McCain: What happened?

[Brett]

What do you all think happened with his campaign that caused his team to lose the election? Anything specific? Ideas? Choice of VP? Just looking for your opinions, no bashing allowed or personal attacks....or by by thread.

Go.

 

[Shawn]

He failed.

 

[Greg]

Bush screwed things up so bad, everyone is bitter with the Republican party and that paved the was for a president named Barack Hussein Obama. McCain didn't have a chance IMO. Simple as that, there was no way the Republicans were going to stay in the White House.

 

[Tacoma]

I would add the massive adulation of Obama from the press, which didn't help with all the vacuous middle-Americans who get their opinions from television. I was almost surprised by the fawning over Obama on TV. Almost.

That, and there is no way to get out from under Bush in such circumstances.

 

[Cody]

Obama did a better job running against Bush than McCain did running against Obama.

the thing that frustrates me is that 30% of the people in this country that hate Bush and can't tell you specifically why, are probably 30% of the people that voted for Obama and can't specifically tell you why. Pretty lame IMO.

 

[Skylinerider]

I honestly don't think any republican had a chance in the Pres. election. All people wanted was "no more Bush" and to most people Bush=republican.

 

[Tacoma]

Obama did a better job running against Bush than McCain did running against Obama.

the thing that frustrates me is that 30% of the people in this country that hate Bush and can't tell you specifically why, are probably 30% of the people that voted for Obama and can't specifically tell you why. Pretty lame IMO.

Agreed.

 

[Slangy]

Because so many people are Sheep and don't think for themselves

 

[EROK81?]

Bush, VP choice, Joe the Plumber, age, short arms, slampaigns, and he whistles when he talks. That is why I think he didn't win.

 

[Dominic]

McCain is too old and Palin is to dumb.

 

[Brett]

McCain is too old and Palin is to dumb.

Agreed on Palin. I don't know about the rest of you, but she always came off to me as being uneducated and very "backwoods." That could have been the small town accent she had going, but still, she's not someone I could see as a Vice President. That and what has turned up since she was nominated, the state trooper incident, public commisioner, $150k in clothes and make up just to run.....just an odd pick that I don't think helped McCain out at all.

 

[mbryson]

I thought McCain had a chance by picking Palin. That put the press focus right on his campaign. However, she didn't seem to "pan out" (kinda Dan Quayleish) and then people seemed to realize she was a few missed heartbeats away from the presidency.

I also lost faith in McCain due to his campaigning tactics (or lack thereof). He seemed to just attack instead of present his solutions.

I believe Obama didn't present his solutions (at least to me) very well, but fended off McCain's attacks with "presidential" calmness and authority. That showed well to me, but I still didn't get enough of Obama's solutions to really feel like I was voting educated.

I don't agree with either candidate wholly, but do agree with both candidates on a few of the key issues. To me, both have their downfalls. It seems that Obama and his "Change" slogan was simple enough for most Americans. I'd still like to know what that means.

(just a little background: I believe Bush is an idiot and a croney/good old boys club (what political race isn't, though) guy. However, EVEN NOW, I'd still vote him in over Gore or Kerry. A known idiot is better than an unknown one, IMHO.)

 

[Greg]

... (just a little background: I believe Bush is an idiot and a croney/good old boys club (what political race isn't, though) guy. However, EVEN NOW, I'd still vote him in over Gore or Kerry. A known idiot is better than an unknown one, IMHO.)

x2

 

[Bart]

1. Bush
2. the media
3. Problems with Palin, although I don't see her as dumb, just lacking in experience. She played the part that they scripted for her.
4. Campaign strategery, especially when McCain said the "Fundamentals of the economy were sound". Yikes, so out of touch.

 

[Brett]

What did the media do against McCain/Palin?

 

[Bucking Bronco]

What did the media do against McCain/Palin?

Its not what they did to McCain its What they did not do to Obama

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I honestly don't think any republican had a chance in the Pres. election. All people wanted was "no more Bush" and to most people Bush=republican.

Agreed, he was a major underdog from day one. Based on the press, the economy and the war which was all 100% on the shoulders of Bush, he had to work to get even the few states he did.

 

[EROK81?]

What did the media do against McCain/Palin?

Let them go on air?

 

[Brett]

Its not what they did to McCain its What they did not do to Obama

Maybe I missed things that a few of you are referring to, but I thought that media coverage was pretty even. I read plenty of articles attacking Obama (though never Biden?) for his past relationship's, short experience, family history, low foreign policy knowledge......

Maybe I wasn't paying much attention, but I really don't recall many attacks of the media against McCain, other than Bush....unless that's what you're meaning? (Palin's a different story )

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Its not what they did to McCain its What they did not do to Obama

Agreed, you can't honestly say Obama was under the same scrutiny as Mccain. Talk shows, radio shows, SNL, new, etc... it was all left leaning as expected out of liberal media.