See other Neocon Nuttery Articles
Title: McCain weighs a Lieberman surprise
Source:
Yahoo - Politico
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080819/pl_politico/12646
Published: Aug 19, 2008
Author: Alexander Burns, Jonathan Martin, Mike A
Post Date: 2008-08-19 18:11:59 by Rotara
Keywords: None
Views: 1357
Comments: 48
2 hours, 24 minutes ago John McCain is seriously considering choosing a pro-abortion-rights running mate despite vocal resistance from conservatives, with former Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) very much in the mix, close McCain advisers say. Under strong consideration: former Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Ridge, and Lieberman, who was Al Gore’s running mate in 2000. Multiple GOP sources say that party officials in Washington and in the states have been contacted by the McCain campaign in the past two weeks and asked about the fallout from such a choice. One person familiar with the calls said the party was being instructed to prepare for different candidate prototypes — including one in the mold of Lieberman, who is an independent but still caucuses with the Democrats. One obstacle for Lieberman may be legal. A GOP official said that since he is not a Republican, Lieberman may have a challenge being certified on some state ballots. But GOP sources say McCain and his close friend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) still haven’t given up hope on making what some believe would be a game-changing decision by tapping Lieberman. Lieberman’s office declined to discuss the topic. “Those questions are best left to the McCain campaign at this time,” said Erika Masonhall, Lieberman’s Senate press secretary. Ridge also appears to still be on the short list, GOP sources say. McCain likes the fact that Ridge is a Vietnam War hero with a working-class background. Ridge worked in the White House as Bush’s homeland security adviser before becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, and could help McCain with his further reform of the nation’s intelligence apparatus. “He’s McCain’s kind of guy,” said a close friend of the candidate. McCain, who in the past had said it would be hard to choose a supporter of abortion rights, told Steve Hayes of The Weekly Standard last week that he would not rule it out. One source close to the campaign who is sympathetic to such a plan sketched out a scenario in which Lieberman was the choice. “First, if your instinct is to run on experience, it doesn’t hurt to have a vice president who’s got it, too,” said this source, a conservative. But more than that, according to this source, picking Lieberman would dramatically support McCain’s theme that he puts “country first” above all else. “It would fit well into the narrative of his not having any politics in the White House,” said the source. “No more Dick Morris, no more Karl Rove — we’re governing here. It’s an easy, natural message for McCain and it implies a one-term pledge without actually saying it.” As for the inevitable blowback from the right, this person acknowledged the convention would be “a messy week,” representing a “shock to the system of a pro-life party.” But would it be worth it? “The question is: On Sept. 15 or 25, is he in better shape or not?” the source asked. McCain allies are hopeful that the candidate’s strong statement on abortion Saturday night at Rick Warren’s California church could assuage any concerns from the right-to-life community about what a supporter of abortion rights on the ticket would mean. “I will be a pro-life president and this presidency will have pro-life policies,” McCain said at Saddleback. “That's my commitment; that's my commitment to you.” Others in the party — including several veterans of President Bush’s past campaigns — say such a choice would be untenable and are dreading the prospect of what Lieberman, or perhaps even Ridge,would mean to a base that is already less than enthusiastic about McCain. “Lieberman would blow things up,” said the American Conservative Union’s David Keene. “That would be like Obama picking some right-winger that agrees with him on one thing.” As for the convention, Keene said Lieberman’s selection would set off some sort of “protest” among the party’s rank and file. Tapping Ridge, Keene said, wouldn’t be as bad, but would still “overshadow” St. Paul. Already, one website has begun a petition aimed at dissuading McCain from tapping a supporter of abortion rights. “Please keep Senator McCain and his key advisers in your prayers as he nears a decision on his VP pick, and please sign the petition and pass on to like-minded pro-lifers,” Billy Valentine, a young Republican and former supporter of Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback’s presidential bid, writes above the petition on “Catholics for McCain.” Other Republican regulars, speaking