Limbaugh to McCain: A pro-choice VP guarantees defeat; Update: Lieberman “very much in the mix,” say McCain advisors; Update: McCain “got the message,” says RNC; Update: It’s Ridge, says (unreliable?) CNN source
posted at 3:21 pm on August 19, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Assorted quotes from today’s show via Halperin, the choicest of which is this:
The drive-bys are just hoping for this. They are just hoping for it because they know it’s not just a few loud mouths in the base. They know the base will totally turn on McCain if this is the case… it’s about trying to persuade McCain to make a decision that will ensure his defeat…
What is this about picking a liberal Democrat or a liberal Republican? McCain has already seen to it that he can walk across the aisle that he’s the top of the ticket. If anybody is going to attract moderates it’s going to be the top of the ticket guy. He’s not going to help himself any additional way, he’s going to hurt himself by putting a liberal or a liberal Republican on this ticket, particularly pro-choice.
Call this “DefCon 2.” If not for Lowry claiming last night that McCain’s sounding people out about a pro-choicer, I’d never have believed he’s considering it. As it is, K-Lo’s now hearing that Ridge is out and, as I said earlier, Rudy’s been off the radar for so long and brings so little to the ticket that I have to believe he’s out too. That leaves Lieberman, who’s (a) part of Maverick’s inner circle, (b) only yesterday made some noise about reversing his opinion on Sam Alito, (c) has been featured in McCain web ads that look oddly like what you’d expect an ad for a ticket to look like, (d) has been teasing the media for weeks about attending the GOP convention, (e) given his hawkishness, is the very best McCain could do if he’s aiming — futilely — to build a fusion ticket that might be acceptable both to centrists and the base, and (f) would be the most self-consciously, ostentatiously Maverick-y choice McCain could make, which doubtless holds enormous appeal for him for precisely that reason. I have to say, I’m a little worried. Follow the link to Halperin and you’ll see Limbaugh’s worried too.
Other VP odds and ends: An ad agency snooping around through domain names finds an interesting detail about obamasebelius.com; my own domain snooping about mccainpalin.com reveals a mystery registrant as well, but it’s probably just a Palin fan unconnected to the campaign since the site was reserved in late January; and finally, Barry O’s likely first appearance with his VP will be in Springfield, Illinois. His home state, of course — and the home state of Her Majesty, too. Hmmm.
Update: Just across at Politico. Gulp.
John McCain is seriously considering choosing a pro-abortion-rights running mate despite vocal resistance from conservatives, with former Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) very much in the mix, close McCain advisers say…
Multiple GOP sources say that party officials in Washington and in the states have been contacted by the McCain campaign in the past two weeks and asked about the fallout from such a choice. One person familiar with the calls said the party was being instructed to prepare for different candidate prototypes — including one in the mold of Lieberman, who is an independent but still caucuses with the Democrats…
GOP sources say McCain and his close friend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) still haven’t given up hope on making what some believe would be a game-changing decision by tapping Lieberman…
“It would fit well into the narrative of his not having any politics in the White House,” said the source. “No more Dick Morris, no more Karl Rove — we’re governing here. It’s an easy, natural message for McCain and it implies a one-term pledge without actually saying it.”
As for the inevitable blowback from the right, this person acknowledged the convention would be “a messy week,” representing a “shock to the system of a pro-life party.”
Follow the link for dire assessments galore from social cons. Exit quotation from ACU President David Keene: “Lieberman would blow things up.”
Update: Reassurance from the RNC by way of Fox News: “Several sources at the RNC told FOX News that in the last 36 hours, senior McCain advisers and aides have told RNC officials that McCain ‘got the message’ last week that choosing a running mate who supports abortion rights would not be helpful.”
Update: Into the hall of mirrors we go! Now this from CNN: “Several campaign officials say they do not believe a final decision has been made – though two sources say McCain may have already decided, and told only Davis. One party insider tells CNN that Davis has called several state party chairs indicating Ridge will be the Republican vice presidential pick this cycle – although it is possible that Christian conservatives may be playing up the former governor’s chances in an effort to raise alarm and prematurely kill off his candidacy.”
Update: I should have mentioned in the Politico update that they’re hearing Ridge is still in the mix, too. What to make of all the back and forth here? I can only guess that McCain is considering him and Lieberman, that social cons in the know are nervous about it and trying to scare McCain straight by raising the alarm now, and that the RNC’s in damage control mode publicly while privately they’re staging an intervention. Alternate theories?
