Politics!

[rain_gryphon]

I'm amused by the whole Hillary Rodham Clinton/Barack Husein Obama thing. For some bizarre reason, Hillary consistently polls a few percent higher when her middle name is used. Obviously, her supporters try to say it as often as they can manage. Her opponents, on the other hoof, avoid saying it. That's politics.

Obama's middle name, for obvious reasons, is a liability. Now his guys are all whiny because Hillary's ads are using both their middle names. They're decrying this as dirty campaigning, yet they certainly haven't been going out of their way to use Hillary's middle name. They're kind of over a barrel here, since you can't really protest about it without calling attention to it.

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The best comment I heard about Hillary crying in New Hampshire was "If I'd stayed married to Bill Clinton all that time, and still wasn't going to get to be President, I'd cry too."

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McCain seems suddenly quite plausible. I'm still very unhappy over his support for Bush's amnesty bill. If it weren't for that, I'd be a supporter, and probably an enthusiastic one. I certainly liked him in 2000. I do at least admire that he sticks tight to his guns, and doesn't back down an inch on whether he was right or not.

I can vote for John McCain if it comes down to it, although I'd still rather have Giuliani. Ron Paul is toast, I'm afraid, and a vote for him would be pretty much wasted.

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You foreign people, which Republican would you vote for at this stage in the primaries, and why? Which Democrat?

Comments

[loganberrybunny.livejournal.com]

I don't really like any of the plausible candidates all that much. =:P Kucinich came top of that "who fits you best?" meme, but as he has no chance of winning, I'll pass on him. Also on Gravel, who as a Unitarian Universalist is the least gratingly religious to my European sensibilities...

It's actually quite close between Obama, Clinton and Edwards. I've cooled slightly on Obama since I discovered that his health-care plan wasn't quite universal. From the heart, Edwards might get my vote, as he seems to be running to the left of the other two. I'd like to know how protectionist he is, though: up to a point, that's a negative factor for me. Clinton would, I think, be competent. I do find it hard to warm to her - but Bush is personally charming, and look where that's got us all.

As for the other side, it depends a bit on whether I'm still me - trying to make the Republicans lose - or a theoretical Republican myself! If the former, it's easy: Huckabee. The man is as mad as a balloon. If I actually wanted them to win, it's harder. Possibly McCain, partly on the grounds that the immigration bill is one of the few Bush initiatives I don't despise, and partly on the grounds that - agreeing with you - he does have genuine principles. Giuliani is generally too right-wing for me, and relies too much on his 9/11 performance.

The problem I have with my choices is that I could end up wanting a Clinton-McCain race in November, and I think that's probably one of the few face-offs that the Republicans could actually win, simply because McCain could attract quite a few independents whereas Clinton is very polarising. I suppose it might come down to turnout in that case: the higher, the better for the Democrats.

[pyesetz]

"If I'd stayed married to Bill Clinton all that time, and still wasn't going to get to be President, I'd cry too."
Yeah!  she's put up with a lot to get to where she is.  I trust her not to read "My Pet Goat" during a national disaster.  I'm not sure what else I trust her with, though.

I do at least admire that he sticks tight to his guns, and doesn't back down an inch on whether he was right or not.
I used to like that about him, until he hugged the president and then did a 180 on torture.  I guess Satan's mesmerizing glare was just too much for him.  But torture is simply wrong and no one who supports it deserves my vote.

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

You foreign people, which Republican would you vote for at this stage in the primaries, and why?

Foreign people wouldn't vote Republican. :-)
The Democrat party platform is pretty much dead-on what would be considered centrist in Canada. Even most Conservatives wouldn't vote Republican.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080108/cdns_poll_080108/20080108?hub=Politics

And apparently, I also support the Democrat candidate that more Canadians would support.

[xolo.livejournal.com]

Democrat party

You do realize that 'Democrat party' is exactly what the Reaganite wing of the Republicans call the Democratic Party?

[xolo.livejournal.com]

As for the other side, it depends a bit on whether I'm still me - trying to make the Republicans lose - or a theoretical Republican myself
Crossing over and helping the other party select a loser is a longstanding tradition here, especially when your party has an incumbent in office. That's why two-term Presidents are the rule rather than the exception over the past few decades. This is another of the unintended consequences of the reforms of 1968. This is the first time since then that there's actually been a wide-open election, and it's fascinating to watch. Since both nominations are up for grabs, people are sticking to their own parties, and voting for the person they actually want.

Huckabee. The man is as mad as a balloon
Mike Huckabee is completely insane. It unsettles me how many people don't seem to realize this.

Giuliani is generally too right-wing for me
Interesting. I'd say McCain is a bit further to the right than Giuliani. They both strike me as moderates, though. I think either one could beat Clinton or Obama handily by appealing to the middle.

[xolo.livejournal.com]

I trust her not to read "My Pet Goat" during a national disaster. I'm not sure what else I trust her with, though.

I think she'd make a competent President, actually, if a bit too liberal for my tastes. If she won, she'd be bound and determined not to be seen as weak in any respect. Woe betide Musharrraf, Madmanjihad, or any other foreigner who tried to take advantage of her. She'd not be so slack in that regard as W. On the other hoof, I doubt she'd show the aggression of a Giuliani or a McCain either - she'd be strictly a defensive fighter. I trust her to manage the economy wisely. I think she had a fair hand in Bill's policies to begin with, and I don't see that cooperation changing.

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

I see. (or "ic")
No, I was not aware of that.
Now, if you've nothing better to reply with than spelling flames...

[xolo.livejournal.com]

Would you rather find out from me, or from Americans thinking you're one of Rush Limbaugh's minions?

[dakhun.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(phrase)
Yikes... looks like that phrase really is a sore spot. But to any outside observer not aware of that history, it would seem to be equally correct to say it either way. I never imagined. :-o
I'll certainly be more careful... Thanks, then, for pointing that out.