Pre first term George W. Bush could not win in this insane GOP climate

Global Warming

BUSH: "I believe there is global warming." (source: quoted in column by Mark Hertsgaard, "Los Angeles Times," June 20, 1999)

"[Governor Bush] recognizes that global warming must be taken seriously but will require any decisions to be based on sound science and a thorough cost-benefit analysis." (source: Bush presidential campaign web page as printed out on 9/20/99)

Drill Baby Drill

BUSH: Supports existing moratorium on California and Florida offshore drilling. (source: Associated Press - Calvin Woodward, November 20, 1999)

Medicare

Premiums would be all or partially paid by the government for low-income seniors with annual incomes of up to $14,600 for individuals and up to $19,700 for couples. No seniors would pay more than $6,000 in out-of-pocket expenses each year for prescription drugs. source

"What our elderly need is a modern Medicare plan that will provide prescription drug benefits just like our federal employees get." source

I think Joe was planning on doing that anyway.

It's both incredibly amusing and terribly depressing to see all of the semi-reasonable republicans trip over themselves back pedaling away from this clown.

Mugato: John Stewart ran some clips of top GOP people being asked if they would join Romney's ticket if asked and all of them basically saying, "Are you drunk?" and recommending someone else. I don't remember who they all were but one was Bachman and another was Herman Cain. Cold.

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio went back in forth with each other---each recommending the other guy take that particular bullet.

vernonFL: Whoever Romney picks, it won't be someone unconventional or exciting

which is why I think it'll be Santorum. I think he will over-estimate the appeal of Santorum, or at least ignore that Santorum would turn out Obama's base more than he would excite the social conservative base.

And so far seems to be heading toward what I've said before:

Romney will pick a female VP to mitigate the disaster the GOP created with women. Chance is near 100%.

HMS_Blinkin: Mugato: John Stewart ran some clips of top GOP people being asked if they would join Romney's ticket if asked and all of them basically saying, "Are you drunk?" and recommending someone else. I don't remember who they all were but one was Bachman and another was Herman Cain. Cold.

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio went back in forth with each other---each recommending the other guy take that particular bullet.

And Rubio just made sure he isn't picked by doing that little trick with the GOP credit card.

Are we all ignoring the elephant in the room?

How did you know that's one of my fantasies, subby?

Mugato: FeedTheCollapse: which is why I think it'll be Santorum. I think he will over-estimate the appeal of Santorum, or at least ignore that Santorum would turn out Obama's base more than he would excite the social conservative base.

Yeah but he already has the social conservatives by default. He needs women so he'll pick a woman as a crass attempt to make people forget everything anti-woman the GOP's been saying of late. I have no idea who though.

Maybe Nikki Haley, who also has the bonus of being Indian so as to make the Republicans appear not entirely full of old white men.

Mugato: FeedTheCollapse: which is why I think it'll be Santorum. I think he will over-estimate the appeal of Santorum, or at least ignore that Santorum would turn out Obama's base more than he would excite the social conservative base.

Yeah but he already has the social conservatives by default. He needs women so he'll pick a woman as a crass attempt to make people forget everything anti-woman the GOP's been saying of late. I have no idea who though.

I don't think it's a lock that social conservatives will turn out in great numbers to vote for Romney. There are plenty of ABR factions still out there who, out of spite, would rather have 4 more years of Democrat rule than to have a soft RINO in the office.

Pulling Santorum aboard may gain that lock, but that would throw the independents off the train. He needs to pick someone who can govern, not someone who is going to pick up votes for him. If he tries to take the strategic route, he'll get creamed. But if he takes the pragmatic approach (and he's somewhat of an expert on flip-flopping when it suits him) he may be able to get someone who the voters are actually excited about.

But this is all academic anyway. The Republicans can't win this time around against Obama.

NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: It's both incredibly amusing and terribly depressing to see all of the semi-reasonable republicans trip over themselves back pedaling away from this clown.

It's funnier to see ex-Bush Administration people backing away from the spotlight. I guess they learned what happens when you take the fall nowadays: you end up like Rumsfeld, pimping his book on Opie & Anthony and being mocked without knowing before fading into the ether.

deadcrickets: And so far seems to be heading toward what I've said before:

Romney will pick a female VP to mitigate the disaster the GOP created with women. Chance is near 100%.

