Who should Romney choose as a running mate?

[JayTheClown]

I think its a forgone conclusion that Romney is probably winning the GOP nomination. So my question is, who should be his running mate? I doubt he will choose an outlandish candidate like a Herman Cain, Rick Perry or Ron Paul. Will he go for a Michele Bachmann? She hasn't made a stupid comment in a long time. She may actually attract independent woman voters. My bet is Newton Gingrich, for some reason I think he will get the nod.

Discuss

[scott]

Hunstman would be smart, but can America handle an all-mormon ticket?

Which reminds me, why isn't Huntsman (you know, the "seemingly Normal, Presidential one") doing better?

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

:lol, Cain Perry and Paul are outlandish candidates but Bachmann isn't?

Huntsman would be a good candidate but yeah all Mormon would be an issue

I think Bobby Jindal would be a great VP candidate regardless of who wins the nomination

[JayTheClown]

:lol, Cain Perry and Paul are outlandish candidates but Bachmann isn't?

Huntsman would be a good candidate but yeah all Mormon would be an issue

I think Bobby Jindal would be a great VP candidate regardless of who wins the nomination

Paul is outlandish because his ideals go way out there sometimes. I dont think Romney would want to attach himself to complete libertarianism. I dont think I have to explain Perry's problems. Bachmann has been tame so far.

[JayTheClown]

:lol, Cain Perry and Paul are outlandish candidates but Bachmann isn't?

Huntsman would be a good candidate but yeah all Mormon would be an issue

I think Bobby Jindal would be a great VP candidate regardless of who wins the nomination

Good point
I forgot about him

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Bachmann is Sarah Parlin reincarnated. She's crazier than a shit house rat.

I think Romney would be smart to not pick anyone too polarizing at all (which basically leaves out any other current Republican candidate).

[JayTheClown]

Bachmann is Sarah Parlin reincarnated. She's crazier than a shit house rat.

She is worse than Palin
But like I said, so far we haven't heard any negative pub about her. Which is surprising I thought she was gonna start a couple of riots when she first put her name on the ballot.

[Wild Cobra]

Barack Obama.

[baseline bum]

He'd be an idiot to not pick Rubio to lock up Florida and maybe get a bit of the latino vote. He's got the wingnut base anyways since he's not Obama, so no need whatsoever to court them after getting the nomination.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

^Exactly. The tea baggers will vote for anyone not named Obama, no need to pander to the base

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

She is worse than Palin

Worse in the sense she's smart enough and clever enough to not let her stupidity and ovaries get the best of her like they do with Sarah Palin, but her actual views aren't as batshit as Palin's.

I haven't heard any reports of Bachmann speaking in tongues on a regular basis :lol

[Wild Cobra]

^Exactly. The tea baggers will vote for anyone not named Obama, no need to pander to the base
And libtards will vote for any democrat.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Huh? I'm liberal as it gets and I'd vote for Romney over Obama in a second if Romey wins the nomination. Liberals are pissed at Obama, it's only your weird world where liberals try to pass Obama off as a good president.

[Wild Cobra]

Huh? I'm liberal as it gets and I'd vote for Romney over Obama in a second if Romey wins the nomination. Liberals are pissed at Obama, it's only your weird world where liberals try to pass Obama off as a good president.
I didn't say liberal. I said libtard. They mean different things to me.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Neat.

[AFBlue]

No way Romney chooses a beltway guy like Gingrich, and I'm holding out sincere hope he doesn't choose someone in the extreme right to pander to the party base. Christie seems likely.

[ElNono]

Christie isn't happening. Not that he shouldn't accept, seeing that he'll likely be a one term governor in NJ. But I think Christie has aspirations to run for the presidency in the future.

[Jacob1983]

If Romney wants to reach out to independents and undecided people, he should pick Ron Paul. He definitely doesn't need to pick Rick Perry or a hardcore conservative.

