On Nov 4, 10:12*pm, daytripper wrote:
Meanwhile, for the sake of good order, props to John McCain, for a magnificent
speech to close out his campaign - and the wisdom to keep Sarah Palin quiet.
The irony is, of course, that this signified the return of the man that most
people once knew and had some respect - the John McCain of 1999 - instead of
the 2008 candidate that not only allowed his campaign to get rolled into the
wingnut/neocon mud hole, but contributed with his cynical selection of Sarah
Palin ("Country First" my white shiney ass!)

One can only wonder, had McCain taken the high road through this presidential
campaign, if the outcome could have been different. Perhaps not - clearly, the
electorate was disgusted with the Republican Party and may not have shown any
quarter. In any case, there is reason to be hopeful that McCain will provide a
positive contribution to the raising of the ship of state, before he rides off
into retirement.

I truly hope that the lesson was obvious enough for the Republicans:

McCain quote from 2000:
"Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of
American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis
Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry
Falwell on the right. "

I would have voted for the McCain of 2000. He obviously did the math
that he couldn't win this
time around without getting the far right out to vote. In doing so,
he surrendered the center. I couldn't
vote for the McCain of 2008.

If Obama stays in the center it's going to be a long couple election
cycles for the Republicans.
I hope he's smart enough to do so.
- Ken