1 the president is a SCOAMF

2

Dick Cheney? 

PHWOAR!!!!ELEVENTY!!!!!

 

3

>>John Randolph Thune is the junior United States Senator from South Dakota.

 

Don't know him at all. What's so great about 'im?

4 While I am quite interested to know who he will pick, I also hopes he strings it out to keep the media on guessing.

5 Portman.    Fie upon your 'short lists'

6 Romney/Pawlenty? A little low on the excitment factor.

7 "After speaking with a dozen highly-qualified individuals, and speaking with former Vice President Dick Cheney about the demands of the job, I have decided that there is only one possible choice for Vice President: Dick Cheney."

And then the Mighty Warcock would slay the audience. Literally.

8

I have decided that there is only one possible choice for Vice President.  Dick Cheney.

 

BUNK!!

9 Short list? Looks more like the roster for the Alabama chapter of the KKK. P.S. Send money.

10 >>You know what would be hilarious?

Hilarious and AWESOME.

11 I hope it's the most boring person possible. That is; me!

12 John Thune looks like the mannequin version of a younger Mitt Romney.

13 >>Looks more like the roster for the Alabama chapter of the KKK.

Impossible, given than none of them are Democrats.

14 Heh... I love the " consulting with Cheney "... of course for maximum libtard rage effect... he should include Rumsfeld !  HEH!

15 Egad, aren't there any polls being released we can talk about, instead of speculating on the Veep choice? 

16 I think Cheney could manage it without the use of his heart on this go 'round.

17 Oh, and get somebody who would shore up a battleground state. I mean, T-Paw? Boring and unstrategic. Same with Jindal.

18

OT I just got a several-hundred-dollar check from Blue Cross, thanks to ObamaCare's meddling.

Seems BCBS didn't spend 80 percent of premiums on claims. The law says they have to.

So instead of spending the money fixing their kludgy web site, or hiring more phone operators to slim down those interminable "helping other customers" times, they have to disburse it.

Thanks Big O! Guess I'll be voting for two mediocrities this fall!

19 I don't know who it will be, but I do know this: the decision was already made months ago. All this chatter and rumor is nothing but pomp.

20 Didn't Ayotte just screw the pooch on the gun treaty or something?

21 "...I have decided that there is only one possible choice for Vice President: Dick Cheney." Oops, I think I peed my pants a little.

22 Of the three Ryan is clearly the best choice just my two nickles (inflation baby).

Jindal is a governor.  Period.

23 I still think Mitt's gonna pick Zombie Ronald Reagan, someone who will work harder than Obama and be more coherent than Slow Joe.

24 I don't know if Thad McCotter had a mental breakdown, or what, but he would've made an interesting veep choice.

25 Heh... I love the " consulting with Cheney "... of course for maximum libtard rage effect... he should include Rumsfeld ! HEH!

Posted by: Yip in Texas at July 16, 2012 12:37 PM (Mrdk1)

 

 

------------------------------------------------

 

 

Then  the campaign slogan would  have to  be:  Nuke 'em from orbit, just to be sure. 

26 So it's not Bob Costa?

27 Who's gonna pick up the Finance Wonk stuff in the House if it's Ryan, though?

28

"All this chatter and rumor is nothing but pomp."

 

I dunno.  There may be at least a smattering of circumstance...

29  

In reality , I say, disregard picking for flair.  Pick a tea Party conservative or a end-the-fed libertarian or a states rights conservative.

Show you're serious about curtailing the federal government and tackling our problems within the constitution.

30
ABC News Radio just said it's me.

31 25
I don't know if Thad McCotter had a mental breakdown, or what, but he would've made an interesting veep choice.

Posted by: soothsayer at July 16, 2012 12:42 PM (9Q7Nu)

If only for the Led Zep references: "Ladies and gentlemen, Obama knows the American economy WAY DOWN INSIDE."

32

Which of the three potential veeps would kill more liberal midichlorians:

 

a) Darth Cheney

 

b) Darth Rumsfeld

 

c) Darth Rove

33 I must admit I have no idea what "pomp" is.

34 They should just casually let slip a name every week. That's all the media needs to 'vet' a Republican. Get all the attacks out in the open.

35 Oh yeah Dick Cheney's barbed-cougar-condomed-God-cock back in the saddle. Watching the Libtards heads explode would be like a daily Scanners marathon!

36 yeah, Thad was a funny. A bit odd, though.

37 Romney/Pawlenty? A little low on the excitment factor.

Romney/Pawlenty:  Low on Greek columns, high in competence.

38 34
I must admit I have no idea what "pomp" is.

Posted by: soothsayer at July 16, 2012 12:43 PM (9Q7Nu)

It goes with circumstance. Try to keep up.

39 "I have decided that there is only one possible choice for Vice President: Dick Cheney." I hear he's amassed a large enough supply of human hearts to last *at least* eight more years.

40 Quoting #34: "I must admit I have no idea what 'pomp' is."  I relate, soothsayer.  I've barely got a grip on "circumstance"

41

Pawlenty and Portman are great picks.

 

Just think of all the conservatives who wouldnÂ’t have stood a chance in the primaries against RINOs if Pawlenty and Portman hadnÂ’t gone out on a limb and endorsed them?  It shows they have a lot of support with the base.

 

And speaking of the base, nobody can pack a rally or get more attention with a press conference than Pawlenty or Portman.  They just seem to have that special something that draws people to the party.

 

Yup, either of these two are stone-cold winners.

42 Wasn't circumstance recently outlawed in San Fran?

43 What could be more dynamic than two gentlemen with great looking hair?

44 Word.

45 Cheney?  ummmm...OK.  Obama can't sling anything at him that ain't already been slung

46 Posted by: Jordan allo, dunce get back under the stairs

47 34 It's a lot like "circumstance."

48 I know Romney would do fine if he took Andrew Luck, but he could consider trading down, pick up RGIII with the second pick, and maybe get a second rounder thrown in.  What do you guys think??

49 I think pomp and circumstance is related to "bread and circuses" and "rigamarole."

50 I've never been on anybody's "short list" in my life.  I only appear on the "long list", IYKWIMAITYD.

51 Pomps are those funny tall hats the guards at Buckingham Palace wear, right?

52 or as Laura Ingraham likes to say... razzledazzle or razzamatazz

53 hooplah?

54

 

Bush tossed his 'Short List' aside, and picked someone who wasn't even on it.

So did McCain.

 

So I don't know if we should put much stock in these stories about a 'Short List'.

55 Ehhh. I'm not thinking T-Paw is going to do anything for base enthusiasm. What would the strategy be there? Pick someone that makes Romney look exciting?

56 Intrade has Pawlenty at 120%!

57 Who are these people you speak of?

58 What do you guys think?? It's more important to beef up that Senatorial O-Line. You gotta get a hat on a hat.

59 The only reason I have a heart is for P.R. purposes.

60 Know who O'duffy is hoping for?  McCain.

61 F*ck Me Pomps.

62 I have to admit, I'd love to see Alan West handle American-Islamic Relations.

63

Mark Steyn.

Anyone who goes to court demanding his birth certificate would be ruled without standing, right?  So nothing to lose.

64 Zazz.

65 remember POMP and JOHN on CHiPS?

66 Kelly Ayotte wouldn't do much to "balance the ticket" except that maybe she is more conservative than Romney.  She hasn't been in office long.

Portman is a RINO and brings nothing to the ticket.  But if they think they can get someone more conservative in OH that would be a good pick.

Rubio has been showing RINO tendencies pandering.

