Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Books are my comfort food!

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

Democracy cannot function without a free press.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

In after Baud. Damn.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Those who are easily outraged are easily manipulated.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Let me file that under fuck it.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

Anne Laurie is a fucking hero in so many ways. ~ Betty Cracker

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

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206Comments

  11. 11.

    t4toby

    Kathleen Sebelius:

    She is a way better speaker than we saw a few months ago, plus she has the heartland act down.

    Wes Clark:

    Impeccable military experience, could bring some energy from the Hillary camp.

  12. 12.

    nightjar

    Bill Richardson–helps with foreign policy experience on the ticket and puts NM in the bag and AZ CO NV and even Texas into play.

  13. 13.

    Warren Terra

    The Great Orange Satan penned a post on this subject earlier today that mentions about all the names I’d mention, even though a bunch of them are at different places within the post than I would have put them. And I might add to Kos’s list Sherrod Brown of Ohio; he’s not wonderful (he voted against Habeas Corpus to unnecessarily toughen up his image before the ’06 election, and his economic populism is probably too protectionist), but he seems to be worth mentioning in the same context as Strickland.

    P.S. What is the proper updated version of ‘penned a post’? Can ‘laptop’ be used as a transitive verb, or even any sort of verb? Must I resort to ‘blogged’?

  15. 15.

    wasabi gasp

    Flavor Flav
    Tommy Chong
    Brangelina
    Chris Dodd
    Kumar Goes To The Whitehouse
    Lisa Lampanelli
    Happy Feet

  16. 16.

    Josh

    Obama-Richardson: I’d vote for them just for the Great Redneck Aneurism to come when the ofays wake up and find out a Black Muslim and Mexican Invader are running the country.

  17. 17.

    cbear

    IMHO, it has to be someone with military experience—Wes Clark, Anthony Zinni, Jim Webb (although he really is a “maverick”).

    My wild card pick would be retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. Yeah, yeah, I know he’s a conservative Repug, but he is virtually the only Republican with the integrity to forcefully and repeatedly call bullshit on Iraq and torture.

  18. 18.

    CapMidnight

    Raffle it off. Treasury needs the fund-raising.
    Support the Obama/Raffle ticket!

  19. 19.

    rapier

    Jim Webb

    The Pentagon and the military are on the verge of bankrupting the nation and if it continues to drift in the direction it has been is likely to have a major in not leading roll in ending the American democratic experiment within a decade or so.

    Webb is the only choice. He’s got cred and bona fides with the military and knows how the Pentagon works. It will be crucial to have someone on board who has that.

  20. 20.

    nightjar

    Obama-Richardson: I’d vote for them just for the Great Redneck Aneurism

    Obama could then appoint Bill Clinton to the Supreme Court and complete the trifecta wingnut head exlodarama. Yee!

  21. 21.

    Warren Terra

    I’d love a defense or foreign policy post for Hagel. But, much as I respect his sincerity and courage, and even though I admire and treasure his ability to be that rarest of beasts in Bush’s America, a sane Republican, I really don’t want someone with his domestic policy views a heartbeat away from the presidency.

  23. 23.

    Keith

    I woulda normally figured Dodd, but he’s said he doesn’t want it. Then there’s Bill Richardson, who brings national security cred & the Hispanic vote. After that, I’ll go with Sebelius as a compromise to heal the Hillary wounds (plus she’s from the fabled Heartland). Jim Webb would be a decent choice if not for his inexperience in elected office, which doesn’t bolster Obama much in that regard.
    So my picks are:
    #1 Bill Richardson
    #2 Kathleen Sebelius
    #3 Wes Clark
    #4 Hillary (I had to put Wes Clark in there because I think given how she’s conducted herself in this election, Obama doesn’t want to have Billary looking over his shoulder all the time)

  24. 24.

    Andrew

    You know who should NOT be vice president? These fucking looney toons nut bags from No Quarter:

    I am a Jewish person, my mother was, rest in peace.

    In order to stop the reincarnation of Adoolph Hitler, Obama, I feel I have to bring up the real deceased Hitler and his evil regime.

    If you are offended, I am sorry, but I will not stop using the references when I deem fit.

    I’m Jewish. I’m never offended by TRUTH. I know Obamarhoids aren’t accustom to being exposed to TRUTH, but AxelRove does look like Adolf. Why would that be offensive to me? I just asked my Jewish husband if he was offended, and he said NO. I guess we can add another LIE you Obamarhoids have told to the list.

    WHAT THE FUCK? DougJ, you’re writing all of these characters, right? RIGHT???

  26. 26.

    jnfr

    I only ask that we don’t take out any sitting Senators without a lock on replacing them with Dems. I know we talk about the Presidential race mostly, but our margins in Congress are really going to matter too.

  27. 27.

    A Different JC

    Here I am, late to the party I asked for. I spent a bunch of pixels on my blog with discussion, but for Vice President, I think either Sebelius or Napolitano to recapture the disgruntled Hillary supporters who wanted a woman president. Back in ’84 everyone knew Mondale-Ferraro was going to lose. This year, Obama-Sebelius will win. That will be nice.

    For cabinet, I suggested this for Obama:
    State: Richardson
    Defense: Former Senator Sam Nunn.
    Attorney General: either Feingold or John Kerry.
    Treasury: Robert Reich, Michael Bloomberg or Fmr Commerce Sec Michael Daley.

  29. 29.

    Jim

    Webb would be great, but I think he’d really turn women off, and that may not be the wisest thing to do under the circumstances. McCaskill seems to be very articulate, but I’ll admit not knowing all that much about her. I could live with Rendell, or perhaps Strickland of Ohio.

  31. 31.

    Calouste

    Someone here the other day suggested Satan.

    Cons: high negatives, although unlikely to get any higher; no homestate advantage
    Pros: strong on enforcement/military; well suited to the VP role of attack dog; humane image compared with Cheney

  33. 33.

    A Different JC

    jnfr Says: I only ask that we don’t take out any sitting Senators without a lock on replacing them with Dems. I know we talk about the Presidential race mostly, but our margins in Congress are really going to matter too.

    Totally agree jnfr. In fact I’ve given it a name, The Purple Rule: “The purple rule states that the Democratic president should not appoint into his cabinet a sitting office-holder of a swing (“purple”) state for fear that the Democrats will not be able to get another party-member in that office. This is especially critical for the Senate, where every one of the 100 votes matters for filibusters and other nonsense.

    Application of the purple rule: Pennsylvania and Virgina are especially vulnerable. Otherwise appealing candidates like VA Governor Kaine and Senator Webb and PA Sen. Casey are thus rendered un-nominate-able by the Purple Rule”

  34. 34.

    cbear

    OT-

    Oh man, this is just tooooo funny.

    Apparently the Democratic AG of Ohio is caught up in a multifaceted sex scandal and is catching hell from both parties.

    All I can say is, that unlike your average goopers, at least the guy was banging people of the opposite sex and within his own species.

  35. 35.

    Incertus

    I only ask that we don’t take out any sitting Senators without a lock on replacing them with Dems. I know we talk about the Presidential race mostly, but our margins in Congress are really going to matter too.

    Which is why Dodd is a non-starter, much as I like him, and teh same for McCaskill, who I adore. I’d just as soon avoid a two-Senator ticket, though I’d be interested in John Edwards if he was willing–former Senator and all, though he has even less reason to do it than Clinton.

    Sebelius would be a terrific choice, as would Janet Napolitano.

  37. 37.

    t4toby

    Lieberman? Are you fucking insane?

    I really like Richardson’s track record, but his propensity to play grab-ass may be a detriment to getting the hardcore Hillary supporting Femminists to cross over.

  38. 38.

    rob!

    Hagel:

    1)unity ticket
    2)military experience
    3)washington experience
    4)takes one senate seat away from the republicans
    5)um, white guy

  39. 39.

    Zifnab

    I’d like to nominate Jimmy Carter to the VP slot. He’s only had one term as President, so he’s still legally allowed to take the post. He’s got an excellent record on the environment and the Middle East.

