Reply #8: Some good folks ya got on that list. [View All]

[saltpoint]

I'd like to see John Edwards as Attorney General of the United States.

While Biden has said he doesn't want the veep slot or the Sec. of State slot, he's wildly qualified for either and I hope he will reconsider his position. The country's foreign policy has taken a catastrophic hit the last 8 years and I think of Biden as the person I'd most want in charge of mending that many foreign policy fences.

Bill Richardson is the very next person I'd think of, but Gov. Richardson is on my short list for veeps. I like this guy.

If Gore wants the EPA job, I don't see grounds for objection to his qualifications to fill it.

I'm warming to Gov. Sebelius as Obama's running mate. I liked her quite a bit. I liked her old man quite a bit, too.

Tom Daschle was a stand-up ally for Barack Obama from the very very early seconds of the race and would be of assistance to Obama in shepherding legacy-defining legislation through the 111th Congress and forward. He is also a major Democratic name west of the Mississippi and would likely not freak out establishmentarian voters. Or as Obama's chief of staff.

I would like to see Bill Bradley make Obama's shortlist for veep. Absent that option, Bradley would serve beautifully as Health & Human Services Secretary.

Bush has screwed our veterans start to finish, high to low, and then some. We need a person with bedrock decency to reverse that policy and restore dignity and just benefits to our soldiers and their families. Max Cleland's name comes to mind immediately.

I think Robert F. Kennedy, Jr is owed fair and deep consideration as vice president.

A politically strategic move for Obama might be to choose Nancy Pelosi as his running mate. Supporters of Hillary Clinton would have a female on the ticket after all, and one who has a national profile. A grandmother, no less. I had overlooked Pelosi as a possibility until a DUer or two mentioned her, and as I shuffle the cards at the Big Poker Table, I think she brings a lot.

Other DUers have listed Bob Graham for veep. If we're going to fight for Florida versus McCain, we'd need at least Graham to do it. It would still be tough, but not impossible.

Vilsack, Rendell, Clark and Bayh all supported Clinton in the primary, which is not to say they would decline service if asked and not to suggest they might each bring something to bear toward a blue victory. At first glance pro-Obama loyalists might deserve higher consideration, but if the landscape requires an unblinking political strategy, we should go with what will help us.

I think in the longshot category is Jim Webb, but only because he's so desperately needed to keep Virginia in Democratic hands. Kaine is a consideration. Also a longshot is Lincoln Chafee, who would normally not make a list of considerations except that he bolted from the Republicans to be an independent. An Obama/Chafee ticket would be historic in more than one way and would give many moderate Republicans ample reason to reject McCain. We here don't NEED reasons to reject McCain, as we already know those reasons by heart. But we want to fight for votes in the purple states, and independents may decide those states' outcomes.