Thoughts on Next Pres. & V-P

must have a black on the GOP 08 ticket even before there was an Obama. Now its imperitive. I favor JC Watts, Michael Steele, Ken Blackwell or Condi Rice in that order. I would rather see Watts at the TOP of the ticket, but...

We can destroy the Dem party if we can get 20-25% of the black vote and I want to kill that Party. I was in that party for 15+ years until my conservative epiphany in 2000.

more later

you have a great blog

see my sites

Mike DeVine
Op-Ed Columnist – The Charlotte Observer
latest Observer column link
http://www.charlotte.com/409/story/123468.html
Blogs as Gamecock at http://www.redstate.com, and
http://www.race42008.com and is Legal Editor for
http://theminorityreportblog.blogspot.com and
http://thehinzsightreport.com/.

"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson

pre-2006 election contest here on TH

http://www.redstate.com/blogs/gamecock/2007/may/20/advocating_affirmative_action_for_gop_08_vp_before_obama_steele_is_the_ticket

I think ANY Black candidate will look like a token by the GOP (unless it's Condi). Check on Sarah Palin. I wrote a blog entitled "Sarah Palin, the White Queen" as in the side that makes the first move in Chess. (click on my name.)

She's strongly pro-life, 2nd ammendment, pro-traditional marriage...the whole "conservative" bit. But what makes her the "queen" is the shallow things: she's an ex-beauty queen (America DOES love their beautiful people)...ex-basketball star (America loves their sports stars)...and a woman.

The GOP ticket will face Hilary because the Clinton machine will go after Obama. You need someone to be able to take on the celebrity status of Hil WITHOUT coming across as pandering to female/black/political correctness.

Palin's presence beside a McCain or a Rudy will be like having a female associate sitting next to a male attorney--representing a boss accused of sexually harrassing his workers...the couple (attorneys) are a subtle hint of the man's supporting equal rights in the work place instead of presenting to the jury an in your face token female attorney.

Her beauty would garner attention and while she'd only be in the number 2 slot...she'd represent a promise of the top spot for a female in 8 years.

I like Hunter and Huckabee but you need someone with the name recognition of Rudy and McCain...and a Palin to keep them in the voter's mind come election day.

Sanity: You are dead on right. I think she can compete effectively against Hillary Clinton. Mrs. Clinton is going to do a not-very-subtle "they hate becaude I'm a woman" role come about August, 2008. Huckabee has always interested me because he is authentic -- and DIFFERENT. Hunter no longer interests me because he's very wrong on immigration and is basically a one-issue candidate. He has zero advantages over Huckabee or Palin. As I said on your blog, the experience Sarah lacks is the experience (how to shaft people in the Beltway) she doesn't need. If I didn't believe she could hold her own -- and I do believe she can do so -- I wouldn't ask her (beg her?) to subject herself to the scene.

Gamecock, all the people you mention would be excellent. I'll look at all your links. Thanks for the compliment on the blog, much appreciated.

I like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell as much as the next GUY, but we've got to get beyond that.

The week after 9/11, Newsweek had a cover story featuring Robert Mueller going to Congress with his aides, three young men who looked like they played Division 3 football (at Fordham). As an uptight (well, at little) white guy, I thought the cover photo should be entitled, "Bob Mueller and the Uptight White Boy's Club." I really did think, "How are going to beat bin Laden with people who could no more infiltrate al Qaeda than they could get into the Miss Universe pageant?"

The idea that we should have a ticket that reflects America may sound like liberal touchy feely. In fact, we need such a ticket to show that, finally, we "get it."

How good is somebody like Michael Steele? Someday, he could be a great President of the U.S. J.C. Watts, the same.

I've just become a reader of yours Steve, and would like to suggest a good coupling for the GOP in 2008.
Fred Thompson and Sarah Palin.
I believe they could get the job done over Bilary and Obama

Stormy, very much welcome. I don't think anybody knows who's going to get the nomination. In politics, it doesn't pay to vote against the Clintons, and I believe Hillary will be there at the end (before, hopefully, she gets defeated in the general).

Today's latest poll (for what it's worth, which may not be a lot) is USA TODAY, and it shows Giuliani at 30%, McCain 22%, and Thompson 12%.

I have fun with Fred (whom I've liked for 30 years!) because he's not the world's most energetic soul. He's trying to figure out now if he can win the nomination and, especially, the election.

McCain, because of his war hero status among other things, is a lot stronger than Hugh Hewitt or some others would like you to believe.

