Time to dispel a few myths…
Is Sarah Palin probably off of the list because of her relatively low level of experience? Not necessarily.
Why?: Barack Obama and his team are hardly in a position to attack Sarah Palin for her lack of experience, and anyone that places a high priority on public-sector experience is already firmly supporting John McCain. Furthermore, independents — who will, like it or not, be deciding this election — are placing a higher priority on competence than on experience this cycle, the former of which Palin seems to have in spades.
On the other hand: McCain’s been hammering Obama hard on his lack of experience. Should he decide to make it a touchstone of his campaign, it would look positively silly to choose a two-year governor. And because Palin is a relative unknown, her full personal and political biography would have to be introduced to the country. If the latter is seen to be lacking and Obama’s inexperience is made a central theme of McCain’s campaign, the public reaction may be unsavory. In politics, hypocrisy is a crime of the highest order. Additionally, Sarah Palin’s foreign policy views are essentially unknown, and you can bet that McCain will be thoroughly vetting each VP candidate to make sure that they’re committed to winning the war against Islamofascism.
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Is Mitt Romney probably off of the list because of his and McCain’s personal animosity? Not necessarily.
Why?: History shows that vanquished, formerly-despised rival primary candidates that make good with the eventual nominee aren’t necessarily relegated to oblivion. Two obvious examples are the eventual tickets of Reagan-Bush and Kennedy-Johnson. What do those two tickets have in common? They both won, and everyone on them eventually became president.
On the other hand: Who says that John McCain has the same sort of temperament as Kennedy and Reagan? McCain, by all accounts, places a very high premium on personal character and will continue to do so as he decides upon a VP. Also, both of those tickets were certainly successful, but the circumstances surrounding the two elections were very different. Additionally, a very solid argument can be made that Governor Romney violates Rule #1 in selecting a VP: Do No Harm.
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Is Joe Lieberman probably off of the list because McCain already has troubles with the base? Not necessarily.
Why?: Inside word is that McCain would love to try to get away with selecting Lieberman, and if most Republicans would be willing to accept him (and they seem to be, according to the polls by SurveyUSA), he might want to select him. Additionally, since the election will be won by holding the base and bringing in independents, isn’t Lieberman the sort of guy that can produce a victory?
On the other hand: Lieberman is high-risk, high-reward. Who wants to go with that sort of risk? And the polling that’s been conducted with Lieberman’s name on the bottom of the ticket hasn’t exactly produced stellar results. Lieberman’s no unknown; his name recognition should be at least on the level of, say, Mike Bloomberg’s — and yet Bloomberg provides a huge boost to the ticket. A cross-party ticket really can produce a victory, then, this says, but Senator Lieberman might just be seen as too much of an apostate — by all, not just by Democrats, considering his strength among the GOP — to get that sort of job done.
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Is John Thune probably off of the list because he’s a virtual unknown? Not necessarily.
Why?: Were most Americans in 2000 able to recognize the name Dick Cheney at the drop of a hat? Only if you believe that everyone outside of Maine remembers the name (and significance of) former Defense Secretary William Cohen today. And what about Lieberman? Kemp? Quayle? Low name ID has never been an impediment to being chosen as VP (or producing a winning ticket, for that matter). If you have a compelling story to tell and some sort of quality that can boost the ticket, you’re almost certainly still on the list, despite low name ID.
On the other hand: Does Thune really possess some sort of quality that can boost the ticket? Is there even any sort of indication that McCain is close to Thune and interested in potentially selecting him? Thune’s fatal impediment — should it truly exist — is not going to be lack of name ID, but lack of qualities that aid McCain’s cause.
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Is Charlie Crist probably off of the list because McCain doesn’t need help in Florida? Not necessarily.
Why?: It cannot be repeated enough: VP choices are not made to boost a candidate’s standing in a single swing state! There is literally no example of this in modern political history (the exception that proves the rule being John Edwards’ selection as John Kerry’s VP in order to help Kerry in the South, which proved utterly useless). VP choices are are always made in order to either make up for real or perceived flaws at the top of the ticket, or, should none serious exist, to bolster the nominee’s strengths. McCain probably doesn’t need Crist’s help in Florida, sure, but that’s not too relevant.
On the other hand: Does Crist either make up for a McCain shortcoming or bolster a McCain strength? Crist is fairly popular in Florida, to be sure (and would probably make a Florida victory secure, rather than just probable), but whether this would translate into national popularity is a dubious proposition. And those “rumors” surely aren’t going to help. Whether they’re true or not is irrelevant: if Crist is thought to potentially keep McCain — in any way — from being able to control the national dialogue, then he’s surely off of the list.
Any others you’d like to see analyzed in this format? Leave a comment…
July 1st, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I am still waiting for Doug’s post on Buddy Roemer? Doug…..
July 1st, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Bloomberg!
July 1st, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Is Tom Ridge off the list because of his half-a-million dollar lobbying contract with the Albanian Government, a contract he failed to report for two years?
July 1st, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Waiting for Aron to post a link to dispell Palin, __________________.
Alex, I did not disagree with anything to wrote. Could you please reflect on Lindsay Graham?
July 1st, 2008 at 7:46 pm
“Bloomberg!”
sorry, wrong party.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Giuliani. He’s been ignored even by his former supporters on this blog (Aron excepted), but still seems like a better choice than many of the others. Some people have latched onto a pro-choice Catholic who is popular in Pennsylvania (Ridge), while others are pushing a moderate Mayor of NYC with a lot of business/economic experience (Bloomberg) as electoral boosters for McCain. Why not Giuliani?
July 1st, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Alex,
Based on the results from today’s Quinnipiac poll for Connecticut, it appears neither unaffiliated nor Republican voters in Lieberman’s own home state view their Independent senator as an apostate.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Lieberman is handling his job as United States Senator?
Approve 45% (Among GOPers: 70%; among Dems: 26%; among Indies: 47%)
Disapprove 43% (Among GOPers: 18%; among Dems: 62%; among Indies: 39%)
As for Palin, an argument can be made that McCain, himself, helped define the qualification threshold, and disqualified Alaska’s young governor, among others in the process, during this exchange in April with Chris Wallace:
WALLACE: Given that you call radical Islam the transcendent challenge of our age, fair to assume that your running mate must have firsthand foreign policy experience?
