Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumIf Sanders wins the nomination, I don't see how his VP can be anyone but Warren.
I have a few reasons for my thinking:
1. The Sanders movement has garnered an atmosphere of ideological purity. Nothing in Sanders' nature tells me his tack will be to pick a moderate to "balance the ticket" but someone who at least approximates his policies (i.e. Warren). Sanders' centerpiece proposals (namely, Medicare for All) are departures from the typical Democratic platform, and I can't envision him choosing a running mate who has been directly critical of his most distinctive ideas.
2. Similarly, Sanders would be 79 when elected, and whether we want to think about it or not, the possibility of him dying or becoming incapacitated in office is quite real. Someone of Sanders' politics being elected is rare, and I am confident he and his advisers want someone of similar thinking to carry out his work. Though Warren would be 71, it is a difference, and she more than anyone else has the shared philosophy, smarts, and government experience to fight for his agenda.
3. After Hillary Clinton's loss, and after nearly 250 years of male chief executives, I think there would be disappointment with an all-male ticket. You can't have *every* minority group represented in a group of two candidates, but two white men would feel like a step backward. I could see Julian Castro being considered (he was anyway with Clinton). Some discussion of Stacey Abrams, as well, from many people, but I have a hard time seeing people getting excited about someone who just lost their last race.
4. Above all, Warren is a strong, quick-witted fighter, with progressive bonafides. The prospect of her going head-to-head with Mike Pence would be exciting. She is a pick that would fire up Democrats.
Reasonable minds can disagree, of course. Other qualified VP's are out there, and there is undoubtedly the charges of "most liberal ticket ever" with which to contend. But when I think most logically, I don't see how it can be anyone other than Warren.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)And it doesn't point to Warren being a choice.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to ehrnst (Reply #1)
NurseJackie This message was self-deleted by its author.
OrlandoDem2
(2,066 posts)They need to be given a reason to vote in huge numbers,
besides voting against Trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)their ideological impurities.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)That's not good.
Perhaps Harris' home state can come up with a Dem successor to Harris, so it might not make a difference.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
democrattotheend
(11,607 posts)The Republican governor would appoint a replacement but only for a short time.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)Bernie's would temporarily go to a Republican probably until the election and then a Dem would likely be elected to take Sanders' spot.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)Bernie hates her, and she accused him of lying about her.
Theres lots of speculation that Gabbard will be his VP, but Im hoping his pick wont be toxic
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Happy Hoosier
(7,386 posts)Tough to come back from, IMO.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,337 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Happy Hoosier
(7,386 posts)But hey, anything to protect the Chosen One, I guess.
And folks wonder why some of his can't stomach his campaign...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RazBerryBeret
(3,075 posts)a lot of folks are wondering about a lot of things....
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
David__77
(23,503 posts)...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
thesquanderer
(11,991 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Callado119
(171 posts)..or some other unqualified loyalist...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
democrattotheend
(11,607 posts)IDK if their relationship has been too strained by now or not though.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Moderateguy
(945 posts)We CANNOT afford that. It has to be a balanced ticket, no matter who the nominee is
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Happy Hoosier
(7,386 posts)That kind of coalition building is just not in his personal make-up IMO.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
samnsara
(17,635 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Peregrine Took
(7,417 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
thesquanderer
(11,991 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Celerity
(43,498 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The empressof all
(29,098 posts)She has mentioned that several times during the debate. My hunch is she won't be his VP. Just a feeling not rooted in anything in particular. I also believe that she would be the best unity candidate if it comes to a second ballot during the convention.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Mariana
(14,860 posts)having two old, white New Englanders as running mates is probably not the best way to go.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,836 posts)Odds are that he wont complete a full term (sorry, but those are the stats), meaning his VP gets his job. Warren is probably more acceptable to the many voters who wouldnt want to vote for a socialist, but if they could be comforted by the presence of a rational capitalist like Warren they would be less put off by him.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Shermann
(7,428 posts)The life expectancy of a 79-year-old male is 8.88 years.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
unc70
(6,119 posts)Having a recent heart attack significantly reduces life expectancy. Roughly cuts it in half
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lunasun
(21,646 posts)first first he has to win the nomination
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LaurenOlimina
(1,165 posts)I'm thinking Stacy Abrams. I have a friend that says Tulsi Gabbard, but that seems insane to me.
