You're starting to see some speculation about potential VP candidates to run with Romney. Since the campaign has just been in Wisconsin, and because he has been in the news quite a lot as the point man for the House budget, Paul Ryan's name has come up a fair amount lately. Writing over at his place, Brian makes an excellent point:
If you really like Paul Ryan for his views and influence on economic policy, why on earth would you want him to be Vice-President, where his ability to accomplish anything in that arena would be virtually nil? If he's really that important, the last thing you want him doing is attending state funerals and breaking ties in the Senate.
If he's your man on the budget, he's already got the best job you could hope for him to have. What you really want are more congressmen that will work with him.
I couldn't agree more. Vice Presidents are problematic in most instances -- it seems like either you have an oddball in the office (Biden, Agnew) or an operator with an independent power base and insufficient accountability (Cheney and, to a lesser extent, Gore). Neither is really desirable.
We'll probably do a Veepstakes post as we approach the convention, but for now, the task is to see if Romney applies the coup de grace in Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania. It's certainly looking that way.
12 comments:
Thanks!
My thoughts exactly. Ryan is too important where he is to essentially move him to the sidelines. Which, if you mistrust Mitt's conservatism, may be what Romney wants to do.
Marco Rubio
Marco is interesting, as is Jindahl, but again the VP slot would serve to take them out of play where they are needed. They would help the ticket, but it would be more like winning the battle but losing the war.
Of course, losing battles will also lose you the war.
Rubio and Jindahl are still newcomers who need more seasoning 'at the level'.
if anything was learned from 2008, its it that inexperience show's its result at the bottom of the ticket as well as the top.
and Jindahl lacks stage presence. he will never be elected at the national level.
Is Admiral James Stockdale still around? I would love to see him debate Biden. You could put that on pay per view.
Where have you gone, Admiral Stockdale/a nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Both Stockdale and Biden have had "Who am I and why am I here?" moments. Stockdale's happened once, and Biden asks it every morning. And then proceeds to say, "Who cares! Let's party!"
Quick poll (if anyone is still looking)--has/could a running mate selection honestly ever changed/change your decision of who to vote for in the general election?
If yes, for what reason?
Brian, I'm still looking. To answer your question -- not especially, although it's interesting, because it represents one of the most important decisions a candidate makes and it tells me something about how said candidate views the world.
Well, I was a lot more interested in McCain after he selected Palin. I would have likely voted 3rd (or 5th) party but for that. My interest wasn't so much in Palin the person, but the Party's acknowledgment that it needed something to engage conservatives. My attitude toward Romney has gone from cold to tepid, but having a committed conservative on the ticket could change that. Problem is, as I commented earlier, the potential candidates here are doing important work where they are.
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