Who do you think will make a fine Veep,

[Hutzpa]

this is not a popular contest demand, its about who can get the
job done.

Heres my list, I'm sure there are others I might have left out,
hey! feel free to add names you feel are competent enough to
qualify for Assistant Commander-In-Chief.


Surprise name.....KO...Don't know, just an urge.

[LakeSamish706]

1. I doubt Russ Feingold would want the job.. but.. he would do just fine..

Edited to say....

Up until yesterdays vote, I would have had a hard time choosing between Feingold or Webb... Funny how much difference a day can make.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I'd like to see Richardson as VP

for a couple of reasons. First, his foreign policy experience would be a great help to whoever is on top of the ticket. Second, his administrative experience as governor would also be helpful, I think.

[harun]

7. Me too and I would like our Dem Senators to stay in the Senate (n/t)

[Hutzpa]

14. What would your choice be then? n/t

[harun]

18. Richardson (n/t)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

34. Another good reason

why Richardson should get the nod.

[rox63]

13. I agree that Richardson would be a good choice

His resume is chock full of skills and experience that would help the new Prez. And if Obama is the nominee, Richardson might help bring around the Latino vote.

[Hutzpa]

16. I have a little doubt

about based on whats going on in New Mexico with the Primaries.

Don't seem to have that under control, as he should, its like
letting that one slip, I not so sure we can afford slip ups.

These times are too important for slip ups.


Thats my.....

[DissentIsPatriotic]

3. Biden???

[Eurobabe]

25. I second that motion.

Excellent credentials, FP experience, gravitas mixed with a bucket of humor.

God Love Ya Joe!

[livetohike]

37. Biden is my choice too

:thumbsup:

[kerstin]

54. Definitely Biden. n/t

[zingaro]

71. That would work for me. nt

[TwilightGardener]

4. Obama/Feingold would be a liberal-heavy disaster. Too many votes

on Feingold's part that can be misconstrued. McCaskill has exactly one--ONE--year of experience, how would that help Hillary OR Obama? Biden or Jack Reed are the best choices for Obama, Clark for Hillary.

[Unsane]

5. Wesley Clark is the absolute best choice for Obama's VP.

Military, foreign policy creds, good in front of a camera but won't overshadow Barack. Because he ran in '04, he's developed domestic positions as well, we wouldn't lose a Congressional seat or governorship.

[TwilightGardener]

6. He won't get it. Obama isn't going to reward him like that. Obama has better choices anyway.

[harun]

8. I don't think he will pick Clark either (n/t)

[FrenchieCat]

70. I think that he would pick Clark.......

Clark is a non-partisan patriot. He'll do whatever is required of him for his country. That's what I think.

[Unsane]

9. Russ Feingold sure as hell isn't a better choice.

I like Russ, he is a good legislator, but he would bring down a natl ticket.

[TwilightGardener]

26. I agree--see my post right above yours.

[Dinger]

10. With mccain as the repuke nominee, If Clark Isn't Dem VP, Who, With His Credentials,

would have the same (or better) qualifications? I can't think of a soul who comes close.

[TwilightGardener]

27. Joe Biden? Jack Reed has military experience. Both smart guys.

[Dinger]

38. I Was Told Here That Biden Is Not A Vet

If that is wrong, please correct me.

[TwilightGardener]

40. I don't believe he is. His son is, but he is not.

[Dinger]

44. Both Smart Guys, But Not A Wes Clark, A Rhodes Scholar

.top of his class at West Point, etc. Also, just to remind others:

*led a war where not one American soldier lost
*One of the main authors of the Dayton Peace Accords
*Most decorated veteran since Eisenhower
*Humble beginnings (mom was a secretary, he was orphaned at 4,He & mother lived with grandparents,
who worked in a lumber mill)
*Worked in OMB in White House
*Won Presidential Medal of Freedom (Clinton)
*Saved the lives of 1.5 Ethnic Albanians
*taught economics at the college level

[TwilightGardener]

50. Here's Reed's bio from wikipedia:

"Early life and family
Reed was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, to Mary Louise Monahan and Joseph Anthony Reed.<1> He has lived in Rhode Island his entire life. Reed graduated from La Salle Academy in Providence and attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971. Following his graduation and receiving an active duty commission, Reed attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he received a Masters in Public Policy. Reed also served in the 325th Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division<2> as an Army Ranger and paratrooper. He married professional Senate staffer Julia Hart in a Roman Catholic ceremony in the Catholic chapel on the United States Military Academy campus on April 16, 2005. On January 5, 2007, Mrs. Reed gave birth to a daughter, Emily.

