Obama HAS to pick a military, foreign policy guy as VP

[Laura PourMeADrink]

There's no way around it. I can see all the generals lining up now, getting ready to make their McCain commercials, on every talk show they can get booked on.

Got to be a very, very strong foreign policy person to diffuse this!

Webb
Clark
Biden

[tabasco]

1. Democrats have a lot of generals too.

Many generals are loyal to the nation and not the republicans. They can see that Bush is tearing down the country.

[existentialist]

8. and therefore

more generals are becoming Democrats all the time.

[polichick]

2. Those three would all work for me, but especially Biden...

...and maybe Richardson as Sec'y of State.

[MidwestTransplant]

22. I like Biden and Webb the best. Biden is great.

[KittyWampus]

3. Bob Graham. He's the perfect choice.

[madaboutharry]

4. I really like Webb

He is so quick on the uptake. All three of these men are good suggestions.

[Liberal Veteran]

5. I'm an Obama supporter, but he should focus on winning the nomination first and foremost.

[existentialist]

16. but this issue could surface in the primary too

like maybe even tonight.

[existentialist]

6. Of the three

my personal preference at this time would be Clark.

[GarbagemanLB]

7. AGREED. McCain's trump card is his national security experience (so people believe). Take it from hi

m

[Cant trust em]

9. Yup.

The point of the VP is to mitigate the weaknesses of the nominee. Obama's is his lack of experience.

[Obamaniac]

10. Not Clark, he's too hated by the military. Besides he's a Clinton guy.

But Biden and Webb are my two top choices.

[tabasco]

42. Clark is hated by the military?

That's right-wing propaganda.

The Army doesn't put four stars on guys they hate.

[Obamaniac]

68. He's hated passionately by the military brass. Even those on our side.

That's a well-known fact.

[Recursion]

74. "The Army" doesn't give out stars.

That's the point.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. I like Clark.

I like Biden and Webb where they are.

[NC_Nurse]

12. Richardson

Zinni
Clark

[City Lights]

13. I've heard Zinni's name tossed around by talking heads too. eom

[tabasco]

67. Zinni would be an excellent choice.

I had no idea he was being considered.

[babylonsister]

14. Here's an article posted today on just this topic if anyone is interested:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x340924

The fact that Brian Schweitzer was mentioned, and the fact that he speaks Arabic, was surprising.

[gateley]

50. Excellent article! I recommend anyone reading this thread to check it out. Thanks! nt

[ristruck]

15. Good Point

I like all three names. Biden looks like an awfully strong candidate if he was assured the election. Clark might help him more in the GE though. Obama/Biden or Obama/Clark would be very tough tickets and would offset the one advantage McCain thinks he has.

[TwilightGardener]

17. He will--I don't see him going with a Governor this time around (and no, not Richardson either)--

Webb only has military--has less foreign policy experience than Obama, and less Senate experience. Clark played on Hillary's team--Obama is not going to reward him. My top three choices are Jack Reed (military/economic experience), Joe Biden (foreign policy, respected statesman) and Chuck Hagel (yes, I know--I don't care. Foreign policy, military, AND economic experience).

[gateley]

28. Didn't even think about Hagel - I think that's a great suggestion!! nt

[TwilightGardener]

33. A lot of people here would be pissed at the mere suggestion (although Kerry/McCain almost

happened), but he's the only one who can out-maverick the Maverick.

[gateley]

62. Yeah, probably not a popular choice.

I'm wondering if Hagel isn't of the same mindset regarding Dem/Rep as Webb (from what I learned in the article babylonsister linked to).

And I agree - he can do it.

[Leopolds Ghost]

71. Obama-Hagel could swing Kansas and Nebraska if the Blue tide is big enough.

[Auntie Bush]

63. Isn't Hagel the one who won the election by vote fraud with Dibold

voting machines? Yeah! Let's put him on the ticket. We're sure to win!

[TwilightGardener]

66. LOL! Let's harness that power for OUR side, for once!

(just kidding, Nebraskans believe he won his elections fair and square).

[DJ13]

18. Maybe, or he could pick a someone from the Foreign Relations committee or..

...a former ambassador, so long as he lined up in advance who he would choose as his Secretary of State (who could campaign for him).

