Curmudgeon's Corner

The Veep Sweepstakes

Posted by Al Campbell on Aug. 7, 2012

Political, U.S., Wisconsin

The great VP prediction effort is fully underway.  As speakers are announced for the Republican convention, the list of possibilities decreases since the person selected will not have been among the early speakers.

I note that neither Rep. Paul Ryan nor Governor Scott Walker have yet been announced as speakers, just to add fuel to the speculation activity.

I will be quite surprised if Governor Walker isn’t accorded an opportunity to speak to the gathering of Republicans, and will also be quite surprised if that doesn’t occur during prime time.  Walker is a capable speaker and is revered by many Republicans/Conservatives following the Wisconsin recall election.

While I think Rep. Ryan would serve us all better by staying in the House of Representatives, he is also seen by many as a possible VP selection given his national presence and his command of the numbers that will inevitably be part of the campaign.

The talking heads have, of course, opined about who will be selected, and some have gone back to Palin-bashing since they viewed her as a terrible pick by then candidate Sen. McCain who has been selected as one of those who will speak at the convention.  (I will be surprised, pleasantly, if that speech isn’t among the least stimulating of the entire convention.  Sen. McCain is not a dynamic speaker.)

The latest prediction is that we will probably hear who the selection is by August 12^th.

I hope that he or she will be someone who is capable of adding heft and a bit of excitement to the ticket given the low key matter-of-fact delivery style that Romney displays.  Some of the names floated have made me cringe given their lack of ability to inspire.  I’d like to see Pawlenty and Portman announced as speakers very soon.