Forget about a McCain-Ridge ticket?

Posted: Monday, August 11, 2008 1:35 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
ERIE, PA -- It looks like a McCain-Ridge ticket may no longer be a possibility.

After visiting a GE locomotive plant here today with Tom Ridge, the state's former governor, McCain took questions from some of the plant's employees -- one of which was about what his plans were for his first 90 days in office.

"To call Tom Ridge to Washington from whatever vacation he is taking and get him down there and get him to work," McCain joked, subtly suggesting that Ridge wouldn't be his running mate in November.

For the first time in recent memory, McCain avoided all talk of Obama during his remarks today, instead focusing on the need for more green technology like the hybrid train engines being developed in Erie by General Electric, the parent company of NBC. Yet he did allude to his opponent's months-old "bitter" comment about small-town Pennsylvanian voters.

"You're going to be seeing a lot of me in this state, and we're gonna be on the bus, and we're gonna go from town to town, and we're gonna tell people that we know that they love the Second Amendment and cherish their religion because they believe in America. Because they believe in the strength and the greatness of America," McCain said.

McCain also used two of his opponent's buzzwords today, saying that while some people are despondent about the economic situation in America, "I have hope. Right now Americans want some hope."

And while criticizing some people, including Obama, for saying "we can't" to many of McCain's energy proposals, McCain says (yes) "we can."

"I'm tired of hearing people -- aren't you? -- saying we can't," McCain said. "We can't reprocess spent nuclear fuel. We can't store spent nuclear fuel. We can't compete with other countries. We can't develop clean coal technology. We can. That's what America's -- that's the history of the United States of America. We can and we will and sometimes it requires government assistance."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

All of Senator John McCain's Celebrity appearances can be seen here. I would have listed them all, but there were 42 different shows, and mulitiple appearances per show.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564587/

Obama 08

NoMcCain (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:42 PM)

So now Mr. McFake is going to run a positive campaign? Give him 24 hours; he'll be back to spewing lies in no time.....that's all they know HOW to do. You can't believe a word McCain or his Party say.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:43 PM)

Here's something about Wolfson's comment from the last thread (sorry but I missed the time limit):

Wolfson is an idiot on so many levels that it is painful to listen to him. He's entitled to his opinion but his opinions are so obviously motivated by hidden agendas that it's laughable. Howard, you and your whole operation made me sick. Your sour grapes attitude is destructive to the Democratic Party - you self serving schnurer! I bet Patty feels like she's been rescued from a 'Stockholm situation'.

If Hillary had led the Democrat Senate on a charge against this war in 2002, she would have won the nomination, pure and simple and Barack would have been her VP; instead she chose to sell out for political expediency. Chris Matthews had said it numerous times and that's the story in a nut shell.
Obama '08

BTW: The speculation is nonsense about McCain's VP pick. Romney is his best and only choice in this plummeting economy; the rest of the choices offer little but fluff. For Obama it's likely Bayh or Biden (I think Clinton healing wise and geography points to Bayh but Foreign policy and mouthpiece needs would demand Biden).

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:45 PM)

To late Dad, you already threw Hope under the bus, remember?
No, I guess you probably don't.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:46 PM)

Call him to Washington from vacation and tell him to get to work?

That's what someone should have done to George W. Bush.

And now it looks like McCain is following in his footsteps.

So, all in all, vacation doesn't appear to rule out ANY candidate for president or vice president ... at least among the republicans.

Obama 08

Anna Molly (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:47 PM)

Whoever McCain picks, he'll announce it the old-fashion and dignified way. In person.

Greta S., NYC (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:47 PM)

This is SCARY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

McPTSD (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:47 PM)

More of the same from john mccain...now he wants to retread scary tom ridge and his retarded color coded scare machine

Rick, NC (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:48 PM)

Why do you think McCain was "subtly suggesting" that Ridge wouldn't be his running mate rather than having just one MORE senior moment and totally blowing it? Again, First Read gives the wrinkled old man another pass at his EVERYDAY mistakes and gaffes. Geesh, and you WANT this idiot in the White House? Haven't we had enough of that for the past 8 years?

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:48 PM)

Yet he did allude to his opponent's months-old "bitter" comment about small-town Pennsylvanian voters.

