Who is your choice for Vice President

[LynneSin]

First, assume that none of the presidential candidates would be interested in it if they don't get the nomination. I don't want this thread to be some pissing match where we're posting stuff like "So-n-So should drop out and be a Vice President first".

Also Al Gore and Bill Clinton can't be VP so you can't pick either of them and let's face it, I highly doubt Hillary wants VP (I truly believe if Hillary ran as either President or VP in 2004, she'd piss off the entire state of NY and we would lose those electorial votes, but that's my personal opinion)

There are plenty of other excellent democrats out there that would make great choices for Vice President. I was thinking about this yesterday and my first thought: Max Cleland! He's got a great war record and he would definately be an excellent choice should the presidential nominee be someone not from the South. Even though he lost his senate race in 2002, I think he could help us win Georgia and maybe 1-2 other southern states (Georgians are starting to realize they were screwed when they elected Chambliss).

[AP]

1. Ruth Ann Minner.

Or somebody like that.

[LynneSin]

17. You're kidding me aren't you???

I mean, I'm from Delaware and I like Ruth Ann but I don't see her as VP. If you're considering a female candidate, I would think there would be better choices out there plus the fact that Ruth Ann really doesn't bring anything to the table as a governor of an extremely small electorial state

[wyldwolf]

2. Why can't Gore or Clinton be VP?

[LynneSin]

12. The VP must have the same constitutional qualifications as the President

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_the_United_States

The Vice President must have the same constitutional qualifications as the President and cannot come from the same state. (In fact, this second requirement is not a constitutional requirement. What the Constitution provides is that if the candidates for President and Vice President come from the same state, the electors from that state could not vote for both. This might result in the Vice Presidential candidate receiving insufficiently many electoral votes for election even if the Presidential candidate is elected.) In practice the second requirement is easily circumvented by having the Vice President change the state of residency as was done by Dick Cheney who changed his legal residency from Texas to Wyoming in order to serve as Vice President for George W. Bush.

---

According to the Constitution, the president can only serve for 2 years which means Constitutionally Bill Clinton is unable to run for president again. Since he is unconstitutionally unable to run for President then he can't run for VP because he no longer meets those constitutional requirements.

It sounds confusing, but if you think about it, it'll make sense!

[wyldwolf]

29. Not at all true...

The language of the Twenty-Second Amendment does not expressly apply to a vice-presidential candidate.

Michael C. Dorf is vice dean and professor of law at Columbia University, where he teaches civil procedure and constitutional law. He is the co-author, with Laurence H. Tribe, of the book "On Reading the Constitution." Has this to say:

"The Constitution permits Clinton to be elected Vice President, and if necessary to ascend for a third time to the Presidency -- as careful attention to the language of the Twelfth and Twenty-Second Amendments shows.

The Twelfth Amendment would allow a Clinton Vice-Presidency. Its language only bars from the vice-presidency those persons who are "ineligible to the office" of President. Clinton is not ineligible to the office of President, however. He is only disqualified (by the Twenty-Second Amendment) from being elected to that office.

This is no mere semantic distinction. Article II of the Constitution carefully defines exactly who is "eligible to the Office of President": anyone who is a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and has been a U.S. resident for at least 14 years. For example, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is ineligible for the office of President because she is a naturalized, rather than a natural born, citizen. Accordingly, the Twelfth Amendment renders her ineligible to the office of Vice President as well.

But Bill Clinton can serve as Vice President, because the Twenty-Second Amendment's prohibition on running for a third Presidential term is not a condition of the office of President. The Twenty-Second Amendment states: "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person shall be elected to the office of the president more than once." The language is quite clear. It places no limits whatsoever on how many terms someone may serve as President -- only how many times he can be elected."

more:

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dorf/20000731.html

Now, one might argue that the current make-up of the Supreme Court would step in on this. But, seriously, the wording of the constitution - and cross referencing 12th and 22nd amendments, certainly give the legal loophole to make it happen.

And please - if anyone still wants to argue the point, you'll be arguing against a constitutional lawyer. You can reach him here:

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dorf/20000731.html

[meegbear]

3. ME!!!!!!!

meegbear for VP. "Can't do any worse than Cheney!"

[LynneSin]

18. I stomped on a cockroach this morning that would be better than Cheney

:shrug:

[MissMillie]

4. wouldn't Clinton make a bitchin'

Secretary of State?

[jumptheshadow]

14. Yes!

I would love to see Clinton as Secretary of State.

It might mend a lot of fences.

I'd like to see Carol Moseley-Braun in the administration as well.

[sexybomber]

16. He would certainly restore honor and credibility to the position

But isn't Secretary of State in line for Presidential succession? Would that pose a problem, considering Clinton already served two terms?

If not... that would be great.

[LionInWinter]

28. If not Secretary of State

how about Clinton as Ambassador to the UN. Wouldn't that be a statement to the world! Plus, he already has offices in NYC.

[goobergunch]

33. No problem there

Madeleine Albright was also ineligible (not native-born).

[Bandit]

5. Ann Lewis if we want the most able and talented.

otherwise Edwards is a pretty boy with conservative credentials.

[AverageJoe]

6. Either Clark or Edwards

would make a fine VP for the next President of the United States, Howard Dean!

[LynneSin]

7. Can't pick those

My rules says you cannot selection someone who is running for President - don't want to start a fight on this topic and believe me, I'm a Dean supporter too! ANd let's face it - all 10 of them would make great Vice Presidents but I think at this point in the game none of them are really that interested

[AverageJoe]

30. Oops! My bad

In that case, I nominate Bill Bradley or Barbara Boxer (and yes, it's just a coincidence that they're both "B.B." names.... ) :-)

[Punkingal]

8. Feinstein.....

she rocks!!!

[theemu]

9. John Edwards

I'm a Deanite, but after doing some research recently on John Edwards, I've come to believe he'd be a fantastic person for the job. In a lot of ways, Dean and Edwards would work well together, fixing each other's flaws - where Dean is a little too loose-cannon, Edwards is cool and personable (witness his great performance on last night's Daily Show), and where Edwards is a little too lackluster at expressing his point of view, Dean knows how to articulate his points extremely effectively.

Dean/Edwards 2004!

[Sagan]

10. what about Landrieu?

She seems very popular in Louisiana.

Richardson from NM of course.

I wish I could think of some more good Latino candidates. Is Cisneros too tainted? The Hispanic community in Texas still really likes him.

[DealsGapRider]

11. Bob Graham

Florida's electoral votes, Intelligence Cmte. experience, moderate enough to appeal to swing voters, full of integrity. What's not to love?

[LynneSin]

13. MY RULES: I said you can't pick someone who is running for Pres now

Only because I don't want this to be a pissing match about the candidates! It was in my original post!

[elfwitch]

15. Just For Fun

Jon Stewart!!!
:bounce:

[DemNoir]

19. Count me in on Feinstein

I think she would be a great choice. I have always admired her.

[LynneSin]

20. What about Boxer

She'd be a good choice too and Boxer is more progressive!

[DemNoir]

26. Not as impressed with Boxer

She just doesnt project the dignity and gravitas that Feinstein does. Plus, Boxer would be a very easy attack target.

[rucky]

21. Ann Richards

...could win Texas for us.

[ComerPerro]

23. Ohhh, Good one

I like her. And she would be a strong boost to anyone's campaign.

[elfwitch]

25. Ann

That is a good one. Ann is one tough old bird!
I liked living in Texas when she was in charge.

[ComerPerro]

22. How about Tom Harkin?

From Iowa?

I liked your suggestion of Cleland. I think he would be a strong choice for VP.

But I gotta tell you, a couple of my top picks for VP are running for president... However this is your thread.

[LynneSin]

24. I know how folks get, which is why I made that rule

and I wanted a chance to discuss other democrats out there who could make great Vice Presidents.

BTW, 2 thumbs up on Harken!!!

[uptohere]

27. me

I think I can deliver the smartass vote to the ticket in landslide volume

[Avatar13]

31. I'd like Graham, but you've eliminated him... so I'd say

Bill Richardson OR
Bob Kerrey OR
Max Cleland

[MarianJack]

32. My 200th Post!

And I looked for a long time to find the right post for it.

I have a few suggestions. Max Cleland, not only because he's a military hero, but he illustrates just how much lying bastards like the cheyney bush junta will get away with if not challenged. He also is an illustration that we believe that any qualified candidate can govern.

Also, I think it's high time for a woman to return to the ticket, and we have plenty of them. Landrieu, Patty Murray, Debbie Stebnow (Spelled right?), or either of the Calif. Senators.

My first choice would be Landrieu. She stood right up to the administration in the '02 runoff when the other Democrats were heading for the hills and she won handily. I don't think that she (or any of the others I've mentioned) would let cheyney get away with the lying and question ducking in a VP debate that Lieberman did in '00! :spank:

It's also time to show that we in America believe that a woman can lead as other countries have been demonstrating for decades now. :bounce:

[Booberdawg]

34. Depends on who the Presidential candidate is

[Seneca]

35. a modest idea

What if Clark gets the nomination and selects someone with the last name of Lewis as VP?

On the 200th Anniversary of Lewis & Clark's expedition, we'd have the Clark & Lewis ticket. :think: :tinfoilhat:

[Cascadian]

36. Bob Graham.

They need a southerner particularly a Floridian as VP. Graham would be great!


John