Redstate

By ex democrat Posted in 2008 — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

I really think Republicans have a hard year this year. With the three recent special election losses in Republican districts, we are up against a wall. I really think that the top of the ticket will be the only way to save huge losses in November. That said, John McCain's operation is nothing compared to Obama's or even Clinton's.

I think Barack Obama has the foreign policy ideas of a two year old with his suggestions of chit chatting with Ahmedinejad when they have Hamas and Hezbollah waging its proxy war and voting against naming the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization when there's open evidence that they were providing weapons to Hezbollah in their attacks on Lebanon. His domestic policy is summed up by the National Journal's rating of him as the most liberal senator in Congress. Despite these transparent shortcomings, he has the momentum, the money and the media all in his favor.

I really think the only way we're going to win is if we snatch many of the disenchanted Hillary supporters in the Democratic party, the moderate Democrats and the independents. I really think that the best and easiest way to do this is to put a woman on the ticket. While some are arguing for Condi, I think that would be a HUGE mistake. She is as closely linked to Bush as anyone in the Administration. It'd be like putting Rumsfeld on the ticket in a dress. Dumb idea. Also, the fact that she's black will not help us against Obama. While I'd like to think that black Americans would understand that the Democrats have done nothing for their cause under Pelosi, et al. and would vote for the Republicans because we have a black person on the ticket, it ain't going to happen.

That presents Meg Whitman as the best option. Think about it. She's one of the first women to ever graduate from Princeton University. She's a brilliant mind and managed to success one of the most recognizable and successful companies in America - eBay - that has triumphed on the concept of an open-market, which is key to our economic ideals. That presents another attractive attribute of Ms. Whitman - her economic prowess and understanding will lend strength to McCain against Democratic attacks that McCain doesn't "understand economics." Meg Whitman does and she can help shoot down any trite jabs they will send. Also, she's a woman, which is key. Very key. Many dispirited and disenchanted Hillary supporters will come over to support our side. They feel their party has deserted them and many will come. Obviously not all 15 million voters who supported Hillary are going to vote for McCain, but I have reason to believe that a good chunk will. Also, this will help shore up moderate Democrats and independents. The fact that the Republicans can be seen as the progressive party with a woman on the ticket will ease any anxiety that they're jumping on with a party that has radical ideals very different than theirs. Meg Whitman is respected on both sides of the aisle and it will be hard for them to tear her down.

Other options that fall short: Carly Fiorina - while I think she's a great surrogate and definitely someone we want on the networks, she has some unattractive baggage linked to the HP - Compaq merger and also the whole Board spying scandal can provide bad news coverage regardless of whether she was implicated. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Elizabeth Dole - we need them in the Senate, and poor Liddy's in a fight in North Carolina, so we hardly need to run her thin on her fight for her Senate seat.

I'm sure there are others that are attractive, but I cannot think of any quite as attractive as Meg Whitman. We must act quickly and draft Meg for VP.

Also, let's donate to the RNC (https://www.gop.com/Donate/Default.aspx), the NRCC (https://www.nrcc.org/donate/default.asp?ID=3), the NRSC (https://secure.donationreport.com/donation.html?key=AKPNDROEGKF5) and the McCain campaign (https://www.johnmccain.com/Contribute/ContributeA.aspx?guid=505f651f-798...) for crying out loud. We're getting bull-dozed by the Democrats.