I won’t be influenced by a Veep choice ever again.
What does the Veep add to a ticket? Nothing substantial.
The policies of a President are going to be followed through. The Veep isn’t going to come into play unless the President seat is vacant and requires the Veep’s ascension.
The dog with mange and fleas is going to be what you get.
Doesn’t matter if the Veep choice is West, Palin or anyone else.
Remember, Matt Damon implored about looking at the acuraial tables and how it would be terrible for Sarah to be President and it is likely given Juan McCain’s age.
Well, Juan is still with us.
and so is the stink.
I’m certainly not going to be moved by a VP choice. The most important thing a VP does is encourage congress on behalf of the president but a VP usually has little input on policy.
I do think Cheney was a rare case of a very influential VP due to his extensive foreign and domestic policy background but he would have been rendered ineffective by a more aggressive Bush had Bush chosen to be that way.