Obama/Schweitzer 2008

[Dems2002]

For months now, I have felt that the perfect VP candidate for Obama is Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana. I am actually surprised that no one else has suggested it, but am I crazy, or is this an unbeatable combo?

1. Obama has already done strong in the Mountain West, what VP candidate might be able to assist? -- Maybe the extremely popular Governor of Montana?

2. What do Schweitzer and Obama have in common? -- Anti-Washington rhetoric -- they're not the 'old democrats' Schweitzer won by being anti-lobbyist, anti-coruption, and sane environmentalist, for fishers and hunters!

3. Where is Obama lacking? -- The older, white, less educated voters -- wouldn't these folks eat up Brian? He comfortably wears blue jeans and travels with his dog -- he looks like he'd smoke a cigar with you and chew tobacco. (We all know that whether he does that is irrelevant.)

4. Am I the only one who finds the image of the two of them together similar to...Kennedy and Johnson???? Young, dashing Kennedy, rough and crude Johnson?

5. Wouldn't the tv gas bags just eat him up? -- He's that 'man's man' that Matthews salivates over and obviously wants to go down on.

The only question is...would Schweitzer want it? If so, I say we go for it.

Jennifer

[Avalux]

1. Any military/fp experience?

Would he be an attack dog for Obama? I admit I don't know much about the guy so I can't say one way or the other. Can you provide substantive information on his positions? Thanks.

[Wetzelbill]

11. he speaks Arabic and lived in the Saudi Arabia for 7 years

Plus, he deals diplomatically with nations all around the world, because other countries are interested in Montana's resources and some of his energy and environmental ideas. He's been hosting delegations from different countries quite a bit over the last four years. He's been to Iraq too, to see MT's National Guard troops.

[Avalux]

13. That all sounds good.

I'll do some research on him myself; definitely a possibility. :thumbsup:

[Skwmom]

17. You look at the guy and think "he can keep America safe." From the NY Times:

Six-foot-two and a beefy 205 pounds, Schweitzer has seized the heartland imagery generally monopolized by Republicans. “Schweitzer is the antithesis of the Democrat stereotype,” Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, of dailykos.com, the partisan Democratic blog, told me. “Too many Democrats look like targets for the school bully. Schweitzer is a tough guy. And people like guys who will bar-fight their way across a state.”

He shot guns, rode horses, took his dog to work and decimated his opponents with off-the-cuff one-liners heavy on the bull-and-horse metaphors. He didn’t act like a Democrat, in other words, and to many Democrats, reeling from consecutive losses to Bush, that seemed like a pretty good thing.

Schweitzer has the ability to reduce a complicated issue to a few sharp lines, reframing it with themes of patriotism and underdog know-how. “I was a critic of Nafta, I was a critic of Cafta and I’ll be a critic of Shafta,” he says of free-trade agreements, long the hobgoblin of even the most articulate liberal politicians. “Why is it that America supposedly creates the best businessmen in the world, but when we go to the table with the third world, we come away losers?”

Schweitzer veers right on many economic and social issues: he opposes gun control, favors the death penalty and preaches about lowering taxes and balancing budgets. At the same time, he leans left on some issues that matter to progressives: championing energy conservation and environmental regulation, opposing governmental restrictions on abortion and criticizing free-trade deals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/magazine/08governor.html

[Avalux]

19. "decimated his opponents with off-the-cuff one-liners"

I like it. :D

[maui9002]

21. He's someone who should be considered because he's refreshingly candid

and not ideologically rigid. Example: while he's known for being against gun control, his actual position is more nuanced; in Montana, where many drive vehicles with a gun rack, the type of gun controls that might be appropriate in an urban area such as Washington DC or New York City do not fit in his opinion. But he recognizes that a local community might want to pass gun control laws that might make more sense for that area; essentially, I believe his view is that locally based gun laws are more appropriate than a federal one size fits all gun control regime. His view is not, "It's guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment, and no government has a right to control what I do with my guns" so often adopted by NRA faithful.

[gateley]

22. Great article -- he sounds even better to me! Thanks!! nt

[gateley]

Where do I vote?

Schweitzer is my personal fave, too.

On CNN's short list it was suggested that foreign policy might be the most important aspect of an Obama running mate, and that might preclude Governors as they don't have any.

But Schweitzer lived in the ME for several years, speaks the language fluently (how great would that be?) and UNDERSTANDS the culture.

He also works closely with his Republican Atty Gen in Montana to accomplish great things for the citizens of their State -- working across the aisle cred.

He told Bushco to go to hell regarding a National ID -- speaks his mind.

He showed up to give a speech at a HS graduating class -- the class only had ONE student. And this isn't the first time he did so. Can you imagine your governor showing up to give a speech to a graduating class of one?

He has (what sounds to me) a very credible approach to our energy crisis, utilizing the coal in MT in a clean way. Really!

I think he would appeal to most Dems, not Ivy League, but still an intelligent, educated man, and to Repubs alike.

I hope Obama and his team are thinking along these lines.

