"Dark Horse" VP picks

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Kit Bond?  If McCain thinks he needs to shore up the midwest...

No one in the midwest outside of Missouri cares about Bond in any remote way.

[Mr. Morden]

Kit Bond?  If McCain thinks he needs to shore up the midwest...

No one in the midwest outside of Missouri cares about Bond in any remote way.

Also, Bond is 69 years old.  One would think that McCain might want someone younger.

[Keystone Phil]

Fox also was unable to win a Republican-held open State Rep seat in a 2004 comeback bid, losing it 52–47.

Wasn't he into some sort of mysticism or psychics?  Also, didn't he only win in 1996 by 10 votes?

Hypnosis!

Oh yeah! How could I forget? I think he actually lost 54% - 44%.

To be fair, though, he lost in a district that was long held by the GOP but it's a liberal district (RINO land and very liberal Democrats). It still has a GOP registration advantage but that's meaningless.

Just a note - He lost to the fastest rising star in the PA Democratic party. The guy will either be a leader in the State House for quite some time or the next Congressman from PA 13.

[YRABNNRM]

I think Sununu would be a good pick for McCain's running mate, unfortunately he's got that whole being defeated for re-election thing coming up. He was my top pick for awhile.

True, it would be unusual (that's why he's a dark horse).  But really, why not?  He's going to lose that race anyway, so why not drop out and run for veep?  If being popular in your home state is a prerequisite for being a running mate, then why is Romney being considered?  He would surely lose any statewide election in MA.  (Heck, Romney went a step further by running for *president* while being unpopular in his home state.)

Oh sure but I think Sununu's committal to his senate race ultimately rules him out, even as a dark horse.

He should have declined to run for re-election and just hoped to be McCain's pick.

[Mr. Morden]

I think Sununu would be a good pick for McCain's running mate, unfortunately he's got that whole being defeated for re-election thing coming up. He was my top pick for awhile.

True, it would be unusual (that's why he's a dark horse).  But really, why not?  He's going to lose that race anyway, so why not drop out and run for veep?  If being popular in your home state is a prerequisite for being a running mate, then why is Romney being considered?  He would surely lose any statewide election in MA.  (Heck, Romney went a step further by running for *president* while being unpopular in his home state.)

Oh sure but I think Sununu's committal to his senate race ultimately rules him out, even as a dark horse.

He should have declined to run for re-election and just hoped to be McCain's pick.

One can't really count on being picked as a VP candidate.  And, IMHO, almost any politician will take the chance at higher office if the right opportunity comes along.  So even though Sununu may now seem committed to his senate race, that doesn't mean he wouldn't accept the offer if McCain actually offered him the veep slot.  I think he would take it.  The only problem is that Sununu wouldn't want it to leak out that he's being considered until he actually had the offer in hand, because the rumors might complicate his reelection race, should McCain opt to give the nod to someone else.

Of course, this is probably a silly hypothetical, since Sununu is most likely not being considered anyway.

[MODU]

I say this with no malicious intent but what the hell does that mean?

If you go back to my initial comment, I picked him out since he was one of the few pro-labor republicans.  If McCain were to pick a pro-labor republican, would it shift a portion of the demographic that is currently on the fence to McCain's side?

There are several other "Pro Labor" members of Congress that are actually still serving. It just boggles my mind that the most random former member of Congress (from the old PA 13 ) who wasn't in Congress since 1999 was mentioned.

He was the first one that came to mind. 

[JSojourner]

And my darkest of dark horses for Obama?  Indiana Senator Richard Lugar.  Please don't flame me.  I know it's not going to happen.  But as a journalist and a history nut, I love big political earthquakes.  And it's been awhile since we've had one.  I guess this is just me WISHING this would happen. 

JS, I have thought of this too considering the Big O's love-fest with Lugar, and I wouldn't put it past him truly considering him........but his party leadership would have no parts of it.  So no flaming, my friend, you just said what more than 1 person has thought.

Yep -- that's the thing.  The partisans in my party would put their collective foot down.  My only hope is that they would be as spineless in dealing with Obama as they have been in dealing with the Republicans.  But reality is reality -- No matter how much conservatives respect Lieberman on the war, his liberal views disqualify him as VP for McCain.  And no matter how much liberals respect Lugar on foreign policy, his flat tax ideas and his his social conservatism make him an impossibility.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

And my darkest of dark horses for Obama?  Indiana Senator Richard Lugar.  Please don't flame me.  I know it's not going to happen.  But as a journalist and a history nut, I love big political earthquakes.  And it's been awhile since we've had one.  I guess this is just me WISHING this would happen. 

JS, I have thought of this too considering the Big O's love-fest with Lugar, and I wouldn't put it past him truly considering him........but his party leadership would have no parts of it.  So no flaming, my friend, you just said what more than 1 person has thought.

