GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
I agree that she would be an excellent choice. But would she take the job? I have my doubts…
Democrats who think it’s going to be a cakewalk into the White House next November had best remember one name: Condoleezza Rice.
John McCain is a formidable candidate in his own right, but if he has the political imagination to do it, he can cause the party of Jefferson and Jackson indescribable angst with Rice as his vice-presidential pick.
Besides being the greatest two-for in GOP history, Rice brings other huge pluses to the old admiral. Indeed, she may be enough to elect the venerable hero/naval aviator.
McCain’s troubles with the religious wing of his party could well evaporate with the churchgoing Rice at his side. She solidifies that part of his base overnight.
With Rice on the ticket, the GOP would have somebody to get enthusiastic about. The Secretary of State is immensely popular with Republicans. For a party that up to now has been clueless about how to run against either a woman or a person of color, Condoleezza Rice is pure political gold.
Woe to any Democrat who thinks taking her on in a debate is a sure thing. The woman is tough, fast on her feet and able to give better than she gets. Anyone who has seen her in action testifying in front of a hostile House or Senate committee knows that she will be able to wipe up the floor with a plodding, ordinary pol of a Democratic vice-presidential candidate. Take Rice lightly at your peril.
In the ordinary course of things the ideal vice-presidential candidate is relied upon to carry his or her home state and keep out of trouble. With Condi the GOP gets a lot more. It gets a superstar to match the Democrats’ superstars. If it comes to name recognition, glamour and magnetism for conservatives, Condi is dandy. Also, it is a plus for the GOP team that she is a snappy dresser.
Rice’s presence on the ticket deprives the Democrats of the we-are-more-diverse-than-thou argument. It makes McCain–whose ethnically diverse family includes an adopted daughter from Bangladesh–an even more attractive candidate for a certain kind of independent voter.
My biggest concern with Dr. Rice as Veep is that selecting her would close the distance that Sen. McCain is perceived to have by Independent voters from the Bush Administration.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
In a perfect world… yes, but we’d have about the same chance with Dick Cheney on the ticket. She’s been one of the faces of the Bush administration for not just one, but both terms.
If we’re talking about Condi, then why not just go with Jeb? Nothing would get the Dem base more riled up than anything that sounds like “4 more years.”
February 13th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Just read the article before you posted it.
I think Rice might be “Bush-proof,” especially if she only has to be in this race for 3-4 months. She’s black and female and choosing her would not be affirmative action a la Steele or Watts, because she is one of the most accomplished people in the political world. She’s quick on her feet, articulate, experienced as hell, extremely intelligent, was never a politician, and commanding — in a good way.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
next
February 13th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Tommy, have you checked Cheney’s approval ratings vs. Rice’s? Come on! There’s just no comparison. Rice’s persona and Cheney’s persona are also a liiiiittle different.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Sadly, I think she is too tied to Bush as well. Also, two dour people is not what the ticket needs. Also: she’s on the record as pro-choice.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I don’t think The Nation, the “flagship of the Left,” is the best observer of how the Republican base would receive a candidate. I particularly object to the notion that Rice would shore up McCain’s right flank on religious issues “overnight.” She is certainly popular with those voters, but they probably don’t know that she is “mildly pro-choice.”
That said, I’m not part of that wing of the party, and I would be immensely happy with Rice on the ticket. I just don’t think she would take it and if she did she would be a slight negative to the ticket. Republicans should be about putting the best people in office, though, and Rice is one of the most intelligent people in America.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I have been putting off writing about who I believe should be the veep choice because of who 2 of my top four choices are. I am afraid that no matter how much I explain them, folks won’t believe that I don’t have an ulterior reason for their inclusion.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Who cares what folks think, Kavon? Just tell us who they are.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
At one time I was very pro-Rice, and hoped she might run for Prez, but more recently I’m not so sure.
My biggest problem with her as a VP nominee is that she doesn’t bring any economics/domestic policy experience.
The article, though, is very persuasive.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Yeah, Kavon, I always look forward to seeing your musings. They’re why I started reading the blog anyway.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I think Rice would be a perfectly adequate pick, and possibly an excellent one if McCain decides his best strategy involves doubling down on national security (i.e. if the economy improves and terrorism moves to the forefront again). It’s been awhile since I’ve looked, and possibly awhile since anyone’s bothered to collect data, but last I checked Condi had favorables about 20-30 points higher then Cheney/Bush. It’s possible she’s too close to the current administration, but it might be worth the risk.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
The two of my top four choices that I was referring to are Colin Powell and Condi Rice-and their race has nothing to do with why I include them.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Thanks Zach!
February 13th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Can someone please explain to me why so many people love Condi. She is radicly pro palestinian, has been extremely Albrightesqe in her foreign policy, is pro choice, pro affirmative action, and radically open borders. In what way is she conservative?
February 13th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
McCain already has the credentials on foreign policy. He needs a domestic policy expert instead, which is his weakness. Rice would not be a good choice.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
12 — And that is what is wrong with affirmative action. It stigmatizes blacks that achieve, where even amazingly qualified people like Rice and Powell have to come with a disclaimer.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Daniel #14,
She’s actually not pro affirmative action. But you are right that she has described herself as “mildly Pro-choice”. That can always be finessed though
.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Not sure how great of a choice Condi would be given her direct association with the current administration. I don’t think it would take very much effort to come up with footage that demonstrated her complicity in the whole Iraq debacle.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
TLG #16,
You are right on that.
Honestly, besides for Cheney who has been the understudy for 8 years, can you think of 2 people that are more qualified to be POTUS this minute than Colin Powell or Condi Rice?
Because I sure can’t.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Even though I think Condi would make a fine choice, some of the Nation’s arguments are hard to take seriously. What in the world is this about? “They can attack Hillary’s experience claims as consisting of her being Bill’s wife. They can challenge her boast that she is a strong, independent woman and paint her as a weak, hopelessly-in-love woman under the spell of a man subject not only to “bimbo eruptions” but also eruptions of smarmy deals with shady business figures.
Lastly, Rice is a notorious sports fan with excruciatingly detailed knowledge of much of its arcana. She’s often said that her dream job is commissioner of the National Football League; however, in a pinch she would probably settle for Vice President of the United States.”
Pure nonsense.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Colin Powell would be fine with me. Great pick.
TLG,
Approval ratings are fine now, but it gives the Dems perfect ammo to tie the Bush administration around McCain’s neck. Right now, the GOP is not a popular party, and by using one of the “faces” of the Bush admin., it would remind them to get out the vote.
My pick is Sanford, btw. He’d shut everyone up who is complaining.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
#9 is the reason Rice would be a wrong pic. Ironically, adding diversity would create a ticket lacking diversity of strongsuit. Two hawks without any real interest in domestic issues would be a mistake given our economic woes (real or perceived).
But I do believe McCain needs to pick someone immediately and that would be a new speech writer. Whoever wrote last night’s victory speech has to go. I thought perhaps it was McCain’s poor delivery but I went to his site and read the text and the speech itself sucked.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
#17
While she is not on par with the likes of Sharpton and Jackson on the issue, she sure as hell is not on the right side of it.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/20/politics/main537203.shtml
February 13th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Yea, but McCain already has enough trouble with that base. Nominating a mildly pro choicer would be nuts. These people are angry, and I don’t think it’s wise (if we want to actually win) to piss them off even more.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Kavon,
Powell and Rice are probably among the most qualified to be Commander and Chief, but I worry about folks carrying out the rest of the job without any elective experience. We’ve had a pretty awful success ratio historically with those types (Grant, Eisenhower). Powell and Rice are slightly different in that they actually have experience within the executive branch (as opposed to simply the military), but I’d still be fairly leery about putting them directly into the Captain’s chair.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
#19 You may be surprised to learn that Sen. Obama has said that the three people most qualified to be president by experience are Bush, Cheney, and Rice. He probably left Powell out because he is out of office.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Just how conservative is Condi? Now that I’m looking into it, she’s an unknown on domestic policy, with a couple of troubling signs.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I wouldn’t like this choice at all. Not because she wouldn’t be a great VP or POTUS but because it would just look desperate. Hillary wins - McCain is picking her because she is a woman. Obama wins - McCain is picking her because she is African-American. Plus, it will hurt with independants. McCain, the maverick, has been independant enough from Bush that independants won’t view him as an extension of the Bush administration. This is also why the criticisms from talk radio and Ann Coulter probably do McCain some good in the general. Condi makes it easy for Obama to claim McCain is Bush III. She is just too closely linked to the president and that causes a loss of independants. Pick a conservative governor from a purple state.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Nothing against Dr. Rice - I think she’s been a fantastic Sec of State and should continue in that positio under a President McCain - but there are better choices for VP. I still think Sanford and Romney bring more to the ticket to help McCain than just about anyone else.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Rice is a bad pick:
- she’s a foreign policy expert at a time when McCain needs someone who understands the economy better than him.
