VP Ideas

Bill Kristol whiles away a summer Friday:

Romney-Rice vs. Obama-Clinton?

I think putting Hillary on the ticket makes Obama look desperate and weak. But he is! I can't imagine how they solve the Wild Bill Problem but if physicists can find the Boson-Higgs particle they ought to be able to fit Obama's and Bill's ego in the same universe.

As to Rice, uhh, wouldn't that just energize all those Dems who have not been united behind much of anything since the Iraq war wound down? Do we really want to re-fight the Summer of 2001 and Ms. Rice's non-response to the blinking radar screens? Do we want to re-fight the Summer of 2003 and puzzle over Saddam's WMDs?

It may be water under the bridge now, but Team Obama will rather talk about the run-up to Iraq than the current economy. Remember, we are talking about a guy whose big selling point in 2008 was his firm commitment not to invade Iraq in 2002. Geez, in 2012 with Rice on the ticket all we will her about is how Obama won't be fooled by Saddam and his non-existent WMDs. Sure, Saddam is dead and we ought to be taking about Iran, but the past lives forever in Obama's rhetoric.

Comments

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

I thought my computer had sent me back to a 2008 post - and I was half right!

[sailor]

I said on the other thread--no Condi.

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

Love this from Insty:

OUTSOURCING: Lawmakers are angry that the US Olympic Team uniforms are made in China, but to me the real issue is that they’re terrible. They look like something from an SNL skit about America becoming a gay military dictatorship.

Did the WH have input in the design?

[Sue]

Why do we keep looking at re-treads? Does the republican party not have any new energy an ideas? Come on people, Condi is great, love her to death, yada yada, but let's look to new blood.

[NK]

TomM is right. Make Condi UN Ambassador in January. VP? Is Allen West a team player? If not, give me Ryan or Rubio or Jindal.

[Thomas Collins]

The Dems can't Palinize Condi. If they try, they are going to risk losing enough of the black and single woman vote in battleground states to make Romney the strong favorite. In addition, the Dem base and urban fraud machine is already energized. Stoking up Boosh and Iraq memories won't increase the energy and urban fraud vote. Dealing with just the possibility of Condi as the GOP candidate is going to send Axelmessplouffe nuts. I think it's a great ploy by Team Romney to leak this. In addition, I think Condi ought to be seriously considered.

Doesn't the Dem convention come first? If so, Romney might want to wait on the announcement until the Dem convention is over. If Romney taps Condi, Obama definitely needs the Hillster, Bill baggage and all. But if Romney waits, Obama won't know this when he picks his Veep.

[Sue]

Why do we keep looking at re-treads? Does the republican party not have any new energy an ideas? Come on people, Condi is great, love her to death, yada yada, but let's look to new blood.

[Sue]

The Dems can't Palinize Condi.

The hell they can't. They've turned Romney into a felon.

[Thomas Collins]

Condi is new blood, Sue. She's never run for office. She is the embodiment of the real American dream, as opposed to the fake Obama story. The issue is whether, not having run for office, she would wilt under the pressure. I think it is worth the risk. Condi doesn't seem like a wilter to me.

[sailor]

TC, You are entirely correct--have Romney wait until after the Dem Convention to pick VP choice. Or is the Dem Convention actually taking place? It seems as if a lot of people are not going!

[Sue]

She isn't new blood, TC. She is forever associated with Bush. I think it's a head fake anyway. I don't think she is the pick.

[Thomas Collins]

Let's wait a few days for the polls to see whether the Dems have been successful in their attempt to turn Romney into a felon, Sue. The Dems are going to run the dirtiest campaign in American history, no matter who is Romney's Veep. With Condi as the Veep, any dirt slung at her will end up as mud on Obama and whoever is his Veep.

Just the thought of Axelmessplouffe sweating over this makes the leak a great move.

[NK]

TC@3:24: "..going to run...?" they ARE ALREADY running the dirtiest POTUS campaign evah!

[Thomas Collins]

Oh well, Sue. I guess our friends here don't want a Sue/Tom "she is" "she isn't" scrum. We'll just have to agreeably disagree on this.

I concede it may simply be a ploy, but I hope she's under serious consideration.

