Was Mitt Romney doomed by divine revelation? The Holy Prophet St. Huck seems to have a hotline to the future, anyway.
On Tuesday, when Mike Huckabee declared that it was now a two-man race between him and John McCain, most people thought it was just a bit of hyperbolic bravado since he had fewer delegates than Mitt Romney. Who would have guessed then that his unquenchable faith had given him the gift of prophecy - delivering divine revelation direct from God.…
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26 - Clavos
"McCain doesn't have a chance. Even avid warhawks are fedup with the Iraq Disaster. They may say different and act bold as ever when talking to friends or poll-takers, but in the privacy of the voting booth they will vote their disgust."
Dead on bliffle.
That's why no one has voted for him in the primaries...
27 - El Bicho
Good grief, Dave, unlike a hitter in baseball, you need to guess right more than 30% of the time to be taken seriously. There's no way Romney is going to be the VP for McCain. I'll put $20 on it if you are so sure. btw, wasting $35 mil of your own money on a failed campaign does not show "sound business judgment."
Phillip's Martinez pick is a good call being from FL, although I wouldn't completely rule out Huckabee. He did well in the South and McCain does owe him something for helping to defeat Romney. At least, a cabinet position of some sort. When Guilani dropped out it looked like he was going for VP or AG. I think the Dem ticket will help shape McCain's decision on what he needs.
According to Wikipedia, WH2 took office at 68 and died 31 days later. Then Reagan took over the oldest title at 69.
28 - Dave Nalle
ElB - I just don't see why Romney would give up this early without having an incentive like the VP slot.
And like Romney or not, he would be one of the best possible people to balance McCain and make the ticket appealing to a broad spectrum of voters.
I agree that Martinez might be a good choice if McCain wants to continue the GOP efforts to appeal to hispanics, but because he's already perceived as being soft on illegals there's no way he's putting a hispanic on the ticket.
Dave
29 - Baronius
"I just don't see why Romney would give up this early without having an incentive like the VP slot."
Well, what political benefit is there in losing week in and week out? You become another Buchanan, Bradley, and Jackson. A guy whose name is in the headlines between the words "another" and "loss". His best chance for the presidency is 2012, if McCain loses in the general election. Romney will have gotten out of the race with his head held, um, middleish.
30 - El Bicho
I don't understand what you mean. Are you saying there was some back-door dealings to get Romney to drop out early? To whose benefit? McCain was steamrolling. Where the incentive to ofer it to him?
Baronius is right, and obviously, the silver medals weren't generating enough donations to keep up the fight. Mitt needed a much better performance on ST to stay in the race. Where was his next big win going to come from?
He might get the VP spot, but I don't see what Romney brings that plenty of other Republicans, who aren't flip-floppers and Mormons, can't.
The big story that seems to get little coverage in the horse race is turnout between the parties. I know there's no guarantee of the same numbers showing up in November, but on Tuesday I was surprised that how often the 2nd place Dem was outdrawing the Rep field in some states.
31 - Michael J. West
Dave:
I just don't see why Romney would give up this early without having an incentive like the VP slot.
Perhaps he merely saw the writing on the wall in garish flourescent red paint.
Lumpy (re #21):
William Henry Harrison was 68. The oldest person ever elected U.S. President is Ronald Reagan, who was 69.
32 - Michael J. West
And if William Henry Harrison HAD been 73...well, that wouldn't have been a very good example the viability of a President of that age, would it?
33 - Clavos
Mel Martinez was born in Cuba.
I think we decided on another thread that we can't have someone who is foreign born as VP, because of the possibility of succession.
I have known Martinez personally since he was an Orange county commissioner; he's a good man, but I don't think he can serve as VP.
34 - Dave Nalle
Dead at 68 he's an even more alarming example of the viability of a 73 year old president.
As for VP candidates - how about Condoleeza Rice? She pretty much negates the gender/ethnic advantages of the possible democrat candidates all by herself.
Dave
35 - Dr Dreadful
If I'm British, but as a result of an implausible string of events involving a missed tube, a petrol shortage, a flock of startled pigeons and an unsympathetic policeman, I was born under the statue of George Washington in Trafalgar Square (which is on American soil), can I run for VP?
36 - STM
Yes, mate, you can - obviously, if that's the prerequisite, because Washington said he would never set foot on English soil again, so the soil on which Washington's statute stands was actually imported from Virginia (the pragmatic Jefferson never had the same problem. When he was fed up with the frogs while on ambassadorial duty in Paris, he would go and stay in London for a time to get his head back together). I digress, though ... it IS, therefore, American soil - a little bit of America, literally, right on the edge of Trafalgar Square.
Except the Poms paid for the statue.
Actually Doc, legislators in the US are now seriously considering changing that "natural-born American" aspect of the law relating to the Prez and Vice Prez because it's discriminatory.
In reality, ANY American citizen should be able to run for either office, regardless. See, that's another bloody reason why I didn't move to the US.
