Who will/should McCain pick as running mate?

[BrainGlutton]

All conceivable possibilities listed on this Wikipedia page.

Bobby Jindal is out of the running if McCain has even a lick of sense.

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 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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Dangerosa

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]

Originally Posted by tds1273

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

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.

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]

Originally Posted by Captain Lance Murdoch

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?

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]

Originally Posted by Quartz

How about 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. 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]

Originally Posted by Quartz

How about 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]

Originally Posted by DSeid

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]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

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]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

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?

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]

Originally Posted by Lakai

Just food for thought, but how about Condoleezza Rice?

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]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

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]

Originally Posted by 5-4-Fighting

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]

Originally Posted by DigitalC

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]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

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]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

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]

Originally Posted by Bricker

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]

Originally Posted by Diogenes the Cynic

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.

[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]

Originally Posted by Frostillicus

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 .... ?!?!]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

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, 'cos duh, she's Liddy Dole. The not-quite-so-ancient half of the original Washington power couple.

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]

Originally Posted by DigitalC

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]

Originally Posted by 5-4-Fighting

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]

Originally Posted by foolsguinea

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]

Originally Posted by foolsguinea

The genius choice would be Jesse Ventura

I love the Frankenstein look he's going for.

[Quartz]

Originally Posted by Simplicio

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]

Originally Posted by Quartz

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]

Originally Posted by pkbites

I love the Frankenstein look he's going for.

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

[Simplicio]

Originally Posted by Quartz

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]

Originally Posted by ZebraShaSha

His last name?

Whoooooosh!

[pkbites]

Originally Posted by Argent Towers

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]

Originally Posted by 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, 'cos duh, she's Liddy Dole. The not-quite-so-ancient half of the original Washington power couple.

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.