Nothing short of going back in time can change their minds.

Boise, ID

McCain has many problems, age, republican party, are two of those handicaps. I can’t see how McCain could change historians or fo that matter, general publics minds on his chances of becoming president. He just doesn’t shine like Obama and his presentation sucks at times.

Jack,
I think that he has to convince people that he not another George W. Bush also he needs to appeal to everyone, not just his party. People are not happy with Republican Party and he needs to be seen as a president not a politician when have to have a president who can be a leader who looks for the best interest of United States not for his legacy.

from their mouth to god’s ears….I hope Obama wins in a landslide. I cannot conceive anyone voting for McBush…

He can’t. No way. There’s nothing he can do.

Senator McCain can prove the naysayers wrong by doing what Harry Truman did to win: waging a ground campaign that connects with the common people. It would also help to choose a running mate who attracts support across state lines, and for this I suggest Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina. At least this choice shows some appreciation for the millions of Hillary women who have been told to have a seat and behave.

John
Albany, NY

By not being another Bush-clone.

John McCain needs to run as fast & as far away from Evangelicals as he possibly can at his age. Good luck, McSame !! Too bad everyone already knows he voted for Bush legislation 87%. Mary from Sarasota, FL

Jack: He can’t. The best thing about John McCain is that when history starts repeating itself, he will be the first to know. The longer McCain’s campaign continues, the more he resembles “Yoda” with a tie.

Jack,
I think that he has to convince people that he not another George W. Bush. Also he needs to appeal to everyone, not just his party. People are not happy with Republican Party. He needs to be seen as a president not just another politician. We have to have a president who can be a leader who looks for the best interest of United States and not thinking about his legacy all the time.

Everything about the way Mccain seems to be carrying himself in order to win the presidency is all to familiar— preying on fear, promoting strong defense, and propping up a huge budget. These have all been effective weapons in the past. It seems like Mccain is doing everything he needs to do. I think this is a losing strategy. Mccain should probably focus on ECONOMY, stopping trickle down economics.

he can start ,by making a solemn promise ,to never veto beer.beyond that,i don’t think constant flip-flopping on issues ,and negative attacks will help him at all.

John McCain would be wise to take that bet. Since when are historians harbingers of what is to come. The last time I checked, the job of an historian is to take actual events and distort them to conform to their particular political point of view. If these historians are so sure of themselves, perhaps they should stash the crystal ball, head straight to Vegas, and bet the house on an Obama victory in November. These false prophets need to put their money where their mouths are.

It appears these historians are just using common sense,
not so much history. Anyone with any intelligence can see
that McCain is not equipped to be the next president. He
has and still supports GWB”s policies which has put us
in the worst position in the history of our country. Maybe
that is what they are referring to.
They say history repeats itself, but hopefully the unlimited
spending republicans will be unable to make future history for
decades.

1. Stop making statements that the Iraq war is a success and that we will be there indefinitely.
2. Read, “Economics for Dummies”.

McCain is already ancient history, did he discover America or was that Columbus Jack?

state to the people that hiring illegal imigrants will cost you an automatic 2 year prison term and a fine of ten thousand per illegal immigrant!

do everything bush wouldn’t do because of cheney and his oil buddies!

It doesn’t really mater what Historians think. They are a minority in the grand scheme of things. I wish I had a nickel for every pundit or professed Historian that claimed something that didn’t come true. I could almost afford a full tank of gasoline.

A little Botox here, Grecian formula there, a little Rogaine up there???

Seniors are angry with Obama over his age prejudice. John McCain needs to get seniors, working Americans (for whom he has no respect), women, and Hispanics. But, if a bolt of lightening strikes Obama, and he names Hillary his team mate, the historians will be correct.

All McCain has to do to have a chance is run all of Hillary’s anti-Obama attack ads in October. He can use a 527 to do it, and claim he ran a clean campaign.

Jack,first he has to find a way to fight a bias media,then he needs remind people that same thing was said of Harry Truman,is anybody surprised that a bunch of left wing professors would predict this way!?

Jack, McCain can’t change people’s minds! After all McCain sided with Bush 95% in the Senate! Thus exposes him for what he is: McSame!

are these the same historians who said that World War 1 was the “War to End All Wars?”

Historians with crystal balls? Let’s deal with events as they happen. This is just more liberal jibberish.

Well Jack!

The only way to change their mind, is to drop out of the race!
then the historians would think he has no chance to win in November.

Jack
John McCain had better focus on his reelection campaign for his senate seat and forget about sitting in the big chair. We will not have another four years of the same. We need a change in Washington DC.

As long as McCain keeps showing up in photos standing
next to Joe Lieberman, Obama has NOOOOO problems.

