Obama Now Needs An Uber Duber Patriotic V.P. What Are His Best Choices?

[malik flavors]

Who are the most patriotic V.P. choices for Obama? He needs someone that bleeds red, white, and blue.



Anthony Zinni?



Jim Webb? (Vietnam vet)



Wesley Clark

Who else?

[IndianaGreen]

1. Would Clark accept the VP spot from Obama and incur the Clintons' wrath?

Zinni should be Secretary of State.

Obama should pick Dodd, or Biden, or Edwards as VP.

[saracat]

Never.he doesn't deserve them.

[Alexander]

14. Keeping hate alive, I see.

[againes654]

17. WTF????

Care to explain, or do you prefer to just hate?

[Umbram]

31. Just let it go back under its bridge. (nt)

[againes654]

40. LOL

thank you for reminding me. I forget sometimes.

[saltpoint]

70. McCain's HQ awaits your joyous volunteerism.

[Posteritatis]

19. Any future cabinet will be interesting to see

I've had a theory, and I have no clue how well it holds up, about presidential appointees to the various cabinet positions. The gist of it is that a president has a general idea which part of the government they intend to get the most use out of over their term, and they tend to put their most charismatic (or forceful, or well-spoken, or some other thing that plays well for the cameras) person in that position to raise its profile.

During Clinton's last term, for instance, Albright was pretty well-regarded at least in my neck of the woods and some other places, and a good chunk of his presidency was built around diplomacy of either the carrot or stick variety. Bush's guys tend to be mixed successes at best in front of the cameras (Fleischer handling the press? LOL!), but Rumsfeld was probably better with the press in general than any of the other available options at the time. Even I occasionally had trouble seperating my take on Rumsfeld's demeanor and his, well, general Rumsfeldness as displayed in policy. And we all know well enough which department of the US government Bush has used primarily...

I don't know. It's kind of quarter-baked, and my personal awareness of US politics only really started to develop in the earlier Clinton years, so I can't extrapolate it before that very easily. It leaves me wondering who the next president, be it Obama, Clinton or (God forbid) McCain, will put where and for what reason, though.

Anyone else noticed anything along those lines?

[Duke Newcombe]

20. He would...

...he's first and foremost a patriot, Democrat, and pragmatist. If Obama would have him, he'd serve, and serve well.

Duke

[Auntie Bush]

32. More likely... Would Clark serve him.? He might not...He's a loyal person.

[IndianaGreen]

43. Clark's loyalty is to nation and the Constitution

If Wes were to become Obama's VP, he will faithfully serve the nation as he did when he uniform. He won't be playing disloyal games despite his friendship with the Clintons.

Some people are just not small minded at all!

[Bad Thoughts]

21. Actually, Yes

Clark would take it to bolster the ticket--he's a team player. Plus, it would give Clinton an ally in the White House (and Senate).

[malik flavors]

29. Clinton supporters like Clark also. It would help to unify the party.

[krawhitham]

45. not Edwards

two people with limited experience on one ticket is not a good idea

[dansolo]

82. He can't pick any of them as VP

All three of them voted for the IWR (Edwards was a co-sponsor). Picking any of them would severely diminish his anti-Iraq war stance.

I want him to pick Bob Graham or Gary Hart.

[IndianaGreen]

83. They all repented of the IWR, and Biden and Dodd voted against Kyl-Lieberman

which shows they learned their lesson of ever giving Bush the authority to do anything, unlike Hillary.

[Nitrogenica]

2. Edwards

[saracat]

5. Edwards is too good for Obama. Sorry.

[Nitrogenica]

10. WTF does that mean?

[Nitrogenica]

12. OOPS I should have said "ignored". Sorry.

[saltpoint]

71. Edwards is a good man. So is Obama.

Both are Democrats, as it happens.

[madaboutharry]

3. I really like Jim Webb

Vietnam Vet. Big mouth. Neutralizes McCain.

[RiverStone]

8. Same here - but then what would happen to his VA Senate seat?

That was such a damn good win for the Dems!

[Not the Only One]

25. Easy. Tim Kaine would choose some Democrat to replace him.

Webb is certainly available.

