Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Lady or the Tiger?

 
 
I've been reading a little more about Sen. McCain's pick for his running mate.
 
My initial inclination was and is Mitt Romney, because of his economics knowledge. However, this would be quite a team to try to reach middle-class America, and to tell those who are struggling to make ends meet that they know EXACTLY how they feel. Get this: these guys, between the two of them, own 12 homes. That's TWELVE. The combined worth of said homes is estimated to be around $30 million. I somehow doubt that they feel your pain.
 
The other front runner is said to be Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota governor. This would help McCain in Minnesota, which I think is going to be a bit of a problem for him, but while Pawlenty's youth and executive experience would be helpful, he is no match for Joe Biden when it comes to foreign affairs. A vice-presidential debate would be sure to happen, and one Republican insider said that a nationally televised Biden-Pawlenty debate is "unthinkable." In other words, I get the impression that everyone thinks Biden would tear him a new one.
 
Former Homeland Security director and Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge would be more of a match with Biden on national security and foreign affairs, with one big ol' caveat: he is pro-choice. McCain has had a hard time convincing the religious conservatives that he is their candidate, and a pro-choice pick would alienate those voters, as well as many independent and swing voters. Ridge has said that he would defer to McCain on the issue, but that would allow Democrats to paint Ridge as a flip-flopper, wishy-washy, and a yes-man.
 
The other main person being mentioned is Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman...yes, THAT Joe Lieberman. The Democrat-turned-independent who ran as Al Gore's running mate in 2000. Lieberman also supports abortion rights, and has a long history of supporting labor causes that would also alienate many in the GOP. It would make for some interesting debates with Biden, too, as they realized that they cast the same votes on many issues in the Senate. The core conservatives in the GOP would be going, "Tell me again WHY he picked this guy??" I can't believe I'm going to quote Phyllis Schlafly, but you can't get any more "core conservative" than that gal. "I think there would be a walkout on Lieberman at the convention. He’s not a Republican."
 
Interesting, huh? Looks like Senator McCain has a "Lady or the Tiger?" situation on his hands, AKA damned if you do, damned if you don't. At this point, I'm really not sure who he's going to pick. I'd say the odds are still with Romney, but he might go with a dark horse.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mark says he just might fool all of us and pick Senator Clinton. Wouldn't that be a hoot!
Laini

Anonymous said...

I'm am certain of one thing ~ McCain & his camp are probably seeing double with all of the strategizing and scenarios they are playing out.  It should be interesting.
Lisa

Anonymous said...

There's not a politician in Washington that feels our pain.  They're all wealthy and have to be well financially just to pay the qualifying fees to run.  This varies from state-to-state, but according the Alabama Democratic Party's website, qualifying fees to run for the U.S. Senate or House is $3,386.00.  That's just for starters.  And that's why most of them went home for the annual five-week vacation rather than do anything about oil and gas prices.  None of them are affected.  They all have investments everywhere, and all the perks added in for being a member of Congress adds up to much more than their salary of $169,300/year.  If the system were changed where Mr. or Ms. Average American could run for and get elected to Congress and the Presidency, I think we'd see a BIG change in things in this country in a hurry!

Good post, it will be interesting to see who Senator McCain picks.  I see choosing Ridge as a problem too.  If anything, God forbid, happened to McCain as President, Ridge would become the President.  That would mean there would be no deferrence to anyone on any issue.  I think Lieberman would be political suicide here.  If Senator McCain chose him, I think his lead over Obama would go bye-bye.  Voters would probably not vote for Obama, but probably Bob Barr (Libertarian) or one of the other candidates, which would split the conservative vote.  I think there would also be those that would just not vote.

Sorry this is so long, but your analysis is very good.  I think the logical choice would be Romney too.

Dirk

Anonymous said...

The Repulicans always seem to choose someone who does nothing in particular and does it poorly.  Think Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Dan Quale, Dick Cheney.  They seem cetain that those guys are nver going to be President.  Curious.  But, it doesn't matter who he picks.  As a previous commentator pointed out, the members of Congress are all rich guys. If McCain is elected and continues to promote the conservative economic programs, the nation will be bankrupt in no time..   D

Anonymous said...

I personally hope he picks Tim Pawlenty.  I heard him speak last night and I really liked him.
Missie

Anonymous said...

I still think that McCain will pick a surprise to all of us.  This is no normal election, and if he does not want to become a footnote in history, he must shake it up a bit.  I have enjoyed the DNC, and am looking forward to the RNC.

Anonymous said...

well we now know who he picked and female, male, no matter to me. Ain't voting for the dude. XO