(Jake Turcotte)
McCain’s Veep speculation hits frenzy
By Jimmy Orr | 08.28.08
Didn’t we just do this last week?
It looks like John McCain is rolling out his VP pick tomorrow. No need for the fancy-schmancy texting, this one looks like a traditional roll-out. In front of the cameras and in a key state - Ohio.
The official line from the McCain campaign? Bland. But this is expected. It’s how campaigns work.
McCain spokesman Ben Porritt offered, “McCain is going to pick a VP based on merit; a proven leader with sound judgment and well rounded experience that will give the public confidence that he/she is able to step in and govern at a moment’s notice.”
The excitement is over at the Drudge Report where they claim the Senator has made his decision and there could be a leak today at 6pm (ET) followed by a confirmation two hours later…
But that would be stepping on Obama’s acceptance speech tonight. They surely wouldn’t do that, would they?
In the meantime, we’ll run through the oft-talked about short-list.
Mr. Massachusetts
Mitt Romney’s name has been brought up numerous times — getting perhaps an audition at the Democratic National Convention in the role of attack dog earlier this week.
James Carville, a guest at yesterday’s Christian Science Monitor-sponsored Breakfast, said Romney doesn’t worry him too much. Carville said the goal in the selection of a vice presidential candidate should be to “make the opposing campaign manager throw up.”
“I don’t think if they pick Romney, David Axelrod will reach for the trash can,” said Mr. Carville, referring to Senator Obama’s chief strategist.
Carville later said he predicts the choice will be a surprise candidate.
“McCain and I share something in common,” he said. “We’re both craps shooters. And just by nature, craps shooters always want to put their stack in the middle of the table.”
Don’t move so fast
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is still mentioned - a lot - and it appears that he’s auditioning today.
Pawlenty’s message: Obama’s got no substance.
On Good Morning America today, he compared his experience to that of Obama’s:
“I’ve been governor for six years and commander in chief of the Minnesota National Guard for six years,” Pawlenty said. “When I was in the legislature I was also majority leader and did a variety of other things.”
“His [Obama’s] accomplishments are nonexistent or essentially nonexistent and he hasn’t run anything,” he continued. “He hasn’t been an executive or been in charge of anything and lastly, the big problem or one of the big problems facing our country is the ability to work across party lines and get things done. John McCain actually has a record in that regard. Barack Obama does not. He has good oratory but when you shut the teleprompter off there’s not much else there.”
On Fox and Friends, Pawlenty went straight to the talking point of “worldwide celebrity.”
“It looks like they are getting ready for the emperor to arrive,” he said. “The facade is metaphor for production purposes, but there’s not much behind it. It’s the perfect metaphor for Barack Obama’s readiness to be President of the United States.”
Two Joes?
As for Joe Lieberman, the buzz today is Politico’s report that Karl Rove has actively sought to have Lieberman’s name thrown out of the running.
“Republican strategist Karl Rove called Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) late last week and urged him to contact John McCain to withdraw his name from vice presidential consideration, according to three sources familiar with the conversation.”
Rove denies this was true.
Jonathan Martin, the reporter who broke the news, has since written a follow-up where he cited a conversation between Rove and FOX News.
“Uh. Look, I’m not going to get into who I call and don’t call,” Rove said. “But this report that I called Sen. Lieberman and told him, ‘You call Sen. McCain and withdraw from the vice presidential’ is incorrect. ”
To which Martin responded, “I stand by my reporting.”
What if it is Lieberman? The Washington Times reports that an organization that pushes for conservative judges - the Committee for Justice — have come up with a special plan that could make conservatives stomach the selection.
They offer three steps he could take to assuage conservatives’ fears he would push for pro-choice, liberal judges: Recuse himself from helping McCain pick judges, promise not to run for president himself, and agree to caucus for the rest of the year with Republicans.
Get out the duct tape
As for Ridge, another pro-choice possibility, U.S. News & World Report today writes that he was the son of a meat salesman.
If that’s not enough, there is more. The Associated Press is reporting that McCain on a talk show in Pittsburgh spoke “glowingly” of the former Governor.
“He’s a great American and a great and dear friend and I rely on him and I have for many years,” McCain said.
Who?
As for bland, McCain at least added a little color to the overwhelming blandness musing that he may pick actor Wilford Brimley.
“He’s a former marine and great guy and he’s older than I am, so that might work,” he said.
<< Hanging chads in Alaska primary? Don Young waits… | MainComments
2. O.P. Neon | 08.28.08
Initially report came out, nominee was picked. Then, McCain denied. Perhaps he couldn’t recall he already had picked one. May be even several times. May be all 4 or more were told at various times. However a ship may bounce with the information waves, nominee name may change. If one of the above, Gustav is on the way to pick (on) RNC, perhaps due to a mixed up “prayer” by a zealot right-winger. God listens and responds, though we can not be sure if Gustav is being offered by God.
3. Beano | 08.28.08
I can’t handle this frenzy and excitement! I wish I could be there to help drape the bunting over the front of the deli counter where he’s gong to make his announcement from! Is it going to be in that deli right near, “Leisure World” outside of McAllen, Texas? Regardless, it’s going to look like hthe cast party from “Cocoon”! Good luck with that!
4. Dave Eastman | 08.28.08
If McCain and the Republican party really want to win this election, the VP choice is quite clear. Sarah Palin the governor of Alaska is the only wise choice instead of those same old male white bread political hacks. Governor Paltin is smart, tough and not too hard to look at either! As far as I am concerned, Sarah Paltin is the only wise choice.
5. Bill Klinton | 08.28.08
Frenzy? You actually used the word frenzy?
There is as much “frenzy” from knowing McCains VP pick as there is in selecting which Republican senator is more corrupted.
6. voxitar | 08.28.08
The only candidate with a genuine conservative pedigree that I think that might assuage nervous republicans is Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin…she’s pro-life, pro-gun, pro-drilling…she’d have to deal with democrats criticizing the fact that she only has 2 years experience as a governor, but I’ve seen this woman handle herself very well. She might be the best choice.
7. Scott | 08.28.08
If I were McCain, I’d go for Tim Pawlenty. His (relative) youth offsets the perception of “two old white men”. As Governor of my state, I don’t particularly like him, but I do respect his tenacity and intelligence.
10. Louis | 08.28.08
To answer comment to “kerry”,
Your statement that Mccain does NOT know economics is the same **** you Obama lovers have been saying about Mccain in order to beat him…,and it is NOT true! lol… It shows your arrogance and disinformation…!
What Mccain said was that compared to his military and foreign policy expertise his economic expertise is not as great as this military one, but that statement did NOT mean he does not know about economics kid! remember that Mccain has been in numerous congressional commeetee ON FINANcE!….lol..so it is ridiculous and just idiotic to say the man does not know about economics!
But that is the only line you people have to make him look bad don’t you?..lol…of course! When your candidate Obama is still weat behind the ears and is the one NOT TRULY ready to be in charge of anything!
Also never mind that Obama is just another partisan politician, the last thing we need today….we need a TRUE bi-partisan man like John that puts his country first over his party all the time…THAT’S what we need!
Oh and never mind the man is a REAL hero, not like the fake ones in the movies you all cheer for in the movies but the REAL thing kid!
A Top Gun maverick these times….
Go back to school kid, the lessons are not over and you have a long way to go!~
11. Anonymice | 08.28.08
It will be Romney, and the world will yawn. And McCain will say, “I wasn’t looking for the most exciting candidate, or the youngest or the most surprising candidate. My friends, I selected Mitt because I simply felt he was the best man for the job.”
And the world will continue to yawn.
13. Justin | 08.28.08
Frenzy? I haven’t noticed any frenzy, in the media or anywhere else. Who cares who McBushCain picks?
