There is absolutely NO reason any DUer should be advocating a Repub for Obama's VP

[LynneSin]

NONE

I don't care if Chuck Hagel is against this war. YOu strip away the war and Chuck Hagel is just as conservative as John McCain. If Hagel were to get president he would appoint judges to help make Abortion and Gay Marriages illegal.

As for Colin Powell - this man fed a line of crap to the UN to help start a war. I don't care if he was just doing his job - doing his job cost the lives of thousands of American Soldiers and Iraqi Civilians.

There is not ONE republican I want on my ticket and I'm talking real republicans, the ones with (R) next to their name.

End of discussion.

[mtnester]

1. Add me to that list

and the posts ought to be deleted here as well. If some fool went over to FR and posted positive threads on why a Dem would make a good VP for McCain, the thread would last about 3.2 seconds.

And also add my name to the list of losing my vote if any Dem DOES such a moronic thing as chose a Republican as their VP.

on edit - whoops...ad/add confusion

[Midlodemocrat]

2. You go, girlfriend.

:applause:

K & R.

[NightWatcher]

3. you could edit you title to "There is absolutely NO reason any DUer should be advocating a Repub"

I'm with you, nuff said

[depakid]

5. or advocating failed Republican policies....

[sandnsea]

4. Agreed, not even Olympia Snowe

and she's my favorite Repub. I think some people just don't pay attention to the fine print.

[fight4my3sons]

62. .

:applause:

[DrZeeLit]

63. She might not even have a senate seat in Nov. She's no choice at all.

[sandnsea]

64. I have no problem with that

I don't know what Maine is doing with Republican Senators anyway.

[Alexander]

6. Agreed. Too bad the political neophytes here don't know any better.

[DinahMoeHum]

7. Agreed. The "worst" Democrat is still a thousand times better

than the "best" Repblikkkan.

:kick::kick:

[rebel with a cause]

25. I am against a republican as VP

but I was against lieberman in 2000 and still don't see him as being any/much better than a centerist republican.

I would not support him for the position, but then now he is "independent" so I guess we should not count him as democrat.

[eleny]

8. K&R Absolutely agree with you

In fact, Hagel may even be more right wing than Genghis Khan. And I hope Powell slinks into obscurity.

[barbtries]

75. or faces charges by and by

he did the lying to the UN after all. and he was part of the torture team wasn't he?

[newmajority]

9. Hell there's even a lot of so called "Democrats" that shouldn't be considered

But a Repuke is absolutely out of the question.

One or two token Republicans in the cabinet (and I mean the Lincoln Chaffee/Jim Jeffords variety) maybe.

A Republican VP? Out of the question. Even if you could reanimate Lincoln's corpse, I'd still say no.

[Prophet 451]

18. Don't think Jeffords is a Rethug anymore

I seem to remember Jeffords quit the Republican party. Reading between the lines, the impression I got was that he was an R from the days when the party was composed of reasonable people who actually believed in things and quit when it became clear that the party wasn't that way anymore.

[kmac3]

61. Great observation and comment . . . .

"9. Hell there's even a lot of so called "Democrats" that shouldn't be considered"

Amen to that . . . I can unfortunately name at least 15 that are falsely displaying a "D" after their name but are voting with the "R's". We really need to clean house on our own side of the aisle.

[defendandprotect]

83. Agree . . . DLC Democrats should be out for VP ---

including every "blue dog" . . . of course!

[AndyTiedye]

10. No Republicans On the Democratic Ticket

Makes it too easy for the Repiggies to get back into power.

[graywarrior]

11. Damn right!

[SeaLyons]

12. Agree with you 100% &

a big K&R

:kick:

[riona]

13. I'm with you

:kick:

[Milo_Bloom]

14. Lincoln Chafee

[LynneSin]

15. I heard rumors that he changed party but I would still say "NO"

but only because I don't think he has a strong background needed to help boost the Obama ticket.

[desktop]

68. Chafee officially left the GOP, now an official independent

He also endorsed Obama. However there is no reason to pick anyone for VP except a democrat who believes in the working class, universal health care, and against the war. Vice president will make no difference in the election except maybe Web of Virginia, he might pull Virginia to Obama. But I don't care for Web, other then the war he is pretty much a moderate republican in his views.

[TwilightGardener]

32. He's a bit of a dweeb. OK, a big dweeb. I can't see that as a ticket.

But, I give him props for being right more often than most Repubs.

[Alexander]

34. For a Cabinet position, maybe.

[defendandprotect]

84. Let's also keep the GOP out of Cabinet and other agency positions . . .

Whatever the job is, a Democrat will always be better for it than a Repug ---

[Prophet 451]

16. Especially not when we have so many wonderful possibilities!

And no, that wasn't sarcasm.

Seriously, just going through the other presidential hopeful gives you Edwards, Richardson, Biden and Gravel, any of whom would make an excellent VP choice. I'd love Kucinich but it'll never happen. I could live with Hillary Clinton but I doubt it'll happen. Moving into Congress critters, you've got any number of experienced politicos who'd bring something to the ticket, especially in a year when, assuming an honest count, Obama would have to be caught with a dead girl or live boy to lose.

How about Barbara Boxer?

[DutchLiberal]

71. Kucinich isn't going to happen but Gravel is a possibility?

Yeah, that makes sense... :crazy:

[defendandprotect]

85. I like the idea of a female VP --- and Barbara Boxer is good . . .

as far as I'm aware --- she has a lot of guts --- good instincts.

[bobbolink]

97. You equate Gravel with Kucinich and Barbara Boxer?

How much to you actually know about Gravel?

That's a very strange equation....

[RaleighNCDUer]

104. Not all that strange. Strongly liberal/libertarian, but has a reputation

of being a bit of a nutcase - like most real liberals.

[bobbolink]

109. So, you really like libertarians? You also think Ron Paul is in the same category as Kucinich and

Boxer?

Or is the war your ONLY concern?

Does it matter to you what Gravel would do to poor people?????????

[RaleighNCDUer]

110. You think Gravel is in the same category as Paul?

Maybe YOU don't really know who he is.

[bobbolink]

114. Libertarian is as libertarian does.

You didn't answer my other questions, so I'm guessing that WAR is your only issue, and you don't know his libertarian stands on the other issues.

He would kill off even more poor people than * has done.

[Prophet 451]

113. Brainfart on my part

I plead being temporarily unbalanced due to medication withdrawal.

[Bluenorthwest]

17. I agree

It is disgusting.

[sshan2525]

19. Exactly.....

what I've been thinking.

[solara]

20. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

K&R


:kick:




INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT INCARCERATE :patriot:

[tekisui]

21. F'in A.

No way.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. I can't imagine it actually happening, But that aside, I am with you 100%

There are no good repubicans.

[TexasObserver]

23. Agreed. Hagel's right on a couple of issues, but he's "RIGHT" on most issues.

I have no use for any GOP as VP. That's just insane.

[Whisp]

24. there's only a handful or so of these kinds of thinkers.

i think we shouldn't put any more spotlights on their idiotcy but rather ignore them

[bigwillq]

26. THANK YOU!

I will seriously consider not voting for Obama if he chooses Hagel, which I don't he will. Don't know who I will vote for but I will not tolerate a repuke on the democratic ticket.

[Joe Chi Minh]

27. VP would certainly be going too far. Apart from additional concerns for

Obama's "longevity".

[Proud Liberal Dem]

28. I'm generally opposed to Obama selecting a GOP for VP

Mostly because I can't really think of few really reasonable ("sane") Republicans whom I'd want a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Picking a GOP for VP would be very symbolic in terms of Obama's overall theme of building unity and bipartisanship but nominating somebody from the other side of the aisle would be a bit of stretch right now, particularly when the GOP has veered so sharply to the right that they can't seem to understand the value of anything beyond their own ideology and actually don't seem to think of the rest of us as anything but a bunch of commies, traitors, terrorist sympathizers, etc. Plus, they've had their chance to run the federal government in part or in whole for the past 7+ years and we all know how well things are going now because of it. That being said, there are a few rational Republicans whom have a history of genuine bipartisanship I wouldn't mind having some kind of position within Obama's administration such as Richard Lugar or Chuck Hagel but as VP? Nope. Not until they have reached a sufficient level of "evolution" and maybe not even then.

