Well, you can count on McCain to co-opt anything popular, so this isn't a big surprise. That's what happens when you let your staff dictate your policy positions.

It is really funny watching the 2 Republican candidates try to pretend that they aren't really part of the republican party.

It was surreal.

The capper was when Tom Ridge was asked how McCain will be able to promote reform:

"Because he's John Bush, uh, John McCain."

Yep. Thanks, Tom.

Dinki: It is really funny watching the 2 Republican candidates try to pretend that they aren't really part of the republican party.

We need to kick out those guys in power!

I just like how Romney blamed the evil liberals for all the problems that the Bush Administration has caused over the past 8 years.

I mean, that government in charge is those dirty commie liberals.

I wonder what the color the sky is in that world.

Meh. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the U.S. (72m vs 55m), so in a manner of speaking, he is the opposition.

reillan: Meh. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the U.S. (72m vs 55m), so in a manner of speaking, he is the opposition.

Blacks outnumbered whites in South Africa, so in a manner of speaking, the whites were the opposition.

reillan: Meh. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the U.S. (72m vs 55m), so in a manner of speaking, he is the opposition.

Well they do now. Back when Bush started it was pretty even. I wonder what could have caused that?

reillan: Meh. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the U.S. (72m vs 55m), so in a manner of speaking, he is the opposition.

Meh. The Electoral College and Diebold make that a meaningless fact.

It's one big game of Good Cop/Bad Cop anyway.

kronicfeld: reillan: Meh. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the U.S. (72m vs 55m), so in a manner of speaking, he is the opposition.

Blacks outnumbered whites in South Africa, so in a manner of speaking, the whites were the opposition.

As soon as republicans start stripping democrats of their citizenship, segregating services so that those provided to democrats are inferior, prohibiting democrats from marrying republicans, and so on, then perhaps your comparison might be remotely accurate.

reillan: As soon as republicans start stripping democrats of their citizenship, segregating services so that those provided to democrats are inferior, prohibiting democrats from marrying republicans, and so on, then perhaps your comparison might be remotely accurate.

Oh, so you're saying that there are considerations to be made beyond raw numbers? Well, gosh.

reillan: As soon as republicans start stripping democrats of their citizenship, segregating services so that those provided to democrats are inferior, prohibiting democrats from marrying republicans, and so on, then perhaps your comparison might be remotely accurate.

I think the point was more that that's a silly thing to say. Who cares who's registered as what? Bush and the Republicans are in power, therefore they aren't the opposition. No amount of mental gymnastics will make it so that they are.

And even if you could make the point you made, you'd be saying they were in opposition to the will of the American people, not in opposition to the government. Maybe that's what you meant.

EvilEgg: Well they do now. Back when Bush started it was pretty even. I wonder what could have caused that?

I don't know... during Clinton it was pretty uneven...



So maybe, just maybe, more people identify as Democrat as a general rule.

Tastes Like Chicken: I think the point was more that that's a silly thing to say. Who cares who's registered as what? Bush and the Republicans are in power, therefore they aren't the opposition. No amount of mental gymnastics will make it so that they are.

And even if you could make the point you made, you'd be saying they were in opposition to the will of the American people, not in opposition to the government. Maybe that's what you meant.

Yes, my point in saying it originally was that it was a silly thing to say, but now that people are taking offense to it, I'm going to defend it. :p

Seems to be a concerted theme for the McCain Campaign now.

I almost died laughing when Romney said we need to get rid of the Liberal politics of Washington and usher in a Conservative Washington.

as if the last eight years had never happened, or Bush was actually a democrat.


It's not going to work, I think... though the simpletons will probably eat it up.

keylock71: It's not going to work, I think... though the simpletons will probably eat it up.

Dunno if you've noticed, but the simpletons have been absolutely feasting for the last few days.

keylock71: I almost died laughing when Romney said we need to get rid of the Liberal politics of Washington and usher in a Conservative Washington.

Sadly, for a lot of these republicans, even the republican-led Washington is probably too liberal. Until we get rid of all social programs and unions so corporations can go back to 20s-era monopolization and company stores, it will continue to be too liberal for some.

Republicans in a cramped half arena that still had empty seats, rallied their base. Thats about it so far. As a moderate, I was pretty annoyed with Palin, I've seen more qualified people running meetings at work. McCain's speech last night was a definite move to the center, the problem with that, it is 180 of McCain's voting record. All in all, didn't convince me of much but how desperate Republicans are acting. And yes its "Republicans", all you GOP only lets change our name and pretend Bush never happened.