[Wild Cobra]

If Romney wants to reach out to independents and undecided people, he should pick Ron Paul. He definitely doesn't need to pick Rick Perry or a hardcore conservative.
I see...

You prefer political tactics over integrity.

[DMX7]

I see...

You prefer political tactics over integrity.

"political-tactics-over-integrity" is Mitt Romney's middle name.

[AFBlue]

Christie isn't happening. Not that he shouldn't accept, seeing that he'll likely be a one term governor in NJ. But I think Christie has aspirations to run for the presidency in the future.

No better way to get your name on the national stage than to be on the ticket...ask Sarah Palin. Even if Romney wins two successive terms, Christie would only be 58 in a 2020 run.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I see...

You prefer political tactics over integrity.
I almost choked to death on irony as I read this post.

[spursncowboys]

No way Romney chooses a beltway guy like Gingrich, and I'm holding out sincere hope he doesn't choose someone in the extreme right to pander to the party base. Christie seems likely.Romney will pick someone from a swing state like Ohio. Either that or a Tea Party candidate. A woman or black guy. So either Bachman or Cain. I think it will be Cain or Newt. Newt will pick Cain. and Cain woould probably pick Romney.

[spursncowboys]

DOK. Don't you have a dead GI's funeral to go protest?

[Winehole23]

Which reminds me, why isn't Huntsman (you know, the "seemingly Normal, Presidential one") doing better?Was Obama's Ambassador to China. That's considered a disqualification in today's GOP.

Huntsman is very conservative on a lot of things but that won't matter because he has the wrong style. His penchant for reasoned discourse and political nuance can't be very endearing to primary voters who expect pols to pander to their biases, their cultural resentments and their hatred for the other side.

[Winehole23]

Someone like John Kasich or Jeb Bush might fit the bill, but I doubt Mr. Bush would accept. Seems to me more likely he's biding his time for a 2016 run.

[ChumpDumper]

You have to stay far away from any of these other candidates.

[Winehole23]

Will he go for a Michele Bachmann? She hasn't made a stupid comment in a long time. She may actually attract independent woman voters. Reset the clock.

oksH-TP-1mI

[spursncowboys]

Or the Ex Govenor of Indiana

[ChuckD]

He'd be an idiot to not pick Rubio to lock up Florida and maybe get a bit of the latino vote. He's got the wingnut base anyways since he's not Obama, so no need whatsoever to court them after getting the nomination.


^Exactly. The tea baggers will vote for anyone not named Obama, no need to pander to the base

Actually, while I never see them voting for Obama, I can easily see them staying home, especially the Southern Baptists.

[baseline bum]

Actually, while I never see them voting for Obama, I can easily see them staying home, especially the Southern Baptists.

No chance whatsoever on that; there is no way the right-wing base doesn't show up in force to get the Kenyan Muslim Magic Negro the fuck out of office.

[spursncowboys]

Magic negro was a democrat termed phrase my friend.

[ChumpDumper]

Magic negro was a democrat termed phrase my friend.It's a literary term.

[spursncowboys]

Sorry, I should have put coined.

[ChumpDumper]

Sorry, I should have put coined.It was coined by literary or film critics of indeterminate political stripe.

[AFBlue]

Romney will pick someone from a swing state like Ohio. Either that or a Tea Party candidate. A woman or black guy. So either Bachman or Cain. I think it will be Cain or Newt. Newt will pick Cain. and Cain woould probably pick Romney.

I don't discount that Romney could pick a Tea Party favorite as a political calculation. I just think it would be the wrong one. I don't see Newt because Romney has always railed against Washington insiders. And as smart as he is politically, I don't see him inviting the baggage that would come along with Cain despite his popularity. There are plenty of other options out there for someone right of Romney.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Political nuts are just as bad as religious nuts.
When it comes to the Republican party, they're the same thing.

[baseline bum]

:lol, Cain Perry and Paul are outlandish candidates but Bachmann isn't?

