It?s strange to see that someone who knows his shit is rare.

I’m no more happy about that than you are. :)

I don?t agree with her political ideals, but at least I don?t feel my civil rights would be violated if she had her way, something that can?t be said for our current administration.

That’s how I feel about McCain. We’re not on the same page on all things but I don’t worry that he’d order Martial Law at the drop of a hat.

Birthe has the same “no bullshit” aura as McCain, and is not afraid to speak her mind (loudly) even if it goes against the party line. You can’t help but admire her for that. I don’t agree with her political ideals, but at least I don’t feel my civil rights would be violated if she had her way, something that can’t be said for our current administration.

1. John McCain

And the Democrats would nominate either:

1. Mark Warner or
2. Hillary Clinton

I obviously have a preference for Warner. He really is a good guy. I like Clinton but I fear she might be too controversial. I think she realizes that potential as well. While Warner may not have a large enough recognition outside the Commonwealth of Virginia that can be remedied. Most Americans can’t even name the current president much less potentials. TV may be evil but it has some pros.

I like McCain for some pretty obvious reasons. He’s what I term a “no-shitter”. By that I mean when you listen to the man you don’t get a sense of a hidden agenda.

I got the same vibe from Warner when he governed Virginia. Our local public radio show, whenever there was some question about the goings on in Richmond, the capital of Virginia, would call the Governor down to answer some questions direct from the people on air. Rarely do you encounter a politician willing to so readily speak to the people without a filter like the media or a press secretary. Warner came and answered the questions. He always had the answer. It was never, to my sense, a “politician’s answer” it was always more the answer of a man who knew his shit and wasn’t afraid to upset someone.

Where Bush is a fumbling question dodger, Warner was a man ready to take the heat and not play games.

Oh, and did I mention he saved the Commonwealth from bankruptcy?

never accept such an idea. Ludicrous they?d say. Just not gonna happen. Condi isn?t even a short lister.

You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say… er… write that.

I haven’t really been following American domestic politics for a while, so if you could enlighten us a bit as to who you think would be on the short list I’d be chuffed.

but she?s the most obvious female GOP candidate (from an outsiders POV).

You have no idea how unlikely. The GOP would never nominate a black woman for the presidency or vice presidency. There’s the face of the party, then there’s the core of the party. The core would never accept such an idea. Ludicrous they’d say. Just not gonna happen. Condi isn’t even a short lister.

While it’s possible that Hillary may run for the Presidency I can’t think of a single woman that the GOP would run against her. Also, if they were to run a woman opposite Hillary the punditocracy would say it was just pandering and they know that.

If you’re lucky, the next President will be my former Governor, Mark Warner. By all accounts, a heck of a guy and he managed to take a thoroughly fucked Republican predecessor’s mess and clean it up ahead of schedule as well as ensure a Democrat won twice in a row in Virginia which hasn’t happened in some time.

If you think GW is our only problem then you have a lot to see too.

Just imagine Condoleezza Rice as President… Unlikely, but she’s the most obvious female GOP candidate (from an outsiders POV).

Adam: Please, the next female to run for president will win, I promise. And I’m pretty certain that the next race will have a female candidate on each side, and I’m even more certain that they will both be bad choices, just like all the male candidates. If you think GW is our only problem then you have a lot to see too.

I only hope the next president will be female; the White House is in desperate need of estrogen.

That’s the God’s honest truth! Unfortunately, I don’t think the country is ready for it. A woman could never carry the so-called “red states,” and it’s likely we’ll see a female Vice President before we see a female President. I think it’s even possible we’ll see a black Pres before a woman gets a crack at the job.

George said…

You scream and scream at the screen “Can’t you see?? He’s just not on your side!” but however loud you shout the people inside the box can’t hear you and can’t see it.

Actually, that’s also a good description of what it’s like on the inside for people who’ve always known W was bad news. One of the best analogies I’ve read to date of the experience.

I wonder how this world would have looked today if Al Gore had been elected.

I think I have had this thought once a month for the past 5 years. Watching American politics from outside America is like being stuck watching some murder mystery/thriller flick where GW is the hidden bad guy and the American people are the rest of the cast. You scream and scream at the screen “Can’t you see?? He’s just not on your side!” but however loud you shout the people inside the box can’t hear you and can’t see it.

Stuff is good.

My thoughts exactly.

…write a book, on stuff.

Sure. I’ll get right on that.