BooBoo23: keylock71: It's not going to work, I think... though the simpletons will probably eat it up.

Dunno if you've noticed, but the simpletons have been absolutely feasting for the last few days.


Hey, everybody loves a party...

Ew, the link showed me an ad. The NYT can't slide down the sewer fast enough for me. Away, yon stinkers, away!

Generation_D: Republicans in a cramped half arena that still had empty seats, rallied their base. Thats about it so far. As a moderate, I was pretty annoyed with Palin, I've seen more qualified people running meetings at work. McCain's speech last night was a definite move to the center, the problem with that, it is 180 of McCain's voting record. All in all, didn't convince me of much but how desperate Republicans are acting. And yes its "Republicans", all you GOP only lets change our name and pretend Bush never happened.

And I don't see how you run a campaign as relentlessly negative as McCain's has been so far, especially after 3 days of Obama bashing, and say you're going to end "partisan rancor."

Oh are ya now.

After her bio vid, I was starting to think Cindy would be a more qualified running mate than Palin. It definitely gave her a Princess Di air.

As for this maverick/opposition stuff? McCain sounded like Mr. Burns when he was running for governor.

jake_lex: Generation_D: Republicans in a cramped half arena that still had empty seats, rallied their base. Thats about it so far. As a moderate, I was pretty annoyed with Palin, I've seen more qualified people running meetings at work. McCain's speech last night was a definite move to the center, the problem with that, it is 180 of McCain's voting record. All in all, didn't convince me of much but how desperate Republicans are acting. And yes its "Republicans", all you GOP only lets change our name and pretend Bush never happened.

And I don't see how you run a campaign as relentlessly negative as McCain's has been so far, especially after 3 days of Obama bashing, and say you're going to end "partisan rancor."

Oh are ya now.

His speech was rife with polar contradictions, but that one was the most egregious. I can't believe he went to the "annointing" thing about Obama. Especially since he was bucking for his own annointing based on the POW thing.

not if you convince people the other side has been in charge all along.

/and the sun rises in the west

Good luck, John. You're going to need it.

Hopping on board a wagon after it leaves the post isn't necessarily the best way to run things, but dammit, you're going to try...

reillan: Meh. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the U.S. (72m vs 55m), so in a manner of speaking, he is the opposition.

I think your numbers are off.

From Rasmussen Reports

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

During August, the number of Americans who consider themselves to be Republicans increased two percentage points to 33.2% while the number of Democrats was little changed at 38.9%.

That gives the Democrats a net advantage of 5.7 percentage points, down two points from a month ago and down significantly from the double digit advantage they enjoyed in April and May.

***

I can't bear to watch the convention coverage, all the speeches come off like someone left the bumper sticker machine unattended.

Platitude *applause* Platitude *applause* Platitude *applause* etc. etc. ad nauseum

The Bizzaro World,Change You Can Believe In

Don't forget, the Democratic Party is also the party of Big Brother.

LOL

keylock71: I almost died laughing when Romney said we need to get rid of the Liberal politics of Washington and usher in a Conservative Washington.

If you remember the platform he ran on when he campaigned for Governor of Mass, it is even more ridiculous.

ExJerseyGirl: keylock71: I almost died laughing when Romney said we need to get rid of the Liberal politics of Washington and usher in a Conservative Washington.

If you remember the platform he ran on when he campaigned for Governor of Mass, it is even more ridiculous.

As a MAsshole, I certainly do remember Mitt's rise here in the Commonwealth...thankfully it didn't last that long. It makes his subsequent "rebirth" as the uber-republican all the more hilarious, if you ask me.

keylock71: ExJerseyGirl: keylock71: I almost died laughing when Romney said we need to get rid of the Liberal politics of Washington and usher in a Conservative Washington.

If you remember the platform he ran on when he campaigned for Governor of Mass, it is even more ridiculous.

As a MAsshole, I certainly do remember Mitt's rise here in the Commonwealth...thankfully it didn't last that long. It makes his subsequent "rebirth" as the uber-republican all the more hilarious, if you ask me.

Let's be fair. He may be an Eastern wealthy elite, but he's anything but intellectual.

And speech was warmed over lines from his failed campaign.

