This talk of having John McCain as Kerry's VP candidate is still going strong even as McCain kinda, sorta turned it down. The latest person to talk about it Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware) who has endorsed a "fusion" ticket. Biden thinks that with the country so divided, having a Republican like McCain on the ticket would unite the country.
I have to say that when I first heard this possibility, I thought it was ridiculous. Some Dems have long wanted McCain to switch parties, but he insists that he wants to remain a Republican and I don't blame him. He is one of the few Republicans with any integrity these days. He is strong on defense and for giving the working man a fair shake. Also McCain would be a big draw to getting moderate Republicans like myself and independents who have soured on the Bush administration to vote for Kerry. In my view, Kerry pretty much has the liberal base locked up. Many liberals may not be crazy about Kerry, but they are so wanting Bush out of the White House that they are willing to hold their nose and vote for him. I don't think that Kerry is drawing many Republicans or Independents who pereive him as too liberal for their tastes. He needs someone who can balance the ticket and woo some swing voters. A Kerry-McCain ticket would be stinging indictment on the Bush Administration that has claimed to be a uniter and instead as brought division in this country and this world by their policies.
I'm curious to know what others think.
If you want another opinion, check out Paul Peter Jesup, the former editor and publisher of the Moderate Republican.
Well, Dennis, to tell you the truth, I'd been meaning to show you the letter I wrote to John Kerry anyway, along with the questions that some Dean supporters sent in to him. So I'll just go ahead and use this as an opportunity to do so.
Click my name.
I'm not a Republican, but then after this primary season I don't feel so great about calling myself a Democrat either. Too bad in Ohio there's no way to be "officially" undeclared, because it's a statement we would like to make right now.
There was a lot of talk about Howard Dean giving the Democrats a "backbone transplant". It already looks like it's not taking. Or maybe he didn't go far enough--Howard should have given John Kerry some b@lls while he was at it.
Can't say that I like the idea of the vice-president being a Republican...*and* having more backbone etc. than the president. Especially thinking about Kerry's health issues. Hmm...
Posted by: Renee in Ohio at March 27, 2004 12:37 AMHere is what I think anyway. I was a fiscally conservative but socially libertarian republican from NY. Of course my moving into the Bible Belt caused me to be surrounded with right wing extremist republicans forcing me to switch parties. They're great people but their politics is awful. Having said that, I'm not a fan of Kerry but I will vote for him no matter what in 2004.
Posted by: Mike Roth at March 26, 2004 11:41 PMYou want to run for Senate? I'll endorse that platform and letter.
There are few senators I can imagine writing even half of something close to that letter. McCain comes to mind, and that's about it.
Posted by: Mark Kittel at March 25, 2004 10:27 AMNow that the silly season of presidential elections has once again assaulted our credulity, it might be fun to speculate on what many of us would like to really see in a candidate. We all play the game of “If I were King”. Well, let's imagine that we receive a letter asking for our votes from a candidate for Senator from Missouri. This candidate doesn't want to be everybody's friend, doesn't claim to be “one of us”, no matter who we are, and is willing to nail down his or her intentions without prevarication and bluster. The letter begins.
If elected your Senator:
I will serve no more than two terms in office. If I do not accomplish at least half of my promised legislative agenda, I will not run for a second term, having failed my constituents. The idea of career politicians as representatives I find repugnant, and not in keeping with the founders idea of representative government. We don't need career politicians, we need citizens who will accept and perform public service as legislators, and then GO HOME!
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to ban all gifts, meals, trips, etc. of any kind or amount for Congress and the Senate. In this area, even the hint of impropriety is too much to bear.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to establish the Homeland Labor Defense Act, to end all H1B visas within 120 days of passage. It will also establish a Jobs Export Tariff equal to 25% of the wages paid to foreign workers who have been hired to replace American workers for the sole cause of lower wages. The funds will be used to pay Extended Unemployment benefits to laid off American workers and to fund grants for education and training of those workers. The movement of tech and manufacturing jobs overseas will eventually become a national security issue, as our pool of these workers shrinks and we become more dependent on foreign labor. Do we want foreign programmers contracted to write Pentagon software?
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to freeze discretionary spending the first year of my term, and cut spending by 2% each year thereafter for 5 years. If the budget is balanced prior to that five year period, further cuts would be delayed or scrapped. It's not really all that much money, but it demonstrates seriousness of purpose toward a balanced budget.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to make all interest, dividends, and capital gains tax free for those whose combined wage earnings are at or below the average income for a family of four. All income from those sources for those above this income level will be taxed at standard rates. This will allow those who make up the bulk of our wage-earners to double their income, tax-free.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to replace the upcoming Medicare Drug bill with a system that would charge a modest monthly fee, plus a copay for all medications based on income over and above the Social Security income of an individual. That copay will be a sliding scale starting at zero for those seniors whose only income is Social Security, and rising to a point where no aid is provided for those whose additional income is equal to or greater than the income for an average family of four in this country. Medicare will administer this program, and will be required by law to negotiate for quantity discounts on all medications. The elderly poor will be taken care of.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to allow the cost of college education or college-based career training to be fully tax-deductible for everyone whose income is no higher than the income for an average family of four in this country. For those whose income is higher, the current deductions would remain in place.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to make the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony a Federal crime, punishable by life in prison, with no parole. As a culture, we may be unwilling to control our guns, but we can certainly control those willing to commit crimes with them. The rule here should be “No second offenders.”.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to retain the Inheritance tax on all estates over two million dollars. It's not a “death tax” on the deceased, it's an “income tax” on the inheritors.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to eliminate the Bush administration's tax cuts for all those whose single income is over $100,000, and those marrieds whose combined income is over $200,000. The Bush Deficit is the single biggest threat to future economic growth, and the security of our descendants.
I will introduce, co-sponsor or vote for legislation to immediately index to inflation the Alternative Minimum Tax, since its inception, and to continue to index it to future inflation. This was never meant to hit the middle class, but Congress has become addicted to the extra money it brings in.
Politicians in this country have gotten along for far too long on vague promises to the voters. Get it in writing. Anyone unwilling to be specific is unworthy of your vote. Ask any of your currently serving representatives to point to any problem and say “This is more important than re-election.”, and see if they will follow through.