One positive of a Tim Kaine VP nom....

[Wounded Bear]

that just came to me. People claim he's a 3rd Way Dem, and DINO, and all the usual epithets from the more leftist voices in our party. Hell, I don't disagree with that. And I don't worry too much about him 'overshadowing' Hillary in some way, that idea is actually kind of amusing.

But, wouldn't it be nice to take one of those Blue Dogs out of the Senate, and put him into a relatively unimportant job like VP? He might be more of a wrench in the gears in the Senate than he would be in the VP mansion. You know, the old kick him upstairs where he can't so so much damage strategy.

Just spit-ballin' here.

[CrowCityDem]

1. Oh how people forget that without Blue Dogs/Third Way, we never would have had the majorities did.

[kwolf68]

2. Remove a blue dog in the Senate

You may end up with something like George Allen there instead. This isn't Massachusetts here, this is Virginia - far from a slam dunk for any Democrat. In fact, statewide races for state spots no Democrat has really shown they CAN get elected unless they are centrists. There will be no hardcore Liberal coming from Virginia.

[Wounded Bear]

3. So we replace a veteran Blue Dog with some clout with a rookie...

I could live with that.

[kwolf68]

9. Huh

So you think it's a good thing to weaken the Democratic position in the Senate?

Your idea of replacing Kaine ONLY WORKS if you replace him with another Democrat.

Moving him to the VP spot opens up what I suspect will be a very hotly contested seat, a seat the DEMS COULD LOSE.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Hmmm...

interesting position. OK, I get it. You don't like Kaine for VP. Noted.

[bigwillq]

4. I don't mind Kaine as VP

He'll work hard and won't overshadow Hillary. I disgaree with him on many things, but I think he will do a good job in the VP position.

[lame54]

5. that's great but...

she NEEDS to get elected first

[Wounded Bear]

7. I don't think the VP pick will affect that very much...

she's already got the inside track. Proper work and GOTV and we got the White House.

A little extra work and the Senate could be ours, too. It is definitely in play.

Hell, the House should shift significantly Dem, though it's a stretch to think we could flip it now. Need to get some momentum for the the mid-terms and possibly could flip that.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. As Governor Kaine signed into law the Marshall-Newman Amendment, which defined

marriage as 'between one man and one woman' he did this after having promised as candidate to veto the amendment. That's not an epithet, that is a specific case in point about the man's views and his voracity.

[Wounded Bear]

8. And as "President of the Senate" he wouldn't have that chance again...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I hope she doesn't pick him.

But if she does, I suspect the rationale will be, considering the blazing garbage fire that is the Trump campaign and the painfully amateurish and incompetently-managed GOP convention, simply this: The Democrats are offering stability, competence and common sense along with a positive and inclusive vision for the country. That could work. I'd rather have more excitement and less centrism, but considering the uncontained lunacy of the GOP, brains, stability and rationality might sell pretty well.

[malthaussen]

12. Depends on whether or not there is someone else you'd more rather see neutered.

Of course, there are many people who think HRC should pick someone of genuine substance to be VP. They obviously don't agree with John Nance Garner.

-- Mal

[Wounded Bear]

13. Wasn't saying I "prefer" Kaine...

I just said that there might be some positives to it.

Personally, I don't have a lot of preference, and I don't think it matters as much as some around here think it does.

This campaign will be won at the top, like almost all campaigns are.

[malthaussen]

14. Neither was I.

The VP slot is an excellent place to stick somebody you want to control (or defuse). The cabinet works, too. The other option would be to stick somebody in that the Party hopes to make use of in the next Administration. He can then cite the job as a "qualification."

-- Mal