McCain: I'm no second dog
 

In California, McCain compares vice presidency to being a prisoner of war

BETH FOUHY, AP Political Writer


Campaigning in California with Republican Senate candidate Bill Jones, Arizona Sen. John McCain repeatedly insisted Sunday that he would not replace Vice President Dick Cheney as President Bush's running mate -- even comparing the job of vice president to his experience as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

"As far as me and the vice presidency is concerned ... I spent a number of years in a North Vietnamese prison camp in the dark and (was) fed scraps, and I don't know why I would want to do that all over again," McCain said at a rally in San Diego.

Later, at an appearance in Sacramento, McCain said the chances of Bush bumping Cheney were about as great as those of a snowball surviving the Arizona summer sun.

"The president and vice president enjoy a very close working relationship, perhaps the closest in history," McCain said. "I see absolutely no inclination on the part of the president or vice president, who's recently restated his intentions to remain as President Bush's running mate."

A political maverick who developed considerable star power during his underdog run for the GOP presidential nomination against Bush in 2000, McCain has been the subject of vice presidential speculation on both the Democratic and Republican sides this year.

He was courted by his friend and fellow Vietnam war veteran, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, to join the Democratic ticket, but firmly rejected Kerry's overtures.

Recently, McCain has shot down rumors and suggestions that he would be on the short list to replace Cheney as Bush's running mate if Cheney steps aside or is pushed by those who consider him a drag on the ticket. McCain campaigned with Cheney in Michigan late last week, calling him "one of the great Americans of our generation."

On Sunday, McCain joked about being wooed by both Republicans and Democrats -- "next will come the Libertarian and vegetarian sides," McCain said.

But he also took a small dig at both presidential campaigns when asked why his name was being floated for both tickets.

"I would argue that the reason why that idea got so much traction -- and now on the (Republican) ticket -- is because Americans would like to see us less polarized and work more together," McCain said. "They don't like the bitterness and anger that critically characterizes this campaign."

McCain was spending Sunday and Monday campaigning for GOP Senate candidate Jones, who faces an uphill effort to unseat incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer.

McCain was to be the headliner at two fund-raisers for Jones's cash-strapped campaign, and Jones and McCain were planning a Monday morning meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Los Angeles.

In 2000, as California's secretary of state, Jones endorsed McCain over Bush before the state's GOP presidential primary, angering many Bush supporters.

At the Sacramento rally, McCain took a subtle swipe at Boxer, who has been accused by many Republicans of being too liberal for most California voters.

"I myself have been representing California for several years," McCain said to laughs and cheers. "I'd like to give that responsibility over to Bill Jones."

I love McCain. I think he's going to go for it all again next time around.

Campaigning in California? Tell me this isn't a guy who's looking for The Office.

I for one, will be proud to vote for him.

Yep, you gotta respect McCain no matter what your party affiliation.

A guy who survived five years in the Hanoi Hilton must have cajones big enough to come in a dump truck.

Now...if we can just get him to come over from the dark side! ;)

McCain just couldn't be happy as veep. He'd have to keep his mouth shut and toe the party line far too much, and that's just not his style.

He's in a great situation right now, too. Even if Bush wins, there's no clear "heir" to the Republican nomination in 2008, and he'll be in a perfect position to mount a strong run at the Presidency.

Pretty funny.

McCain gracefully excused Sandy Berger.

wow, so we won't see you here in 4 years posting cartoons attacking him when he runs for prez. again? awesome.

wow, so we won't see you here in 4 years posting cartoons attacking him when he runs for prez. again? awesome.

Sounds like those anti-bush 'toons strike some sort of a nerve w/ you.

Maybe you should take a look at why that is.

well, besides the fact that they're partisan mudslinging at its worst, they strike the most nerve w/ my mouse due to the unnormal amount of downward scrolling i have to exert on a lot of these threads.

well, besides the fact that they're partisan mudslinging at its worst, they strike the most nerve w/ my mouse due to the unnormal amount of downward scrolling i have to exert on a lot of these threads.

There's a very simple solution to this:

Put me on your "ignore" list. (See TJ's thread explaining how it works.)

That way, you won't see any of my posts when you scroll down a thread.

Do yourself (and me) a favor.

Your not going on ignore. That would be too humane. I will continually beat your communist ass for amusement.

is there an ignore button that just ignores cut 'n pastes? that's all i really want to ignore.

If Bush wins Cheney would never run for President in 2008.

Hillary v. Mcain would be an interesting battle.

If you mean the cartoons and other attachments, you can reduce those to just the url in the User CP>Edit Options. You can turn off avatars, signatures, and attachments from there.

Weird. That's not even close to what you were saying about McCain during the recount at the old DPO.

But then again, you've always been too stupid to remember what you wrote.

If there's one thing I totally agree with McCain on, it's that the American people have to do whatever it takes to get the money out of our government. If it takes throwing every one of these politicians and lobbyists (sometimes the same thing) out of our houses (White House, Capitol, etc.), so be it.

I'm still sticking to my McCain vs. Edwards in 2008 prediction...despite the gender support she gets, Hillary is unelectable nationally and they know that....which is why they left her off the speaking list and added her later to pacify the fringe element in the DNC.

Think of that as the GOP having Pat Roberson or Pat Buchanon speaking at their convention as they did in the past.....same thing...they're there to pacify the party fringe.

Would I vote for McCain? Maybe....depends on where he is on issues I care about.

Would I vote for Edwards? Maybe...thus far I've liked what I've seen/heard from him...but a lot can happen in this campaign + another four years if the ticket fails.

Yeah, the moderate fringe element. Kerry and Edwards make Hillary look like Reagan.

Try the feminist fringe element.....much of Hillary's support is solely based on the gender thing IMO.

Weird. That's not even close to what you were saying about McCain during the recount at the old DPO.

But then again, you've always been too stupid to remember what you wrote.

As usual, you have things bass-ackwards, jagazz.

I never discussed McCain on the DPO forum.

Perhaps you have me confused with some other awful person who hasn't accepted Resident Gigglekill as his personal savior.

Either that or you're just making stuff up like your role models Bill O'Liely and Sean Insannity.

If I had to vote today I'd probably vote McCain even though some would consider it a wasted vote. Neither kerry nor bush deserve to stand next to him IMO. I just don't know much about his staff and circle of advisors. In the end that matters too.

Neither kerry nor bush deserve to stand next to him IMO.

It's interesting to note that:

a) McCain and Kerry are good friends.

b) Bush screwed McCain in the 2K repuke primaries in the most slimy, disgraceful, underhanded way imaginable.

That's a line of crap.

McCain refused Kerry's overture, and is campaigning for Bush. Your an idiot.

sweet. thanks for the tip.
this will help some.