The Ten Worst Running Mates In Presidential History

The Ten Worst Running Mates In Presidential History

... or as this site called it, "Presidental" history.

I guess their argument really has some teeth!

Ironically, they proceed to have a little chuckle over Dan Quayle's inability to spell!

At any rate ...

OK, I've made fun of Dan Quayle as much as anyone, but ...

The article doesn't ask whether Quayle was a poor choice to be Vice-President, which is about what happens after an election. It asks whether he was a poor choice to be a running mate, which is about what happens during an election. Let's think specifically about that question.

In hindsight, it doesn't seem that Dan Quayle was such a bad choice from a purely political perspective. Again, focus on the word "political." Forget for a minute any thoughts you may have about Quayle's ability to handle the offices of the vice-presidency and (potentially) the presidency, and consider whether the choice of Quayle was a shrewd political move on Bush's part. I would say: (1) Selecting Quayle provided an important symbolic concession to the conservative elements in the Republican party who considered Bush the Elder to be a RINO; (2) There was obviously no chance of Quayle overshadowing the experienced Bush. Bush didn't want a contentious fellow superstar, a Jeff Kent to his Barry Bonds. He wanted a utility infielder who was popular with the hardcore fans. DQ fit the bill; (3) Quayle won, unlike most of the people on this list. He was VP of the USA.

Quayle, in the last analysis, kicked Lloyd Bentsen's wrinkly, sarcastic old ass. Hell, that may even have happened because Quayle warmed the hearts of the right wing enough to get them to overcome their tepid reaction to Bush and get their asses to the polls. Was J. Danforth Quayle a poor choice to be a heartbeat away from the most powerful job on the planet? Maybe so. Was he a poor choice as a running mate? Maybe not so much.