Time to get serious about VP

Email Print posted by MedfordTim 05/16/2008 03:18:47 AM EST

Google Technorati del.icio.us digg reddit
If you like this story, digg it!
I admit, I passed up the earlier threads about VP possibilities because it was too early. Countin' eggs ain't been laid yet never got nobody nothin' nohow.

But now that even Ray Charles' ghost can see who the nominee will be, it's time to start chasin' the lil cluckers around in earnest.

Here's the rules: Pick only ONE person. Keep your long lists for the Piggly Wiggly - short & sweet's the way we like it. Use other people for comparison purposes, but only one finalist.

If your person is already listed, add a "me too" reply to the thread. Feel free to expound away, this is merely a way to make things easier to navigate, not stifle your enthusiasm. I WANT to know why you chose that person.

NO ARGUING about someone's choice. If you feel that strident about your point, start a new post. This is an agreeable post and for once, let's keep it that way.


I'll add my choice later, if someone doesn't beat me to it...
< US gives polar bears protected status | The Frame >
 Display:
Time to get serious about VP | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)
Brad Henry (none / 0)
Governor of Oklahoma, Brad Henry. Go right into Red State territory and take on the rednecks and evangelicals and gun owners and church-goers head on!

David

(PS: Kathleen Sibelius is cool too, but I'm only allowed one choice.)

by yturks on 05/16/2008 04:21:02 AM EST

Senator Russ Feingold for VP (none / 0)
Now that's a d*** dream ticket.

by toosinbeymen on 05/16/2008 07:10:29 AM EST

my choices in order (none / 0)
  1. John Edwards
  2. Biden
  3. Bill Richardson

by Chinese Democracy on 05/16/2008 11:14:42 AM EST

I like that list (none / 0)

I suspect that Biden (who I love!) doesn't bring in a lot of votes we don't get otherwise.  Although he would bolster the foriegn policy/defense image.

Richardson helps in the Southwest which is key.

If Edwards can deliver VA or NC that would be huge. 

by ProfRich on 05/16/2008 11:59:38 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I like that list also (none / 0)
I suspect that Biden (who I love!) doesn't bring in a lot of votes we don't get otherwise. 
Name a single person in the entire United States who would vote for Obama-Biden, but not Obama-Schmoe.

Richardson helps in the Southwest which is key.
Richardson "helps"? How about "Richardson is Obama's only prayer in the Southwest". 

If Edwards can deliver VA or NC that would be huge. 
Did Edwards deliver VA or NC in 2004? uhhhhh NOPE!

Did Al Gore deliver Tennessee in 2000? uhhhhh NOPE!

Will Blanche DuBois deliver the French Quarter in 2008? Maybe!!!

by KenTX on 05/16/2008 02:31:37 PM EST

[ Parent ]
My Choices (none / 0)
These are not my personal favorites, but the Dems have a chance to wreak havoc in the South and break the Repub stronghold there. That needs to be considered in whatever choice Obama makes. Also, I think that there will be a need to energize women voters, due the the HRC flameout. A lot of them will be bummed.

That being said, my choices for VP would be:

1. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark in case you did not know)
2. Wes Clark Sr.
3. John Edwards
4. Hillary Clinton (as a last resort)

by mijoh on 05/16/2008 12:10:55 PM EST

EVERYONE - Please stop this here. (none / 0)
I REALLY don't want this thread to get into the usual pissing contest. If you want to make disparaging comments about a person's entry in this thread, START A NEW POST.

PLEASE!

by MedfordTim on 05/16/2008 01:54:22 PM EST

Th troll jumped in and fucked it up (none / 0)
Did you expect any different?  

by Chinese Democracy on 05/17/2008 01:21:34 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Nope, my choice isn't here. (none / 0)
Thanks, those of you choosing to participate. I see the Usual Suspects are listed, as well as interesting additions from Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The great thing about this is no one is wrong. There's not a serious name (sorry, bobo) on the list who wouldn't be a fine choice. Except Hillary....

I am not saying that my choice is right. As is well known, my choices often leave a bit to be desired. If I had my wish candidate, it would be Russ Feingold - but he is NOT a practical choice.

In Obama, we have a Northern Yuppie with an excellent "give them hope" persona. Although he has had a few things to point to in the Senate, he IS a junior member and not in a place to wield political oomph. The Republicans will come at him as "soft on defense" - they always do - so the VP will HAVE to be someone with a rep as a fighter.

Now, the choices people have made are all good, but most share one thing in common that I believe will be a death knell for Obama. He cannot have a Senator as a running mate. It's hard enough to get ONE elected, two might be insurmountable.

Since Obama is running in "change," I don't think it would be good to fall back on names leftover from previous administrations or campaigns. The candidates in the primaries (aside from Edwards) failed to show enough support to justify a place on the ticket as "vote bringers."

