VP Stakes; The Brian Schweitzer Edition

Ok, this one is definitely not one I am thrilled about but it is being floated. Given other efforts to reach out to "Values" voters Schweitzer, is socially conservative, pro-gun and very popular in Montana. Not really my type of Pol but he has a following.

As you can tell from the split-screen photo, the Gov. of Montana does not pass the tlg-photo-test. (I could not find any good pics of BHO and Schweitzer together) But he fits the strong governor vs. senator bill, which is even more important now that the weak willed senate caved on FISA.

Some highlights from his wikipedia page...

*Schweitzer currently has one of the highest gubernatorial approval ratings in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of around 70 percent.

8he has a Master of Science in soil science from Montana State University.

*He worked as an irrigation developer on projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. He spent several years working in Libya and Saudi Arabia and speaks Arabic. (I found that bit surprising)

I have to admit that the travel abroad and understanding of the Middle East, Africa and Asia is a big plus to me. His speaking Arabic is also a big bonus.

He has made a lot of news being against gun control AND being a very outspoken critic of the REAL ID legislation.

One big downside is that his science degrees and irrigation work could be a good thing, BUT I suspect he is more a big-ag-monsanto type rather than a al-gore-save-the-planet type...

He was the USDA guy under Bill Clinton. Need to read up more on that time period for the Dept. of Agriculture. I suspect it was a time a mixed messages and bad food policy, though better than under Reagan, Bush the First and certainly better than Bush the Second.

So... Obama-Schweitzer '08? Your thoughts?

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VP Stakes: Jim Webb Update

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., removed his name from consideration Monday as a potential vice presidential running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama.

That answers that question.

next?

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VP Stakes: The Ed Rendell Edition

The vetting continues. Ed? What can I say... I am not objective. I lived in Philadelphia (Philly) while he was mayor. He changed the city in a really positive way. And he bridged an enormous gap between the suburbanites and the inner city dwellers in a way not seen before.


I was NOT surprised when he handily won the Governorship, twice.

As VP he brings to the table a lot of executive experience, but no foreign affairs experience. He was a big supporter of the Clintons as we all know and so he can speak with credibility to Bill & Hill's fans who's feathers are still ruffled. As you can see, he passes my photo test.

He is a do-er. A good fundraiser. And I think he would be OK with the second seat. He did a great job in my city, and state and he would bring a good solid win in PA. He would certainly not be the kind of VP candidate that could not win his own state.

He was 1996 Municipal Leader of the Year.

On the downside, as I said... no real foreign affairs credentials. And not a lot of name recognition west of Ohio. And he is a bit "in" with the beltway Bobs and Betties. He was also one of the dems praising fox for their coverage of the primary. (boo) But he took good care of the city of brotherly love and the keystone state.

Your thoughts on Vice President Rendell?

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VP Stakes: The Jim Webb Edition

Sen. Jim Webb is popular, has loads of military experience, and is a very no-nonsense guy. People are calling for this pairing. I think he makes a lot of sense talking about the economy and the dangerousness of the enormous gap in wealth and opportunity in the USA. Smart as hell. Not as progressive as I would like... but lots going on in his big brain. Southern. I think "Cupcake" Rollins would like this one too.

Obama-Webb '08? Your thoughts?

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VP Stakes; The Wishful Thinking Edition

Ok, I am pretty darn sure that neither of these choices will happen this year-- and I think winning pres. once and having it stolen from you would make someone disinclined to go for the number 2 seat again. (are there term limits for Veep?)

BUT-- I just love both of these guys, and especially Howard would make a great V.P.. He is a political fighter for "We the people." (this post is a special gift to my good friend and long time fellow Deaniac, Terri) Barack was a great supporter of his in '04 and vice versa.

So if wishes were enough to make it so; I bring you these two choices.