Good. Stay on him with that comment, John. Besides Obama's racist part of that statement, he showed his arrogance and total failure to understand people from small midwestern towns. I hope there are several ads playing that sound bite over and over.

2ez (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:48 PM)

"To call Tom Ridge to Washington from whatever vacation he is taking and get him down there and get him to work," McCain joked, subtly suggesting that Ridge wouldn't be his running mate in November.

----------------------------------------------

Did McBuzzkill offer his creepy, "I Just Told A Good One", "Heh-Heh" laugh?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:49 PM)

I still say he needs to get Mitt Romney....
Anybody Obama gets will be just another tax and spend liberal

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:49 PM)

Did Mccain answer the question? The answer is No. What would he do in the first 90 days? McCain’s answer is “he offered some praise of Mr. Ridge that made it sound decidedly unlikely that Mr. Ridge would be taking up residence in the Naval Observatory.”

This guy is a fraud and he is clueless. When is the talking head on TV going to pick this up? When is the media going to do their job by demanding answer for the American people

Bee, Manchester, NH (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:49 PM)

Where are all the details to his energy plans? How long will it take to put 1 nuclear plant online with active reprocessing? Nevermind 45 plants. 10,20 30 years?

In the time to try to fix nuclear & coal, we could be deploying wind.

We could make farmers rich with all the land they have.

But Magoo's big oil friends wouldn't like that.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:49 PM)

John Mccain is scum. Who cares who his running mate will be. They are scum too.

Scumbuster (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:49 PM)

John McCain can drive all over PA. But without Tom Ridge on the GOP ticket...its nothing more than a bus ride. McCain can talk about jobs all he wants, but he has sent away more jobs than he has created. When you only care about yourself it is hard to pretend you care about poor working people in PA, OH, IN, MI.

I expect a McCain/Romney ticket vs an Obama/Biden ticket. Actually the big loser in this scenerio will be Romney as he will be the VP who didn't get elected and he will be thrown under that big ol' bus.

Ron Indiana (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:50 PM)

YOU JUST CAN'T TRUST MCCAIN TO TELL THE TRUTH,

MCCAIN STRAGETY WIN AT ALL COST, SAY ANYTHING, DO ANYTHING KEEP PLAYING THE OLD WASHINGTON POLITICS, CHANGE POSITIONS TO KEEP THE PARTY HAPPY

THERE HE GOES AGAIN!

JOHN MCCAIN’S NEW AD CONTAINS DUBIOUS CLAIMS
But the ad makes some dubious claims:
1) When it says that Obama voted "to raise taxes on people making just $42,000," that was on a non-binding budget resolution vote that didn't actually raise or lower taxes. From Factcheck.org: "The resolution does not contain a specific provision to raise tax rates, but rather assumes that most of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire as scheduled in 2011."
2) According to Obama's economic plan, he would raise taxes only on those making more than $250,000 per year, and would provide tax cuts to those making less than that. Factcheck.org: "Obama has stated repeatedly that his plan would increase taxes only for those making more than $250,000 per year."

Sandra, AR (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:50 PM)

If McShame wants any chance he needs a super conservative. Evangelicals are moving toward Obama because he has the knowledge of their religion and is reaching out to them.

When does MSNBC report the OHIO JOBS LOST BY MCSHAMES BOY???

McSenile (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:51 PM)

You just know that the Republicans will try to hack their way into Obama sending out his VP choice by text message. 'Charles Manson', 'Hitler', 'Hillary', 'Dick Cheney' ' Reverend Wright' 'Jesse Jackson', are just some of the ones they'll substitute in. One of them might even be correct.

Be on guard Democrats!

Amy Spice (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:51 PM)

More McCain BS

mdw Woodside Ca (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:51 PM)

Oh heaven. hge sounds like he is becoming a democrat. Did he really say "government assistance?"

Chief P (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:51 PM)

Well, the best descriptiono I heard of Pennsylvania is that it's 2 cities (Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) seperated by Alabama. There's a lot of under-educated people and misinformed (or just dissinterested, content in going by what Uncle Jeb told them he heard in a diner). My state really needs to wake-up, get involved, and not just vote for McCain cause the other guy "looks funny and uses big words."