It will be a battle royal. These are guys who are not really into losing.

Gov. Palin is somebody to watch. This is a very strong and appealing individual. She will not want to go to DC for 8 years and twiddle her thumbs. She will want to have a real effect on the country. The Wikipedia article on her is excellent (unlike some Wik pieces), and I'd urge you to read it at http://www.wikipedia.org (think it's "org").

when they are clearly qualified. And all the ones we have mentioned are. The Dems never put blacks in truly consequential positions by appointment. We do. And yes, we in the GOP need to do it to combat the MSM and Dem stereotypes of us as racist, bigot homophobes.

Amen Gamecock! You produce some wonderful material on your blog, and I'll put it on my links. In the Middle Atlantic section last time (if I can include Ohio), we had running Lynn Swann for Gov. of PA, Ken Blackwell in Ohio, and Michael Steele in MD, all of them fine and qualified candidates. They didn't win, but they will in the future. Steele is nearly overwhelming as a person and a speaker. A lot of people don't even know these guys exist!

We need to cherish and support all our good candidates, and we have a lot of them. Guitierez (may have left out a "z") was in on Blitzer this a.m. and the guy is terrific. Stereotypes have hurt us in the past, and we need to break out of them.

I went to a "Gamecock" football game in Columbia many moons ago. Had a great time. I'm a big fan of SC/NC.

only that it would APPEAR so...any Black appearing on the 2nd slot would be liken by the MSM as the "Black" guy on the back of the bus BEHIND a White "mastah".

Perception in politics is everything guys.

And the name of the game is we want to win...no more advertising "bogeys"

I always seem to find that winning is preferable to losing. On the campaigns I've been most closely involved with, we've had more losses than wins (e.g., Diana Irey vs. John Murtha) but we always had fun. :-)

I have read with interest your posts on Sarah Palin. I have also read the Wikipedia entry.

I must confess that my knowledge of her is limited to the foregoing.

I think that it would be most instructive for those of us unfamiliar with Palin if you two would set forth the best case you can as to why Palin would NOT be a good selection. Tell us what her detractors will say. Tell us how the Democrats will try to define her in the general election and what ammunition they will have to do so. Tell us how the MSM will compare and contrast Palin to Hillary Clinton. Tell us what the Clinton attack machine will say about her. Tell us what her opponents and political enemies in Alaska say about her. What skeletons are in her closet?

Thanks!

Bruce

Bruce, within a week -- sorry I'm slow right now -- I'll do a pro- and con- about her. Right now, she's riding a very popular wave in Alaska, and of course in politics things go up and down. With a two-year U. S. Senator running hard (Obama) it's a little hard for them to make a case on the inexperience. Unlike Heather Wilson, Sarah does not have a lot of "experience" in foreign policy. (Neither did George W. or for that matter Kerry or Edwards.)

But your suggestion is a good one. More people should do that kind of exercise.

steve

MSM might do determine our course. They will always do all they can to discredit us. Bust when campaigns focus on us vs a liberal, we win.

I disagree. You may not like MSM but ignore their influence at your own peril.

One of the biggest problems the Right has is that the Left uses emotional cards like "freedom of speech" and the "race" card and they try to pull their own version without understanding and "respecting" why they work.

An Obama would never work with a White male in the top billing but behind a woman, yes. Why? Because the ONLY person that the MSM and the Black activists will allow a Black person to take second billing to is a woman. It is the "race" card being neutralized by the "gender" card.

Colin Powell and Condi Rice both acted as Secretary of State and would seem "natural" as VP and heir apparent, not so a Steele or Watts.

The man who leads the GOP ticket is going to have his hands full with the attacks not only from the Left but the Right. He doesn't need to be spending time assuring the people that his pick for a mate had nothing to do with the color of his skin...while everyone knows it had a h-ell of a lot to do with it.

The number one thing they will bring up is the fact that she has been governor for less than a year and that she "won" it from a very unpopular man.

They will bring up the fact that her husband is a fisherman (not even a professional!)

They will talk about her betrayal to women's rights and "other minorities" aka gays.

They will call her a "dizzy blonde" and someone that wasn't even a lawyer "for God's sake".

And a life time member of the NRA? Can we spell "hick-country-gal?"

They will discuss her being an ex-beauty queen and ex-jock...two types not known for brains.

And the fact that she has said zero about the issue of the day aka illegal immigration.

Now ask me how all of this will run by the American voter.

Sanity wrote: "Now ask me how all of this will run by the American voter."


OK, I am asking!

