A Romney / Paul Ticket ???

[Waitone]

http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/22/rand-paul-says-it-would-be-an-honor-to-be-considered-as-veep-this-explains-a-lot/

It started with an honest, simple question and now has a life of its own.  Did Romney and Paul have a gentleman's agreement to lay off each other in view of a possible Romney / Paul ticket.  Seems the Brit papers started the question off by speculating it would be Ron Paul, then later Rand Paul said he would be honored to be considered for the ticket.  Now it is all over the US blogsphere.

Would such a ticket calm the non-elite wing of the republican party?  Time will tell.  But one has to remember Romney's brain trust said the way to win the nomination is to alienate the 40% of the electorate which is his potential base by pandering to the 20% undecided.  They just assumed the 40% would be there regardless of what Mitt and his brain trust did.  May have worked before the TEA insurrection but not after.

In any case how would a Mitt / Paul ticket strike the APS choir?

[lee n. field]

Paul would have minimal power and influence, and likely not run again (age, disease or infirmity).  He would serve the same purpose Biden does in the 0bama admin (insurance).

[RoadKingLarry]

He would serve the same purpose Biden does in the 0bama admin

I don't think Paul would have near the idiotic foot in mouth comedy value that Biden does.

[grampster]

If you look back, I speculated about this several weeks ago.

[roo_ster]

Yeah, that one sure has me flustered.

Not sure whether to *expletive deleted*it or go blind, were it to turn out true and actually happen.

[MechAg94]

Would you take Paul as your VP running mate knowing how some of his supporters are?   

[longeyes]

It's RAND Paul we are talking about, no?

The VP slot would be the stepping-stone to the Presidency in eight years--in normal times.  That's obviously the idea, but who among us would hazard a prediction about ANYTHING political in America in eight years? 

[Perd Hapley]

Whether the Romney/Paul ticket wins or loses, wouldn't this amount to Rand Paul giving Romney the ultimate endorsement? Do we really want Rand Paul to be tainted like that? Rand Paul would bring a lot of Romney RINO baggage into any future presidential bid, would he not? Especially if they win.

[Balog]

Whether the Romney/Paul ticket wins or loses, wouldn't this amount to Rand Paul giving Romney the ultimate endorsement? Do we really want Rand Paul to be tainted like that? Rand Paul would bring a lot of Romney RINO baggage into any future presidential bid, would he not? Especially if they win.

^^ my thoughts exactly.

[Tallpine]

That would make about as much sense as a George Wallace/Jesse Jackson ticket 

[MicroBalrog]

This is just one of these crazy pre-election campaign watchers' theories. Won't happen.

[brimic]

I'd vote for any Presidential candidate who promised to appoint Ron Paul the head of a different alphabet agency every week of his presidency- about enough time for Paul to hand out pink slips to each agency and tell them to go home.

[SADShooter]

Heck, just make him Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Who'd need Netflix if they had CSPAN?

[red headed stranger]

This is just one of these crazy pre-election campaign watchers' theories. Won't happen.

It feels like some folks trying to float a trial balloon. 

[longeyes]

They want Rubio, but they can't get him.  (Yet.)

[Waitone]

I think Romney and his brain trust grew a brain and figgered out they will not win the presidency by p*ssing off the conservative wing; not now with the ongoing TEA insurrection.  So now Romney is swinging conservative to get the nomination.  What better way to to shore up the base they had previously jettisoned than to bring onboard the only principled constitutionalists in public.  I think using Paul (you pick which one) is a pretty good move if you assume Paulian libertarianism appeals to the TEA insurrectionists.  I'm not convinced TEA types are willing to be identified with some of the more controversial positions of the Pauls.  I suggest Santorum may be a more acceptable VP selection to the TEA types.  From the beginning I've thought Santorum was running for VP.

[Balog]

Why in the world would Santorum of all people appeal to Tea Party types? Dude is more big .gov than even Romney.

[Waitone]

Why in the world would Santorum of all people appeal to Tea Party types? Dude is more big .gov than even Romney.

That was then, this is now.  He's done an admirable job covering his tracks and repositioning himself.  Those new to political activism, like TEA types for instance, are not likely to pick up his new posture.  Non-elite republicans are buying a pig in a poke with Romney.  What hasn't been discussed is they are buying the same pig for VP.  It is increasingly apparent there is no substantive difference amongst the candidate with maybe, maybe Paul.  Perhaps after this election is will be evident the political class will not be able pull us out of our mess. 

[Perd Hapley]

I'd vote for any Presidential candidate who promised to appoint Ron Paul the head of a different alphabet agency every week of his presidency- about enough time for Paul to hand out pink slips to each agency and tell them to go home.

This idea has potential.

Just for kicks, I'd like to see a Cain/Palin ticket. It would sound a lot like the '08 ticket, but not quite as faily.

[longeyes]

Waitone nailed it.  What this election will prove, if not in November then after, that the real problem cannot be solved by changing the scorecard.