<p>
That’s the main reason I voted for Obama. :)</p>
<p>The word “consensus” in his speech at CPAC was a good one for me. I understand from someone there that he was well received.</p>
<p>I’m not a “true Democrat”. I could have voted in either the Republican or Democratic primary. I chose to vote for Obama because:</p>
<ol>
<li>He is the better of two good candidates on the Dem side.</li>
<li>McCain didn’t need my help winning my State on the Rep side.</li>
</ol>
<p>In November, if I’m faced with Obama v McCain it will be a close contest between the two so long as McCain doesn’t start pandering to the right-wing. I doubt that he will, because the time to pander was during the primaries. I will also be watching Obama carefully.</p>
<p>If Hillary gets the nomination, I think I would favor McCain, though it is by no means certain. </p>
<p>My big sticking point is the abortion issue. From everything I have seen, McCain is 100% pro-life and I’m 100% pro-choice. I have scoured the internet to find some evidence, any evidence that McCain is a “closet pro-choice” candidate but unfortunately he really does seem to be pro-life.</p>
<p>Funny, when I talk to my 15 y/o D, she tells me not to get too hung up on the abortion issue. Such is the privilege (and peril) of having grown up in the era of Roe v Wade. Its beneficiaries don’t even think of its significance.</p>
<p>I am 42 and not hung up on the abortion issue. I just can’t see Roe V Wade being overturned ever. Remember even if a justice retires, the senate approves the nominee, so if that is your true concern, make sure you vote for the senator that will support your view on abortion</p>
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<p>I would love to think that. But I count 4 justices who are either openly hostile or would “not be hung up” on Roe v Wade. A fifth is not so staunch a supporter of abortion rights either. So in some ways Roe is already in great danger. </p>
<p>The only source of comfort for me is that overturning Roe would bring it back to the states and it would be extremely unlikely for my state to outlaw abortion. It would become analogous to the state of gay marriage/civil unions today except that hopefully a lot more states would permit abortion than permit gay marriage/civil unions.</p>
<p>About a third of the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference booed McCain as he walked out to deliver his speech .</p>
<p>Read more: <a href=“http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/mccain-reaches.html[/url]”>http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/mccain-reaches.html</a></p>
<p>Enough already! Everyone knows he got boo’d it made the news this morning. Tommy give it up, nobody is going to change their minds based on people booing…people change their minds on voting records and issues.</p>
<p>“nobody is going to change their minds based on people booing”</p>
<p>do people change their minds on pocketbook issues?</p>
<p>worst January in almost four decades </p>
<hr>
<p>It is a tough time to be the incumbent party. </p>
<p>Here is a sign of how shaky the economy is becoming: Wal-Mart says its shoppers are redeeming their holiday gift cards for basic items — pasta sauce, diapers, laundry detergent — rather than iPods and DVDs.
Merchants had hoped that shoppers with gift cards would provide a lift after a slack holiday season, partly because they tend to spend more than the value of the card. But that did not seem to happen last month, and retailers are feeling the pain.
On Thursday, the nation’s retailers turned in their worst January in almost four decades as high gasoline and food prices, the slumping housing market, tighter credit and tougher job prospects pushed some consumers to the edge.</p>
<p>Read more: <a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/bu...ss&oref=slogin[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/bu...ss&oref=slogin</a></p>
<p>I am glad he was booed. The more McCain alienates and is alienated by the right wing the better for me. I am glad Rush Limbaugh, James Dobson and Ann Coulter don’t approve of McCain. I hope McCain “destroys” the currently configured Republican party power structure. The right wing has been calling the shots for way too long. The “silent majority” of GOP moderates should rally around McCain.</p>
<p>I agree bulletandpima.</p>
<p>Did tommybill post this when Hillary was booed?? ;)</p>
<p><a href=“Clinton Booed Again by Hard Left at Progressive Conference - ABC News”>http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3297741&page=1</a></p>
<p>Well if they do they also need to be posing that question to their Senators and Congressman.</p>
<p>I ask again to stop it already. If you want to have a conversation, than talk, but stop putting these same threads all over the place, it is becoming redundant</p>
<p>"I agree bulletandpima.</p>
<p>Did tommybill post this when Hillary was booed?? "</p>
<p>No, and does anyone know what his views are of the democratic candidates? I think he just wants to hang around with the cool kids in the republican party and has to behave outrageously or we’d never notice him.</p>
<p>By the way, the booing was small and ended pretty quickly. McCain was well received yesterday.</p>
<p>^ That’s easy. A classic case of overdosing on the Clinton Kool-Aid at an early stage. Textbook. :)</p>
<p>When the idea that they can actually win with him, they will come around.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>LOL! That’s a funny assertion! Gave me a little chuckle this a.m. I needed that!</p>
<p>vicarious - I agree w/ what you said. I’m a pretty staunch conservative because I believe in smaller government, lower taxes, narrow constitutional interpretation and strong military. I’m also pro-life. So I’m a dyed in the wool Republican, but I’m bothered by the right-wing extremists trying to call all the shots in the Republican Party. I resent anyone saying that I’m not conservative enough just because I don’t believe that marriage protection requires a Constutional Amendment. More amendments means more federal intervention into the lives of citizens - that’s not conservatism. While I don’t believe that we, as a nation, should condone abortion or gay marriage (just my belief - don’t flame me!), some things could be left to the states to decide. I also firmly believe that the states should have most of the say about how funds should be spent in their state. But I digress…</p>
<p>I agree that Dobson, Hannity & Limbaugh should get onboard It’s OKAY for the Republican Party to include moderate thinkers. We can be a “big tent” party - and that’s the BEST way to ensure that Republicans get elected.</p>
<p>Sean is already on board. He came out and said he was supporting Romney, but when Romney “halted” his candidacy he said we now need to get behind McCain…interesting side not, by “hallting” his campaign and not quitting I learned he gets to determine where Romney delegates go.</p>
<p>Tommy b4 you cry foul…Edwards also suspended his campaign which allows him to direct his delegates also</p>
<p>“By the way, the booing was small and ended pretty quickly. McCain was well received yesterday.”</p>
<p>Actually, he was booed as he left as well. But, as one report noted, this was an audience that gave Cheney a standing ovation when he supported enhanced interrogation techniques. It’s a pretty conservative group. I agree with those who think the conservatives will get in line once McCain gets the nomination. Where else will they go?</p>
<p>Conservatives will just hold their noses as they vote for McCain</p>
<p>“More amendments means more federal intervention into the lives of citizens - that’s not conservatism. While I don’t believe that we, as a nation, should condone abortion or gay marriage (just my belief - don’t flame me!), some things could be left to the states to decide. I also firmly believe that the states should have most of the say about how funds should be spent in their state. But I digress…”</p>
<p>We are the same kind of conservative. I personally support gay marriage, but don’t think to impose my view by supporting Constitutional amendments.</p>
<p>^^And how do you guys (and gals 
) view Huckabee wanting to amend the Constitution to make it more in line with the Bible? Would you support McCain if Huckabee was his running mate?</p>