Defeating John McCain and the Continuation of the Bush Nightmare

For Democrats in this country, the choice has been difficult. Now, it is almost excruciating. The freshness and vitality of Barack Obama versus the experience and doggedness of Hillary Clinton. In the wake of the endless nightmare of the Bush years, Democrats seem to want someone truly exceptional. They seem to want a candidate who will actually have a chance at cleaning up some of the mind-blowing mess that George Bush has created in eight years. Unlike the Republicans, who elected Bush twice and who organized a recall of California Governor Gray Davis and replaced him with body-builder/action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went on to lead California into an even bigger fiscal mess than the Davis years saw, Democrats want substance as much as electability. Gore seemed a likely choice, but Gore would have none of it.

Edwards was right on many important issues, but seemed green in the post-9/11 world. He isn't, actually, but appearances trumped his ideas and rhetoric. Now we have two people remaining on the eve of Super Tuesday and the most significant question is "Which one can beat McCain?" Hillary Clinton has done everything right. She stood by her husband and endured the ridicule of Republican bullies like Newt Gingrich during what must have been the worst time of her life. She rewrote her own epitaph by crawling out from under the rubble of her marital troubles and became a Senator in a state where the egos in the political arena are as oversized as New York's skyline. She studied hard, as she always has, and she won. Twice. She became a role model for all other women in politics. She is smart. She is tough. And most people agree that she will probably run a better White House than any other candidate that has taken the field.

But Hillary Clinton is wrong on the war in Iraq and that should matter a lot in this race. Critics of Hillary Clinton who are leaders in the Democratic Party that I have spoken to privately believe that she is too much like McCain to offer voters a meaningful choice. "Voters will choose a real Republican over a fake Republican every time," one politico said to me, slashing at Clinton for her tilt toward the right on the war.

"The Clintons don't know when to get off the stage," another offered, suggesting that eight years of Bush and the war on terror seem to have pushed the Bill Clinton years, where Hillary will remain inexorably framed in the minds of many, into a bygone political era.

Barack Obama represents hope to many and some in Clinton's camp have underestimated how much Americans are hungering for that hope in 2008. Obama is clearly not McCain. He is young. He is against the war and he is inexperienced. Republicans, to their shame, will trumpet McCain's experience over Obama's, running as fast as they can from the fact that Gore was the smarter, tougher and more experienced candidate in 2000. Republicans don't care about anything but winning. That's why they put forth candidates like Reagan, Arnold and Bush. By the time they reach the end of their first term, it's assumed they have all the experience they need. Like their nephew at the bank.

Which candidate will have the best chance against McCain? The experienced one or the exciting one? The one who is smart and tough and whose stances on some issues are oh-so-similar to those of the presumed GOP opponent? Or the less experienced, less tested one who has many Americans believing that someone more like them may make a return to the White House? During the Democratic debates, I wanted someone to ask one question. "Do you believe that any of the people sitting in this audience have as much hope of becoming president as you do?" I think that should matter, because the presidency of this country has become the exclusive preserve of legal elites and political or corporate barons. And our country is suffering as the result of it.

Vote on Tuesday. And let's begin the job of defeating John McCain, and his continuation of the Bush nightmare, right now.

Comments

[floydSmoot]

Given that the Dems in congress have a lower approval rating than the worst president in the history of the republic, a voter might might ask themselves, "which one of these candidates looks less like what we already have?"

Don't knock the repubs for putting winning above all else. No one can affect change (positive or otherwise) until they are in power.

In the words of Al Davis, "just win, baby."

[Dianekkdi]

I find it amazing that Democrats need even be concerned about snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory...

Of course there is the cheating, we know repugs are good at that.

[CanSoc]

Not that I think he's going to, but if McCain becomes president will Alec Baldwin really move to Canada this time? And how many Americans who threatened the same thing would follow him? The currently dormant "Marry a Canadian" website would likely get huge business. We'll be waiting!

[pansycritter]

Sorry Alec, I will vote McCain before I live through inexperience again. Eight years of football government is enough. Time for a thinker.

[TellingTruth2Kooks]

Alex wrote:
"During the Democratic debates, I wanted someone to ask one question. "Do you believe that any of the people sitting in this audience have as much hope of becoming president as you do?" I think that should matter, because the presidency of this country has become the exclusive preserve of legal elites and political or corporate barons. And our country is suffering as the result of it."

What a Noble statement, but Nuttier than Squirrel Poop! Just how do you think our Government works? Do you believe that after the Inaugeration that the President is Given a Crown and a Scepter, and then they Rule over us by Fiat? Au Contrare! The President doesn't even have all of the Security Clearances to see our most Sensitive Secrets, and maybe only will on a Need to Know basis!

Maybe you believe that a Homeless Bum with a Dead Pigeom in his pocket might have what it takes to Run the Federal Government, but most of us DON'T!!! That's why we Nominate the Blackmailers, people who know where & when to dig in the Political Dirt, to uncover the Skeletons to use against our political enemies. American Politics is a Hard Core Bloodsport and Joe Sixpack wouldn't stand a chance.

He Never Did, and Never Will!!!

[Ides]

It's funny. Obama OVERPERFORMS compared to Polls but we're somehow supposed to believe that America's not ready for a black president? Hasn't he pretty much broken that down OVER and OVER again?

[TellingTruth2Kooks]

Senators Suck as Presidents, unless they have extensive experience in other Elected offices. Here is the List of Senators Who Became President of the United States of America.


http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/senators_became_president.htm


To date, fifteen senators have gone onto serve in the nation's highest elected office, the presidency. Two senators, Warren G. Harding and John F. Kennedy, moved directly from the U.S. Senate to the White House. ( Both of whom died in Office.)

----------------------------------------------------

James Monroe

Senator, 1790-1794

President, 1817-1825

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Monroe

-----------------------------------------------------

John Quincy Adams

Senator, 1803-1808

President, 1825-1829

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams

-----------------------------------------------------

Andrew Jackson

Senator, 1797-1798; 1823-1825

President, 1829-1837

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jackson

-----------------------------------------------------

Martin Van Buren

Senator, 1821-1828

President, 1837-1841

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren

-----------------------------------------------------

William Henry Harrison

Senator, 1825-1828

President, 1841

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Harrison

-----------------------------------------------------

John Tyler

Senator, 1827-1836

President, 1841-1845

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tyler

-----------------------------------------------------

Franklin Pierce

Senator, 1837-1842

President, 1853-1857

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Pierce

-----------------------------------------------------

James Buchanan

Senator, 1834-1845

President, 1857-1861

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan

-----------------------------------------------------

Andrew Johnson

Senator, 1857-1862; 1875

President, 1865-1869

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson

-----------------------------------------------------

Benjamin Harrison

Senator, 1881-1887

President, 1889-1893

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Harrison

-----------------------------------------------------

Warren G. Harding

Senator, 1915-1921

President, 1921-1923

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding

-----------------------------------------------------

Harry S. Truman

Senator, 1935-1945

President, 1945-1953

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Truman

-----------------------------------------------------

John F. Kennedy

Senator, 1953-1960

President, 1961-1963

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy

-----------------------------------------------------

Lyndon B. Johnson

Senator, 1949-1961

President, 1963-1969

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson

-----------------------------------------------------

Richard M. Nixon

Senator, 1950-1953

President, 1969-1974

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_M._Nixon

_____________________________________________

Since WW1, we, as a nation have been Poorly Served by Harding, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.

NO MORE SENATORS, WHATSOEVER!!!!

