With Clark probably off the list, and Webb definitely off the list...who is the next best VP choice?

[RiverStone]

Jim Webb said today, "Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President" and Wes Clark probably imploding his chances (per the corporate media) on the McBush military answer during his Face The Nation appearance.

My top choice has been and remains Bill Richardson, but it seems not a whole lot of publicity has been directed at that possibility.

The Hillary question remains a talking point on TV, but hardly anybody I know (out of cyberspace) sees that as a realistic possibility.

So who do you think is high on Barack Obama's VP list tonight? :shrug:

[JI7]

1. Bill Richardson

[Bullet1987]

3. Richardson is not going to happen

There's a reason the MSM hasn't even brought him up. It's because the idea of two minorities running this country scares the living shit out of them so much they can't even entertain the idea. As much as we love to believe we can ignore all of their votes...we just don't live in that reality.

I still say Sebelius or Biden.

[MiniMe]

22. Add to that he is a terrible campaigner

He got absolutely zero traction for President, and he didn't do well in the debates. I do think he will have a place in the Obama administration though.

[olkaz]

25. Not to mention that he has tons of dirty laundry.

Infidelity abounds.

Richardson is a great guy, but that could be a big distraction.

[CTyankee]

29. I've heard the same thing from my son in law, who is a political consultant.

This is old news to lots of people in Democratic party political circles, evidently.

I think at this point we should try for another governor. While I like Sebelius, I don't know if a black and a woman on the same ticket is too scary for lots of voters. Plus, Hillary's people would feel betrayed...

[Bullet1987]

43. Hillary Clinton isn't the only woman qualified to be VP in this country

[CTyankee]

53. You may be right but that wasn't really the point. Politically, it would

be not a good thing to piss off Hillary supporters right now.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. Perhaps Schweitzer.

I dunno, I was rooting for Webb to steal McCain's military thunder.

[MercutioATC]

4. Brian Schweitzer.

He'd be a huge asset in courting the rural American vote.

[obamacon]

10. Strengths

Don't know much about Schweitzer other than he won in Montana. Could you share some info on why you think he would be a good Veep pick?

[MercutioATC]

13. Watch this Charlie Rose interview with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0i9o-ThOPM

Governor Brian Schweitzer is a farmer and rancher who held no elected office prior to being elected as the first Democratic Governor to serve Montana in 20 years.

The grandson of Montana homesteaders, he grew up on his folks’ cattle ranch in the Judith Basin. Governor Schweitzer went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in international agronomy from Colorado State University, and later earned a Master of Science degree in soil science from Montana State University.

He worked overseas on agricultural projects and has visited 37 countries across the world. Governor Schweitzer oversaw the building of major irrigation projects and the construction of the world’s largest dairy farm in Saudi Arabia.

With his unique global perspective, Governor Schweitzer is a leading national voice to end our addiction to foreign oil by developing clean and green American energy with Montana leading the way.

Under Governor Schweitzer, Montana is on the move:
• Created more jobs at higher wages than anytime in history.
• Cut more taxes for more Montanans than any other time in the state’s history, including a $400 rebate to Montana homeowners.
• Increased Montana’s electrical generation capacity more during his administration than the previous 16 years combined where the state is one of only two states in the country to have increased oil production; in fact it’s up by 50%.
• Invested more in both K-12 and higher education than any previous administration – while also capping tuition at our state’s colleges and universities, the first such effort in a generation.
• Increased the number of children on the Children’s Health Insurance Program by more than 3,000 now providing quality healthcare to more than 16,000 kids and giving the future a healthy start in life.
• Montana’s bond rating has been upgraded for the first time in 26 years with Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s Investment Services – a sign of sound fiscal management in state government.

Governor Schweitzer married his college sweetheart Nancy; they have three children and a now-famous border collie, Jag.


He's smart and he really appeals to rural America.

Weaknesses (for some):

1) He supports civil unions, not gay marriage.
2) He's a clean coal advocate.
3) He's pro-2nd Amendment.

[obamacon]

16. Interesting

Thanks- really helpful summary. Saw some of the video- definitely seems like a salt of the earth guy who talks the same language as a lot of ordinary Americans.

[MercutioATC]

48. Yes, the video is a little long...

but it's the most in-depth interview I've seen with him so far.

[flpoljunkie]

33. Very impressive.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Don't count Wes Clark out.

Don't over estimate the attention span of the media and of the American viewer.

First, it was not such a big fucking deal.

Second, how many voters are even aware of what went down?

Last, who's going to care after another week or two?

We can't let the media own us.

[renate]

14. hmmm... even if it WAS such a big f'ing deal...

This just occurred to me (because I am an eternal optimist, but whatever): Obama is making kind of a big deal about this VP thing, making us all wait till the convention and go "OMG who's he going to pick OMG who could it be." Well, it had better be someone pretty damn newsworthy, or there will be a big, collective "oh."