Thune is a RINO and brings no balance, same as Portman.

Ryan needs to stay where he is at.

T-paw is a bit of a RINO and no balance

Out of the whole crew Jindal is probably the best pick.


But I still say get Graham so we can replace him.

67

This is an abnormal election, and I usualy would not suggest this... but I think Romney ought to go all in.... and start to announce who he wants for his cabinet picks as well...

 

Bolton for Sec State.

Rep Alan West for Sec Def.

Sarah Palin, EPA, Interior.

Some Libertarian from the West for DHS...

68

63 -

 

Exactly!  So why waste your first pick on somebody who, at best, is going to sit on the bench for 8 years! 

 

69 Pomp .... Isn't that the hair style Regan wore?

70 67 F*ck Me Pomps.

Posted by: toby928© spoils someone's joke without really being funny himself at July 16, 2012 12:51 PM (evdj2)

[Golf clap]

71 Who's gonna pick up the Finance Wonk stuff in the House if it's Ryan, though?Posted by: HeatherRadish™

I dont' think he has the senority but John Campbell is on the Budget committee with Ryan, and Campbell is a CPA.

ACE,
MFIN' HELL! house.gov is banned tooo???? The fuck, man. The fuck?

72 Pomp? Our sorority built a homecoming float with those.

73 The only reason I have a heart is for P.R. purposes.

Posted by: Dick Cheney at July 16, 2012 12:50 PM (5UU+7)

FTW.  CutJib.

74 Some Libertarian from the West for DHS...

 

Posted by: Romeo13 at July 16, 2012 12:52 PM (lZBBB)

 

Clearly that should go to the other Sherriff Joe.

75 you're thinking of pomp-ons. you know, the things the cheerleaders shake

76 Pomp? I'm a Dapper Dan man.

77 I have decided that there is only one possible choice for Vice President: Dick Cheney."

Heads.  Exploding.

78 John Randolph Thune is the junior United States Senator from South Dakota.

Don't know him at all. What's so great about 'im?

Posted by: Mama AJ at July 16, 2012 12:34 PM (SUKHu)

With him, South Dakota is a safe state!

79

Didn't Ayotte just screw the pooch on the gun treaty or something?

 

 

Voted with Dems to give EPA ability to destroy coal fired power plants

80

68 I have to admit, I'd love to see Alan West handle American-Islamic Relations.

 

Heh.

Me too.

Having West on the ticket would be exciting....in more ways than one.

 

81 Romney/Pawlenty? A little low on the excitment factor.

As opposed to Biden, Cheney, Gore, Quayle, HW Bush, etc?

The VP "excitement factor" is almost completely irrelevant.  The last exciting VP pick was Palin and that was at best a wash, at worst a disaster.  Ditto with Ferraro.

82 I think Jindal would be better. Adds a little mocha. Also is a good manager, is a policy wonk, knows healthcare and energy, and didn't back down when he fought Obama.

83 Voted with Dems to give EPA ability to destroy coal fired power plants Ah, right. Thanks. With that weasel Alexander and the bitter Lugar.

84 Watched Portman speak a few days ago, and I just came out of the coma this morning. Jindal or Ryan PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!

85 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable tyrant.

86 Wasn't it Arthur Pomperelli that jumped the shark?

87 Jindal, Ryan or Pawlenty would all make great VPs but a Vice President (a GOP one anyway) should be believable as an experienced manager ready to step up if necessary or run on Mitt's record after 8 years. He also needs to be an attack dog and I can't see any of those guys in that role. IMO the Mittster needs a tea party conservative to drum up some enthusiasm and pretend he will bend further Right reliably. Allen West would make me speak in tongues but I can't see that happening.

88 But I still say get Graham so we can replace him. Posted by: Vic at July 16, 2012 12:52 PM (YdQQY)

You do of course realize, Vic, that you're completely incoherent right now, right?

89

I would be pretty surprised if Romney picked a high-profile real conservative.  He's going to pick who he wants despite what conservatives want.  What choice do we have but to go along with it?  That's been his message to conservatives during the campaign, why should he change now?  To be magnanimous?  Fugetaboutit.

90

Let me assure you, this is something every 'Allen' is used to.

91

87 -

 

South Dakota is a state?  I thought it was in Canada or something. 

92 I think it's accurate to say that Palin was a wash. She didn't drag down the ticket or help it, in the end.

93 Bush tossed his 'Short List' aside, and picked someone who wasn't even on it.
So did McCain.

So I don't know if we should put much stock in these stories about a 'Short List'.

Posted by: wheatie at July 16, 2012 12:49 PM (MbB0O)

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

 

In that case,  I'm going with that cute little physicist  from CA that ran (and lost) in 2010. 

94 "Sarah Palin, EPA, Interior."

In your dreams.

BTW, the latest PPP poll has Palin-endorsed Cruz 5 points over Dewhurst, 49.44.

95 "You know what would be hilarious?"

Romney VP Dick Cheney would galvanize predisposed votes along party lines, with whatever Independent element NOT voting Republican. Go ahead, say there's no such thing as Independents and/or undecided votes while Obama "wins" re-elected because you know what would be hilarious.

Were Romney to get VP Liz Cheney, no poor health contention but same brilliant mind and political ideology, Mitt would disprove the "GOP war on women" myth while cementing his neoconservative platform. Winning? Globalist money says so.

96 Choom and Circumstance would be a good name for an upscale hemp store.

97 such as their opposition to abortion and gay rights.

Subtle, ABC. Subtle.

98 Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at July 16, 2012 12:54 PM (OWjjx)

Didn't say all of them were RINOs.  But yeah, pick a RINO Senator if it is a sure thing to get someone more conservative to replace them. That may not be possible in OH though.


it would definitely be possible in SC.

99

I have a Bold Prediction:  Romney's going to go Full Moron and pick Jeff B. 

 

Look, I have just as much support for that as the press does for any of their speculation.

100

Michele Bachmann. 

 

Because no one else can out-stupid Joe Biden.

101

Re: first half of 104

 

Humor, how does it work?

102 "Romney/Pawlenty? A little low on the excitment factor.

Posted by: IC at July 16, 2012 12:36 PM (a0IVu)"

 

I'm a big fan of Bobby Jindal, an exciting, dynamic VP pick, but from what I've seen so far, I can't imagine Romney doing anything which might please the conservative base, so he'll probably choose someone whose face we wouldn't remember if he was family: someone bland, boring and safe.

 

Portman or Pawlenty, I'm guessing.

103 but speculumating is fun

104 it would definitely be possible in SC.Posted by: Vic at July 16, 2012 12:58 PM (YdQQY)

Ah, OK.  I get your point.

Of course giving the right of us Miss Lindsay would not be neighborly.

105 >>> South Dakota is a state? I thought it was in Canada or something.

Yes, it's one of the 57. Not as nice as East or West Dakota, but one day I'll have my face on a mountain there. So it's got that going for it.

106

I should definitely be on any short list

107 sooth the only reason i voted for mccain was palin...imho if she were not on the ticket scoamf would have won by a much wider margin

108 I must admit I have no idea what "pomp" is.

Pomp means "display" or "show" IIRC.  "Pomp and Circumstance" means, broadly- a big show for some special occasion.  I believe the music of the same name was written for some King's coronation, or some such.

109

The last thing Romney needs is a VP choice who overshadows him on the stump (Think how easy that would be). That didn't work last time and won't work this time. Keep the attention on Obama. A non-entity is the best choice here, whichever non-entity Romney chooses. 

