McCain & Mitt - A Good Fit?
I suppose I might be a disturbing signal of Republican ennui in the upcoming election because I can't get very interested in the typically base-exciting speculation about whom the Republican presidential nominee will pick for his running mate.
Kathryn Lopez makes a very good case for Mitt Romney today, which I by and large agree with on the entire left side of my brain.
On the other hand, the whole right side of my brain tells me...
A. These guys don't fit together.
B. These guys probably can't stand each other.
C. Isn't this election over yet? Can't we talk about who's going to be the next Top Chef (Richard is my bet, incidentally) or something else more interesting?
I dunno, I guess I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that the American people are ready to let the Democrats try out their version of Euro-socialism, which is doomed to fail and to do it painfully, but eh... what can you do? The Republican Congress, more than George W. Bush, is responsible for killing the Republican brand in the mind of the voter. The president was, however, responsible for cementing all the worst impressions in key moments that have stuck in the public's mind.
If I thought my electoral choice was between a corrupt, big-spending, war-mongering party which wanted to selectively impose their favorite Christian ideals to micromanage my life, or the untested party who disagreed with that approach and was also favored by my favorite Hollywood celebs I'd be leaning toward them as well. I don't think this is the real choice of course, but my opinion can't reshape the narrative by November.
Nor can any vice presidential nominee. That's going to fall upon the Big Mac himself. And the only way he can do it effectively is by running in a manner decidedly unattractive to the party die-hards who think they can keep running like it's 1980 in perpetuity.
That being said, Mitt Romney's best traits in a 2008 election are, to me, the ones he barely ran on at all in the primary: he's a super-smart private sector executive who's not really that interested in any "culture war" matters. That Romney would mesh nicely with McCain. The "culture warrior" who emerged during the campaign does not, and frankly if we want one of those on the ticket McCain should pick Mike Huckabee who at least plays that role with some affability and charm.
Really I have to think that this is one of those tickets that only looks good on paper. I simply don't see McCain and Mitt as a viable ticket. The elements about them which could serve as compliments only seem to exacerbate the elements that made them so bitter toward one another campaigning.
Kathryn Lopez makes a very good case for Mitt Romney today, which I by and large agree with on the entire left side of my brain.
On the other hand, the whole right side of my brain tells me...A. These guys don't fit together.
B. These guys probably can't stand each other.
C. Isn't this election over yet? Can't we talk about who's going to be the next Top Chef (Richard is my bet, incidentally) or something else more interesting?
I dunno, I guess I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that the American people are ready to let the Democrats try out their version of Euro-socialism, which is doomed to fail and to do it painfully, but eh... what can you do? The Republican Congress, more than George W. Bush, is responsible for killing the Republican brand in the mind of the voter. The president was, however, responsible for cementing all the worst impressions in key moments that have stuck in the public's mind.
If I thought my electoral choice was between a corrupt, big-spending, war-mongering party which wanted to selectively impose their favorite Christian ideals to micromanage my life, or the untested party who disagreed with that approach and was also favored by my favorite Hollywood celebs I'd be leaning toward them as well. I don't think this is the real choice of course, but my opinion can't reshape the narrative by November.
Nor can any vice presidential nominee. That's going to fall upon the Big Mac himself. And the only way he can do it effectively is by running in a manner decidedly unattractive to the party die-hards who think they can keep running like it's 1980 in perpetuity.
That being said, Mitt Romney's best traits in a 2008 election are, to me, the ones he barely ran on at all in the primary: he's a super-smart private sector executive who's not really that interested in any "culture war" matters. That Romney would mesh nicely with McCain. The "culture warrior" who emerged during the campaign does not, and frankly if we want one of those on the ticket McCain should pick Mike Huckabee who at least plays that role with some affability and charm.
Really I have to think that this is one of those tickets that only looks good on paper. I simply don't see McCain and Mitt as a viable ticket. The elements about them which could serve as compliments only seem to exacerbate the elements that made them so bitter toward one another campaigning.
Posted by Doug Williams on
Thursday May 8, 2008 at 1:41pm
