Talk Elections

Election Archive => 2012 Elections => Topic started by: retromike22 on March 28, 2012, 05:20:14 PM



Title: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on March 28, 2012, 05:20:14 PM
I think it's Sam Brownback. He is:

1. Sufficiently economically and socially conservative (to ease the worries of the conservatives with Romney, a la Palin with McCain)
2. Catholic (A plus in Ohio and Pennsylvania, possibly Florida)
3. 14 years as a Senator, but currently a Governor. (He has long Washington experience but is currently "outside" of Washington. This can frame the choice as the GOP Governors vs. the Democratic Washington insiders)
4. He's not old. (currently 55)
5. Rejects evolution (Boo science!)

Edit: I changed the title to reflect the discussion over which candidate would be the perfect vp choice. I think it's a better discussion anyway.

2nd Edit: I'm going to rename this thread (yet again), since it seems to have the longest discussion of vice presidential nominees.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on March 28, 2012, 05:22:59 PM
Cuz he would definitely help win Independents ::)


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Snowstalker Mk. II on March 28, 2012, 05:28:39 PM
Romney needs to pick an experienced Southern or Midwestern Protestant who is conservative enough to keep the base excited and moderate enough to not put off independents. Thune would be perfect if he were at least more charismatic than drying paint.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Torie on March 28, 2012, 05:28:52 PM
No. Among other things, they both have one thing at least in common - they're colorless. And Brownback can't deliver a speech as well as Mittens, which is well - sobering.

Brownback when he converted to Catholicism not only jettisoned Protestantism, but evolution along with it?  He's a traitor squared! Both of my parents are turning over in their graves at once. :)


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: fezzyfestoon on March 28, 2012, 05:37:14 PM
I for one definitely don't think Romney needs to shore up the conservative vote. They've proven themselves to be quite amenable to whatever crap the Republican Party puts out for them. The real problem is with wishy-washy suburban types. The more Romney-esque the ticket gets, the better. Huntsman could be a home-run. I don't think he's said anything that faux-outrage could grow from in his life.

EDIT: Nevermind, I forgot about the double-Mormon issue. That's worse than a Scientologist...


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Phony Moderate on March 28, 2012, 05:37:51 PM
Romney probably won't choose anyone who's less charismatic than himself.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: perdedor on March 28, 2012, 05:47:33 PM
Despite contrary belief, Romney will do fine among conservatives as the election rolls along. Independents are the group that will trouble him and picking someone like Sam Brownback does nothing to alleviate that problem.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: redcommander on March 28, 2012, 05:52:12 PM
I still say Chris Christie is the best VP, but Mittens is probably going to be compelled to choose Rubio. Plus don't Romney and Brownback hate each other?


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: sentinel on March 28, 2012, 06:33:44 PM
Rob Portman


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Indy Texas on March 28, 2012, 08:31:26 PM
1. Yes.
2. No. Conservative Catholics already vote Republican. Mainstream Catholics tend to be put off by the kind of Catholics the GOP offers up.
3. Maybe. Expect the Obama campaign to drudge up every remotely untoward thing Brownback did or voted on while in Congress.
4. Yes.
5. No. The people for whom this is an issue are going to vote for Mitt Romney in November no matter who he picks as his running mate.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: California8429 on March 28, 2012, 09:32:55 PM
While conservative, he's done too many controversial things at the national stage during his term as Governor.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자) on March 28, 2012, 10:20:49 PM
Romney would be a politically tone-deaf idiot to have another governor as his running mate.  So while it is possible, it would not be a good choice.  If Romney is the nominee, I think he goes for a Senator as his running mate.  Richard Burr of North Carolina would be a good fit for Romney, but not the only one.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Devils30 on March 29, 2012, 09:31:10 AM
Burr would be perfect except for one minor problem: His bank run comments back in 2009 leaves one wondering if he's dumber than Palin. Apparently he'd never heard of the FDIC before.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자) on March 29, 2012, 09:59:14 AM
Burr would be perfect except for one minor problem: His bank run comments back in 2009 leaves one wondering if he's dumber than Palin. Apparently he'd never heard of the FDIC before.

While the FDIC usually manages to deal with bank failures smoothly, if we had had multiple large banks fail as some feared at the time if the liquidity crisis, then there was a definite risk of a temporary loss of access to funds in affected banks.  Thankfully the risk never materialized, but it was there.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Bacon King on March 30, 2012, 12:52:37 AM
Sam Brownback? Really? He makes even Tim Pawlenty seem exciting in comparison.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: TheGlobalizer on March 30, 2012, 11:57:12 AM
For Romney, I think Jim DeMint is the best VP pick.

I like Rubio but they need to not Palin him.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Is Totally Not Feeblepizza. on March 30, 2012, 11:58:53 AM
Richard Burr.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: I'm JewCon in name only. on March 30, 2012, 03:22:26 PM


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Miles on March 30, 2012, 04:49:15 PM
Burr would be perfect except for one minor problem: His bank run comments back in 2009 leaves one wondering if he's dumber than Palin. Apparently he'd never heard of the FDIC before.

Burr wouldn't bring anything enthusiasm to the ticket.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Rooney on March 30, 2012, 05:46:35 PM
I do not see why Romney does not select former presidential liaison officer Linda Chavez for the vice-presidency. She is very conservative, media tested, has run for office before, has the right connections in the Beltway, is Hispanic, a woman and has shown empathy in terms of helping undocumented workers. What is the downside?


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: morgieb on March 30, 2012, 07:07:39 PM
I do not see why Romney does not select former presidential liaison officer Linda Chavez for the vice-presidency. She is very conservative, media tested, has run for office before, has the right connections in the Beltway, is Hispanic, a woman and has shown empathy in terms of helping undocumented workers. What is the downside?

How well known is she?


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: Negusa Nagast 🚀 on March 30, 2012, 07:21:10 PM
I do not see why Romney does not select former presidential liaison officer Linda Chavez for the vice-presidency. She is very conservative, media tested, has run for office before, has the right connections in the Beltway, is Hispanic, a woman and has shown empathy in terms of helping undocumented workers. What is the downside?

How well known is she?

Not well known at all. The last time she was involved in nation politics was an assistant to Reagan. She left that post to get crushed in the Maryland Senatorial.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: RogueBeaver on March 30, 2012, 08:13:18 PM
McDonnell or Jindal, preferably Jindal.


Title: Re: The Perfect VP choice: Sam Brownback.
Post by: milhouse24 on March 30, 2012, 09:46:22 PM
For Romney, I think Jim DeMint is the best VP pick.

I like Rubio but they need to not Palin him.

I like DeMint as the best choice among current Senators.  He's been around for a while, has relatively high name recognition in the South, has experience, is liked by Evangelcials and Tea Partiers, and can help shore up the conservative base; while Romney appeals to Catholic moderates in Ohio. 

Portman would be a good choice if he had served longer in the Senate, but I think he is too new in the public eye to be taken seriously by the media.  He's more of a cabinet member option.  He might be able to deliver Ohio, but the ticket would lose a lot of enthusiasm in important southern swing states like Virginia and Florida.  He is sort of like Dick Cheney, had a lot of experience but didn't help or hurt the ticket during the election. 

Burr is okay, but Burr is also the ex-Vice President who killed Hamilton, so that may be a bad omen to deal with. 