    Oh! And it would drive the wingnuts batshit fucking loopy.

    Beyond that, Obama / Gore ’08. Just because.

  40. 40.

    Nate

    Bloomberg

    1 – proves unity is substantive
    2 – economy
    3 – —-
    4 – win

  41. 41.

    Dennis - SGMM

    Vanilla Ice: the threat of a Congressional Concert would assure the passage of any bill.

  42. 42.

    t jasper parnell

    Has anyone heard/read anything circulating from the Obama campaign? Given its sort of clockwork like success, they must have some kind of a list.

  44. 44.

    Noah Brand

    I’m gonna go ahead and come out for Hillary. I have a whole rant about how Obama-Clinton becomes the Justice League Administration, (The metaphor holds up better than you think, check it out.) but that’s long-term thinking. We also need a short-term plan to win the election, and I think Hillary’s it.

    Obama can do what Hillary and Bill never could, and that’s slough off the constant crazy right-wing attacks. So putting him out in front to draw fire is just plain good sense. Republicans will look increasingly stupid as they foam and rant about the VP candidate while trying not to talk about the top of the ticket.

    Uniting the ticket reunites the party, putting our biggest voting blocs back together. It gets the ticket the Clinton war chest and the services of William Jefferson Clinton, possibly the finest campaigner of his generation. And it leaves the jabbering heads on the TV nothing to talk about but McCain, which can only help us.

    Also it shows off one of Obama’s strengths: his (seemingly unique) ability to talk about American politics as though he’s a fucking adult. One good speech at the convention about how he respects Senator Clinton and values her abilities (and say what you will, she is VERY able), and Americans can see reconciliation, professionalism, and a stern implicit rebuke to the endless kindergarten no-he-started-it bullshit that is our media discourse. Obama-Clinton is the “Seriously, the media can suck my cock” ticket, and I don’t think it’s possible to overestimate how much that message resonates with voters these days.

  45. 45.

    null pointer exception

    Sure shot way to lose GE for Obama is to name a republican for VP.

  46. 46.

    Rick Taylor

    Someone here the other day suggested Satan.

    Satan has been thoroughly vetted.

  47. 47.

    kind of an off white

    Andrew, have you seen the petition Larry Johnson’s linking to?

    “We the undersigned will vote for any opponent of Barrak Hussien Obama or not vote at all. We believe he is the wrong leader for our country. We do not believe that the future of out nation should be decided by a popularity contest.”

    And yes, the misspelling of his name is from the original. The popularity contest bit deserves a wittier riposte that I can muster.

  48. 48.

    demimondian

    Hagel? Oh, please.

    Look, let’s kill any “cross-dressing” tickets right now. The VP is a heartbeat away from the presidency, and could ascend. There will be no Republicans nominated for Veep. Period.

    Webb is out because it is possible — very unlikely, to be sure, but possible — that Warner won’t win the gubernatorial election in Virginia, which would flip that Senate seat to Republican. Too risky right now.

    Sibelius is interesting — she might deliver some prairie states, which would at least make McCain defend some territory he hadn’t planned on defending — and she executive experience, so could step up if she needed to. Similarly Richardson — who also has extensive intl experience, which would be valuable.

    I do not want to see either Edwards or Clinton, since neither has any executive experience to speak of.

  49. 49.

    PeakVT

    Webb should be left in the Senate. VA is a purple state, but he could hold the seat for a generation with ease. Having Webb (and Warner) in the Senate would do much to help downticket Dems in VA – more than Webb might help in the ’08 presidential ticket.

    I think Richardson is the best choice because he will pull Latios nationwide and he will help the ticket in the SW/Mountain states (NM, AZ, NV, CO).

    If Strickland could guarantee OH he would be good choice. No idea if this is possible.

    Bad choices: Any northeast Dem (ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, MD, DE are Dem locks). I’d support Biden ($-MBNA) for Veep only to get to get him and his hair plugs the hell out of the Senate.

    I like Edwards but he’s proven he doesn’t add much as a Veep candidate. Edwards for AJ.

    And Hagel for SecDef.

  50. 50.

    montysano

    It’s really an embarrassment of riches on the Dem side: Edwards, Richarson, Sebelius, Clark, Napolitano, Webb, Biden. I think that the choice of either Sebelius or Napolitano (for the obvious reason) would assure Obama a cakewalk in November.

    In both 2000 (esp. in 2000) and 2004 I believed, and still do, that if Gore or Kerry had made a compelling VP choice, our world might be very different right now. At some level, I’m troubled by picking a running mate based partially on race or gender, but you know what? Fuck it. I’m tired of watching pasty old half-bright white dudes run things. Whatever it takes, I’m down….

    I think Sebelius would be a brilliant pick.

  51. 51.

    Bentley Stanforth III

    Tim Kaine, Sherrod Brown, and Jim Webb are probably among the frontrunners.

    I’d love to see Feingold on the ticket, but unfortunately I don’t think it’ll happen. Damn it.

  54. 54.

    Ellison, Ellensburg, Ellers, and Lambchop

    Beyond that, Obama / Gore ‘08. Just because.

    That would be “health insurance” for Obama. No one wants that lying, evil, money-grubbing Clintonite prick Gore to be President. For his latest insult to everyone’s intelligence, he said on NPR that the cyclone in Myanmar was due to global warming! The science is settled! Calling him a douche would be insulting to feminine hygiene products.

  55. 55.

    Dreggas

    Let’s forget having Clinton on the ticket. Anything Obama did or tried to do would be overshadowed by the media tracking every move Hillary and Bill made and you know damn well that Hillary will not play second fiddle.

  58. 58.

    t jasper parnell

    Nearly anybody but Biden. In an unrelated note, Balloon Juice ought to do more of this.

  59. 59.

    w vincentz

    I’ve heard that Elliot Spitzer is available.
    Do you think Dennis Kusinich would be a good Sec. of Defense in the Department of Peace?

  60. 60.

    cleek

    Gimli if Glóin. he’s good in a fight and is content to remain the loyal sidekick.

    C-3PO. he was built for protocol and is fluent in over six million forms of communication.

    Super Devil. he’s six inches taller than the regular devil, rides a flying motorcycle, and carries a jar of marmalade which causes adultery.

    Bruce Schneier. he’s the Chuck Norris of computer security. he counts in binary, with his fists.

    John Cole. he’d make the White House blog.

  61. 61.

    Jake

    People seem to forget that Obama recently said he probably wouldn’t pick a strong foreign-policy type for VP, because that’s an area he feels most comfortable. Could be just bluster, but let’s assume that’s how it will go for the sake of argument.

    I think Webb is out. He’s too valuable in the Senate.

    Warner makes a lot of sense – helps to carry VA, and he’s got those funky eyebrows.

    I think Sebelius is out. Black Pres and female VP? Too much change for Joe Schmoe to handle.

    Richardson’s viable. But man is he terrible debating. The black/brown ticket might also be too much change.

    Bloomberg would work, IMO. Independent, popular in NY, and he’s (ahem) a Jew. He also slammed McCain and Hillary on the gas tax recently. He’d make an excellent CEO-type VP. I’m just not sure he accepts the offer.

  62. 62.

    JGabriel

    CBear:

    All I can say is, that unlike your average goopers, at least the guy was banging people of the opposite sex and within his own species.

    And he wasn’t wearing a wet suit, either! Or diapers.

    .

  63. 63.

    chopper

    I am a Jewish person, my mother was, rest in peace.

    In order to stop the reincarnation of Adoolph Hitler, Obama, I feel I have to bring up the real deceased Hitler and his evil regime.

    oh hee hee! oh, hee hee hee!

  65. 65.

    baldheadeddork

    Sebelius. Obama first need is to heal the rift with Clinton supporters and nothing would do more than picking an up-and-coming woman for the Veep slot and making women’s issues a central platform of his campaign.

