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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Updated Conservative Guide to "Veep" Picks
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 8:30 AM
I've received a lot of feedback regarding my post the other day, titled: The Conservative guide to VP picks. 

Since this is a hot topic, there have been many developments ... 

As you might have seen on Fox yesterday, I believe conservatives ought to flat-out reject Tom Ridge.  His selection would be a leap backward for the conservative movement (as it relates to the Republican Party), and should be treated as a "non-starter."  I also floated the name of Utah gov. Jon Huntsman -- who is starting to generate a buzz.

Aside from Huckabee (whom I mentioned in the notes), one obvious name I left off the likely list was former Congressman and Ambassador Rob Portman.  This was an obvious oversight, so let me add him to the list:  Essentially, I see Portman in the same light I see Tim Pawlenty; He would not be an exciting pick, but he would also be acceptable to most conservatives.

If you're interested in this topic, Chris Connolly has some good thoughts on GOP "veep" picks, too.

UpdateAnother possible McCain pick?  I think most conservatives would be excited about Rep. Eric Cantor.

View in ascending order View in descending order
Virginia Patriot writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:54 PM
Tom
I don't know why Cantor is not better known, I was kind of hoping he'd run for Warner's Senate seat. I sincerely hope he does not board the GOP Titanic. The captain is a Trojan Horse Democrat and Cantor signing onto that D-lite agenda of amnesty, cap and trade, etc. will require him to abandon his conservative credentials. McCain needs to pick someone like Lindsay Grahamnesty or Pawlenty that already agrees with him and won't be a big loss.
Tom writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:40 PM
cantor is the guy
Cantor is a rock start, VA patriot, you may have to step up and give this guy to the nation. I met him at a fundraiser for my Congressman and Cantor lit up the room. He has energy, enthusiasm and you know what---he isnt afraid to be conservative. I know we arent suppose to talk about Reagan because that means you are stuck in the past, but this guy is the closest thing to Reagan that I've seen in a while. Young, articulate, energetic and focused. He laid out a program he started called Young Leaders, it was amazing. This guy is ahead of the curve in so many ways, online etc. I think McCain would be crazy not to look seriously at him. The others are boring. Why hasnt he gotten more attention???
Big G writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 2:53 PM
Evangelicals Warn McCain about a Romney
Ticket.



That is the headlines from the Washington Times and the Boston Globe.

That was the headlines during the primaries.



According to Huck, God is too smart to run for public office.



Why do they think that using their religion to threaten politicians is a good thing?




I want a politician who will listen to Americans, not whore himself for this or that religious consituency.




Remember, crazies!! Jesus said to render unto Ceasar what is his and render unto God what is His.




These religious leaders reeking with the stench of worldly ambition and lust of political dominance, audaciously claim to be servants of Him who affirmed: "My kingdom is not of this world.




Voting for or against someone on the sole basis of their religion is a sure sign of crazed idiocy.

A good place to start would be the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Virginia Patriot writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 2:42 PM
cimarrone
McCain has no intention of enforcing the laws, he's stuck on stupid, amnesty is the only thing he'll consider. Same destination. I think we have a better shot of defeating Obama's amnesty than McCain's. It's way past time for this issue to divde the Democrats. Many Democrat Congressmen will balk at committing political suicide.
james beam writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 2:29 PM
virginia patriot
if we don't pick someone like cantor to help mcain win ,and get obama . learn to speak spanish , cuz we will have totally open borders and will probably lose the southwest to mexico.la raza unida is growing stronger and the aztlan crowd is getting more and more militant . mcain is not perfect he was my 4th choice but he got the nomination and he is light years to the right of obama . if you're really a patriot you'll do whats best for the country and get behind cantor .
Joe writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 12:05 PM
Pasadena Phil and Virginia Patriot
Pasadena Phil is right about Social Security. The fix is raise the retirement age. But politically that is not a good idea until after November. But fixing Social Security only becomes relatively painless if we do it now, wait another ten years of so and the options are far more limited.