So, someone who's been crossed off the list, yet is perfect in every way, would fit that bill nicely.

Of course, I'm not completely unbiased.

[NYC_SKP]

30. Well, between your avatar and the two pics in your sig line, I can tell..

you're my kind of person!

That's a killer team, Dean, Obama, and Clark.

:hi:

[Bake]

47. I'd love to see Clark get the nod.

He's sharp, recognizable, and he doesn't take any shit from anybody. Plus, his military experience is beyond question.

I've heard talking heads say that his abundance of military experience calls attention to Obama's lack of same, but I don't see it that way; seems to me Clark is a perfect complement to Obama.

Bake

[jobycom]

6. Clinton, Richardson, or someone obscure.

It's funny that you don't know anyone outside of cyberspace who wants Clinton, because most people I know can't talk about anyone else. These are mostly non-political types who are just going with the names they know, but there are some political types, too, who want her. I'd say her stock has gone up in the last month. I've gone from not liking it to thinking it's one of his strongest options.

Richardson is the only other name I hear pop up outside of specialized sites like DU, but that's mostly amongst political junkies. He's not as well-known otherwise.

Bob Graham's name was trendy a week or two ago, but he's McCain's age, and that might be a negative in terms of campaign strategy (not in terms of age or ability).

I'm not setting my heart on any candidate. It's Obama's show, and he'll make the decision based on how he wants to campaign and what he thinks McCain is going to do. No point in setting up for further disappointment--I just analyze on strengths and weaknesses.

[RiverStone]

8. Yes, it's Obama's show

And ultimately I trust Obama to make the best decision for both the campaign and our country. It's not a surprise that I'm not in any talking circles with Hillary for VP folks - since during the primaries the same truth applied. OK, I did have a few healthy debates during our state caucuses

I agree that Hillary's stock rose after she finally endorsed Obama, but ultimately she would be the antipathy of CHANGE.

Of course, he gets my vote regardless - even with a Clinton on the ticket.

[jobycom]

41. Leaving aside my disagreements over Clinton and Obama

I think the reason her stock rose wasn't her endorsement of Obama--we all knew she'd do that if she lost--but was just that people had a chance to lose the anger developed during the fight, and look at her possible VP candidacy objectively. At the end of the primary, I hated Obama and couldn't think of anything nice to say about him, but I knew I would vote for him, so I held back on my criticisms of him, and let time soften my anger. I still can't stand him, don't like him, don't trust him, and don't believe he's qualified, but my anger is lessened, so I can look at the election objectively, and judge him against the other guy (McCain) instead of judging him against who I wish had won.

And I didn't say all that to rag on Obama, I said it to point out that I know others feel exactly the same way about Clinton, and that I think Clinton-haters would reach the same conclusion if he chose her, for much the same reason--Obama/Clinton, even to a Clinton-hater, would be better than McCain/Anyone.

Lots of options. She's one, but I think others would win, too. Honestly, at this point, my biggest concern is no longer who helps him win, since I think he will win or lose because of his own decisions, but on who helps him govern best. Clinton, despite the misconceptions about her, is a true believer, but better, she's got the experience and savvy to lend to Obama when he needs it, to advise him on how to get a bill through, how to persuade/bribe/compromise with hesitant legislators, and how to weigh the pros and cons of a decision and make the best of several bad choices when it comes to that. Wesley Clark was right talking about the difference between being an executive and a legislator (or anything else). Obama doesn't have that experience, and it shows in his speeches and promises. Having Clinton (or someone else with executive experience) would give him a valuable resource.

That's why I'm drawn to Richardson and Bob Graham, too. Former governors, with DC experience. But Obama will have all that advice and more, so whatever direction he goes in, he'll make the best choice for his strategy.

Anyway, great discussion you've fostered here. There are some of the mindless insult-hurling posts, but a lot of great points being raised despite them. :thumbsup:

[napi21]

7. Biden or Schweitzer. I would LOVE either one! n/t

[DURHAM D]

9. Nancy P. eom

[Maccagirl]

15. I hope there was supposed to be a "sarcasm" thingie

in the text. Having her near the ticket (much less on it) would be about the only reason for me to stay home this November.

[still_one]

11. No way, Clark isn't off any list /nt

[StevieM]

12. I think he is looking at Bayh, Sebelius, Biden, Clark and Vilsack. Those are the people that I think

are high on his list. Obviously, I have my own, but I'm just talking about Obama's thinking.

If I had to give an order--in Obama's mind, not my own preferences--here would be my predictions:

1) Evan Bayh
2) Joe Biden
3) Tom Vilsack
4) Wes Clark
5) Kathleen Sebelius

And I really can't fully explain why--it's just my instinct as to where he is at right now.

Steve

[briv1016]

17. I fear if Obama picks a woman other then Hillary, he will just piss-off the Hillary supporters

So I can't see him picking any "female governor." It's either going to be a guy (Go Clark!!) or Hillary.

[StevieM]

19. I"m a huge Hillary supporter and I would love it if he picked her or Wes Clark. But unfortunately

I don't think he will. My gut is telling me Evan Bayh, but it's hard to know exactly what he is looking for.

Steve

[Clark2008]

55. Why would a "change" ticket want someone so entrenched and, uh.

bland and DLCish as Bayh?

[StevieM]

58. I'm not sure, I'm just talking about what my gut is telling me. I guess my thought is that

Bayh was both a Senator and a governor and maybe Obama likes that--I'm not sure.

My specualtion is somewhat fluid as we hear more and as I hear what other people say. Today I am thinking that the top four possibilities are Bayh, Biden, Kaine and Vilsack.

Steve

[SuperTrouper]

31. And Sebelius is like a dose of Ativan

she really is not a picture of charisma even if she is an effective governor. In the TV age looks and charisma are everything. That is why Bush won because our nominees Gore and Kerry were seen as "wooden"...same with Dukakis.

[Windy]

26. Evan Bayh is a TERRIBLE choice. There is no fight in him whatsoever. He is a yes man.

and he's dlc. Not going to happen.

[LiberalFighter]

37. If you want someone in the Dan Quayle mode then Evan Bayh would be the right pick.

:eyes:

[Douglas Carpenter]

18. I posted this before regarding Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana

(my apologies to those who have read already my post on this)

The Democratic Party's weakest points in a general election is in small towns, rural areas and mid size cities. In the state by state counting that Obama would need in order to win a general election this would play out very differently than exclusive Democratic Party caucuses and primaries in places like Wyoming or North Carolina. For Sen. Obama to win I cannot see how he can do it without broadening his appeal in the West, the South and border-states and making a respectable showing in small towns, rural areas and mid size cities. So from my point of view, the V.P. candidate needs to be a populist Southerner or Westerner or border stater who appeals to small towns, rural areas and mid size cities.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/countymap.htm

My personal favorite would be Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana. He is a populist rancher from Montana who is generally populist and progressive on most issues - except gun control where he is strongly supported by the NRA. That speaks for his region. And frankly that would remove a huge electoral liability in the South, the West and in rural and small town America. However he is a strong environmentalist and was vehement vocal opponent of the Iraq War even calling for withdrawing the Montana National Guard from Iraq.

--- And get this he lived and worked in Riyahd for seven years and speaks perfect fluent Arabic. Just imagine what it would do for the world and for the interest of peace in the Middle East if the President of the United States had the name Barak Hussein Obama and the Vice President spoke perfect fluent Arabic!

And take a look at the image that he portrays that helped him sweep Republican Montana with 70% of the vote -- would this sell in small town America and among working class people and in the West and the South and border states?





From the actblue website:

"Brian Schweitzer is a different brand of politician who has earned our support based on his willingness to speak truth, and let the chips fall where they may.

A businessman first, he understands Main Street issues at his core, fighting for lower taxes, better health care and education, and the creation good-paying jobs.

A soil scientist by education, Brian lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years, speaks Arabic, and created the largest dairy farm in the Middle East.

As Governor, he has become the nation’s strongest voice for sensible energy policies in an effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while protecting the environment from the dangers of global warming.
Brian understands that energy security will create new jobs and technology for export, expanding our tax-base, reducing our trade deficit, and saving our
environment.

An opponent of the Iraq invasion from the start, he further understands that you can’t win a war when you’re funding both sides of it."

[DangerousRhythm]

49. Thanks for this info. I was thinking Kaine...

...but Schweitzer is certainly an intriguing pick!

[DFW]

20. I used to think a lot of Bayh--way back when

When I first met him, I even told him I expected to see him on a national
ticket some day. His answer was "you're very brave." Now I rather think he
was right. Although he is a lot more bright than he sometimes comes off in
interviews, I feel he has been somewhat less than dynamic. I realize that to
keep getting elected as a Democrat in Indiana involves some political acrobatics,
even for someone with his name recognition. But in the course of the last eight
years, I think our party has done enough compromising. If we retake the White House,
it won't be another Bill Clinton facing a Republican Congress for three quarters
of his term in office. We need the WHOLE team on board. There is always the chance
that Bayh would revert to his more progressive instincts once freed from the yoke
of having to get re-elected as a Senator in Indiana, but it's still a chance. He
is a cautious type.

My preference is still with Wes Clark, although Biden, Richardson or Clinton wouldn't
break my heart. Wes has "been there, done that" as far as military experience, plus
he is knowledgeable in fields McCain is not (which is just about ALL of them). Wes
was a Rhodes Scholar while McCain was struggling to keep his grades above passing.
He does not get accused of waffling on a position (he never needed to), and his
talk is REALLY straight, where McCain's is about as straight as overcooked spaghetti.

