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NYT > Dow Jones Stock Average NPR Topics: Business NPR Topics: World Philosophy Bites NPR Topics: Culture NPR Topics: Opinion NPR Topics: Economy NPR Topics: Law NPR Topics: Religion Covers.com: general News and Stories Covers.com: general News and StoriesNow that a torrent of facts are starting to wash away Romney’s fairy-tale business narrative, his campaign goes black for shock:
Of course, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will never be Romney’s VP choice, but this leak to friendly Matt Drudge may give the campaign a little time to come up with a way to deal with the souring revelations about Romney’s Bain days.
Posted by R. Duane Graham on July 13, 2012
https://duanegraham.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/rice-pudding/
The Erstwhile Conservative: A Blog of Repentance 
Jim Wheeler
/ July 13, 2012Distractions do work, but they tend to be short-lived in politics. Consider Sara Palin. OMG.
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R. Duane Graham
/ July 13, 2012I believe Palin boosted McCain initially, but as you suggest the boost was short-lived, after she began sharing her smarts with us. Unfortunately, she hasn’t shut up since!
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Moe
/ July 13, 2012I think you’ve got it exactly right Duane. Besides distraction,, there’s also deflection – sending the attention away from Romney himself to a shiny new toy.
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ansonburlingame
/ July 13, 2012Are you trying to imply that Obama is not DEFLECTING the economic news that puts him in big trouble?
My guess is that Rice would not WANT to be a VP for anyone. She had her time in the politcal ring and probably is sick of it. However when you consider her intelligence, long history in foreign affairs and understanding from experience how the high levels of the federal government really work, why would she be a bad choice? She certainly will not garner any black support for Romney though Rubio MIGHT help in the Hispanic arena.
While on the VP line of writing what are your bets on the current VP remaining on the ticket for this Dem campaign?
Anson
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Moe
/ July 13, 2012I agree anson, Rice said no a long time ago and she meant it then. I still think it’lll be Rob Portman.
Dem VP? Biden stays.
And by the way, NO ONE is saying that Obama doesn’t deflect when it’s politically advantageous to do so.
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ansonburlingame
/ July 13, 2012For sure Moe, I have no idea how such political decisions are made. But we agree that Rice, of her own choosing probably is a no. Rubio seems to be very articulate and has some rather fresh ideas. Leaving racial politics aside, he seems like a pretty good choice to me. Portman, I know not at all but all the GOP needs is another white businessman/politician.
As for Biden, I see little that he brings to the Dem party other than loyalty to Obama. He lost the debate with Palin long ago and she didn’t hardly know where Russia was located. Rubio would have Biden for a quick snack BEFORE lunch in a debate from what I have seen.
But after all, when was the last time a VP pick really made a difference. 1960 would be the date that I would pick delivering Texas to a NE Dem and then look what happened!! Maybe the REAL Vietnam War??
Anson
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Moe
/ July 13, 2012Rubio has fresh ideas? What ideas? All he seems to have is the hope for part of the Hispanic vote. He’s young. He’s ‘articulate’, as you say. Cute kids. But what ideas?
As for debates, Biden – a very very accomplished politician and a very accomplished legislator – would eat him for breakfast. Biden is constantly underestimated.
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R. Duane Graham
/ July 13, 2012Moe,
You are right about Rice, Portman, and Biden.
And, of course, Anson is wrong about nearly everything he said, particularly his assessment of a Rubio-Biden debate. Biden’s performance against Palin was a tricky one to pull off because of the particular dynamics involved, but he nevertheless “won” the debate, according to a CNN poll.
And Biden would have little trouble with an upstart like Rubio. In any case, Romney will not pick him even though Rubio wants it so bad he can taste it.
Duane
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Treeske
/ July 13, 2012Rice would not garner black support and Rubio would bring only Hispanic of Cuban descent who vote Republican anyway.
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R. Duane Graham
/ July 13, 2012Which is exactly why Romney won’t pick either one of them. Portman gives him a chance to get Ohio, which he desperately needs if he wants to win.
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ansonburlingame
/ July 14, 2012Connecting the dots above over the VP picks, for both parties.
Would anyone WANT Biden to be our President? Despite Duane’s assertion, go watch a replay of the 2008 VP debate, only one and make your own decisions as to who “won”. Rather, let an independent make that decision!
Is Rubio a “lightweight”. Not from what I have seen and heard. Yes, he is a conservative and thus beyond the pale of commenters on this blog site. But smart, articulate, Cuban-American and thus Hispanic, you bet he is.
As for Portman as the choice to win Ohio, I suppose no one here thinks FL is significant???? Ha! Or does than mean you progressives have already conceded FL?
The VP pick is ALL about politics. It is NOT about much else, except, I doubt that McCain thought Alaska was important and wanted to rally the “women’s vote” with Palin. But even in that move, I doubt seriously that the 2008 election turmed on support for or rejection of Palin.
That election turned on “change” and this one will too, maybe. By that I mean change from “failure” (which again you will reject herein) or “stay the course” in hopes that four more years of Obama will turn the country around, domestically and internationally. For sure no one likes where we are today!
Anson
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Moe
/ July 14, 2012anson, re Rubio, you’re just repeating what you said before – that he’s ‘smart, articulate’ etc. I asked what ideas has he had? I’ve never heard any.
Anyway, for VP, I’ll stay with Duane – my money is/has been on Biden and Portman.
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ansonburlingame
/ July 14, 2012Fair question, Moe, and my answer is “I don’t know much” EXCEPT he has some ideas on immigration, the details of which I don’t, again, know much but sound “reasonable”.
At least he is not advocating to not enforce the law, he is advocating to change the laws of the land which is better than what the current administration is doing.
I have also heard some of his conservative views, yes on Fox, about Medicare, etc. Again he advocates changes, but not the ones you would like to hear.
Bottom line is Rubio counters many of the “GOP only is concerned about the rich” arguments from the left. He is not rich, as far as I know and is very familar with at least the plight of Cuban-Americans in FL. Now go see Portman’s views on such base on HIS experience..
As far as I can tell Portman is just another “white GOPer” and that is not going to do much against the Dem class attacks against the GOP. But who is the best man to be “one heart beat away from the Presidency”? Who knows but I am sure we will hear a lot of that crap over the coming few months.
I also note that you did NOT say Biden is a good guy for that responsibliity!
Anson
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Moe
/ July 14, 2012Okay, Biden is a good guy. A very good guy. Honorable, a wondeful father, husband and Senator, where he was always ranked among as one of the ‘poorest’ in the Senate, with a very low net worth. He has an impressive record of legislation, principled stands and successful negotiations. He was also considered by his Senate colleahgues to pretty much be the ‘nicest’ senator.
Like I said, yeah he’s a good guy. And as for being the right one to step into the Oval office? Ab.So.Lute.Ly. Very experienced, knows leaders all over the world – he’s as ready as they come.
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Jane Reaction
/ July 15, 2012Finally, the truth from Corporal Burlingame: “I don’t know much.”
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ansonburlingame
/ July 16, 2012Moe,
I have known many “good guys”, men and women that were honest, good spouses, didn’t have a lot of money, etc., etc. Almost every one of the leaders that I worked for in both the military and civilian world fit that category quite well.
But such leaders in the military and civilian world HAD to take it several steps UP from being simply a “good guy” to really be effective as a leader, particularly when they achieved high levels of leadership, again in the military and civilian world. I personally have known and worked for two CNOs the highest position in the Navy. I also have worked directily for two CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.
I have been in their homes, met their spouses, gone to “parties” or other social engagements with them. They were all “good men”, actually superb men in almost every detail of their lives.
A good leader MUST or at least should be a “good man or woman”. But real leadership at the highest levels requires far more than just that. A good leader must also be TOUGH, very smart and before rising to the “pinnacles” of leadership they must have a long track record of achievement, in my view.
As for Biden, it seems the White House holds its breath every time he speaks publicly and prays he does not wander off the prepared script. I need not recount some of the mini-disasters he has made just in the last 4 years, alone. Good guy, you bet, but a President…….
Anson
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Moe
/ July 16, 2012um, anson, let us stipulate that there are also bad guys and mediocre guys and some of them succeed and some of them fail. And I”m sure you knew plenty of good guys.
As for leadership, I’d say becoming and remaining one of the 100 most powerful persons in the world for a few decades, maintaining the trust of his constituents and his colleagues all that time means he’s got what it takes..
But this is a sillly conversation. Biden has proven himself. The question is has Rubiio. I’d say no – he’s just a pretty new face.
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Jim Wheeler
/ July 16, 2012Moe, just for the record, I thoroughly agree with you. Despite his commonly-accepted reputation for muffing sound bites I have been very favorably impressed with Biden during his time as VP, not only with his political and foreign-affairs competence but with the man’s honesty and humanity, qualities that come though strongly for me every time I see him in an interview.
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ansonburlingame
/ July 16, 2012For both of you two,
Of course I was writing about leadership, what it takes to lead a company, a ship or a nation or things in between. When instituitons
look for leaders they by and large do not just look for “good men” as you have defined such above and suggested that Rubio might or might not be such.
If we as political opponents at the Party level cannot agree on the characteristics of good leadership in general, military, civilian or political, then why bother.. You will pick “your guy ” and I will pick “mine” and we will both suppose they are both good leaders for each side.
Baloney in my view. At least at the Presidential level good leadership in the past in really tough situations should be a prerequiste for such a nomination or election.
The first time in his life that Obama was elevated to a position of real leadership was when he was elected as the President. Romney on the other hand has lead private business, an internationl venue and a STATE and was acknowledged for his achievements in each of those positions.
Your attack was, for now, that he made too much money!!!!!!! Well good leaders in business make a lot of money, legally and honestly and pay taxes the same way on they money they make. Is there something wrong with THAT????
Anson
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