Thune is a safe choice, but he might not help in Ohio or Florida.  He suffers from the Evan Bayh shrinking nice guy syndrome.  Campaigns need loud fighters.  Thune also pissed off a lot of Tea Partiers with the bailouts, and he's not as popular with southern evangelicals as the other guys listed. 

Rubio is a bad choice because he is very young and very inexperienced.  The moment he messes up, he will be compared to dan quayle, sarah palin, and john edwards. 


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: RogueBeaver on March 30, 2012, 09:56:53 PM
DeMint will not take it, nor would Romney offer. He's always preferred being King of the Teepers. I think Romney's shortlist includes McDonnell, Jindal, Ryan and Portman myself. Perhaps Rubio gets the keynote.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Zioneer on March 31, 2012, 10:15:58 AM
What about John Thune? He seems to be a fairly good, noncontroversial choice. He's got a fair amount of experience, and doesn't seem to have any looming problems.

I'm guessing that it's because he might be boring?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: CLARENCE 2015! on March 31, 2012, 10:29:58 AM
The perfect choice would be Petraeus but he would not accept... so I will go with Duncan Hunter I


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Wisconsin+17 on March 31, 2012, 02:01:34 PM
Huntsman.

Why have just one Mormon?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Zioneer on March 31, 2012, 04:53:05 PM

It'd be electoral suicide, for one thing. If you think people from both the South and more liberal states are uneasy with Mormons, then you should see how disappointed they would be to see two Mormons on their party's ticket.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Wisconsin+17 on March 31, 2012, 04:54:17 PM
I've never seen them unpaired. It must be contrary to God's will.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Paul Kemp on March 31, 2012, 04:56:03 PM

That's not going to be Romney's problem.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: 7,052,770 on March 31, 2012, 05:00:07 PM
What about Condoleeza Rice?  She's pretty popular with both moderates and conservatives, and might heal some of the damage the entire Republican field did with women voters.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: tmthforu94 on March 31, 2012, 05:04:51 PM
I would like a more bold choice, but after consideration...

Marco Rubio.

- He's young.
- He's charismatic and conservative. Tea Party voters will be energized to vote for Romney with a Rubio selection. Plus, while he's conservative, he doesn't turn off moderates the way others might.
- He gives Romney a significant boost in Florida, probably enough to tip it to Romney in a close election.
- He'll help Romney do better with Hispanics, which Romney desperately needs.
- He seems pretty intelligent, so he should handle himself much better than Palin.
- He has no major skeletons that would severely hinder the ticket.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: tpfkaw on March 31, 2012, 05:07:12 PM
What about Condoleeza Rice?  She's pretty popular with both moderates and conservatives, and might heal some of the damage the entire Republican field did with women voters.

Pro-choice.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Wisconsin+17 on March 31, 2012, 05:10:04 PM
Quote
He seems pretty intelligent, so he should handle himself much better than Palin.

Quote
He's charismatic and conservative. Tea Party voters will be energized to vote for Romney with a Rubio selection

Wow, I'm feeling positively energized here. I hope Mitt puts you in charge of the press release.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on March 31, 2012, 07:00:09 PM
Marco Rubio has been a Senator for 14 MONTHS! 22 Months by November. I would disqualify everyone who hasn't held office for at least 4 years, or going on 4 years come next January. So if they're in office now, they should have been elected by 2008 at the latest.

Remember, Romney's only a one term Governor. Shouldn't he be looking for someone with more experience to back him up on some issue he has limited experience with? Such as foreign policy?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: tmthforu94 on March 31, 2012, 10:39:31 PM
Quote
He seems pretty intelligent, so he should handle himself much better than Palin.

Quote
He's charismatic and conservative. Tea Party voters will be energized to vote for Romney with a Rubio selection

Wow, I'm feeling positively energized here. I hope Mitt puts you in charge of the press release.
Sorry, I certainly would have tailored my post if I knew the point of this thread was to make you feel energized, not explain why Rubio would be a smart VP pick.

Marco Rubio has been a Senator for 14 MONTHS! 22 Months by November. I would disqualify everyone who hasn't held office for at least 4 years, or going on 4 years come next January. So if they're in office now, they should have been elected by 2008 at the latest.

Remember, Romney's only a one term Governor. Shouldn't he be looking for someone with more experience to back him up on some issue he has limited experience with? Such as foreign policy?

Experience didn't seem to be too much of an issue to voters in 2008.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Lincoln Republican on March 31, 2012, 10:43:52 PM
General David Petraeus.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on March 31, 2012, 10:56:23 PM
Quote
He seems pretty intelligent, so he should handle himself much better than Palin.

Quote
He's charismatic and conservative. Tea Party voters will be energized to vote for Romney with a Rubio selection

Wow, I'm feeling positively energized here. I hope Mitt puts you in charge of the press release.
Sorry, I certainly would have tailored my post if I knew the point of this thread was to make you feel energized, not explain why Rubio would be a smart VP pick.

Marco Rubio has been a Senator for 14 MONTHS! 22 Months by November. I would disqualify everyone who hasn't held office for at least 4 years, or going on 4 years come next January. So if they're in office now, they should have been elected by 2008 at the latest.

Remember, Romney's only a one term Governor. Shouldn't he be looking for someone with more experience to back him up on some issue he has limited experience with? Such as foreign policy?

Experience didn't seem to be too much of an issue to voters in 2008.

Yeah, Biden was picked as VP because he had 30 years of experience. 
As for Obama, he had 4 years of experience, but he campaigned nationally for 2 years as president, so he learned and adapted to the media questioning and presidential questions/answers debates. 

Picking an inexperienced VP in August-November would be a disaster as Palin showed. 
Rubio might be able to handle the media spotlight, but then again, maybe he won't be able to, and he will sink Romney's campaign faster than Palin sunk McCain.  With a VP, you do not want to be too Risky especially with Inexperience.

If there is one thing you can control with VP selection, it is Experience.  So to even be a "not hurt the nominee" the VP has to have the experience and competence to replace the president immediately if necessary (example: Pres. Harrison).  So a "Do no Harm" VP must always have experience. 


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on April 01, 2012, 12:34:51 AM
PPP just tweeted:

"Portman would do little to nothing for Romney in Ohio and generally would be a bizarre VP choice. Much better known in DC"


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Cory on April 01, 2012, 02:49:34 AM
I would say wither Robert Jindal, Susana Martinez, or Paul Ryan.

I think Rubio gets the keynoter.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on April 01, 2012, 07:02:46 PM
Let's go through the current Senators and see which ones we can disqualify and which ones are possibilities.

Two Rules:
1. They must have been in office by 2009 at the latest.
2. They cannot be older than 60.

I'm going to go from youngest to oldest.
1. David Vitter, 51, 2005- (LA). Nope. DC Madam Prostitute Scandal.
2. John Thune, 51, 2005- (SD) Yes.
3. Lisa Murkowski, 55, 2002- (AK) Nope. Pro-choice.
4. Richard Burr, 57, 2005- (NC) Yes.
5. Lindsey Graham, 57, 2003- (GA) Yes.

And that's about it. There are a few that are 60. John Cornyn (TX), Bob Corker (TN), John Barrasso (WY), and Susan Collins (ME). Collins is disqualified because she is pro-choice.

So that leaves this list, which I rank in order of how good of a vp choice I think they would be.

1. John Thune
2. Richard Burr
3. Lindsey Graham
4. John Corynyn
5. Bob Corker
6. John Barrasso.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on April 01, 2012, 07:17:03 PM
PPP just tweeted:

"Portman would do little to nothing for Romney in Ohio and generally would be a bizarre VP choice. Much better known in DC"

I think Rasmussen found that VP Jeb would tie with Obama/Biden
But VP Rubio would lose to Obama/Biden by 2 percentage points. 
Therefore, I think that the Bush last name is not a dealbreaking turnoff for swing voters. 
Democrats were not going to vote for a Bush or Romney anyways. 
However, the liberal media may unfairly pile onto Jeb, but that would be a sideshow. 
I think a lot of Christian conservatives hold Dubya and the Bush family in high regard, so they may stick with Romney instead of voting for Obama.  Romney needs help with evangelical voters.  Catholics also look favorably onto Bush as well.  I think there is sort of a silent majority when it comes to Bush.  He won 2 elections after all.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on April 01, 2012, 07:22:46 PM
Let's go through the current Senators and see which ones we can disqualify and which ones are possibilities.

Two Rules:
1. They must have been in office by 2009 at the latest.
2. They cannot be older than 60.

I'm going to go from youngest to oldest.
1. David Vitter, 51, 2005- (LA). Nope. DC Madam Prostitute Scandal.
2. John Thune, 51, 2005- (SD) Yes.
3. Lisa Murkowski, 55, 2002- (AK) Nope. Pro-choice.
4. Richard Burr, 57, 2005- (NC) Yes.
5. Lindsey Graham, 57, 2003- (GA) Yes.

And that's about it. There are a few that are 60. John Cornyn (TX), Bob Corker (TN), John Barrasso (WY), and Susan Collins (ME). Collins is disqualified because she is pro-choice.

So that leaves this list, which I rank in order of how good of a vp choice I think they would be.

1. John Thune
2. Richard Burr
3. Lindsey Graham
4. John Corynyn
5. Bob Corker
6. John Barrasso.
Lindsey is a bachelor and has the same problem that prevents Charlie Crist and David Dreier from running for national office, supposedly, which is they don't like women, cooties. 

I though Lamar Alexander would be a good choice if he was younger, since Tenn has regional importance.  I think DeMint is the best active Senator to appeal to conservatives and southern swing states. 


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Lincoln Republican on April 01, 2012, 07:39:59 PM
Richard Lugar, the ideal candidate for VP, experienced Senator, knows his way around how Congress works, considerable foreign policy credentials.

Now, if only he was 20 years younger.

But alas..........


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: CultureKing on April 01, 2012, 07:51:35 PM
Personally I think Thune or Petraeus would be great picks for Romney. Unfortunately I think that it would be difficult for him to convince either to join the ticket (though Thune might bite after a bit of pushing).


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: GLPman on April 01, 2012, 08:20:03 PM
Let's go through the current Senators and see which ones we can disqualify and which ones are possibilities.

Two Rules:
1. They must have been in office by 2009 at the latest.
2. They cannot be older than 60.

I'm going to go from youngest to oldest.
1. David Vitter, 51, 2005- (LA). Nope. DC Madam Prostitute Scandal.
2. John Thune, 51, 2005- (SD) Yes.
3. Lisa Murkowski, 55, 2002- (AK) Nope. Pro-choice.
4. Richard Burr, 57, 2005- (NC) Yes.
5. Lindsey Graham, 57, 2003- (GA) Yes.

And that's about it. There are a few that are 60. John Cornyn (TX), Bob Corker (TN), John Barrasso (WY), and Susan Collins (ME). Collins is disqualified because she is pro-choice.

So that leaves this list, which I rank in order of how good of a vp choice I think they would be.

1. John Thune
2. Richard Burr
3. Lindsey Graham
4. John Corynyn
5. Bob Corker
6. John Barrasso.

Good analysis, but do you really think Thune would be better than Burr?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Cory on April 02, 2012, 03:13:59 AM
Stop talking about Richard Burr or John Thune. Neither of them even remotely qualify to be Romney's VEEP.

It's not nice to say, but the American people like novelty. Romney will need a conservative Hispanic or woman, and that's all there is to it. With the exception of maybe Paul Ryan.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Brittain33 on April 02, 2012, 04:45:16 AM
Romney is facing his demise by the gender gap in the general election. He'll be fine with conservatives but can't be seen to be doubling down on the War on Women when it has already cost him support he needs to defeat Obama. Petraeus get him nothing, even if he were interested. Culture warriors with solid credentials won't fit the ticket.

I agree with the above poster, Romney is going to go with a game changer. If his experience in Mass is any guide, he's more likely to go with obscure-but-safe than high profile but risky.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Brittain33 on April 02, 2012, 04:46:12 AM
Linda Chavez? She had a fumbled Cabinet nom in '01.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Wisconsin+17 on April 02, 2012, 06:14:39 AM
Dick Lugar would be perfect, Winfield.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: tmthforu94 on April 02, 2012, 11:34:33 AM
Dick Lugar would be perfect, Winfield.
He would never accept, I promise you. Maybe 10 years ago, but not today.

Plus, Romney needs someone who can get the far-right pretty excited, and as Lugar's Senate primary has shown, he couldn't do that. Lugar is pretty uncharasmatic, pretty old, has low stamina. The only positive he brings is his foreign policy experience.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on April 02, 2012, 11:50:35 AM
Let's face it: there really isn't a "perfect" candidate for VP this election. Unless it's someone completely out of left field with foreign policy experience and is conservative, but not conservative enough to scare away indies, the GOP is cooked, this one's over.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Miles on April 02, 2012, 12:06:48 PM
I could maybe consider Romney if he chooses Collins or Hagel, but the conservatives dislike him enough as it is...


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on April 02, 2012, 12:25:01 PM

Oh how I wish.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 02, 2012, 01:15:35 PM
Heilemann's take.

http://nymag.com/news/politics/powergrid/romney-running-mate-heilemann-2012-4/


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on April 02, 2012, 01:18:34 PM

Not exactly a great choice after his recent...existence.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Wisconsin+17 on April 02, 2012, 02:01:29 PM
Quote
Lugar is pretty uncharasmatic, pretty old, has low stamina.

And his flaws?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: ShadowRocket on April 02, 2012, 05:01:17 PM
According to this article from the Washington Post, per campaign staff, Romney is less likely to pick a 'game changing' pick and may try and get around picking a more conservative pick.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-veepstakes-begin/2012/03/30/gIQATWo8lS_story.html


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: tmthforu94 on April 02, 2012, 06:22:04 PM
Quote
Lugar is pretty uncharasmatic, pretty old, has low stamina.

And his flaws?

All of that, plus the fact that he has a rather moderate voting record that many conservatives wouldn't be too keen on. I would love him to be VP - I just don't think it's good from an electability standpoint unless you're Obama. Lugar was also very favorable of Obama back when Obama first took office and had good things to say about him, so those soundbites would certainly be played over and over in a GE.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Wisconsin+17 on April 02, 2012, 06:33:27 PM
From what you're saying, he would put the O in GOP. Sounds like he'd be perfect. He'd make Romney look positively vivid.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese on April 02, 2012, 07:30:46 PM
I've said it from the beginning. Jim DeMint, socially-conservative southern tea party leader with brains and years of experience who supported Mitt already in 08 would be the only sensible choice.

Now I get the love for Rubio, but he's to untried at the moment. Romney will not risk that so soon after Palin.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Cory on April 02, 2012, 11:00:19 PM
The more I think about it the better Jindal looks for Romney's VEEP slot. He's socially conservative, a (popular) Southern Governor, and ethnic. I don' think anybody really cares/remembers about the SOTU response in 2009 anymore. A good convention speech and it will be like it never happened.

I'm having a hard time seeing many flaws. Anybody else?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: morgieb on April 02, 2012, 11:05:45 PM
I've said it from the beginning. Jim DeMint, socially-conservative southern tea party leader with brains and years of experience who supported Mitt already in 08 would be the only sensible choice.

Now I get the love for Rubio, but he's to untried at the moment. Romney will not risk that so soon after Palin.

DeMint's the most conservative Senator in the Senate. Independents vote too, remember?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: TheGlobalizer on April 03, 2012, 11:57:14 AM
I actually think Tom Coburn would be a rather brilliant pick as well.  I think Ron Paul could tolerate endorsing a ticket with Coburn on it.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: GLPman on April 04, 2012, 03:58:03 PM
I've been thinking about this a lot recently, especially since it's obvious at this point that Romney will be the nominee. There are three people that stand out in my mind as the best picks for Romney at this point:

1) Bob McDonnell - A southern governor that will help Romney with the base of the party. He might even help swing Virginia towards Romney. He's proven to be an effective campaigner, as well. The only problem is that he might come off as a little too conservative to independents.

2) Marco Rubio - Obvious, perhaps, but nonetheless an overall solid choice. Rubio could help deliver Florida. He's conservative enough to help Romney with the base. Any Rubio-Palin analogy is flawed because Palin was fairly well unknown, plus Rubio actually has some experience. One flaw, though, is that Obama could tie Rubio to the "Do-Nothing" Congress.

3) Bobby Jindal -  Relatively popular governor of a southern state who would certainly help Romney with the base. In addition, his Indian heritage certainly doesn't hurt. While he isn't from a swing state, he is certainly more well-known than the other candidates. One set back is his SOTU response, though.

I'm convinced it will be one of these three individuals. All three of these men offer more than Martinez, Portman, Burr, Thune, or other discussed candidates.



Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: TheGlobalizer on April 04, 2012, 04:00:14 PM
I'll say here, now:

It won't be McDonnell or Rubio.  Rubio is Palin and McDonnell is the vagina guy.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on April 04, 2012, 08:03:48 PM
Name just one reason why Jeb would not be the best VP nominee?  And blaming his last name is a cop-out and if you're worried about last names, then "hussein obama" didn't scare away a majority of voters.  A majority of the voters will not be scared away from "bush".

Plus his better half is hispanic.

If Jeb is picked, the liberal media will be pooping their pants for the next 8 years, as will all liberals. 


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: World politics is up Schmitt creek on April 04, 2012, 08:09:40 PM
WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT JEB BUSH?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on April 04, 2012, 09:55:19 PM
WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT JEB BUSH?

Right? I wanna know why the right continues to wet themselves so much about him.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: 5280 on April 04, 2012, 10:58:40 PM
What about Paul Ryan?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on April 05, 2012, 12:13:27 AM
I've got it! What about Phil Gramm?!


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Cory on April 05, 2012, 09:21:55 AM
3) Bobby Jindal -One set back is his SOTU response, though.

I don't think anyone really cares about that anymore. Like I said earlier he's a good convention speech away from it having virtually never happened.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: GLPman on April 05, 2012, 09:48:29 AM
3) Bobby Jindal -One set back is his SOTU response, though.

I don't think anyone really cares about that anymore. Like I said earlier he's a good convention speech away from it having virtually never happened.

Except I'm not sure if Jindal could really pull off that good convention speech. He's not exactly very charismatic.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on April 05, 2012, 09:57:45 AM
I've got it! What about Phil Gramm?!

He's about as charismatic as a pile of twigs and dirt.




I've been thinking this recently as well.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Cory on April 05, 2012, 10:32:04 AM
Except I'm not sure if Jindal could really pull off that good convention speech. He's not exactly very charismatic.

And come to think of it he did endorse Rick Perry, although I'm not sure there is any real bad blood there. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Jindal ever really came out swinging at Romney.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Bull Moose Base on April 05, 2012, 12:18:40 PM
While almost everyone insincerely deflects the VP question (Jeb said Rubio should be VP), Jeb strikes me as someone who might actually turn down an offer to be vetted. I think a losing VP run could arguably hurt his presidential ambitions more than others.

Obviously, Obama's middle name being "Hussein" is a different case because Obama isn't very ideologically similar to Saddam Hussein and never said he was proud of the job Saddam did leading his country.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 05, 2012, 12:37:38 PM
Except I'm not sure if Jindal could really pull off that good convention speech. He's not exactly very charismatic.

And come to think of it he did endorse Rick Perry, although I'm not sure there is any real bad blood there. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Jindal ever really came out swinging at Romney.

He winked at Romney quite often (constant references to business and gubernatorial experience when asked about his preferences in a candidate) until Perry got in.

Ryan: I wouldn't at all be surprised if he made the final 2.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on April 05, 2012, 01:20:44 PM
WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT JEB BUSH?

Right? I wanna know why the right continues to wet themselves so much about him.

It might be fuzzy math, but every poll with Jeb shows that he can win the general election. 
Rassmussen did a poll that a Romney/Jeb ticket ties Obama/Biden which is better than all the other Romney possibilities.  You can not believe your lying eyes, but a 2 term governor from a swing state is a very valuable commodity to have in a close election.  All the liberals will be pooping their pants when Jeb is selected.  It will certainly be a field day for liberals with a little rope a dope.  The hispanics will never abandon Jeb and his wife.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자) on April 05, 2012, 02:48:02 PM
Jindal is disqualified by being a governor.  Romney will not be helped by having a second governor on the ticket.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 05, 2012, 02:54:47 PM
Jindal is disqualified by being a governor.  Romney will not be helped by having a second governor on the ticket.

Depends if Mittens wants to follow the "double up" (Obama/Biden, Dole/Kemp, Kerry/Edwards) model or "complimentary" (Clinton/Gore, GHWB/Quayle, Carter/Mondale) model. The former would (IMO) point towards McDonnell or Jindal, the latter Ryan.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: I'm JewCon in name only. on April 05, 2012, 02:58:09 PM
I'd like to see Ryan as VP.

Right now, If I was Mittens, my list would be: (In Order):

1. Paul Ryan
2. Chris Christie
3. Bob McDonnell


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on April 05, 2012, 02:59:16 PM
I've got it! What about Phil Gramm?!

He's about as charismatic as a pile of twigs and dirt.



That's why he compliments Romney


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on April 05, 2012, 03:33:13 PM
While almost everyone insincerely deflects the VP question (Jeb said Rubio should be VP), Jeb strikes me as someone who might actually turn down an offer to be vetted. I think a losing VP run could arguably hurt his presidential ambitions more than others.

Obviously, Obama's middle name being "Hussein" is a different case because Obama isn't very ideologically similar to Saddam Hussein and never said he was proud of the job Saddam did leading his country.

I don't think the Bush name is nearly as toxic as the liberal media makes it out to be.  Liberals will never vote for a Bush or any republican.  Indepedents however will recognize that Jeb is a different human being than George.  White Catholics will support Jeb.  Hispanics will support Jeb. 

Are you the type of person that believes the republican party was wiped out after Richard Nixon resigned?  Do you believe that republicans would never return to the white house after jimmy carter? 

