Thread: I have changed my view.

Sorry to disappoint, Bruno, but I don't see much a can of worms there.

I actually agree with you right down the line.

What I would point out, is that if Bush/Cheney had recognized that their position was stronger than they seemed to think it was, and had vigorously defended it, McCain would have either never won in the primaries with his anti-Bush campaign, or he would have run a completely different campaign.

As for shooting himself in the foot with Palin, I'm not sure that she would have been enough to cost him the election, if it wasn't for the fact he'd already run a pretty lame campaign, and done just as poor a job of defending his running mate as Bush and Cheney did defending themselves.

Just imagine how things might have turned out if Bush/Cheney had vigorously defended themselves. The republican party would have gone into the primaries not only stronger in general, but with a stronger conservative base. Romney would probably have won the primaries, despite being mormon. (No offense to mormons there, it's just that the more, "traditional" denominations are more likely to get a man in the White House)

With the backing of much higher satisfaction ratings for the sitting republican president, Romney would have crushed Obama or Clinton in the election (whichever one got the nomination in this alternate history) because let's face it, they were both soft candidates who had no chance against a strong opponent.

Romney, being a true conservative, would probably have handled this whole bail-out/recession issue completely differently. Things just keep getting better from there.

I also agree about Obama's campaign. I don't agree with most of his politics, but the guy is one heck of a speaker as long as he stays on the cue cards.