if Amash wins he has to be the front runner for VP

[jurgs01]

I don't even want Amash to be the VP. Who's going to lead the Liberty Caucus? I'm sure Massie or anyone else could, but Amash is the face of the Conservative wing in the GOP. I rarely hear people talk about any1 else other than Amash. He could be our speaker or house majority. Rand wouldn't pick Bush. No offense, but most of the minorities for the exception of Haley, Jindal, and Carson all seem retarded. He won't pick Jindal. Carson? Probably not but that's the wisest pick to appease everyone. Even if Rand was shot, Carson is way to religious to compromise himself.

My ideal situation for 2016:
-Rand Paul elected president
-Mike Lee Senate majority leader
-Justin Amash speaker of the House
-First Libertarian party member elected to congress
-Liberal judge resigns from Supreme court and Judge Nap appointed
-Fed Chairman appointed who doesn't believe in fiat currency and ideally supports free-market currencies

That would be a great year IMHO. I would be happy if one or two of those things happened.

 

[CaptUSA]

My ideal situation for 2016:
-Rand Paul elected president
-Mike Lee Senate majority leader
-Justin Amash speaker of the House
-First Libertarian party member elected to congress
-Liberal judge resigns from Supreme court and Judge Nap appointed
-Fed Chairman appointed who doesn't believe in fiat currency and ideally supports free-market currencies

That would be a great year IMHO. I would be happy if one or two of those things happened.

WOW.

My ideal situation for 2016:
-All the bombs would turn into seed and fertilizer and would grow happiness wherever they landed.
-The bullets would turn into butterflies and just flitter away.
-Our wallets and pockets would be filled with rainbows and they'd become the new currency.
-Pollution would disappear because we'd all ride unicorns for transportation.
-You could eat all you want and never gain weight, because any excess would fill the bellies of those without.
-Congress would repeal more laws than they pass.

Now. Tell me which one of us is living in a fantasy land?

Seriously, it's nice to dream. But in order to affect reality, we have to be aware of it.

 

[LibertyEsq]

I would like Amash for VP if he was maybe 4-5 years older. Not that he couldn't do the job - but the media would be all over him for being too inexperienced/not prepared to be President.

On paper, Susana Martinez is probably the best pick from a strategic perspective. But I would go with Nikki Haley if I were Rand and got nominated - perfect for energizing the conservative-but-not-quite-libertarian base, and probably closer to Rand/more trustworthy on most issues than Martinez. And she's both a woman and ethnic minority, for the people who vote based on things like that.

 

[TaftFan]

More and more I think Jim DeMint would be the best pick.

He wouldn't cost us a seat in Congress, he is a revered conservative who is open to liberty, and he doesn't ignite hatred among the left like Cruz, mainly because of his personality.

Raul Labrador would remain at the top of my list. His dovishness on foreign policy blends with Rand's.

 

[jurgs01]

More and more I think Jim DeMint would be the best pick.

He wouldn't cost us a seat in Congress, he is a revered conservative who is open to liberty, and he doesn't ignite hatred among the left like Cruz, mainly because of his personality.

Raul Labrador would remain at the top of my list. His dovishness on foreign policy blends with Rand's.

Neither Raul Labrador nor Jim Demint pulls in any swing states or a specific group (unfortunately).

 

[MelissaWV]

Yah... quick... let's make sure to pull the people that are making a difference in the House/Senate out of those roles to fill the shoes of Joe Biden. We know how very important he is (???), so it really won't matter when those seats are filled by people who'll have votes, and use them to kill liberty and introduce idiocy.

 

[brandon]

Obv won't be Amash. I bet it would be some minority though. Maybe Rubio or Ben Carson? Or maybe a woman?

 

[jurgs01]

Obv won't be Amash. I bet it would be some minority though. Maybe Rubio or Ben Carson? Or maybe a woman?

Maybe Tim Scott?

 

[Brett85]

Neither Raul Labrador nor Jim Demint pulls in any swing states or a specific group (unfortunately).

A Hispanic wouldn't pull a specific group?

 

[ClydeCoulter]

IF Rand pulls off the primary, he's already done his job in that category. The next step is the independent vote and dem-xovers which will not be as hard as it might seem, for him.