[Sue]

TC,

Okay. I won't slit my wrists if she is the pick, for what it's worth. ::grin::

[jimmyk]

I agree with Sue. If Romney wants to generate excitement with his VP pick, it needs to be someone with Tea Party credibility. That's where the action is. Pawlenty and Portman are safe and boring. Condi, whatever her strengths, isn't going to create a spark where the fuel is right now.

[narciso]

From the previous thread;

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/exclusive-democrats-dump-opposition-research-on-top-vice-presidential-contenders/?=id2

[Porchlight]

Trial balloon, nothing more.

[sailor]

Well, TC, just what voters would Condi attract?

[Porchlight]

If they try, they are going to risk losing enough of the black and single woman vote in battleground states to make Romney the strong favorite.

How much of the white married college educated female vote did they lose after demonizing Palin?

[daddy]

I will be so angry if Mitt nominates the passionless, non-motivational, non-Conservative, mealy mouthed, weak spined, frequently wrong Condy Rice for VP, that I will vote for Romney!

[Danube of Thought]

GOP convention comes first.

Iraq and the WMD.are mighty heavy baggage.

[centralcal]

I am passionate about one thing only - sending Barry, Shelly, Valerie, Kathleen, Eric, et al. packing (ideally to the slammer for a few of them).

I will support whomever is VP. Now, that doesn't mean we don't have some lackluster choices before us - ha ha - but, still, ABO-ABB.

[sailor]

Well, I guess I was wrong, DoT. I thought the Dem convention was before the Republican? And I agree Iraq and WMD are mighty heavy baggage.

[Jane - talk is cheap!]

It's not gonna be Condi. I'm in MA so I know. Oops! TC is in MA too. Nevermind!

DOT,

I asked you yesterday what you thought about what is going on in Iran. I'm assuming you didn't see it or I didn't see your answer. Any thoughts?

[centralcal]

Speaking of WMD, DoT, did you see this?

From FNC's Jennifer Griffen via Gretawire:

A senior US defense source tells Fox News that the US intercepted several streams of signals intelligence about a week ago suggesting that elements within the Syrian regime have transferred some amount of chemical agents, possibly Sarin nerve gas, to the Homs region about a week ago. The latest intelligence suggests there was movement of these agents but there is no sign that they have yet been used. According to this source, it is not clear whether this was authorized by President Bashar Assad or whether it was carried out by local commanders within the Syrian military who are frustrated that they cannot suppress the rebellion in Homs.

[(Another) Barbara]

Condi is new blood, Sue. She's never run for office. She is the embodiment of the real American dream, as opposed to the fake Obama story.

That's the main reason Romney won't choose her: she's never run for office or been elected to anything. That's not who gets tapped for a V.P. slot, no matter how competent.

[sailor]

Well, cc, I don't think Jindal or West are lackluster choices. Also, Ryan, but I think we need him in the House.

[Sue]

Personally, I think that Pawlenty or Portman will be the VP. Both are safe. Both are boring. Neither will do anything to harm Romney's campaign.

[Thomas Collins]

Sailor, she'll attract persuadable white collar class voters in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and other areas in battleground states. She'll cut into Obama's margin with black and single women voters. No doubt Dems will make crude attacks on her that will backfire bigtime among persuadables. In addition, although she hasn't run for office, she's been on the national stage. Don't assume Marco Rubio or Alan West will perform well on the national stage simply on the basis of their Senate and House runs.

She also speaks with the gravitas of a POTUS. She would be a great contrast to Joe Biden's loopiness or Hillary Clinton's it takes a village sanctimony.

Remember that no Vice-POTUS candidate is going to make a big difference. If Condi takes in some persuadable white collar whites, African Americans and single women in Ohio and Pennsylvania, that could be the difference. Also, because of her personal story, she will be great pummeling Obama when Obama plays the rich guy card on Romney. Her pummeling will be more effective than a Portman or Ryan or Pawlenty pummeling.

I'm convinced this is the nightmare scenario for Axelmessplouffe.

[sailor]

But will they help Romney's campaign, Sue? Boring plus boring equals boring. We need someone with "fire in the belly." Or at least someone who brings a definite message.
I would so much like for Romney to make a "not safe" choice.

