McCain could never win the nomination of today's Republican Party...

[kentuck]

Today's Republicans are too far right to nominate a conservative like McCain. And McCain is very conservative, make no mistake. But the Republicans would be more inclined to nominate a George Allen or a Rick Santorum before a McCain. Even Newt Gingrich is now too far to the left for this bunch. But their ideal candidate would be Dick Cheney.

[whistle]

1. That's correct, at least he would never be endorsed by.....

....the republican power base, which tells the republican party who it wants nominated.

[Ezlivin]

2. What I fear is that McCain WILL run

Now if he runs, he'll appear to be a moderate. Hell, compared to Bush, some people will consider him downright liberal.

He might have the ability to draw large numbers of the undecideds. Naturally, many GOPers will vote for him to preserve their control of the WH.

If the Democrats field a "liberal" candidate, they risk losing the moderate vote. If they put up a moderate, then people may prefer McCain.

Even with McCain at the helm, it doesn't mean that the government would suddenly start acting any differently. I suspect that with McCain in office, the machine would work just as well, if not better. After all, the PR would be much easier with someone of McCain's intelligence. (And he's a "War Hero".)

[Moderate Dem]

4. I would like an alternative...

I would not vote for a super-liberal Democrat, it would set the party back twenty years,and I'll have no part of that. Also, it would be a stinging defeat for the religious right.

But it will never happen, McCain can't win the Republican nomination. There's been talk of him running with Hillary, but that won't happen either.

[Dr Ron]

6. Hillary and McCain--Agree No Way

McCain wouldn't run as VP with her. If he wanted to VP he could have run with Kerry, which would have virtually guaranteed a victory.

If he gets the Presidential nomination, I can't see any way he'd chose Hillary to run with him (and I doubt she would be interested).

[Debs]

9. I don't think

I will vote for anymore moderate democrats. Moderates seem to think its OK to withhold support for those I support then expect me to support their choices. I think Americans are tired of pro corporate democrats who position themselves as lite republicans, and its killing the party so I guess its time for me to withhold my support for such moderates I mean why should I support those who do not support me?

[napi21]

3. Well, I'm actually looking forward to the Pub debates in 2008!

I can't wait to see them shoot barbs at each other!

I agree that Allen and Santorum would sure be the radical's choice, but think about which ones are much better in front of a camera, faster on their feet with responses to questions you can't antipicate, etc.

McCain and Gingrich would smash those other two onto the stage and grind their heels into their heads!

[Dr Ron]

5. I disagree

It is clear McCain will not have the support of the religious right. However, keep in mind that George Bush won the nomination as a compassionate conservative, not someone who admitted he was from the far right.

The support of the far right might also be divided between several candidates.

McCain also has better name recognition and national stature than the candidates likely to be getting the support of the religious right. If there is heavy turn out enough moderate and conservative (as opposed to extremist) Republican voters might vote for him to allow him come in first ahead of a divided field of more conservative candidates.

As we saw with Kerry in Iowa and New Hampshire, once someone wins the early events they become harder to stop. If McCain wins early, it is possible that the extremists might unit behind a single candidate to stop him, but it is also possible that by then McCain will be unstoppable.

McCain has a hard road with the opposition of the far right, but it is not impossible.

[kentuck]

7. Compassionate conservative (wink-wink)

They knew what he was when they voted for him...and they still knew he wasn't a "compassionate conservative" in 2004. I think the right-wing has a choke hold on the Republican Party at this time and the only way tht will change will be with a devastating defeat at the polls.

[Dr Ron]

8. I'm not sure what they knew

In 2004 they knew he wasn't a compassionate conservative, but he was the incumbent and it no longer mattered.

In 2000 some clearly realized, but I also suspect Bush got a lot of votes from people who believed he was more moderate. I think it helped Bush that he could get the support from both the far right and more moderate Republicans in this manner. If Bush had run from the beginning from the far right, he would have had a tougher time.

[AlCzervik]

10. I know it's gonna be really interesting to watch the gop nom fight

Who knows what will happen between now and then? I firmly beleive that by 08 republican fatigue will have set in for the "Vast majority" of people and it won't matter who wins thier primary becuase i think the democrats will succeed in winning back the office.

[carpetbagger]

11. McCain could do it.

Here's the short argument. Fill in the details.

1. The GOP leadership, especially Bush, empowers the religious right as much as the reverse. They're only beholden because they want it that way.

2. The rank and file are conservative, even religious conservatives, but only a minority are True Believers (TM). The rest pay homage to it, but would be open to any conservative candidate, including McCain.

3. Bush won, through strength of charm, superior funding, momentum, and the appearence of moderation, enough votes from non-True Believers to get the election. Few of the potential True Believer candidates have that charm. McCain could therefore run the board with several groups, including the country club set, the militaristic set, rich exurban soccer moms, and Eisenhower-era republicans. These might be enough, even without a divided opposition.

Edit: How? he wins NH, then blows off SC, takes early victories in non-southern states (Western states? DE? MI?) to keep his campaign going into the states he'd use to lock up the nomination: CA, FL, NY, OH, IL, WI. I think he'd also do very well in GA and surprisingly well in Texas.

[AP]

12. Or this thing is a set-up to make him seem moderate and the far right

is in on it.