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The Question — An Izzo-Dantonio presidential ticket?

By: Jacob Carpenter Posted: 10/13/08 5:09pm

As an undecided voter with an unmarked absentee ballot sitting on my kitchen table, I’m having trouble deciding whom to vote for in this presidential race.

Both candidates have their pros and cons and each ticket is starting to come into greater focus as we approach Nov. 4. Still, neither ticket instills great confidence because of track records (or lack thereof).

I want a presidential pairing that inspires me.

I want a proven winner who knows how to bring a country up from its bootstraps.

I want an Izzo-Dantonio ticket.

It sounds crazy, but I want you to stop and really think about it for a second: If MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo (president, because of more head-coaching experience) and football coach Mark Dantonio (vice president) were on the same ballot as Obama-Biden and McCain-Palin, would you have to seriously consider who to vote for?

Given my undecided status, I probably would. And after thinking about it, I’ve come up with 10 reasons why the Izzo-Dantonio ticket is just as good, if not better, than either conventional ticket this election season:

1. Izzo and Dantonio have combined for 18 years of executive experience, or 16 more years than Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin combined.

2. Growing up in the Upper Peninsula, Izzo could see Canada from his house.

3. Both Izzo and Dantonio know how to send an e-mail.

4. Neither Izzo nor Dantonio has ever had any ties to big oil (unless you count Steve Lavin’s hair).

5. Dantonio has never said Izzo isn’t ready to be president of the United States.

6. Izzo would never blow off Letterman.

7. I see your small-town of Wasilla, Alaska, and Scranton, Pa., and raise you Iron Mountain, Mich., and Zanesville, Ohio.

8. We know that Izzo and Dantonio would recruit a great cabinet.

9. Rick Comley would make a great Supreme Court justice.

10. No matter what their party affiliation, Izzo and Dantonio would definitely carry Michigan.

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The Huddle

Sports reporter Jacob Carpenter examines sports issues from the past and present.

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Commentary:

Sarah

10/13/08 8:05pm

This is the best blog I have ever read on the State News.

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Eric

10/13/08 11:44pm

I agree…certainly the best blog I’ve read on the State news.

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Green

10/14/08 7:58am

Not only was it funny… but it actually had supporting evidence!

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Zach

10/14/08 8:53am

Jacob, I enjoy reading your blogs and articles—most of which are very well-written and comedic. I have just one argument to make with this blog. Zanesville, Ohio and Scranton, Pennsylvania are not small towns. I think that that argument would be a push. Regardless, good work!

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Matt

10/14/08 12:20pm

You’re undecided? Guaranteed you vote for Obama based on your left-wing arguments above. You may not have noticed it, but you sound like MSNBC’s talking points. Also, not sure how you arrived at your executive experience tally. The two years you gave that group credit for must be Obama’s two years in the Senate? That’s not executive experience. Palin was Mayor and Governor. That’s executive experience no matter how you look at it.
You’ve been indoctrinated without even knowing it.

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Erin

10/14/08 2:35pm

An Izzo-Dantonio ticket would be much better than any of the idiots running in this race. At least we could trust them. Heck, you cannot trust most people in government any further than you can throw them! I am all in favor of this vote.

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thebomb

10/14/08 6:07pm

Wow Matt, you’ve just shown yet again that Republicans can suck the fun out of anything. Mr. Carpenter was probably crediting Governor Palin’s two years at Governor and neglecting the experience at mayor. No wonder your guy is losing so badly with the way you’re yelling at a potential undecided voter.

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Mike Oxhard

10/14/08 6:29pm

wow dumbest thing I ever heard. I go to MSU too so I think that Izzo and Dantonio are the shyt but everyone outside of Michigan could care less. think about others. BE POLITE!!!

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