Who will/should McCain pick as running mate?

[BrainGlutton]

All conceivable possibilities listed on this Wikipedia page. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Republican_vice_presidential_candidates%2C_2008)

Bobby Jindal (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=472131) is out of the running if McCain has even a lick of sense.

Charlie Crist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Crist) has been suggested . . . but, no. He's gay. Hotly denies it, but everybody knows. It didn't seem to matter much when he was running for governor, but no way will he have a place on a national Republican ticket.

Huckabee would at least shore up some of McCain's appeal to the religious right, but his economic-populist message would alienate other wings of the party, just as it did in the primaries.

[Voyager]

Carly Fiorina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carly_Fiorina) has been mentioned, though maybe only by her people. She is out trying to round up the women for McCain now. Picking her would be amusing. First, she screwed up HP and got fired by the board, second, old HPers I know uniformly hate her guts.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

Tim Pawlenty is the one to beat, methinks.

He's young, he has broken with Bush just enough to carry the "maverick" theme. He's a super-Christian (which he plays down in MN, but I expect it will be played up in the Bible belt), he's a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq, he is very eager to do the attack work VP candidates are often asked to do, he's on very good personal terms with McCain and he is from what is being billed as a swing state.

On the down side, he couldn't deliver MN to McCain in the primaries and he has never won 50% of the vote in his gubernatorial runs so it's not easy to see him turning the state red for the first time in 36 years. Nevertheless, I think he's the favorite.

[Dangerosa]

Tim Pawlenty is the one to beat, methinks.

He's young, he has broken with Bush just enough to carry the "maverick" theme. He's a super-Christian (which he plays down in MN, but I expect it will be played up in the Bible belt), he's a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq, he is very eager to do the attack work VP candidates are often asked to do, he's on very good personal terms with McCain and he is from what is being billed as a swing state.

On the down side, he couldn't deliver MN to McCain in the primaries and he has never won 50% of the vote in his gubernatorial runs so it's not easy to see him turning the state red for the first time in 36 years. Nevertheless, I think he's the favorite.

He also has a major freeway bridge sitting in a river - after saving the state money by making his Lt. Gov the head of the transportation department - because, you know, roads in Minnesota are such a small job.

(OK, they cleaned it up, it isn't sitting in the river anymore - there is still a chasm over the Mississippi that won't look good on national TV).

[Kozmik]

Someone older than him.

[Procrustus]

If McCain picks Pawlenty he'll have to stop the attacks on Obama for being young and inexperienced. That alone should prevent it. How can the you say someone is experienced enough to be VP to a 72 year old president but someone else the same age with similar experience is not ready to lead?

[tds1273]

My gut says it will be Gingrich, Lieberman, or Huckabee. I shudder at the wretched thought of any of those.

One hope is that it will be Olympia Snowe. It might make things a bit tougher for Obama, but when considering worst-case-scenarios, even though she is pretty hawkish, on a social platform she's decent. Of course, of any Republicans off the top of my head, I would rather it be Chafee or Paul, but I think Snowe, while not the most ideal, might be the only one of my preferred with any chance.

Another hope is that he picks Romney. The guy is like a parody of a politician or car salesman and would make for a much easier election for Obama. Colbert's Sesame Street puppet use is perfect.

Finally, a macabre part of me hopes he takes Jon Stewart's advice and picks Hillary Clinton. What circus train wrecked in a shit storm that would be to watch. It's gold, Jerry! Gold!

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

He also has a major freeway bridge sitting in a river - after saving the state money by making his Lt. Gov the head of the transportation department - because, you know, roads in Minnesota are such a small job.

(OK, they cleaned it up, it isn't sitting in the river anymore - there is still a chasm over the Mississippi that won't look good on national TV).

Well, not only that but McCain blamed the Democrats for spending money elsewhere that could have been spent on the bridge which embarrassed Pawlenty as it went against his script that spending more money on transportation in no way could have helped.

I think though that the whole bridge thing would not be a big deal on the national stage.

[BrainGlutton]

My gut says it will be Gingrich, Lieberman, or Huckabee. I shudder at the wretched thought of any of those.

Gingrich?! Why would he even be considered?

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

If McCain picks Pawlenty he'll have to stop the attacks on Obama for being young and inexperienced. That alone should prevent it. How can the you say someone is experienced enough to be VP to a 72 year old president but someone else the same age with similar experience is not ready to lead?

You spin it. Pawlenty has executive experience. He is in his second (four year) term, not his first (six year) term. He has been to Iraq. Blah, Blah, Blah

[tds1273]

Gingrich?! Why would he even be considered?

Good reasons? I have none. He is however all over Faux getting air time and giving advice('course so is Rove and Ferraro) with Shamity with a new sort of "Contract on with America" thing, he has 'experience', and I assume(though I would be happy to be wrong) that he still has some standing amongst conservatives.

[DSeid]

I still like the idea of Chris Cox. (http://www.sec.gov/about/commissioner/cox.htm) During his tenure at the SEC, Chairman Cox has made vigorous enforcement of the securities laws the agency's top priority, bringing ground breaking cases against a variety of market abuses including hedge fund insider trading, stock options backdating, fraud aimed at senior citizens, municipal securities fraud, and securities scams on the Internet. He has assumed leadership of the international effort to more closely integrate U.S. and overseas regulation in an era of global capital markets and international securities exchanges. He has also championed transforming the SEC's system of mandated disclosure from a static, form-based approach to one that taps the power of interactive data ....

For 10 of his 17 years in Congress, Chairman Cox served in the Majority Leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was Chairman of the House Policy Committee; Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security; Chairman of the Select Committee on U.S. National Security; Chairman of the Select Committee on Homeland Security...

... appointed by President Clinton to the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform, which published its unanimous report in 1995.

From 1986 until 1988, Chairman Cox served in the White House as Senior Associate Counsel to the President. In that capacity, he advised the President on a wide range of matters, including the nomination of three U.S. Supreme Court Justices, reform of the federal budget process, and the 1987 stock market crash.

56 years old, has worked in several bipartisan groups, helped guide through Supreme noms ... From Minnesota.

Economic gravitas in an enable personal responsibility and enforce the law kind of way, Homeland Security cred, bipartisan cred, knowledge of how the executive works, youngish, from a state McCain eyes but more importantly fits the narrative and would actually help run an administration.

[Procrustus]

You spin it. Pawlenty has executive experience. He is in his second (four year) term, not his first (six year) term. He has been to Iraq. Blah, Blah, Blah

I see the distinction, but I think it blurs one of McCain's strongest arguments for most voters.

[Baldwin]

Whoever the next VP is, I wonder if he'll let Google Earth un-pixellate the Naval Observatory?

[Quartz]

How about Sarah Palin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin)?

She's got a high home approval rating and pushes all the right demographic buttons to counter the Democrats: she's young, female, and has a disabled child. She also has a son in the military. The major downside is her disabled child: he's a newborn. Can you imagine her on the stump while breastfeeding? :)

[Argent Towers]

She eats moose burgers and rides snowmobiles. She admits that she used marijuana when it was legal in the state

I'd love to imagine her on my stump, while breastfeeding. Me, that is.

[Simplicio]

How about Sarah Palin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin)?

McCain would totally loose the inexperienced attack on Obama if he choose Palin. She has been Governor of the third least populated state in the Union for all of two years, and before that her political experience consisted of being mayor for a town of 8,000 people.

[ultrafilter]

Chuck Hagel, perhaps. There's been enough buzz about him as a running mate for Obama that McCain should at least be vetting him.

[pkbites]

How about Paul Ryan (http://www.nndb.com/people/298/000040178/). He could help siphon off some of Obamas votes in swing state Wisconsin. He's young, been in Congress for almost 10 years, and has some dynamic ideas.

On the down side, he's too young, and has been in Congress less than 10 years.

Either way, I don't like McCain, and who he picks as a running mate won't change that!

[Diogenes the Cynic]

How about Sarah Palin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin)?

She's got a high home approval rating and pushes all the right demographic buttons to counter the Democrats: she's young, female, and has a disabled child. She also has a son in the military. The major downside is her disabled child: he's a newborn. Can you imagine her on the stump while breastfeeding? :)
She's anti-choice. That negates any appeal she might have for women.

[Marley23]

I thought Mark Sanford (South Carolina Gov.) sounded like a good choice who hit the right notes.

[Gangster Octopus]

I still like the idea of Chris Cox.

The downside, of course, is that we would have four to eight years of Cox jokes.

[BrainGlutton]

She's anti-choice. That negates any appeal she might have for women.

Are there no female voters who are anti-choice but still want to see more women in public office?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Are there no female voters who are anti-choice but still want to see more women in public office?
The ones who are anti-choice are already going to vote for McCain. A pro-life woman on the ticket does not pull any women who weren't already on board -- in other words, it won't help him get any Hillary voters.

[Lakai]

Just food for thought, but how about Condoleezza Rice? (http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/03/17/080317taco_talk_hertzberg)

As the article points out, she is a preacher's daughter, one the most popular members of the Bush administration, and has a good personal story.

Also, if McCain/Rice wins, and McCain croaks midway through his term, Rice will be the first black and female president. Beating both Barack and Hillary to the punch.

The only reason not to pick her is if you are hoping to win by getting the racist vote. Condi on the ticket would prevent democratic racists from voting for the white ticket, since bought tickets will have a black candidate on them.

Otherwise, as far as attacking Obama goes, this is as good as your going to get.

[BrainGlutton]

Just food for thought, but how about Condoleezza Rice? (http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/03/17/080317taco_talk_hertzberg)

As the article points out, she is a preacher's daughter, one the most popular members of the Bush administration, and has a good personal story.

