My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Hey! Where was the guitar (synth?) twang and the beginning of the episode? I miss it when it's not there. I can't feel full satisfied without the twang. OCD.
 

Blame those front-loading primaries for this one. Was in a rush for Iowa. don't worry. it will be back. (it is an acoustic guitar run through a wah-wah effect BTW)
 

I enjoy the podcast! I'm about to listen to your most recent three. Wanted to submit a suggestion: could you do a show, if you haven't already, on candidates "running" for vice president?

I.e., what are the signs that current candidates are posturing for a vice presidential role? Which candidates may be good vice presidential material whether they know it or not? How much is too much water under the bridge between two candidates (Clinton/Obama, Romney/Huckabee) to imagine a coupling down the road?

Ken in VA
 

Ken,

Thanks. And a New Hampshire Podcast is coming.

The funny thing is about what you suggest is, I think its a new thing. I doubt that in history people ran for President to really run for Vice President. The earliest, maybe would be George Bush Senior. And I'm not even sure he really did that. (There are usually good campaign biographies that can give you the dirt on what people really wanted to do) Jesse Jackson may have done this to some extent in 88. As far as I know Gore wanted to be President in 88. John Edwards in 2004 is the first known example.

So if there's enough history there, I might plunge into it. Otherwise, i will definitely do a VP selection one down the line.

I think you are right to look at the 'burnt bridge factor' I'll give you my quick analysis on the current politics: the bridges are already burnt. Sure Bush called Reagan's economics voodoo. It has gone further than that already.

Obama could not be Clinton's VP and Huckabee could not be Romney's.

Possible combos: Clinton and Richardson very possible. Clinton and Wes Clark very possible. Obama and Edwards possible in either direction. Guilliani and Huckabee. Romney and hmmm...tough one he's attacked everybody pretty hard.
 

Thanks for those thoughts. I had no idea that was such a new phenomenon. Maybe the broader topic would be candidates who run for office "knowing" they cannot win, yet in order to secure the prominence of an issue or legacy.

Okay, time to listen to these podcasts. Thanks for all these recent ones.
 

well keep in mind, at least its 'i think' its a new idea. Research often proves my first assumptions wrong. You'd be amazed how many things are not new.
 

Romney and Duncan Hunter. Romney and Alan Keyes! Lots of possibilities.

As I recall, until the 12th ammendment the VP was the candidate with the next-highest level of votes. If we still used that system, 2004 could have seen a George Bush/John Kerry administration. Which probably would have been as collegial as the John Adams/Thomas Jefferson administration.