Political Ruminations

Morning Quote: Paul Begala

Former adviser to Bill Clinton, Paul Begala on what he calls the “plutocrat ticket”, or Romney-Ryan 2012, emphasis mine:

“In selecting Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney has doubled-down on the one thing he has never flip-flopped on: economic elitism. Romney, born to wealth, has selected Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, who was also born to wealth. As the former University of Oklahoma football coach, Barry Switzer, once said of someone else: both these guys were born on third and thought they hit a triple.

There's nothing wrong with inherited wealth. Lord knows great presidents from FDR to JFK came into their fortunes through the luck of birth. But there is something wrong with winners of the lineage lottery who want to hammer those who did not have the foresight to select wealthy sperm and egg.

Finally, we have peered into Mitt Romney's core. It is neither pro-choice nor pro-life; neither pro-NRA nor pro-gun control; neither pro-equality nor antigay. But it is pro-wealth and very anti–middle class. Mitt Romney has decided to go nuclear in the class war.”

Morning Quote: Paul Begala

Paul Begala, Democratic strategist and former adviser to Bill Clinton, on Mitt Romney’s choice of a vice presidential running mate, emphasis mine:

“You heard it here first: Mitt Romney is going to select Rob Portman, the junior senator from Ohio, to be his running mate. I have no insight into how Romney will make this decision. But I had a front-row seat at what I believe was the best veep choice of my lifetime

Bill Clinton was blown away by his meeting with Al Gore and settled on him quickly, even though Gore was the same age, same region, same religion, and same ideology... I'm betting that Romney's choice will reflect who he is: a bloodless technocrat who wants to double down on trickle down.”

Rob Portman is the junior senator from Ohio.