As for Medicare, remember who opposed that entitlement expansion on prescription drug benefits...it was John McCain!

Again, the fix for Medicare is not raising taxes, but probably cutting benefits (although I am open to creative long term solutions like private medical accounts). The pain for Medicare will be far worse than Social Security, because the deficits are projected to be so much higher (and are going negative now as opposed to decades from now).
SAM writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 12:03 PM
McCain and Taxes
As a practical matter, a McCain victory largely just avoids Obama's increase in the FICA tax for those making salary or self-employment income over $250K.

Keep in mind that the so-called Bush tax cuts are expiring provisions. The disappear in 2010 and the rates revert to some previous set of rates. Fat chance a Democratic Congress will pass any tax cut--even the tax rate on capital gains. And fat chance that they'll reduce the top corporate tax rate too.

In short, McCain's tax positions, though relevant, are largely academic because a Democratic Congress will handcuff him.

Whoever is elected needs to fix the estate tax because it will oddly disappear in 2010 only to reappear in 2011. Bizarre but true. It'll be interesting to see if we experience a lot of death among wealthy older Americans in 2010.
Pasadena Phil writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:56 AM
Social security "crisis"
Is largely a myth. Sure, there is a problem but it is easy to fix. Even if we do nothing, the problems don't surface until around 2040. We just need to face the reality that people are living much longer these days. Just raise the payout age begin full benefits to 75. Problem solved.

The real crisis is Medicare/Medicaid, a problem that Bush worsened substantially with his prescription drug entitlement. McCain will be no different than any other liberal on this issue. Nothing will happen in the next four years. Obama is at least trying to educate himself on the issues while McCain thinks he already has all the answers. If anything goes wrong, another advisor (friend) under the bus.
Virginia Patriot writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:43 AM
Joe
Personally, I think we will have to lift the cap on ss taxes and cut benefits or go broke. Especially if we start paying out to foreign nationals for time worked ILLEGALLY.
Pasadena Phil writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:37 AM
Sybil (formerly known as DNC Joe etal)
" "nothing would be off the table" while he said he would be personally against raising taxes."

Sounds a lot like "personally, I believe abortion is murder but I vote to support it because...."

That is the language of a weasel.
Ana Mus writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:36 AM
I like Palin,
the kind of woman who tells the big boys to get in line or else and doesn't appear to flinch or wobble when it comes to getting the job done.
Joe writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:29 AM
I guess you all want "happy faces"
Better to ignore the current de facto amnesty going on, Social Security and Medicare going in the tank, and the budget deficits and instead let Obama screw up Iraq and send out more stimulating checks until the U.S. Dollar mirrors the strength of the Zimbabwe Dollar.

Eeeeeeeha! Let's all be in the bag for Obama!

Pardon me if I consider that less than conservative.

McCain is the better choice for this country. That is why I am supporting him.
ScarletPimpernel writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:11 AM
what a campaign
Up next:

McCain debates Pelosi on the ERA bill and Perot on NAFTA.
ScarletPimpernel writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:09 AM
so, social security is a winner eh?
Above WOT, energy, gas prices, justices etc...
Virginia Patriot writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 11:00 AM
Joe(or whatever you call yourself today)
I don't vote for liberals, R or D. Yes McCain is slightly less liberal than Obama, but still unacceptable. Amnesty is the dealbreaker.
Virginia Patriot writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:55 AM
Rep. Eric Cantor
Please don't sign onto the D-Lite agenda of John McCain. You will have to flip on your opposition to amnesty, cap and trade, and a host of other issues. You will wreck your political career, don't do it. Stay off the GOP Titanic, it is going down in November.
Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:52 AM
I am right here Gunlock Bill
This is Joe. I switched my handle because it pleases my detractors so much. I also want to remind them that being conservative does not mean being in the bag for Obama.

But some of them seem challenged with that concept.
Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:49 AM
Cantor would be fine
If he gets the tap and wins, Virginia Patriot will (I am sure) find a good replaceent for him.