[LiberalFighter]

40. If Obama picked Bayh it would show that Obama does not have the quality needed

to select effective people for his Cabinet and other positions critical in the federal government.

Obama needs to stay away from Bayh like the plague.

I lived in Indiana since the year he was first elected as Secretary of State.

[truthisfreedom]

21. Clark's on my list. McScared can't handle the truth.

I'm all for Clark as Veep!

[tekisui]

23. I still like Clark, too. I think, though, that whether or not he is on the ticket

he will still be out there tearing the old man down.

[flpoljunkie]

27. Wes Clark is fiercely intelligent, a good and decent man--a truthteller and a patriot.

[FSogol]

24. Tim Kaine or Bill Richardson. n/t

[nod factor]

28. In order

1) Edwards
2) Biden
3) Richardson

[tokenlib]

32. Clark or Schweitzer..

Sorry Biden fans---but you can't attack Hillary and John McCain on bankruptcy reform and put the poster boy for the banks and credit card companies on the ticket. You just can't... It would make Obama look like a hypocrite.

[catgirl]

36. I like your 2 choices

They'd bring different strengths, but both are powerful. I'm now favoring Schweitzer.
Clark is great for several cabinet positions, while Schweitzer represents a peoples
person who can help solve our poor economy (food prices/farmers woes!)...

[Bake]

50. That's an excellent point.

A lot of DUers have forgotten that Joe is MBNA's boy.

Bake

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

34. I know I'm dreaming

but is there any chance he's looking for someone who will be the best choice to be the next president when Obama's 8 years are over? I worry that we'll get stuck with someone who can 'bring the vote' but in the end Obama doesn't need the help. I want more than 8 years of a Dem President.

[LiberalFighter]

35. You don't want another Senator or anyone on the legislative side.

You don't want someone from his neighboring state. (Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri or Indiana)
You don't want someone from a state that will not help you win other critical states. (Illinois, California, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, etc)

You don't want someone that will overshadow his presence. (Except for the fact that Bayh is a Senator and from Indiana might put him in the same mold as Dan Quayle. LOL But look what it got Bush 41 in the 1992 election.)

For obvious reasons:

You don't want an embicle like Dan Quayle.

You don't want an asshole like Dick Cheney.

You don't want a geezer like John McCain.

[muryan]

38. Biden

Only downside to that is you need to make sure he doesn't have another "clean/articulate" moment and say something dumb to give the repubs ammo.

[LiberalFighter]

39. As for Governors... unless a governor is in their last possible term

and they have a competent Lt Gov to fill the spot that can get elected as the next Governor they should not be picked for the VP spot.

[TexasObserver]

42. Bill Richardson

[rniel]

44. Dodd or Richardson

n/m

[TwilightGardener]

45. Dodd's out--the mortgage loan "scandal".

[crankychatter]

46. I'm not a Clark-person but I don't agree that he's out... he won my heart last week

VP or not... he was right on and the media be damned... no one voting for Obama is going to buy the BS about Clark

[Milo_Bloom]

51. He isn't on my wish list, but I believe Sam Nunn will be the VP choice.

[qwlauren35]

52. Not Richardson.

Sorry. It has to be a Southern White Male.

Richardson is Hispanic, and it's as bad as picking Hillary. It just brings TOO MANY PREJUDICES out into the open.

I wanted Richardson to win the nomination more than you could possibly know. He was my absolute candidate of choice. I was convinced that his incredible experience would push everyone else aside. Nor did he support the war - a position that was very important to me.

But he can't be VP to a candidate that isn't a white male. Unless we want to lose badly.

[newmajority]

54. Racists aren't going to vote for Obama anyway

So why would Richardson being on the ticket stop them?

[Greyskye]

56. I reject your hypothesis

...with regards to Clark being out. The MSM does not choose the VP, the nominee does.

I personally feel that Clark is the strongest choice, and that he is still high on Obama's short list.

[RiverStone]

57. I hope your right...

I was out of town last week and Googled the Wes flap on McCain and found stuff like this:

http://www.observer.com/2008/politics/end-wes-clarks-v-p-campaign

True, we'd like to believe the MSM does not decide the nominee - and there are plenty of Righties writing the news. Yet ultimately Obama is still a politician and he will be pragmatic about his VP choice - he will do what it takes to win. Obama did not shift his position on FISA in a vacuum, he seeks middle ground that appeals to the left (and the middle/right).

I'd be very happy with an Obama/Clark or an Obama/Richardson ticket. My OP suggested Clark is probably out, but unlike Webb's definitive NO - Clark remains a possibility. But as many in the MSM seem to be touting, a distant one.

Of course Obama will weigh it all, and I'd be happily surprised if Gen. Clark lands on the ticket.