Michelle Malkin » The Vice Presidential prediction exercise

The Vice Presidential prediction exercise

By Michelle Malkin • February 1, 2008 08:53 AM

Last night, Wolf Blitzer asked the Democrat presidential candidates if they would consider each other for vice president. Hillary cackled one of her six big cackles of the night.

So did I.

There’s no way in hell Hillary would let Obama near the West Wing. She doesn’t want to have to worry about a second-in-command with his own power base and popular appeal. She needs someone loyal, obsequious, and subordinate to her.

If McCain is the GOP contender, she will also want to burnish her ticket’s military credentials.

And despite her identity politics card-playing last night (Just look at her!), she’s going to want to put an old white guy (the Lloyd Bentsen model) next to her.

My prediction (shudder): Gen. Wesley Clark.

He endorsed her last September. He’s a Rush Limbaugh-bashing, nutroots favorite. He does not threaten her. His anti-war crusading will take the Code Pinko heat off of her. And having run for president once, he’s been “tested” on the campaign trail.

Obama’s pick is a bit more difficult to game out. I think he’d also go for an older “statesman” type to bolster his weak foreign policy/national security credentials. I’m thinking Lee Hamilton. Moderate Democrat. Long resume with experience on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Iraq Study group, Hart-Rudman Commission, the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, and, of course, the 9/11 Commission circus.

What about McCain?

Let’s see. We already know a few of his good friends he’s willing to share his name with: McCain-Feingold. McCain-Kennedy.

Just kidding. Sort of.

Among Republicans, Charlie Crist–a Southern governor, shamnesty sympathizer, and key endorser who helped put McCain over the top in Florida–appears to be a leading contender for the slot. Lovestruck Mike Huckabee’s also angling hard for the job. I’d say the odds are good for the Huckster.

As for Mitt Romney, there’s still a lot of wishing for a Romney-Thompson pairing to give him a pre-Super Tuesday jolt, which I’m afraid just isn’t going to happen. If he’s going to make a Richard Schweiker-type move (the former Pennsylvania senator whom Ronald Reagan chose as a running mate in the middle of the 1976 primaries to give his campaign a boost), now’s the time. But I’m at a loss as to whom Romney’s Schweiker would be.

Leave your picks and predictions (not just your dream/nightmare tickets, but your most likely tickets and your rationales) in comments or e-mail them.

Posted in: 2008 campaign

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#233583

On February 1st, 2008 at 7:26 pm, William Teach said:

Here’s a name I have heard bandied around for McCain to pick as his VP candidate: Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Think about that one!
#233584

On February 1st, 2008 at 7:28 pm, mlnicosia said:

Most FredHeads already go to Romney. Fred brings nothing to the ticket but a big yawn. Condi Rice would be the most awesome choice.
#233588

On February 1st, 2008 at 7:35 pm, Blind_Mule said:

Mr_Conservitive_Cat

Nicely done.
#233601

On February 1st, 2008 at 7:49 pm, blacktygrrrr said:

Mr. Conservative Cat,

I hope you did not think I was being rude. There was absolutely no malice meant. I normally would not correct a spelling error, but the way you were speaking I thought maybe this was going to be your official slogan, and I would not want you to make signs that were misspelled.

We absolutely agreed on Giuliani, we absolutely disagree on McCain, and we absolutely do agree on supporting the nominee rather than staying home, going 3rd party, or voting for Hillary.

If Romney gets the nod I will absolutely support him.

Respectfully,

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
#233602

On February 1st, 2008 at 7:53 pm, Khyris said:

I disagree that Fred would bring nothing… Fred would bring reassurances of stable conservative policy to those concerned about potential future mitt-flopping. We FredHeads may like where he is now, for the most part, but there are plenty more who flocked to Huckabee for fear there is no restraint preventing a future return to liberalism after election day. Thompson would provide that rudder to guarantee adherence to campaign promises. That kind of guarantee is invaluable with conservative voters.
#233605

On February 1st, 2008 at 7:57 pm, The Raging Republican said:

while McCain orders his propaganda ministers to paint his poor piloting and capture as something which elevates him among the common man.

No kidding….. I got to give it to him and/or anyone else who has been a prisoner of war – It takes great deal of intestinal fortitude to undergo such an ordeal, BUT it is not really a resume builder or something that you should be harping on to further your political career. He uses it in nearly every political add I’ve seen of his…. even listing the dates (1967-1972) along side the picture of him while he was captive like it was some kind of time spent in college or something. I’m sorry, but I really don’t know why he gets so much credit as someone who would be so great on defense and national security.
#233626

On February 1st, 2008 at 8:27 pm, alamedaman said:

Paul/Palin
#233642

On February 1st, 2008 at 9:05 pm, beenthere said:

Given his vanity, the absolutely perfect running mate for McCain — really there an be no other — would be the one and only and utterly incomparable John McCain.

I apologize if anyone has already used that joke.

Below is the Coulter video in which she vows not only to vote for Hillary but even to campaign for me if McCain is the nominee. Her points are well worth considering, and given the fact that the Republicans only function well in opposition — they would roll over if McCain were to become president — I’m with her 100%. Naturally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuTqgqhxVMc
#233654

On February 1st, 2008 at 9:30 pm, hadsil said:

Not a prediction, a conjecture …

Romney/Lieberman – try to steal away the decent and honest good faith we just disagree Democrats. True Independents would give a second look too.
#233660

On February 1st, 2008 at 9:40 pm, RealImmigrantChick said:

Dear Conservative CAt: You make so much sense about McCain (not supporting him) that it is hard to understand how then you could hold your nose and possibly or for sure vote for him in the general. Talk like that only encourages weak republicans and the beltway elites to think: we got this one in the bag, no need to worry, they’ll all come out, t vote out of fear of the Hilldabeast. Well, I stayed home in 2006 ON PURPOSE. No fear could keep me from seating on my a**. I saw the republicans and their fake border fence act and I said, no way no how. All the pics of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid sent by the GOP DID not work. I will not be intimidated by the hildabeast either. My fear is to betray my beliefs. I was fooled 2 times by Bush. If I get fooled again to vote for McCain, I will be ashamed beyond belief. Again, the only chance there is I MAY vote for the scum is if Mitt Romney is his VP (hoping Mitt actually takes over). Does that sound bad? Well, that is how much I do not trust McCain. And I am not a person to change my mind. I just wish more peole felt the same when push comes to shove.
#233664

On February 1st, 2008 at 9:47 pm, Barry F. said:

At this point, I think I am rooting for a coup at the RNC and Jim DeMint gets the nomination.

He’s the only one that has stepped up and had the cajones to confront this Berkley issue head on.

Where is the Great John “Judge Me By My Friends” McCain, when our service members are being treated like this by Berkley, et al? Isn’t he the guy that likes to flaunt his military service so flagrantly in the campaign. Where’s the loyalty, John?
#233681

On February 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

Eric,

#201 I did think you were being sarcastic and no problem, I’ll take you on your word that you weren’t and apologize for the tenor oif the end of my last response. When you think about it, this is still a very young medium in which we’re debating, and like all things young in communication, inflection is often the unseen landmine, which is why I always try to use the “emphasis” button for clarity.

Yes, I suppose we do disagree on McCain, but one of the things I admired about Rudy, despite his mind-bending endorsement of Sheriff OpenBorders, is that even though he was liberal on a few issues (only a few), I absolutely, positively always felt that I knew where he honestly stood. That much was crystal clear eventually in NYC, and he is still the same guy today.

As far as McCain (who is slaying McAble), exactly the reverse is true. The very fact that he could call himself a conservative means he’s either dillusional or a liar. His credentials don’t make than an honest statement, Eric, though you and I probably disagree on the matter of degree to shich one can not act like a conservative and still be so classified.

Anyway, thanks for being smart and pulling the lever for anyone but Hillary. We’ll always be on the same side of that issue, and in the final analysis, that may very well be the most important issue of the decade.
#233683

On February 1st, 2008 at 10:34 pm, Blind_Mule said:

beenthere said:
Her points are well worth considering,

I think Ann was voicing her frustration, do I think Ann will campaign for Hillary? He!! no she won’t, do I think Ann will vote for Hillary? no, but I also think if McCain is the GOP candidate that she will not vote for him either, I think Ann may be right when she said Hillary is more conservitive than McCain.

Maybe Ann, MM and other conservitive’s that own the blogosphere and air waves could be convinced (If McCain look’s as if he will be nominated after Feb 5) to start a write in campaign for a suitable conservitive candidate. I’ve been thinking alot about this latley but everyone that is displeased at the prospect of McCain becoming POTUS or holding your nose and voting for the lesser of two evil’s need’s to be on the same page and vote for the same write in nationwide, here is the website address, http://www.conservitivewritein.org like I said everyone need’s to be on the same page though, some may think this is an impossible task but I think that as American’s we should think about all of the thing’s men have said where impossible and that have been proven to be possible. The fact is if this is to happen the time is now, after Feb 5 we have 1 month to organize and choose a suitable candidate and 8 month’s to campaign for the write in candidate that is longer than the two parties themselve’s have to organize behind their respective choice at their convention’s. This would be a true grass root’s campaign and if successful would be a wake up call to not only the Republican leadership that have hijacked the party but the Democrat’s whom think that the people of this country can’t think for themselves. Unite and take our country and political system back from the bloated over feed arogant career politician’s that think that we have no choice but to vote for them and their party.
One question how many of you started to or did click the link above? That was an object lesson A focus of attention, feeling, thought, or action. If you did then you should be able to support this idea. If not oh well.
#233699

On February 1st, 2008 at 11:15 pm, Mr_Conservative_Cat said:

On February 1st, 2008 at 9:40 pm, RealImmigrantChick said:

Talk like that only encourages weak republicans and the beltway elites to think: we got this one in the bag, no need to worry, they’ll all come out, t vote out of fear of the Hilldabeast.

It cuts both ways, RIC. The flip side is that the more libs hear that conservatives will stay home, the more they’ll push McCain on Mr. and Mrs. Joe Uninformed, you simply have neither the time nor good fortune for a larger education in these matters.

The best thing to do is to drive home the point that they have a fight on their hands. Libs always choke when they know that the intensely driven, well-organized right is outflanking the statistically larger but much softer left. And when they choke they make mistakes. They lie to over-compensate and then get tripped up in front of the nation, which makes general left support even softer.

Right now the media is portraying the right wing as disorganized and falling apart, though when we’re unified we’re classified as being lock-step robots who don’t think for themselves. Trying to be clever and “send messages” on the scale you’re talking about is a too-cute-by-half mistake. No one can predict what these kind of messages will do.

Here, in my opinion as someone in the media in capacities in which influencing people has, alas, been part of my bread and butter for over 25 years:

1. Put Up A United Front. At the end of the day, this will be necessary anyway, and yes, that means saying you’ll vote for the Republican candidate and guess what – doing it. I assume that much of this stay home talk is being fostered by Rush. Well, I hate to say it but it may be that Rush needs a bit more recovery and Ann Coulter needs to remember that there is only one God (Rush has also framed this idea on the assumption of a republican congress, which isn’t in the cards right now): they’re both over-strategizing, and one thing is for sure: whatever Rush and Coulter are doing as influences is backfiring because Hillary is the dem frontrunner and McCain is ours. That is just precisely what we don’t want.

B. Get the word out about McCain now. There is only one way to send a message, and this needs to be done by absolutely everyone pronto: e-mail, message like you do here and call in. All take time. All being done together is a pain in the ass. All being done together is absolutely necessary. SCREAM McCain talking points until the media starts reporting, “Extremist Republicans Hate McCain” – that’s the best we can get, but it may influence enough voters to deny McCain the nod, but it needs to be done now, not tomorrow. Today! Will you do that, RIC? Will everyone? And then still vote for McCain in big numbers if we must. If you love your country RIC, this is what must be done. It matters more than your conscience, because your conscience may be based on disastrously wrong conclusions.

On the issue of personal integrity about not voting for McCain, remember what Hillary will do: she will appoint judges like Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Taxes will go up with Reid and Pelosi hot and anxious help. Weakness will be seen by our enemies who will redouble their efforts, and Hillary may be remembered my the MSM in 20 years as presiding over the worst disaster in US history when a dirty bomb kills 500,000 people outright in NYC – a disaster she herself will have precipitated by being a dove in the white house in a time of terror. Children in 1st grade will be encouraged to experiment sexually and our economy will be ruined so badly that when those kids grow up, they may still never see what it was like today, and today isn’t so great.

So before you stand on “conscience”, ask your conscience if it’s ready to absorb the guilt of all that, when by being a bit more courageous in the face of adversity, you did something equally disdainful, but for more reasonable.
#233812

On February 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 am, DanME said:

I have NO respect for Ann Coulter. She’s just looking out for herself and wants to create as much noise as possible to sell more books. She doesn’t care about conservatives or Republicans. I can’t stand her !!! I much prefer Michelle and Laura Ingraham who present intelligent aguments to support their views. Coulter just makes conservatives look like idiots!
#233903

On February 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm, bit_boy said:

McVain needs no V.P. for he is Little Caesar. But you can see his Morph Helper.

It will take a while for the above link to render for 56k but it will Morph/slowly while downloading.