But believe me, a Sanders/Warren ticket is one I'd get behind.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Happy Hoosier
(7,386 posts)I am going to have to get really, REALLY drunk before casting my ballot.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LaurenOlimina
(1,165 posts)I'm not sure I can.
Bloomberg and Gabbard are showstoppers for me.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BeyondGeography
(39,379 posts)No shit.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Qutzupalotl
(14,327 posts)Its the thought of that dead-eyed zombie Assad appeaser Gabbard a heart attack from the presidency that gives me the creeps.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ripcord
(5,537 posts)Not only is he a young candidate with a lot of potential but choosing a moderate would help sooth things in the party before the general election.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Happy Hoosier
(7,386 posts)Women of color are the backbone of this party. If the nominee is not a woman or persona of color (or both), I think that would be a bad move.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,991 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Happy Hoosier
(7,386 posts)It's important to acknowledge the importance of people of color and women in our coalition. Personally, I think having a woman on the ticket is incredibly important this cycle.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ripcord
(5,537 posts)I'm sorry but I would consider a gay VP to be real progress.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
VarryOn
(2,343 posts)But, I hadn't thought of Julian Castro. He might make sense, along with Warren and Abrams. Abrams and Castro don't appear to be that busy, so they'd probably be up for taking 3-4 months.
I don't know about Watren, though. I just don't think they like each other, but maybe that doesnt matter.
What about de Blasio or Keith Ellison?
Apart from the three names we mentioned, I'm hard-pressed coming up with other names.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Prosper
(761 posts)That would answer all objections.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
still_one
(92,394 posts)choose a younger candidate as their VP
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LaurenOlimina
(1,165 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)actually productive. It'll probably be Gabbard, Cornel West or maybe Susan Sarandon. I'll be surprised if it's anybody from the "Democratic establishment".
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
helpisontheway
(5,008 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
still_one
(92,394 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
elleng
(131,107 posts)wrap up New England?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LonePirate
(13,431 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
still_one
(92,394 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Celerity
(43,498 posts)Pete, Steyer, and Biden as well.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Nanjeanne
(4,975 posts)East Coast who are 70 and above are a good idea.
Ideally, I think Tammy Baldwin would be a great pick. Progressive. From Wisconsin. Gay. 58 years old.
Id like Chris Murphy for Secy of State
Barbara Lee as maybe Health and Human Services
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
MerryBlooms
(11,771 posts)Not sure how safe her seat is, but she's always been a favorite of mine. I think she would not only make an incredible VP, but President some day.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Vivienne235729
(3,384 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)He BETTER FCKING CHOOSE SOMEONE MODERATE.
Preferably female and/or minority.
Not because I wouldn't love Liz as VP, cause I would.
But because we need to win.
I would HOPE ... he legit wants to win himself.
That's the only way he has a shot in hell.
He better recognize that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)1. I think Warren is smarter than that. She can see that Sanders has no electoral path to victory in the GE. I dont think she wants to be this generations Geraldine Ferraro.
2. The Democratic field is a big tent. Two far left candidates running together are going to alienate many Democratic moderates, who are particularly important in purple states.
3. The Democratic base is younger and more racially diverse than the Republican base. Two white septuagenarians are unlikely to be excite middle aged or minority voters.
4. They represent the same section of the country, so Bernie wouldnt even gain votes there. A successful ticket requires more diversity than a Sanders/Warren ticket would provide.
Bernies only hope would be to choose a running mate who appeals more to moderates and another section of the country. Klobuchar would be a good choice. I dont think hell make such a choice, but then I think he cant beat Trump in any case. Trump just has to keep saying socialist and hell win in a landslide.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BeyondGeography
(39,379 posts)Not that I blame her either.
Bernie rides on enthusiasm. So I think we can forget an eat-your-peas running mate like Amy.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Clash City Rocker
(3,398 posts)Hillary went after Obama heavily in the primaries and then became his Secretary of State. Strange bedfellows and all that.
But its true, I dont know why most Democratic politicians would want to be on that ticket.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MichMan
(11,971 posts)I know Biden was Obama's VP pick, but I don't know why everyone thinks that it has to be someone that is/was currently running for the nomination. If you look back historically, it usually isn't the case.
I also understand the appeal of Abrams to many, but IMO her resume is pretty light at this time. Same with Pete. I think both have a lot of potential and a huge upside, but they need to hold a higher office first.
