Rice Won't Be Romney Veep

      The list of GOP convention speakers is out so we at least can say categorically who won't be the Romney VP: Condoleeza Rice.

      I never thought it would be. However, a lot of Republicans seemed to want her, including Michelle McPhee. I didn't see how it could be-she's prochoice and there is no litmus test more cut and dried for the GOP as to who's a real conservative and who's a fake than abortion.

      This has been the case since Reagan.

       "Republicans rolled out a list of headline speakers Monday for their convention in Tampa, a roster covering important demographic and thematic bases, but one that will almost certainly be expanded with the addition of the silver and bronze medalists in the vice presidential selection process."

       "Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the party’s 2008 presidential nominee, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and the governors of two must-win states, Florida’s Rick Scott and John Kasich of Ohio, are among those who will address the Republican National Convention, which runs Aug. 27-30. Two female state chief executives, Gov. Nikki Haley (S.C.) and Gov. Susana Martinez (N.M.), will also have prominent speaking slots, according to the Tampa Bay Times, which first reported the list."

       http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-2012-convention-speakers-announced/2012/08/06/65b41d3c-dfba-11e1-8fc5-a7dcf1fc161d_story.html

      Don't get me wrong, I would have relished the opportunity to run against the Bush Administration one more time. Maybe Condi could have given us an update on the search for WMDs-I'm sure it's going as well as OJ's search for Nicole's "real killer."

      Still there is some hope for Romney to score a home run in his VP pick-for the Democrats that it.

      It seems to me that the safest picks are Pawlenty or Portman, while Jindal and Rubio are also worth a look. Pawlenty is safe-and Romney is about nothing if he's not about playing it safe. However, paradoxically, Pawlenty is so safe that he's considered boring. As boring is the kiss of death, he's not safe. So the next choice would be Portman.

    He would be pretty good, you'd think. Being form Ohio, maybe he'd help there and he at least isn't terribly polarizing in a way where more than half the country can't stand him. However, there seems to be a groundswell among the GOPers that they want someone who will be polarizing.

    I've heard a lot of talk about Ryan. Let's just hope it's true. The conservatives who argue for Ryan say that he would make this campaign about "issues rather than personalities."

    For teh record, Democrats want a campaign about issues though the David Brookses of the world are up in arms over the supposedly personal attacks on Bain and Romney's missing tax returns. Pace Krugman, the attacks on Bain and taxes are a clever way to make the issues front and center.

   However, no question, nothing would make the issues that are really at stake in this election more front and center than Ryan as Veep. It's a fight Democrats should want.

    I mean whether Ryan runs or not Obama is running against the Ryan budget. But by all means let's see Romney own it. I don't think he will as that's not his style. But here's hoping he does.