Sarah Palin

Vice Presidency More Significant Than Ever Before In 2016, With Oldest Presidential Nominees In American History!

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The Vice Presidency has been growing in significance and stature in the six decades since Richard Nixon was Vice President and started to grow the office.

We have had outstanding men in the Vice Presidency since then, including Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert H. Humphrey, Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, Walter Mondale, George H. W. Bush, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden.

We have also had “lemons”, including Spiro Agnew and Dan Quayle, and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin to scare us at the thought of her being a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

Now that our Presidential candidates will be the oldest in American history in combination, with average age of past 70, combining Democrat Hillary Clinton at 69 plus and Republican Donald Trump 70 plus on Inauguration Day, it is more essential than ever that we have the best possible men or women placed in that position for the upcoming Presidential election!

But so many of the proposed nominees, that have been bandied about by the news media and the candidates’ campaigns are far from the best possible candidates, and they can cause worry about succession, if the winner of the election dies in office of natural causes or by assassination in the next four years, with the odds growing on each possibly occurring.

The idea of two “senior citizens” competing for the most stressful job in the world is not comforting, and the fact that it has been 53 years since John F. Kennedy was killed, and 71 years since the natural death of a President in office (Franklin D. Roosevelt), as well as 42 years since Richard Nixon resigned.

We need distinguished Senators or Governors ready to come forth and offer a strong backup to the two nominees, but particularly in the case of the Republicans, the odds of such a person arising is not likely!

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!

Open Campaigning To Be Trump’s Running Mate Should Disqualify These People As Unqualified To Be A Heartbeat Away From Oval Office!

Ronald 4 Comments

First, we have Donald Trump and his disgusting, insulting campaign for President, out to destroy his opponents in the Republican Party, including now, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

Now we have open campaigning by some of the worst possible people to be his Vice Presidential running mate, which should, in this blogger’s opinion, automatically disqualify them as unqualified to be a heartbeat away from the Oval Office!

We shall begin with Sarah Palin, the most obnoxious and moronic possible person to be a heartbeat away. but Palin, ready to work to dump Paul Ryan from the Speakership and his own Congresssional seat, has offered herself to Donald Trump as his running mate, as if she did not do enough damage to John McCain eight years ago. All she has done since 2008 is quit the Alaska Governorship, become a reality star, made millions of dollars on books that only stupid people would read, and had several embarrassing family controversies involving her son and her daughter! She might appeal to the lowest common denominator, the mob that cheers Donald on, but the thought of her being a possible President a second time around, is absolutely horrifying!

Then we have Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, who has been a total disgrace, promoting fracking in her state, which has caused thousands of earthquakes in the past few years; and who allowed the botched execution of a prisoner with drugs that did not work, causing writhing and tremendous pain, going against the concept of avoiding “cruel and unusual punishment”. Now this woman is openly lobbying to be Vice President.

Then we have Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, who causes one’s eyes to roll every time she opens up her mouth, and made clear she is ready to be Vice President if called upon.

And we have former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, one of the worst Republican Governors in modern times, who also made her pitch for the Vice Presidency.

And finally, we have former Texas Governor Rick Perry, who clearly has come across as lacking brain matter in a serious way, who had bitterly denounced Donald Trump in a manner that drew respect back in the fall of 2015, but now praises Trump, and made clear he would love to be Vice President, god forbid!

The four women mentioned above may be women, but they have NO qualifications to be President or anywhere near it, and pale in comparison to the outstanding qualifications of Democrat Hillary Clinton.

And Perry, well. . . ., haha you know this is Saturday Night Live material!

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

Rapid Decline In Quality From Ronald Reagan-Richard Schweiker In 1976 To Ted Cruz-Carly Fiorina In 2016!

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Forty years have passed since Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, in a desperate move to try to derail President Gerald Ford from winning the GOP Presidential nomination in 1976, chose a Vice Presidential running mate, Pennsylvania Senator Richard Schweiker.

It did not help Reagan to win the nomination, but at least Reagan had been two term Governor of California, and Schweiker was a two term liberal Republican Senator, who later was Secretary of Health and Human Services for two years under Reagan.

The rapid decline in quality from Reagan-Schweiker then to Ted Cruz-Carly Fiorina two generations later is alarming, demonstrating how candidates for President and Vice President, at least in the Republican Party, are truly disastrous!

Remember that the GOP is great at choosing terrible Vice Presidential candidates, including Spiro Agnew and Dan Quayle, who served as Vice President, and Sarah Palin!

And even the so called “better qualified” VP candidates such as Dick Cheney, who was Vice President, and Paul Ryan, who did not serve, are wanting in comparison to Democratic Vice Presidential candidates, including Walter Mondale, Al Gore, and Joe Biden, as well as candidates Edmund Muskie, Sargent Shriver, Lloyd Bentsen, and Joe Lieberman!