[narciso]

Well Baathist microcliques operate in the same way,

[sailor]

But, maybe I am hoping for too much. Sigh.

[Thomas Collins]

As of April of 2012, she easily had the highest approval ratings of Veep possibilities for the GOP. I don't know whether more recent polls have been taken.

[lyle]

I nominate Rick Ballard for veep. I know he wouldn't take it but I would love to hear his updated version of W.T. Sherman's famous quote.

[centralcal]

ha ha, I mostly agree with Sailor and Sue in back to back comments.

[sailor]

But, TC, she has been adamant about not wanting the VP slot.

[Sue]

I don't think Romney wants a VP to help, he wants someone who blends into the background. I personally think Romney is going to beat Obama all by himself, no matter his VP pick, but then, I'm scared to say that out loud, might jinx it.

[Thomas Collins]

The thought of Axelmessplouffe dealing with the GOP convention's film on Condi brings a smile to my face. See LUN for a bio.

[centralcal]

Haven't seen Clarice around today, she must be writing a real barn burner of a column to get in by deadline time.

[sailor]

Well, with a lot of conservatives thinking that Romney is not conservative enough, I think it would be a mistake to chose a VP who is not very conservative.

[Thomas Collins]

Even better, sailor. She changed her mind because Romney said she's the one, and she is responding to the call of duty. She'll have credibility, unlike regular pols who, when they say they don't want to run for something, one can safely assume they are chomping at the bit to run.

[hrtshpdbox]

Why do we keep looking at re-treads?
Love how you posted that twice.

..passionless, non-motivational, non-Conservative, mealy mouthed..
Say what? "Rice electrified Mitt Romney's circle last month". "Forceful and surprisingly partisan addresss". "Red meat rhetoric". "Two standing ovations".
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/audio-exclusive-the-speech-that-landed-condi-on-r

[Sue]

I am sick to death of Hannity's "regular callers". I wish someone would tell him he is losing me if he doesn't stop it. I don't want to her some kids call him "Uncle Sean" and tell him about how they love their X Box he sent them. I don't want to hear some black man that agrees with me argue with some black man that doesn't. Same with black women. He is fast becoming someone I hit the mute button on. If anyone from the Sean show is lurking.

[Porchlight]

I think Romney is going to win regardless of who joins him on the ticket. So I don't care if the person is boring as long as he or she makes an excellent Vice President.

[Porchlight]

Oops, I posted that before I read Sue's 3:50.

[Sue]

Love how you posted that twice.

Well I didn't, typepad did.

[daddy]

OT,

Just got a fundraising letter from my college, UNC Chapel Hill.

Very nice publication, glossy photo of President Obama addressing college students.

"...we had the rare privilege of hosting a sitting U.S. President to speak on a subject close to our hearts: Keeping college affordable..."

"There could have been no better location for President Barack Obama to talk about...blah, blah, blah..."

Page 2 was "Water In Our World" about the School's initiative to combat pollution, global warming, etc.

Couldn't muster the effort in my old age to get to page 3 and 4.

Motivates me so much that I will send them exactly the same amount I have sent them over the last 35 years.

[lyle]

OK, I'll admit right up front that this is juvenile but...

Axelrod looks like a composite of every child molester know to man.

Plouffe looks like composite of every peeping Tom who ever walked the earth.

Jim Messina look like the alien from Men In Black wearing that farmer's skin.

[hrtshpdbox]

I am sick to death of Hannity's "regular callers".
Don't forget that it's Hannity who also provides time for those Luntz focus groups, painfully reminding us how the "man on the street" is such a hopeless dullard (regardless of political persuasion).

[sailor]

Well, we can speculate and talk among ourselves forever, and it will not make any difference--Romney will pick whom he (or his advisers) choose. We have certainly had boring VPs in the past--I have just been hoping that Mitt would choose whom I want! Alas.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RVfdYVM1tI

"You are a grating American, Mr. Hannity!"

[sailor]

My goodness! People here at JOM are certainly harsh with conservative talk show hosts. I don't listen to Sean, but come on--he wants Obama out as much as anyone.

[Sue]

sailor,

I usually give Hannity a pass on just about everything he does, because of how he is with our military. But dadgum...he is wearing me out with those crazies he has on.