MCCAIN: I don’t know if that’s — I think that the person — the first and really major and overwhelming priority is a person who shares my principles, my values, my priorities — as you know, priorities are very important in presidents — and could immediately take my place. That’s, I think, the overriding criteria.
WALLACE: So it could be someone who’s, in effect, a foreign policy novice?
MCCAIN: Well, it could be someone who has a lot of experience and someone who doesn’t on national security issues.
Palin obviously doesn’t have a lot of experience on national security issues, and by no relative measure is she “someone who has a lot of experience” either. And I would contend that Obama’s inexperience (and corresponding naivete and resulting poor judgment) is already a central theme of McCain’s campaign.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:00 pm
it appears neither unaffiliated nor Republican voters in Lieberman’s own home state view their Independent senator as an apostate….
Approve 45% (Among GOPers: 70%; among Dems: 26%; among Indies: 47%)
Disapprove 43% (Among GOPers: 18%; among Dems: 62%; among Indies: 39%)
I think that you misunderstood me. This poll definitely says that Republicans do consider him an apostate: they’re the ones that support him, according to the poll. Independents are split in his favor — barely — but that rather small gap isn’t the sort that would catapult him onto the ticket.
Palin obviously doesn’t have a lot of experience on national security issues, and by no relative measure is she “someone who has a lot of experience” either. And I would contend that Obama’s inexperience (and corresponding naivete and resulting poor judgment) is already a central theme of McCain’s campaign.
I already granted such objections in the article. Reasonable people can differ over whether Obama’s inexperience is a truly major theme of the McCain campaign, but if one believes that it is, then he should probably consider Palin’s stock low, even if she does pass the national security “vision thing” test in McCain’s eyes.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
And Lieberman’s no “Independent”, and I think that you’re off-base in calling him that. He is officially an “Independent Democrat” and he caucuses with the Democrats — so in effect, he’s a Democrat. He’s always been a Democrat. So if Republicans support him and Democrats oppose him, then he’s almost universally considered an apostate, rightly or wrongly.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:02 pm
#7 Aron, Palin has more experience than Rudy.
Please tell me Rudy’s foreign policy experience (and please do not include the work he did for his law firm, helping with crime issues in Mexico City).
Rudy is qualified to run FEMA, based on his 911 experience.
Palin just signed another internation agreement this past weekend with US and Canadian pacific jurisdictions. She negotiated and signed the Yukon-Alaska accord, is in charge of the Alaska National Guard, etc, etc, etc….
July 1st, 2008 at 8:03 pm
i think we take the mccain-romeny dislike too far. first, despite the smears against him in 2000, mccain still forgave rove and bush, and campaigned for bush, and is now advised by rove. nothing in this campaign comes close to 2000 and mitt and mac didnt have it out on a personal level. mccain wants to win, and if mitt gets him there, he will pick him.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Palin has more experience than Rudy?
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SMOKING?
July 1st, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Ummm… Crist is just as inexperienced (as Governor/as Jeb’s third term) as Palin. Romney was only a one-term Governor. Thune’s only executive experience was as the Railroad Director of South Dakota?!?
Why are any of these inexperienced folks even in consideration? Where are all the senior statesmen?
(I don’t take Lieberman as having a serious chance. The speculation is good media, that’s it.)
July 1st, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Rudy turned around the 3rd largest U.S. government, far surpassing any Mayor or Governor or President, excepting Reagan and FDR.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Alex,
I thought you were saying that, because Lieberman left the Democratic party, that Independents and Republicans also held it against him for ‘abandoning his prior loyalties.’
Lieberman, like Giuliani, would certainly be a high-risk, high-reward selection. And, while, by choice, McCain would probably prefer to avoid that sort of risk, he may have to take his chances if he finds himself down double digits to Obama in even the most favorable polls come early August.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
And, for the ignorant, #14 refers to Rudy’s accomplishments in NYC before 9/11.
That doesn’t even touch his tenure as US Atty, where he effectively ended the mafia, something law enforcement had tried for decades unsuccessfully, something previously thought impossible.
Sarah Palin was a Mayor of a town of 8,000 people 2 years ago.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SMOKING?
July 1st, 2008 at 8:18 pm
#12, I am smoking a Winston Light.
We are talking about foreign policy experience Metro, that is what Aron is questioning…..
I would have been a Rudy supporter if McCain was not running. That is for sure. But let us be honest, those lines the two of you are using did not work in the primary.
Please read all the State Constitutions if you do not believe me, but a Mayor does not have half the powers of a Governor, not matter how big of a city it is.
Rudy was a prosecutor, then a two term Mayor. That is it? I can pass gas in DC and his 350 lawyers.
Again, what are Rudy’s foreign policy experiences? Someone answer me? Because his recommendation of Bernie Kerik does not look good on his resume.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I love Rudy because he is a social liberal and he is an amazing leader.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Ummm… Crist is just as inexperienced (as Governor/as Jeb’s third term) as Palin. Romney was only a one-term Governor. Thune’s only executive experience was as the Railroad Director of South Dakota?!?
Well, I had to divide the various arguments against these folks somewhere. Crist has more experience than Palin in government, though.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I love Rudy because he is a social liberal and he is an amazing leader.
He’s sort of a social liberal. Not totally. But sort of.
Rudy was a prosecutor, then a two term Mayor. That is it? I can pass gas in DC and his 350 lawyers.
He was the #3 guy in the Justice Dept., a highly successful prosecutor, a hugely successful big-city mayor, and a hero of Sept. 11th. He’s also got private-sector experience, had a #1 New York Times bestseller, and won over Democrats and independents while in office while governing relatively conservatively. His accomplishments make Sarah Palin’s look rather small.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Lieberman, like Giuliani, would certainly be a high-risk, high-reward selection. And, while, by choice, McCain would probably prefer to avoid that sort of risk, he may have to take his chances if he finds himself down double digits to Obama in even the most favorable polls come early August.