[DJ13]

4. I think Richardson would be the best choice to provide party unity

An obvious Clinton guy, tons of foreign policy experience, and his Latino roots would help bring that pro-Hillary voting block over to him for the GE.

Good on energy policy too.

[goclark]

16. I so wish America was ready tobe Race blind

because I love Richardson.

But that would be two minority men.

Now for all these years we have had two White males but is America ready for the reverse?

[malik flavors]

18. Probably not.

[AlinPA]

77. A good choice.

[Forkboy]

6. Is Captain America a Democrat?

[Leopolds Ghost]

65. They killed off Captain America -- he was assassinated by a lone gunman

Does that answer your question?

[Perky]

7. Bob Graham

ANd I would not be suprised if close to the convention that you hear a repblican name like Lugar or Cohen mentioned. It won't happen though.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Russ Feingold. or Chris Dodd.

Both people who clearly understand the Constitution of the United States of America.

[tpsbmam]

66. I LOVE Feingold.....

but sadly I fear he's too liberal to pull in some of the votes Obama will need in the GE. Man, do I wish he'd been one of our choices this election!

[panader0]

11. Any of the other pres hopefuls.

There are many more choices, but those are a good start. Richardson may be good.

[malik flavors]

13. Yea, Edwards would get those blue collar workers probably.

But he and John Kerry didn't even carry North Carolina, so you have to wonder how effective Edwards really is.

[Sir Jeffrey]

15. "Uber duber patriotic" eh?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Greenwood

[Quixote1818]

22. What if McCain picks a woman? nt

[IndianaGreen]

75. Condi Rice? Please gods make him pick that incompetent warmonger!

:rofl:

[JVS]

23. Sgt Slaughter

[tishaLA]

24. Tom Paine! but he'll be swiftboated

he has strange ideas about religion. Jefferson! Oh wait...he had those affairs (not to mention that Hemmings matter). What about FDR? Oh yeah. Those affairs again. And that wife is....not telegenic enough. A turn off to women voters.

Jeez. If we shopped for chickens the way we pick national candidates, we'd starve to death.

[juajen]

26. Me thinks you are slightly premature, child.

NT

[raebrek]

27. I've just had 3 beers and I was thinking about

a Holiday in Express tonight so I would like to through my hat into the ring, wring? Put me in coach. Raebrek for VP.

[Auntie Bush]

28. Wesley Clark! Now you're cooking! He could unite this party and win the GE!

[JohnnyLib2]

30. Good time to ask, do any likely VPs campaign for him?

Or have vigorously endorsed him?

[BklynChick]

33. Wes Clark

[laugle]

34. Wesley Clark endorsed Hillary! LOL

But his mentor Lieberman is free. Sorry.......couldn't resist that!

[elixir]

35. I'm always surprised at how many people think Wes Clark wld run w/ BO

Wes has been w/ Hillary Clinton's campaign since day one, he's deeply in her campaign.

[malik flavors]

44. If Hillary would possibly be open to a V.P. spot, I'm sure Wes Clark would be also

I don't see why it matters that he supports Hillary. Once her campaign is over he's a free agent.

[IndianaGreen]

46. But Clark is a patriot that will follow the Constitution

and that will trump anything else. Clark's friendship with the Clintons is incidental to his response to being called to serve America at a time of great need.

[tokenlib]

54. I'm amazed at all the 2004 Clarkies who went with Obama instead of following Wes

An Obama-Clark ticket would be like a family reunion in that respect....

[PatGund]

74. I noticed that too....

And I think it speaks loads of the message Wes Clark sent his supporters AND the ideals we agreed with that we remain as stanch supporters of Gen. Clark even if we disagree with his support for Sen. Clinton.

I know his endorsement made me take a second look at her. Though in the end, the same reasons I couldn't support her in the beginning still stood.

Wes Clark is a supporter of the Clintons. First and foremost, he's a supporter of the United States, the Constitution, and the ideals this country was founded on. I believe if asked, he would serve. Sen. Obama could do worse than picking Gen. Clark as a running mate - and would be hard pressed to do better.