Im not sure the VP slot really needs a real military guy, so long as Obama has the right military people behind his candidacy in the GE.

[dansolo]

19. Graham or Hart

Webb is too new on the scene, Clark is too close to the Clintons, and Biden voted for the IWR.

Webb has the military background, but we need a diplomat far more than a military guy.

[Suzie57]

20. Richardson

He's an experienced Diplomat, a Governor of a western state and Hispanic. All pluses.

[bluestateguy]

21. I'm thinking of maybe General McPeak

Former Air Force Chief of Staff.

[Exilednight]

23. No he doesn't. That's why you have a Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State for.

[TwilightGardener]

27. It's not so much for policy--it's to fill a gap in Obama's resume, or to

help him compete with McCain. McCain is reportedly going to try to get a more-conservative fiscal hawk for VP, to reassure conservatives who took him at his word when he said he didn't know diddly-shit about the economy.

[Exilednight]

34. I find a lot of fault in this logic, but if you were to pick a Democratic Foreign Policy wonk....

then Bill Richardson should be his only choice.

[TwilightGardener]

36. Well, Bill Richardson is a solid bureaucrat, but was a little gaffe-prone

on the campaign trail, and that last debate he was in (NV), I had to hit the mute button whenever he started talking--and no charisma either. I think it won't be Bill.

[Lerkfish]

39. that's why its a good combo: Obama has the charisma, and Richardson the diplomatic cachet

a dream ticket in my book.

[TwilightGardener]

46. I didn't see the diplomatic cachet--he made a lot of campaign goofs

and rambled about himself too much. I think Bill Richardson frankly proved to be overrated, though still a likable guy. He should try for the Senate, IMO.

[Inuca]

79. I do not agree

I do not think that Richardson truly has a foreign policy vision, he is probably a good implementer of somebody else's vision. So IMHO, if foregn policy is to be a qualifier for he VP slot, this disqualifies him. And I do not think he would be a good SoS choice either.

[k8conant]

24. Only if McCain picks a human n/t

[gateley]

25. Good point about going up against McCain.

The other day when Biden was on Meet the Press, he gently called McCain on some BS he was spouting. I'd rather not see Biden be a VP, but he could sure hold his own with McCain. I think Webb could, too -- easily. (and I really like him a lot).

I'm a bit disenchanted with Clark these days.

Like anybody asked my opinion :eyes:

[Occam Bandage]

26. Petraeus, if only because I'd like to watch the internet explode.

[TwilightGardener]

30. The "ass-kissing little chickenshit", according to Admiral Mullen--

I don't want him on our side, even if he BEGS us to let him into the party. Which he won't. The neocons control him.

[Eric J in MN]

29. I disagree. Bob Dole wasn't defeated with a ticket...

...associated with the military. Bill Clinton wasn't in the military, and Al Gore served in Vietnam but wasn't associated with his service like Bob Dole.

I think Chris Dodd would make a good VP nominee for Obama.

[gateley]

55. Those were different times, though - it's a whole new ball game now.

I'd rather see Chris Dodd as Senate Majority Leader.

[Lerkfish]

31. I disagree: the best person would be Richardson, with DIPLOMATIC experience

we need to rebuild and repair our DIPLOMATIC burned bridges.

[Occam Bandage]

35. Largely agreed. We need experience avoiding unnecessary wars, not fighting them.

[Lerkfish]

37. exactly. IF you make diplomacy the first and most important choice on the table

you don't need to even pick up the other choices.

Hell, even Nixon knew that.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

70. I agree - BUT - I think a strong milatary/diplomat would be good

to have to head up the move out of Iraq - which will be a difficult task.

[rug]

32. Yes, especially since he lacks those skills.

[Lerkfish]

38. and Clinton has skills running a war, I guess.

certainly she has proven her willingness to get us embroiled in naked wars of aggression against people that HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11.

so yeah, if you want needless wars that slaughter a million innocent people, I guess Hillary's your girl.

