Who Should be McCain’s VP?
Over at The American Spectator is an article speculating on who could be John McCain’s VP.
The Nation’s Pulse
With last night’s victories, John McCain crossed the 1191-delegate line, winning the nomination. Now he has the luxury of standing back, letting Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama beat each other up and raising money for the Fall race.
And what about that running mate? The question for McCain is what function his pick should serve. McCain certainly doesn’t need to ballast his ticket with age and gravitas, as George W. Bush did when he selected Dick Cheney. McCain will be 72 when the next president takes the oath of office, and might want to go with a relatively young running mate who can carry the torch into the 2016 election. That would rule out Fred Thompson, who will be 66 on
inauguration day.
As much as I hate to say this, It is true about Fred’s age. Unfortunately, this is his only hindrance. He was a thee true conservative over all of those who had run in the ‘08 POTUS race.
Since McCain will be running against a Democratic candidate who is either black or female, some have suggested he practice a bit of tokenism in his selection. Colin Powell is too old (70) and too unpopular with conservatives. Condoleezza Rice seems uninterested in electoral politics, and in any case would muddy McCain’s foreign policy message, which has emphasized his track record of criticizing the Bush administration from the right on the management of the Iraq occupation. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is 64, which may be too old.
Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, would be high on the shortlist if he’d won his 2004 Senate race, but he didn’t. Other names in this category that get tossed around include congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, former congressman J.C. Watts, and Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.
I am willing to admit there is some case to this. But at the same point I would like to think the Republican Party should be above “identity” politics. Some of the people mentioned above would be great, such as Condi Rice, Michael Steele or J.C. Watts. The others, I agree on the age thing or I don’t know too much about them. But I do believe that if they are the running mate, they should be chosen based solely on merit.
The article goes on to mention geography balance.
Less abrasive southern Governors Sonny Perdue of Georgia, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, and especially Mark Sanford of South Carolina might be able to satisfy southerners and social conservatives without angering other factions of the party.
Now, I really like Haley Barbour.
McCain might follow this logic and select his friend Rudy Giuliani. It would dismay social conservatives, who are already slightly skittish about McCain, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t do it if he decides he wants to. [Read all the possible choices here]
Mitt Romney is left out of the “equation.” If it can’t be Fred, I would like it to be Romney. I think he needs to have a running mate who would be good for the economy. Thoughts?
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You were too quick to exclude (or at least, I took it that way) when you describe Thompson as “the conservative”; in point-of-fact I would argue that Duncan Hunter was much more conservative.
You may remember that Thompson is from my state, and not to pick him apart (for I like him too), but I have not forgotten the Watergate hearings and his role in them (and, of course, it was necessary…but there is a cloud there for me) – and I’m not all that happy with his association with Howard Baker.
My Grandfather was absolutely livid over the Panama Canal “giveaway” in which Baker was so instrumental (my Granddad, I’m sure, could remember men who fought for that canal).
My only point in all this rambling, I suppose, is that I’m a conservative, through and through, and I think Hunter is more conservative than Baker and Thompson…but then, I’m a fellow who thought Ronald Reagan far too close to the hippies for my tastes
At any rate…onward, and upward! -Precipii
Oh, and by the way, if I were to pick a VP…I’m not sure I’d want it to be Hunter, as I’d hope he’d have another shot at the Presidency some day…I’d probably pick an unknown, even more obscure than a governor, but even more conservative than Hunter…
On the other hand, J.C. Watts seems like an extremely good pick to me.
I talk too much (eh, eh).
-Precipii
I liked Fred Thompson’s strong stance on Immigration Reform and Law and Order, no pun intended
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I really do like Hunter. I thought he was pretty good. Admittedly, I didn’t look into him that much. I actually think it would be good for him to be VP. It would give him notice, if he were to run for pres.
I have to admit, while I am supporting the party on the local, state and national level, I am neutral on John McCain. I may change my thoughts, depending on who he picks for his running mate.