[peter]

Sean Hannity is so God-awfully boring. He could have a conversation with regular caller Marty whose been dead for six years, and it would not make a difference.

and, rest assured, the Dems and the MSM will Palin-ize Condi. She's a lightweight. You know who would be a great choice for VP?
Ryan.

[sailor]

I agree, Peter, but I think we need him in the House.

[RichatUF]

I personally think Romney is going to beat Obama all by himself, no matter his VP pick...

Shhhhh...Sue you might jinx it.

[Ignatz]

--I know he wouldn't take it but I would love to hear his updated version of W.T. Sherman's famous quote.--

Does it need updating? Still seems perfect.

[lyle]

Sean Hannity is so God-awfully boring. He could have a conversation with regular caller Marty whose been dead for six years, and it would not make a difference.

Marty's DEAD??

[lyle]

It is perfect, Ig. But RB could still pull it off.

[daddy]

Will somebody please tell the Northern Lights to shut up.

[Ignatz]

--"...we had the rare privilege of hosting a sitting U.S. President to speak on a subject close to our hearts: Keeping college affordable..."--

Don't ya just love the left?
They squeeze one end of the toothpaste tube with medicare so that everyone else has to shoulder the runaway costs and then ride to the rescue with nationalized medicine for a problem they caused.

Now they supply limitless loans to any sap who will take one again squeezing the toothpaste tube and nationalize college lending to solve a problem almost entirely their making.
Almost makes one want to go all GUS OR SOMETHING.

[Another Bob]

OT folks, but Zimmerman's lawyer O'Mara has filed to disqualify Lester.

See LUN.

[glasater]

Condi wouldn't be my choice for VP but what is brilliant to me is that this discussion is taking all the headlines in the political world and really is a punch to the gut of BOzo.

[Threadkiller]

And man-made sonar gets the blame, daddy.

[daddy]

Ig,

One of the talk show hosts the other day mentioned that Harvard's Endowments fund was so large (@40 Billion) that at today's rate they could pay for the full 4 year Harvard education of the same amount of students they have enrolled right now, through the year 2050, plus all the faculties salaries, health costs etc.

Wouldn't cost the taxpayers or any of the students a single penny.

Think those greedy bunch of Harvard Faculty OWS supporting bastards will do it? Nah.

[Jim Eagle]

Sean is a great guy. A very good guy. A faithful father and honorable husband to his family. He has integrity and is not afraid of the liberal and left wing ganstas. But, but, he does go on and on to the point of complete freaking distraction.

And this is why nice guys finish last.

OT: Remember our previous thread on the housing market and I remarked about Florida? Well here is our local guru and he makes a valid point. Without Mortgage liquidity who cares?

[Barbara]

...regular caller Marty whose been dead for six years

I used to love those calls from Marty. What a delightful man!

...the MSM will Palin-ize Condi...

The Dems and the MSM will Palin-ize any relatively "new" person selected, and demonize anyone with a record. So, that's to be expected.

Romney needs to do what most presidential candidates have done in the past: pick someone who will add to the ticket by bringing in an area of the Country that needs reinforcing. Having said that, I'll just toss this out there for discussion: if Romney really wants to make the MSM & Dems heads explode, he'll pick someone like...... Santorum. I say that even though I didn't support him for the top spot. I doubt the two even speak to each other, but who cares. This is about getting elected.

[sailor]

Well, my advice to all of you moaning about Sean is don't listen.

[NK]

Thanks Another Bob-- personally I'm not a fan of disqualification motions, but they are necessary sometimes for crim defendants. I wouldn't be surprised if Lester granted the motion before any State opp. A really good motion O'Mara may have in the future is dismissal because of Police misconduct resulting from false/prejudicial leaks. Or even better, what further disclosure shows that De la Rionda was a leaker? Anyways, GZ is out on Bond, the defense can take its time.

[caro]

Wouldn't taking Portman out of the senate leave one less for-sure R senator? Or does Kasich get to choose a replacement.

Jane and I have been in Pawlwnty's presence twice now and are totally not impressed. He came across as a real wuss to me.

I think it should be Ryan. There are a lot of young guns in the house now.

[Sue]

Well, my advice to all of you moaning about Sean is don't listen.

