Vices

Everyone is taking a guess, so why shouldn’t I? My opinion is probably as valid as anyone else’s who isn’t inside the privy council of the candidate. Who will be the VP choices?

OK, I don’t have a clue. What I have is some generalities to consider. Who they need on the ticket and who they dare not choose should be considered.

McCain needs youth. He is inarguably old and he has ridden the hard roads. There is a finite limit to the durability of any of us. McCain is getting close to his expiration date and might be considered by many to be well best his “best used by” date. Gotta find someone younger. But that can’t mean inexperienced.

John needs someone with a resume. It would be good to get business or economic credibility. McCain handles the foreign policy competence questions over Obama in a heartbeat. But he has already confessed to being shaky on economics. Someone with executive ability who has balanced budgets, met payrolls and can point to significant accomplishments would be great.

Obama needs age. He is a pup and no one can claim he has meaningful experience without their tongue firmly in their cheek. He could definitely use someone from outside legislature and he also would benefit from an individual with business and executive function experience. It is problematic for him that someone with those qualifications who also supports Barak’s profligate spending proposals and business-stifling taxation ideas will be, of necessity, someone bi-polar. Brings to memory the shock therapy disclosure of Tom Eagleton.

Obama also needs someone with serious global experience. A rock-star tour of hot spots in the Middle East and glitzy capitols of Europe as a presidential nominee is not at all equivalent to closed door hard-nosed negotiations for the good of the nation. If he thinks his whirlwind excursion of last week gave him any realistic insights or valid information, he is even more naïve than I have given him credit for being.

McCain is repeatedly being warned to pick a social conservative stalwart to bring the evangelicals back to the fold. That would be a mistake. Bringing a fundamentalist to the ticket will cost him moderates and independents who will then vote for Obama. Choosing a fiscal conservative with middle-class values will keep them and leave the evangelicals with no place else to go. Like the ball-park in the corn-field, they will come.

Obama has been told of the “dream ticket” and the feminists, who somehow can’t count votes, are affronted that Hillary lost. They want her and Obama would have to be suicidal to accede to their wishes. Machiavelli couldn’t have portrayed a more intrigue filled government than that unholy triumvirate of Barack, Bill and Hillary running the executive branch. Ain’t gonna happen.

No minorities to fill the Democrat’s plate. Look for an older white guy. But expect Obama to stumble badly in his choice. He won’t pull a Quayle clone out, but he will choose someone with way too much baggage or an equally sparse resume. No strengthening of the ticket anticipated. Best choice would be Bill Richardson who is Hispanic and has a breadth of experience seldom equaled. Won’t happen.

No minority for McCain either, but certainly could be a woman. That means no Bobby Jindahl. It would be impossible to point at Obama’s lack of experience with an equivalent paucity of achievement standing next to him on the dais. Mitt Romney scares folks with his Mormonism (which shouldn’t), and has a wealth of business and executive experience both in and out of government. Not him either. Mike Huckabee proved himself a loose cannon at the primary campaign’s waning days. Not him. A Hispanic would be great, but none jumps out of the bullpen.

I like Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO. A strong woman with a load of business sense and demonstrated leadership skills. Powerful and from outside of the Beltway, which is a huge asset. Don’t look to Sarah Palin. Alaska is currently under scandal scrutiny and she only brings three electoral college votes to the table. Most folks never heard of her. Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is often mentioned, but unlikely. Texas has a load of votes but probably still goes red this election. She’s got her eyes on a mansion in Austin.

So, now you’ve got my take. It is as valuable as any of the ones you’ll get from the major media pundits.

Best guess? Someone you still haven’t heard of. McCain’s choice will help him. Obama’s choice will hurt.