Recently in the press there has been a little bit of talk of what a Kerry/McCain ticket would mean for this election?

McCain 'Would Entertain' Being Kerry's VP



What could this mean if it happened, would it still be a close race?

Would you be interested in seeing Kerry & McCain together on the ticket?

I personally like this idea a lot because in 2000 if McCain won the republican ticket it would have been a real hard decision for me of who I would have voted for, because I liked both Gore and McCain. Especially since he is a party maverick that is not worried about the repercussions of his words when trying to set the record straight on issues by those of his own party not liking what he says. As well as Kerry and McCain have worked over the years together on legislation very well and they could views on issues could only complement eachother imo.

Interesting that Yahoo News' headline is "Sen. McCain Open to Being Kerry's VP ".

Although the Senator said he would entertain the idea, he also said (paraphrase) "I see no scenario..no scenario... (he said no scenario 6 times in a row...) where that would happen"

I actually caught that on Jimmy Kimmel last night.

Kimmel's comment "So, he's in then..."

McCain has already endorsed Bush, so I think this is unlikely.

McCain would never settle for the second spot. He would never have the patience to do the silly things the VP does.
Although McCain gets much respect from moderate and centrist Democrats the Liberals would probably threaten to hold their breath till they turm blue and die and won't you feel bad then!

"Dream ticket"?

I find it most interesting, enlightening even that many Democrats would be more excited about having Senator McCain (R-Ariz) (Note the R) run as their VP candidate than they apparently are about having Senator Kerry (D-Mass) (Note the D) run as their Presidential candidate.

What does that say about Kerry?

Dream ticket is right....in OUR dreams! I think his comment was offered as an inside joke (they are close friends) with Kerry. Saw John McCain on Lou Dobbs and he just burst out laughing when Lou asked him about it not only once but twice before he got a serious answer of "Not a chance ..."

It was indeed humorous to note the excitement in the Kerry camp (however brief) over the possibility of McCain being in the number two slot on the Kerry ticket. Can't blame them...it must be just plain boring to be around a guy running for president that talks more about what he did than what he is going to do for our country.

Mccain is a social conservative. I do not want him on the ticket. I do not understand this illusion of Mccain being a liberal because he isnt. His Senate voting record barring campaign finance reform and ANWAR development is entirely conservative. Kerry and Mccain are personal friends not political friends. Like Hannity and Colmes.

Long before this campaign or the last, I saw them together a couple times speaking in historical terms, possibly on the history channel, about Vietnam, and they were obviously friends and comfortable with each other, but nearly diametrically opposed politically on many issues, one of the largest being unions and labor issues. Unions support Kerry, and would vehemently oppose McCain, so it is not a dream ticket for Kerry!

I am close with my father, but we are completely opposite in our political views, with the exception of not trusting any of them. I wouldn't want him working in my political camp either, despite our ability to work together on specific things. Same with Kerry and McCain.

You have to admit though, if anyone else saw the recent polls on how split the nation is on the issues (NBC Nightly News had a report on all of this with Tim Russert) - an administration which has both a democrat and a republican might be a morale booster at least. Maybe we can work on TRYING to reunite the nation.

I mentioned this in another thread. McCain / Dean.

true they are on opposite sides on many things, but they both like the idea of kicking their respective parties in the teeth when needed. It would self destruct as both are clearly Full Alphas. I would bet however they would throw the fear of god into both main party candidates for awhile. Look how the Repubs held their breath today at the ridiculous notion of McCain on a Dem ticket. The local Republican radio propagandists went ballistic today accusing McCain of all sorts of stuff.


it wouldn't work but I am very tired of same ol same old. And the 3rd parties are woefully inadaquate and really just purer distillations of the two existing parties.
(Green/Libertarian)

John McCain was pulling an inside joke (probably aimed at the media as CNN anchors were more shaken than representatives from either party) and he had a good chuckle out of it as I mentioned from his interview on the Lou Dobbs show.

It would never work as the V. P. (with few exceptions) has to be willing to support and promote the President's agenda and policies rather than secondguessing them. But, it sure would add some excitement to the mix...a never-ending debate between the Prez and Vice Prez

Seems to say that Kerry would consider selling out anyone, including his own party, for political gain.

(If he were to select McCain, which I doubt)

Never happen - McCain's attraction to Dems is based on an illusion: that's he's some kind of moderate to liberal Republican. But he isn't at all. It's true enough that he's a maverick and will go his own way sometimes against his party leadership, but his voting record has always been and remains solidly conservative (80% for 2003 according to the American Conservative Union). That would balance the ticket nicely as far as independents are concerned, but no way core Democrats would go for it.

If John McCain had won in 2000, the nation would not be so nearly divided as it is now.

It was McCain, a solid and sensible conservative, who excoriated Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell in 2000.

If only McCain were at the top of the ticket.

