If McCain was forced by the powers that be to pick a religious nut why didn't he pick Huckabee?

[Mike Daniels]

If McCain had to grovel to the religious wing of the party why didn't he atleast pick Huckabee who does seem to have a brain even if it does steer him wrong most of the time.

Truthfully, I think if Huck had been on the ticket it would have been a more problematic for Obama and Biden.

[Alter Ego]

1. Cause Huck has a penis.

[rateyes]

8. Damn. You said it before I could.

[nomorewhopper]

17. lol great answer. but also

because huckleberry is a one trick pony. he's "just" a fundie. palin is a fundie and also a libertarian.

she also happens to be a moron, which obviously wasn't one of the criteria set out above. mccain made a political play to grab the clinton supporters while also boosting his base. on paper, palin would look pretty good.

in reality, well, we see why it's important that morons aren't invited onto the ticket.

[Alter Ego]

19. You can't be a fundie and a libertarian.

Fundamentalists are, by definition, political authoritarians. They want to tell you who you can and can't sleep with, what you can and can't watch on TV, what books you can and can't read, and what video games you can and can't play.

She's straddling a line that doesn't exist.

[Overseas]

2. Desperate need to revive tarnished maverick branding.

Hucka was probably too much of an insider.

[SoonerPride]

3. Because Huckabee can't be easily contained

He "thinks" for himself and would be no one's puppet.

The goal here is to get them in office, have him die, and then have another puppet ruining things for another 4 years.

And yes I said ruining.

[ingac70]

13. Exactly...

Huck has alot more between his ears than Palin and would not be anyone's puppet.

[ErinBerin84]

4. honestly, I think this year is more than a "base" year.

I remember reading on politico that someone from the McCain campaign said "If we do not get some of the Hillary voters, we lose." I really do think that McCain is dumb enough to think that Hillary supporters would see Palin as their new Hillary. I remember how disingenuous he looked when he tried to act as if he was on the side of Hillary Clinton against the media (in his notorious green background speech)...I think he thought getting Hillary supporters would be easy. I think that Palin put on a good show for the base last night, but indepedents were probably a bit puzzles by the way she dismissed questions, and by her "I want more power than Cheney" thing at the end.

[Arkansas Granny]

5. McCain thought that he could pick up Hillary's supporters by putting a woman on the ticket.

It may have worked with some, but most were offended that McCain believed all he had to offer them was someone with the same set of genitals to get their vote. I haven't met anyone yet who supported Hillary in the primaries who isn't an Obama supporter now, so he failed on that score.

[TheKentuckian]

6. Wrong body parts

no vagina and too many brains.

[progressivebydesign]

7. That's what I wondered! I don't agree with Huckabee.. but at least he doesn't make me barf. nt/

[Hellataz]

9. I echo the "penis post" lol

Palin was chosen to manipulate the American women to vote for a party that doesn't even hold their interests. Like we were all too stupid to realize that just because she has women parts we'd ignore the fact that she shares non of Hilary's views. Sorry this election is about substance not the superficial like the GOP was hoping for.

[iceman66]

10. I don't think he is conservative enough on economic issues.

I think just about anyone but Palin would have been more problematic for us. In the long run, I think Palin will cost him more votes than she gains him.

[Mike Daniels]

14. Making him a perfect choice for a "maverick" like McCain

I know Rove has lost his touch but I can't imagine Rove being delusional enough to think that Hillary voters were going to vote for a woman who had nothing in common with Hillary beyond some anatomical features.

[iceman66]

18. That's assuming he's an actual maverick!

Huckabee would have been a better choice for him, but I think that if he had chosen a true moderate, like one of the senators from Maine, we'd be in real trouble.

Of course his handlers would never allow that!

[Mme. Defarge]

11. Palin isn't even a member of a church - n/t

[4_Legs_Good]

12. In retrospect, I'm sure he wishes he had. Palin is a woman...

and he hoped to snag those PUMAS with her.

Huckabee, OTOH, is loved by the whackos, is much more reasonable to the average voter, is really quite funny, has all the little manerisms that Palin has, and actually has more than half a brain, along with being seasoned in debating and interviews.

Don't get me wrong, I disagree with him on almost everything, but I still can't help but kinda like the guy. I'll miss him on Colbert.

He would have been 10x as good a choice, but still, he would have ultimately failed. Obama/Biden is just too strong.

David

[Joanne98]

15. Because they thought they could pick up Hillary voters with a female Huckabee.

How stupid is that?

[Catshrink]

16. They know they've lost and didn't want to waste a candidate

they might run in '12. Might as well sacrifice gramps and through Miss Sarah under the bus.

This way, they leave it to the Dems to clean up after Bush/Cheney. This will require raising taxes -- I don't see how that can be avoided as we've got to pay for this war somehow -- and they'll hit Obama on that issue. Not to mention that Obama will need to get rid of all the hacks Bush installed at various levels of government and replace them with qualified professionals.

I think the election in 2012 will be very tough.

[GreenTea]

20. Because if the republicans steal it for McCain they have a woman to go against Hillary in 2012

After McCain is dead or on his death bed, not able to pursue a second term....Republicans believe Palin is very likable to their base and will be able to turn around moderates & independents for her & the republicans, after then having four years experience as VP.