anonymously so as not to anger the party’s nominee, warn of the consequences. Another well-placed Republican official who is in regular contact with McCain’s campaign predicted a contentious gathering in St. Paul. “You will not have a unanimous vote at the convention, that much I can tell you,” said this source. “There will be some blowback.” Many leading conservatives have strongly pushed back on McCain’s suggestion that he might choose a pro-choice running mate. For the third day in a row, talk radio guru Rush Limbaugh castigated the idea Tuesday on his radio show, saying the mainstream media — “the drive-by media,” in his parlance — is enthralled by the idea. “The drive-bys are just hoping for it, because they know the base will totally turn on McCain if this is the case,” Limbaugh said. “If he picks a pro-choice running mate, it’s not going to be pretty, and the drive-bys know it." “The question is how to get the message to McCain," he said. "You don’t get in McCain’s face and say, ‘Don’t do it.’ That’s a dumb thing to do. [You have to say something like] ‘Sen. McCain, we know you’re smart … and we know you don’t want to lose.’” The answer to what McCain is thinking could come soon. Republicans were told that barring a change, McCain plans to appear with his pick at an arena in Dayton, Ohio, on Aug. 29 — a week from Friday, and the day after Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination in a Denver stadium. Campaign advisers said Obama’s performance is likely to be so strong they think it will “scare” Republicans, and they’re eager to change the conversation to their own No. 2 the next morning. Obama is likely to make his pick this Friday, Saturday or Sunday, according to advisers. But they warned it could come any time. ALSO DRIVING THE VEEP CONVERSATION: • Tom Ridge gets hit from back home, as Diane Gramley, president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania, says the GOP would not accept a vice president who supports abortion rights. Gramley: “The last time I checked [there] was still…a pro-life plan in the platform, so he needs to do some research, I believe, in where his party stands on the issue of life.” • Obama hasn’t notified his future running mate of his decision. • The Associated Press reports Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is headed East this weekend on what looks like one more leg of a veep audition tour, heading to Ohio and Pennsylvania to stump for McCain. • Obama refers to “my friend, Sen. Joe Biden,” in a passage about Georgia in his VFW convention speech. • In Michigan, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declares: “Women are the key to this election.” • Pelosi fave Rep. Chet Edwards speaks up on veterans issues on behalf of the Obama campaign. • Bobby Jindal talks up his accomplishments as governor. • Former H-P CEO Carly Fiorina keeps campaigning on economics in Pennsylvania. • AP has a problem with Joe Lieberman. • Lynn Sweet reports that the Obama team has reserved the Springfield, Ill., Old State Capitol for an event with the running mate-to-be this Saturday.
Poster Comment: 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Comments (1-8) not displayed.
.
.
.
#9. To: Esso (#7)
Christ killer.
Who else, but the basset hound, can keep McKook straight on the Sunni's and the Shia's. It's LIEberman, of course.
Check it out! I took my new name out for a test drive. Looks pretty good, huh? I can hear the bucks rollin' in! KA-CHING!!!
lol
Do You Know What Freedom Really Means? Freedom4um.com
I'm PROUD to be a JIZ! (jew/israeli/zionist)
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Obama can't give Israel one dime. All expenditures are approved by the US congress. What I want for the chief exec is someone who understands that his duty is to follow and enforce the laws, not to play Caesar or Napoleon. McCain would definitely try to play Napoleon if elected. I doubt that Obama would do signing statements or executive orders that way Double You and Billythegoat Clinton did. I can't imagine him ordering the burning of peaceful people in Texas like Clinton did or spending a trillion dollars to burn and blow up people in foreign countries like Bush does. But, WITHOUT A DOUBT, the congress must do its duty. If they did their duty, Clinton would not have bombed the Serbs and Bush would not have ruined the country the way he does. I don't want to get a dictator that takes over the legislative process, simply because the congress refuses to legislate.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Man, are YOU set up for another HUGE fall. This time America takes the last trip around the bowl, unfortunately. Wake the eff up. ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Uhhhh... Congress cannot give money to any country without the Presidents signature. Perhaps you forgot that....on purpose.