OBAMA-GORE '08

or OBAMA-DEAN '08

This second choice is particularly unlikely given that Barack just asked Howard to stay on as his DNC chair marshaling forces in the 50 state strategy. There are some much more likely choices to vet in future posts, no worries. I felt like being a little bit of a political dreamer today. Thanks to our commentors for excellent suggestions for future posts.

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The V.P. Stakes; The Edwards Edition

John Edwards endorsement was an important point in the primary. He supports many of the best of the progressive stands on the issues that have been discussed in this very long election cycle. Sen. Edwards was very popular in the primary season espeically in the blogosphere. He has been a powerful voice against lobbyist influence and a powerful voice for universal health care and for ending poverty across our country.

His vice presidential role on the '04 campaign trail was not all that it could have been. It is unknown if this was because of tenisions between the top and bottom halves of the ticket, or just general poor campaign management but he certainly could have been a stronger more valued voice in that cycle.

We have quite a few regulars who started out this year as Edwards supporters-- so I suspect a few of us would be thrilled to see him on the ticket.

On a personal note, I had the chance to help the Edwards team last year as a volunteer at Yearly Kos. I was the person who was assigned to help him back stage and to help him get from the end of the debate to the town hall session he conducted in another area of the chicago convention center. He was warm, gracious (let me have a picture taken with him-- which was honestly a thrill-- you can see it posted in our GNB Facebook page.) And his townhall was fantastic. He answered so many questions, some of them quite challenging, and he did it with intelligence and an open spirit.

I think an Obama-Edwards ticket would be a strong one. The are a handsome pair in a photo too! (though I am actually hoping for Edwards as AG) I think the official GNB Vetter, "Cupcake" Rollins would like this ticket, how about you?

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The VP Stakes; the Richardson Edition

This pair has been widely speculated about. I personally think it unlikely though I am a big Richardson fan. I love his stance on veterans issues, and again he has tons of foreign affairs creds. He is a Gov. not a senator... which helps, and he passes the tlg photo test. In fact, there are hundreds of photos of Obama and Richardson together. But I think we will see him offered a big cabinet position. I don't think he will be Veep.

He is on many short lists, and various folks have suggested that he helps bring the Hispanic vote. I have talked to some friends who work in the Hispanic caucus and other political positions though and they say he is not really thought of as a "Hispanic Candidate" by many within the community. So I am not sure on that point.

He is from a good geographic area for ticket balance, and as I said he is passionate about helping our vets which is one of my favorite things about him. His idea for a heroes health card was one of the best, small, doable ideas I heard during the entire primary season.

Oh, and I love the goatee. But still somehow he does not seem like the one.

Let the GNB vetting begin.

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VP Stakes: The Sebelius Edition

Kathleen Sebelius has gotten attention over the last few years as a successful D-Governor in the very R state of Kansas. She is an iconic figure for a unity ticket. She brings some of the disappointed women voters back to the table and helps end a lot of the talk about Obama being sexist. BUT she will also perhaps, make a lot of Hillary supporters angry if he chooses a woman who is not Hillary. She is catholic which would help bring in a strong segment of that voting population.

This part really got me interested;

She was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1986. In 1994 she left the House to run for state insurance commissioner and stunned political forecasters by winning — the first time a Democrat had won in more than 100 years. She is credited with bringing the agency out from under the influence of the insurance industry. She refused to take campaign contributions from insurers and blocked the proposed merger of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the state's largest health insurer, with an Indiana-based company. The decision by Sebelius marked the first time the corporation had been rebuffed in its acquisition attempts.-wikipedia

She has been endorsed by planned parenthood.
She is pro gun ownership but anti-concealed-carry law.
She is a strong environmental candidate.
Though she is not a supporter for gay-marriage laws she is an opponent of anti-gay marriage constitutional amendments and voted against one for Kansas. (though it passed with 70% support!)

As for my impressions; she did not do an amazing job on the rebuttal of the SOTU speech this year but she seems smart, principled, thoughtful. She must be a fighter to take on the insurance industry. She knows how to work with republicans but still push forward many items on a progressive agenda. I am left with a feeling that I want to know more and I will be interested to see and hear more about her.
What do you all think?

