# VP for Bush **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 15, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784 "2000-03-15T13:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cheese\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/1 "2000-03-15T13:41:00Z")
Who do you think he will choose for VP? Here are my ideas: Dan Quayle Jeb Bush Neal Bush Newt Gingrich Bob Jones Tommy Thompson Engler Liz Dole ---
**Author:** ![JoeBlank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@JoeBlank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeBlank)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/2 "2000-03-15T14:18:00Z")
Bush’s running mate will be Christine Todd Whitman. If they win (big if) she will be President in 8 years. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/3 "2000-03-15T14:36:00Z")
Scuttlebut around these parts is Connie Mack, who is Catholic, to help Bush regain some lost credibility with Catholic voters. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_North](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Peter\_North](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_North)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/4 "2000-03-15T15:10:00Z")
Elizabeth Dole * * * Up the Irons! ---
**Author:** ![Delta-9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/5 "2000-03-15T15:21:00Z")
Dan Quayle? Surely you jest. * * * The odds that the bread will fall butter side down are directly proportional to the cost of the carpet. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/6 "2000-03-15T16:13:00Z")
I’ll go out on a limb here, and say that there is no way in hell that he will pick Elizabeth Dole. Quayle? Well, I would hope that he’s got enough pride not to accept it if it were offered. I also don’t think he’ll pick either Jeb or Neil, that much nepotism would probably not sit so well with US voters. Me? I keep waiting for Sam Nunn to come out and demonstrate bi-partisanship with a Nunn Bush ticket. Waste Flick Lives! ---
**Author:** ![Freedomx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@Freedomx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedomx)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/7 "2000-03-15T16:28:00Z")
Dan Quayle - no way Jeb Bush - I don’t even think republicans Neal Bush - would support this!!! Newt Gingrich - Puke Bob Jones - 🙂 Tommy Thompson - I don’t anything about him Engler - maybe Liz Dole - have you ever checked out the Dole/Bush history? Since 1972 there has been a Dole or a bush on EVERY republican ticket. This bothers me a little bit. Actually, it bothers me alot. Putting a Dole on the same ticket with a Bush would make me vote for Buchanan. 🙂 Just to throw out a couple of more name: Whitman, no way JC Watts, First black VP as a Republican? That would kill the Democrats. Do you think that liberal black Americans would vote for a conservative black VP? I am not sure what I think would happen here, but there is a good chance that blacks would turn out in droves to make this happen. Pataki, After his new stance on gun legislation, I hope not. Keyes, Way to far to the right, even though he has the same intrigueing possibilities as Watts. If the Republicans put a black VP on the ticket, would the democrats have to do the same? (assuming the republicans choose one first) Colin Powell, I don’t think he would accept even if he were offered. Right now think there are just too many possibilities. It may be easier to guess what issues Bush finds important. Will he have a pro-Choice VP? Strong 2nd Amendment? Regional VP? (to bring in certain states) A black? A woman? Many people think this year is going ot be a snoozer, but with Bush, Gore and Buchanan gearing up for a good brawl, I think it is going to be full of fireworks. ---
**Author:** ![Dirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Dirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirt)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/8 "2000-03-15T16:36:00Z")
On last night’s Nightline it was suggested that one of the best (and only) things both campaigns could do to spice things up would be to put a woman on the ticket, citing both Whitman and Dole as likely Bush picks. No clear choices among Democrat women, however. What do you think? Can co-ed tickets bust up the increasing parity between Al and Dub? Any viable veeps among female Dems? ---
**Author:** ![Freedomx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@Freedomx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedomx)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/9 "2000-03-15T17:06:00Z")
I see te media as biased and as having an agenda. Their take on the election needs to be taken with a few pounds of salt (IMHO). Just look at this weeks fued between the NRA and Clinton, fireworks galore. I think the nature of Gore will have him throwing more mud than you can imagine. Bush will respond because he looks like a fighter. (he did beat Richards) Buchanan, well…what can you say…? 🙂 This guy has nothing to lose, and everything to gain. He will be swinging like crazy. If he gets in to the debates, they will be full of fire. He left the Republicans, so we know he doesn’t like them, and he sees Gore as one step removed from the Anti-Christ. I don’t know why the media is playing this election down, but I promise it will be hot. High Gas prices and a volatile stock market are just going to be fuel on the fire. Gore better hope the public doesn’t figure out that inflation is soaring around 5%, instead of laying flat like he says. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Clinton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Bill\_Clinton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Clinton)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/10 "2000-03-15T17:10:00Z")
Who is Dub? Possible Gore VPs: Bill Bradley Barbara Boxer Mario Coumo Jessie Jackson Bill Clinton Hillary Clinton ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/11 "2000-03-15T17:14:00Z")