and Congress passed a resolution of support for Israel 390 or so to 6.. Bushski and Congress can blow their lovey dovey resolution out their hairy butts. Happy faces and chest slams - what resolutions amount to- have no legal standing in contract law. There exists no signed mutual defense treaty. Not that US presidents have not tried to get the Israeli gov't to sign one, because US Presidents know that they have no legally binding contract in force that gives them the right to waste American blood and treasure in Israel's defense. The Israeli gov't has repeatedly refused to sign a mutual defense treaty because the Israel gov't wants Israeli blood and treasure to be used to defend Israel and Israel alone. End of story.
LOL!
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
All appropriations originate in the house of reps. You can try to finesse it any way you want but the fact is that the reasons presidents can abuse their power is because the congress lets them. Or rather encourages them.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Nope... Israel slaughtered men of our military and our government covered it up. They are in charge. Why should they sign a mutual defense pact???? Nothing in it for them. they exist ONLY because the world knows Israel can call us to their defense for FREE. Jews will die only for Jews.
Are you trying to finesse that Congress can act in foreign policy on their own???? Appropriate money for Israel, send it over by the ton? Vast, takes two to tango, Every American president dances for Israel, your Savior will do the same. Of course we understand YOU wanting to give money to Israel, but why give ours? Send yours.
Could the "Christian Socialist" neocon CFR Globalist, Mikey Hucklebee, beat BHO in a fair selection? Hehehe ;-)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Ugh!!! Ridge is no war hero. He like mclame,dumbass w, and many more self proclaimed heroes are what the pubbie party is all about. Next thing you know the dick cheney, 5 times deffered 2 C will claim he is a former war hero. One thing for sure and you can count on it. tommy ridge can help mclame to further reform the nations intelligence apparatus since ridggieboy was on board and knew all about georgie trotsky bush's illegal electronic survelliance. Funny how the more things change the more they stay the same. Pennsylvania was lucky to get rid of ridggieboy when he resigned as guvner and the third congressional district in pennsylvania was lucky when he left congress. But we still have a first class asshole holding down the third congressional district seat. It is none other than Pedophil English the most disgusting fat slob in the us house. Just wanted to warn you voters about tommie ridggieboy and what to expect should he join mcinsane. ridggieboy does have experience in those 'color coded terrist' cards as the first asshole to head up homeland security. That should make mcinsane feel secure and proud.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
ridggieboy does have experience in those 'color coded terrist' cards as the first asshole to head up homeland security. Do you have his military record on hand for us to read? And of course you know why he abruptly QUIT DHS and dropped out, dont you????
Personally I think Mumia Abu-Jamal is more qualified to be VPOTUS then Ridge, but then again the point is a moot one. Mumia has too much class to run with McInsane.
I agree... I want no one from the system.. However, Ridge was man enough to get out of DHS, but not man enough to blow the whistle on that Gestapo unit.
No. You can look it up for yourself. He served somewhat like algore, got hearing damage and walla, he is a self proclaimed war hero.
Wasn't Ridge the pervo who made his children grease him up with crisco claiming it was some religious ritual?
Cyni, regardless of the Israel Lobby's very strong influence on foreign policy, if no mutual defense treaty exists it is a significant problem for Bush or whomever to jump in to defend Israel in war. It's one thing to invade Iraq for a number of fuzzy reasons, one of them commonly understood to be for securing Israel's defense, but it is quite another thing to jump into a war for the purpose of defending a nation that is not a treaty ally. That's why everyone heaved a sigh of relief when they reflected back on how serendipitous it was that Germany had deep-6'd Georgia's NATO membership dreams earlier this year. Because if Germany had done not this, then NATO nations would have been treaty obligated to come to Georgia's defense on August 8 when it got itself into the military mess with Russia. Believe me treaties are very very significant and that's why various Presidents in the past have all tried to twist Israel's to sign onto a mutual defense treaty. The US Presidents did not need Israel's help - it was because without a mutaul defense treaty in force, a US President is not able to waste American blood and treasure for a war that does not involve the US. That's why Israel and the Israel Lobby have been standing on their heads trying to get the US and Iran in a direct military confrontation with one another so it's not a case of the US jumping in to defend Israel after the war has started but rather that the US and Iran have been involved from the start and the US is defending itself.
oops! Ridggieboy never seems to finish anything he starts Got his ass outta vietnam at the sound of the first shots being fired in his direction, quit congress as a do nothing, resigned as pa gubner, resigned as homeland security officer, not wanting to be part and parcel to bugwit boosh's illegal eavesdropping even tho he was involved as bushkie's security adviser.
Can you show me his record that you seem to believe is akin to to John Kerrys? Course you and I both know all politicians lie.
Oh now it comes all back to me. I distinctly remember seeing a photo of Al Gork with a military vest on and with a camera hung around his neck with a Vietnam War backdrop, looking very Al Gork dorky. Man oh man, I would love to see that Al Gork as Vietnam War vet photo again. Does anyone remember it? It was circulating around the time of the 2000 election. Maybe it originated from a political clip art site. It was sooooooooo funny.
OK..good logic. But Scrap, lets face reality and facts, to my mind if anyone bombs or invades Israel, we will not have a declaration of war by this country until AFTER the fact of our retaliation. When Bush said we would defend Israel, there was not ONE dissenting voice from Congress nor the media. To me that suggests they agree with me.
This one?
Thanks wudidiz - you found it! And somehow - miraculously because I don't have a clue about techie things - I am able to post it too!
I cant make fun of Doofus Gore.. In the Air Farce, many times we carried .45s in shoulder holsters, but they never gave us any ammo. When we asked why, the reply was, you are too apt to shoot yourself or each other. Someone must have told on us.
The first time I was issued a .45, I asked the ordnance comic where the ammo went in, he replied, "Dont ask, you dont need to know". I dont think they trusted us.
I'm not sure if that's the reason Al Gork was left to his own devices to risk blowing his face apart. See, I think in Al Gork's case, because he was possibly already known for pursuing his brainiac Internet invention research stuff, the military did not want to burden Al's already over whelmed brain with petty weapons training. So that's why Al Gork was left to figure things out in his own genius way.
In the one photo Al looks like the lost soul in a uniform. I hope they did not give him any ammo.
Yeah that lost soul in a uniform photo was good too. But my all time, hands down favorite of Al Gork, our almost [ but for Florida] King, is the photo wudidiz found and posted in message #36, which I replicated in post#38. Al Gork is shown there in all his military career splendor - Al showed us his stuff - a battle hardened and war savvy Commander in Chief in the making. Woohoo.
He doesn't have a magasine in his M16A1 rifle, and he has one of those old plastic covers over the flash suppressor and the safety is on 'semi.' I think I could handle being around him.
I liked that OG 107 uniform with the slanted pockets. It was designed by a Special Forces officer, and was much more durible and servicable then the BDUs ever remotely were.
Following this line of thought, you shouldn't be bothered by McCain being elected either, because there isn't much that he could do unilaterally without Congressional approval either.
McCain is likely to pick up from where Double You left, usurping the legislative's powers.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Class, who can tell me why Reagan couldn't a lot about helping the Contras, even though he really, really wanted to, back in the 80's? Hint: what was the Iran-Contra thing all about?
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
#10. To: Cynicom, all (#8)
#11. To: christine (#7)
#12. To: Esso (#7)
#13. To: Jethro Tull (#9)
Christ killer.
#14. To: christine (#12)
#15. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#4)
Obama's likely running mate, Sen. Bayh, wants to rev up aid to Israel, just like Lieberman or Cantor.
