Dick Cheney has some advice for Mitt Romney on choosing a running mate: Don’t pick another Sarah Palin.
In his first interview since receiving a heart transplant in March, Cheney told ABC News, that John McCain’s decision to pick Palin as his running mate in 2008 was “a mistake” — one that it is important from Romney not to repeat.
It’s subject on which Cheney has some unique experience. He helped Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush lead their vice presidential searches and, of course, served as vice president for eight years. He’s also privately offered some advice to both Romney and Beth Myers, who is leading Romney’s search for a runningmate, on the process.
Cheney would not comment on what he told Romney and Myers, but he was harsh in his assessment of McCain’s decision to pick Palin.
“That one,” Cheney said, “I don’t think was well handled.”
“The test to get on that small list has to be, ‘Is this person capable of being president of the United States?’”
Cheney believes Sarah Palin failed that test.
In the larger scope, this pits the two wings of the GOP wingnutosphere against each other: the Bushies vs. the Tea Partiers, and those are the elements that Mitt Romney has to please in his choice of running mate: someone who’s not going to scare off the independents, but someone who’s got enough cred with the birthers and baggers to keep them from going rogue. Good luck with that.
It will be interesting to see what the reaction to Cheney’s remark is from John McCain and Wasilla. I’m willing to bet that somehow they’re going to blame it on Barack Obama: if the Democrats hadn’t chosen that Ni-CLANG!, the McCain campaign wouldn’t have had to go with a game changer. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
]]>Dick Cheney has some advice for Mitt Romney on choosing a running mate: Don’t pick another Sarah Palin.
In his first interview since receiving a heart transplant in March, Cheney told ABC News, that John McCain’s decision to pick Palin as his running mate in 2008 was “a mistake” — one that it is important from Romney not to repeat.
It’s subject on which Cheney has some unique experience. He helped Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush lead their vice presidential searches and, of course, served as vice president for eight years. He’s also privately offered some advice to both Romney and Beth Myers, who is leading Romney’s search for a runningmate, on the process.
Cheney would not comment on what he told Romney and Myers, but he was harsh in his assessment of McCain’s decision to pick Palin.
“That one,” Cheney said, “I don’t think was well handled.”
“The test to get on that small list has to be, ‘Is this person capable of being president of the United States?’”
Cheney believes Sarah Palin failed that test.
In the larger scope, this pits the two wings of the GOP wingnutosphere against each other: the Bushies vs. the Tea Partiers, and those are the elements that Mitt Romney has to please in his choice of running mate: someone who’s not going to scare off the independents, but someone who’s got enough cred with the birthers and baggers to keep them from going rogue. Good luck with that.
It will be interesting to see what the reaction to Cheney’s remark is from John McCain and Wasilla. I’m willing to bet that somehow they’re going to blame it on Barack Obama: if the Democrats hadn’t chosen that Ni-CLANG!, the McCain campaign wouldn’t have had to go with a game changer. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
]]>Thousands flee the capital of Yemen after an attack on the president.
John Edwards is indicted on six counts of violating campaign finance laws to cover up his affair.
May’s job report was disappointing.
The ACLU of Florida is suing over the new voter laws.
R.I.P. James Arness, star of Gunsmoke; Dr. Jack Kevorkian, assisted suicide advocate.
Tropical update: There are two areas of disturbed weather out in the Atlantic.
The Tigers lost to the White Sox.
]]>John Edwards could be indicted over campaign finance violations.
Jared Loughner, the alleged shooter in Tuscon, is ruled incompetent to stand trial.
Relief groups seek relief after a hard spring of natural disasters.
Foreclosures are still high, slowing the economic recovery.
Miami-Dade teachers and school administration strike a deal for next year.
The Tigers had the night off; they’re bracing for the Red Sox.
]]>Bombings in Iraq killed anti-al-Qaeda group members as they lined up for their paychecks.
According to the New York Times, health insurers are pushing plans that limit choices of doctors.
Florida Democrats do some fund-raising of their own.
Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign owes #219,000 in fines to the FEC.
The Tigers dropped a twin bill to the Indians.
]]>Secretary of State Clinton has a message for Iran on nukes: don’t.
Sarah Palin quit her job yesterday.
There are many ways to pay for health care.
South Florida employers have two small requests for health care reform: make it cheap and easy.
Honduras’s ousted president’s attempt to return isn’t getting much ground.
R.I.P. Florida State Sen. Jim King.
All’s Fair? — A candidate who lost an election is suing over an attack ad.
The Tigers let Chicago get four runs in the first inning and never recovered, losing 5-1 (on national TV). They’re still in first place in the AL Central.
]]>Flanked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former Vice President Walter Mondale, Franken received a standing ovation from family members, supporters and others in the public galleries. Vice President Joe Biden offered his congratulations, and a packed Senate gallery that included Franken’s wife, Franni, erupted into hugs and applause.
Best wishes from a former Minnesota resident and son of a native Minnesotan.
Josh Marshall does have one lament; the comedian Al Franken is no more. TPM takes a stroll down memory lane and visits some of the new senator’s lighter moments, including a star turn as Mick Jagger.
Of course the Republicans are still griping about the “stolen” election (see below). I offer them the same advice they gave me in 2000: get over it.
]]>The Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the state’s long-running Senate race.
Yip yah!
Update from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
]]>The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled today that Democrat Al Franken won the U.S. Senate election and said he was entitled to an election certificate that would lead to him being seated in the Senate.
“Affirmed,” wrote the Supreme Court, unanimously rejecting Republican Norm Coleman’s claims that inconsistent practices by local elections officials and wrong decisions by a lower court had denied him victory.
“Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled [under Minnesota law] to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota,” the court wrote.
In upholding a lower court ruling in April, the justices said Coleman had “not shown that the trial court’s findings of fact are clearly erroneous or that the court committed an error of law or abused its discretion.”
The union lablel — The UAW is now part owner of GM.
No signs of missing Air France plane with 228 aboard.
Increased security is ordered around abortion clinics by the Department of Justice.
Dick Cheney on marriage equality — surprise; he’s in favor of it.
Randall Terry is soulless and hungry for hot wings.
The never-ending story — Coleman v. Franken oral arguments were heard in the Minnesota Supreme Court yesterday.
Tuition hikes at Florida colleges — It just got more expensive to go to school.
Soaked — Record rainfall in May in Florida erased a lot of the drought.
Belay that — Dania Beach school teaches how to repel pirates.
Tigers idle last night; open a stand at home against Boston tonight.
]]>Pakistan nukes — Who’s minding the bombs while the government struggles to stay in place?
The Boston Globe may be the next paper to fold.
Less Stress — The administration is preparing to say the banks are better off than feared.
John Edwards’s 2008 campaign faces federal probe.
Feds warn of the dangers of flea and tick products for pets.
Tigers win against Cleveland.
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