Reply To: Your Dream-Ticket for 2012

newhere,

Seems like we’re the only two wonks or eggheads here…

I don’t think that smoking pot is Daniels’ “baggage.” His lack of charisma and unpresidential looks (add his humble demeanor) is his problem. I try to convince myself that it will do, and with good reason, nevertheless it is truly my biggest concern. To fill that vacuum, I chose Rubio. Rubio also has the benefit of making the ticket quite a balanced one (Indiana-Florida is more balanced than Indiana-Wisconsin). This is besides the advantage of a Cuban-American on the ticket. There is more to it, and I’ll discuss it at ample time.

I’m a big fan of Paul Ryan. He tells Americans the truth about the fiscal future of this country (I’d say Daniels says the full truth and Ryan says only part of the truth). Yet, a joint ticket with these two will have only one message (albeit a strong one) and a pessimistic one at that. It might backfire. I also believe that two economic think-tanks would clash if serving together. Each person will have their own ideas that they’ll like to implement. I’d also prefer to have one brain in the executive branch and another in the legislative branch — not to put all of our resources at the White House.

*Lately, there has been a myth that Daniels supports a one-sided truce on social issues. This is also baggage. He’d have to use his strong pro-life/anti-Toeiva record to prove the voters that he’s on board with them and simply wants to focus better on the bigger threat. He might try to frame the debate as: Republicans want to reform the bad things for a better future while the Democrats punt and focus on social issue instead — which won’t “win the future.”