Jim Stockdale - does that name sound familiar?

[demwing]

For those who don't remember, Jim Stockdale was Ross Perot's VP choice during Perot's historic 1992 run. Stockdale was a highly decorated Navy Admiral, but in his VP debate performance he introduced himself by asking out loud "Who am I? Why am I here?" Instead of appearing philosophical, the comments came off as scattered and unfocused, and Stockdale became the butt of many "confused old guy" jokes. Hey Clint Eastwood - does this sound familiar?

The selection of Stockdale added to a perception (fairly arrived at or not) of Perot as too quirky, and not 100% ready to be the President. Again Clint, sounding familiar?

The jokes also changed Stokdale's reputation. Once a decorated veteran of his craft, respected by his peers, Stockdale became an image of your grandfather who had just wandered into the kitchen and can't quite remember why. Eastwood is obviously not a VP candidate, but he was put up in a spotlight on a night when all lights should have been shining on Romney. He's a superstar, or was.

Now he's Grandpa Simpson, shouting at an empty chair. Hey Stockdale--does all of that sound familiar?

I hope it sounds familiar to America. We don't really want a quirky, obscenely rich guy running our country like he ran his businesses. We were offered that choice once. Perot didn't carry a single state. I'd say America answered that question with a firm NO!

Now we're being asked that question again. America, does this sound at all familiar?

[Angry Dragon]

1. The news said that Willard asked him personally to speak

[scottsdalebubbe]

3. I consider that

to be the good news. Another campaign FAIL. Their loss is Obama's gain.

[Angry Dragon]

6. Welcome to DU

The world of intense emotions and deep thoughts

[demwing]

7. It sure plays to an image of Romney

as unable to make good political decisions.

Hell, if Romney were a social progressive with a conscience, I'd support him as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It takes a thief to catch a thief, right? But he isn't a social progressive with a conscience. If he were, he'd probably not have much of the same business experiences.

Would Romney ever run a corporation like a Democracy? Of course not, because they are very different entities. Why do we think a CEO can do the reverse, and run a Democracy like a corporation?

[scottsdalebubbe]

2. Robme keeps touting his qualifications as a business manager,

but in this campaign, he has consistently demonstrated that he is incapable of selecting a team that serves him well and that he is willing to pander (bet the farm) to raise money from and collude with the likes of the Koch brothers. One of the strengths of a good leader is that he accepts who he is and has been and works to improve. I have only seen a Robme whose deteriorated performance has only called into question his past performances and hislack of eithics and his un-reliability.

After the speeches on the last night, it is apparent that Romney made another selection error by choosing Ryan, with all of his baggage, rather than Rubio. As for the Eastwood memorable moment, I am beginning to agree with the other writers to say that Eastwood, a Ron Paul supporter, as well as a supporter of abortion rights and gay rights, punk'd the candidate and punk'd the convention. He had them agreeing that certain actions and positions that they support were, indeed, stupid. The only difference is that Eastwood, barely, attributed them to Obama instead of themselves.

[XemaSab]

5. Welcome to DU!

Funny, I was thinking that Romney should have picked Condi. She's got a lot of stuff that he's lacking.

Besides, Al Gore lost in part because he didn't embrace the Clinton administration, and people noticed that. We think the Bush administration was odious, but a lot of Republicans like the guy. Running away from Bush and pretending that it never happened seems like a big mistake from a strategy standpoint for them.

[XemaSab]

4. I was really young at the time and I remember it perfectly

Much like Eastwood, it was a planned joke that fell flat.

The lesson for politicians is that pretending to be scatterbrained NEVER EVER EVER works in your favor. EVER.

[Brother Buzz]

8. On a sidenote, Admiral Jimes Stockdale was a dud

Most accounts of his career after returning from Vietnam indicate he was carried by the Pentagon and his brothers in arms, out of respect. He received rubber-stamp promotions and was given non-critical positions because he had long since reached his level of incompetency. Perot never understood this, he only saw the image the Pentagon wished to project.