16. Kat | 08.28.08
it would impress this independent voter if mccain called on his friend chuck hagel to be his running mate. would also be a big surprise.
17. walter hansen | 08.28.08
It would be imposible to create the frenzy that was around “Obama’s” pick since it was souly created by the liberal media and their thirst for their celebrity canidate. He could select their “Lion” Ted Kenedy and they would still ignore it because there’s still that big “R” at the top of the ticket!
18. Stewart | 08.28.08
Wilford Brimley? Doesn’t anyone remember that other than supporting McCain, his political fame is from campaigning to keep **** fighting legal! And McCain not only does not distance himself from Brimley, but sees nothing wrong with talking him up.
19. Stewart | 08.28.08
Good grief. Was I supposed to write rooster? I was writing about the vile blood sport involving two birds pitted against each other usually to the death, which is finally illegal in all states despite Wilford Brimley’s efforts.
20. Disgusted Republican | 08.28.08
As I suspect with many long-time Republicans, I can no longer stand by and watch the GOP’s (non) energy policy runs this country into the ground. We have to break the stangle hold that fossile fuels and big oil interests have on America go RENEWABLE. T. Boone Pickens for President!
21. joey rocko | 08.28.08
Yeah. kid…lol… Like, McCain is, like so cool, kid, its just friggin ridiculous. Especially like when he was so bipartisan, then wanted to be president and so changed his mind and sides 90% of the the time with the president that has the lowest approval rating in the history of US presidents, kid. lol. Or, like when his daddy let him bail out of one of our jets, and like, if he were a regular guy, they would of been so like, “You can’t fly jets anymore”, but because his dad was this admiral guy, he gets to crash two more; like that is so heroic. lol. Can’t wait till he crashes this jet we call America into the power lines of the world. That will be so friggin cool, kid. lol.
22. Eddie | 08.28.08
Hey if we are talking about looking for a female running mate - I hear that Hillary is now available! THAT would be a surprise.
23. Robert Mori | 08.28.08
I believe John McCain should pick a qualified, conservative woman who would be able to hold her own in the VP debates with Joe Biden. McCain would then be able to attract many of Clinton’s disenfranchised followers. She should have a well reasoned position on pro-life.
Get back to our conservative roots! In many respects, the Republican party has left these and have pursued an agenda that could be considered almost liberal and Democrat
Limit the size of government. Balance the budget, cut spending. Secure the borders, and encourage the wealthiest, smartest and healthiest to immigrate to our country. This will help our economy.
Increase the domestic supply of energy and stop paying the $700 billion every year for petroleum to our Russian and middle eastern terrorists enemies. Lease offshore coasts and lands in the Rocky mountains for environmentally sensitive drilling, cut the red tape to build nuclear plants, encourage clean coal and wind and solar technologies.
Give parents tuition credits so that a free market in education is created to force competition to increase the performance of our public and private schools. Do what is in the best interest of our kids instead of teachers and their unions. We shouldn’t be at the bottom of industrial nations in terms of education of our young.
Create a national mandate free health insurance market to compete along side the state run policies where every citizen can buy any insurance policy that any financially strong company can design. Encourage groups such as Consumer Reports, JD Powers, NCQA etc to rate the policies.
I would negotiate a way for Iraq to pay us back for the manpower and material cost of the war and rebuilding their country on an installment plan that would be doable for the new government to pay out of its oil revenue.
Cut high net worth retiree benefits such as medicare and social security for those with a net worth of at least $3 million indexed for inflation. These seniors can well pay for it.
Fund social security with privatized accounts so the retiree benefits are tied to contributions. Start paying into a plan to pay for the tremendous unfunded liability that this senior benefit represents and get it off the backs of our kids and grand kids.
24. Mark Bohannon | 08.28.08
There’s no “frenzy” behind McCain. He’s a dead *** that’s too old and wealthy to remember what a decent human being consists of. As far as compromising with Repubs, it’s like bargaining with murderers. No how, no way! The pendulum needs to be pulled just as far back to the left as the Repubs have managed to pull things to the wrong! Any president that lies a nation into a war-for-profit is a scourge of society, and his minions should be hounded from out midst, including John McSame.