- she’s tied to an unpopular Administration, which would energise the Dem base like nothing else (other than Jeb or Cheney)
- she might be “churchgoing”, but she doesn’t wear her religion on her sleeve. Evangelical socons want someone who is bold about their religion (Bush 43 & Huckabee being two good examples) Rice wouldn’t do anything for them.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
We’ve had a pretty awful success ratio historically with those types (Grant, Eisenhower).
Ike wasn’t so bad!
February 13th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Do we need two candidates who are pro Bush immigration plan? Condi’s a fine, very competent Secretary of State, but to even out a ticket that many a conservative is having to already come to grips with by nominating Condi?
Romney doesn’t add any region to the ticket that McCain doesn’t already do well in.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
It is difficult to imagine John McCain, who was willing to put his political career on the line by advocating and defending the ’surge’ strategy at the height of the Iraq war’s unpopularity, selecting as his VP the sitting Secretary of State who not only opposed risking such bold action in pursuit of success, but actually favored a troop pullback from Iraq, as both Obama and Clinton are promising.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
A BUSH CABINET SHILL for VP?????????
Crappy ideas like that need to die, now!
February 13th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
While on the subject of Condi…
Rice attacks ‘reprehensible’ Putin warnings
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2a7aeb7e-da6f-11dc-9bb9-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=5aedc804-2f7b-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8,print=yes.html
February 13th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Do we need two candidates who are pro Bush immigration plan?
The idea that the veep candidate is going to “balance” McCain’s views on hot-button issues like immigration is silly. McCain has all but won the nomination based on his own policy stances, which his running mate will have to conform to. Intentionally creating a “split” ticket is political suicide.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
So is immigration the new pro-life stance (think 1980, and Bush 41’s change of heart) with a VP needing to be pro-immigration because that was electorally successful?
February 13th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Big S,
Ike was disastrous in his impact. He entrenched and expanded the New Deal, when there was still a political movement prepared to roll it back, thereby setting the conservative movement back 30 years. And he appointed 2 of the 3 most liberal justices in history (Earl Warren and William Brennan). Given that his foreign policy was slightly to the left of Truman’s, there’s very little to recommend Eisenhower. I think he was a semi-competent president, who ultimately had a disastrous effect on the country.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
No, but at the same time. How many buttons do you want to push? McCain is going to have to overcome his weaknesses, and nominating someone who doesn’t even those out is a huge risk not worth taking.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
32. . . Minor point, but I don’t think geographical balance is all that important anymore for a presidential ticket. There really hasn’t been a successful regionally balanced ticket since 1968 when Nixon chose Agnew to appeal to the south without alienating the northeast (since then, tickets have been balanced geographically but the VP wasn’t chosen specifically for that reason). Balancing ideology and experience is more crucial to a ticket. I mentioned Romney because he would add economic balance to a ticket woefully lacking in that experience. I mentioned Sanford because in addition to his regional affiliation, he is loved by social conservatives and adds tremendous executive experience to the ticket, plus he’s known for being an economic conservative as well, which helps McCain.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Condi Rice would be a horrible veep pick. The selection of Dr. Rice would obliterate Sen. McCain’s Sarkozy-like distance from the Bush Administration and would demonstrate a complete failure on the part of Republicans to understand and accept that the vast majority of Americans disapprove of the President of the United States and will not vote for the continuation of his Administration in any form. A Rice pick would be the ultimate act of cocoon conservatism, ceding a presidential election just to piss off the blue half of the country just one more time.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Sanford is just about my only pick at the moment. He’s the only person that matches who, if McCain were to win this thing, would still be young in eight years.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
After reading Aron’s articles. Absolutely not.