    Takes on the rest…

    Richardson – Has problems with women and the whole Wen Ho Lee episode that would be brought up in a national campaign. But the real reason I don’t want him to be the veep is that he is desperately needed to be the next Secretary of State. Biden would be equally good on policy, but Richardson would do a much better job of restoring morale to the diplomatic corps and he’s a straight-up witch in tough negotiations.

    Clark – Bringing on someone to shore up Obama’s perceived shortcomings on national defense would immediately legitimize all of those concerns, and after Cheney I don’t think anyone will be willing to buy another mentor VP.

    Webb – Loose cannon, big problems with women voters. We also can’t afford to lose his spine or stones in the Senate.

    Warner – Arguably the best choice if not for Sebelius and the situation created by Clinton’s scorched earth campaign. But we need to flip that seat in Virginia. If Warner drops out of the senate race to be Obama’s veep that turns the race into a lock for the R’s, and Senator Jim Gilmore will make George Allen look like Gandhi.

  67. 67.

    merrinc

    I like Bill Richardson.

    No, no, no, HELL NO to Ted Strickland. When Hillary threw a hissy fit over the NAFTA mailer, he stood quietly behind her like a big old bobble head doll. Shame on your Barack Obama nod nod nod shame on you nod nod nod.

    Since I don’t understand the irrational entrenchment of the hardcore HRC set, I could be wrong on this – but I don’t think putting a woman in the second banana spot is going to bring them back into the fold.

  68. 68.

    db

    I agree on Janet Napolitano. A border state governor like Bill Richardson who can talk tough but sensible on immigration. Tough DA/Attorney General background. Choosing a female VP will spare Obama from accusations of being sexist.

  69. 69.

    montysano

    Beyond that, Obama / Gore ‘08. Just because.
    That would be “health insurance” for Obama. No one wants that lying, evil, money-grubbing Clintonite prick Gore to be President. For his latest insult to everyone’s intelligence, he said on NPR that the cyclone in Myanmar was due to global warming! The science is settled! Calling him a douche would be insulting to feminine hygiene products.

    Did you hear the interview or read the transcript, chucklehead, or are you just parroting Rush’s latest? If you heard the interview, as I did, you’d know that Gore’s comments were couched in words like “possibly” and “predict”.

    Here’s what drives me insane of global warming deniers: what if they’re wrong? The stakes are kinda high. Technically, no one, NO ONE, truly “knows” for sure; that’s the nature of science. But wouldn’t the conservative thing to do to err on the side of safety? Wouldn’t it be the Christian thing to do honor protect the Creator’s work?

    Rant over………. sorry to wander OT.

  70. 70.

    eglenn

    Tangentially related to this:

    I remember that John Edwards has been mentioned as AG. *I’d* like to see Patrick Fitzgerald.

    But early this afternoon, I realized the wingnut nightmare of all time would be Hill or Bill as AG.

  71. 71.

    JGabriel

    Sebelius or McCaskill would be interesting choices, though I suspect that the ‘Purple Rule’ mentioned above would would make it a wise idea to pass on McCaskill. Not sure whether Sebelius could or would run again for Governor in Kansas, so the ‘Purple Rule’ might not apply to her.

    Richardson, Clark, or Webb would also make good choices.

    Biden might be an option too – I can see him as a solid VP, even if his presidential campaign was kind of a joke – but he doesn’t bring much to the table in terms of expanding Obama’s regional appeal.

    Also, in terms of regional appeal, he should probably stay away from the NE. As a New Yorker, I’d love to see someone from our area of the country in the VP slot, but the truth is – we’re gonna vote Dem anyway. With the exception of Indiana, pretty much every state between Maine, Maryland, and Michigan will go Dem.

    Ditto California.

    So that leaves the South, the SW, the ‘Heartland’, and the Mountain NW for the VP choice.

    .

  72. 72.

    cbear

    And he wasn’t wearing a wet suit, either! Or diapers

    Similiarly, thank God he wasn’t caught eating at the Y(mca) in Big Beaver, Michigan.

  73. 73.

    Surabaya Stew

    I for one agree with Jake:

    Bloomberg would work, IMO. Independent, popular in NY, and he’s (ahem) a Jew. He also slammed McCain and Hillary on the gas tax recently. He’d make an excellent CEO-type VP. I’m just not sure he accepts the offer.

    Pretty much what I was going to say. As a lifelong New Yorker, I can confirm that while he is not worshiped here, nearly everyone with an IQ of between 80 and 120 honestly likes him because they know he is doing a pretty good job of managing the City. Plus, he seems to plough through any hint of scandal with ease. Teflon may as well be his middle name.

  74. 74.

    Tlaloc

    Webb’s not a good idea. He’s basically Lieberman 2000 retread- a dem hawk who is only mariginally in the party. Other than Iraq, what does he do that the Dem’s like? That’s someone you run for congress in a red state (or red trending purple like Virginia) not someone you put in the Veep spot.

    Clark is a better choice if you want a military guy.

  75. 75.

    Incertus

    Hagel:

    1)unity ticket
    2)military experience
    3)washington experience
    4)takes one senate seat away from the republicans
    5)um, white guy

    1. Is overrated, and is way too conservative on social issues
    2. Plenty of Dems who can do that.
    3. Again, plenty of Dems who can do that
    4. No, it won’t. He’s retiring, and even if he weren’t, he’d be replaced by a Republican governor.
    5. Big deal.

  76. 76.

    Shygetz

    Gore: In addition to VP, set him up as head of the national energy task force to entice him to return and to bring the issue directly to the front politically and give it serious international cred. Shores up his perceived inexperience, throws a bone to establishment Democrats, doesn’t endanger any Congressional seats, gets a talented Democrat back into the game and sets Gore up for a 2016 “This is your last chance, fuckers” run for the White House.

  77. 77.

    Ninerdave

    I’m thinking it would be nice, as a hat tip, to grab any of Hillary’s new BFFs.

    Richard Mellon Scaife
    Rush Limbaugh
    Grover Norquist
    Bill O.
    John McCain (oh wait, nix that one).

  79. 79.

    TheFountainHead

    Napolitano
    Rendell
    Clark
    Richardson

    That’s my short list, but I imagine I’m missing someone big but can’t remember. Anyway, they all have negatives and positives. Napolitano is a woman, which helps with women, I would imagine, but she’s a relative unknown and there’s a wildcard risk with her, I think. Rendell is great in front of a camera and he’s also white and male and the right age and he puts Pennsylvannia in the game bigtime, and he’s a hillary surrogate. On the other hand, he’s a former DNC fundraiser which means there’s solid odds his hands aren’t clean. Clark is milktoast and I don’t think he brings the military cred you think he does, but again he’s the age and has that “experience” aura going for him. Richardson gives you a push with Latinos and further bolsters Obama’s numbers in the west but he’s a little awkward and has a tendency to say mind-numbingly stupid things.

    This is not going to be an easy pick.

  80. 80.

    Calouste

    Satan has been thoroughly vetted.

    Another pro!

    Of course some people might argue that he is not a natural born American citizen, but significant parts of the world, for example Iran, will disagree.

  81. 81.

    Salvo

    I don’t understand what Sebelius has that doesn’t also apply to Napolitano, who has the added benefit of coming from a state that’s more winnable then Kansas and forces McCain to play defense in his home state to boot. Both could appease the Hillbots, bring a long history of executive experience to the position and are great campaigners. Napolitano also, I believe, has the reputation of an attack dog, which Obama needs.

    Other positions: Richardson–Sec of State, Edwards–AG. Unity positions: Bloomberg–Commerce, Hagel–SecDef.

  82. 82.

    Ninerdave

    On a serious note, I agree with Dodd, but yeah that’s just because I liked him.

    I’m going to guess he’s going to go Mid West on us.

  83. 83.

    James F. Trumm

    Allow me to propose someone who hasn’t been mentioned here yet:

    Brian Schweitzer, the governor of Montana.

    Schweitzer has proved that real Democrats can win out west. A number of western states may be in play this time around (Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota). None of these states have huge delegate loads, but if Obama can hang onto the Kerry/Gore base he won’t need much more. Schweitzer currently has a 70+ approval rating in Montana.

