Politico is reporting tonight that Karl Rove called Joe Lieberman late last week and asked him to back out of consideration for John McCain’s Veep spot. The story goes on to say that Lieberman laughed off the request, and now McCain, who is expected to go with Rove’s favorite for the job, Mitt Romney, has opened himself up to more charges of “More of the Same!” from Ds trying to tie him to Bush.

But there’ll be a problem in that logic for snake-bit Texas Ds who’ve grown accustomed to peeling the Rove onion a little farther, i.e. What if Rove isn’t as hot for Romney as he has let on? What if he actually–and successfully–counseled McCain to go with Joe, and then let this story leak in order to heighten McCain’s air of Maverickiness? Find out just how crafty the old Turd Blossom can be when McCain announces his pick Friday AM.

Using a convenient device — “a friend writes” — the former Bush speechwriter devastatingly makes the case against Mitt in his National Review Online blog. Gotta reprint the whole thing; it’s too good.

Ten Reasons Mitt Romney Should Not Be the VP Nominee

10. Inexperience. Romney, a one-term governor who did not run for reelection, has precisely one-third of the elective experience that Dan Quayle had when nominated for Vice President, and Quayle was attacked for his inexperience. A Romney nomination would cut against the grain of one of McCain’s best arguments – Obama’s inexperience – and this is particularly true when placed against Joe Biden.

9. Rommey supporters typically say that he would be good on the economy. But why, exactly? Paul O’Neill and John Snow were both highly successful businessmen, and yet were weak as Treasury Secretary. Why would Romney be any different – and would McCain want to be seen to hand over control of the economy to his vice president? Business and government require different leadership styles. Few people can handle both well, and Romney’s thin record as governor provides little evidence he can. The conservative Tax Foundation stated that the total state and local tax burden in Massachusetts rose 5.1 percent on Romney’s watch, and the state ranked 46th in job growth from 2003-2005 (in the middle of a boom). In any event, skill in business is very different from skill in finance – or governing.

8. Thin skin. In the Republican debates, Romney always wanted to be the focus of attention, taking more than his allotted share of time and reacting badly when others questioned his statements or views. McCain clobbered him in the debates, helping assure his own nomination. Joe Biden would do likewise.

7. While “anybody but _______” efforts rarely work in American politics (think Carter, Reagan, Mondale), this one did. At least three candidates – Huckabee, Giuliani, Thompson – decided that they simply preferred beating Romney and effectively worked together to stop him. What was it about Romney they so disliked? This also doesn’t say much about his ability to unite the party, keep support, or exert political leadership.

6. Whether one is pro-choice or pro-life, Romney’s flip-flop on abortion seems terribly insincere. To believe the story as it was originally told, Romney was concerned over stem cell research. Ask any of your active pro-life friends: they will probably know many people who are pro-life except for the stem cells issue and will have met no one who became pro-life because of it. His palpable anger when asked detailed questions about his views does not give credence to the sincerity of his conversion.

5. Can Romney supporters point to even one poll – just one poll – showing that he would have won reelection in 2006? It is not good enough to say “oh, but he said he wanted to run for President, so there were no polls.” (What about Romney internals?) George Bush faced this dilemma in 1998 and won reelection handily as Governor of Texas. What does this say about Romney’s record as Governor? Isn’t the better conclusion that he won (with less than 50% of the vote) only against a very weak Democratic candidate from western Massachusetts and governed in an undistinguished fashion? If we want to say that Barack Obama’s record is thin, we must say the same about Romney’s, so he cannot be the nominee.

4. In 2004, some very effective advertising mocked John Kerry for windsurfing off Nantucket as a sign he was out of touch with the people. How, then, would the people react, in a time of economic gloom, to learning that Romney’s hedge funds – based offshore, presumably to avoid U.S. taxation – are named after a lighthouse on the same island? Can’t you just picture the ads now?

3. With McCain’s implicit one-term pledge, a Romney nomination – giving the vice presidency to a deep-pocketed candidate – would sharply divide the Republican party by effectively conceding the 2012 nomination to him, sidelining both up-and-coming candidates like Governors Pawlenty, Palin, and Jindal and current figures such as Mike Huckabee (who came in second, remember – Romney did not). How will the party react? The same consideration does not apply for a pick of, for instance, Pawlenty, Jindal, Governor Jon Huntsman, or Rep. Eric Cantor. They do not have the money to dominate the party and the conservative movement as Romney does. The 1988 primaries show that a sitting Vice President can be effectively challenged – but Romney would begin the race with a huge advantage simply because of his personal wealth. Allegations have already been raised that Romney’s foundation money has been used (improperly?) to bolster his political image And given this, would President McCain have any assurance that Romney would be loyal?