Any thoughts of Sanders selecting someone like Rashida Tlaib?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
evertonfc
(1,713 posts)that it would most likely be a woman. My guess is someone much younger. I would like to see someone from southwest or southeast but it's hard to say
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Shermann
(7,428 posts)Too much overlap.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RandySF
(59,224 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
democrattotheend
(11,607 posts)It would give the ticket some balance in terms of race. I know some people wouldn't vote for a Muslim for VP, but most of those people won't vote for a socialist anyway. Besides, like with the socialist thing, Republicans have already "cried wolf" by spending 8 years calling Obama a socialist and a Muslim, even though he was neither. Since a lot of people mistakenly think Obama was a socialist and a Muslim, they're probably less scared by having a real socialist and a real Muslim on the ticket.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JFlash
(51 posts)Warren persistently polls a point or two worse than Bernie in head to head matchups with the Orange demagogue.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
tandem5
(2,072 posts)Anybody running for president has a big ego, but he drives his populist message through personality -- he'll never choose anybody that has the slightest chance of outshining him. Look no further than the "not me, us" rhetoric. If it's truly us then who's "me" and why is he telling us what to do?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lamp_shade
(14,841 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Or someone else just as offensive and divisive. I can think of several others right off the top of my head.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)A successful election will mean that the Dems will have lost TWO Senate seats. That's a risk that the Dems can't take.
Oops! I also have a caveat: who can feel good about a President Sanders who would be sworn in at 79 years old? For all of you who are not in your 70s, you don't know the actual, concrete, and very personal effects of aging. But Sanders will turn 80 in his second year in office. There are three frontrunning Dem candidates who, if elected, will be approaching or IN their 80s by the end of the first term. IMO, that's too damned old for the most demanding job on Earth, and I'm not far behind all of them.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Codeine
(25,586 posts)or just settle for a snake emoji for maximum childishness? Inquiring minds want to know!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Music Man (Original post)
Aaron Pereira This message was self-deleted by its author.
nsd
(2,406 posts)Sanders wouldn't be a conventional nominee, He is -- famously -- not an insider or part of the Democratic establishment. For him to do the conventional thing and pick a moderate, ticket-balancing running mate (say, Amy Klobuchar) would seem false and would damage his brand. It would make him look like an ordinary politician. But to win this thing in November, Sanders has to go all out and go big -- he's an outsider, a break from the elites; he represents something new; he'll stick it to The Man.
Warren reinforces this message in a way that hardly anyone else does. Thinking conventionally, it's a gamble -- but, again, Sanders wouldn't be a conventional nominee.
Warren has the additional benefit of being a plausible president in her own right. If Sanders were to drop dead the day after the Inauguration, it's not hard at all to imagine Warren carrying on without missing a beat. She has the right CV and gravitas to take over on day one. (Some of the other people mentioned in this thread -- namely, Stacey Abrams and Julian Castro -- simply do not have either, in my opinion.)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)However, wouldn't picking a young moderate be a better option?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ALBliberal
(2,344 posts)That being said.... is she doing the right thing for our country. The moderates support pooled together is more than Bernie support on his own.
That being said again... Im more comfortable with Sanders/Warren than say Sanders/Gabbard.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cilla4progress
(24,766 posts)but I think it's also important to see who they are supporting, while not a monolith.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
VarryOn
(2,343 posts)I've spent more time this afternoon than I should trying to come up with a VP candidate, and I can't come up with one. It has to be a woman and preferably a POC. I think Warren qualifies.
I'd put Gabbard on the list. Yes, Gabbard. And why not Sotomayor. She'd be good.
I'd put a Abrams on that list, nothwithstanding her losing pretty badly.
Others worthy of consideration would be Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Amy Klobachar. Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi would be worth candidates. All these women need serious consideration!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Laffy Kat
(16,386 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MFM008
(19,818 posts)Or Harris makes me feel better
About him.
Picking AOC will make me move to Canada.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pansypoo53219
(20,995 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Squinch
(51,004 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Last edited Mon Feb 24, 2020, 09:29 AM - Edit history (1)
They'll demand he bring aboard someone like Tulsi... Mark my words
EDIT: Nevermind the fact that two New Englanders at the top of the ticket would be the single stupidest fucking thing in the history of politics... Which is probably exactly why it would become reality.
The Sanders campaign hasn't listened to me yet, but if by some miracle they get this nomination, they could help themselves greatly by offering a olive branch to all the black voters who feel insulted, ignored and disaffected by getting Kamala on the team.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Somebody young, brown, and western. Castro maybe.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden