The Veep Thread

I think I had Panetta blamed for somebody else. Sorry about that. Much going on here at once at that particular moment. :-[

Nevertheless, anybody with strong Clinton ties has a real problem tonight.

 

I assume you are saying that because of Hillary's stupid remarks about RFK, that no one with strong Clinton ties can be considered.

That is pure, unadultered bullshit. Hillary's comment was amazingly tone-deaf, but Obama's speeches about removing cynicism from politics must not actually mean something if you think Hillary had a sinister motive. She has already walked it back and it will be out of the news cycle in 24 hours.

Picking a veep with strong experience credentials helps take away one of McCain's strongest talking points which is basically, "Those speeches sound all nice and good, but you ready to turn over the entire federal government to this rookie?" You know who has solid executive branch experience? People with close ties to the Clintons! If Lincoln can put up with Salmon Chase trying to steal the 1864 nomination while serving as Treasury Secretary, I think Obama can have someone with Clinton ties as his veep.

 

Wow. Thanks for dropping by, Dick.
I agree on the blue-collar appeal and getting-things-done-legislatively angle, but doesn't he kind of represent the entire old-way-of-doing-things-in-Washiington that Obama's trying to run against?

No mention yet of Claire McCaskill? Like Sebelius, I'd at least put her on a short list, with Graham, Bob Kerrey, maybe the Gov. of Virginia, a few others. And Bredesen sounds intriguing, even if he can't carry Tennessee.

 

Is there a danger that picking a Gephardt/Daschle type goes against the Obama message of changing Washington? Sure. But going the other way creates just as much, if not more, danger. There isn't another "Obama-like" politician whose gifts might outweigh the inexperience. If Obama wants to reinforce his change message (much like Clinton in 1992), I don't think there is an Al Gore out there for him to choose. Gore was perfect for Clinton in 1992 because he also represented the kind of "New Democrat" Clinton was promising to be and had been a Congressman/Senator for 16 years, so you really couldn't get away with calling him inexperienced.

If he picks a Gephardt/Daschle type, Obama can still make the argument of "I'm calling the shots. I am relying on my judgment to do what is right for this country. I am going to be in Washington, but not of Washington. But I need to surround myself with people who can help me get things done. I will be influencing the vice-president, not the other way around."

 

Fair enough. He's definitely going to need to surround himself with some smart/experienced people, and many of those people will have to be Washington types (b/c where else do you get that kind of experience?).

I've just never been a big fan of Gephardt (or Daschle, for that matter). Too much frustration watching them in Congress all those years. He's also been off the scene for awhile (apparently working as a lobbyist for the Turkish government). Do voters still remember who he is?

 

Dick Cheney hadn't been on the scene since 1992 and it didn't seem to hurt Bush any in 2000.

 

I really like Sam Nunn (or Bob Graham for that matter). Nunn is an already adviser to Obama, Nunn's daughter is an emphatic Obama supporter. Nunn would give Obama the foreign policy/military gravitas he needs. And as a bonus, with Bob Barr likely running as a Libertarian and the large black population in Georgia, Nunn could definitely help turn the Peach State blue this fall.

I also like the idea of a woman on the ticket ... anyone besides Obama's now certifiably insane primary opponent ... McCaskill would be great, as would the Kansas governor.

I never liked Gephardt or Daschle that much either. Mrs. Redneck is voting for John Edwards, who would be a great pick but who will likely wind up as your next attorney general.

 

Wow. Thanks for dropping by, Dick.

 

Graham is well liked in Florida, but is a bland and unremarkable figure. He would do zip nationally, and at this point I doubt he would deliver Florida either. Nunn's been out of the spotlight for years, too. Why is he suddenly resurfacing?

 

Claire McCaskill ain't happening. A first-term Senator doesn't pick another first-term Senator as his running mate. And Claire didn't win her seat by a large enough margin to make any positive difference in the general election.

 

I'm throwing this name out because I've seen his name come up a time or two during the past week with respect to Obama's running mate -- Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska. The reason? Apparently, they think alike on more issues than the war, like immigration. And if you're going to pledge to reach across the aisle during your time as president, this would be one helluva way to prove it.

Thoughts?