2. Can Romney supporters name a single major accomplishment of Romeny’s as Governor that would please conservatives? His “RomneyCare” health plan? Unlikely, as the candidate himself walked away from it during the primaries. Did he have any ability to persuade the legislature? After the Massachusetts Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage, did Romney even switch a single legislator to vote in favor of placing a constitutional amendment on gay marriage on the ballot, so the people could deicide rather than judges? If so, who? The burden should be on Romney supporters to provide the names and details. Did the Legislature not like him, or is it better to say that he simply walked away from the issue? The Boston Globe’s valedictory editorial (December 26, 2006) sums it up well: “Romney himself admits that a number of his goals remain unmet. His inability to lower the nation’s highest unemployment insurance rate, to secure merit pay for teachers, and to reinvigorate the Republican Party were among the frustrations he listed.”

1. On a family vacation, he put the family dog in a cage on top of the car while driving for 12 hours, across an international border – an experiment in logistics, aerodynamics, and animal welfare that predictably failed when the dog became ill. Over 50 million American dogs – and 40 million American dog owners – would be horrified.

Latest video is up on our multimedia page, recorded this morning. You’ll notice that I’m wearing enormous earphones that remind me of my Sony walkman mid-80’s. Or Princess Leia.

Not Yet Over the Hills

Evan Smith, Jake Silverstein, and a glowing Eileen Smith talk about Hillary’s speech last night—and one of her best lines: “No way, No how, No McCain.”

Yes, there are probably other things I should be doing but I just got my picture taken with Bunk from The Wire. I will now be on the lookout for Officer McNulty the rest of the convention.

(Preemptive strike: “Oh my God, your glasses are HUGE!”)

It’s almost like you’re here. But you’re not. I mean, did Terry McAuliffe kiss YOU on the cheek? I’m like Marcia Brady and he’s like Davy Jones.

Next up: Photos from last night’s Rising Stars party starring Rafael Anchia and Mark Strama.

Well I’m just sitting here, still basking in the glow of what I thought was an incredible speech by Hillary Clinton last night. It may have been the best speech she’s ever given. And I was on the convention floor to see it all. She nailed it. Absolutely nailed it. The message to Hillary hold-outs was clear: it’s way past time to support Barack Obama.

When she asked the crowd (which erupted into cheers every five seconds) if they were in this race just for her, ticking off all the issues most important to these women, the question was clear — why would you support John McCain?

Now Hillary’s speech could have done one of two things — it could have rallied the hold-outs behind Obama, or it could have made them even angrier. I think there are women who were on the fence, who almost feel like they now have “permission” to let go of Hillary and support Obama. And then there are the hold-outs who are suffering from Scorned Woman Syndrome.

They are pissed that Hillary isn’t the nominee. They are pissed that she’s not the VP. They feel that they have been passed over, once again. Older women especially, who fought for women’s rights and fought against sexism, will probably not change their minds no matter what.

Are these women angry and resentful enough to elect a president who goes against what they supposedly hold dear? We shall see.

But it won’t be on Hillary.

(Video clips from the floor of the convention and much more forthcoming.)

(Video clips, photos of politicos and celebrities, and my moment with Terry McAuliffe forthcoming.)

More speculation in today’s Chron. Still seems unlikely, but you never know.

Update: That dude at electoral-vote.com seconds the motion.

She is a deeply conservative Republican, a good speaker, and would give the Democratic PUMA voters a cover story for voting for the Republican ticket, even though they violently oppose everything the Republicans are promising to do. It would be the ultimate in identity politics.

This morning, I did one of my oh-so-professional video conferences with Colleague Silverstein on what I expected Hillary to speak about tonight (Mind the Gender Gap). I’m just now getting around to posting it because I really am that technically challenged. She’ll speak around 8:30? 9? So you have about an hour (what time is it there) to view this before it’s old news.

Or, you can watch it after her speech to see how wrong I was.

From prepared remarks by Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late and great Ann Richards. If the Hillary hold-outs were willing to follow their candidate to the ends of the earth because of her commitment to women’s rights and access to health care, will they really vote for McCain? If they do — and if McCain wins — they may come down with a severe case of buyer’s remorse.

“My mother, Ann Richards, gave the keynote address at the Democratic convention 20 years ago. I wish she were here with us to celebrate — everything she worked for and believed in is coming true this week in Denver.