She opposed the surge, she’s mildly pro choice, she’s pro affirmative action, she makes McCain look like an immigration hawk, she is not on the record for any other domestic policy, and she’s a face of the administration.
What more could you ask for to ease the concerns of the far right?
February 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I agree Big S, McCain already has it in the bag. The GOP will either vote for him or let a Dem win, and as a result choose up to 3 new members of the Supreme Court. He, like ol’ Blue Eyes, will do it his way.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
#38,
I’d say that a foreign policy that is slightly to the left of Truman can’t be all that bad. He was pretty-staunchly and effectively anti-communist, which was the biggest deal in foreign policy at that time. He was good on civil rights, and was instrumental in the construction of the Interstate system, which is surely one of the main contributors to the rise of the USA as an economic superpower in the latter half of the 20th century.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
From aron’s link in #35:
I can feel the old blood flowing with excitement over Condi.
Look, I favor McCain (albeit begrudgingly), but DaveG, McCain already is an appeasement to blue staters. I like the guy (at least I admire the fighter in him), but please don’t start talking about him like he’s the conservative candidate that we need a moderate to even out the ticket with.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
#46 Tommy:
I’m not. I have suggested that McCain needs to reinforce the ticket with someone like him, someone broadly conservative with lots of crossover appeal.
I totally don’t buy the whole notion that McCain should pick a veep to please the base. First, that would mean that the base would be voting for the bottom of the ticket, and such a formula almost always yields a losing presidential candidate. That’s because the veep ends up being the guy that the base really wants to vote for, and he ends up outshining the guy at the top of the ticket (the Dole/Kemp phenomenon). Instead, McCain should pick his Gore, someone whose political worldview is similar to his own. If he picks a Quayle to please the base, he just ends up giving the base buyer’s remorse that they can’t vote for the guy in the number two spot, while pissing away his support among the center, who will view the pick as cynical and calculated.
The base will come out, however grudgingly, regardless of who’s in the veep spot in order to stop the White House from falling into Democratic hands. McCain needs to prepare for the defection of millions of disaffected centrists who will be weeping and gnashing their teeth when the Clintons steal the Democratic nomination. Which means he needs another Republican with crossover appeal.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
That i am in complete agreement with.
Believe it or not, I am on your side, even though I sometimes don’t like to admit it. However, Dave, Mark Sanford cna do both. What’s McCain gonna do? nominate arnold? You’re seriously underestimating the total disdain some people have for the guy. He has to win over the skeptical voters.
Ridge would be perfect, too. I agree with you.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Condi would be a horrible choice due to her closeness with the current administration and it’s failures in Iraq. The Bush failures are part of here legacy also– whether that’s fair or not it’s true. And that’s not what McCain needs at all. Plus she has a lot of unknowns. Do we really know anything about her positions on domestic issues? McCain has foreign policy credentials; I see no reason to put an enigma with Bush-connections on the ticket.
McCain would do best with an executive with economic creds. My first choice would be Sanford (two mavericks!), although his wife could be a little, er, interesting. After that, I think McCain could do well with Pawlenty or Romney. I think Romney is better than Pawlenty on paper, but he’s probably not as good a choice given the supposed bad blood between the two. Giuliani could also be a good choice, but it’s his scandalous personal life that gives me pause– McCain could probably use a scandal-free runningmate and Giuliani probably has too many skeletons (real and/or made-up).
