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SANDMAN6

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{"contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"mlamkins"}

Why McCain lost

News Type: Opinion — Tue Nov 4, 2008 11:41 AM EST
politics
Sandman6
advertisement

(Ok, so the headline was easy even before the final results are in. I just want to beat all of the pundits to the punch.)

McCain didn't lose because of the economy or the war in Iraq. McCain didn't lose because George Bush is a lousy president flanked by the scariest VP ever. He didn't lose because he made a poor choice of VP in Sarah Palin.

McCain lost because he stopped being McCain.

McCain used to appeal to moderate republicans and centrist independents and democrats. But he gave up his base to appeal to neo-cons and far right theocrats in order to get the nomination. (Palin's selection was just another step in that direction.) Once he sold his soul to appeal to those constituencies he couldn't distance himself from Bush et al.

McCain's quest for the nomination lead to the biggest ever flip-flop of perhaps any presidential candidate. Those who believed in the "old" John McCain (such as myself) no longer believed he was the candidate of previous years. We went looking for reasons to oppose him, disown him, without even really knowing why. We found those reasons in his continuing pandering to the far right, his bizarre behavior during the economic meltdown, in his odd choice of Palin, and in his repittition of the Bush mantra of "no withdrawal from Iraq without victory (whatever that is.)"

I can't speak for the far right and hardcore evangelicals (not that I really speak for anyone but myself), but I'd bet they didn't buy his change of heart either. McCain didn't just ignore them when he ran against Bush, he showed open disdain for them; so, now, they're supposed to believe he's "one of them?" Sorry, Sparky, don't think so.

John McCain lost because he lost credibility across the board.

John McCain lost because he stopped being John McCain.

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{"contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"mlamkins"}
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  • Public Discussion (19)
{"commentId":3872416,"authorDomain":"simba1"}
Simba1chief

I think you hit the nail on the head here... I was a big fan of John McCain in 2000, but now I wonder just who the hell this guy who calls himself John McCain really *is*

{"commentId":3872416,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"simba1"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 12:28 PM EST
{"commentId":3872546,"authorDomain":"sperrys"}
Lisa Schneider

It will be because as Rick Davis said in July "McCain does not speak for the campaign"...the far right took over, and he just simply didn't know how to effectively play their game. I think they threw this election to get their next candidate in the National spotlight....Sarah Palin is their ring bearer, not McCain. They are willing to wait until 2012...ironically, they don't want a maverick....they want ultra-conservatism back in the whitehouse.

{"commentId":3872546,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"sperrys"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 12:32 PM EST
{"commentId":3878565,"authorDomain":"a-p-jarrett"}
Littlechica911

Agreed.  However, the top of the ticket says McCain, not Davis. 

Ultimately, McCain decided to compromise and invent this Mac 2.0.

{"commentId":3878565,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"a-p-jarrett"}
  • 1 vote
#2.1 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:34 PM EST
{"commentId":3879402,"authorDomain":"sperrys"}
Lisa Schneider

Couldn't beat em so he joined em...but you are right...his blind ambition made him sell his soul to win at any cost

{"commentId":3879402,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"sperrys"}
    #2.2 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:57 PM EST
    Reply
    {"commentId":3872636,"authorDomain":"kbvroom"}
    kbvroom

    Lost? Isn't that a little preemptive? Last I checked this was the same thing that everyone said about Bush. Good call if your right, though I hope not.

    {"commentId":3872636,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"kbvroom"}
      Reply#3 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 12:34 PM EST
      {"commentId":3875538,"authorDomain":"mlamkins"}
      Sandman6

      kbv,

      Yeah, the headline's quite presumptive.  I believe it'll prove accurate.  I also believe that when this campaign is analyzed beyond the superficials the concensus will be the one I posted.

      {"commentId":3875538,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"mlamkins"}
      • 1 vote
      #3.1 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 1:59 PM EST
      {"commentId":3875674,"authorDomain":"pointless"}
      Jswen

      It is going to happen. I agree with the poster, I feel betrayed by John McCain. I did not leave John McCain, John McCain left me.