    He’s got a very interesting resume. An agronomist by training, he has lived all over the world, including a lengthy stint in Saudi Arabia. He’s got a lot of expertise in energy science and issues and has been interviewed on those topics by 60 Minutes and Charlie Rose.

    In 2005, he proposed bringing Montana’s National Guard troops home from Iraq to help fight western wildfires.

    He’s a governor, which brings administrative experience that Obama lacks. He’s got a delightful, plainspoken way about him that may allow him to connect with people when Obama takes rhetorical flight. He’s Catholic, which could help Obama in states like PA.

    He’s unknown to most people outside the west, which may be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending.

    Think about it.

  84. 84.

    Hypatia

    I’d love to see Dodd, but if he doesn’t want it, he doesn’t want it. Clark would be good.

  85. 85.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    HRC is probably negotiating to leave the race in a strong position and part of it will be some input for who the VP should be. Scratch Bill Richardson!

    No sitting Senator. Please.

    #1 Bill Bradley
    #2 Janet Napolitano
    #3 Sebelius
    #4 Bob Kerrey

  86. 86.

    A Different JC

    JGabriel Says: Sebelius or McCaskill would be interesting choices, though I suspect that the ‘Purple Rule’ mentioned above would would make it a wise idea to pass on McCaskill. Not sure whether Sebelius could or would run again for Governor in Kansas, so the ‘Purple Rule’ might not apply to her.

    Both Sebelius and Nepolitano are both on their second terms in term limited states, so both are free.

    A request for you readers from Kansas – do you know any craziness or dirt that’s floating around? Something like what happened to Senator Stabenow (whose husband was arrested with a prostitute… there’s goes her VP – or cabinet – chances)

  87. 87.

    gypsy howell

    Just no military people, please. No Wes Clarke, no Jim Webb, none of that crap. The military has far to big a sway on our politics and policy as it is already.

    And for god’s sakes, NO REPUBLICANS. Are you out of your frikkin’ minds??? Why should we reward republicans?

  88. 88.

    Jorge

    Evan Byah would be perfect if it weren’t for the fact that we would be giving up a Senate seat. A good-looking, former two-term governor who is closely associated with Clinton while at the same time being new to Washington. He is most definitely a future POTUS candidate and would go a long way to providing us with 16 years.

    Richardson would be a good pick as far as doing the job – I could see him having a similar foreign policy role to Cheney except, you know, not being evil. But as others have pointed out, Barry Osama and Guillermo Richardson would freak out the ever important uneducated bigots.

    We need someone from a purple state with a sure-fire Democrat waiting in the wings to take the job. Plus, they need to be seen as a DC outsider. I don’t think any of the more established folks in DC would go with the Obama message.

    Some possibilities
    Michael Easley – governor NC (he is about to finish his second term – would put NC in play and help with votes in southern Viginia, South Carolina and Tenn. Crucial for house and state races)
    Steven Bashear – governor KY
    Ted Strickland – governor Ohio
    Bill Ritter – governor Colorado
    Sebelius would be a good choice as well…

  89. 89.

    MBL

    Christ, no, not Bill Richardson. I never want to see that man in a debate again, and he’s a terrible campaigner. He can be whatever the hell he wants in the Cabinet.

    Unity ticket people: how about Bayh? I’d link to the interesting article I saw about the pairing, but I can’t find it.

  90. 90.

    A Different JC

    And, why I’m torn between Sebelius and Nepolitano is that while I think Nepolitano (appears) to be a much better politician and candidate – former Attorney General, tough as nails demeanor, young so she can run easily in ’16 – Nepolitano is from Arizona. And it’s not a good idea to run two candidates from opposite parties from the same (small) state. Maybe that won’t matter. Especially since I don’t think even Sebelius would be able to put Kansas in the blue column, choosing her would be to choose the Midwest. And two midwesterners on the ticket would be very powerful.

  91. 91.

    t jasper parnell

    The key appointment is Sec. of Ag:

    The amount the price of various agricultural crops has risen since Jan. 1, 2006:

    * Wheat, +287 per cent.
    * Corn, +149 per cent.
    * Coffee, +139 per cent.
    * Soybeans, +129 per cent.
    * Rice, +60 per cent.

    Via Krugman (who has called it for Obama, the nomination, I mean)

  92. 92.

    dr. bloor

    Evan Byah would be perfect if it weren’t for the fact that we would be giving up a Senate seat. A good-looking, former two-term governor who is closely associated with Clinton while at the same time being new to Washington. He is most definitely a future POTUS candidate and would go a long way to providing us with 16 years.

    No DLC’ers, please.

  93. 93.

    Ninerdave

    I’d love to see Dodd, but if he doesn’t want it, he doesn’t want it.

    Sure, but a man can dream, and it’s not as annoying as the Gore fanbois.

  96. 96.

    Marshall

    If Webb ran, Kaine would get to appoint his replacement – no loss to the Democrats there. (And, if they should lose, he is not running this year, so the seat is still held.)

  97. 97.

    Fwiffo

    P.S. What is the proper updated version of ‘penned a post’? Can ‘laptop’ be used as a transitive verb, or even any sort of verb? Must I resort to ‘blogged’?

    Keyed? Typed? Wrote?

  98. 98.

    Southerndemocrat

    I am intrigued by the Easley pick, but he endorsed Clinton. I am sure Obama will not forget that. Texas, believe it or not, is in play this election. There is a close race between Cornyn and Noriega and having a Hispanic like Richardson should help galvanize the Latinos.

  99. 99.

    Marshall

    I think that a military man who is against the war would be good – there will be military flack coming up as we leave Iraq, and the military respects their own.

    But the biggest thing is, who do you want to run in 2016 ? That rules out most of the “old turks,” it absolutely rules out any Republican, and it suggests a relatively young man or woman. Bill Richardson would be a good choice, for example, except that he was born in 1947. In 2016 he will be 69, and probably too old to run.

  100. 100.

    Ted

    I think you have to go with Richardson; save Edwards for AG.

    Not bad at all. Good idea on Edwards.

  101. 101.

    dr. bloor

    I think that a military man who is against the war would be good – there will be military flack coming up as we leave Iraq, and the military respects their own.

    But the biggest thing is, who do you want to run in 2016 ? That rules out most of the “old turks,” it absolutely rules out any Republican, and it suggests a relatively young man or woman. Bill Richardson would be a good choice, for example, except that he was born in 1947. In 2016 he will be 69, and probably too old to run.

    No, the biggest thing is, who gives Obama the biggest boost this year.

    Home park bias for me, but one reason I suggested Jack Reed above is because he’s a West Point guy with a ton of foreign policy cred, and he’s thoroughly progressive domestically.

  103. 103.

    robert

    I agree with Jorge we need somenone either from the South or the West to to help with the voters that are being drawn to Hilary right now. If it were me I would go with Rendell or Strickland or Gore.. actually Gore and Hilary would be my one and two choices

  104. 104.

    robert

    I agree with Jorge we need somenone either from the South or the West to to help with the voters that are being drawn to Hilary right now. If it were me I would go with Rendell or Strickland or Gore.. actually Gore and Hilary would be my one and two choices

  105. 105.

    iluvsummr

    How about… Christine Todd Whitman (cross-party nod to Republican moderates anyone?). No? Okay I’d have to say Janet Napolitano then.

  107. 107.

    merrinc

    Easley has been an unremarkable governor in NC. We saw more of him after he endorsed Hillary than we have for the last seven years. But he is (or was) popular here and was heavily recruited to run against Liddy Dole. And refused, claiming he had no desire to live in Washington.

    And Bob Kerrey? After that “educated in a secular madrassa” remark? Um, no.

  108. 108.

    Tlaloc

    Gore- if we were going to have gore on the ticket why the hell would he be Veep?

  110. 110.

    Tim (The Other One)

    “I think Sebelius is out. Black Pres and female VP? Too much change for Joe Schmoe to handle.”

