| Aug 18 @ 10:19 AM |
Veep-stakes
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eastham
Posts: 6,341
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There is growing speculation that Barack Obama will announce his running mate this week, perhaps Wednesday or Thursday. We know who it won't be:
Hillary Clinton: Clinton has been given an important and prestigious speaking slot at the Democratic convention. They wouldn't have put her in the schedule if she were still in the running for Veep.
Wesley Clark: It has been reported that Clark has not been invited to the convention.
John Edwards: Even before the news of his affair hit the airwaves, Edwards said outright that he would not accept the nod.
This leaves a number of possibilities including: Joe Biden, Evan Bayh, and Tim Kaine. My prediction: Joe Biden.
On the McCain side, the candidate's prospective running mates have been having a bit of difficulty, falling flat on the stump while serving as surrogates for McCain. Romney failed to name a single McCain success in the area of energy, Jindall was unable to name one big idea to come out of the McCain campaign, Mark Sanford couldn't think of a single McCain position on the economy and Eric Cantor was dissed on a conference call by McCain staffers.
So who is your pick?
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| Aug 18 @ 10:32 AM |
Veep-stakes |
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michedkel
Posts: 4,685
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McCain seriously needs to pick a conservative VP running mate to solidify his base. He is 71 years old and alot of conservatives, myself included are leery of him. If he picks a rock solid conservative he unequivocally has my vote and we kiss Obama goodbye.
Some good picks:
Condoleeza Rice.... I would vote for a black woman if she ran for president.
Mitt Romney.... will be president in 2013.
Bobby Jindal.... another person of color who rarely gets mentioned by the media because he is Republican.
Jeb Bush.... would love to see it, but it won't happen. 2012?
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| Aug 18 @ 10:45 AM |
Veep-stakes
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eastham
Posts: 6,341
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After GHWB sob fest at Jeb's retirement, the Bush family knows that there will never be another family member in the immediate future to sit in the Oval Office.
Both Romney and Jindall have bungled their assignments as surrogates within the past few weeks.
As to Condi, do you think that McCain really wants to tie himself so securely to such an unpopular president?
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| Aug 18 @ 11:00 AM |
Veep-stakes |
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michedkel
Posts: 4,685
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People do not hate George Bush, except maybe those on the left. I voted for him twice and do not regret doing so. I disagree with many of his decisions, but I think history will see him in a favorable light. Only time will tell.
4 years can make a hell of a difference and if Obama or McCain mess things up, believe me, people will consider Jeb in 2012. Personally I prefer Jindal and if McCain wants to be President, he needs a strong conservative VP. And if, God forbid, something were to happen to McCain, our country would be in good hands.
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| Aug 18 @ 12:00 PM |
Veep-stakes
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Gman762
Posts: 3,291
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My money says Evan Bayh.
I would love to see McCain select a no-nonsense, experienced woman as Veep. Condi would be an excellent choice. However, I am not at all certain whom McCain will actually select. If it were a man, I'd love to see him pick Duncan Hunter. THAT is the man that should be our next CiC anyway.
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| Aug 18 @ 12:16 PM |
Veep-stakes |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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If Stuttering Barry does not choose Hillary he will be the tallest man to lose the Presidential election since John flip flop Kerry. 
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| Aug 18 @ 12:26 PM |
Veep-stakes
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eastham
Posts: 6,341
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People do not hate George Bush, except maybe those on the left
The approval ratings for this president are in the toilet. Here is a graph of Bush's historical ratings as compiled by the University of Minnesota.
The PollingReport, an aggregator of other polling sites, backs up Bush's low approval ratings. Polling Point.
According to the American Research Group, Bush's approval numbers for his handling of the economy are even lower than his basement dwelling numbers for his conduct of the war in Iraq.
McCain has a tough job. If he simply panders to the 17-21%, depending upon which poll you read or which issue, of Americans who still support the President's policies, he will lose the election and badly. And should he do that, he will risk the moderates and independents who have supported him in the past and who are showing a great deal of interest in Obama.
Furthermore, setting her role in the current administration aside, Condi Rice does not have the skill set that McCain needs. McCain has touted his foreign policy credentials and while he has tried to walk away from statements he made early in the campaign that he knows little about the economy, he has not been able to do so. McCain needs someone who has domestic policy credentials and that leaves out Condi Rice.
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| Aug 18 @ 12:29 PM |
Veep-stakes |
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michedkel
Posts: 4,685
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I agree, east. I am not disputing that. I disagree with the notion that people hate George Bush. Sure, I disapprove of many of his policies, but that doesn't mean that I don't like him. Kinda like the people in this forum. 
Condi sure as hell has alot more skill set than Senator Obama. 
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| Aug 18 @ 12:34 PM |
Veep-stakes
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eastham
Posts: 6,341
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Not according to Brett Scowcroft.
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| Aug 18 @ 12:34 PM |
Veep-stakes |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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eastham, more senseless ramblings?
Congressional approval is below 10%.
The Polls are tied right now. Barry should be ahead by a ton and cannot shake McCain.
If he does not choose Hillary he is cooked. He will be joining the elite club of Gore, Kerry and Dukakis.
