McCain To Host Possible VPs At Home

Charlie Crist, Bobby Jindal And Mitt Romney Invited To Memorial Day Gathering At GOP Candidate's Arizona Home

(CBS/AP)  The Memorial Day guest list at Sen. John McCain's Arizona home runs to at least three Republicans mentioned as vice presidential running mates, but a top aide said Wednesday that vetting possible veeps is not on the agenda.

"It's purely social," said Mark Salter, a senior adviser to McCain.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were all invited to a Memorial Day gathering at the senator's home in Sedona, Ariz. Romney ran for the Republican presidential nomination in last winter's primaries, but dropped out months ago and has endorsed McCain.

They were among the estimated two dozen people - including some 10 couples - invited. McCain often hosts friends and political acquaintances at his compound.

McCain said more than a month ago that he was in the "embryonic stages" of selecting a running mate for the fall campaign, but neither he nor aides have disclosed additional information in the weeks since.

It will be the first visit to Sedona, Ariz., for all three.

The New York Times reports that Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn., who has also been mentioned as a contender to run with McCain, is not going to Arizona and that his associates said he had a wedding on Saturday.

Romney dropped out of the race in February after it became apparent it would be near impossible to topple McCain in the convention delegate race. He endorsed the Arizona senator a week later and pledged to help him win the nomination.

Since then, McCain has praised Romney repeatedly as someone who is certain to continue playing a large role in the GOP. Romney, for his part, has suggested that he'd accept a vice presidential slot, though some Republicans privately speculate that he's looking ahead to a possible repeat run in 2012.

Neither man appeared especially fond of the other during the campaign. Romney cast McCain as outside of the GOP's conservative mainstream and a Washington insider who contributed to the problems there. McCain, in turn, argued that Romney's equivocations and reversals on issues indicated a willingness to change his positions to fit his political goals.

Crist, 51, provided a major boost to McCain prior to Florida's Jan. 29 primary with a well-timed endorsement.

Elected governor in 2006, Crist has been seen as a moderate Republican. He has championed efforts to curb climate change, and was praised by former President Clinton for his efforts to restore voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences.

He also pushed for a law that requires a paper trail in state elections, a measure that bans the electronic voting machines his predecessor, Gov. Jeb Bush, sought after the 2000 presidential election. That election ended in a hotly contested recount, which President Bush won by 537 votes.

Jindal, 36, son of Indian immigrants, was elected governor of Louisiana in October 2007, three years after being elected to the House, where he was credited with playing an important role as his state recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Previously, he was secretary of Louisiana's health department, and an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Jindal's spokeswoman, Melissa Sellers, downplayed the visit and did not mention the vice presidential search. She said the governor and his wife were going to Arizona to "spend time" with McCain and his wife, Cindy, and noted that that two lawmakers have met several times before.

Among other guests expected were Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., close confidantes of McCain.

[smirk5]

McCain will follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell about as soon as he can stand in the hot sun without a hat.

[willymack]

John McCaine needs to make a wise choice. His age is the only factor that cause some people to hesitate. Lieberman is an interesting choice. He is an independent thinker, I do not always agree with but he went to Iraq and came back to expouse not the typical democratic bull, but the fact that we can win there.
Interesting.

[freckster]

Crist does not have the experience to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. McCain won''t get any help from him (or anyone else) in winning my vote in FL anyway. We''re voting Democrat this time around and the results won''t need a recount.

[prinzowhales]

I wonder if George Allen was invited over to ask Governor Jindal if he was a macaca.

[willymack]

Smirk5

He stood in a North Vietnam prison for 5 years....while you were most likely getting rid of beer standing in front of a urinal.

[prinzowhales]

Yes, Liebermann, as a fellow Zionazi, could step into the shoes of der Fuhrer, should the blitzkrieg going on between his ears finally destroy what little grey matter McPampers has left.

[prinzowhales]

Five years in a prison camp making propaganda films for the enemy does give one lots of experience...as does trading US secrets for medical care (no wonder the Israelis like him). By the time he got to the Hilton, he had destroyed enough US planes to be #18 on the list of North Vietnamese aces. He''s a security risk plain and simple.

[smirk5]

willymack4,
Age is the only factor? Ha ha ha.
How about he doesn''t know that Iran is Shia and Al-Qaeda is Sunni.
He doesn''t know that Ali Khamenei is the supreme leader of Iran.
He''s surrounded by lobbyists.
He can''t stand on a position longer than a change of depends.
Immigration, torture, tax cuts, short troop presence in Iraq, intolerance from the right, etc. He''s flip-flopped on all of them.
Oh, and he''s super old!

[obama8years]

And Obama thinks we have 57 states in the Union. I think he got it confused with 57 Islamic States in the Middle East. True Story.