As for McCain and taxes, McCain said he wanted to discuss social security with the Dems (in a redo of the Ronald Reagan-Tip O'Neill compromise) and "nothing would be off the table" while he said he would be personally against raising taxes.

Now this is dangerous territory for McCain, but the truth is we need to reform social security (and also Medicare). We either raise taxes or cut (or delay benefits). Another wise choice would be to privatize part of the system (which would be a long term reform). McCain is saying everything is on the table because if he says no taxes, then the follow up question is do you intend to cut benefits? If anyone knows this, it is conservatives. And of course, Pasadena Phil know this too.
gunlock bill writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:47 AM
McCain
Continues to make it harder and harder to even think about possibly voting FOR him!

Where is DNC Joe to speak comfort to me?

Or ed2 with coercion or scare tactics?
Pasadena Phil writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:33 AM
McCain flip-flops on "no new taxes"
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D92778Q00&show_arti cle=1

McCain started on the left and keeps drifting left. Obama started way left and is drifting right. Looks like Scarlet is right. Going left is all the rage this year. The goal for the GOP is to pin Obama as far left as possible and then have McCain appear to be just a little less to the left. Looks like McCain has completely written off conservatives and anyone right of center. When is McCain going to make the grand tour of Mexico?
Virginia Patriot writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:30 AM
cimarrone
Eric Cantor is my Congressman, keep your hands off. I just received another letter last night reiterating his opposition to amnesty and illegal aliens. He has been pretty solidly conservative, I'd hate to see him ruin his career signing onto the GOP Titanic.
james beam writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:24 AM
just looked
at eric cantor best choice hands down, brings the most to mcain with the least negatives . i like huck but he has been hammered pretty hard , i think unfairly, but he has higher negatives than mcain needs . the same for romney i'm sure the roneyiacs feel he's been hammered unfairly as well , his negatives according to rasmussen are higher than mikes . lets bring some fresh faces in that we all can support .keep the world safe from obama
ScarletPimpernel writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:12 AM
actually,
since going left is all the rage, Obama would be the ultimate choice.
Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:03 AM
As for steps backward...
electing Barack Obama would be step backward.
Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 10:02 AM
Portman would be fine
I would rather McCain go bold and do something unconventional. Pawlenty is a safe but boring pick.

Virginia Patriot writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 9:55 AM
McCain Is The Step Backwards
Unless a miracle occurs and the GOP has a different nominee, the VP pick is just rearranging the deck chairs on the GOP Titanic.
ScarletPimpernel writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 9:29 AM
love it. keep it up.
Yes, by all means take Pawlenty.

" I believe conservatives ought to flat-out reject Tom Ridge. His selection would be a leap backward for the conservative movement (as it relates to the Republican Party)," - this is rich. As if the top of the ticket ISN'T a step backwards for the Stupid Party.
SAM writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 9:26 AM
Pawlenty--Ugh
I noticed the omission of Portman, but kept quiet. There's no comparison between Portman and Pawlenty. Portman has had a lot of Washington experience. In his congressional days, he was on the Ways and Means Committee. He's a much more polished speaker than Pawlenty.

The problem for me is that I suspect neither one of them has enough national prominence to help McCain much, but if he's going down this road, Portman over Pawlenty any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 8:46 AM
If Mitt Romney gets abducted by aliens
well I am glad we have John Huntsman to fill that void. Yawn.

Ridge? Maybe a cabinet position, but he will not be Veep.
Joe, Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Right writes: Tuesday, July, 29, 2008 8:43 AM
It is Pawlenty or Romney
Pawlenty is the safe choice. He would be fine. Just McCain needs more than fine.

Romney could be a very good choice if the emphasis is on his economic/business strengths. McCain needs help in this regard, especially with Phil Gramm's gaffe (albeit true) about negative attitudes. Still, Mitt has some high negatives too that makes picking him far from risk free.

As much as I like Jindal and Palin, I doubt they will get the tap (this time).
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