Brendan - Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:51 PM)

We CAN do anything safely with the appropriate funds and priorities; nuclear has not been properly vetted for safety. Hydro and solar make way more sense; they don't create a toxic by-product. Yes we Can; but not with your lame, under educated butt at the helm.

Wow, 'requires' government assistance. Is that like welfare? No new taxes, read his lips.

McCain couldn't lead this country effectively because he simply doesn't have an arsenal of intelligence with which to draw upon. He only knows one arsenal and he is intent on spending it either in Iran or Russia, he doesn't seem to care which. The guy is a worn out, nap seeking time bomb, just waiting to erupt.

Paul Miller and Nashville_Fan - you guys have been OUTSTANDING today, keep it up!

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:52 PM)

All of McCain's so called green alternative planning is all geared to help the nuclear and coal mining special interests...there's nothing green in either form of energy!

Clean coal is an oxymoron and non-existent!

Nuclear reactors leak, and melt down, and cause Three Mile Island and Chernobyl!

McCain, you are so out of touch, and beholden to the big oil companies.

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:53 PM)

If "we can" John Mccain then why is you couldn't in the last 25 years you have been in Washington. But you are right on several comments. We are tired of hearing people say we can't, including you. But under an Obama administration we know we can. Thanks for admitting the same.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:54 PM)

I'm sorry - does John McCain have one original thought? Or is he just waiting for Obama to make a statement so he can shift the words around and either be for it or against it? Or maybe his handlers don't have an original thought either.
As for the town hall meetings - ever notice how bored and wandering eyes are behind McCain? Oh, yeah, that is what Obama did first -- maybe they need more caffeine before they stand behind McCain?

Kay P Tempe AZ (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:55 PM)

Didn't really think he was a possibility anyways, so this is more useless news!

McCain/Romney 08 - Better America (atleast compared to Obama's version)

John, MI (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:56 PM)

That's awfully good news for Obama. Tom Ridge was one of two wild cards I could've seen aiding McCain in the general (the other is Mike Huckabee). True, he's inexorably tied to Bush; but he also commands a lot more respect, plus could've turned Pennsylvania McCain's way.

Out of curiosity, though, is it really smart politics for McCain to attempt his own "Yes We Can" thing? I mean, when Obama unveiled that mantra in New Hampshire (a LOSS, mind you), it was easily the most electrifying moment in all the primaries. McCain can't compete with Obama's oratorical skills -- that much we know for certain. But to try to paint Obama as saying "We Can't" flies in direct contrast with the "Yes We Can" chant. To me, if I were a communications adviser to McCain, I'd be absolutely livid. This is just really, really dumb phrasing and horrendous politics. McCain might be able to beat Obama if he's able to paint him as a celebrity; but if he tries to outflank Obama in the inspiration department, he's going to look even more out of touch than he already does.

Brendan D, Niles, IL (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:56 PM)

OVERVIEW OF THE LOBBYISTS RUNNING JOHN MCCAIN’S CAMPAIGN

John McCain had the nerve to bring the Public the Voters Phil Gramm ((lobbyist) his Chief Economic Advisor the Architect of the EnronLoope Hole responsible for these High Gas Prices at the pump by putting through Deregulation Legislation on behalf of the oil company and Enron.

Gramm is also author of the SUBPRIME MORTGAGE CRISIS
Gramm's wife worked for Enron and made Millions of dollars while the hardworking employees of Enron lost their jobs, homes, pension, life savings, Healthcare and everything but the shirt on their backs while Gramm enjoyed the fruits of his labor.

John McCain brought Charlie Black (lobbyist) described by newspapers as having the most “UNSAVORY CLINETS” DICTATORS, RAPISTS, AND THE LIST GOES ON
John McCain Campaign Manager, Rick Davis (lobbyist) & John McCain helped DHL to get the deal that costing Ohio 8,000 jobs to go over seas and SHUT THE TOWN DOWN BECAUSE THEY WON’T HAVE MONEY TO AFFORD BASIC HUMAN SERVICES, NOW THEY ARE “SORRY”
NO WONDER PHIL GRAMM SAYS AMERICANS ARE A BUNCH OF “WHINERS”

Sheldon, MS (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:57 PM)

You know, FirstRead, if you aren't going to update these threads why are you even wasting time with reader comments? It sometimes feels like you would prefer it if we would just shut up and read and accept the CW as pronounced by the MSM.
Doh! out of Cheetos again!

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:57 PM)

Before we go nuclear we need to do many test to see how safe it is. President Bush shut down most of the US scientific progress when he was president. So does Mccain want the country to use nuclear when were not sure how safe it is? His rhetoric sounds good but is it realistic?!

tony, Bklyn, NY (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:57 PM)

Let's have some detail's McCain. How do you plan to do these thing's?

9999 (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:58 PM)

Lobbyists Running John McCain’s Campaign His Key Executives All Lobbyists!

·PHIL GRAMM, JOHN MCCAIN’S CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISOR; ARCHITECT OF THE ENRON LOOPEHOLE CAUSED MILLIONS TO LOOSE JOBS, PENSIONS, LIFE SAVINGS, DESTROYED MILLIONS OF LIVES; ARCHITECT OF THE SUBPRIME MORTGAGE MELTDOWN HAPPENING TODAY. AND THE CALIF ELECTRICITY CRISIS

·STEVE BLACK, CAMPAIGN CHIEF ADVISOR, HAS THE “MOST UNSAVORY CLIENTS” IN THE WORLD.

·MCCAIN CURRENT CAMPAIGN MANAGER, RICK DAVIS WORKED AS A PRIVATE LOBBYISTS FOR DHL NOW THEY ARE SHUTTING DOWN AND SHIPPING 8,000 JOBS OVERSEAS. JOHN MCCAIN SUPPORTED THE DEAL AND PUSHED TO GET IT APPROVED. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS VOTED AGAINST EXTENDING JOBLESS BENEFITS.

THE OHIO TOWN IS NOW DESTROYED, POPULATION OF 12,00. TOWN CAN’T PROVIDE BASIC HUMAN SERVICES, FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE HOSPITAL, ETC.

The CEO's Of John McCain's Campaign, Lobbyists And We Are Not Surprised

Janice, SD (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:59 PM)

McCain avoided talking about Obama... for an entire campaign stop? Now that is news.

Oh, I see. He just didn't mention Obama by name, while still attacking Obama.

"I'm tired of hearing people - aren't you? - saying we can't," McCain said. "We can't reprocess spent nuclear fuel. We can't store spent nuclear fuel. We can't compete with other countries. We can't develop clean coal technology. We can. That's what America's -- that's the history of the United States of America. We can and we will and sometimes it requires government assistance."

Um, okay, except for the little fact Obama never said any of those things. Is it a lie? Nah, just McCain being McCain.

As an aside, I wonder if McCain had to look up American history on Wikipedia, too?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:59 PM)

That's a large assumption on McCain's part that he even wants to work for him. Ridge would be wise to stay away from a McCain administration (God help us if there is one).

I also thought that was quite complimentary to suggest that Ridge is doing next to nothing and that he would only have some worth when and if McCain were to be elected.
If 50% of the American electorate believes this guy is the best guy for Presidetn this country is definitely in the skids.

Allen - Omaha NE (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:59 PM)

Of course, that "months old bitter comment". That is sooooo yesterday McCain. Now it's the "I look different then everyone else" Obama version. Do try to stay up with the latest racist attack by Obama, okay John?

A.Sharpton NYC (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:00 PM)

It seems that McCain is again trying to either mimic Obama or bash him. Is there anything that is really truly McCain? I was hoping to hear more of his policies and plans than drill for oil off the cost of the US.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:00 PM)

WE CAN'T VOTE FOR YOU....WE CAN'T VOTE FOR A WINER/CRY BABY...WE CAN'T VOTE FOR SOMEONE WHO DEGRADES THE OLYMICS WITH NEGATIVE COMMERCIALS.

Bob Chicago

Bob, Chicago (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:01 PM)

"For the first time in recent memory, McCain avoided all talk of Obama during his remarks today"

Maybe he's forgotten who Obama is.

McCain also used two of his opponent's buzzwords today, saying that while some people are despondent about the economic situation in America, "I have hope. Right now Americans want some hope."

Yeah - have your wife write me a check for some.

""I'm tired of hearing people -- aren't you? -- saying we can't," McCain said. "We can't reprocess spent nuclear fuel."

We don't need to - we just unloaded tons of spent fuel in Iraq. "Salted the earth," as they say.

"We can't develop clean coal technology. We can."

We just don't have the guts to piss off the extraction industries by doing it.

Citizen of Stupidland (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:01 PM)

"McCain also used two of his opponent's buzzwords today, saying that while some people are despondent about the economic situation in America, "I have hope. Right now Americans want some hope."

And while criticizing some people, including Obama, for saying "we can't" to many of McCain's energy proposals, McCain says (yes) "we can."
************************************

McCain did not beat up on Barack today but instead he lifted his campaign message.

I have learned something about Republicans: They do not care how they win as long as they win. And they have NO SHAME. And what is so sad is that can't even govern. Real scary!!!!

OBAMA, 08

Andrea, New York City (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:03 PM)

I keep hearing rumours that McCain had an affair like John Edwards and Edwards is destroyed by the media but the R's make him thier nominee. Please report on this so we cab tell fact from fiction.

John Lemaster (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:04 PM)

When all else fails, just copy your opponent!

Voting for the Real Deal~ Senator Obama! (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:05 PM)

"I'm tired of hearing people -- aren't you? -- saying we can't," McCain said. "We can't reprocess spent nuclear fuel. We can't store spent nuclear fuel. We can't compete with other countries. We can't develop clean coal technology."

---
I'm tired of straw-man arguments. Who exactly has McCain heard arguing that "we can't compete with other countries"? Probably the same person Bush overheard suggesting we should negotiate with terrorists.

It just seems that the Republic party prefers campaigning against imaginary caricatures; crazy, wide-eyed liberals who will raise everybody's taxes and are just looking for an excuse to surrender America to (insert non-English speaking nation here) and make us all start speaking French.

(Full disclosure: I've been to a non-English speaking country, I've taken French, and if I had my way I'd raise your taxes.)

Just A Guy, Cincy OH (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:05 PM)

Get real. There was NEVER any chance that McCain would pick Ridge because Ridge is pro-choice. McCain even told Chris Matthews that there was very little chance of that in one of thosee college things back during the winter. McCain's rabid rightwing base would go utterly berserk if he chose Ridge, unless Ridge recanted and had one of those "conversions" like Romney had.

Houston (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:07 PM)

But McCain loves dropping these little contradictory hints to the media. I wouldn't read one darn thing into it...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:07 PM)

As a Democrat, I sure hope Ridge is on the ticket! Don't forget, Ridge was head of DHS during some of the time when this Administration was engaging in quasi-legal wiretapping, waterboarding, etc. Now, whether Ridge had much to do with this is anyone's guess, and maybe you even agree with the Administration's tactics. But there will be lots of talk about this stuff should Ridge be nominated as McCain's veep, and it would tie McCain to those activities more so than anything previously said or done. Not good for McCain, but I'm ok with that!

Doro, NM (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:07 PM)

Chris Matthews pointed out that Clean Coal is a huge issue to PA voters. Obama blew that issue in the primary.

I'm betting this isn't the last we'll hear about it!

http://midwestmoms.blogspot.com

Midwest Mom, Illiana (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:07 PM)

The guy who shot up that Unitarian Church actually was bitterly clinging to his guns and his religion, after the Bush Administration's "grow-the-economy" policies failed him. But I digress.
Maybe McCain didn't mention Obama directly, because it occurred to someone in his fractured campaign staff that all the negative stuff was losiing, not gaining, him votes, so he went by the old policy, "If you have nothing nice to say..." And since McAngry so often has nothing nice to say, maybe he'll just SHUT UP for the rest of the campaign. Then, like Fred Thomson, everyone can project their own dreams and desires on the White Silence. (Fat chance, though, huh?)

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:08 PM)

PULL QUOTE: "In my three weeks back home in Baghdad, 179 people were killed. And no Baghdadi ever mentioned 'the Surge' to me."

And yet it's all John McCain wants to talk about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTMp-YNaDdg

NoMcCain (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:08 PM)

I see my Anna Molly is contributing today. Nice to see her here and her comments. Follow her lead folks. You can't go wrong.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 2:09 PM)

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