      {"commentId":3875674,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"pointless"}
      • 3 votes
      #3.2 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 2:04 PM EST
      {"commentId":3911350,"authorDomain":"kbvroom"}
      kbvroom

      Good call. I hope the Republican party can figure things out and quick. Jswen I don't think that is the case I think the whole Republican party has left us.

      {"commentId":3911350,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"kbvroom"}
        #3.3 - Wed Nov 5, 2008 1:58 PM EST
        Reply
        {"commentId":3874980,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}
        greck

        I have to say,

        While I agree with your reasons for McCain's loss completely, I think the (R) in front of his name was a mighty big hurdle to overcome. 

        I think your article would be better titled "Why McCain wasn't even able to make it a close race"  or  "Why McCain lost everyone's respect."

        Well agreed though, he sold out sometime around 2002, and has looked hollow ever since.

        {"commentId":3874980,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"greglujan"}
          Reply#4 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 1:44 PM EST
          {"commentId":3875352,"authorDomain":"mlamkins"}
          Sandman6

          greck,

          I think the (R), the war, the economy et al were tough hurdles to overcome.  But I think the basic change in the man that McCain was made all of those things irrelevant.

          We can debate fine points until the end of time, but when someone makes the kind of fundamental shift McCain did everything else loses importance, imo.

          {"commentId":3875352,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"mlamkins"}
          • 1 vote
          #4.1 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 1:54 PM EST
          {"commentId":3879020,"authorDomain":"a-p-jarrett"}
          Littlechica911

          I think the (R) in front of his name was a mighty big hurdle to overcome. 

          In the profound words of that poetic giant, Popeye, the Sailorman, "Iyam what Iyam."

          You can only be who you are...who you truly are.

          {"commentId":3879020,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"a-p-jarrett"}
          • 1 vote
          #4.2 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:47 PM EST
          Reply
          {"commentId":3875385,"authorDomain":"houcoog"}
          Karl-689027

          Yep!  I found myself looking to John McCain 8 years ago - and I am a life long Democrat who usually votes a party ticket.  He sure changed, though.  When he started pandering to the extreme right, I knew he was no longer a candidate that I could actually vote for.

          {"commentId":3875385,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"houcoog"}
            Reply#5 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 1:55 PM EST
            {"commentId":3887993,"authorDomain":"kksfeather-1"}
            landspirit

            I felt the same.  He truly crossed a line.  I could in no way support what he was doing and standing for.  

            {"commentId":3887993,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"kksfeather-1"}
              #5.1 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 10:11 PM EST
              Reply
              {"commentId":3877720,"authorDomain":"maronmg"}
              Puppet Palin

              I was "on the fence" between Obama and McCain (OK, leaning toward Obama) before McCain's VP choice.  Once he made Palin his running mate, well, that sealed it for me, Obama was my choice 100%.  How could someone with such little experience, whom most of America knew little about, be given the chance to be a heartbeat away form the presidency?? I think that this had a huge backlash against McCain.     

              {"commentId":3877720,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"maronmg"}
                Reply#6 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:08 PM EST
                {"commentId":3878334,"authorDomain":"a-p-jarrett"}
                Littlechica911

                If polls are correct, John McCain will lose because he ran a schizophrenic race.  Need proof?

                He opposes Bush, he supports Bush. He experienced, he is a change agent.  He's all about the high road, but takes the low road for expedience.  He's good old Johnny, now the "Mac is back." 

                Each election is a political textbook in the making.  John McCain's 2008 chapter will be entitled, "What Not To Do."

                The central problem with McCain's 2008 bid is he wanted nothing more than to win.  No one believes someone who is all things to all people. 

                Critics may accuse his opponent of having wildly liberal ideas, but if polls are correct, voters perfer leaders with passion rather than an election-by-numbers approach.  McCain has come across as a say anything-do anything candidate who ran the race with a computer model rather than his heart.

                How much different would today's race be if McCain had stuck with a)The Jeremiah Wright controversy as a question of judgment b)Selecting Joe Lieberman as a running mate rather than pandering to the "you want different, we'll give you different" impulse?