[obama8years]

And I might ad Obama has terrorist friends, surrounds himself with the Elite Liberal anti-Americans and the corrupt chicago politicians. No wonder Hamas Supports Obama. Hamas hates America and know Obama in command will destroy America.

[haoli25]

McBush should go dig up Ronnie Reagan for a runniing mate. Hey, if you are going to lose, lose in style!

[veteran72]

Pappy McBush will lie down, and the chosen candidates will take turns seeing who can change his Depends the quickest.....best time and quality of azz-wiping gets the nod........*yuk*....

[smirk5]

haoli25,
"McBush should go dig up Ronnie Reagan for a runniing mate. Hey, if you are going to lose, lose in style!"

Ronnie Raygun the great appeaser. He actually sold missiles to Iran to get hostages released in Lebanon. So, he appeased Iran so terrorists in Lebanon could be appeased so hostages could get released. Republicans look up to this great appeaser.

[veteran72]

John McCaine needs to make a wise choice. His age is the only factor that cause some people to hesitate. Lieberman is an interesting choice. He is an independent thinker, I do not always agree with but he went to Iraq and came back to expouse not the typical democratic bull, but the fact that we can win there.
Interesting.


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Posted by willymack4 at 06:51 PM : May 21, 2008
+ report abuse

Independent thinker???.....He gets his orders straight from Mossad.....

[rajska]

John McCain should invite Condoleeza Rice as his Vice- President. This should neutralize the minority population for voting for Obama, solely because he''s black. Rice has experience and more competency than Hillary Clinton anyway.

[megamanx1-2009]

PARTY AT MCSAME''S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[smirk5]

Rajska,

"I don''t think anybody could have predicted that they would try to use an airplane as a missile, a hijacked airplane as a missile," said national security adviser Condoleeza Rice on May 16, 2002.

She said this even though this scenario has been explored in intelligence circle.

RICE: I remember very well that the president was aware that there were issues inside the United States. He talked to people about this. But I don''t remember the al Qaeda cells as being something that we were told we needed to do something about.

BEN-VENISTE: Isn''t it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the August 6 PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you whether you recall the title of that PDB?

RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

This last exchange speaks for itself. Condi Rice is a failure.

[bgwinnett]

Independent thinker???.....He gets his orders straight from Mossad.....

Posted by veteran72 at 07:23 PM : May 21, 2008

LMFAO!!!

I bet he''s hiding a suitcase nuke in his basement for the next false flag attack.

[veteran72]

Independent thinker???.....He gets his orders straight from Mossad.....

Posted by veteran72 at 07:23 PM : May 21, 2008

LMFAO!!!

I bet he''''s hiding a suitcase nuke in his basement for the next false flag attack.


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

Posted by bgwinnett at 07:35 PM : May 21, 2008
+ report abuse

We''ve had a long running bet as to the target location for the next "Terr''ist Attack", (wink-wink, finger slide on side of nose), but it''ll be interesting to see where they''ll do it this time.
New York is so,.....2001.....

[bgwinnett]

veteran72 -- My guess is is NYC again.. and heres why:

http://cleveland.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/22798.php

[sgtrds-e4]

I just assumed it was going to be Joe Lieberman?

[allamr18]

Mitt Romney would be a disaster for him, jendall might be a good guy but if we think theres a race issue with barack wait until you get an indian in the race itll be twice as bad. christ is well respected but hes going to win fla regardless and doesnt bring much else

[fairandbal]

I just assumed it was going to be Joe Lieberman?

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 07:58 PM : May 21, 2008

Joe would be a perfect fit as a GOP candidate. Not much difference...

[bohemianmob]

I was hoping for Sarah Palin, Alaska''s governor, she''s pretty hot.

[bgwinnett]

I just assumed it was going to be Joe Lieberman?

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 07:58 PM : May 21, 2008

Yup, he will be the middleman for the Zionist, internationalist, New World Order etc..types.

[gce65]

CBS:
Don''t you mean...McCain Desperately Seeking Another Gimmick To Save Campaign?

[smirk5]

My friends, as soon as I learn that Iran is Shia and Al-Qaeda is Sunni, I''ll bring victory to Iraq.
My friends, as soon as I learn that the real leader of Iran is Ali Khameini, I will deal with Iran.
My friends, as soon as I get rid of about 50 more lobbyists, my campaign will be lobbyist free.
My friends, I must change my depends. God Bless America.

[whitepicks2]

In a black and white pic Bobby Jindal look even more like a corpse than usual.

[sgtrds-e4]

Or Hillary Clinton.........

[whitepicks2]

Charlie Crist -- tanned, rested, and ready.

