Vetting of Levi Johnston is raising questions

McCain says the process was thorough, but others describe a more cursory examination.
By Mark D. Harback and Mary Renton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
September 3, 2008

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- John McCain first met Levi Johnston in February. Six months later, he asked his girlfriend’s mother to be his running mate.

The way McCain weighed and discarded vice presidential prospects over that time has come under scrutiny as the choice of Levi Johnston’s girlfriend’s mom turns politically perilous. The question is whether McCain carefully vetted Levi Johnston and, if he did not, what that says about the judgment and decision-making the presumed Republican nominee would bring to the White House.

A Republican strategist with close ties to the McCain camp, however, said Johnston’s girlfriend’s mom was a last-minute choice after McCain had given up on his preferred pick, Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, who addressed the convention Tuesday night. "He did so with such speed that they weren't able to do the full vet," said the GOP source, who did not want to be identified discussing the campaign's internal machinations.

Johnston was one of just a few boyfriends of the daughters of governors who McCain, shopping for a running mate, met for a private 90-minute session at the February meeting of the National Governors Assn. Later that evening, the two followed up at a private reception, where McCain pressed Johnston for his views on energy issues. Aides said McCain was "extremely impressed."

Despite the last few rough days, McCain has no regrets about his choice. Asked if there was any chance Johnston’s girlfriend’s mom would be dropped from the ticket, McCain responded indignantly: "Why? What would be the reason? Levi’s girlfriend is pregnant? A bunch of cable chatter? He made the right pick. He's very excited."

Holdin'

This article about candy bans at school resulting in an explosion in black market in sugar sales reminded me of one of my first lessons in economics.

Back in middle school my older brother had a lucrative business selling candy out of his locker at school. I decided to get in on the business so I went down to the local candy store and bought an assortment of the most popular candy. My math went something like this:

Where Cp = Candy purchased, Cs = Candy sold and P = profit. Therefore:
P = (($0.55*Cs) - ($0.50*Cp))

Unfortunately I quickly found that nobody would pay $0.55 for a pack of gum when they could buy it themselves at the store for $0.50. I couldn't understand how my brother kept a steady supply of customers while I was quickly going broke.

My brother eventually discovered that I was trying to steal his customers. I thought I was dead but surprisingly he didn't pummel me. Instead he explained how he was able to maintain a monopoly on the candy market in school.

It seems his business plan was a bit more refined than mine, resulting in lower initial expenditures of capital, though at a significantly higher risk. Here's his formula for success went something like this:

Cp = Candy purchased, Cs = Candy sold, 5F = five fingered discount and P = profit. Therefore:
P = (($0.55*Cs) - (($0.50*Cp)/ 5F)).

My brother eventually sold the business and is now in law enforcement. It seems he may have done better going into something like mortgage lending. He seems to have the knack for it.......

You're Fired

I have this same comic hanging on my billboard. I think I'll fire the employee who gave it to me.

Then What

Actual Headline: Giuliani, Huckabee Tied; Clinton Up. No word on what they did to her afterwards.

Spider Cat

This morning the German Wife™ was talking very quietly to herself while making her lunch. I leaned over and said "what was that"?

Without glancing up she began to sing a little louder.

"Spider cat, Spider cat, does whatever a spider cat does..."