No way. After Palin, the Republicans want someone they can control. And any woman VP will open up the floodgates regarding all of the Republican War on Women nonsense. It will be seen as a pandering move that will fail absolutely. Look at how Ann Romney was received. That was a trial run for a possible female VP, and it will not end well. Romney's VP will be someone safe because he's simply not winning the woman nor the minority vote this year. The Party saw to that.

I'm going to have to say that the simple fact that she's qualified for, but doesn't want the job makes her a much better candidate for the job in my eyes.

Mugato: John Stewart ran some clips of top GOP people being asked if they would join Romney's ticket if asked and all of them basically saying, "Are you drunk?" and recommending someone else. I don't remember who they all were but one was Bachman and another was Herman Cain. Cold.

Meh, that probably just means that they don't want to put the effort into what they know is going to be a losing ticket. They're politicians--it's not like they can accuse him of being too shallow or too immoral for the American people, when they live the same game. Every single one of them would probably jump at it if they thought he had a chance.

Guntram Shatterhand: NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: It's both incredibly amusing and terribly depressing to see all of the semi-reasonable republicans trip over themselves back pedaling away from this clown.

It's funnier to see ex-Bush Administration people backing away from the spotlight. I guess they learned what happens when you take the fall nowadays: you end up like Rumsfeld, pimping his book on Opie & Anthony and being mocked without knowing before fading into the ether.

deadcrickets: And so far seems to be heading toward what I've said before:

Romney will pick a female VP to mitigate the disaster the GOP created with women. Chance is near 100%.

No way. After Palin, the Republicans want someone they can control. And any woman VP will open up the floodgates regarding all of the Republican War on Women nonsense. It will be seen as a pandering move that will fail absolutely. Look at how Ann Romney was received. That was a trial run for a possible female VP, and it will not end well. Romney's VP will be someone safe because he's simply not winning the woman nor the minority vote this year. The Party saw to that.

Compare Ann Romney and Palin to someone like Olympia Snowe. Huge difference. Trying to show that no one can beat a maze simply because you intentionally chose a retard to do the one and only run won't convince someone like me.

Altair: Ron Paul...



never heard of him. I wonder if he has given any thought to RON PAUL though?

Why does the media even bother asking people if they would like to be VP? Even the ones that want the job the most say something to the effect of "I'm sure that Whatshisname will find a fine running mate, but I'm committed to my current job as a Wal-Mart greeter." Then the ones who really aren't interested have to say something like "I wouldn't be Whosit's running mate if he were the last candidate on earth!" and we are left to guess about which denials were the most forceful.

/I still think Mitt should pick the governor of Puerto Rico. An "Rmoney/Fortuño" ticket would elicit a wealth of puns.

Romney isn't even going to be the candidate sorry libs RONPAUL is taking it

So biden is going participate in the annual drag race to try to get some additional votes right before the election?

Mugato: FeedTheCollapse: which is why I think it'll be Santorum. I think he will over-estimate the appeal of Santorum, or at least ignore that Santorum would turn out Obama's base more than he would excite the social conservative base.

Yeah but he already has the social conservatives by default. He needs women so he'll pick a woman as a crass attempt to make people forget everything anti-woman the GOP's been saying of late. I have no idea who though.



Kind of. They probably won't vote Democrat, but they also might not vote at all if they're not too happy. I think he'll see Santorum as someone who can excite that base as Santorum's supporters seemed to genuinely interested in voting for him as opposed to just choosing him because he stands a better chance at beating Obama; but I don't think Romney will recognise that Santorum will also excite the Democratic base against him and he'll sacrifice his appeal among moderates. I also think that much like Palin (though I'm loathe to make the comparison as I don't think Santorum is as big of an idiot), I think Santorum will be hard for Romney to control and stay on message.


Guntram Shatterhand: deadcrickets: And so far seems to be heading toward what I've said before:

Romney will pick a female VP to mitigate the disaster the GOP created with women. Chance is near 100%.

No way. After Palin, the Republicans want someone they can control. And any woman VP will open up the floodgates regarding all of the Republican War on Women nonsense. It will be seen as a pandering move that will fail absolutely. Look at how Ann Romney was received. That was a trial run for a possible female VP, and it will not end well. Romney's VP will be someone safe because he's simply not winning the woman nor the minority vote this year. The Party saw to that.



