tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post1745190628300698999..comments2024-03-26T05:22:08.256-04:00Comments on Frontloading HQ: Can the World Position Itself for the Next President Before the Actual Election? In 2008, it won't be easy.Josh Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-21690243198302128282008-07-14T19:20:00.000-04:002008-07-14T19:20:00.000-04:00From my reading of America Alone: The Neo-Conserva...From my reading of America Alone: The Neo-Conservatives and the Global Order, George W. Bush was not a neo-con until after 9/11. If memory serves me correctly, John McCain was described as a neo-con. I agree taht he is no maverick, but the perception is there. Obama has not done a good job at forcing McCain to choose between his base and those who see him as a maverick.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379192575044761972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-64511627503607892462008-07-14T18:26:00.000-04:002008-07-14T18:26:00.000-04:00Jack,I completely agree with you on the maverick i...Jack,<BR/>I completely agree with you on the maverick issue. I purposely kept the whole piece broad and that was part of it. I didn't build in enough about that being more perception than reality. But I did stress that it was based on him taking a stand if only on relatively small number of issues. <BR/><BR/>And yes, 2000 has a lot to do with that perception. McCain relative to Bush equals maverick.<BR/><BR/>...to the rank-in-file in the GOP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-61410111085748759332008-07-14T17:24:00.000-04:002008-07-14T17:24:00.000-04:00Interesting article.An Obama election would have a...Interesting article.<BR/><BR/>An Obama election would have a profound impact on other nations' relationships with the US, as it would be a break from the neoconservative foreign policy of Bush. McCain, not so much - he's a hawk and has always been a hawk. That's probably the one thing he hasn't changed his position on since 2000.<BR/><BR/>This also explains why popular opinion in Europe favors Obama. I wonder why Jordanians favor McCain, and by how much.<BR/><BR/>I respectfully disagree with the point that McCain is a maverick. However, he is <I>perceived</I> as a maverick because he played that role the last time he was in the spotlight (2000). Perceptions, however, have a tremendous influence on how people vote.Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365194237710177589noreply@blogger.com