lot of the "go away Kerry" talk came, and now they've got themselves convinced that he is out and they made it happen. Typical self-absorbed "kingmaker" mentality of that set.

[Blaukraut]

3. that was a righteous rant!

Seriously, out of the entire crop running, or potentially running, there is only one logical choice, isn't there?

[Firespirit]

4. I know

I'm just as anxious as everyone else, believe me! Maybe more so.

[blm]

7. For the sake of this country, I wish Gore would jump in, because when it comes

right down to it, I believe he, Kerry and Clark are the three most capable of meeting the needs this nation and world will be facing in Jan 2009.

Of course Kerry is the full package for me because of my strong anti-corruption, open government stance, but, I feel Gore and Clark, at the least, will be competent stewards on many other issues and would not enable the coverups to ANY degree near that Clinton did during his terms.

[sandnsea]

8. I agree

I really think people want bold solutions and are not going to be terribly impressed with non-binding resolutions. Did we make any use of the last one in the election? I don't think it even came up. A field with Gore, Clark and Kerry would be a stark contrast to, well, the others.

[politicasista]

9. It's because

Gore and his election are a "special" case (quoted by someone at Kos) and he has "evolved" now that he is out of office and concentrating on global warming.

I am with you and them. The 08 field (despite Obama) is very thin and I am not excited about it right now.:boring:

Hope your last sentence is a sign of things to come too! :hi:

[Firespirit]

10. What I hear

What I hear is that something significant will occur in about two weeks, at the end of the month. I don't know what, and I'm quite honest about that, not just hiding information. But something is supposed to happen then.

[wisteria]

11. Well, that isn't telling us much. LOL, he said we would know by the end of the month already.

I am thinking positively. The only thing I would say would be a concern is money. But, I believe he has a better shot this time than in 04. Screw, MyDD and Kos. It is a hugh country we live in and many of the people who aren't political junkies are willing to take another look at Senator Kerry. So much didn't come out about him last time. We have a whole new campaign full of slogans and good deeds to get out there.
It also bothers me that if he doesn't run, it will be reported and written down in history that the "joke" was his down fall. When ever they bring him up, it will always be with a reference to that joke and the 87 million voted for....

Also, I will be mad at him, because if he really loves this country, he can not stick us with the likes of the inexperienced and questionable Obama or that witch Clinton. What we will end up with is a Republican president, very likely being McCain.

[rox63]

12. According to this

we'll know "before spring training". What date does spring training start this year?

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Kerry_announces_staff_additions_to_DC_0117.html

News reports have suggested that Kerry is seriously considering running again. Asked when Kerry would make up his mind, Morris said, "before spring training."

[Island Blue]

13. The first full workout for the Red Sox

is scheduled for February 22nd. Most other teams also have their first full workout on or near that date. That's a full month away. I kind of hope we know something before then!

[rox63]

14. In Boston, we classify spring training starting by

when the Red Sox equipment and trainers head to Florida. Usually quite a bit earlier than the first full workout.

[Island Blue]

15. self delete.

[whometense]

16. Sidney Blumenthal does a real number on McCain

in Salon today: http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2007/01/18/mccain/