110 Sarah at Interior. That would pop heads all over the environmental movement. She could open up all those closed areas to drilling, allow logging in the national forests again (which would incidentally cut down on the fire risks), kill a polar bear and use it for a rug, and then pose nude on it...

Back in a sec.

111 As a cob-logger tweeted, if it's Jindal, expect some especially nasty Democrat attacks about "outsourcing."

112 I don't see the point in making a VP announcement now

113 OT:  A real ad I just caught on my computer:  [picture of M.O.] "Join Michelle and tell Barack you're in!" [and in a separate box]: "Are you in?"  I kid you not!!!

114 allen thank you so much for the rt ..the situation is not looking good

115 I think it's accurate to say that Palin was a wash.

She didn't drag down the ticket or help it, in the end.

You're probably right, though I think she would've proven a mistake in the highly unlikely event McCain ended up winning.

Point is, the VP pick isn't likely to make or break the election, no matter how entertaining they are.

116 Without Palin McCain would have lost every State.

117

115 -

 

But it's got those black hills, so it's racist, I think. 

118

you know, the things the cheerleaders shake

 

Moneymakers?

119 Quoting: "This is an abnormal election, and I usualy would not suggest this... but I think Romney ought to go all in.... and start to announce who he wants for his cabinet picks as well...

Bolton for Sec State.
Rep Alan West for Sec Def.
Sarah Palin, EPA, Interior.
Some Libertarian from the West for DHS..."

If not Zombie Reagan, then I say, "go all in" and pick Chuck Norris.  He's conservative, he can serve all the roles you listed and more, and best of all as the one who would preside over the Senate, he can slap around some of the bozos there until they give in.  (That includes you, Patty Murray!)

120 Pomp means "display" or "show" thank you for that, Strunk and White

121 >>"Are you in?" I kid you not!!!

That's what Mooch said.

122 If we are going with boring white guy, at least get someone who will bring in a state. Mitt isn't going to win Massachusetts, so he needs someone who can at least call in a home state. So on the boring white guy list my money is on Portman. But if you go with can bring in a state, shake up the race, and energize the base, you got Kleefisch.

123 Bolton for Sec State.
Rep Alan West for Sec Def.
Sarah Palin, EPA, Interior.
Some Libertarian from the West for DHS...

No, Palin for Energy.

The big question is, who will be attorney general? Justice is one hell of a mess to clean up.

124

Every time I see the footage of Hillary's limo being pelted with tomatoes in Egypt......

I think of the Heinz Tomato Factory there.

 

125 I would like to see Dick Cheney's still beating old heart as VP.  Would scare the beejeebers out of the Dems.

126 Ryan or Portman, definitely. There's no doubt that either Jeri Ryan or Natalie Portman would do a fantastic job of exciting the base, particularly if we require the VP to wear a flimsy bikini at all public appearances. But why choose? Have both as VP!

127 116 I should definitely be on any short list

Posted by: Dennis Kucinich at July 16, 2012 01:00 PM (SO2Q

[Yet another golf clap]

128

"I think it can finally be said.  We have a president who hates this country."  --   Rush Limbaugh

 

This quote seems kinda big to me, people.

129 thank you so much for the rt ..the situation is not looking good

Glad to.  The article does state that one of the kids has been located and is home, so that's something.

130 Romney isn't going to pick someone to "excite the base."  If conservatives still need a showy VP pick to be motivated to vote Obama out, then fuck conservatives.  What are conservatives, a bunch of Hollywood moron "method actors" asking Mitt Romney, "What's my motivation?" 

Be serious for a moment.

Look at how Romney has run his campaign from about the day he conceded to McCain in 2008.  Then look at the various VP possibilities and examine how they have run their political careers; their methodologies, their networks of supporters and funders, and their strengths inside the Beltway.

Mitt is the "outside Washington" half of the R ticket.  He's going to pick a VP who knows where all the bodies are buried in DC, someone who has been in both the Executive branch and the Legislative.  Someone everybody who knows the real dirt considers to be a solid pro and who connects with the big fundraising players in the party.

All without having a liberal voting record or a dick personality.  And who has never lost an election no even been challenged below double digits in a key state.

Accept that it is Rob Portman and has been Rob Portman for many months.  All this press stuff is disinformation and preparation of the battle field.  And drives an All-Mitt, all the time level of press coverage.  Romney is sucking the oxygen out of Obama's Bain balloon.

These people know what they are doing.  Stop imposing McCain 2008 on everything.  It isn't 2008 anymore and Romney isn't McCain.

131 But why choose? Have both as VP!Posted by: GalosGann at July 16, 2012 01:03 PM (T3KlW)

'Scuse me.  can I get some video of that?

If so I'll be spending all of 2013 in my bunk.

132 You know, I'm available!

Even though I despise you all.

133 I suspect they could get a better idea of the picks if they started poking around in goat entrails or watching the flight of birds.  We will know when we know.

134 Instead, I want......Lindsey Graham?[\i]

Oh, ok ... Why don't you just go with Dan Quail?  He's tan, he's rested, and he's a 4 handicap!

135 Sarah Palin helped energize the base and stomach McCain but she turned off a lot of indies, which is why Obama ended up winning a lot of red states.

136

Posted by: Mr_Write at July 16, 2012 01:02 PM (VJUQK)

 

Sorry.... but Chuckie has lost a lot of the MAN vote, with his making the new Expendebles movie PG... loss of Man Card prohibits his serving as a VP...

 

137

The big question is, who will be attorney general? Justice is one hell of a mess to clean up.

 

Posted by: Brown Line at July 16, 2012 01:02 PM (VrNoa)

 

How about Trey Gowdy?  I can see him cleaning up Justice with a baseball bat.

138 Pawlenty? Well, we'll finally have "generic Republican" on the ticket then.

139 >>No, Palin for Energy.

Overseeing its disbanding, right? 

140

Dick Cheney?  I dunno, if Spiro Agnew were still around he might be a good choice.

 

jk

141

Posted by: trumpetdaddy at July 16, 2012 01:04 PM (dcoFe)

 

Here.  I have some extra Pamprin.  By all means, take it. 

142 but a Vice President (a GOP one anyway) should be believable as an experienced manager ready to step up if necessary or run on Mitt's record after 8 years. He also needs to be an attack dog and I can't see any of those guys in that role. IMO the Mittster needs a tea party conservative to drum up some enthusiasm and pretend he will bend further Right reliably. Allen West would make me speak in tongues but I can't see that happening. Posted by: Daybrother

Kind of contradiction there. TEA party members have the least amount of experience by definition. Jindal has the most as an Foster administrator who restored some sanity to LA's health care system, US Congressman, and then as a governor after the disaster Blanco.

143 The big question is, who will be attorney general? Justice is one hell of a mess to clean up.

Posted by: Brown Line at July 16, 2012 01:02 PM (VrNoa)

 

R. Guiliani, Esq.

144 It doens't really matter who he picks. Within 24 hours we'll hear about the selection's poor grade in Latin IV in highschool, his low level of giving on his tax returns, and his shady association with mouth-breathing religious types. Not to mention going over his medical records so that the selection feels like he just had a prostate exam, as well as sealed court records magically released to the press. Because, you know, it's the press' job to comb through all this stuff on someone just a heartbeat away from the presidency. Well, at least on people they don't like.

145 139 allen turned out to be just a coincidence

146 If Romney tosses his short list and goes off on his own.......then I hope it's Scott Walker.

147

The big question is, who will be attorney general? Justice is one hell of a mess to clean up.