26. Grace Lee Boggs | 08.28.08
Why doesn’t he just pick Ted Kennedy. It’s all the same party, just the left and right wing’s of the “Big Government Party”. Goodbye America! Hello NWO regardless of who gets this figure head position. Boy I miss the good ole days. I miss Robert Taft and Jeffersonian principles.
28. Milton | 08.28.08
Louis said “But that is the ONLY line you people have to make him look bad don’t you?..lol…of course!”
How about when McCain was talking about Condaleeza Rice going over to Czechoslovakia to sign the Radar treaty in Prague(Smlouvy)? and then some reporter asked him, “uhm yeah did it occur to you that Czech Republic and Slovak Republic have been two separate countries since 1993 (15 years)?”
How good could he possibly be at Foreign Policy if he doesn’t even know geography?
And he can’t be all that good at debating neither if ol’ George W beat him.. think about it people!!! If he’s gonna mock the intelligence of the American people openly, I’m for him going all out and picking Paris Hilton as his Running Mate.
29. HECHOOSEPOORLY | 08.28.08
Hopefully he picks someone who knows how to use a computer.
Otherwise America will be wondering…
How will John McCain respond to that 3 A.M. email?
30. jjohnson | 08.28.08
Geography? “Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go.”
32. sammy | 08.28.08
Can this story about Pawlenty get anymore boring? The man has left the state of Minnesota’s economy in shambles. Unemployment. Homelessness. Health care. Education. Oh did I forget to mention that our state’s transportation system did have a 35W bridge. Up until August of 2007. Although 13 Minnesotan’s were lost on that awful day when the bridge fell down, some of us have not forgotten them. We have yet to hear anything remorseful from that politician, because of the neglect and indifference that he has inflicted on us through his no budget, no compromise stance with our legislature. Some of us have not forgotten what has happened in this state since this “no new taxes” politician was forced down our throats by the the smallest majority of voters in Minnesota’s history. God help us.
33. Bob H | 08.28.08
I am hoping that McCain will select a woman for VP. It justs seems so logical and guaranteed to give him a tremendous “bump”. Keeping my fingers crossed for now.
34. Tony | 08.28.08
We’re doomed.I say we hold a special popular vote election with all candidates(both current and previous runners),and give them no airtime whatsoever.We live in an instant information/communication society,so therefore everyone SHOULD remember who was their original choice for president.We have the technology.It can be done with 30 days of prep.And if you say”I don’t know where that person stands on——–.then you’re too busy to vote anyway!!!
35. Mick | 08.28.08
And what about Condy Rice, bright, attractive, tough, articulate and knows the players in the international scene….and respected by them. And for those that color is important….and gender is important….. awesome!
36. Karl Rover | 08.28.08
I figured it out who McCain’s VP choice will be when I drove by Waffle House and the managers car wasn’t there.
I called his campaign manager and ask if the Waffle House district manager, Jim Bob McGuffy, was McCain’s pick and he said he would have to keep that information scattered, covered, and smothered.
39. NewMav | 08.28.08
If McCain only has these guys to choose from, he’s in big trouble. Who’s next, the Crypt Keeper? Actually he might make a good VP. He’s would be like a funny Dick Cheney.
40. EverafterImages.com | 08.29.08
Getting my bumper stickers today! McCain/Palin - what a speech she gave - Strong, Clear - and she didn’t go - Uhh, Uhh, Uhh
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. kerry | 08.28.08
It would be best if he could pick all 4 to win this election and cover all his areas of inexpertise, but I don’t really believe he will win now…He’s not ready to be President when he says he doesn’t understand economics and for that matter he;s been wrong to many times in foreign decisions, too…
I’m afraid we don’t have enough ammo to win this election this time…Thanks Bush and Cheney..