“To vote for the party that gave us the past eight years is not optimism. It's clinical denial.”

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily…

I'm certainly not a McCain cheerleader (nor an Obama cheerleader), but my interpretation of that was “John McCain is George Bush's third term.” Even with any of McCain's flaws, I can't tell you how much I despise that characterization.

I'm in favor of split government as well, Pete.

That's what it's all about, given that McCain isn't a real conservative or real (partisan or traditional) Republican, anyway. It really is in his case holding your nose and voting for the lesser of two evils.

Meanwhile, Obama is, to non-liberals, an even better protest vote than Perot was in 1992. (And a multi-year strategic throw-problems-on-the-Dems vote, even though that is a risky undertaking.)

But do you realize that it's definitely possible and even probable (>50%) it will be so?

That's the issue. Despite what Shaun Mullen, for example might have you try to believe, it's not all and only about the Bush administration, its misconduct, and the problem-ridden occupation of Iraq. “Democrats are soft on crime and on terrorism!” Yet, what were the election results in 2006? (A foreshock of 2008.)

You are 100% wrong, J-Sat. In this regard McCain is a relief to Americans, while Obama introduces the risk of additional measures in support of illegitimate liberal judicial activism which has been a stain and stench on the judiciary in particular since the Warren Court.

Issue corrected.

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Exactly!

Also McCain seems more and more controlled by his staff. “Aides try to keep his cell-phone time to a minimum so he doesn't get freelance advice.” http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/elec…

What'd he do to get grounded?

Not sure how anyone could think this goes to a convention with superdelegates voting for Clinton. Just listen to the pushback from folks like Rendell, Corzine, Wasserman-Schultz (sp?) — they are firmly squelching that, and they were loud pro-Clinton talking heads. Not going to happen, PUMA nuts notwithstanding.

Republicans have performed poorly (and who will defend their performance?) in control of the executive branch.

Should Republicans be rewarded for their poor performance in control of the executive branch?

I also worry that the center on the Court evaporates with McCain as President. The thought that we have swung from a Brennan center to Kennedy in the space of my life is sort of awe-inspiring, but that is enough for me. The Court had to swing back, but this activist Court mantra with 7 justices picked by Republicans and Kennedy criticized as a left wing activist judge by some is just nuts. 4 Scalia clones is enough for my taste (mind you, I kind of like Roberts, but O'Connor as the middle worked for me).

Final note, perfect world for me is a split Congress with Dems controlling the Senate, but Delay and crew blew that with their profligate spending and other issues …

Should be interesting to see how things pan out. Since June there's been so much to look at with both candidates and their potential to win…the superdelegates' bottom-line..

McCain's campaign attacks Obama. Sullivan then points out those attacks, and attacks McCain's campaign back.

And your problem is… only with Sullivan? Because you didn't mention one word about the issues that caused those posts from Sullivan in the first place.

Also, was anything that Sullivan wrote not true? Or does the truth simply not matter?

In addition those who argue for divided government should pay attention to all the damage Bush has done in just with the kind of people he appoints to head agencies.

That is a crucial point.

In addition those who argue for divided government should pay attention to all the damage Bush has done in just with the kind of people he appoints to head agencies. Heck of a job, Bushie. Do you really want 4 more years that won't be that different from the last 8?

I'm pretty much at that point, too. And I've thought about it quite a bit. Indeed, there have been times when a divided government has worked rather well. Then again, there have been times when a divided government has been terrible. I'd put the last couple of years in that category. 94-96 too. And 90-92. So it's not a foregone conclusion. Additionally, congressional elections occur every 2 years. We're stuck with a president for at least 4.

Then there's the issue of the Supreme Court. McCain's embrace of corporations and corporate lobbyists concerns me in that regard.

Many pundits claim that this election is “all about Obama”. For me it's more the opposite. I don't think I'll ever get comfortable with Obama. He's too much of an unknown quantity. He could be a great president or he could be a lousy one. I don't know if there is any way to really tell unless he gets the chance. With McCain you get more of a known quantity. Unfortunately, I'm getting more and more uncomfortable with what I know about him.

I’m probably at the point where a vote for McCain would be less about either McCain or Obama, and more about checking a Democratic-controlled Congress.

Pete,
As Sullivan notes, McCain subscribes to the Bush/Cheney view of unlimited executive power. A President McCain might be able to check a Democratic Congress, but a Democratic Congress won't be able to check a President McCain.

I’m probably at the point where a vote for McCain would be less about either McCain or Obama, and more about checking a Democratic-controlled Congress. I saw what happened during six-years of total R control of both Chambers and the White House. Face it: Power concentrated is power corrupted.

I don't know how you can get more clarity than that, Pete.

This is a clear choice that the American people have. I had the courage and the judgment to say I would rather lose a political campaign than lose a war. It seems to me that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign.

That's when Sullivan realized that McCain's promise of a respectful, issue-oriented campaign was simply a lie.