 

I nominate me.  That would be nearly as awesome as if I were press secretary.

 

 

148 Sean Hannity or SMOD would be great choices.

149 >>Sarah Palin helped energize the base and stomach McCain but she turned off a lot of indies, which is why Obama ended up winning a lot of red states.

Do you have any proof of this? Because it's actually more likely dumbasses in "red states" were enthralled by Black Jesus and his promises to heal the sick and stop the oceans from rising.

150 Further to Allen G @ 118, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches are a suite of five marches by the English composer Edward Elgar.  Most everyone is familiar with the legato middle of No 1, because it's played at high school graduations.  It's also known as Land Of Hope And Glory and is sung at Last Night of the Proms in Londin.

151 "After speaking with a dozen highly-qualified individuals, and speaking with former Vice President Dick Cheney about the demands of the job, I have decided that there is only one possible choice for Vice President: Dick Cheney's cock."

FIFM

152

Posted by: Brown Line at July 16, 2012 01:02 PM (VrNoa)

 

 

LOL... Judge Andrew Napolitano?

153 I am Hans." "Und I am Franz." "Und ve just vant to pomp... (clap) ...YOU UP!"

154 > "Are you in?"

Oh yes....yes....blowing my wad in 3, 2...

155 Quoting: "Are you in?" I kid you not!!!"

I've seen several of those ads recently, but the most recent includes a grotesque, death-grin, freaky-deacky Moochelle picture that is downright scary.  I shudder as I type.

156

The big question is, who will be attorney general? Justice is one hell of a mess to clean up.

 

Mark Levin, Esq.

157 Still got my money on Screech from Saved by the Bell.

158

126 Without Palin McCain would have lost every State.

 

I think so too, Vic.

And even with Palin on the ticket....there were still a lot of conservatives who were still so pissed off at McAmnesty, that they stayed home.

 

Which is why the Dems were so desperate to have McCain as the nominee, and worked feverishly towards that end.

And this time.....the Dems obviously wanted Romney to run against. 

159 Sarah Palin helped energize the base and stomach McCain but she turned off a lot of indies, which is why Obama ended up winning a lot of red states.

Posted by: soothsayer, amateur obgyn at July 16, 2012 01:05 PM (9Q7Nu)


Go back and looked at those "red" States that flipped.  The Republican vote was down between 2 and 4 million votes.


A significant portion of the base sat it out. McCain hated the base and they knew it. If it had not been for Palin I would have sat it out.

160 >>Within 24 hours we'll hear about the selection's poor grade in Latin IV in highschool, his low level of giving on his tax returns, and his shady association with mouth-breathing religious types.

None of those things stopped Joe Biden, but his running mate was Chocolate Jesus...

161 Mark Levin, Esq.

Talk about heads esploding.

162 When Barack was going over his short-bus list for VP I was always at the top of the list.

163

"I think it can finally be said. We have a president who hates this country." -- Rush Limbaugh
;;;;

Rush used to lead. Now he's the about the last one to the party every night.

 

 

164 The big question is, who will be attorney general? Justice is one hell of a mess to clean up.

Posted by: Brown Line at July 16, 2012 01:02 PM (VrNoa)

 

 

--------------------------------------------

 

 

Joe Arpaio

165

There are people on the right who don't think Gov. Bobby is a natural born citizen because his parents weren't born here.

 

I don't know how many people believe that. I hope it's an insignificant number because I would not want anything to depress turnout.

166 We lost in 2008 because we lost independents. That's my proof. Yeah, some flocked to Obama, but some ran from McCain-Palin.

167 Posted by: soothsayer, amateur obgyn at July 16, 2012 01:05 PM (9Q7Nu)

I recall polling data that showed her as a small net positive.

168 I believe that someone Romney feels comfortable with (he does seem to stick with cronies quite a bit) and who could take over on day one would appeal most to someone like Mitt.

His first rule is going to be "do no harm", and that's not a bad thing.

169 Kind of contradiction there. TEA party members have the least amount of experience by definition. Jindal has the most as an Foster administrator who restored some sanity to LA's health care system, US Congressman, and then as a governor after the disaster Blanco. Posted by: weft cut-loop I agree. I meant "Tea Party" in the ideological sense; not a complete cipher.

170 Pomp and circumstance are the little brothers of Shock and awe.

171 I'd like to be in charge of green scam loans. You think you can build a flying car with no expertise but you're a conservative? Boom, that's a billion dollars.

172 >>>Mark Levin, Esq.
Talk about heads esploding.


Mark will be my first nominee to SCOTUS.

173 "I think it can finally be said. We have a president who hates this country." -- Rush Limbaugh
;;;;
Rush used to lead. Now he's the about the last one to the party every night.

Posted by: Meremortal at July 16, 2012 01:09 PM (Usk3+)

 

Whatevs, but I can already hear this quote all over the place, esp. FOX.

174 Joe Arpaio

 

Posted by: Soona at July 16, 2012 01:09 PM (KQuZj)

 

Wouldn't that also make Malor's head asplode?

175 I nominate me. That would be nearly as awesome as if I were press secretary. Posted by: alexthechick SMOD. Now with more ELE! at July 16, 2012 01:07 PM

WHITE HOUSE DAILY PRESS BRIEF TRANSCRIPT - JAN 30, 2013.

CHUCK TOOD (NBC):  Alex, the President has said that he would repeal Obamacare on Day One.  It's now Day Ten and Congress hasn't voted on the bill yet.  At this point does the President feel he has been disingenuous with the American public?

ALEXTHCHICK:  Chuck, if you ask one more fucking stupid question I swear by the power of Cutulhu I will rip off your fucking head and shit down your neck.  Are we clear? 

ARE WE FUCKING CLEAR?!?!??!

Next question please.

176 LOL, wheatie and I think alike on the issue.

177 @151.  Whatever.  Sorry to rain on the circle-jerk with some actual analysis. 

Oh, yes, he'll pick Allen West!!!11!!  Or I'll stay home!!!!111!

Whatever.

178 Instead of Dick Cheney can we instead have the hybrid Dick Cheney war cock/John Bolton moustache?

179
BTW, the latest PPP poll has Palin-endorsed Cruz 5 points over Dewhurst, 49.44.

Posted by: mrp at July 16, 2012 12:57 PM (HjPtV)

Cruz is a dick, in bed with a slew of crooked Democrats as bad as Sandusky:

A U.S. Senate candidate's representation of Wilkes-Barre developer Robert K. Mericle in a civil case stemming from the kids-for-cash scandal has become an issue in a July 31 GOP primary battle in Texas.

Former Texas solicitor general Ted Cruz was a member of Mericle's legal team in an unsuccessful effort to force his insurance carrier, Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America, to provide legal representation and coverage in a federal class-action suit arising from the scandal. More than 1,000 former juvenile offenders sued Mericle and other kids-for-cash figures, claiming they were wrongfully imprisoned and/or denied their rights by two Luzerne County judges who received $2.1 million from Mericle for placing juveniles in two for-profit detention centers built by Mericle's company.
...
Dewhurst was the top vote-getter in a nine-candidate primary in May, winning 44.6 percent of the vote, but he was forced into a runoff with second-place finisher Cruz because he fell short of 50 percent. Cruz, who has the support of Texas Tea Party groups, won 34.2 percent of the vote in May.
...
Mericle, 49, admitted he paid $2.1 million to two county judges now serving lengthy federal prison terms in the kids-for-cash case. Federal prosecutors say he initially misled a federal grand jury that investigated the payments, but later cooperated with the government and testified against one of the judges.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/7n93nbl

180

There are people on the right who don't think Gov. Bobby is a natural born citizen because his parents weren't born here.

 

Yup, him and Rubio. 

 

 

181 You know what would be hilarious?

The simultaneous head explosions around the country would be epic.

182 >>There are people on the right who don't think Gov. Bobby is a natural born citizen because his parents weren't born here.

Romney's father wasn't born here, either.

Jindal's wife immigrated--legally--at the age of six months.  It kills me that the same people who slobber over SCOAMF and think illegal aliens should be able to run for president someday will scream bloody murder about how we shouldn't vote for Romney because Jindal's wife "isn't American."

Can we convince John Roberts that an IQ test is not a poll tax?

183 "I think it can finally be said. We have a president who hates this country." -- Rush Limbaugh
;;;;
Rush used to lead. Now he's the about the last one to the party every night.

Posted by: Meremortal at July 16, 2012 01:09 PM (Usk3+)

 

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

 

Then you either don't listen to him or you're tone deaf.  He's been saying  this in many ways since even before the SCOAMT was nominated in 2008.  He's the only one in 2009 that said,  if you remember, "I hope  he fails".

184 Ryan Seacrest has denied having any discussions with the Romney campaign concerning the VP slot.

185 I like Rubio as the pick.

186 michael savage he'd finally be recognized by the right and then have a temper tantrum that he go picked!!

187 WHITE HOUSE DAILY PRESS BRIEF TRANSCRIPT - JAN 30, 2013.

CHUCK TOOD (NBC): Alex, the President has said that he would repeal Obamacare on Day One. It's now Day Ten and Congress hasn't voted on the bill yet. At this point does the President feel he has been disingenuous with the American public?

ALEXTHCHICK: Chuck, if you ask one more fucking stupid question I swear by the power of Cutulhu I will rip off your fucking head and shit down your neck tear you eyes out and skull fuck you with the barbed cock of Satan. Are we clear?

ARE WE FUCKING CLEAR?!?!??!

Next question please.

188

"I recall polling data that showed her as a small net positive."

''''

Yes, she brought in a few losers who think elections are all about them.

 

189

Posted by: Sean Bannion at July 16, 2012 01:11 PM (sbV1u)

 

Seriously, "fuck" is probably the greatest contribution to linguistics in the history of man.

190 Posted by: Christine O'Donnell at July 16, 2012 01:12 PM (7+pP9)

"On Mericle's legal team..."

That's not damning evidence. How many lawyers have had scumbags for clients (assuming that Mericle is a scumbag)?

191 And this time.....the Dems obviously wanted Romney to run against. But, he wasn't supposed to fight back!

192 Quoting Romeo13: "Sorry.... but Chuckie has lost a lot of the MAN vote, with his making the new Expendebles movie PG... loss of Man Card prohibits his serving as a VP..."

You may be right.  <sigh>  But, a 72-year-old former tough would be a far superior VP than the brain-dead, dim-witted, "president has a big stick" airhead we have now.  And sometimes threats of slapping around can work as good as actually slapping around.

193

@151. Whatever. Sorry to rain on the circle-jerk with some actual analysis.

 

Here's a protip:  if you want people to take your actual analysis seriously, you may wish to reconsider leading with "fuck conservatives".  Since you elected to start out by being bitchy, you will be responded to in kind. 

194

Anyone who gets picked for VP will be called corrupt, stupid and unqualified by the left, the press and those on the right who long for the warm embrace of the cocktail party crowd.

195 Seriously, "fuck" is probably the greatest contribution to linguistics in the history of man   Posted by: Burn the Witch at July 16, 2012 01:14 PM (rX1N2)

I think it was my Drill Sergeant who first told me that.

196 I like Jindal for Education or HHS. He would be an awesome Attny General too.

197 Yes, she brought in a few losers who think elections are all about them. A voter can vote for whatever reason they want.

198

No where did I see Col. West on that short-short list.

wtf.

199 Posted by: Christine O'Donnell at July 16, 2012 01:12 PM (7+pP9)

That you angryed?

200

Who ever it is will be played by Brian Dennehy in the movie...

 

...and that's why there are no woman on the list.

201 Steven Tyler and J Lo are available.

202 Then you either don't listen to him or you're tone deaf. He's been saying this in many ways since even before the SCOAMT was nominated in 2008. He's the only one in 2009 that said, if you remember, "I hope he fails".

Posted by: Soona at July 16, 2012 01:13 PM (KQuZj)

;;;;

I rarely listen to Rush now. I have already covered and read most of his show items by the time he pontificates. He's slow these days, like Drudge. I still like him, but mainly as an entertainer.

Good on him for saying what he said though, I give you that.

203 speaking of movies... you think Bigelow's movie about how Obama killed Osama will help, hurt, or neither Obama?

204

That's not damning evidence. How many lawyers have had scumbags for clients (assuming that Mericle is a scumbag)?

Oh Mericle is a scumbag for many, many reasons.  I am highly confident of that.

205 Pawlenty has the excitement factor of a slug.

206 I would make J Lo Secretary of Picking Up Pencils.

I would make Steven Tyler Secretary of Go Away.

207 Quoting: "Anyone who gets picked for VP will be called corrupt, stupid
and unqualified by the left, the press and those on the right who long for the
warm embrace of the cocktail party crowd."

Don't forget "incompetent" and "extreme"!

208 New cat thread up

209 Don't forget "incompetent" and "extreme"!Posted by: Mr_Write at July 16, 2012 01:20 PM (VJUQK)

The defense to that would be non-verbal.

Just hold up a picture of Joe Biden.

210 Quoting: "Pawlenty has the excitement factor of a slug."

Beats Biden with all the appeal of a wart.

211
"On Mericle's legal team..."

That's not damning evidence. How many lawyers have had scumbags for clients (assuming that Mericle is a scumbag)?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at July 16, 2012 01:15 PM (nEUpB)

Anyone with a milligram of integrity would've refused to do anything to assist Mericle.

212 cat pic post up! ya rly

213 Yes, she brought in a few losers who think elections are all about them.

A voter can vote for whatever reason they want.

Posted by: soothsayer, amateur obgyn at July 16, 2012 01:16 PM (9Q7Nu)

;;;;;

I agree completely.

214 213 No where did I see Col. West on that short-short list.
wtf.

Posted by: dananjcon at July 16, 2012 01:17 PM (eavT+)

Too controversial. Not Mitt's style.

215 Won't be Ayotte- experience will matter. I would love Ryan or Jindal but expect Pawlenty- who is Okay but really did nothing in the debates ( except for that Bachmann mess).

216

hands alex her tea.

 

sits out argument.

217 No where did I see Col. West on that short-short list.
wtf.
Posted by: dananjcon at July 16, 2012 01:17 PM (eavT+)
Too controversial. Not Mitt's style.Posted by: joncelli

Or only being elected in 2010, after losing twice, kinda ... what did we call Obama in 2008?

Oh, yeah. Inexperienced.

218 No where did I see Col. West on that short-short list.

For good reason.  He wouldn't be as horrible a pick as Condi Rice, but neither would he be a good one.

Strike one- he's a House rep.
Strike two- he's only been in office a year and a half.
Strike three- his executive experience was mid-level and ended under controversial circumstances.

219 Two words:  Hillary Clinton.

220 Anyone with a milligram of integrity would've refused to do anything to assist Mericle.

Have you never met an attorney?

Seriously though- even the worst of the worst deserve representation, not matter how distasteful it might appear.

221 I don't know that I agree with trumpetdaddy's pathway to the conclusion that he reached, but it is the same conclusion that I did, so he must be right! Plain and simple, Romney will not win his state. I don't know that anyone can win with both candidates losing their state. Whoever it is has to have won a statewide race, ideally in a "battleground" state - a chance to flip. That means Senators/Governors (and possibly other statewide officials). The House is out. So no Ryan, no West. I keep saying Kleefisch, because I think she can bring in Wisconsin, it recognizes the importance of the recall in Wisconsin, Preibus is from Wisconsin, and taking Walker out after all his promising to stay there might prove a little problematic (though not insurmountable). Kleefisch is an attractive woman, as well as a mother and cancer survivor (which the AP says make Debbie Wasserman-Schultz a good candidate for governor in Florida despite her mouth full of shark teeth and overall unlikeableness). But it is kind of gimmicky, and probably strikes all the establishment types around Romney as a Palin redux. While writing this post, though, it struck me... Virginia is a battleground state, and there has been talk about Bob McDonnell but I think he's better off in Virginia. Ken Cuccinelli is the AG for Virginia. Winner of that statewide race. Popular in Virginia, and a nationally known opponent of Obamacare. That would really be a bulwark for Romney. Plus from an inside baseball standpoint it would solve a sticky succession fight that is coming up in Virginia. Plus, he's eye candy for the Moronettes.

222 Issa has name recognition now. It would also be the only chance to put Holder in prison.

223

 weft cut-loop at July 16, 2012 01:26 PM (Vcb44)

 Hollowpoint at July 16, 2012 01:26 PM (SY2Kh)

Posted by: joncelli, heartless Con and all around unpleasant guy at July 16, 2012 01:22 PM (RD7QR)

**

***

Yeah can't argue your points. Its just alot of fun seeing liberal heads explode when he speaks. He'd definitly bring alot of red meat to chew on, I'm in the mood for libtard ass stompin.

224 The best would be Christie. Here are my reasons: 1. Best attack dog on GOP side 2. Has good economic story to tell about balancing budgets without raising taxes and taking on the unions 3. Very popular in home state, may make Obama spend resources in NJ 4. Blunt Obama's turnout in suburban Philly 5. Appeal to middle class white voters in Ohio, PA, Michigan and WIsconsin 6. Appeal to northeast transplants in Florida 7. Experience in dealing with partisan press

225 Romney will pick someone bland and uninspiring like himself but they will be from a state or region where he thinks he needs help.  Who is from PA, OH etc...?  Portman seems to be the likely choice.

It is hard to know whether he should go ahead and announce or wait.  Whoever the nominee is will get eviscerated by the press so you might want to leave them less time to work the guy over... or you might want to get that out of the way early.  The press had absolutely nothing on Palin and they still ruined her so it really doesn't matter what the guy has in his background.

226

Don't forget "incompetent" and "extreme"

!Posted by: Mr_Write at July 16, 2012 01:20 PM (VJUQK)

 

That and more.  Whatever it took to gain the reputation for witty repartee at dinner parties that leads to the coveted guest spot on Hardball.

227 As long as I'm saying anything that comes into my head Cornyn is bland and just to the Right of RINO. Personally, I didn't like him as AG in Tejas though.

228

@197.  Agree completely.  2008 was a perfect storm of events, which led to Obama's victory.  There is not one single thing that caused Obama to win, and changing out one factor was not going to change the result.  There were too many things conspiring against the GOP that year.  Bush/GOP fatigue from long war and Katrina mess, blank slate candidate, compliant press, weak candidate, stalling economy followed by October crash, first black candidate, etc.  I concede that McCain was a weak candidate and just not the candidate for the moment, but I'm not sure Ronald Reagan himself could have won at that time.  Sometimes the stars line up against you.  When you lose IN, you know it just isn't your year.  All this is why, 2008 was always going to be the high water mark for Obama.  The thought then that he could improve his electoral chances from 2008 always sounded silly to me.

229 Rubio seems like a decent choice. The only problem is Rubio is a more dynamic speaker than Romney so he'd be upstaged. The immigration stuff wouldn't bother Mitt at all.
All I care about is that I don't want him to take a sitting congressman. That leads to a special election and probably would take a good one out of congress and we need the very few good ones still there.

230 ... out of this list, I hope it's Paul Ryan. Ryan 2020? OH HELL YEAH.

231 Isnt obese white man a minority class?

232

And the choice is/.......Dave Burge! Iowahawk!

 

Well, Iowa is a swing state and that would actually be pretty funny.

 

Rob Portman may help Romney in Ohio, and he's tall, too 
(6' 5", or something like that).  But he was also at OMB during the first term of Bush 43, and the Democrats will remember that.

233

Posted by: mikey at July 16, 2012 01:33 PM (kmxWt)

 

Christie looses the National Rifle association.... and some of us 2nd amendment folks.

234 "All this is why, 2008 was always going to be the high water mark for Obama."
I know, all the facts, all the logic, all history, all the basics of presidential elections are against Obama except his incumbency this year. He lost nearly everything he had going for him in 2008 and gained only the fact that he's already in office, and not a few people tend to vote for the devil they know.
But I still can't shake the feeling he's going to win anyway. Maybe its just abiding fury and depression over the Government Health Insurance Takeover Act SCOTUS decision, but nothing seems to make sense any more.
And no, not Paul Ryan. We need him in congress.

235

Posted by: trumpetdaddy at July 16, 2012 01:04 PM (dcoFe)

 

Right back at you, sport. As an aside, since this is probably going to be a close election, just who do you suppose major party candidates rely upon to conduct the GOTV effort? Who makes the phone calls and knocks on the doors?

 

So yeah, Romney needs to excite the base of his party, as does President Obama or--for that matter--any national candidate for high office. He also needs to pick a VP with some measure of positive name recognition or he's going to be spending much-needed campaign resources building that positive name recognition. An unknown is a liability. Further, enthusiam for Romney's candidacy is sorely lacking, and it's pretty much all Romney's fault. Cautious and deliberative to a fault, Romney likes playing it safe. His no-blunder strategy worked in the primaries, but I can guarantee it won't work in the general election. Waiting for the other guy to self-destruct only works if the press reports the other guy's self-destruction.

236 I suspect this will either be close - and Obama wins - or not close at all, and Romney wins. I don't see a squeaker for Romney at all.

237 241 - Christie looks good on the things you listed but he sucks on the 2nd Amendment.

238 Ayotte was on snuffleupagus yesterday.  She was thrown by some of the questions, she made a good save but you could tell she'd been thrown.  Now, having watched the bill whittle video that I posted, I realized she was thrown cause she didn't even realize it was a gotcha question and I honestly think, in her mind, it was a dumb question.   To her, it's out there, go look at it dummy, and move along.   She was very palinisque in a good way, not used to the national gotcha media.

I think romney going to throw them all out there as his surrogates and see how they handle it. 

I also maintain that he should make the VP announcement at the convention and not a minute before.  What people do notice is if a presidential candidate can deal with a hostile media, without flinching, being nice, but firm.  Not announcing the VP, even with please and criticism from the idiot so called print conservative journalistic cabal, would show Americans he's in this for them and not to take orders from the print conservative journalistic media cabal.

239 It's me ... the HB!!!

240

I don't see the VP pick having much significance on the race.  You win the race with the top of the ticket not the bottom.  The announcement can have a galvanizing effect, but it is generally short-lived and can mask a potential weakness.  Each perspective candidate brings strength and weaknesses.  For my money, Ryan or Jindal would be the best because they are probably the strongest Republicans on entitlement policy.  Ryan has ideas, Jindal has actual reform.  Both can "out-wonk" just about anybody.  I'm discounting Portman if only because he seems to be the consensus pick - conventional wisdom is often wrong.  That being said, no one is going to make me like Mitt more or less.  Mitt is who he is at this point.  I find him unpalatable and adding Rubio's name after his own won't make me think differently.  But he is the nominee and if he wins, he will be the candidate in 2016.  I think Mitt is more of a caretaker, not making things worse.  He'll steady the ship but not sure if he will reverse course.  Long-term, I think it will take a Ryan or Jindal (or at least their ideas) to reverse course.  This is why I prefer them.  If Mitt wins, we have to hope he wins in 2016 too.  The VP will be the front-runner for 2020. 

241 How about Rand Paul?
Got a ride home from the bar and changed my sock. Thanks

242
"Sarah Palin helped energize the base and stomach McCain but she turned off a lot of indies, which is why Obama ended up winning a lot of red states."

The reason McCain lost all those red states is that McCain was running.
Sarah was the only reason he won any states at all.

243 Gosh, why not Allen West?  Is honesty a hanging crime now?

244 @207, perhaps you should try some reading comprehension. 

I am a conservative and have posted as one on this blog's comments for a while now.  Secondly, I used "fuck conservatives" as part of a syllogism [in the post to which you refer] as a self-awareness prod to the many fellow conservatives on this site who seem to think with their desire to stomp Obama's face rather than with their brains.

Frankly, there are way too many people on our side who want to take their ball and go home if candidates don't suck their dicks for them. 

Go back and read Romney's own stated criteria for a VP.  Their isn't a single member of the House other than Boehner who meet that criteria.  So, no Paul Ryan, no Allen West, and no M. Bachmann.  There isn't any first-term governor who meets that criteria.  So, no Bob McDonnell, no Susana Martinez, and no Brian Sandoval. 

He isn't going to go with a "diversity" pick either.  It undermines the whole "competency" narrative they've spent 5 years and 100 million dollars building up.  So, no Rubio and no Ayotte.  And frankly, no Bobby Jindal because all the press will focus on is the ethnic background angle.  And he isn't going to strengthen Obama's "outsourcing" attack by putting an Indian on the ticket.

He isn't going to go with someone with a dick personality, either.  We're fighting for the last 6-7 % of the electorate and those are the middle people who don't pay a lot of attention but really hate conflict.  So, no Christie. 

It will be a "boring white guy"with a ton of connections and varied government experience, preferably with power people in DC.  Romney wants to get shit done once he's elected.  He needs people who can get things done. 

Portman checks off all the boxes. 

245 What's the line on Meghan McCain's tits?

246 Also, floating a name a week for VP would be a good strategy.  That way any weaknesses can be probed and the reaction of the voters can be gauged.var __chd__ = {'aid':11079,'chaid':'www_objectify_ca'};(function() { var c = document.createElement('script'); c.type = 'text/javascript'; c.async = true;c.src = ( 'https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://z': 'http://p') + '.chango.com/static/c.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(c, s);})();

247

@261 - you make a good case for Portman, but really you could make a good case for a lot of candidates.  Frankly, I'm encouraged that the GOP seems to have such a deep bench.  While I disliked Pawlenty, I'm not against him being a VP choice.  I know little about Portman, but I doubt he will be the choice.  Again, I base this on no reason other than the VP pick typically is somewhat of a surprise.  At this point, I don't think it will be too much of a surprise, but not the person many consider the consensus choice.  That isn't any analysis, but if I had to place a bet, I would bet against Portman. 

 

I am with you on the diversity pick, Rubio immediately comes to mind.  But I don't think that Jindal would be considered as such.  I'm a big Jindal fan and would welcome him.  I prefer him to Portman for a variety of reasons.

 

But at the end of the day, it won't make much of a difference.  Mitt will either make the sale or he won't. 

248 I don't understand all this talk about Portman. Natalie Portman might help bring in the Jewish vote but she's really a liberal.

249 @252.  Look at how Romney won the primaries, specifically Ohio.  Look at how it was organized, and how it was paid for.  Look who was loyal to Romney and who stepped up to the plate, and how they did it, and the results they achieved.

If you think Romney is hanging the presidency on how grassroots volunteers turn out for door-knocking, you are delusional.  They have game-planned this campaign out six ways from Sunday for years now.

they know where the election will be decided and which voters to target and how to do it.  So do Obama's people.  Why do you think Obama screwed the auto-company bond-holders?  Because he needs UAW turnout in Cuyahoga County and surrounding Cleveland industrial towns.  Anything that will alter that dynamic will help Romney.

This election is going to turn on whether Romney can drive more suburban voters to the polls in Ohio than Obama can drive union hacks and blacks in the same state.  If OH CD2 is off-the-charts for turnout, Romney wins Ohio and the presidency. 

You think the running of a "Tea Party" military veteran candidate in the Republican primary earlier this year in OH CD2 to knock out the notorious ticket-drag, Jean Schmidt, was an accident? 

There is a Republican Establishment for a reason.  And Rob Portman is right in the middle of that Establishment, just like Romney.  Establishments become establishments because they are good at running shit. 

250

When the republican establishment turns out, you get 2008.

 

When the Tea Party turns out, you get 2010.

251

Then you either don't listen to him or you're tone deaf. He's been saying this in many ways since even before the SCOAMT was nominated in 2008. He's the only one in 2009 that said, if you remember, "I hope he fails".Posted by: Soona at July 16, 2012 01:13 PM (KQuZj);;;;

 

Heh.

 

http://bit.ly/MrrmYj

 

It's the top item on the left side of Drudge too.

252 @266 - Establishments are good at running "shit" right up until the point they are not.  That is because they become blinded.  The tea party has upset the establishment.  Sometimes the establishment wins, sometimes they don't.  Look at the Texas senate run-off race.  By all accounts, David Dewhurst should have won this easily.  Wealthy conservative from Texas - the state that has done as well if not better than all other states (even combined).  But he is the establishment and will likely be upset. 

253 What's the line on Meghan McCain's tits? Bathtub ring.

254 @269 I agree in general with your point. We have to be mindful of not immediately rejecting someone because they are "establishment" nor immediately embracing another person just because they claim to be "Tea Party," though. 

Dewhurst and Cruz are both establishment, just different parts of it.  Cruz chose to ride the "Tea Party" label and Dewhurst chose to ride Perry's coattails.  We see who made the better choice but it wasn't at all clear that was the better choice when they each made their decision.  Perry was riding pretty high at the time Dewhurst went " TX establishment" as his pitch and Cruz was kind of an afterthought until Perry blew up his own presidential campaign and came to be seen as merely human in Texas.

255 The Texas race is interesting.  Goes to show how events can play a huge role in the election.  Cruz was able to build his candidacy due to the delay in the primary which resulted from the court's involvement in the redistricting efforts.  I do disagree that Perry was riding high.  He isn't nearly as well liked in Texas as you would think.  True before his primary run, and more so after.  I think Perry made a mistake backing Dewhurst and not joining the tea party with Cruz.  I understand why he did it, and maybe it turn out to be the right decision.  If Cruz wins, the analysts will have a field day.  The two most powerful politicians in the state will both have been weakened in one year's time when Texas was flying high.  Kind of hard to imagine. 

256 "There is a Republican Establishment for a reason. And Rob Portman is right in the middle of that Establishment, just like Romney. Establishments become establishments because they are good at running shit.

