Cavalcade of the Puke Veeps

[saltpoint]

Cavalcade of the Puke Veeps

= = = = =

Below are some possibilities for the Republican Vice Presidential nomination. Some on the list are more likely than others to be asked; some would beg if not asked; some would decline even if begged; and the range runs from “likely shortlist” to “no way in hell.” But then, Dan Quayle was in the “no way in hell” division and Poppy chose him over a widely more qualified field of options.

Some on this list have hinted that they may even support Barack Obama in November, which may lessen their competitiveness for the veep nom.

If McCain’s veep choice is felt to be too “moderate,” he risks losing the Far Right, who have never been hogwild about McCain to begin with, and who may feel far less motivated this cycle. Despite significant pandering of the knee-pad and profuse slobber variety, McCain is still no favorite among the fundie nutbags.

If he chooses a veep nom who mollifies the Far Right, he loses what is likely to be a competitive percentage of the middle and independent voters in battleground states like Ohio and Missouri. He has the advantage of seeing Obama’s veep choice made first in Denver, and then responding strategically, but he still faces risks no matter which way he goes. In one analysis, Obama could win the general election by choosing a veep nom who would in turn force McCain to choose a veep likely to alienate a winning margin of victory in the general election. I'm hoping for that outcome.

Add anyone you feel should be on this list and if you want, comment on the name or names you find most striking, or most likely to make McCain’s shortlist. If you’re up to a prediction, let fly.

- - - - -

Senator Lamar Alexander (Tennessee)
George Allen (fmr Virginia Senator)
:bluebox: Governor Haley Barbour (Mississippi)
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)
Senator Sam Brownback (Kansas)
Pat Buchanan (television pundit)
Jeb Bush (fmr Florida Governor)
Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07)
Senator Tom Coburn (Oklahoma)
Gov. Charlie Crist (Florida)
Senator Jim DeMint (North Carolina)
David Eisenhower (Co-chair, Foreign Policy Research Institute's History Inst. for Teachers.)
:bluebox: Carly Fiorina -- CEO, Hewlett Packard
Gen. Tommy Franks
Rudy Giuliani --fmr New York City Mayor
Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
Phil Gramm --fmr Texas Senator
Senator Chuck Hagel (Nebraska)
:bluebox: Mike Huckabee fmr Arkansas Governor)
Karen Hughes (Bush administration PR official)
Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. (Utah)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas)
Gov. Bobby Jindal (Louisiana)
Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)
Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska)
George Pataki --fmr New York Governor
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota)
Congressman Mike Pence (IN-06)
Gov. Rick Perry (Texas)
General David Petraeus
:bluebox: Rob Portman --former OMB Director
Colin Powell --fmr Sec. of State
Ralph Reed --Republican consultant/strategist
Gov. Jodi Rell (Connecticut)
Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice
Tom Ridge --fmr head of Homeland Security
Mitt Romney --fmr Massachusetts Governor
Gov. Mark Sanford (South Carolina)
Rick Santorum --fmr Pennsylvania Senator
Michael Steele --fmr Lt. Gov. of Maryland
Jim Talent --fmr Missouri Senator
Fred Thompson --fmr Tennessee Senator
Tommy Thompson --fmr Wisconsin Governor
:bluebox: Senator John Thune (South Dakota)
J. C. Watts --fmr Oklahoma Congressman
Bill Weld --fmr Massachusetts Governor

- - - - -

edit: addition of those cute little blue boxes to indicate my guesses for McCain's shortlist.
:bluebox: :bluebox: :bluebox: :bluebox: :bluebox:

[waiting for hope]

1. Gov. Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) ...

McCain will need to connect with the Gulf Coast - or there is always this:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20080616/cm_huffpost/107236;_ylt=Al_YG.pEacIGDHqtzFQUoois0NUE

When McCain Drops Out

When the Republicans choose their candidate on September 4th, there is a very real chance that they could throw the election into an unexpected chaos as they pull a genuine September Surprise.

I think there is every reason to believe John McCain won't be the nominee. Ok, let me say that again. McCain will not be the Republican candidate in November.

~Snip~

The reasons are simple. He can't win. Now that Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee -- the polls all show that McCain's pro-war stance and Bush endorsement make him a lost cause in November. That combined with soft stand on litmus test conservative issues make him an unpopular candidate among the base. I know some Democrats that think the Republicans are planning to let McCain lose and 'sit this one out' so that they can hang the democrats with a bad economy and a war that is a morass. But that just isn't how they play. They play to win every hand -- think about 2000 with a popular Democratic president and good economy and a solid VP running for president. Why did they put up Bush? And why did they fight so hard? Because, you don't ever throw a game. And they're not going to throw this one.

McCain won't be the nominee.

~Snip~

There are a whole list of Republicans who in many ways are more likely to energize the Republican base. One thing is certain -- there are candidates that will play to the core issues in ways that McCain simply can't.

Here's a list of names. Some you know, some you don't. But each of them knows their name is in play. Among them --

Condoleezza Rice (Secretary of State)
Colin Powell (fmr Sec. of State)
Marilyn Musgrave (Colorado Congresswoman)
Mitt Romney (fmr Massachusetts Governor)
Mike Huckabee (fmr Governor of Arkansas)
Charlie Crist (Florida Governor)
Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota Governor)
Bobby Jindal (Louisiana Governor)
Mark Sanford: (Governor of South Carolina)
John Thune (Senator from South Dakota)
Dick Lugar (Senator from Indiana)
Chuck Hagel (Senator from Nebraska)
MIchael Bloomberg (NYC Mayor)

Who knows? :shrug: Stranger things have happened.

[saltpoint]

2. waiting for hope, hello to you, and zowie, I almost missed your

reply in this thread. Thanks for throwing in.

Jindal's name keeps coming up, and although I'm still not seeing how it would help McCain in the Gulf Coast more than say, Haley Barbour and his big fat Rollodex, I may just have to re-evaluate if you say so.

I hope you are doing great. Good to see you on DU today!

[waiting for hope]

8. HiYa OC -

Hope you are well - and good to see you too!

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

3. Ugh, I can barely get through that whole 'mess of puke, but I'll go with

1)Romney
2)Fiorina
3)Jindal

[saltpoint]

4. Yet another strong mention for Jindal.

I'm obviously going to have to update my file.

Romney, I think, is going to be a contender.

Agree with you that a list like this is pretty nauseating -- one horrible Republican after another.

[saltpoint]

5. Some Drinking Liberally pals of ours have posited that McCain's

choice is key because his health is, well, not as robust as it might be.

Not talking chronological years here, but Republican years. McCain is glued to a pre-Eisenhower Cold War world and he has the temperament of a 4-year old in a sandbox. Short-sighted, uninformed, and explosive is not a great combination.

Add poor health and his veep pick begins to take on extra significance.

I call Obama the likely winner in November, but the electorate doesn't listen to me. We all know anything can happen.

The veep nom McCain chooses potentially is the 45th president if McCain succumbs to illness in office. And the impact would be significant because some of the veep contenders are more wiley and influential than John McCain.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Here ya go:

:D :hi:

[saltpoint]

7. THAT'S what I needed to do for this thread, and I just couldn't.

Swamp Rat, that is the vibe. Gruesome automatons advancing toward the Liberty Bell!

Great, great image and on just the right note.

Hiya!