I feel like a condemned man walking steadily toward the gallows.

[ginchinchili]

The Republicans figured it out and are coalescing around McCain, their most qualified candidate. In the mean time, we're fighting over Lucy and Desi who are fighting over who said what. Democrats can't figure it out. Their inability to choose a winning candidate is stunningly stupid. During the general election the country will consider the gravity of our nation's current state and will elect who they perceive to be the grownup in the room, the most qualified candidate, and it won't be Lucy and it won't be Desi. I'm going to hate saying I told you so, but I'm damn sure going to.

[BeyondGeography]

1. Sorry, the white guy isn't winning

it isn't the fault of "Lucy and Desi."

[Proud2BAmurkin]

2. McCain is a crazy old loose cannon.

I'm not worried.

[ginchinchili]

8. I'm sure you thought the same thing when the Repubs were running Bush.

Beating him was a slam dunk, right?

[melody]

14. Are you joking? They'd not just come off 8 years of the most hated President EVER

No matter which Republican runs, the Democrats have this monster to tie to him and they'll be
going down very quickly.

[ginchinchili]

16. Yeah, hated by Democrats; Republicans are only disappointed...

and want to replace him with another Republican so they can get on with pushing their agenda. This isn't rocket science. I'm only stating the obvious.

[melody]

24. He's hated by the GOP: -- they've burned through everybody. Look at the numbers.

They can't even equal 70% of the people going to the primaries. They have no enthusiasm behind
their candidates. The GOP is lining up behind the least hated one whereas the Democrats are
enthusiastically behind three candidates, which is why we're seeing this much activity.

All they'll have to do is tie McCain to Bush and it'll be so long, sucker.

[AndyTiedye]

26. Then Why are Our Frontrunners LOSING to McCain in the Polls?

Every time they say McCain's name, they call him a "moderate" and a "maverick".
That has insulated him from any association whatsoever with the Bush** regime and its failures. Instant Teflon™.

We gotta find some way to break through that.

[JDPriestly]

27. Edwards beats McCain by a large margin.

Edwards 46% McCain 39%

Obama 43% McCain 46%

Clinton 38% McCain 49%

Another good reason to vote for Edwards. Don't be distracted by the media. Don't vote your gender, your age or your race. Vote for Edwards. He is by far our best candidate.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/favorables/election_2008_democratic_candidates_running_in_2008_presidential_election

[avaistheone1]

30. Edwards is best aligned with voters's positons on issues too.

[JDPriestly]

33. This is the most important reason for backing Edwards.

There is nothing new or different about backing a white male. I often hear female Edwards supporter lament that they just cannot bring themselves to back Hillary. I especially hear that from feminists. As a woman myself, I know what they mean. Edwards just is the best candidate. That is why I support him. I agree with his views on the issues. I do not agree with Hillary's views on the issues. I disagree with Obama on a number of things. I don't trust him on Social Security. I don't like his stance on nuclear energy. I don't like the fact that he voted for the Peru trade deal. The list of things on which I prefer Edwards over Obama is long.

Nevertheless, Obama is my second choice. I'm working very hard for Edwards now. I think he will stay in the race.

[dugggy]

32. Are you implying Edwards is neutral gender?

and also that he has no race?

See, you are wrong on both. Edwards is a WHITE MALE.
ANd he has kids to prove he is not neutral gender.

[melody]

31. Because McCain has been getting an easy ride in the media -- give them time

No one is focusing on him and his misdeeds as steadily as they have everyone else's. As soon
as they remind people what a Bushavik he's been, it'll fall into line. Just the fact someone
as scorned as Hillary Clinton isn't being beaten soundly in these polls by big war hero McCain
(and she's not) shows how deeply weak their candidates are. Hillary has been practically burned
as a witch. McCain gets hero status. It's still a toss-up. That shows how weak his candidacy is.

Once the media attention shifts, we'll see a dramatic difference emerge -- on our side.

[AndyTiedye]

35. You think the Repiglickin' Media Will Say Anything to Tie McCain to Bush?

It has been kid gloves all the way and that will continue.

Did all the skeletons in Bush**s closet cause him any inconvenience during either of his campaigns? Of course not. The media would not talk about it, and Rathered anyone who tried.

The Repiglickin' media attention will not shift, at least not in a good way for us.

[melody]

37. Bush is Bush -- his daddy knows where all the bodies are buried

But they've burned through a whole lot of that power of intimidation by having their
victims line up against them. The Shrub has shot Bush's power wad. The media is lining
up behind Hillary in huge numbers. I don't see any of them whoring for the right-wing
as they once did. They know McCain doesn't have the legs for the ride. They're not going
to place their bets on them.

Give them two months to start seeing some pretty substantial anti-McCain stories. The rage
of the public coupled with the internet and other sources of information will be decisive
influences. Hate to tell you this, Andy, but we have every reason to hope. lol

[AndyTiedye]

38. I Sure Hope You Are Right

I'm still hoping, just not particularly hopeful after the past 8 years.

Seems more likely that the media's new-found affection for HRC will evaporate the day after she wins the nomination.

[Kutjara]

3. What we're seeing is a masterclass...

...in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Or, to put it another way, Dems doing what Dems do best. It's one of the more compelling arguments for why we need a viable third party in this country.

[ginchinchili]

11. I agree. It's simply astounding how so few get it.

The reasons Clinton and Obama are weak candidates are so obvious, yet so many Democrats are actually over-optimistic. No logic here. Just an obsession with celebrity, the American poison.

[JDPriestly]

28. A lot of people are voting based on gender, age or race.

I'm talking to voters one on one. Women tend to be pro-Hillary; young people tend to be pro-Obama and all kinds of people think (and rightly so) that it would be wonderful to have an African-American president.

With regard to this latter issue, I usually hear -- let's show the world how we have changed. This is not Obama's fault. Now, I'm honestly not fond of Hillary. I just don't trust her. She is too arrogant and too manufactured. But I like Obama. He has a melodious voice and an almost hypnotic musicality in his voice when he speaks. He sounds like a southern gospel preacher (wonder where he learned that manner of speaking -- in Hawaii? Indonesia? at Occidental College here in my neighborhood? in Columbia? at Harvard? in his law firm in Chicago? in the Illinois legislature?) But, I think Edwards is our best candidate. So do a lot of ordinary working class Americans of all kinds. Edwards can win in November.

[Renew Deal]

4. The republicans are headed for crisis.

Romney looks like he has a decent shot of winning tomorrow. Huckabee will then have a decent shot at winning SC. And the chaos continues.

[ginchinchili]

12. McCain is way ahead in national polls and tied w/Romney in Michigan.

[Renew Deal]

13. National polls are meaningless. The result of Michigan matters.

And the latest polls have Romney ahead. We'll see how it plays out

[ginchinchili]

18. Don't believe me then. Just wait and see.

[Renew Deal]

25. Hmmm. I'm saying the same thing

:shrug:

I'm just saying that the coronation of McCain will stall if he loses tomorrow.

[Tulkas]

5. Desi for Presi

I think Obama will beat the crap out of McCain if that were the choice. (although I support McCain over any other Republican)

Don't forget McCain will be 72 years old by November. Also most of the country is fed up with the Republicans.

As long as Lucy loses we should be OK.

In the light of what has happened in the last few days I think she has some Splaining to do.

[aquart]

9. Welcome to DU.

I have no idea who you're talking about.

[ginchinchili]

15. You obviously don't understand your own country.

Despite what you want to think, the country still leans to the right. However, if the Democrats produced the right candidate, he or she could win. They're not doing that. They've got two candidates who, at best, appeal to only half of their Party each. Independents like McCain. They will consider the fact that we're at war and go with McCain rather than someone who's never had any military or foreign policy experience. Remember, this is the same country who put Bush into office twice, and McCain is much more qualified than Bush...and I'm not a fan of John McCain's. That's why I'm running around waving red flags, but I'm afraid it's too late, and that's a damn shame. There will be people who die because too many Democrats have their heads up their asses and are more interested in making statements and celebrity than winning US presidential elections.

[JohnnyLib2]

6. But Lucy and Desi would be a helluva team.....

:evilgrin:

[ripple]

7. Aren't you "they", too? n/t

[ginchinchili]

19. Not after this fiasco.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

10. ginchinchili, if your posts up to this point promoted a strategic way to for Democrats to retake the

WH and Congress with a resounding majority and then you went all doom and gloom, I'd be alarmed. However, you've been cynical, without wit, for as long as I've seen your posts here.

I am involved in grassroots politics and I'm personally seeing people who I never thought, in a million years, would consider voting for a Democrat ready and willing to switch parties.

Even better, they're acknowledging that complacency is not the way to go and are willing to call their rep, read the paper, watch the news and make informed decisions.