When did Historians replace the American voter in deciding who has a chance or who does not. The problem with America today is too many arm chair analysts trying to determine everything from the cozy comfort of the airconditioned cocoons. Just tell those Historians to task themselves by hauling their fact behinds to the polls in November because that is the only way we will know who has a chance and who does not.

McCain’s only chance this November hinges on a campaign where he doesn’t say or do anything to reinforce the voters’ opinion of him as a senile old fool - if he succeeds then the experience factor might play into his favor. He’s toast otherwise.

John McCain is running his campaign on history and would make a great historian himself.

McCain is too much Bush policy! Depends on what McCain does between now and General Election.

He’s not so far behind, despite the laurels and raves from the press, but McCain can change more minds by the open, town hall type meetings where the voters, not the biased reporters, get to ask the questions. I don’t think Obama wants that configuration, because without a script, he’s an empty suit.

Mc Cain could get a second look by Americans if he gave peace a chance. To many people have died for this democracy to give birth. Our 4100 honorible soldiers and the over 800,000 Iraq citizens. After Bush all he needs to do is show an ounce of good sense and he would be very competitive in November.

Over 375,000 jobs lost since january, over 4500 troops killed in a senseless war, over 1 million homes in foreclosure, the world hates us, gas is at $4.10 and rising daily - we cannot afford john mcwar or any repub for that matter. side note *** last week he voted against a bill that would have granted equal pay for women and the week prior voted against extending unemployment benefits. Interesting huh?

Jonathon, Hartford, CT: Your fantasy is interesting. Imagine the odds of that happening.

Actually, it is hard for me to see John McCain as a winner this fall. He is deluded that a lot of people buy into his plans.

The historians know that he is history. There is nothing he can say or do.

The only chance McCail has of being elected in November is to run as Obama’s vice president.

He could start by running a competent campaign instead of making gaffe after gaffe. Bush is an albatross around McCain’s neck and I don’t think he can overcome that without openly attacking George Bush which would cost him his base and strengthen Bob Barr. The Democrats have tried to make this election about Bush and they are succeeding. It appears pretty hopeless for John McCain.

Jack, I don’t thnk there is too much that John McCain can do to win this fall’s election because frankly I agree with the historians. Let’s pray that they are right.

Jack,
I think the damage is already done, and it is likely irreparable. Like all politicians, McCain is blessed with a highly selective memory - like when on Meet the Press in 2005, he insisted multiple times that he was fundamentally the same as Bush. Funny how things change. The only way he can change perceptions of him would involve some sort of a massive mind-wipe device. Then he’d have to start over with policies grounded in those pesky things like economics and math.

Well Jack, He needs to start by convincing his own party that he can win in november. Let’s face it, the party lacks passion, money, and new vision. If all those newly registered democrats come out to vote ;it won’t matter. Obama by a landside!!!!

He could do a 180. Oh, wait. He already did that.

No Teflon John.

McCain=Bush Third Term.

McCain couldn’t win if Obama quit!

If anyone has a good idea on how McCain can change their minds, he’ll probably forget it before he can implement it.

He could become the media’s darling and let them push him in. That’s how we got Bush - and now - looks like Obama.

This is the time for change, hackneyed as that sounds. McCain is too old, too embedded in old ideas and basically clueless about what is going on with most voters.

Despite what CNN thinks, McCain will get his chance in history if Obama is still the candidate in November! Obama will loose and McCain will have the opportunity to prove he was a much better choice than the leftist imposed by my EX-Democratic Party.
Amarissa, Miami, Florida

If the American people fall for McCain then we will get what we deserve. Unfortunately for those of us who don’t vote for him will have to suffer along with them ! McCain=fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on ME ! Godspeed Senator Obama !

I don’t think it is possible. His only chance is if Obama makes a huge mistake. Barring that he has no chance.

Jack:
McCain stands a snowball’s chance in hades of getting elected. Americans are tired of the same old same old. And speaking of old, McCain go home and rock your grandbabies. A new day and new time is acoming- get on board or get out the way!

Are these the same historians and pundits that predicted what would happen in New Hampshire? Linda in Woodbury, NJ

he could change their minds by offering to be Obama’s running mate….

Now that Gore has announced he will endorse Obama at the rally tonight in MI, it’s all over for McCain. Between the numbers of registered Democrats, the big name Super Delegates in Obama’s corner, and the HUGE, grassroots technological machine behind Obama, McCain doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance of winning…but then the Republicans knew that already when they annointed him as this year’s “pick.” They wanted to be able to tell McCain he had his turn at running (after losing to Bush last time around) and when they lose, it won’t be one of their top guys that takes the fall for the Party. They are already strategizing for 2012.

