McCain-Lieberman a good ticket?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/08/11/art.leiberman.mccain.gi.jpg caption=" Would you vote for a McCain – Lieberman ticket?"]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Joe Lieberman insists it's not going to happen – but people are talking. The former Democratic V.P. nominee – turned independent senator – is reportedly being vetted by John McCain as a potential running mate.
An adviser to McCain tells the Financial Times that McCain "loves Lieberman" and that he's on the short list because he has "never embarrassed anyone, never misspoken."
Some experts have called Lieberman a "near perfect pick" and say that McCain's choice of the Connecticut senator would be "game changing." Plus he would have a fact checker right down the hall at the White House, which in McCain's case would be invaluable.
Advantages to picking Lieberman include his calm temperament and his appeal to elderly Jewish voters in states like Florida. And Lieberman was already thoroughly vetted when he ran in 2000.
On the other hand, it's unlikely Lieberman would do much to shore up McCain's support among the Republican base – a group where some still don't trust him. Some say picking Lieberman could even cause a "revolt" among die-hard conservatives. Lieberman broke with the Democrats on the Iraq war – but has pretty much stuck with the party on all other issues.
One other thing: McCain is 71 and Lieberman is 66, which means the ticket would total 137. That means Barack Obama at age 47 could pick a running mate who is 89 years old and the Democratic ticket would still be younger.
Here’s my question to you: Would Joe Lieberman be a good pick for John McCain’s V.P.?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Re-electing your own member of Congress?
(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
If Americans have finally had enough, and they should have, the current members of Congress are in a lot of trouble. Or are they?
The public already thinks Congress, which is now on vacation, is doing a pretty lousy job. And there's a new Gallup poll shows that only 36% of registered voters say most members deserve to be re-elected. That's among the lowest ratings ever in this poll. Gallup found similar ratings in only three other election years: 1992, 1994 and 2006. All three of these elections brought about big changes in the make-up of Congress, twice switching control from one party to another.
But here's the problem: although most people are disgusted with Congress, they often don't think their senator or congressman is part of the problem – which is why we end up with the same weasels down there for years and years. This Gallup survey shows that 57% of those polled say their own congressman deserves to be re-elected. How is that possible?
Nevertheless, 2008 could bring significant turnover in Congress, especially in an election where "change" has become an important theme. Even though Democrats control both houses of Congress now, there are signs that this will be a better year for Democrats than Republicans.
Want to know why we have the dysfunctional, corrupt government we have? 35% of those polled don't even know if their representative is a Democrat or a Republican.
Here’s my question to you: Will you vote to re-elect your own senator or congressman?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Does a politician’s infidelity matter?
Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
John Edwards is the latest in a long line of politicians who cheated on their wives – and without exception, they all thought they could get away with it.
Edwards' behavior is particularly offensive for a couple of reasons. His wife has incurable cancer. And when Bill Clinton got caught with Monica Lewinsky, Mr. Edwards couldn't wait, saying Clinton "has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, his wife and his daughter." Edwards is the consummate phony.
Mike Lupica writes in the New York Daily News that there should be some official condition to describe guys like Edwards:
"Call it political bipolar disorder, afflicting those who think they can rule the world, set the moral compass for everybody else and can't keep their own zippers in place. It's not just Elizabeth Edwards who deserves better. We all do."
Watch: Cafferty: Infidelity matter?
Edwards insisted last week the affair has been over since 2006 – but the National Enquirer says he spent half the night in a hotel with Rielle Hunter as recently as a few weeks ago. The child at the center of this story has no father listed on his birth certificate, and his mother refuses to do a paternity test to see if Edwards is his father. She's definitely mother of the year material. The sex won't ruin his career, the hypocrisy will.
A recent survey by Ladies' Home Journal found that 35% of American women say their opinion on the happiness of a presidential candidate's marriage will impact their vote.
Here’s my question to you: How much does it matter to you if a politician cheats on his wife?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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