VP Speculation

Well, I can't say "will help sway you" for myself, since I think it's every American's patriotic duty to vote against Donald Trump as a matter of course. But yes, I do think a liberal would improve Hillary's profile. I don't see that happening though. Her camp seems pretty arrogant when it comes to folks more liberal than she (which is most Democrats imho).

As for Trump, I hope he goes and picks a loon, just to make his defeat that much more likely. Ben Carson would not be a bad choice. Sarah Palin would be even better. But I tend to think he'll pick someone with a low profile, someone who'll take up as little of his spotlight as possible (so Sarah's definitely out...Carson, not so much).

 

Maybe Trump will pick someone outside the world of politics. Curt Schilling is available and repellant enough.

 

There's always Omarosa, if he choses to go down that path.

 

I read somewhere Clinton really wanted Julian Castro or Sherrod Brown.

Trump while most likely to never pick anyone that could remotely out shine himself I believe will go with a DC insider.

 

You don't think that'd make him lose points with the kook brigade though?

 

I could see Trump picking Christie, who would be a very good attack dog.

He'd better make damn sure there's nothing that could tie Christie personally to Bridgegate, though, which is still under investigation. The trial is set for mid-September, which is pretty bad timing if either of the two Christie associates "sing." Also notable are the rumors that Romney really wanted Christie in 2012 (which was before Bridgegate and when he was seen as a hotter property), but his vetters found things in his past that made them say "not with a 10-foot pole, Mitt." (And given the cesspool that is Jersey politics, it wouldn't surprise me for a second if there's something there, quite apart from Bridgegate.)

Now Trump may either not vet as carefully, or may dismiss anything found as unimportant... we'll see. Temperamentally they seem a match. Both bullies, for sure.

For Clinton, I also see Castro and Brown mentioned a lot. Brown stood with her on stage just yesterday, and she wasn't in Ohio, which raised some eyebrows. Thomas Perez is another name floated a lot - Hispanic, popular with unions, and unlikely to outshine her (a lot of people's initial reaction would probably be "who??")

I'd love Warren, but I'm not sure she'd want the job. Brown appeals to a similar constituency, plus he's from Ohio. He's definitely on the short list.

Veepstakes is always fun to play around this time every 4 years, but a). who saw Biden or Palin coming? Pretty much no one. And b). It rarely makes much of a difference. Sometimes a bad pick will do so - if SPP ever finds his way to the new boards, I'm sure he'll remind us that he could have voted for McCain until he picked Palin. But even a bad pick doesn't necessarily doom anything. In 1988, even Republicans had to admit that Quayle was a headscratcher of a pick and the well-regarded Bentsen was a far better choice (even before he cleaned Quayle's clock at their debate)... yet Dukakis got clobbered. People vote the top of the ticket.

 

He said it again with Wolf on CNN. I think he knows he is clueless on how to govern and it leaves him no choice.

 

Maybe he'd go with Rudy Guiliani?

 

Can Rudy's ego handle the two spot?

 

Palin, absolutely. She came out of nowhere. Biden was on many a short-list though, having just run for prez and having run in the past. I don't recall that being much of a surprise.

That's for sure!

 

I have totally no clue who Hillary might choose. I think Trump would like to choose a governor... he knows he needs someone with governing experience. There is no way Jeb would sign on, and I think there is too much bad blood between Trump and Rubio. I think he might be interested in Walker, but I doubt Walker would be interested in him. Trump obviously gets along well with Christie, but I think he would worry about what might come up in future investigations. I also don't know how two people with such strong and abrasive personalities would get along on a continuing basis. That leaves Kasich, who I actually believe may be Trump's choice.

 

Memories are funny things. I remember Biden being on maybe half the short lists, and usually towards the bottom. I was very into Obama in 2008, and was watching closely, and it seemed like a somewhat surprising pick to me. I had nothing against Biden, but he hadn't excited many people during the campaign, had a couple of patented "No he didn't!" statements during the campaign, comes from a state that any Democrat is going to win anyway (and only has 3 electoral votes in any case)... in retrospect, not a bad pick at all, but at the time it did strike me as something of a surprise.

 

I have lots of words, but they violate LP's community standards.

 

And now it's all about Mexican taco bowls. Weirdest campaign ever.

 

There are so many groups Drumpf has alienated (for good reason), he should attempt to "mend some fences" with his VP pick. A woman of color might help, or at least a non-white and/or non-Christian male who isn't old enough for Medicare.

That being stated... both Susana Martinez and Nikki Haley might be good choices. But neither one is interested. What a surprise.

I'm guessing only boob brains like Caribou Barbie or Marsha Blackburn would consider being his running mate. And of course, Ben Carson. But all three would simply enhance the "Ick!" factor and drive more voters to Clinton or their living room sofas on election day.

 

There is definitely nothing that will *help sway* me in any way. But I do hope Drumph picks someone who will alienate even more voters.

 

I wonder how an all-NYC ticket would fare in the Southern and Plains states.