Mcsame was in Erie yesterday meeting with Tom Ridge. As a VP choice I think he could do better. Ridge is a good guy ,veteran past Governor of our state and the first home land security director,but I don't see wide spread appeal.
What do you think, thumbs up ,or keep looking?
Keep looking. Ridge isn't the answer, although I'd say he's a decent bet at this point to be the pick.
It was also revealed yesterday that McCain's people are vetting Joe Lieberman. To quote a McCain insider who was quoted in a news report: "It would piss off the Republicans, but sometimes John does what John wants to do."
Speculation now (from some) is that McCain is going to pledge at the convention to be a 1-term president and run a non-partisan White House for four years. That means he doesn't kowtow to the Republicans (or the Democrats, for that matter). He doesn't do fundraising jaunts for Republican Senatorial candidates. He doesn't endorse his successor. He, as an independent Republican and his runningmate, as an independent Democrat, simply work for four years with all the people, then step aside.
That's admirable in some ways, I guess. We're always saying that Washington needs to put partisanship aside and get things done. But for some reason I can't help but feel that in McCain's case, it would be more about promising anything it takes to become president more than trying to reform politics. It would also mean that all the things McCain told us during the primary about his sudden conservative shifts was (as some conservatives feared and some moderate Democrats hoped) just talk.
But that's all just speculation. I will say this: I have planned to hold my nose and vote for McCain, but if he picks Lieberman, I will be voting 3rd party. I admire Joe for his integrity, but I don't admire his political ideology on most issues. I suppose the thinking from the McCain camp is that since this election is going to be decided by independents, he will appeal to them. But if he were to do something this radical, he might find the independents no longer matter because his conservative base has bolted. McCain doesn't have to do anything drastic to win this race. All he has to do is offer a clearly defined different choice than Obama (which is hard to do when Obama keeps chasing him and trying to hold hands on issues like Iraq and off-shore drilling).
So, considering the alternatives, Ridge might be a very good pick.
__________________
Politics, it seems to me, all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong. ~Richard Armour
I am as conservative as they come I believe, but my opinion is the conservative base won't bolt from McCain no matter what his VP choice is. Unfortunately, we have no decent alternative that has a snowball's chance of winning.
__________________ Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?The LORD is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?
2008 Bowtech General 60#, Easton LightSpeeds, 100 grain GrizzTricks, QAD Ultra
We already got all the canucks politicking on National TV newsacasters for Nobama!Ridge is not viable as he could not deliver PA in any of the presidential campaigns. If he deliverd different story. I still say McCain is runningsmart, let's Nobama twist some then hammers. Still time to chose his successor and VP. He doesn't need ot come out hard yet, Nobama is doing allhis throat cutting to himself! Why giv ehim anything the newsies. or liberal media can use to prop uo Nobamna more than they already are...........
__________________
"There is nothing in the world like a persuasive speech to fuddle the mental apparatus and upset the convictions and debauch the emotions of an audience not practiced in the tricks and delusions of oratory." --American author and humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910)
He wouldn't agree to run, I don'tÂ* think, but Colin Powell would be my choice, and it would make McClain a guaranteed winner.Â*
I disagree. Powell wouldn't be a terrible choice; I can think of far worse. But what would he deliver for McCain? Not the black vote; blacks are going to vote 9:1 in favor of Obama regardless of whether Powell or Condi Rice or Alan Keyes or Bill Cosby is the GOP veep pick. And he wouldn't help significantly in any state. Among the national demographics, vets view Powell very favorably, but they already view McCain very favorably. No boost there. Powell isn't viewed any more favorably among independents than McCain. And although Powell was opposed to the Iraq war, he helped the Bush administration make the case for it, so he's not going to win McCain any votes there. In fact, Powell will be viewed unfavorable by those who are wanting a change from Bush administration policies because he served as the state department's mouthpiece for Bush policies for 4 years.
Powell isn't conservative. And if McCain doesn't pick someone who can rake in more conservative votes, then he needs someone who is relatively safe yet will turn a few heads: Like Bobby Jindal or Sarah Palin.
Quote:
ORIGINAL: formula1
I am as conservative as they come I believe, but my opinion is the conservative base won't bolt from McCain no matter what his VP choice is. Unfortunately, we have no decent alternative that has a snowball's chance of winning.
They may not bolt per se, but there will be enough of them simply stay home that it could have an impact on the race.
My thinking is that (as someone else alluded to on this thread) Obama is cutting his own throat. Look at the national polls, for pete's sake: Obama has already been annointed as the 2nd Coming, he got all the press with his European tour, he was supposed to start landsliding, and McCain is still nearly dead even. Unless he can assure himself of winning Michigan or Pennsylvania, he doesn't necessarily need to make too bold a veep selection. Go relatively safe, and offer a clearly defined alternative to Obama. This election is more about anti-Obama than it is pro-McCain, and nothing's going to change that. I like the idea of a bold pick as long as it's someone like Palin or Jindal. But the bolder you get, the more of a potential risk there is, and going with someone from the opposite party is awfully danged bold.
__________________
Politics, it seems to me, all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong. ~Richard Armour
V.P.'s
