McCain and Chaffee To Become Democrats?

Great Debates
1

From the Salt Lake Tribune
"All may not be over. A Democratic dream scenario is actually possible, and it goes like this:
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lincoln Chaffee, R-R.I., are among the few remaining moderate or liberal senators – depending upon your point of view. They regard themselves as moderates, and they often vote with Democrats in opposition to President Bush and their fellow GOP colleagues. …
[snip]
“… McCain campaigned for Republicans during the election, but he has never forgiven the president for questioning his patriotism during the 2000 South Carolina primary. And he was not pleased when similar tactics were used against his friend, Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. Cleland is a highly decorated, wheelchair-bound Vietnam veteran.
So McCain is poised to jump parties.
Chaffee is even more direct, saying before the election that America should “stay tuned,” referring to his often-threatened plan to switch parties. Except for jawboning, his Senate Republican colleagues have made little effort to dissuade him…”

Debate topic. Hmmmmmmm. Howzabout “Resolved: this would be the best news since Agnew was busted.” OR “This would be the coolest thing since the Shelby Mustang” OR “Could the be taken as proof of the existence of a just and loving God?”

2

McCain is the senator from my state, and during this last election he campaigned for the Republican candidate for governor (who lost by the way).

But the commercial he made was the most unconvincing thing I’ve ever seen. He was practically holding his nose and crossing his fingers when he said “Vote for Matt Salmon”

I usually vote Democratic, but I’ll vote for McCain for senate, president, or king, if he runs as Democrat, Republican, or Independant.

3

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy - Benjamin Franklin.

4

I would be quite surprised if McCain switched sides, but I’m sure the Democrats would welcome him. Chaffee I could buy a bit more, but there is still quite a history with his father being a Republican for so long.

I would think that Lott would have to do a lot to piss of McCain and Chaffee to get them to defect.

5

Back in July, I offered a bet (stakes: one bottle of single malt scotch) that President Bush would be reelected in 2004. Despite loud cries of disdain at the prospect, only one person actually had the courage of conviction to take the bet.

I am willing to offer a similar bet that McCain will not jump ship.

Any takers?

  • Rick
6

Define ‘Jump ship’… What if he changes to independent?

7

Like Jeffords? [insert vomit smiley here}

8

Yeah, ok, like Jeffords. [insert “Haven’t laughed so hard since they shot Ol’ Yeller” smiley here]

9

If McCain formally severed ties with the Republicans, I’d lose, regardless of whether he became a Democrat or an independent.

  • Rick
10

Good Lord…if those two jumped…

Wow. Three Senators jumping ship in such a short span of time? That would be truly stunning. I don’t think it’s going to happen. The Democrats used up their good karma with Jeffords. Can’t happen again.

Can it?

11

I remember that bet, Bricker. And I still think I’ll collect.

You heard it hear folks. Witness it for me. GWB will file for unemployment in late January 2005.

12

Lincoln Chafee could easily switch, but would only do so if either, A. The President or the leadership did something insulting to either him or his father’s legacy, or B. if switching would shift the party balance in the Senate.

So, for the time being, Chafee is not switching.

McCain will never, ever, ever, ever switch. Why? His voting record is very conservative. Pro-defense, pro-life, anti-gun control. In fact, McCain is more Republican than most of his Republican colleagues, because of his strong anti-pork, anti-regulation and anti-soft money stances. He is a true, principled conservative. You may disagree with him, but the man is very hard to not respect, and that’s why people of all political colors would love to make him president: You can respect the man up and down for many, many reasons.

13

Well, the Dems may have used up thier good karma. But the Pubbies gutting the Wellstone amendment (forbidding federal contracts to companies that move offshore to avoid federal taxes) has built up a major mother lode of bad karma.

I don’t get that one. I’ve been outraged before, will again, but…words fail me. The final insult to a good man.

I blame the Republicans, of course. And that gutless band of Dems who are pleased to think themselves “centrist”.

Tell me about the patriotism again. Tell me again about how much you love America. Just one more time. I’ve never had bulimia, but this just might do it.

14

Ooh, I see this as a win-win situation. If McCain jumps ship, that means that there’ll be someone to act as opposition to the extreme-right Republicans… which I like, because then I can actually vote without thinking “A vote for a Republican is a vote for spineless Bible-thumping god-fearing maniacs”. On the other hand, if the Republicans really don’t want to lose McCain, that means that they’ll have to start pulling themselves back closer to center… which means less craziness.

I doubt McCain’ll go Dem… Independent is much more likely. Perhaps he’ll start his own party. I’d join in a hearbeat. And wouldn’t it be oh-so-cool if Colin Powell goes with him?

I blame the religious Republicans. God is the worst thing that happened to politics since the invention of rhetoric.

15

A Colin Powell/John McCain party?

Now that would be proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy! :slight_smile:

16

What is the make up of the senate now? I can’t find the exact numbers…

17

Unprincipled assholes, approx. 99%, up from 98% with death of Wellstone.

18

I thought it was 50-50 with Cheney being the tie breaker.

19

Now, now, Lucy, let’s be fair. They just have assholic principles.

20

This is all delusional. Try this, from the Washington Times

McCain has always been known as a right-wing Republican. The fact that Democrats - and liberal Democrats, mind you - are infatuated with this man says something. The WT thinks it is a sign of Democratic desperation. Personally, I incline to think it is the “enemy of an enemy” thing. McCain has taken on the Republican leadership, therefore he is a “Good Guy”. And if he is a Good Guy, he must be something of a liberal. Dream on…