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| Aug 18 @ 12:48 PM |
Veep-stakes
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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The Republicans are hoping for Biden. I like the guy and think he was the best candidate in the Primaries. Biden seems to wear a necklace with a shoe attached so he doesn't have to bend to insert it in his mouth. He does have a habit of saying some VERY stupid things. He will be an easy target and his past will quickly be brought into question.
Bayh on the other hand is a corporate lackey and will be a very easy target. His wife is a professional BOD member so his objectivity is in question. He is not much of a personality.
WASHINGTON – Since leaving Indiana as a first lady, Susan Bayh has become a professional board member, earning more than $1 million a year in director fees for advice she gives to companies that make pharmaceuticals, operate radio stations, sell health insurance policies, offer online banking and distribute ingredients to fast-food restaurants.
In the past four years, Bayh collected more than $1.7 million in pre-tax income when she exercised stock options from two of the corporations. Her actual income from exercising stock options is higher, but the details of one transaction were not publicly reported.
During the same time, her husband, Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., cast more than 3,000 votes, including some on issues of keen interest to the pharmaceutical, broadcast, insurance, food-distribution and finance industries.
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| Aug 18 @ 1:15 PM |
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Say_Yes
Posts: 1,786
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Joe Biden, Evan Bayh, and Tim Kaine. My prediction: Joe Biden
Don't forget about Kansas Govenor Kathleen Sebelius. Having a female on the ticket might go a long way to make Hillary supporters happy. Besides, there is a decent chance that she could carry Kansas for Obama (something a Dem has not done since Clinton). Ed Rendell & Bill Richardson are also possibilities. Still, my guess is Sebelius.
On the repub side, I can't see it being anyone who is tied to the Bush presidency. It won't be Jeb or Condi Rice. I also don't see Romney being the pick. They really don't like each other and Romney would rather position himself to run for president in 2012. Mike Huckabee is also mentioned a good bit, but again, I don't see him bringing anything to the ticket.
I really don't think that it will be anyone from the far right. McCain needs to win the center, to win the election. (Just as Obama does.) That means he needs a younger person, with experience, who adds something to his candidacy.
Given that, Jindal is a possibility, though I doubt it. He does not bring enough to the table. Carly Fiorina's name has been bandied about a bit, but she is chair of his Victory 08 campaign. Besides her being fired from HP does not exactly speak that well of her business acumen.
My guess either Meg Whitman (former CEO of Ebay), Charlie Crist (governor of Florida) or Tim Pawlenty (governor of Minnesota). All three bring something to the campaign. For now, I will go with Crist, though that is just a guess.
For a good summary on some of the front runners, take a look at
NY Times Story
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| Aug 18 @ 1:26 PM |
Veep-stakes
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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I hope that McCain chooses Palin.
She is hot, smart and knows about oil exploration. Very likable.
Whitman would be good too.
The other that has been tossed around is Cantor, Rep from Virginia. He is very conservative quite bright.
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| Aug 18 @ 1:34 PM |
Veep-stakes |
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michedkel
Posts: 4,685
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Christie Todd Whitman?!?! You have got to be kidding.
Oops! Meg Whitman. Sorry vinny.
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| Aug 18 @ 1:48 PM |
Veep-stakes
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kattsmeow
Posts: 21,272
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My pick for running mate for Sen McCain is the great lady from Alaska!!!!
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| Aug 18 @ 2:01 PM |
Veep-stakes |
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eastham
Posts: 6,341
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Gosh, I'm hoping you're not talking about Lisa Murkowski, katt? She's hardly out of the woods yet with the continued investigation into corruption in the state. Her father's former chief of staff, who also has played a role in her political career, just pled guilty. She has ties to many members of the "Corrupt Bastards Club." She also was forced to sell back riverfront real estate that she have bought from one of the key figures in Ted Stevens' corruption investigation.
While she hasn't been implicated as yet, would McCain take that risk?
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| Aug 18 @ 2:18 PM |
Veep-stakes
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Nightowl001
Posts: 4,134
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Doubtful. If he picks a running mate who is embroiled in financial scandal, it may awaken concerns about the Keating mess. Given how long Whitewater has haunted the Clintons, I wouldn't be surprised to see the S&L thing come back up sometime in the near future. (Though it would have more likely been an issue if Clinton was his opponent.)
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| Aug 18 @ 2:18 PM |
Veep-stakes |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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eastham, spare us your tangential ramblings.
Palin, the Governor of Alaska.
She is HOT
She is smart
SHe has forgotten more about Oil exploration than dim wit Pelosi will ever know
And she is conservative.
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| Aug 18 @ 2:30 PM |
Veep-stakes
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eastham
Posts: 6,341
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And she too has been caught up in a local scandal. Click here. Not to mention that she would bring only 3 electoral votes to the table.
Here's a link to a second story on the governor trying to get her former brother-in-law fired. Click here.
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| Aug 18 @ 3:02 PM |
Veep-stakes |
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vinnytmd
Posts: 6,004
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scandal scandal scandal
What BS!
Palin is HOT
Conservative
And knows more about Oil exploration that Pelosi and Barry combined.
You are just jealous.
And Biden is scandal free eastham?
Or Dodd?
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