Posted By:
Joann"If a liberal republican who is a war hero cannot win it is hard to believe there is hope for mainstream republicans in this country. "
Jim,
I actually understand this sentence and it is a reasonable way for mainstream conservatives to feel. But I do think there is hope for mainstream conservatives and Republicans, because the person that lost this election was not a "liberal republican who is a war hero", which essentially does describe McCain.
I honestly don't feel this election was ever really about John McCain. It was about George Bush. And I am not conservative and probably can't speak for them, but in my view from over here it never seemed like George Bush did represent mainstream conservatives. He seemed much more geared to the interests of the furhter extremes of the party and a much smaller, more intolerant and more agressive group.
The vote was not just against McCain, there was a huge "against Bush" component as well. With that kind of disadvantage handed to him, it did not help that McCain did not run a good campaign.
They say that the extreme conservatives and far-right Republicans are livid with the results, but to me it seems like the mainstream conservatives should be far more p.o.'d about it. Bush denied them any true chance for their interests to be represented not only for the past 8 years, but maybe for the next 8 years as well.
When the spectre of George Bush has finally faded from voting memory, I don't have a doubt in the world that a liberal Republican who is a war hero could get elected in this country.
Joann