Comments on: Why McCain Lost, The Short Version

By: alank

alank — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:00:02 +0000

It’s possible McCain, being all-maverickly-like, was sabotaging the Republican party from within. His revenge against the bastards who took over the White House in 2001. In any event, his campaign seems to have succeeded in rendering the party irrelevant.

By: Crosstimbers

Crosstimbers — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:12:54 +0000

I’m sure that’s true. When I think about Obama and his campaign, I’m almost startled by the degree which he consistently matched what I was looking for in a candidate. To oversimplify it, I was looking for someone who had high ideals and lofty goals, but was a pragmatist, knew how to consider options and select the best available solutions, and could lead and inspire people, and demonstated they were and effective politician. Although I didn’t favor him initially, as being insufficiently experienced, he met what I was looking for, more than anyone else, on every occasion.

By: kittykitty

kittykitty — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:08:23 +0000

and Cheney’s “so what?”

as in “fuck you for asking”

Also the power of making people know you are listening, KEY. Tom Allen lost against Sen Collins in Maine cause he couldn’t get voters to believe he was really listening to them, heard that over and over canvassing for him. Had the experience first hand myself with him numerous times.

The power to really make people feel you’re listening is the single best asset a pol can have these days.

By: ratfood

ratfood — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:02:44 +0000

Part of Obama’s success owes to the fact that he can learn from the mistakes of others. He was determined not to be swiftboated, let the Republicans define him in any way, or set the narrative. To that extent, Kerry’s failures made Obama a better candidate in this election.

By: Petrocelli

Petrocelli — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:01:40 +0000

Yes, watching the whole unfold from up here, I was astounded by Obama’s campaign.

By: Crosstimbers

Crosstimbers — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:58:11 +0000

You’re probably right, but even campaigning half as well as Obama did would him placed him pretty high on the scale of campaigners.

By: Petrocelli

Petrocelli — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:56:14 +0000

I absolutely agree, Kerry was vapid.

By: AdAstra

AdAstra — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:55:32 +0000

Never underestimate the power of a man who listens. Look at how convinced we are that Obama listens – his facial expressions, his body posture, his responsiveness. I’m convinced if men studied that and then practiced it in their relationships, marital satisfaction would boom. Sometimes I thought women cried just because they felt listened to. On the other hand, we had W and his “Who cares what you think?”

By: ratfood

ratfood — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:55:04 +0000

Considering how close the outcome was even with an inept candidate, if Kerry had campaigned half as well as Obama he’d have easily won in 2004.

By: hychka

hychka — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:54:13 +0000

I think that McCain never had a chance and neither did any of the other candidates because the GOP is fractured into at least three and maybe more irreconcilable camps. They never got their act together and won’t as now constituted.

I suspect that the “Christians” will end up in charge, while the others leave the GOP as “unacceptable” and join up with the Libertarians, Dems or just die off.

Too bad more of them didn’t lose in this election. Their end game sickened me.