                Though I typically vote democrat, in 2000 and 2004, I admired McCain, but I hardly recognize the chameleon-like Mac 2.0.  It's almost like watching your favorite artist find commercial success.  

                Sen. McCain will lose tonight because he lost authenticity a long time ago.

                {"commentId":3878334,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"a-p-jarrett"}
                • 3 votes
                Reply#7 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 3:27 PM EST
                {"commentId":3887902,"authorDomain":"kksfeather-1"}
                landspirit

                A long time ago, I liked McCain.  I wanted him to run.  I thought he was a real 'maverick'.  I thought he represented a little democrat and a little republican and so was actually a candidate between.  However, what I saw this election, the tactics, the behavior, and what I learned about McCain horrified me.  Had McCain run on a platform of the 'truth' and ran with integrity, honesty with concentration on the issues, he may have pulled it off (well sans Palin).  America no longer likes the lying and dirty tricks.  We are hungry for the truth,  for honesty, for honor in our country and government.  We no longer accept on any level racism and our election this year will show our true spirit.

                {"commentId":3887902,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"kksfeather-1"}
                  Reply#8 - Tue Nov 4, 2008 10:08 PM EST
                  {"commentId":3902557,"authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}
                  SnotRag Dave

                  landspirit... I agree.

                  I miss the old McCain. 

                  {"commentId":3902557,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"snotrag-dave"}
                    #8.1 - Wed Nov 5, 2008 10:30 AM EST
                    Reply
                    {"commentId":3906386,"authorDomain":"joyjunemoody"}
                    wuzatherapist

                    John McCain lost because the majority of people do NOTt want to hear nasty attacks, misleading information, out of context statements & a multitude of prejudices! Whoever John McCain used to be, he has not presented himself as that man in this campaign. John McCain has shown the American people that he is NOT a leader. A leader brings the nation together. McCain & Palin appeared to take great pleasure in trying to divide us, label us, & pit us against one another. That is not putting "country first". As for Palin, she will never win any high office. She is too far right to impress anyone who has brains,  is willing to check the facts & assess the truth.  She thinks a second "investigation", by people who work for her, & over whom she has power of job & pay, clears her of unethical behavior. Not in truth.

                    {"commentId":3906386,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"joyjunemoody"}
                      Reply#9 - Wed Nov 5, 2008 12:02 PM EST
                      Reply
                      {"commentId":3939633,"authorDomain":"wlw714"}
                      WALTER WIZOREK

                      we have a commie running the country now . he is an admitted soclist.the name of the usa  will be chanjged to the communist states of america. he is a muslim at heart also and will have targets painted on all tall buildings.

                      {"commentId":3939633,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"wlw714"}
                        Reply#10 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 1:20 PM EST
                        {"commentId":3940228,"authorDomain":"peter006"}
                        nattyone

                        McCain lost because he ran a very bad campaign - it really is that simple.  Notwithstanding the Bush factor, the election was his to win.  Obama had an uphill battle all the way, but he was smart enough to run a flawless campaign.

                        {"commentId":3940228,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"peter006"}
                          Reply#11 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 1:43 PM EST
                          {"commentId":3948125,"authorDomain":"truckinlady59"}
                          Truckinlady59

                          I beleive John McCain lost for a number of reasons. First we were here to hear about how he was going to keep our Nation as one not listening to his views on religion or Palins. I mean when the man says he don't believe Gay people have rights because it goes against God but then takes a woman whos 16 year old daughter is pregnant and not married, that is ok and does not go against God? Please you can't have things one sided to fit you! Then he wanted to tax the Americans on the money that our employer pays toward our insurance...money we never see or have the options to do as we see fit... Then he takes a woman as his VP who talks about how she is for killing the poor little bears and how she don't believe in abortions even for woman who are raped.. Damn why not just set the womens rights back to the 1950's. To me John turned into a Yes man and what ever they told him to do he did it....Where did the real John McCain go?

                          {"commentId":3948125,"threadId":"409197","contentId":"2071198","authorDomain":"truckinlady59"}
                            Reply#12 - Thu Nov 6, 2008 7:08 PM EST
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