Do you believe that the Democratic landslide elections in 2006 and 2008 would create a generation of Democratic Congress, and that Republicans would be wiped out of Congress forever.  The American People have spoken in favor of Democrats? 

Clearly whether its their own fault or not, Democrats lost the Congress badly in 2010.  Look it up.  Democrats are now the endangered species.  Maybe its blind arrogance, but Democrats are partying like its 2008 all over again. 

Republicans have regained control whether by luck or strategy or Democrat incompetence.  I don't want to wake you up from fantasy dreamland, but its 2012 and the country has changed beyond Dubya's faults. 


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Mr. Morden on April 05, 2012, 06:38:54 PM
Does Romney really want to double down on Ryan's budget priorities by picking him as veep, or would he rather create some distance?  If he doesn't pick Ryan, he can say that he thinks Ryan is making an important contribution to the deficit debate, but that he (Romney) would find a way to balance the budget that doesn't necessarily involve all the same politically risky spending cuts.  Whereas if he picks Ryan, then he's pretty much stuck with Ryan-ism.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자) on April 05, 2012, 11:55:29 PM
Jindal is disqualified by being a governor.  Romney will not be helped by having a second governor on the ticket.

Depends if Mittens wants to follow the "double up" (Obama/Biden, Dole/Kemp, Kerry/Edwards) model or "complimentary" (Clinton/Gore, GHWB/Quayle, Carter/Mondale) model. The former would (IMO) point towards McDonnell or Jindal, the latter Ryan.

Doubling up would encourage voters to look at what Romney did as governor and he'll want to keep that as hidden as possible.  Romney needs to run on his record at Bain and the Olympics and try to get people to ignore his time as the CEO of Massachusetts.

You'll also note that all of the double ups you mentioned are Senator/Senator combos. The last time a Governor/Governor duo ran was in 1948 with the Thurmond/Wright and Dewey/Warren tickets.  You have to go all the way back to 1912 and the Wilson/Marshall campaign to find a double governor ticket that won.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Lincoln Republican on April 06, 2012, 12:38:00 PM
There is no such person as the perfect VP choice.

But all things considered, Senator John Thune is as good as they get.

He has 13 years DC experience, he is younger than Romney, married with two daughters, describes himself as an evangelical Christian, is conservative, yet has likely appeal for independents and moderates.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on April 10, 2012, 02:37:52 PM
I'm starting to think Tim Pawlenty might be chosen.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Cory on April 10, 2012, 02:56:33 PM
I'm starting to think Tim Pawlenty might be chosen.

If I may ask, what exactly do you think he brings to the ticket?



Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on April 10, 2012, 03:02:26 PM
I'm starting to think Tim Pawlenty might be chosen.

If I may ask, what exactly do you think he brings to the ticket?



Normalcy. He's not a crazy pick, it shows Romney is serious. Look at the last 3 defeated vp candidates: Palin, Edwards, and Lieberman. They were all picked to win, not really to help govern.

Pawlenty is conservative enough to please the base, but appealing to independents. He could help in MN, WI, possibly MI.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on April 10, 2012, 04:58:31 PM
I'm starting to think Tim Pawlenty might be chosen.

If I may ask, what exactly do you think he brings to the ticket?



Normalcy. He's not a crazy pick, it shows Romney is serious. Look at the last 3 defeated vp candidates: Palin, Edwards, and Lieberman. They were all picked to win, not really to help govern.

Pawlenty is conservative enough to please the base, but appealing to independents. He could help in MN, WI, possibly MI.

Palin, Edwards, and Leiberman were all worthless non-entities that supposedly would help win but really did nothing of consequence. 

The key is to find a VP that can actually help win a swing state, which often is the difference between winning and losing, which Al Gore and John Kerry can attest to. 

I think a dark horse candidate will be Governor Corbett of PA.  He's 62 which is not too old.  He can bring campaign volunteers across the border to Ohio.
He is a veteran of the Army, so he will appease the nation's veteran's and traditional republicans.  I think he's a white catholic, which will compete with Irish Joe Biden's constituency. 
He was Attorney General, so he's smart and knowledgeable about national security issues. 


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: technical support on April 10, 2012, 07:39:44 PM
I think it's going to be jeb bush or the rising star rubio.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on April 10, 2012, 08:04:04 PM
I've got it! What about Phil Gramm?!

He's about as charismatic as a pile of twigs and dirt.

That's why he compliments Romney

Ahhhh I see what you did there.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: hopper on April 10, 2012, 08:35:39 PM
VP Pick for Romney: thats easy. Susana Martinez because she can help Romney in the Southwest where he needs it. Right now Romney is trailing big in Nevada and Colorado.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: they don't love you like i love you on April 10, 2012, 10:27:17 PM
I'm starting to think Tim Pawlenty might be chosen.

If I may ask, what exactly do you think he brings to the ticket?



Normalcy. He's not a crazy pick, it shows Romney is serious. Look at the last 3 defeated vp candidates: Palin, Edwards, and Lieberman. They were all picked to win, not really to help govern.

Pawlenty is conservative enough to please the base, but appealing to independents. He could help in MN, WI, possibly MI.

No he would not help in Minnesota, where no ones cares about him anymore except people who really hate him, or in Wisconsin and Michigan, where no one cares about him period, and probably no one knows who he is except a few who might remember him from his trainwreck of a Presidential campaign and silly movie trailer ads.

However he is a "safe" and non-controversial choice.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: retromike22 on April 18, 2012, 03:54:06 PM
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/18/cnn-poll-republicans-divided-on-vp-choice/?hpt=hp_t2 (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/18/cnn-poll-republicans-divided-on-vp-choice/?hpt=hp_t2)

CNN Poll:

Condoleezza Rice 26%
Rick Santorum 21%
Marco Rubio 14%
Chris Christie 14%
Paul Ryan 8%
Bobby Jindal 5%
Bob McDonnell at 1%


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 18, 2012, 04:03:25 PM
Name recognition to a p, I see.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on April 18, 2012, 09:51:24 PM
I'm surprised Rice is so high since she's pro-choice.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: tmthforu94 on April 18, 2012, 10:56:25 PM
I wish Rice was pro-life or Romneys pro-life record was more acceptable to the base. Romney/Rice would be difficult for Obama to defeat, though I doubt she would accept.

I wish Martinez had more time under her belt, but she's my top pick. Will do well with minorities, women, the west, and Tea Party, categories Mitt has to improve on. The pro's outweigh the con's.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: California8429 on April 18, 2012, 11:06:53 PM
I wish Rice was pro-life or Romneys pro-life record was more acceptable to the base. Romney/Rice would be difficult for Obama to defeat, though I doubt she would accept.

I wish Martinez had more time under her belt, but she's my top pick. Will do well with minorities, women, the west, and Tea Party, categories Mitt has to improve on. The pro's outweigh the con's.

Rice wants to be VP. She's jumped started her ID this past year and is fueling the speculation that she should be a choice. I think she'd be good. Even though I'm pro-life and don't find Romney acceptable there, I would be very happy with her on the ticket. She's competent, a leader, woman, minority, experienced in foreign affairs, popular. She doesn't have a family though, but I don't think that would hurt her with the base.

I also love Martinez, if only she was elected in 08 or this were her second term. Still, she seems very clear she doesn't want it, and not just a politician's answers, she seems very sincere in her "no". Eh, 2016 woo


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: milhouse24 on April 18, 2012, 11:14:10 PM
I'm starting to think Tim Pawlenty might be chosen.

If I may ask, what exactly do you think he brings to the ticket?



Normalcy. He's not a crazy pick, it shows Romney is serious. Look at the last 3 defeated vp candidates: Palin, Edwards, and Lieberman. They were all picked to win, not really to help govern.

Pawlenty is conservative enough to please the base, but appealing to independents. He could help in MN, WI, possibly MI.

No he would not help in Minnesota, where no ones cares about him anymore except people who really hate him, or in Wisconsin and Michigan, where no one cares about him period, and probably no one knows who he is except a few who might remember him from his trainwreck of a Presidential campaign and silly movie trailer ads.

However he is a "safe" and non-controversial choice.

T-Paw is the safest choice who has already been nationally "vetted" by the media since his presidential run, so there won't be any "shocking scandals" left to uncover, which may doom portman, thune, or rubio. 

But T-Paw will absolutely not help in any way or with any votes.  If he goes super-christian with the media, he might be able to help Romney's base supporters. 

But the good thing is he will "do no harm" 


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: morgieb on April 18, 2012, 11:17:30 PM
Look at Condi:

Pros:

* Foreign policy experience
* Well-known
* Minority
* Woman
* Highly qualified and vetted
* Not a politician

Cons:

* Links to Bush administration - while I think it'll be irrelevant in most circumstances, being the SOS and the NSA could lead to scandals on Iraq.
* Pro-choice
* Not a politician
* Black woman - though the states where this matters probably will vote Romney anyway.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: ○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└ on April 18, 2012, 11:20:55 PM
Con: Pants on fire lying to get us into a $1 trillion war.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Badger on April 19, 2012, 05:47:55 PM
Look at Condi:

Pros:

* Foreign policy experience
* Well-known
* Minority
* Woman
* Highly qualified and vetted
* Not a politician

Cons:

* Links to Bush administration - while I think it'll be irrelevant in most circumstances, being the SOS and the NSA could lead to scandals on Iraq.
* Pro-choice
* Not a politician
* Black woman - though the states where this matters probably will vote Romney anyway.

Major con: Useless, bordering on detrimental, for any campaign wanting to focus on the economy as an issue. Picking someone who's background is entirely foriegn policy oriented when the economy strains to recover would strike voters as tone deaf.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Badger on April 19, 2012, 05:57:46 PM
The only reason I can see not to pick Rubio is he might overshadow/outshine Romney. As the last election showed, there is a different percieved gravitas between a first-term Senator and first term governor. Rubio gets a leg up over Martinez there. Don't know how she presents on camera and public speaking, but Rubio does so quite well indeed. He would likely pass the "voter comfort test".

Ironically, Palin's dismal performance may help him there. He'll initially be compared to Palin (statewide officeholder for only 2 years before tapped for Veep), and Rubio is at the opposite end of the spectrum in poise and speaking ability. The comparisons would only help elevate him.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 19, 2012, 06:15:15 PM
Rubio doesn't want it. Rice doesn't either. I'm still predicting it will be Jindal or Ryan.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Lincoln Republican on April 19, 2012, 06:44:26 PM
Rubio is charismatic but too inexperienced.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: HagridOfTheDeep on April 19, 2012, 10:25:40 PM
The only reason I can see not to pick Rubio is he might overshadow/outshine Romney. As the last election showed, there is a different percieved gravitas between a first-term Senator and first term governor. Rubio gets a leg up over Martinez there. Don't know how she presents on camera and public speaking, but Rubio does so quite well indeed. He would likely pass the "voter comfort test".

Ironically, Palin's dismal performance may help him there. He'll initially be compared to Palin (statewide officeholder for only 2 years before tapped for Veep), and Rubio is at the opposite end of the spectrum in poise and speaking ability. The comparisons would only help elevate him.

Martinez seems extremely authentic. She could look women in the eye and connect. She's no Sarah Palin. And I don't think she's a risk, either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek3OSIQVYQE

You gotta admit--she's good. She's my choice for the 2020 Republican primaries.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Fritz on April 20, 2012, 01:29:53 AM
It has to be someone whose last name begins with the letter R like Romney.

Either Rubio, Ryan, or Rice.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: redcommander on April 20, 2012, 02:05:05 AM
The only reason I can see not to pick Rubio is he might overshadow/outshine Romney. As the last election showed, there is a different percieved gravitas between a first-term Senator and first term governor. Rubio gets a leg up over Martinez there. Don't know how she presents on camera and public speaking, but Rubio does so quite well indeed. He would likely pass the "voter comfort test".

Ironically, Palin's dismal performance may help him there. He'll initially be compared to Palin (statewide officeholder for only 2 years before tapped for Veep), and Rubio is at the opposite end of the spectrum in poise and speaking ability. The comparisons would only help elevate him.

Martinez seems extremely authentic. She could look women in the eye and connect. She's no Sarah Palin. And I don't think she's a risk, either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek3OSIQVYQE

You gotta admit--she's good. She's my choice for the 2020 Republican primaries.

She genuinely doesn't seem to want it though.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: ○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└ on April 20, 2012, 02:33:55 AM
It has to be someone whose last name begins with the letter R like Romney.

Either Rubio, Ryan, or Rice.

So that he can keep his big R? Maybe Cain will offer to change his name to Rain so that he can be a possibility.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: ○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└ on April 20, 2012, 02:40:54 AM
The only reason I can see not to pick Rubio is he might overshadow/outshine Romney. As the last election showed, there is a different percieved gravitas between a first-term Senator and first term governor. Rubio gets a leg up over Martinez there. Don't know how she presents on camera and public speaking, but Rubio does so quite well indeed. He would likely pass the "voter comfort test".

Ironically, Palin's dismal performance may help him there. He'll initially be compared to Palin (statewide officeholder for only 2 years before tapped for Veep), and Rubio is at the opposite end of the spectrum in poise and speaking ability. The comparisons would only help elevate him.

Martinez seems extremely authentic. She could look women in the eye and connect. She's no Sarah Palin. And I don't think she's a risk, either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek3OSIQVYQE

You gotta admit--she's good. She's my choice for the 2020 Republican primaries.

She genuinely doesn't seem to want it though.

Well, everyone knows she'd quit part way through her term.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: tmthforu94 on April 20, 2012, 11:27:00 AM
Question: Does anyone know just how pro-choice Rice is?

I'm thinking, if she's solidly pro-choice, Roe v Wade is good, I think that'll be a very difficult sell to the base that Romney needs to turn out. However, if she said "I'm personally pro-choice, and believe that decision should be made at the state, not federal level" could possibly make things better. Meh?


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: HagridOfTheDeep on April 20, 2012, 12:39:41 PM
I was under the impression that she thinks Roe v. Wade struck an okay balance but was totally okay with Bush's abortion policies because it was definitely a terrible thing that really had to be discouraged. Sort of seemed like a more libertarian approach to it.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Oakvale on April 20, 2012, 12:58:16 PM
Rice is single and never married, which shouldn't matter, but would, obviously. As with Elena Kagan, people are going to unfairly assume she's a lesbian.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on April 20, 2012, 04:46:13 PM
On the scale of 1 to 10, how grumpy would the conservatives get if Romney picked someone who was pro-choice?