[Faygo Kid]

36. Nice try. He needs less BS than this, for sure.

Getting thick around here.

[2rth2pwr]

37. Cynthia McKinney. nt

[Unsane]

60. Yeah, that's the ticket

to a 48 state loss. Nothing gets voters on our side like a crazy, anti-semitic black woman!

[Leopolds Ghost]

67. "yeah right -- a crazy black woman!"

I should alert on this post but why bother?

It won't get deleted for simultaneously racializing and miosogynizing your
putatively legitimate objections to Cynthia McKinney.

[ZombieHorde]

38. Kucincich!!!!

[ColesCountyDem]

39. Gen. Clark or Sen. Webb would either one be an excellent pick!

I genuinely admire Gen. Clark as a true public servant, so he would be my 1st choice.

[Tribetime]

41. Boxer if its not Clinton

[Warren DeMontague]

58. Oh, I would be very on board for an Obama/Boxer ticket!

Although I'd hate to lose our Senator!!!

[LostInAnomie]

42. Of the ones you listed, I would pick Jim Webb.

Mostly because he is a bad mofo in debates, and would fucking own anyone he was up against.

[bling bling]

47. How about an uber duber patriot who can Rex Kwon Do!

[spartan61]

48. What about Admiral Fallon??

Now that he is no longer head of Cent Com.

[IndianaGreen]

51. Eric Shinseki would be a good choice

Army beats Navy! :-)

[JohnnyLib2]

52. Have to check, but isn't there a mandatory delay after active duty?

It's been mentioned about Clark, I believe.

[nsd]

56. There's a mandatory delay before a military man can become Secretary of Defense.

But that delay doesn't apply to the vice presidency, the requirements for which are set by the Constitution, not by Congress.

[JohnnyLib2]

57. Thanks.

:hi:

[malik flavors]

55. Hmm, hadn't thought of that one. Has he endorsed anybody yet?

[Thurston Howell III]

49. Nobody cares. You can a huge mistake but it's very hard to pick up support

due to the VP choice. People vote for President not necessaily the combination.

[Gore1FL]

50. Sebelius

[damndude]

53. russ feingold

patriot does not have to mean millitary background

[LuvMyPorsche]

59. farakhan comes to mind n/t

[Unsane]

62. Thanks Mr. 65 posts

I LuvMyIgnore

[blm]

79. Farrakhan and RevMoon have supported GOPs for so long I doubt they'd sincerely side

with Obama or Dems on anything.

[cooolandrew]

61. I think he should pic whatever vp hewants and not be pushed around.

[Unsane]

63. I like the idea of Biden

[foo_bar]

64. I'd say Bill Bradley, but he's never killed a man with his bare hands.

[Leopolds Ghost]

68. Kerry did, and it got him no credit from self-loathing Dems.

[saltpoint]

72. His not killing a man with his bare hands is one of the things I LIKE about

Bill Bradley!

[saltpoint]

69. He has a long list of good choices on all criteria.

The military angle is important but not the only consideration.

I think he's defied expectations to date and may continue to do so.

[Norrin Radd]

73. Sam the Eagle

[AlinPA]

76. Sam Nunn. Some say he may be a bit old. But GA would go blue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Nunn

[rucky]

78. ...

[spotbird]

80. Webb is the only one

who has ever won an election.

But he is very conservative.

[Bullet1987]

81. No to Zinni and Webb...Clark is too anti-Obama

It's funny how people say there's too much friction between Clinton and Obama for them to run together...and Wes Clark stands right by her on everything. Forget Clark.

Kathleen Sebelius

[Unsane]

84. Sebelius is too 'Ferraro '84' for me.

Obama needs to shore up his cred with the VP pick IMO. Although you may be right in that, after this nomination battle, Obama could be so damaged with women voters that he almost HAS to have a woman on the ticket. I'd like to think that won't happen, though.

[Armstead]

85. Jim Webb -- Patriotic, military and economically liberal populist

[SKKY]

86. I still very much like Biden...

I wonder if he's on the Obama short-list.