“After eight years of George Bush, you might be surprised that a Texan is president of Planned Parenthood. After all, there aren’t many people eager to see the words ‘Texan’ and ‘president’ in the same sentence ever again.

“Women deserve a president who understands their health care needs. The record is clear: Barack Obama does and John McCain does not. Obama has worked for affordable family planning, for comprehensive sex education and for a woman’s right to choose. He will be a president who supports women’s health and rights one hundred percent.

“And McCain? He’ll be more of the same. He’s spent 25 years working against the health care needs of women. He has voted against women’s health care 125 times. He voted against real sex education, against affordable family planning and, if elected, he has vowed to appoint Supreme Court justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade. Women deserve better.

“On that summer night in Atlanta 20 years ago, my mother introduced her ‘nearly perfect’ granddaughter Lily. Lily is here tonight and there is nothing that would make mom prouder than that this November, Lily will cast her first vote for president — for Barack Obama.

“For mom, for Lily, and for all women, Barack Obama is the right choice.”

(Excuse the late posting. I’m on western time here, the altitude is making me black out every five minutes, and no one will tell me where the fainting couches are located in the press tent.)

I snuck into the VIP Arianna Huffington lunch today at the Brown Palace Hotel — on (just guess) “old media versus new media” — where I got to play paparazzi to those liberal leftist celebrities.

First, Ms. Huffington, looking glamorous. I shook her hand and said that I worked with Evan at Texas Monthly, since Evan has assured me multiple times that he’s a good friend of hers. She looked at me blankly. BURNED AGAIN.

Then I saw the media herd scrambling to the doorway. None other than Chevy Chase. I took him aside and told him I loved him in Fletch and Vacation, but The Karate Dog? Seriously?

PBS’s Charlie Rose. I didn’t recognize him at first, and pushed him aside to get a seat at one of the front tables. Grilled salmon salad. Delightful.

GEORGE!!! That strumpet from the Washington Post stole my rightful seat.

Here’s Congressman Rahm Emanuel, schmoozing with Arianna. I introduced myself to him, saying that he came and spoke to my class at Medill (he’s an alum). He said, call me Rahm, and I giggled like a schoolgirl.

One of the VIPs, musician and rapper will.i.am.

The panel (which included GEORGE, Rahm “call me Rahm,” will.i.am, Katherine Weymouth of WashPost, and Fred Armisen from SNL, who I confused with Rick Moranis) was moderated by (a famished) Charlie Rose and Arianna. The takeaway? New Media = Intimacy. Old Media = Viagra.

Here are some of the notes I scribbled down on cocktail napkins.

George: In 1992, there were two news cycles a day, max. Now there are, like, a million. Is Eileen Smith in the crowd? Will you be my guest on “This Week”?

Rahm: What happened with the Bush 2000 and 2004 campaign’s coordinated efforts engaging churches and their communities is what’s happening with Obama except his organizing power is the Internet. Obama’s online fundraising and his grasp on social networking are the model for the future. We have a way to target voters and break into segments, all through social media.

will.i.am: Old media was based on things you’d watch or read in the news, then discussed with your friends. The new media is “baton-ical” — one user passing the baton to another and it becomes viral.

Fred Armisen: SNL’s campaign coverage was all about how to make a sketch funny and relevant. I was asked by Lorne to portray Obama and it evolved from there. SNL sketches hold a mirror up to society, reflecting the viewer’s own assumptions and prejudices, which carried over after Saturday night.

The NY Mag cover [on Obama and Michelle portrayed like terrorists] went too far. It played on stereotypes in the ugliest way even though they argued it was satire. The Chicago Tribune ran a cartoon a couple years ago of a Jewish guy with a huge nose and money coming out of it. That’s still fresh in our minds.

George closed with his observation that Obama never would have been the nominee if not for the Internet. The $200 million raised by small donors? The young voters? The registration drive? How would a one-term senator have gotten his name out?

(If McCain loses the general, we could argue that it was also because of the Internet.)

All in all, a pretty good panel, almost worth the two hours it sucked out of my day. But, you’ve got to ask yourself how much merit there is on a panel of media folks discussing media to the media. Bizarro world.

Almost forgot — Paul Mitchell John Paul DeJoria was there too (silly me, just heard from a commenter that Paul Mitchell died like 20 years ago). And, yes, DeJoria (not Mitchell, although if he were alive I’m sure he would have) made a beeline for me and asked me if he could help me with my hair.

Karen Brooks of Dallas Morning News tells us what we can expect from Hillary’s speech tonight. Hillary is rumored to be in the house right now, which is strange because my Hillary radar has not gone off.

