Is It Over?

Is John McCain now the Republican nominee?

Here are my thoughts. With Rudy now endorsing McCain, the indy-R vote will solidly go to McCain; and Romney is in deep trouble. He said over and over that McCain couldnt' win a Republican primary, and now he did in one of the most important states for Republicans. I don't see where Romney goes, what voters he can win other than the angry Dittoheads out there. The last hurdle remains Mike Huckabee. Georgia, Alabama, Tennesse, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri are up in these 24 states, and Huckabee should do quite well. If he wins some or most of these states, he could keep this going.

But friends, I think this is over. Not that its officially over, but McCain has now won three major primaries in three very different states. I don't see, putting aside an major scandal, how anyone will now stop Senator McCain.

Its ironic, isn't it? It was suppose to be the Republicans battling it out and tearing each other apart while the Democrats had nothing more than a Clinton Restoration corination. Instead, Republicans of all stripes seem to think McCain is the best candidate to win - above all else - and are coalescing behind him while the Democrats are beginning to tear each other apart along racial and gender lines. Could it be that its the Democrats in chaos heading into March rather than the Republicans?

Comments

[Richmond Republican]

I think you're correct, McCain is rolling now and he will be difficult if not impossible to stop. This is a good thing for the Republican Party. McCain is the most electable candidate and will do a wonderful job as our next President.

[Anne]

I support McCain.

[Anne]

And, in the event either of the other two main contenders pulls off the nomination (which is appearing more doubtful): I'd support Romney. Or Huckabee.

:-)

[Doug]

I think we need to get off this idea of the "electable" candidate. Democracy isn't about voting for who you think will win. It's about voting for who you agree with the most on the issues that matter to you. I'm supporting Mike Huckabee for this reason. I have already sent in my absentee ballot to Fairfax County because I'm deployed with the National Guard. I've never been big into politics before this election but I decided to look at each candidate to decide which one I agreed with the most. Hands down it was Mike Huckabee. I challenge everyone reading this to check out mikehuckabee.com and look at the issues link. Huckabee is giving new and original ideas to make this country strong again. We are weakening as a Nation right now. We have a restrictive tax system that is forcing American jobs overseas. Along with billions in American capital, for example Mitt Romney's Bain Capital in the Caymans. We rely on the Middle East for fuel and there are millions living in this country virtually for free. Huckabee backs the Fair Tax to more equally distribute taxation and bring American jobs and capital back home. He also wants to make us energy independant within 10 years. Many say this isn't possible, but who knows if we don't try? We will never be secure as a Nation if we don't get off foreign oil. He also has strong stances on the 2nd Amendment, border security and the right to life. My point is I'm asking you to take a look at Huckabee. Don't write him off as not "electable" because Fox News and Rush are saying that he isn't. Check out Mike on the issues. Arkansas thought he was electable, he was Governor for over 10 years.

One thing I like about (fellow marathoner) Huck, but that some others pick on, is his stance on childhood obesity. There's a guy who knows a thing or two about self discipline. And in general, Americans and American kids are getting fatter. It's not entirely their fault. Schools schedule lunch at odd times to deal with too many students, they cut out recess (even in the animal kingdom, play is a huge part of education) - and we overdevelop communities, building dense developments without infrastructure. We also have developed an unpleasant side effect of NCLB where we tend to rely too much on cramming for standardized tests. Growing up well is the whole, balanced package: mind, spirit AND body.

As far as Americans insatiable urge for oil, I'm not sure we can or should do much about that other than create incentives to encourage development of domestic, alternative fuel sources (which we're already starting to do) and try to encourage consumers to consider the purchase and use of more efficient vehicles (which we're not doing as well on). All the remaining candidates seem pretty in line with the position of wanting to kick the foreign oil habit. I don't think the time frame (5 years, 10 years, 20 years) is as important as making an honest effort.

If we want to get off foreign oil, then we as individuals have responsibility to choose to conserve. This is a free country, so you should buy an SUV if you want one and if you need one. I don't need one, as I don't run a construction company or have to hall tools, so I choose to drive a 32 mpg Hyundai, which is a ULEV (ultra low emitting vehicle) under California's standards. Although I did look, I couldn't find an American car with comparable standard features, warranty, quality, reliability, comfort, price and value. I think that's part of the problem as well. My car was, I believe, designed in Korea, but it was built in America. Why are Korean and Japanese companies leading in developing products and giving better value and choice to American consumers?

Conservation is a Republican value, but if we cannot offer domestically designed and produced choices, then consumers may not choose to buy American. So we keep buying foreign cars and foreign oil until we have a better menu of choice.

Whomever the nominee is, we'll need to rally behind him. Or we'll be looking at President Billary all over again. And that's a big-hipped, pantsuit wearing, u-g-l-y picture.

[Anne]

Oops - when I was reading this blog I realized: last post was mine, but I forgot to sign it.