Max Cleland? Max Cleland? Can I get a Max Cleland in here?

[Seen the light]

Another pointless veep speculation thread I know, but I saw Max Cleland's name on the MSNBC Veepstakes game and I thought how brilliant and perfect of a pick that would be.

DU's thoughts on Max Cleland?

[scheming daemons]

1. I think it would be an inspired "out of the box" pick......

[Avalon6]

2. He's still respected in Georgia even if he lost his senate seat

[eppur_se_muova]

20. You mean, even though his Senate seat was STOLEN ??

That was the full dress rehearsal for Selection 2004. Exit surveys FAILED to conform to the desired outcome!

http://archive.democrats.com/preview.cfm?term=Stolen%20Election%202002

[PBS Poll-435]

3. He is the ABSOLUTE best pick for Secretary of Veteran's Affairs.

I can't think of anyone better

[Avalon6]

5. What about Tammy Duckworth?

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

[PBS Poll-435]

6. Yikes. Now I am torn

I would go with Cleland, however, because of duration.

[MarjorieG]

4. Love Max, and his ability to message. Thanks for mentioning him!

[Elidor]

7. Max is a good man, and an inspiration

I would be very enthusiastic about him on the ticket. And what a sweet comeback that would be for him, after Saxby Chambliss' slime.

[gateley]

8. Yes!!

Someone on DU suggested him for head of veteran's affairs, or something similar. That would be wonderful!

I don't know much about him, but from what little I've seen of him, I like him a LOT. What would he bring to the ticket?

[politicasista]

9. He would be a strong defender..

for Obama just like he was for Kerry. He was one of the few dems that did something when the Swifties made their rounds. The others were busy running from Bush and the media.

[Seen the light]

12. Plenty

- He has one of the most inspiring stories of any politician I can think of, look him up on Wikipedia for a quick summary of what he had to endure in combat.

- From Georgia, a state that I truly believe is completely in play for Senator Obama now thanks to Bob Barr.

- Has called his vote to authorize the war the worst vote he ever cast as a US senator.

- Is respected by nearly everyone on both sides of the aisle and has even had nice things said about him by John McCain of all people when Chambliss was sliming him in their Senate race.

- Former VA administrator.

- Fought ferociously against the swiftboating Kerry endured.

- Just an all-around great man.

I'm sure there are other things out there as well.

[gateley]

16. Thanks. And I just read his info on Wiki --

I'm even more impressed by him.

[LeftyMom]

10. That would eliminate McCain's military cred advantage, and put a southerner on the ticket.

Smart thinking, at least in terms of political advantage.

How is he on the issues? Can he go be the attack dog to Obama's nice guy?

[Seen the light]

15. Well, he did vote for the war authorization

But later said it was the worst vote of his career.

He's good on many other things. As far as I can recall, he's completely for a woman's right to choose and I know he's completely despised by Ann Coulter.

[Bicoastal]

11. Too many would question his ability to be an effective president in a worse case scenario.

Extraordinarily unfair, I know, but there it is. If FDR was alive today, there's no way on Earth the American people would have re-elected a man in a wheelchair--and FDR wasn't a triple amputee.

[Seen the light]

13. Fair point

Well...unfair I guess, but I sadly understand what you're saying.

It is completely unfair though that someone with a disability is somehow unfit to be president as long as it doesn't interfere with their day-to-day activities. Max Cleland has served in strenuous offices for decades with no problem.

[rove karl rove]

19. sadly, you're right - handicaps are an candidate -

even subconciously. But he should get a primetime speaking slot at the DNC, he'd do well

[Rosemary2205]

14. There's a reasonable chance Saxby will bite it.

3 good contenders for the Dems. One of them might just beat his freckly white ass.

[Berry Cool]

17. Cleland rocks.

I could see him there.

[cliffordu]

18. I just read that Cleland was in Khe Sahn during TET of1968...

This means he was with my next door neighbor. Elray McLaughlin, who was there for that.....uh, action....