A fresh, new VP poll!

[LWolf]

There's always one going in GDP somewhere. :D

Recently, DU has been full of concern about the perceived "move to the center," with some DUers having been centrist all along, some jumping on that centrist bandwagon, some gritting their teeth and going along with it, and some protesting.

Along with that, we've had several posts promoting a republican on the ticket in the VP spot.

None of those suggestions has been locked, as far as I know, so in the interest of fairness, this one should be okay, too.

For those of us who prefer not to move any further to the center or pander to republicans, for those of us who would like to balance Obama's centrism with someone from the LEFT side of the political spectrum, I offer you:

[undeterred]

1. Dennis Kucinich.

[LWolf]

2. I'd prefer to see him take Pelosi's job as Speaker, at this point.

But he'd make a good VP, too.

:thumbsup:

[MuseRider]

5. I agree with you on this.

He would really be stuck as Obama's vice. I can't see it at all. Now Speaker would be great, that I would love to see.

I voted for Bernie this time because I think there need to be more ideas from that left spectrum. I don't dislike the others. I agree, if we can talk about Republicans for vice this should be fine.

[LWolf]

10. Bernie would make the ticket interesting, it's true.

:hi:

[MuseRider]

11. We need some left on this ticket.

I could go for McKinney too. Now she would make it really interesting.

Edit because I type too fast and did not check myself..................D'oh

[LWolf]

12. I like both of them.

There are good reasons for either.

We DO need some "left" on the ticket, to generate enthusiasm from that quarter, and to capture all the votes that might not be there, otherwise.

:hi:

[mvd]

18. Yes, I see what you mean

I like McKinney and Sanders but would have to pick Kooch as VP, though. He is one of a kind IMO. :hi:

[LWolf]

48. He IS one of a kind,

and someday I hope to see party leadership, and mainstream voters, appreciate him.

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. I don't think there is any way he will be appointed speaker

He is not a team player. I love him but he marches to his own drummer and the speaker is usually someone who plays well with others. LOL

[LWolf]

49. "Plays well with others..."

I guess it depends on which "others" we want the speaker to play with.

Pelosi, for example, plays well with the republican leadership. :(

While he does "march to his own beat," that's why he's been actually opposing the bush administration all along; he didn't "get in line" with so many who did not.

What would be on, and off, the table in the House with DK as speaker?

[proud2BlibKansan]

64. An old friend of mine served two terms in the state house

Last year we had a long conversation about DK. She made several excellent points which explain why he is not applauded as she and I both believe he should be. She said a big part of being an effective legislator is building consensus, having that group behind you to support you when you need it. It isn't enough to write a great piece of legislation; you also have to have other lawmakers ready to sign on to your legislation, and willing to help you sell it to the legislative body. Kucinich is a loner who doesn't have that support system behind him. She also said that after this much time in Congress he should be chair of a committee or have a higher profile. Instead he is thought of as a kook by too many Democrats.

She used to teach and told me he is like the kid in class who is bright but roams the playground alone at recess. We know he will become a successful adult but will never be a team player. And unfortunately, that is important in Congress.

[LWolf]

65. Probably why I would never make a politician, either.

I fit that same profile. ;)

[iamthebandfanman]

61. now thats a dream

id love to see come true

i actually think dennis would make a GREAT speaker of the house.

[LWolf]

3. Sanders in the lead so far.

Good choice.

:thumbsup:

[defendandprotect]

4. How about Ted Kennedy . . . ?

Elizabeth Holtzman . . . ???

Love her . . .!!!

[LWolf]

8. Holzman? Good.

Ted? Let's see if he can beat the cancer. :(

[newmajority]

6. If two senators on a ticket had a snowball's chance in Hell of winning, I'd vote for Bernie

Sadly, history says that ain't the case. :evilfrown:

[defendandprotect]

19. I don't have any problems with Bernie .. .

[Kahuna]

7. "Cynthia McKinney?" Can I have a toke of what you're smoking?

:)


How about: None of the above

[LWolf]

9. I like McKinney.

Here ya go:




:smoke:

[Whisp]

13. me too! she's a powerhouse of change.

anyone who can make Rumsfeld's balls sweat is way okay with me.

[Lilith Velkor]

40. Now that's change we can believe in

Cynthia McKinney is a true patriot.