Reading up on Obama Sebelius '08;

http://www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/19735104.html

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/12/meet-the-vp-candidate-kathleen-sebelius/

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V.P. Stakes: The Wes Clark Edition

Another name floated... Gen. Wes Clark. He had a strong following in '04. The draft Wes Clark folks would be enthusiastic foot soldiers. He also stumped hard for '06-- esp. in his support of Jim Webb and others.

He is not a senator. He has leadership experience, foreign affairs creds., older. He was a Hillary supporter-- but has also said he would always support the nominee. Good for unity.

The downsides? (I am sure you all will mention a few) For me, he never really made his case in '04. He has no domestic/legislative experience at all-- but that is not a necessary qualification for the job. But the big one for me is that with the huge money spent on the military industrial complex, I have not been crazy about the idea of a life-long military man as the next stop in the line of succession.

On a petty note-- he blinks a lot on camera and I don't think he is a political fighter (I am kind of looking for an attack dog to back up our guy.) I think if H. "cupcake" Rollins should be given a job on the V.P. vetting squad if he is not on the short list. What do you think Henry would think of Wes?

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V.P. Stakes Continued

According to E.J. Dionne Jr. today, foreign policy expertise is the new cool-- so his promotion of Biden to the short list makes perfect sense. The Pa. connection is good too, and he certainly is scrappy. I have had my serious differences with Biden in the past but for V.P. he might be a good balance on the ticket. Older, experienced, loads of foriegn affairs cred. Not bad.

I visited with Biden because he should be at the top of any list of vice presidential picks for Obama. Why Biden? In part because of where he took our discussion: Few Democrats know more about foreign policy, and few would so relish the fight against McCain on international affairs. Few are better placed to argue that withdrawal from Iraq will strengthen rather than weaken the United States.

The worst thing in a running mate is the fear of muddying his or her image in political combat. Biden would be a happy warrior.

He was born in Scranton, Pa., an essential state for Democrats, and has been a regular in the Philadelphia media market. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, himself a plausible No. 2, has called Biden "a perfect fit." The senator has been through two of his own presidential campaigns, in which he experienced what an acquaintance of his called the "white-hot heat" of scrutiny. -E. J. Dionne Jr.

Plus he has run for president so often that most of the skeletons must be out there by now. One hopes. I would prefer to have a governor on the ticket and not another senator, but you can't have everything. Obama-Biden '08? (Not as cool as Obama & "cupcake" Rollins '08, but then what is?)

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My Pick For V.P.

Messr. Henry Rollins, formerly of Black Flag.

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Then Who?

Ok gnb guys and gals, let's for a moment erase all thoughts (either elated or fearful) of the dream/nightmare ticket. There was a bit of this in the last thread-- but I put it to you directly: Who would be a great VP choice if Senator Obama is our nominee and why? (not in contrast to Hillary just on their own merits)

Who can bring Obama more states to the table?
Who can help heal the party?
Who do we trust a heart beat away from the presidency?
Who can help us win in Nov.?

I am very interested in your wise words- have at it.

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Dick Cheney, Bat Shit Insane

When the history is written, it will be said this is a safer country and more hopeful world because George Bush was president," Cheney said. -- TulsaWorld.com

If you ever doubted whether Dick Cheney was a lunatic, all you have to do is read this statement he made in a speech the other day to Oklahoman Republican's. You would have to be delusional to think this. Even if you remove Iraq from their 'legacy', it's still the reign of the worst administration ever. Couple that, with the fact that they are a complete joke. Cheney shot his friend in the face, his Chief of Staff was tried and convicted of, what amounted to treason. It would be a joke if it weren't for all the dead bodies. A more hopeful world? I think, a 10 minute conversation with a psychiatrist would see Dick sent to the bughouse.

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