Drop out of the race. They way, they’ll REALLY be wrong. McCain’s only hope is to pick his college roommate Moses as his running mate.

Jack,

the “historians” have forgotten one important piece of history. this country reelected George W Bush in 2004. any electorate that gullable to 30 second sound bites from 527 TV ads is liable to elect McCain to a Bush third term.

Jack-
McCain is an honorable war hero, but he lacks the charisma to connect with mainstream America. I think most folks like him, but he’s not presidential, and appears to want to continue the Bush regime of alienating America from the rest of the world. We need a rebirth. McCain, though he tries to paint himself as a Republican outsider and independent grabber, as a majority, is still the same drum beat, not a different song.

Historians? Who gives a flying hoot about historians? Jack how about we let the voters decide in November who the next President will be not the “historians”! Jack you are typical liberal left wing media you are trying to influence the future with your hype! Now shut up and get back to work!

this election is too different from past elections for anyone to make safe predictions.

The only way McCain will win in November is if he uses the same Steal The Election tactics Bush used in 2000.

And that wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

I don’t know who these historians are but it sounds like a cooked up scheme to use invented momentum against McCain.One thing for sure,Americans are fed-up with the media telling us well in advance who’s going to win,in other words,who we are going to vote for.Watch for this to backfire on these historians.

The only way he can change peoples minds is by losing the (R) next to his name on the ballot. I admire Sen McCain, but cant in good conscience vote for him, only because he is affiliated with the party that has hurt our country on so many levels.

Jack,
Don’t you see how confuse McCentury is? Let him learn about history of Middle East. Shia in Irak are the same in Iran and Lebanon. Can they trust him when he wants to bomb Iran?
He needs Eco 101 and History of the world 101.
Chantilly, Virginia

It doesn’t matter how many times the historians say it.

Obama is a miserable candidate, and his numbers show that more and more Americans are beginning to see the light and realize he would be horrible for our country.

McCain will win in a landslide in November as people become more educated about their options.

McCain will lose by one of the biggest margins ever.

I hope the historians are right. The one thing the historian aren’t figuring into their equation is the “Bradley” factor. As much as I hate to say it, but racism remains alive in what could and should be the greatest country in the world.

The Giants beat the Patriots so let’s not get all caught up in the inevitability of anything especially in a Presidential election.

Although I want Obama to win, I fear that this build up for him to do so in a landslide is a ploy to anger people into thinking he or the country is taking this for granted and thereby there will be some sort of support that will force McCain through just to beat Obama.

I’m never gonna buy into the notion that an African American man has any level of inevitability over a white man. Not in this country of bigots and racist.

He could become the John McCain of 2000 again and stop trying to placate the right wingers in his party. Even then it’s Obama in 2008 & 2012. HIs time has already come and gone and so have the republicans for that matter.

I’m hoping for a Democratic landslide victory.

McCain can win if he begins to focus on the issues that matter to Americans, i.e. economic problems, and stop wasting time on who Obama’s vetters are.

Who cares what all those smart folks think!

Historians my you-know-what!

They all a buncha elitists!

They think they so special with their “PhD’s- whatever those are!

Well, for starters he could orchestrate a foolproof Watergate scandal — getting all the dirt on Obama he can, blackmail Obama’s campaign staff to jump ship, discretely embezzle all of Obama’s campaign cash, win the war in Iraq with his bare hands, and find Bin laden. That would impress me.

Storm Turner
Atlanta

America must be cautious about putting their faith into people who predict into the future or historians. Remember that “all the polls” were saying that John Kerry was going to win November 2004, and he ended up losing, even though he would have made an excellent president. We just have to wait until the only poll that matters, the general election, occurs on November 4th.

I think it’s appropriate that historians are examining McCain. Because they study history, and that’s what he is.

Changing their minds is irrelevant. It’s the voting public that matters. McCain needs to one of Hillary’s “game changers” to come along, or manufacture one if it doesn’t. Expect to see the latter.

According to an author on the Rick Sanchez show last night about 50% of the people surveyed think Iraq was responsible for 9/11 so all the Republicans have to do is keep lying and who knows. Look at McCain he twists everything Obama says into a lie and if as many people in the U.S. are as ignorant of the facts and as gullible as this poll seems to suggest then McCain is a shoe-in!

It might help if McCain quit changing his position on issues depending on which way the wind was blowing and who his audience was.

It might help if McCain talked about his stance on issues and what he’s done in his last 30 years as a Senator to promote that stance. Does he not want the voting public to know his record?

It might help if McCain would stop acting and talking like a loose cannon regarding war related issues.

Jack,

Change their minds? He can’t. Not if they have any smarts or substance! Sen. McCain makes me cringe. But, then again, I’m used to that. I live in Arizona!