I'm seeing Democratic candidates, not just for president, but for Congress and state Senate/House seats, talking about the things that must change now, and I'm not talking just getting the R's out of power.

Vigilance and grassroots are just taking hold and I am thrilled to see it.

So, go ahead, promote the fact that all is lost, and I'll just keep working at making things a little better, along with few million others.

MKJ

[Yael]

17. Wow -- excellent post!

:applause:

[ginchinchili]

21. My posts have been positive until the race boiled down to Obama & Clinton.

Though I know you can't see this, but one is unqualified and one has too much negative baggage. Joe Biden would have been a shoe-in, obviously the most qualified candidate in the entire race. He could have won this for the Democrats and for our country. But he wasn't celebrity enough. You've picked the wrong people for the wrong reasons.

[melody]

20. Just because DU has turned into the orgy of the cannibals doesn't mean the Democrats have

It's not happening. McCain has huge skeletons in his closet that the public is only minimally aware of. Another
major problem is the man is 71 years old, one of Bush's biggest suck-ups and personal whores (my apology to whores),
and was so deeply unpopular the GOPhers actually, literally opted for Mitt Romney as front runner -- the biggest plastic demagogue to ever come out of the political scene.

The only reason McCain has front runner status again is because all the GOP have learned to hate everyone else. They've
burned through their whole lineup. They've opted for the least objectionable and even THEN they can't manage to even
equal their 2000 numbers at the polls.

Meanwhile, the Democrats have enthusiastic supporters behind three strong candidates. Our numbers are up. There's
no reason to despair despite the fleeting hopes of the GOP.

[ginchinchili]

23. Watch and see.

[Rydz777]

McCain = more war. The voters won't buy that. eom

[Tweed]

22. The grass is always greener on the other side

[cali]

29. since you start off with such a huge errior in your analysis, it's

not surprising that you feel the way you do. First of all, the repukes haven't figured it out; their race is in far more of a shambles than ours. Huck won in Iowa, McCain in NH. Even if he wins in MI today, McCain is not assured a victory. Virtually all the political analysts agree about that. McCain is not popular among many repuke voters.

Second of all, it's a huge error to think that your opinion is actually a fact. I don't see JE as a particularly strong candidate. And many other obviously feel the same way.

You need to put down your silly little crystal ball.

[Eurobabe]

34. Clinton and Obama issued a statement today to stop the bickering

Meanwhile who knows how much long-term damage has been done.

We would not have seen this with Biden. That's all I am saying. :shrug:

[Steely_Dan]

36. I Completely Agree...

with the OP. It seems to me that most of the people here that support the remaining two candidates have stars in their eyes. You can tell just by reading their responses. They seem more interested in making "presidential history" than they are in solving the countries problems with reason and pragmatism. Our issues are complex and require more than empty words like "hope" and "change." Resolving the horrific mess that Bush has left to us will require the kind of leadership that anyone with even the smallest amount of "baggage" will be hard pressed to employ. And, that's what we have. One person is a cheerleader offering a brighter future, but with little substance. The other comes in with so much "baggage" that she has higher disapproval numbers than even Bush had when he ran.

We had a chance to vote for dynamic leadership and extensive experience. But no, we just couldn't do the right thing. We had to make this into a horse race.

I said three months ago on this board that the Republicans would end up nominating John McCain. This was during a time when everyone thought McCain was dead and buried. It matters not whether you think he's too old, or the Repubs really hate him or that those in red states are fed up with their party..etc. etc. There is a lot of time between now and November. Plenty of time to resurrect his image to fit the Republican's cause...and plenty of time to either scare or swiftboat our remaining candidates.

If you think that this is gloom and doom...well, you're exactly right. And it scares the hell out of me and it should scare the hell out of you.

-Paige

On Edit: I am normally not one to ever say "I told you so." However, in this case, I will have no problem coming back in November to say just that.

-P

[2hip]

39. EXCUSE ME

You've made the same mistake as the M$M......you neglectd to include Edwards, which changes the whole dynamic. But I nevertheless get your point - it's about Electability.




              Edwards '08 tees!

[Steely_Dan]

40. You Are Absolutely Correct.

I had thought of throwing in a line concerning how the media has treated Edwards and that he seems to be the next one targeted for removal. Sorry about that. Edwards is a good man.

-P

[2hip]

41. Edwards has given the media notice

"I'm in it until the Convention."

Translation: You can try to marginalize me but I'm not going away.




              Edwards '08 tees!

[Steely_Dan]

42. And well he should... n/t