February 13th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Sanford is actually a pretty good suggestion. I’ve just been discounting his chances due to his lack of an endorsement this time around (and the gut feeling that Mac won’t want to reward him for it).
February 13th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
If that were to happen, it would be ridiculously bad politics on his part. Pick the best man for the job. People are having to accept McCain now, so he should lose a little of the very large chip on his shoulder and do something that will be successful.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
DaveG,
“I totally don’t buy the whole notion that McCain should pick a veep to please the base. First, that would mean that the base would be voting for the bottom of the ticket, and such a formula almost always yields a losing presidential candidate. ”
It is not a question of “voting for the bottom of the ticket.” It is a question of what this incredibly significant decision says about the thinking and outlook of the nominee. If McCain picks a pro-choice nominee, for instance, it sends the message that he doesn’t really care all that much about the issue, and voters can flush his “100% pro-life voting record” (which isn’t really 100% anyway because of embrionic stem cell research).
In other words, it is a question of what the VP pick reveals about the candidate.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I’m beginning to like this Rob Portman fellow.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
50- Yeah, it’s odd that Sanford stayed out of it this time. He came out pretty early for McCain in 2000, didn’t he? I’m not too familiar with S.C. politics, but isn’t the GOP establishment there pretty anti-Sanford? Maybe he thought a McCain endorsement this time round was just too risky and he didn’t want to further alienate his party.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Portman is an intriguing thought. Ohio, right? That could be good.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Thank you. Very well put.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Gov. Sanford, Rep. Mike Pence, and Sen. Thune round out my personal top five.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I think there was a race for Chicken with the Governors of Pre Supertuesday states to endorse
February 13th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Rob Portman keeps getting mentioned in these discussions in the blogosphere. Interesting…
February 13th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Basically a VP selection says, “If I could pick anyone to be President besides me, here is who I’d pick.” In an odd sort of way, it is the Presidential nominee endorsing someone for President- particularly in the GOP, which tends to always nominate the top of the food chain. Generally, you are not just picking the guy (or gal) who is waiting for you to die, you are picking your presumptive successor. Cheney would be an exception.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I don’t get why so many people like Senator Thune. Seems like a decent fellow, but what’s the appeal there?
February 13th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
#55
Yea. He’s a federalist, a good friend of both FDT and Jack Kemp, was a US Trade Rep, and a former director of the OMB (he’s got some serious limited govt cred).
February 13th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
In a blogpost by columnist Michael Meckler, he stated that when members of Congress were asked who they believed would be running for president in 20 years, the second most frequently mentioned name among Republicans was that of Rob Portman.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Portman. I always considered myself a political junkie (since about 3rd grade).
February 13th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
“I don’t get why so many people like Senator Thune.”
I’m not terribly familiar with the guy, but I’d guess it’s because he’s a solid conservative Republican without skeletons or enemies. He’d be a safe pick.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Rob Portman is another open border liberal Republican. Why would his name even he thrown into the ring? Rob Portman’s record on immigration is horrible. Why would the party choose two people who are on the wrong side of a very important issue? The only V.P. choices that make any sense are: 1. Bobby Jindal 2: Haley Barbour 3: Mark Sanford. Just my top three. Rob Portman…disgraceful.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
John Thune: He’s a young, extremely conservative senator from South Dakota, who spent 3 terms in the House and then knocked off Tom Daschle in the 2004 election. He also campaigned hard for John McCain. His upside would be that McCain could use him as an ambassador to conservatives, but otherwise, he might not be of much help since South Dakota isn’t exactly going to be a swing state in the election.
http://www.rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/02/john_mccains_top_22_potential.php
February 13th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Bobby Jindal?
Way too green.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Portman wasn’t in office for the immigration debacle. I’m not that familiar with his record on the issue before taht. If he’s that liberal, then mark him off. Just throwing names out that are coming up with good recomendation.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Bobby Jindal. Green? Give me one example.