    Point taken. This is what I was alluding to in another thread. I mean “we” (Democrats) seem to be having a hard time working this out.

    Have to agree on this though; Satan has been fully vetted. Indeed, methinks.

  111. 111.

    Civilized Crank

    James- Obviously your (much more reasoned and better argued) suggestion went over my head as well. What little I have seen of him has been very impressive. He has a real archetypal western feel to him (and his policy proposals) that I think would play very well with the swing votes.

  112. 112.

    Anticorium

    Those of you with pie filters miss out on some genuine insight:

    “Barack Obama has shown he cannot get the votes Democrats need to win – blue-collar, working class people,” p.luk also said. “He can get effete snobs, he can get wealthy academics, he can get the young, and he can get the black vote, but Democrats do not win with that.”

    Oh, I’m sorry. That was actually Rush Limbaugh. It’s just a coincidence that Clinton supporters sound so much like the man who helped get Bill impeached.

  113. 113.

    JGabriel

    TheFountainhead:

    Rendell is great in front of a camera and he’s also white and male and the right age and he puts Pennsylvannia in the game bigtime, and he’s a hillary surrogate.

    No way on Rendell. The guy’s got verbal diarhea. He’s fine for PA gov, but not on a national ticket.

    A Different JC:

    Both Sebelius and Nepolitano are both on their second terms in term limited states, so both are free.

    Thanks, ADJC, that’s what I thought, but wasn’t certain.

    So, Sebelius and Napolitano. Either one sounds pretty good. And I like that both would be considered reasonable choices, even without the Hillary Factor.

    It’s a shame Darcy Burner doesn’t have any actual experience in office yet. Maybe in eight years.

    I assume Shaheen is out, due to there being no gain from a NE cndidate.

    In an earlier post here, I mentioned Webb as a possibility. On further reflection, I agree with some of the other posters that Webb probably wouldn’t be a great option – though I suspect he’d guarantee a win in VA, and help with the military vote. But Zinni or Clark might be better choices if Obama wants to target that demographic.

    I don’t know that Richardson brings that much to the table as a VP choice either. NM will probably go Dem anyway, and he’s not gonna flip AZ. If Obama wants someone from that region, Napolitano might be the better choice.

    Give Richardson State, if he wants it. Or maybe Biden or Dodd.

    Edwards could be a good choice at the DOJ. A populist AG to go after the corporate malfeasants who are screwing up our economy? Sounds good to me.

    Someone above mentioned Bayh. Gotta confess, I’m with the ‘No DLC’ers’ on that one.

    .

  114. 114.

    4tehlulz

    I suspect that it might be Sebelius or Schweitzer, partly because other candidates would fit better in other roles in an Obama administration:

    Richardson/Biden: State/UN
    Webb/Hagel: Defense
    Edwards: AG

    #1 Bill Bradley
    #4 Bob Kerrey

    Fuck that shit. Kerrey would be a good choice for the VA, though.

  115. 115.

    w vincentz

    Interesting that Wes Clark was mentioned.
    Over at Buzzflash, there’s a report that he called Hillary and told her to drop out.
    Oh…what about a gov from a rustbelt state…take your pick for VP.

  116. 116.

    Tim (The Other One)

    I dig Brian Schweitzer but isn’t he doing good work where he is ? Jack Reed is great but once again maybe he should stay put.

  117. 117.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I’d be surprised to see Napolitano on a national ticket for President given her, uh, butch haircut and unmarried status. You know how people talk.

  118. 118.

    OriGuy

    Webb is not a problem because Kaine does not leave office until 2010. I still prefer Clark if it’s going to be a white male with military cred.

    Schweitzer wouldn’t be bad, but I question how much help he would be outside Montana. Don’t know anything about Ritter of Colorado.

  119. 119.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Interesting that Wes Clark was mentioned.
    Over at Buzzflash, there’s a report that he called Hillary and told her to drop out.

    So? Wes Clark is dead.

  120. 120.

    JGabriel

    W Vincentz:

    Oh…what about a gov from a rustbelt state

    While not a definitive rustbelt state like MI or OH, Illinois is pretty much in that region. Pulling a governor from that region isn’t going to help much more than his own candidacy already does, and won’t help him at all in the rest of the country.

    A rustbelt is probably not in the cards. See my post above about not selecting anyone from the area between Maine, Michagan, and Maryland.

    .

  121. 121.

    A Different JC

    If Obama can heal the Hillary rift before the convention, then he may not need to have a woman as VP. However, I think Hillary’s supporters – at least right now – have blood in their eyes. A lot of them will be won over by having a female VP.

    Now if the MUP can mollify the women by the convention, he may not need to have a female VP and that opens up to who would be best for swing voters, et al. And if Texas is really up for grabs then a Texan Hispanic may be an idea – I was mulling about Silvestre Reyes (Rep., veteran, head of House Intelligence).

    Dodd’s out because of the Purple Rule (GOP governor). Biden hasn’t endorsed Obama yet, so he gets zinged for being a wussy. Same with Edwards.

    The only state that I wish could be put into better play is Florida, and that may mean someone like Reyes.

  122. 122.

    demimondian

    Who’s are the attorneys general of AZ, NM, CO, and CA? Which of them are dems?

  123. 123.

    James F. Trumm

    Tim TOO, the reasoning that Obama should not pick someone because he or she is doing good work at present would seem to rule out everyone but the unemployed (Gore, Edwards, Clark). Schweitzer has built enough of a Democratic base in Montana (see, e.g., Jon Tester) that the party could stand to see him move to Washington.

  124. 124.

    demimondian

    How about Catherine Cortez Masto, Democratic AG of the State of Nevada, Hispanic, female, and southwestern?

  125. 125.

    Scandi

    Barney Frank

    Yes, it’s vindictive, but just the idea would have to make Rick Santorum’s head explode.

  127. 127.

    JGabriel

    A Different JC:

    The only state that I wish could be put into better play is Florida, and that may mean someone like Reyes.

    Sorry, but I don’t care about Florida, and I suspect many others here feel the same way. It’s not that I wouldn’t like to see FL in the Dem column come November, but given the past two elections, we don’t think it’s winnable.

    I think it’s a crooked state, and that no Dem can win the Presidential race there while a Republican remains the governor.

    .

  129. 129.

    Jay

    Very, very, very long shot…but how about Claudia Kennedy? Was the top intelligence officer in the army under Clinton, is from Virginia, considered a senate run against John Warner, but ruled it out.

    She is worth a look on teh (yes, that misspelling was intentinoal) Google.

  130. 130.

    nightjar

    Schweitzer wouldn’t be bad, but I question how much help he would be outside Montana.

    Schweitzer was a teaching assistant for my major prof. in grad school At Mont. State back in the early 80’s. I doubt he remembers me, but it would cool if he was VP and some day prez.

  131. 131.

    JGabriel

    A Different JC:

    If Obama can heal the Hillary rift before the convention, then he may not need to have a woman as VP.

    Umm, not to speak for anyone else, but I think Napolitano or Sebelius might be the best choice, not because they’re women, but because they’re good politicians from regions that are in play.

    Appeasing the Hillary camp is just gravy. It’s not the primary factor.

    .

  133. 133.

    Tim (The Other One)

    “Schweitzer has built enough of a Democratic base in Montana”

    If that’s the case, then I’m cool. I’d still prefer Wes Clark in any event.

    I just see the Western States as really being the new “battleground” for hearts and minds and I’d hate to see that effort diminished.

  134. 134.

    AkaDad

    Those of you picking a Republican make me weep.

    I don’t yet have a particular candidate in mind, but I want a VP that will be a legitimate Presidential candidate in 2016, and who would continue changing the politics of the past.

  135. 135.

    w vincentz

    JGabriel,
    You seem to know whatchertalkin’bout. So I’ll ask…
    Do you think if he picks Madeleine Albight perhaps FL could be in play?

  136. 136.

    Perry Como

    Not reading the thread: Richardson.

    He was my first pick for Dem Pres.