I think you overestimate the risk. There are a certain set of GOP voters who will not vote for McCain-Giuliani, but they’re unlikely to vote for McCain-Anybody as soon as they realize that McCain is calling the shots, since they disagree with his positions on things like cap-and-trade, or immigration. These voters are lost and would not come back to McCain, even if we could mate Ronald Reagan with Jesus and put the kid on the ticket as his running mate. Another set of GOP voters were happy with Rudy except for some of his social positions, and McCain provides a pretty good buffer for that. These voters are the ones who are most concerned with things like the makeup of the Supreme Court, and McCain has a very conservative record on most things that that could affect (gay rights, guns, abortion, etc.) Moderates and independents interested in security and competent leadership are likely to be warm to the idea of a McCain-Giuliani administration.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Gotta admit: McCain-Giuliani looks highly…competent.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Your first statement did not specify foreign policy.
Even in foreign policy, Rudy has more experience that Sarah frigging Palin. And I say that as someone who’d be happy to see her on the ticket.
Given that the UN is in NYC and it is effectively the capital of the world, the Mayor of NYC has a lot of foreign policy experience. Remember when Rudy kicked Arafat out of the UN 50th?
You call him “a” prosecutor? The US Atty for the Southern District of NY is the top US Atty position in the nation.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Rudy is the most qualified Presidential candidate in modern history. For some reason, he gets no respect, even by a supporter such as Kristofer.
He must feel as the smartest kid in class does, with the type of teacher who isn’t smart enough to realize it and who pays all her attention to the learning disabled kids.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:36 pm
#19 and #20, thank you Senator Barakletmeexagoratemyexperience Obama.
“He was the #3 guy in the Justice Dept., a highly successful prosecutor, a hugely successful big-city mayor, and a hero of Sept. 11th. He’s also got private-sector experience, had a #1 New York Times bestseller, and won over Democrats and independents while in office while governing relatively conservatively. His accomplishments make Sarah Palin’s look rather small.”
Ha!!!!! Writing a book is a reason to be qualified for President? The author, John Gray wrote Men are from Mars ,Women are from Venus, but is he qualified? Yes Rudy has a little more private sector experience than Palin, but HE IS 20 YEARS OLDER THAN Palin! And….Rudy has not won every election he was in either.
“He’s sort of a social liberal. Not totally. But sort of.”
Rudy lived with two Gay men in the Mayoral Mansion….99% of the country finds that socially Liberal. Believe me Alex!
#23, The NYC Police Commish. is in charge of guarding the area around the UN not the inside. The NYC policy are not the secret service.
Rudy is qualified to be President because he is a great American leader and hero, and he has the intelligence and courage to do the job. I love him.
Metro, I liked you better when I thought you were a member of Romney’s temple.
Is anyone going to answer the questions? What accord, peace agreement, act, notice of surrender, trade agreement has Rudy signed? Did he ever serve in the military, or CIA? Did he ever serve in the state department or the peace corps?
Again, please name a foreign policy success of Rudy’s?
July 1st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Kristofer,
Here are a few of my personal favorites…
THE U.N. AT 50: ARAFAT; White House Condemns Giuliani for Ejecting Arafat From Concert
July 1st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
A Curtain Call of ‘Viva Giuliani!’
July 1st, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Gotta admit: McCain-Giuliani looks highly…competent.
McCain has been running against Bush administration incompetence for a while now, and it looks like that will be the way he will go in order to distance himself from the President. Note that he’s also running against Obama based on the experience argument, basically asking “what has he ever done?” A large part of Obama’s defense against that is going to be his “success” in urban renewal on the South Side of Chicago, as indicated by his recent ads. Giuliani’s record, obviously, dwarfs Obama’s in that area.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Rudy lived with two Gay men in the Mayoral Mansion….99% of the country finds that socially Liberal. Believe me Alex!
I consider that culturally liberal. Giuliani is absolutely culturally liberal.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:48 pm
#26, #27, #28,
This is why (below) Rudy is a great man, 911 is a close second.
http://www.nationalreview.com/interrogatory/siegel200506220755.asp
Aron, are you going to answer my question?
#29, For social liberals the lack of education, health, or employment is seen as a major threat to the freedom of state compulsion and coercion. Like other liberals, social liberals support (with qualifications) free markets, private entrepreneurship and a small state. Social liberalism may also refer, as it usually does in the media, to support for among other things educational reform, civil rights, human rights and civil liberties, particularly in opposition to traditional values and beliefs. In this second sense, the liberal equivalent of social conservatism, one may therefore be socially liberal but economically conservative as in neo-liberalism, but in the first sense social liberalism clearly deals with the economic as well as social dimension of politics
July 1st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Well if McCain is looking at someone who has personal integroty, i think Romney fits the bill.
24. Uh yeah right, and I am ths skinniest man in modern history. And Rudy as the smartest man? lol.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
31. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, this comes from the guy who thinks he is the smartest guy on the board.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:55 pm
29. He wasn’t that socially liberal, remember in the end he even said something to the effect he could back a marriage amendment.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Parking Ticket Uproar at U.N.: For Now, Peace Has No Chance
July 1st, 2008 at 8:57 pm
#31:
Rudy ran his campaign as a true gentleman. Even Republicans that didn’t vote for him respected him. Unlike Romney who managed to make every other candidate and their supporters hate his guts.\
Alex: In response to your post about Rudy supporters, we are being cautious. I would love to see Hizzoner as VP, but I think he will most likely be AG under McCain or perhaps Gov of NY or Ambassador to the UN.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Kris,
Are you contending that the links I’m providing don’t demonstrate experience in dealing with foreign policy?
U.S. Pushes for a Cease-Fire On That U.N.-New York Rift
July 1st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Sorry Alex, it was Big S not you who mentioned Hizzoner. My apologies
July 1st, 2008 at 9:04 pm
#36, Yes Aron, I am.
#32, “guy who thinks he is the smartest guy on the board”. Do I really come across like that? Sorry man.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Jason,
Rudy addressed the potential for his support of a federal marriage amendment during an October 2007 debate.
GIULIANI: I’ve always had the same position. I do not believe under the state that we presently exist, with the Defense of Marriage Act and basically one state that has by judicial fiat created same-sex marriage — and they’re wrong, by the way; I think the governor is absolutely right — I don’t think we need a constitutional amendment at this point.