Update: No, wait — it’s Meg Whitman! (Who?)
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Rudy the abortionist,homosexual,crossdressing, marcher in NAMBLA parades(national association of man boy love)…
yes that’s a real good pick there buddy
i/sarc
IF Mcshame is going to pick any pro abortion VP we all know exactly who he’s thinking of….Joe Lieberman.
SaintOlaf on August 19, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Rush mentioned on todays show about Lieberman,
at some event,and Rush approached Liebermans
table,”We have to talk”,Rush said they didn’t
get the chance!
And the plot thickens!
canopfor on August 19, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Lieberman is an Independent. The democrats kicked him out of their little party. The democrats of today, are far left, and they continue to move that direction. Lieberman would not be accepted back into the democrat party.
Again, Lieberman is an independent.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I may be wrong, but I don’t think so. Even after Roe, abortion laws are mostly left to the states. IIRC the areas the feds get into are inter-state and funding.
The abortion bill that keeps biting Obama is the “born alive” state bill and I think I would have remembered if the feds had taken up something like that.
cozmo on August 19, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Frank Luntz just brought up the point that there will be VP debates. So a good mental exercise here would be to play that one out. Which of our guys/gals would do better against one of theirs?
Connie on August 19, 2008 at 4:14 PM
cozmo on August 19, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Linky.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Rushbaby, did you look at the picture that Rush’s staff posted on 8/1/08?
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_080108/content/01125110.guest.html
what do you think about McCain/Giuliani?
Giuliani also worked hard to try to get Santorum re-elected in 2006. I think Santorum would campaign for McCain/Giuliani, which would help with values voters.
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Rudy,the abortionist,crossdressing..
SaintOlaf on Aug 19,2008 at 4:13PM.
SaintOlaf: Before this goes on a religous hijacking thread,
are you saying Rudy performs(abortions)and that
he is a transsexual?
Oh,and isn’t SaintOlaf,the magical city from
the Golden Girls?:)
canopfor on August 19, 2008 at 4:17 PM
VP debates? Rudy would clean up; Liebs would be great on foreign policy, weak on other stuff; and Ridge would put everyone to sleep. I can’t believe Ridge is on anyone’s short list of VP prospects.
james23 on August 19, 2008 at 4:18 PM
He’s an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, has the same beliefs as your average liberal Democrats and votes with them nine times out of ten. I think he’s a great guy and I admire him, but I don’t want him as president of the Senate.
Slublog on August 19, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Rudy, Mitt, Pawlenty, Sanford all do really well.
Ridge shudder extremely boring.
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 4:18 PM
He’s like that you know.
MB4 on August 19, 2008 at 4:19 PM
I believe Ridge is a smart fella but you are right about the bowl of corn flakes factor.
Limerick on August 19, 2008 at 4:19 PM
Yep.
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 4:19 PM
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 4:07 PM
You’re the anti-Crist.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:20 PM
I wish John would get the message on some other things and then actually remember that he got all them ‘memos’.
Michael in MI hit it on the head. Lieberman is Lie-erman; just omit the b unless you wanna add another one, swap the L for an F and call him Fibberman. But, this is much to do about nothing–but lefty shinanigans and spin.
If choosing Biden will produce a ‘historic’ choice for McCain, then picking a Mormon and an adversary (like Biden was) would be attractive to the conservative base that would rather vote against Obama than for McCain and another RINO.
Perhaps John was paid to lose.
Christine on August 19, 2008 at 4:20 PM
The VP can do absolutely nothing about the abortion issue. He can help influence the outcome of the race. Makes no sense to lose the positives Rudy brings in areas which could help keep Bill Ayers’s protege out of the presidency. I’ve always been comfortable with he and Mitt in either office, including selection of SC candidates, if something would happen to McCain.
a capella on August 19, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Oh good lord. This is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. It’s Lieberman. No it’s Ridge. Wait, it’s Guiliani. Uh, nope, it’s Romney. Now listen here, it’s Whitman. What? You say it’s Palin? No way, I heard it was Jindal.
Sue on August 19, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Many conservatives here would support him no matter what he does simply because he’s not Obama and he’s the nominee.
Many people still believe that.