Diogenes:
Let's be fair. He may be an Eastern wealthy elite, but he's anything but intellectual.

And speech was warmed over lines from his failed campaign.

Well, I have no doubt he's a smart guy... He's just a political wind sock is all.

I love that his one claim to fame as Governor was presiding over the legalization of gay marriage in the Commonwealth though...

keylock71: Diogenes:
Let's be fair. He may be an Eastern wealthy elite, but he's anything but intellectual.

And speech was warmed over lines from his failed campaign.

Well, I have no doubt he's a smart guy... He's just a political wind sock is all.

I love that his one claim to fame as Governor was presiding over the legalization of gay marriage in the Commonwealth though...

Actually, he did manage to get a really costly and trainwreck of a mandatory insurance program ratified. His brand of health care reform is essentially identical to Hillary Clinton's. Only with a bit more cost to the consumer, and to the state.

It is essentially life support for insurance companies. And it's raising rates across the board--though, the state has to pick up a fair amount of it, as many folks have to be subsidized to get theirs.

hubiestubert: keylock71: Diogenes:
Let's be fair. He may be an Eastern wealthy elite, but he's anything but intellectual.

And speech was warmed over lines from his failed campaign.

Well, I have no doubt he's a smart guy... He's just a political wind sock is all.

I love that his one claim to fame as Governor was presiding over the legalization of gay marriage in the Commonwealth though...

Actually, he did manage to get a really costly and trainwreck of a mandatory insurance program ratified. His brand of health care reform is essentially identical to Hillary Clinton's. Only with a bit more cost to the consumer, and to the state.

It is essentially life support for insurance companies. And it's raising rates across the board--though, the state has to pick up a fair amount of it, as many folks have to be subsidized to get theirs.

Good point...forgot about that.

You must not have heard him speak.

He's the opposition candidate. The party is just the vehicle.

After having Romney dissing the East Coast, Rudy identifying with small towns, and Palin claiming to be a fiscal conservative, should anything McCain says come as a surprise?

The Sarah Palin lovefest ^{(^)}

As I understand it McCain got to really big applause moments last night. When he introduced Sarah Palin, and when Sarah Palin came out on stage.

The sitting President of this party spoke for 8 minutes and the sitting vice president didn't even show up.

Pathetic.

NYZooMan: You must not have heard him speak.

He's the opposition candidate. The party is just the vehicle.

So...when he talks about "draining the swamp" in Washington, who exactly is he opposing?

NYZooMan: You must not have heard him speak.

He's the opposition candidate. The party is just the vehicle.

A vehicle he drives 90% of the time.

What, you don't think it's a surprise that McCain is using the Democratic Party's color palette this year, do you?

The editorial's right - which is why McCain should be running against the party in power in Congress, and not Obama and Biden specifically.

It's a Democratic Congress who's going to be putting bills on the president's desk this year - and they've been waiting 15 years to wallow in that money pit. McCain would be the only thing standing in their way.

(And although I'm a Republican, were things the other way around I'd be voting for Obama now, because the Republican membership has yet to earn back whatever trust I may have had in them.)

This should be easy to figure out. Who would you rather run against if you were in McCain's shoes: Barack Obama, or Pelosi/Reid/Murtha/Rangel and so forth?

mofomisfit: What, you don't think it's a surprise that McCain is using the Democratic Party's color palette this year, do you?

How many times did you hear GOP or Republican by any of the speakers this past week?

someonelse: NYZooMan: You must not have heard him speak.

He's the opposition candidate. The party is just the vehicle.

So...when he talks about "draining the swamp" in Washington, who exactly is he opposing?

Didn't you hear Romney's speech?

He's going to get rid of the "Liberal Washington" and CHANGE it to a "Conservative Washington"...Man, that's got to chafe well-known democrat George Bush's chaps.

My friends, when the GOP has destroyed your country, call us, the GOP. We'll get your country back on track.

kuhns_m: The sitting President of this party spoke for 8 minutes and the sitting vice president didn't even show up.

Pathetic.

Don't you think that's kind of what they're going for? The less they identify themselves to the current administration, the better off they'll be.

Gulper Eel: This should be easy to figure out. Who would you rather run against if you were in McCain's shoes: Barack Obama, or Pelosi/Reid/Murtha/Rangel and so forth?

Here's some REAL change:

of course it's hotlinked