McCain’s VP Shortlist Shortcomings

Can you imagine? We are borrowing money from communist China to fight a war that McCain supports and wants to fight for 100 years.
Very poor judgment. He is losing anyways.

Governor Palin’s biggest drawback being that she is currently under investigation by the Alaska State Legislature for possible misuse of her office in the firing of the popular Commissioner of Public Safety (a man who would not bow to the pressure she, her family, and some of her key staff applied to have him fire her ex-brother in law – a State Trooper – because of an an ugly custody battle he’s in with her younger sister).
So, if McCain wants to introduce to the nation a woman who is embroiled in discussions about the legalities of shooting a moose, tazering a child, and other bizarre and tawdry things, then he knows who to tap to be one heartbeat away from the most powerful position in the world.
Or, he can wait, like the rest of us, to see what the Independant Investigator turns up in his/her exploration of executive branch misuse of power. It’s expected the Investigator will be appointed within the week and will presumably take a couple months to conduct the probe. A joint Alaska State Legislative Council just approved $100,000 yesterday to finance the investigation into Governor Palin’s possible misuse of power.
This is the Third Way? Is there a Fourth Way?

The mainstream media and the Democrats downplay Palin!
Why?
Are they afraid of her? Yes

I am so tired of this “judgement vs experience” argument. We know that McCain has the experience, but who says that Obama has the judgement? Who made up this silly rule? Obama has no judgement whatsoever, this is a man who sat for 20 years clueless in a racist church, and then lies about it later. And stop saying that Obama had the judgement against the Iraq war; he was not in a position to vote for it at the time, he did not have the confidential intelligence, and he already said that had he had the information, he is not sure how he would have voted.
Obama…no experience, no judgement, no way.

Her name is Kay Bailey HUTCHISON (no “n”). Jeez, she’s a senator (not one I like at all), but the media misspell her name about half the time.

Since when has Pennsylvania ever been a “must-win” for a Republican? And who actually believes Romney can pull Michigan (the last three people with that last name to run for state-wide office all lost, big).
Obama still can’t seal the deal, can’t get over 50% support, and despite his European victory lap remains a foreign policy novice (see: the surge). As long as McCain doesn’t choose Romney, he’ll end up taking it (closely) in November.

BLOOMBERG! BLOOMBERG! BLOOMBERG

what ever happened to charlie crist- governor of florida? I think he would be the best choice, he is the candidate i fear most as a democrat.

Anybody but Romney. Romney will say anything to be president and now vice-president. As the article stated, “But Romney brings to the ticket what McCain has spent an entire career avoiding: political expediency. McCain’s stock-in-trade has been straight talk and independence… Romney has not only changed his positions on specific issues–he’s pretty quickly changed his entire persona, from a moderate conservative governor to a far-right presidential contender. He may bring in dollars, but he would rob McCain of one of his most enduring characteristics.”

For all the reasons Tapper has written above, McCain will end up with Condi Rice. You heard it here first, last, and always. She’s simply his best choice.

So the three states McCain must win in November are Pennsylvania, Michigan and… Pennsylvania? Was that third one supposed to be Ohio?

I’d be very pleased with Condoleeza Rice as his VP pick. She would also make a much better choice for “First African American President” in 2016.

Interesting choices:
McCain Lieberman or McCain Clinton (Hillary)

Olympia Snowe. if you are going to go pro-choice, go with the most qualified woman in America. Hillary voters will replace grumbling fundies by the millions, and McCain can have a Sister Souljah moment no one will forget.

An anti-choice fanatic like Palin will only attract women who are already on the Repub bus. She will repulse Hillary women. She has no electoral votes. She is less experienced than Obama. A disastrous choice.

From an Ohioan standpoint Sarah Palin would be just the ticket! Ohio went BIG for Hillary, and is currently trending to McCain. Her pick would solidify conservatives, women, blue collar workers, Roman Catholics, and the Reagan Democrats. Unstoppable!
She would add positively to the Republican ticket. McCain standing between his beautiful wife and this attractive competent VP pick would definitely be a plus!
Go McCain!

I don’t find Palin sexy, looks like a female drag queen.