Evangelicals are not a voting block, and many of them are already flocking to Obama though some are timid in their choice specifically because of Obama’s support of abortion. Take that issue away, and there’s no reason to believe more won’t flock to him.
That’s only true though because most candidates can count on their base for votes. If McCain can’t count on his base, then the moderates and undecideds probably won’t be able to help him.
That’s precisely the point. As a Dem, Lieberman is not automatically going to be the Republican nominee in 2012, even though the VP generally is. That was the point, that McCain will waste the slot on someone who can’t groom for 2012 (or possibly 2016).
Esthier on August 19, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I actually like the idea of Meg Whitman, or something along those lines. It would be nice to show fans of “the world’s smartest woman” what a real high-powered, hardcore woman leader looks and sounds like on stage.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:21 PM
What if he pulls a rabbit out of his hat and it’s Huckabee? Yikes!
Sue on August 19, 2008 at 4:22 PM
McCain/Who’s-behind-curtain-number-three ‘08!
Limerick on August 19, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Fools……….. listening to CNN as any kind of credible source.
The RINO’s are in panic that McCain has gotten the message from the base and knows that if he picks Liberman or another RINO he is done………….
This stinks of the Primaries where the delegates for Huck and McCain colaborated to keep Romney from showing strong, and then was forced out…………
McCain will make his choice, and then he will have to live with it.
It will either win him the Presidency, or send him crashing and burning, and responsible for four very dark years of Democratic control of our lives……….. under Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. Think of that for a few seconds…..
Rush, et al, only add to the debate and bring to the light decisions that have been made in the dark halls of power for far too long………… anyone wanting to silence them better silence yourself, and see how you like it. Better yet, stay tuned to CNN, they will tell you what is what…….
Seven Percent Solution on August 19, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Meg Whitman may very well be the world’s greatest businesswoman but who knows anything else about her?
EJDolbow on August 19, 2008 at 4:23 PM
You’re making some assumptions there that aren’t really supported by history. For example, do you really think that Dick Cheney would be the best candidate right now, if he wanted to run? Do you think Gore was the Dems’ best candidate in 2000? Do you think G.H.W.Bush was the Republicans’ best candidate in 1988 (and, later in ‘92)?
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Your the anti-christ
DaveS Aug 19,2008 at 4:20PM.
DaveS:(crist)(christ)Your the anti-Crist.
You mean Putin!(Just kidding with ya,Dave.):)haha.
canopfor on August 19, 2008 at 4:25 PM
I hope McCain’s not dumb enough to pick Lieberman. He’s going to have enough trouble with the Republican base without sticking another finger in their eye.
If McCain wants a Jew on the ticket, he should go with Eric Cantor. He’s young, he’s smart, he’s a native Virginian (a state McCain needs), and he’s a Jew who’s also an actual conservative.
AZCoyote on August 19, 2008 at 4:27 PM
You could have answered your own question. The vote was 98 to 0.
They are not the same though. The federal act is basically a definition that can be built upon (it is born alive, that makes it a person, just a feel good thing that doesn’t actually do anything). The Illinois one would have allowed treatment for a baby.
cozmo on August 19, 2008 at 4:27 PM
I think it would be awesome for McCain to walk out to a mic with W behind him and state that he was choosing W to be his running mate. Then have W come up and express how excited he was to still work in Washington. Then leave and not do any press for a day, then come back and say, “Kidding! It’s actually so-and-so.”
So many heads would explode. So, so many.
Nethicus on August 19, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Lynne Cheney. dKOS would reach critical mass.
Limerick on August 19, 2008 at 4:29 PM
I think that what she did for moving the concept of an auction to a greater number of people is a good example of a business man(woman) – but I don’t see how this translates to the United States economy in general. She’s a specialist.
I watched a motivational speech from Herman Cain, founder of Godfather’s pizza. From listening to him, I could see the years of business skills and wisdom being brought forth to demonstrate his knowledge of successful business. After watching him, and learning that he was a republican, I wanted to know if he would ever run for office. While it sounds strange to think that a motivational speaker would become a politician, I could see how his successful skills could translate into holding office.
Maybe Meg Whitman also has some really great business and life skills, and is a very intelligent person.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Of course not, which is why he didn’t run and why we’re stuck with McCain.
Then again, this wasn’t my point. I was simply explaining the point someone else was making.
As to the rest, I honestly have no idea. I can’t say I was involved enough in politics to say otherwise.
