Who's Up for Petraeus?
Two questions. Is this an over-reaction to the Europe trip, Romney's so-called gaffe-fest? Or is this a firewall to counter a last-ditch VP switch to Hillary for the quickly collapsing Obama?
Item on Drudge.
OBAMA: ROMNEY WANTS VP PETRAEUS
Tue Aug 07 2012 12:01:02 ET
**Exclusive**
President Obama whispered to a top fundraiser this week that he believes GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney wants to name Gen. David Petraeus to the VP slot!
"The president wasn't joking," the insider explains to the DRUDGE REPORT.
A Petraeus drama has been quietly building behind the scenes.
For me, I have a lot of respect for Petraeus. But I've heard him give speeches. There's no way to jazz this guy up. Scantily-clad chorus girls couldn't rescue some of those speeches. When they said that Romney wanted to go for someone "boring" as VP, I guess they weren't kidding.
I'd be happy with him. He was my original choice for president, several years back.
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Jun '10
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
He's a great general and an honorable man, but I don't know enough about him to jump on this bandwagon. I've become a Ryan supporter, and see no reason to change (Rubio is only a nose behind).
On the other hand, assuming he's been vetted, I can think of far worse choices.
Edited on August 8, 2012 at 1:15amDec '10
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
I would be very, very surprised if Romney picked Petraeus. Apparently he's an honorable, "universal" man, but he's never been elected to anything. And seeing as he's been a military man his entire career, no one even knows his politics! I think it says more about Obama's paranoia that he's worried about him.
Jan '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Hot Air says that it's unlikely, and I probably agree. But what's the motive? Is this Obama blowing smoke? Or Romney? Or Drudge? (Heck, for that matter, I certainly wouldn't put it past Petraeus himself!)
It strikes me odd.
May '10
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
General Petraeus deserves the utmost respect for his accomplishments in the military and is presumably performing admirably as DCI. But I can't see how a Petraeus selection 1.) lines up with Romney's well-known caution and 2.) what are the general's views on hundreds of issues not involving national security? On this website you'll see someone passionately espouse their frustration over someone's 1978 vote for a highway bill. Will a person like that suddenly embrace a David Petraeus with little or no question? I think it's more Silly Season stuff.
Nov '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
So the source for this rumour is President Obama? I'm sure he's got the inside scoop on the Romney campaign!
Jun '12
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
This comment made me chuckle. Well done.
Jan '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
I don't think it matters who Romney selects as VP.
I think Romney should replay some Obama quotes (e.g. cut deficit by half, his remarks against deficit spending...) then Mitt can reach across the aisle and offer the VP candidacy to Barack Obama. What better place for an affirmative action hire.
Apr '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Yeah...ok.: I don't think it matters who Romney selects as VP.
I think Romney should replay some Obama quotes (e.g. cut deficit by half, his remarks against deficit spending...) then Mitt can reach across the aisle and offer the VP candidacy to Barack Obama. What better place for an affirmative action hire. · 35 minutes ago
I think Romney values his survival a little higher than that. How long do you think he'd last past January?
Agreed. The thought of appointing someone who'd never run a civilian budget (military budgets are sui generis) seems utterly bizarre to me, even before you start on the social conservative record. With apologies to any implied Ricochet members, it'd be a terrible idea to appoint a tabula rasa to the position.
Dec '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Most conservatives were willing to dump Rice for her "mildly pro-choice" positions. Why would they embrace Petreus when we don't know his position on abortion, taxes, health care, job creation, Star Trek captains, education, immigration or even foreign policy.
Feb '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Don't see how Petraeus would help to counter Hillary--the demographic drawn toward P and the demographic drawn toward H would seem to have very little overlap.
I do think that the selection of Hillary as VP candidate is very likely, and we should be thinking about appropriate memes to counter it.
Jan '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Maybe. But one irony of this campaign is that Obama can't run on his domestic record. That's why they tout his foreign policy "achievements." (He got bin Laden. That, and, ummm ... did I mention he got bin Laden?)
The Hillary narrative is that she's been a top-notch Secretary of State, especially given the restraint the Obama White House has put on her. Together, Obama and Hillary would take away the GOP's normal edge in foreign policy. The other part of the narrative is that Romney's weak on foreign policy. So, putting Petraeus on the ticket would shore him up.
I don't think those perspectives reflect reality. But I do think those are perspectives that the media are likely to push.
Jul '10
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Since the source for the story is the President himself, I think it's more illustrative of his paranoia about Petraeus. A friend of mine who served Dubya told me that the reason Obama appointed Petraeus to the CIA was that he was afraid of his political ambitions; was terrified of him as Chief of Staff. I wasn't sure I believed my friend at the time; now I do.
It's called projection, I believe.
Mar '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
KC Mulville
Maybe. But one irony of this campaign is that Obama can't run on his domestic record. That's why they tout his foreign policy "achievements." (He got bin Laden. That, and, ummm ... did I mention he got bin Laden?)
I don't know his politics at all so Patraeus worries me.
That said the most successful former General who is now CIA Director eliminates any Obama talking points on getting bin Laden and ending wars. Patraeus is the one person who could take Obama's foreign policy "wins " off the table.
Apr '12
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
One of my weaknesses is indulging the fantasy that non-lawyers/politicians can be commonplace in public office. So while I really wish this was true, it's probably not.
Sep '10
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Oh it matters who Romney picks as VP. Doesn't anyone here see past the next election?
Anyway, I've become very skeptical on military men and their politics. I think they are basically handicapped by their career in a very structured hierarchical central-planning environment that is devoid of partisan politics.
May '10
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
This is just more Axelrod distraction from the economy/job report. Anything but the main issue...Obama's still Wagging the Dog
Nov '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
It won't be him. This is another trial balloon.
I mean, nobody here knows where he stands on anything. He has a nice resume, but that won't matter to the base.
And this pick is too sexy for Romney. He'll pick someone boring that nobody has ever heard of except for people who follow politics, if then.
Mar '11
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
We don't know squat about the guy. Let's not buy a David Souter here.
Mar '12
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
Franco: I think they are basically handicapped by their career in a very structured hierarchical central-planning environment that is devoid of partisan politics.
Actually the service chiefs are often cutthroat in pushing for their branches objectives. The Air Force wants more F22s, the Marines are developing the next Osprey, the Navy wants (needs) more ships, and the Army should be at a minimum of 900,000 soldiers. They are each competing for the DoD moneys.
To the degree that Patraeus has been involved in budgeting in the military, he'll have a pretty good handle on finances and fiscal considerations.
His worldview is the America is on top and everybody else is somewhere behind that position. I have no doubt that he'd work to maintain a strong military, not necessarily Army first, but not Army last either.
It is his domestic politics that we don't know much about.
Jul '10
Re: Who's Up for Petraeus?
He has also blamed the troubles in the Middle East on Israeli intransigence before. I am on mobile so I cant link. But should be able to did with a search.