Huntsman would be a good candidate but yeah all Mormon would be an issue

I think Bobby Jindal would be a great VP candidate regardless of who wins the nomination

Jindal would be awesome just for the Mr Rogers speeches.

[spursncowboys]

Louisiana is a guarantee. Unless they want a minority. If that is the case, they could just go for Rubio.

[boutons_deux]

" She hasn't made a stupid comment in a long time."

Bachmann Wants Iraqis To Pay ‘Several Million Dollars Per Life’ For Every American Who Died In Iraq

It’s over 800 billion dollars that we have expended [in Iraq]. I believe that Iraq should pay us back for the money that we spent, and I believe that Iraq should pay the families that lost a loved one several million dollars per life, I think at minimum.

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/11/13/367236/bachmann-iraq-pay-us-back/

[AFBlue]

Not to pile on, but last night I heard Bachmann say that the CIA is being run by the ACLU under Obama. The same CIA that has orchestrated dozens of drone strikes in Pakistan without a declaration of war or clear indication all targets are terrorist operatives? You can criticize him for not being tougher on Iran, but Obama has been decidedly hawkish and loose with the use of force abroad.

[LnGrrrR]

Was Obama's Ambassador to China. That's considered a disqualification in today's GOP.

Huntsman is very conservative on a lot of things but that won't matter because he has the wrong style. His penchant for reasoned discourse and political nuance can't be very endearing to primary voters who expect pols to pander to their biases, their cultural resentments and their hatred for the other side.

Did you see the Onion article referencing Huntsman's poor showing in the polls?

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Louisiana is a guarantee. Unless they want a minority. If that is the case, they could just go for Rubio.
I think Jindal is a good candidate because he's intelligent and well spoken. It has nothing to do with how many votes his state or race gets him, but tbh that's how VPs are picked these days so I'm kidding myself.

[spursncowboys]

Yeah. I'm not saying what should be done but rather how they are picked.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Yeah and I had no idea who Rubio was prior to this thread. He'd be a good candidate.

Honestly tho i think Romney would have such an easy time defeating Obama that all he needs is a VP that won't fuck him over.

[scott]

Did you see the Onion article referencing Huntsman's poor showing in the polls?

Haven't, but would love to! If you have time, please link. If not, no worries and I'll search a little later.

[AFBlue]

Yeah. I'm not saying what should be done but rather how they are picked.

Neither VP candidate from the previous election was a swing state politician. I can only really think of Edwards in the last few elections as a swing state VP nominee.

That's not to say it won't be a factor, but I can almost guarantee there are non-swing state politicians on Romney's short list.

[LnGrrrR]

I think Jindal is a good candidate because he's intelligent and well spoken. It has nothing to do with how many votes his state or race gets him, but tbh that's how VPs are picked these days so I'm kidding myself.

His public address a year or two ago hurt him with the party.

[LnGrrrR]

Haven't, but would love to! If you have time, please link. If not, no worries and I'll search a little later.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/huntsman-quietly-relieved-to-be-polling-poorly-amo,26506/

It's a small blurb, so I'll post in full here. (If that's against the rules mods, feel free to delete.)



SALT LAKE CITY—With a recent Gallup poll indicating only 2 percent of his party supports his candidacy for president, Jon Huntsman confided to staffers Tuesday that he was secretly relieved to be faring so poorly among the die-hard GOP base. "When I saw the numbers and realized Republicans weren't embracing my message, I breathed easily for the first time in months," the former Utah governor and ambassador to China said. "They're terrifying. We're talking about people who blame the unemployed for their own predicament and literally applaud the idea of letting those who don't have health insurance die. What would it say about me if they gravitated toward me personally or approved of my political principles?" Huntsman added that it was a huge weight off his shoulders when Herman Cain surged ahead of him in the polls, noting that it could easily have been him.

[Winehole23]

Did you see the Onion article referencing Huntsman's poor showing in the polls?Yep. Didn't laugh but I did smile.