Bruce

PS How is she as a speaker (both prepared text and impromptu)? How will she do in a debate with Obama?

The Political "Genius" behind Bush and Clinton: Rove (Right) and Morris (Left) have both said they don't worry about their "base" supporters(about 20% each) because these people will almost always vote "R" or "D". These two concentrate on winning the majority...the Independents...so most of my comments are from that prospective...how Palin would "play" to the average American middle.

1- The base on the Right has joined it's Left counterpart in telling the American voter that politicians cannot be trusted, especially REPUBLICANS. Palin has been governor for just one year (but two term mayor) but in one of the most remote states in America. In fact Alaska might as well be a different nation the way some American shops will charge double for shipping there. Palin will seem like an outsider...and in our political climate, an outsider is good.

2- The majority of Americans are NOT professionals and dislike those who can't help but talk down to them (wealthy Romney, ambitious Queen Hil and a hair cut few can afford Edwards come to mind). Yet, they want those that govern them to be one of intellectually elite, otherwise, why should THEY call the shots over ordinary people?

Palin has all the "prerequisite" education credentials of a leader--and like Bush with his "acceptable" Librarian wife...Palin's spouse non-elitist status will appeal to the average voter and his being a fisherman takes away any idea of his being a pansy to his powerful wife.

3- Palin has managed to head a city and a state...if she gets in line to run a country...the idea of her betraying her female sisters is going to look awfully lame.

4- Voters are tired of lawyers making laws with enough loop holes for them to ply their trade (and ex-lawyers turn talk show hosts--sorry, that's my sentiment). Voters are NOT tired of attractive blondes--honest.

5- One of the largest and most powerful voting blocks is the National Rifle Association. And despite what the MSM would have you believe, when people talk about gun toting grandmothers and rifle carrying hunters, the image created is one that is very American. Our country is one of the few that trusts ordinary citizens to own guns--and it is ordinary Americans that will protect their families, their businesses and their homes. And for most people, hunters are NOT pitting themselves against helpless animals...they are going up against wild frequently uncharted terrain, miles of rocky mountains, mosquitoes, open fires, hard ground, and hours of bonding.

A pretty woman who can appreciate THAT is a keeper.

6- The MSM and their elites from ivory towers know first hand how EASY and UNFAIR it is to lose to the pretty girl and the jock.

An ex-beauty queen who also happens to be an ex-jock will drive them nuts...and they will tell an American Idol loving public and a sports nut that gladly forks over hundreds of dollars for tickets...that supporting Palin because of how she looks or how she performed as a jock is stupid.

Yeah, that will go over REAL well.

7- Ah and about illegal immigration...Palin is from a state as far away from Mexico as you're going to get...the American voter...especially the Right will understand why she has no real involvement in the issue...

And be sooooooo glad.

I put your challenge (and my brilliant answers!) on my blog. Click on my name to read.

I've never heard or read one of her speeches, which is why I haven't endorced her yet. I like the idea of a Palin though...what she brings to the ticket.

palin4vp...want to answer this?

Oh, are you good! It's important to read your piece as if it were a John Donne poem, with lots of "delayed charge" meaning. The fact about the husband being a "fisherman." You capture the MSM beautifully because you know (suspect) that it it is classist, racist, and sexist. I'm watching CNN this moment, and here's Kiran Chetry ("Let the leg show begin" as TMZ put it), and even though I like Kiran, CNN has decided that she needs to give off a little aura of being a pole dancer by night. The MSM sexist? Why, of course. The MSM, that defender of the "average American" sticking it to someone for being married to a fisherman? Of course. People on the MSM may make $3-$4 million or more a year, but they like to pretend that they're being hit hard by $3 gasoline prices. I believe you have answered Bruce's question: Somebody like Sarah would be attacked for any "reason" that wandered by. She's from a hunting state (like the liberal politicians in Vermont), so she's attackable as an NRA-type (hint! hint! she might start firing her AK-47 at us!). She's only been governor for a year (which is somehow so much worse than Obama and Edwards, who have very little experience in government). Also, she's much too, well, "good looking" to be vice-president, although with the guys, well, good looking is good. Immigration in Alaska? In that state, the question is right up there with which kind of bikini you're going to wear in January. This could be pitched as another sign of her "inexperience." Trust me, when bright people reach their 40's, they have plenty of experience in all the things that matter.

On the Gov. Sarah Palin link you'll find an audio of her inaugural remarks. I'll look for a video as time goes on. I have had some minor contact with her office -- they know there's a move afoot.