27 August 2008

Who Will Be John McCain's Choice For Vice President?

As with Obama's decision to pick Joe Biden as a running mate, it's hard to steer away from conventional wisdom when it comes to the choice John McCain will make in the next day or so. I fully expect Mac to pull safely from the short list of candidates that pundits swat back and forth like a slow-motion, snooze-inducing shuttlecock. Will it be Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Tom Ridge or Charlie Crist? Sure, it's fun to talk about more dramatic possibilities like Colon Powell, Rudi, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Joe Lieberman or Condoleezza Rice, but I expect McCain to combat B.H. Obama's hollow promise of undefined change with an old-fashioned recipe of two WASPs with stingers.


My prediction: Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty.
Pawlenty is a safe choice who will certainly lock up Minnesota as a red state and probably bring Wisconsin in tow. OK, now that I've taken care of that, let's talk about the choice that I think McCain SHOULD make.

My preference: Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin

In my mind Palin is the perfect choice for a number of reasons.

  • She is a woman who may force disenfranchised Hillary supporters to consider punching a chad intentionally for the GOP.
  • She is a young, fresh face added to the mix. Talk to me about change!
  • Her shocking addition to the ticket would focus the human interest/social barrier angle on the McCain campaign.
  • She supports the 2nd amendment.
  • She can pull in conservatives with her pro-life stance.
  • Like McCain, she is an environmentalist.
  • She has a history of fiscal conservatism.
  • She is not linked to the "unpopular" Bush administration.
  • While she lacks "experience," it is less an issue as V.P.
  • She is easy on the eyes.
  • And she gets her picture taken with dead bears.

Come on, John. Think outside of the box on this one. You have a chance to make real history! Add Sarah to the ticket and let's take it to the White House . . .

9 comments :

  1. GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD said...

    Hey! Great Case for Palin! Been hearing Kay Bailey Hutchinson's name too. Hoping for Condi personally.

    Won't be long now til we find out!

  2. Anthony Palmer, Ph.D. said...

    I hear Palin's name mentioned a lot in conservative circles. But I think she'd be problematic for McCain for the following reasons:

    She's younger than Obama.
    She's the governor of the second smallest state.
    She has been a governor for less time than Obama has been a senator.

    These facts totally undercut McCain's attacks on Obama being too young and too inexperienced. Karl Rove used these exact same attacks to discredit Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. ("He was the mayor of the 135th largest city!")

    If McCain's going to choose a woman, he might be better served by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas.

  3. Anonymous said...

    Great blog my friend; My prediction is that he will stick with Mitt Romney.
    He needs to go with a strong conservative like Romney to pull in the conservative base that he is not getting.
    Best of luck to him.

  4. Nikki said...

    I thought Alaska was one of the biggest states? maybe not in population. Palin would look too much like pandering...not that both candidates aren't pandering right and left and north and south...Romney is popular in Ohio and Michigan and adds some economy clout which neither Biden nor Obama have. :)N

  5. Khaki Elephant said...

    Thanks, GSG! Been enjoying your take on the scene, including the Condi Posts. I think she'd be a great V.P., but I don't think she wants it (not that she meets me at the confessional). . . and her close affiliation with the Bush admin would play into Obama's primary attacks.

    Anthony, you're right that Palin's experience could be an issue, but I think it wouldn't cause much concern in the Veep slot. And while Alaska is a small state (electorial collegely speaking) that will go for McCain without her, I think her national appeal would outweigh most other options. As for Kay Bailey Hutchinson, I think the criminal indictment on misconduct charges that she beat on a technicality would be a disasterous story for McCain.

    dd2, thanks for stopping by and the kind words. Went to your site and, in the words of the governator, "I'll be back." I really like Mitt and think he would be a fine veep or even president, but I think he would be the wrong choice for McCain because . . .

    Nikki, I just don't see Mitt bringing as much to the table as others believe. He is conservative, but so are other candidates. He is somewhat popular here in Michigan because of his family, but don't be fooled by his winning the primary. We have an open primary that is always ripe for crossover votes from the Dems to upset the race (remember that McCain beat Bush here 8 years ago). And I just don't see McCain beating Obama in Michigan no matter who else is on the ticket. We're still a big union state. However, I have no doubt that Minnesota and Wisconsin could be secured. As for pandering, well, that may be the case but it wouldn't matter when you're looking at history in the making.

  6. Rick Frea said...

    I'd vote for her... er, I mean McCain.

  7. Rick Frea said...

    Isn't Alaska already a conservative state? However, you make a good case.

  8. Nikki said...

    Hey I am hearing your woman is it! I think she will be great! WOOHOO eye candy for khaki :)N

  9. Khaki Elephant said...

    eye candy and a strong leader who can be a star for the Republicans . . . maybe even sitting at the top of the ticket one day!