  137. 137.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    JC, I think the top groups that Obamam needs to pacify with his VP pick are old people and white people. So I’d suggest his VP pick needs to be an old white person.

    He’ll also likely want to choose someone to the right of his own very liberal record just to underscore his “unity” theme and defend against the inevitable “librul” smears.

    And I think he’ll probably want someone Catholic so all those blue-collar Catholic voters (who my Atlantic magazine informs me are the most reliable and effective swing voters) will have an easy identity-voting choice.

    Kathleen Sebelius would be an excellent choice since she is older (turns 60 in eight days), white, “heartland” and Catholic. However, a black dude from Chicago and a Catholic broad from Kansas may be more change than we can realistically be expected to believe in at this time.

    So I’m pretty certain Tom Daschle will be his pick. Not only is Daschle his mentor and the person that encouraged him to run for the nomination against HRC but he’s also old and white, has a moderate Senate record and is Catholic.

  138. 138.

    Chuck Butcher

    If you leave the Senate alone, a good idea regarding strength there, and you leave alone recent new Democratic governors, also a good idea, your range is reduced. Another minority would be a bit much for the electorate in one fell swoop. Edwards for AG or HUD isn’t a bad idea, Hillary in any legal realm is bad mojo, her legal career becomes chaff. Bloomberg is assinine for anyone other than a New Yorker. He is an Indie and he is horrid on guns and he’s a New York, New Yorker billionaire.

  139. 139.

    A Different JC

    JGabriel Says:
    Sorry, but I don’t care about Florida, … but given the past two elections, we don’t think it’s winnable.

    Umm, not to speak for anyone else, but I think Napolitano or Sebelius might be the best choice, not because they’re women, but because they’re good politicians from regions that are in play. Appeasing the Hillary camp is just gravy. It’s not the primary factor.

    Two good points, JGabriel, that I will acknowledge. I too am impressed with Napolitano or Sebelius but there is part of my brain that’s worried that too many unfamiliar concepts (Black-Woman) on the national ticket could harm our chances in November. For me, it’s too early to tell. If I had to bet right now I’d say that the situation is so heavily favored for the Democrats in Novemeber that we absolutely SHOULD put a woman on the ticket because it’s about damn time and the Democratic party has always led the way (as I mentioned on another thread).

    About Florida: it’s big, it’s purple, and so I care. That’s all, though.

  141. 141.

    JGabriel

    W Vincentz:

    Do you think if he picks Madeleine Albight perhaps FL could be in play?

    I’ll generously assume that’s just really lame sarcasm – meaning that your suggestion of Reyes was equally ironic – because if it’s not… whoa.

    .

  142. 142.

    Anticorium

    AkaDad, I hope that was a call for all of us to have the audacity to care whose ass that is, and why it’s farting.

  143. 143.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Obama/Not Sure ‘08

    Obama/Me ’08 would make nice bumpersticker.

  144. 144.

    Tim (The Other One)

    “since she is older (turns 60 in eight days)”

    Fuck that shit. Just for that slam, I’m cutting up my debit card and I’m going to start writing checks everywhere !!

    I’m even going to turn around and ask one of you young punks behind me if you have a pen I can borrow !

  145. 145.

    J. Michael Neal

    I really like John Edwards. He was my guy until January. Still, I don’t think Attorney General is the right post for him. Yes, aggressive investigations would be nice, but the most important task the next AG is going to face is simply managing and rebuilding that whole department. That doesn’t play to Edwards’ strengths.

    Edwards should head the NLRB.

  146. 146.

    A Different JC

    JGabriel Says: meaning that your suggestion of Reyes was equally ironic – because if it’s not… whoa.

    I was the one (I think) who suggested Reyes. And I’m serious. He’s Hispanic, from Texas, a veteran, and has good national-security credentials. Again, this may help in Texas but not in Florida, dunno. I have no insight into the Hispanic vote except that, from what I know of Hispanics, it’s not nearly as monolithic an ethnicity as assumed.

  147. 147.

    freddy

    I think Sen. Obama is going to make a big play for Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. Gov. Richardson is the obvious choice for that strategy. If Sen. Obama wins those states, he doesn’t need Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania or Ohio.

    Check it out.

  148. 148.

    JGabriel

    A Different JC:

    I too am impressed with Napolitano or Sebelius but there is part of my brain that’s worried that too many unfamiliar concepts (Black-Woman) on the national ticket could harm our chances in November. For me, it’s too early to tell. If I had to bet right now I’d say that the situation is so heavily favored for the Democrats in Novemeber that we absolutely SHOULD put a woman on the ticket because it’s about damn time…

    Well, 51% of the electorate is female. I doubt they’ll find the prospect of a woman VP ‘unfamiliar’ or ‘harmful’ to the ticket’s chances. That said, I’ll have to concede that Ferraro certainly didn’t help Mondale much in ’84.

    However, as long as it’s a smart politician who can appeal to voters outside of the core Democratic states, I doubt the gender will be much of an issue – outside of the ‘historical first’ nature of it if they win.

    .

  150. 150.

    Incertus

    About Florida: it’s big, it’s purple, and so I care. That’s all, though.

    Florida’s a really reddish purple, though, and trending the bad way. Don’t count on a Veep candidate pulling the state out for a Dem, unless for some reason you’re considering Charlie Crist as a Democrat–and please don’t do that.

  151. 151.

    JGabriel

    A Different JC:

    I was the one (I think) who suggested Reyes. And I’m serious. He’s Hispanic, from Texas, a veteran, and has good national-security credentials.

    Sorry, ADJC. The ‘whoa’ comment was directed at the Albright question, not the Reyes suggestion. My fault. It was a poorly worded sentence, and I thought separating the Reyes statement with dashes instead of commas would fix the ambiguity, but obviously I was wrong. No offense intended.

    .

  152. 152.

    JGabriel

    J. Michael Neal:

    I really like John Edwards. He was my guy until January. Still, I don’t think Attorney General is the right post for him. Yes, aggressive investigations would be nice, but the most important task the next AG is going to face is simply managing and rebuilding that whole department. That doesn’t play to Edwards’ strengths.

    Fair enough. Sheldon Whitehouse would be the best choice, IMO, but he’s so good in the Senate that it would be a shame to pull him out. In lieu of that, Edwards seems like a good AG pick.

    Did you have someone else in mind?

    .

  153. 153.

    timb

    One person who was mentioned by press accounts and will not cost Dems any current seats and is a god to anyone who knows him is Tim Roemer from Indiana. He has serious foreign policy cred as a decently left wing guy and runs a national security think tank. He’s young, well-spoken, and makes Indiana seriously purple.

    By the way, Evan Bayh is the most boring politician in America. The combo of him and Obama on the same stage would be like mainlining speed while on a Lidocaine drip…serious cognitive problem is any listener.

    Oh, EEEL read that tripe from Collins on Protein Wisdom. His visits here are like Goldstein’s there: rare, incoherent, and half-witted. Cool thing about EEEL is he doesn’t ask for money with every other post.

  154. 154.

    J. Michael Neal

    Fair enough. Sheldon Whitehouse would be the best choice, IMO, but he’s so good in the Senate that it would be a shame to pull him out. In lieu of that, Edwards seems like a good AG pick.

    Did you have someone else in mind?

    I suspect that the best AG choice would be someone that most of us don’t really know. The person I want is good at hiring people, good at organizing a bureaucracy, capable of building morale within a department, and good at giving focus to different subordinate offices. In short, someone that has very different skills from the ones that the most successful people in politics have.

    The Justice Department needs to be de-politicized, re-focused, and rebuilt. It’s not going to be a job that someone high profile, with a lot of future ambitions is going to want.

  155. 155.

    J. Michael Neal

    In short, the Cabinet is like a good movie. It needs character actors as well as headline stars. Right now, I think State and Defense need the latter, but Justice needs the former.

  156. 156.

    Bob In Pacifica

    Larry Johnson is still working for the CIA.

    I nominate the guy who blogs about beer here because as Vice President he’d get all sorts of really good beer and if he spent his time blogging about beer he couldn’t be doing evil around the world.