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 20, 2012, 04:58:06 PM
On the scale of 1 to 10, how grumpy would the conservatives get if Romney picked someone who was pro-choice?

12. Romney has said pro-choicers are not even being considered.



Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Bull Moose Base on April 20, 2012, 05:25:30 PM
On the scale of 1 to 10, how grumpy would the conservatives get if Romney picked someone who was pro-choice?

12. Romney has said pro-choicers are not even being considered.

That's the first thing I've read that makes me think Romney's going to pick a pro-choice running mate.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: GLPman on April 20, 2012, 06:22:29 PM
I don't think Rice is completely out of consideration, but it would really surprise me if she did end up as the pick.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Badger on April 20, 2012, 07:10:58 PM

Are you kidding? On what possible basis do you make that leap of faith?


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Sec. of State Superique on April 20, 2012, 09:20:55 PM
Condolezza Rice looks the best option for me, she would teach Romeny a little bit of foreign politics :P

Paul Ryan would teach Romney how to balance a budget and how to cut healthcare expenditures :P

Rubio would make Romney looks more acceptable to latin-americans :P

Palin would destroy him ;) So would Gingrich, Santorum or Perry

I don´t know much about Chris Christie but he has a nice name =P

Portman looks a serious guy and he would destroy Biden in the debate.

And the VP Nomination goes too....

Herman Cain!

He would teach Romney how to sell some Pizzas in case he lost the election!



Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Fargobison on April 20, 2012, 10:02:34 PM
Rice would be a bold choice, CNN had a poll that gave her something like an 80 percent favorable rating among Republicans so maybe the base would accept her or maybe they just don't completely understand her stance on abortion.




Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Joe Biden 2020 on April 20, 2012, 10:25:37 PM
Moderators, it would probably be a good idea to sticky this thread until the RNC Convention in late August.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Mr. Morden on April 20, 2012, 10:51:06 PM
Moderators, it would probably be a good idea to sticky this thread until the RNC Convention in late August.

I don't know.  Romney's VP selection is going to be a hot topic here for the next four months.  People are going to want to talk about it enough, that I'm not sure it makes sense to confine discussion to one thread.

Once there are actual leaks from the Romney campaign and we have something to go on other than speculation though, then it would probably make sense to have a "VP rumors" thread like this one from four years ago:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=81522.0

But it'll probably be some time before we're ready for that.


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: Frodo on April 21, 2012, 12:42:17 AM
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/18/cnn-poll-republicans-divided-on-vp-choice/?hpt=hp_t2 (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/18/cnn-poll-republicans-divided-on-vp-choice/?hpt=hp_t2)

CNN Poll:

Condoleezza Rice 26%
Rick Santorum 21%
Marco Rubio 14%
Chris Christie 14%
Paul Ryan 8%
Bobby Jindal 5%
Bob McDonnell at 1%

They should have put Scott Walker's name in there as well.  If he survives the recall and remains governor, that is one candidate who -besides putting much of the Midwest into play- can really set the Tea Party base on fire as a man that the Democrats and their labor union 'mafia' allies tried to get rid of in a high-profile vote, but failed.  


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: GLPman on April 21, 2012, 12:12:00 PM
Is it possible that we are dismissing Huckabee too quickly?


Title: Re: Who would be the perfect VP choice?
Post by: True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자) on April 21, 2012, 06:52:18 PM
They should have put Scott Walker's name in there as well.  If he survives the recall and remains governor, that is one candidate who -besides putting much of the Midwest into play- can really set the Tea Party base on fire as a man that the Democrats and their labor union 'mafia' allies tried to get rid of in a high-profile vote, but failed.  

Walker is a remote possibility, but only if Walker crushes his opponent in the recall election and Romney is down but not out in the polls.  However, Romney may not want to wait that long.  The sooner he has a running mate, the sooner he or she can go out and do fundraising.  Romney's campaign style needs as much money as he can possibly raise.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Frozen Sky Ever Why on April 21, 2012, 07:14:08 PM
Portman is a solid candidate that fits well with the image Romney is trying to project, so he makes the most sense, along with McDonnell. With OH looking as bad as it does, putting someone from the state on the ticket might be a must. If we need a VP to lock up FL, we've already lost.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Sec. of State Superique on April 21, 2012, 08:41:34 PM
Pizza and Sex Scandals, that are the answers!
Romney/Cain Ticket!



PS: Sorry, I'm just trying to reach 20 posts.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on April 23, 2012, 01:29:43 PM
Um... maybe Rubio won't have a choice: ()

"If Rubio passes the vetting process, assuming he does, I think he's the obvious choice. And if he says he doesn't want the office, he'll find a horse's head in his bed. The next day he will accept. Romney's not going to take no for an answer. We have ways, we Republicans."

-- Charles Krauthammer, on Inside Washington.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 23, 2012, 08:22:25 PM
Speaking of Rubio, he's delivering a foreign policy speech at Brookings tomorrow. Jindal keynoted an NY event last week and interspersed talking education and taking hard shots at Obama.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/23/rubio-to-make-big-speech/


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Mr. Morden on April 24, 2012, 06:18:10 AM
Portman is a solid candidate that fits well with the image Romney is trying to project, so he makes the most sense, along with McDonnell.

In the unlikely event that McDonnell's picked, expect this stuff to resurface in a big way:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/29/AR2009082902434.html

Quote
At age 34, two years before his first election and two decades before he would run for governor of Virginia, Robert F. McDonnell submitted a master's thesis to the evangelical school he was attending in Virginia Beach in which he described working women and feminists as "detrimental" to the family. He said government policy should favor married couples over "cohabitators, homosexuals or fornicators." He described as "illogical" a 1972 Supreme Court decision legalizing the use of contraception by unmarried couples.

Not to mention this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/06/AR2010040604416.html


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on April 29, 2012, 04:15:00 PM
I really have trouble seeing Portman as vp, simply because he's just been in the Senate since... January of last year. Wouldn't John Thune be way better than Portman?

I remember seeing a poll (may be PPP) where Portman didn't really help Romney in Ohio against Obama.

Does anyone have know if Thune has a higher approval rating than Portman?


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 29, 2012, 04:29:52 PM
Thune is basically Sen. Pawlenty. I've read profiles of him and everything about his career since 2004 screams vanilla.

Portman: He's qualified, but Romney is not going to pick one of GWB's highest-profile Cabinet members as his running mate.



Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on April 30, 2012, 01:01:40 PM
Has anyone seen this?: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/pick-vice-president-for-romney-game/index.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/pick-vice-president-for-romney-game/index.html)



Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on April 30, 2012, 03:38:24 PM
Has anyone seen this?: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/pick-vice-president-for-romney-game/index.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/pick-vice-president-for-romney-game/index.html)

Got Bobby Jindal.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: tmthforu94 on April 30, 2012, 03:41:12 PM
Has anyone seen this?: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/pick-vice-president-for-romney-game/index.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/pick-vice-president-for-romney-game/index.html)


I got Martinez.

They forgot Ayotte. :/


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on April 30, 2012, 03:43:40 PM
Saw it as well. I'm still convinced that it will be either Ryan or Jindal, in that order.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Snowstalker Mk. II on April 30, 2012, 03:43:51 PM
I got T-Paw.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Oakvale on April 30, 2012, 03:53:40 PM
I got Portman, which, yeah, is the obvious pick, I guess.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Incipimus iterum on April 30, 2012, 05:30:17 PM
Got Rob Portman


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Vosem on April 30, 2012, 08:07:39 PM
Got Bobby Jindal


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY on April 30, 2012, 10:03:39 PM
Jindal.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: sentinel on April 30, 2012, 10:04:29 PM
Mitt Romney circa 1994....or is he the guy on the ticket now? I can never tell...