My main reason for "NO Hillary" is because it would energize the Republican base needlessly. They are demoralized - why give them something to rally around?

Obviously, another black candidate would also spell doom, sad to say. A woman is an attractive choice, but lends itself to months of "pandering" accusations - and they WILL take hold. A Hispanic male is also a possibility, but again we will hear the Pander Bears crapping in the woods. Has to be a white male.

My candidate is white, Southern, from a crucial state, votes Dem 97.7%, has positions very similar to Barack's, can be counted on to fight for the less fortunate, has no apparent scandals, is fairly well known to political junkies and is photogenic and personable enough to make a good impression in a short time, has received a Colbert "bump", and...he's Jewish.


wexler


  Rep. Robert Wexler

"Wexler has been named one of the "50 Most Effective Legislators in Congress" by the influential magazine Congressional Quarterly and was named to the Forward 50 list as one of the most influential leaders in the American Jewish community. "

Senior Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
House Judiciary Committee
House Committee on Financial Services.


colbert wexler













This guy can spend FOUR YEARS going after the Bush criminals. I LIKE that about him...

by MedfordTim on 05/16/2008 02:44:37 PM EST

Time to finally get serious. (none / 0)
Please bookmark this post. I think Obama will select Gov Strickland of Ohio. Whichever candidate wins Ohio will win the election.

by KenTX on 05/18/2008 05:05:39 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Jim Webb (none / 0)
Look it up yourself to see why...

by TJD on 05/16/2008 04:34:05 PM EST

Sorry TJ (none / 0)
McCain is drafting Jim Webb and Dallas is drafting Pacman Jones.

by KenTX on 05/16/2008 04:40:23 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Go for a VP with VP experience. (none / 0)

Al Gore. That's right. Al Gore.

He said he wouldn't go for president. But what about VP? 

An Obama-Gore ticket. Al Gore already has a lot of experience being VP. Besides, if he could be to Obama what Cheney is to Bush... that would be awsome.

 

I know, it won't happen. He won't take any cabinet position. But I can dream. 

by Cogitor on 05/16/2008 04:34:19 PM EST

VP Debate (none / 0)

1. Joe Biden- People outside of die-hards don't know him, but that just has to be sold to the general public.

2. Jim Webb- Obvious reasons.

3. Wesley Clark, Sr.

4. Wesley Clark, Jr.

On a serious note, not many people change their vote because of a VP candidate. Kennedy-Johnson might have been the last example.  

by myeazel on 05/16/2008 05:52:58 PM EST

Kathleen Sebelius (none / 0)

Kathleen Sebelius: Term limited ,Gov Sebelius is a natural candidate. She is a popular Democrat who has achieved election to statewide office in the heavily Republican state populated with righting nuts, religious zealots and Sam Brownback. Sebelius was born and raised in a Catholic so she can take Hagee and jam it up McCain's septuagenarian ass.

With special comment: 

"The late Lee Atwater, the GOP political consultant who polished the Southern strategy to a vicious sheen, apologized on his deathbed for the Willie Horton ads — the ones that linked a black rapist with Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis.

Atwater's 11th-hour repentance didn't deter his successors. Republican political strategists kept waving the race card for the most mundane of reasons: It worked.

But the South, like the rest of the nation, is changing rapidly; the old social codes are being rewritten, and the old resentments are withering away. White politicians can no longer rely on racially coded messages and crude stereotypes to scare voters into supporting them." Atlanta Constitution

by MRFred on 05/16/2008 11:11:47 PM EST

If the Atlanta Journal says it, (none / 0)
it's gotta be true.

They better start circulating the "Urinal and Constipation" in West Virginia and other southern states.

The problem is that circulation is dropping to zero.
who reads newspapers?

by KenTX on 05/17/2008 09:01:02 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Out of repsect (none / 0)

for Tim's wishe's I will not embark on my usual crushing of you and your usual litany of non sequiturs.  I wasn't aware that a self evident truth required a circulation to be true.


by MRFred on 05/17/2008 09:35:41 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Just save it that chart (none / 0)

Use it the next time Ken links a newspaper, which he does more than anyone on the board, because he is a giant hypocrite.

It will be a nice break from pointing out that his link actually contradicts his arguments. 

by ProfRich on 05/18/2008 12:58:11 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Out of respect (none / 0)

for Tim's wishe's I will not embark on my usual crushing of you and your usual litany of non sequiturs.  I wasn't aware that a self evident truth required a circulation to be true.


by MRFred on 05/17/2008 09:36:19 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Ooops ,sorry about the double post.... (none / 0)

by MRFred on 05/17/2008 09:38:41 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Time to get serious about VP | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)
 Display: