Fore!

John MoreWars McCain (pictured, at right) says the tradition of picking a vice-presidential candidate by region, which has held sway for most of the 172 years he has been walking the earth, is no longer all that and a bag o' whatever. From AP:

"From a practical standpoint, I think former President Clinton and Vice President Gore showed us you don't have to be regionally different," McCain said. "I think America is such that, quote, regional differences don't play the role that maybe they did in earlier times."

First, the appropriate term of address is now former ex-President Clinton.

But more importantly, if McCain is looking at candidates from his own region, that can only mean one thing: the first ever vice president from Hanoi.

Then again, McCain is from Arizona as well as North Vietnam, and if the signs on the side of the road that say "Welcome to Arizona" are any indication, that state is pretty close to Nevada. McCain could be thinking of going with our very own John Ensign.

Scoff if you will. Blame Sebelius if you must. But McCain is undoubtedly right that Clinton-Gore broke the regional difference barrier. Then Bush-Cheney nuked it for all time — not only were both of them from the same state (Cheney had to change his primary address to the condo in Jackson to be on the ticket), but from the same industry, i.e., petroscum.

Having said that, provided that the veep candidate fulfills the primary responsibility of a vice president as specified in the Constitution — do no harm to the ticket — it is still perhaps worth a try to snatch somebody who might bring something to the table that the presidential candidate lacks. Unfortunately, neither McCain nor anyone else in the War Party seems remotely interested in picking someone who possesses the one thing that McCain is sorely lacking, i.e., a reluctance to trigger global thermonuclear destruction.

Instead, with both the extremist right-wing media and the regular mainstream right-wing media perpetuating the myth that McCain isn't a full-on right-wing kook, McCain may feel compelled to select someone whose full-on right-wing kookery credentials are rock solid.

Ensign is churchy, loves war, hates government, hates poor people, hates old people, hates poor old people, hates kids, loves corporations, hates trees, loves rich people, loves golf, loves David Vitter because Vitter likes girls, and pretends to hate Larry Craig because Craig only pretends to like girls. Right down to taking glee in the political opportunities afforded his party by the destruction of New Orleans, Nevada's own Sen. Hairdo McWedgeshot is the embodiment of all that the War Party stands for.

Additionally, and in stark contrast to McCain, Ensign is such a pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty boy. Also unlike McCain, Ensign is somewhat more of a contemporary figure, having been born after the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

Comments

[Michael Green]

For all of the joking about age, a friendly reminder. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln didn't envision being shot and allowed Andrew Johnson to become his running-mate. An Illinoisan who opposed slavery ended up being replaced by a former slaveowner who despised black people.

Now, however old McCain is, he really ought to be asking himself, if I become president and am hit by a bus, who do I want taking over? I can guarantee you that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will think more carefully about that than McCain will.

[texexnv@gmail.com]

Mmmmm...if he's going to stick close to home there's only one chice for him for VP (if they can pry Cheney's hands off): Tom Delay. 'Ya gotta admit the guy has a lot of name recognition! I'd say Larry Craig for Sec of the Interior; Vitter for Homeland Security; Liz Dole for Mad-icare since she's there so much already; Ensign for Navy Sec since he's already reached an ensign's intellectual level; bring back Alan Simpson for Defence (or is Offence now); Cheney definitely as a mummified Sec of State; Chris Ward for Treasury; and Bush as permanent Middle East advisor emeritus stationed in Iran.

[Gus]

...a former slaveowner who despised black people.

Are you saying he should take George Allen off his shortlist?

[Michael Green]

I'd prefer that he choose Trent Lott!

[MikeZ]

Ensign is too pretty to be McCain's VP and no one in politics is thinking harder at successor than McCain. He hates Romney and won't name him and will choose someone who can lead if he dies.

Clinton thinking only of pawns and people to prop her up...hence Richardson, or maybe Bayh as Hugh believes...gotta bring her some gift to the ticket and she think NM with Bill. She will not allow to be over-shadowed by anyone so those dreaming of a dream ticket should wake up now.

Obama has to go with a Biden or other old bull with cred. Wins states MO, VA, PA & OH in Nov with such a choice

McCain won't make a judgment error in his VP...I still think Hagel or Coburn, Allen is up there too, places VA into play for Nov.

[The Penguin]

Duke Cunningham. It's gotta be Duke Cunningham (pardoned, of course).

[That Anonymous Guy]

"President John Ensign." Now THERE's a possibility that should keep you up nights.

MikeZ, I agree he'd love to take Hagel, but he may not have the luxury of doing so. At a time when you're desperately trying to bring the right-wing wackos back home, naming Chuck Hagel your VP ain't exactly an olive branch. (Plus he doesn't share Grampa McCain's enthusiasm for the Iraq Adventure, a definite minus.)

My "you must be smoking crack" pick: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. (Assuming he could be convinced to give up the governor's mansion less than a year after being elected. Then again, being next in line for the presidency behind a 71-year-old can be quite persuasive.)

