Vice Presidency

The Argument For A Vice President Who Has Been A Mayor Dealing With Urban Issues And Problems

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After last week’s sad, tragic events in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas, it becomes more clear than ever that Hillary Clinton should seriously consider a city mayor to be her Vice Presidential running mate–either Cory Booker, formerly Mayor of Newark, New Jersey or Julian Castro, formerly Mayor of San Antonio, Texas.

Both understand urban life, and have dealt with the stresses of minorities, and the fact that they are minorities themselves–African American and Latino—is a plus, in a nation becoming more diverse as the years go by.

Both are young, and can be seen as rivals for the future of the Democratic Party in 2024, if Hillary Clinton was to serve two terms in the White House.

In any case, both should be utilized by a President Hillary Clinton in her administration, even if not in the Vice Presidency!

Imagine Donald Trump And Newt Gingrich As A Team: Two Combative, Egotistical Narcissists And Misogynists With Scandals!

Ronald 4 Comments

The indications now are that Donald Trump is vetting former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich of Georgia to be his Vice Presidential running mate.

This presents the possibility of the most unbelievable combination of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in all of American history!

Trump and Gingrich share many traits:

Narcissism
Egotism
Total Ruthlessness
Misogyny
Three marriages, two divorces, and massive amounts of infidelity and adultery
Ethical Violations on a massive scale
Both major Clinton bashers
Unapologetic about their actions and behavior
Both highly intelligent but lacking in humility
Both authors of many books

Gingrich has been out of office for 18 years, longer than any candidate for Presidential or Vice Presidential nominee in history, with exception of Trump, who has NO government or military experience at all!

Two previous Speakers of the House have gone on to be elected Vice President:

Schuyler Colfax, first Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-1873
John Nance Garner, first Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933-1941

Also, present Speaker of the House Paul Ryan ran for Vice President in 2012 with Mitt Romney.

We shall soon see if Gingrich is chosen, and if he is, it means major fireworks, and great debates coming in the Presidential Election of 2016!

Particularly, imagine if Hillary Clinton ends up selecting Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren as her running mate for Vice President!

Then it means two misogynists against two powerful, intelligent women–the battle of the sexes, and the best debates in all of American political history!

The “Short List” Of Vice Presidential Choices For Hillary Clinton

Ronald 13 Comments

According to the Associated Press, the “short list” of Vice Presidential choices for Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton includes:

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine

Housing and Urban Development Secretary and former San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro

All three are excellent choices, but this blogger would recommend Castro as the best choice.

It is important to keep Democrats in the US Senate, as even one seat might matter for a majority.

Castro is only 42, which is wonderful, since he represents a new generation of leadership in the future, and is a Latino of Mexican heritage, the future of America, with 65 percent of all Hispanics in America being of Mexican heritage.

The likelihood of a Latino President in eight years, possibly Castro at age 50, is a great possibility.

Castro may not have direct foreign policy experience, but then neither does Warren, and while Kaine is on the Foreign Relations Committee and speaks Spanish, and is 58, a good age for a Vice President with a President eleven years older, and is an excellent choice, Castro is the best overall fit at this time. He gives the Democrats a chance to make Texas competitive, and move that state toward becoming “Blue” by 2024, when Castro could be the successor to run for President.

Once Texas turns “Blue”, the Electoral College is insured for the Democrats for the long term future!

Donald Trump Declares War On The News Media: A Dictator In The Making!

Ronald 31 Comments

Donald Trump has declared war on the news media, at his tempestuous press conference at Trump Tower yesterday, called to explain the issue of the raising of funds to help veterans, which he had declared as a goal in January, and had never been held accountable for for the past four months.

Trump insulted several reporters specifically, and made clear there would be combat between the news media and the Trump White House if he was elected, making for the absolute worst possible relationship with the media, worse than Richard Nixon!

This is alarming,and every effort must be made to insure that Trump does not win the Presidency, as his Fascist leanings and dictatorial manner is terrifying, and portends potential destruction of American democracy.

Trump’s tirade reminds many of Vice President Spiro Agnew under Nixon, vilifying the press in a disgraceful way!

Businessman Wendell Willkie Chooses Senate Minority Leader Charles McNary 1940—Any Connection To Trump Decision On Vice Presidency This Year?

Ronald 22 Comments

In 1940, the Republican Party nominated businessman Wendell Willkie, a former Democrat, who had never held public office, and had originally been a supporter early on of the the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 2016, the Republican Party is about to nominate a businessman, Donald Trump, a former Democrat, who has never held public office, and had originally been supportive of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Willkie chose Republican Senate Minority Leader Charles McNary of Oregon to be his Vice Presidential running mate, a very reputable person with a long career in the Senate.

The question is will Trump select a person of McNary’s quality and experience to be his running mate, or will he pick a “bomb thrower” or an incompetent person to be his Vice Presidential choice?

That is a question that will be answered in the coming weeks!

British Betting Odds On Democratic Vice Presidential Nominees

Ronald Leave a comment

If one goes by British betting odds, the list of potential Democratic Vice Presidential nominees is as follows:

In front is Julian Castro, former San Antonio Mayor, who is presently Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; followed by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren; Virginia Senator Tim Kaine; Secretary of Labor Tom Perez (from Maryland); and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (who was in the Democratic Presidential race).

