Ridge obviously fits Jmfcst's requirements of being Roman Catholic, moderate and strong on defense issues. He is a true American hero for serving the way he did in Vietnam. The problem others have pointed out is pretty significant though. He supports the right of women to murder babies. This cannot be tolerated in the Republican Party. It's shameful we still put up with it.
Alexander and Gregg have both been mentioned, and both are fairly conservative pro-lifers. Their age should not be a factor if they are healthy. Thune is young and it won't hurt him to have a grey haired kind of "mentor" figure lurking in the background. Voters felt a certain amount of reassurance with both Biden and Cheney in voting for relatively inexperienced Presidents. (Though what reassures anyone about Biden is beyond me.)
I don't really believe a VP should be selected in order to "help" in a home state, anyway. So if I were Thune, I would look to someone like Duncan Hunter. California is probably a lost cause (although with the way Obama is wrecking the country, you never know!) Hunter is strong on fiscal, military and social issues. Bob Dornan would be a good choice if he had been in Congress recently, but he is pretty much out of circulation. Although...the more I think about it, the more appeal this has. Dornan is hardly inactive...I didn't realize he was running again...
http://www.bobdornan.com/index2.html
He certainly represents American and Christian values, unlike Ridge. And he has military experience.
Regardless, I am sure Thune will make a sound and reasoned choice. Aside from Senator DeMint, he may possess one of the strongest intellectual minds in the Senate today. So you can bet he won't choose a candidate at the last minute and fail to properly vet them.
Give it up JSojourner. You are worst disappointment since Hawkeye.
