# Who will/should McCain pick as running mate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 18, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391 "2008-06-18T19:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/141 "2008-08-28T17:13:45Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] Shomer fuckin’ Shabbos. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/142 "2008-08-28T17:14:56Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] That probably rules out Cantor too, then. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/143 "2008-08-28T17:19:39Z")
Do we know that Lieberman definitely doesn’t roll on Shabbos? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/144 "2008-08-28T17:30:22Z")
[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. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/145 "2008-08-28T17:41:40Z")
Ok, I guess you are right, he won’t roll on shabbos. Damn! ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/146 "2008-08-28T18:11:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/147 "2008-08-28T18:19:48Z")
[QUOTE=choie] Gotta say, McCain really does have a crappy field to choose from. [/quote] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/148 "2008-08-28T18:24:44Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/149 "2008-08-28T18:27:43Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] 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! ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/150 "2008-08-28T18:34:39Z")
[QUOTE=Gadarene] **Shodan:** By repute, none of the other Republican candidates for President could personally stand Romney when they were out on the primary trail together. [/QUOTE] 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 ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/151 "2008-08-28T18:37:40Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] 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! [/QUOTE] What part of the country is Bag End in, actually? I mean, besides the Shire? Or is that my answer - you live with Kucinich? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/152 "2008-08-28T18:41:51Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] What part of the country is Bag End in, actually? I mean, besides the Shire? Or is that my answer - you live with Kucinich? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/153 "2008-08-28T18:43:17Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/154 "2008-08-28T18:43:53Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] 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. [/QUOTE] How cool is that? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/155 "2008-08-28T18:44:13Z")
[QUOTE=DoctorJ] 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. [/QUOTE] I hadn’t heard about her scandal; what’s it about? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/156 "2008-08-28T18:52:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/157 "2008-08-28T18:54:58Z")
[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.) ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/158 "2008-08-28T18:55:27Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/159 "2008-08-28T18:56:49Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Lance Murdoch] The meme that Romney delivers Michigan sounds dubious to me as well. Anyone from the great lakes state here have any insight on this? [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391/160 "2008-08-28T18:59:53Z")
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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-mccain-pick-as-running-mate/453391.md?page=9)