10 people who won't be Romney's running mate

Gen. David Petraeus

/ AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq

Mitt Romney appears on the verge of selecting his running mate from a shortlist that is believed to include Rob Portman, Tim Pawlenty, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio and Bobby Jindal. There have also been other names mentioned as potential running mates - including Gen. David Petraeus and Michael Bloomberg - despite the fact that they almost certainly will not be tapped to run alongside Romney. The following is our list of people who won't be vice president despite the speculation:

10 people who won't be vice president

FEATURE PAGE: Romney's vice presidential choice

[arthanyel]

It's pretty clear why Romney won't release his tax returns.

Remember, Romney he was actively running for president in 2007 and 2008, and he KNEW he was going to be running in 2012. That means it's nearly certain those years should be able to withstand scrutiny. So why not at least release the last 5 years?

Because on October 15, 2009, this happened: "Wealthy U.S. taxpayers, concerned about an Internal Revenue Service crackdown on the use of secret overseas bank accounts as tax havens, are rushing to meet a 10/15/2009 deadline to disclose those accounts or face possible criminal prosecution. The concern was triggered this summer when Switzerland's largest bank, caught up in an international tax evasion dispute, said it would disclose the names of more than 4,000 of its U.S. account holders.

The decision shattered a long-held belief that Swiss banks would guard the identities of its American customers as carefully as they did their money, and it raised concern that other international tax havens might be next. Under an amnesty program, the IRS is allowing taxpayers to avoid prosecution for having failed to report their overseas accounts. As a result, tax attorneys across the nation have been besieged by wealthy clients who are lining up to apply even though they will still face big financial penalties."

We KNOW Romney had money in Switzerland - he has said so himself. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that Romney doesn't want people to know he was intentionally (and illegally) hiding money from taxation in Switzerland. There is no criminal prosecution because the IRS granted an amnesty, but it WAS ILLEGAL - and he knew it.

No wonder he is keeping them a secret - releasing them would destroy his candidacy.

[arthanyel]

w8qf: And denial of reality is the conservative mindset. It is not illegal to have money in foreign banks. It IS illegal to hide money from the IRS that you are supposed to pay taxes on - which was the issue here. And until 2009, many rich people did it as one of the many ways they avoided paying their taxes.

The fact it WAS illegal and the IRS granted an amnesty is not a conservative or liberal issue - it is a fact in the public record.

I would say you should check your facts before your ignorance shows, but - TOO LATE. I know conservative extremists never allow facts to enter into the conversation, like the propaganda that Obama has "hidden his personal history" - which is nonsense.

Why isn't Romney reeleasing his tax returns like EVERY OTHER Presidntial candidate has done for decades?

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Mitt needs to pick a VP who can release tax returns as Mitt apparently can not.

A lender requires more tax returns than Mitt provides just to qualify for a mortgage.

Pathetic.

I'm thinking Reid is right. Mitt probably hasn't paid taxes in a decade and that's what keeps him from releasing the returns.

[arthanyel]

w8qf: Nonsense. Obama hasn't hidden his history, unless you are referring to 30 year old college transcripts which are private and have NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on what is happening now or on his presidency.

[kbbpll]

Don't the secret oaths Mittey took during his endowment pretty much require him to pick another Mormon as his running mate? This is all about building up the Kingdom of God on earth and the establishment of Zion (aka a theocracy headed by Jesus), isn't it?

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Then one would say Jon Huntsman would be the pick.

But I don't think Huntsman would have anything to do with Romney.

Huntsman has scruples.

[stevex47]

No, not sarah, but, maybe Bristol? Or Levi? Or Joe the Plumber?

[bajajohn1]

Today, reports are surfacing throughout the internet, that Sheldon Edelson, major Romney campaign contributor, is being investigated for laundering drug cartel money through the Sands Hotel and Casino Resort. Romney may be taking drug cartel money for his campaign. It was Sheldon Edelson who also sponsored the Newt Gingrich candidacy. Perhaps, this is one reason Romney will not release his tax returns. He may be tied to organized crime.

[arthanyel]

That's Adelson, not Edelson, and that activity if it even occurred was years before Romney's campaign. Plus Adelson is the Chairman not the cage cashier, and many things likely occur there he has no inkling of at all.

Also please note that there is an enormous difference between knowingly partnering with drug cartels to launder their money (which DID NOT happen, even the DOJ has already stated that) and having small gaps in your process. The Nevada Gaming Commission has extremely strict rules to monitor for this kind of activity and it got by them as well, so it most likley not an actual criminal event.

Attack Romney for real things - there are more than enough of them. See my post above.

[saber72]

Question. How does Mittwit have 100 million dollars in an IRA when the max contribution per year you are allowed to make is 6 thousand dollars?

Seriously, anyone know how he did this? I'm sure it must be legal but how did he get around the max contribution? Anyone know?

[marychgo]

I'm no expert, but speculation I've read is that he contributed Bain stock (or shares in Bain partnerships) to his IRA at a hugely understated valuations and now values them at something like market value.

[royalstar05]

I think he picks Tpaw. He guy will NOT overshadow Mitt by any stretch and thats what he wants. Tpaw is a lapdog that will do anything he wants, also what Mitt wants.

[Blue_moon12]

He has to pick someone duller than he is and that's not going to be an easy task.

[occupy_cbs]

LOL! Caribou barbi is not mentioned in this list of people who won't be vice president despite the speculation, so I imagine willard romney's campaign is pleading with her to join the ticket!