John McCain for VP?

Personally, I don't understand why *any* Democrats would think that McCain is even remotely acceptable as a VP candidate when we have so many Democrats that are imminently more qualified - and much less conservative.

But, I've seen several posters claim the idea is worthy of discussion. So, here goes - should McCain be considered as a legitimate candidate for the Democratic VP nod?

Personality and stances on a few issues that some of us may like do not make one a good Democrat.

Really, does anyone actually think McCain would accept the VP slot? Or that Kerry would even offer it to him?

Terry

But, a number of people continue to banter the idea about, so I was curious how many DUers actually think he should be considered a viable candidate (discounting the freeper vote, of course.)

not turn the offer down.

It's pretty clear he abandoned some POW's in Vietnam to avoid an awkward political situation.

and I'm not really a McCain fan at all. His undeserved reputation is as a straight talker - something he could not be and defend the lies of the Bush administration.

But the accusation you say is so 'clear' certainly isn't clear to me... would you care to back it up with some evidence?

First let me say, that although McCain & Kerry are very close friends, I don't think Kerry would EVER offer him the spot & I don't think McCain would ever accept it.

That said, that smear you used is the same one the Freepers & other uglies used on Kerry, about abandoning POW's in Vietnam. It was the same guy in fact. He did it in 2000, & did it again to Kerry this time around, because they worked together to normalize relations with North Vietnam.

FYI, while McCain was a POW, his father was CINCPAC, which is Chief of Naval Operations Pacific, & an Admiral. He had to run the war, knowing his son was a prisoner. The N Vietnamese also knew who his father was, & continually offered him release to use a propaganda against the USA. He continually refused, & was tortured for it. He
wouldn't leave without his "brothers". That's why he & Kerry are so close. They understand what each went through, & are "brothers" along with Max Cleland, Bob Kerrey, Dan Inouye, Chuck Hagel, & a few others.

So say ANYTHING you want against McCain politically, but don't question his honor. I disagree with him on many issues, but to me , he's a true hero.

And as far as him being a desireable VP, it will never happen, but there are many people who are tired of the hatred, lies, vitriol that has become politics. And maybe they think that 2 honorable men, of opposite parties, could bring the country together, & work together for the good of the PEOPLE. Like I said, it will never happen.

no no no

Didn't we have a thread on this last week and reach the same conclusion?

Kerry is dead within a few months.

Choosing a pro-life Republican running mate is like painting a giant target on your back and begging the wingnuts to come after you. Unless Kerry is secretly suicidal, I doubt he's going to take 'Bring it on' that far.

Read this article on how McCain has changed since 2000 and why he could switch to the Dems.
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020429&s=chait042902

McCain has improved a lot on environmental issues and tax issues. His abortion stance is relatively moderate.

That said, I'm not crazy about him. But I'm ABB first and foremost. And McCain as VP is, short of nominating Colin Powell, the strongest card we could play.

My main problems with McCain's lie in the realm of national security, but in this area Kerry needs no advice. There is no danger of McCain becoming a Cheney should he be VP.

Let's face it - this current system is totally fucked because this country is so amazingly polarized between the two parties. Something drastic needs to occur. I think a unity ticket would be a great way to help unite the country. When a unified executive branch makes decisions, no one would be able to bemoan those "bastard Democrats" or those "greedy Republicans", because both parties have had a say in the policy. One side wouldn't be desperately struggling to maintain or usurp power and some of the legislation might get passed that otherwise wouldn't for fear of giving the other side any kind of victory, even though its in the best interest of the nation. I don't necessarily think it's the best thing for the party, but it is the best thing for the country. And even though McCain is a conservative, he has shown himself to be very willing to cross party lines in order to achieve what he thinks is truly in the best interests of the nation. He may hold his nose and support people like Bush every now and then, but that's even his sense of duty kicking in there. I think having John McCain teaming up with John Kerry would be a very good thing for our country, not to mention, it would almost certainly generate a ton of votes.

That doesn't mean he should be on our ticket. :thumbsdown:

and you're tellin' me we need a Republican?!

This entire party suffers from low self-esteem & swing voters can see right through it.

That's the point of my poll - I think that any talk about McCain being a candidate is ludicrous.