Posted by: trumpetdaddy at July 16, 2012 02:01 PM (dcoFe)"

 

So when confronted by a stealth socialist takeover of the United States, you're telling me we need to rely upon the sage, experienced hands of the Republican Establishment because they're so good at running shit? Good grief. What shit, exactly? Please name the shit they're so good at running. Seems to me they lost their shit in a big way in 2008 and even earlier, when the GOP Establishment was large and in charge. 

257 THIS is probably the most stupid thing I have ever seen in print:

"Yet social conservatives are looking closely at Romney’s choice for signs that he wants to assuage their concerns about issues that are important to them, such as their opposition to abortion and gay rights. Jindal would fit that bill.”

How exactly would Jindal "assuage their concerns"?  The VP does not make policy.  Probably has next to NO input on policy.  The policy is the President's decision.  Jindal would be just a name and nothing more.  It isn't going to change the policy direction of the President one iota.

Here is what I think is more likely:

Think of the departments of the executive branch as a major conglomerate with each department being a subsidiary corporation.  Romney is going to undertake a massive reorganization of those departments.  His pick for the department secretaries are going to oversee a huge reorg, reduction of a lot of programs, turning of responsibilities over to the states and a shift from doing everything in Washington to sending the money to the states to handle their local problems locally.  This is going to require the killing off of a lot of political "sacred cows" so I don't believe the people he puts in these positions are going to be people with a "political career" at stake.

His pick for Vice President is going to act like an executive vice president at a large conglomerate overseeing and coordinating a massive shakeup of the subordinate companies.  This person is also going to take a lot of political heat for eliminating many political "sacred cows".  Again, I don't believe this is going to be a position for a politician nor do I believe anyone with ideas of having a long-term "political career" would even want the job.

Looking around, I see two people who have engaged in exactly this sort of work who have also expressed interest in government service:  Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina.  Whitman is currently in the middle of a massive reorg at HP, she isn't likely to want to walk away from that until it is complete.  She has just chopped off about 30,000 people from underperforming lines of business and isn't likely to want to leave until she has the new lines of business up and going.

That leaves Fiorina who is due to speak at the California Republican Convention in August just before the national convention.  I believe she is the pick.  Forget about it being a politician.  I think Romney is going to go into Washington DC and into the executive branch departments in full "turnaround" mode and there are going to be a low of howls coming out of there during the course of that.  I also believe he is going to act VERY quickly upon getting elected.

258 Look, the VP pick isnt going to decide how Romney governs or how the country turns out. His job is to go to second tier funerals, ceremonies, and vote once in a while in the Senate. He's a benchwarmer. So there's no point in discussing the RINOhood of the VP. Its a non issue.

259 And I quite frankly believe Romney is going to be the best President we have seen since Reagan and possibly even more effective because Romney is going to have a Republican Congress, something Reagan never had.  Reagan never had a Republican House.

260 "Look, the VP pick isnt going to decide how Romney governs or how the country turns out. His job is to go to second tier funerals, ceremonies, and vote once in a while in the Senate. He's a benchwarmer. So there's no point in discussing the RINOhood of the VP. Its a non issue.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 16, 2012 02:45 PM (r4wIV)"

 

Yeah, John Adams complained about the job when he held the Vice Presidency. Thing is, the position of the Vice Presidency seems irrelevant until it isn't. And if you really want to wake up in a cold sweat at night, think 'President Joe Biden'.

261 While picking a pro-life VP may not assuage any voter, picking an overtly pro-choice VP could certainly reinforce the doubt that many conservatives have about Romney.  So I don't think social conservatives are going to cheer just because he picks a Ryan or Jindal or otherwise strong pro-life candidate.  But social conservatives will jeer if he picks a pro-choice candidate.  That being said, isn't Rice the only potential pro-choice candidate out there.   Plus, I think it would only be temporary.  The VP choice has an effect, but in general it is short-lived and you get back to just the top of the ticket.  I guess all that gets back to the first rule - first due no harm.  All that being said, Fiorna would be a head-scratcher to me.  While we often say the government should be run like a business, the government is not a business.  Business experience can be a plus, but ideology is a much better indicator and much more important.   To think that just because someone who has experience in radicaly turning around business can have the same effect in government is naive.  In the business world, they are basically automous dictators, perhaps subjec to a complient board.  In government, there is strong pushback.  If you aren't sold in the ideological reason for doing some, you may abandon it because the "costs" outweigh the "results."  Ideology is much more important. 

262 Crosspatch - I hope you are right.  His past does not lead me to the same conclusion, but I do hope it comes true.

263 279-SH  his past leads me EXACTLY to this conclusion.  Look at what Romney did when he first arrived as Massachusetts governor.  He got the legislature to give him a free hand in slashing many state departments without them having to vote on the issue and risk political blowback.  He went in there with a machete.  HE took all the political heat for it and the legislature was let off the hook.

264 I swear people who most often criticize Romney are people that know the least about him and what they do know must come from blog comments.  I would suggest two things:

1.  Read his book "No Apology"  and read this from Heritage back in 2006:

http://tinyurl.com/4yxrrjo

A lot of what people "know" about Romney is completely bogus and just comes from reading crap in blog comments that "feels" right to them.  Also, Obamacare is not really modeled on Romneycare.  The ONLY part if it that they have in common is the insurance mandate which is legal for a STATE to do.  Romneycare lowered health insurance premiums by an average of 20% and many see up to 40% lower premiums today.  Nearly 70% like the plan.  There is no comparison between the two.

265 Portman.

Because Arlen Specter and Charlie Crist turned him down.

266 Crosspatch - from a constitutional point of view, you are correct on Romneycare.  And the constitutional point of view does matter because to do anything, you must first ask, can we do it. Then the question is should it be done.  Well maybe that should be done first, but either way, both questions must be asked.  The former never seems to be asked from the federal side.  But can it be done is another question.  Just because something is popular doesn't make it right of course.  But MA can have Romneycare if it wants it.  Romney may be the best "business" person we have in a while running for President, but so was Hoover at the time.  It may be unfair to compare Romney to Hoover, but we use history as a guide.  Technocrats worry me, because they think they can solve problems and do things better.  To me the problem is less government.  If Romney succeeds in substantially cutting programs, I will give him his due.  I'm glad you are more supporting of him because I need the reassurance that he will govern from a conservative perspective.  But the argument that Romneycare is ok because states can do it, while technically true, is a weak argument.  Supporting it because it is popular is even less so.  To otherwise say there is no comparison between the two is a little misleading. 

267 I meant to say the problem is too much government and the solution is less government, which I guess is sort of obvious considering I'm posting on this board.

268 Equating Rob Portman with either Arlen Spector or Charlie Crist is automatically a violation of the "I must know something basic about politics" baseline for commenting.

269 Ace says:  You know what would be hilarious? If he consulted Dick Cheney for advice on who to pick, then held a news conference, and announced, "After speaking with a dozen highly-qualified individuals, and speaking with former Vice President Dick Cheney about the demands of the job, I have decided that there is only one possible choice for Vice President: Dick Cheney."

Well, he does have a new heart, you know.  I would so love that.  HUBBA, HUBBA, Mr. Big Time. 

270 They should have cameras following teh cuuuda in to some random hotel and she says she's meeting Romney for lunch.  Just play a big joke on the dumb bastard media.

271 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

272 John F'in Sununu.  He's got the attack dog part down pat.  It would be a joy to watch him rip into Biden in a debate.