Likely Republican Vice Presidential Candidates

Ronald 3 Comments

Now that Donald Trump “seems” likely to be the Republican Presidential nominee, after last night’s five Northeastern primary victories, it is time to consider who might be his Vice Presidential running mate.

Many of the potential choices could be seen as true horrors, something to be worried about were Trump elected, and something happened to him, requiring the Vice President to succeed the President!

The list would include:

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn

Dr. Ben Carson of Maryland

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots football team

Former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

Florida Governor Rick Scott

Florida Senator Marco Rubio

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

At this point, this blogger would think that Christie, Blackburn, Carson and Huckabee are the most likely choices in that order.

The worst choices in this blogger’s estimation would be Scott, Walker, Palin, and Sessions in that order.

Rubio and Haley would probably be much better choices than anyone on the list, but unlikely that either would be selected.

Tom Brady is just a real long shot, but since his ego is as great as Trump’s ego, it could be possible, but unlikely!

And Joni Ernst–good looking, young, and just as dim witted as Sarah Palin, but if Trump is looking for a Palin clone, it could happen!

The Likelihood Of An Historic Vice Presidential Nomination For The Democrats: A Woman Or A Person Of Minority Heritage

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Speculation has begun about who Democrat Hillary Clinton’s potential choices for Vice President might be, but it seems more and more likely that it will be an historic choice, likely NOT to be a white male, but rather a woman or a leader of minority heritage.

It is true that Democrat Walter Mondale selected New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, and that Republican John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in 2008, but this time around, the possible candidates for a woman are much stronger choices.

If one is considering a woman, which some think is “radical” to do, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is seen as the most likely choice, but her fame and her age work against her, and it would make more sense to pick a woman who is substantially younger, and could be a potential successor eight years from now–such as Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota or Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington State.

If Hillary wants to select someone from a minority heritage, the best would be Latinos, such as former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, presently Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; or Secretary of Labor Tom Perez of Maryland; and if African American, the best would be New Jersey Senator Cory Booker or former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

In another blog entry forthcoming tomorrow, we will consider white males as potential Vice Presidential nominees, with quite a long list of such candidates!

The Importance Of The Vice Presidency Grows With “Senior Citizen” Likely Presidential Nominees!

Ronald 2 Comments

The Vice Presidency has become more significant and powerful since the time of Richard Nixon in the 1950s under Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Before Nixon, the Vice Presidency had little impact, and was often the butt of jokes and humor.

But the office has grown since then, and with the exception of Spiro Agnew under Nixon and Dan Quayle under the first President Bush, the men who have held the position have been men of quality, distinction, and ability, even if one did not necessarily agree with them on their political stands.

Recent books on the Vice Presidency have demonstrated that the last three Vice Presidents, each in office for eight years, a record in American history, have had a great impact on the office.

Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden have all served in a manner that demonstrates their influence and impact on the Presidents they served.

Now, with the almost certain reality that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are the likely nominees of their parties, we have the alternative candidates being past 70 and 69 respectively, meaning either one will be in their 70s during their term.

This is the first time that we will have both party nominees as senior citizens, and only Ronald Reagan for all but two weeks of his Presidency, and Dwight D. Eisenhower for three months were in their 70s.

So we must insist that both parties are very careful in the selection of the Vice Presidential nominees, as the odds of the next President not being able to finish his term has grown, with the rise in age of the nominees!

If one looks at the odds, it is something to worry about that it has been 53 years since the last time a President died in office, and 42 years since a President left office, and that makes for a longer such time frame than any previous period since the beginning of the Constitution!

We cannot afford to have another Agnew or Quayle, or even a potential Sarah Palin, as a heartbeat away from the Presidency!

The Republican Circus Of Donald Trump, Chris Christie, And Paul LePage: Three Narcissistic Bullies!

Ronald 3 Comments

So Donald Trump, a narcissistic bully, has been endorsed for President by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie , a narcissistic bully; and Maine Governor Paul LePage, a narcissistic bully!

All three are an embarrassment to themselves and to the American people–the biggest collection of hot air and pure egotism and braggadocio we have seen in American history!

Richard Nixon was obnoxious, but still had some “class” in public displays.

Even Dick Cheney has some sense of dignity in public, with the one exception when he used the f word openly with Senate President Pro Tempore, Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, one time on the Senate floor.

It  is difficult to find ANYONE with the gall and the public behavior of these three men, and former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden has expressed concern if Donald Trump was to act and speak as a President, as he does as a candidate, as he would undermine America’s safety and security by so doing!

And now Chris Christie must enter the equation as a possible Vice President, adding to the list, including Florida Governor Rick Scott, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and former Republican Presidential candidate and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina!

What a bunch of losers and disasters, all crooked, failed, or purely stupid potential Vice Presidents, or even cabinet officers, god forbid!