Althouse: "It's entirely unclear whether or not Lieberman will be John McCain's VP..."

August 1, 2008

"It's entirely unclear whether or not Lieberman will be John McCain's VP..."

"... the prospect is on the table, but it's obviously an enormously risky move that could inflame the Republican base."

Yes, I suppose it could.

35 comments:

Bissage said...: If McCain picks Lieberman, and Lieberman accepts, I am going to track down Meade and treat him to the bestest, fanciest, most expensivest dinner he's ever had.; 8/1/08, 3:39 PM
Bissage said...: And if they manage to get elected . . .

Well . . .

It'll be his turn and it's been a while since I've enjoyed a good Beef Wellington.; 8/1/08, 3:44 PM
Bissage said...: AND NO SCRIMPING!!!

I want single malt scotch and XO brandy.

Nothing less!!!; 8/1/08, 3:46 PM
Roger J. said...: Somehow Lieberman running vor VEEP doesnt quite have the cache of Winston Churchill switching to the Tory's--but I'd still vote for them with the usual caveat of two too many senators on the ticket.; 8/1/08, 3:48 PM
Trooper York said...: Hey Bissage, when you get to New York, you and Mrs. Bissage will be my guests at Fraunces Tavern where they have the best Beef Wellington since Hector was a pup.; 8/1/08, 3:54 PM
Trooper York said...: Of course you can't bring your space ship.; 8/1/08, 3:55 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Why not? I thought his spaceship was invisible.; 8/1/08, 4:04 PM
Trooper York said...: I just hope Mrs. Bissage isn't invisible.; 8/1/08, 4:08 PM
Revenant said...: it's obviously an enormously risky move that could inflame the Republican base."

Playing Russian roulette is "risky". Playing Russian roulette with a semi-automatic is just suicidal.

McCain WILL lose if he picks Lieberman. It isn't a risk he runs; it is virtual certainty.; 8/1/08, 4:21 PM
Simon said...: I can't imagine anything - possibly excepting nominating Sen. Graham - more calculated to result in McCain losing by double digits.; 8/1/08, 4:22 PM
The Drill SGT said...: I like Lieberman. But not as VP

Homeland Security Secretary? You betcha; 8/1/08, 4:30 PM
blake said...: He should get Hil(l)ary on as VP.; 8/1/08, 5:05 PM
Anonymous said...: All McCain has to do for his VP pick is not mess up. You like sports analogies? He just needs a single. If he can get a couple of yards, he'll be fine. There's no need to shoot a three when an open layup will do just fine. He's putting for double eagle.

Lieberman is not a safe pick.; 8/1/08, 5:19 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: I still like Guiliani - he can help McCain in PA/OH/VA and maybe even CT and NJ.; 8/1/08, 5:30 PM
rcocean said...: It'd be a great pick. The Base will vote for McCain no matter what. Lieberman will pick up independents and moderates and shake things up. The press will love it to, and so will Pat Robertson.; 8/1/08, 5:49 PM
ricpic said...: That's it McCain, stick your finger in conservatives' eyes. The momentary thrill of sticking it to 'em is so much more satisfying than a little thing like winning.; 8/1/08, 6:04 PM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: ...that could inflame the Republican base.

Some Preparation H should help with that...; 8/1/08, 6:17 PM
rcocean said...: The Republican base? They're just a bunch of pussies. Nominate someone one mm less liberal then the Democrat and they fall in line.

McCain has nothing but contempt for the "Base" & rightly so.; 8/1/08, 6:31 PM
MadisonMan said...: Let's see -- McCain's voice is fingernails on the chalkboard for me, my friends, so let's add someone whose voice is even worse to the ticket.; 8/1/08, 6:35 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/1/08, 6:36 PM
Anonymous said...: With McCain atop the ticket, I'm not sure the conservative base could get any more inflamed. If you already have one giant hemmoroid, how much more is one little going to actually bother you?; 8/1/08, 6:40 PM
Anonymous said...: Goshamighty, please forgive the split infinitive in my previous post.; 8/1/08, 6:42 PM
Revenant said...: Nominate someone one mm less liberal then the Democrat and they fall in line.

They didn't in 1976 or 1992.; 8/1/08, 7:10 PM
Anonymous said...: Rev -- It's interesting to think about 1976 and 1992. Presumably, any Democrat would have won in 1976. That's how bad it was for the Republicans (this is what I have; I wasn't politically sentient then). In 1992, some 43 percent of the electorate voted for Clinton. That's about the percentage that would vote for any Democrat.

