(Hypothetical) If Ron Paul wins the GOP nomination in 2012, who should be his VP

[JamesButabi]

They wouldn't be in the line of succession to the Presidency but would be effective brokers on the international stage. It's not exactly a new phenomenon (see: Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright). Daniel Hannan already works on the international stage as a Member of European Parliament, he speaks three languages, is a strong supporter of national sovereignty, he is an advocate of liberty and limited government, and is a non-interventionist. He was even born in Peru rather than his native England. I think that Daniel Hannan would actually be a great choice under a Ron Paul administration.

Tell me why he would make a bad Secretary of State.

The smartest move for Ron Paul is to find a general or admiral who backs his foreign policy. This is the pre-eminent area where Obama can outmanouver him and appear as a "centrist" or where a third party rebellion can rise up among neo-cons on hawkism. It also gives disciplined credibility to the ticket. Maybe Admiral William Fallon?

Alternatively, although less seductive electorally, Gary Johnson would be an effective pick. Works to more aggressively target liberals and progressives, also targets New Mexico as a battleground state, and gives an executive's experience to the ticket.

I like both of these ideas. The big question, is do we know of any high ranking military who stands with RP on the issues? I also thought Demint would be a popular choice for VP to break alot of barriers. Then again if RP wins the republican primary, there is really no need for concession. Enough people will have been brought over to the liberty message.

 

[Krugerrand]

I like both of these ideas. The big question, is do we know of any high ranking military who stands with RP on the issues? I also thought Demint would be a popular choice for VP to break alot of barriers. Then again if RP wins the republican primary, there is really no need for concession. Enough people will have been brought over to the liberty message.

Perhaps Colin Powell. He'll change to match whatever he sees as in his best interest.

CP aside, I seriously like the idea.

 

[Srg1]

Maybe Ventura

 

[Juan McCain]

Ron Paul-President
...
Lew Rockwell-Chief of Staff
...
Pat Buchanan-Secretary of State
Andrew Napolitano-Attorney General
...
National Security Advisor-Admiral Fallon

This thread is starting to morph into recommendations for cabinet picks - which is just great. I like all these alot.

I'd recommend Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) as either a Secretary of Defense or a Vice-President for a Ron Paul administration as well.

...
Paul's veep would most likely have to be younger, and perhaps a woman.

Paul/Medina?

While she would be a frontrunner for some cabinet post possibly . . . Labor, Education . . . I dunno -
a President and VP from the same state do NOT get that state's electoral votes in the general election Presidential electoral college.

While Karl Rove got them barely out of that predictament in 2000 as Cheney and Halliburton were in Houston,
everyone will be paying attention to that from now on.

 

[anaconda]

Catherine Austin Fitts.

 

[The Patriot]

They wouldn't be in the line of succession to the Presidency but would be effective brokers on the international stage. It's not exactly a new phenomenon (see: Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright). Daniel Hannan already works on the international stage as a Member of European Parliament, he speaks three languages, is a strong supporter of national sovereignty, he is an advocate of liberty and limited government, and is a non-interventionist. He was even born in Peru rather than his native England. I think that Daniel Hannan would actually be a great choice under a Ron Paul administration.

Tell me why he would make a bad Secretary of State.

Well, first of all, I wouldn't consider these people model secretaries of state. Secondly, they lived in America since the 30s, they came here as kids fleeing the Nazis. IT wasn't as though they were in the Czech or German Parliament like Hannan is in the European Parliament and has never lived in America. As an advocate of national sovereignty, I doubt he would even accept the role as a foreign statesman to take such a high post in our government.

 

[The Patriot]

Actually no, they wouldn't necessarily be. Ron's power of the veto as President of the US, Rand's power of tie-breaker in the Senate as Vice President (President of the Senate), and Peter's ability to unilaterally prevent excessive government debt would far exceed anything they could accomplish independently in Congress.

Could Schiff just refuse to issue Treasury Securities to finance Congressional Appropriations that require borrowing?

 

[LibertarianfromGermany]

Paul / Paul

I think the ad potential of a father / son ticket would be great.

"Join me and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son!"?

On a serious note: I think Gary Johnson will be likely - he doesn't hold any current office so it would make sense. His record is pretty damn nice too!

 

[Stary Hickory]

Please all sign Dennis Kucinich's petition . . . .

Establishing Health Care As A Civil Right
http://healthcare.kucinich.us/petition/

Yeah, we'll all get right on that.

Sounds to me that Dennis Kucinich is a crazy socialist . . .
but does anybuddy know how he is going to vote on NObamaCare ?

Kunich is a nut job, the hell with this guy totally. He would shoot you to prevent you from solving your medical care on your own terms. Hardocre statist scum. It's nice he hates the FED, but bad he wants the government to takeover the FEDs job...for more STATIST CONTROL.

 

[AJ Antimony]

Well, keeping in mind the VP doesn't really do anything and that his main purpose is to help the ticket, I'm going to have to go with Gary Johnson as the ideal VP candidate for Ron Paul. He looks young enough, he's a very healthy athlete, and no one can say he's inexperienced-- he's a former two term Republican governor of a Democratic state. The only bad thing about Johnson is that he's from New Mexico which is basically Texas. Gary would be PERFECT if he was from, say, New York, or some other northeastern Democratic state.

Other possibilities:

Jesse Ventura - it seems like he's considered a nut in the mainstream and he's never been a Republican, so that hurts. BUT, Jesse's forte is the debates, and if he gets picked (and nominated) to be the Republican VP, he is guaranteed 1 debate without a 15% in the polls bullshit requirement. Although, watching Ventura debate would completely steal the show and make RP's debates look boring.

The Judge - a solid pick for being a national TV personality, not ideal because he looks old and Paul will need youth on the ticket.

John Stossel - ditto, but doesn't look as old.

Bruce Fein - he is from the Reagan administration which helps, but he's also up there in age. Definitely needs a cabinet position.

I don't like the idea of picking people like Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Peter Schiff, Rep. BJ Lawson, or Rep. Adam Kokesh. They need to be supporting anti-legislation in Congress. If it takes so much effort to get them in Congress, why would anyone want to pull them out for the job that does nothing?

Getting a General or Admiral who believes in RP's foreign policy would be awesome. But Ron HAS to make sure he doesn't pull another Stockdale.

A big name CEO like John Mackey isn't a bad idea, but may not be the best

Buchanan is too old

Barry Goldwater Jr. is really too old

Jeff Flake is libertarian-leaning, not libertarian.

Tom Woods is no good because of his 0 name ID and white supremacist issues

Walter Williams wouldn't be horrible, but nothing special

Basically we can have our fantasies about who we personally would love to see on the ticket, but really there is only one person who would be taken seriously, who would add youth to the ticket, who has lots of experience, and who is a Republican. And that's Gary Johnson.

 

[Juan McCain]

. . . - he doesn't hold any current office so it would make sense.

I respectfully disagree . . . that somehow NOT holding office can be really regarded as some sort of advantage for a VP candidate - all else equal -
for the most part, if anything - it must be overcome as a potential disadvantage, imho.