Reed resigned from the army in 1979 as a captain and enrolled in Harvard Law School. In 1982, he graduated and served as an associate at the Washington, D.C. office of law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan. Afterwards, he returned to Rhode Island and joined Edwards and Angell, a Providence law firm. Reed was elected as a state senator in 1984 and served three terms. In 1990, Reed was elected to the United States House of Representatives. For the next six years, Reed became well known in his state for his positions on education and health care, and when Senator Claiborne Pell announced his retirement in 1996, Reed campaigned to be his replacement and won the election. He was easily reelected to a second term in 2002.

Reed is currently a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and the Senate Appropriations Committee. Americans for Democratic Action has often listed him as a "hero" as they indicate he has one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate."

--Roman Catholic (important in places like PA and OH), military guy, Armed Forces Cmte, Harvard Law and Harvard/JFK School of Public Policy, not too old/not too young at 58, fairly quiet/unexciting but well-spoken and would be a good advocate for Barack.

[Dinger]

73. That Does Sound Pretty Good

I have to admit.

[Jennifer C]

42. Webb?

maybe.

[CJCRANE]

35. ...

:thumbsup:

But Clark endorsed Hillary...so maybe there's a deal to be made...

[Rowdyboy]

11. Former senator Bob Graham of Florida, an expert on intelligence and foreign policy

Plus a former governor

[COFoothills]

23. Bob Graham is a great choice...

... great experience/resume and is still hugely popular in Florida which might help deliver the votes there.

I'm not sure that he is still interested in that sort of job though. He'd be a Cheney-like pick in that he would probably have little to no aspiration for the top job in eight years and would be brought in to add credibility and experience to the top of the ticket.

Good choice.

[TwilightGardener]

30. Isn't he really old? Like, McCain old?

[COFoothills]

52. Yeah, he's pretty old...71 to be exact...

...which is why I said I would doubt that he would be running for the top job in eight years. Similar to Cheney in that regard (and ONLY in that regard).

But he would give Obama a serious boost on the 'experience' factor, especially in regards to foreign policy matters.

[PassingFair]

12. I would vote to advance Russ Feingold ...

in any way he wants!

[PeaceNikki]

48. Seconded.

*ANY* way. ;)

He's my political hero.

[H2O Man]

15. What do you think

of Anthony Zinni as Obama's VP?

[Hutzpa]

17. Never heard of him n/t

[H2O Man]

24. I think it

is pretty likely that you have. But, if you haven't, I think that you will during the democratic convention. He is an outspoken critic of the Bush administration, and has a background that qualifies him to speak on military matters in a way that John McCain cannot.

[Hutzpa]

28. Thank you....

will keep an eye out on him.

[TwilightGardener]

32. Is he an expert in anything BESIDES military matters? Does he have ANY political

or campaign experience? What are his policies/positions? WTF does he know about the economy, or entitlements, or civil rights? I swear to God, this thinking that we HAVE to match McCain with a military general is ridiculous. McCain wasn't fucking Patton. He's been a Senator for 20-some years.

[H2O Man]

43. Well, I'd start

with his graduating from Villanova in 1965 with a degree in economics. Yeah, there's more there than a military background.

Note: I'm not saying he'd be my choice.

[TwilightGardener]

45. However, if he's not used to giving campaign speeches, hasn't worked

on policy, hasn't ever debated, and is otherwise unknown in his positions and beliefs and personal life, and politically untested, I'd have to say it would be far too risky a choice. A BA in Economics from 1965 isn't going to help in the era of hedge funds and subprime mortgages and NAFTA either, if he hasn't done something with it since, either. I'd look to a tried-and-true politician, someone recognizable and who's been around the block, and knows how to fight RW tactics.

[H2O Man]

51. Valid points. n/t

[wellstone dem]

19. He needs someone with strong credentials in national security

i.e. Biden, Clark (won't pick him as he endorsed Hillary--though that would be a nice bridge to Hillary supporters) Richardson comes closest on this poll.

[COFoothills]

20. It won't be another senator...

...just a hunch. Once Sen on the ticket is enough.

My hunch is that it will be a governor from either a western or mid-western state.

[Strawman]

29. My hunch is Tim Kaine

I think it would be a governor of a battleground state and not Richardson since I believe he endorsed Clinton. Is that correct that Richardson endorsed Clinton?

[Hutzpa]

31. He didn't, just watched

super bowl with Bill, yet still, that said, I'm not sure what side Bill Richardson's on,
DLC or DNC, could be DLC.

