Posted on 03/04/2008 8:38:30 PM PST by indcons
DALLAS — Now that Senator John McCain is headed to the nomination, he can begin thinking seriously about perhaps the most important decision he will have to make as the Republican presidential nominee: the selection of a running mate.
Mr. McCain and several senior campaign advisers insist that there is no short list of names, and no process to help him make his choice — merely a process to find a process. He directed his campaign to study past selection methods.
“If I win tonight, we will sit down tomorrow or the next day, whatever it is, and say, O.K., what’s the process that you are recommending that we start into, and that will be the first step,” Mr. McCain said aboard his bus Tuesday as it rolled through Dallas.
Mr. McCain said he was particularly interested in learning “what other processes were used in previous selections of the vice president, and, frankly, the ones that seemed to come out with a good product and those that maybe did not.”
[snip]
Several governors have been mentioned as potential running mates for Mr. McCain; their executive experience and ability to cast themselves as Washington outsiders are perceived as strengths. They include Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, an early supporter; Charlie Crist of Florida, whose last-minute endorsement helped Mr. McCain win that crucial swing state’s primary; Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah, an early supporter despite Mitt Romney’s popularity in his state; and Mark Sanford of South Carolina, whose conservative reputation could help Mr. McCain with the base but who declined to endorse him this time.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
That being said, who's your choice for the #2 spot on the GOP ticket?
I was inclined not to care (I won’t vote for McCain even if you give me a haz-mat suit), but on the VP spot, someone who had enough testicals to declare McCain out of his wits right after taking the oath might be a reasonable strategy.
Can you say Fred Thompson? Sure.
Michael Steele would be the best choice.
No warmist ecotards.
LOVE your tag line !!!!!
I think Hunter’s got the ba!!s to do it.
He should pick an outsider, somebody who is not a politician.
My biggest problem with Steele is that he was pimping for [cough] McCain on Fox News for awhile before it was a done deal. It really made me question his judgment...and now we've got that steaming turd as a presumptive nominee.
Feingold.
Why? Because it’s easy to remember. McCain/Feingold.
I don’t know who yet, but I’m guessing much younger, but with enough gravitas & experience to be elected in 4 years.
My first pick is Bolton..the perfect candidate to bridge McCain. After that, Thompson or Steele. Bolton would actually make me press the button for him...Thompson or Steele would make me pause, before saying...’%^&$ him.’
Does McCain know any Republicans? His Rolodex only seems to have the names of Democrats in it.
I’m sorry to hear that.
My favorite would actually be Duncan Hunter, but I said Steele because I can’t see McCain picking Hunter. Hunter is too blunt and honest for McCain, and truly conservative.
Romney
LOL!
If the election is about the economy (as well as the WOT) then Romney is the choice—unless there is someone stronger on the economy than Mitt.
LOL!
For the most part. I don't consider trade protectionism conservative, but Hunter's a good guy overall.
Bolton, alas, is for open borders.
These are names which would please me:
Rob Portman- ex-Congressman from Ohio, former Budget Director and former Trade Representative. Good conservative, credibility on economic issues, from a key state.
Christopher Cox- brilliant ex-Congressman and current SEC Chairman, speaks fluent Russian, has credibility on economic and foreign policy.
Tommy Thompson- dull speaker, but was an excellent Governor of Wisconsin, remains highly popular there. Doesn’t appear especially interested, but might accept if asked.
Fred Thompson- likeable, good communication skills, acceptable to conservatives. Age could be a problem.
Eric Cantor- smart, conservative Congressman from suburban Richmond (Virginia), from a state that is trending Democrat though still leaning Republican.
*sigh* Thanks for that. Gonna need a minute here, boys. *bang*
BIG DITTO.
Duncan Hunter. Conservative, tough, energetic, a good offset for the lib McCain.
Duncan Hunter voted for trade with Australia, because it was in our country’s best interests.
Hunter says that Red China is a trade protectionist. :)
...yes, as quickly as I can say “Old and Tired”.
Hunter says that Red China is a trade protectionist. :)
Free trade is almost always in our country's best interest, even when it's unilateral. Yes, China is protectionist, no question. But that doesn't mean we should be.
George Voinovich-—let the RINOS have it all.
Duncan Hunter...
Gov. Haley Barbour
Tom Coburn would be a very acceptable choice and he is a good couselor to McCain!
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. He is NOT running for re-election this year which was a huge surprise.
I think he would be an excellent choice. Young, energetic, and very true to conservative values.
Mitt would give him Michigan. Election over. Game, set, match. Also, McCain is old, and has had cancer twice, It is iffy at best if he could make it through the term, so he would need someone to step in and take over, who is trained for the job.
Gov Palin #1
JC Watts #2
either one = slam dunk in Nov
The last thing McCain needs to do when conservatives are upset with him--is to pick a VP who is wishy washy or multiple choice on abortion--especially given McCain's age. If McCain can't win Florida without Mr. Crist on the ticket--he's got serious problems.
But we have an approximately $275 BILLION trade imbalance with Red China EACH year.
They are building up their military with American dollars.
This is suicidal.
But we have an approximately $275 BILLION trade imbalance with Red China EACH year.
They are building up their military with American dollars.
This is suicidal.
Sarah Palin. Please, please, please! She is the best.
McCain/Obama
After the dems steal the thing for Clinton and leave Obsama out in the cold by putting a Latino as VP, MC-reachacrossthe aisle Cain selects O for vp.
I have a significant "trade imbalance" with Wal-Mart. It's sustainable and unlikely to reverse itself anytime soon.
They are building up their military with American dollars.
And we're building up the US economy by not wasting money on things that can be more efficiently produced elsewhere, and not wasting labor that can be used to better effect. That fuels the economy that builds *our* military, among other things.
This is suicidal.
No it's not.
I disagree with the author. It's important to know these things so we don't have any more Craig/Foley type surprises. Typically, where there is smoke there is fire. The author also mention Kasich, who was too good to serve in uniform and lied to constituents regarding votes on banning semiautomatic rifles. Another "poly sci" special.
McCain will probably select a RINO as VP.
Remember that any Conservative will be taking a risk career wise if he is on a big loser McCain ticket
Very funny!
(We already have #2 in the top spot it seems.)
I hope no Conservative ties his wagon to this impending train wreck. We’re going to need all the Conservatives we can get to pick up the pieces from a liberal president.
Romney works for me... humiliate both of them in one go.
Karl Rove mentioned Romney the other night — I think 3 times — on this very subject. He wasn’t giving his choice but rather, was talking about his name generating a great deal of excitement among young Republicans at a couple of Universities.
John Bolton.
You who want him to pick Hunter fail to mention that Hunter could in no way help McLame win CA. He’s toast in CA. Hunter couldn’t win his own state. Hunter is too much like McCain and almost as old. He’s not a vote-getter. You’re VP pick should be a vote-getter.
Also, the age issue. It will have to be soomeone who is considerably younger, yet experienced. Bolton is interesting, but he is NOT an elected official.
A lot of people think it will be KHB, but I’m not one of them.
Ann Coulter said on FOX today she would vote for McCain if he picked Romney for VP.
...or maybe it will be you who is humiliated.
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