SLATE......... Could Kerry Pick McCain for VP?

[bearfartinthewoods]

http://slate.msn.com/id/2096568/

Could Kerry Pick McCain for VP?
How a Democrat could choose a Republican running mate.
By Brendan I. Koerner
Posted Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at 2:09 PM PT


Now that he's virtually sewn up the Democratic nomination, John Kerry has started his search for a running mate. One rumor making the rounds is that Kerry will make entreaties to Sen. John McCain, a Republican. Is it really possible for a presidential candidate to select a running mate from a different party?

Not only is it theoretically possible, it's actually happened, albeit under very unusual circumstances during the Civil War. There is nothing in either party's convention rules that specifically prohibits a candidate from selecting a running mate from the opposition. In practice, of course, it's extremely unlikely that a Republican would consent to run on a Democratic ticket, or vice versa. The traitor would certainly become persona non grata among their old partisan allies, to the point where they'd probably be forced to switch party affiliations anyway. The odds are slim to none that McCain would be willing to invite such scorn from his political chums.

It's also possible that a party's rank-and-file would coordinate a revolt on the convention floor and, going against tradition, work to subvert the presidential nominee's choice. According to the rules of the Democratic National Committee, for example, a vice presidential nomination is supposed to be affirmed by a roll-call ballot, a process that is typically a mere formality. But the selection of a Republican running mate could inspire many delegates to oppose the ticket's lesser half during the balloting. As the DNC rules note, "Delegates may vote for the candidate of their choice whether or not the name of such candidate was placed in nomination." At the very least, a ruckus like that would leave a bitter taste in everyone's mouth, at precisely the worst moment possible.

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. in a word

no

[chascarrillo]

2. How many ways can I say "no"?

I mean, that's just asking for a Squeaky Fromme. And you know some freeper would do it, too.

[AntiCoup2K4]

3. Yeah right....

...is the corporate media getting desperate for stories to fill their pages or what? :eyes:

[bearfartinthewoods]

13. errr..i have seen DUers asking for the same ticket

and no i don't have a link

[AntiCoup2K4]

19. There may have been discussion of a third party ticket (i.e. Dean/McCain)

in fact, I may have posted the thread myself. I know I did a similar discussion on other boards. But 2 candidates leaving their parties to run independently would be different than Kerry running as a Democrat and McCain running as a Republican.

It's not that the ticket couldn't neccessarily work - both candidates are centrist enough not to kill each other - but neither party machine would sign on to it. The DLC wants to maintain the illusion that they are actually "Democrats", at least for now.

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. He better not!

I don't vote for Republicans....any Republican. Moderate or not.

[MODemocrat]

25. Nor do I vote for any republican

If that should happen, I'm out of here. No way would I ever vote for John McCain under any circumstances!
:argh: :grr:

[BootinUp]

5. These people get paid for writing tripe like this

thats the real story.

[bearfartinthewoods]

14. yup...i have a great immagination. where do i apply for the job

we will have a lot of fiction foisted on us in the next months.

[quinnox]

6. I don't think so

This would be unprecedented as far as I know for a Dem to select a repub as vice-president. McCain would never accept anyway.

*Now that I read whole thing, I see it did happen during civil war. But very unusual circumstances.

Probably the "hip" slate writers ran out of ideas and had to fill space for a column.

[truhavoc]

7. This would only paint a "bullseye" on Kerry's back.

It would be suicide, all a RW would have to do to get republican control of the white house again would be to kill Kerry. It is not unconceivable at all especially with these gun nuts.

And personally, Kerry could never justify this to liberals. I would be seriously dismayed.

[unfrigginreal]

8. Well, that would give us one on the ticket that has some convictions...

although many of those convictions are misguided.

[BOSSHOG]

9. If he converts prior to selection

Senator McCain switches parties, agrees to be the VP nominee when asked by fellow legitimate veteran John Kerry. Far fetched? Yes! Is John McCain wacko enough and does he have any reason to get out of george bush's party? Lets all enjoy our intrique until the VP is announced.

[Desertrose]

10. They really want most of the dems to walk away, don't they

#1 HE'S A REPUBLICAN

#2 He's from my state & I don't want him as a Senator let alone a VP

3# They have to be kidding...talk about Dems are just another version of repubs


:shakinghead in disbelief:

DR

edited to say THEY instead of YOU...Slate :eyes:

[JI7]

11. well, he can, but hopefully not

we have a lot of great democratic choices to pick from. the tough thing for kerry is there are so many good people in the democratic party to choose from, not a lack of good choices.

[SonofMass]

12. If Kerry wants a republican

he should just go with Clark.

[BootinUp]

15. here we go again

:freak:

[FreeSpeechCrusader]

16. Once again another cheap shot with no substance whatsoever...

I love the class that exudes from your posts...

the sarcasm is choking me...

BTW Clark is further left than most all besides Kucinich and Sharpton...Him and Kerry are almost the same with Dean and Edwards to the right of them both.

[ArkDem]

26. .

.

[littlejoe]

22. Flamebait

[pansypoo53219]

17. give it up

McCain is not a closet democrat. he is a moderate, but his blood runs republican.

[robbedvoter]

23. Moderate my aunt Fanny! he is crooked and RW as they come.

Not everyone who occasionaly disagrees with W is ipso facto good. See Nofacts (and unlike McCain, he opposed the war)
McCain & Nickles were the 2 senators voting against NYC 9.11 relief funds.
Any compliment to McCain - I take as a personal insult.

[Mattforclark]

18. On the bright side...

He would lose his senate seat. Depending on when he resigned, Janet N might get to appoint someone, or there would be a good shot at picking up the seat in an election.

[revcarol]

20. UGH!! and DOUBLE UGH!!

Kerry is already in trouble with me for not seeing that we can reduce our defense budget while providing raises for our troops and supporting them and their families WELL!!

To pick a Republican who loves every defense contractor and every weapons system one could ever imagine...WORD FAIL ME.

[robbedvoter]

21. McCain? Why not Bush and be done with the election.

What happened? media bored with edwards already?

[mvd]

24. Nah

McCain may have an independent streak, but he's still basically a conservative. Usually, it would be asking him to go against his beliefs to vote to break a tie in our favor - imagine that! Plus, Kerry doesn't need the negativity and volatility that McCain brings.

[Festivito]

27. Before Lieberman, but, if Kerry is killed, yikes.

Maybe we could use a new Constitutional amendment for the succession.
If president dies, the next highest member of his party would become president.
If president is impeached, the highest member of the next major opposing party succeeds.

[DoNotRefill]

28. I doubt McCain would accept.

I think there is still deep-seated animosity on McCain's part over the Viet Nam issue and the testimony before the Fulbright committee being played to POWs by the North Vietnamese.

While they've "officially made up", I doubt he'd do it.