Will John McCain pick a VP or will be let himself be picked by others ?
With all that I've been hearing about who John McCain will choose to be his vice president, I'm bneginning to wonder if Our Guy is going to LEAD or BE LED.
Politico.com says that Mitt Romney is the top choice. Oh really? Granted that Mitt Romney might well bring us Michigan. That's a lot. It's a state that BHO probably cannot win without. Still: Romney is a capitalist in a season where capital looks flawed. He's a Mormon: do we really want to leave ourselves open to CLDS weirdnes such as the cult images from that Texas mess ? How will the evangelicals like a man whose faith many consider to be blasphemy? Also, in just about every poll EXCEPT IN MICHIGAN Romney HURTS the ticket, in many states hurts it big time.
Then there's Senator John Thune. Oh REALLY ? Who the blazes is he? From South Dakota? A three electoral vote state we'll win anyway?
Politico says that Bobby Jindal is out. I agree. He is far too young, too inexperienced, with less than zero foreign policy credentials. Politico also says that Tom Ridge -- one of my top picks -- is out because of sme sort of lobbying flap.
That leaves us with two picks either of whom boosts John McCain is almost every key state -- and sends a message that we're about the WHOLE country and not just the right-wing netroots.
I refer to JOE LIEBERMAN and / or MICHAEL BLOOMBERG. Either would spread John McCain's power well beyond the smallish Republican camp grounds and into the wide expanses of (almost) all our citizenry. Either would ASSURE that the Democrats can never call the McCain campaign "George Bush's third term."
If we do not TAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE, we could lose this election to BHO. Losing to BHO means losing not just the eldection; it means losing THE ENTIRE NATION. BHO wins, it's "end of story" for the great American mission.
Trackback URL for this post:
- The_Mass_Mouth's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Respectuflly disagree...
I couldn't disagree more with your post. If McCain picks Lieberman or Bloomberg, that effectively ends the Republican Party for all practical purposes for the next several years. While Lieberman may be strong on the war and defense issues, he is a Democrat on every other major issue during our time. Bloomberg is a big city, big government, nanny state, liberal mayor. No thanks.
While I agree that Jindal is too young, I strongly believe McCain must reach out to either a strong conservative or someone truly groundbreaking like Carly Fiorina. While I don't think McCain shoudl cherry pick one of the small state governors, I do think he needs someone who actually represents the heart of the Republican Party. AFter all -- Barack Obama represents the heart of the Democratic party which is why the left is so ga-ga over him. So why can't we pick someone, at least as VP, who is a conservative, particualrly since John McCain isn't?
I have no problem supporting McCain as a nominee, but my support -- and the support of many conservatives I know -- will only be strong if he truly does some conservative things. ONe of those is picking a running mate.
In that light, I think the choice comes down to two choices -- Mitt Romney or Sarah Palin. Romney is well liked by social conservatives, no matter what you say, and Sarah Palin is a rising star. I'd like to see him roll the die and go with Palin, but I understand if he doesn't because she's only been in her current office two years -- then again, Barack's only been in 4, so who cares?
If not Palin then Romney is a solid choice, since Fred doesn't want it. He'd help not only in Michigan, but Colorado and Nevada as well, critical states in the fall. He is strong on the economy, nice looking, well spoken, and a solid candidate.
But, picking either Lieberman or Bloomberg would be a disaster for all who care about the Republican name. Is it just a party label or does Republican still have a definition behind it?
If John McCain makes the
If John McCain makes the sort of poick you like, he'll win 38 % of the vote. That 37 % will LOVE his pick, but they still won't love him, and he will lose and the Republican party will then be what ? A think tank with its ideological mojo in place but few votes.
The Republican party was born as a freedom party. That is what we have almost always been. The rest is detail. Now:
1. Joe Lieberman is indeed close to the Democrats on domestic issues, but guess what ? So are most Americans today. If John McCain is to GOVERN, rather than just continue the present partisan cat fighting, he'll need to govern with the help of some Democrats.
2. Mike Bloomberg is a libertarian. How he governs New York City has very little to do with how he would, as VP, advise or advocate for John McCain as PRESIDENT. But his urban libertarianism does appeal mightily to ... urban people, a growing segment of America right now.
I do agree that a McCain - Lieberman or McCain - Bloomberg ticket will revolutionize the Republican party. That is one reason I like it. The Reagan era is over. Done. Finished. Did its work well, yes; but: TIME TO MOVE TO THE NEXT PAGE!
If WE don't move, BHO will.