You may want to write the name Paul Ryan down in some notebook, because 20 years from now, I doubt that you will even remember he was once part of a presidential campaign ticket. About all that may be remembered about the 2012 ticket was that the Republicans ran a soulless robot and some kid.

Seems like the losing vice-presidential pick often goes on to a life of total anonymity. Or at least until that stain of being low man on the losing ticket goes away. Let’s see if you can remember these losing VP candidates.

1) After being declared the losers in 2000 by the Supreme Court, this man was then rejected by his own party in 2006. He won his senate seat as an independent in 2006, but is now finally going away. Who is he?

2) Fortunately for him, Jack Kennedy missed the curse of the losing VP candidate when he lost his bid for that post to who at the 1956 Democratic National Convention?

3) OOPSIE! Dewey did not defeat Truman in 1948. But his running mate did go on to a distinguished career in another wing of government, even though he was described by President Dwight Eisenhower as “the biggest damnfool mistake I ever made.”

4) Remember how tickets used to be “balanced” for things like geographic regions? In 1952, the Democrats had northern liberal Adlai Stevenson from Illinois as their presidential candidate. To balance the ticket they added what southerner as VP candidate?

5) Hubert Humphrey came out of the stormy Chicago convention as the nominee of a divided Democratic party. His running mate was almost the second VP from Maine. Who was he?

6) There have been two women nominated as VP candidates, one Republican and one Democrat. Who were they and what years did they run?

7) Recently deceased 1972 Democratic candidate George McGovern had to scuttle his first choice as VP candidate. Who was that person?

8) Most people can barely remember the presidency of Gerald Ford, let alone his running mate in 1976. This man did go on to run for president himself. Who was it?

9) Barry Goldwater led his party to one of its worst defeats ever. His running mate went on to do one of those American Express commercials for people who have been forgotten. His daughter is now a major liberal radio star.

10) Best known as a sports star, this 1996 VP candidate was a congressman and held several cabinet posts. But like many, once he lost he was out of sight, out of mind.

Lawrence O’Donnell claims that once a person loses as VP they never have a chance of winning the presidency. Here is hoping Ryan keeps that streak alive.

Answers? Heck I don’t know these losers either! Oh, all right, here we go…..

1) Joe Lieberman of connecticut. Lost his party primary for senate in 2006.

2) Estes Kefauver of Tennessee

3) Former California governor and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Earl Warren.

4) John Sparkman of Alabama

5) Edmund Muskie (the first VP from Maine was Lincoln’s first VP Hannibal Hamlin.)

6) Geraldine Ferraro (D) 1984 and Sarah Palin (R) 2008.

7) Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri

8) Bob Dole

9) William Miller (his daughter is liberal radio star Stephanie Miller)

10) Jack Kemp – former NFL quarterback.