I am an Obama supporter but would rather not be too compacent.

McCain could win if he plays up his war-hero experiences and the race card - in a less “straight talk express” kinda way.

McCain can trust the brilliant GOP machine that got Bush in the white house twice.
Rememebr Bush is dumb as rocks and McCain is a war hero. So it should be easier for them this time.

I am a white male, Iraq Veteran, still serving as a member of the military, AND I am from Idaho which is one of the “reddest” states there is. That being said, I am an avid supporter of Senator Obama and for the first time in my life I have caucased as a Democrat.

If you don’t agree with him on specific issues, that’s okay. One of the greatest gifts we have as Americans is our right to disagree. I’ve had to explain to many people that I do not dislike Senator McCain; in fact I have the highest respect for him. That being said, I just do not agree with him on all the major issues. And by “major issues” I mean the economy, the war in Iraq, ridiculous gas prices, etc. NOT flag pins, gay marriage amendments, and whether or not his middle name is Hussain.

What many people fail to realize is that the number of veterans, as well as current active serving troops that support Obama is growing at a very fast rate. Very few support the war in Iraq anymore, and many are disillusioned and feel betrayed by the Republican administration. McCain does not have a shoe-in with the veteran vote, and I would not be surprised if he loses it.

He can get 20 years younger. He can start being honest with the American people. He can start respecting women more, starting with his own wife. He can seek forgiveness from his ex-wife for leaving her when she was sick for a younger, richer woman. He can start firing all the lobbyists that he has surrounded himself with. He can publish the truth about his Navy career, especially his father’s influence in him becoming a fighter pilot.

Now, this is a good start. Good luck, McCane.

Jack, Odd how all of a sudden the “historians” have the answer when everyone affiliated with the Obama campaign says that the electoral vote will not reflect past red/bue states, but will be a NEW electoral map. Why should the Obama camp say history has nothing to do with it…. yet the same people from that camp quote “historians” as they pertain to McCain? Which is it Jack? Can’t have it both ways.

Well, even if he’s got no chance, everyone wants an exciting election. We can suspend disbeleif a little for entertainment value.

it might help if he stops complaining about who things that really don’t matter. picky mccain can turn things around.

McCain’s last and better chance to the white house is to abandon the republican party,switch to the Democrats and beg Obama to put him on the ticket for the vice presidency slot.Jack,that will be the mother of all dream team.

All these scholars are surely smart guys.
But, did none of them note that McCain is, objectively, the worst candidate ever since ww2?
Confused, flip-plopping, war-mongering and absolutely no plan to address hot economic or social issues …
Well, at least our historians noted that he has no chance, even if one may disagree on the reason they give.

Seriously, did you really need economists to tell us that.

There’s not much he can do. The way McCain will win is if that idiot in the white house suddenly fixes all of the problems he created for this country, and what are the odds of that ever happening?

McCain has too many problems to be president. The only chance he has is if Obama is caught doing something really stupid and horrendous.

Jack, all he can do is lie…the republican party is great at that, they can take line’s out of a paragraph and spin it to no return. It’s sad really, but it’s all they’re good for.

Jim from CT.

He would only get the women by going against Republican doctrinaires. He will only get the right-wing Christians by rubbing a lamp or personally carrying back the head of Bin Laden.

He’s going to have a hard time anyway with people like me giving 25 cents to Bob Barr on every dollar that I send to Barack. With Ron paul getting 2-6% and Barr polling at 5-7 % McCain is facing a perfect storm.

If the Taliban resurgence continues in Afghanistan it may help McCain because of his military credentials. If the US think that the Taliban is reemerging with strength that may give him an edge. Obama clearly has zero experience in Ntional Security.

Sorry he can’t analysts’ minds.
This is about reality, not perception.
McCain has no policies except war and fears, and he is a flip-flopper.

I agree with the historians. Besides, Senator McCain should have learned from watching the kind of campaign that Senator Clinton ran - it does not work to attack.

Jack:

For the following reasons, I believe it will be difficult for Sen. McCain to change the minds of the historians and others regarding the possibility of success in the fall:

Gas is over $4.00/gal… When is the gas tax holiday? Wouldn’t congress have to pass legislation to make this happen? Who’s working on that? My guess is that he used this “gimmick” to catch some time in the headlines…

As I recall, Sen. McCain admitted that economics was not his strength. Considering that we are in a bit of a extended economic down-turn, one would expect that the candidate who is apply for this job would be able to bring something to the table to turn things around in our economy.

He also gave a “flip” remark about keeping our troops in Iraq for potentially 100 years. Thousands of Americans have lost their lives, and many thousands of others have as well. What real plan has he or anyone else presented to get us out of this quagmire?