What, if I became at citizen I can pay income tax, be drafted and die for the United States, sit on a jury, but I can't run for Prez because I wasn't born there and you're frightened that I'll put the Union Jack back in the corner of the flag and call Liz at Buck House and ask if we can all come back???
I probably WOULD do those things, but still ... it'd only be for the good of the country. Just a matter of setting restoring what could have been had history been kinder to America those 200 or so years back.
37 - Clavos
"As for VP candidates - how about Condoleeza Rice? She pretty much negates the gender/ethnic advantages of the possible democrat candidates all by herself."
Plus, she's damned smart and an experienced diplomat...a hell of a good choice.
38 - Michael J. West
As for VP candidates - how about Condoleeza Rice?
Practically? Perhaps a good choice. Politically? A disastrous one.
Even for the GOP candidate, the point here is to DISTANCE oneself from the unpopular current administration. Remember?
39 - Clavos
"the point here is to DISTANCE oneself from the unpopular current administration. Remember?"
One would think so, MJ, and yet the GOP electorate is apparently racing toward the finish line with McCain (who wants to continue the Iraq war, the single worst,and most unpopular, policy of the current administration) as its standard bearer...
If the choice of McCain proves not to be politically disastrous, Condy as veep isn't going to make it so.
40 - Les Slater
Clavos,
“…with McCain (who wants to continue the Iraq war, the single worst,and most unpopular, policy of the current administration) as its standard bearer...”
McCain is going to try using that to his advantage. He will push hard to get the Democrats to go on record as opposing the Bush’s ‘surge’. The U.S. population has NEVER opposed the Iraq war. There were many complaints about how it was being prosecuted and that it has not been successful.
The ‘surge’ HAS been, to a degree, SUCCUSSFUL. This has done much to undercut the complaints. McCain has positioned himself as OPPOSING how the war WAS being prosecuted, and takes credit for calling on the administration to do just what it did, in moving forward with the ‘surge’.
I believe the Democrats will find it hard to explicitly oppose the ‘surge’. They will attempt to nuance their position.
Les
41 - Clavos
An interesting analysis, Les, and a good point about the surge.
But note that the Democrats and Democratic supporters are already trumpeting McCain's somewhat infelicitous remark about remaining in Iraq for "a hundred years." They will surely focus on the war issue even more intensely in the months to come, and I think it will work for them.
As a communist, you place a lot of faith in the intelligence of the masses (particularly the workers) to discern and understand (and act on accordingly) these nuances of which you speak.
As you know, I'm somewhat more skeptical about much of the electorate. I see little evidence that most voters have actually thought out their vote to the degree necessary to take such a sophisticated stance; rather, I think most are voting viscerally, on issues that they perceive to be affecting them directly, while others are voting based on purely emotional considerations.
42 - Les Slater
Clav,
The working class has no choice in this election. I advocate looking for a working class alternative on the ballot. There's currently little prospect of such a choice to find its way into the consciousness of any large section of the working class. That may change. For my part, I'm going to support, and vote for Róger Calero.
Les
43 - Dr Dreadful
Fixed it, Les. You had just forgotten to close a tag properly, is all.
44 - bliffle
Condoleesa Rice? What has she ever accomplished? Nothing. On the other hand, her failures are dreadful: she ignored the 8/11/2001 report that said OBL was determined to attack in the USA and then did nothing after 9/11. She LIED when she testified "nobody thought they'd steal airplanes and fly them into buildings" when there were 11 reports that predicted exactly that.
She doesn't do her job when she goes into the office. She just promotes herself for her next job up the ladder.
That's the rep she had in Palo Alto and at Stanford also.
She should have been fired for cheating on her timesheets and defrauding her employer of salary money.
She will do NOTHING in any job she has except to promote herself for her next job. She's just a climber.
45 - El Bicho
"how about Condoleeza Rice? She pretty much negates the gender/ethnic advantages of the possible democrat candidates all by herself."
Considering many Republican African Americans appear to be looked upon poorly as sell-outs and worse by others of their ethnicity, I don't see how she negates Obama's advantage.
She certainly didn't look too smart at her testimony to the 9/11 commission with her claims no one could have imagined terrorists using planes as missiles. For one, it was a concern at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She either showed herself to be a fool or lied to cover asses because 9/11 happened on her team's watch.
"the GOP electorate is apparently racing toward the finish line with McCain"
Someone forgot to tell Kansas.
46 - Les Slater
Clavos,
"I see little evidence that most voters have actually thought out their vote to the degree necessary to take such a sophisticated stance; rather, I think most are voting viscerally, on issues that they perceive to be affecting them directly, while others are voting based on purely emotional considerations."
The rhetoric from these candidates is NOT designed to be able to withstand any sort of critical analysis. Most of the electorate, including those that consider themselves quite sophisticated, will hear what they want to hear. Some, of course, will express some disappointment, in that 'their' candidate may have a position on some issues that are not quite to their liking. They quite often end up voting for the lesser of two evils.
