“American Idol is a lot like a presidential primary election. Except for people who live in Michigan and Florida - their votes actually count.” - John McCain, on the 4/10 edition of American Idol.
Wow, zing zing. I don’t like McCain much, but as a MI native I don’t hate the attention he’s paying to us. Now put someone acceptable on as VP and I might actually be excited again! =-)
I’ll admit he’s a huge long shot, and maybe I’m the only one who likes him as a VP pick, but John Engler looks better and better to me the longer the Dems give Michigan the political finger.
I can’t decide whether I should include Engler in my final Veep poll. On the one hand, he’s a potentially strong pick, especially given that he’s the immediate predecessor of enormously unpopular Jennifer Granholm. I feel relatively confident that Engler could paint Michigan red, especially against Obama. I’m fairly skeptical, in contrast that Romney could paint Michigan red. And Engler’s a solid fi-con. Engler might also help in Ohio, whereas Romney would inarguably hurt there. On the other hand, no one has mentioned him at all, which seems peculiar and I’d have to look into the reasons for that more closely. Yes, he’s a Ridge type on social issues, but arguably he’s much better on other issues, and brings similar electoral advantages.
Niether Mr. Romney or Mr. Engler would be as risky with reards to Ohio as somebody like Dr. Rice would be. I am guessing that our neighbor Mr. Engler would be more acceptable than Mr. Romney, but unless it is very close, niether Mr. Romney nor Mr. Engler should actually cost us the state. If things get tight, the Pros and Cons of each candidate will have to be looked at more closely.
Aside from the political reasons I like Engler (and I was hyping him here severeal months ago!) I think the fact that he’s not mentioned much is a good thing. McCain could use a little excitement and a few positive media surprises. He doesn’t need a VP who’s more well-known and better regarded than himself. But he still needs to pick someone who is highly qualified with a solid background (i.e. not a 2008 version of Dan Quayle). He should pick a successful governor (or former governor) of a large, industrial state. If he can find one with a strong contrast to a failing Democratic governor of the same state, all the better. McCain should pick a younger VP, but not so young as to shove the age issue down everyone’s throats (looking like the VP’s dad is ok. Looking like his grampa isn’t. i.e Dan Quayle.) A VP who’s been outside the current political climate would be a good choice, since McCain is trying to distance himself from the Bush Administration while promoting himself as anti-Washington (that eliminates choosing a fellow Senator). Engler fits all of these marks, and that doesn’t even count his actual politics, which I find to be more than acceptable.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I actually laughed out loud at that
April 10th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
i think its fair to say that McCain is easily the best liked Republican the media has ever had, and that will help him tremendously
And Florida and Michigan will count in November when they are filled in red on Tuesday night.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Wow, zing zing. I don’t like McCain much, but as a MI native I don’t hate the attention he’s paying to us. Now put someone acceptable on as VP and I might actually be excited again! =-)
April 11th, 2008 at 3:28 am
I’ll admit he’s a huge long shot, and maybe I’m the only one who likes him as a VP pick, but John Engler looks better and better to me the longer the Dems give Michigan the political finger.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:45 am
Mr. Engler is a great Conservative!
April 11th, 2008 at 8:59 am
I can’t decide whether I should include Engler in my final Veep poll. On the one hand, he’s a potentially strong pick, especially given that he’s the immediate predecessor of enormously unpopular Jennifer Granholm. I feel relatively confident that Engler could paint Michigan red, especially against Obama. I’m fairly skeptical, in contrast that Romney could paint Michigan red. And Engler’s a solid fi-con. Engler might also help in Ohio, whereas Romney would inarguably hurt there. On the other hand, no one has mentioned him at all, which seems peculiar and I’d have to look into the reasons for that more closely. Yes, he’s a Ridge type on social issues, but arguably he’s much better on other issues, and brings similar electoral advantages.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Niether Mr. Romney or Mr. Engler would be as risky with reards to Ohio as somebody like Dr. Rice would be. I am guessing that our neighbor Mr. Engler would be more acceptable than Mr. Romney, but unless it is very close, niether Mr. Romney nor Mr. Engler should actually cost us the state. If things get tight, the Pros and Cons of each candidate will have to be looked at more closely.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Mathew: you could always run an extra four candidates as a bonus.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I’m glad you didn’t say “best liked conservative”. ‘Cause he’s neither.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Aside from the political reasons I like Engler (and I was hyping him here severeal months ago!) I think the fact that he’s not mentioned much is a good thing. McCain could use a little excitement and a few positive media surprises. He doesn’t need a VP who’s more well-known and better regarded than himself. But he still needs to pick someone who is highly qualified with a solid background (i.e. not a 2008 version of Dan Quayle). He should pick a successful governor (or former governor) of a large, industrial state. If he can find one with a strong contrast to a failing Democratic governor of the same state, all the better. McCain should pick a younger VP, but not so young as to shove the age issue down everyone’s throats (looking like the VP’s dad is ok. Looking like his grampa isn’t. i.e Dan Quayle.) A VP who’s been outside the current political climate would be a good choice, since McCain is trying to distance himself from the Bush Administration while promoting himself as anti-Washington (that eliminates choosing a fellow Senator). Engler fits all of these marks, and that doesn’t even count his actual politics, which I find to be more than acceptable.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Oh snap!