Crossing Party Lines

[HashiriyaS14]

Greg made an interesting comment in the "candidate education thread". It was in reference to Joe Biden:

I certainly don't dislike him, and would actually strongly consider voting Dem if HE was running for President.

How's THAT for "reaching across the aisle"?

So the question, for everyone, is who from the OPPOSING PARTY would you consider a good candidate for President?

Please first mention the actual candidate you're supporting (Obama or McCain), and then list people you think, from the opposing party, would make a good President.

I am, obviously, supporting Obama for President.

Here's my pick for a GOP candidate (age not withstanding):

Senator Arlen Specter: Pro-Choice, Pro-2nd Amendment, Opposed Clinton Impeachment, prodigious foreign policy experience (Senate Intelligence), Yale and U Penn educated, opposes warrant-less wiretapping, and a fiscal conservative from the realist camp.

Anyone else?

[OriginalWheelman]

I'm voting McCain, but would much rather have voted for Giuliani.

As I'm an independent it would be hard to cross party lines, but if I were to vote for a Dem it would be Eliot Spitzer.

[ishkabibble]

Please first mention the actual candidate you're supporting (Obama or McCain)

None of the above?

[Jesda]

I crossed party lines a long time ago and left the Democrats.

I consider Bob Barr, Libertarian, the most philosophically and intellectually qualified.

[Cold_Zero]

I am currently supporting John McCain

Good Democrat candidates?

Evan Bayh would be interesting. The man was really smart staying away from the VP slot. Had Hillary won he may have considered it more.

Pros1. IU graduate (Kelly School of Business) 2. Good on Financial Policy, especially as Governor of Indiana.3. Good on National Security (Select Committee on Intelligence and Armed Services Committee) He actually voted for the War and has never really run from his vote. 4. Very good on Education5. Young man (age 55)6. From one of the best states in the country.

Cons1. Not an overwhelming connection to Indiana (spent a lot of time in DC because of his dad), unlike d!ck Lugar (senior Senator from Indiana).2. Problematic on his Abortion stance but appears to be moderate.3. Followed the Democrat Party's wishes during the Removal Vote of Bill Clinton instead of following the sentiments of his constituency in Indiana.

[szh]

I am currently supporting McCain and my wife is currently supporting Obama - I am a registered Republican, she is registered as an Independent. Yes, we have very interesting political discussions at our house!

My vote in CA will not matter, in all likelihood. The state is for Obama pretty much, and given our Electoral College system (yuck!), they will all go to Obama.

In any case, if I were to consider voting for a candidate from "across the aisle", it might have been John Edwards. But he self-destructed - albeit after losing in the Primaries anyway.

Z

[HashiriyaS14]

I'm a little surprised that more people can't list opposing-party figures that they think would make a decent President.

Jesda, you can't think of ONE major-party elected official in any capacity (legislative, governors, etc) that you think would make a good POTUS? I'm not asking for the "most qualified", your current candidate is obviously going to be who you believe to be "most qualified", I'm saying that if, theoretically, all you had to choose from was current elected Democrats or Republicans, you can't think of a single one who would lead the country well?

Anyway, here are some more from me:

-Hagel (we have social disagreements, but I think he'd be pretty good)-Lugar-Coburn (see Hagel)

I'd love to say Bobby Jindal, but we just diverge too much on politics. I think he'd be ferociously competent, but I don't think I'd like what he'd do to the country.

[Cold_Zero]

If Bill Richardson has somehow won the Democrat Nomination and was running against John McCain, I would probably be favoring him over McCain right now.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

John McCain's a democrat and I'm voting for him.

Really, though, I'd probably have no problem voting for someone like Brian Schweitzer (gov of Montana). There's also probably dozens of state-level democrats I could maybe stand behind.

National level Congressmen? I don't know all the Reps, let me get back to you.

[Jesda]

I'm a little surprised that more people can't list opposing-party figures that they think would make a decent President.

Jesda, you can't think of ONE major-party elected official in any capacity (legislative, governors, etc) that you think would make a good POTUS? I'm not asking for the "most qualified", your current candidate is obviously going to be who you believe to be "most qualified", I'm saying that if, theoretically, all you had to choose from was current elected Democrats or Republicans, you can't think of a single one who would lead the country well?

Didnt I mention Governor Sebelius in a previous thread?

I've crossed party lines multiple times. I've supported Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians. I've identified with liberals, conservatives, and libertarians. If you want me to "cross" the lines, I already have, over and over. I've tried all 31 flavors. There was a time when I despised Newt Gingrich, now he's my fiscal hero. I wasn't raised with any particular ideology, and politics were never a major issue in my household. We were all non-voting non-citizen immigrants until 1999.

I tend to feel most comfortable with Libertarian candidates, especially in times of trouble.

[HashiriyaS14]

Didnt I mention Governor Sebelius in a previous thread?

I've crossed party lines multiple times. I've supported Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians. I've identified with liberals, conservatives, and libertarians. If you want me to "cross" the lines, I already have, over and over. I've tried all 31 flavors. .

Oh, I know, which I suppose is why I was a little surprised.

I wasn't trying to imply that you were an ideologue, as I know otherwise, hence the question.