[LWolf]

50. Yep. nt

[snowbear]

17. McKinney was interviewed on AAR Saturday for an hour and WHAT A FRUITCAKE !!!!

I "thought" that I liked her too..

...... But after listening to her answer questions for an hour.. we are talking BOX OF ROCKS!!

The only thing that I was thinking while listening to her is.. Damn am I glad she's no longer in the Democratic Party!!!

And I was seriously embarrassed for any Green Party member who may have been tuning in.

Wow. L-O-S-E-R.

[defendandprotect]

20. What were her positions that so unsettled you . . .???

[Danger Mouse]

23. 'J-E-W-S'...will forever be associated with her.

[ulysses]

30. fortunately, she didn't say it.

My father has said things with which I don't agree. You?

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. There ya go, injecting facts into a perfectly good discussion

Trouble maker :evilgrin:

[ulysses]

39. I haven't disassociated myself from my parents

because they have generational, negative views of gay folks. They're evolving (albeit slowly) but I'm a homophobe.

[Danger Mouse]

36. She doesn't agree with that? Really? When did she say that?

[ulysses]

37. when did she say that she did agree with it?

You really think she's anti-Semitic?

[New Dawn]

43. Immediately after he said it.

[Danger Mouse]

44. Link?

[LWolf]

51. One of many easily found with one google click, for those who didn't pay attention at the time:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n25_v90/ai_18856983

[Danger Mouse]

62. Oh yeah. And she called Al Gore a racist, too.

[New Dawn]

42. That was her father that said that.

[Danger Mouse]

25. Was there anything specifically that stood out?

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. I love her

and so do a lot of leftists. I wish she was still in Congress.

[defendandprotect]

46. I do, too . . .

however, she was targeted twice in Congress . . . winning relection in an
entirely new district the second time around ---

and if you remember the incident with the guard, it really made me wonder about actual harassment
of her in Congress --

To some degree, I believe that was also true re Carolyn Moseley Braun --

anyway, I thought after the last time around when the circumstances seemed so directed to
trying to actually criminalize her behavior that I think the realization -- and maybe
continuing circumstances during her return to Congress -- was heavily impacting her.

I don't know if we'll ever know, but I don't put anything even this petty past the Bush/Cheney
crew --- I mean just look at what Obama is facing with Rice telling our Ambassadors NOT to
give Obama assistance --- and keeping him from visiting soldiers in Germany.

It's petty, it's vile --- but they will do it!

[LWolf]

47. Differing perspectives make the world an interesting place,

don't they? I can't find anything in YOUR opinion to value. I won't call you a "box of rocks," though.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. As the OP states

"for those of us who would like to balance Obama's centrism with someone from the LEFT side of the political spectrum"

In that vein, McKinney is a perfect fit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Nader

To make a lot of people happy and keep him from stealing votes.

[LWolf]

15. You're a brave one, lol.

I think those are valid reasons.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. I think he would be a great choice

He is brilliant. He would definitely serve the people rather than a party or ideology and he is a good balance for Obama.

[LWolf]

52. That's quite true.

and still brave, lol.

I see he's picked up another vote since last night.

:thumbsup:

[Better Believe It]

77. How Does Nader "Steal" Votes?

I believe that would be a felony.

[LWolf]

80. As the originial poster,

I'll say that he doesn't. I put it that way because that's the way so many Democrats choose to frame losing votes to him.

[Phx_Dem]

16. This is scary. nt

[LWolf]

53. To each his or her own.

What some find "scary," others find motivating.

Frankly, I'd be more enthusiastic about the GE with any one of the choices on the ticket.

Don't you want to give the left a reason to vote in November, or are you only interested in getting those more valued republican votes?

[ulysses]

21. Bernie.

Loves me some Cynthia, but she already has a position for this election. :)

[Danger Mouse]

22. Bernie Sanders. To the other three I say 'No fucking way.'

[TwilightGardener]

24. Jesus H. I don't think we need to raid asylums just yet.

(Bernie Sanders excepted--he's sane.)

[LWolf]

54. Er...in case you hadn't noticed,

the asylum inmates have been running the country for 2 terms now. Politically speaking, we opened the asylum gates in 2000.

Characterizing the left as asylum inmates is a great way to lose their votes this November. In case you are unaware of it, some of the "we" in your statement ARE the left.

[Frank Booth]

26. How about Billy Mays?

[TwilightGardener]

27. He's very convincing. I want that new Magic Putty, or whatever it's called, in the worst way.

[woo me with science]

33. Especially for all your drinking glasses that develop holes in the side

so the water leaks out in an arc stream.

I hate when that happens.

[TwilightGardener]

45. Billy Mays knows that cracked drinking glasses are worth saving, no matter what.

God bless him, I'd buy a dead armadillo from him if he included a second one for the same price.

[woo me with science]

63. LOL! nt

[truebrit71]

81. Me too, but the shipping & handling charges get you every time...

.... ;-)

[LWolf]

55. I think he'd be better placed as someone's campaign spokesperson, lol. nt

[quakerboy]

28. Bernie

Mostly because I would love to watch them squirm... The whole "Obama is more liberal than the socialist" line of thought would get real interesting at that point. I'm pretty sure that the Righties would be twisted in knots trying to explain how each was more liberal than the other, at the same time.

[LWolf]

56. Anyone who really thinks

Obama is somehow "liberal" has paid no attention to anything but propaganda for way too long.

It would be interesting to see how they would try to frame that. :evilgrin:

[baldguy]

38. Cynthia McKinney: US Atty General

All the corporate criminals would piss themselves.

[Lilith Velkor]

41. Or Special Prosecutor

In which case the entire Bush administration would shit themselves.

[LWolf]

57. THAT would be highly entertaining.

:evilgrin:

[Phred42]

58. Bernie Sanders is way too progressive for Obama

It would be great though

Kucinich would be great too but - ain't no way

[LWolf]

59. I think that's the point.

To balance the ticket, and give progressives someone to vote for.

[Phred42]

70. Why? You're not going to vote for Grampy

and you're not going to take a chance on a third party this time..................

and it REALLY pisses me off that they know that and are counting on it, and therefore can do what ever the hell they want.

I'll be voting against McCain rather than FOR Obama.

[LWolf]

71. You're half right.

I'm not going to vote for McCain. I'm undecided about whether or not I'll vote for Obama or go 3rd party.

As I've repeatedly since he was crowned the "presumptive" nominee.

His choice of running mate could be one factor.

In reality, I won't make up my mind at least until after the convention. I may remain undecided until I put pen to ballot. There are numerous factors that will help inform my choice, and I'm not in any hurry to rush to judgment either way.

FYI: I've never "taken a chance on a 3rd party" for president. I'm 48, and I've ALWAYS voted for the Democrat. The fact that I'm undecided at this point means something. It's not frivolous, it's not thoughtless, and it's not open to anyone else's judgment, either.

[Phred42]

76. Ok.

But I think with the election fraud by republicans that has already been reported - not voting for Obama is a vote for McCain.

Hey I voted for Edwards - I'm not happy about this either. But I can't take the chance that I didn't do everything I could to prevent a repug in the WH. Sad as that is as a reason for voting for Obama

[LWolf]

78. I understand your position.

It will be one I consider, when I'm ready to decide.

Voting is one area that I get to be the "decider," and I do take it seriously.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

60. Bernie is great!

[L0oniX]

66. I'll alway be for a democratic socialist.

[LWolf]

67. That probably means Bernie,

although La Riva is also a socialist.

[AtomicKitten]

68. I've always been a big fan of Bernie.

[LWolf]

73. I certainly appreciate him! nt

[Blue_In_AK]

69. Excellent poll, LWolf

and far more to my liking than some of the others I've seen. The Republicans have enough representation in government. Let's get some good old leftists in there to even things out.

[LWolf]

72. I'm glad you approve.

I agree. I'm sick of pandering to republicans. The change I want to see is a change that brings the left to the table.

[Ian David]

74. I like Bernie Sanders, but we could never win with him on the ticket. n/t

[LWolf]

82. Why is that?

I don't want to make assumptions about your reasoning. Why do you think that ticket "could never win?"

[Hippo_Tron]

75. Other: Russ Feingold

[LWolf]

79. I'd be okay with that. I wish he'd run for the top job. nt

[alwysdrunk]

83. McKinney

She's a loose cannon, and maybe a bit off, but I like her anyway.

Cynthia McKinney is one of the few elected officials pushing for a real investigation in 9/11 when it was very unpopular to do so. Gotta respect that.