Posted on 06/22/2012 7:52:19 AM PDT by Kaslin
1) Sarah Palin.
He’s the Governor of Puerto Rico and a former Congressman. He has achieved great success in his current position and John Stossel has praised his efforts.
Oh okay, thanks
dumb answer *rme*
He is best known for portraying the titular role in the CBS television series The Incredible Hulk.
Thanks for the ping.
There are several people on that list I could be happy with.
I’m sure Romney understands how critical this decision is.
I hope he chooses wisely.
Silly that was Lou Ferrigno
Oh, right. What were we talking about?
Besides, I live in MD. A GOP presidential vote isn't worth a hill of refried beans here. Down-ticket, I'll be paying attention.
I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.
Have no idea what your post says...
So I’ll just praise Palin once more. :D
Your Post #16 was very accurate.
Bob McDonnell would be a great pick. In lieu of him, I’d like Romney to consider Jim DeMint of South Carolina.
DeMint may help solidify the GOP base in states like Virginia and Florida.
And he certainly won’t hurt the campaign in other parts of the country. He’s a straight-up guy and while he’s not Mr. Charisma, he certainly wouldn’t hurt the ticket.
Thanks for the ping.
“Thanks for the ping.”
You’re very welcome. If Rob Portman is the VP nominee, how do you think he’ll help the ticket in Ohio?
FYI: I met Portman 2 or 3 years ago at our local GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. Got to say hello and shake his hand.
I told Mrs. LVD just this morning that if he is chosen and becomes VP and then president in eight years, we can say we met him to our grandchildren someday (and a few “select” FRiends).
Fortuno is a non-starter I think. And also not a good idea IMO and in the opinion of the 2 Puerto Rican freepers I’m familiar with.
Romney is risk averse so forget that and whoever said Palin, LOL.
The only Hispanic candidate besides Rubio likely to be considered at all is the rookie Governor Martinez.
I’d consider all the others on the list except for THUNE. Empty suit establishment porker from a small, safe state. He is nothing but a “handsome” face and a single resume point (he beat Tom Dasshole). Thune=FAIL
Do to importance of Ohio Rob Portman is considered most likely by many. I would guess McDonnell is second most likely though didn’t he write some paper in college that was of the democrat’s alleged “war on women”?
FReeper faucetman brings up some really good points about Bob McDonnell.
Thank you to CF for supplying the list.
I suspect the VP pick will hinge on how the swing states polls are looking. Using that as the benchmark here are my rankings:
1. McDonnell
2. Ohio (Portman or Ryan)
3. Rubio
McDonnell or Ryan would represent awesome picks to me.
Portman is the understated, steady hand (which may tilt it to him, as he would be the polar opposite of the RAT VP).
Rubio: I find him to be potentially bad on immigration.
10.) Luis Fortuno -- UNACCEPTABLE. A RINO who has an even worst track record than Mitt on Obamacare (praised the bill when it was passed!) and comes from a creepy combine-style political system where pro-statehood Republican and Democrats help each other get elected over anti-statehood people in "their" party. If Fortuno's going to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, I'll assume Romney has lost his mind and vote for Virgil Goode for President.
9.) Bob McDonnell -- Meh. He'd be acceptable, he'd probably guarantee Virigina (though I think we'll win it anyway), aside from the fact he FINALLY took back the state from the RATs and has a good conservative platform, I can't think of anything memorable he did in office...
8.) Chris Christie -- I like him, a lot of freepers can't stand him (if you ask why, they start babbling on trying to convince you that the proudly pro-life Gov who cut off funding for Planned Parenthood and vetoed gay marriage is a "social liberal") Lousy on a few issues but better than any NJ GOP governor in decades. And I'd certainly rate as having 10X the spine going to bat for conservatives as the "true conservative" #7 listed below) I don't think he'll get picked, and it boils down to the fact that 1) he's too polarizing of a figure and 2) it's too soon for him to run nationally.
7.) John Thune -- He beat Tom Daschle in 2004!!! And he's HANDSOME!! Well, that settles it, the fact he constantly pimps for RINOs, has sucked monkey balls for the last 8 years and has been a total waste of space in the Senate makes no difference. Give the pretty boy porker a promotion!
6.) Kelly Ayotte -- When she was the nominee, I heard her called everything from a tea party warrior, to a worthless RINO. She's only been a Senator for a short time, but I'm leaning more on the RINO side.
5.) Bobby Jindal -- Kinda fell off the radar screen after his GOP response to Obama was a bust. Not sure how he'd go over again if he was veep pick, kind of a wild card.
4.) Marco Rubio -- On paper, he's the ideal choice (swing state, "tea party hero", hispanic vote, inspiring life story, charismatic, legislative expertise, etc.) In reality, I agree with the posts about having serious qualms over this guy, in that he's starting to sound more and more like his "true conservative" predecessor Mel Martinez.
3.) Paul Ryan -- Great guy, could possibly have enough pull to get Wisconsin on our side (even though he's only a Congressman, I think Wisconsin will be close enough that even a tiny swing of votes could make the difference), solid conservative, helps Romney in every category except the Dems will portray the GOP ticket as the WASP old guard who will "take us back to the dark ages" (yes, they will portray a Mormon-Catholic ticket as WASPy blue blooded elites, and the media slime will go along with it)
2.) Tim Pawlenty - Bleh. He's conservative, from a swing state, and acceptable, but puts people to sleep. When our entire GOP presidential field started out, he was #2 on my list simply because the other choices had so many negatives, but Pawlenty needs to be balanced out with a dynamic running mate. Romney/Pawlenty won't work.
1.) Rob Portman - Also has the "boring" factor ... not as much as Pawlenty but still will be a problem getting people motivated to vote if they're not in swing states. Could help with conservatives and winning Ohio will be pivotal, but he doesn't help Romney in any other areas where he's vulnerable.
My favorites would be Allan West (whom the media will claim was picked "just because he's black", but screw them) and Paul Ryan, but I don't see either being on the ticket. Romney is more cautious than McCain and isn't about to pick a conservative "superstar" that would overshadow him.
If I was in a swing state like Ohio, I'd probably force myself to vote for Romney -- even if his running mate were an uber-RINO like Olmypia Snowe -- because the disaster-in-chief MUST be defeated and I can't think of anyone who would make a worst President. Hillary would be an improvement over Obama, ugh.
Of course, I'm in "Obama's home state" (sadly) and he's not going to lose Illinois unless it's a McGovern-style disaster for him on election day. Since my vote doesn't matter, I won't waste on Romney if he picks a running mate that annoys me. Fortuno the RINO, pretty boy porker from South Dakota, and Rubio after his "I would come here illegally if I had to" have probably crossed that line where I don't trust them (and I don't trust the guy on the top of the ticket either, so I have nothing to work with). I wouldn't repeat what I did with Mark Kirk and vocally campaign for a third party candidate, but when it comes time to vote in the privacy the ballot booth, I can't see myself casting a meaningless vote "for" a Romney/Fortuno ticket.
My two cents...
McDonnell, Pawlenty, or Portman - not necessarily in order of preference or likelihood.
Romney will not pick a dark horse after what happened with McCain (although if he surprises along that line, I hope the dark horse is Gov. Martinez). He’ll also not pick someone who will overshadow him charismatically (not that hard to do), so that rules out Rubio or Ryan.
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