Esthier on August 19, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Umm, did you read the article or not, so-called “wise_man”? He is not slimey because he was Al Gore’s running mate. He is slimey because of what he DID as Al Gore’s running mate. Read the article and get back to me. From what I read of Lieberman’s behavior, flip-flopping, hypocrisy and demonizing of Republicans in the 2000 campaign, he is slime. Utter slime.
Michael in MI on August 19, 2008 at 4:30 PM
No… you don’t need a law to allow treatment of a baby. The law forbade withholding treatment from a baby. It is exactly the same net effect as a federal law defining the baby as a “person”, since you can’t withhold life saving treatment from any person.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:32 PM
I liked that.
A lot, actually. And to further infuriate the left, and take away their “McSame” routine, McCain could leave off the ‘just kidding part.’ At that point – it WOULD be 4 more years of Bush. As VP. HAR!! Of course, if anything would happen to McCain, Bush couldn’t be president, so we’d have to make sure that Nancy Pelosi was no longer speaker of the house.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:32 PM
About a half a billion eBayers who think she’s Satan for what she did to the everyday folks who built and use(d) the site.
Oh yeah, she’d be waaaaaayyyyy helpful with the Mom ‘n Poppers.
tree hugging sister on August 19, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Also, the Illinois bill did almost exactly the same thing as the federal legislation: it defined a born alive infant as a person.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:33 PM
And he’s HAWT. (embarrassed, but it’s true)
Lynne Cheney is a GREAT pick, actually. She’d be perfect.
seriously, never even crossed my mind, but she’d be perfect.
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 4:33 PM
LOL, make fun of my name. That will really get me to come around to your point of view Michael.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Lieberman may have switched over to being an Independent to get himself elected but he still caucuses with the Democrats. Is it even LEGAL, and does McCain want a showdown at the convention that will rival what Hillary lovers wanted to do at the democrat convention? Hell no.
Since when do Republicans vote Democrats into office? Sure McCain is liberal on a lot of issues, and I despise the fact that my stupid a$$ brothers in arms voted him to this spot, and he’s a RINO on all fronts, but he’s never been a Democrat. McCain may be a lot of things but he’s not stupid. If I wanted to vote for a Democrat I’d just freaking do it.
Although there’s a devilish side of me that says, ‘I dare ya to do it.’ He’ll lose for sure if he does and there’s no way the Republican Party will have the same old smiling faces after that little fiasco. Dismantle and rebuild is all I can say. When your own party leaders think you need to pretend to be like the other guy or actually start instituting the other guy’s policies that your base hates, then you’ve got some serious problems.
Sultry Beauty on August 19, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Are you freaking kidding me? Just Google “Meg Whitman Skype” to learn about her spearheading one of the stupidest dot-com-era transactions ever… except that it happened years after the dot-com bubble burst and everyone except Meg had learned their lesson. She’s almost as overrated as Carly Fiorina, who pretty much singlehandedly sent HP on the road to ruin.
ErikTheRed on August 19, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Nethicus, I like the cut of your jib LOL
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Ridge? So he’ll give Obama even more ammunition to keep comparing him to Bush? Joyous.
If McCain makes a “safe” pick just to please the base you can thank said base for 4 years of an Obama presidency.
Zaggs on August 19, 2008 at 4:36 PM
I doubt that more than 10% of the republican voters would seriously want to shoot themselves in the foot and welcome in President Obama with open arms in their lust to punish McCain. Of course there is a lot of talk here, But I am speaking of when the votes are cast. People can’t be that stupid.
.
And Liberman … is not …. a democrat.
Remember “the kiss?” paper meche parade float? They kicked him out.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:37 PM
I would say this is just a trick from the bolshevik media to prop up their dying candidate…
But then again, the bolshevik media have already won…no matter who wins, either way we get a leftist traitor to the United States as president.
SaintOlaf on August 19, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Arrrrrrrgh, this is all sooooooo tiresome.
It seems like years ago that I emailed the RNC and told them I wouldn’t vote for JMac. Since I had no real choice in the matter because of NM’s late primary date I’m stuck.
Come the 1st week of Nov. I’ll either abstain (if the One is way up in the polls here) or I’ll go with JMac if he has a shot. Until then I just can’t read any more of these what if threads.
rockhead on August 19, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Well, were going to find out this year. If Obama wins, then you’ll have your answer.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Well, unless he changed his affiliation to Republican sometime in the last couple of months, he’s not eligible by RNC rules to have his name placed in nomination for the vice presidency.
