Heard Today

On FoxNews' Hannity and Colmes:

ALAN COLMES: You're not on McCain's VP list, are you Michael?

FORMER MARYLAND LT. GOVERNOR MICHAEL STEELE: (laughs knowingly) Naw man, I'm just a brutha looking for work.

Hmmm.

Comments

[DarkStar]

That would change the game.

[James Hudnall]

I recommended Steele on my blog a few days ago. I think he'd be great. But if McCain picks a female VP, he will probably steal a lot of Dems away from Obama. Because a lot of women wanted to vote for a female president, and he just shot down their chance at even a VP.

[Dick Stanley]

He's one pick that might make a difference, but, generally, who votes for the vice president, anyhow?

[Casey]

Dunno. The resume looks kinda thin.

(why, yes, I do try to remain intellectually consistent, thank you for asking)

This raises an interesting question: are there any black American politicians who have, at this time, a substantiative resume? Even if you include "men of color" such as newly-elected Governor Jindal, I am tempted to say no.

If anyone even thinks of mentioning Condi Rice, I'll smack them. She's an academic, a consultant, and/or a bureaucrat. To my knowledge she's never even been elected dog-catcher.

Perhaps we're looking at the political equivalent of some solid management prospects who've only been coaching AAA ball for a few years. They look pretty good, but ya gotta wonder if they can handle the big leagues...

[baldilocks]

I think that Steele is more qualified than Biden or Obama for that matter--at least MS has had a little bit of formal leadership experience.

[Russ]

Colin Powell has executive experience galore, and if he ever decided to run for office, wouldn't be the first General to go straight to high office without doing legislative or gubernatorial time. (See also: Washington, Grant, Eisenhower.)

Not that I would necessarily vote for him, but no one can honestly say he is unqualified or a man of few accomplishments.

[Russ]

Oh, and I might also throw this into the pot....

If McCain were to choose Sarah Palin to join him on the ticket, he would suddenly have a running mate with more political executive experience than all the other candidates combined. (Not counting McCain's own experience commanding one of the largest squadrons of naval aviators.)

IMHO, senators generally make lousy presidents, as compared to governors.

[baldilocks]

"IMHO, senators generally make lousy presidents, as compared to governors."

That was my point.

[baldilocks]

And 'no' to Colin Powell, executive experience notwithstanding.

[Smith]

I think Michael Steele is GREAT... He's a great speaker, and, doesn't need a teleprompter.

[me]

Michael Steele would do nothing for Republicans except provide some flimsy rhetorical cover. No Dem or Obama supporter is going to cross over to vote McCain because he has a Black running mate. The 10 remaining Clinton sore losers will make their choice based on other factors. Independents don't know who Steele is and the longer McCain drags this choice out the more name recognition becomes essential. Outside of his race what makes Steele distinctive in Republican circles? However if you guys want to put forward a Black conservative who: A) does not primarily owe his prominence to pimping Black pathology for a change B) whose raison d'etre isn't just to provide cover for other Republicans to play the race card then more power to you and Michael Steele.

Baldi: Biden has 10 years more experience than McCain and he is the principal foreign policy guy in the Senate. When the leader of Georgia announced that McCain was basically full of hot air what American did he request to come to Georgia? Joe Biden.

[IronMike]

"me" beat me to it. I agree. If what we've seen so far with respect to how black Democrats treat black republicans (Uncles Toms), Steele would do nothing to pull voters over.

That being said, it would still make for an interesting political season. Of course, I'd prefer a female. I think more women would "cross over" and vote republican because of a female VP, versus black "crossing over" because of a black VP.

Interestingly, my sis-in-law mentioned several years ago, upon reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, how she couldn't understand why the term "Uncle Tom" became derogatory. She felt that the character in the book was a great example/role model. I haven't read the book. I was wondering if you had Baldi and what you thought. (Without giving too much away as I do intend on reading it someday!)

[Casey]

Juliette, I'm not saying he's the same as Barry O'Biden (get it? Barry "or" Biden? eh? ah, never mind...) but he didn't have much chance to demonstrate his abilities.

Disagree with Russ re: Powell. Washington was one of the rare birds naturally gifted in both spheres. Grant's administration became horribly corrupt, and Ike had the practice of running SHAEF, which was political as much as it was military.

Not to mention which I've yet to see or hear any kind of idea of what Powell's ideas are.

Palin looks fairly good to me, but she's only got two years on the executive position. Both Bill Richardson and Evan Bayh have her beat. In fact, Richardson has one of the strongest resumes of any candidate.

I'm still amazed that Barry ignored either one to go for Biden. Go figure.

It's pretty funny that me specifically mentioned hot air while referencing Joe "My IQ is bigger" Biden, since that's what he's known for. It's doubly ironic that Barry picked one of the longest-serving men in DC to run with him. So much for not being an insider, and running on hope'n'change. Biden's nothing but pure, 200-proof status-quo insider.

