text McCain speech LA World Affairs Council

[wellofvow]

McCain just finished presenting a major foreign policy speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. I tuned in slightly late, but heard most of it.

I was struck by how moderate his views are. It appears that the major difference between McCain and both Democratic contenders really is over withdrawal from Iraq and ability to recognize an enemy as an enemy - albeit an enemy which CAN be won over to democracy.

I was also shocked by his recognition of the dangers in supporting Middle East dictatorships and monarchies, actually naming Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and calling them out for pandering in secret to the terrorists in the hope of being "spared" by them....

He addressed the topics of global warming and putting an end to torture / closing Guantanamo with all the intensity of a Democrat.

IMO, a remarkable speech. McCain really seems to get it.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/26/...fairs-council/

[NewsGuy]

McCain just finished presenting a major foreign policy speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. I tuned in slightly late, but heard most of it.

I was struck by how moderate his views are. It appears that the major difference between McCain and both Democratic contenders really is over withdrawal from Iraq and ability to recognize an enemy as an enemy - albeit an enemy which CAN be won over to democracy.

I was also shocked by his recognition of the dangers in supporting Middle East dictatorships and monarchies, actually naming Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and calling them out for pandering in secret to the terrorists in the hope of being "spared" by them....

He addressed the topics of global warming and putting an end to torture / closing Guantanamo with all the intensity of a Democrat.

IMO, a remarkable speech. McCain really seems to get it.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/26/...fairs-council/

Yes, McCain is not afraid to speak his mind and take honest positions on various issues. He is a far superior candidate than either of the Democrats.

But to win the general election, McCain will also need to address the basic day-to-day issues that concern the American public, like the high price of gas, immigration, foreclosures, environmental concerns, education, and health care. And, in general, he will also need to generate a sense of new hope, not stagnation.

McCain needs to "take back" those issues from the Democrats, and make clear that those are Conservative issues.

[Abital]

Yes, McCain is not afraid to speak his mind and take honest positions on various issues. He is a far superior candidate than either of the Democrats.

But to win the general election, McCain will also need to address the basic day-to-day issues that concern the American public, like the high price of gas, immigration, foreclosures, environmental concerns, education, and health care. And, in general, he will also need to generate a sense of new hope, not stagnation.

McCain needs to "take back" those issues from the Democrats, and make clear that those are Conservative issues.

True enough, however, I really believe that both the B. Hussein Obama and the Hillary Clinton (of the Clinton machine) supporters have become so angry at one another that McCain is going to win in November.

Both Democrats have (once again) proven Will Rogers' statement, "I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat."

[NewsGuy]

True enough, however, I really believe that both the B. Hussein Obama and the Hillary Clinton (of the Clinton machine) supporters have become so angry at one another that McCain is going to win in November.

Both Democrats have (once again) proven Will Rogers' statement, "I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat."

The best case scenario would be for Hillary and the Clinton machine to beat Obama for the Dem nomination. If that happens, Blacks will stay home on election day and McCain will be shoe-in.

[wellofvow]

The best case scenario would be for Hillary and the Clinton machine to beat Obama for the Dem nomination. If that happens, Blacks will stay home on election day and McCain will be shoe-in.

I have heard that Hillary has lots of Black support..... This campaign is so over-the-top that I don't know who to believe any more.

But it is irrelevant for me, at least. I decided long ago not to vote for Obama or Hillary. I don't have much control over the rest of the electorate...

[Yala]

I have heard that Hillary has lots of Black support..... This campaign is so over-the-top that I don't know who to believe any more.

Obama has 80% of the African American vote.

[Abital]

I have heard that Hillary has lots of Black support..... This campaign is so over-the-top that I don't know who to believe any more.

But it is irrelevant for me, at least. I decided long ago not to vote for Obama or Hillary. I don't have much control over the rest of the electorate...

Hillary did have lots of Black support in the beginning. As the campaign has progressed (regressed? ), Blacks have flocked to Obama (must be the old identity politics creepin' on in).

In any event, I agree with NewsGuy that a Clinton win will make it easiest for a McCain win.

[scattergood]

Hillary did have lots of Black support in the beginning. As the campaign has progressed (regressed? ), Blacks have flocked to Obama (must be the old identity politics creepin' on in).

In any event, I agree with NewsGuy that a Clinton win will make it easiest for a McCain win.

I am not so sure that a Clinton win will make it easiest for McCain. To me the question is which Dem's supporters are more prone to vote for McCain in a general election?

Are Obama's hard left and Black voters more prone to vote for McCain, or are Hillary's blue collar, White and Hispanic voters more prone to vote for McCain. I think Hillary's supporters are more like 'Regan Democrats' that a right of center Repub like McCain could woo. I don't think Obamaniacs would have anything to do with McCain should Hillary get the nod.

[Abital]

I am not so sure that a Clinton win will make it easiest for McCain. To me the question is which Dem's supporters are more prone to vote for McCain in a general election?