Tonight’s Remarks:

* Cecile Richards, daughter of Ann Richards and President of Planned Parenthood
* AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano
* KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (one of the VP vetted finalists)
* PA Sen. Robert Casey, Jr. (he’s pro-life)
* KEYNOTE: Former VA Gov. Mark Warner, Senate candidate (At the 2004 convention, this spot was Barack Obama’s — and look where that got him. Harbinger of things to come?)
* MA Gov. Deval Patrick

And… the main event… will she or won’t she rally her supporters? Will she formally release her delegates? Can she bridge the gap? Or will she attempt a hostile takeover of the entire convention? Hillary Clinton speaks!

(The only thing that may overshadow Hillary — a live performance by our own Alejandro Escovedo)

And tonight, the Rising Stars party celebrating the “next generation of the Democratic Party,” featuring Rep. Mark Strama and Rep. (and the first Hispanic governor?) Raphael Rafael Anchía. I ran into Anchía last night and asked if he was going to “Mark Strama’s party” Tuesday. He accused me of being “all about Mark Strama”  and “not being able to spell his name.”

A few images from inside the press tent (i.e. “base camp”) so you can feel like you’re here, elbowing fellow journalists out of the way to get a seat in the unassigned media section. I’ve asked several volunteers where my sherpa is but they just look at me with blank stares.

You’re not allowed to bring any food into the Pepsi Center (yesterday they confiscated my apple despite my protestations that I have low blood sugar). Here is where Wolf Blitzer’s eating.

Here is where I am eating.

And here’s the OPEN bar inside my press tent. I asked the bartenders, “Is this heaven?” Also, free stale popcorn and pretzels. Doesn’t get much better than this.

Finally, lest you forget what the Democratic convention is all about (especially Monday’s feel-good opening ceremonies).

Telling contrast in the way they saw last night.

Brooks:

[D]uring the first night of the convention, the pluses far outweighed the minuses. In spirit, the night extended Obama’s 2004 convention speech. The overarching theme was intrinsic to the man, unity instead of division, something new instead of conflicts that are old. His sister hit this theme forcefully. Jesse Jackson Jr. made the generational-change argument explicitly, paying tribute to the fights of the past while describing the more subtle challenges of the present. Michelle Obama was short on biographical details, but long on the idealism, which is at the heart of Obama’s appeal.

Carville, uh, disagreed, at least according to Halperin’s summary of his appearance on GMA:

[He] said most of Monday was “completely void of any message” and “not particularly impressive” outside the major speeches. Said Democrats should be drawing bigger contrast with Bush and McCain. Also said it would soothe feelings if Obama praised Bill Clinton and the success of his policies in Obama’s Thursday speech.

I’m with Brooks. In the end, the left will be with Obama no matter what — I’m willing to bet — and that includes the Hillary hold-outs. What choice do they have? I’ve never believed they would vote for McCain, whose policies on issues big and small differ so drastically from Clinton’s that only spite bridges the gap. What Obama needs to do is persuade the middle — the independents. The way he does it is by sticking to his core message, as Brooks says, which is change, new politics, etc.

As for this soothe-their-feelings stuff: Maybe Phil Gramm was right that we’re a nation of whiners. The silver medalists, and the rest of us, need to move on from the primary season. The general election is just about here. The two candidates in the race aren’t Obama and Not-Obama but Obama and McCain. Can’t go back in time. Can’t make life any fairer. Gotta choose. On the merits. For the good of the country.

Don’t even get me started on how disorganized the press folks at the convention are. I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET ME STARTED. I spent two hours running around different press galleries trying to figure out how to get a freaking floor pass. But I learned something very important — when surrounded by secret service and SWAT teams, do not use the phrase, I’M GOING TO KILL SOMEBODY, no matter how sweaty and frustrated you are.

I did, however, wander the periphery and was able to snap some shots.

Here’s Ted Koppel, surrounded by throngs of adoring fans.

Here’s Dennis Kucinich, surrounded by absolutely no one.

President Jimmy Carter, who took the stage to the sounds of “Georgia on My Mind.” (Take my word for it, that’s him.)

Maya Soetero-Ng, Obama’s sister.

Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Our own Ron Kirk (former Dallas mayor, senatorial candidate).

And Sen. Patrick Leahy of VT.

After taking this photo, I screamed after him, “I loved you in Batman, Senator!!” And then I was removed from the vicinity.

**VIDEO: Join Jake Silverstein and I tomorrow morning as we talk about the Ted Kennedy tribute and Michelle Obama’s keynote, and how Eileen needs OT pay.