MyDD :: McCain/Hutchison?

McCain/Hutchison?

by vcalzone, Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 08:42:50 AM EST

Well, it's official that John McCain wins biggest asshole of the 2008 campaign. He won't announce his VP tonight, but he will "leak" it to the media late tonight. Keeps getting more desperate, huh? First we hear that he might wait to announce until after the DNC convention to kill the Dems' bounce. Then we hear that he will announce it the morning after. Now he's leaking it the day of Obama's speech.

Fine.

It's now OUR job to find out who it is and beat the hell out of this story to get it noticed. I'm sure other reporters are on the job, but most of them are probably in Denver. If anybody hears anything, let's pound the drum until we get heard.

One person at Kos thinks it's Rob Portman based on speaking locations, but I think we can infer from Obama's schedule that that doesn't mean anything. Someone at Kos said that their uncle told them that his security company was notified to expect Secret Service backup for Ms. Hutchison. I have to admit, I give McCain credit for actually picking a woman. It's a complete and total pander, of course, but kudos to him if it's true. Anyone near that area? Anyone wanna help me call CNN to ask where the house cameras are?

Quick question: Would older female voters vote for McCain, who opposes women's rights in most forms, simply because he picked a 65 year old female VP that he knows full well probably has no chance of ever making it to President? I suppose anything's possible, but I'd actually like to hear from the Obama haters on this one. I'd like to see them justify that stance.

EDIT: Thinking about it, if anyone is in a position to do so, why not float that it's the pick anyway? At worst, it just puts McCain on defense and makes him look worse if he picks Pawlenty or Portman.

Tags: mccain, hutchison (all tags)

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A female veep for McCain (none / 0)

would seriously concern me. Right now, Obama's lead in the polls exists solely because of his Al-Gore like advantage over McCain among women. If McCain can peel off some of that support, it makes things a lot more difficult for Obama. I don't believe it will be Hutchinson; she allegedly hasn't been asked for vetting documents.

As to your question, I think the Obama haters would say point out that a lot of black conservatives (there are some, especially economic conservatives in states such as Virginia) will be voting for Obama despite the fact that they disagree with him on social and economic issues and that they'll be doing so because of the historical nature of his candidancy. They would argue that women with democratic values voting for a pub ticket with a female veep is the same thing as black conservatives voting for Obama.

by Blazers Edge on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 08:50:48 AM EST

Re: A female veep for McCain (none / 0)

I could see that, but Obama will actually be President. Hutchison would be in a largely token spot. Even if McCain served only one term, she'd be 69 (70?) when he finished and would probably not run again.

Far be it from me to stop people from voting to break barriers, but it seems silly.

One good part is that on surveys, 20% of Republicans said they'd be less likely to vote for McCain if he named a female nominee. So you know where that stands. Plus, Hutchison has the same type of bizarre situation as McCain, where she is distrusted among conservatives despite having a strongly conservative position on most issues.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 08:55:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I agree with your points (none / 0)

except on the VP = token spot. I think Obama is actually sincere when he describes what he envisions as a very active role for the VP; I sense that Obama would want Biden to be in-between Gore and Cheney in terms of VP power. Would Biden have been so quick to accept Obama's offer if he was just going to be Obama's tool, considering that he probably isn't using the VP spot as a springboard to the presidency? I can see Kaine just accepting the spot to be Obama's lackey but Biden doesn't seem to be the type of guy who would want to be used just as a guy who visits funerals.

by Blazers Edge on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:00:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I agree with your points (none / 0)

Granted, but Biden actually works in that role. He would be a fantastic model for what the Vice President should be.

When has McCain mentioned Hutchison? What is her role in the party? She isn't prominent enough to be considered a leader, she's not bold enough to be considered a visionary. Hutchison's role on the ticket is to be a female Vice President.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:12:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

IMO (none / 0)

Black conservatives who vote for Obama because he's black need to really consider why they're voting for Obama.

I'm glad to have their votes, but don't do it because of his skin color.

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:42:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I have some counterprogramming (none / 0)

ideas as well for next week. As we know from the Bush era, the pubs are better than we are at putting up a good show (though we are catching up as evidenced by the performances this week).

