RFK, Jr. as VP? Why not?

[zulchzulu]

I've wondered why he hasn't been mentioned. I saw him recently talking about energy issues and he was spanking the Repig flunky hard.

[PM7nj]

1. He's never been elected to anything and has a criminal record. nt

[paparush]

22. Ummmm..Kinda like "president" Bush.....

Oh, I know..that whole Governor of Texas gig...but, c'mon. He doesn't remember any of it..

[Medusa]

31. Isn't he a former heroin addict?

Oh yeah, I see that going down real well with the media/public if he was a VP choice. :eyes:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

2. His....

Criminal record
1983
In 1983, he was arrested in a Rapid City South Dakota Airport for heroin possession. A search of his carry-on bag uncovered 183 milligrams of the drug.<3> Upon entering a plea of guilty, Kennedy, then 30 years old, was sentenced to two years probation, periodic tests for drug use, treatment by joining Narcotics Anonymous, and 1,500 hours of community service by Presiding Judge Marshall P. Young.<4>
2001
In April 2001, Kennedy was arrested for trespassing at Camp Garcia the United States Navy training facility on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Kennedy and others were protesting the use of a small section of the island for naval exercises that harmed the environment and nearby communities. The trespassing incident forced the suspension of live-fire exercises for almost 3 hours. Despite the best efforts of his counsel, former NY Governor Mario Cuomo, on 18 July 2001 Kennedy was sentenced to 30 days in jail by Judge Hector Laffitte.<5><6>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy,_Jr.

[enid602]

9. counsel

I guess he didn't have a Harriet Myers or an Alberto Gonzales in his entourage to cover up these little indiscretions.

[zulchzulu]

12. Precisely...

The PR arrest is pretty cool and I'm certainly glad he got over the other problem... but like you said, Harriet and Alberto plus Daddy being a CIA man sure helps...

[MonkeyFunk]

29. no

he was just a poor, unconnected Kennedy. :eyes:

[Egnever]

3. cause every time I hear him his voice drives me to disrtraction

not the best of reasons to be sure but I am sure it has the same effect on many others. The man definitely has passion but man I lose track of that passion halfway through whatever he is talking about cause his voice drives me nuts.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. That was the first thing I thought of too. :^(

[Hieronymus]

19. Why does he talk that way? an accident or?

[muryan]

21. Its a speech disorder

spasmodic dysphonia, cause random spasms of the vocal chords.

[Hieronymus]

24. Thanks

[ruggerson]

23. Do people in wheelchairs bother you too?

[Egnever]

28. Only when the wheels on the chair squeek. You?

[quakerboy]

26. Unfortunate but true

the US presidential election is as much a popularity contest as any class president election in school. That being so, picking the guy who will be perceived as losing every debate purely on the quality of his voice might not be a keen strategic move.

[grantcart]

5. a sympathetic question

what is wrong with his voice? It sounds like he is really straining his vocal chords when he speaks.

This may be common knowledge but I feel the guy and wondered if anybody knows.

[PM7nj]

6. Spasmodic dysphonia

Spasmodic dysphonia (or laryngeal dystonia) is a voice disorder characterized by involuntary movements of one or more muscles of the larynx (vocal folds or voice box) during speech.<1>

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

[Eric J in MN]

7. Wikipedia says "spasmodic dysphonia." NT

NT

[zulchzulu]

8. I heard it was in inoperable condition in his vocal chords...spasmodic dysphonia

I think he can speak fairly "cleanly" for about 10-15 minutes before his voice sounds strained.

Some info:

With spasmodic dysphonia, which is caused by the involuntary movement of muscles in the larynx, Botox injections can relax those muscles in the same way it relaxes the muscles in the furrowed foreheads of those who use it for cosmetic reasons.

Doctors have found that patients respond extremely well to Botox shots into the voical chords a few times a year and as a result did significantly better both socially and emotionally.

Emotionally is important, because people with the disorder can have voices that sound strangled or as if they are about to cry. Because the disorder is so rare, few physicians are familiar with it.

"It can be misconstrued as an emotional or even psychiatric disorder, but it's absolutely not that. It's a neurological-control disorder manifesting in the vocal cords," says Dr. Hogikyan, Director of the University of Michigan Vocal Health Center.

It can often take years for patients to be diagnosed correctly and get appropriate treatment. Many are reluctant to speak in public and find themselves becoming increasingly isolated.

"The number of suffers could be much larger because so many patients are misdiagnosed," says Robert McAlister, executive director of the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association. "Botox is definitely the cat's meow when it comes to this disease."

Treatment temporarily disconnects the nerve-to-muscle signals and reduces abnormal muscle activity while still allowing normal speech.

Before Botox, patients either lived with the disorder or tried a surgical procedure that severed some of the nerves but didn't provide lasting benefit, Hogikyan says.

http://dragonballyee.blogs.com/philly/2005/04/robert_f_kenned.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. Because he's not all there in the head.

[hlthe2b]

18. WTF?????????????????????

What is wrong with YOU to say that?

[QueenOfCalifornia]

27. Oh forget it

I do not need this shit

edit to just go away.

Jebus - I am sick of this shit

[hlthe2b]

32. Gilligan, why are you addressing your post

to me? I question why the previous poster says that RFK JR is "not all there in the head" and your reply to ME is that "you do not need this shit" and "edit to just go away?"

Whatever....

[Douglas Carpenter]

11. Why not Johnny Depp? Same reason as why not RFK Jr. There is not even a .000000000001% chance

The V.P. nominee will be someone with significant experience in public office of some sort.

It WILL be a, Governor or former Governor, member of Congress or former member of Congress. Or it could conceivably be a retired 4-Star General or Admiral or even possibly a former Cabinet officer.

I really don't know why people bother thinking about nominees that are not even remotely plausible possibilities. Unless this is simply a fantasy that some people might enjoy engaging in.

[Fleshdancer]

13. true, but it would be fun to watch Johnny Depp in the debates dressed as a pirate

we could fully embrace the liberal hollywood stereotype :D

[Perky]

14. AAAARRRRRRRR ARRRRRRRR

[Douglas Carpenter]

17. Agree, now that would REALLY be "Change that we can believe in"

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

20. Shit, Keanu Reeves could kick Johnny Depp's ass

in the debate.

KR for Veep!

[book_worm]

15. Obama needs more experience than RFK, Jr has

[Buzz Clik]

16. "Mr. Kennedy, why is it exactly that you worked tirelessly against windmills in your neighborhood?"

RFK Jr?

No.

[MonkeyFunk]

25. Heroin conviction, no experience, vocal disorder

and screwy woo-woo views on mercury and autism.

[DFW]

30. Plus the minor detail that he is not interested.