[mavs>spurs]

Running mate for what, city council? Ron Paul is going to win the nomination unless they cheat or assassinate him.

[boutons_deux]

"She hasn't made a stupid comment in a long time."

Bachmann: Obamacare Will Force Military Personnel Out Of Their Government-Funded Health System

While the Affordable Care Act does not affect TRICARE or veterans health care, Bachmann’s proposals to curtail the government-funded program will. In January, she proposed and later withdrew a wildly unpopular plan to slash $4.5 billion in veterans services and reduce disability compensation for 150,000 veterans.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/11/14/367394/bachmann-obamacare-will-force-military-personnel-out-of-their-government-funded-health-system/

=======

She's either profoundly ignorant or rabble-rousing liar, most likely, she's both.

[101A]

^Exactly. The tea baggers will vote for anyone not named Obama, no need to pander to the base

I have been to a Tea Party event. I will not vote for Romney. I will vote for Obama over him. Romney's election will prolong our problems, and kick the can down the road for at least four more years. Moderate Democrat back to Moderate Republican? Different sides of the same coin; not gonna get anything done, but give Democrats something to run against in 4 years, just like Obama has done for Republicans this cycle. Eventually things will get SO bad that we will be forced to choose a non-conventional candidate (and I'm not talking about the color of theirs skin, or the distribution of their chromosomes.) Reelecting Obama, IMO, hastens this, while electing Romney delays it. My logic might be all screwed up (not the first time), and I am not a Tea Partier, per se, but just letting you know - Romney is a very, very weak candidate in the eyes of many, and staying home, if not simply pulling the lever for Obama is a real possibility. Hell, Romney can't even run against Obamacare!

[Winehole23]

but give Democrats something to run against in 4 years, just like Obama has done for Republicans this cycle. Eventually things will get SO bad that we will be forced to choose a non-conventional candidate (and I'm not talking about the color of theirs skin, or the distribution of their chromosomes.) Reelecting Obama, IMO, hastens this, while electing Romney delays it.This comment has a gnostic/Marxian flavor to it.

It puts me in mind of the sect (forget the name) which taught that the second coming could be hastened by increasing the amount of sin in the world. They believed that deliberately acting as evil and depraved as possible we could essentially provoke God to judge the world a little sooner.

Alternately, it resembles the worse to get better dogma in Marxism. The sharper the social contradictions, the closer we are to revolution.

(But in fact, short of total annihilation there is no limit to how much worse things can get.)

[101A]

This comment has a gnostic/Marxian flavor to it.

It puts me in mind of the sect (forget the name) which taught that the second coming could be hastened by increasing the amount of sin in the world. They believed that deliberately acting as evil and depraved as possible we could essentially provoke God to judge the world a little sooner.

Alternately, it resembles the worse to get better dogma in Marxism. The sharper the social contradictions, the closer we are to revolution.

(But in fact, short of total annihilation there is no limit to how much worse things can get.)

I understand what you are saying, and I considered that tone as I typed, however, my reasoning is not about hastening collapse, but rather hastening the understanding that we are going to have to do something more dramatic than what we are doing. If I believed that there was more than a hair's breadth difference between the policies that would be enacted by a Romney vs an Obama administration, I might vote differently, but I don't. They are both company men. Public perception, however, since one swings for the blue team, and the other for the red - defines them as very different. Perceived change, when there actually is none, is an opiate the powers that be use to remain the powers that be.

It is not that I want things to get worse, I want people to understand it ALREADY IS.

[Winehole23]

Perceived change, when there actually is none, is an opiate the powers that be use to remain the powers that be.Agreed. I probably couldn't bring myself to vote for Obama for any reason, but this is an excellent point.

[scott]

I could multiquote and +1, but instead I'll just say: Good points and perspective, 101 & WH.

[boutons_deux]

"we are going to have to do something more dramatic than what we are doing"

won't happen ever.

the unchallengeable power of the UCA and 1%, the purchased corruption, obstruction, paralysis, esp from the Repugs (who we know have NO INTEREST in governing, only politicking and pocket stuffing) will keep the jobs and mortgage crises dragging on for years, perhaps America's own Lost Decade, or more.

[101A]

"we are going to have to do something more dramatic than what we are doing"

won't happen ever.

the unchallengeable power of the UCA and 1%, the purchased corruption, obstruction, paralysis, esp from the Repugs (who we know have NO INTEREST in governing, only politicking and pocket stuffing) will keep the jobs and mortgage crises dragging on for years, perhaps America's own Lost Decade, or more.

Nevermind

[boutons_deux]

figured you wouldn't have clue or suggestion about how to there from here.

[101A]

figured you wouldn't have clue or suggestion about how to there from here.

No, it's that I share many of your beliefs about what the problems are (as frightening as that may be). I am not, however, as pessimistic as you are that the people can take power back from the intrenched interests. It's not even that hard. Get mad enough, don't allow ourselves to get distracted by trivial crap and divisive issues that don't amount to a hill of beans - and vote the bums out. Just hope we do it before the hole gets too much deeper.

[101A]

As for what dramatic things need to happen? Massive cuts and significant tax increases; a national determination to not live beyond our means.

[spursncowboys]

as for what dramatic things need to happen? Massive cuts and significant tax increases; a national determination to not live beyond our means.
+1

[boutons_deux]

Regugs won't govern, ever. We saw that 2000-2008. Their candidates and current Congressional leaders only talk about more tax cuts for the wealthy and businesses, increased taxes for the 99%.

Dems can't get the unConstitutional 60 in the Senate with "Dems" Lieberman, Nelson, etc always voting against the Dems. The Senate is the corrupt blockade of progress.

the Fox Repug Propaganda network, and associated hate media, the VRWC stink tanks, the whore scientists, willl distract and polarize and slander and lie enough to block everything.

So all the talk here is purely academic, airy-fairy bullshit.

[101A]

The Democrats have their own sacred cows; untouchable items in the agenda. Hell, they held the congress for six years; and never passed any meaningful legislation to deal with the deficit - or any real financial regulation with teeth. Stop defending them, and blaming Republicans alone; the Dems deserve as much.

[boutons_deux]

"they held the congress for six years"

which 6 years did Dems hold both the House and 60 in the Senate?

[cantthinkofanything]

Sammy Jankis

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

As for what dramatic things need to happen? Massive cuts and significant tax increases; a national determination to not live beyond our means.
I agree. Unfortunately there isn't a candidate out there man enough to admit we need tax raises AND spending decreases. Every candidate wants to cheese dick around as if one or the other is good enough.

[Wild Cobra]

As for what dramatic things need to happen? Massive cuts and significant tax increases; a national determination to not live beyond our means.
I disagree with the tax increases. We are already taxed enough. Besides, as long as we are exporting jobs, it won't matter. Nothing will save us but bottoming out and starting over. We either address the root problems, or we fail as a nation.

[LnGrrrR]

I don't think "bottoming out" is a realistic platform for any politician to run on, WC.

[SnakeBoy]

Unfortunately there isn't a candidate out there man enough to admit we need tax raises

I'm ok with raising taxes as long as my taxes don't go up.

[spursncowboys]

I'm ok with raising taxes as long as my taxes don't go up.

Agreed. Also I don't want to lose any benefits I recieve from the government.

[scott]

i agree. Unfortunately there isn't a candidate out there man enough to admit we need tax raises and spending decreases. Every candidate wants to cheese dick around as if one or the other is good enough.

+1

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I'm ok with raising taxes as long as my taxes don't go up.
I'm OK with my taxes (granted I don't exactly have a high income job) going up as long as the national deficit is going down.

[Wild Cobra]

I don't think "bottoming out" is a realistic platform for any politician to run on, WC.
I didn't imply any such thing. I am saying unless we bring enough of these outsourced jobs back, we have no place to go but down.