i'm not a huge mccain fan (5'11'') but.............

it all comes down to the supreme court nominations........
obama's nominees will make ruth bader ginsburg look like attila the hun......
picture a maxine waters or cynthia mckinney..............

Romney tops McCain veep list
By: Mike Allen
June 30, 2008 09:53 AM EST

Surprising many Republican insiders, Mitt Romney is at the top of the vice-presidential prospect list for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). But lack of personal chemistry could derail the pick.

“Romney as favorite” is the hot buzz in Republican circles, and top party advisers said the case is compelling.

Campaign insiders say McCain plans to name his running mate very shortly after Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) does, as part of what one campaign planner called a “bounce-mitigation strategy.”

The Democratic convention is in late August, a week ahead of the Republicans convention. That means McCain can size up the opposing ticket before locking in his own.

One of the chief reasons the Massachusetts governor is looking so attractive is his ability to raise huge amounts of money quickly through his former business partners and from fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons.

McCain sources tell Politico that they believe Romney could raise $50 million in 60 days. One close Romney adviser said it could even be $60 million.

Romney’s other advantages, according to people involved in McCain’s screening process:

—Squeaky clean, and fully vetted by the national media.

—Has presidential looks and bearing, and immediately would be a strong campaign who could be trusted to stay on-message.

—Family’s Michigan roots would help in a swing state that went Democratic in 2004 and is.

But there’s one big problem: Despite the buddy-picture choreography of a McCain-Romney campaign swing, McCain remains far short of enamored of Romney.

And McCain sources say he’ll pick his vice presidential candidate based more on ability to govern than ability to help in the election.

So two other names are in the top tier:

—Rob Portman, a former congressman from Ohio, member of House leadership, U.S. Trade Ambassador and White House budget director.

—Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who would delight conservatives and is at the top of the list of the party’s prospects for the presidential race in 2012 or 2016. He was described to Politico by a McCain confidant as a possible “compromise” if the senator can’t stomach picking Romney.

Then there’s a second tier of candidates who are less likely, but possible: former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who dropped out of the top tier because of recent revelations about his lobbying; Florida Gov. Charlie Crist; Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who is one of McCain’s most energetic and successful fundraisers.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is frequently included in veep news stories but was not mentioned by McCain insiders. Their view is that his youth would accentuate, not mitigate, the age issue.

Especially if McCain is far behind later this summer, he could do something truly unorthodox like pick his strong supporter Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who was the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate back in 2000.

Party leaders don’t expect that. But McCain remains, after all, a maverick.

Politico’s Jonathan Martin contributed to this report.

Correction, McCain used to be a maverick. In this election cycle, to put himself more in line with the party, he has flip flopped on:

Bush tax cuts
Drilling off shore
Ethanol
Gay marriage
Roe v Wade
Displaying the Confederate flag
A timetable for withdrawal from Iraq
Privatizing Social Security
Kissing the religious right's butt (remember when he called Falwell and Robertson "agents of intolerance")

This is just a partial list, but though the McCain campaign continues to try and market him as a maverick, it demonstrates quite clearly he is just a plain old party line Republican.

sure Upton. hes just a " plain old party line republican. " im so much more of a conservative then johnthat he makes jfk look conservative. and jfk was a wimp. you liberals dont bring much to the table that has never been tried. hell, the only thing you liberals have NOT brought is a formal surrender to our enemies. your whacked out Lampwick is toast. otherwise the npr would be showing his gains. so, add some milk to yer raisin brand, so the tears wont fall so hard in yer bowl.

LMFAO!

What a fucking idiot.

That's all well and good, but it hardly addresses my point. McCain's flip flopping, done solely for the sake of political expediency, brings him more in line with stated Republican party positions. Therefore he no longer meets the definition of, nor can he be considered, a maverick.

Why is it when someone who disagrees with your world-view changes their stance they flip-flop but someone who changes their stance to agree with your world-view is evolved? perhaps you can explain that to me.

im not wanting a maverick Upton. we have two choices, the skillet or the fire. you want the fire, so go ahead then jump.

No he is just getting polished like Obama is, once the election is over who ever wins they will go back to being the core of who they are.

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"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15." - Ronald Reagan