[goletian]

29. absurd. that is not change! omg change change change!!!

[malik flavors]

30. To bad Obama's the democratic nominee, and it doesn't matter what you might want.

[OnionPatch]

31. There's a reason they call themselves Republicans.

Disregard the little label at the end of their names at your own peril. A Republican with one or two good points is still a Republican and will support the Republican agenda.

When I see Chuck Hagel or Ron Paul accolades on DU, it makes me wonder if the posters know anything else about them besides the fact that they're against the Iraq war.

[WinkyDink]

33. Right on! EOS.

[Major Hogwash]

35. Just ignore that horseshit, LynneSin.

Chalk it up to rambling hogwash.
Because that's all it is.

[Awsi Dooger]

36. Yeah, I don't get it

When I saw one thread I thought that would be it. But it's been a daily habit, obscene.

I guess we spend so much focus on frustration with our more moderate senators and congressman we don't realize what they look like compared to true members of the other side.

[BlooInBloo]

37. DUers just like republicans. Once you get used to that fact, everything becomes easier.

[defendandprotect]

88. Yeah . . . I've noticed that, but many want to keep that a bit hidden . . .

[LVjinx]

38. You got that right

Republicans already had their 8 years in the White House, and did their damndest to destroy everything this country stands for.

[bridgit]

39. None. Hagel has been an enabler of the bush admin before it become less fashionable...

to do so, republicans have no business whatsoever a mere heartbeat from any dem admin i'm sorry but that's just the way it is

[LostinVA]

40. You're preaching to the choir with me, Sissie

[Danger Mouse]

41. No Chuck Hagel. No Sam Nunn.Those two are dealbreakers for me.

[katandmoon]

66. Totally ditto

[Sparkly]

42. No harm in "advocating" here, I suppose.

But I agree, there's no reason for it, and no purpose in it. I doubt many Democrats want a Republican on the ticket (I sure don't!!) and I doubt the Obama camp considered it for more than two seconds, if that.

In the cabinet? MAYbe, but even that would make me groan. They rode roughshod over Democrats for 8 years. Personally, I'm in no mood to "reach across the aisle" until or unless things get back to balanced and sane -- and even then, I'm not so sure...

[bullwinkle428]

43. Those threads piss me off...

...there, I said it!

Take another recommendation to the bank! :thumbsup:

[tigereye]

44. who starts these rumors?

weird. Don't we have enough Dems to run?

:crazy:

[CreekDog]

45. Amen Miss Delaware

:hide:

[LostinVA]

107. Uh oh

At least you didn't mention tolls!

[CreekDog]

108. you said it first

:spank: :hide:

[A-Schwarzenegger]

46. Let's show Sensitivity.

:*

[nam78_two]

47. Agree completely-Kicked and Recommended

:thumbsup:
The only Republican whose existence I am aware of and most of whose positions I don't really despise too much, is Lincoln Chafee and he is an ex-Repuke. Chuck Hagel :eyes:-thanks but no thanks. And for the type of people who say "Oh how close-minded-why not consider a Repig" (saw a few a while back "Oh how knee-jerk of you, how close minded"), yes I am somewhat close-minded when it comes to not wanting people who are Republicans and vote like Republicans 90% of the time on the Democratic ticket. If not I would be an independent. Oh the horror-on a Democratic/left-leaning board people would rather see a Democrat on the ticket than a complete Republican/right winger like Hagel :eyes:.

[donheld]

48. K & R

[Spiffarino]

49. Look up John Tyler and see how that worked out.

Back in April 1841, Whig President William Henry Harrison died just one month after being sworn in. Enter Vice-President John Tyler.

Tyler was a WINO: Whig In Name Only. He was a Democrat at heart. When he took office he set about dismantling the Whig agenda. His Cabinet quit in protest. His Presidency was a mockery and the Whig party never recovered.

Choosing a Republican would be a colossal mistake. Of course, I doubt Obama would do something stupid as that.

[chknltl]

50. Are we discussing THIS cHuckster hagel????:

(excerpt from Mother Jones, '04)

"In 1992, investment banker Chuck Hagel, president of McCarthy & Co, became chairman of AIS. Hagel, who had been touted as a possible Senate candidate in 1993, was again on the list of likely GOP contenders heading into the 1996 contest. In January of 1995, while still chairman of ES&S, Hagel told the Omaha World-Herald that he would likely make a decision by mid-March of 1995. On March 15, according to a letter provided by Hagel's Senate staff, he resigned from the AIS board, noting that he intended to announce his candidacy. A few days later, he did just that.

A little less than eight months after steppind down as director of AIS, Hagel surprised national pundits and defied early polls by defeating Benjamin Nelson, the state's popular former governor. It was Hagel's first try for public office. Nebraska elections officials told The Hill that machines made by AIS probably tallied 85 percent of the votes cast in the 1996 vote, although Nelson never drew attention to the connection. Hagel won again in 2002, by a far healthier margin. That vote is still angrily disputed by Hagel's Democratic opponent, Charlie Matulka, who did try to make Hagel's ties to ES&S an issue in the race and who asked that state elections officials conduct a hand recount of the vote. That request was rebuffed, because Hagel's margin of victory was so large.

As might be expected, Hagel has been generously supported by his investment partners at McCarthy & Co. -- since he first ran, Hagel has received about $15,000 in campaign contributions from McCarthy & Co. executives. And Hagel still owns more than $1 million in stock in McCarthy & Co., which still owns a quarter of ES&S."

http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2004/03/03_200.html

Google is our friend my fellow DUers
Here's another found when plugging in 'Chuck Hagel Diebold':

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0225-05.htm

Published on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 by the Free Press, Columbus, Ohiio
Diebold, Electronic Voting and the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy
by Bob Fitrakis:

(Snipped from larger article):
".....Republican Senator Chuck Hagel disclosed in public documents that he was the Chairman of American Information Systems and claimed between a $1 to 5 million investment in the McCarthy Group. In 1997, American Information Systems purchased Business Records Corp. (BRC), formerly Texas-based election company Cronus Industries, to become ES&S. One of the BRC owners was Carolyn Hunt of the right-wing Hunt oil family, which supplied much of the original money for the Council on National Policy.

In 1996, Hagel became the first elected Republican Nebraska senator in 24 years when he did surprisingly well in an election where the votes were verified by the company he served as chairman and maintained a financial investment. In both the 1996 and 2002 elections, Hagel’s ES&S counted an estimated 80% of his winning votes. Due to the contracting out of services, confidentiality agreements between the State of Nebraska and the company kept this matter out of the public eye. Hagel’s first election victory was described as a “stunning upset” by one Nebraska newspaper.

Hagel’s official biography states, “Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Hagel worked in the private sector as the President of McCarthy and Company, an investment banking firm based in Omaha, Nebraska and served as Chairman of the Board of American Information Systems.” During the first Bush presidency, Hagel served as Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the 1990 Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations (G-7 Summit).

Bob Urosevich was the Programmer and CEO at AIS, before being replaced by Hagel. Bob now heads Diebold Election Systems and his brother Todd is a top executive at ES&S. Bob created Diebold’s original electronic voting machine software. Thus, the brothers Urosevich, originally funded by the far Right, figure in the counting of approximately 80% of electronic voting in the United"

Well I suppose my fellow DUers, the cHuckster COULD carry the Diebold votes but honestly is THAT what it takes for a Dem to win these days???? Tell ya what hagel fans, maybe we should offer him a job investigating election fraud...I'm thinking he knows quite a bit about THAT topic! While we're at it how about karl rove for Attourney General too....

[Skittles]

51. THANK YOU

do we need to team up for some DU asskicking, LynnSin?

[suffragette]

52. There are so many talented and capable Democrats

who would be fantastic.

Absolutely agree with you that there is NO reason to want a Republican in that position.

[vaberella]

53. I've said this before. You're Veep is like your "boy or girl" someone who got your back...

No Repub will have Obama's back. He needs a Dem and it will always be a Dem. I don't even know why people are even thinking of having a Repub on the list. On the cabinet, that's up in the air, but as Veep--it's definitely going to be a Dem.

[sellitman]

54. Maybe Hagel could fix his voting machines for an Obama win this time?

:sarcasm:

[racaulk]

55. No argument here.

:applause:

K&R

[JuniorPlankton]

56. There is absolutely NO reason you should tell any DUer what to advocate

For the record, I have never advocated any Republicans for anything. Nor did I participate in the primary squabbles. But a sweeping statement like yours makes me cringe. I believe we are civilized enough to discuss even the most nonsensical ideas.
:kick:

[redqueen]

58. "we are civilized enough to discuss even the most nonsensical ideas"

Nonsense is for the Lounge, or other websites.

[LostinVA]

106. Lynne is right: it's DEMOCRATIC Undergorund

If I really wanted to want to vote for a Republican, I'd move to Maine and vote for Olympia, who at least has decently progressive stances issues.

And, advocating voting for a GOP candidate is against DU rules. You can personally want anyone you want, but you can't advocate on this forum, just asposters can't advocate for Cynthia McKinney, the Socialist Party candidate, etc.

[redqueen]

57. Sad this has to be said. With the way they've run things...

just unreal...

[LWolf]

59. Agreed. n/t

[QueenOfCalifornia]

60. 110%

correct.

:)

[katandmoon]

65. Totally agree -- but there is A reason why some DUers do and that's to give

Obama cover if he DOES pick a Republican as his running mate.

I think the fact that it's even considered a possibility -- based on Obama's own actions and statements -- that Obama would do that, SUCKS and makes me support HIM as the Democratic candidate, only because there is no alternative.

[Larkspur]

67. I agree with you

I think Hagel has as much chance of being Obama's VP as Lieberman has being McCain's. Hagel could get a cabinet position if he doesn't want to remain in the senate.

[Buzz Clik]

69. Not even Abe Lincoln?

So you long for the old days of slavery?

[The Backlash Cometh]

70. For another thing, wouldn't it be against the DU rules?

A question of automatic expulsion?

Obama does not need to compromise if he gets the support of the world. Besides, he'll be making the same mistakes that Bill Clinton made. I, personally, think it's a bad idea to pick a Republican when that person is one heartbeat away from becoming president. Even if that VP were Gandi, there are Republicans out there that would have made great SS men.

[NewJeffCT]

72. I agree 100%, however

Obama has already stated he will be appointing Republicans to his cabinet, and has expressed a fondness for Abe Lincoln's cabinet because Lincoln appointed several political opponents to his cabinet.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3466823.ece

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/obama-says-hed.html

Arnold has also said he would serve:
http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=3513

Of course, opponets could also mean intra-party opponents like Biden, Dodd, Edwards & Clinton that ran against him in the primaries.

[yellerpup]

73. I'll back you on that proposition!

K&R! :kick:

[proud progressive]

74. though i share your hatred for anything republican right now,

obama has promised to work across the aisle. the gop has slowly destroyed itself over the last 50 years since eisenhower left office. however, there still is a tiny minority of repubs - hagel, snowe, chaffee, mccain circa 2000, etc. - who basically are decent people with open minds. i like biden but if hagel will help obama win in november, go for it! besides, obama's cabinet will consist of more repubs than just hagel.

[defendandprotect]

86. You think we need a REPUG on the ticket to "win" in November . . . ??? !!!

What a crock ---

The Republicans are a disease on the land ---
They couldn't be more corrupt or criminal ---
and you want a REPUG on the ticket . . . "to win" . . . ?????