Amash would pull independents, and some xovers. But is that where we want him, in the co-pilots seat, or where he has made great strides? 2016 is a bit off into the future yet.

 

[MichaelDavis]

A Hispanic wouldn't pull a specific group?

Labrador is Puerto Rican. Mexicans do not identify with Puerto Ricans. It's like if you're German-American and people expect you to vote for Chris Christie because he's Italian-American and you both descend from Europe.

I don't see how Susana Martinez is not selected. She checks almost ever box. Mexican-American? Check. Female? Check. Catholic? Check. From a potential swing state? Check. She complements Rand Paul, who can ignite caucasians, males, red state voters, protestants, etc.

 

[Vanguard101]

Actually, I think Jim Demint could be a decent pick. If Jon Huntsman was hawkish, he could be perfect as well.

 

[LibertyEsq]

Actually, I think Jim Demint could be a decent pick. If Jon Huntsman was hawkish, he could be perfect as well.

There's no reason to pick a hawk for VP. Rand will be more conservative than Romney or McCain and therefore already have the base locked up. Picking a hawk would be worse with Independents and Democrats, not better.

 

[Vanguard101]

There's no reason to pick a hawk for VP. Rand will be more conservative than Romney or McCain and therefore already have the base locked up. Picking a hawk would be worse with Independents and Democrats, not better.

There are legitimate hawks that will vote for Hilary. Mccain wasn't the only person. One of the Republican Party of Texas staffers admitted she would vote for Hilary over Rand. That is really the only base we don't have locked up.

 

[LibertyEsq]

There are legitimate hawks that will vote for Hilary. Mccain wasn't the only person. One of the Republican Party of Texas staffers admitted she would vote for Hilary over Rand. That is really the only base we don't have locked up.

I'd rather not lock it up. How about kicking them out of the party. Look at the poll that says 22% of all Americans (either party) are hawks, with 67% non-interventionists. Rand is doing the best against Hillary right now for a reason.

 

[TaftFan]

Neither Raul Labrador nor Jim Demint pulls in any swing states or a specific group (unfortunately).

I believe the swing state aspect is overrated.

If the state is a swing state in the presidential race, it is also probably a swing state for the governor or senator being chosen for VP. There isn't a really good reason to expect they can bring in more votes than they would already.

Labrador wouldn't be too helpful with Hispanics, as I think the racial-voting aspect is also overrated, but his main function would be to insulate Rand from racist attacks. And his foreign policy and immigration views line up well with Rand's.

DeMint would be awesome with securing the base, so he would be pulling people in. Rand is already reaching out to minorities, independents, and young people. We need to make sure the base turns out, because many didn't for McCain and Romney. He is more dovish on foreign policy and defended Ron Paul, who he worked with on issues like the Fed. I think he and Rand would make a great team.

 

[Krugminator2]

DeMint would be awesome with securing the base, so he would be pulling people in. Rand is already reaching out to minorities, independents, and young people. We need to make sure the base turns out, because many didn't for McCain and Romney. He is more dovish on foreign policy and defended Ron Paul, who he worked with on issues like the Fed. I think he and Rand would make a great team.

The absolute least of Rand's concerns is securing the base. There is a reason he has stopped pandering to the base and gone in the opposite direction. His actual record and statements would make him the farthest right candidate ever if he were the nominee. It would be hard imagine him not picking an establishment VP.

 

[BamaAla]

Amash would be fun, but it's probably unrealistic. This far out it's all speculation, but I'd guess a Republican governor from the mid-west...Scott Walker or John Kasich.

 

[Anti-Neocon]

I don't see how Susana Martinez is not selected. She checks almost ever box. Mexican-American? Check. Female? Check. Catholic? Check. From a potential swing state? Check. She complements Rand Paul, who can ignite caucasians, males, red state voters, protestants, etc.

Yeah she could sure help with the amnesty vote.

 

[Vanguard101]

I'd rather not lock it up. How about kicking them out of the party. Look at the poll that says 22% of all Americans (either party) are hawks, with 67% non-interventionists. Rand is doing the best against Hillary right now for a reason.

That's a helluva lot of voters. You also have to remember that a lot of people do hate Obama so anything he does they will probably hate.