If McCain does leak his VP choice today, we should punish him in three ways:

1) Have HRC give her first national interview since the primaries ended with Larry King on Tuesday night of their convention.

2) Have Biden crash their convention in the same way that Romney and Guiliani crashed ours.

3) Have Obama hold a rally in the Target Center on the very day that McCain is set to accept his party's nomination.

by Blazers Edge on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 08:56:44 AM EST

Re: I have some counterprogramming (none / 0)

Ooh, boy, I'd love it if Obama held a rally near McCain on the same day. I hope they understand that they have to dig underneath his fingernails to get him pissed. By all accounts, when McCain gets pissed, it's a scary thing to see.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 08:58:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I have some counterprogramming (none / 0)

3) Have Obama hold a rally in the Target Center on the very day that McCain is set to accept his party's nomination.

Eh, there's already going to be little interest in their convention what with the opening of the football season. No need to create some.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

by thezzyzx on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:00:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I have some counterprogramming (none / 0)

How about "Have Obama as the ceremonial coin-flipper at the start of the game"?

Show off some "real man" cred by being at a football game, plus you can subtly remind everyone about the game since you know the talking heads would mention it on the day of.

by TCQuad on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:17:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Not a chance... (none / 0)

McCain and KBH are rumored to rather intensely dislike one another... we're not talking Kerry/Edwards 'just aren't close' -- we're talking straight up dislike.

It's a false flag, hoping to scavenge a few PUMAs.

It'll be Pawlenty, though I'm still hoping in my heart of hearts that it's Romney.

by zonk on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:25:42 AM EST

Re: Not a chance... (none / 0)

"McCain and KBH are rumored to rather intensely dislike one another"

Not surprised. After all, she is a woman.

by ProgressiveDL on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 12:13:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

Pawlenty is suppose to be in Denver today, so it would be unusual to have your VP in Denver today. I do think there is a good chance he ends up naming a woman as VP.

by oden on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:39:04 AM EST

Both are there (none / 0)

Apparently both Pawlenty and Romney are in Denver. Some sort of fake-out is what I think.

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:25:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

I don't think his base would be comfortable with a female VP. If it's Meg Whitman, then he blows through the whole "inexperienced" narrative. My guess is that he will make what he views as a safe choice from among those that have been talked about the most - Romney, Pawlenty, or somebody from OH/VA.

by rfahey22 on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:42:21 AM EST

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

Is it Liberman?

McCain has nothing scheduled for Saturday and he has big rallies on Friday and Sunday. Liberman CANNOT campaign on saturdays. Why else would they take a day off in the middle of the rollout?

by Bobby Obama on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:48:39 AM EST

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

No, he's in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:54:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

The GOP nominee-in-waiting will move to immediately change the campaign conversation from Barack Obama's football stadium acceptance speech Thursday to the new Republican ticket, to be revealed at a noontime Friday rally in a Dayton, Ohio, basketball arena. McCain and his running mate will then travel by bus to Pennsylvania, where they'll hold an outdoor event at a minor league baseball stadium in Washington County, just southwest of Pittsburgh. On Sunday, the duo will head to suburban St. Louis for another event to be held at a minor league baseball stadium, this one in O'Fallon, Mo.

Hes there on Friday.

by Bobby Obama on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:57:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

You are correct. And that's pretty sloppy timing unless there was a reason. But it might have just been covering their bases.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:02:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

But God, I hope not. The only people Lieberman appeals to are extremely hawkish individuals, and they're going towards McCain anyway. It would be pretty easy work for Biden to paint Lieberman as a foreign policy lightweight.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:03:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I predict Charlie Crist (none / 0)

Otherwise, McCain has to contest Florida vigorously, and this distracts him from defending OH/CO/VA, any one of which could flip the Electoral College.

If I was McCain this would be a no-brainer for me, but he seems to believe that Florida, as well as other usually republican states, just aren't in danger for him. It's foolish, but he seems to be convinced of that.