What I said to Mr. Perkins — which I also said five years ago and have consistently said — is if a lot of states start to do that, three, four, five, six states, where we have that kind of judicial activism, and the kind of situation the governor is talking about actually occurs, if we’re dealing with a real problem, then we should have a constitutional amendment.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:08 pm
31. I have no complaints about Rudy, but he isn’t a good VP choice. I can’t for the life of me figure what he would add as MCCain’s choice. His economic credentials are debatable, but no one perceived him as an economic candidate. He’s not going to pull in any more indies, and he definitely not going to pull in any more states. Him and McCain operated out of the same base. When Rudy deflated, McCain took his spot, so why would he choose him?
I don’t think think the whole world hates Mitt as many people here argue. After all, by the time he dropped out on 2/5 I think he had 4 million votes to McCain’s 4.7 Not too shabby.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:10 pm
39. I think that backs what I said then? I mean we have 2 states now, so according to his standard, with one more I plan on seeing Rudy backing an amendment.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:12 pm
#41:
I don’t see a huge trend that way though. Lots of states (OR, MO, among others) have already passed bills defining marriage as between 1 man and 1 woman.
This is, however, good news for McCain. FL has a gay-marriage ban on the ballot in November (Amendment 2). It could create enthusiasm for the evangelical right in the state and help McCain more easily secure FL.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Are we seriously back to debating Rudey as a possible VP. The guy who ran the most incompetent campaign in modern history. The guy doing consulting work for a hack mayor candidate in The Ukraine. This is serious people. Snobama is ahead in the polls. Every SUSA poll shows that McCain does well with men, the same people Rudy’s toughness would appeal too. It’s the women we need to win over. And Sarah Palin will go much farther is reducing the gender gap then thrice married 9iu11ani.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:16 pm
#40
…no one perceived him as an economic candidate. He’s not going to pull in any more indies, and he definitely not going to pull in any more states.
I disagree with your first statement. The Club for Growth liked him best among the Republican contenders, and the empirical evidence for economic revitalization in NYC is there.
As for his electoral college appeal, he could help solidify Florida, and has significant appeal in places like PA, which is expected to be a battleground this fall and is a place where Obama has struggled. There are few high-profile Republicans who can pull in as many independents as Giuliani.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Didn’t Giuliani bill the tax payers for his travel costs in the affair he had? I don’t care if has a girlfriend/mistress and cheated on his wife, but to try and hide the expenses like he did and expect the taxpayers to pay for his love costs takes him forever off my list of possible VPs. That’s corruption with a capital “C”.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
What about Colin Powell? He would be a “wow” candidtae that I have been calling for. He has foreign policy experience. He has real command experience. You can’t really link him to the Bush Administration because he left after W’s first term and did not see eye to eye with Cheney and Rumsfeld. You could argue that he was against the Iraq invasion. You could argue his age. But this is a different election. He is well respected by independents and I would say a majority of Republicans. he would be seen as an outsider and as a moderate and as a maverick in some ways like McCain. I dare Obama and his VP to go after a man who will probably have more executive and military and foreign policy experience than both of them combined.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:18 pm
IR-MN,
You obviously don’t understand how awesome Rudy is and how all his personal failings were of no consequence, because for one year Intrade had him up by 10,000.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:20 pm
#44:
What about the Evangelical, pro-lifers? The polls already show that they are relatively unenthusiastic about McCain and picking the pro-choice Mayor of NYC probably isn’t going to make them real enthused. Don’t get me wrong, I love Hizzoner, but AG or NY Gov or Amb to the UN is a better use of his talents.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Rudy is a national hero and probably has the fourth best name recognition for a Republican behind Bush, McCain, Cheney and McCain. But for all that Rudy would add to his ticket with McCain, he runs a risk with Evangelical voters. This is a tough call.
I have not heard Rudy’s name mentioned as a VP candidate in the media since the week he dropped out. hhhmmm…Maybe that means he is on the list.
Oh, and Rudy has very little foreign policy experience, but what you are guys are making an excellent argument for, is with Rudy’s foreign policy judgement.
Oh, and he wears a dress well. Much better than Hillary.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I would support Rudy as well. I was a supporter of him until he dropped out.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:22 pm
44.
How would Rudy help solidify FL any more than Romney, who got more votes there than him? If anything Romney would pull in different FL votes than McCain since MCCain won the hispanics and indies and Romney won the conservatives.
McCain can already pull in all the indies that Rudy would pull in.
I don’t care what C4G said. Most people haven’t even heard of them. What matters is that I think hardly anyone thought of him as any sort of an economic genius, most thought of him as Mr. 9-11 and he played that card too hard. He just wasn’t effective.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Jason,
I think Rudy would be supportive of a constitutional amendment if DOMA was successfully challenged in court.
As for how Rudy would help as a running mate, he would put New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the toss-up category instead of leaning blue, and Florida, where he has a lot of support among New York transplants and within the Cuban community, would be secured for McCain. That said, I think Rudy could be chosen because he doesn’t complement McCain, but, as you said, they operate out of the same base, and that’s because they share, pretty much, the same priorities, principles and values…which is precisely what McCain has time and again told us he’s looking for in a vice president. And, there’s little doubt whether Giuliani meets the final threshold — being ready to take over in a moment’s notice should tragedy strike.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:25 pm
#47, Jason
Talking about “smarts”, “one year Intrade”. It is a bunch of alcohalic guys in Dublin who administrate Intrade.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:28 pm
What about the Evangelical, pro-lifers? The polls already show that they are relatively unenthusiastic about McCain and picking the pro-choice Mayor of NYC probably isn’t going to make them real enthused. Don’t get me wrong, I love Hizzoner, but AG or NY Gov or Amb to the UN is a better use of his talents.
Pro-lifers who are unenthusiastic about McCain, who has a very conservative voting record on abortion, are not going to be convinced by any running-mate. The running-mate will adopt McCain’s positions on other issues, as well, so any hope conservatives have for a VP who will act as a counter to McCain are hoping in vain.
