Obama Veepstakes: Your Picks Are NEEDED!

[Khaotic]

CQ Politics’ contribution to this summer’s biggest political parlor game is “Dem VP Madness,” which allows visitors to CQ Politics to whittle down a field of 32 potential Obama running mates to one winner, using a single-elimination tournament not unlike the “March Madness” college basketball tournament.

You know you want to weigh in :-)

Here's the link: http://innovation.cq.com/vpmadness

Share your comments on your picks here and keep this kicked so the bracket w/ suffiently reflect being DU'd! :-)

[frickaline]

1. That was fun ... thx for the post

:)

[Aloha Spirit]

2. Single elimination tournament would be a fun way to do primaries!

[Labors of Hercules]

37. Depends on who is matched with whom....

I was a little pissed to have to decide between Napolitano or Webb in the first round... I think they should both go to the final 4. :grr:

[Khaotic]

45. true

[mystieus]

3. Kathleen Sebelius of course

[Chimichurri]

4. Russ Feingold, Wesley Clark or Sheldon Whitehouse

[Clark2008]

21. Me, too!

Good choices and that list contains two people I wish had run for president!

[Aloha Spirit]

5. Wow, the voting results don't match DU sentiment very well.

[Khaotic]

8. Exactly ...

That's why this needs to stay kicked.

I can't believe it has Bradley beating Gore!

DU'rs ... VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

[Kixel]

47. I voted for Bradley

Gore has better things to do than be VP. I think he's beyond that.

[Chiyo-chichi]

18. Indeed they don't.

When Evan Bayh, who doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell, is getting 68%, you know something odd is going on.

[Khaotic]

46. I hope ...

More DU'rs weigh in on this and have their input on the bracket.

Right now it doesn't make a lot of sense.

[RiverStone]

6. cool link! please keep us posted when round 2 begins. Thanks!

[NightWatcher]

7. Sam Nunn is my dark horse in this race

last week he spoke out against his own "dont ask dont tell" plan. I think it was his way of cleaning up his past and getting ready for tomorrow.

He carries a lot of constituents where Obama wants to make pickups:
He's from the South (Georgia)
He's white
He's former military
He's Old Skool
He's pretty respected in the mainstream
He's one of few remaining "Statesmen"

[eissa]

9. He's high on my list too

although I didn't realize he's 70. Hate to say it, but his age may be a factor. I REALLY like Schweitzer and Kaine -- too bad they're both first-term governors, I think he'll need someone with more "experience." Man this is hard!

[Khaotic]

10. Obama/Kaine

I think there's a lot more of a chance for that ticket than a lot of people think.

I also think an Obama/Richarson ticket could be high on the list.

You're right ... it is hard.

[NightWatcher]

11. his age shows that Obama isnt "ageist" Nunn has that Old SKool Statesman appeal to balance the

fact that Obama is 46 and a fresh face on the national scene

[Khaotic]

12. Here's a look at mine

[Zenmaster]

13. I want Jim Webb

I don't know who he'll pick. Unfortunately, this primary business may have changed some of the things he needs to get from a VP pick.

Ignoring anything about party unity, or demographics, or polls, I would like an Obama/Webb ticket personally.

[cabbage08]

14. That was cool

Thanks, for the link

[cabbage08]

15. K&R

[Khaotic]

44. You're very welcome

Everyone ... keep voting :-)

[Hope And Change]

16. Obama/Warner.

[Clark2008]

22. Warner's running to replace Warner.

We need more Dems in the Senate. I don't want to take any Dem out of the Senate or the House or a governorship.

I want a strong leader who can bring in some white males (yes, we need them) and maybe shore up a couple of Southern swing states. A person to shore up Obama's lack of FP and shore up his appeal to Clinton loyalists (those who aren't Republican, that is. Ha/ha)

That's why I'm lobbying for the person in my name. :hi:

[cbc5g]

35. With Warner on the ticket I'd expect most would for (D) for his replacement

I really think Warner is in Obama's top 3.

[DB1]

17. Everyone should check this out. Very cool. Thanks k/r

[Sensitivity]

19. This is FUN but not likely effective to put forward the kind of UNCONVENTIONAL choice Obama might

need to win.

For example, the majority of Democrats will not poll towards selecting AN INDEPENDENT OR
REPUBLICAN choice for VP.