  157. 157.

    A Different JC

    Incertus Says: Florida’s a really reddish purple, though, and trending the bad way. Don’t count on a Veep candidate pulling the state out for a Dem,

    Two thoughts: 1. Lieberman won Florida for us in 2000. No, there’s nobody currently in the party who has as much cred with alta-kakas as Joe, but I think the VP can do wonders for certain voting blocs.

    2. Yeah, the state is trending red but we almost won it in 2004 and we had a cruddy candidate. I actually don’t know enough about Florida’s dynamics to suggest someone good to get the state, I’m just reiterating my interest in putting big populous swings states into play. McCain will be tough to beat in Florida because being over 70 is a plus for many of ’em there.

    JGabriel Says: Sorry, ADJC. The ‘whoa’ comment was directed at the Albright question,

    No problemo, dude.

  158. 158.

    merrinc

    I’ve changed my mind: Gravel.

    Hey, he got 2 votes in precinct. No Preference got 5.

  159. 159.

    Martin

    Sebelius.

    If the Democrats felt compelled to put a woman forward as a candidate, it should have been her instead of Hillary. She’s just a better candidate. Her only fault is not having the political backing that Hillary got because of Bill and not having the name recognition.

  160. 160.

    Martin

    Oh, anyone calling for a Republican is on the wrong track. Less popular than HPV? Dems can go with two real liberals and run on liberal issues this election and win.

    They lose if the public comes to believe they’re full of shit.

  161. 161.

    Ben V

    Someone who poor white people like. If Obama loses, it’ll be because of the same Ohioans (and Pennsylvanians and Floridians) who are too old school and cynical to get on board with anything new and different. I’d suggest Edwards, tool that he is. Richardson won’t win those folks. Zinni would be OK, and I don’t have a read on how Florida-Pennsylvania-Ohio would respond to Webb. Seriously before the decision is made there needs to be some favorability polling done in those three states based on the VP candidates name.

  162. 162.

    Pelikan

    I like Bloomberg, that’s one I hadn’t thought of. Would that heal what appears to be a wierd state of affairs between Obama and the general older Jewry? Have to get him to officially put a (D) after his name though…

  163. 163.

    Martin

    JC, I think the top groups that Obamam needs to pacify with his VP pick are old people and white people. So I’d suggest his VP pick needs to be an old white person.

    MATLOCK!!!

  164. 164.

    John S.

    Florida’s a really reddish purple, though, and trending the bad way.

    I agree with my fellow Floridian.

    We have some competitive congressional races down here in South Florida, and Obama/______ will need to campaign here for sure. But I tend to think that McCain will pull it out here – no matter who else is on the ticket.

    Charlie Crist is a very useful ally here.

  165. 165.

    John S.

    By the way, Evan Bayh is the most boring politician in America.

    No way. Harry Reid beats him by a country mile. Watch his interview with Jon Stewart – if you dare!

  166. 166.

    mrmobi

    So I’m pretty certain Tom Daschle will be his pick. Not only is Daschle his mentor and the person that encouraged him to run for the nomination against HRC but he’s also old and white, has a moderate Senate record and is Catholic.

    Daschle’s good, but please, No Republicans. You guys may have noticed that their “brand” isn’t doing so well these days.

    On the other hand, as I suggested the other day, Satan may have high negatives, but you can’t call him a flip-flopper. I understand he’s a Demoncrat, too. Close enough.

    Oh, and by the way, watch that “old” stuff, will ya? I’m 61 and I rain 5 miles in the rain today. I’m fairly sure I had enough energy after that to kick your ass, ok?

  167. 167.

    mrmobi

    I’m 61 and I rain 5 miles in the rain today. I’m fairly sure I had enough energy after that to kick your ass, ok?

    Oops, I guess old white people can’t spell. That should be ran 5 miles in the rain…

    Goddamn whippersnappers….

  168. 168.

    tom.a

    PA Congressman Joe Sestak. If Obama is going to go the military-route, this guy negates McCain’s Navy experience (Sestak was a Vice Admiral to the Navy) and he’s a Clinton supporter that could deliver PA along with a lot of those middle white votes Obama may have trouble with.

  169. 169.

    Zuzu

    Tim Roemer

    I like it. Just ’cause it’s probably the closest to “Obama-Rama” we’re gonna get.

  170. 170.

    cloudspitter

    MATLOCK

    will not solve Obama’s older white female problem. You need Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote.

  171. 171.

    Zuzu

    I’m 61 and I rain 5 miles in the rain today. I’m fairly sure I had enough energy after that to kick your ass, ok?

    Hey, 60 really is the new 40. And anyone who doesn’t know that, will soon enough.

  172. 172.

    demimondian

    Hey, 60 really is the new 40. And anyone who doesn’t know that, will soon enough.

    Jeebus — you 60 year olds must really feel like shit, then.

  173. 173.

    Zuzu

    Jeebus—you 60 year olds must really feel like shit, then.

    Well, I’ve got a couple of years to go, but I feel great.

  174. 174.

    Cain

    There can be only one choice:

    Gandalf the White

    1) war experience
    2) old and white
    3) fights tenaciously
    4) pretty damn smart
    5) already advises people pretty high up in the food chain.

    if we ignores the rumors that he practices wizardly, he’d be perfect.

    cain

  175. 175.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    RE: 60 is the new Stupid.

    I was talking Presidentin’ Years. Save yer threats for the day nurse.

  176. 176.

    Tom in Texas

    Reyes would never work. They guy can’t tell a Shiite from a Sunni. No party would ever run a candidate that can’t keep his enemies straight on their ticket in a time of such great national crisis

  177. 177.

    Brachiator

    Martin Says:

    Sebelius.

    If the Democrats felt compelled to put a woman forward as a candidate, it should have been her instead of Hillary. She’s just a better candidate. Her only fault is not having the political backing that Hillary got because of Bill and not having the name recognition.

    So far, I am really liking Sebelius and Tim Roemer, neither of whom I knew much about before reading about them here.

    Both are from the heartland, both are young and talented, and oddly enough both are Catholics. Sebelius, as a governor, might be a bit more seasoned than Roemer, and would also be a huge nod to those who really wanted to see a woman presidential candidate.

    I don’t think that Obama needs to select a VP with deep military or foreign policy experience. This is what the Secretaries of State and Defense are for.

    Sam Nunn might be too old guard. Bloomberg would be an interesting choice, but I doubt that he has sufficient political coattails to balance out the ticket.

    Bloomberg might be good as Secretary of Commerce. And here, I think it important that Obama build his cabinet to face looming problems, which appear to be mainly about the economy, energy and agriculture, even more than general foreign policy and military matters.

    One fun thing about the choices mentioned here. They all would make an imminently electable Obama/VP Choice X ticket, making Senator Clinton look more and more like yesterday’s news.

  178. 178.

    Jay

    Another old fart of the old guard but…Bob Graham.

    Smart hawk who opposed the Iraq War from the start, still popular in Florida, certainly wouldn’t run for prez.

  179. 179.

    Person of Choler

    Why not Al Gore? He was even elected President already in 2000 and he has certainly settled the science on Anthropogenic Climate Change, the most important issue to face humanity since all but Republicans started walking on two legs.

    And be sure to promise Bill Ayers as Secretary of Defense. If Mr. Ayers would be as enthusiastic about blowing up stuff in other people’s countries as he is in bombing his own, he would garner many neocon votes for the ticket.

    Add Tony Rezko to the list as Treasury Secretary. If he can do for the average home buyer what he did for the Obamas, the housing crisis will be over by next April.

  181. 181.

    D Br

    iluvsummr Says:

    How about… Christine Todd Whitman (cross-party nod to Republican moderates anyone?). No? Okay I’d have to say Janet Napolitano then.

