Your premonition on the Pukes' veep nom?

[saltpoint]

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Romney, Sad To Say

While Romney couldn't sell his ultrabullshit to the unwashed masses, he's in his element with overstuffed members of the Predator Class, the very organisms that will pick the VP. He could sell ice cubes in the winter to that crowd.

[saltpoint]

3. Hi, Manny. Yes -- Romney speaks their language.

I think he's a strong contender.

He gives me the creeps, of course. Not creepy in an entertaining, Hollywood sort of way, but creepy in a "the undead walk among us" kind of way.

Makes me want to put on additional bolt locks on the patio door.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. Here In Mass, Reporters Say He's Not Human

I've heard a number of reporters who've interviewed him say that he's really robotic - he shows absolutely no trace of humanity, his eyes are dead. The consensus is, as you say, he's very creepy.

[hlthe2b]

6. that is true; but I'm not sure McShame's insecurities could

handle a Romney..

[niceypoo]

87. Romney = Ted Baxter

[CK_John]

2. Gov Bobby Jindal. n/t

[saltpoint]

5. I gotta ask. How does McCain, who is already pretty unpopular with the

far nutbag fundies get away with choosing Jindal, he of the exorcist resume?

I'm just not getting that.

[hlthe2b]

8. let alone the racists and anti-"foreigners" among them...

[CK_John]

12. For the reason you stated, he will pickup the fundie base. Get almost 24/7 press coverage. Give the

GOP an opportunity to prove they are not racist. He's from a big oil state. And. . .

He will probably be the nominee in Nov, since I believe McCain will be dropped from the ticket by the Cheney shadow government wing of the GOP.

[saltpoint]

16. CK John, you are a damned interesting prognosticator.

I've read your prediction on this before on DU but my brain is snagging with Jindal.

I'm just not seeing it.

Not saying you're wrong, only that right now I just can't bet on that horse.

[CK_John]

22. We'll see. I worry more about will the schools be able to heat the buildings in Nov. n/t

[saltpoint]

23. Well, it's no big deal if they can't. I've never been at ease with all this

book-learnin' by the young.


:hi:

[Mz Pip]

50. The GOP will have a hard time

with Jindal. THey aren't all racist, but a whole lot of them are. THese are the old guard who left the Democratic Party in the 60s because of its commitment to civil rights. A lot of them are still around and have passed on their prejudices to their offspring. McCain annoys them as it is, but adding Jindal to the ticket would send them scurrying.

[anonymous171]

60. The Exorcist?

[hlthe2b]

4. Any ole "placemarker" will do

If McShame went "bold" to try to fool some independents into voting for him, the choices would inevitably further piss off his racist/misogynistic "base."

[saltpoint]

7. Agree. The more "maverick" McCain tilts, the more fundies he repels.

I like the bag he's put himself in!

[jwirr]

10. I have no idea but I will gladly donate pawlenty to him.

[saltpoint]

14. LOL! In the very near future, there may be a keen need for a BYOFRO -- a

Bone Yard of Failed Republican Office-Holders.

Not in Yucca Mountain -- probably I guess somewhere else. But it's going to have to be a pretty large area.

[saltpoint]

11. McCain is a shadow of his former self, the "maverick" John McCain who

upended Dubya in New Hampshire in 2000.

I think that John McCain is a pale, pale echo, replaced now with the blood-dripping-off-my-teeth/pandering-my-ass-off McCain of 2008.

But he has to choose SOMEONE to be on the ticket.

If there's a sitting governor or Senator in the GOP with a relatively safe seat and no other real worries, he or she might accept the veep nod if McCain offers it, but I'm wondering if Fiorina and Ridge, for example, have the inside track because they have nothing else to do.

Ridge could flog the "national security" issue and Fiorina could mobilize voters who are drawn to failed far-right CEOs.

[NYC_SKP]

13. It'll be Harriet Whatsherbucket....

And that's the new AG in the background...

[crankychatter]

15. I think Pawlenty would be their best pick... But whoever it is, they will be President

that's why we should watch closely

[NYC_SKP]

18. Do you mean they WOULD be president if McCain won, then died, or do you..

mean McCain WILL wind, then die?

I'm confused...it's too early to think....

[crankychatter]

20. both are possible - one or the other is probable

mho

They can do whatever they want at convention

Another may usurp his nomination

They want to win

Just the campaign has severely debilitated McCain

He looks like he just served four years... very ill.. there is NO way he's going to serve a full term

[NYC_SKP]

26. Ah, now I think I get it.

If you mean to include that notion that they'll replace him before November, whoever is floated now for VP will, in fact, become the candidate.

Hmm, you could be right!

I thought you might have been expressing "bitterness" and un-unity.

But I see you're not bitter, just cranky!!!

Cheers!

[crankychatter]

34. never post before the second cup of coffee.... of course (pleezjeezus) The GOP will lose

oopsie

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. lieberman or Jindal.

[saltpoint]

19. Here's a frightening thought. What about George Allen or Jim Talent?

Both lost Senate races which actually makes them ideal for McCain, because no GOP sitting governor or senator's seat would be in jeopardy.

I'm thinking that McCain might not get a lot of 'yes' responses on his short list, and that his short list ay wind up being comprised of people with nothing to lose.

Crist is pretty young with a possible bright future ahead; I'm not sure he'd tarnish his chances by brand affiliation with McCain. Or maybe he's an ego-driven opportunist who'd do it at the drop of a hat. I have no idea.

I'm sure Fiorina wants the nod. God knows she isn't doing anything else at the moment, and never has been doing anything else, ever, and she'd love it if McCain showed up with a glass slipper to try on.

Talent is considered "moderate" by GOP voters, where Allen is a red-meat hyper-conservative noose-brandishing racist slimeball, whch is much more to the Far Right's liking.

I realize both have just lost recent Senate re-elections in battleground states, and ironically, both the folks who defeated them are possible veep nods for Obama.

This could get interesting, folks.

[papapi]

43. George 'macaca' Allen would be good. Two losers on the same ticket.

McShame could probably convince Allen to use the 'n' word. He's used it before.

[harun]

21. Other: Lieberman

[saltpoint]

25. Hi, harun. Yep -- I probably should have included him in the poll.

It's frighteningly plausible that McCain will take a look at his internal polling just before the convention and say to himself, "Jesus, I'm going to get creamed in the RED states; I might as well pick Lieberman and make a few media points, etc."

It could happen.

And of course Lieberman would be the perfect delusional choice.

[uppityperson]

41. JoeLie is my guess also

[Richard Steele]

61. It's really looking that way, isn't it? nm

[blondeatlast]

65. I think so, too. If the odds are long, I'd bet Fiorina; but the safe money's on Lie. nt

[harun]

70. Lieberman would rally the Liberal base to action more than any other pick

[rucky]

24. Huckabee. n/t

[Seabiscuit]

27. Other: The one George Carlin called "The Silver Douchebag".

Barbara Bush. After all, she did such a good job teaching l'il Dumbya how to read.

[saltpoint]

29. I ran a poll on DU once about Republican First Ladies, asking which

DUers liked least.

Barbara Bush won in a landslide.


:hi:

[Seabiscuit]

32. LOL!

[hlthe2b]

36. Geez... I don't think anyone else would get a vote against Babs

Hell on earth... We lose Carlin and are stuck with Babs, Poppy and all their demon spawn...

[saltpoint]

37. When they told me when I was a kid that life was unfair, it turns out

they weren't kidding.

I'd take Carlin back any time. I miss him badly already.

In that poll, Nancy Reagan placed a distant second.

No one else was close to those two after her, though.

[TheFarseer]

28. Portman? Is that Natalie Portman?

How can you leave out Jindal? I think he's more in the mix than Natalie. I have to say Crist, Pawlenty or Romney. If you pin me down, I have to say Crist, but it's wide open right now.

[saltpoint]

30. Natalie Portman. Well, the Republicans could certainly do much worse,

and have, often.

I think your 3 picks are almost certainly on the GOP shortlist.

[IntravenousDemilo]

31. I just had a sick thought -- FRED THOMPSON!!!

As in "whatever happened to Fred Thompson?" What if he chose him just to shore up his conservative bona fides? Can't you just see them on the campaign trail together? It'd be like a really poor touring production of The Sunshine Boys or a remake of Grumpy Old Men.

[saltpoint]

33. LOL. Yes. The two of them would have to be wheeled around on guerneys.

With IV hook-ups.

And a team of itinerant physicians at the ready.