We have a very solid group of Democratic possibilities. I wish Kerry would just come straight out and say that McCain isn't under consideration under any circumstances.

that was just a rant. my apologies.

I'm surprised that it's even a topic of discussion, and a serious one, at that.

I'm a little appalled at the results of this poll!

:wtf: The man isn't even a freakin' DEMOCRAT!

We have a great group of Democrats to choose from, so the talk of McCain being a possibility, however remote, is ridiculous.

:wtf: I can't understand what all this nonsense is about? He is not a Democrat...so if the Democratic Candidate becomes President, you want the VP to be Republican? Just paint a target on the him....they win no matter what.....either Bush wins or the Democrat wins, then you take him out, and you have a Republican as President.....who I think is worse than Bush in most areas....since he has many of you fooled & Bush hasn't been able to fool us!

As far as I am concerned, the only office that a Republican should be in, is "Dog Catcher" and I would feel sorry for the dogs!

:wtf:

After the way Chimpy totally trashed him and his family during the 2000 election year and McCain STILL CONTINUES to support him - :wtf:

McMcain??
no way.... this is a big fat juicy distraction people.....

DR

:mad:25 people so far voted that they think a freaking republican should be considered for the Democratic VP slot.:puke:

Just how many freepers are posting at DU anyway?

Even though I assume McCain would be willing to switch parties, putting someone associated for so many years with the GOP would be red meat to every wingnut crazy with a gun to try to take pot shots at Kerry, in hopes of getting a shortcut to putting the GOP back in office.

If McCain wants to campaign for Kerry or to endorse Kerry, wonderful, and I hope he does. But he should not be VP. It's a shame was have to be concerned about things like this, but we do.

If Kerry needs a more conservative VP, he would do better to try to convince John Breaux to remain in public life. And I'm sure there are many other moderate or conservative life-long Democrats worthy of consideration. I think McCain should switch parties after the way he has been treated by the GOP but don't think he should accept or expect to be VP. It should be something done from conscience or not at all.

If Zell Miller just HAS to back Bush over Kerry, than it does well to have a much more prominent Republican remain friendly to Kerry over Bush, even if McCain officially supports Bush.

somethin wierd is going on here :eyes:

He's a very conservative Repub. Against abortion, against affirmative acttion, against just about everything that defines a Dem.

Speculation about him is just that - but it does scare the crap outta the Repukes.

What the hell is wrong with Democrats and other leftists who think this guy is anything less than another monarchist thug? He's campaigning for Bush, for crying out loud.

This guy's not as bad as a Tom Delay, but so what?

People have to stop appeasing the right; they don't budge, it just encourages them to take more, as is their due in their selfish minds. Look what happened to Clinton: he successfully dragged the whole political spectrum to the right in an effort to "get along" and was repaid with a witch hunt that helped the haters get close enough to steal power. He's a fool: he's still trying to "play nice" with them, like with his phone call to Larry King saying that the Iraq intelligence was a reasonable excuse for the war.

This is idiotic; more than that, it'll cause further defections to Nader and non-voting.

But I suppose it's fun for the media types to speculate about. Sells papers, as they say.

God help me if I have to eat those words--lord knows, Kerry's first priority is bound to be what most increases his chances of winning the election. And McCain would bring SOME of the same stengths to the ticket that Wes Clark (my first choice) would--strong defense, fiscal responsibility, record of service. Hopefully, I don't need to list those of Clark's qualifications which McCain lacks.

But McCain, while not a bad guy overall, is at heart a true-blue conservative--his few more moderate positions get all the publicity precisely because of the contrast with the Repub Party line.

Oh, McCain's a maverick, yes. And he puts his values over his politics, for the MOST part--may be just part of his schtick. But to the extent it is either true or widely perceived, I personally think much of his popularity derives solely from how rare it is to find a politician who does so.

And he sure does hate Bush.

But let's not forget McCain has the wrong values for a Democratic ticket.

Besides, the assassination potential for a President Kerry goes WAY up with a Vice-President McCain.

1. He's a Republican
2. He's a warmongerer
3. He wants to institute the draft for everyone 18+
4. He's a Republican
5. Did I mention he's a republican?
6. He's conservative on too many issues...so no.

If Kerry, for some out-of-this-world reason were to pick McCain as a running mate, I'd vote for someone else, like Kucinich (write name in). I'm serious.