[here_is_to_hope]

2. Schweitzer is an American Badass.....

But does not have what Obama needs imo.

[gateley]

3. What do you think he doesn't have that Obama needs?

I'm still learning about him, and the more I learn, the more I like the idea of him on the ticket.

[stray cat]

4. No international experience?

[tokenlib]

5. Considerable international business experience...

Was involved in construction (agricultural?) projects in Africa, Europe and the Middle East..Speaks Arabic..
Very Pro-individual rights and freedoms--NRA approved

The more you learn about Schweitzer, the better he sounds...
Colorful--not boring. But so different from Barack Obama that overshadowing the nominee would not be an issue.

[gateley]

7. Yes and no --

Although he doesn't have the FP chops that others do, his work took him to Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. He lived for seven years in Saudi Arabia and speaks the language fluently, and understands the culture.

As for FP experience, I feel that Obama, being on the SFRC has established relationships with people who ARE the experts and he respects and learns from their wisdom. Unlike Bush listening only to Rumsfeld and Cheney, So I feel we're covered in the FP arena.

[Dems2002]

9. International Experience?

Hmm,

That is an interesting point, but I think the fact that he lived in the ME is pretty awesome.

PLUS -- this is about the media, and how they would view him -- which is 'manly man' and that connotates strength.

An alternative is Wesley Clark, but even though Wes is a general, he's also a bit of a pretty boy like Obama, and so much comes across through 'looks' that Schweitzer just embodies, the reality doesn't matter as much.

Jenn

[here_is_to_hope]

12. I dont think Schweitzer could help O

pull those states in that O is weak in. I dont know how much that might figure in but...
He does reach across the isle, his pick for Lt. Gov. is republican.
On the other hand, he has shoved a bit of legislation down the throats of right wing asshats up there in Big Sky country too.
He is forceful sometimes (there is much ballyhoo about his "temper") but he def talks straight.

I volunteered on his first election campaign way back when.

[featherman]

6. I had a poll earlier offering Schweitzer as a possible Keynote Speaker at the

convention. He actually won the poll so he's not that unknown on DU.
Definitely on MY short list for VP

[gateley]

8. Like many others who are known on DU,

he's probably not that widely known 'out there', but I feel he would make a favorable impression on people, and that they would LIKE him.

[RiverStone]

10. One of the most popular Gov in the USA, but...

ZERO foreign policy experience.

He'd be great to attract moderates and disaffected pukes, I'm just not sure he stands up on the international front.

Then again, had Shrub even left TX before he ran for Pres?

[Wetzelbill]

14. you can't say zero

He works with different country's delegations all the time, he does a lot of business with Canada, he's lived in the Middle East, been to Iraq. People in Congress who sit on foreign affairs committees don't have real world experience like that. Plus foreign policy "experience" is the most vastly overrated concept. Nobody really has true foreign policy experience unless they are a lifelong diplomat, a general or served as a cabinet member or president. It's like the 3am phone thing, how the hell can you say somebody is prepared to do that unless they actually received it? McCain never has gotten that call. Hillary hasn't etc. I don't really count as foreign policy experience when some clown on the foreign affairs committee goes to Iraq and takes the Green Zone tour.

What is much more important is how people think, their judgement and willingness to learn. The foreign policy status quo is wrong half the time anyway, so who needs experience like that? I'd take somebody who has proven they can work with other countries, as Schweitzer has, and has the capacity to lead and be a statesman.

[Dems2002]

16. Yeah, we all see how foreign policy 'experience' matters

Do the people want someone to go along to get along, or someone who says the buck stops here and just because everyone agrees doesn't mean it's the right thing to do?

I think everyone craves the latter, and that's how Schweitzer comes across.

I love him.

Jenn

[cottonseed]

23. Can't we get that with the Cabinet?

I've been thinking about this. Obama's not big on military and foreign policy, and if you're looking for a #2, why not have someone more like the #1. Can't we have a couple bad asses as Sec Def and even a stand up person as Sec of Def? I guess, I've been wondering for a while now why he can't just balance out the "team" and w/o having to do it all with the VP.

[Larkspur]

15. I LOVE Gov. Brian Schweitzer!!!

and I'd got to Hell and back for him, but he's running for re-election as governor of MT this year. He's a great guy for VP but the timing is wrong for him.

I see Schweitzer as a modern day version of Teddy Roosevelt.

[Skwmom]

18. Teddy Roosevelt? I think you're right and would attract OLDER voters.

[mikekohr]

20. I Have Been A Big Fan of Governor Schweitzer Since He Took Office.

Upon Schweitzer's election he made the obligatory visit to the White House, a happening the Bush staffers famously used to intimidate new electees. Gov Schweitzer was not impressed or intimidated and in effect told reporters after the visit he regarded Bush as an empty shirt.

Governor Schweitzer has the style to compliment Senator Obama perfectly, and would appeal to small town, rural right of center voters and still have the creed to appeal to progressives and liberals.

mike kohr

[BlooInBloo]

24. Um, I've suggested it repeatedly for months.