Notes of
Concern…
…Jackson Blair
It's “MITTENS” time!
“Mittens,” the “Mittster,” “Willard,” whatever you like to
call the former Massachusetts Governor, he is now seeking a new nickname,
something along the line of POTUS, the Prez, the Big House Resident, etc.
He has in my view locked up the GOP nomination and will
spend the remaining time until the summer convention ignoring the other fellas:
Mr. Speaker, Former Senator and Gadlfy.
I found one recent comment about Rick Santorum really
insightful. The commentator said that Rick Santorum is the only guy who can
lose three primaries on one night and still think he is Ronald Reagan.
Another commentator reminded Santorum “close only counts in
horseshoes.” Santorum is not only not on “The Back Nine” on the Presidential
Nomination Golf Course- he has lost his scorecard, his golf bag and his caddy.
As for Mr. Speaker, he of multiple wives and mistresses, he
should be getting paid by the Obama campaign for the verbal carnage he is
leaving all along his path. Like General Sherman’s march through Georgia in the
Civil War, the Speaker is trying to burn everything down and leave nothing for
Romney to salvage. Of course Gingrich is from Georgia and as Northerners know
those folks are pretty sure the Civil War is not over.
Congressman Paul knew he would not win nomination. He is a
smart, albeit odd, man. I have always liked him. He is having fun in his
twilight years. Some think he is hopeful his campaign will generate interest in
his U.S. Senator son, Rand. Whatever his reasons, Paul has behaved admirably
and has represented the views of a minority in this country, many of them
young, idealistic voters.
So “Mittens” now must think toward a running mate. Of
course, everyone has advice. Some think he needs an Hispanic (Senator Rubio for
instance). Some think he needs the sitting Governor of an important state,
someone with executive experience (Governor Christie for instance). Some think
he needs a woman ( the Governor of New Mexico-who happens to be Hispanic: a two
for one!) and some think he needs to pick someone the Tea Party could rally
around (like Senator Rand Paul.)
Just so I am upfront about all of this, I have a favorite
horse in the Veep sweepstakes: Condoleezza Rice.
Secretary Rice worked for four years in the G.H.W. Bush
White House. Add another eight years at the federal level as she worked in the
G.W. Bush White House and as Secretary of State. That gives her twelve years at
the top of American foreign policy.
She was Provost of Stamford University at a very young age.
And I can throw in that she is a concert pianist who likes to date football
players!
More importantly, she is steeped in international relations
skills, the area in which the “Mittster” is the least experienced. The
cognoscenti will also mention she is black and she is female. None of the
others mentioned even come close in bringing what she brings to the table in
discussing potential VEEPS.
But the primary qualification in my mind should never be
what state the vice presidential nominee could deliver in the election, nor
what interest group the nominee might excite, but whether the vice presidential
candidate is qualified to step up and run the country if required in any
emergency.
No other qualification trumps that one.
If the presidential nominee really cares about the country
and places such a belief above tweaking his election chances, Secretary Rice is
one of those who has to be on his short list.
