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Go Home Mccain-lieberman '08

THE SPINE FEBRUARY 7, 2008

Mccain-lieberman '08

BY MARTIN PERETZ

 

The common wisdom is that John McCain will now have to turn right to satisfy--no, conciliate and bend to--the more conservative opposition base of the Republican Party. I'm not so sure. To the extent that many Americans are disgusted by the rancor in our politics, a smarter move might be for McCain to run as the center candidate he has become. Almost as a non-partisan candidate. That could be accomplished by designating Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's vice presidential running mate in the theft year 2000, as his running-mate. As it happens, Lieberman seems to have the admiration of many pious Christians, Evangelical and Fundamentalist, without him being their ally on many issues that agitate them. Here's an exposition of what Lieberman would bring to a McCain ticket, a very persuasive exposition, by Jamie Kirchick.

I'm not taking odds. But I'm not dismissing the idea at all.

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19 comments

Of course you're not Marty -- indeed, this ticket would help you abandon Obama after you helped elevate him (then tell people that there was no way Hillary could have won).

Here's McCain's centrist pick if Hillary wins: Colin Powell.  The GOP could peel off 1/3 of the Dems African-American base.  

- Lymon1

February 7, 2008 at 4:05pm

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Bobby Jindal would be a much more interesting (and rational) choice: young, whipsmart, expert on health care with real executive achievements as well. Has huge appeal to the base, helps offset Obama's breakthrough status, also pairs McC with a fresh face.

Assuming Obama runs, the presence of two hugely capable and clever nonwhites on the two tickets would finally get this nation closer to realizing King's vision about content of character, and also move us beyond our elites' euro-centrism to finally giving the Asian Century's challenges the attention they deserve

- teplukhin2you

February 7, 2008 at 4:14pm

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You should dismiss the idea, Marty, for two reasons:

1. Lieberman himself said he would not accept a VP offer from McCain. Last week.

2. Lieberman is the genius who lost a televised debate to Dick Cheney. A man who loses a debate to Dick Cheney is not capable of winning a debate against any conceivable opponent, and no sane politician puts that man on his ticket.

- rhubarbs

February 7, 2008 at 4:26pm

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I dunno about Jindal -- he's likeable enough, but does he really have a lot of appeal with the base?  What's his immigration reform position?  Again, I think McCain's pick is somewhat dependent on who the Dems select.  If it's Hillary, I think he's ceding Latinos but may see an opening with African-Americans after all the bitterness.  If it's Obama, I might look hard for a female veep pick.  

- Lymon1

February 7, 2008 at 4:31pm

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Colin Powell will look like a transparent token pick. Because, well, it would be. Powell has been tested, and found wanting. He still has a good reputation among moderate whites who don't pay attention to the news.

Names I won't be surprised to hear on McCain's list:

Sarah Palin, Cathy McMorris Rogers, and Jean Schmidt.

The primaries have shows that a significant number of Democratic women will vote gender over policy preferences, so whether it's Obama or Hillary, McCain has to choose a woman as VP. Palin is the most interesting, centrist choice; either McMorris Rogers or Schmidt would represent more of an appeal to movement conservatives.

- rhubarbs

February 7, 2008 at 4:40pm

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Jindal's got huge appeal to the base. He's the only bright star in the GOP firmament these days; they may well think he's more valuable in Baton Rouge than on the presidential ticket.

No idea how he would play with hispanic voters, but that's where Obama's weakest. Running against Obama, McCain could take FL and sweep the southwest if he were to put someone on  the ticket with strong appeal to hispanics.

- teplukhin2you

February 7, 2008 at 4:56pm

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Jindal was just sworn in as governor.  Would he be able to walk away just like that?

I think the governor of Alaska is some attractive woman.  Putting a hot chick on the ticket would be a smart move for McCain.  Carly Fiorina would be another good choice for him to take some of the gender edge away from Hillary.

- stgla

February 7, 2008 at 5:18pm

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Obama/Strickland vs. McCain/Crist would be interesting (at least to me).

But I guess a Democrat ticket with no military/foreign policy experience would be a disaster.

I like the way Obama/Zinni sounds. And I like Anthony Zinni. Piyush Lindal would be a great, great choice for McCain. Hope he doesn't do something that smart. Hope he flubs it and goes way to the right.

- fougasseu

February 7, 2008 at 5:22pm

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Stgla -- one thing that might help Lindal would be if the Dem nominee chose Jim Webb (yeah, he's got a bit deeper background, but he's a senate newbie).  But I don't know which convention is first.

Zinni is not a bad pick for the Dem nominee -- I'd love to see a republican moderate though for pure bipartisanship.  If Kerry can court McCain, Obama can court Susan Collins!  

- Lymon1

February 7, 2008 at 5:52pm

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VP picks are worth what?  3+ news cycles?  Albeit the VP pick for McCain may be much more important since he'll be a very ripe 72 years of age.  Just the same Lieberman just might be the one who would rally liberals - in great numbers - against McCain.

- Bukharin

February 7, 2008 at 7:03pm

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Nothing against Lieberman, but it's looking ahead through a rearview mirror. I'm afraid he contradicts the core notion of change. I like Webb, but two senators? I don't think so.