Also: I find it humorous that many of those who can’t stand the idea of Giuliani casting the tie-breaking vote in the Senate say they are happy with him as Attorney General. The AG has a lot more power over issues that are important to them than a Vice President does.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
#51:
Look at the area’s of FL where Rudy did best. He beat out Romney for 2nd place in Miami-Dade County and he has great appeal in the rest of S. FL. South Florida, particulary Broward and Palm Beach County are the reason Democrats stay comeptative in statewide elections. They HAVE to roll up huge margins in S. FL to win the state.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I was as big a Rudy fan as anyone but I think he may just have too much baggage to serve as VP. I mean, I think even his supporters would concede his campaign pretty much fell apart from around Thanksgiving on.
That said, I will agree that Rudy has more experience than Palin.
Although I think even Aron would admit that Palin looks nicer in a dress
July 1st, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Rudey will not help out in PA. If we’re going for a pro-choice VP in that circumstance, we might as well go with Ridge. Hearmeroar is right in that Rudy has a horrible family history, something that women look at. Palin has an exemplary family background.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:35 pm
What About Bob?
The more I think about it, the more I am jazzed about a McCain/Portman ticket. Rob Portman has a remarkable skill set for the VP spot and would be seen as a governing pick rather than a gimmick or pander. He locks in Ohio, his relative youth would add vitality to the campaign and he could appeal to Midwesterners and the youth vote. He is an expert economist, sports enthusiast, yachtsman and avid kayaker — he will look great in the commercials. Besides, McCain/Portman has a delightful lyrical assonance to it. Every sailor needs his port and McCain needs his Portman!
July 1st, 2008 at 9:36 pm
hhhmmm, #57, If this is true, then how did Clinton get re-elected with close to 60% of the woman’s vote? and….(I am sorry to say this on this site), but the Gipper did not exectly have the greatest success as a father.
As long as Rudy did not hang out with Eliot Spitzer, we are okay.
Alex, how close are you to posting a V2 of this to include Rudy and those “others” mentioned?
July 1st, 2008 at 9:37 pm
HearMeRoar wrote: “Didn’t Giuliani bill the tax payers for his travel costs in the affair he had? I don’t care if has a girlfriend/mistress and cheated on his wife, but to try and hide the expenses like he did and expect the taxpayers to pay for his love costs takes him forever off my list of possible VPs. That’s corruption with a capital “C”.
No, and it’s pretty pathetic to see someone still trying to peddle that crap. Are you playing dumb or just willfully ignorant?
The New York Times exonerated Giuliani of that smear by Politico, but waited just long enough to report the truth, and deliberately buried it on Page A21, to ensure the intended damage to Rudy’s candidacy was done.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Does anyone have any idea why McCain is wasting time in Colombia and Mexico?
Aren’t there places he could make better use of and get more press out of?
If Rudy was named VP, would his kids appear on stage with him at the convention?
July 1st, 2008 at 9:40 pm
jim,
There’s no disputing that…Sarah is a GILF.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
#61:
McCain is needling Obama about his trade policy. Since Obama wants to renegotiate NAFTA and opposes the Columbian Free Trade Agreement, he was going to those countries to highlight that. Plus it makes him look “statesman” like and a way of courting Hispanics (no coincidence that his new TV ad came out today).
July 1st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
If Rudy was named VP, would his kids appear on stage with him at the convention?
Who cares? Did Reagan’s?
July 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Aron,
Do not attack HearMeRoar, she, like 90% of Americans did not see or hear about the exoneration, because, as you said, it was “buried it on Page A21″.
But Aron, why have the media stopped writing about Rudy and Chris Cox for VP?
JA, “Every sailor needs his port and McCain needs his Portman!”, did you steal that line from the show Queer as Folk?
(fantastic show btw, I own the first season).
July 1st, 2008 at 9:46 pm
BTW, let me add that all this interest in who McCain’s VP is only shows that there isn’t too much excitement and interest in McCain himself.
Did anyone care who Bush’s VP was in 2000? Most dems I know don’t care who Obama’s VP is.
There’s so much interest because people are still blase on McCain and looking for that something extra
July 1st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
#62, I am getting sick and tired of having to correct Aron. It is MILF, not GILF.
Who doesn’t love a smart, powerful and Conservative woman.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
jim,
It’s my understanding that Rudy is on decent terms with his son. In January, when everyone thought Giuliani was estranged from his kids, his son Andrew was down here in Florida, staying at Rudy’s wife, Judith’s, mother’s condo in Palm Beach. This made the local news at the time because Andrew had been pulled over for going 39 mph in a 30 mph zone.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
“I love Rudy because he is a social liberal”
Nothing better than having the Government’s stamp of approval on millions of abortions every year…
July 1st, 2008 at 9:53 pm
60. I read the link and a link from your link. It doesn’t sound like the NYT totally exonerated your beloved Rudy. And if this dumb female has that impression of Rudy, isn’t it possible that there are other dumb females out there who believe likewise? And the beauty of it all is a vote from a dumb female counts just as much as your vote.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I think the G in Aron’s post referred to Governor, not girl. the ILF remains.
I think a Palin VP nod would be worth it just to see Chris Matthews lose it.
Did anyone see that interview he did with Erin Burnett from CNBC? He has some serious women’s issues, it was painful to watch.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:54 pm
67. You would do Ann Coulter?
July 1st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Somewhat OT, but here’s some details on Obama’s resume dealing with his efforts at revitalizing the South Side of Chicago (from Mickey Kaus):
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/27/grim_proving_ground_for_obamas_housing_policy/?page=full
July 1st, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Didn’t Giuliani bill the tax payers for his travel costs in the affair he had? I don’t care if has a girlfriend/mistress and cheated on his wife, but to try and hide the expenses like he did and expect the taxpayers to pay for his love costs takes him forever off my list of possible VPs. That’s corruption with a capital “C”.
No. This was shown to be a heavy distortion.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:56 pm
#62, I am getting sick and tired of having to correct Aron. It is MILF, not GILF.
Who doesn’t love a smart, powerful and Conservative woman.
Hey, I thought you were Log Cabin GOP!
July 1st, 2008 at 9:59 pm
#75:
Well Alex, this would certainly make an interesting Friday question:
Name the five hottest conservatives out there.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:00 pm
“I think a Palin VP nod would be worth it just to see Chris Matthews lose it.”
Ha. Forget about Matthews, what about Bill Clinton – he would probably want to present her with a pair of his “Presidential knee-pads.”
July 1st, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I “no” Obama and his surrogates will cry foul, but how about a slam dunk
combination….McCain/Rice?
July 1st, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Name the five hottest conservatives out there.
Bjorn Lomborg’s the closest thing to a DILF that I can think of. He’s a leading global warming skeptic. http://media.cnbc.com/j/CNBC/Sections/News_And_Analysis/__Story_Inserts/graphics/__PEOPLE/lomborg_bjorn.standard.jpg
Well, there’s always the young’ns like Ben Shapiro. He’s got a little baby face.
http://multimedia.premierespeakers.com/speaker/web/350.jpg
And of course, Henry freakin’ Kissinger.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I “no” Obama and his surrogates will cry foul, but how about a slam dunk
combination….McCain/Rice?
As much as I’d approve, it probably wouldn’t fly.
(But polling would have to bear that out.)
July 1st, 2008 at 10:09 pm
#79:
Henry Kissinger man that is sexy. The wrinkles, ah so many wrinkles.
sarc.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:09 pm
HearMeRoar Says:
July 1st, 2008 at 9:54 pm
67. You would do Ann Coulter?
Coulter….maybe, Alex Knepper….yes. j/k How about you HearMeRoar? Would you date either of them? I am guessing Aron just eliminated himself off the list?
Alex, Sarah Palin is not the most attractive member of her family. It is Todd Palin.
Alex, you are coming across as ignorant as telamonian. What does the “B” stand for in LGBT? Next thing you’ll be telling me that Liberman is coming across as a typical jew (did you kick telamonian off yet for that comment?).
July 1st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
jim,
Again, you would be correct. Governor Palin may still giggle like a little girl, but she’s definitely all woman.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Aron, others,
n all actuality, your arguments for Rudy are the same for McCain. What votes will Rudy swing that McCain can’t himself? Rudy I see Rudy did well with Cubans in FL, but do you really think those Cubans have any problem voting for McCain? If anything I think Rudy would be a drain in Fl, the guy was way up for a while year and tanked like a dog there in the end.
I really have no opinion of who becomes VP, because I think it’s pointless and the GOP is in for a major Butt kicking anyway, but the arguments that Rudy would help the ticket are baseless. He didn’t brand himself as an economics guy, but rather a tough on terrorist guy- no nonsense. We have that in McCain. Everyone he would help with are people that McCain doesn’t need help with, and he would repel the people that McCain actually needs to win, SoCons. Now, McCain might pick him simply cause he likes the guy, that’s possible, but I see now plausible argument that he is a help.
McCain’s biggest problem is not the indy vote, but to figure how he is going to match the Dem voter turnout that swamped us in the primaries. And he won’t get it done with Rudy. We are in for a real spanking, and Rudy just isn’t in any position to alleviate the problem.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
HearMeRoar, what did you think of Matthews and Shusters sexism? Kind of like what Aron is doing now…….
July 1st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Rudy is on the very short list for VP.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Oh, and Aron, Michael Goldfarb just took a LOA from the Weekly Standard to work for McCain, his boss and good friend is William Kristol.
Goldfarb recommended Palin for VP two days before it was annouced that he was taking leave to work for McCain, but he had already agreed to join McCain2008 and was already granted permission by Kristol.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Jason,
If you saw a poll showing a ticket with Rudy on it beating Obama in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, two states in which McCain is currently behind, would that alter your thinking?
Also, re: Florida, don’t forget there are many New York/New Jersey transplants down here who would’ve voted for Rudy in the primary, but couldn’t because they’re registered as Democrats and Independents. That restriction wouldn’t apply come November.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Jason: Rudy is an economic Tiger. He is a proven tax cutter besides being very strong on security issues as well as a proven candidate to better the Federal Courts with strict constructionist Judges.
Rudy is a positive in Fl & would help push McCain to victories in NJ, Penn. and Conn.
If Obama loses both NJ and Penn then we will have a landslide election. I personally believe it may be a landslide election in favor of McCain anyway because Obama is a marxist and will be buried on issues such as national security, energy (oil) and taxes.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Not really, perhaps if it were 2 months before the election and things were tight. But so far, the question of turnout in the primaries is so great it will take a lot more than a late spring early summer poll to win those states.
Those people still wont be voting for Rudy, they will be voting for McCain. Rudy’s name won’t even be on the ballot, and 80%+ of the coverage will be on McCain.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
86. I am so tired of people coming on her and talking like they know.
89. Jason: Rudy is an economic Tiger. He is a proven tax cutter besides being very strong on security issues as well as a proven candidate to better the Federal Courts with strict constructionist Judges.
Maybe, maybe not. I never thought his economic credentias were that great. But, even if they were, no one knows that about him. He spent too much time talking about 9-11. It doesn’t matter what you think of him, it’s the publics perception, and no one saw him as the econ guy.
I gaurentee you this, there will be no McCain lanslide. Not that I wouldn’t like it if there were, but there won’t be one. There is little enthusiasm for McCain, and voter turnout for Dems is going to be just too huge this go around.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
The dems swamped us on primary turnout in 72, 84, and 88 as well. A lot of good it did them.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Clearly, Obama & his leftist comrads are fools on the energy issue. The American people will be dealing with $5-$6-$7-$8 plus gas prices and the libs will be exclaiming no digging, no nuc reactors, more corn oil to drive up food prices. Sounds like Leninist tactics to me to get the government to control everything in this country.
Another point, fall will be coming sooner or later & the American people in colder climates will be dealing with the enormous price of home heating oil.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
tom,
No one bill feeling those bills on Nov. 5th. The bill you would get for the begginng of November would be from Sept to october. I live in Chciago and the wether is fine till the middle/end of November.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Kristofer,
I noticed Kristol, in yesterday’s interview with Alexis Glick on Fox Business, backtracked away from his assertion on Fox News Sunday that McCain is going to put Palin on the ticket.
Bill told Alexis: “I’m not saying she’s the only good pick. I think there are several good picks…I think she deserves to be considered.”
July 1st, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Jason, another thing here & this is an important consideration why Rudy is on the very short list.