And last, but not least… that speech in front of the big green monster… Wow!

Bryon
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

He can change minds by being himself. The guy is one of the most moderate Republicans running, perhaps ever, against one of the most liberal Democrats, ever. I think the Obama obession will erode with the next coming months as people begin to image an Obama presidency. Even those who support him whole heartedly will start to enterain their doubts of his experience. War - like it or not - still affects decisions when the ballot curtain closes and your country’s security is on your mind.

Pundits can try - just try - to report instead of cheerlead - and then do something rather new to this election cycle and let the people vote.

If Mac works hard perhaps he can be the first candidate to share an impeachment with a sitting president. We can dream anyway

What’s not to like about McCain? He fully supports a war that two-thirds of the American people want out of and wants to “Bomb-Bomb Iran”. Sounds like a third Bush term to me.

Through 200 million brain transplant surgeries.

Jack,
I think the Historians are right. The only way he can change their minds is to act like he did when he was running for President against Bush and stop running on a campain of fear like Bush did in 04. Telling us he is the only one that can make it better if he gets in it will not be better at least not much.

Paul
Austin, Texas

I guess he’d change their minds if he won. Wow that was an easy question!

He only needs to stay away from green backgrounds and keep his foulmouth shut and then hope only stupid people show up to vote in November!

He can’t. He has a record of saying one thing and doing another. He placed himself as the maverick, but when push came to shove, voted along Bush lines. He has no credibility and, the more he speaks, little grasp of the issues that concern Americans.

Historians can differentiate between a genuine leader and a woild-be one. It’s all written in the genes. Mc Cain’s genes are common.
You can find them in the guy next door as well as in any other guy.

I wonder who’s behind his candidacy; in other words what organization want its candidate to fail.

GREG from WARREN, Machigan

Who cares. McCain has done this to himself. He is living in the past. I respect him for being a war hero.. However, he is a loose cannon ready to go off. I do not trust him. He is Mr. Flip Flop.

Marilyn

Hi Jack:

History is always changing in many directions.

Jack -

President McCain sounds as scary as hearing the words President Cheney. Obama in a landslide with over 350 electorial votes.

It really does not matter who the other candidate is - MILLIONS will vote AGAINST obama. So. - I guess that would mean McCain will win because obama will never be elected - he is far too radical to be President of the UNITED States.

Well if the election is rigged again, he might have a better chance. By the way, why is it that the Republicans get ‘quiet’ when any discussion comes up about the new film Recount or the well founded allegations of what happened in Ohio?

Contrary to most of the above comments, I am looking forward to a grand slam victory for Senator McCain in November. President Bush is no comparison to Senator McCain; Bush has never served in the military (if I remember right, I think when he was running, he was accused of being a draft dodger). Senator McCain served his country, he is a man who should be respected, he is honest and trustworthy, and I will definitely vote for him in November. As for the issue of age, I would vote for anybody’s grandfather over Obama!

Jack

McCain could change our minds by doing some of the following:
1. Promising to end this illegal, unjust, intolerable war
2. Promising to prosecute G.W Bush for various crimes
3. Promising to give tax breaks to the poor/middle class and raising taxes on the rich
4. Changing the countries infastructure to accomodate alternative fuels like hydrogen fuel stations

The democrats have already done all that is necessary to support the McCain victory: they selected an unknown empty suit, a man with soft hands and no recorded history except his anti-American/racist religious ties. Had the democrats selected Sen Clinton to run, I could more agree with you.

If America elects Obama in Nov, we will deserve all the crap we are going to get.

I don’t think Americans are, as my grandmother would say, “gluttens” for punishment. Voting for a man that voted 90% for Bush legislation and who believes that our economy is fundamentally sound would prove we haven’t had enough of a beat down. I think we, as a country, are smarter than that.

The bush administration has damaged this country for seven years. You can take Bush out of the equation. It is the republican party who has suffered from george Bush’s incompetence. This country has had enough and will not tolerate four more years of Bush politics.

I still remember the headlines in England when Bush won his last election…”How can X million people that voted for Bush in the U.S. be so dumb!” Being the pragmatic person that I am, I look at the facts. Polls don’t really do it for me so much, but I still do not see McCain having a chance in hell. On the other hand, there will still be a large number of voters that, still to this day, are disillusioned by republican policy. There will also be a large number of folks that are prejudiced and vote for McCain. I hope Americans are finally tired of us playing World Police and giving in to special interest groups. Vote for someone that will finally focus on the American people. Barack Obama.