Slublog on August 19, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Well, unless McCain wants the mother of all party fights at the convention, anyway.
Slublog on August 19, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Yes, wise_man, he is. The only issue he votes with Republicans on is the war. That’s it.
I didn’t say that they’d do it to punish him.
As I already said, many evangelicals are already flocking to Obama. Take away the abortion issue, and why would they bother voting for McCain?
Esthier on August 19, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Sometimes you do. Lifesaving treatment is denied in hospitals every day.
But that gets away from your original question. Lieberman was for treating the baby as a living person, Obama was against it.
cozmo on August 19, 2008 at 4:43 PM
I like Meg, but I’m not sure what her reputation is. Maybe she can go the “mildly pro-choice” route…
Maybe it’s “mildly pro-choice” Condi?
I’m prolife but there is something seriously wrong with our party if we bicker of crap like this. There needs to be more give and take.
ninjapirate on August 19, 2008 at 4:44 PM
RNC: McCain Won’t Choose Abortion-Supporting Running Mate
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on August 19, 2008 at 4:46 PM
ErikTheRed on August 19, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Are you freaking kidding me? Just Google “Meg Whitman Skype” to learn about her spearheading one of the stupidest dot-com-era transactions ever… … She’s almost as overrated as Carly Fiorina, who pretty much singlehandedly sent HP on the road to ruin.But she oversaw the growth of ebay into a giant and its stock rise from just over a dollar to about 2000% higher.Now, google “Obama CEO Ebay” or “Hillary CEO HP” and see how their experience stacks up.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Crap… that was supposed to be a quote, not strikethrough. LOL.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Well, did you read the article yet? Lieberman is as slimey and leftist as one can get. Read what he did in 2000. People seem to think he is a stand-up guy, because of his stance on the war effort. He is nothing of the sort.
But, I shouldn’t be surprised with people. Afterall, Amnesty was evil in 2007, but it doesn’t matter anymore once McCain is the GOP nominee. Neither does abortion. Neither does global warming legislation. And soon, neither will drilling here, drilling now, since now oil speculators are evil now that Saint John says so. No principles or values matter. All that matters is do and say and have whatever people on your staff to get you to win an election. Whatever McCain does or says is golden, because he is the nominee and he isn’t Obama.
Here is the representative bumper sticker slogan of the McCain Campaign: “Vote McCain. He’s Not Obama.”
2004 was ABB (Anybody But Bush!) for the Left.
2008 is ABO (Anybody But Obama!) for the Right.
Michael in MI on August 19, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Well, according to this, RULE NO. 40 Nominations,
The Vice President needs to have the support of the majority of the delegates.
Doesn’t say anything about excluding independents, or requiring republicans. If I am in error, then please present the rules that you are referring to.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I’ve been saying the same thing for months now. It was stupid when the Dems did it for Kerry and certainly didn’t help them win. I don’t see how it will work out any better for us.
A president is expected to be able to reach across the aisle. For McCain that means Republicans. But too often it seems like we’re still just out of reach.
Esthier on August 19, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Bad news if McCain tries to “out change” Obama by reaching across the political fence to pull Lieberman on board.
Lieberman might help pull some of the Jewish vote that is luke warm on Obama but that’s about it.
I think Ridge would match up well against Biden but I’m not sure McCain needs to double down on the security vote (he already owns it).
moxie_neanderthal on August 19, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Michael in MI on August 19, 2008 at 4:49 PM
I just read it, and didn’t see anything particularly “slimey”. Mostly, it was just describing someone who was in the middle of a national campaign, specifically one which he didn’t control. For what it’s worth, I’m sure we will see very, very similar articles written about McCain on the left this year.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Ridge is a bad, bad idea. I’m even sick of seeing the Bush administration… no B.A. ties, please.