Obama might want to do so to position his campaign for a landslide victory.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

20. Americablog: It's time for some "Ask and Tell" with Sam Nunn

It's time for some "Ask and Tell" with Sam Nunn
John Aravosis (DC) · 6/05/2008

I wrote about the former Democratic Senator from Georgia, Sam Nunn, yesterday. There's been a lot of talk about Nunn as a possible VP choice for Obama. As I noted yesterday, Nunn is responsible for Don't Ask Don't Tell, though I also forgot that he fired two staffers for being gay. Steve Clemons notes that if Sam Nunn wants us to reconsider him for jobs in high places, then he needs to come clean on Don't Ask Don't Tell and his own homophobic past:

Now, Senator Nunn is recommending a "review" of the policy he helped fashion fifteen years ago, but he is not indicating whether his own views have changed.

I'm a fan of Sam Nunn's important work in trying to rid the world of nuclear weapons and other WMD related materials. I hear from many friends that he is an outstanding Board Chairman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and also Co-Chairman of the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

So despite my sincere respect for many of the good things Sam Nunn has done, I also think it is important for those whispering about the possibility of putting Nunn in the VP slot on the Obama ticket -- or in Obama's cabinet -- to realize that this blog and many others will not stand for someone who still harbors long standing, institutionalized discriminatory views against gay men and women, particularly in the arena of national security when we should be applauding any who want to serve this country.

It's time for us to be asking Sam Nunn what his views on gays in the military now are -- and he should tell us.

http://www.americablog.com/2008/06/its-time-for-some-ask-and-tell-with-sam.html

(edited to add link)

[rucky]

23. Hey, they put Wes Clark and Claire McCaskill in the same bracket.

I would've seeded her higher.

Other than that - cool bracket. Go Biden & Richardson!

[Khaotic]

24. thx ... keep voting!

[ProSense]

25. Daschle wants HHS (?)

Daschle wants HHS

by kos
Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 11:15:51 AM PDT
I find this kind of refreshing.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota has no interest in the vice presidency or in serving as chief of staff if Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois is elected president, but sources say he is interested in universal health care and might relish serving as HHS secretary.

Daschle, an early and ardent backer of Obama's bid for the White House and a key player in President Clinton's push for universal health care in 1993, told CongressDaily he hopes he "can be helpful, perhaps in a prospective Obama administration, on healthcare reform" and added that he would be "interested in finding ways to do that."

How many Republicans do you see salivating over a possible HHS role? They all want National Security Adviser and Defense and State. Blowing shit up, telling other countries to "suck on this!" and spying on people is cool!

But a Democratic administration would actually engage those agencies actually tasked with improving peoples' lives.

And for this role, Daschle would be great -- a high-profile signal that the Obama Administration considers health care a top priority, and a figure who knows every intricacy of shepherding legislation through Congress.

Wow.

Daschle was involved when the original SCHIP was being debated

[Khaotic]

26. Good Info to know

[cascadiance]

27. Feingold, Edwards, or Richardson...

Edwards if he'll take it. But I'd settle for him being AG if he'd prefer that.

Feingold, if there isn't a plan to make him Senate Majority Leader, and if we feel the liklihood of some others stepping up to the bar to fill his void in the Senate (and a Dem to replace him in his seat too).

Richardson, is my pragmatic choice, as I think he will help with support from those Clinton supporters that are rational and think like he does in terms of putting what's good for the country and the party ahead of personal fiefdoms. He'd also help bring out the hispanic vote I think.

I also select these three as I'd feel comfortable with all of them taking over for Obama were he to leave office for some reason that I hope never happens. I think that is a VERY important barometer that needs to be met before taking any "Clinton supporter" or Clinton herself as the VP selection. I don't want an incentive for such an event from happening, especially when we look back on history and the meaningfulness of this day!

Frickin Eh! WHERE IS FEINGOLD on this list? Hell, they have multiple Republicans and no Feingold? Lame set of choices if you ask me! Even Barbara Boxer belongs ahead of some of these bums!

[dsomuah]

29. Oooh I like the sound of Feingold

He was my first choice for president I was so dissapointed when he decided not to run.

[Khaotic]

30. Dude, you're spot on

The best way to keep anyone w/ negative intentions from doing anything to Obama is for them to know hardcore that his replacement is basically a clone of Obama, at least on policy.

I think Obama will have an administration that is as crony-free as we've had since Carter or JFK.

LBJ was a joke really. He changed things drastically from what JFK would have done if things didn't unfold the way they did.

It really is important for the VP to compliment Obama and be seen as someone who will continue on Obama's policies and vision no matter when that comes. Hopefully after 8 years of Obama in 2018. :-)

[Tippy]

52. Edwards has contacte Obama....he is sticking to his guns he don't want to be VP...

[dsomuah]

28. I say Richardson or Sam Nunn

Of course my opinion is biased. I live in Georgia. Sam Nunn on the ticket could put my state in play.