About the only way I see that McCain can change these historians’ minds about his chances of winning in November is for him to totally reverse most of his positions. He should endorse the movements to impeach George Bush, nationalize the oil corporations who are driving this nation into disaster, and guarantee government-provivded, free health care for all Americans. Opposing Obama by supporting gays’ right to marry wouldn’t hurt either. Or maybe he could offer the vice presidential slot to Ralph Nader. If all else fails, Jack, McCain had better get busy rigging voting machines.
Jay Longley
Brownwood, Texas

He can’t do anything. He stuck up for what he believed in for a while, and that didn’t get him anywhere. When does it ever in politics? Then he decided to be the next Bush, which is great when you’re trying to run for the nomination, but not nearly as effective in the current political environment. So he decided to not stick up for bills he signed himself - that now apparently don’t represent his views - and now he’s just another republican goon subscribing to “divide and conquer”. It’s tough, because people used to respect the man, now he’s got no respect and no chance at winning the election.

People need to look at the candidate, not their party. There is a clear choice. You can vote for Barack Obama, an inexperienced tax-and-spend liberal senator, who ran for president after serving just one year in congress and passing just one bill. A man who spent 20 years listening to anti-american sermons, a man who calls people who live in rural towns “bitter” and that that they “cling to guns and religion”, a man who’s policies are identical to Jimmy Carter’s, or you could vote for John McCain, a war hero who spent 5 years suffering as a P.O.W., a man who has been in congress for 25 years and understands how everything works, a man who wants to win the war, make health care affordable, secure our borders, and lower your taxes. John McCain and George W. Bush are two seperate people. Don’t fall for Barack’s flaud words like change and hope. Make a smart choice.

McCain looks tired and confused. He voice is whiney and he is relying heavily on his POW status. While I salute his heroic history and have nothing but respect for his military history, they are just that, history. The next president will have to be strong in many arena(s) and the most pressing at this moment at home is the ECONOMY and getting our troops the hell out of IRAQ.

Gee, it’s too bad the “historians” only get one vote each, just like the rest of us. This is one Democrat who will NOT be voting for Obama. And, believe me, I’m not the only one!

history doesn’t have to point this out. with all of the cover ups, and lies, and deceptions, that the republicans have had during these last eight years. a blind deaf mute can figure this one out.

Hi Jack,
I must be high as well. What i should have said is, history does not change. History does not take into account new dynamics that did not exist before.
The dynamic changes produced by the introduction of the computer were not possible to forecast as well.

Surprising events often manifest when you least expect them.

Jack,

The “Historians” are not in touch with Real people.

You will see along with all the other Left wing nut jobs that think BO is the second coming…..

McCain will win by a landslide this fall-he sure has Texas won!

McCain 08

Well, in the absence of some pretty significant skeletons emerging from Obama’s closet, they can’t. McCain may be more moderate, but he’s still a Republican and I believe people will hold that against him just because of the Bush legacy.

McCain’s age doesn’t help either. Reagan’s age was probably at the edge of the “comfort level.” McCain’s is in the red zone.

Amarissa in Miami - Grow up. Your candidate lost. This isn’t a playground fight, it’s an election.

The historians are right that Obama will win, because McCain is a flip-flopping, fake maverick who would make this country even worse in 4 years than Bush made it in 8.

Interesting factoid, Jack. But aren’t historians, by definition, people who deal with the past? The way Mccain can “prove” something to them is to win. This is an historic election from llots of perspectives. Maybe the key is that the past polarizing two-party perspective is what will go by the wayside here. Perhaps people will see that the “past” has led to a stalemate in which nothing gets done. If McCain can credibly occupy the middle ground with appreciation for all points of view, his experience will win out.

“Past is Prologue” is a tired old saw. If it was always true, historians who wander into prognostication would be right a lot more than they’re wrong — and we’d never get anywhere new.

The GOOP know that MCCain doesn’t stand a chance. He is their disposable candidate who won’t be around in 4 years so they can groom someone new for 2012.

I’m a Hillocrat and I look forward to being a spoiler in this years election. It will be shocking for many people to see large numbers of democrats like myself voting for McCain in Nov. I look forward to finally defeating Obama. NOBAMA ‘08 !!!!!

Mary Murphy
Cleveland, OH

The only way he can change their minds is by winning in November. It ain’t gonna happen.

He can’t change their minds, he’s a republican.

Maybe if he forgets and start calling Obama, Hillary. Then everyone will think he’s running against Hillary, and all the Rep. will come in vote in force.

I don’t think even John McCain has enough flip-flop and suck-up left in him to change anyone’s mind to vote for him so hopefully we won’t start hearing that the “historians” give McCain a chance in hell to win.

McCain’s experience in politics is enough for me to elect him. How can we trust Obama who is a new senator from Illiniois? What has he ever done for America for us to elect him as President? He needs to prove himself as a worthy senator first. McCain has done all that.