DaveS on August 19, 2008 at 4:58 PM
a) When and where did Meg Whitman state her views on abortion? Anyone have a link? I still think she’s unlikely for a number of reasons, most of all because she hasn’t been on TV all year, as far as I can tell. I have seen her speak before – years ago just before the Internet bubble crashed – and she came across well, but wouldn’t she have gotten at least one “live” screen test?
b) However, the idea that Whitman is unpopular among eBayers, or due to her having led eBay’s transformation from Pez-collector haven to multinational corporation and household word, is very parochial. Sure, there are whiners and complainers in eBay-land, though more as a result of post-Meg stuff, but acquiring Skype is really small beans in relation to her overall track record.
c) Just a thought: Women have in the Republican Party traditionally been given more of a pass on choice – the menfolk falling silent kind of thing – for instance, it’s always been almost a given that the Lady Bushes were “mildly pro-choice,” but it’s hardly affected their popularity at all. Loudly pro-choice is one thing, but quietly and mildly on the part of a woman may be politically something else.
CK MacLeod on August 19, 2008 at 4:58 PM
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I stand corrected – only that there is an (I) by his name and not a (D) anymore.
But as has been stated, he caucuses with the Dems and his policies are Liberal/Democrat on pretty much everything but the war.
Ron Paul is a Republican too, right?
catmman on August 19, 2008 at 4:59 PM
If McNumbNuts picks a Pro Abortion VP he’s dead! I will never vote this ticket and there are a great many like me! Go for it and see what happens, maverick!
sabbott on August 19, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Yes, you are right. I just don’t personally see a person like Lieberman as one of the usual dangerous democrats out there. After all, the democrats have a lot of characters in their tent. From people like Conyers, Kucinnich, Jefferson, (formerly)McKinney, Pelosi and Reid – the list goes on. I don’t see Lieberman as the mentally retarded brand of democrat who thinks that Bush lied, or that Bush knew about 9/11 before it happened. I’m not trying to say that Lieberman is a republican when he’s not. He’s a independent who was kicked out of the democrat party for many reasons.
If I had to choose one of a hundred democrats (In the spirit of bi-partisanship) to be in the whitehouse, such as Obama, and including that list above of some of the more colorful cast of characters, I would say that Lieberman is less harmful/more desirable than most if not just about all democrats.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 5:09 PM
That we will.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Aside from anything connected to the war, what are you talking about?
Esthier on August 19, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Liebs won’t get the support of the majority of the delegates. I’m not worried that we’re going to have to try to sell a McCain/Lieberman ticket.
Of course, I didn’t think McCain had a prayer of getting the nomination, so my crystal ball obviously doesn’t work all that well.
wouldn’t picking Ridge send more republicans over to Barr? Ridge is kind of the face of the US PATRIOT Act, right?
funky chicken on August 19, 2008 at 5:25 PM
This is fun.
My Picks:
Best for Obama would be Hillary, he picks Bayh.
Best for McCain would be Mitt!, he picks Pawlenty.
Ridge, Lieberman, disastrous choices. Rudy, ok. Palin, too cute. And I do mean cute. Mom of 5, she’s still a babe. I’m such a sexist. Some other dark horse pick? I could go with that. I don’t think people understand how helpful a Mitt! pick would be. He’s got it all.
Paul-Cincy on August 19, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Such as his association with their most hated person in the world, George W Bush. They touted “the kiss” as a way to destroy Lieberman. While democrats want to impeach Bush, claim that he is a war crimminal, and more, Lieberman was very much an outsider as a democrat, because he didn’t believe that brand of democrat BS.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Personally, I’m only going on what’s being reported at NRO – that such rules do exist. Such a rule would make sense, but I suppose it’s not necessarily a given.
Regardless, picking Lieberman would be a bad idea by McCain for the simple fact that it would throw the convention into chaos and would create the likely possibility of delegates rejecting the vice presidential nominee. Which, if McCain does pick Lieberman, I hope the delegates would do. I would have great trouble voting for a McCain/Lieberman ticket and I suspect I would not be alone in that discomfort.
Slublog on August 19, 2008 at 5:56 PM
If he picks a pro choice VP, and especially a lib and recent Democrat, like Lieberman, there really is no reason to vote for him. I have been so liking McCain recently. That would be it for me. I either would not vote at all or vote 3rd party.
JellyToast on August 19, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Thanks for posting the current info on Ridge. I was afraid he was the guy in the freezer they thought might be Bigfoot. Where do these guys get the idea Ridge is a heavyweight pol? Clearly he is not. McCain has one flaw I am not sure he can overcome, a lack of contacts. He doesn’t have Reagan or the Bush’s contacts to draw on. Looks like he doesn’t have much of a talent pool at all. Gramm? Please.
pc on August 19, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Mc Cain has already sealed his fate with disabled and wounded vets…
Saint Mc is toast with vets…!
