Who would you suggest Obama choose for VP?

[not_too_L8]

and I'd like to hear your opinions why.

I'm leaning toward Webb because he will offset McNasty's military experience

[Bucky]

1. Agree: Webb #1, Clark #2, Patty Murray #3, Joe Biden #4

[navarth]

2. Webb, Biden, Richardson

[redqueen]

3. Brian Schweitzer!

Cause he shares our agenda.

[anonymous171]

5. I really really want Shweitzer. But Obama might need someone w/ foreign policy cred

But I would fucking love an Obama/Schweitzer ticket. It even sounds good.

[tokenlib]

64. Schweitzer does have international experience as a businessman..

..so I think his experience of the Middle East and speaking Arabic might be an asset there.

I've thought Clark or Richardson because of the foreign policy concerns you expressed.. but Schweitzer's experience might be enough for VP.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Patty Murray, Barbara Boxer. A liberal to balance the ticket.

Obama is a moderate, running as a moderate. McCain claims to be a moderate.

How about someone with liberal credentials to balance the ticket?

[not_too_L8]

7. I like Boxer, but I think we need her where she is

[Clark2008]

47. Wes Clark, then.

He's a liberal who's not seen as a liberal because he's former military. He'd pick up white men, Southerners, moderates and liberals (who had actually read the liberal policies he espoused in 2004).

I realize he backed Clinton, but all's fair in love and politics.

[Auntie Bush]

65. Ditto!

[lisa58]

6. Webb...

...he'll cut McCain off at the knees!

[Jack from Charlotte]

11. I want Webb, as well. Also, bring those Va electoral votes. (nfm)

+

[nebula]

68. Or, the swiftboaters might use Webb's service record against him

swiftboated like Kerry.

[Shakespeare]

72. Not bloody likely. n/t

[mystieus]

8. Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius

Like Obama, she is extremely effective at reaching out to Republicans while maintaining her values. She was so good at it that she convinced a Republican businessman John E. Moore to switch parties and run with her as lieutenant governor in 2002. Four years later, she did it again, convincing the then-chair of the Kansas Republican Party, Mark Parkinson, to become a Democrat and run for the seat Moore was vacating. Yes, the Chair of the Republican Party.

Beyond that, she’s been extremely effective at revitalizing the state’s educational system. After the Kansas economy reached its lowest point in over a decade early in her term, the economy has since experienced 22 months of continuous job growth, Taxes were never increased during her term in office, nor did essential service suffer cuts. Sebelius brings excellent experience!

[politicasista]

26. I like that one

Obama/ABH. :)

[Shakespeare]

9. I like Webb.

I really, REALLY like Webb.

[underpants]

13. Webb isn't going anywhere. I would suggest Richardson.

The life of a US Senator is a good one and if Webb can get re-elected he will almost be in the "Senator for life" category. Why give that up to be second fiddle and maybe possibly lose 4 years from now?

[Shakespeare]

23. If he's offered the VP slot, I think he'd consider it a duty to country thing.

And I'm not sure Webb really looks at his job as a potential "senator for life" opportunity.

I still like Webb. :-)

[Sensitivity]

71. Webb is 61, a soldier, a scholar and a legislator. He is ready to be President -- that's the req.

[yardwork]

10. It would be strategic for Obama to choose a white man with military experience

I'm not keen on making the ticket even more conservative than it already is, but politically, that would be the smart thing to do. I'm sure that McCain't will run on his war hero status. Obama needs a hawk on the ticket to appease the wimps in our party who are too afraid of terraism to vote progressive.

Sigh.

[calimary]

24. Strategic and wise, I would think. Wesley Clark, for one.

And as much as I like Jim Webb on this score, we CANNOT afford to take a second Dem out of the Senate. It's just not a good idea. Furthermore, it would open them both up to criticism (that some already-too-scared voters would take to heart) that they don't have enough administrative or leadership experience, both being fairly new to the Senate. It wouldn't stop me, or a lot of people here, but that's a factor. And we have to protect the Senate. We just barely have a majority there - one that the spineless Dems already there now aren't gutsy enough to try to make some use of, or exploit as far as they can. If they were willing to take a few chances and go all out, maybe I'd think differently, but as long as they fall back on the whining point of "but we don't have the votes!!!" you can't expect them to do anything significant until we have a resounding majority. So I think we need Jim Webb and Joe Biden and the rest of 'em staying securely in the Senate.