Rudy pushed more than anyone on the campaign trails for offshore drilling, ANWAR, clean coal and nuc reactors.
McCain & Rudy are very close.
Rudy helped push McCain to the top slot in the Republican primary.
Libs cringe most when they hear the name Rudy, which is quite ironic when some social conservatives attempt to bash Rudy.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Fact check time…#91 Jason.
“no one knows that about him”, not true sir, just not true. His fiscal and law enforcement successes were Rudy’s reputation before 911.
“there will be no McCain landslide”, It looks like that, but even Truman won re-election in an environment equally bad for Dem’s (worse if you consider two large groups left the DNC and had their own POTUS candidates) than it is for GOP this year.
“There is little enthusiasm for McCain”, wrong. McCain’s enthusiasm within the GOP does not match Obama’s in the DNC voters, but McCain has strong support within some democratic and indy blocks. They have stayed with him since 2000.
The day the under 30 crowd shows up to vote in November, i’ll eat my shoes. They have already stopped sending Obama donations online/through Facebook.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:50 pm
94. I know quite a few people that receive oil bills in the Spring and also in the Fall (just prior to the winter). Either way, the high (higher) price of home heating oil (which i believe is the higher priced diesel fuel) will be on homeowners & landowners minds throughout the year.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
#95,
Some pundits and bloggers have stated that Kristol is a front man for McCain and is floating these names dropped to him so the campaign can gage public/media reaction. Apparently Bush did this on 2000, before he went with Dick. I am not sure I agree with this?
But…..Kristol was darn correct to back-track a bit yesterday. He was much too strong on Sunday regarding Palin. After realizing Jindal would not be selected, Kristol changed, and he would look like a fool if he changed again. Plus, McCain will need the rest of the month to make the decision, so no one knows the answer, even Johnny Mac.
I am a realist. I know it is probably down to a crowd of less than 7. Palin may have a 25% chance (if she is on it) at best, in a mixed field.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:06 pm
If McCain is as smart as we all hope he is, he’ll go with Romney. The electoral map is crying out for MItt ROmney to be the VP nominee. The smart money is on Mitt.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:08 pm
One of the reasons I suspect Rudy is near, if not atop McCain’s short list is not because of their genuinely close friendship or shared priorities and principles, but because, over the past couple of months, with the help of Giuliani’s former campaign manager, Mike DuHaime, who’s now in a key role at the RNC, the Giuliani and McCain teams have effectively merged operations.
DuHaime’s Stamp On McCain’s Field Operation
July 1st, 2008 at 11:09 pm
McCain hires directors for PA, MI, OH
July 1st, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Goeas tapped as GOP convention program director
July 1st, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Is Bozo the Clown probably off of the list because McCain doesn’t need help with the circus vote? Not necessarily.
Why?: While Bush was a hit with the clowns, primates, and bearded women, McCain’s had some problems with these voters. Meanwhile Barack Obama, much like Bush, knows the circus people’s language and concerns. Bozo the Clown could bring home the freak, clown and primate votes in November.
On the other hand: McCain’s been hammering Obama hard on his lack of experience. Should he decide to make it a touchstone of his campaign, it would look positively silly to choose a circus clown. In addition rumors that on several occasions are swirling that Bozo has transported 15 illegal immigrant clowns across the border in his car.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Aron, you were asked last night, a question you never answered. I think led people to believe the opposite (Rudy as Governor).
Why is Rudy still paying some of his campaign strategists?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:19 pm
#104 Doug, was that the third VP option you would not write about yesterday? I waited 24 hours for that?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Aron,
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/06/20/2008-06-20_rudy_giuliani_keeps_doors_open_despite_e.html
July 1st, 2008 at 11:22 pm
#106, actually no.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:24 pm
gggrrr….
July 1st, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Q for U,
1) someone from MO or MD?
2) former Governor?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Q for U,
1) someone from MO or MD?
2) former Governor?
July 1st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
If polling is what it would take to confirm a McCain/Rice ticket then it should be done.
The times they are a changing. You know, after we saw $4.00 a gallon gas, the majority now
wants nuclear power and more drilling. Go figure!
July 1st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
105. Rudy would not run for Governor in 2010 because McCain/Rudy would win in 08.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
NRA plans $40M fall blitz targeting Obama
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11452.html
July 1st, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Kristofer,
It’s no mystery that Rudy still has political ambitions and wants to keep all options on the table, in the event he is not selected to be McCain’s vice president. A Quinnipiac poll last month showed Rudy polling three points ahead of Governor Paterson in a potential 2010 gubernatorial match-up. He could also replace his good friend, Mukasey, as AG or take Chertoff’s job at DHS.
And, regarding that article in the Daily News, the McCain campaign expressed a desire back in April to help Rudy retire his debt.
July 1st, 2008 at 11:58 pm
breaking news…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/07/01/ST2008070103301.html
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
Rasmussen Reports: Voters Want Right to Approve All Tax Increase
Does the Federal Government need more tax revenue to fund important national programs?
Yes 33%
No 52%
Not Sure 14%
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
On the plus side I’d lose a lot of weight if Rudy was picked as VP. I’d throw-up every time he came on the TV screen.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 am
Rasmussen Reports: 48% Say Lower Gas Prices Key to Economic Recovery
What would do the most to get the economy moving again?
Lower gas prices 48%
Tax cuts 19%
New economic stimulus plan 18%
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
Doug,
I don’t think you have to worry about Rudy jerking off on national TV.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 am
I lol’d at 104, Doug Forrester. Good laugh.
Alex, you are coming across as ignorant as telamonian. What does the “B” stand for in LGBT? Next thing you’ll be telling me that Liberman is coming across as a typical jew (did you kick telamonian off yet for that comment?). – HearMeRoar
Oh, good grief.
On the other hand, I’m surprised that the thought that he could be bisexual didn’t cross my mind.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:31 am
You testosterone-poisoned individuals, just talk among yourselves about GILFs and MILFS for awhile – us “girls” need a little “hen-fest”, okay?