J_Gocht on August 19, 2008 at 6:05 PM
If you posted it previously, I must have missed it, Slublog sorry. I search NRO andfound the Kathryn Jean Lopez posting that mentioned the ‘at least 60 days’ rule. When I searched for that,got nothing. And for a search to work, needs the key words or exact text. Just cause I can’t find it (i’d like to read it) doesn’t mean it’s no there of course. Thanks for mentioning where you saw it.
And if this is the case, the Lieberman talk could be more wild speculation that may be all rumors from unnamed sources. And you know what that’s like.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Nope. Just responded – darn job got in the way of my commenting.
Slublog on August 19, 2008 at 6:07 PM
You’re quoting media matters in an attempt to impress people here?
As I recall, he voted against this because this was a set-up by the democrats to pork it up with thinks such as out of control spending for benefits that kick in to quickly, and let more money drain out from service members that leave, and don’t stay in the military.
To even suggest that Obama is better than McCain on matters of the US military like this is laughable.
But then again, you did go to the left wing media matters for america smear site to find your anti-McCain garbage, so it’s not that much of a surprise.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 6:09 PM
I’m just going to repeat what I said before. When has the RNC voted for a Democrat? He’s Democrat in every way save one. He caucuses with the Democrats and if you’re over here honestly telling conservatives that this is McCain’s best choice for Veep, I’m going to seriously question your potential as being a troll.
If I wanted to vote for freaking Democrats, I’d do it. If he’s caucusing with the Democrats he needs to stick to his own kind. Besides, he wasn’t much help to Al Gore who was supposed to win that election handily. On top of that, it brings back horrible memories of a bunch of hanging chads.
Sultry Beauty on August 19, 2008 at 6:12 PM
I’m just commenting on the news as I see it.
As I said on another page: In order, “I’d like to see Romney. And if not him, then Giuliani, then Lieberman, then Ridge. Pretty much for the reasons you gave.”
So in other words, I think his “best choice” is Mitt Romney. Followed by Rudy Giuliani. And then Lieberman, only because I don’t have as high a regard for Ridge. Speculated that if McCain picks Lieberman, he could do better to attract more moderates and win the election. As a matter of fact, I think that John McCain is not the “best choice” for republican hopes in 2008, but he won the primaries.
I can only hope to convince you that I am not a troll, even if you think so. I am very, very sincere in everything I write. If you want to see a real troll, then go read the BS coming out from Alphie. Or one of the several others here … Thank you very much.
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 6:21 PM
How does MB4 put it…? “You can’t handle the truth” or was that in a movie once?
God honest factual, truthful ways Saint Mc has screwed veterans is not trolling.
I’ll recount some of those myriad examples in this small capsule for you wise_man.
Olde soldier sends…
J_Gocht on August 19, 2008 at 6:38 PM
wise_man on August 19, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Lieberman did wonders being on Gore’s ticket.
Remember that “debate” with Chaney in 2000?
It was better than novacaine!
And how about that five trillion dollar scam known as “McCain-Lieberman”?
That’ll send us back to the dark ages (literally)!
Yes, that’s the ticket… for 8 years of Obamanomics…
TexasJew on August 19, 2008 at 6:39 PM
J_Gocht on August 19, 2008 at 6:38 PM
You seem to think that veterans are some kind of frigging pleading special interest group, like damn half-assed union workers.
No, I’m not a vet, but both my parents were combat veterans, including my little Jewish mother, and they never took one frigging dime or privilege from the government. They would never vote for a traitorous piece of crap like BHO, either.
TexasJew on August 19, 2008 at 6:45 PM
You may not have been listening or ‘watching’ this afternoon but i just happened to walk past a TV set to FoxNews just before Marth McCallum ended her show . She announced that they had received word from the RNC that Tom Ridge was NOT going to be the VP nominee. No word on Lieberman, but Ridge is out of the running. One anti-life candidate down, one to go. Lieberman is a good man but he is NOT a conservative, (whoa how far off that is) and he is not the person any Republican would want to see take the POTUS job if something horrible happened.