I can see him picking a female candidate. I don't see why it would automatically be a Palin-type situation just because they're female. It probably would stem some of the War on Women grumblings even if it's obvious pandering. The only thing is, I'm not sure who he would pick. I'm pretty sure Nikki Haley has some kind of scandal going on. Bachmann might fit Santorum's above role with the added addition of Being A Woman, but even I don't think Romney will see that as a viable option. Anyone else is probably wise enough to keep their distance from him.


Romney's best option is a moderate candidate as his strategy needs to be "which candidate won't excite Obama's base?" Romney will likely still lose even with that strategy, but it won't be by as big of a margin as if he got a social conservative candidate. My bet is still on Santorum or a social conservative candidate as Romney has shown himself to be a terrible strategist and willing to make the same mistakes over and over again.

ole' Condi doesn't want it because she knows mitt can't beat Obama. i don't like her party but she is a smart girl.

zedster: Intrade.com seems to think Rob Portman will be VP. I think too low profile

Maybe Natalie can campaign for him - they're related right?



/Never mind
//High profile nips

Party Boy: Pre first term George W. Bush could not win in this insane GOP climate

Global WarmingBUSH: "I believe there is global warming." (source: quoted in column by Mark Hertsgaard, "Los Angeles Times," June 20, 1999)



so? Do you not know the difference between believing in global warming global climate change and believing what the causes are?

For the 2008 election, Obama looked like a sure win. No important or competent Republican wanted to run as McCain's VP because it was a sure loss. So McCain had to pick a nobody, Sarah Palin, which then got spun as a "bold, gutsy, and mavericky" move rather than a sign of desperation.

Romney also has the problem that nobody sane wants to be tarnished as a losing VP candidate aligned with Romney. So he too will probably be forced to "boldly" pick a fairly unknown idiot as running mate.

deadcrickets: Guntram Shatterhand: NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: It's both incredibly amusing and terribly depressing to see all of the semi-reasonable republicans trip over themselves back pedaling away from this clown.

It's funnier to see ex-Bush Administration people backing away from the spotlight. I guess they learned what happens when you take the fall nowadays: you end up like Rumsfeld, pimping his book on Opie & Anthony and being mocked without knowing before fading into the ether.

deadcrickets: And so far seems to be heading toward what I've said before:

Romney will pick a female VP to mitigate the disaster the GOP created with women. Chance is near 100%.

No way. After Palin, the Republicans want someone they can control. And any woman VP will open up the floodgates regarding all of the Republican War on Women nonsense. It will be seen as a pandering move that will fail absolutely. Look at how Ann Romney was received. That was a trial run for a possible female VP, and it will not end well. Romney's VP will be someone safe because he's simply not winning the woman nor the minority vote this year. The Party saw to that.

Compare Ann Romney and Palin to someone like Olympia Snowe. Huge difference. Trying to show that no one can beat a maze simply because you intentionally chose a retard to do the one and only run won't convince someone like me.

Anybody he picks to pull votes from Obama won't do that but will make him even less appealing to the Tea Party and Christianists. Romney's path to victory is Obama supporters being less enthusiastic than Obama opponents. I think picking someone to his right is his only play and it's hard to imagine that being a woman unless she's a total idiot. Again.

vernonFL: He'll probably do what Obama did - pick a respected long serving Senator that knows their way around Washington.

Obama only did that to counteract claims that he was an inexperienced outsider who happened to be an attractive and successful African-American. The logical thing was to pick a guy who was an experienced insider who was white as milk.

Romney needs to choose someone to shore up his weaknesses: a social conservative with a lot of charisma, preferably a female or minority who grew up dirt-poor and knows about the struggles of the common man. Preferably a Southerner, but you can't have it all, I guess.

Vermicious Knids: Romney needs to choose someone to shore up his weaknesses: a social conservative with a lot of charisma, preferably a female or minority who grew up dirt-poor and knows about the struggles of the common man. Preferably a Southerner, but you can't have it all, I guess.

up until he announced that he wasn't running, I was sure it would be Romney/Huckabee this year for these exact reasons.

NIXON YOU DOLT!!!!!: It's both incredibly amusing and terribly depressing to see all of the semi-reasonable republicans trip over themselves back pedaling away from this clown.

What makes that worthless, lying harpy "semi reasonable"?

Although the VP position is perfect for her work ethic of "phoning it in" and shopping.