Romney VP search begins

[RogueBeaver]

Led by Beth Myers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hunt-commences-for-a-vice-president-pick/2012/04/16/gIQAue9XLT_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/vice-presidential-candidates/

http://news.yahoo.com/romney-taps-longtime-adviser-head-vp-search-141359749.html

[ShadowOfTheWave]

Paul Ryan or bust. Brilliant, articulate, charismatic, and he'll destroy Biden in a debate. Rubio is just a smooth talking tea party idealogue, who isn't going to win Mitt any new fans.

[Senator Clarence]

Paul Ryan seems more like the teacher's pet in grade school then the Vice President of the United States- skinny, high voice, never served

[Tender Branson]

Paul Ryan has a Bavarian ancestry. Interesting.

[Keystone Phil]

Paul Ryan has a Bavarian ancestry. Interesting.

Not really. He's an American living in the Midwest. That's not uncommon.

[Big Wiggly Style]

Still sticking with Susana Martinez as the best pick.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Agreed. The Palin comparisons will be made, but she's no Sarah Palin. This woman is smart, articulate, and charismatic. It's not phony charisma either.

[GM Griffin]

Romney's not going to have a Latino pick. Rubio, Martinez and Sandoval have all said they would say no if asked. Nobody wants to be a part of this failure.

[TheGlobalizer]

Still sticking with Susana Martinez as the best pick.

She's not the best pick this year.  She'd be a good prez/VP in 2016/2020, though.

[GLPman]

Romney's not going to have a Latino pick. Rubio, Martinez and Sandoval have all said they would say no if asked. Nobody wants to be a part of this failure.

Both Biden and Cheney denied having interest, too. Funny how that worked out.

[Nagas]

Thune has everything he needs: Midwestern appeal, Washington experience, won't overshadow Romney.

[5280/East California]

I'd go with Paul Ryan, he's a critical thinker, knows the ins and outs of financial business and is charismatic.  Rubio is my 2nd choice.

[Senator Snowstalker]

Still sticking with Susana Martinez as the best pick.

She said no.

[AmericanNation]

Daniel Patrick Moynihan said that the big institutions of government (tax code and education system to some extent), (Medicare and Social Security especially) need reform because
1)they were designed for an earlier era, 2)they are becoming unfordable, 3) They are CROWDING out other good Liberal purposes: (education, transportation, safety net for poor). 
He thought the Democrat party should reform them because they had created them and they had an obligation to fix them.  He said that if the Democrats were unwilling to do it than the Republicans MUST lead.
Then Paul Ryan steps up to the challenge...
Paul Ryan has become "Mr.Big" in the GOP because he had the courage to touch the third rail.  Typically Mr.BIG's are on their party's ticket because the campaigns often end up being about them anyway.  Being brilliant helps as well.  A debate with Biden is not a fair fight.  Old Joe might have to forfeit.  Obama wouldn't be able to keep up with him during the campaign.  Ryan could re-tabulate half the federal budget in the time it takes Obama to string four words together.

[bloombergforpresident]

I think Christie is his best bet. He's not afraid to take on people and he is much more charismatic then Mitt.

[Vosem]

Of the choices that have been discussed here, Paul Ryan is too controversial, Chris Christie would overshadow Romney, Marco Rubio is inexperienced, Brian Sandoval is unknown. Martinez would be the best pick, but I think she really doesn't want to do it. Jindal, I think, will be the pick.

[EmersonAdams]

I doubt Romney will tap Jindal as his running mate. Jindal may be an exciting and fresh face in the Republican Party, but as his disastrous response to the 2009 State of the Union shows, he is not ready for the national stage. Biden is no slouch, and if Jindal isn't prepared he'll get torn apart at the debates.
I think Romney is going to play it safe and choose Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. The Republicans desperately need a southerner to balance out the ticket (Romney is the first northerner in years to win the republican nomination), and McDonnell has a reliably conservative record and is a competent speaker. He may not be the charismatic figure the GOP is hoping for, but he is unlikely to tank the ticket a la Sarah Palin. Plus, he is the only one I've seen who actually wants the job.

Thune or Martinez are possibilities, but each one carries their own risks and neither are tested as national figures. Christie, Rubio, and Ryan would overshadow the ticket, and I don't think any of them want to risk their future ambitions on a failed run with Romney. Portman might be willing, but his ties to the Bush administration are too deep, and it will let Obama run against George Bush's policies instead of his own record. 

[I Can't Get That Sound You Make, Out Of My Head]

Ryan would be a disaster. Does the Republican party really want to lose the Senior vote?

Christie's from a similar region to Romney and would overshadow him. McDonnell's too easy to portray as a right-winger. Sandoval is too moderate. Jindal probably isn't ready. Thune, Portman and most of the Senators are too white bread, and make Romney look exciting in comparison.

Martinez or Rubio would the best choices.

[AmericanNation]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYCb-UyHc90&feature=relmfu
Paul Ryan Challenges Critics

At some point you actually have to do something about problems.  If we aren't going to talk about solving critical problems, than how can we solve them?  We don't treat Americans like children, that's what we have democrats are for.   


Also, seniors being completely unaffected by ALL of Ryan's plans would flock to Obama why?

[RogueBeaver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYCb-UyHc90&feature=relmfu
Paul Ryan Challenges Critics

At some point you actually have to do something about problems.  If we aren't going to talk about solving critical problems, than how can we solve them?  We don't treat Americans like children, that's what we have democrats are for.   


Also, seniors being completely unaffected by ALL of Ryan's plans would flock to Obama why?

Remember the Clinton-Gingrich wars? That's what happens when you fumble the defense. Or farther from home, Australia '93.

[Fargobison]

I agree with those who think Martinez and Rubio are the best picks.

Condi Rice, Christie, Sandoval and Jindal are on the next tier.

I'd stay away from Ryan or McDonnell just because of the potential negatives they bring which could hurt Romney with seniors or women. That said I'd take either before a boring white bread pick, Romney doesn't really have the luxury of going super safe. He needs some kind of dynamic pick.

[RogueBeaver]

Rubio and Martinez have said NO quite clearly. Christie is a social moderate, Sandoval is pro-choice and a tax-raiser, etc.

[AmericanNation]

Ryan doesn't have any negatives because the democrats haven't passed (or seriously proposed) a budget in three years... They can't criticize a serious budget without drawing attention to the fact that they aren't serious.  That is a major bonus not a negative.  The democrats will not be able to resist creating their own death spiral.  If he isn't the VP Romney risks not being able to defend the slander on Ryan.        

[Nagas]

Ryan doesn't have any negatives because the democrats haven't passed (or seriously proposed) a budget in three years... They can't criticize a serious budget without drawing attention to the fact that they aren't serious.  That is a major bonus not a negative.  The democrats will not be able to resist creating their own death spiral.  If he isn't the VP Romney risks not being able to defend the slander on Ryan.        

You want to stop the lying?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_States_federal_budget

[Fargobison]

Rubio and Martinez have said NO quite clearly. Christie is a social moderate, Sandoval is pro-choice and a tax-raiser, etc.

I don't think Christie being a social moderate matters since most conservatives love the guy anyway. He one of the few moderate picks that Romney could get away with.