After those five, the odds on others, in their order, are New Jersey Senator Cory Booker; Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown; and then Minnesota Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar.

Looking at the list, the “safest” choices to make are Castro, Perez, O’Malley, Franken, and Klobuchar, as the first two are cabinet members and not potentially giving up a Senate seat; O’Malley is out of office; and Franken and Klobucar come from a solidly “blue” state that has a Democratic Governor able to appoint a Democratic replacement were either to be elected Vice President.

Warren and Booker come from states with Republican Governors, who would be able to appoint a Republican temporarily as their replacement, while Kaine and Brown comes from “swing states” with a Republican governor in Ohio, and a Democratic Governor in Virginia now under federal investigation in a state which would be Republican if not for northern Virginia’s strong Democratic bent.

Growing Possibility Of Three Women On National Tickets Of Both Major Parties For The Presidential Election In November!

Ronald 15 Comments

It seems more likely by the day that we may witness having three women on the Presidential tickets of the two major political parties in the upcoming Presidential Election of 2016.

Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee, may decide to select Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren or Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar as her running mate, which would be a revolutionary act, and likely, a winning combaination.

At the same time, Republican nominee Donald Trump may decide that he must pick a conservative woman to be his running mate, as an attempt to take away the women’s vote from Hillary.

If so, the most likely choices, based on Trump’s statement that he wants someone who is in the DC establishment, would be either Tennessee Congresswoman March Blackburn or Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.

If however, Trump went to the governors in the Republican Party, he could select Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, who served in Congress before becoming governor in 2011; or former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer; or South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley; or New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez. The latter two are from minority heritage, with Haley having parents from India, and Martinez being Mexican American, but these two have made it quite clear they do not wish to be considered.

The others mentioned have indicated interest, as has former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, the thought of her being tapped a total nightmare, and highly unlikely.

This blogger would bet at this point that Marsha Blackburn or Joni Ernst are the most likely choices, so imagine an all woman Vice Presidential debate of either Blackburn or Ernst against Warren or Klobuchar!

It would be a fascinating and much watched debate, along with the debates between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton!

The Growing Significance Of Minnesota In The Vice Presidential Sweepstakes For The Democrats!

Ronald 1 Comment

Minnesota is a strongly Democratic state, with a Democratic Governor, Mark Dayton, who has been very successful in promoting economic growth in the state.

It also has two Democratic Senators, Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, both supremely qualified to be Vice President.

It was also the state of Vice President and Presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey in 1968, and Vice President and Presidential nominee Walter Mondale in 1984.

It was also the state of Senator Eugene McCarthy and Senator Paul Wellstone.

Hillary Clinton has to consider both Franken and Klobuchar, as it is assured that either one in the Vice Presidency would be replaced by a Democrat, not assured in other states, including New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia.

Franken would be a great “attack dog” against Republican Donald Trump, and would be the first Jewish Vice President if Hillary Clinton won the White House.

Klobuchar would be the first woman Vice President, and far superior to Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin in qualifications and experience.

Either Franken or Klobuchar would be a worthy successor to Joe Biden to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency!

Who Among Speculated Vice Presidents For Donald Trump Is “Qualified” and “Acceptable” To Be A Heartbeat Away?

Ronald 4 Comments

Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, with the withdrawal of both Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich, there is much speculation as to who might be his Vice Presidential choice, with at least 17 potential candidates.

Of course, there is always the danger of a “wild card”, someone that no sane person would consider for Vice President, but with Trump, you never know!

It is urgent that a decent, competent Vice President be ready and able in case of an emergency, were Trump to be incapacitated or die in office.

Some of the choices are acceptable if not palatable, but many are horrific choices.

As this blogger sees it, the following potential choices are “acceptable” in no special order:

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

Ohio Governor John Kasich

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida

Former Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts

This is a short list of six, with the other eleven being totally unacceptable, including:

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin

Florida Governor Rick Scott

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama

Dr. Ben Carson of Maryland

Former Speaker of The House Newt Gingrich of Georgia

Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin

Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee

The Abandonment Of Reason By Jon Huntsman!

Ronald 10 Comments

Anyone who has read my blog since its inception in August 2008 KNOWS that I have been an admirer of former Utah Governor and Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, and recommended him as the Republican Presidential nominee in 2012, and wished he would run for the nomination in 2016.

Huntsman has great background and experience, and always has come across as a reasonable moderate conservative, someone worthy of respect, admiration, and willingness to consider in a Presidential election.

But now,this blogger is dismayed at Huntsman’s decision a few days ago to suggest that it was time to unite around Donald Trump.

If anyone in the Republican Party should refuse to back Donald Trump, it is Jon Huntsman, as there is no legitimate way to say that Trump represents the long history of the Republican Party.

So now, one has to wonder if Huntsman is hoping to be Trump’s Vice President, or an important member of his cabinet, which if so, will require this author and blogger to repudiate him totally.

If Huntsman is shown to have no principle in a party that is so lacking in decency, then indeed the whole Republican Party has lost all of its purpose of its existence!

So we can say that the Republican Party, by nominating Donald Trump, has effectively died as an historical force, and this year will be seen as the death of the Republican Party after 162 years!