Yep -- that's the thing.  The partisans in my party would put their collective foot down.  My only hope is that they would be as spineless in dealing with Obama as they have been in dealing with the Republicans.  But reality is reality -- No matter how much conservatives respect Lieberman on the war, his liberal views disqualify him as VP for McCain.  And no matter how much liberals respect Lugar on foreign policy, his flat tax ideas and his his social conservatism make him an impossibility.

GM & JS in 2012......we'll kick so much ass........lol.  A Moderate/Maoist ticket can win, right? 

[YRABNNRM]

What about Richard Holbrooke for Obama?

[JSojourner]

And my darkest of dark horses for Obama?  Indiana Senator Richard Lugar.  Please don't flame me.  I know it's not going to happen.  But as a journalist and a history nut, I love big political earthquakes.  And it's been awhile since we've had one.  I guess this is just me WISHING this would happen. 

JS, I have thought of this too considering the Big O's love-fest with Lugar, and I wouldn't put it past him truly considering him........but his party leadership would have no parts of it.  So no flaming, my friend, you just said what more than 1 person has thought.

Yep -- that's the thing.  The partisans in my party would put their collective foot down.  My only hope is that they would be as spineless in dealing with Obama as they have been in dealing with the Republicans.  But reality is reality -- No matter how much conservatives respect Lieberman on the war, his liberal views disqualify him as VP for McCain.  And no matter how much liberals respect Lugar on foreign policy, his flat tax ideas and his his social conservatism make him an impossibility.

GM & JS in 2012......we'll kick so much ass........lol.  A Moderate/Maoist ticket can win, right? 

Exactly.  We will re-educate and collectivize everyone.  But only very moderately.

[MarkWarner08]

Fred Smith for McCain makes sense. Smith is an accomplishment businessman (he won't have to read Alan Greenspan's book to understand economics!), a Vietnam War vet (this would burnish McCain's already strong nat. sec. creds., a non-controversial figure (no votes on any issues!), and a good orator (his speechifying is decent).

[MODU]

And my darkest of dark horses for Obama?  Indiana Senator Richard Lugar.  Please don't flame me.  I know it's not going to happen.  But as a journalist and a history nut, I love big political earthquakes.  And it's been awhile since we've had one.  I guess this is just me WISHING this would happen. 

JS, I have thought of this too considering the Big O's love-fest with Lugar, and I wouldn't put it past him truly considering him........but his party leadership would have no parts of it.  So no flaming, my friend, you just said what more than 1 person has thought.

Yep -- that's the thing.  The partisans in my party would put their collective foot down.  My only hope is that they would be as spineless in dealing with Obama as they have been in dealing with the Republicans.  But reality is reality -- No matter how much conservatives respect Lieberman on the war, his liberal views disqualify him as VP for McCain.  And no matter how much liberals respect Lugar on foreign policy, his flat tax ideas and his his social conservatism make him an impossibility.

GM & JS in 2012......we'll kick so much ass........lol.  A Moderate/Maoist ticket can win, right? 

Exactly.  We will re-educate and collectivize everyone.  But only very moderately.

OOH OOH . . . can I be Secretary of Defense/State?  *grins*

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No, MODU, Homeland Security Secretary.


PAPERS PLEASE!!!

********************

Captain Mike will be Chairman of Joint Chiefs and putting down coups.

[JSojourner]

And my darkest of dark horses for Obama?  Indiana Senator Richard Lugar.  Please don't flame me.  I know it's not going to happen.  But as a journalist and a history nut, I love big political earthquakes.  And it's been awhile since we've had one.  I guess this is just me WISHING this would happen. 

JS, I have thought of this too considering the Big O's love-fest with Lugar, and I wouldn't put it past him truly considering him........but his party leadership would have no parts of it.  So no flaming, my friend, you just said what more than 1 person has thought.

Yep -- that's the thing.  The partisans in my party would put their collective foot down.  My only hope is that they would be as spineless in dealing with Obama as they have been in dealing with the Republicans.  But reality is reality -- No matter how much conservatives respect Lieberman on the war, his liberal views disqualify him as VP for McCain.  And no matter how much liberals respect Lugar on foreign policy, his flat tax ideas and his his social conservatism make him an impossibility.

GM & JS in 2012......we'll kick so much ass........lol.  A Moderate/Maoist ticket can win, right? 

Exactly.  We will re-educate and collectivize everyone.  But only very moderately.

OOH OOH . . . can I be Secretary of Defense/State?  *grins*

We'll have some new and different cabinet positions.  Like, who do you suppose would be "Secretary of Strip Clubs"?

[MODU]

If you go back to my initial comment, I picked him out since he was one of the few pro-labor republicans.  If McCain were to pick a pro-labor republican, would it shift a portion of the demographic that is currently on the fence to McCain's side?

Well, I guess my thought about a pro-Labor VP pick came about, though I didn't think it would be Palin (both she and her husband are/were union members).