Are Obama's hard left and Black voters more prone to vote for McCain, or are Hillary's blue collar, White and Hispanic voters more prone to vote for McCain. I think Hillary's supporters are more like 'Regan Democrats' that a right of center Repub like McCain could woo. I don't think Obamaniacs would have anything to do with McCain should Hillary get the nod.

I believe a Clinton win makes it easiest for McCain because I can see a whole lot of Obama supporters sitting out the election should she become the Democratic nominee.

OTOH, If Obama wins, his supporters plus a percentage of Clinton's will vote in the general election. In my opinion, based upon what I have read about the Obama zealots, a large percentage believe there is no discernible difference between McCain and Clinton (both are 'whitey').

[scattergood]

I believe a Clinton win makes it easiest for McCain because I can see a whole lot of Obama supporters sitting out the election should she become the Democratic nominee.

OTOH, If Obama wins, his supporters plus a percentage of Clinton's will vote in the general election. In my opinion, based upon what I have read about the Obama zealots, a large percentage believe there is no discernible difference between McCain and Clinton (both are 'whitey').

That's a fair point. So the calculus is really

Clinton supporters + Obama Supporters that will vote for Clinton vs. McCain Supporters + Obama Supporters that will vote for McCain

OR

Obama supporters + Clinton Supporters that will vote for Obama vs. McCain Supporters + Clinton Supporters that will vote for McCain

So which is greater, the number of Clintonians that would vote for Obama or the number of Obamians who will stay home and not vote for Clinton? Also, I think we can agree that the number of Clintonians that would vote for McCain is higher than the number of Obamians who would.

I also think Obama is a scarier candidate for the Republican core and that as a candidate he would motivate more core Repub's to vote for McCain. But time will tell how the cookie crumbles....

[NewsGuy]

That's a fair point. So the calculus is really

Clinton supporters + Obama Supporters that will vote for Clinton vs. McCain Supporters + Obama Supporters that will vote for McCain

OR

Obama supporters + Clinton Supporters that will vote for Obama vs. McCain Supporters + Clinton Supporters that will vote for McCain

I'm pretty sure CNN published those figures yesterday.

[Yala]

I'm pretty sure CNN published those figures yesterday.

and you believe them???

[wellofvow]

I'm pretty sure CNN published those figures yesterday.

Heavens, I haven't even turned on CNN for years to see what the village idiots are saying. Their "analysts" have not reported the news for over a decade, but have attempted to shape the news. Huge difference, and I wouldn't believe a word they say, let alone a "poll" conducted by them

It's comforting to try to predict human behavior by some formula, and if it makes you feel better, well, knock yourselves out.

Since I happen to be into masochism today, I'll make The Wellofvow Prediction for the 2008 election, and bring on the scorn!

Barack Obama has been a hugely divisive candidate. For a non-incumbent, I do not remember - and I have been voting since 1968 - a candidate with such hysterical, blind-and-deaf groupies. The Democratic fight has been so long and has turned so nasty that both candidates will be exhausted after their convention. Clinton and Obama have been forced to campaign so hard against each other that voters will be sick of both of them well before the actual election. While C&O have been so busy slinging and dodging the mud, McCain has been quietly giving speeches where he presents himself as a pragmatist and moderate and - well - adult, compared to the two petulant Dems.

The Obama groupies are for the most part young and very leftish. If Clinton takes it, the better part of Obama's support will just stay home and not vote. I don't think that Clinton will be able to beat McCain, actually. If Obama takes it, the better part of Clinton's support will vote for McCain. Also, I'm not sure how many of the O groupies will bother to vote, out of arrogance and inexperience.

Way back at the very beginning of the process, I was pretty surprised that the Democrats who quietly run the party in the back rooms allowed a young, smooth-talking Black with an exotic background to face-off against a strong and experienced woman. If there was some kind of stretegy behind their thinking, it certainly backfired. When Obama sloganned "change", it meant different things to different people. To the ethnocentric, it meant "get rid of Whitey in the White Hourse", to the anti-warniks and defeatists, it meant a sea-change in foreign policy towards isolationsim. To the poor, it meant heavier taxing of the rich and a more socialistic welfare-state status. By remaining vague even when pushed against the wall (as in the pastor scandal), Obama kept the majority of his enthusiasts on his side.

I pretty much think - for what it's worth, and that ain't much - that the Democrats have pretty much committed suicide for 2008.

[Abital]

To clarify:

CNN = ONN = Obama News Network

MSNBC = ONN = Obama News Network

FOX = A-ONN Anti-Obama News Network

[NewsGuy]

Heavens, I haven't even turned on CNN for years to see what the village idiots are saying. Their "analysts" have not reported the news for over a decade, but have attempted to shape the news. Huge difference, and I wouldn't believe a word they say, let alone a "poll" conducted by them

Yeah, CNN'c not my first choice for objective news.

But at my gym, which happens to be populated by movie industry people, that's the news channel of choice. I would say, though, that CNN is MUCH better with no sound, as I don't bother with earphones under the circumstances

btw - I've been meaning to extend a mazal tov to you, wellofvow. Congratulations!