I for one, wish McCain would select Ken Blackwell, or Michael Steel. I’d prefer Blackwell. He is right. And he is unwavering in that position.
http://www.countryaboveself.com I wish someone would nominate Blackwell. And oh yeah…
Hey Obama…. I’m calling you a TRAITOR! and many people have agreed with that assessment.
ilitigant on August 19, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Secondlook at Meg Whitman. This one makes more sense than any i’ve seen other than Palin.myamphibian on August 19, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Hey there, T.J… ”They know the base will totally turn on McCain if this is the case…”
So you can’t stomach the lefty sites I link to; how about this vets site…?
Same difference, same timetable, same abysmal record…!
Whata yah call “the base”…” some kind of frigging pleading special interest group?
I would… TJ!
J_Gocht on August 19, 2008 at 7:07 PM
McCain is floating enough trial balloons to airlift Iowa.
sulla on August 19, 2008 at 7:18 PM
The people screaming bloody murder and how they won’t support Mccain if he picks a moderate or independent are the same ones who were howling in a very Kos like fashion that they couldn’t support Mccain if he won, since his creds weren’t as good as Romney.
The big comedy is Romney’s flip flops on abortion are of Kerry-esque proportions, and yet so many bloggers and pundits were willing to overlook his issues.
Forgive me if I think Mccain should ignore the 3% of far right people and go for that big 35% middle pie that will win the election for him in places like Ohio, Penn, and Florida in which Lieberman will deliver him votes, and allow us to put more constitutional scholars in SCOTUS.
Howlers should Feel free to take their ball and go home, although by allowing Obama to gain from non support, really what are you accomplishing, especially with the real probability of the DNC holding 60 seats in the Senate and the House?
crscott on August 19, 2008 at 7:34 PM
A related flaw is his poor local organization. Obama is working it, and McCain is not.
Paul-Cincy on August 19, 2008 at 7:58 PM
He could (and probably will) do worse. She should run for Governor of California instead.
Zorro on August 19, 2008 at 8:08 PM
My oh my what are them bigots to do,
pull one lever and vote for a black,
or be one “Mossad bullet” away from a Jew?
In all seriousness I hope he picks Lieberman for two reasons:
1. To make my unorthodox prediction correct.
2. So they don’t blame their losing ways on conservatives anymore. I am sick of them saying they have to be moderate to win when they have been running from the left ever since they got the majorities in 1994 running as conservatives.
LevStrauss on August 19, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Of course two reasons why I don’t want Lieberman to be VP:
1. Because he is Lieberman.
2. McCain is 71 years and 355 days old.
LevStrauss on August 19, 2008 at 8:20 PM
McCain needs to pick for youth to counter the old gray guy effect.
Palin would swing a lot of Hillary’s angry gals.
profitsbeard on August 19, 2008 at 8:49 PM
McCain support has increased because of the hideous specter of an Obama presidency – it’s a far scarier picture than Hillary in the office. Hillary wouldn’t (likely) be a Chamberlain-like appeaser when dealing with foreign issues; I can envision a pantywaist Obama
entering a dialoguebegging and pleading with Iran and terrorists “please don’t hurt us”.If McCain picks a liberal/pro-abortion VP then he’ll gain 5% moderate vote and lose %15-%20 of the traditional conservative vote, thus a loss of the presidential race to Obama. We will then see a frenzied race to embrace all things Marxist and bring an end to the US of A as we know it. Can you say economic depression, Komrade?
electric-rascal on August 19, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Paris Hilton sounded pretty good better than 0Bama anyway and she looks good on television.
dhunter on August 19, 2008 at 8:56 PM
I’d wager your numbers are backwards. He’d probably lose 5% of the far right, and gain 10-25% moderates. This also ignores the gains in the battleground states that are what really matters. If he loses some evangelicals in very red states, it won’t hurt him. If he slam dunks Florida and makes New England competitive, this race is painted a very different color.
I agree with Profitsbeard that Palin would be the choice that would help the most, and swing many women voters. She’d be at the top of my list.
crscott on August 19, 2008 at 8:57 PM
From a standpoint of creating a winning advantage, that VP choice is becoming more appealing to me.
Romney has better creds, but is a turnoff (Mormon) to some. I don’t really care about that factor, just like I don’t care what gender or race the candidate is… I just want the president to not screw the country over from inside, or permit it to be screwed over from ourside. With ObaMarx, I see a great likelyhood of both.
electric-rascal on August 19, 2008 at 9:00 PM
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