[philosophie_en_rose]

76. What the hell?

I don't understand why anyone would ever think this is a good idea. If Chuck Hagel wants to run with a democrat, he better damned well be one.

[proud progressive]

77. be careful: some of you are beginning to sound self-righteous

[philosophie_en_rose]

80. OH NOES!!!!

Someone judged me on the internet!

:rofl:

[proud progressive]

91. imagine that! you! being judged! must be a wannabe republican!!!!!!!!!!

[walldude]

105. Self righteous? Isn't that another term for "proud"?

At this point in time, most DU'ers should sound self righteous. We were right about Cheney's energy commission, about 9/11, about the war, about the economy, about Valerie Plame, about telecoms, about net neutrality, about torture, about gitmo, about Don Siegelman and the hundreds of other scandals. How many fucking times do I need to be right before you think it's ok for me to act "self righteous"?

[NewJeffCT]

82. About 2 years ago on DU

People were taking polls that if the race was Hillary vs Hagel, who would they vote for - and a pretty good percentage said Hagel until they locked the thread...

[GihrenZabi]

78. Abraham Lincoln...

...had opposition party members in his cabinet, and it is looked back upon as a wise choice.

I have no issue with Hagel as VP - in fact, I think this would be a bold move that would bring Obama back into my good graces. That sort of thing is meaningful change - working together with the other party.

Party-level thinking is killing us. Good leaders are good leaders regardless of which party they belong to.

Furthermore, stop being doom and gloomy and considering the possibilities...there are plenty of moderate Republican who aren't Satan's spawn and who have had their party hijacked by the Neo-Cons. I just read an article about young Republicans who feel like their party is on a dark road to disaster.

If moderate Repubs start working alongside "the enemy," i.e. Dems, then how long until they get co-opted?

[Baby Snooks]

79. "Appeals to Republicans..."

This approach to winning elections has permeated the Democratic Party in Texas. So far it hasn't seemed to have won any elections.

Why would a Democrat want a representative who appeals to Republicans? The Republicans would not want a Republican who appeals to Democrats and the ones who are fed up with the Republican Party and probably will vote for Democrats also do not want a Democrat who appeals to Republicans.

[SlingBlade]

81. What kind of a Democrat would

promote that a Republican for Veep ?

Oh Yea, Nevermind ...

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Baby Snooks]

103. The picture no one sees...

People look at this picture and still don't see it. Same Lieberman. Just no longer part of a party despite some Democrats wanting to believe he is still a Democrat. Some Republicans want to believe he is a Republican. He's a Republicrat.

He just felt comfortable dropping the pretense and becoming "independent" when in fact he is still part of the party he has been a member of for some time. The Republicrat Party.

People need to wake up and look at the picture for what it is and what it has been for some time.

[FreepFryer]

87. Agreed. This is the latest Freeper division ploy. The next President/Congress will be strongly Dem.

And that's what they (rightly) fear. We can 'work across the aisle', even with corrupt criminals and traitors like the Republicans in Congress... but we don't need one of them a heartbeat from Obama's presidency.

[defendandprotect]

89. And is McCain going to pick a DEMOCRAT for his VP . .. maybe a blue dog?

[Orrex]

90. Not even Lieberman?

:rofl:

[RedLetterRev]

92. And for the politically incorrect question du jour...

why should we reach across the aisle when they haven't so much as given us a reacharound in 16 years?

Just askin'...