[TwilightGardener]

33. Yes, that knowledge of pothole budgets will really come in handy in a general election.

[COFoothills]

53. You are missing something....

...which is recent history on presidential elections...

bush - governor
clinton - governor
bush - house rep, CIA director, VP
reagan - governor
carter - governor
ford - house rep, VP
nixon - house rep, SENATOR, VP

So we have to go all the way back to Nixon to find a President who served in the Senate. And four out of the last seven were governors.

We are obviously going to have a Senator president now. Breaking that streak. But I don't think either party will tempt fate with TWO senators on a ticket....it's too 'Washington Insider' and could be trouble.

Tell me again about the pothole budgets?

[TwilightGardener]

55. Governorships are meaningless this time around. They just haven't impressed anybody, because

we've got a dire situation in foreign policy and are up to our ears in two failing wars. We need a heavyweight in national security and foreign policy if Obama is the nominee--most Governors, save Richardson, cannot fit that bill.

[damntexdem]

21. Woo hoo, Keith Olberman!

Your urge, my vote.

He'd be great on the campaign.

As for the best to actually serve as VP, he won't do it: Al Gore. If only he'd do it again, imagine his having the real task of coordinating America's response to global warming!

[Hutzpa]

22. Thats what I say

could you imagine KO as Veep, nice to dream huh...

[andym]

36. Wes Clark

Wes Clark, progressive, to counter McCain's military background.

[Larry in KC]

39. And Clark's successful military background DWARFS McCain's

[Hutzpa]

62. Wes Clark has endorsed Hillary Clinton,

besides I don't see him as a solid candidate, he has been
bouncing lately from Hillary to Edwards and now Obama,
I don't trust people like those.

They can be very disruptive, thats MO...:shrug:

[Larry in KC]

69. The last part of your comment, I don't understand at all

He has been tirelessly campaigning for Hillary (although I would much prefer that he tirelessly campaign for Obama). Just like he worked for John Kerry's election, from the moment of his own withdrawal right through election day, harder than any other high-profile person (including Kerry's own running mate.)

Wes Clark does not bounce, he follows through on his convictions and his obligations. He always has.

So, as to trust, if necessary, I would trust Wes Clark with my life. I can think of no other political figure I would say that about.

[miceelf]

41. my picks

I'd prefer Feingold as well, but I don't think it's likely.

Webb would be good for Obama. Someone like Bayh or George Clooney for Clinton

[sampsonblk]

46. Wes Clark

More qualified for this moment in time than anyone listed.

[Kat45]

57. Yes, Wes Clark. n/t

[Political Heretic]

47. What is up with people not considering JOE BIDEN?

[THUNDER HANDS]

49. he isn't going to pick anyone who openly supported Clinton

so Clark is out.

[COFoothills]

56. I wouldn't assume that...

...they are all on the same team once we settle on a candidate and if the determination is that Gen. Clark is the best fit for the team and gives them the best chance to win and to govern effectively afterwards I don't think his endorsement of an opponent in the primary would be a deal-breaker.

Edwards obviously endorsed someone other than John Kerry in 2004 (himself) and ended up on the ticket. Bush 41 and Reagan were mortal enemies in the 1980 repub primaries and ended up on the ticket together. I could go on, but the point is that, once the primaries are over and we have a candidate, anyone who is serious is going to coalesce arond the choice and the disputes stop there.

[Adelante]

58. No, no, that's wrong

When the primaries are over, they're over. They will both do what is best for the country. If Obama decides it's Wes he needs, he will ask Wes to serve and Wes will.

[tokenlib]

63. Actually it might be a good gesture...

Think of what it would say about Obama's character to pick someone who supported Clinton. And Clark is good on economics as well as defense.

[Adelante]

59. Clark nt

[Barack_America]

60. Other: Joe Biden

[Warren DeMontague]

61. Feingold is at the top of the list. I would also add Chris Dodd. nt

[11 Bravo]

64. Other: Wes Clark (although I really like Jim Webb).

[Hutzpa]

65. Vote for Jim?

[11 Bravo]

66. I like Jim for SecDef. 8 years from now, who knows?

[meow mix]

67. Richardson, Biden, Edwards in that order

[saltpoint]

68. You've put up a strong list of great people. I would add Bill Bradley

to the mix.

Bradley's got the chops and he's a very approachable soul. Brainy & visionary & community-minded.

Very sturdy guy, up on the issues and then some, folksy when it counts, popular with sports fans, and capable of whupping the GOp veep nom in the debate somthing fierce.

[Dems Will Win]

72. It's going to be Tim Kaine