McCain cannot be Kerry's running mate

[59millionmorons]

Not that I am against it, but last night during Hardball, he said Bush should be re-elected. If Kerry were to pick McCain, the RNC would be running ads 24/7 saying McCain said this.

[WI_DEM]

1. they have plenty of ammunition

if this ever happened. McCain has said this on more than one occassion. The other reason this would be a stupid thing to do is that it would turn off democratic voters who wouldn't want a conservative democrat next in line to the WH. I would have a hard time supporting a Kerry/McCain ticket.

[bowens43]

2. You're not against a Republican on the Democratic ticket?

How freaking bizarre. If McCain was on the Dem ticket, I'd vote for bush rather then further dilute my party.

[onehandle]

3. McCain Endorsed Bush.

And he's co-chair of his Arizona campaign.

End of story.

[sadiesworld]

4. The media speculation on this makes me nauseous...

The whores make it seem as if a dem can't win w/o a repig on the ticket (pretty much the point, I imagine).

[Mz Pip]

5. It's all very nice

to wish for some return to bi partisan civility. However, those who think McCain as Kerry's VP will help this along are saddly mistaken. Lets's be perfectly clear.

Civil bipartisanship is a noble goal, but the Republicans have NO INTEREST in it what so ever. McCain may express some concern at the current hostile climate but he turns around and endorces the very people who for all intent, wish to do away with the two party system.

BushCo does not want discourse. It's "My way or the terrorists win." This is what passes for civility these days.

If McCain wishes to make matters better, he needs to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

MzPip
:dem:

[capriccio]

6. Country above Party?

When I first read of a McCain spot on the Democratic ticket, I dashed off a letter to Eric Alterman, the guy who floated it, and told him he was out of his mind. Now I'm not sure. I think if Kerry and McCain both believed that the partisan divide was growing sharp, wide, and dangerous enough to threaten the security of the country (and it is), they would resort to their innate sense of patriotism (NOT politics) and make the ticket happen, regardless of the obstacles (anyone who knows the history of the making of the Kennedy-Johnson ticket klnows that this one would be a snap by comparison).

Anyway, here's a relevant excerpt from today's Boston Globe:

The union of a Democrat and a Republican "would make good on the president's promise to be a uniter, not a divider," said one Kerry aide, who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity. Such a ticket could offer Americans the prospect of a reduction in the partisanship that has increasingly gripped Capitol Hill during the past decade, as well as a return to the national unity experienced in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

Above all, the aides hypothesize that by choosing McCain as a running mate, Kerry would energize the election, create a weeks-long buzz in the media, and, perhaps most importantly, attract the support of swing and independent voters from both parties. Surveys earlier this year showed that many of the people who supported Howard Dean's insurgent candidacy for the Democratic nomination were the same "McCainiacs" who helped McCain win the 2000 Republican primary in New Hampshire against Bush.

"The narrative fits the country right now," a Kerry aide said of a potential Kerry-McCain partnership
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/04/06/for_kerry_aides_mccain_would_fit_bill_as_running_mate/

[59millionmorons]

7. I believe

I believe they would pick up more votes than they would lose, but I dont see it happening.

[ulysses]

12. hah!

I dashed off a letter to Eric Alterman, the guy who floated it

Color me stunned! :D

[Larkspur]

8. McCain is an ultra conservative

Choosing McCain would create a civil war within the Dem Party.

9. That's why speculation is silly

Even if Kerry did pick McCain, I seriously doubt the delegates at the convention would go along quietly with the choice.

We keep forgetting there is a convention, that althoug usually a rubberstamp, does not have to be.

[HooptieWagon]

10. Hi y'all, first time poster

but i've been reading some of the threads from time to time for a few months now.
Anyway, I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I can't start one yet.
How about former Texas Gov Ann Richards for VP? She is one hell of a campaigner and speaker, and seems to be very knowledgable on domestic issues. I think she would be very popular across the Democratic party spectrum, and would be very popular with the southern democrats. Does she have any negatives or skeletons that I'm not aware of? What do y'all think?

[citizen snips]

11. Is she on kerry's VP list?

n/t

[newyawker99]

14. Hi HooptieWagon!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[calimary]

16. I think - it's time to WELCOME YOU TO DU, Hooptie!

Note my sig line - TOLL FREE way to call your reps and make yourself HEARD!!! And hold their feet to the fire!!!!!

By the way, I like Ann Richards. But she's had health problems lately, as far as I can recall. But I like her. Have for a long time.

[MoonRiver]

13. Didn't think about it, but you're right.

That statement sealed the nail. Bet McCain said it to get the whores off his back.

[dryan]

15. McCain on Today

john McCain said on the Today show this morning that he has absolutely no interest in running with Kerry. Folks, this is never going to happen!