Gosh, I think I posted I hit the mute button. ::grin::

[lyle]

The Demsand the/MSM

Edit alert.

[glasater]

OT and breaking news:

Eliot Spitzer was just on Maria Bartiromo's show and claims that it was Warren Buffet who made the complaint against AIG's Hank Greenberg years ago.

It will be awhile before that video is available but this statement will be verified.

[sailor]

Well, caro, I have never been in Pawlenty's presence, and I still think he is a real wuss, and I am also totally not impressed.

[Sue]

he'll pick someone like...... Santorum.

Sara's head would explode.

[NK]

Daddy@4:31-- the WSJ editorialized about Harvard's endowment and free tuition about 10 years ago. At then ROIs, WSJ claimed Harvard could be free tuition in perpetuity. Of course the Harvard Trustees would tell you that would they be reckless to waive tuition and that would be contrary to the perpetual mission John Harvard gave to them to "re-invest in the institution." Therefore temporal students have to pay their own way. I actually agree with the Trustees about that.. now let's talk about salaries and benefits for those temporal faculty members and administrators.

[Jim Eagle]

Not even 5 O'Clock and I am on my second Daiquiri.

Lots of anti-Condi, here and in the right side press. I have no problem with her and 2001 or 2003. She can defend herself and remind everyone at the same time (as the London Olympics either gets attacked or publicly stopped by MI6) that she and Bush made good calls.

What I really like about her is that she plays concert piano, tough tennis and is a survivor of the most violent form of racism ever perpetrated in America. Well, that in the fact, that she would have been better for the NFL the Roger.

[centralcal]

Sue! KA-BOOM!! HA HA HA HA

Well, caro, I have never been in Pawlenty's presence, and I still think he is a real wuss, and I am also totally not impressed.

Ditto, sailor.

[sailor]

Well, JiB, the NFL is where she has always said she wanted to go. So, I say, let her go.

[daddy]

Thanks for that Harvard info NK.

As for the Chinese made Olympic uniforms, maybe we can use them as uniforms for the alleged "Domestic Army" I keep hearing about from Talk Radio callers that supposedly is buried in the thousands of pages of ObamaCare.

Or maybe just use them to cloth our 14,000 new IRS HealthCare Agents.

[lyle]

I would like to see Condi if for no other reason than to watch her verbally vivisect Slow Joe while simultaneously playing Chopin's Barcarolle.

[OldTimer]

Re Another Bob @ 4:23 - I so enjoyed reading the Arnold S.Trebach memo to Judge Lester suggesting that Lester recuse himself from the Zimmerman case. For those who haven't read that memo, see LUN

[woo woo]

More from Zimmerman motion to disqualify judge:

"The motion filed Friday says Zimmerman "has a reasonable fear that he cannot get a fair trial or a fair stand your ground hearing by this court."

The motion specifically mentions the new bail Judge Kenneth Lester set for George Zimmerman earlier this month. The motion says Lester made disparaging remarks about Zimmerman's character, says he should be "prosecuted for additional crimes," and is holding the threat of future contempt proceedings over Zimmerman's head.

The motion also says the court is not weighing any evidence of Zimmerman's innocence in the case when determining bond, other than to say "the only issue is the viability of the defendant's self-defense/Stand Your Ground claim" but they also accuse the judge of not discussing that issue either.

The motion also says:

"The court departed from its role as an impartial, objective minister of justice when it stated on two occasions in its order that in the court's personal opinion there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed a violation of Florida Statute 903.035(3), a third degree felony punishable by five years in prison. This is tantamount to instructing the state that Mr. Zimmerman should be prosecuted for this offense." "

http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/7/13/george_zimmerman_mot.html

[Jim Eagle]

Re: Romney and Pawlenty et. al.

Romney is a commercial guy (not business) and they look at things differently than maybe you and I [although I was a commercial guy when doing project finance]. He looks at the world through a completely different lens than Obama. I don't and never have thought Romney"political" in the same terms as Clinton or Obama.

Romney is our first "commercial" POTUS candidate. How from my life experience can I relate it with 2 daiquiris under my belt?

Its this [and maybe Mel, TC, NK, henry or others who bet with skin in the game can contribute] you need big balls to play this game. You have to compete and cut the best deal for you and your equity partners because if you don't the debt guys will laugh out loud. That is why that good looking guy in a black suit and black tie they show is successful and can take no wages and can do great things like the Olympics [where your's truly help in my modest way'.

But Mitt, please, get down of the Chair perch and be a Tiger, a gnawing, growling beast that will give them hiccups and terror stripes all the way to November.

Please! For me and my country. You have to be nasty.

[Danube of Thought]

Saw it, Jane, and forgot to respond--sorry.

I really don't know anything other than what I'm seeing and reading on the web. Best interpretation I've seen is that it's a very clear signal to Iran: if Israel attacks you, confine your response to Israel or you will be at war with the United States.

[Bruce]

Let's wait a few days for the polls to see whether the Dems have been successful in their attempt to turn Romney into a felon, Sue.

Ain't gonna happen. That attack was pretty much nipped in the bud. The Dems pushing this any more just show themselves as being grossly uninformed about how business at this level works, and open themselves to the obvious counter that if they did understood, they would be making money and creating jobs, instead of spending our money and destroying jobs.

The decisions made in filing the SEC forms were most likely well vetted years ago by high priced attorneys and accountants.

[Gus]

IGNATZ I AM HERE!!!

[Jim Eagle]

Gus,

Where is Rhinelander in WI.?

[sailor]

JiB, I totally agree with Mitt's becoming a gnawing, growling nasty beast, and I haven't started on my scotch yet!

[Jim Eagle]

sailor,

You are a god man. Scotch, this early? Are you in GMT time or even later? Down here in Florida the only time we drink scotch is Christmas. We are Rum and Vodka and Gin habituates, down here.

[Captain Hate]

Here's somebody who started drinking early who's enthusiastic about Rice http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304373804577523150337679024.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

[NK]

Dear All-- when watching the Obama crew it's obvious 2 things are going on. 1st: They play to their base-- ALL LEFT ALL THE TIME (see recent workfare waivers to go back to no work welfare) 2nd They are trying to disgust apolitical Indie voters with as much negative stuff as possible-- so you get buzz words like 'SEC' Felony' 'outsourcing' etc. That stuff won't change Indie minds he's lost them: BUT-- IF 'Bam can make Mitt look like a heartless stealing bankster-bastard, maybe enough Indies stay home so 'Bam can get within the margin of fraud and squeek out a win. I don't think it will work-- but that's all he has. He loses with the current electorate, so 'Bam has to reduce the size of the electorate by suppressing Repub -leaning Indies, so he gets from 46% to 50%.

[centralcal]

Hhhmmmm - anybody have a guess to what the answer will be?

James Rosen ‏@JamesRosenFNC
Also @SpecialReport at 6 pm ET: @MittRomney answers FNC's Carl Cameron who asked today if he still believes @BarackObama to be "a nice man."

[Jim Eagle]

::god: means ::good:: of course!!

[sailor]

Scotch for night time drinks, and gin and tonics for lunch time drinks--when that happens.

[sailor]

Well, I would like to be a god man, JiB.

[Bruce]

Well, we can speculate and talk among ourselves forever, and it will not make any difference--Romney will pick whom he (or his advisers) choose.

All the evidence I have seen so far would indicate that Romney goes through a well structured decision process, where his people lay out the options, give conflicting opinions, and then he makes the ultimate decisions. That he is like Bush (43) in being the "decider". Something that they may have both picked up at the Harvard B School. But, he also knows how to pick subordinates and then how to delegate to them.

Obama, on the other hand, doesn't seem to know how to make decisions, doesn't like to make decisions, and, thus, either seems to waffle a lot, or let his underlings make the decisions. Likely, I think, as a result of never having been trained to make decisions, nor having really had an opportunity or need to do so before moving into the White House.

[sailor]

Well, Bruce, my problem is that I am not sure I like Romney's advisers.

[NK]

Bruce-- 'Bam as decider? like most narcissists 'Bam can't fathom why everybody doesn't immediately agree to everything he says and do exactly as he instructs. Hence, he has no leadership qualities and he never learned to overcome this personality defect and learn the skills needed to lead teams of people. 'Bam knows what he wants -- he's a committed Leftist-- fortunately he's an organizationally incompetent leftist.