[elghoul]

Hi Alec,
Indeed you are a fine actor and your SNL
stunts are on a par with Christopher
Walken's.
Alec, I think it is about time to radically
start thinking about multipartism in the
USA. This Dem vs Rep is old hat and
the 02 are just a sell out. None of these
candidates will provide the change needed.
Barack is refreshing but I doubt he is the
duly waited savior for his track is not
clean either...Please check voting records
and other shinanigans in Illinois, but he is
refreshing and will provide a change in
color in the presidency, which indeed is
a change but nothing deep beyond. I know
you want to believe...alas...good men are
rare and they do not want to run for
president...
Here is my advice Alec, buy an island if you
have the means and be your own king. For
no matter what anyone says ...
It is good to be the King!

[realitytrumpsbull]

Um, Alec, you've got 5 bucks or so, why not get one of those big airplane banners that says 'impeach bush' and have em tow that around for a while? Billboards, bumperstickers, spray paint, voting is nice but not necessarily The Only Answer, and The Establishment people that are behind it all have PLENTY of coin to finance their propaganda, but nobody's transmitting back...unless...unless...unless you WORK for em...hmmm..hmmm...

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Sounds like a good argument for a Clinton/Obama ticket.

I am reluctant to vote for "hope" over substance.

[factsnotfeelings]

You are right. Clinton and Obama are set up to lose but they both support the war like McCain anyway. Nancy Pelosi already showed us that our party will not stop the war. We just keep funding it? No impeachment? There is one way to beat McCain. Go vote for who the troops support. Stop playing the party game and vote for real change. Find out who the troops support at: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_jeremy_f_080203_who_are_the_troops_s.htm

[sparkandy]

The Democrats don't WANT to win. They want to be the party of the perpetual loss. They do their damndest to make sure they will lose. Edwards was their chance to pull in Republicans, Independents, and the downright apolitical and they threw away their chance. Why in the hell do they think those of us who are under that umbrella will vote for Obama or Clinton? All this talk about pulling the votes of those of us who are not hard core Democrats and uniting behind Obama is self delusion at it's most exquisite. McCain is going to win. And to those of you who let Edwards get away, just remember - you reap what you sow. And you've sown the seeds of another 4 years minimum of a Republican in the WH - because those of us who are not devoted Democrats, those of us you consider unnecessary for winning the election, are voting for McCain.

[Bluedanube]

Given the ignorance of the American public one shouldn't be surprised to see another Republican victory. The MSM will do all that they can to swing the election to the Republicans. To paraphrase H.L. Mencken,"no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

[JanetF]

Doesn't anyone care about the future of the Democratic party (or the future of the country)? McCain will beat Hillary because she has tried very hard to be like him in order to mount her campaign for president. If Hillary wins, especially because of early voting, it will cause many of these new voters who have come out to stay home and become cynical. What a shame. And this woman crap. I'm a 47 year old woman and I KNOW women are strong and will win. I don't just want ANY woman and it's insulting to make the argument that we should all vote that way. I want the best person for the job. Hillary is a great wonk - maybe a good manager - but SHE IS NOT A LEADER.

[SocialistDistortion]

Alec, it doesn't matter who wins the dem nomination, we're finished. McCain has it in the bag. This will be the most talked about comeback in the history of American politics. People will vote for him simply out of spite for Hillary and Obama, which is really sad and just goes to show how stupid the American people truly are. They don't care that McCain wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years and escalate the war severely.

They don't care that he's in favor of starting a war with Iran.

They don't care that he's getting all chummy with the extreme religious right. T

hey don't care that in order to continue Bush's warmongering, he's gonna take their kids and force them into battle.

They don't care that he'll continue the tax cuts for the rich, and increasingly burden the middle and working class of America.

They don't care at all...they will elect anybody, as long as it's not a clinton or even an Obama. How sad that Americans have learned ABSOLUTELY NOTHING from 8 years of disastrous Bush policies.

The way I see it - those of us who don't want to die in combat, go broke, and want to see our troops home, we have 2 choices:

1 - Relocate to another country

2 - Empower the people, and give McCain an ultimatum: either he ends the Iraq fiasco and dumps the warmongering foreign policy, or it's all out rebellion. And we won't stop until he's forced out of the White House and placed under arrest.

If you aren't willing to do either of those, then enjoy your slow agonizing death at McCain's hands...