Here is Rob Portman’s record on immigration:http://www.ontheissues.org/OH/Rob_Portman_Immigration.htm
February 13th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Most people out there are not political junkies like those on here. I don’t think you realizemost voter don’t even know who Sanford, Pawlenty, and Thune are. I’m serious. We have a great VP candidate in Romney, and finally people are familiar with his name and without the tag teaming and the MSM bias, he would have been the nominee. He brings the fiscal background, and an amazing mind to tackle other world problems. We only get one of these once in a lifetime guys and gals; lets give the guy a chance to at least be the VP, and he’s plenty healthy enough to supply the vim and vitality 4 years from now. God bless Mitt Romney!!
February 13th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Bobby Jindal green?
How about this… He’s been governor for how long? 2 months? Not enough time to prove himself on his current job.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I like Jindal in 2012, if we lose this time. He just hasn’t had enough time in his current job to prove his effectiveness.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Yeah, Romney is a great V.P. candidate. He can really help McCain in the south. Ha ha ha.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Pence, Portman, Thune. . . Why are we looking inside Congress for a running mate for Sen. McCain? He needs a younger conservative GOVERNOR with a good economic record. Pairing up two members of Congress, which has a lower approval rating than even President Bush, is a huge mistake.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Why not Barbour? Thune is a horrible choice. Brings nothing to the ticket.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I actually do like the idea of Sarah Palin. Good Conservative, likable, although she brings nothing geographical to the ticket.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I don’t think we have to worry about Condi seeking the V.P. slot. It would surely raise unconfortable questions about her sexuality. I mean seriously–she co-owns a house with another woman and has never been married. Makes you wonder…
February 13th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Barbor has his lobbyist experience and some questionable racial comments in his past. Not an ideal choice.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Cole,
Barbour -> Abramoff. Not a good thing when the GOP brand is already damaged.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Barbour wasn’t just a lobbyist, but was a lobbyist for Big tobacco. That might not be the best bet. Plus, he had some questionable financial ties from his time as RNC chair that could cause unwanted attention during the general election, fair or not.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Palin will be a good choice in 4 or 8 years. Don’t get me wrong - I love my governor. But right now, just doesnt have enough experience in public office. Barely more than one year as governor, and she was mayor of Wasilla AK before that (a town with less than 6000 people). She’s only 42 - plenty of time to build up a resume.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Tom Coburn. Dude’s got the cred, but wouldn’t bring much geographically.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
alaska #75- Besides Sanford, then you got Pawlenty (who some seem to like a lot). After that, there’s not a lot to get excited about from our governors. Charlie Crist? over my dead body. George Allen? I wish, but won’t happen. Romney? highly unlikely, and I don’t think McCain is a forgive & forget kinda guy. Jeb? If his last name wasn’t Bush. Riley? old. Rick Perry? possibly, but I’m skeptical. Frank Keating? an idea.
There aren’t any established conservatives that could run from the governors.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
“Barbour wasn’t just a lobbyist, but was a lobbyist for Big tobacco.”
So Huckabee/Barbour would be a perfectly balanced ticket!
February 13th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I like Coburn too. But once again, a ticket with McCain (in Congress since 1982)and Coburn (in Congress since 1994) is not a winning pair. At least Obama (and one can argue Clinton) can say that they haven’t been entrenched in Congress for a lifetime with little to show for it.
With every suggestion of a member of Congress as VP, I lean more and more to Sanford.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
I was thinking Coburn, but the guy has no charisma. I heard him speak at CPAC and he was dull. I heard a lady call in to Sean Hannity the other night saying that George Allen must be the next V.P. for John McCain to win. I was literally laughing for the next hour. George Allen is a political joke, undeserving, but a political joke. I think Charlie Crist is also a horrible choice. It’s got to be Sanford.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Tommy,
“Tom Coburn. Dude’s got the cred, but wouldn’t bring much geographically.”
