Pick A VP

[gprime]

With the GOP have made its choice for a nominee, and the Democrats having cut the field down to two, it seems about time we start considering VP choices. So, who do you want to see?

Republicans

Ward Connerly - This man's libertarian leanings are quite comforting. At the same time, he isn't on the fringe in a way that would upset the base. He's also been one of the most vocal critics of affirmative action. His race could prove an advantage if Obama becomes the Democratic nominee, as he too is black. Of course, at 68, he's not much younger than McCain. [The same applies to the also brilliant Thomas Sowell.]

Richard Mellon Schaife - This man has been a political titan for four decades now, donating vast sums of money to the GOP and various candidates. He's also been a strong supporter of the Heritage Institute, the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and the American Enterprise Institute. The last two especially suggest to me that he has an appreciation for the threat that Islam poses to Western civilization. Like Connerly and McCain though, he is quite old, clocking in at 75.

Rick Santorum - Not yet 58, he has the potential to carry on and lead the GOP after McCain, as would be ideal. His foreign policy record is excellent, and suggests a much greater understanding of international affairs than almost any other person of political means. In particular, he has been a staunch defender of both Serbia and Israel, and one of the harshest critics of Islam. And he certainly appeals to the party base. The problem was his failed bid for re-election in 2006, which doesn't look great when running for VP.

Robert Spencer - I could only guess as to his political orientation. But, at least with regard to security, he is staunchly conservative. He has made a career out of exposing the evils of Islam, and of defending our unduely criticized friends, like Israel. His rhetoric is very deliberate, and he backs up everything he says. And he could live on to lead the party. The main problems are his lack of formal political experience, and his area of expertise, wherein the corpus of his work offends Muslims and liberal PC nuts. [The same applies to Joe Kaufman and Daniel Pipes.]

[gprime]

Democrats

This list was naturally alot harder to arrive at, as of the two major parties, it is the much greater evil. And frankly, the ones I really like are dead (Grover Cleveland, Alton B. Parker). But there are a few, affiliated on some level, that aren't complete sacks of crap.

Zell Miller - He's about as close to a Burboun Democrat as we're likely to see ever again. Hell, he's one of my favorite ever politicians. He's made a few mistakes, but his desire to repeal the 17th Amendment, drill in Alaska, repeal the death tax, and he's supported the Bush tax cuts. But he's still got liberal appeal, backing the inclusion of gays under current hate crime laws, non-enforcement of the Cuban travel ban, and the re-importation of drugs from Canada. He's not a likely choice, but a very moderate one who could win over some GOP members who hate McCain.

That is all I can come up with for them.

[swivel]

It will be Mitt Romney and John Edwards.

[gprime]

It will be Mitt Romney and John Edwards.

I wouldn't mind Romney. He's far from my favorite, but he was the guy I expected to win anyway. And at least he can carry on leading the party if he does win. Edwards fits the Democratic ideal well, but certainly is too left to have any moderate or cross-party appeal. If he teams up with either of them, I think the vast majority of conservative Democrats will vote for McCain.

[impqueen]

Mitt Romney squicks me out on a purely personal level. The man just repulses me for reasons I can't explain. I don't trust him, I don't like him, and he leaves me feeling dirty when he talks, and not in that good way.

I'm not the only person I know who feels that way, and I wish I had a better explanation other than that. Also. Romney believes that Jesus and Lucifer are magical brothers from the planet Kobol and he wears magic underwear, and i just dunno if i can really take him seriously.

As to Democrats, I agree it'll probably be Edwards, which to me is a shame. I kinda lost respect for the guy after he went ahead and campaigned, dragging his terminally ill wife with him, rather than allowing her to spend her last months or year in peace with their kids or doing whatever she wanted to do. And maybe campaigning IS what she wanted to do, i dunno, but there was something about that move that just rubbed me the wrong way.

[gprime]

I'm not the only person I know who feels that way, and I wish I had a better explanation other than that. Also. Romney believes that Jesus and Lucifer are magical brothers from the planet Kobol and he wears magic underwear, and i just dunno if i can really take him seriously.

While I can fully understand having a distaste for Mitt Romney, I fail to see in what way the above is many more insane and irrational than the religious positions of any other candidate running for office. I mean, once you've accepted belief in the hoax known as God, the differences are generally pretty trivial, and the theology all laughably crazy.

[Pete Bondurant]

McCain will pick a Southerner? Younger, for certain. Tom Coburn? Oklahoma has a Democrat Governor, so that might not be a possibility. Haley Barbour? McCain will win the South anyway, so he should look for a Northerner. Ohio? I can't think of anyone from the Buckeye State. Santorum probably wouldn't deliver Pennsylvania to McCain, considering that Rick couldn't get re-elected running against a complete dolt(Casey). Governor Crist of Florida?

Obama should pick a vet to counter McCain's military experience. I'm thinking Webb of Virginia. Of course, he too is a freshman Senator, but did serve as SecNav in the Reagan Admin.

[Waldowas]

Hm, some interesting options here...

- http://powerwall.msnbc.msn.com/polit...-10167.gallery