First off, let’s pop the myth about VP being such a great platform to become President. There have been 45 Vice-Presidents, of whom only 14 made President. Of those 14, nine obtained the office by succession, of whom only four ended up winning a term of their own; none a second (Coolidge would have won, had he run). Of the other 5 who became president, one (Nixon) failed in his attempt at direct election from VP to P; he did succede later with two elected terms. Bush, Van Buren, and J. Adams all managed successful election to the Presidency as VP’s, but all three failed to win a second term. Leaving Thomas Jefferson as the only Vice-President to win the office of President directly following his VP stint and then be re-elected. And really you can’t count him as being made President because he was VP; he wasn’t even in the same party as his President and he had plenty of support even had he not sat as VP. Bush was the first VP to win an election while sitting as VP since 1836 (Van Buren). Nixon and Humphrey both failed to be elected after being nominated while VP; before that I think the last such failure was John C. Breckenridge in 1860. I’m not sure how many VP’s failed to win nomination of their party when making a serious bid for it. Thus, don’t expect that the running mates for Bush or Gore are gonna be president. Frankly, I wouldn’t WANT the damn office, even if it is worth more than a bucket of warm spit (piss, take your choice). It’s a graveyard for Presidential ambitions, unless you can arrange the death of your boss in office. 😉 Having said that, I think the Republicans will put someone relatively conservative on the ticket to allow Bush to run to center without losing the flank (much as Quayle was choosen (as he might spell it) in '92). This eliminates Elizabeth Dole, and Tommy Thompson, and I doubt they would pick Engler for much the same reason (plus it is bad demographics to pick someone from a state you won handily in a contested primary). My guess for Bush is someone from the south, to solidify southern conservatives, or a western conservative, to help in California. Not sure who that might lead to, though. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_North](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Peter\_North](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_North)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/12 "2000-03-15T17:52:00Z")
> [@](#): > > JC Watts, First black VP as a Republican? That would kill the Democrats. I can still see Watts pitching to Billy Sims…Touchdown! The Sooners WIN!!! * * * Up the Irons! ---
**Author:** ![Dirt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Dirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirt)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/13 "2000-03-15T22:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Bill Clinton: > Who is Dub? George Dubya Bush ---
**Author:** ![jcgmoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jcgmoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcgmoi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2000, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/14 "2000-03-16T02:58:00Z")
GOPers are so stretched for viable candidates that they pick a guy who would merit consideration for #2 on a Quayle ticket. Anyway, Powell is way too left for this crowd, Thompson and Mack are maybes, J.C. Watts is out of politics soon to make some serious money, Engler blew it when Michigan rolled the wrong way, Pataki wants it too bad. My guess is in his time of need, Dubya will do as he’s always done and call on the man he can really trust, the man who’s always been there for the quick fix, the man who picked him up when he stumbled and gently rightened him when he strayed, the man who has proven he has the right stuff, ladies and gentlemen, let’s give it up for our next Vice-president, a great American, that sky-diving wonder, George Herbert Walker Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2000, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/15 "2000-03-16T08:24:00Z")
Well, I think it safe to throw out four of Cheese Head’s picks to begin with: Quayle, Jones (hah! that’s a good one), and his brothers (does Neal even have any experience?). Newt’s been out of the game, and he’s been vilified heavily. He’ll probably go with someone conservative, so he can appease that end of the GOP will running towards center. He’ll go with with someone from a region that he’s struggling in, like California, or possibly a Catholic to make up for the whole BJU thing. Former CA gov Pete Wilson is probably on the long list. Keyes would be very interesting, but I’m not holding my breath. * * * It’s not how you pick your nose, it’s where you put the boogers ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2000, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/16 "2000-03-16T14:11:00Z")
Keyes? Dole? The Republican presidential candidate will choose as running mate a woman or an African American (hell, or even a guy with an OVERLY ETHNIC name) when Poland Chinas take to the skies. They can’t win without the racist/sexist vote, and they know it. ---
**Author:** ![Cheese\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2000, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/17 "2000-03-16T17:23:00Z")
Good analysis and potential candidates list so far. Since Bush is a governor portraying himself as a Washington outsider, I doubt he will pick another governor and DC outsider to run with. So, I think Engler, Thompson, Wilson, and Whitman are all out. Likewise, Colin Powell is too much of an outsider. I think Bush will pick a Washington insider, someone with lots of experience in the Senate or Congress. Watts doesn’t have enough experience. Have Liz Dole or Keyes ever been elected to an office? I think they are doubtful. So, here are the Senators I think he could pick: Connie Mack sounds like a good possibility. Also, Trent Lott and Orrin Hatch come to mind. Maybe Voinovich. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2000, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/18 "2000-03-17T06:46:00Z")
Offhand, I think that Lott would destroy any hope of winning just as handily as as anyone else. Waste Flick Lives! ---
**Author:** ![Federalist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@Federalist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Federalist)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2000, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/19 "2000-03-18T04:53:00Z")
Dan Quayle no Jeb Bush no Neal Bush ye…uh…no Newt Gingrich no Bob Jones no Tommy Thompson no Engler no Liz Dole no My predictions, either: McCain Pataki(NY governor) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2000, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784/20 "2000-03-18T11:26:00Z")
Tommy Thompson’s not a conservative? I take it you don’t live in Wisconsin. The last electoral map I saw showed Wisconsin as a “battleground” state, so I think TT’s stock has gone up recently. Even without a battle for WI, a midwestern governor with a lot of power would be a good balance for a southern governor with little power. But I do think Bush is going to pick a woman running mate, probably Whitman but possibly Olympia Snow from Maine or Helen Chenoweth (just kidding). There’s been talk on the Democratic side of choosing Senator Dianne Feinstein of CA as the VP which would guarantee a woman VP and would neutralize whatever advantage Shrub can gain from choosing a woman. I don’t think Feinstein would take the job (she’s running for a pretty secure Senate seat and while she’s ambitious enough to want the VP slot I don’t think she’d give up the Democratic seat, although she can run for both offices at once and I suppose she could hold both offices at once if she wanted to). The Democrats don’t have a lot of high-profile women governors or Congresspeople, and Gore would be stupid to tap anyone currently in Congress anyway, what with the balance so close. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vp-for-bush/17784.md?page=2)