Wesley Clark would be good. Or some governor maybe. But there again, we have to take into account who we're taking out of what mix. I like Brian Schweitzer too, but wouldn't we be better served as a party if we left him in Montana where he can help us move that state farther into the blue column? Heaven knows who his replacement might be if we extracted him from there. :scared:

WE CANNOT FORGET TO KEEP OUR FLANKS PROTECTED. We can't go SO all-out that we screw up our infrastructure and leave big holes of vulnerability for the bad guys to exploit. We have to think long-term. Because not only do we want to win, but we want to make it difficult and KEEP it difficult for the enemy to regroup and start making gains again.

Because WE are talking about OUR OWN "Great Political Realignment" now. We HAVE to think longterm. If for no other reason, because it's going to take a LONG time to undo the damage bushco has done in this decade, that built upon the damage that started being done during reagan.

[marions ghost]

60. good points about the senate re. Webb and Biden

Clark endorsed Hillary which might be a problem. And as has been mentioned, maybe emphasis on military not so good.

Who's really closer to Edwards platform? (I realize he says he doesn't want VP).

[calimary]

74. Yeah, that's true - he endorsed Hillary. Another reason why he'd be a good choice.

Something for the Hillary people - one of theirs on the ticket, too.

Might be an intriguing extend-the-olive-branch thing.

[marions ghost]

75. dunno

After "scorched earth" I wouldn't think any strong Hillary supporter would be looked on very favorably. There are other ways to offer an olive branch.

Maybe more to the point is the suggestion that "framing the debate around military affairs" (as someone said below) and focusing on the Iraq quagmire may not be the most positive way to move beyond the disastrous Bu$h era.

[OmahaBlueDog]

12. 1. Kaine 2. Webb 3. Richardson 4. Hillary 5. Clark

Kaine: might win us VA; fresh face; will cause disaffected evangelicals to pause for a look

Webb: Might also win us VA; solid anti-war credentials; ex-Sec Navy experience

Richardson: Ex Gov & Ex Sec-energy -- good combo to balance Obama. Appeals to Hispanics.

Hillary: You know the pros & cons: big plus is unity

Clark: Maybe helps deliver Arkansas: ex - mil -- great on TV.

[olkaz]

14. Biden, Biden, Biden.

And then, if they don't work out, Biden.

[anonymous171]

17. Originally, I wasn't so hot about that idea.

But after I heard about Biden's response to McCain, I definitely wouldn't mind that ticket. Especially if he continues with the straight talk.

[olkaz]

29. He's the best choice for a lot of reasons.

But number one in my book: He has the only plan that gets us out of Iraq and leaves a functioning Democracy, in a short amount of time.

After that, he complements some of Obama's perceived weaknesses, and may appease some of those voters that can't seem to see past race or gender.

[NotThisTime]

55. Biden's always been on my short list along with Clark... I don't know about Webb...

[Sparkly]

31. I like Biden, but two senators again?

I'd rather see someone outside of Congress.

[OmahaBlueDog]

61. No -- Joe should be SecState

[Sparkly]

15. General Clark, General Clark, General Clark Clark Clark!

:D

[mystieus]

25. *Armph!*

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4962668

No.

[Sparkly]

32. ?

THAT overrides his decades of accomplishments and the depth of his knowledge and intelligence?

:eyes:

[mystieus]

38. Its not about his accomplishments.. its about picking a VP that shares Obama views.

As a Hillary surrogate Wesley Clark said some pretty harsh things about our nominee.

[Clark2008]

49. And John Edwards said harsh things about John Kerry.

George H.W. Bush said harsh things about Ronald Reagan... and so forth and so on.

All's fair in love and politics.

[sniffa]

16. Geraldine Ferraro

[BREMPRO]

19. hahaha! right.... wonder if Fox will let her out of her contract?

[BREMPRO]

18. needs foreign policy heavyweight to balance McLame's supposed ":experience"

1)CLARK- better known than webb, broad military, business and media experience. Broad appeal.
2)WEBB- a little unproven on the national political stage, but passionate, articulate, progressive moderate, reagan dems will like his reagan post.
3)BIDEN- loved his response to bush's equating dems to nazi appeasers "BULLSH*T!" great depth in foreign policy, a little loose on the canon.
4)Edwards- very disappointed with his waiting so long to support Obama, and his speech was oddly supportive of Clinton and a rehash of his campaign rhetoric rather than an endorsement of Barack. BUT, he gets the working class vote..
5)Dodd- like his spirit..
6)Richardson- ehh...
7)Clinton (chelsea) only one I still respect now...