[2008]

31. VERY cool, k&r

[Khaotic]

32. Thanks! :-)

Keep this kicked! :-)

[vaberella]

33. brilliant game..playing now

[vaberella]

34. First round : I'm stuck bewtween Strickland or Zinni --which one would you choose and why? I'm

zinni because he's not as crass as Strickland seems to be

[Khaotic]

43. True

It's a toss up.

One has zero political experience, the other is way to conservative for the ticket.

I went w/ the conservative in the toss up because I don't think Zinni should have even been on the list, but neither will progress any further.

[vaberella]

36. CAN THIS THREAD BE STICKIED!!!

[Khaotic]

42. That would be nice ... Mr. Skinner?

[vaberella]

38. Break down these people for me?

Vilsack? I voted Kerry, but Vilsaak seems to be ahead.

Why is Rendell beating Gephardt? I don't trust Rendell!!

Who's Strickland---I went Zinni (but then who's Zinni)

Why is Christopher Dodd losing to Evan Bayh?

I went Blanche Lincoln why is Max Cleland ahead?

Top three currently

Edwards - 87%
Richardson - 80%
Vilsack - 79%

[Khaotic]

40. My take ...

Vilsack? I voted Kerry, but Vilsaak seems to be ahead.
** I like Vilsack, hell I live in Iowa, but Vilsack is a DLC man and became a Hillary pundit. Kerry is still a good man and I think he deserves more consideration for VP than Vilsack. He won't be picked, but he's better.

Why is Rendell beating Gephardt? I don't trust Rendell!!
** I don't trust Rendell either. I voted for him because Dick has been out of politics too long and has pretty much let himself slip into obsurity. Rendell would bring more votes then Dick. I'm a Show Me State native, so no one can say I didn't give it a lot of thought, I did. I like Dick, he's a huge union man, but he's not a good VP pick.

Who's Strickland---I went Zinni (but then who's Zinni)
** Zinni is a military man and a good one, but zero political experience. I don't think he makes the cut.

Why is Christopher Dodd losing to Evan Bayh?
** Dodd should be beating Bayh, but a lot of people think Bayh would deliver Indiana. I don't really care ... he hardcore DLC and a sellout. Fire Fighters don't endorse just anyone ... they endorsed Dodd though. I like Dodd, he would be a good VP. To hell w/ Bayh.

I went Blanche Lincoln why is Max Cleland ahead?
**Cleland is a hero. He deserves at least the first round. I don't see him as a viable VP candidate though.

Top three currently

Edwards - 87%
Richardson - 80%
Vilsack - 79%

** Edwards and Richardson are great choices. I don't see Edwards being selected because he was on the losing ticket last time. An Obama/Richardson ticket would be pretty solid though.

[vaberella]

57. Thanks for answering my questions. It was extremely helpful.

[newmajority]

39. Which Repuke/DLC tool made up that poll?

For example, you're supposed to choose from Sam Nunn OR Colin Powell??

How about "NEITHER".

And why so many Senators on that poll? They don't know much about elections if they don't know why two senators on a ticket would be a HUGE mistake.

[Khaotic]

41. I'm not sure ...

But it should flush out pretty quick.

However, the strong candidates should progress forward.

We'll know it's being freep'd if Gore doesn't even progress past the first round.

[Barack_America]

48. Obama/Kaine '08! nt

[Khaotic]

49. I agree on that one

[Barack_America]

50. Here's a new one for you...

Taken yesterday.

[Khaotic]

54. That one ...

is even better.

They make a great team.

Obama/Kaine!!!!

[Hart2008]

51. Gary Hart! Hart brings experience and integrity.

Hart is an expert at homeland defense, defense policy, foreign policy AND

in his entire public life NEVER took a dime from a PAC!

[Khaotic]

53. Too bad that scandal ...

Would still comeback to haunt him.

He is a great guy though.

[Khaotic]

55. Results so far ...

Has Gore pulling ahead of Bradley.

Personally, I'm shocked the results don't have Gore pounding Bradley!

[RFKHumphreyObama]

56. I wish Mary Landrieu was available

A white female southern conservative Democrat would be a good asset on the ticket. But she's facing re-election and Jindal would get to appoint her successor so she's out

Blanche Lincoln should be seriously considered for the same reasons listed as for Landrieu.

If not Kathleen Sebellius would be my pick