Ain't gonna happen:

1. She has never held an elected office in her life.

2. She's a lesbian.

[descamisado]

Ain't gonna happen:

1. She has never held an elected office in her life.

2. She's a lesbian.3. Choosing her (as unlikely as it is) ties McCain irrevocably to Bush and his fumbling of the Iraq War.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Not only is she a lesbian she's also pro-choice, and she wouldn't exactly help McCain scrub the stink of Dubya off his suit. Rice has problems on both sides of the political spectrum. She's too closely tied to Bush to appeal to the center left, and she's too gay, black, female and pro-choice to appeal to the far right.

[DigitalC]

3. Choosing her (as unlikely as it is) ties McCain irrevocably to Bush and his fumbling of the Iraq War.

As opposed to how it is now?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

As opposed to how it is now?
Well, it doesn't exactly cut the albatross off.

I've seen a lot of pundits saying that McCain needs to pick a solid social conservative (maybe Huckabee) to shore up his base. I disagree. I think his problem right now is keeping the independents. They haven't followed along with him on his journey back to the right. I think his best shot would be to choose someone who appeals to the middle-left, not the right. I don't know who that would be -- maybe Powell, maybe Hagel, maybe even Rudy -- but all his pandering to the right has hurt his credibility with the indies.

I think he has to be careful with just stunt-casting a woman or a minority, though. It would have to be a substantive choice, and not just a transparent marketing ploy.

[Bricker]

Ain't gonna happen:

1. She has never held an elected office in her life.

2. She's a lesbian.

How certain are you of #2? I've certainly heard the rumors to that effect, but I'm surprised at the matter-of-fact claim you make.

[Simplicio]

2. She's a lesbian.

Charlie Crist has been suggested . . . but, no. He's gay

Ya know. Not every unmarried forty something professional is necessarily gay BG. Just for the record, neither Rice or Crist is openly gay, I've never seen any actual evidence that they were closeted homosexuals, and both have been romantically linked with people of the opposite gender.

[Zebra]

Rice would take away the attacks on Mrs. Obama for being the mean black lady.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

How certain are you of #2? I've certainly heard the rumors to that effect, but I'm surprised at the matter-of-fact claim you make.
I have inside information on this. My father was career State Department (recently retired). Rice travels (and lives) with a long-term companion who is tacitly understood to be her spouse. It's not publicized, but I hear from an impeccable inside source (my dad) that's it's accepted as a matter of course in the State Department and an open secret in Washington that Condi Rice has this longtime girlfriend named Randy.

[Lakai]

I have inside information on this. My father was career State Department (recently retired). Rice travels (and lives) with a long-term companion who is tacitly understood to be her spouse. It's not publicized, but I hear from an impeccable inside source (my dad) that's it's accepted as a matter of course in the State Department and an open secret in Washington that Condi Rice has this longtime girlfriend named Randy.

So Bush's most trusted aid is a black lesbian?

I actually just experienced a moment of respect for George W. Bush. :eek:

[Frostillicus]

How about Jeb! Bush? He can help carry Florida and he appeals to Hispanic voters. In fact, I cannot think of any negatives.

[ZebraShaSha]

How about Jeb! Bush? He can help carry Florida and he appeals to Hispanic voters. In fact, I cannot think of any negatives.

His last name?

[What the .... ?!?!]

Ain't gonna happen:

1. She has never held an elected office in her life.

2. She's a lesbian.

Hey I was going to suggest a black woman who is gay not even realizing we had one!

[foolsguinea]

The genius choice would be Jesse Ventura, as the most successful representative of the Andersonian schism that left the GOP & became "Independents."

But it's arguably smarter for Jesse to run for the Senate instead & hope to let the GOP bleed to death.

On the other hand, whichever candidate doesn't pick a female running mate is simply disarming himself. In that vein:

Liddy Dole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liddy_Dole), 'cos duh, she's Liddy Dole. The not-quite-so-ancient half of the original Washington power couple.

Heather Wilson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Wilson), known as an independent-minded Republican but one that only the most benighted dittohead would mistake for a "librul." Of course, she's also from the Southwest, but the last two successful tickets were men from neighboring states (or really the same state in the case of Bush/Cheney).

[descamisado]

As opposed to how it is now?That's why I said irrevocably, in a way that's set in cement, unlike any future, guaranteed flip-flops and "I didn't say/hold that position, when we have proof he actually did" lies.

Does anybody actually think Powell would accept the VP if asked? I doubt he would.

I actuallly hope he will pick Rudy. Now there's a combination that's an express bus headed fast to Nowheresville. Rudy has a lot of baggage -- big loser in the primaries, bad judgment re Bernie Kerik, having nothing to add but "a noun, a verb and 9/11" without any real natiional security or foreign policy experience.

[Lakai]

That's why I said irrevocably, in a way that's set in cement, unlike any future, guaranteed flip-flops and "I didn't say/hold that position, when we have proof he actually did" lies.

His position on the war is that he is for it, but doesn't like the way it was handled.

Rice is perfect for that position since it can be argued that violence went down when Bush started taking Rice's advice over Rumsfeld's with regards to the war.

Rice made her mistakes, but it appears she knows more about what she is doing then the rest of the Bush squad.

Though I agree with the sentiment that independents won't get past the fact that she worked in the Bush administration.

[Kevbo]

Heather Wilson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Wilson), known as an independent-minded Republican but one that only the most benighted dittohead would mistake for a "librul." Of course, she's also from the Southwest, but the last two successful tickets were men from neighboring states (or really the same state in the case of Bush/Cheney).

She IS currently out of a job, had to give up her House seat to try for Dominichi's Senate spot, but lost the primary to Congressman Steve Pearce.

She was also up to her eyeballs in the DOJ scandle.

[pkbites]

The genius choice would be Jesse Ventura

I love the Frankenstein (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lUhVFpwhgE) look he's going for. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/Frankenstein_Karloff.jpg)

[Quartz]

McCain would totally loose the inexperienced attack on Obama if he choose Palin.

I don't see how this follows: McCain's the one with experience, and Palin would be getting on-the-job training.

[Lakai]

I don't see how this follows: McCain's the one with experience, and Palin would be getting on-the-job training.

If McCain doesn't think the President should be inexperienced, then why put an experience person one heart beat away from the Presidency?

[Argent Towers]

I love the Frankenstein (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lUhVFpwhgE) look he's going for. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/Frankenstein_Karloff.jpg)

I'd say more like Steven Seagal in 10 years. Anyway Ventura is awesome and I would vote for him.

[Simplicio]

I don't see how this follows: McCain's the one with experience, and Palin would be getting on-the-job training.

McCain will be 72. There's a non-trivial chance that he will die or be debilitated during his term, even in the first year. He, much more then any other recent candidate, needs to choose a VP that the electorate can picture being ready to assume the presidency, even during the first day.

If he spends the campaign knocking Obama's experience, and then tries to tell people that they don't need to worry about his (McCain's) age because his VP, who two years ago was the mayor of a town with the population of a New York City apartment building, can pick up everything she needs to know about being Prez on the job, then he won't get elected.

[Frostillicus]

His last name?


Whoooooosh!

[pkbites]

I'd say more like Steven Seagal in 10 years. Anyway Ventura is awesome and I would vote for him.

Naw. The suit coat definately says Frankie.

And he's a nut job anyway. Did you listen to him babble about 9-11?

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

The genius choice would be Jesse Ventura, as the most successful representative of the Andersonian schism that left the GOP & became "Independents."

But it's arguably smarter for Jesse to run for the Senate instead & hope to let the GOP bleed to death.

On the other hand, whichever candidate doesn't pick a female running mate is simply disarming himself. In that vein:

Liddy Dole (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liddy_Dole), 'cos duh, she's Liddy Dole. The not-quite-so-ancient half of the original Washington power couple.

Heather Wilson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Wilson), known as an independent-minded Republican but one that only the most benighted dittohead would mistake for a "librul." Of course, she's also from the Southwest, but the last two successful tickets were men from neighboring states (or really the same state in the case of Bush/Cheney).


A couple problems with Ventura.

1) He's nuts. He has a seemingly endless reserve of stupid ideas and he never has one without mentioning it in public. Crap like "you don't know what hunting is until you've hunted man" is the norm with him, not the exception.

2) He hates the parties. He would never represent the Republicans or the Democrats.

3) He would never play second banana. In the movies, sure but in real life - no way.

4) He has an extremely adversarial relationship with the media. He hates reporters. A lot. His idea of dealing with them is to insult them. That should generate lots of negative publicity.

5) I really doubt that someone who has bragged about nailing prostitutes and called religious people "sheep" is likely to appeal to the red state electorate.

As for Dole, just think...

2008 McCain - Dole
2004 Bush - Cheney
2000 Bush - Cheney
1996 Dole - Kemp
1992 Bush - Quayle
1988 Bush - Quayle
1984 Regan - Bush
1980 Regan - Bush
1976 Ford - Dole

I can't think of any woman right now that McCain could pick that would seem like a good choice other than for her being a woman. If he does go this route it could be a sign of desperation.

[gonzomax]

Dick Cheney that would stay the course like he wants to do.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Dick Cheney that would stay the course like he wants to do.
That could theoretically put Nancy Pelosi two feeble heartbeats away from the White House.

[Quartz]

3) He would never play second banana. In the movies, sure but in real life - no way.

But he'd have a decent chance of being the top banana.

4) He has an extremely adversarial relationship with the media. He hates reporters. A lot. His idea of dealing with them is to insult them. That should generate lots of negative publicity.

His earlier electors seemed to like it.

5) I really doubt that someone who has bragged about nailing prostitutes and called religious people "sheep" is likely to appeal to the red state electorate.

QFT. Still, because it's all out in the open, it can't be effectively used against him - there are easy retorts

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Ventura has backed off the 9-11 conspiracy stuff a little bit. he's now saying that he's "just asking questions," not trying to insist there absolutely was a conspiracy, just that there were some (in his mind) curiosities about it, and insisting that there's nothing wrong with just asking questions.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

By the way, if The Mind runs for anything, it's going to be the Minnesota Senate race (the one where Norm Coleman is being challeneged by Al Franken). That could make for an entertaining race.

[foolsguinea]

She was also up to her eyeballs in the DOJ scandle.Wasn't she just fishing for dirt on her opponent in a race? Not exactly the height of corruption there. I first heard of her as someone who challenged Bush on his weird interpretation of "following the law" regarding FISA.

She's not my ideal candidate, but I'm voting for the Democrat this year anyway.

As for Jesse Ventura, well, I didn't know that much about him. The point remains that if McCain could find somebody out of the Independence Party to come back to the GOP banner, it'd help him a lot.

[Kevbo]

Wasn't she just fishing for dirt on her opponent in a race? Not exactly the height of corruption there.




She (congresswoman Heather Wilson R- NM1) and her mentor, Senator Dominichi were pressuring prosicuter David Iglasias to fast track an indictment against some dems so that it would be in the press prior to the Nov. 2006 election. Iglasias' non-cooperation got him fired, which ended up being the end of the thread that congressional investigations kept pulling until Gonzalas unraveled.

[What the .... ?!?!]

Wonder how picking a relatively inexperienced woman would play against the relatively inexperienced Obama?

[DSeid]

In the "John McCain solves Energy Crisis" I noted (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9932745&postcount=25) that McCain's recent prize for a leapfrog in battery technology suggestion is taking a page right out of Gingrich's recent schtick. Gingrich, I also noted there, is on record as saying that he'd take the VP spot if offered. Meanwhile he talks up VP choices that really won't make it - the newbies Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal, neither of whom would deliver any electoral votes that McCain shouldn't already be able to rely upon and who accomplish nothing other than emphasizing how old he is. Gingrich has to know that those are no-go options really. He wants the job and McCain is using his material. Heck, Gingrich was saying off-shore drill (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,366862,00.html) on June 12 and a few days later McCain is publicly calling for it to good pr effect.

Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

Gingrich would pull in lots of the conservative base that are unsure about McCain and might otherwise bleed off, either staying home or voting Barr in protest, and he has some intellectual chops. Negatives? Yup he has 'em but he'd be a powerful attack dog. Get lots of media coverage at no charge. Get some on the right excited.

Hmmmm.

[Frostillicus]

In the "John McCain solves Energy Crisis" I noted (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9932745&postcount=25) that McCain's recent prize for a leapfrog in battery technology suggestion is taking a page right out of Gingrich's recent schtick. Gingrich, I also noted there, is on record as saying that he'd take the VP spot if offered. Meanwhile he talks up VP choices that really won't make it - the newbies Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal, neither of whom would deliver any electoral votes that McCain shouldn't already be able to rely upon and who accomplish nothing other than emphasizing how old he is. Gingrich has to know that those are no-go options really. He wants the job and McCain is using his material. Heck, Gingrich was saying off-shore drill (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,366862,00.html) on June 12 and a few days later McCain is publicly calling for it to good pr effect.

Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

Gingrich would pull in lots of the conservative base that are unsure about McCain and might otherwise bleed off, either staying home or voting Barr in protest, and he has some intellectual chops. Negatives? Yup he has 'em but he'd be a powerful attack dog. Get lots of media coverage at no charge. Get some on the right excited.

Hmmmm.

God, I hope McCain is this stupid. I doubt it, but still, I hope.

[foolsguinea]

Iglesias' non-cooperation got him fired, which ended up being the end of the thread that congressional investigations kept pulling until Gonzalas unraveled.Well, if she a) wanted to prosecute someone for "running while Democrat," or b) complained to the administration & got Iglesias fired, then yes, she is guilty of corruption. But I wonder if she really did any more than the typical self-important entitled pol, or if she's been named where others have not because she went against the government over FISA a year earlier.

Anyway, it's a problem electorally: Is she insufficiently loyal for the Bushies, too soft on terror for the McCainiacs, & too much a regular entitled pol for the independents? Does any of this matter in the year of Obama? Does any of it matter more than McCain nominating a woman who's sort of a junior version of him in the year when Obama can steal great numbers of votes by his apparent "historicity"?

[DSeid]

I have heard that position expressed in these parts many times, but please defend it. Other than you personal distaste, do have any evidence that his current negatives outweigh his positives? Yes, I know that he was not a popular person by the end of his Speaker of the House days. But his subsequent career as an author and lecturer has won him some respect even outside of his very solid conservative base. He actually speaks well and come across as an intelligent individual committed to doing something about global warming and energy independence. He recognizes the need for the GOP to reposition how it delivers its conservative message with new ideas. And he can raise money quite well.

I don't think that it'll happen but McCain is clearly following Gingrich's playbook, really trying to refashion himself in Gingrich's image almost, and I am not as sure as you are that he would be a stupid choice. Convince me please.

[DSeid]

Well I think we can now safely completely cross Condi Rice off. (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/) “Have you decided who to vote for?” CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked in an interview that aired Sunday on “Late Edition.”

“Wolf, uh, yes,” Rice said.

Asked if she wanted to share her decision, Rice simply responded, “No.” ....

... Rice also made clear that she has no desire to be vice president."Also"?:)

Mitt seems to be the safe pick. Might even help McCain try to make a play for Michigan, which McCain does not seem willing to just cede.

[DSeid]

Time for a bump. Obviously Romney and Pawlenty, maybe Thune or Sanford, are the top tier, but this one featured on CNN's ticker, Eric Cantor (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/02/cantor-getting-thorough-vetting-from-mccain-team/) is interesting. The 45-year-old is a fourth-term congressman representing Virginia's 7th District, a heavily-Republican district in the Richmond area. ... "He's bright, clean, conservative but not angry, and Jewish. (He's a) great fund-raiser and locks up Virginia for good measure," the source said.More about Cantor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Cantor) During his first term in office, Cantor was selected to serve as Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare. He has also served on the House Financial Services Committee and on the House International Relations Committee and the very powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Since his second term, he has served as chief deputy Republican whip, the highest appointed position in the Republican caucus.Helps deliver Virginia, helps make Florida more likely to go for McCain, brings in terrorism and economics understanding ... no bad baggage from an election POV.

Interesting.

[2nd Law]

After McCain's questions about having a non-Republican as his running mate (here's (http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:gKQOIjH8Ak0J:news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080819/pl_politico/12646+mccain+leberman+vice+president+party&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us) one article about a possible Lieberman selection), and McCain's recent commercial targeting Hillary supporters after the Biden selection as Obama's VP (here's (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQD-Ub1QQZgszKZ4ddpQBmVCevOQD92OPPQO0) another link for that) I actually came up with a McCain/Clinton scenario.

Hillary Clinton does her speech at the Democratic Convention, but isn't conciliatory. The next day Bill gets up and announces he and Hillary are changing their party affiliation due to (whatever reason they claim Hillary was robbed). Minutes later McCain announces Hillary as his running mate. Democratic Convention collapses in a shambles, and the Republican Convention the following week is a McCain/Clinton lovefest.

Actually, when I did a search on this earlier, and saw mswas predicted McCain/Clinton in a thread back in February (facetiously, I'm sure), so while I can't say I came up with this first, I can claim coming to it independently.

No, I don't seriously expect this to happen, for about a thousand reasons. But when the thought sprang to mind after seeing reportage of the new Hillary-backer targetted McCain commercial, and after hearing about the non-Republican VP feelers McCain was putting out, it was just there.

When I suggested this to my sweetie, her reaction was that it would certainly make the election exciting. She has a gift for understatement.

[Gadarene]

Nope.

[BobLibDem]

Hillary Clinton does her speech at the Democratic Convention, but isn't conciliatory. The next day Bill gets up and announces he and Hillary are changing their party affiliation due to (whatever reason they claim Hillary was robbed). Minutes later McCain announces Hillary as his running mate. Democratic Convention collapses in a shambles, and the Republican Convention the following week is a McCain/Clinton lovefest.


Good heavens. I think there's a better chance of Elvis running as McCain's veep. "Republican Convention" and "Clinton lovefest" aren't typically used in the same sentence, for good reason.

[2nd Law]

Good heavens. I think there's a better chance of Elvis running as McCain's veep. "Republican Convention" and "Clinton lovefest" aren't typically used in the same sentence, for good reason.

Yeah, that's #1 of the thousand reasons.

[ultrafilter]

#2 is that it would be career suicide for both Bill and Hillary. #3 is that McCain would have the same issues reminding them that he's in charge as anybody else would.

[DoctorJ]

Romney won't help with McCain's "rich and out of touch" problem, and his history of flip-flops could underscore McCain's history of the same.

Or maybe that's the whole point. "You think I'm rich and out of touch? You think I'm a flip-flopper? Wait 'till you see my running mate!" :)

[levdrakon]

<snip>I actually came up with a McCain/Clinton scenario. <snip>It actually occurred to me too. A million reasons why it wouldn't work, but it's fun to think about.

Of course, people would wonder who's running the country, but oh well. I've been wondering that for 8 years.

[gonzomax]

We all know it will be a man with magic underpants. That is a requirement for world piece.

[BobLibDem]

I'm fairly confident it will be Romney, partly because he's a money-making machine and partly on the widely held view (which I don't share) that he would put Michigan in play. He also would bring some comfort to the big business segment of the party, nervous about the fiction that McCain is some sort of maverick. If not him, then Pawlenty. I hope that doesn't pan out, if only because Chris Matthews would call the ticket "Good and Pawlenty", which for some strange reason he thinks is hilarious.

[Kolak of Twilo]

I think it will be Romney because McCain lacks imagination and thinks it will get him street cred with the conservitive wing of the party. It may cost him with the evangelicals because they have such serious Morman issues but I doubt he or his selection team are really in tune with that thing. Plus, Mitt has such wonderful hair!

[LonghornDave]

Carly Fiorina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carly_Fiorina) has been mentioned, though maybe only by her people. She is out trying to round up the women for McCain now. Picking her would be amusing. First, she screwed up HP and got fired by the board, second, old HPers I know uniformly hate her guts.