Pssst. Hey, Hear Me Roar. Have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xhJnXl4kIA
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 am
Alex is too cute.I thought he was one of those ‘gay or straight only’ fags.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 am
Nice to see a massive VP thread that isn’t dominated by Mitt
However, Rudy is a poor choice for me primarily because of his poor campaign. He had the best assets. Popular with Jews, fiscal cons, security conscious, with a strong base in Forida & the NE, he blew it with a terrible campaign.
Would he campaign better as VP? Has he learnt his lessons?
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:54 am
Portman does seem like a good choice and one I could certainly support (If Palin doesn’t make the cut, that is
) However, I just read an article here: http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/06/30/the-mccain-veepwatch-vol-5-rob-portman.aspx
that is mostly positive until the last paragraph, whic reads in part:
“…Portman’s strong ties to the deeply unpopular policies of the Bush years would do little to deflect the “McSame” attacks that have plagued McCain since he clinched the Republican nomination in March. “Rob Portman isn’t just linked to the failed Bush agenda,” Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Alex Goepfert told Salon. “He is the failed Bush agenda.” Expect to hear that line about 15 times a day if the McCain-Portman ticket becomes a reality. It could end up, in fact, that the very part of Portman’s past that would make him such an effective vice president–his considerable experience pulling the levers of power under Bush–will also make it impossible for McCain to offer him the slot.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 am
On #104 ..HILARIOUS. Thank you!
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:56 am
#104 is very good, well done!
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 am
P.S to JA Pruce: Would you mind explaining why you feel “lyrical aesthetics” is a serious consideration?
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:00 am
So if you want a break from Bush, but with experience, then you have to go with a Governor or business figure. Romney would do it, as would Pawlenty, or Fiorina/Whitman, etc..
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 am
How do you get someone with foreign policy experience who hasn’t worked with Bush? They need to have not worked for the last 8 years – not easy to find…
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 am
Nice to see a massive VP thread that isn’t dominated by Mitt
However, Rudy is a poor choice for me primarily because of his poor campaign. He had the best assets. Popular with Jews, fiscal cons, security conscious, with a strong base in Forida & the NE, he blew it with a terrible campaign.
Would he campaign better as VP? Has he learnt his lessons?
Rudy actually remains one of the most in demand surrogates for Republican campaigns around the country. He is a good campaigner, but ran into a perfect storm of primary contests (socon Iowa, followed by McCainiac and Romneyite NH) and opponents (Romney’s big money and willingness to demagogue immigration) that pushed him out of the spotlight early. The campaigning itself won’t be the problem: the receptiveness of voters to the candidates and their proposals will. This is not a “defense” year for the Republican party.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:19 am
Big S, that’s not right. He was a very poor campaigner. He didn’t have much chance in Iowa, but he should have pushed in NH. If he had, McCain would have finished a distant 2nd (or 3rd if Giuliani had done really well) and that would have meant they would have gone to Florida with McCain finished, and Rudy the moderate battling Huckabee & Romney (who would have split the far right vote)
There wasn’t room for two moderates in the field. Rudy was strong, and McCain looked finished. But then Rudy backed off, particularly in NH, and let McCain recover. Once he recovered, Rudy was finished…
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 am
#31: Jason does not understand what an *analogy* is?
#32: I do not think of myself that way. In fact, I named someone else as the smartest participant on this site.
What the hell is your problem that you must twist everything I say, for months on end?
Go see a freaking shrink about it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 am
31. You said he must feel like the smartest class, I have no idea what the analogy would be other than he is the smartest guy. Don’t be dumb.
Sorry, secons smartest. No one is twisting what you say. Just stop saying ridiculous things all the time.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 am
What is revealing to me is Rudy is now being mentioned more and more, for the past months
he is hidden somewhere in oblivion. Has a little birdie told someone a secret that MCCain
has been hiding? The two gentlemen are like two peas in a pod, with the same values,personal
liking for each other, philosophies, able to reach across to the Democrats to get things done.
The personal setbacks that Heart Me Roar keep citing over and over again about Rudy is a
miniscule factor versus his professional competence to accomplish solving our dire problems.
His other pluses is definite name recognition which a lot of the VP candidates being touted
lack, which will help with the rural voter bloc in the swing states. Somehow Romney does not
have the chemistry with McCain which will hinder the two working together. McCain-Giuliani
ticket is the winning ticket!
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
who’s closer to naming vp Obama or mccain does one want to announce before the other ?
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
Jason, I’m not the smartest OR second smartest person here, so why do you keep putting words in my mouth? WHY??? What is this special thing you have about me?
The analogy is: smartest kid in class but the teacher is clueless about it :: best qualified candidate but the pundits are clueless about it.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
hey glo,
I like a Mccain -rudy ticket but will the RNC CONVENTION accept that ticket?
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
Metro,
IT was a bad analogy, because basically smarts don’t equal ability, and the teachers don’t spend time with retarded kids thinking they are the smartest- which is what you are claiming about Palin’s supporters. So your analogy really didn’t say what you wanted it to say. If that’s what you meant by it fine, it just was a poor analogy who’s meaning was seemed to point to something else.
And Rudy was not the best qualified candidate.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
The analogy wasn’t so much about smarts as *recognition*.
Nice to see you’ve dropped the other line of attack.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Metro,
I was just ribbing the guy who regularly chides people as dumb and inept for not seeing things his way. And you do that. I am sure you don’t think your smartest guy on the board.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm
The analogy wasn’t so much about smarts as *recognition*.
Even that is a bad analogy. Teachers don’t spend time with retarded kids so they get more recognition, they do it because retarded kids are slow learners, hence the name, so it takes time to teach them. So the only way this analogy works is if you mean to say that Rudy feels hurt because the people want to put Palin in office as a way to help her because she isn’t qualified and needs extra help, which is nearly nonsensical. That is why it was easy to assume you are saying Rudy is the smartest and all the others are retards and the people are just missing it- which is laughable, and only reinforces my point that in your eyes everything you think is in fact the smartest choice.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Hey Greg, the RNC convention will accept a McCain-Giuliani ticket. What is their alternative , another option?Can they stomach an Obama presidency? Just the thought of him
in the oval office, makes one cringe!
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Hm. Sorry Metro, Jason’s right.
(Anyway, gifted kids and retarded kids aren’t even in the same classes.)