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Introduction
One of the greatest arguments is taking place today in the United States. The argument centers around who will be the running mates of Barack Obama and John McCain. This is a major element in deciding who will win the top post in the United States; that of president. For the voters it is a game of wait and see. For the candidates it is a game of I hope I get it right. Neither audience really knows what the top job will entail until they open that top secret folder on the presidents desk when they take office. It is then that they will see if they can keep campaign promises.
The Writer
The writers position is that the debate, or discussion, about who will be picked for McCains, or Obamas, running mate will be is pointless (Cook, 2008). Charlie Cook is a political journalist for the CongressDaily AM which is the property of National Journal Group, Inc. His article for the 19th issue is copyrighted.
The writer concludes that the argument about who the running mates will be is akin to parlor games. In his article he states that it is a pointless exercise yet it is the hottest topic around (Cook, 2008). He states that this it is an enormously large job that requires that the right person be picked considering that the person chosen must help garner 270 electoral votes to win.
The Argument
Charlie Cook summarizes his article by stating that:
For what its worth, my view this year is that a choice that looks overtly political, a crude attempt to curry favor with the veteran voters of one state or demographic group would be seen as just that, political, and that is not good in this environment (Cook, 2008).
Cook acknowledges that there have been some last moment surprises in this stage of the race during other campaigns. Some surprises were Dan Quayles pick of Dick Cheney in 2000 and the choice of Geraldine Ferraro to Mondales ticket. Those two surprises did not win.
At this point in the race the 71 year old McCain could win with a relatively inexperienced running mate where Barack Obama might look for someone with experience to counter balance his inexperience.
In this parlor game each side has its chips. Obama holds in his hand Chris Dodd, Sam Nunn, Evan Bayh and Joseph Biden. Noticeably missing is Hilary Clinton, but thats another story. McCains chips are all labeled someone younger .
The Final Conclusion
The author leaves the final conclusion to the readers with a list of possibilities. There are more democratic choices than republican. Cook points out that Obama is in the same situation that Bush was in in the 2000 race. Bush chose Cheney and obviously won with that ticket. As for McCain the choices are few. He needs to offset his age with a younger candidate. It is in this part of Cooks argument that he lists his fathers joke:
at his age he doesnt buy green bananas anymore (Cook, 2008)
Cook applauds those close to Obama and McCain for keeping their mouths shut on the matter as they either know and are quiet or dont have a clue either.
The most interesting point in this article is the one not written about. Cook neither gives his guess or gives up his party affiliation.
The parlor game is almost over. Whoever is picked could make or break the party ticket and cost a hopeful the race. As stated earlier, McCain nor Obama have given any clue to who they will choose. We can only guess until then. The only part we play now is guessing or strategizing.
Cook ends his argument as follows:
For what its worth, my view this year is that a choice that looks overtly political, a crude attempt to curry favor with the voters of one state or demographic group would be seen as just that, political, and that is not good in this environment.
This is a time when picking someone enormously qualified for the job is the primary factor. Picking someone who might be of some help in securing 270 electoral votes is secondary, but still of significant concern. That is, in fact, the right politics. (Cook, 2008)
This popular parlor game is being played across the country. Even so, the author thinks it is all pointless. There are those who think they have it all figured out and say so. There are many, like the author, that agree that it is a pointless argument and we should just wait and see what happens at the Conventions.
All of this is pretty pointless, and the more certain that folks around Washington and the political community are that they have figured out the pick, the more laughable it is. (Cook, 2008)
References
Cook, C. (2009). Right Choice. CongressDaily AM. Web.
Change We Can Believe In. Nation. 2008:3, 4. Available from: MasterFILE Premier, Ipswich, MA. Web.
Right Choice
One of my least favorite parlor games being played these days is trying to guess who Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., will select to be their presidential running mates.
It is a pointless exercise, yet it is the hottest topic around. There are dozens of factors that must be taken into consideration, such as personal, political and ideological compatibility, and whether that person could deliver a state or demographic group, as if voters were like pizzas and could be delivered.
Some other factors could include acceptability among various factions in the party; whether the selection of a candidate makes some strategic statement; whether a running mates selection helps correct for some shortcoming or weakness on the part of the presidential nominee, and etc. The list could go on forever.
But the simple fact is that a thousand different people in either McCains or Obamas shoes would place different weight on the dozens of factors in a thousand different ways. Its a decent bet that no single adviser or even spouse of one of the two men has a true grasp of how the candidate views each of these factions, only some ideas and impressions that might or might not be right.
One thing that is absolutely true is that if anyone were really privy to the innermost thoughts that Obama or McCain have on this subject, theyre surely keeping their mouths shut.
In the past, the smart campaigns have so compartmentalized the vice presidential selection process that many people saw individual pieces of the puzzle but only a few saw the entire thing. But even these few would not likely be able to see each of those pieces in precisely the same way the candidate does.
All of this is pretty pointless, and the more certain that folks around Washington and the political community are that they have figured out the pick, the more laughable it is.
Ronald Reagans 1980 selection of George H. W. Bush was not a shocker, nor was Michael Dukakis 1988 selection of Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, nor the 2004 selection of Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. But none were foregone conclusions, either.
But the 1988 selection of Sen. Dan Quayle, R-Ind., was a total surprise, as was the 2000 selection of Dick Cheney.
Bill Clintons 1992 pick of Tennessee Sen. Al Gore was a bit unusual similar age, adjacent states, similar ideology, no prior personal relationship and not many thought that Gore would choose Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., either.
For that matter, Rep. Geraldine Ferraros selection by Walter Mondale in 1984 was a big surprise, too.
In short, the political community has a sorry track record of picking running mates. Sure, from time to time we all come across someone who claims to have predicted one of the surprises though rarely in writing or on tape and every once in a while those boasts might even be true.
But the larger point still stands that these things are very difficult to predict and its fairly pointless to even try. What is legitimate is to ask, If I were the nominee, my top choices would be X, Y or Z, putting aside any pretension of inside knowledge or superior analytical ability.
From this vantage point, Obama is, politically speaking, in a similar situation to which George W. Bush was in during 2000.
There were and are plenty of people who are leaning toward or open to supporting him but remain a bit unconvinced of his experience. Bush would not likely have won that race without Cheney, or at least someone with a great deal of experience voters would find a reassuring choice for a presidential nominee with a thinner than optimal resume.
There are a ton of names like Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., Joseph Biden, D-Del., Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., or former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., who each offer extensive experience. Adding in the post-partisan angle would open up selections such as Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska or Richard Lugar of Indiana.
My father turns 90 years old next month and has joked that at his age, he doesnt buy green bananas anymore.
The folly of a 71-year old nominee picking a green, relatively inexperienced running mate seems much more serious, particularly if that presidential nominee sells as his strong suit that national security credentials are his raison d%C3%AAtre for the presidency.
In a very challenging national security environment, putting someone on McCains ticket who only has experience heading the Florida or Minnesota National Guard would seem a stretch given McCains rationale for the presidency.
To be sure, a case can be made that the whole experience value might be damaged these days that more voters are placing less value on experience this year than any time in the last half century. But that doesnt mean that it isnt important.
For what its worth, my view this year is that a choice that looks overtly political, a crude attempt to curry favor with the voters of one state or demographic group would be seen as just that, political, and that is not good in this environment.
This is a time when picking someone enormously qualified for the job is the primary factor. Picking someone who might be of some help in securing 270 electoral votes is secondary, but still of significant concern. That is, in fact, the right politics.
By Charlie Cook
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