[undeterred]

35. Mr Rages in the senate meets Mr Travels with his dog on the car roof

Yeah, I want the country in their hands. :sarcasm:

[saltpoint]

38. Exactly. I'm not expecting a "Behavioral Psychologists for McCain" group OR

a PETA endorsement for a ticket with Romney on it.

[rhiannon55]

39. I keep wondering what Jeb Bush is up to these days

I know McSame wants to distance himself from Dubya, but would Jeb as VP be seen differently by the morans? Stupid people and rich people love the Bush family. Would a John McCain/Jeb Bush ticket be seen as a chance to "get it right this time", to redeem the Bushies from the mistakes of the Idiot Son? You know that poppy has been kicking himself for years for installing Georgie instead of Jebbie. I'll bet he and his cronies are working feverishly to keep the power in Bush family hands. What better way to do it than to install Jeb as VP, with the likelihood of McCain dying in office--from "natural" causes, of course. We could have another nightmare Bush presidency within a couple of years.

I know this is an unlikely scenario, but these days, nothing surprises me. :scared:

[saltpoint]

40. It's a cold, calculating possibility that the Bush name would live on in

lil' brother Jeb. And the GOP is nothing if not cold and calculating.

Charlie Crist wouldn't think much of the choice, to be sure. LOL!

McCain has disgraced himself and dramatically lowered his odds of winning by endorsing the Surge. His Dubya-huggin' is coming home to roost and early polling suggests that he is going to have to spend money he doesn't have on places he'd ordinarily carry.

Which is pretty much where we want things to stand.

He could pull just about any rabbit out of the hat, especially if he knows he has nothing to lose. Jeb. Lieberman. Even Cement-Head George Allen.

McCain's political victory odds are long, so his rabbit-out-of-the-hat impulse might be getting stronger.

[papapi]

45. I just had a really bad gas pain. Please don't mention that name...

:freak:

[papapi]

42. The one who will mind the least being hooked up to a loser.

[NorthCarolina]

44. Lieberman

Not an option in the poll, but he's gotta be right up there in contention.

[On the Road]

46. Ridge Would Be the Most Sensible Choice IMO

He's sane, candid, likeable, has executive background, and is from Pennsylvania.

[saltpoint]

63. Agree, ribofunk. Ridge is a strong choice for McCain, and he is not a sitting

GOP gov or senator.

If McCain is going to screech terra terra terra to define his bid for the White House, he could likely do no better than Ridge for his veep nom.

[On the Road]

72. Ridge Puts a More Reasonable Face on the Terror Scare

Even though he was part of the cabinet, he doesn't provoke the same animus that a lot of the current crop of neocons do.

[saltpoint]

76. Agree. He strikes a pose of "reasonable adulthood," earned or not, as

opposed to the other nitwits and thugs in Bush's government.

Which makes him viable and worrisome.

[Aviation Pro]

47. Jeb Fucking Bush....

...who else?

[Occam Bandage]

48. Voted Pawlenty. Surprised Jindal isn't on the poll.

[Mz Pip]

51. I picked Pawlenty too.

He seems to fit the profile of what McCain needs most. I just don't see Romney making the cut.

[Occam Bandage]

52. Yep. Young, religious, blue stater, 'solid' on most conservative issues, esp. immigration...

He's tailor-made for McCain.

[saltpoint]

69. Hi, Occam Bandage. A lot of people are telling me they think it will be

Jindal.

I'm recalcitrant on it so far, though. I don't see how it helps McCain, or why McCain would be drawn to choosing Jindal. I'm not seeing exactly how Jindal, as opposed to Ridge, for example, sharpens the terra terra terra fear-mongering issue, and McCain's first concern is the GOP base, which I feel several other candidates might help with more than Jindal.

But with a lot of insightful people saying that Jindal is a strong consideration, I'm having to reformulate.

[papapi]

49. OK, I decided to pick from the list. Mitt Romulan.

[Super Soaker Sniper]

53. I think it will be

Sarah Palin. A Strategist would view her as a very, very good choice. She would appeal to the staunch Conservatives who are either not supporting McCain at all or giving him lukewarm support. She would also appeal to women voters who would accept no less after being (in their view) cast aside by the Democratic Party.

She is also very pro-drilling and exploration and public support has been swing that way lately. Good choice for the country? I don't know. Good choice as McCain's VP to bring in votes, probably.