Did she really screw up HP. It seems like the Compaq merger has actually worked out fairly well. If I recall it correctly, the son of the former founder, Hewlett, did not care for personal computers as a business line. Fiorina's planned merger was the exact opposite approach. After a couple years she was forced out. HP has done well since and much of the credit results from the merger with Compaq.

I think Fiorina would be a great choice. She is extremely smart, has an impressive resume, and is very well spoken.

[MovieMogul]

There's another female CEO who's getting Veep buzz (http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/08/mccainwhitman_buzz_in_denver.php).

[Diogenes the Cynic]

There's another female CEO who's getting Veep buzz (http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/08/mccainwhitman_buzz_in_denver.php).
The CEO of eBay? I don't see it. She's too much of an unknown and has no political experience at all. He wouldn't be able to continue to cut Obama on the experience card while choosing a running mate who's never held any elected office at all.

Plus she appears to be pro-choice.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

There's another female CEO who's getting Veep buzz (http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/08/mccainwhitman_buzz_in_denver.php).


Whitman was one of the "three people" that McCain said he'd tap for wisdom when questioned at Saddleback. She's one of his top aides as well as the CEO for eBay (which was said).


If he picks her, that's plain old stupid. He's not going to do that.

[Quartz]

Sadly, it seems to me that McCain is going to have to choose someone who is two or more of female, not white, and on the young side rather than the best person in their own right. Condi Rice has too many connections to Bush, and has never won elected office in her own right. A Black would upset many right-wingers anyway, but how about someone with considerable Native American blood? Are there any possibleprobable candidates there?

Of course, he could always nominate his mate Fred Thomson...

[Least Original User Name Ever]

I think he's going to bring in Mitt Romney...then I think about it again and think he'll go with Lieberman...and then maybe Ridge.

They've all got baggage. Every one of them are going to piss someone off.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I'd actually love it if he chose a pro-choicer just because it would stick a big dick in the evangelicals. I can't believe he'd ever do it, though. The party would never allow it.

[Leaper]

According to some blogs I've read, McCain floated the idea already, and was apparently slapped down. So no, I doubt he'd do it. He needs the conservative bona fides too badly. He's already lost a good deal of support from some crowds over his immigration beliefs; one more major point of disagreement and he's probably done.

[RickJay]

I have heard that position expressed in these parts many times, but please defend it. Other than you personal distaste, do have any evidence that his current negatives outweigh his positives? Yes, I know that he was not a popular person by the end of his Speaker of the House days. But his subsequent career as an author and lecturer has won him some respect even outside of his very solid conservative base. He actually speaks well and come across as an intelligent individual committed to doing something about global warming and energy independence. He recognizes the need for the GOP to reposition how it delivers its conservative message with new ideas. And he can raise money quite well.
Gingrich is not hugely popular with the religious base, though. I don't know that he would complement McCain's ticket in any way. What votes does he bring?

[dalej42]

Gingrich is not hugely popular with the religious base, though. I don't know that he would complement McCain's ticket in any way. What votes does he bring?
The family values crowd probably don't need two womanizing liars on the same ticket.

[Sam Stone]

Two weeks ago, this election was about the economy, and the economy only. It probably still is, although Russia's shenanigans have put foreign policy a little higher on the priority list - hence Obama's Biden pick.

In terms of the economy, Gingrich is pretty good. He's extremely smart, and knows a lot about economics. He's got excellent credentials on economic matters among the Republican base, and he was the architect of the 'contract with America' which swept the Democrats out of power in the House and Senate. Then he proceeded to piss everyone off by pushing too hard and not caring what people thought, and flamed out.

The question is whether enough time has past that Gingrich's negatives have been forgotten. If Gingrich can manage to represent the 'gold old Republicans' of the Reagan years, he might get some traction.

Another thing Gingrich brings to the table - he's very friendly with Hillary. They've worked together on several projects, and he's said some very complimentary things about her in the past few years. I wonder if he could be used to peel off a few more dissatisfied Hillary supporters?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I really think it's between Romney and Pawlenty. Pawlenty is safe but bland. He's a flatline. He neither brings nor loses votes. There are some concerns about Romney being accepted by the religious base because of his facile position changes (kind of like McCain), and because of the magic underwear, but I think his fundraising potential will cause the party will shove him down McCain's throat anyway. I also think the evangelicals will get over it. They might be bothered about voting for a Mormon, but they really have nowhere else to go. They're sure as hell not going to vote for a Muslim.

I also think that McCain's floating of Lieberman and Ridge might be a tactic to put a scare into the religious right and make Romney look more acceptable by comparison.

[ultrafilter]

I also think the evangelicals will get over it. They might be bothered about voting for a Mormon, but they really have nowhere else to go. They're sure as hell not going to vote for a Muslim.

But they might just stay home. Hard to say.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Two weeks ago, this election was about the economy, and the economy only. It probably still is, although Russia's shenanigans have put foreign policy a little higher on the priority list - hence Obama's Biden pick.

In terms of the economy, Gingrich is pretty good. He's extremely smart, and knows a lot about economics. He's got excellent credentials on economic matters among the Republican base, and he was the architect of the 'contract with America' which swept the Democrats out of power in the House and Senate. Then he proceeded to piss everyone off by pushing too hard and not caring what people thought, and flamed out.

The question is whether enough time has past that Gingrich's negatives have been forgotten. If Gingrich can manage to represent the 'gold old Republicans' of the Reagan years, he might get some traction.

Another thing Gingrich brings to the table - he's very friendly with Hillary. They've worked together on several projects, and he's said some very complimentary things about her in the past few years. I wonder if he could be used to peel off a few more dissatisfied Hillary supporters?
Gingrich is to the Pubs kind of what Ted Kennedy is to the Dems. Both are mixed bags of talent, ability and party iconography combined with huge, unsightly warts in their personal lives. They are also both mutually perceived as representing the extreme of the other party. Teddy is seen by Pubs as the protypical, profligate liberal. Gingrich is seen as the archtypal, mean spirited righty.

McCain choosing Gingrich would probably be welcomed by the Republican base, but would be a gift to the Democrats. Gingrich might be loved by his base, but he has no crossover potential at all.

[DSeid]

Gingrich is not hugely popular with the religious base, though. I don't know that he would complement McCain's ticket in any way. What votes does he bring?I would be shocked if it turns out to be Newt, but in his defense - he would bring in some conservatives and some swing voters who are more enamored with his recent positions on science and technology and global warming. The religious base isn't going to be voting for McCain no matter who he is partnered with. His plan is to try to convince them that they need to vote against Obama.

I'm actually not going to be too surprised if it is Eric Cantor. (I gotta love the long shots.) He has the conservative creds and helps in two important states - VA and FL. Then again, same logic as those who called Biden - announcing right before the convention doesn't allow for developing the awareness of a lesser known - it argues for a VP choice already well known. And that really means Romney (Since it aint going to be Lieberman.)

And after McCain's Biden commercial I am really looking forward to a set of what Romney and McCain each said about each other.

[kaylasdad99]

I'm fairly confident it will be Romney, partly because he's a money-making machine and partly on the widely held view (which I don't share) that he would put Michigan in play. He also would bring some comfort to the big business segment of the party, nervous about the fiction that McCain is some sort of maverick. If not him, then Pawlenty. I hope that doesn't pan out, if only because Chris Matthews would call the ticket "Good and Pawlenty", which for some strange reason he thinks is hilarious.It's hilarious gibberish. There's nothing good about John McCain.

What about Dan Quayle?

[Sam Stone]

Gingrich is to the Pubs kind of what Ted Kennedy is to the Dems. Both are mixed bags of talent, ability and party iconography combined with huge, unsightly warts in their personal lives. They are also both mutually perceived as representing the extreme of the other party. Teddy is seen by Pubs as the protypical, profligate liberal. Gingrich is seen as the archtypal, mean spirited righty.

I think that's a pretty good analysis, but the question I'm left with is whether that's the perception of people like you and me, who have been around for a while and been following politics for a long time, or whether it's more widely held.

Both Kennedy and Gingrich have moderated a bit. I'd say Gingrich more so. He's actually progressive on issues like Global Warming and science and the internet and such. He's worked closely with Hillary, and both of them had very complimentary things to say of each other.

So I don't know how much of the old baggage is still around, especially among the younger voters. I'd say the same of Kennedy, who if healthy and a bit younger would probably be in about the same position.

But I honestly don't know. Maybe he'd be vilified. Or maybe a lot of voters would be going, "Newt who? Who is he?" If he got a chance to erase his old public image and start over, I think he'd be quite popular. You'd be surprised - he's not the old Conservative flag-bearer he once was. But the baggage would probably be there, and that makes him an unlikely pick. He also had some ethics problems in the house that alone might kill a Vice Presidential bid.

McCain choosing Gingrich would probably be welcomed by the Republican base, but would be a gift to the Democrats. Gingrich might be loved by his base, but he has no crossover potential at all.

I'm not even sure who Gingrich's base is anymore. He's kind of out in the wilderness by himself it seems. He pissed off the base with his support for a guest worker program and his acknowledgment of global warming. I guess he's still got the 'enterprisers' on his side.

[kaylasdad99]

No cite, but back in the '90's I saw in a magazine article some pundit analyzing Gingrich's political history. The gist of his opinion was that Gingrich used his talent for demagogery as his ticket into political office; that his strategy for getting into the political arena was to become a big fish in the little pond of whichever party was out of power. IOW, if the Republicans had been the dominant force in Congress, he would have gone in as a Democrat.

[Sam Stone]

I highly doubt that. Even today, Gingrich is quite conservative. Just not as conservative as he was. He's a conservative who flirts with libertarianism in some areas. But he's not compatible with the Democrats. If anything he's a 'movement conservative' in the Reagan tradition. Low taxes, smaller government, pro-religion, strong supporter of the second amendment, etc. He's not a wishy-washy demagogue. He's the guy who was the architect of the 'Contract with America'. He's been associated with various conservative think tanks for a long time.