I suggested Coburn the other day on the thread where McCain said geography isn’t a big deal. The guy is like the ultimate deficit hawk, and that seems to be an issue that McCain is hanging his hat on. He obviously seems to think that the Senate makes one well qualified, so apparently he would not be concerned about the Two Senators thing.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Tommy. . . Keeting is a great choice. A bit old, but otherwise a great match with McCain.
How about former MI Gov. John Engler? He was a good economic governor of an important rust belt state. I still think Tom Ridge is a good choice, pairing two strong military guys together, and adding Ridge’s good economic record as well.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Given the tone and tenor of this primary, why doesn’t McCain make The Memory of Ronald Reagan his VP nominee?
Does the Constitution say that the VP has to be a person?
February 13th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Take away macaca and George Allen would be president. Or at least the GOP nominee.
John Engler was a good governor of Michigan, my native state, but I think it’s just too late for him. Sort of the same with Tommy Thompson. Feels like we’re digging up the grave.
I still like Ridge, but everyone seems to be opposed to the idea. I think he’s just not charismatic enough for this media-driven electorate.
Sanford is looking better and better as a fellow maverick conservative to compliment McCain.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Ridge was great as PA governor. He was a strong budget-cutter, slashed taxes, created charter schools, was against gay-marriage, - all things loved by conservatives. He has one major problem - he’s pro-choice, and even though he wasn’t an active pro-choicer, that position will kill any chances he ever serves as VP. Too bad.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:38 am
TWO HUGE REASONS NOT TO PICK CONDI:
(1) She’s pro-choice. (And conservatives like Dobson already have a problem with McCain because of the stem-cell issue… he needs someone who’s a solid social conservative.)
(2) She’s tied to Bush. (The absolute WORST position to be in vs. fresh-face Obama.)
February 14th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Late to the show here, and please excuse - I dont have time to read all above comments.
So much of this has been said before, I am sure.
I really dont get it with this Condi thing. Maybe the Nation is trying to set you guys up!
I see an easy charge of gross hypocrisy - blatant pandering by the party that claims identity politics is anathma.
Condi was the worst NSA in history. The job entails being an honest broker and effective filter for the POTUS for national security issues, and she got totally rolled by Cheney and Rummy.
McCain has no need for more foreign policy cred. He needs to associate with someone with a bit of economic cred.
Condi has no regional or state-base enabling you to flip some states. AL will stay red, CA will stay blue, no matter what.
McCain stakes a lot of “I’m not Bush” cred on his opposition to how the war was waged. Condi was a central figure in just that. Methinks the nation is ready to move beyond all things Bush.
Really, why would anyone consider this choice for more than a moment?
February 14th, 2008 at 7:55 am
McCain will double down on the war. That’s what liberals don’t get. Condi is the perfect pick for him if you wanted to hit Obama on his Bo-Peep approach to the War on Terror, as exemplified by his recklessly obtuse vote on the FISA Bill.
Condi is the perfect pick for the Base: She’s militantly pro-2nd Amendment, she’s actually against Roe v. Wade while believing the abortion should go back to the states, and she’s a low-taxer. Plus, she’s single and not gay-to the disappointment of all the Democratic opposition researchers out there.
Understand that the Democrats believe that JMC will run away from the war. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you want to run on victory, you pick Condi Rice as your opponent and argue from that perspective.
Make this about Victory vs. the Defeatisme of the Obama Democrats. That’s an argument we can win.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:25 am
“McCain’s troubles with the religious wing of his party could well evaporate with the churchgoing Rice at his side. She solidifies that part of his base overnight.”
She’s pro-choice, so I doubt that.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:42 am
SOY CONDISTA
February 14th, 2008 at 10:57 am
So I hate McCain, but I’d emphatically support him if Condi was the veep. I think I even like her better than Romney, and that’s saying something! I LOVE Condi Rice! Marsha Blackburn too.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
[...] it was The Nation; then The New Yorker; and today, Huff Puff gets in the act: Breaking: Condi Rice Flirts With VP [...]