I don’t think that polls are relevant
There will never be a way to know how the racial factor will play out this fall.
They can’t be accurate with the 800 pound elephant in the voting booth.
Race will always be an unknown factor.

In order to win the votes of the moderte Democrats and Independents, Senator McCain must define the critical problems facing America today. He then needs to develop a comprehensive solution to each as well as pointing out the possible consequences both positive and negative. It is imperative that he communicate his solutions to the electorate without using scare tactics, pandering or insulting the collective intelligence of the American citizenry. Americans will respond positively if the problems and proposed solutions are set out in an unadulterated manner.

All he has to do is get all those red-neck white guys out to vote so he can counteract all the new young voters, women and blacks that will be voting for Obama. Only one problem with that . . . surely there aren’t that many of those guys out there.

jack its simple. he should keep on singing bomb! bomb! iran.

He can hope that every governor is related to him and they can “hand count” each vote of every state. Hey, it worked for Bush in 2000.

win.

He can’t.

By not running as a republican

McCain can remind people that Obama isnt man enough to do town hall meetings. If he cant do that…how can he lead the free world?

I dont think many americans see much political change in McCain, and thats what we need right now. The last eight years of have discredited the republican party and brought me to question my belief in our democracy as well as the idea of checks and balances. As unfair as it seems McCain is a continuation of that trend.

McCain’s best bet is to change parties and endorse Barack Oboma.

All McCain can do is paint Obama as another Jimmy Carter but that won’t help much. Sorry McCain….

Easy, Win.

Brian Peters, Roanoke VA

John McCain can point out that he’s an old white guy and the United States States has a long history of electing old white guys president.

John McCain can step into a time-warp machine and make himself younger. That would SURELY convince those doubters that he should indeed be the POTUS.

Oh wait…..he can’t do that. Sorry. No chance McCain!!

How can John McCain change the scholars mind? Well that wont be easy and I don’t think it is McCains main focus to change the scholar’s minds but the minds of the Americans and that is going to take honest and straight forward speeches. He needs to explain in detail how he will change America and how he will be the “New and Improved Republican!”

Polls like this mean little. “Historians” are “educated”. Obama has had difficulty getting “uneducated” people to vote for him. Mark my words…this election will be very close.

He can’t period, he’s too old to change his own mind!

Historians now say that McCain doesn’t have a chance of winning the election in November. The historians are clueless as to how stupid American voters can be.

John McCain will redeem himself when they start the debates. Obama’s problem in this election is that he’s still all sizzle and no steak. This was fine during the primary of likability, but in an election based on issues, Obama can only win with liberal democrats.

He can change their minds by switching to be a democrat.

It is real simple. All McCain needs to do is go over to Pakistan and capture Osama bin Laden single-handedly. Then on his way back, stop off at Saudi Arabia and twist some arms until the price of oil goes down to $20 a barrel.

McCain has history against him……the history of Bush. Anyone remotely connected to him has not much of a chance in politics to succeed. I don’t think there is much of a chance of him shaking Bush because he is so tied to him and his ideas. I do agree with Obama when he says that McCain just wants to run for Bushs third term. They don’t call him McBush for nothing!

John McCain can step into a time-warp machine and make himself younger. That would SURELY convince those doubters that he should indeed be the POTUS.

Oh wait…..he can’t do that. Sorry. No chance McCain!!

Erica, Atlanta GA

Jack, he can change their minds by running as an Independant.

Wait and See. Its not over yet!! No Hillary No win!! Some old fossils want to predict what will happen in the year 2008. I doubt it SERIOUSLY.

How can he change our minds? Dunno, but it would probably have to involve voodoo.

McCain’s best chance? Distance himself as far as possible from everything the Bush administration has fouled up the last 8 years.

Being 20 years younger wouldn’t hurt either.

Jack,
Senator John McCain must show that he he is not another George W. Bush, try to make his speeches more exciting like Barrack Obama’s and explain to voters how Obama’s policies will be to the detriment of this nation.

Hopefully McCain can do nothing to stop Sen. Obama. Sen. Obama will bring many changers we will be thankful for. He is honest, intelligent and has already started on the lobbyists. Audrey

Two words, Jack - “Swift Boat”. That’s the way that Bush beat Kerry as well as Gore and McCain himself back in 2000 (even though we didn’t know what to call it until the 2004 campaign).

I feel sorry for Obama and his family, given the lies that the neocons are sure to spread about him. It’s already started. Check the surveys and see how many people think Obama is a Muslim!

McSame has no chance. Folks like me (former Republican) will never forgive him for partnering with Kennedy on an amnesty bill for illegal aliens. I know better than to base my vote on a single issue, but I will not reward McSame for his “bad behavior” by voting for him!