[DefenseLawyer]

20. Webb n/t

[Texas Hill Country]

21. Clinton.

[PBS Poll-435]

22. Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton

To bring balance to the ticket.

[mmonk]

27. Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius.

Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius
Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius
Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius
Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius Sebelius
For many reasons already given.

[jobycom]

37. But...

Isn't McCain nicknamed the Skipper? :rofl:

(no insult meant to your choice, just a random dumb comment on my part).

[mmonk]

40. And a very good one

said the professor.;-)

[woolldog]

28. Jim Webb is the perfect VP for Obama.

1. Demographically: he comes from the group of democratic voters who have been most resistent to Obama. He'd help Obama in rural PA, the Carolinas, and Missouri.

"Webb says the Scots-Irish created the "core culture around which Red State America has gathered and thrived." But he does not believe they are irrevocably lost to the Democrats.

"In fact," Webb wrote in The Wall Street Journal in 2004, "the greatest realignment in modern politics would take place rather quickly if the right national leader found a way to bring the Scots-Irish and African-Americans to the same table, and so to redefine a formula that has consciously set them apart for the past two centuries."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/194870.php
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/12/134251/930/338/514258
http://rossdouthat.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/the_case_for_obamawebb_again.php

2. Electoral map: Can deliver his state of Virginia. Would be extremely helpful if Obama could poach a red state or two. Helps with MO, the Carolinas and rural PA.

3. War Hero: he neutralizes one of McCains biggest talking points: him being a war hero. Webb is also a war hero. So instead of people assuming that McCains policies must be right because "he's a war hero and has military experience", they will actually be forced to look at and compare policies, since both tickets will have war heroes but have different policies.

4. Bi-partisan draw: Served under Reagan. He will attract moderate Republicans to Obama/Webb ticket

5. Economic populist message: he's championed working class voters before this election so he will have credibility on this issue and will dovetail with Obama on that.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/good_timing_for_jim_webb.php

6. Consistent with Obama's message of change: An "outsider" and "maverick" but has experience. Not a DC insider.

7. Known: Has been on the national scene before. Been through confirmation hearings and a Senate campaign

8. Attack Dog: Would be very effective in an attack dog role to counter Obama's nice guy tendencies. As someone on DU noted, he's an excellent "bad cop" to Obama's "good cop"

[Shakespeare]

34. EXCELLENT post! Thank you! n/t

[woolldog]

39. yw

:blush:

[Writer]

30. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

He'll need her to work Congress when he gets into office.

And he WILL get into office with her on the ticket. Without a doubt.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[rox63]

35. If he wants national defense or foreign policy cred

I'd say either Clark or Webb. If he wants to widen his appeal to women or republicans, I'd say Sebelius. And no, I'm not calling Sebelius a republican. It's just that she's a Dem who manages to have wide appeal in a very red state.

[jobycom]

36. It will all depend on what Obama thinks he needs to do to win.

Webb and Clark would both be fantastic if Obama believes he can compete in some Southern states. But the South will be hard for a Democrat to win. Obama has swept the Southern Democratic voters, but that still doesn't mean he will be popular with the general electorate. The question will be whether he and a running mate like Webb can draw enough Southern moderates to the ticket. Webb can be popular in the South, but still not give the ticket enough votes to win in a region where we always lose.

This will be a different election. Bush is unpopular, and it's made his party unpopular, and many of the Republican promises that were appealing in the South have been exposed as insincere, or flawed. Katrina, Iraq, lost jobs, high prices, and everything else has hit the South hard, since the military has always been strong in the South. Many Republican voters will be open to at least listening to the Democrats this time.

But, if Obama's polls and analysis shows that the South would be a tough win still, then Webb as VP might be a missed opportunity. Obama could pick up someone to strengthen him in other regions--like Ohio or Florida (it's southern, but you know what I mean). Not that Webb would be bad in those regions, just that someone else might have stronger appeal, and that might help Obama more. Clark has a national image, so he isn't as regionally identified, while still being strong in the South.

So the choice will reveal Obama's strategy. A Southerner means he thinks he can compete in the moderate to conservative South, and his campaign will become more moderate. Someone from a different region means he's aiming at strengthening that region, and maybe he feels weak there but still believes he can, or has to, win.

A strong national candidate like Clark, Richardson (my choice, btw), or Clinton (I would be surprised, but she's on the long list) means one of two things. Either Obama feels he needs experience to make him more appealing across the board, or Obama feels he can win anywhere. Clark has the unique mixture of national and regional appeal.

Just my thoughts. All these Reagan people on a Democratic ticket make me nervous, though.

[not_too_L8]

41. What about a crossover such as Anthony Zinny?

[marions ghost]

54. just a hunch

but somehow I think Webb's military experience trumps even his southern pull as VP. Yeah I don't like Webb's Reagan Republican past...not sold on him.

IMO the problem with Clark is that he endorsed Hillary Clinton.

[Barack_America]

42. Whoever he feels like he can trust and work with.

That's consideration #1 for me.

All of this "appeal to demographics x,y and z" stuff is secondary, IMO.

[democrattotheend]

43. Webb is a bad idea

1) He has been accused of being sexist, which is the last thing in the world Obama needs to deal with right now, 2) there are not that many Democrats in VA who could easily hold the seat in 4 years, and 3) I think picking a military VP is a bad move for Obama. It seems like it's admitting a weakness, and it frames the debate around military issues. The VP does not have much to do with military decisions, and it seems to highlight a weakness rather than erase it. We can't win when the debate is about national security...John Kerry is a decorated war veteran and he lost to Draft Dodger Bush 86-14 among those who cited terrorism and national security as their #1 issue.

[not_too_L8]

44. Sebelius?

[marions ghost]

56. hadnt thought of that....

Military VP frames the debate around military issues....and admits weakness in that area.

You make sense with that argument...

and no, the sexist thing would not be helpful--he could easily be painted as a throwback to the times we'd rather leave behind...

[Sensitivity]

69. Do you want an assist to a school marm or an assist to the Commander in Chief

[LuckyTheDog]

45. Hillary or Webb (nt)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

46. Tim Russert.

:think:

[Stop Cornyn]

48. Warner, McCaskill, Kaine, Nelson, Napolitano

[OmahaBlueDog]

62. Nelson

Ben? Bill? who?

[Stop Cornyn]

66. Bill (no offense to your guy intended)

[highplainsdem]

50. Hillary Clinton.

[CK_John]

51. I think Obama has made a deal with Bloomberg to be VP or Bloomberg gets to pick the VP. n/t

[Lord Helmet]

52. just about anybody but Clinton

[george_maniakes]

53. Kaine! Kaine! Kaine! n/t

[SoxFan]

57. Joe Biden!

Is he ready to step in and serve as president shoudl the unthinkable occur?

Clearly yes.

Does he boost Obama in an area where he is perceived as weak?

Yes. Biden is an acknowledged master of the details of foreign policy.

Does he help the ticket in a crucial geographic or demographic group?

Yes. Biden is Catholic, in his 60s, has family roots in Pennsylvania, and his blunt style connects on a visceral level with older, male, ethnic Democrats.

Is he a good campaigner?
Biden is a very good speaker, handles himself well on the tube, and has a wicked sense of humor. He would eviscerate Romney/Portman/Crist/Sanford.

Obama/Biden!

[goddess40]

58. Russ Feingold

On second thought I think I like having the best Senator in the country representing my home state!

[goddess40]

63. It doesn't really matter

as long as he doesn't pick someone that is truly bizarre I don't think it makes much difference. After all we've had the devil as VP for the last eight years.

[Hippo_Tron]

59. Assuming he gets through the vetting, Bill Richardson

Richardson brings some foreign policy credentials but more important delivers the Hispanic vote.

[Milo_Bloom]

67. Richard Clarke !!!

Probably the best foreign policy mind in the country.

Non-partisan... served under Reagan, Bush, Clinton and exposed little bush on 9/11

[gmudem]

70. Wesley Clark or Tim Kaine

I like Biden a lot but geographically and politically he really doesn't bring much to the ticket. And he has a tendency to say ill-advised things so I'd rather avoid that, although I would love to see him debate whatever hack gets the VP nod for the GOP.

Clark is a Southern white guy with tons of military and diplomatic experience, and he was against the Iraq war and is doing his best to stop an Iran war. I think he would be extremely helpful in states like Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Nevada and even his home state of Arkansas.

Kaine is also a Southern white guy, who is also a Catholic and the popular governor of Virginia, a state that could really turn blue in 2008 and with Kaine on the ticket it probably would.

[fadedrose]

73. I don't know, but,......

He should pick someone who shares his opinions and beliefs. Someone he can depend on who will not backstab or try to outshine him.

Someone whom he feels comfortable with....

[marions ghost]

76. None of the above

I hope Obama picks someone in line with "change"--maybe somebody close to John Edwards' platform.