The more likely pick: Mississippi Gov. (and former RNC chairman) Haley Barbour.

[David]

McCain's tight with Tom Coburn (R-OK), especially in terms of making fiscally responsible noises from time to time. Besides, they'd have to break in a new RSCC figurehead if Ensign got the veep nod, and at the height of campaign season, no less.
If it weren't for that, I'd say Ensign being all young-ish (sorta), pretty & stuff would do the trick of sexing-up what's going to be a very old, very white, very male GOP ticket.

[What?!]

"King Andy", Johnson was called and then he was impeached by the House! That's what happens when a Republican picks a Democrat for VP (that's a heads-up for McCain!). Johnson was the first president to have his veto overturned...then again, he had his own signing beliefs....

Hey, talk on the Right is that McCain needs Rice as his VP! I quess it like chess, wherein a woman, who is also black, would be used to "check" the Democratic voting base.

[Pedro]

I told you Hillary was broke and that too much of her cash on hand is reserved for the general election.

McCain's clear choice is the young, dashing, charismatic, Republican up-and-comer, Senator Jasper Irving. If we can have a fake president, McCain can surely choose a fake VP candidate.

[Dude]

Ohmygod - Ensign for veep. It's a wet dream for the right-wing veterinary set, a key Republican demographic. But still, crazy unlikely. But Hagel is even more unlikely. Dead, 19th Century German philosophers don't appeal much to the churchy set.
Trent Lott for VP!

[Nevada Scandalmonger]

You want regional? One word: Gibbers.

[MikeZ]

Hagel would be a masterstroke given his Iraq opposition and support of Afghanistan. They get along well and McCain has made such decisions in the past teaming up with unlikely people to get certain bills passed.

Lott too old, Barbour too much of a blow hard, ...still looks like Coburn or Hagel to me & remember Geo Allen was supposed to run for prez this time and is beloved on the right.

Whomever will have sterling conservative cred imo. No Dems allowed.

[old fart]

don't let it be huckabee, oh don't let it be huckabee, no don't let it be huckabee, oh please don't let it be huckabee! are the repugs anal enough for huckabee? god help us. pffftttt

[texexnv@gmail.com]

Hey, OF, - what would be wrong with Gomer and Goober back together again?

Monger - you're toooo sadistic! Let the gubber run to replace Reid. If he won it would be a great improvement for Dems.

[MikeZ]

You know if been hearing that the Gov may want to challenge Reid---even he beats Reid in 2010, every GOPer in this state does by wide margins.

I don't know which is scarier now.

[kickboxermomma]

Hagel for VP-Never. Hagel was looking at 3rd party candidacy with Blumberg- too liberal and anti-war for the Republicans. Rice-that would be a ticket the conservatives would love.

I like having McCain as the candidate. he's not the maverick of old and he's a flipping war monger. 100 years of occupation and Bomb, Bomb Iran ain't going to cut it. Move-on.org and Progressive Democrats of America will eagerly portray him as an out of control person too old for the job.The new voters coming to Vegas aren't going to follow the old patterns and the Latinos aren't going to vote for McCain because in the end he folded on immigration and conveniently skipped on the Dream Act. Latinos are going to be the swing vote and it's not going to be for the Republicans. Once again whoever takes Texas will take the nomination.

[KICKboxermomma]

Gibbons vs Reid hahhahahahahhahahahahahaha! Thanks MZ what a lite moment. Gibbons is still lucky he hasn't been recalled.

Dream on if you think Reid is vulnerable. That old codger can take down any challenger with his war chest and all those outstanding political debts owed to him. Hate him if you must but it is not wise to underestimate him.

Well heres hoping Ensign is picked. Then if somehow they win, he wont be our senator anymore.

[texexnv@gmail.com]

Truth is Reid carries more baggage than Gibbons, the caucusux being the latest of a long string of reasons to hate him. And Reid is about 10 points below GWB in public opinion. As far as money goes the RNC will make sure they match Reid $ for $. Reid's political clout exists in D.C. more than in his home state. Reid could not carry the Independents who are always the group that do the electing.

He is old, tired, and is out of ideas or people who any longer believe in him. Kinda like you, KBM.

You can't compare the favorability ratings of someone who manages a divided senate, and a president who has complete control over the executive branch.

[MikeZ]

That 22% approval rating for Congress, lowest in history, is troublesome for us in Nov.. RNC already gunning for Harry and I fear what's coming up.

Why do you think Pelosi was begging for a stimulus bill that left out unemployment extensions etc...?

She knows what's ahead too. The HRC, Reid, Pelosi troika will be on TV from all those 501's soon.

[MikeZ]

LOL of the Ensign wish above too. If he's chosen and they win, guess who chooses the temp senator until the next election in 2010?

And guess who appoints himself free-an-clear with no legislative veto?

Our bumbling, fumbling and stumbling Gov!

[texexnv@gmail.com]

The hell you say about the comparisons. Almost all polls make the same comaprisons and have been doing it for so long it's SOP. Repeat: Reid ranks below GWB is 80% of people's opinions.