By the way, me, I don't think anyone was expecting Barry fans or yellow-dog Democrats to jump the divide in any case. The subject is usually conservative Democrats and (especially) independents. I agree that Steele would probably not be helpful peeling off the PUMAs, although there are more than them than you can (apparently) count. :)

At least, there's more than a dozen of 'em. Heh.

me must have missed the recent McCain ad wherein Jabberin' Joe told the world that he'd be honored to be McCain's running mate. That came right after several clips quoting Joe that Barry can't be trusted to clean the chalkboards after class.

Is it just me (no, really me, not "me" {g}), or have McCain's recent ads seemed more ... tongue-in-cheek making fun of Barry than seriously "attacking" him? Kinda like the YouTube guy who did the don't make fun of my ears vid.

[Habitat Hermit]

Casey is just going to have to smack me (but in fairness you mentioned her first Casey ^_^). However she has said "no thanks" plenty of times already.

That aside it seems to me you're all looking at this from a slightly wrong perspective. Sure Obama needs to try to get a VP that's got just about everything (not that Biden is) since he has very little to offer on his own but the same isn't true of McCain.

Next forget about skin color or gender, in itself it's not going to matter.

What are McCain's main weaknesses? I'm a foreigner but I'd think the biggest are:
- Lack of economic knowledge.
- Lack of rock solid conservative/libertarian credentials.

I've tried to test the waters for the following suggestion over at Transterrestrial Musings before (link in Baldilocks "ton o'blogs" list) and I admit it's sort of a crazy idea but still...

Thomas Sowell as Vice President.

Takes plenty care of both of McCain's weaknesses and as a bonus the Democrats are going to be unable to focus on anything but age.

I believe the Democrats doing so will be a tremendous boon for the GOP as McCain and Sowell laughs it off and explains to voters that indeed they're old as sin and with a wink explains the importance of GOP majority control in both houses in case they should both croak ^_^

2 Reagans for the price of one ^_^

[DonS]

Dunno. The resume looks kinda thin.

(why, yes, I do try to remain intellectually consistent, thank you for asking)

This raises an interesting question: are there any black American politicians who have, at this time, a substantiative resume? Even if you include "men of color" such as newly-elected Governor Jindal, I am tempted to say no.

If anyone even thinks of mentioning Condi Rice, I'll smack them. She's an academic, a consultant, and/or a bureaucrat. To my knowledge she's never even been elected dog-catcher.

Perhaps we're looking at the political equivalent of some solid management prospects who've only been coaching AAA ball for a few years. They look pretty good, but ya gotta wonder if they can handle the big leagues...

You are missing the difference between legislative and exectutive experience. Condi has over 4 years of experience in the executive branch, and forign policy experience at that. That alone means quite a bit.

That said, I don't think McCain can get more of the black vote with any VP choice. The woman's vote is another matter.

[IronMike]

I'm with HH: Thomas Sowell for VP. Although he's getting on in age too, as can be seen in his bookTV interview.

Also, Walter Williams...but then he'd get attacked for his "Perfect Housewife" document. Of course, I'd pay to see/hear him debate economics with anyone from the D side!!!

[Tully]

McCain/Sowell: a century and a half of real life experience!

[Roy Lofquist]

For the last eight years the Dems have been screaming "Selected not Elected!". I not at all looking forward to eight years of "Racist!". Any of them, please.

[Trish]

I'd love to see Sowell as the candidate, but his age is against him. Isn't he in his mid-70s now? He must be, because he was in his mid-60s when my father was alive, and that was a dozen years ago. You know how the media would pounce on that.

[ObamaOsamaSameSame]

I like Steele, but it really no longer matters who McCain choose's as his VP. Obama's choice shows that he has lied to the American people the whole time! Biden has been in DC for ten more years than McCain? Democrats think that is good for a guy running on "change", really? LOL. If Barak Hussein Obama really wanted "change" then why pick a guy that has been corrupted by the system for so long? Biden can't even write a speech without stealing, he fits the stereotype of a "business as usual corrupt politician" better than anyone. Slam dunk for McCain as soon as Americans actually listen to Obama debate with McCain. Obama can no longer say "change" 150 times in a speech when he has a long time DC politician as his running mate. He would have been better off with Hillary because she is still somewhat new to DC. Obama is done for, horrible choice for a VP. McCain could choose Ann Coulter and still win. LOL.

[Habitat Hermit]

I'm counting on it Trish ^_^

And I believe it would boomerang on them like few things could: they'll eat themselves alive over it and all the gaffes they'll be able to make as they step into one puddle of PC after another (all of their own making) and it might possibly be disgusting enough to snap a lot of Democratic Party supporters out of their fantasy world of zero sum victimization quotas.

Neurons firing = victory.