We were pretty happy, after a fun night out at a favorite restaurant, to hear the news that Romney was going to pick Paul Ryan to be his running mate. I've speculated about his selection, and I admit I was not so sure it would happen. I remember Paul Ryan speaking in DC at least a dozen years ago, when I was 24 or 25ish, at Heritage. He was young, good looking, and stridently conservative. And he was the best selection that Romney could make.
He will stomp all over Joe Biden in the debate, and he will help ideas be debated. Not just attack, not just cliched statements about being wealthy and out of touch. He is Catholic and pro-life. He is a reformer. He is the first nominee from Generation X. He is one of the few who invoke Ryan.
I predict that Ryan will end up in the Oval Office at some point. Sure, he will make mistakes. But this is the next generation of leadership, and it is long past time that we turn forward. And his opening salvo: perfect. Wonderful way to introduce yourself to the American public.
Showing posts with label veepstakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veepstakes. Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
Veepstakes:2012 Edition
I received the email from the Romney campaign about "Meet the VP!" Yes, we are days or weeks away from the big announcement.
I would like Paul Ryan. Or Tim Pawlenty or Rob Portman or even Bobby Jindal or Marco Rubio. The latest candidate du jour? Condi Rice.
Bill Kristol discussed this prospect a week ago. After the Drudge headline, Peggy Noonan jumps in, too. Condi has huge positives (80%!) and does not seem tampered by her long association with the Bush Administration. Net negatives? Her mild pro-choice stance, and she has never run for elective office. And Dick Cheney was not a fan. Conservatives really won't love it.
But she is smart and tough, and the first female VP being a black woman? Well, if we can't have Janice Rogers Brown on the Supreme Court, would this do?
We shall see, sooner rather than later, won't we?
I would like Paul Ryan. Or Tim Pawlenty or Rob Portman or even Bobby Jindal or Marco Rubio. The latest candidate du jour? Condi Rice.
Bill Kristol discussed this prospect a week ago. After the Drudge headline, Peggy Noonan jumps in, too. Condi has huge positives (80%!) and does not seem tampered by her long association with the Bush Administration. Net negatives? Her mild pro-choice stance, and she has never run for elective office. And Dick Cheney was not a fan. Conservatives really won't love it.
But she is smart and tough, and the first female VP being a black woman? Well, if we can't have Janice Rogers Brown on the Supreme Court, would this do?
We shall see, sooner rather than later, won't we?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Veepstakes: GOP Edition
McCain is poised to name his pick at any point. Definitely tomorrow, though word may trickle out at some tonight. Go ahead, upstage Obama :)
Anyway, here are my thoughts:
Romney is still my first choice. Executive experience, smart guy, could take on Biden. Still don't like that dog story.
Pawlenty is boring, but maybe he'd help the gop win Minnesota.
I would like to see the Dems lambast Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and Hillary to just silently or not so silently stew about it. But she's not pro-life enough.
Giuiliani? No.
Lieberman? No. Secretary of State, maybe.
Bloomberg: Definitely no.
I wish Fred Thompson was still in the running!
Huckabee I am not crazy about.
I am pretty sure Tom Ridge and Charlie Crist are out of the running, though Crist did name Canady to the FL Supreme Court today. To prove he's a conservative?
Bobby Jindal is too young, and Louisiana needs him. With the hurricane headed its way, maybe, the state needs him more than ever. Four years, or eight years from now.
Sarah Palin, too young. But in 2012 or 2016, perhaps a Jindal-Palin ticket? The new face of the Republican party.
John Kasich, Eric Cantor, Rob Portman--they've all been mentioned but not taken too seriously.
Sam Brownback. No.
Or someone else entirely?????
Anyway, here are my thoughts:
Romney is still my first choice. Executive experience, smart guy, could take on Biden. Still don't like that dog story.
Pawlenty is boring, but maybe he'd help the gop win Minnesota.
I would like to see the Dems lambast Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and Hillary to just silently or not so silently stew about it. But she's not pro-life enough.
Giuiliani? No.
Lieberman? No. Secretary of State, maybe.
Bloomberg: Definitely no.
I wish Fred Thompson was still in the running!
Huckabee I am not crazy about.
