The Next Vice-President?

[Shapley]

Despite the hype of this turn out it seems that a lot of conservatives just didn't vote, mainly because of their distrust of McCain. I personally held my nose when I voted for him.

I can tell you now that denying the ultimate political reward to a politician who was so principally responsible for gutting the freedom of political speech, and continuing the assault on the electoral process that was begun after Watergate, is justice.

I knew it was an uphill battle when so many Republicans (myself included) had to begin any explanation of our support for him with "Sen. McCain wasn't my first choice, but..."

I admire and respect Sen. McCain for his support for his country, for the suffering he endured, for his ability to rise the above any feelings of bitterness and resentment resulting from his sufferings, and for his sense of duty. Even so, I did not think him the best choice the Republicans could have made. I realized that his inability to raise enthusiasm even among his staunches supporters meant the he could not generate the numbers at the polls that were needed to overcome the enthusiasm of the Democrats.

[Giant Communist Robot]

McCain had a few good ideas early on, and Palin was great. The economy worked against him, and he failed to find solutions people could get enthusiastic about. Its clear that many people saw him continuing Bush's policies, and that did him in. John McSame. Bush is the t*rd in the Republican punch bowl.

[Shapley]

Bush is the t*rd in the Republican punch bowl.

I don't disagree. I've always said that history will regard President Bush more favourably than the current populace does. Of course, that was before the bailout - which will be his legacy, I'm afraid. If the bailout works, he may get credit for it, but if it fails it is, alas, his baby. "Success has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan." If the bailout becomes orphaned, DNA testing will trace it back to President Bush, you can be assured.

Then again, as I posted earlier:

Livia: Castor is ill and Thrasyllus says he won't recover. He also says Tiberius will choose Caligula to succeed him.
Claudius: Why?
Livia: Vanity. Tiberius wants to be loved, at least after his death if not before. And the best way to ensure that...
Claudius: Is to have someone worse to follow him. He's certainly no fool.
Livia: He's the biggest fool in my family. I had always thought that that was you... but I think now I was wrong.

From Robert Graves' I, Claudius

It may be that President Bush will be the Tiberius to President-elect Obama's Caligula. I think President Nixon owes much of his redemption to Ex-President Carter's ineptitude. (President Ford's term was largely uneventful, and short, such that he is largely overlooked by history.)

[Giant Communist Robot]

President Nixon owes much of his redemption

Redemption? What!?! I've missed something! Are we talking about the guy whose style of politics not only crushed opponents but ruined their lives and only avoided prosecution for obstruction of justice by a lucky pardon? Are you saying he has been rehabilitated!?!

[Shapley]

Redemption? What!?! I've missed something! Are we talking about the guy whose style of politics not only crushed opponents but ruined their lives and only avoided prosecution for obstruction of justice by a lucky pardon? Are you saying he has been rehabilitated!?!

Yes. He enjoyed a redemption of sorts before his death. He was interviewed by newsmen for his views on various issues during the Bush I and Clinton Presidency. His books were well received. His funeral was well-attended by all of the then-living Presidents, and he was spoken of in glowing terms. He is ranked higher than Ex-President Carter by some historians. Yes, he was rehabilited.

[jamiebk]

Perhaps in some minds that are sympathetic to the man. I am not.

[Shapley]

Perhaps in some minds that are sympathetic to the man. I am not.

To each his own.

[OperaTenor]

Bush is the t*rd in the Republican punch bowl.

Can I quote you on this?

[Giant Communist Robot]

Bush is the t*rd in the Republican punch bowl.

Can I quote you on this?

I encourage it!

[Haggis@wk]

With all the negatives suffered by the Republicans; an unpopular war, unpopular president, the worst economic disaster since the Depression, etc. why wasn't this election a landslide for Obama?

[Serenity]

With all the negatives suffered by the Republicans; an unpopular war, unpopular president, the worst economic disaster since the Depression, etc. why wasn't this election a landslide for Obama?

...because there are differences of opinion regarding how to go about the future....

I did not vote for Obama and yet I feel inspired by this speeches and by the look of hope on peoples' faces that attend his rallies and believe in him. I feel good when I hear about the positive reactions at home and abroad. I feel he will be a fair and excellent president. I also feel upset when I hear people are plotting against him or vow that they will do everything in their power to undermine him throughout his entire administration...well, I just have one sentence for all the naysayers......
"Yes We Can!"

[Serenity]

Oh, and about the latest Sarah Palin news, I really dislike that tendency of the Republican Party to look for fault and blame for failure. She did what she could and they turned on her....all they did was alienate her in the future and lose her whole-hearted support next timearound. They are shooting themselves in the foot.

[Haggis@wk]

I also feel upset when I hear people are plotting against him or vow that they will do everything in their power to undermine him throughout his entire administration

Did you feel that way when the target was President Bush and the people plotting were the Democrats?

I've noticed an uneasy feeling among Democrats fearful the Republicans will treat Obama the same way Democrats treated Bush. Since Tuesday I've counted 5 favorable newspaper accounts of Bush.

Of course the Democrats relied on an MSM largely hostile to Bush to enlarge on the vile and hateful things they were saying. If Obama is treated the same way it will probably be via the Internet and Blogs.

[dai bread]

I got the impression from articles in my newspaper, that McCain & Palin were poorly served by their advisers, and that both would have done better to follow their own instincts. Those of you closer to the action may disagree, but that's how it looked to me here.

Obama had the media in his hand from Day 1, world-wide.

[Serenity]

I also feel upset when I hear people are plotting against him or vow that they will do everything in their power to undermine him throughout his entire administration

Did you feel that way when the target was President Bush and the people plotting were the Democrats?

I've noticed an uneasy feeling among Democrats fearful the Republicans will treat Obama the same way Democrats treated Bush. Since Tuesday I've counted 5 favorable newspaper accounts of Bush.

Of course the Democrats relied on an MSM largely hostile to Bush to enlarge on the vile and hateful things they were saying. If Obama is treated the same way it will probably be via the Internet and Blogs.

I do feel uneasy when anyone targets any of our leaders and wishes any harm on them and specifies that they will undermine them to the utmost of their power; it only reflects their hatred.
Emphasizing a disagreement of opinion and using that disagreement as justification for wishing ill-will on your "opposite-opinion" is wrong.

[Giant Communist Robot]

Sarah Palin should form the core of a new Republican Party.

[Serenity]

Sarah Palin should form the core of a new Republican Party.

The "Thinking is over-rated" party?

[OperaTenor]

Sarah Palin should form the core of a new Republican Party.

I surely hope so!

[Haggis@wk]

President-elect Obama plans to use his executive powers to make an immediate impact when he takes office, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and domestic drilling for oil and natural gas.

I'm okay on the stem cells, but the anti-drilling move is dumb, and will come back to haunt him when gas prices, inevitably, go back up.

[jamiebk]

Sarah Palin should form the core of a new Republican Party.

I surely hope so!

Well, with so many moderates leaving the (Republican) party she can have it all to herself