[Squink]

More about Cantor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Cantor)
Cantor’s absence among GOP speakers looms large (http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/cantors-absence-among-gop-speakers-looms-large-2008-08-26.html) Rep. Eric Cantor (Va.), rumored to be on the shortlist of John McCain’s vice presidential candidates, is conspicuously absent from a complete list of speakers at the Republican National Convention.
...
Rob Collins, a spokesman for Cantor, did not comment directly on whether Cantor would fill the spot left for the yet-to-be-announced vice presidential selection... Yet more about Cantor (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Eric_Cantor)

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Cantor’s absence among GOP speakers looms large (http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/cantors-absence-among-gop-speakers-looms-large-2008-08-26.html) Yet more about Cantor (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Eric_Cantor)
Cantor's an interesting choice and makes some sense. He's from Virginia, he's got the youth thing going for him. I assume he hasn't been caught with any dead girls or live boys. On the flipside, he's relatively unknown and not that experienced. What intrigues me the most about the possibility is that he's an observant Jew (his wiki profile says he keeps a kosher home). I wonder how the evangelicals will react to that. A lot of them say they think the President has to be a Christian. Here's a guy openly rejecting Jesus as his savior. It would be interesting to see how the fundies dealt with that.

[gonzomax]

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2002/10/29/351/23416 Newt likes to play around with the women. Another serial philanderer . He would be the perfect choice for McCain.

[DSeid]

Right wing religiously observant Jews and the Christian RR tend to share much of the same agenda. On the Issues. (http://www.ontheissues.org/VA/Eric_Cantor.htm#Abortion) Very Pro-Life and rated 92% by the Christian Coalition. "Rated 0% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation. (Dec 2006) "

The RR would love him, Christ or no Christ in his life - he's a fundie.

[BobLibDem]

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2002/10/29/351/23416 Newt likes to play around with the women. Another serial philanderer . He would be the perfect choice for McCain.

Has he ever dumped a crippled wife for a beer heiress half his age? If not, he's a piker!

[Squink]

Not crippled, cancer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich), and the other woman wasn't an heiress: Gingrich had an affair in 1977 with Ann Manning, then the wife of a West Georgia professor. Gingrich walked out on Jackie in the spring of 1980. That fall, while she was in the hospital recovering from surgery for uterine cancer, he appeared at her bedside with a yellow legal pad outlining the details for their divorce.

[RTFirefly]

If McCain chooses Cantor, it's game and set (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantor_set) to the Republicans. :)

[JohnnieEnigma]

McCain/Hillary '08 ;)

OK I said it... it's out there. You've got 20% of Hillary supporters voting for him anyway. Plus McCain can pick up where the Democratic party blundered. It's kind of weird when you think about how Hillary was so completely shunned by the party... her and her 18 million voters.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Right wing religiously observant Jews and the Christian RR tend to share much of the same agenda. On the Issues. (http://www.ontheissues.org/VA/Eric_Cantor.htm#Abortion) Very Pro-Life and rated 92% by the Christian Coalition. "Rated 0% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation. (Dec 2006) "

The RR would love him, Christ or no Christ in his life - he's a fundie.
The fundies' alliance with right wing Jews and support for Israel is not based on any genuine respect but upon self-serving political goals and the belief that Jesus can't come back until the Temple is rebuilt in Israel. Once Jesus comes back they still fully expect the Jews to burn in Hell, and many of them say explicitly that they believe that will not vote for a non-Christian of any stripe, period. Their professed respect for Judaism is, at heart, disingenuous. They still think it's a false religion.

Orthodox Jews think the same thing about fundies, for that matter.

[DSeid]

Of course they each believe that the other is a false religion. But the agenda is the same. Quite a few Orthodox Jews were strong supporters of Bush for that reason. And it goes the other way: Better a Jew who will work for the agenda than a nominative Christian who is not so inclined.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Of course they each believe that the other is a false religion. But the agenda is the same. Quite a few Orthodox Jews were strong supporters of Bush for that reason. And it goes the other way: Better a Jew who will work for the agenda than a nominative Christian who is not so inclined.
A lot of them would disagree with that. There are a significant number of fundies who say they would never vote for a non-Christian.

[Quartz]

Why would Cantor be on the list of speakers in the first place?

[Monty]

A lot of them would disagree with that. There are a significant number of fundies who say they would never vote for a non-Christian.

And what torques me is how a good number of them say Roman Catholics and Mormons aren't Christians! Yeah, let's vote for a candidate based on his religion. Why bother with checking out his political stance? :rolleyes:

[Jurph]

...and she's too gay, black, female and pro-choice to appeal to the far right.

How the hell did the Democratic Party miss her in the draft?

[FriarTed]

She's anti-choice. That negates any appeal she might have for women.

Um, not all women are staunchly pro-choice.

[FriarTed]

Re Cantor or another Jewish VP- There are fundies who only support Israel/Jews out of their view of Bible prophecy & there are conservative C'tians who support them for a myriad of Biblical & political reasons. And even fundies may see a GOP Prez ticket with a conservative Jewish VP as better than a liberal Christian (or covert Muslim :D ) Prez.

[ASAKMOTSD]

I am thinking Rumsfeld would be an excellent choice for McCain's running mate. He already knows what is going on in Iraq and can help keep those policies going just the way they are now.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

McCain went all crazy showing those ads with Biden criticizing Obama knowing full well that if picks Romney the favor will be returned in kind. The Democrats probably have the video already put together just in case. Knowing this it seems all but certain he has chosen Pawlenty. True, no one knows who the hell he is outside of my state and there's plenty of doubt he could carry my state, but he won't cost McCain any votes.

[Shodan]

I doubt if even Pawlenty can carry Minnesota for McCain. On the other hand, he won in '06 against the Democratic tide, so maybe he can surprise again.

Regards,
Shodan

[Steve MB]

Um, not all women are staunchly pro-choice.
OK, amend to "women who weren't already going to vote for McCain anyway".

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I doubt if even Pawlenty can carry Minnesota for McCain. On the other hand, he won in '06 against the Democratic tide, so maybe he can surprise again.
He won in a three-way race, though, and won with less than 50% of the vote.

[Marley23]

CNN is reporting that McCain will announce his pick Friday in Ohio. So if anybody's got inside tips or crazy picks, now's the time.

And I think we can cross Hillary off the list. Not that she ever would have been on it.

[Phlosphr]

Being from CT I've known Joe Lieberman for many years...he's jumped sides from Dem to Independant and is buddy buddy with McCain. But for all his strengths I doubt we'll see him on the ticket. McCain has to be very careful who he picks, Obama evened out his ticket nicely, McCain should do the same...but I'll be surprised if he picks Pawlenty. I'm excited to find out though, not that I think it will matter too much...Although, is McCain picks Romney, then we will have quite a race, because Romney will bring the Christian vote back McCain's way.

[Marley23]

Romney will bring the Christian vote back McCain's way.
Romney wouldn't bring McCain religious voters if he grew a beard, starting wearing a robe and sandals and displayed stigmata on his wrists. If Romney had the Christian vote in the primaries, he would have won the whole thing. He didn't, because he couldn't connect with those people.

I really think Romney is the worst choice McCain could make, at least among the reasonable contenders. This in accordance with a theory I developed during the primaries. It goes like this: people fucking hate Mitt Romney. He is so transparently phony that people who agree with him barely put up with him, and people who don't just can't stand him. He's got a preppy, apple-polisher quality - I'm not just venting my own feelings here, I really do think a lot of people got this impression of him - and it just reminds people what they don't want in a politician. Nobody who votes their faith is going to vote for Romney (other than a Mormon), nobody voting for the guy they want to have a beer with is going to vote for Romney, and nobody who is a doctrinaire conservative is going to vote for Romney, as we saw in the primaries, because he doesn't have the credentials.

How is the Mormon, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage ex-governor of Massachusetts going to bring John McCain religious voters? I know he's singing a different tune these days, but nobody believed him in the primaries, so why would they suddenly be interested in him now? It doesn't make sense. Romney garnered votes from economic conservatives, not religious voters. The religious voters went for Huckabee. Maybe Romney helps McCain economically, but I'm not seeing it.

[CapnPitt]

I just don't see it being Lieberman. Sure he's pals with McCain and all, but it seems to me that 8 years later, he's still got the stink of a loser on him. I still remember the "Sore/Loserman" bumper stickers pretty clearly.

Pawlenty seems like a pretty bland, but safe choice in terms of negatives. But I don't think he gains you anything.

Condi Rice would be the worst choice he could make in terms of campaign strategy. It plays right into the Democrats McSame tactics.

Undergarments aside, I think Romney's probably the guy. Not a great choice for all the reasons already mentioned, but the business wing of the party seems to love him. He just looks like a stronger pick than T-Paw.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

Romney wouldn't bring McCain religious voters if he grew a beard, starting wearing a robe and sandals and displayed stigmata on his wrists. If Romney had the Christian vote in the primaries, he would have won the whole thing. He didn't, because he couldn't connect with those people.

I really think Romney is the worst choice McCain could make, at least among the reasonable contenders. This in accordance with a theory I developed during the primaries. It goes like this: people fucking hate Mitt Romney. He is so transparently phony that people who agree with him barely put up with him, and people who don't just can't stand him. He's got a preppy, apple-polisher quality - I'm not just venting my own feelings here, I really do think a lot of people got this impression of him - and it just reminds people what they don't want in a politician. Nobody who votes their faith is going to vote for Romney (other than a Mormon), nobody voting for the guy they want to have a beer with is going to vote for Romney, and nobody who is a doctrinaire conservative is going to vote for Romney, as we saw in the primaries, because he doesn't have the credentials.

