Palin - once again the GOP gets highjacked by the far right and they are powerless to stop it

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

The NYT says today that McCain (Mr. Maverick) really wanted Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge but was informed by "influential conservatives" that this was completely unacceptable and they would mount a floor fight.

McCain obviously crumbled like a cookie. Mr. Maverick is really Mr.Spineless Knuckle Under to the Base.

In my personal opinion, a floor fight rejecting extremist positions would have gone a long way to restoring some shred of credibility to the Repubs and would have made McCain a hero and a strong contender. Fortunately for us, he ceded the most important choice a candidate can make.

[valerief]

1. The GOP IS the Far Right. It's the seculars vs. Jesus now.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. You're completely correct

That is a far better way to frame it.

[RTFirefly]

8. Basically why I'm here.

I'm a recovering moderate Republican. I came to the realization that the Log Cabin Republicans never would. There's no room in that tent for those of use who are fiscally conservative, but socially liberal.

[zanne]

2. AH....I love the smell of irony in the morning. nt

[hexola]

3. Interesting take...(nt)

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. The bottom line is they need the fundie base

Without fundies, Republicans are just a marginal coalition of wall street types and a shrinking group of racists. The fundies were going to stay home. Now they're excited, motivated, and downright ecstatic about the chances of one of their own being a 72 year old cancer patient's heartbeat away from the presidency.

While it may not win the general all by itself, this ploy at least keeps the door open for the possibility of a win, whereas, without the fundie base, they had no chance whatsoever.

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. God, it's gotta piss off the GOP moderates

Imagine if you're a GOP moderate already embarrassed by 8 years of poor governance and religious wackjobbery. You get excited because Mccain gets the nomination, and in your mind, he's the moderate guy. Then this. This is the equivalent of Obama nominating Cynthia McKinney to the ticket.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. Is it any wonder NO ONE wanted to go to their convention? nt.

[C_U_L8R]

9. McCain totally buckled to the kookie Dominionist wing of the GOP

Looks like the maverick is ready for the glue factory