US Presidential Elections

**rebelarmyexile** · 06/03/2008, 3:41 PM

C'mon McCain

**pete** · 12/03/2008, 10:54 AM

Obama won Mississippi as expected. Extra 6 delegates so he leads by between 108-152 depending on media source.

Seen an interesting Report showing delegate totals if Democrats used the first past the post system like the Republicans. Clinton would lead by 177 excluding the super delegates which is presumably as she has won majority of larger states.

Latest polls (primary polls have been fairly accurate) show Obama with 8 point lead in North Carolina & Clinton with 15-20 lead in Pennsylvania.

Suggestions that they will rerun Florida & Michigan possibly with a postal primary presumably to keep costs down.

**pete** · 30/08/2008, 12:35 PM

BBC

US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his surprise running mate.

At 44, she is three years younger than Barack Obama and is credited with reforms during her first term, but she is relatively unknown in US politics.

Inexperienced black guy picks experienced white guy. Old white guy picks young woman! If McCain wins means she would be first female Presidential nominee in 2012. Looks like a grab for the Hillary votes...

**Torn-Ado** · 30/08/2008, 3:56 PM

I'd give her one.

**Plastic Paddy** · 31/08/2008, 4:27 PM

...what, a vote?

Unfortunately the vast majority of USAnian voters will exercise no more discretion than yours in making their selection. A cynical choice by McCain aimed at persuading an unsophisticated electorate. And the b*stard may yet win as a result. God help all of us living in the vassal states...

PP

**Torn-Ado** · 31/08/2008, 5:45 PM

Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

...what, a vote?

Unfortunately the vast majority of USAnian voters will exercise no more discretion than yours in making their selection. A cynical choice by McCain aimed at persuading an unsophisticated electorate. And the b*stard may yet win as a result. God help all of us living in the vassal states...

PP

No. Intercourse.

**pete** · 31/08/2008, 9:02 PM

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

No. Intercourse.

Be off to Totty Watch.

Evangelicals will like her anti abortion stance but she is also involved in an ethics scandal in Alaska.

McCain has had ill health so he could die in office. Would mean Senator with only two years experience representing a state of small population leading the the US of A.

**jebus** · 01/09/2008, 7:17 PM

Bad choice by McCain as he can't use Obama's inexperience against him as much now. Any Clinton-Democrat willing to switch sides because of Palin probably would have done so anyway so I don't it's a ploy that will work for him

**Newryrep** · 01/09/2008, 8:03 PM

Her 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant

**pete** · 02/09/2008, 9:53 PM

Originally Posted by Newryrep

Her 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant

I love the way Palin announced here daughter was keeping the child & would be marrying the father. Something tells me the daughter didn't have a big part in the marriage decision. It shouldn't make any difference to politics but then again Palin was in part picked because of her "moral" beliefs.

I thought McCain had more substance but he seems to have abandoned all his previous beliefs to get elected so nothing left with nothing.

**Dodge** · 03/09/2008, 4:18 PM

Originally Posted by pete

McCain has had ill health so he could die in office

Great post. Made me do an actual spittake against the screen

Seena report on US TV where Obama dismissed the 17 year old as an issue "Family is off limits, and children are especially off limits", cut to studio and conservative political analyst; "hhmm Makes you wonder what he's hiding?!"

Brilliant TV.

**pete** · 04/09/2008, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Great post. Made me do an actual spittake against the screen.

Story on probability of McCain reaching 80 years old

According to these statistics, there is a roughly 1 in 3 chance that a 72-year-old man will not reach the age of 80, which is how old McCain would be at the end of a second presidential term. And that doesn’t factor in individual medical history, such as McCain’s battles with potentially lethal skin cancer.

But for a man who has lived 72 years and 67 days (McCain’s age on Election Day this year), there is between a 14.2 and 15.1 percent chance of dying before Inauguration Day 2013

McCain probably has a worse medical history than other 72 year olds but on the flip side he would get the best medical care possible so any problems would be caught early. e.g. Ted Kennedy recent recovery.

**pineapple stu** · 04/09/2008, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by pete

McCain probably has a worse medical history than other 72 year olds

Are you basing that on anything? Anything at all, like?

**pete** · 04/09/2008, 3:45 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Are you basing that on anything? Anything at all, like?

It was mainly in jest but he has already had skin cancer.

**Dodge** · 04/09/2008, 3:46 PM

I knew it was in jest Pete. Just made me laugh.

**Angus** · 04/09/2008, 8:58 PM

This is truly bizarre - clearly this lady is utterly unqualified to be the next president - which if McCain wins she has a decent statistical chance of doing.

Utterly unqualifed and utterly unvetted. This says more about McCains lurch to the right to appeal to Limbaugh, Imus and the eh, fair and balanced journalists over at Fox.

This is the first time in memory where a republican candidate has run to the left during the primaries and right during the general.

On a serious note, none of this relevant to mcCains abaility to be president BUT it does say that he is beholden to these people and remeber where you heard it first, if he wins, he will appoint the usual; bunch of neocon freaks to key positions - because he will owe them.

This guy is dangerous.

The US will regret it for a generation if they do not elect Obama - for all his flaws and executive inexperience, he is the most talented politican for 50 years and would be someone (so long as he never visits a Southern city like, eh, Dallas !!) who would make the US proud

**pete** · 04/09/2008, 9:14 PM

Was watching the Daily Show earlier & Newt Gingrich was plugging a book joining on the jokes etc... In the middle of it he did make a good point - if the Democrats go after Palin for her lack of experience to be VP then it opens the door to go after Obamas lack of experience to be President. I read that Palin was a last minute decision which meant the usual background checks were not completed.

I wonder if McCain the candidate is embarrassed by the overkill on POW "experience" during the convention...

**micls** · 04/09/2008, 9:36 PM

Originally Posted by pete

if the Democrats go after Palin for her lack of experience to be VP then it opens the door to go after Obamas lack of experience to be President.

yes, but theyve been going after Obamas lack of experience the whole time anyway. if anything they are only negating the effect of their own biggest advantage, his lack of experience