Posted on 02/15/2005 9:54:37 AM PST by pissant
Ideally, a VP would:
1. Be a good president in his own right
2. Add some type of issue experience to the ticket
3. Personally complement the top of the ticket
4. Hail from a Battleground State -- or constituency, such as a Hispanic or black
#1 is debatable, #2 and #3 depend on who's on top (ahem), but #4 can narrow down the list of ideal choices:
Hispanics: Mel Martinez
Blacks: Condi, JC Watts, and J. Kenneth Blackwell (should he become Ohio guv)
Florida: Martinez again, Jeb, even Connie Mack (who'd be 68)
Ohio: Blackwell, ... (did I mention appropriate degree of conservatism?)
Pennsylvania: Santorum, provided he wins reelection
Michigan: John Engler
Minnesota: Pawlenty, Norm Coleman (term up in 2008)
Wisconsin: Tommy Thompson
Colorado: Owens
Arkansas: Huckabee
I might be missing a couple, especially ones that are currently out of office or non-traditional.
Possible VP's from swing states you didn't mention:
Sen. John Ensign, Navada.
Both Ohio Senators (although I'd rather not on both of them).
Sen. Pete Domenici, New Mexico.
Sens. Judd Gregg or John Sununnu, New Hampshire. (I actually think both could be good Presidents, especially Gregg. Sununnu will have to prove himself more, but I do like him)
I especially like Gregg. He's loyal, smart, and tough.
Anyhow, the choices you mentioned are probably better, but just thought I'd throw these out there.
Engler needs to run for Senate in '06. I would get down on my knees and beg.
Then people just wish the roles were reversed e.g., Dukakis/Benson
2. Blacks will vote Democratic if you put Sheets Byrd and David Duke on the Dem ticket. I think we are starting to make inroads, although it will take years until we even get a third of the black vote.
It's probably too early, but another one to keep an eye on is Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele.
Martinez would also need the Schwarzenegger/Granholm Amendment to the Constitution.
Yuck
Steve Forbes.
Colin Powell & Jeb Bush, in either order. I would love to see Condi, but I can't imagine her switching gears and running for office while conducting her duties as Sec of State. She seems to principaled (sp?) to do that.
You need to check your facts. Ms. Rice has publicly stated her support for the Roe vs. Wade decision which, through judicial fiat, made abortion a constitutional right. Furthermore, she has not stated anything about most other domestic issues. She certainly does not have the "right stances on Conservative issues" regardless of what some people might be projecting upon her.
Correct. He was a "Pedro Pan" child after all.
Of course, he may not be so radical now that he's older.
I've never liked Greenspan and I never will. I would rather vote for a democrat (and that will never happen) before I would vote for him
Yes, to a certain extent--although there may still be some "squeamishness" over 2 different Bushes holding terms back-to-back, as opposed to 2 different Clintons holding terms spaced 8 years apart.
Powel is way to liberal
I think that either way this would be a good team....
Sanford / Rice makes the most sense.
Regards, Ivan
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