Yesterday on CNN's INSIDE POLITICS, Judy again asked John McCain whether he was considering running on Kerry's ticket! Couldn't believe it...thought it was a rerun of last month's show. Again, McCain just burst out laughing and reassured her that even though he and Kerry were very good friends, there wasn't a chance that he would be asked nor would he even consider it!

Tell me...although it makes for entertaining hype, why is the media, and especially CNN, beating this particular horse to death?

If I were a Republican, I would feel the most comfortable associating with Senator McCain. Perhaps the mere fact that he's a Republican and he's not dissing Senator Kerry with every other breath, along with the fact that he has the chutzpah to call Kerry his friend, causes some of us more socially conservative Democrats to wish it were feasible for McCain to be Kerry's running mate.

I often wonder as to why McCain is so popular with the left. What makes you like him? His pro-life stance? His unwavering support of free trade? The fact that he as hawkish as Paul Wolfowitz?

McCain is a weasel who is letting personal differences with George Bush get in the way of party loyalty. He won't get on the ticket, but he enjoys seeing the Republican leadership sweat and squirm.

You mean the official pseudo pro-life Bush stance, ban abortion except in cases of rape, incest, and the mother's health? Difference is, I think McCain would stick to that position. Bush would cave to social conservatives... or sign a Right to Life amendment given half a chance and finally cast off the inclusive farce.

How about the fact that he was big enough to put disparaging remarks about his adopted daughter and wife from the Bush campaign behind him? Apparently, if you've ever been addicted to a substance or drug Jesus hates you. If you're a radio talk-show host, you need our prayers. He buried the hatchet endorsing the Republican nominee and generally votes with the White House.

I could live with McCain free trade. For whatever hawkishness you accredit him, I can't picture McCain going off half-cocked with a "Bring 'em on!" challenge. I give McCain more political perspicacity than that. Besides, you have to like a professional politician making fun of colleagues and talking heads in a SNL skit.

But I guess what I like most about McCain is that, by chance or design, the guy exposes the intolerance and contempt his party currently has for dissenting opinion, even when that dissent is based on a conservative tenant.

I guess that answers the second question. As to the first, it won't happen.

You miss the point completely, McCain is about the only visible and honorable patriot in Washington DC today.

John McCain's greatest problem is that he will not bow to the will of the party leaders, and politicians in both parties with the integrity of John McCain are an endangered specie in both parties.

The only good thing that can be said about his years being tortured in the Hanoi Hilton is that they most ironically prepared him for being an Honest Senator in Washington DC, where Honest politicians are greatly feared by the party leaders and the campaign finance owners.

In fact, McCain follows in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson et al. who wrote and published our Declaration of Independence where they "mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour." John McCain and his role model Thomas Jefferson are rapidly almost extinct in Washington DC.

Again on Meet the Press yesterday, McCain told Tim Russert "No, no and no"

No: he will not leave the Republican Party.
No: he will not endorse John Kerry. As a matter of fact, he has endorsed Bush and is actively campaigning for Bush.
No: he will never be Vice President. He feels that Senator is a more influential position for him, and pretty much said he would never be "second banana".

McCain is gung ho about being in Iraq and explained to Russert why we went there and why we are still there. He is pro-Iraq, through and through.

McCain will never be Kerry's running mate.

Right on, Amlord! I listened to John McCain (Senator of Arizona) yesterday on Meet The Press and he couldn't have been more specific in his answers about a Kerry/McCain ticket. He added that he would like to wear a T-shirt saying, "What part of NO don't you understand?" And according to Tim Russert, this combo ticket idea is derived from some Kerry planners...how far up the ladder was not indicated. It is a crazy idea...makes nice headlines though. It is amazing that the media is still asking McCain this question with a straight face!



While I agree there are times when McCain is a maverick and supports some policies that the majority of Republicans do not, per his own words he is a loyal Republican. However, he said that he would never leave the Republican party or be number two on anyone's ticket period. And not true about personal differences with George Bush for the reasons I stated below in addition Bush chose McCain to lead an investigation into the reasons for going into Iraq. Sounds pretty cordial to me! And how anyone can think McCain is a weasel is beyond me...he is no flip-flop unless events or circumstances change to cause him to change his stance.

McCain also stated that he supports President Bush and is actively campaigning for his re-election and believes it is imperative that he be able to fulfill his agenda. Also said that he and Bush have a cordial relationship contrary to what has been reported.

As an unabashed member of "the left" I can say that his stance on reform is what attracts him to those on the left. Corporate corruption and campaign finance reform are the two largest issues that impress me about the man. While the McCain-Feingold bill has some flaws(i.e.-non profit 527s) it is a good start.

I'm not sure if he's a weasal. Chuck Hagel of my own state has been known to be a thorn in the side of the adminsitration from time to time. Just because you share the same party with the president, doesn't mean that you should be his toadie when it comes to policy or other matters. Such debate and cantankerous carousing is actually good.