[whitepicks2]

Mitt might do since he can lie with a straight hair-do.

[no_billary]

Champagne McCain should pick Clinton as his vp, she''d help solidify the all important demographic of those living in an alternate reality.

[whitepicks2]

''I have witnessed incidents where McCain has used profanity at colleagues and exploded at colleagues,'' said former Senator Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican who served with McCain on the Senate Armed Services Committee and on Republican policy committees. ''He would disagree about something and then explode. It was incidents of irrational behavior. We''ve all had incidents where we have gotten angry, but I''ve never seen anyone act like that.''

[whitepicks2]

Fits of anger over the Mount Graham red squirrel, which has gotten in the way of McCain''s pet projects in AZ, seem to be McCain''s achilles heel. Robin Silver and Bob Witzeman, both medical doctors, met with McCain at his Phoenix office to discuss the endangered squirrel. At the mere mention of the issue, McCain erupted...''He slammed his fists on his desk, scattering papers across the room,'' Silver said. ''He jumped up and down, screaming obscenities at us for at least 10 minutes. He shook his fists as if he was going to slug us.'' ....McCain and Huckabee would be a fit. McCain kills the squirrels, Huckabee frys em.
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/arti
cles/2006/7/5/00548.shtml

[smirk5]

My friends, I promise to continue spending 3 billion a week in Iraq so we can strengthen Iran and let Al-Qaeda continue to strengthen in Afghanistan.
My friends, I promise to continue the same economic policies that has helped the middle class to lose ground.
My friends, I promise to continue to keep high-tension in the middle east so we can keep oil prices sky high. This helps you to give your money to Iran and Saudia Arabia so they can transfer it to terrorists.
My friends, I must change my depends. God Bless America.

[arlt1627]

My friends, as soon as I learn that Iran is Shia and Al-Qaeda is Sunni, I''''ll bring victory to Iraq.
My friends, as soon as I learn that the real leader of Iran is Ali Khameini, I will deal with Iran.
My friends, as soon as I get rid of about 50 more lobbyists, my campaign will be lobbyist free.
My friends, I must change my depends. God Bless America.
Posted by Smirk5 at 08:07 PM : May 21, 2008

Very witty and creative! I like it......

[arlt1627]

My friends, as soon as I learn that Iran is Shia and Al-Qaeda is Sunni, I''''ll bring victory to Iraq.
My friends, as soon as I learn that the real leader of Iran is Ali Khameini, I will deal with Iran.
My friends, as soon as I get rid of about 50 more lobbyists, my campaign will be lobbyist free.
My friends, I must change my depends. God Bless America.

Posted by Smirk5 at 08:07 PM : May 21, 2008

Very witty and creative!

[downsteamjim]

As Obama would say, there are 58 or 59 states out there, why would McCain choose the governor of Louisiana? Louisiana needs Jindal.

[veteran72]

To-ga!!!, To-ga!!!, To-ga!!!......

[smirk5]

McCain is a very old man. It''s a matter of time before he takes a major fall at some point on the campaign trail. And then, it''ll be youtube city for him. It''s going to be like Bob Dole all over again. Don''t trip John. Don''t trip, my friend.

[samthetvcat]

Did you all catch that Saturday Night Live when Al Gore hosted after he was robbed of the Presidency where he did a spoof of his VP selection process and made it look like that show The Bachelor? LOL They had him ''wooing'' his potential ''mates'' in a hot tub and he asked Lieberdork to accept the final rose . . .

Maybe you had to see it, but that''s this report reminds me of and I''m getting visions of what this little get-together must look like LOL

[samthetvcat]

PS As a Dem, I''m getting slightly paranoid at what seems like a Repub advantage of not having to nominate the VP until after we do . . . is that true (?)

Because if Barack picks a guy, won''t the Repubs maybe pick a woman? And if Barack picks a woman won''t they maybe pick a neocon? It seems like getting to pick last gives them the upper hand :(

[galvestontex]

McSame should pick a Democrat.

[galvestontex]

Obama/Edwards 08. Done Deal!

[galvestontex]

If I were McSame I would chose KindaSleeza Rice.

[galvestontex]

I mean Condaleeza Rice.

[mcvet]

Hey since McSame has gone with everything else Bush has, why not invite Darth!! ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush

[galvestontex]

Oh well its kind of quiet in here.

[galvestontex]

I%u2019m going to go over to ABC News (a.k.a. the real Clinton Campaign Headquarters) and rattle sabers. Then, to CNN. I don%u2019t even waste my time at F-U-X News. Fair and balanced my A-S-S. Nothing but T&A over there (ditzes). Some nice cleavage though.

[galvestontex]

Goodnight America. Goodnight CBS. Goodnight John Boy.