I don’t know one Hillary voter who is going to be excited by a pro-life crusader. Everything in her rhetoric says she will force the choice. With a vengeance. That’s what being pro-life means, and it is an important issue to her, unlike McCain, who just wishes it would go away.

We need Romney, to help turn around the Economy.

Romney is clearly the best choice. He has the experience to help McCain where he needs help the most. McCain has changed his mind just like Romney on issues. Who hasn’t?

What McCain needs is a strong christian conservative who can excite the christain conservated wing off the party, otherwise we most likely will not even vote in November. He needs to give us a reason (someone) we really feel we have to vote for, and that someone isn’t John McCain. If he picks someone we don’t like and thus makes them the likely front runner in 2012, I’m staying home in November and sending a check to Mike Huckabee.

Ted, Why would Hillary supporters relish Sarah Palin as VP, if she would solidify 12 to 16 years of Republican rule? They support McCain, because they’re angry at the Democratic party and feel Clinton should be the nominee in 2012 or this year. They will not support a woman who is pro-life, weak on the environment (Palin supports drilling in ANWR), and most importantly is less qualified to be POTUS than Hillary.
Sarah Palin is America’s Hottest Governor. She was a beauty queen, then the mayor of Wasala population 5,000, if you count the caribou and then this is her first term as Governor. She is in a scandal already. She also has five young children, one of which is a newborn. Conservatives would not support her, either. Babies don’t interfere when you are in Alaska, but they do if you have to take over the White House.
Sarah Palin will be seen as arm candy. She will drive away women voters, which is why either Obama supporters keep throwing her name in the ring, or oil lobbyists that want to open up the arctic preserve – which McCain opposes – are angling to get her in. Plus, Palin sounds like a dingbat when she speaks.
Hillary supporters would be happy with a woman VP pick like Olympia Snowe, who is one of the most effective legislators in the Senate and profiled from Vanity Fair to thewhitehouseproject. org as a woman who could be POTUS in 2008. Her role in the Gang of 14 revives McCain’s image as a maverick, but that would send single issue voters running screaming from the party. Besides, the northeast was staked out a long time ago. Snowe would attract Catholics, though, and there are a lot in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which is in play this year.

There are several noticeable mistakes in your article.

It’s funny to see a few posters who think Obama has better judgment than McCain. Examples of Obama’s judgment are having a spiritual mentor for 20 years who beseeched God to damn America, calling the wigga priest Father Pfleger his “moral compass,” and launching his political career in 1995 at the home of unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers.

The so-called “scandal” involving Sarah Palin “firing” the Public Safety Commisioner is a complete farce.
Here are the reasons:
1. She didn’t “fire” Monegan, the commisioner…she wanted to reassign him to a different position, which is her right as governor…he refused and decided to quit.
2. The ex-brother-in law, Wooten, who now has mysteriously “left the country”, was NEVER fired…but he would have been in ANY other state for the infractions he committed like driving a state trooper vehicle after drinking and not even given a breathalyzer test by a fellow officer, even though that officer smelled alcohol on his breath.
3. Trooper Wooten had threatened the father and family of Palin, and Todd Palin, Sarah’s husband was FORCED by the governor’s security detail to relay said threats to Monegan the commissioner. Never was there a demand or request to fire Trooper Wooten, but only to make known the threats. Doing any less would be highly imprudent.
Palin has cleaned up a corrupt state government, that now sees Sen. Stevens indicted…is this indicative of Alaska?..unfortunately, yes, but NOT under Palin’s watch and not as far as her administration is concerned.
The investigation will reveal NOTHING extraordinary or illegal about Palin replacing a Commissioner. Her ex-brother-in-law was never FIRED (even though he should have been) and the whole thing is a political dust-up because Dems in the state and nationally are extremly fearful of what Palin on the ticket as VP will mean for Obama’s chances:
They will be TOAST!

Let us get smart and see what the latest Rasmussen poll shows. He rated several of the top list of possible McCain VP selection. The result with the elctorate was that Romney had a 48% Negative or unfavorable rating the higest unfavorable of anyone surveyed – and a -8% differential – with that many people with an unfavorable opinion McCain would be stupid to make that selection.

As an Alaskan, it is HILARIOUS to read what conservatives around the country think of Palin. It appears most of you have been as duped as most of us were who voted for her less than two years ago when she ran for Governor.
TRUTH (regardless of what the sad little rabid group of ten or so 21 year old college boys think): Sarah is NOT A CONSERVATIVE. She’s not even really a liberal. Her POLICIES are much more like socialism than anything else. Her name is absolute mud in Alaska among Conservative Republicans. Period. You don’t believe me? Fine. Go online and listen to KFQD the Dan Fagin podcasts. Dan is the number one talk show host in the State – with around 50,000 listeners – in a State of barely 600,000 – this is a sizeable number. The number two talk show host, Rick Rydell at KENI is another good podcaster to listen to. Both Dan and Rick are tried and true Republicans and they are both conservatives. Sarah’s policies and dramamatics are disgusting to them.
The reason her poll numbers have not come down dramatically yet is that the one State-wide paper, an extremely liberal rag called the Anchorage Daily News (adn), LOVES Sarah’s policies – why? Because they’re so DANG LIBERAL. She’s a liberal’s dream: she has passed the most onerous taxes on the private sector of any governor ever in Alaska.
Are the lads over at sarahpalinforvp reporting this? Of course not. They just spent the past fifteen months of their lives relentlessly trying to promote the idea of Sarah for vp. That she makes regular tax and spend liberals blush, is not about to be covered by them.
Also, this nonsense that she is a good imopromptu speaker? Where do people come up with this silliness? Obviously very few outside of Alaska have ever heard her – except in highly edited tv clips. Go back to her interveiw with Gov. Janet _________ from New Mexico with Charlie Rose. This notion that she can articulate and speak well is fairly cleared up on that piece; the highlight being when Charlie asks her about the importance of health care in Alaska – Sarah: “It’s huge. Huge. Huge. It’s so huge we don’t even know where to begin talking about it,” and with that she looks imploringly at Gov. Janet who kindly steps in and helps her out by actually answering the question.
Still not convinced? Go to Andrew Halcro’s site: andrewhalcro.com and read comments from average, conservative Alaskans from the past week. The most enlightening post is called “Shadow Governor,” about Sarah’s husband, Todd, who used the Governor’s office to pressure people to do his bidding. It’s a couple pages back from the main page. Look for it – it’s worth the time and effort.
And, please, America – can we stop this silliness about Sarah for Vice President? If McCain actually taps her, balloons and corks will be flying in Obamaville. They won’t have to do another dang thing except choose their Inaugural Day outfits.
Sarah is attractive and she has a great smile – but she is currently under investigation by the legislative branch in Alaska (and it was a 100% vote) to conduct an investigation into possible misuse of her power.
Let’s all wake up, as conservatives, and find a candidate to gather round aand promote who not only has a chance, but would actually do a good job as V.P.

Bobby Jindal was the best VP choice. However, I think Jindal is the GOP’s next nominee and likely our next President after this President.

Sarah Palin is a total Nothingburger. She is also too buzy reproducing to be campaigning for Vice President or anything else. Like Nancy Pelosi,she has chose to reproduce with reckless abandon and total disregard for this planet; she needs to stay home and take care of her progeny, rather than foisting their cost and care on U.S. taxpayers.

He is arrogant,self righteous,self serving and inexperienced. MCCain is gaining ground and going to win this. Even though ABC news is pushing this puppet as hard as they can. He reminds me of Paris and Brit, all media with no substance. Someone should send him back to where he came from.

Mccain is a goof ball. He and George look and sound too much alike for me.. Ughhhhhhhhh!!!!

Reading Sue Williams posts (a lib plant) shows how scared the left is of Palin. Personally, I would pick Rice but Palin would be my second choice.

Someone should tell McCain that Pawlenty is a joke in MN. People here are amazed. When the I35 bridge fell, Pawlenty got the blame for cutting Highway maintenance funds. The convention is a disaster waiting to happen and the ST Paul police are getting turned down for help from area PDs.

Will you news people PLEASE stop calling McCain a “maverick”? It may have been true at one time but the shoe no longer fits.

get ready to say “Vice-President Pawlenty” .. he is the best option for McCain … and he will pull the Clinton voters over to the GOP!

Gov Romney would be the best pick, he already has been vetted, matches Sen Obama in being able to write an give good speeches, since Sen Obama has flip/flopped, they really couldnt bring this up against Gov Romney. Although, as has been stated, by Sen Obama himself, there is nothing wrong with someone evolving. Gov Romney can bring Mich, Nev, Colo an help Sen McCain in Ohio. The Mormon issue will not be what it was in the Primary’s. The Dems would be insane to attack him because he is a Morman. Most of the evangelicals will vote for the ticket. My guess, Rev Huckabee would support the ticket as well. If he has any desire for 2012. Also, he is a cash magnate. Would work for free. Thats my kinda candidate. lol

After the I35 bridge collapse, Pawlenty through his Lt Governor under the bus, blaming her, she was also Highway Commisioner. Prior the the bridge collapse, Republicans had a billboard blaming the Democrats for spending too much on road maintenance. Also the city traffic is terrible due to the bridge and related construction. They are even working on the detour being used to bypass the bridge collapse. The roads from the airport to the convention site will be a terrible. I think the press will notice this, and Pawlenty will get well, maybe not the blame, but it will certainly bring his judgement into question to be VP.

“Grandpa McSame as Bush” may have less brain cells to think correctly. Don’t blame the man for his indicisions and forgetfulness. Those are signs of old age.

If McCain is too old then explain Ted Kennedy and his condition! He is broken and people still say he is good to go. The only difference is we are talking lib vs conservative. liberal standards are nothing is forbidden as a put down as long as a liberal wins. Integrity has nothing to do with reality.

Mitt Romney is a flip-flopper. He is UNTRUSTWORTHY and should NOT be Senator McCain’s running mate.
ABORTION
From the Left:
Romney ran against Senator Edward M. Kennedy in 1994. During a debate, Romney declared: “I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country. I have since the time that my mom took that position when she ran in 1970 as a US Senate candidate. I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.”
- Boston Globe, March 2, 2006
“I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose.”
-2002 Questionnaire for the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL)
Boston Globe, July 3, 2005
From the Right:
“I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother. I wish the people of America agreed, and that the laws of our nation could reflect that view. But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate.”
- Boston Globe, Op-Ed, July 26, 2005
More from the Right:
“Every decision I have made as Governor in a very liberal state has been on the side of favoring life.” – Governor Romney
- Robert Behre, “Romney Gets S.C. Support,” Charleston Post-Courier, January 30, 2007
GAY RIGHTS
From the Left:
“All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. While he does not support gay marriage, Mitt Romney believes domestic partnership status should be recognized in a way that includes the potential for health benefits and rights of survivorship.”
- Romney’s 2002 campaign website
“Mitt and Kerry Wish You a Great Pride Weekend! All citizens deserve equal rights, regardless of their sexual preference”
- A flier handed out at “Gay Pride” by the Romney/Healey Campaign
“We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and a bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns [grammar in context] President Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share…”
- Governor Romney letter to Log Cabin Republicans, October 6, 1994 Read the letter
From the Right:
Lopez: “And what about the 1994 letter to the Log Cabin Republicans where you indicated you would support the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and seemed open to changing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the military? Are those your positions today?
Gov. Romney: “No. I don’t see the need for new or special legislation. My experience over the past several years as governor has convinced me that ENDA would be an overly broad law that would open a litigation floodgate and unfairly penalize employers at the hands of activist judges…As for military policy and the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, I trust the counsel of those in uniform who have set these policies over a dozen years ago. I agree with President Bush’s decision to maintain this policy and I would do the same.”
- Interview with National Review, December 14, 2006 Read the interview
MARRIAGE AMENDMENT
From the Left:
In 2002, before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared same-sex marriage protected by the Constitution, Romney denounced as “too extreme” the effort by pro-family groups to enact a preemptive state Marriage Protection Amendment prohibiting homosexual marriage, civil unions and same-sex public employee benefits.
- Boston Phoenix, May 14-20, 2004
From the Right:
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough: “Do you support a national constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage?”
Governor Romney: “Boy, I sure do. You know, that’s a topic that’s really, I think, very important to the country because marriage is not just about adults. Marriage is about the development and nurturing of kids, and in my view, the development of a child is enhanced by having a mom and dad. And so, I think it’s very important that we have a national standard because marriage is a status. You get married in one place and then you move to another, you’re still married at least in the eyes of the community and the children and the benefits may not follow you, but ultimately we’re going to have one standard of marriage in this country and that standard ought to be one man and one woman.”
- MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” September 17, 2007
GUN RIGHTS
From the Left:
“He [Romney] is a supporter of the federal assault weapons ban.”
- Romney 2002 campaign website
More from the Left:
In his 1994 US Senate run, Romney backed two gun-control measures strongly opposed by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups: the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on certain assault weapons.
“That’s not going to make me the hero of the NRA,” Romney told the Boston Herald in 1994.
At another campaign stop that year, he told reporters: “I don’t line up with the NRA.”
- Boston Globe, January 14, 2007 Read the article
From the Right:
“Americans should have the right to own and possess firearms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution,” said Governor Romney. “I’m proud to be among the many decent, law-abiding men and women who safely use firearms.”
- Governor Romney, News Release, January 12, 2007

It’s the economy, stupid! It’s time for McCain to put on the green eyeshades and re-assure voters with:
1. John Kasich – Pre-Bush budget balancer. Good communicator from the Heartland. Right age and mix of government and non-governmental experience. Culturally conservative with evangelical and Catholic influences. Solid on substance and comes across well to the average voter. Could win his debate.
2. Steve Forbes – Solid conservative credentials with the right economic background: flatter taxes, stronger dollar, reforms such as health savings accounts. Nerdiness makes McCain look better, but is a sober and experienced outsider who once ran for president and could step in without missing a beat. Can explain economics to everyman, and he can win his debate.

Oh look it’s duck tape man for VP! ROFLMAO

IF YOU TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN AFTER THIS – THEN BE MY GUEST
McCain opposed the 21st century GI bill because said it was too generous. McCain did not actually vote on the new GI Bill that provides better educational opportunities to veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, paying full tuition at in-state schools and living expenses for those who have served at least three years since the 9/11 attacks. McCain opposed the bill because he thinks the generous benefits would “encourage more people to leave the military.” (S.Amdt. 4803 to H.R. 2642, Vote 137, 5/22/08)
McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. Although McCain told voters at a campaign rally that improving veterans’ health care was his top domestic priority, he voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. ( Greenville News, 12/12/2007; S.Amdt. 2745 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate S.C.R. 18, Vote 55, 3/16/05; S.Amdt. 3007 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 41, 3/14/06; H.R. 1591, Vote 126, 3/29/07)
Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed providing an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and inflation. (S.Amdt. 3141 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 63, 3/16/06)
McCain Voted Against Adding More Than $400 Million for Veterans’ Care. McCain was one of 13 Republicans to vote against providing an additional $430 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for outpatient care and treatment for veterans. (S.Amdt. 3642 to H.R. 4939, Vote 98, 4/26/06)
Voted Against Establishing a $1 Billion Trust Fund for Military Health Facilities. McCain voted against establishing a $1 billion trust fund to improve military health facilities by refusing to repeal tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year. (S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297, Vote 7, 2/2/06)
McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders. McCain voted against an amendment to appropriate $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, posttraumatic stress disorder or substance abuse. (S. 2020, S.Amdt. 2634, Vote 343, 11/17/05)
McCain Voted in Support of Disabled Veterans Only 25 Percent of the Time from 2004-2005. While McCain claims he “has been a leading advocate” for veterans with disabilities, statistics show he supported the Disabled American Veterans’ interests only 25 percent of the time in 2004-2005. In 2006, that figure slipped to 20 percent of the time. (Project Vote Smart)
McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans. McCain voted against providing automatic annual cost-ofliving adjustments for certain veterans’ benefits. (S. 869, Vote 259, 11/20/91)
Source: AFL/CIO