[rug]

41. And your guy voted to pay for it.

[TwilightGardener]

44. So does everyone who doesn't want to see Chimpy snatch canteens and

rifles out of our soldiers' hands and then blame their deaths on the Democrats.

[rug]

47. Yes, the funding bill was all about canteens, wasn't it?

[TwilightGardener]

48. You really don't understand how defunding would be portrayed, do you?

It's a last resort for a number of reasons--Hillary didn't want to do it either.

[rug]

57. I do. And this country sorely needed a Senator to passionately denounce it on the Senate floor.

Someone like . . . hmmm, . . . do you know any Democratic Senators who can give a good speech?

[gateley]

58. Part of it was getting the MRAP vehicles to the troops. Bush would have

gotten the money some other way even if they'd voted against funding.

[rug]

64. Sure he would. Just give him what he wants. Doesn't matter one bit.

I'm inspired.

[gateley]

65. We're not going to agree on this. I DO understand your feelings, though. I've

just changed mine regarding this particular issue.

Peace.

[tammywammy]

40. I've heard Zinni a few times

[TwilightGardener]

43. Is he pro-choice? Does he know anything about anything other than the military?

[Warren Stupidity]

45. What an original canard.

false premise

[Windy]

49. Obama people. Don't count your chickens! Keep working having said that. Not webb

He voted the wrong way on the telecommunications bill FOR immunity.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

51. General Anthony Zinni

or Webb.

[Alexander]

52. He doesn't have to pick military. Feingold's strong on foreign policy.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

56. But, Russ is needed in the Senate.

[Alexander]

72. Not really. A Dem would replace him and we have many great progressives there.

In fact, Russ often fights with the DLC branch of the party. His talents might best be used as VP.

[Sensitivity]

53. Biden has knowledge but not the Military creds. No service. Obama needs that.

[Beausoir]

54. Why not a woman?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

60. Is there a politician female w/ military experience?

And Dem to boot?
Who ever it is, Must be Military.

[From The Left]

59. Gen. Anthony Zinni

A democrat and a social liberal.

[Sensitivity]

61. True. But watch the party folks pressure him to choose a "fave" pol who they "know"

[LucyParsons]

69. WEBB! WEBB! WEBB!

WEBBBBBBB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

General, former Reaganite, populist, great speaker, ***Southerner***

Come ON!!!

[Leopolds Ghost]

75. I agree with Webb on many issues but he voted with Mikulski on the FISA bill

We need guys with Webb's credibility to speak out AGAINST
domestic wiretaps on ordinary civilians, not for them.

Unfortunately by doing so, they speak out against a
huge chunk of the military up in suburban Maryland.

Quite a few local liberals work for those Defense contractors installing
telecom routers... most of them only see the small picture and assume
that the infrastructure of dragnet all communications is necessary to
stop terror plots. If a single plot can be prevented by tapping grandma's
phone -- the reasoning goes -- and little bobby turns out to be a member
of a terror cell, it's all justified.

Thing is, Webb is an FDR Democrat turned Reagan Dem turned back again,
and I really don't know where FDR would come down on the warrantless
wiretap issue. But we need guys like Webb in the Senate anyhow.

[anonymous171]

73. Yeah, he does.

I guess Biden would be the first choice, since he endorsed Obama already.

[TwilightGardener]

76. Biden didn't endorse Obama.

[anonymous171]

77. Whoops...

I meant Dodd.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

he hasn't endorsed Clinton, has he? Maybe with Dodd moving to O, Joe will too?

[TwilightGardener]

81. No, not to my knowledge. I don't think Biden particularly cares for either

of them--I think in Biden's mind, he and Dodd were the only ones qualified to be the nominee.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

80. he hasn't endorsed Clinton, has he? Maybe with Dodd moving to O, Joe will too?

[Eurobabe]

78. It won't be Clark...

I am really disappointed in Clark's support for Clinton, she stands for everything he's railed against. :shrug:

[barack the house]

82. Nah, a woman then we don't lose the HRC voters. Like this one...

We so need a woman to bring unity back to the party and especiallly this one in this clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyn35HL0eng

[barack the house]

83. My prediction in 04 was Obama 08. I now say Obama/rice 08. Susan Rice that is.