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kpete

(72,018 posts)
Mon Apr 9, 2012, 08:04 PM Apr 2012

Paul Begala: I Know Who Romney’s Running Mate Will Be & it won’t be Ryan or Rubio.

Paul Begala: I Know Who Romney’s Running Mate Will Be
Apr 9, 2012 1:00 AM EDT
Don’t believe the hype: it won’t be Ryan or Rubio.

You heard it here first: Mitt Romney is going to select Rob Portman, the junior senator from Ohio, to be his running mate. I have no insight into how Romney will make this decision. But I had a front-row seat at what I believe was the best veep choice of my lifetime.


When Bill Clinton was choosing his running mate in 1992, I made a pitch for Sen. Harris Wofford—a visionary who had worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy. Wofford seemed perfect because he would have balanced the ticket, and that’s what conventional wisdom considers most important: Clinton was young, Wofford was older; Clinton was a Southerner, Wofford was from Pennsylvania; Clinton was a governor, Wofford served in Congress; Clinton was a Protestant, Wofford was a Catholic; Clinton was a moderate, Wofford was a liberal. But Clinton was blown away by his meeting with Al Gore and settled on him quickly, even though Gore was the same age, same region, same religion, and same ideology. “Why pick him?” I asked. “Because, Paulie,” Clinton said in a near whisper, “I might die.” Gulp.

I wasn’t in the room when George W. Bush chose Dick Cheney. (Well, Cheney actually chose Cheney, but never mind.) Cheney wasn’t picked for his animal magnetism, and Wyoming’s three electoral votes weren’t a factor, so politics had nothing to do with it. Obama’s choice of Joe Biden was likewise about governing, not campaigning. Delaware was never in doubt, and Biden’s global experience and middle-class sensibility made him a great choice.

Can Romney, with his Etch a Sketch character and Slinky spine, make a nonpolitical decision on his veep? He’d better. Above all, he needs an anti-Palin: someone who will not overshadow him, someone who will not blow up in his face, and someone who will fit Romney’s play-it-safe, buttoned-up image.


http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/04/08/paul-pegala-i-know-who-romney-s-running-mate-will-be.html

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Paul Begala: I Know Who Romney’s Running Mate Will Be & it won’t be Ryan or Rubio. (Original Post) kpete Apr 2012 OP
maybe frankroberts Apr 2012 #1
Not a chance. She's barely more reputable than Palin. nt onehandle Apr 2012 #4
I just bookmarked this thread... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2012 #2
I believe Begala is right with this pick. FarPoint Apr 2012 #3
Oh I hope he doesn't pick a woman cr8tvlde Apr 2012 #5
Guess again; Hilary has zero interest in running for anything. CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2012 #6
Multiple-choice Mitt should just pick one of his many personas to be his running mate. marmar Apr 2012 #7
That is who I think he will pick. You don't hear anything bad about him. I don't southernyankeebelle Apr 2012 #8

FarPoint

(12,444 posts)
3. I believe Begala is right with this pick.
Mon Apr 9, 2012, 08:17 PM
Apr 2012

Portman is creepy to me..I was forced to meet him once at a government job he was visiting. He shook my hand, his hand was wet and clammy...It gave me a shivering, nausea feeling...I left the job site right afterward. Maybe that was a "sign" of future evil doings were in his future.

cr8tvlde

(1,185 posts)
5. Oh I hope he doesn't pick a woman
Mon Apr 9, 2012, 08:28 PM
Apr 2012

...least of all a black woman. He's going to lose anyway, and it's just another black eye for the female gender.

Seems they pull in a female (R or D) when they are going to lose, whether as tokenism or an excuse. And whoever she would be would almost automatically have comparisons ... pro or con ... on her hair, her clothes, her glasses, her shoes, her weight, ad nauseum ... to, by constantly reminding us of the last failure, Ms. Palin. We need at least another election cycle to more fully retire and purge our memory data of the Wasilla Quitter, former beauty queen.

Hillary may not be my favorite, but she has matured politically, showed amazing class and style when Obama defeated her, developed a senior advisor aura about her on the international stage, and has done an excellent job. I think/hope she can make it in 2016. Rubio as Hillary's VP....hmmm.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,712 posts)
6. Guess again; Hilary has zero interest in running for anything.
Mon Apr 9, 2012, 08:43 PM
Apr 2012

And Rubio is a very evil man, from what I hear. He's also a Republican.

Sorry to rain on your daydream...

 

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)
8. That is who I think he will pick. You don't hear anything bad about him. I don't
Mon Apr 9, 2012, 08:58 PM
Apr 2012

think he is a teabagger (am not sure). Rubio has baggage. He is a liar.

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