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Veepstakes

Author | joe | Posted on | June 3, 2008 | 19 Comments

Now that we can finally say it is all over but the shouting, don’t you DOUBT FOR A SECOND JUST HOW MUCH SHOUTING REMAINS, DAMN YOU.

In particular, who will be the respective choices for Vice President?

Obama: We can now expect to see at least a full day of former Clinton true believers falling over themselves to praise Barack Obama, and the Obama campaign playing coy to the point of painfulness.

Surveying the political landscape, it is going to be extremely hard for Obama to choose anyone other than Hillary Clinton for Vice President. The Hillary Clinton campaign may have been ineffective, inefficient and incompetent on a scale to make the Robert Mugabe administration shake its collective head in disbelief, but it also comprised a huge population of supporters in a year when the Democrats, frankly, can’t take any chances. They should have won in 2000. They sure as hell should have won in 2004 (ask George Soros and Air America’s majordomos about that one). In 2008, they cannot give anything up. Shutting out Hillary would almost be a demonstration of hubris. Obama’s got nothing in his pocket yet for the general election.

When the Washington Post is opining Don’t look now, but the U.S.-backed government and army may be winning the war, the Obama camp has to realize it has nothing in the bag. If a drop in demand causes U.S. gas prices to fall at the end of the summer, Obama could have zero “killer” arguments. His campaign is going to need every boot on the ground it can get.

Personally, I’d like to see the Obama campaign look very carefully at Michael Dukakis, Al Sharpton or Jimmy Carter, but they likely won’t take my advice.

McCain: John McCain is a pretty uncompelling fellow these days when it comes to public speaking. I suspect overcoaching and, hey, if it worked for George W. Bush, I guess the thinking is they should keep a good thing going. He launched his new “Change you can believe in” message tonight, and it appears the McCain campaign strategy is to emphasize the candidate’s weaknesses. He is a great speaker off the cuff, and absolutely terrible reading from a script. Tonight, he smiled and chuckled unnaturally during the pauses as though he was just then getting the jokes his scriptwriters had provided. Or just chuckling for no reason whatsoever.

The media, recognizing Obama’s weaknesses in terms of policy positions and the Democratic candidate’s demonstrated thin skin, is going to attempt to redirect public attention away from issues, and make the central controversy over Obama’s strong points, which are race and speaking style:

The charismatic black guy who everyone likes, and therefore represents a fresh change, but denounces every policy disagreement as a “distraction,” against the uncharismatic white guy who gives typical, stiff, “politician” speeches.

If the recent trend in his public appearances is any indication, John McCain is going to be easy for the Democrats to pigeonhole as a typical, old-style politician. If the debate is framed by the media as a contrast in styles, McCain could be in for rough sledding.

Therefore, I think McCain needs a fantastic orator as his running mate, someone who can speak off the cuff so well that the media will give at least a tinch of coverage.

I hate to say it, because it is a ticket that would make me almost literally ill, but the most likely seems to be Mike Huckabee. He is a solid enough public speaker to keep the press engaged and following the campaign (possibly anticipating the next major gaffe). He would get a sizeable army of ground troops involved from the “evangelical” wing of the GOP, and if he can avoid making too many asinine statements, it just might work.

I know, I know many of you are objecting: “Huckabee’s a frickin’ moron!” But that is not the political reality. The voting public is about 50 steps behind the actual reality in America. If voters understood what was really happening in this country, we’d be talking about Tom Tancredo as the logical pick for VP.

A McCain-Huckabee ticket would be a huge boost for Bob Barr, but I think the McCain campaign has already decided to write off a bunch of traditionally Republican voters.

McCain needs a running mate who could win on American Idol.

I’ll be interested in hearing other thoughts on the Vice President sweepstakes.

Category: Campaign 2008
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Comments

19 Responses to “Veepstakes”

  1. Third Party Watch » Blog Archive » Democrats for Bob Barr
    June 4th, 2008 @ 2:45 am

    [...] Let’s not forget that McCain’s VP pick is important here, too. From NovaTownHall: [...]

  2. ted
    June 4th, 2008 @ 7:58 am

    HRC takes the VP slot only if she thinks Obama will LOSE, thus setting herself up for a repeat run in 2012. If HRC takes the slot and he wins she then has to wait until 2016 when she is 69 years old. If she doesn’t take the VP slot she tells Obama she will more than happy to go all out for his election with the understanding that she will be his first Supreme Court nominee. The fact that she has no judicial experience does not matter since with at least 55 Dems in the Senate her confirmation is a given. Until a SC slot comes open she hangs around the Senate and maybe even is elected the Majority Leader as a consolation prize.

    Since Obamamania is coming to Virginia tomorrow perhaps he is looking at Jim Webb for VP to lend some “gravitas” in the area of the military/foreign policy (not that Webb is any foreign policy wiz)?

    With regard to McCain I’d say Romney is the logical choice but here Romney only accepts if he thinks McCain will WIN. Otherwise he stays out and trys again in 2012. Huckabee would be a disaster since he can’t control his mouth, to wit, his crack at the NRA convention about Obama, and his comedy routine will get very old, very quickly. In any event, McCain needs a “big” name in the VP slot, esp if HRC is the Dem VP candidate. Condi would be an interesting choice but she would only provide more ammunition for the “McCain would be Bush’s third term” argument.

    MTCW

  3. Jack
    June 4th, 2008 @ 8:09 am

    If Clinton becomes VP, she will be the president in less than four years. She is extremely dangerous.

  4. Joe Budzinski
    June 4th, 2008 @ 9:05 am

    I don’t know, Ted, I think she takes the VP slot if it’s offered because it’s all she’s got in the power-enhancement department. I read somewhere that her stock has not exactly risen in the Senate, and Harry Reid is not planning to go anywhere in the next few years, so she remains a junior Senator.

    Jack, you conspiracy monger, that’s just crazy talk. She could be the first female vice president; she’ll get a ton of press; she won’t have to take the heat for anything. Not such a bad way to end a political career.

  5. Cathymac
    June 4th, 2008 @ 9:10 am

    Obama is damned if he picks HRC and damned if he doesn’t. If she joins the ticket, the “change you can believe in” mantra can be exposed for the sheer hypocrisy that it is. Having HRC as the VP nominee is tantamount to having to defend she and Bill’s shenanigans and manipulations over the past 18 years when what he really wants is a clean break.

    If Obama doesn’t pick HRC he alienates a large voting block of HRC supporters, some of which have already pledged they will run to McCain even if she is on the ticket. Disunity in the party exists and and won’t go away if she gets left off the ticket.

    Obama has to pick his poison. Welcome to politics my friend, swallowing bitter pills is part of the process.

    McCain’s running mate is not so easy. Huckabee does nothing for me, Romney seems likes the natural choice but he leaves me with questions and concerns. I don’t want Bobby Jindal going down in flames with McCain, save him for 2012. I haven’t explored it very well, but what Governors (besides Crist) are good choices?

  6. ACTivist
    June 4th, 2008 @ 9:16 am

    I said that before. Hillie’s slogan is: “Don’t f*%# with me. Remember Vince Foster?” Oh, yeh. She wants that VP slot. She NEEDS that VP slot! And after Bore-rocks suicide, Hilly will abolish the 2nd Amendment as a fine testimonial to Bore-rock’s courage and hard work.

  7. ACTivist
    June 4th, 2008 @ 9:20 am

    Joe,

    I cannot honestly believe that you could even fathom the thought of McCain’t/Huckleberry. Are you putting octane boost in your wine? I was thinking more along the lines of Jackie Mason. Talk about an orator that could dish it out and stir the pot. Just embalm him so that he could last 4 years.

  8. Cathymac
    June 4th, 2008 @ 9:50 am

    Act: Embalm Mason or McCain?

    I saw Jackie on Fox yesterday, he had a 3 minute Obama bash right off the cuff, there was not stopping him.

  9. Joe Budzinski
    June 4th, 2008 @ 9:50 am

    Don’t get me wrong, what I couldn’t fathom was the thought of McCain. Now that that’s a fait accompli, I could imagine anything. Maybe not Jackie Mason, because like you say he is getting up there, but maybe Dennis Miller …

  10. ACTivist
    June 4th, 2008 @ 10:18 am

    Cathymac,
    “Act: Embalm Mason or McCain?”

    Didn’t see that coming. You got me on this one. How about a coin flip?

    Joe,

    Dennis would be pretty outragious, wouldn’t he? I think he would be busting on McCain’t more than BB/HRC, don’t you think?

  11. Jack
    June 4th, 2008 @ 10:49 am

    She wants power, not press.

  12. G. Stone
    June 4th, 2008 @ 1:45 pm

    Obama takes Oprah as VP so that Michell can be doubly proud.
    You go Girl, please someone catch my honky ass I am going to faint.

  13. jacob
    June 4th, 2008 @ 2:35 pm

    If McCain takes the Huckster as his VP choice, I will consider joining the Libertarian party. Huckabee is dumber than George Bush, spends more too, and talks as well as Bill Clinton, in short he is the worst of both, just because he is an evangelical it don’t mean he has earned my vote by a long shot.

  14. ACTivist
    June 4th, 2008 @ 2:41 pm

    Jacob,

    This thread had a “light” flavor to it. Don’t you dare storm in like a bull in the china closet and reset the tone. I won’t stand for it, you hear? :evil:

  15. ACTivist
    June 4th, 2008 @ 2:43 pm

    Stone,

    :grin: You’re killing me, boy!

  16. jacob
    June 4th, 2008 @ 5:12 pm

    Cathymac,
    “Act: Embalm Mason or McCain?”
    Why both of course! Then we can take them on a talk show tour, starting with Oprah (of course), and they (McCain especially) will look and sound more alive than they have in years.

  17. jacob
    June 4th, 2008 @ 5:13 pm

    ACT,
    is that light enough for ya, you furry brained yahoo!
    I say this (of course!) in a positive and life affirming manner.

  18. 10 feet tall and Bulletproof
    June 6th, 2008 @ 11:53 pm

    You see, the Republicans HAD it sewed up. They were going to support McCain, and even exploit 25% of HRC’s voter’s who’d sooner vote McCain than for the negro. Throw in Nader’s two percent draw on election day…and MCCain is in position to give you 2012 due to his win and his VP’s continued career due to his stepping down.
    THEN some geniuses decide that they’d like to whittle MCCain’s lead by a couple of points by tossing a Libertarian hand grenade.
    Not the sharpest knives in the drawer.
    By a long shot.

  19. ACTivist
    June 9th, 2008 @ 8:16 am

    “and MCCain is in position to give you 2012 due to his win and his VP’s continued career due to his stepping down.”

    So if McCain’t gets in and the next 4 years has a depression, HIGHER gas prices/food prices, lower dollar value, MORE illegals and many across-the-aisle dealings with Dems for entitlements; THIS will endear the VP to the citizens? Like the Walgreens commercial-only in the perfect idiot world of 10 proof!

    BTW You will always have spoilers in elections and if Barr is that big of a concern then there is something definately wrong with the GOP candidate to begin with. You can use all your “simple” logic that you want but there will always be those people that are unwilling to “compromise” their principles. The lesser of 2 evils (or 3 or 4)isn’t cutting it anymore. It is time for the process to take a nosedive into the ground so that it can be rebuilt better from the remains. Kinda like what is going to happen with Loudoun. Oh, didn’t YOU have something to do with this fiasco and its liberal winners?

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