[TwilightGardener]

93. Have to admit I'm a little baffled by the anxiety on display lately.

If someone wants to make a case for a VP choice, no matter who it is, who cares? Let them have their say, and then they'll get flamed, and that's the end of it. Why so threatened? It's unlikely to occur as a ticket, and even if it did, it would still be Obama's ticket, Obama's administration, Obama's agenda, and Obama's Democratic party in control. I didn't care when Kerry was looking into McCain, because I figured that Kerry was strong enough of a Democrat and as a person to keep his Dem agenda and platform intact in the unlikely event he chose McCain--although now it seems like an unwise consideration, looking at the nutcase McLettuce has become. Gore chose Lieberman--what a mistake THAT was, and he had a D next to his name, so I guess that made it all right? Specific individuals do make interesting what-ifs and what-might-have-beens. Seriously, there's no threat to hearing someone's ideas and arguments when made within the framework of a Dem ticket and a Dem administration. Group dynamics on DU will always rescue the situation anyway, as you would expect with such a controversial suggestion as putting an R on the ticket. The chickens immediately show up to peck away--and that is as it should be. Maybe what's REALLY scary is that someone might have a good point, or make us think--yikes!

[proud progressive]

94. and do not forget human nature. power corrupts - even DEMOCRATS!!!

[lastliberalintexas]

111. Yep, it would be Obama's administration- right up until the point he's murdered

Yeah, Hagel's going to make us think, why he might even change all our minds and make us believe that Christian prayer really should be mandated in public schools. Or that the Bush tax cuts were actually a good idea and should be extended. Or that electronic voting machines should be unauditable. Or that abortion is murder and should be illegal. Or that... :eyes:


If a leftist on a supposedly left leaning message board can not advocate for non-Dem leftists, then I can't see a single reason why a poster should be allowed to advocate for a conservative of any flavor, for any position whatsoever.

[TwilightGardener]

112. Well, I didn't advocate for anyone specifically for VP in my post, just defending

others who have something to say--I figure the admins and mods will sort out anything that's out-of-bounds. The rest of DU is free to flame, insult, bludgeon, and slash the tires of anyone who dares suggest an R or anyone else for VP. I've seen people mention Powell, Ron Paul, Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Bloomberg, and a number of assorted generals whose political status is unknown--none of that enrages me, I just say why or why not I wouldn't support it, or at least have a good chuckle. I do like Hagel, though, he's a noteworthy exception to my usual opinion of Repubs. He's my Senator, and your description of him is not entirely accurate. If you want Nader, Bernie Sanders, Joe Lieberman, or Cynthia McKinney on Obama's ticket, then say so and see what you get. Go for it.

[DireStrike]

95. Assassination insurance

A republican is THE WORST choice for VP from this viewpoint.

Ideally you want someone more radical, but in a closet radical sort of way. Look at the last two presidencies - Clinton had Gore behind him. You can bet none of the corporations wanted gore in there being all environmental (and however else he was radical.) And Bush... anytime someone brings up assassination there, the inevitable comment is "Yeah, but then you'd have CHENEY."

The repubs can get away with this easier because they're supposed to be evil assholes who get things done, so putting one of those on the ticket isn't a deal killer, whereas putting someone like Kucinich on Obama's ticket would bring a lot of ridicule. Try as you might to ridicule Cheney, he still has a tough, crazy caricature which has more appeal in our culture than limp-wristed, namby-pamby environmentalists who've seen UFOs. Note please that I'm talking about the way people are generally perceived, not truth.

Ideally, from an assassination insurance standpoint, you'd want a black man (or woman) who seems very upstanding and not very radical, but in reality is. Of course this may be unfeasible for other reasons.

[bobbolink]

96. Yes there is a reason.

DU has become more and more conservative.

There's your reason.

[JerseygirlCT]

98. One quibble

Hagel is even MORE conservative than McCain. He's so far over there, it's not funny.

Other than that, completely agree with you.

[Ms. Toad]

99. Agree

as to the appropriateness of recommending that strategy in this forum - and as to whether it is a good idea (outside of whether it is appropriate on this forum).

As to Chuck Hagel, you might want to spend some time talking to the countless liberal democrats in Nebraska (including my parents) who voted for him over his much less desirable Democratic opponent - and who have no regrets about having done so.

[lame54]

100. In complete agreement

[valerief]

101. Well, maybe the rethuglican moles on DU would have a reason to do so. nt

[GalleryGod]

102. The Difference

We fought.