Don't think that I am supporting Palin in anyway, I'm just viewing her as what kind of assett she would be to McCain and it appears she would be.

[nsd]

59. Palin's only been governor for 1.5 years.

Picking her (or Jindal for that matter) would undercut the "young & inexperienced" argument McCain hopes to use against Obama. Also, Palin just had a baby two months ago. I doubt she wants to start a national campaign with a newborn in tow.

[saltpoint]

64. I think she would be a stronger choice for McCain if she had not just

given birth this spring.

According to the reports, her baby is diagnosed with Down syndrome, and my guess is she could not travel about the country easily promoting family values -- the Republicans' favorite lullabye -- while being seen as neglecting her 24/7 duties as a mom.

Of course we're dealing with Republicans here, so who knows what they're up to?

It could happen.

[AlinPA]

54. Alaska Governor: Sarah Palin

[Bombtrack]

55. Bobby Jindal

McCain can't resist that kind of stunt casting.

[Phoonzang]

56. A republican friend on the inside says 65%

chance of Pawlenty being VP.

[saltpoint]

62. Interesting. They schedule their convention for the Twin Cities,

maybe to boost the chance of competing in Minnesota, but current polling shows McCain running not only well behind Obama but also behind Ted Bundy as well.

I'm not seeing the GOP carrying Minnesota this time. And a certain Mr. Coleman is sitting in the Senate chair of Paul Wellstone, and I hope that dark sojourn come sto a swift end this Novmber too.

[cbc5g]

57. I think it will be a woman .. McCain knows this is a change year

And will be looking to break Obama's change message.

[TheKentuckian]

58. Pawlenty is my guess

Lieberman #2, and yeah Ridge would be a solid for him too (too solid for my tastes).

He might do another McPander and throw out a woman but I'd imagine that polling leads him away from that. Obama is doing as well or better than any recent democrat with women overall.

The nutcase right likes Jindal but I think they want to groom him more.

Then there was a Quayle sighting and he's got some gray, maybe he's an elder statesman in the GOP now.

[goldcanyonaz]

66. I agree, I also feel it will be a woman

[blondeatlast]

68. The camp seems to be grooming Lie and Fiorina, does he need the woman's vote more?

Either one is a perfect choice for the vastly uninformed voting bloc but a nightmare for the rest of us.

[AlinPA]

78. Sarah Palin, Gov of Alaska. 5 kids, conservative, young, outdoors enthusiast.

[saltpoint]

67. This time last year, I thought Haley Barbour would be the veep pick

for the Pukes because he is likely seen as the ultimate GOP Company Man, a former GOP Party Chair with a fat rolodex, and more or less keeps their base in line.

But I haven't seen him on even one talk show in ages and his name is rarely mentioned.

[Rowdyboy]

84. That mush-mouthed freak is too busy trying to destroy Mississippi....

It'll take him a few more years, but he's really making progress. Once he guts medicaid and get a voter ID bill that will ensure that black votes won't count, he should be ready to lead the Republican ticket come 2012.

God I despise my governor

[saltpoint]

86. Your despising Haley Barbour is indication of extremely sound mental

health on your part, IMO.

He's a monster, no question about it.

[dontforgetpoland]

71. My guess is that McCain will wait till Obama picks first before announcing anyone.

If Obama does choose a female nominee, my guess McCain will choose either: Pawlenty, Huckabee, maybe Romney (doubt it though).
If Obama does not pick a female nominee, McCain will likely choose one. My guess is Sarah Palin or Kay Bailey Hutchison.

I think Obama should wait till McCain chooses first, even if it after their convention. Remember before Mondale bid, the V.P selection was always chosen after the convention. Mondale chose Ferraro during his convention and afterwards he said he was forced by his staff to decide well before he attended to.

In the end, my prediction:

Obama/Webb or Clark vs McCain/Palin

or

Obama/Sebelius vs McCain/Pawlenty or Huckabee

[AlinPA]

79. Probably. Their convention is after Democrats.

[saltpoint]

80. Welcome to Du, dontforgetpoland. It's a good place.

Plenty of politics, too.

I think Obama is going to have to make his selection first. Dems are in Denver August 25-28; the Pukes follow up close by Sept. 1-4, only hours away, really, between the two camps' decisions for the veep picks.

Interesting thought there that McCain will choose a male or female veep nom as a response to whom Obama winds up choosing. I think it holds some water, too.

[TayTay]

73. Not sure if it will be Romney or Pawlenty

I don't honestly see Jindal. He simply has not been vetted enough and when things come it, they don't play well. It would be very easy to make Jindal out to be a nut in the General Election, imho.

McCain needs to shore up his base, way more so than Obama needs to shore up his base. VP choices are of limited value in this. VP's tend to be sent to middle/lower media markets and used to reinforce the existing message of the candidate and provide some headlines by way of attacks on the other camps nominee.

Romney is a low-grade chameleon willing to do or say anything that would advance his career options. He would be a good choice for the role of attack dog because he is completely remorseless and attacks from need, not principle. McCain is not stupid and would know that Romney would be setting up his own power base in the VP's mansion and I would worry about Romney's long-term loyalties. The exact thing that makes him a tempting VP choice is also his biggest liability, ambition. Romney will show some ability to move religious conservatives and move some money into Republican pipelines, but those voters and that money ought to be considered Repub anyway. Romney is a decent choice for McCain, as long as McCain remembers that he has to have someone monitoring Romney at all times and make sure that Romney doesn't knife him in the back in order to get a step up on the ladder of his own presidential ambitions.

Pawlenty is a decent attack dog. I saw him on a morning show today and he kind of held his own with Rahm Emmanuel during a pissing contest on the basics. He was not that fast on his feet though and stuck with his point relentlessly, which was that Obama has never shown "maverick" tendencies in his tenure in the Senate and votes the Democratic way. Ah, this is a Democratic year, so that attack line has limited payoff this year. Pawlenty seemed programmed to go out and give that attack and he was not quick to bring in other arguments that might be more persuasive to his cause. I am not sure that he is quite ready for prime-time. I do think he would be loyal to McCain, but he doesn't seem to be anything special.

Maybe Rommey, though I think McCain intensely dislikes him and with cause. But, McCain needs a Terminator-style attack robot out there saying what McCain can't and Romney would do this. But, there would be a cost. I think McCain is weighing that right now.

[saltpoint]

77. Sound analysis from one of the best there is.

Hello there. Happy summertime. Awfully nice to see you.

Agree -- McCain has to stay above the fray and so someone like Romney would be the perfect attack animal. Snarling, snapping, hyper-territorial and utterly without substance. The perfect GOP veep nom.

[TayTay]

83. As long as you remember

Romney's ultimate loyalty is to Mitt Romney. He will be with McCain as long as it is in his best interests to be with McCain. As soon as Romney perceives that he can advance by splitting from McCain, he will do so. He is a great VP choice on some terms, but this dog owes loyalty to no master. I think McCain knows that that and is very wary of the guy for that reason. If McCain choices Romney I think it means that Romney better have a summer house in Michigan all lined up because he is going to be spending a lot of time in that state.

BTW, things are going well. This is one of those years that you live for in politics. It is a lot of fun and a lot of work. And, as ever, it is always nice to talk to you OC. You are one of the most interesting, intelligent and charming people on DU.

'tis a pleasure to chat, sir, a pleasure.

[saltpoint]

85. TayTay, I hear you on Mitt Romney. I think it's a surgically accurate

characterization of the man.

If indeed he is a man.

That he is even HUMAN, it seems to me, has not been wholly established.

The Creep Quotient with Mitt Romney is exceedingly high. As I don't have to tell you there in Massachusetts.

I have no idea in hell why Jindal is getting the media attention he is in regard to his maybe becoming McCain's running mate. Stranger things have happened, but for now my money is not on Bobby Jindal.

Thank you for your kind words. And all the very best to you in your current endeavors, which serve more than just one person, famous though he be. It serves all of us. Thank you for that.

[Joe Bacon]

74. I've said it all along--JEB BUSH

Mc Cain made the deal with the Bush Crime Family. He will pick Jeb.

[Arugula Latte]

75. My prediction is guaranteed to be 100 percent accurate.

McCain will pick ...


here it comes ...


Are you ready? ...


I will reveal it now ...


his VP choice will be:


Someone Awful.

[saltpoint]

81. Ordinarily I don't feel anything is 100% for sure, but an exception must be

made in your case.

I think you are 100% correct!

[tekisui]

82. Newt!