Who Should Be VP?

[SmootSmack]

Assuming that Obama and McCain are the candidates who do you all think should be their running mates?

-Should Obama choose Hillary as his running mate?

-Does he need an insider with foreign policy experience like Biden?

-Will he shock the world and pick someone like Colin Powell?

-Does McCain need to appease the far(ther) right by selecting Huckabee?

-Should he try to appease "centrists" by selecting Charlie Crist?

-Will he shock the world and pick someone like Lieberman?

What do you all think they should do?

[70Chip]

Assuming that Obama and McCain are the candidates who do you all think should be their running mates?

-Should Obama choose Hillary as his running mate?

This would ensure victory, IMO, but I think he hates her and her husband and would rather take his chances on his own. He figures he can win anyway and then he won't have those two breathing down his neck.

-Does he need an insider with foreign policy experience like Biden?

Biden's foreign policy credentials are really overrated. He's no intellectual. He seems to have anointed himself the Democratic Party's foreign policy elder statesman. Nobody who understands the world at all would steal a speech from a loser like Neil Kinnoch. If you're going to lift from a British Labour leader, try Wilson or Atlee - everyone knows this.

-Will he shock the world and pick someone like Colin Powell?

Interesting. I think he's more likely to pick a white woman, say, Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of Kansas. She's as liberal as he is and it would help him regain the support of some women. He needs to win women overall by 5 to 10 points, to make up for white men, whom he will lose by 20 points.

-Does McCain need to appease the far(ther) right by selecting Huckabee?

No. Huckabee isn't that much more popular with conservatives than McCain. Evangelicals feel some kinship with him, but the Grover Norquist types and the Buckleyites can't stand him.

-Should he try to appease "centrists" by selecting Charlie Crist?

I think he figures he can win Florida without him, so if he wants a candidate that can help him carry a swing state, Romney and MIchigan would make more sense. If McCain wins in Michigan, the math gets very tricky for Obama.

-Will he shock the world and pick someone like Lieberman?

Only if he wants to speak to a crowd of about 30 people at the nominating convention. Lieberman's position on social issues would cause a full scale revolt among the various people who care about these thiongs. If he wants an out of the box, novelty choice he should pick Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana. (apparently the only one in that state's history that wasn't hopelessly crooked) Jindal is the one person I see in the conservative landscape that gives me some hope for the future. Certainly you must be following him closely, SS.

What do you all think they should do?

See above. Obama/Sebelius and McCain/Jindal.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

-Should Obama choose Hillary as his running mate?

This would ensure victory, IMO, but I think he hates her and her husband and would rather take his chances on his own. He figures he can win anyway and then he won't have those two breathing down his neck.

Hate can be overcome. See Kennedy/Johnson, Reagan/Bush, Kyer/Lee... I don't know that Hillary would truly accept being a VP though. As much as she seems to say she would

-Does he need an insider with foreign policy experience like Biden?

Biden's foreign policy credentials are really overrated. He's no intellectual. He seems to have anointed himself the Democratic Party's foreign policy elder statesman. Nobody who understands the world at all would steal a speech from a loser like Neil Kinnoch. If you're going to lift from a British Labour leader, try Wilson or Atlee - everyone knows this.

What about Webb, or even Wesley Clark? The former seems a better choice, the latter is just as "green" if not more so about Washington politics than Obama. As much as candidates like to say they're "not part of Washington" it helps to have that "in" Someone who understands how the system works behind the scenes. Some up here have speculated Chris Dodd. That'd surprise me. And of course there was that, now dying, talk of Richardson

-Will he shock the world and pick someone like Colin Powell?

Interesting. I think he's more likely to pick a white woman, say, Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of Kansas. She's as liberal as he is and it would help him regain the support of some women. He needs to win women overall by 5 to 10 points, to make up for white men, whom he will lose by 20 points.

She's certainly a front-runner.

Does McCain need to appease the far(ther) right by selecting Huckabee?

No. Huckabee isn't that much more popular with conservatives than McCain. Evangelicals feel some kinship with him, but the Grover Norquist types and the Buckleyites can't stand him.

Fair enough

Should he try to appease "centrists" by selecting Charlie Crist?

I think he figures he can win Florida without him, so if he wants a candidate that can help him carry a swing state, Romney and MIchigan would make more sense. If McCain wins in Michigan, the math gets very tricky for Obama.

I don't know what to make of Romney as a VP candidate. I think he's a smart guy who has shown the ability to problem-solve on the grandest stages but I don't know what he offers as a #2. It would also depend on what McCain envisions his VP's role would be.

Will he shock the world and pick someone like Lieberman?

Only if he wants to speak to a crowd of about 30 people at the nominating convention. Lieberman's position on social issues would cause a full scale revolt among the various people who care about these thiongs. If he wants an out of the box, novelty choice he should pick Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana. (apparently the only one in that state's history that wasn't hopelessly crooked) Jindal is the one person I see in the conservative landscape that gives me some hope for the future. Certainly you must be following him closely, SS.

Bobby Jindal certainly would be an exciting choice for those of my ilk. But once I get past that, I simply don't agree with him on many issues. It could be a good choice for McCain though if he wants to win

[12thMan]

I'll weigh in, in more detail later. But after Clinton's recent comments, which she probably didn't mean, any shot she had a Veep is done.

[onlydarksets]

Clinton is too divisive, IMO, to benefit Obama. Biden is, by all accounts, not smart. I don't know what his best bet is - interesting call on Sebelius. I think Webb would be an interesting counter to McCain - war vet, quasi-conservative, carries VA.

Jindal is interesting, but a Catholic in the White House (even as VP)? I'm not sure how that plays out. It's surprising how important that is to a lot of people.

[The Goat]

I'd like to see bloomberg on either ticket though it'll never happen. McCain doesn't bring jack to the table on economics, and don't really think Obama is much better in that regard. So I think a business/economic genius w/ political skills, like bloomberg, makes sense. That way the pres can focus more attention on foreign policy.

[SmootSmack]

Bloomberg is compelling, but would you want him one step away from the presidency?

Obama is giving a commencement speech at a university just 10 minutes from my place tomorrow. I'm tempted to go to hear him speak in person.

[dmek25]

i like Edwards to run with Obama. and i really like Jindal from Louisiana. he kind of reminds me of the republican version of Obama. i went to see both Clinton and Obama when they where in the area. and wished Mccain would have come around here. it would have been interesting to try and compare the 3. the best the Rep's could do in this area was Sean Hannity, who i think is a total idiot

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Bloomberg is compelling, but would you want him one step away from the presidency?

Obama is giving a commencement speech at a university just 10 minutes from my place tomorrow. I'm tempted to go to hear him speak in person.

That certainly gives me pause... but in the end I think he'd make a quality pres. Bloomberg is probably as bright as any of the candidates and he is not a partisan traditionalist - I get the sense he is all pragmatism which is something we've not had IMO for too long.

I wish I could hear Obama in person... you're lucky to get the opportunity.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by The Goat

That certainly gives me pause... but in the end I think he'd make a quality pres. Bloomberg is probably as bright as any of the candidates and he is not a partisan traditionalist - I get the sense he is all pragmatism which is something we've not had IMO for too long.

I wish I could hear Obama in person... you're lucky to get the opportunity.

Well the commencement ceremony was closed to the public, so the best I could do is a webcast. He was speaking in place of Senator Kennedy.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Bobby Jindal certainly would be an exciting choice for those of my ilk. But once I get past that, I simply don't agree with him on many issues. It could be a good choice for McCain though if he wants to win

Your ilk is an interesting position to not only save the Conservative movement in this country, but perhaps mankind itself. They are a natural bridge. And, who else could have gotten the British to just walk away for no apparent reason. That commands a man's respect as oppose to say the Palestinians, who have no sense whatsoever.

What issues do you disagree with JIndal on? Do you think that Louisiana was better off corrupt? I suppose it's the abortion/gay business.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Your ilk is an interesting position to not only save the Conservative movement in this country, but perhaps mankind itself. They are a natural bridge. And, who else could have gotten the British to just walk away for no apparent reason. That commands a man's respect as oppose to say the Palestinians, who have no sense whatsoever.

What issues do you disagree with JIndal on? Do you think that Louisiana was better off corrupt? I suppose it's the abortion/gay business.

yeah well you don't eff with Gandhi

Various issues, will expand on them if he's chosen as a running mate

[saden1]

Hillary is done as far as VP is concerned. She has said so many f'ed up things that it would be counter to Obama's message to have her as his VP. I would definitely keep Hillary at a distance and take my chances, she's f'ing crazy and Bill in the white house would be an unruly scene.

Colin Powell would be an interesting pick but I don't know how the America people would feel about two black men on the same ticket. Plus Powell's stock as fallen mightily since he gave that speech at the UN. I suspect the poor bastard was duped but then again he did do some serious dirty fork for the Bush administration. I wouldn't mind seeing him as the secretary of Defense and a shot at redeeming himself by overseeing the withdrawal from Iraq.

Who would I like to see as VP? I really would like to see Jim Webb. The dude is no bullshitter and has mad creds. He would bring VA home too.

As for the women vote, tell them what will happen with the Supreme Court if McCain wins and they'll line up. Sure he'll lose some of the Hillary crazy die-hard fans but the majority will support him.

Jindal is a nut job in terms of his beliefs but I'm sure glad to finally see some color in the GOP. I doubt he will be picked as VP because it would negate the whole experience attack flight pattern McCain has been using against Obama. If he picks Jindal McCain would simply look foolish to attack Obama when he has someone 10 years Obama's junior as his VP ("if your VP is ready at 37 I'm ready at 47").

Naturally I want McCain to pick Lieberman but alas he is not that dumb. Right now, there's no quicker way to unite the democratic party than to have Joe "Darth Sidious" Lieberman as McCain's running mate.

I suspect McCain will pick Romney to help him bring home Utah and Colorado.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Your ilk is an interesting position to not only save the Conservative movement in this country, but perhaps mankind itself. They are a natural bridge. And, who else could have gotten the British to just walk away for no apparent reason. That commands a man's respect as oppose to say the Palestinians, who have no sense whatsoever.

What issues do you disagree with JIndal on? Do you think that Louisiana was better off corrupt? I suppose it's the abortion/gay business.

Come on, you're smarter than that. Don't do my man Gandhi and the people who made so many sacrifices like that.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by saden1

Come on, you're smarter than that. Don't do my man Gandhi and the people who made so many sacrifices like that.

I think you misunderstand me. I have enormous respect for Ghandi and what he did. My point is that the Indians, et al are in a unique position geo-politically. They understand Western Values, Eastern Values, and are economically viable. We and the Chinese will be struggling to be their best friend for some time to come. They are the diplomatic hinge of the next 20 years, IMO.

Perhaps the phrase "no apparent reason" was overstated. Ghandi gave them good reasons to leave but they were enlightened compared to what happened with, say, the French in Vietnam. He more or less talked them into leaving. If Arafat were half the man Ghandi was, the Israelis would never have been able to maintain their presence in the West Bank all these years. Likewise if Ghandi had been a corrupt, venal, thug given over to violence, the English would have stayed out of spite, probably another ten years at least. v