How is the Mormon, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage ex-governor of Massachusetts going to bring John McCain religious voters? I know he's singing a different tune these days, but nobody believed him in the primaries, so why would they suddenly be interested in him now? It doesn't make sense. Romney garnered votes from economic conservatives, not religious voters. The religious voters went for Huckabee. Maybe Romney helps McCain economically, but I'm not seeing it.


I agree with all of this. I think Romeny would be a giant gift to Obama. The only plus he has is money. If McCain picks him it would look like a desperate move to me. Plus, I don't think McCain even likes Romney. The meme that Romney delivers Michigan sounds dubious to me as well. Anyone from the great lakes state here have any insight on this?

[Phlosphr]

<snip>

I really think Romney is the worst choice McCain could make, at least among the reasonable contenders. This in accordance with a theory I developed during the primaries. It goes like this: people fucking hate Mitt Romney. He is so transparently phony that people who agree with him barely put up with him, and people who don't just can't stand him. He's got a preppy, apple-polisher quality - I'm not just venting my own feelings here, I really do think a lot of people got this impression of him - and it just reminds people what they don't want in a politician. Nobody who votes their faith is going to vote for Romney (other than a Mormon), nobody voting for the guy they want to have a beer with is going to vote for Romney, and nobody who is a doctrinaire conservative is going to vote for Romney, as we saw in the primaries, because he doesn't have the credentials.

Underlining mine, is this now exactly why the republicans will love him?? It worked for GW...he's as phony as they come. I would consider it a gift if he was chosen. Personally, I don't think anyone McCain chooses will be able to really bump the pubbies this time...I agree with all of this. I think Romeny would be a giant gift to Obama. The only plus he has is money. If McCain picks him it would look like a desperate move to me. Plus, I don't think McCain even likes Romney. The meme that Romney delivers Michigan sounds dubious to me as well. Anyone from the great lakes state here have any insight on this? Well, Romney lambasted McCain in the primaries, and the dems would have a whole slew of great sound bites of Romney Slamming McCain to use. Where the pubbies only have one from Biden against Obama.... Go ahead John, pick Romney!

[Marley23]

Underlining mine, is this now exactly why the republicans will love him??
No, it's why they won't love him. ;) Bush may or may not be a phony, but he is by many accounts likeable guy who is good with people on a socially, and if he is a phony, he convinced enough people that he was genuine. There's always room in politics for an effective phony. Romney has not done that, and in fact, McCain really seemed to want to punch him in the face during the primaries. He gives off a quality of thinking that, if he says the right things, people will automatically believe him, and we saw how that worked out. My outside view is that people see Romney as the adult version of the kid who sucked up to all the teachers in school. Yes, he's president of the local Chamber of Commerce now, he's a big wheel in the business community and has money, but unless he can do you a favor, who likes that guy? Figuratively speaking.

[Shodan]

And yet somehow he managed to get elected as governor, and in Massachusetts, of all places. And come closer than most to unseating Teddy. (Cite. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney))

I know the SDMB hates him with a passion, but that is not the same as saying that "people" in general hate him, either in mainstream America or even in so liberal a state as Massachusetts.

He has one of the strengths of Pawlenty, which is that he can be elected in blue states, to go with his executive experience (to contrast with Biden and the Chosen One), hugely successful experience in business (also in contrast with Humpty and Dumpty), and the goodwill and street cred of his turnaround of the Olympics.

Sure, the Dems are gonna run shit from the primaries. You think the Republicans won't do the same with Hilary's meltdowns? They are already, with the Democratic delegate who switched to McCain.

On a related note, I read that McCain has made his choice, and will announce Friday. I'm hoping either Romney or Lieberman. Therefore, Pawlenty is a lock.

You read it here first.

Regards,
Shodan

[Sam Stone]

The name that's floating around now is Kay Bailey Hutchison.

[Marley23]

I know the SDMB hates him with a passion, but that is not the same as saying that "people" in general hate him, either in mainstream America or even in so liberal a state as Massachusetts.
I'm thinking the version of Romney who ran last year and this year is probably a lot less popular than the one who served as governor. Regardless, looking at Romney's primary results I think there is some legitimacy to what I'm saying.
He has one of the strengths of Pawlenty, which is that he can be elected in blue states, to go with his executive experience (to contrast with Biden and the Chosen One)
And the guy he's running with. ;)

[kunilou]

CNN reports this morning that sources say McCain will announce his selection Friday at a rally in Ohio. They don't seem 100% certain, though, as they're also reporting other sources saying he won't.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

There's some talk about K.B. Hutchinson, but she's pro-choice so I doubt it will happen.

Looking at the reported McCain shortlist, everybody has drawbacks. Romney is too phony and too Mormon, but he's got heft in the party and he's got money.

Lieberman, Ridge, Rice and Hutchinson are all pro-choice (and that's the least of Rice's negatives).

Pawlenty is mayonnaise on Wonder Bread. Completely safe on his political positions but utterly unexciting and will not deliver Minnesota, no matter what he may think.

Bobby "Van Helsing" Jindal has the exorcist thing going on, and don't think that won't be used against him. Plus, he's from a safe red state, so he really brings nothing with him except for the novelty of seeing an East Indian guy talk with a redneck accent.

I'm intrigued by the talk of Congressman Eric Cantor from Texas, and if it's not Romney, I think he might be a dark horse. If I have to bet, I'll bet Romney, though.

[DSeid]

But Cantor will get you better odds!

[Marley23]

Why would Romney's money matter? Did McCain say he's not going to accept public financing and I missed it?

[Captain Amazing]

I'm intrigued by the talk of Congressman Eric Cantor from Texas. . .

Virginia.

[Jas09]

I agree with all of this. I think Romeny would be a giant gift to Obama. The only plus he has is money. If McCain picks him it would look like a desperate move to me. Plus, I don't think McCain even likes Romney. The meme that Romney delivers Michigan sounds dubious to me as well. Anyone from the great lakes state here have any insight on this?I agree with much of the commentary here saying Romney would not be a good pick for McCain in general (here in MO I personally know 3 die-hard Republicans that will not vote for Romney). He will hurt in the South (many Baptists don't trust Mormons) and Northeast (NH is probably off the table). However, and this is a big one, he has the potential to help in three states that are essential to McCain - Michigan, Colorado, and Nevada. The latter two have not-insignificant Mormon populations and the first has a legacy with the Romney name. I think the calculation is that if McCain loses VA, for example, he's screwed no matter what, so it's best to shore up the "firewall". According to fivethirtyeight.com CO is now the top "tipping point" state, followed by MI. In fact, those three states are three of the 11 that Romney won in the primary.

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

McC supposedly hates Hutchinson personally. No cite, sorry--heard it on MSNBC in the last day or so, and it seemed like an accepted fact.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Why would Romney's money matter? Did McCain say he's not going to accept public financing and I missed it?
I don't mean just personal wealth, but fund raising ability. McCain has a ceiling, but the party doesn't, and they've got an uphill battle in the Congressional races. There's a chance the Dems could end up with a filibuster proof majority in the Senate this year. I think they want Romney for his ability to fill RNC coffers, not McCain coffers.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Virginia.
Yes, VA. Thank you. I don't know why I said Texas. I think I was thinking of Hutchinson.

[Gadarene]

Shodan:
I know the SDMB hates him with a passion, but that is not the same as saying that "people" in general hate him, either in mainstream America or even in so liberal a state as Massachusetts.

By repute, none of the other Republican candidates for President could personally stand Romney when they were out on the primary trail together.

[Marley23]

the first has a legacy with the Romney name.
This really doesn't fly for me. George Romney was governor of Michigan 40 years ago and I don't see the logic in saying Michigan will support a campaign in which his son is Vice President. It's like the people who argued Sebelius was a good pick for Obama because her father was governor of Ohio. I mean, yes, it's true, but how many people are going to be swayed by something like that? Maybe it helped Romney in the primary, but that's when he was saying he could bring auto industry jobs back to Michigan - which Presidential candidate McCain said was never going to happen.

[Jas09]

This really doesn't fly for me. George Romney was governor of Michigan 40 years ago and I don't see the logic in saying Michigan will support a campaign in which his son is Vice President. It's like the people who argued Sebelius was a good pick for Obama because her father was governor of Ohio. I mean, yes, it's true, but how many people are going to be swayed by something like that? Maybe it helped Romney in the primary, but that's when he was saying he could bring auto industry jobs back to Michigan - which Presidential candidate McCain said was never going to happen.I tend to agree - I don't think Romney will help all that much in Michigan. In fact, I think it's highly unlikely Michigan goes to McCain at all. I'm merely pointing out the potential logic for a Romney pick - he did well (relative to McCain) in states that McCain really needs to be competitive in if he wants to win. You could also add Minnesota to that list if you want (Romney won there as well).

As an Obama supporter I can't decide who I think he should pick, but I think Romney is the easiest to attack - for the flip-flopping, the McCain bashing, the transparent phoniness. But the western state thing does give me pause - I consider CO/NV/NM (two of the three) to be the firewall if Obama loses in OH. I guess that just makes VA more of a firewall. Pawlenty doesn't bring much to the table, but at least he doesn't take things off it like Romney does.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

Wouldn't the mormon vote go overwhelmingly to McCain anyway?

I wonder if he wouldn't cost McCain more votes than he would bring in.

[pkbites]

I think McCains choice can only hurt him, not help. McCain himself is not the favorite among the Republican base. So why would he completely do himself in and completely alienate that base by choosing someone who is pro abortion, pro gun control, a Mormon, a Jew, a flip-flopper, a tax & spender, a minority, a woman, etc..?

This is not the year for Republicans to flirt with diversity. McCain needs to pick someone who is as bland and uncontroversial as possible. I find that to be Pawlenty. Not perfect by a long shot.


And McCain is still going to lose.

[ultrafilter]

Going by the average of the bid/ask prices, Intrade has Romney at 64.6, Pawlenty at 22, Ridge at 8.75, Whitman at 8.0, Lieberman at 4.65, Hutchinson at 5.35, Palin at 4.5, Huckabee at 3.95, Cantor at 2.75, and everyone below 3.0.