#16. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#15)
What I want for the chief exec is someone who understands that his duty is to follow and enforce the laws, not to play Caesar or Napoleon. McCain would definitely try to play Napoleon if elected. I doubt that Obama would do signing statements or executive orders that way Double You and Billythegoat Clinton did. I can't imagine him ordering the burning of peaceful people in Texas like Clinton did or spending a trillion dollars to burn and blow up people in foreign countries like Bush does.
#17. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#15)
All expenditures are approved by the US congress.
#18. To: Cynicom, Esso, christine, jethro tull (#8)
Years ago when Bushski one day declared on live tv..."We will defend Issrul"...
#19. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#15)
But, WITHOUT A DOUBT, the congress must do its duty.
#20. To: Cynicom (#17)
#21. To: scrapper2 (#18)
End of story.
#22. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#20)
#23. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#1)
Most of the "values voters" are Yellow Dog Republicans who would vote for Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin if they ran on the GOP ticket.
#24. To: Rotara (#0)
Ridge also appears to still be on the short list, GOP sources say. McCain likes the fact that Ridge is a Vietnam War hero with a working-class background. Ridge worked in the White House as Bush’s homeland security adviser before becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, and could help McCain with his further reform of the nation’s intelligence apparatus.
#25. To: LACUMO (#24)
ridggieboy does have experience in those 'color coded terrist' cards as the first asshole to head up homeland security. That should make mcinsane feel secure and proud.
#26. To: LACUMO (#24)
Ridge is no war hero.
#27. To: Cynicom (#26)
"You only have power over people so long as you don't take everything away from them. But when you've robbed a man of everything he's no longer in your power -- he's free again. Alexander Solzhenitsyn
#28. To: Ferret Mike (#27)
#29. To: Cynicom (#26)
Do you have his military record on hand for us to read?
#30. To: Cynicom (#26)
#31. To: Cynicom (#21)
#32. To: Cynicom (#28)
However, Ridge was man enough to get out of DHS, but not man enough to blow the whistle on that Gestapo unit.
#33. To: LACUMO (#32)
Got his ass outta vietnam at the sound of the first shots being fired in his direction,
#34. To: LACUMO, wudidiz, Original_Intent, TwentyTwelve, Jethro Tull (#29)
He served somewhat like algore, got hearing damage and walla, he is a self proclaimed war hero.
#35. To: scrapper2 (#31)
#36. To: scrapper2, LACUMO, Original_Intent, TwentyTwelve, Jethro Tull (#34)
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man (or woman) in everlasting ignorance that principle is contempt prior to investigation." ~ Herbert Spencer
#37. To: scrapper2, All (#36)
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man (or woman) in everlasting ignorance that principle is contempt prior to investigation." ~ Herbert Spencer
#38. To: All, christine, LACUMO, wudidiz, Original_Intent, TwentyTwelve, Jethro Tull (#34)
(Edited)
#39. To: scrapper2 (#38)
#40. To: scrapper2 (#38)
#41. To: Cynicom, wudidiz, Jethro Tull, christine (#40)
The first time I was issued a .45, I asked the ordnance comic where the ammo went in, he replied, "Dont ask, you dont need to know". I dont think they trusted us.
#42. To: scrapper2 (#41)
#43. To: Cynicom, wudidiz (#42)
#44. To: wudidiz (#36)
"You only have power over people so long as you don't take everything away from them. But when you've robbed a man of everything he's no longer in your power -- he's free again. Alexander Solzhenitsyn
#45. To: wudidiz (#37)
"You only have power over people so long as you don't take everything away from them. But when you've robbed a man of everything he's no longer in your power -- he's free again. Alexander Solzhenitsyn
#46. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#15)
Obama can't give Israel one dime. All expenditures are approved by the US congress.
#47. To: Rupert_Pupkin (#46)
#48. To: Cynicom (#22)
Are you trying to finesse that Congress can act in foreign policy on their own???? Appropriate money for Israel, send it over by the ton?
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest