George W Bush often acts as a polarizing figure for a number of reasons.

1. The 2000 election fallout.
2. His “embrace” of the Christian Right. (Thus loud noises on gay rights, abortion, “faith based…” etc)
3. His attitude. Bush comes off as a smirking jackass, who thinks that his comments are witty when they’re lame and that his presence is potent, when its more limpid.
4. The War, No WMD’s, a bad plan for maintaining the peace and never once an admission of error.

President Bush, in the minds of millions of Americans embodies the worst aspects of the Right.

Most of the people I know don’t feel that way about all republicans, mostly they feel that way about the Neo-Conservatives and the Religious Conservatives. McCain appears as neither and most people, at least have respect for the guy (which is more than we can say about those that smeared him in 2000).

I would probably vote for McCain over any Democrat. I will probably vote for a Democrat over any of the other Republicans (out of the current crop).

Aside from honor and a realistic view of world affairs, the candidate has to be able to beat the Democrat. I realize you don’t trust McCain, but he would be a great contender against Clinton or Obama. I’m not crazy about certain aspects of his domestic record either, but on national security I think he’s A1.

No decision final yet but I think Fred’s at the top of my list.

Of the sane, reasonable choices Huckster’s right out, I lived with Mitt as govenor and there’s too much of the go along to get along there for comfort(but, this IS Massaholia so leeway must be given), Rudi I could possibly live with though he, too, needs a more thorough look. McCain scares me. He seems to me to be too loose a cannon with a tyrannical streak. (see McCain/Feingold etc.)

C’mon Fred!

To me, there are two separate areas to consider here, one is character and the other policies.

As I generally class pork in the character category I see both parties as pretty much failing here. 40 years ago when I first started paying close attention I believed that the majority of politicians weren’t crooked in this sense (see ear marks), maybe 60 – 40 reasonably straight. Today I’d put it at 90 – 10 reasonably or mostly crooked regardless of party.

Hence my comment about where the non-partisan middle ground is on domestic policy. Anyone that in anyway threatens the gravy train will be portrayed and vilified as a “divider”.

So that leaves us with foreign affairs. There’s not a Democrat out there who I would trust nor one who even mouths the right words. Therefore, I want a Republican to win.

What would that person have to do to be considered a “uniter” by the MSM & the Democrats?
As far as I can see, the only way to get that “title of dubious worth” is for the Republican to fold like a cheap suit to every tranzi whim loved by the NGOs, EU and UN. Since that’s what I expect for any Democrat there ain’t much difference.

SOOOOOO, I’ll go for the most honorable person with the correct view of foreign affairs rather than some simp trying to spout the “Can’t we all just get along?” line.