McCain Won't Make Single-Term Pledge

John McCain stated unequivocally in an interview with Politico Wednesday that he would not pledge to serve only a single four-year term, rejecting a suggestion that some allies believe would allay questions about his age and underscore his non-partisan message of putting country first.

"No," McCain said flatly, "I'm not considering it."

There has been speculation that McCain, 71, could couple a single term promise with a untraditional running mate such as Democrat-turned-Independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman to make the case that he would shove political interests aside and run a consensus-oriented government with the Democratic-held Congress.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Whinger]

Silk purse, pig's lug, challenging, is it not Karl?

[fourex]

But his doctors will.

[gditty]

Thats because Armageddon will occur in his first term. A second term would be useless.....

[Whinger]

Very wise not to consider it John, your not the President of the USA!

[CharlesJ]

McCain needs to make sure he picks a YOUNG ALERT and AWAKE running mate. I am afraid he will sleep through his term. He reminds me of some of those old cronies in the House and senate the had the habit of going to sleep during debates.

[HC4BO]

Like someone already wisely said, Time will make that decision for him ... ( it's not like he makes any decision by himself anyway ... )

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[MBryant]

A single term pledge is stupid. It makes you a lame duck out of the gate. Also - a single term pledge should effectively eliminate Joe Lieberman as the Veep. If you are only in one term - then your selected Veep has the big time inside track as the next nominee. The Repubs will not nominee a Jewish Democrat (even a recent convert) so McCain would not only limit himself to one term but give up his chance to tap the successor. If he makes anything resembling a one term pledge and wins (both of which I think are somewhat unlikely) the Vice President of the United States job from day one will be to run for President.

[LillianB]

Which is why Joe L. won't be chosen as veep. Making it seem he is considered is strategy, aimed at making McC look more moderate/bipartisan than he is (not that Lieberman is any longer a Dem, but just the same, it's an attempt to attrack independents/dems defining themselves as standing longer to the right than Obama). McC's real VP choice will be well rooted in the Republican Party. He will be a middleaged, white man. They won't let anyone wearing a skirt have an advanced starting position in 2012, nor anyone whose hue resembles Obama's... This isn't the party of tearing down prejudices, this is the party of upkeeping them. That's the only way they can win in 2008.

The reason McC isn't taking a single term-pledge, though, I think is another: It would be admitting that age can be a problem. And he won't admit to that. That would highlight his senior moments, and allow for more of a debate about them. He doesn't want that, and he's been able to avoid that for a provocatively long time. Seems people/the press are afraid to adress his mistakes - for fearing to be accused of age-ism??? (Or for leaning Republican? Or for being prejudiced against Obama? Or for wanting this to be a closer race than it would have been had reporting been accurate, because close elections make better tv, higher ratings, better ad buys, stronger news paper circulation? Yes, I am a cynic.)

[rich3324]

Time and nature wiould stop him from a second tern.

[JimR]

I wonder if his 95-year-old mother thinks that.

[Sparty1]

With his lust for power, why would he let that all go in 4 yrs?

[BigLib]

He'll do it if Barry makes a no-term pledge.

[CtJean]

Have you ever had an intelligent thought?

Why silly me, of course not.

[BigLib]

What does c t mean, Jean?

Oh silly me. Never mind.

[chiefeditor]

Hey, that's not what Rick Davis was saying a couple of weeks ago: http://www.entertonement.com/collections/1813/Serve-One-Term

[spiderbucket]

IF he gets elected and he lives to a second term, he will either be run out of office or there won't be elections or the US will no longer exist. If we have 4 more years of the GOP - we'll be finished.

[Opt1musPr1me]

Hey may not have a choice!!! Life has already made that pledge for him

[JimR]

His mother is 95.