I also add, in retrospect, that Clinton governed pretty conservatively and, in NAFTA and welfare reform, helped pass two very important pieces of legislation that advance freedom and limited government. NAFTA wasn't even forced on him.

I find myself defending the Clintons more and more these days. What the **** is wrong with me?; 8/1/08, 7:23 PM
blake said...: The Base will vote for McCain no matter what.

They will? DBQ is part of the base and she's sitting out. Her sentiments echo a lot of what I hear from conservatives.

Let's see -- McCain's voice is fingernails on the chalkboard for me, my friends, so let's add someone whose voice is even worse to the ticket.

OK, about the only thing that could make me vote for McCain is if he chose for his VP Fran Drescher.

I find myself defending the Clintons more and more these days. What the **** is wrong with me?

Yeah, it's almost like they pick worse and worse candidates every time to make past choices look good by comparison.

Welp, at least we still have Carter to kick around.; 8/1/08, 7:27 PM
IgnatzEsq said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/1/08, 7:31 PM
blake said...: McCain is the moderate in the election already.

Assuming VP pick matters at all--and I guess it might, given the perception of his age--he can either try to placate the right or capture the moderate left.

I can't imagine any of this working. Though I guess some would vote for Palin, Jindal or Romney.; 8/1/08, 7:46 PM
Simon said...: blake said...
"They will? DBQ is part of the base and she's sitting out. Her sentiments echo a lot of what I hear from conservatives."

Seconded. I hear this a lot too, and just because I might think it's unbearably foolish and counterproductive doesn't make it any less the case.; 8/1/08, 10:47 PM
rcocean said...: Simon,

The vast majority of the "Base" are exactly like you (in attitude). They will accept anything McCain dishes out as long as he's slightly to the Right of Barrack. Given this attitude McCain would be foolish not to move to the center and pick up votes. Lieberman would do that. Bill Kristol suggested Holy Joe as McCain's VP and NRO thinks Lieberman is great.

If you're McCain, I don't see the downside to a Lieberman-McCain ticket. So-called Conservatives were OK with Rudy as POUTS; and they'll accept Lieberman. Note "The base" came around in '76 and '92. Bush lost in '92 because the Reagan Democrats voted for Perot. In '76 Ford lost them to Jimmy Carter.; 8/1/08, 11:09 PM
blake said...: The vast majority of the "Base" are exactly like you (in attitude).

I presume you're right about "the vast majority of the "Base"" but a significant minority is all that may be needed to turn the election.

Hell, it might just take a tiny percentage in one swing state.

But they can't win: Either they're saps for voting for McCain according to you, or saps for NOT voting for him, according to Simon. Good thing this is the Internet.; 8/1/08, 11:48 PM
Daryl said...: Lieberman and McCain are both outstanding Democrats. I would take them in a heartbeat over Obama/Sibelius/Kaine/Bayh.; 8/2/08, 12:58 AM
Revenant said...: The vast majority of the "Base" are exactly like you (in attitude). They will accept anything McCain dishes out as long as he's slightly to the Right of Barrack.

The majority of the base doesn't even bother to vote when there's a candidate they LIKE running for office. The notion that they'll line up to vote for McCain no matter what he does is entirely ridiculous.; 8/2/08, 1:05 AM
vbspurs said...: I heard this on Fox today.

The short list they were touting was headed by Lieberman.

If McCain, Mr. Grand Poobah RINO chooses Joe Lieberman, The 33rd Degree DINO, as his Vice-President, please just hand Obama the keys to 1600 already.

Cheers,
Victoria; 8/2/08, 1:08 AM
blake said...: The majority of the base doesn't even bother to vote when there's a candidate they LIKE running for office.

Well, in this case, "the base" is your meat & potato voters, the ones who turn out all the time.

We're ignoring that most of the potential voters don't register and/or don't vote.; 8/2/08, 1:10 AM
section9 said...: I remain convinced that McCain will end up with Condi Rice, not Lieberman. This because Obama will pick a male who will not overshadow and threaten him like Hillary.

Lieberman would immediately draw pro-choice negative ads from phantom Democratic 527 groups set up to keep the Christian Right at home. They would also harp on the fact that he is Jewish, which they would run 24/7 in Arab blocs in Michigan, California, and New York to get the Jihad vote for Obama (which they probably have already- I suspect BHO has the Shahid vote in his pocket).

If you need an outside the box pick, and McCain does, Rice does more for you than Good ol' Joe. Joe could be in the Cabinet, though. His career in the Democratic cloakroom is over.; 8/2/08, 9:29 AM