I'm thinking (and hoping) that this will totally backfire on McCain and Obama will win by a landslide.

McCain/Palin can be the Mondale/Ferraro of 2008!!

i don't hate the guy i just can't stand him.
and the reason i can't stand him is that he's made this whole working and compromising with the other side the main focus of his campaign while, in my opinion, he should be focusing on why voting democrat is better than voting republican. that'd help him close the deal and win by a landslide is all i am saying.

Is there a difference that I'm not aware of, or are you one of those people who insists they "don't hate anyone" when they really just avoid using the word?

Well I think he'd hoped that Democrats would vote for him regardless. Obviously it's turned out not to be the case, but where's the harm in working with the opposition rather than fighting them needlessly? It worked for Blair over here. The Democrats and the Republicans have a lot of common goals at this point as far as I can see, and over issues like Iraq that should transcend national-level politics, the last thing you want is needless partisan division.

I'm just suggesting this as a possibility. The Democrats really should have this one in the bag. I've just got a nasty feeling that their supporters are going to completely fail to unite when they've got a chance of winning and end up at best scraping through, at worst losing. If they could be relied on, Obama wouldn't need to pursue the floating voters so much.

'hate' is a very 'strong' word for my liking and i guess yes, i avoid using it especially when i don't personally know somebody.
but, back to the point, i understand what you say however obama hasn't won the election yet. and i'm afraid all this compromise motto of his doesn't send a strong message out at this point as to why voting democrat will make a difference, how will help solve our current problems, how it will benefit the country. i wouldn't have a problem with him saying on national television, "I think there are a whole host of areas where Republicans in some cases may have a better idea," if he'd care to elaborate. but he never does. he never says how he plans to work and compromise with them on, say, the economy, abortion, gay rights. it's all just talk.
many democrats at this point either don't realize this or they do and just trust him to do the right thing if he's elected. well, i certainly do not trust anybody to do anything when the time comes.

Well, you're probably right that it's empty rhetoric. My best guess is that he's courting the floating vote. So he's trying to come off as affable and not express the kind of strong views on divisive issues that will put people off him. It sucks, but it's politics, right?


I'd imagine most are just voting against McCain. That's what you're supposed to do, really. Vote against what you don't want in favour of the next strongest guy. It's a lot easier in countries like ours where there aren't many main players. Voting in those new Middle Eastern democracies where they have 200-odd parties must be tough.