- fougasseu

February 7, 2008 at 7:53pm

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I hope McCain chooses Lieberman.  He will make it easier for the Democratic candidate to win.  Lieberman has become -- perhaps always was -- essentially dishonest.  When he ran for Senator as an independent, after losing to Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary, he told one and all that he was still a good liberal Democrat, differing only in his support for the Iraq war.  Now that he enthusiastically supports the self proclaimed conservative McCain, he has been shown to be either a simple liar or a colossal flip flopper of the worst sort.  In any event he has zero credibility, apart from his holier than thou appeal to fundamentalists of all varieties.

- PeteBeck

February 7, 2008 at 8:42pm

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"I think the governor of Alaska is some attractive woman."

Sarah Palin (http://www.gov.state.ak.us/). An intriguing choice: a fellow Westerner, lifetime member of the NRA, hunter/marathon runner, had success cutting property taxes when she was a city manager, undoubtedly friendly with oil and gas interests, son enlisted in the Army, attractive, young (she's 44), and a maverick (she blew the whistle on the state GOP party chairman for violating ethics laws).

- cleavet

February 7, 2008 at 10:50pm

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Marty you beat me to this.

As the Sage of New Hampshire Jewry, I was getting ready to ask you about Sen Lieberman and your thoughts.

I think McCain Lieberman is unstoppable against Hilary and Joe would like to get a little electoral satisfaction in this cycle.

I don't see it against Obama.  Obama's true believers would rather lose with Obama than win with a more centrist ticket.

I like Cheney and the continuity it would provide, but it's over.  Runsfeld is too old.  Maybe Romney is the best out there.  We'll see.

- CRS9TNR

February 7, 2008 at 10:52pm

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If McCain chose Lieberman, he would lose even against Hillary.  Rather than being perceived as a "reach across the aisle," there is almost nothing that would inflame Democrats as much as having their back-stabbing, 2004 losing VP nominee reappear as the Republican nominee in 2008.  It would be nice if McCain were that stupid, but I rather doubt it.  This is, however, a terrific illustration of Peretz's keen grasp of electoral politics.  But wait.  Maybe Peretz is trying to subvert McCain.   Or maybe he's hoping that the Repugs will think he is trying to subvert McCain and so will go to the other extreme, picking a VP candidate who solidifies their base, maybe even Huckabee.  So Peretz is really trying to throw the nomination to Huckabee to undermine the Repugs.  Or maybe Peretz knows that they will know his game and choose .  .  .     What it all proves is just this:  "Never go up against a Thithilian where death is on the line."

- roidubouloi

February 8, 2008 at 8:42am

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Joementum has already indicated his lack of interest in another VP run: "Been there, done that."  Too bad since he was such a weak candidate as Gore's ticket-mate.  I predict McCain will pick his new best friend Governor Crist of Florida for the most obvious reason of needing to carry Florida.

I continue to believe that Hillary would NEVER put Obama on her ticket and that Obama would NEVER accept.  Why not, you ask.  Let me count the ways.

1) She would fear being outshone and outclassed by the VP candidate and would therefore prefer a blander presence like maybe Evan Bayh.

2) She has developed an intense dislike of Obama.

3) Obama knows he would be playing third fiddle or worse with Bill lurking around.

4) As the first female candidate, she might be concerned that putting an African-American on the ticket would constitute too steep a gradient for the American electorate.

If Obama were to be the Democratic nominee for President, I agree with those who have suggested that he would look for an older white male with a strong suit in national security or foreign affairs such as Senator Webb, Senator Biden, or maybe even one of the generals.

- JackR

February 8, 2008 at 10:05am

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McCain just might choose Condi Rice for a threefer (single, black, female) and doing so will earn the devotion of the Bushies (except Cheney). Right now McCain is the anti-Bush Republican, and the way to repeal that rift is to get George 100% behind him is with Condi. George might be hated in 2/3 of the country, but not the hardcore base. Jindal just became governor, no chance, he has less experience than Agnew.

For the Dems, Webb is too volcanic and not enough experience. Great Senator, lousy VP pick (although maybe a good choice for Defense) Obama will choose a white Governor, like Rendell of Pa.

- blackton

February 8, 2008 at 11:18am

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McCain may go for Arnold Vinick. Vinick ran very strong in the primary, and was strong against Santos.

I'd suggest Alan Alda actually run using the name "Arnold Vinick" to not confuse the base. I think Thompson confused the base by running under his real name.

Reagan actually used the name "Ronald Reagan" in films and on TV, which made the transition from fiction to non-fiction seamless.

While Obama/Santos would be very strong, particularly with Latinos (Hispanics?), it may sound a bit to Bossa Nova.

- fougasseu

February 8, 2008 at 6:35pm

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Can't see either Rice or Powell taking the VP slot for the Rs.  I think Sarah Palin would highlight McCain's age too much.  Bobby LIndal is a good idea but a bit too transparent as a ploy to "reach minorities".  I can't fathom the hype on Webb.  I've heard some talk of Gingrich but I can't see that happening or helping.  Maybe Gov. Crist.  But probably some conservative that isn't well known to the general populace but respected by the Conservs/Evangs.  

Obama/Biden is upbeatable in the general.  

- ericad

February 18, 2008 at 2:06pm

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