Nevertheless, I think he will choose Crist.

by Davidsfr on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:02:34 AM EST

Very brave (none / 0)

There are a lot of rumors floating around about Gov. Crist... everything from him being gay to having an illegitimate daughter. He'd be a gutsy pick, but he DID get married recently...

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:34:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

i think this may be the ticket. this or mccain/palin which would be scary. again - whomever it is will be v. telling.

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:14:13 AM EST

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

What would your thoughts be if Hutchison were on the ticket?

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:19:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

well... (none / 0)

in it self it is a pander. but its also IMO historic as well. since GOP has never had a female on their ticket before. that said - it is rumoured that they don't get along and that she is perceived as a moderate.

i think the palin pick is more likely in some ways but less in others because she is young and new on the scene. but that also may be what mccain is looking for. either way we'll know soon i guess.

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:27:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: well... (none / 0)

I'll be shocked if he picks a female VP at all, as I didn't think it was in his character. Even good men like Jim Webb seemed to come out of the navy with a bias against women.

Hearing that he and KBH don't get along would just further cement that notion, seeing as how she's the most powerful female Republican in the Senate.

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:30:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

it would be shocking. (none / 0)

but in doing so - he will definitely peel off some women/men that had their heart set on a clinton (or a woman) on the ticket.

as BE said upthread - if he does pick KBH or SP - it will be worrisome.

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:42:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

If McCain picks a woman (which would be the smart thing to do) he will pick Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. She's pro-life so she'll have no problems with the republican base.

by karajan72 on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:25:35 AM EST

I agree on Palin (none / 0)

She's the only one I'm afraid of. Hutchinson just doesn't have the same combination of conservative cred, executive experience, female appeal, and an attractive (very) image that Palin has. She also locks up Alaska, which is very uncharacteristically purple this year.

Heck, Palin makes me not fear a McCain presidency as much, because she's not A) crazy nor B) a neocon. I can almost believe that the old man will keel over and give us President Palin, which would be pretty neat, all things considered.

That's bad. I don't want to not be afraid of a McCain presidency. I want to be terrified of a McCain presidency, because deep down I know that, even if he were to die off, Cheney would Weekend At Bernie's him with strings and sticks before he lets a woman run the country.

The pebbles have voted and the avalanche has begun.

President-Elect "That One"

by Dracomicron on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 10:46:24 AM EST

Re: I agree on Palin (none / 0)

You're right. I think the Dems should be very scared of a Palin pick for VP. She could bring in alot of new voters for McCain and improve his image.

by karajan72 on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 11:27:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I agree on Palin (1.00 / 1)

Really? Do ya think that?
Really? Do ya think that?
Really? Do ya think that?
Really? Do ya think that?
Really? Do ya think that?
Really? Do ya think that?
Really? Do ya think that?

See, it's not so fun when someone posts the same thing over and over, is it?

"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."

by vcalzone on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 11:29:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

New voters? (none / 0)

from where, Wasilla, Alaska?

The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.

by nrafter530 on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 11:39:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

i dont think hutchinson is the pick (none / 0)

She is old.
I think a lot of women will see the choice for what it is - a ploy. If they, as many have suggested, would not have been happy with Obama choosing a woman other than Hillary, I don't see how this is any different.
Did I mention how old she was? Age is apparently almost or even more important of an issue (electorally speaking) for McCain as race is for Obama. I don't know what kind of message he would be sending by putting forth such an old ticket.

by highgrade on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 11:03:48 AM EST

It may happen if... (none / 0)

...the strategy is to undercut the momentum out of the convention. Leaking this today will start all the pundits/talking heads talking about the selection and take up all the time on the news shows. Any other pick would probably just get a big yawn.

It would also be a sign that Rove has seized full control of that campaign

"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment"

by xenontab on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 02:48:53 PM EST

Re: McCain/Hutchison? (none / 0)

McCain/Hutchison would be a much stronger ticket than the VP's i have heard. But hasnt Hutchison said like a 1000 times that she does not want to be on the ticket with McCain. I have seen her on Larry King as well saying she wasnt interested.

david

by giusd on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 04:06:32 PM EST

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