It's actually a relatively small part of the population that gains from these elections. Many of the most supportive, that will most rationalize anything, are some of the most vociferous at the grassroots level of the left and progressives. Among those is a not insignificant layer that gets their paychecks 'working' as poverty pimps. On the right, I just read today that the percentage of the workforce that's working for the government will be the highest since 1950. This, all the while the party of 'small government' reigns.
As for the working class understanding of any of this, well quite a few of them don't vote. That's a good start.
Les
47 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............
48 - Clavos
"Someone forgot to tell Kansas."
Obviously they ignored the memo...
49 - Clavos
Les,
Two excellent points re the "poverty pimps" and the enormous growth of the government workforce in recent years.
Ironically, many of those sucking on the government teat with USPS jobs, etc. are among the most vociferous critics of both the size of the government and the amount of taxes they have to pay.
You're right about both groups.
50 - bliffle
I'm still waiting for those 5 healthy sons of Romney to announce that they're enlisting for Iraq duty. You know, to fight the infidels in McCains Hundred Year War.
51 - Les Slater
Clav,
“Ironically, many of those sucking on the government teat with USPS jobs, etc.”
I don’t know about the etc, but have observed that there have been cutbacks in postal services, at least in post offices that I deal with occasionally. And besides, they do render a useful service, albeit somewhat antiquated and inefficient.
It seems like services, in general, are being cut back. So, where are all these new ‘employees’ going? Homeland Security? Cops and prison guards? I’ve noted that many schools have an extensive ‘criminal justice’ programs. Some universities have a College of Criminal Justice.
They trying to build a police state?
Les
52 - Pablo
Les,
Trying to create a police state? How conspiratorial and paranoid can you get? In the land of the free, and home of the brave, with checks and balances on the three branches of government? And the constitution which the prez swore to faithfully protect and serve? IMPOSSIBLE
First they created drug laws to protect us (aww)from ourselves. Now they have created Homeland Security to protect us from the bogeyman, it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside knowing how much they care!!
Btw did any of you Americans out there in the 50 states EVER hear when you were growing up, ANYONE, referring to our country as the HOMELAND? I have yet to come across one person that said that they did. Odd.
Don't worry they are putting up cameras EVERYWHERE, and gps systems in your autos and cars, to PROTECT you, our government cares that much about its citizens!! We should all feel so proud.
In fact anyone who says that the govt is trying to create a police state should im my opinion be held without bail for THEIR protection, and put into a mental institution so that they can be deprogrammed. Smile your on Candid Camera folks!
In fact they care so much about YOUR safety and security the Dept of Homeland Security has hired former East German Stazi chief Markus Wolfe, and former KGB General Yevgeni Primakov to help in keeping you FREE!!
Enjoy America, a police state here, how utterly preposterous! I suggest we do what that stalwart american patriot Newt Gingrich has called for which is to infringe free speech, particularly if it is political in nature. Now there is a true conservative!!
53 - Les Slater
"In fact anyone who says that the govt is trying to create a police state should im my opinion be held without bail ..."
I was ONLY asking.
54 - Les Slater
Pablo,
"Don't worry they are putting up cameras EVERYWHERE, and gps systems in your autos and cars..."
I know, and I know how well they work. I went to Toronto in December. I'm not familiar with driving there. I got on some major highway by mistake. Soon realized it was a toll road with nobody to collect any toll. I was suppose to have some thingy on my windshield. What could I do? Anyway, I saw a sign informing that if I didn't have a thingy, they would bill me. And, I did get the bill.
But seriously, what are you goin to do about it? Telling everyone, everywhere you can ain't getting you anywhere, is it?
Every issue that is under discussion needs to be seriously and patiently addressed. We need to take concrete actions where we can and always educate. We need not only know who are natural allies are, but also the enemy, concretely. The enemy that controls the media is going to do its best to confuse you, misdirect you, and tell you who your enemies are. We need to analyze everything concretely. Calling the U.S. a police state is NOT correct. We DO, in fact have much democratic space. We need to use it.
Les
55 - Baronius
Rice is pro-choice. Whatever other benefits or drawbacks she'd bring to the ticket, that position would be an impossible hurdle for her nomination.
Maybe Huckabee could have nominated Rice as his VP. She would bring foreign policy credentials, and social conservatives would be able to tolerate her under Huckabee. But she'd bring no benefits to McCain, alienate the conservatives beyond repair, and freak out the anti-Bush independents.
56 - Clavos
Watching McCain speaking this evening in Alexandria, VA after sweeping the so-called Potomac Primary, I note that Florida Governor Charlie Crist is with him on the stage.
I wonder if Crist might be in the running to be McCain's veep?
57 - Dave Nalle
She will do NOTHING in any job she has except to promote herself for her next job.
That sounds pretty much like a job description for Vice President.
dave