As has been discussed previously, an aide to John McCain is stating today the Sen. Joe Lieberman is being considered for VP on the GOP ticket.
Do Urban Elephants think that this is a good idea?
As many in the GOP would be satisfied with Sen. Joe's strong stance against international terrorism and for defending the right of Israel to exist, many would also be dismayed by the Senator from Connecticut's positions on government spending and government involvement in the daily life of Americans. He also was already on a losing ticket back in 2000 with the cowardly Al Gore (I say cowardly because he chose not to get into the Presidential mix this time around when it was clear that he would have been the strongest candidate the Democrats could have fielded in 2008).
Has McCain already run out of potential GOP VP selections? Or is this just a way of his staff drumming up support for the "maverick" McCain?
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written by Andrew Roman , August 11, 2008
I will do my best to avoid expounding the incredibly obvious. The merely obvious will suffice.
This fascination with some good intentioned folks (presumably) who obviously tilt more towards the center of the Republican world in considering Joe Leiberman for the running spot slot on the national ticket perplexes me. I cannot help but wonder if this is something that has REALLY been thought through to any reasonable degree amongst those who REALLY want John McCain to defeat Senator Obama in November.
If so, might I suggest something of a cerebral tune-up? Or a changing of the analytical oil?
Is the thought here that if the Republican candidate chooses as his running mate a man who caucuses with the Democratic Party in the Senate and is a liberal on many social issues then he can't lose? Indeed, Senator Leiberman is correct in his stance on the war, but just because he isn't as much of a screaming leftist as the savior himself, Senator Obama, doesn't mean he is the right choice (figuratively, literally and politically).
Come on now. Steadfast Conservatives (the tried and true CORE of the Republican Party) are already getting hate mail from their collective arteries at the reality of McCain as the Republican nominee. They don't need a group angioplasty with the proposition of the left-of-center Senator Leiberman joining the GOP ticket.
Senator Leiberman is a good man, without question, but the party would be best served to find a conservative running mate - one who's record is above reproach for Republicans. The fact is, Senator Leiberman is very much LEFT of center on a host of domestic issues, and his views on government spending would seem to have inherent contradictions to Senator McCain's public stance on that particular subject.
I just cannot believe this would be a serious consideration for Senator McCain, maverick monicker or not. . . but if it is (God forbid), then it's time to drop the almost kindly "maverick" label for something a tad more accurate ... like "insane," perhaps.
Andrew Roman
Brooklyn, NY
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written by Jay Golub , August 11, 2008
I agree, Andrew.
The selection of someone like Sen. Lieberman should signal that the "maverick" is now content with "winning at all costs," which i believe will end McCain's run for the White House as it will alienate what is left of the GOP base.
Without base support, no candidate can will any election - let alone the highest office in the land. And as most social conservatives are already luke-warm over Sen. McCain, this move would alienate what is remaining of GOP base support this year - fiscal conservatives.
I still think Romney is the odds on favorite for the VP slot - as he holds fiscal conservative support and may convince a few more social conservatives to get on board (also, he will be very helpful in fundraising, which McCain will clearly need much of against Obama's machine).
I just wonder why ANY staffer for McCain would leak such a story - whether it's true or not? This could only make GOP base voters question further what a McCain administration would do...
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written by RaquelOkyay , August 11, 2008
"...the party would be best served to find a conservative running mate - one who's record is above reproach for Republicans."
I agree with you 100%. There is a section of the Party trying to move to the center in ideology, but the bulk of the Party is on the right. I say give us what is due -- a thick and thin conservative VP choice.
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written by Andrew Roman , August 12, 2008
You wrote: "There is a section of the Party trying to move to the center in ideology, but the bulk of the Party is on the right. I say give us what is due -- a thick and thin conservative VP choice."
A well-known talk radio host often says that when conservatives actually run as conservatives that they overwhelmingly win their races. For the most part, I agree with this assertion. Conservative principals are overwhelmingly winning principals - when ARTICULATED PROPERLY AND CLEARLY.
The problem with Senator McCain is that the CORE of the party - namely staunch conservatives - are not completely sold on his conservative portfolio. It is NECESSARY to complete the ticket with someone who has a resume so ironclad in conservative principals as to serve as a polical salve for the wounded and dissatisfied Republican base.
It isn't rocket science. It's something that is sorely lacking on the left and its institutions - wisdom.
Andrew Roman
Brooklyn, NY
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written by Paladin , August 12, 2008
This is the problem with the ultra-conservatives in the party. They think they are part of a movement when in reality they are part of a political party. If they don't get exactly what they want, regardless of what it means in the real world, they take their ball and go home.
That only makes an Obama victory more likely. Primaries are where these internal party differences are decided. McCain might not be my cup of tea, but that cup is nowhere near as distasteful as what we would get with President Obama.
In the end, Republicans need to band together regardless of differences, to keep this country moving in the generally right direction. The Bush years were basically a disaster, but they are leaps and bounds better than what would have been with Gore or Kerry.
We have the war on terror to continue fighting, or surrender as Obama would like to do. We have supreme court appointments that McCain will make or we can let Obama make and erase the progress of the past 8 years. We can let Obama roll out huge new gov't entitlements and raise taxes to levels not seen in generations, or we can have McCain target pork spending and try finally to shrink the size of our overly intrusive federal gov't.
The choice is yours.
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written by Jay Golub , August 12, 2008
With all this being said, there are more than just SOCIAL conservative values that make up the bulk of the party.
Fiscal conservatism should also play a large role in the GOP.
For example, should Mike Huckabee be considered a real conservative?
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written by Andrew Roman , August 12, 2008
That many conservatives would, in fact, "take their ball and go home" in November is a reality that is more than frightening. It is sad to say so, but I know many who are willing to "sacrifice" the next four years to "make a point."
I am not.
There is too much at stake and I am not willing to allow the sort of damage that would be inflicted on the country under an Obama administration to take place.
Commenting on the fact that it would do more to solidify the Republican Party - in my humble opinion - to round out the ticket with someone decidely more conservative than Senator McCain does NOT change the fact that the Republicans MUST win the election, regardless of who McCain's running mate is.
I ADAMANTLY oppose - and am angered by - those conservatives who say they plan to avoid the polling booths in November because their particular brand of conservatism is not being fully represented by Senator McCain.
Welcome to the real world.
The sound of collective stamping feet and whiny complaints is almost as disgusting to me as everything the savior himself, Senator Obama, stands for. After all, whether America succumbs to Obama ortoo many spoiled-brat whiny conservatives stay away from the voting booths in November to "prove their point," we all lose.
Andrew Roman
Brooklyn, NY
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written by Paladin , August 12, 2008
Well said, Andrew. There is much more at risk here than some zealots having to make minor compromises to their value sets.
I'll grant that McCain is very much an unknown quantity in some areas, but he is rock solid when it comes to issues like pork spending and the war on terror.
Besides, the reality is that moderates in the republican party have governed more conservatively than most who espouse far right religious conservative values. Look at Rudy and the conservative style of governance he brought to NYC. Then look at Bush and what he wrought with his big gov't compassionate conservatism.
As the good doctor points out, Huckabee is no different and not really a conservative by modern standards. Brownback was no different. A big gov't religious zealot. McCain is far superior in so many ways.
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written by Jay Golub , August 13, 2008
I guess Lieberman wants the job...
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08132008/news/
nationalnews/lieberman_leads_attack_on_barack_124245.htm
Interestingly, as long as he's a Democrat, his attacks against Barack get more attention than high profile Republicans...
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