Feb 09 2008
VP Stakes, My Choices
RCP has a list of top candidates for McCain’s VP selection and the top two listed turn out (surprise, surprise) to be my top two picks. They include my top desire for President Condi Rice, and another great American former Rep JC Watts. And yes, both are African Americans – trust me I like the way they think above all else, I am not focused on their skin color. But I am also not naive enough to not know the potential impact of the GOP electing the first African-American VP. It would be huge and bring the party back to its roots under Lincoln.
Personally, I don’t think it will be anyone on their short list. Some of those would be a disaster – for instance, everyone likes the idea of Colin Powell, but the ticket doesn’t need two military men, and Colin was quoted today as saying he might vote for a democrat in this election. That’s good VP material? (and just to be clear, I think very highly of the man – just don’t think he should be in an elected office) My money is on Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota governor – very popular in the region, could bring midwesterners/rustbelt states on board which is a key battleground this cycle, and most importantly he has been traveling the country with McCain lately, and the two appear to have become very close. (I checked, and RCP has Pawlenty ranked 24 on the list. I think McCain has him in the top 5)
I would go with any fiscal conservative. Someone whose strong point is economics. Therefore I like a Mitt Romney or John Kasich as his vice president.
I have said all along that Romney would be a good vp choice. He would match up well against Obama, imho, in vp debates…or hillary.
Off topic, sorta…Just heard the “sound of freedom” overhead. Two jets headed for somewhere..I love it when there’s a flash of daylight from the jets flying past the sun…And the fierce roar of those engines! Makes me scream, “Take that terrorists! ”
So proud of our great military!!
Sarah Palin (Governor of Alaska) would be my number one choice.
But I do love Condi! Roll Tide! (Saw her at the Alabama-Tn game with Jack Straw. She did the coin toss. It was magnificent… 🙂
I think Romney would be a good pick. I like Condi Rice a lot, but some on the right have been disenchanted with her since she went to the State Department. BTW, I heard Bolton might be up for Secretary of State. Heads would explode.
I also think Thompson or Giulliani would be good. And Coburn of Oklahoma would make the conservatives feel better. But both are from the southwest.
And I have heard good things about Palin as well.
Lots of possibilites.
I am a huge fan of Condi. However, I think the country has Condi fatigue–and, she could be painted as part of the failures (not just the successes). My favorite would be Michael Steele. He is solid conservative and ran an impressive Senate run in Maryland.
Bobby Jindal should run for President, himself, some day (especially if he turns LA around and cracks into the state’s corruption). Jindal is an economics genius also (very impressive guy). But, he just got elected Governor of a state he loves and calls home; and, I don’t think he would abandon the good people who elected him so soon.
I like J.C. Watts.The thing about it is ,I doubt McCain would care anything about his V.P. once (and if) he won the presidency.
Dick Cheney rocks.Excellent V.P.
Darth Vader ain’t got jack on The Dickster!
Frogg
I agree with your Michael Steele pick.
Michael Steele
JC Watts
Linda Chavez
I thought of Jindal too, but he needs more time.
OHHH!!! I would love John Bolton to be our secretary of state!
JC Watts or Michael Steele or even a black female woman would make it a really good challenge against Hillary and Barack.
But I’m not happy with Condi.
I like Condi, but given this is her 2nd position/job and we see some of the same issues/problems/lack of results and complaints about management side issues and problems and lack of coherent policy….communication issues, etc., …well….lets just say she no longer gets the benefit of the doubt from me.
I would prefer she moveon when GW leaves.
“OHHH!!! I would love John Bolton to be our secretary of state!”
But the Senate would never confirm him. And he knows that.
I love the idea of Condi but I think her time in the present administration would create too many negatives for some people.
Now Michael Steele! I love that one! He has a strong positive image and he’s proven he can stomach all of the attacks that will come his way.
Pawlenty won’t help much in bringing in the conservative vote. Minnesota is very liberal and a conservative in a liberal state isn’t conservative enough for southern conservatives which are needed to win.
Romney would be a good pick as he is a recognizable commodity right now but he also has negatives along with his strengths.
Whoever McCain picks will determine how any concessions he has made to conservatives will be perceived. He goes liberal he won’t be trusted…he goes conservative he may get the benefit of the doubt.
Too bad Cheney isn’t interested…or is he? (just wishing!)
Michael Steele may be cute, but he’s a AAA player, and a loser. Condi Rice is associated with the hated Bush foreign policy. Though that could be a long-bomb move for McCain: he will after all be running as the “win in Iraq” candidate, so it might not hurt him. Watts: another AAA player, who bailed out of politics because he was bored or frustrated. All three (and Colin Powell) would look too much like pandering. Though if Clinton “steals” the nomination from Obama… Lieberman would not cross the aisle, I think. Jindal: too green, alas. Giuliani: too much baggage. Thompson: another old white guy (much as I like him). Huckabee: no thank you, Jesus. Palin: hadn’t heard of her. Even if not female, she’d be plausible, barely, which is good. But another small-state Westerner. Crist: blah. Romney: wouldn’t actually put MA in play. Hutchison: another pander move. Gingrich: baggage, and it’s not his kind of job. Kasich: nice guy but – who?
Damn, but the last few years have really thinned out the GOP bench.
Michael Steele came immediately to mind for me. I like John Thune a lot, JC Watts would be good … and Sarah Palin, I know almost nothing about her, but if she’s a popular governor, then she sounds very intriguing … maybe the best choice considering the competition.