    Joke right? Isn’t she the same person that Bush “forced” to say the air was fine in NY after 9/11? Ending with the sickness and death of hundreds of the brave folks that wanted to help. What a whore-bitch. Didn’t give a damn about the people, only her career. She may have been able to start a backlash against this Bush B/S we’ve now suffered for 8 years. Maybe she needs some of that 40 year desert time also. Or maybe a lifetime behind bars along with the entire Bush crowd. At least he can’t pardon himself, thank God!!

  182. 182.

    Zuzu

    Well, Salon has a kinda fun interactive poll. Webb comes up first, then Clark, Sebelius, Richardson, and … wow, Strickland (but not by much).

    Obama Veepstakes

  183. 183.

    Bot LaBeer

    It seems like there’s really two basic ways to go about the selection of a VP this time around.

    The first way is to look no further than election day and select the candidate that gives you the best chance to win (and then hope he/she doesn’t screw you sometime before the re-election run).

    The other way is to trust your own electoral skills and to select the candidate that gives you the best chance to implement your agenda after the election (and hope he/she doesn’t screw you sometime before you make it to the White House).

    If you use those two scenarios, is there any VP candidate mentioned in this thread that would fulfill both purposes?

    I don’t see it.

    Obama does have head-to-head advantages against McCain with the voters (or at least most polls say he does) and the republican brand is tits up. So maybe it’s OK if Obama looks more for a executive and less for a campaigner.

  184. 184.

    scrutinizer

    I’m 61 and I rain 5 miles in the rain today.

    I’m 53, and I have enough sense to get out of the rain!

  187. 187.

    cleek

    Harry Reid beats him by a country mile. Watch his interview with Jon Stewart – if you dare!

    gawd. Reid was awful. the worst guest ever.

  188. 188.

    D-Chance.

    montysano Says:
    Here’s what drives me insane of global warming deniers atheists: what if they’re wrong? The stakes are kinda high. Technically, no one, NO ONE, truly “knows” for sure; that’s the nature of science faith. But wouldn’t the conservative thing to do to err on the side of safety? Wouldn’t it be the Christian thing to do honor protect the Creator’s work?

    Global warming deniers… atheists… the same.

  189. 189.

    TR

    Clark is my choice. Military cred, a Clinton supporter to heal the party, and helps in the border south.

    Ed Rendell would be a good one — seals up Penn., adds working-class cred in the Rust Belt and a Jewish presence on the ticket might help in Florida too. Plus, he’d be a nice attack dog for the campaign, tough but always with a smile.

  190. 190.

    Krista

    D-Chance. Says:

    Global warming deniers… atheists… the same.

    Have you been smoking crack again? They’re not at all the same. For starters, there is actual scientific evidence of climate change. No such evidence of God, I’m afraid.

    As well, if I’m an atheist and it turns out that I’m wrong, then the only person who has to live with any repercussions resulting from my error is me. Can’t really say the same for those who see no need to cut down on their consumption and pollution because they don’t like Al Gore. They’re affecting everybody.

  191. 191.

    BC

    Take a look at David Friedlander (sp?), governor of Wyoming and a Democrat. He’s a westerner, has been onboard with Obama since the Wyoming caucuses, will be surrogate for Obama here in Montana in debate with Bill Clinton. He is in his second term as governor of Wyoming, so he’s seen by the constituency there as competent. May not put Wyoming in play in the general election, but will have effect on Colorado, Nevada, Montana, and New Mexico as he’s from the Mountain West.

  192. 192.

    cleek

    As well, if I’m an atheist and it turns out that I’m wrong, then the only person who has to live with any repercussions resulting from my error is me.

    and then you’ll be cast into an eternity of torment by the all-loving god. and all your friends and relatives who made it into Heaven will know you’re being tortured, but they won’t care because Heaven is eternal bliss.

    bliss = knowing your loved ones are being tortured

    yay Christianity!

  193. 193.

    Soylent Green

    No fucking Republicans please.

    The VP candidate needs to be a strong campaigner and debater who can fill in areas in which Obama won’t be strongest. I don’t know which is more important, military cred, appeal to Hillary’s base, southern support, or what. But he/she must be an effective speaker and possess some authentic charm. Machine politicians like Rendell are too oily. A white male would be best (sorry, ladies) to ease more folks into electing our first black prez.

    I don’t think Obama needs to think in terms of delivering a particular battleground state; the goal should be to support the 50-state strategy and turn some states that are usually thought to be not in play.

    I like Wes Clark and Brian Schweitzer.

  198. 198.

    David Hunt

    Mark Says:

    Madeleine Albright

    IIRC, Ms. Albright is not a native-born American Citizen and, therefore, not able to run for the office of Vice President.

  200. 200.

    binzinerator

    I think either Sebelius or Napolitano to recapture the disgruntled Hillary supporters who wanted a woman president.

    Sorry, A Different JC, but I say to hell with the disgruntled Hillary supporters, which are the Hillbots and those who are still stuck in their identity politics fetish. (I think most of her supporters aren’t disgruntled — disappointed or crestfallen or bummed, but not disgruntled.)

    Hillary took her campaign down the Rovian path, ripping shit right out of the gooper playbook — starting with that 3am phone call ad (which ironically was my Hillary wake-up call). It was everything that has been toxic and damaging to the political process. Win no matter what. Say or do anything to win. Facts don’t matter. Lie. Insinuate. Make the issues trivial and the trivial the issue. That’s the disease that’s endemic with the goopers. Or so I had thought. But even the goopers would never have validated a Dem’s qualifications in order to undermine one of their own candidates. Hillary did that with McCain to get at Obama. Utter foolishness.

    Unless Hillary was in it for Hillary, and not for any of the values the Dem party represented. Unless of course the GOP’s ‘do what ever the fuck you want to get what you want’ is now a core Dem value. Is identity politics now a core Dem value too? I thought the GOP perfected that. That’s what the God guns and gays thing was about. If your political strategy relies heavily on using wedge issues to divide people, you have to have use identity politics to create the divisions to drive those wedges into.

    So screw the Hillary diehards. I’d just as soon as accommodate them as I would the 28% who still back Bush.

    And I have no idea who Obama’s vp should be. But his VP shouldn’t be for recapturing the disgruntled Hillbots.

  202. 202.

    Josh B.

    “Obama could then appoint Bill Clinton to the Supreme Court and complete the trifecta wingnut head exlodarama. Yee!”

    Granted, we’ve gotten some seriously iffy choices into SCOTUS lately…but given the fact that Billy’s been DISBARRED, that might be a tough sell.

  204. 204.

    A Different JC

    TR Says: Ed Rendell would be a good one—seals up Penn., adds working-class cred in the Rust Belt and a Jewish presence on the ticket might help in Florida too.

    Ya know, I had no idea he was Jewish. Weird. (Disclosure: I’m an Orthodox rabbi, no joke). I wonder how he polls in Florida, then. And even though he may like Farrakhan, ironically you can do that if you’re Jewish (which I don’t agree with, but thems the breaks)

    Retief Says: Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, Michigan

    I thought of that too, Retief, except that she’s Canadian! Constitutionally prohibited.

    binzinerator Says: Sorry, A Different JC, but I say to hell with the disgruntled Hillary supporters,

    While I agree with you, binzinerator, about Hillary’s staff and surrogrates – they should be punished for their crimes against the party (also, no joke) – there are many people who wanted Hillary despite all of her dirty tricks. They were whipped up into a high state of desire over the very concept of a woman president. I think that having a female VP who is not a token (unlike Ferraro), who really can and should be president, would both satisfy the Hillary-Feminist wing of the party, and also be the right thing to do.

    I mean, Evan Bayh is tossed around as a VP name (or as president in ’12/16 if Obama) yet he has much less political appeal as Sebelius/Neopalitano. But Bayh is an immediate consideration and his female equivalents are not.

    If I have to give Hillary’s run any credit (and I really don’t want to that much), it’s that it made a woman president a potential in many of our imaginations. So lets do that in reality.

  206. 206.

    Doug Wieboldt

    Hillary or Bill Richardson. Both have great advantages. I’d go with Bill first, since we are long overdue for a presidential assassination, and I think that President Richardson sounds better that President Clinton the second!

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