McCain Hosting VPs?
Written by Sam on May 22nd, 2008

The Memorial Day weekend guest list at Sen. John McCain’s Arizona retreat runs to at least three Republicans mentioned as potential vice presidential running mates, but a top aide said Wednesday that vetting possible veeps is not on the agenda.
“It’s purely social,” said Mark Salter, a senior adviser to McCain.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a McCain rival in the primary, were invited to a weekend gathering at the senator’s place in Sedona.
If it’s going to be one of those three then my pick is Jindal, but I am skeptical that it will be him or that he would accept it being that he just got elected governor in Louisiana and has got quite a mess to clean up.
Crist doesn’t thrill me so much, nor does Romney, but I think Mitt is going to be the guy because of all the conservative support he oddly got during his campaign. I was really hoping for Mark Sanford.
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I dont like any of these choices. Crist-ok on tax cutting, but not great overall. Romney-vomit. Jindal-McCain will ruin this guy. He has a bright future, its best if he is left to mature.
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I agree with you about Jindal. He’s presidential material himself. I think his odds are better to wait. If Obama wins this year his term will be an inevitable disaster, Carter Part II, and then Jindal can run in ‘12.
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I think Senator McCain should consider Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his VP pick.
This AP article about her really impressed me:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gH_2Apl7Mbwo1XAJ44Pny3I5-gIwD90EF8PG0
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Sarah Palin just had a baby - won’t happen.
Jindal has only been guv for a very very short time. He’s not ready to be VP.
Crist is a closet liberal.
Romney would be excellent - would help bring in Michigan to the Republicans.
But I want Sanford, too. I have to say, he wasn’t as charismatic as I had hoped, though, when he was on Fox News Sunday.
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Michael… you called Crist a closet liberal while liking Romney. Of the three, Crist would probably be the best pick at the moment. I do not care for Romney and Jindal needs some time before he becomes President in his own right.
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Something happened to some conservatives during the primary. Some type of spell or something was cast by the Romney people. They have all forgotten that Romney was a total POS until he decided to start running for president. I live in MA now, and it is a dithering sinkhole thanks to that guy’s economic policies.
About MI, if anyone thinks that those union robots are going to pull a republican lever this fall, you need professional therapy.
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Sarah Palin had a baby and was back to work three days later. She has been managing the state just fine with Trig, and has already demonstrated that her baby won’t hinder a run for VP.
Just within the past week Palinlaunched two major energy initiatives–one of which is AGIA, her gas pipeline project. Governors have been trying to build the pipeline for several decades now, but nobody has gotten as far as Sarah.
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I have to disagree with the notion that Romney got “all th[is] conservative support” during the primary. He became the de-facto candidate of all of the anti-McCain conservative establishment, and still failed. In the states that he remained on the ballot after he dropped out, Huckabee and Paul got way more votes of enthusiasm/devotion.
Romney has acted graciously after conceding, but I don’t see how he would help the ballot in any way. Although it would be good to pick somebody who would energize Evangelicals to help in the turn out effort, I think a Huckabee pick would uneccesarily enrage other conservatives.
This is the opportunity for McCain to pick a conservative who can be a star-but didn’t run in the primary. If FDT didn’t run and fail misrabely, and supported McCain, he would be my top pick right now (although I know he now says he wouldn’t want it).
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McCain/Thompson: Crusty Old White Men ‘08!
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I also think Mitt is going to be the guy because of all the conservative support he oddly got during his campaign. One thing to not overlook, however, is this: John McCain will put the national interest ahead of partisanship, he will work with anyone who sincerely wants to get this country moving again. If John McCain is elected President, the era of the permanent campaign will end. The era of problem solving will begin.
So, you know, don’t overlook Lieberman.
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McCain’ll go with Romney to mollify the conservatives, to give him some economic credibility, and to help swing Michigan and Nevada.
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Romney should not even be considered for the VP! This would be a real disaster - a Morman holding the second highest office in the country is just plain crazy. Everyone is entitled to their personal beliefs, but Mormanism is NOT a religion - It’s a business organization - It’s a cult - It’s spooky at best. If Romney is added to the ticket, rest assured that I will not vote in this election - nor will I continue to contribute to the RNC or McCain’s campaign - And I do support Senate McCain whole heartedly!! But not if it means Romney is in the VP position.
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See, Marty? It’s perfect. If McCain goes with Romney the Republicans can claim they have an underrepresented minority on the ticket!
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Just a follow-up to Michael Rinker’s comment that Governor Palin just having a baby would discourage her from accepting a VP offer:
I disagree. Being Vice President might be less strenuous work than being governor of Alaska!
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Yeah being Vice President isn’t worth a bucket of warm spit, remember guys?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXfiOSCfY44