The conventional wisdom holds that John McCain should lean to his right in making his choice for a vice presidential candidate. This wisdom is completely wrong. Most of the names being bandied about would make terrible choices for McCain. I don't claim to be a political expert in the manner of Dick Morris, but I think the best choice for McCain would be Colin Powell.
Yes, Colin Powell. And here are the reasons why. First, Powell has an independent mind. He is not a captive of the right, and consequently he reinforces the public perception that McCain is not a pawn of Bush. True, Powell served in the Bush administration, but his disagreements with Bush are well known. Obama is trying to portray McCain as a Bush clone. Powell will help McCain convince independent voters--the ones he needs most--that his administration would not constitute a third Bush term.
Second, Powell has experience. The man has served honorably and responsibly in more high positions than Obama and all the other Democratic candidates combined. Moreover, Powell has gravitas while Obama merely has the gift of the gab. So Powell helps to highlight how green and goofy Obama really is. The point is not to contrast one African American with another, or to show how Powell like Obama has immigrant roots. Rather, it is to dissolve the race issue by showing that capability and experience, not race and skin color, are the real issues here.
Finally, who apart from the Obamorons can doubt that Powell would make a capable president? This is especially important given the fact that McCain is over seventy. A Powell choice would also reinforce the big question about the man at the top of the Democratic ticket: Is he ready? I am not going to say that Obama can never be a good president, but I seriously doubt that he is mature enough to climb into the saddle. Who would you trust--Powell or Obama--to better handle a national emergency?
Now all of this could be idle speculation, because Powell may not want to be vice president. I keep hearing about how his wife is so completely against the idea. But this could be one of McCain's first tasks: to persuade Powell to do it. This wouldn't be the first time that this soldier has been asked to put personal considerations second and to take on a great challenge for the future of his country.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 13)
46. Totally off topic but-
Saw a sign at the Hippie Pizza Place yesterday.
"The answer to 1984- is 1776."
P.S. Many of my kids work that joint.
Robert at 12:49PM on Jun 16th 2008
47. Dinesh,
If you want respectful dialogue, I'd avoid using nonsense words like "Obamorons." Aren't you just disrespecting whatever audience you might have?
as for Powell: gravitas, I couldn't agree more.
best,
mw
mikey1 at 12:54PM on Jun 16th 2008
48. "Oh yeah; Hillary didn't walk with a limp."
Yeah, and Bill didn't dump her either. He got some ass and head on the side. Is he a good person for doing it? No.
And for the record, I didn't vote for him.
McCain is scary bad. I can't believe he is the nominee. He is going to get rocked in the general.
Dick Rick at 1:01PM on Jun 16th 2008
49. It takes one neocoolie to know one! Hahaha
LuLu at 2:01PM on Jun 16th 2008
50.
"But why wasn't Bill Clinton pilloried for the same womanizing?"
Holy crap. you just won today's Hot Steaming Ciup of Stupid award.
Bill Clinton, not thrown under the bus? One of only two US Presidents to have been Impeached? Wow. To this DAY people are still pillorying him and his family over his BJ. To the point where the right started sending stooges after Chelsea to throw the question at her during rallies.
Please spare me that President Clinton and his family didn't get tire marks all over them after Newt, Barr and Starr were done with them.
That Hillary stayed with him was THEIR choice. They did what all the 'good Christofacists' say that marriage entails, stuck together through the better and for worse. That McCain saw a better piece of skirt with a wallet and bailed. He can pick any VP he wants, but as today's cancelled fundraiser proves, he will kiss the pursestring of the slimiest pig if it means a buck.
T.Brough at 2:23PM on Jun 16th 2008
51. I'm curious.
How exactly will selecting a running mate who was so pubicly forced to become a pawn of Bush reinforce public opinion that McCain is not a pawn of Bush?
skeptik at 2:51PM on Jun 16th 2008
52.
Questions from the media prompted Republican John McCain to cancel a fundraiser at the home of a Texas oilman who once joked that women should give in while being raped.
The Texan, Republican Clayton "Claytie" Williams, made the joke during his failed 1990 campaign for governor against Democrat Ann Richards. Williams compared rape to the weather, saying, "As long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it." He also compared Richards to the cattle on his ranch, saying he would "head her and hoof her and drag her through the dirt." Williams' comments made national news at the time and remain easy to find on the Internet. Even so, McCain's campaign said it hadn't known about the remarks.
The campaign said it would not return money Williams had raised for McCain because the contributions came from other individuals supporting McCain and not from Williams. Williams told his hometown newspaper, the Midland Reporter-Telegram, that he had raised more than $300,000 for McCain.
T.Brough at 2:58PM on Jun 16th 2008
53. Former Diplomat Alan Keyes would be an excellent vice presidential candidate for John McCain. I have met and heard him speak. The man is awe inspiring. He is a true Teddy Roosevelt Republican. He is also a strong Christian and pro-life advocate.
He would serve as a needful reminder that there is diversity of opinion within the African-American community. Go McCain!
janesophie1 at 2:58PM on Jun 16th 2008
54. Former Diplomat Alan Keyes would be an excellent vice presidential candidate for John McCain. I have met and heard him speak. The man is awe inspiring. He is a true Teddy Roosevelt Republican. He is also a strong Christian and pro-life advocate. He would serve as a needful reminder that there is diversity of opinion within the African-American community. Go McCain!
janesophie1 at 3:02PM on Jun 16th 2008
55. Brough; you misquote me. I didn't say Clinton was, or was not, "thrown under the bus". I said McCain should be. My question is why lib's, and you by the tone of your last post, are so sympathetic toward Clinton? And as for "THEIR" choice of sticking together, good for the Clintons, though I suspect it was pure political opportunism. Passing the hot steaming cup of stupid back to you Brough.
fanman at 3:12PM on Jun 16th 2008
56. 53. Former Diplomat Alan Keyes would be an excellent vice presidential candidate for John McCain.
xxx
You probably have the concerted prayers of every democrat who's registered to vote that your wish be granted. Keyes is great since we don't have Hitler to kick around anymore.
You'd get the animal lovers' vote - bill slowski for president and the head chicken at Colonel Sanders for vice. why don't we all get started memorizing the Koran and the wisdom of mao while we're at it? Either of those clowns would sell the highways and sheriff's department to the chinese communists or bin laden himself if it would get them reelected.
Clif Kuplen at 3:58PM on Jun 16th 2008
57. JaneSophie, can I ask you a question? What do you think will come about if abortion becomes illegal??? To me it is more heartbreaking and more "anti-Christian" if a mother kills her living(unwanted) child, rather than have an abortion? Or, perhaps illegal abortions done by quack doctors or far worse women performing their own abortions and dying...But, that's just me.
D. at 4:07PM on Jun 16th 2008
58. There are several reports out that influential conservatives including Colin Powell are having trouble deciding whether it is more important to vote for what they believe are the best policies for this country or to vote for a black man. I hope all the kind words about improvements in race relations are not just a grand charade.
DanH at 4:15PM on Jun 16th 2008
59. Think long and hard about the candidates you vote into office. Having strong Christian values and being pro-life alone does not make a good leader.
D. at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2008
60. Alan Keyes comes off as vibrant and intelligent in a debate until you start paying attention to what he’s saying and realize that he’s a stark raving lunatic.
His adoption as McCain’s running mate will just remind people that Obama whipped his carpet bagging ass to become a US Senator.
PS. I threw the carpet bagging comment in to remind all you neocon fuckers of how you criticized Hillary for seeking to become the Senator of New York as a carpet bagger while looking the other way as this hyperactive troll did the same thing.
As for hubby Bill Clinton, someone already made the point that he is still being pilloried over his BJ to this day. I sure hope it was a ball drainer, they type after which you have to pull the sheets out of your asshole for all the abuse he’s gotten over it.
But then again, may if he’d snorted some coke and invaded Iraq while getting his hummer you guys might actually admire him.
PS. Keyes only ran for the US senate because the republicans chose him as a black alternative to Obama after Jack Ryan dropped out of the race because of a sex scandal.
rabidmccain at 4:19PM on Jun 16th 2008