Would you believe Huckabee?

Wow.....now THAT would really mess w/my head... 

(I mean that in a good way) 

I REALLY like Huckabee, twin. 

At the same time, for political purposes, I am not sure how much he would bring to the table.  He is certainly unlikely to attract most disaffected conservatives.  In particular, he has had some of the same perceived "weakness" on the immigration issue that McCain has had.  He is also from a state, and a region, that McCain is likely to win anyway. On the positive side, he and McCain would get along well and make a good team, and Huckabee is probably the best speaker and thinks better on his feet than any other candidate in either party - to include even Obama.

Romney would be another good choice in theory at least: conservative, strong business and economics background, and from the Northeast.  The drawback would be that there is a risk Romney would not "click" with the voting public any more than he did in the primaries.  There may also be the personal chemistry problem.

Generally VP selections do not help a candidate much, but they can cause heavy and even fatal damage.  Politically, the first rule is - do no harm.

MWL

I'm not surprised, Twin.

The possibility was mentioned when Huckabee was still in the race.

Myra 

I REALLY like Huckabee, twin. 

At the same time, for political purposes, I am not sure how much he would bring to the table.  He is certainly unlikely to attract most disaffected conservatives.  In particular, he has had some of the same perceived "weakness" on the immigration issue that McCain has had.  He is also from a state, and a region, that McCain is likely to win anyway. On the positive side, he and McCain would get along well and make a good team, and Huckabee is probably the best speaker and thinks better on his feet than any other candidate in either party - to include even Obama.

Romney would be another good choice in theory at least: conservative, strong business and economics background, and from the Northeast.  The drawback would be that there is a risk Romney would not "click" with the voting public any more than he did in the primaries.  There may also be the personal chemistry problem.

Generally VP selections do not help a candidate much, but they can cause heavy and even fatal damage.  Politically, the first rule is - do no harm.

MWL

[/quote]

I can't believe this is anything but wishful thinking or a trial balloon.  If McCain picks Huckabee he better build a strong coalition of independents and moderate democrats because  he will completely alienate the conservative arm of the Republican coalition.

This would be the same coalition that Newt used to gain the majority in the house.  If McCain takes conservatives for granted he will be sorely disappointed.  I would hate to see the return to pre-  Newt & Reagan days when the Republican party was relegated to an almost permanent status as a minority party.

helmut 

I like Huckabee a lot too, Mike.

Though I still wouldn't vote for McCain, Huckabee might help me swallow the bitter pill a little more. 

I like Huckabee a lot too, Mike.

Though I still wouldn't vote for McCain, Huckabee might help me swallow the bitter pill a little more. 

[/quote]

*sounds of Mr. O. weeping silently*

Would your ultimate, bi-partisan ticket be Obama/Huckabee or Huckabee/Obama?    

;)

Hetty 

Faced with 2.5 billion education obsessed Asians in an increasingly competitive globalized economy, I agree that the USA needs a vice-president who believes the world was created in 7 days, physically modern humans walked with dinosaurs, and the rapture is just around the corner. We'll "outscience" dem furriners fer shur!

What is worse than being a laughingstock?

[quote user="EagleTed"]I'm not a Huckabee fan. OTOH, he doesn't run me off and with his outspoken support of the "Fair Tax" he could curb defections to Bob Barr on the Libertarian Party.
[/quote]

Huckabee as VP or Barr for president

I am going with Barr. 

I like Huckabee a lot too, Mike.

Though I still wouldn't vote for McCain, Huckabee might help me swallow the bitter pill a little more. 

[/quote]

*sounds of Mr. O. weeping silently*

Would your ultimate, bi-partisan ticket be Obama/Huckabee or Huckabee/Obama?    

;)

Oh but yes Hetty. Can you imagine? Fair Tax AND health care reform.

That would be and AWSOME ticket!!!!!! 

Hetty 

Oh but yes Hetty. Can you imagine? Fair Tax AND health care reform.

That would be and AWSOME ticket!!!!!!

One problem.The two will not go hand in hand.Universal health care  will add a tremendous load on even the dems increased tax proposal.Canada is a good example of universal heath care gone wild.

Ray 

Twin,

This is the season of rumors and speculation so don't get your heart set on Huckabee.

Here is another rumor for parlor talk.

The left-leaning magazine The Nation also recently speculated about a Rice campaign.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=64149

"John McCain is a formidable candidate in his own right, but if he has the political imagination to do it, he can cause the party of Jefferson and Jackson indescribable angst with Rice as his vice-presidential pick," wrote Nicholas Von Hoffman in a Nation column.

helmut

 

Since I am supporting the Bull Moose party this election, I would choose Bloomberg as McCain's VP.

-dale 

Gov...yep, Bloomberg could just as well be on the Obama ticket for his stance on social issues, and could be on a McCain ticket for his stance on economic and foreign policy, and fiscal responsibility.

That's why I like him-

-dale 

Bloomberg would the last straw for conservatives who are already dubious of McCain.

McCain should go for a conservative who is not a white male.  Rice would be a bold move.  Maybe not smart, but bold.  She has baggage, but she plays a nice piano.

[quote user="eileen"]As interesting a choice as Rice would make, do y'all really think McCain would choose someone from Bush's admin for his veep?  I don't know, I'd be somewhat surprised.[/quote]

Eileen, some time back I predicted Dr. R as Mr. McC's choice.

However, I think it could be a risky selection. For those who approve of the Bush administration, she would ideal.  For those who do not, she would be a daily reminder of the very recent past.

At first I thought she was playing hard to get by saying that she really wasn't interested in becoming an elected official; but now my hunch is that she is ready to return to academia and also find far more interesting....and perhaps even more fun....things to do than be Veep.

She's probably compiling her list as we speak. 

;)

Hetty 

Since I am supporting the Bull Moose party this election, I would choose Bloomberg as McCain's VP.

-dale 

[/quote]

dale, you are leader of the EXHUME TR movement?  Bully!  :)

Hetty

Registered Mugwump 

I'm still thinkin it'll be Sen. JL - you know, the one who helps Mc...sort out all those Shia, Sunni things...

Or will he be Secy of State  

Barr, Huckabee, McCain....this conversation reminds me of a day in 1968 on the Univ of Washington campus when one of my students asked me, "Who do you think I should vote for?  Bobby Seale or Angela Davis?  I don't want to waste my vote." (!)  (Swear to God she said it just like that!)

Dick

Cape, i feel the same about the Dem side.  A vote for Hillary/Obama or Obama/Hillary is the same thing, socialism and higher taxes.  No thanks!! 

McCain will pick Romney, IMO.  I think there may be some bad blood between him and Huck.  Pawlenty in Minn has been thrown around too.  Sanford in VA as well.  Romney will help McCain get Michigan, which McCain is polling ahead of Obama (46%-45%).  If he can secure Michigan, along with OH and FL, he has the election no matter what happens out west. 

I also think todays primary in WV shows the flaws in Obama's armor that will make him vulnerable all over the upper mid-west, including Wisconsin and Minn. 

[quote user="eileen"]As interesting a choice as Rice would make, do y'all really think McCain would choose someone from Bush's admin for his veep?  I don't know, I'd be somewhat surprised.[/quote]

Eileen, some time back I predicted Dr. R as Mr. McC's choice.

However, I think it could be a risky selection. For those who approve of the Bush administration, she would ideal.  For those who do not, she would be a daily reminder of the very recent past.

At first I thought she was playing hard to get by saying that she really wasn't interested in becoming an elected official; but now my hunch is that she is ready to return to academia and also find far more interesting....and perhaps even more fun....things to do than be Veep.

She's probably compiling her list as we speak. 

;)

Hetty 

[/quote]

Dr. Rice is a babe!!! 

Barr, Huckabee, McCain....this conversation reminds me of a day in 1968 on the Univ of Washington campus when one of my students asked me, "Who do you think I should vote for?  Bobby Seale or Angela Davis?  I don't want to waste my vote." (!)  (Swear to God she said it just like that!)

Dick

[/quote]

LOL Thanks for the chuckle. 

>>Barr, Huckabee, McCain....this conversation reminds me of a day in 1968 on the Univ of Washington campus when one of my students asked me, "Who do you think I should vote for?  Bobby Seale or Angela Davis?  I don't want to waste my vote." (!)  (Swear to God she said it just like that!)

Dick<<

You far left wing democrats really crack me up. Four years ago yall were falling all over yourselves hoping John McCain would be the Vice Presidential nominee of John F Kerry. Now somehow in a mere four years according to dems McCain would equal four more years of the Bush administration. TOO FUNNY!

Huckabee would be a complete disaster for McCain with Independents.  In view of the fact that he also alienates some Conservatives, I would say the chance of McCain picking Huckabee is 0%.

Rice would be another complete disaster.  Talk about tying yourself to a President with a 30% approval rating.   Moreover, the literature has Rice appearing very weak and ineffectual in Iraq war policy.  Cheney and Rumseld literally ran right over her.   Come to think of it:  what has she actually accomplished in 8 years in our nation's highest national security and diplomatic positions?  Chance of McCain picking Rice is less than 1%.

Oh Dallen......you've got the wrong guy.  Midwest born and raised Wall St. trader who voted for Nixon, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Reagan, Bush, (not Dole), and with deepest regret in retrospect, George the Second, once.  McCain's probably not a bad guy, but the success of Huck and simple awareness of the existence of Barr are the kinds of things that can only happen as sidebars in the crazy heat of campaigns and never survive them.

The reality is that dismal George - certainly no conservative, and bearing little resemblance to actual Republican predecessors - has poisoned the well for McCain and Anybody.

I wouldn't be suprised if McCain picked Huckabee, especially after the way they all but avouded criticizing each other in the primaries and essentially teamed up to knock out Romney.  Personally, though, I lost all respect for Huckabee for his religious attacks on Romney and his failure to answer honestly questions about his religious views and actions.

I HOPE McCain willpick a conservative as VP, but I'm not holding my breath.  In his heart I don't think McCain is a conservative, and I suspect we'll get another RINO, or McCain Lite, which IMO is a disaster come November - if the voters want a liberal, they'll simply vote for the democrat!

//mjs