REPUBLICAN'S NOVEMBER SURPRISE

http://www.janereinheimer.com ^ | August 21, 2008 | Jane Reinheimer

[quintr]

This is an in-between day. It's as if people are holding their breaths, maybe planning a quick shopping trip to pick up last minute stuff before they head off to Denver where the Democratic National Convention will begin on the 25th.

The invitations are in the mail. Mine hasn't arrived yet, so I guess I won't be going. And I won't be going to St. Paul either when the Republicans get together for their big hoohah. That one I'd actually like to go to. Not since Ronald Reagan changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican has there been the likes of the possibility that Joe Lieberman, the independent from Connecticut who was dumped by the Democratic party may be announcing that he's going to join the Republican party.

Wow! That is a really huge big deal. That would be just enough to tip the majority in the Senate over to the Republican party.

Poor Harry Reid, senate majority leader. Whatever will he do between now and January when all the new congressionals get sworn in.

If Lieberman's party switch is a precursor to his being named vice president, then I'll tell you one thing. We had all better pray really really hard for the health of both McCain and Lieberman. Both of these gentlemen qualify as elderly statesmen.

Now don't misunderstand me. You can bet that we need all that wisdom in the Oval Office, and I'm not being sarcastic. With the way the world is right now, we don't need some junior senator from Illinois clogging up the process while he's getting fitted with a cloak of statesmanship and patriotism.

But with McCain at the age of 71 and Lieberman (if he were vice president) at age 66, nothing about life can be taken for granted. And God forbid, if anything should happen that would incapacitate both of these gentlemen, there sits Nancy I-Can-Hear-Her-Salivating-For-More-Power-Now Pelosi poised and ready for action as the third heartbeat from the Oval Office.

If that isn't enough motivation to make each and every Republican precinct captain in this country get out there and start walking the beat, I don't know what would.

But truthfully, Lieberman's position as the tipping point Republican in the Senate would be far more advantageous than his being vice president. That's just my opinion. I pray for his health and McCain's health and well-being anyway. But if not Lieberman, who will it be?

But in any event, let's all get together and make taking back the House our November surprise!

[ChuxsterS]

“Each candidate ran under his own affiliation. The top vote getter was President. The second vote getter was VP.”

That sounds like a good approach. Why did it change?

You would always have President and Vice President who are political opponents. Succession reverses the last election.

We've got Dummies who are still griping about the "stolen" elections of '00 and '04. Couldn't you just imagine how death of the president would stir up suspicions and accusations of an assassination orchestrated by the Veep and his (or her) cohorts?

[IbJensen]

LIEberman is a big-time leftist, but one of few jews who realize the danger islam presents to the USA and the world. He has as much business on a Republican ticket as does Chuckie or Barney.

That being said, Juan appears collected and calm on interview and debate formats; however, there is something lurking back behind those baby blues that is ominous. He might be somewhat deranged.

We know he's too damned liberal by just looking at his voting record and the doubtful accomplishments in over 20 years as a member of the elite poltical class.

As we've said over and over, the lesser of two evils, but LIEberman....no way Jose, or Juan.

[HighlyOpinionated]

John McCain and Sarah Palin in 2008!

Sarah Palin and Jeff Sessions in 2012!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Thanks for your informative replies.

[beckysueb]

Than how did Puff Daschle wind up Majority leader when Jeffords jumped?

[Verginius Rufus]

The last time a Republican candidate for President selected a Democrat as his running mate was 1864, and that didn't work out too well.

The Republican ticket in 1940 consisted of Wendell Willkie for President and Charles McNary for VP. Both of them died in 1944, so they would not have lived to the end of their term if they had won.

[tanknetter]

Than how did Puff Daschle wind up Majority leader when Jeffords jumped?

Unlike today, where the split is technically 51-49 (the two indies, Lieberman and Sanders, caucus with the Dems), the 2001 Senate came in split exactly 50-50, with Cheney as the tiebreaker. Which was about as unprecedented as things could get.

Puff threatened to force the Senate into running straight party-line and without unanamous consent (forcing the VP to sit in the chamber every day to cast the tie-breaking vote one everything) unless there was an "agreement" to turn power over if the ratio changed (which is why, to this day, I feel that Jeffords switch was planned before the Senate came into session ... or that the Dems were thinking that Strom was going to kick off mid-session). The GOP caved and agreed to it.

With a clear, if (at 51/49) minimal, majority coming in in 2007, the GOP didn't have a leg to stand on to make that sort of demand. So a mid-session power-switch wasn't put into the 2007 organizing resolution.

[tanknetter]

Correction to my post above. When the 2001 Senate came in, Gore was still VP (and therefore President of the Senate) and would be the tiebreaker on the initial votes. Cheney wouldn’t become VP until later in the month. Which was more leverage that Puff could bring to bear.

[Pan_Yan]

Jefferson was Adam’s VP. They has a chance to be great together at a pivitol time in our history.

Jefferson did everything he could to undermine Adams so he could win the Presidency in the next election.

Even though the men reconciled later in life and wrote an amazing series of letters about the nature of our government it was still a dirty move by Jefferson.

[mkjessup]

Oh, I appreciate his opposition to his One-ness alright, as well as his position on the war, but do we really want another lefty diluting the Republican party voice?

My FRiend, that train has already left the station.

[SunkenCiv]

The Republican ticket in 1940 consisted of Wendell Willkie for President and Charles McNary for VP. Both of them died in 1944, so they would not have lived to the end of their term if they had won.

Wow, I'd not known that one. Happen to know how did they die?

[SunkenCiv]

Not since Ronald Reagan changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican has there been the likes of the possibility that Joe Lieberman, the independent from Connecticut who was dumped by the Democratic party may be announcing that he's going to join the Republican party... With the way the world is right now, we don't need some junior senator from Illinois clogging up the process while he's getting fitted with a cloak of statesmanship and patriotism... there sits... Pelosi poised and ready for action as the third heartbeat from the Oval Office. If that isn't enough motivation to make each and every Republican precinct captain in this country get out there and start walking the beat, I don't know what would. But truthfully, Lieberman's position as the tipping point Republican in the Senate would be far more advantageous than his being vice president.

I wholeheartedly agree. I like Lieberman, and it would be just desserts for the Demwits if -- after turning on Lieberman over his support for the WOT -- he waits until *after* the election is over to change to "R". And not as a VP, but as a Senator.

[Verginius Rufus]

According to Wikipedia, McNary died after unsuccessful surgery for a brain tumor (he was 69), and Willkie died of heart disease (at 52). Willkie ran for President again in 1944 but withdrew after coming in third in the Wisconsin primary. McNary died Feb. 25, 1944, and Willkie on Oct. 8, 1944.