Condi for VP
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The latest battle in American politics is for the coveted second tier spot on the Republican presidential ticket – vice president. It is especially desired this year because of the current downward trend in President Obama’s approval rating, making the pundits predict an easy Republican victory. Therefore, whoever is chosen for Mitt Romney’s vice president is likely to become the next vice president of the United States of America.
There have been a dozen names tossed around the nation’s political circles as to who would best seal the deal for the Republicans to take back the White House. Louisiana’s own governor, Bobby Jindal, is often touted as a rising star that should be considered. However, the name that has been getting the most attention and high marks as a VP nominee is the junior senator from Florida, Marco Rubio.
Mr. Rubio is attractive to political insiders because of the Latino background, his rising star status and the youth and energy he would bring to the ticket of an old, white, rich guy from the North. The Republican Party needs to appeal to a vast number of minority groups in America, and a large growing demographic is the Latino vote. Obama won the Hispanic vote 67 to 31 in the 2008 election.
However, my recommendation for the Romney campaign to consider for vice president is former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. My recommendation has nothing to do with her being an African American but has everything to do with her being an educated woman with a strong background in foreign policy.
I don’t think Mitt Romney needs help convincing Americans the economy is the same if not worse under Barack Obama’s leadership. What Mitt Romney will have trouble with is exciting a mostly Christian Republican Party while being a Mormon. Additionally, he will be going head to head with President Obama, who has ended the Iraq War, killed Osama bin Laden and is in the process of a drawdown in Afghanistan. Romney, while having tremendous business experience, will not be able to compete with Obama’s foreign policy record.
Finally, Mitt Romney needs to get the Republican base excited about voting for a Republican and not only energized to vote against Obama. Secretary Rice would energize a party that hasn’t been excited since George W. Bush occupied the White House.
The last bite…
Last week was a great week for dining out in New Orleans as far as my calendar was concerned. I had the privilege of dining at some of the best restaurants in the city. I enjoyed Baked Alaska at Antoine’s, a cheesecake from the Rib Room, and a 25-cent martini from Café Adelaide! Overall, each restaurant lived up to its famed reputation as an institution of high culinary skill. However, the rest of the meal at Antoine’s left something to be desired earning Antoine’s 3 out of 5 crumbs. The fish at the Rib Room was less than satisfying but the macaroni earned it 4.5 out of 5 crumbs. The service and food at Café Adelaide earned it the lowest score at 2 out of 5 crumbs.
Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.