The Veepstakes
By Mitch Berg
Since the GOP nomination’s been wrapped up for almost three months, now, the question “Who’ll Mac pick for VP” has been gurgling about the place.
Governor Pawlenty, of course, has been a key contender for a long, long time; young, great approval, decent if not invincible record of success as governor and legislator, conservative enough to not spark a rebellion in the provinces, and he supported Mac when it wasn’t cool to be in the McCain camp.
But as Gary Miller at TvM notes in reversing his own prediction:
The problem is that the GOP has a a dearth of talent in both our gubernatorial and congressional ranks. I couldn’t help but read this Redstate roundtable on possible veep choices and feel discouraged — much like those who participated in the discussion. The most likely choices all have significant electoral or ideological shortcomings…
Which takes out Sanford, I think, as well. South is out in the GOP.
Miller:
My reptilian brain stem has been working on finding someone who meets the following seemingly impossible criteria: 1) palatable (if not exciting) to conservatives; 2) satisfactory name recognition; 3) geographic advantages; 4) able to reaffirm McCain’s maverick creds; 5) able to assume the presidency should tragedy strike; 6) not necessarily currently in politics.
Allow me to offer the name of MSNBC host and former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough.
Hm.
Hmmmmm.
I had not thought about this:
Scarborough boasts a rock-solid lifetime ACU rating of 95. Even so, he does not shrink from criticizing Republicans when events warrant so he would help brandish the McCain maverick brand. He does not harken from, or have any association with, the unpopular Bush Administration or current congressional GOP leadership as he left the House to spend more time with his children in early 2001. His name recognition is not off the charts but would still probably exceed that of many of the other contenders.
OK. The affirmative case is there. The most important thing for GeeEmInEm to do is not blow the case with a complete howler…:
He is obviously telegenic and well-spoken.
Ooof-da. There ya go.
Now, I’ll cop to the fact that I watch very little cable news and almost no cable talk shows. But the times I”ve seen Scarborough I wasn’t especially impressed with the “speaking” bit. I’ll allow that I could be wrong.
Someone convince me.
Miller also noted:
Meanwhile, two of the more exciting prospects, Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin, are long on vision but short on experience.
Compared to Obama and Clinton?
I’ll admit I’ve gotten a bit more excited about Jindal lately. I think his pluses far outweigh his minuses: Young, solidly conservative without the “paleo”, “neo” or “doctrinaire” labels, ethnic, in-but-not-of the south…
…and Catholic. Michael Medved noted at dinner the other night that Catholics whom make under six digits – a fair chunk of the “Reagan Republican” coalition of 28 years ago – will likely be the swingiest of the swing votes in this election.
Somebody convince me.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Scarborough has a lot of positive attributes, as you say, but the media and the Democrats (was that redundant?) are sure to keep harping about the “works the pole” comment that he made about Jeri Thompson last year. It’s an unfortunate remark, but its going to stick to him an overshadow his politics. Things like that never seem to go away in the Internet Age.
(Reference: http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/010139.php)
Palin and Jindal are both good candidates but need to establish a longer record of accomplishment. Wait until 2012 or possibly 2016.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Jindal is a manifestation of Republican Obama-envy. Twenty bucks says he gives the keynote so you guys can pretend you’re not the party of racists and rich white men.
Angryclown knows someone who fits all the wingnut attributes listed on TvM: Dan Quayle. Conservative, experienced, eighth-grade reading level. What more could you want?
May 9th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Jindal is a manifestation of Republican Obama-envy.
He was an “upcoming star” in the GOP back when the Savior of our Soul was an obscure freshman Senator.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:39 am
“Party of racists and rich white men”
“Who are the respect supporters of Hillary Clinton and B Hussein Obama, Alex.”
May 9th, 2008 at 10:47 am
You can argue about which party is the party of racism and rich white men all day, but in the end it’s both parties. It’s incredibly entertaining to watch one ridiculously wealthy white candidate call a ridiculously wealthy black candidate elitist while a ridiculously wealthy elderly white candidate watches.
The decision makers in both parties have no real claim to a connection with “the people,” and neither can claim a clean record when it comes to race. Republicans tend to be a bit more overt, of course, but Democrats have a lovely tradition of paternalism when it comes to minorities.
May 9th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Pawlenty would be ok. It will be especially pleasing to watch Stevie Murphy(Angry White Liberal) challenge Molnau to take it outside.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Mitch,
Did you even listen to Obama’s speech on race relations. If that wasn’t vision, I’d say the viewer needed to join the NSFTB. If Jindal EVER gives a speech that forward looking, let me know.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:44 am
If Jindal manages to reform Louisiana, he’ll get my vote.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Did you even listen to Obama’s speech on race relations. If that wasn’t vision,
It was talk, and talk is cheap.
I’d say the viewer needed to join the NSFTB.
Well, since I’m in the AARTUOOA, I’ll have to abstain.
If Jindal EVER gives a speech that forward looking, let me know.
Leaving aside the entirely different point of view Republicans have on race (leaving aside whatever racist baggage the party might have, and indeed shares with the Dems); do you have the foggiest idea, without looking at Google, what Jindal has said?
Ever?
I think not.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Actual Jindal has given some great talks recently about needing to be color blind. About opportunity and equal chances for all (not equal outcomes).
Obama already said he is going to nominate judges who “know what it feels like to be…..’ and then he gave a list of liberal victim groups. He admits that he wants the judicial branch to legislate from the bench to support his causes. So much for the consistitution.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
The biggest drawback to Jindal as Veep is that it takes away from the critique that Obama is too young.
I read through the redstate roundtable, and I don’t see why Sanford would be such a bad pick. Yeah, he doesn’t do much geographically, but unless there’s someone from MI, OH, or PA that McCain can pick, I don’t see him doing better than Sanford.
I don’t think that Pawlenty has a lot of appeal outside Minnesota. Plus, he’d make McCain look short when they stand together.
Powell would be an interesting choice, if McCain wants to strengthen his appeal to moderate swing voters.
The idea that Santorum would be a good choice? Laughable. Makes as much sense as Obama picking Edwards.
Obama probably chooses Jim Webb. If he chooses Clinton, he’ll hurt his chances.
May 9th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I’ll stick with my pick back in January.
Christine Todd Whitman
Former New Jersey Governor and EPA head
May 9th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Oooh. If that’s his pick, my vote is in play.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
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