[DoctorJ]

Word is that McCain has a rally scheduled with his VP nominee in PA on Saturday. If true, that would rule out Lieberman, since he doesn't roll on Shabbos.

[Maeglin]

Word is that McCain has a rally scheduled with his VP nominee in PA on Saturday. If true, that would rule out Lieberman, since he doesn't roll on Shabbos.

Shomer fuckin' Shabbos.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Word is that McCain has a rally scheduled with his VP nominee in PA on Saturday. If true, that would rule out Lieberman, since he doesn't roll on Shabbos.
That probably rules out Cantor too, then.

[Phlosphr]

Do we know that Lieberman definitely doesn't roll on Shabbos?

[DSeid]

Apparently (http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/12/campaign.sabbath.reut/index.html) - for campaigning at least - unless he's flip-flopped. :)The Connecticut lawmaker will interrupt the Sabbath for Senate votes or official business under a Jewish law known as "Pikuach Nefesh," which states that one can break any of the commandments to save a human life.

Rabbis interpret that liberally to say that one can engage in any activity that will help others in important ways. That does not include campaigning for office.

The first time he ran for the Senate in 1988, Lieberman did not show up for his own nominating convention because it was on a Saturday. He sent a video instead.

[Phlosphr]

Ok, I guess you are right, he won't roll on shabbos. Damn!

[choie]

I believe the official VP announcement rally is on Friday, not Saturday. So unless it goes past 5PM or so, Lieberman's still good to go. Lieberman would have to miss any Saturday morning/afternoon rally, but the VP candidate doesn't have to show up to every single one, does he?

But I doubt it will be him. Gotta say, McCain really does have a crappy field to choose from. Pawlenty is an unknown and young, and goes against McCain's whole "look at how inexperienced and callow Obama is!" tactic. Romney is a millionaire who hurts McCain's "Obama is elitist" cry. Lieberman is prochoice and, as much as he fellates the Bush administration, is still not as rightwing as the Republicans want. Also? He persists in being not Christian willfully and with malice aforethought.

Really, there are huge negatives for almost every likely choice.

[Marley23]

Gotta say, McCain really does have a crappy field to choose from.
I never understood why the Marc Sanford from South Carolina didn't get more attention. On a passing glance he appeared to have all the bases covered.
Lieberman is prochoice and, as much as he fellates the Bush administration, is still not as rightwing as the Republicans want.
The often overlooked (around here) truth is that Lieberman is an old-fashioned Democrat who is only with the Bush administration on the war and national security issues, and on some cultural issues like entertainment which aren't getting a lot of attention in 2008 anyway.

[Happy Lendervedder]

I still think Sarah Palin would be a good choice for him. A youthful, popular governor, pro-life, fiscal and social conservative, publically Christian, son in the military, life-time member of the NRA, executive experience, and, uh...something else..uhhh...oh, yeah, two X chromosomes! Which would be an excellent way to court some people interested in seeing a woman [an old-man's-whithering-heartbeat-away from being] in the White House.

[Phlosphr]

I believe the official VP announcement rally is on Friday, not Saturday. So unless it goes past 5PM or so, Lieberman's still good to go. Lieberman would have to miss any Saturday morning/afternoon rally, but the VP candidate doesn't have to show up to every single one, does he?

But I doubt it will be him. Gotta say, McCain really does have a crappy field to choose from. Pawlenty is an unknown and young, and goes against McCain's whole "look at how inexperienced and callow Obama is!" tactic. Romney is a millionaire who hurts McCain's "Obama is elitist" cry. Lieberman is prochoice and, as much as he fellates the Bush administration, is still not as rightwing as the Republicans want. Also? He persists in being not Christian willfully and with malice aforethought.

Really, there are huge negatives for almost every likely choice.
Wel, the stars are aligning for this one. I know there is a lot of excitement in my neck of the woods for Obama and PA and OH might actually follow suite. Who knows - but it's ripe for a democrat - I will say that!

[Merijeek]

Shodan:


By repute, none of the other Republican candidates for President could personally stand Romney when they were out on the primary trail together.

And while I know Shodan loves to prattle on with his "evil mean libruls" shtick, I wasn't aware that there are lots of people on the SDMB that hate him. Just a lot of "meh".

-Joe

[Oy!]

Wel, the stars are aligning for this one. I know there is a lot of excitement in my neck of the woods for Obama and PA and OH might actually follow suite. Who knows - but it's ripe for a democrat - I will say that!
What part of the country is Bag End in, actually? I mean, besides the Shire? Or is that my answer - you live with Kucinich?

[Phlosphr]

What part of the country is Bag End in, actually? I mean, besides the Shire? Or is that my answer - you live with Kucinich?
Connecticut. Bag End has always been in Connecticut but here in CT we call it Gungywamp (http://www.larryharrop.com/blog/uploads/P1030471_.jpg) - it resembles Bag End, here's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gungywamp) the Wiki entry for it.

[DoctorJ]

I still think Sarah Palin would be a good choice for him.She would have been, before she got butt-deep in her own scandal. Even if there's not much to it (and I really don't know that much about it), she's going to have to spend a lot of time talking about it, not to mention the rest of the woes among Alaska Republicans.

[Oy!]

Connecticut. Bag End has always been in Connecticut but here in CT we call it Gungywamp (http://www.larryharrop.com/blog/uploads/P1030471_.jpg) - it resembles Bag End, here's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gungywamp) the Wiki entry for it.
How cool is that?

[Happy Lendervedder]

She would have been, before she got butt-deep in her own scandal. Even if there's not much to it (and I really don't know that much about it), she's going to have to spend a lot of time talking about it, not to mention the rest of the woes among Alaska Republicans.

I hadn't heard about her scandal; what's it about?

[Elendil's Heir]

I'm surprised Mike Huckabee hasn't been getting more attention. As an articulate, personable, conservative evangelical Southern ex-governor who did pretty well in the GOP primaries and never really beat up on McCain, I think he'd be a natural as a running mate.

The AP says McCain could announce his Veep pick as early as tomorrow.

[DoctorJ]

Here's the section from her Wikipedia page. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin#Commissioner_dismissal) Basically, she fired the state's Commissioner of Public Safety, and he says it's because he wouldn't fire a state trooper who had a nasty divorce and custody battle with Palin's sister. She says that had nothing to do with it.

There may not be much there, but it's not like there has to be much there for it to be an issue. (See Rezco, Ayers, et. al.)

[Gadarene]

I'm surprised Mike Huckabee hasn't been getting more attention. As an articulate, personable, conservative evangelical Southern ex-governor who did pretty well in the GOP primaries and never really beat up on McCain, I think he'd be a natural as a running mate.

He was so great on Colbert last night; I love him every time I see him. It's my secret shame.

[zut]

The meme that Romney delivers Michigan sounds dubious to me as well. Anyone from the great lakes state here have any insight on this?Romney would probably help McCain in Michigan, at least to the extent that any vice-presidential candidate can. His message during the primaries was heavily focused on the economy, which is probably more important here in Michigan than everywhere else.

And he was born and grew up in Michigan. Now, I don't think the "Romney legacy" (his father was governor in the 60s) will win McCain any votes that he wouldn't have already gotten from older Republicans. However, Mitt *can* tell stories about growing up in Michigan, and knowing Michigan workers, and sympathising with them and so forth, and *understanding* the Michigan manufacturing economy, and that likely will go over well.

Contrasting Romney's history with Obama's avoidance of Michigan in the primaries may be appealing from the Republican side.

Whether all that will be worth a bucket of warm spit (to reuse a phrase) come election day, I don't know. There are a few other factors that I suspect will play a larger role thatn the VP pick. But Romney would surely help McCain more than anyone else, at least in Michigan.

[choie]

The scandal involves Palin firing the Commissioner of Public Safety. It's alleged that she fired him because he didn't fire a certain state trooper -- who is the ex-husband of Palin's sister with whom he's currently involved in an ugly custody battle. The trooper sounds like a fruitcake with a violent streak, since he is alleged to have tasered his own stepson and threatened to kill his wife's father (i.e. Palin's dad)

In her defense, Palin says she fired the Commish because he didn't fulfill certain trooper hiring practices, or something. She also says that she didn't know about boatloads of taped conversations from her aides' offices to the Commissioner's office.

I dunno. If the trooper's this big a nutcase who threatened someone's life, seems like he should've been suspended or fired anyway. But one can't condone misuse of political power. So it's a tough situation. Palin's incredibly popular, though, and I can see her riding the storm pretty easily.

[Death of Rats]

And yet somehow he managed to get elected as governor, and in Massachusetts, of all places. And come closer than most to unseating Teddy. (Cite. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney))




True, but he did that running on a Democratic platform with an "R" behind his name. All of which came back to haunt him in the Priamries and would doom the ticket.

[Elendil's Heir]

Yeah, would it be Romney v.1994 or Romney v.2008 who ran for Veep? The latter, of course.

[Death of Rats]

It would be Romney v.2008 in the Republican ads and Romney V.1994 in the Democratic ads.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

From some of the chatter I'm hearing on the cable news shows, I now think it's going to be Pawlenty. They said he cancelled his scheduled appearances for tomorrow and saturday. If it's him, Minnesotans will have an added incentive to vote for Obama.

By the way, it's partially Pawlenty's fault that bridge fell down. The Obama camp needs to hammer on that.

ETA, and Pawlenty is also responsible for letting Dru Sjodin's killer out of prison.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

We'll have motivation because Pawlenty sucks or because the troll who serves as Lt. Gov. would take over? or both.

I'm all about Pawlenty right now since I get $100 if he gets the nom. This campaign season is paying off for me in spades so far!

[Diogenes the Cynic]

We'll have motivation because Pawlenty sucks or because the troll who serves as Lt. Gov. would take over? or both.Well, I was thinking about the former, but the point about Molnau is quite valid too. Even Pawlenty can't stand her.

[Shodan]

By the way, it's partially Pawlenty's fault that bridge fell down.What a load of horseshit.

Regards,
Shodan

[Diogenes the Cynic]

On the postive side, Biden would absolutely kick the shit out of T-Paw in the VP debate.

[Shayna]

There's new speculation that it might be Kay Bailey Hutchison (http://thepage.time.com/2008/08/28/the-gentlelady-from-texas/).

[Icarus]

If it's him, Minnesotans will have an added incentive to vote for Obama.

So they can keep Pawlenty as Governor?

[Diogenes the Cynic]

So they can keep Pawlenty as Governor?
His replacement would be even worse. Pawlenty getting elected VP is a double-loss for Minnesotans.

[ultrafilter]

Reuters says Pawlenty has canceled his Denver appearances on Friday (http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2838359520080828). Not fire, but it sure looks a lot like smoke to me.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

A few minutes ago Greta Van Susteren breathlessly announced she had "breaking news" from the McCain campaign. The news? That the campaign will not be saying who the veep choice is tonight.

They actually used a breaking news sounder to announce that there wouldn't be any breaking news. :rolleyes:

[Sam Stone]

Would you like to describe exactly what's wrong with Pawlenty? From the articles I read, he sounds like a pretty decent politician with decent experience in government and the private sector. He doesn't sound like a fundy, but more like a pragmatic conservative. I've never paid attention to him before, so I know little about him. But he doesn't sound evil or stupid.

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

Here's one problem with Pawlenty: I mentioned him as a likely veep to a politically savvy friend this evening, and her response was "Who?" If I weren't obsessively reading political blogs these days I'd never have heard of him either.

I don't think an obscure Governor Who?!? helps McCain.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Would you like to describe exactly what's wrong with Pawlenty? From the articles I read, he sounds like a pretty decent politician with decent experience in government and the private sector. He doesn't sound like a fundy, but more like a pragmatic conservative. I've never paid attention to him before, so I know little about him. But he doesn't sound evil or stupid.
He's not Darth Vader. He's mostly just uninspiring and not particularly likeable. He got elected to his first term by promising not to cut taxes, and them made wide reaching and damaging, mean-spirited cuts to make up the deficit. My wife and I both work in social services in Minnesota and both saw real pain caused to people who really needed services. In addition to cutting social services (which I know conservatives don't care about), he also cut things like highway funding to avoid raising gas taxes (something which arguably led indirectly to the 35W bridge collapse), and he cut funding to a sex offensder program that led directly to the release of a sexual psychopath named Alfonso Rodriguez, who proceeded to murder a girl named Dru Sjodin. It's a ready made Willie Horton ad, and it has a lot more substance to it.

The Republicans will say that "he balanced the budget without raising taxes," but that isn't really true. Aside from some really brutal and unnecessary spending cuts, Pawlenty did raise taxes, he just used the tactic of calling them "user fees."

Now, those are reasons Minnesotans don't like him, but I don't know how much any of that will resonate nationally. His personality is bland and non-descript -- kind of a Pub version of Evan Bayh. I doubt he'll do much damage to McCain, but the Republicans are deluded if they think he'll deliver Minnesota in November. I think he's a net zero to the McCain campaign. He moves the needle neither up nor down (though the Obama campaign should immediately get to work on an Alfonzo Rodriguez ad).

[Elendil's Heir]

I have a Minn. college friend, a clear-eyed and objective lady who would say nice things about any Republican if there were anything nice to say. FWIW, she loathes Pawlenty.

[DSeid]

A "Who?" needs a roll-out. Unless there is something special or novel about them. Pawlenty doesn't have it. Which doesn't mean that McCain won't do it anyway, but does mean that it would not be smart.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Unless it's somebody like Powell, I don't see how this can be anything but anti-climactic tomorrow. Pawlenty Who gives nobody a boner. Neither does Romney, really. I guess he could make some real news if he told the religious right to get fucked and chose Lieberman. That would actually really show me something. It would give him back his maverick image and make it authentic again. I don't see him doing it, though.

[Quartz]

Perhaps McCain's real problem is that there's no one willing to be his VP candidate? Which of the prospective candidates can afford to go down as a loser?

[Marley23]

MSNBC says it won't be Pawlenty, and that Romney won't be in Ohio today.

[Oy!]

I hope it's Romney, but I fear it's Ridge.

[Phlosphr]

Please let it be Ridge
Please let it be Ridge
Please let it be Ridge


ETA: Oy Why?? If it's Ridge the Religious Right will shit a brick...

[JohnnieEnigma]

It's being reported that McCain will choose Sarah Palin, Alaskan Govornor as his Vice President. I think it's smart because he is showing up Obama for not choosing a woman, and locking in all the independent female voters. Palin has executive experience too.

[JohnnieEnigma]

I believe he's choosing Palin

[Marley23]

I hope it's Romney, but I fear it's Ridge.
Fear how? Most people think duct tape is the solution to a ton of life's little problems; Ridge became the subject of nationwide ridicule after proposing it would be a solution to a bioterror attack.

[CapnPitt]

NPR reported this morning that Pawlenty has no plans on going to Dayton today (for the McCain event) and would be doing his radio show and going to the state fair. They said they *think* that rules him out, but of course it could all be a big head-fake.

[Simplicio]

Is it being reported by any sort of creditable source? I find it hard to believe McCain would spend so much time knocking Obama's experience and then choose Palin, whose been governor for just over a year and whose previous experience was as mayor of a town of 6,000.

If it's true, its a pretty serious blunder by McCain, IMHO. The lack of experience attack on Obama is one of his most effective, and putting the previous mayor of Wasilla, AL one 72 yearold heart beat from the presidency is really going to undercut that.

[Billdo]

It's a bold choice because she's a woman, but she doesn't have that strong of a resume.

More significantly, like just about all Alaska Republicans these days, she's in the middle of an ethics scandal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin#Commissioner_dismissal), being accused of dismissing her Commissioner of Public Safety because he would not fire a state trooper who was in a child custody battle with her sister.

[Phlosphr]

It's being reported that McCain will choose Sarah Palin, Alaskan Govornor as his Vice President. I think it's smart because he is showing up Obama for not choosing a woman, and locking in all the independent female voters. Palin has executive experience too.
I'm not so convinced he'd be locking in all the female voters with Palin. Would Palin be a better President than McCain? If McCain somehow get's sick or dies can she carry the country?

Do you have a cite?

[JohnnieEnigma]

Is it being reported by any sort of creditable source? I find it hard to believe McCain would spend so much time knocking Obama's experience and then choose Palin, whose been governor for just over a year and whose previous experience was as mayor of a town of 6,000.

If it's true, its a pretty serious blunder by McCain, IMHO. The lack of experience attack on Obama is one of his most effective, and putting the previous mayor of Wasilla, AL one 72 yearold heart beat from the presidency is really going to undercut that.


Actually, that's what's so smart about it... how could anyone possibly point the 'inexperience' stick at McCain when Obama is being accused of the same. This puts them on the same playing field.. Plus you have to consider that the president's experience trumps the vice pres anyway. Just saying...

[JohnnieEnigma]

I'm not so convinced he'd be locking in all the female voters with Palin. Would Palin be a better President than McCain? If McCain somehow get's sick or dies can she carry the country?

Do you have a cite?

Cite? I'm hearing this from Fox News... although they're trying to be neutural about it, but there seems to be some upset with this news.

[Simplicio]

Actually, that's what's so smart about it... how could anyone possibly point the 'inexperience' stick at McCain when Obama is being accused of the same. This puts them on the same playing field.. Plus you have to consider that the president's experience trumps the vice pres anyway. Just saying...

But it moves them from a playing field that favored McCain to an even playing field, which makes it a stupid move. Looking at wikipedia, the rumors are apparently due to her being whisked away from Alaska to Ohio earlier. I'm thinking she'll be there to speak on behalf of McCain, but not as his VP. I really can't imagine that he'll do something so foolish (though I hope your right).

[JohnnieEnigma]

It seems a lot of people were hoping for Romney, but I'm not sure how he would benefit McCain. Do you really think he'll have a bump in the polls with a Romney selection? I seriously doubt it... It's just too typical a choice. But we'll see...

[Kid_A]

Link (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/mccain-vp-conte.html)

ABC is reporting that Palin is in Anchorage and will be attending the Alaska State Fair.

[JohnnieEnigma]

Link (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/mccain-vp-conte.html)

ABC is reporting that Palin is in Anchorage and will be attending the Alaska State Fair.


Alright... it's being reported that it will not be Romney though. So possibly Ridge?

[Marley23]

Alright... it's being reported that it will not be Romney though. So possibly Ridge?
We already have a McCain VP thread going. If you're backing away from the Palin theory I'm going to fold this thread into that one.

[Billdo]

MSNBC is saying everyone on the short- or medium-long lists except Lieberman is not in Dayton.

[JohnnieEnigma]

If the rumors about Palin prove to be false and he chooses Ridge, I'll be disappointed. McCain needs to choose a woman... and I'm speaking as a woman.

[JohnnieEnigma]

We already have a McCain VP thread going. If you're backing away from the Palin theory I'm going to fold this thread into that one.

OK, that's fine... thank you.

[Marley23]

Done.

If McCain does pick Lieberman it'll be interesting (rather unlike Lieberman himself, but oh well) because it will be such a major play for the middle. They'll be playing up the whole national security angle and McCain will talk about how he's going beyond partisan politics and so forth. Does it work? I don't know, and I don't know how much it will alienate conservatives - and not just the religious right, because Lieberman isn't an economic conservative either.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I hope it's Lieberman. That would really impress me.

[Marley23]

If the rumors about Palin prove to be false and he chooses Ridge, I'll be disappointed.
And I'll look like an idiot.

I say this because CNBC is reporting that a "GOP Strategist" says it's Palin. (http://www.cnbc.com/id/26454655)