Is everyone forgetting how easy it is for the voting count to be rigged and that we have a dictator ready to declare a national emergency to prevent a real election!!!

For McCain to start winning over more Americans, he’s going to have to cut the ties with President Bush. He needs to lay out an economic plan that will give much needed aid to people who are suffering most from the housing crisis and rising oil prices. He also will have to lay out a more optimistic plan for the war in Iraq. This is a tremendously unpopular war, and without hearing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, we’ll continue viewing him as an extension of the Bush presidency. We need to believe that when we say we want out of Iraq, our government officials will listen.

Uncle John should forget about the right, appeal to the huge bank of moderate Democrats. He could really turn this thing around by inviting Hillary Clinton as his VP. Am I crazy?

McCain is like a chameleon, it can change its color and not its habits. It is for him to change his habits and convince the world that he is not George Bush III. Then the historians will change their minds about him.

He could learn how to do the dance SOULJA BOY. This would show the younger generation that he can walk it out. Then make be they will vote for him.

The old man McBush is toast! He is wrong for America.

Historians reflect history, hence knowing that President Bush is the most arrogant, self centered, and political embaressment in the history of the United States tends to sway them towards the unevidable truth. Senator McCain truly will be an extension of Bush policies, whether he believes it or not is another matter.

It would be easy for McCain to win, all he has to do is change his postition on almost all of his issues. Admit that Iraq is a joke and that we have to finish, or start, what we began in Afganistan and get out of Iraq. And maybe he could also get some real help to look at that other problem people keep mentioning, the economy.

He can change his name to Obama on the ballots to confuse votes.

John McCain’s main problem is that he’s not John McCain anymore. At one point he was a good guy, but he sold all that out and flip-flopped on everything he believed in. He ditched everyone who brought him to the dance to try to court a bunch of far-right Republicans who are never going to like him anyway. Instead of having only half the base trust him, now NOBODY can trust him.

It may not be so much what Senator McCain does as what Senator Obama does that will enhance McCains chances of winning the White House. Perhaps it will one of Barak’s friends who helps John’s campaign. If Obama doesn’t trip it will be a difficult run for McCain.

Why would anyone vote for John McCain?

He’ll change their minds by distancing himself from President Bush.
In order to do that he must CHANGE his stupid ideas.Yeah right!

Historians are not important to deciding if McCain has a chance at the presidency. McCain’s best chance of getting the American people to vote for him is to have Bush start a war with Iran in late October, and release constant and pervasive propoganda that the Iraq war is a complete success. Truth, honesty, and historical teachings no longer apply.

If McCain really wants to win, he needs a running mate that can divide the African-American vote.

McCain needs to be himself. He’s a survivor. He’s built a career as the “maverick”, but it wasn’t until he played the GOP’s game that he won the nomination. Now it’s time for him to graciously say “thank you” to the GOP - and be the maverick he really is. That’s how he can win the centrists. (A nice VP pick like Huckabee could shore up the conservatives.)

There’s no real need to go after Obama. Obama is his own worst enemy. If one listens to what this man is saying, rather than how he says it, one realizes that every, single “solution” he proposes is an expansion of federal authority and intrusiveness.

Interesting john mccain….How could anyone with open mindedness vote republican after what bush had done,american forigh policy is terribly derailed and hurt…american needs change,historians may be right..fingers crossed…

Well, Jack, you never know what can happen its 4 months and several days. It could change a lot of minds and make people ask themselves “How liberal is Barrack Obama?”

As long as McCain continues to endorse Bush’s war policies, coupled with his inability to even spell ECONOMICS, he stands no chance of winning the election. And, If McCain adopts Bush’s smirk, it will be a total landslide for Obama.

Olympia, Washington

Not so fast…. StrawPoll just published a survey of over 250,000 respondents that shows McCain leads by 10%, which is huge for presidential politics.

More Republican bashing from media wonks, plain and simple. Obama has two years in the Senate and virtually zero foreign policy experience. Don’t you think that matters to the American voting public?

McCain is a known quantity that represents change even though he’s not a Democrat.

Jack,

John McCain has as much of a chance being president as GW has winning a 3rd term. It just ain’t gonna happen…….

Why John McCain MUST NOT ever become President!

**He supported the war in Iraq

**He is very dismissive about when or if the troops should return home

**He does not respect women

**He still thinks of himself as the Maverick Flyboy

**He knows zilch about the economy, as a matter of fact he thinks
that the US Economy is very GROUNDED FUNDAMENTALLY!

To change my mind he would have to support Dennis Kucinich in his drive to impeach George W. Bush!!!
Dan from Pennsylvania