It’s one thing when we see those in congress making their speeches and casting their votes. It’s pretty easy to tell why they voted the way they did. But when it comes to the President and his decisions there is so much the public will never and can never know. It comes down to trust. And I have always trusted President Bush.

I agree Kathie and you nailed it.

McCain disagreed with Bush, he did not diss him. On the two most important and controversial issues that Bush faced, immigration and the war, McCain stuck with him. That is more than can be said for a lot of Bush’s socalled base.

Terrye, don’t think I agree with most of that. McCain stuck with McCain on the war. And told every media in sight. Immigration? Okay. It could be they held similar views. Did he diss Bush? I say he did it as loudly as possible. When you have the Power and you deliberately allow the NYT to publish Abu Ghraib for years by your silence, I call that dissing someone. When you deliberately label the President as a Torturer, when you are about the only Power on Earth that could stop it, I call that a mighty big Diss.

I hate his self-rightousness. It’s all about choices. If he is the nominee, I will vote for McCain. I will not sit home. To do so is pure self-gratification. That is selfish, self centered chest thumping by those that would condemn this President when he was faced with decision after decision and could not be so spineless as to take a pass.

So how about it, you stay at homers? Only WIMPS have the option of not voting when you dabble with politics. You all want the President to have the Spine to make all the Right decisions. How is your Spine feeling about now?

Merlin, what in the blazes are you smoking???? First, they have already shown that 40 percent of McCains votes were liberals and independants who switched over. But what on gods green earth makes you think that conservatives voted over to Hillary? Are you out of your mind? I will admit that some will in the general election just as I will to make sure McAmnesty loses. but Jesus Christ, are you really stupid enough to believe that 20 percent of repubs crossed over to vote for someone when their parties votes were not even eligible to be counted????? What a moron!!!

I read that anchoress post. She is really good isn’t she?

Like it or not like it McCain is what he has always been. That is more than can be said for the backstabbers who profess such undying loyalty and then accuse the president of the United States of selling us out to Mexico.

I have been called a Bushbot by people on the right and left both and if I can support McCain then apparently he has not been all that obnoxious.

This is all about the GOP moving left and the various campaigns and personalities of the candidates. The nomination was really Fred’s for the taking, but he didn’t get serious (energized) until it was already over. Rudy had the next best shot but he bailed on the early states and was then out of the headlines and dropping in the polls. His momentum was in the wrong direction, and as Huck & McCain & Romney picked up wins and media attention, Rudy looked more & more like a non-factor. And the rise of Huck in the early states side-tracked Romney and continues to hurt him. Of course, McCain has been helped all along by a supportive MSM. Why? because they like his “straight talk” and his maverick ways. In other words, he goes aginst his own party and conservatives. McCain was helped immensely by the order of the primaries, with indies & even dems voting (heavily) in Iowa & NH, and even SC.

And what about McCain as the nominee? Since the conventional wisdom is that he was the one repub who could beat the dems, my gut reaction says that’s bogus. Against Obama I think he gets crushed. A tired, old, cranky entrenched inside-the-beltway pol versus the fresh-faced eloquent, graceful black candidate with the uplifting oratory — no contest. Against Hillary, it will be much closer, but I think he loses again. And the GOP could be in shambles since they decided to embrace the candidate who is not just the least conservative of the bunch, but one who has consistently and openly thumbed his nose at them. And what if McCain were to actually win & become pres? I don’t like it at all (I would plan to vote for him, though, over any dem). Yes, he’s been stalwart on Iraq, but Iraq is only part of the GWOT. His view on Gitmo and interrogations and open borders and other related issues indicates he’ll be sorely lacking when compared to our current president. His environmental views and tax record and drug re-importation all portend for a sour economy. Maybe this will be a worse outcome for the GOP, but I’m getting to far ahead.

Both sides had about 20% crossover in their voting. About normal for what you will scale to in the general election.

Republicans turned out a total of about 200k MORE voters than the dems did.

Rough projections would show that in the general the dem candidate would lose by about 2 % or so overall.

Once the full results are in and I can run regression lines for each county I will be able to have a better number.

I’m not lashing out at any one I am just running the numbers no more no less and letting the chips fall where they may.

In 2006 my youngest could vote for the first time. My brotherat about the age of 42 and a friend of his had never voted…(I know, many arguments about that one) but we all met up at the polling place and voted. We made it an event so that my youngest would understand the importance. I think she’s going to be dragging me there this time!