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Reaganfan on April 30, 2012, 10:31:21 PM
Jindal


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Mr. Morden on May 01, 2012, 05:43:09 AM
Romney advisor and former NH Gov. John Sununu suggests that there are "about 19 or 20" names being looked at in the VP search at the moment:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/30/sununu-19-or-20-names-in-the-vp-bowl/

Anyone want to guess who all of them are?  ;)


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: HagridOfTheDeep on May 02, 2012, 11:26:49 AM
In no particular order:

1. Portman
2. Thune
3. Pawlenty
4. Daniels
5. Christie
6. Ryan
7. Jindal
6. Rubio
7. Sandoval
8. Martinez
9. Haley
10. Rice
11. Hutchison
12. Fallin
13. Ayotte
14. Bush
15. McDonnell
16. de Mint
17. Gingrich
18. Trump
19. Walker
20. Huckabee


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: cavalcade on May 02, 2012, 12:19:54 PM
^ I'd imagine Toomey and a couple random Senators/Congresspeople are on the list in place of Trump, Gingrich, and Walker but otherwise that seems like what we should assume.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: HagridOfTheDeep on May 02, 2012, 02:22:39 PM
Yeah, I was definitely having trouble filling the 20. :p
Don't Toomey and Romney really dislike each other though?


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on May 03, 2012, 09:33:51 PM
Romney campaigned with McDonnell again today. Will he continue these tryouts now that everyone's had at least one shot is my question.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: milhouse24 on May 03, 2012, 11:49:38 PM
Romney campaigned with McDonnell again today. Will he continue these tryouts now that everyone's had at least one shot is my question.

Most of these tryouts are for PR purposes to excite voters in the swing states. 
Sure, it is also for Romney to get more familiar and comfortable with candidates he barely knew or spoke to before, and build trust and rapport. 
But a lot of it is for the media to see, and for the media to report and judge the potential partnership, whether the 2 people "look" like a good team.  His staff wants to see how a "potential ticket" will look campaigning and meeting voters in september.  will journalists think they create a strong image and partnership?  So these tryouts are for both external and internal feedback.  But more importantly, they are for building up excitement among swing state voters. 

The real Romney vetting will start with private phone calls, not public appearances. 
Of course, all these candidates want to kiss up and wow Romney, but I don't think any one is going to wow Romney enough for him to make a rushed decision. 
But it is good to put potential names out there into the press, and build up some excitement. 

Romney doesn't want to completely surprise the press and go quiet until the convention.  It is better to make strategic leaks to allow the media to salivate over VP candidates. 
I also don't think Romney will pick a surprise candidate, he'll likely leak the top 3 candidates a week before his decision.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Brittain33 on May 04, 2012, 09:11:39 AM
What about Eric Cantor?

Virginia is going to be to Romney what Ohio was to Kerry. He simply can't win without it, but he has to fight to win it based on the polling right now. He also has to assume he's winning Florida and probably Ohio.

Eric Cantor secures the conservative base, potentially helps in Va (I'm skeptical, but this is how things go), and offers a flanking motion in Florida where many older voters aren't sold on Obama in the first place and his being Jewish would help. He's media-tested, young enough, and ambitious. He doesn't do anything for Ohio, but an Ohio pick wouldn't do anything in the other states.

Yes, he's from Congress, but Romney is going to be weighed down regardless. What do you think?  


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on May 04, 2012, 09:16:40 AM
Uh, no. Just no.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Brittain33 on May 04, 2012, 09:22:10 AM

Why not?

Here's an article where he offers fulsome praise of Romney where others have been more cautious. Of course he rules himself out and talks up McDonnell, but he has to.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75349.html


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on May 04, 2012, 09:42:33 AM
First of all, Cantor's approval rating is underwater in Virginia itself. IIRC the number was something like 49-33 unfavorable. So forget helping Romney there.

Second, the idea of demographic/homeboy solidarity has been debunked. McDonnell, Portman and Rubio (the ones most mentioned in this scenario) don't move the needle in their home states- PPP has polled each man at least once.

Finally, I don't see what he brings that others don't.




Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Brittain33 on May 04, 2012, 09:51:18 AM
First of all, Cantor's approval rating is underwater in Virginia itself. IIRC the number was something like 49-33 unfavorable. So forget helping Romney there.

I'd want to see that. I'd think he's not that well known outside of his district and the Beltway.

Quote
Second, the idea of demographic/homeboy solidarity has been debunked. McDonnell, Portman and Rubio (the ones most mentioned in this scenario) don't move the needle in their home states- PPP has polled each man at least once.

Agreed. But I think that people still want to believe it's true or will be scared to pass up the chance.

Quote
Finally, I don't see what he brings that others don't.

He's rock solid with the conservative base and commentariat (so are others under consideration, like Portman and McDonnell, but then people like Rubio and Martinez have their deviations or are untested) and loved by many of them for his fight, which the others haven't proven yet. His being Jewish is a novelty factor that could help in S. Florida as well, as well as piling up wasted votes in former NY-9 and parts of NJ with older Jews.



Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on May 04, 2012, 09:59:44 AM
It looks like we'll have to agree to disagree here.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Brittain33 on May 04, 2012, 10:04:22 AM
It looks like we'll have to agree to disagree here.

That's fine. I don't exactly have my finger to the pulse of Republican or swing voter opinion.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Brittain33 on May 04, 2012, 10:10:20 AM
All "recent" VP nominees whose highest office was Congressman(woman):

Geraldine Ferraro (1984, D)
William Miller (1964, R)

Well, that's not promising for Cantor now, is it.

You could count Jack Kemp for rep being his highest elected office but he was more of an elder statesman by the time he was chosen.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: RogueBeaver on May 08, 2012, 09:29:20 PM
McDonnell, or so he claims, is not being currently vetted. Not like he'd say he was if so.

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/mcdonnell-says-hes-not-being-vetted-romney-vp/528256


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on May 08, 2012, 09:39:59 PM
Rob Portman is a chicken. No really:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ku28P0UsCCo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ku28P0UsCCo)


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: ajb on May 09, 2012, 09:28:33 AM
The National Review floats Huckabee as a VP possibility. Not a horrible idea, actually.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/299438/huckabee-veep-robert-costa#


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: HagridOfTheDeep on May 09, 2012, 01:14:06 PM
Not a bad choice. But I still think Martinez is better.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: retromike22 on May 20, 2012, 01:41:08 PM
It's getting closer, I'm going to bump this.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: They put it to a vote and they just kept lying on May 20, 2012, 01:56:55 PM
Rob Portman is a chicken. No really:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ku28P0UsCCo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ku28P0UsCCo)

LOL


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: milhouse24 on May 20, 2012, 08:09:30 PM
Since Romney won the primary through default as the last man standing.

Pawlenty will be VP through default since he has no glaring faults compared to other candidates.


Title: Re: The Republican Vice-Presidential Spectulation Thread.
Post by: Phony Moderate on May 20, 2012, 11:28:25 PM
Since Romney won the primary through default as the last man standing.

Pawlenty will be VP through default since he has no glaring faults compared to other candidates.

Many of your posts.

Are incoherent.