I am pretty sure Tom Ridge and Charlie Crist are out of the running, though Crist did name Canady to the FL Supreme Court today. To prove he's a conservative?
Bobby Jindal is too young, and Louisiana needs him. With the hurricane headed its way, maybe, the state needs him more than ever. Four years, or eight years from now.
Sarah Palin, too young. But in 2012 or 2016, perhaps a Jindal-Palin ticket? The new face of the Republican party.
John Kasich, Eric Cantor, Rob Portman--they've all been mentioned but not taken too seriously.
Sam Brownback. No.
Or someone else entirely?????
Friday, August 22, 2008
No announcement yet
No announcement, but speculation is building that Obama would name his pick today. It would be something if it were Hillary...half of her supporters apparently arent' gung-ho yet on Obama, and McCain has nearly tied things up. Wouldn't it be something...
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Veepstakes: Dem Edition
48 hours, give or take, until Obama picks his veep. My predictions/thoughts/guesses/wishlist:
I do think Evan Bayh is the best pick on paper. He's experienced, popular in Indiana (swing state!!), photogenic, bland enough not to overshadow Obama. Smart guy. Nice guy. No scandals as far as I know. He'd take it in a heartbeat.
Scandal pick: Joe Biden. I'd love to see him and his 35 years or so of inane, stupid remarks in McCain commercials. Bring it on. Delaware being a slave state and what not!
Screaming inexperience pick: Tim Kaine. The only other guy almost as revered as Obama with even less experience and fewer accomplishments. What is the guy going to do once Mark Warner (a better candidate) is elected to Senate? His career is over, unless Obama annoints him with a Cabinet spot.
Ain't Gonna Happen: Hillary. I'd be pretty floored if Senator Clinton were to become veep. She's scarcely speculated about, and no one wants Bill back anywhere the White House (and its interns).
The Other Woman: Kathleen Sebelius. Would she win Kansas? And woman voters disappointed about Hillary not being on the ticket?
Maybe too Conservative: Sam Nunn is a conservative Dem with lots of experience. Kind of like the Dick Cheney in the race?
Unlikely and Unknown: Jack Reed. Remember him from media class? Virtually an unknown Senator despite being pretty smart and principled (for a Dem at least). Maybe Obama wants someone who has been more vetted? Though the guy's up for election.
Dark horses: Caroline Kennedy, pro-lifer Robert Casey (maybe it would take care of Obama's abortion problems, though, and win over PA even more decisively), Al Gore, John Kerry, Janet Napolitano (the Dem governor of Arizona!! and a woman!!), Bill Richardson (clinton problems?), and whatever wild cards are left. Should be interesting!
I do think Evan Bayh is the best pick on paper. He's experienced, popular in Indiana (swing state!!), photogenic, bland enough not to overshadow Obama. Smart guy. Nice guy. No scandals as far as I know. He'd take it in a heartbeat.
Scandal pick: Joe Biden. I'd love to see him and his 35 years or so of inane, stupid remarks in McCain commercials. Bring it on. Delaware being a slave state and what not!
Screaming inexperience pick: Tim Kaine. The only other guy almost as revered as Obama with even less experience and fewer accomplishments. What is the guy going to do once Mark Warner (a better candidate) is elected to Senate? His career is over, unless Obama annoints him with a Cabinet spot.
Ain't Gonna Happen: Hillary. I'd be pretty floored if Senator Clinton were to become veep. She's scarcely speculated about, and no one wants Bill back anywhere the White House (and its interns).
The Other Woman: Kathleen Sebelius. Would she win Kansas? And woman voters disappointed about Hillary not being on the ticket?
Maybe too Conservative: Sam Nunn is a conservative Dem with lots of experience. Kind of like the Dick Cheney in the race?
Unlikely and Unknown: Jack Reed. Remember him from media class? Virtually an unknown Senator despite being pretty smart and principled (for a Dem at least). Maybe Obama wants someone who has been more vetted? Though the guy's up for election.
Dark horses: Caroline Kennedy, pro-lifer Robert Casey (maybe it would take care of Obama's abortion problems, though, and win over PA even more decisively), Al Gore, John Kerry, Janet Napolitano (the Dem governor of Arizona!! and a woman!!), Bill Richardson (clinton problems?), and whatever wild cards are left. Should be interesting!
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