I think that in regard to the divide, it overlooks a significant number of people who get trapped in the middle when you have two presidential candidates who are as far to either side as GWB and John Kerry are. These people may vote for either candidate but I think that many of them don't really even feel well represented by the one they vote for. It’s the continuing pandering by the political parties to each extreme that created this divide, b/c you have to vote to be either all conservative or all liberal. Voting for the Republican candidate should not have to be a vote for hard-core conservatism and voting for the Democratic candidate should not have to be a vote for hard-core liberalism, but they are. In 2008 I believe whichever candidate is more moderate will fare the best, b/c the number in the middle that can't relate very well to either extrem isn't going to go away and will keep growing. The two party dominated system has sucked for a long time but it sucks even more when the right wing crazies and the left wing nut jobs hijack the Republican and Democratic parties. From my seat close to the middle, the divide is clearly the fault of many people on both side of the political spectrum.

 

Well said Fatman66-

All along I've said that I was behind Kerry because I felt the country needed a change. I don't like where we're sitting right now; I don't like the world's perception of us, and I don't like what I see happening to my fellow American's....

I have not suffered the losses many of them have; but my numbers in there somewhere- and I can't rally behind a man that doesn't seem to even care, or try to stem the tide of what's happening around America. There's more to life than worrying about Al-Quida and the Taliban. People are losing jobs, houses, familes and everything they've worked for because of what's happening in corporate America. We're at war right here in the US. But, the blind (It won't happen to me crowd), the wealthy, the self-made, and the oblivious don't seem to get it; and won't get it...

I have said from my first entry on one of these politcal threads that I didn't like either candidate, but would support the lesser of two bad choices. I wish we had a third strong candidate, democrat or republican- because at the end of the day- the person that more closely represents my thoughts, is the one that I'll vote for.

If Perot hadn't quit, I would have voted for him because a lot of what he said back in the 90's, made sense, but when he quit and came back- he lost a lot of support- that didn't look good for him....

Any bets on 2008? Since we'll be done with Dubya for sure then, it's interesting to see who's next....

Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton, Kerry, Edwards, Gore.....
I bet Bush would win again on name recognition alone.... That's how GWB won in 2000. Some folks just vote for the name they know, or for 'the guy that's in office already". Kinda like voting for your local railroad commissioner- who really cares, right?

 

i think that after he really messes up another 4 years his support will be nothing in 08 (except with the blinded religious folk). I dont think he would be reelected if it was possible.

 

I think you make a very good point fatman... It seems like every four years we choose between the lesser of two evils instead of the candidate that the majority of the country is truely behind.
I guess the problem is that the very core of the republican and democrat parties choose their candidate in the primaries every four years, and tend to choose a very conservative or liberal candidate to represent their party. As a result, when it's time for the election, we have to choose between the two extremes.
But lets face it, the cards are heavily stacked in the republicans and democrats favor, and as a result the two-party system that controls everything in this country shows no sign of changing.

As far as who will run in 2008 for the republicans, I'd say Rudy Guliani may be a strong candidate. The 'leading' man in the republican party right now is said to be Arnold Schwartzanegger (sp?) It would not suprise me if the republicans attempted to find a way to change the rule that you must be born in this country to run for president so that he can 'terminate the terrorist.' Americans, (sadly) would be lining up to vote for him. Can you emagine if it turned out to he Arnold vs. Hillary? Talk about the voting for the lesser of two evils... :o

 

In regard to the divide, the reason Clinton was so successful was that he was far less liberal than John Kerry 9or at least appeared so) and hence being closer to the middle he was able to attract a lot of those in the middle. The Dems forgot everything that got Clinton two terms when n they went to the polls in the primaries. If you are stuck with only two choices come election time and you are a Democrat only person, shouldn't you vote in the primaries for the candidate bet able to run against the challenger, that way at least you have the best chance to get a Democrat in office. It wasn't the Republicans that beat Democrats this time around; it was John Kerry that beat the Democrats.

 

I agree completely. Unfortunately, John Kerry had already won the primaries with support from all of the north eastern states where his popularity sources from that have their primaries earlier in the season before the rest of the country (including where I live in Texas) had it's primaries. There were without any question a lot stronger candidates as far as how many votes they would attract nationally.

 

McCain/Guiliani

 

Call me crazy but the Republicans might do well with Anthony Zinni in 2008.

 

For 2008, I want to see Rudy Guiliani / Conde Rice for the GOP.

That ticket will surely beat Hillary and whoever her running mate is.

 

mccain would be an excellent candidate

 

For which party?

 

Jeb has already said he isn't running in 2008. I hope hitlery runs, she is a guaranteed loser for the Dems. There are waaaay too many people that would NEVER vote for her on both sides. Guiliani in '08 unless something changes. He is going to be VERY hard to beat since most Americans love him.

 

except the maffia. Rudy is a good candidate, not too extreme, I like that. For those who think McCain isn't republican enough, would you rather him of hillary clinton in the white house?