MSNBC: On second thought Obama on MTP seems to be ruling out Senators for VP

[grantcart]

MSNBC: When Obama was on MTP he seemed to indicate that he was moving away from appointing a Senator as VP

Yesterday Senator Obama made the following statement:

“I'm going to want somebody with integrity; I'm going to want somebody with independence, who's willing to tell me where he thinks or she thinks I'm wrong; and I'm, I'm going to want somebody who shares a vision of the country where we need to go, that we've got to fundamentally change not only our policies, but how our politics works, how business is done in Washington.”



When Brokaw pushed on who the nominee is going to be Obama came back to the same point:

"The most important thing from my perspective is someone who can help me govern I want somebody who I am compatible with,who I can work with who has a shared vision, who certainly compliments me and has a knowledge base or an area of expertise that can be useful."

Yesterday I speculated that he was signalling in a subtle way that he was moving away from any Senator and Kaine appeared to be the strongest non Senator choice: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6549608&mesg_id=6549608

Today MSNBC (Chuck Todd?) also came to the conclusion that he was moving away from a Senator:

Did he just rule out that he would pick a sitting Democratic US senator? Try and use that description Obama gave with Bayh, Biden, Clinton, or Reed? Now, try using it with Kaine, Sebelius, Nunn, or Hagel? Just sayin’… If Obama picks someone from the first group, he's going to have a tough time making the case that this person has shown a history of changing the way business is done in Washington. Frankly, it's tough naming any Washington player using that standard.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/28/1228179.aspx

You can re-listen to Obama's references here and decide for yourself:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25872602#25872602

[book_worm]

1. It's going to be Sam Nunn

For some reason even the Congressional Black Caucus has been pushing him.

[Eurobabe]

3. ...

:puke:

[TwilightGardener]

10. No--I don't think we'll give up the age advantage. He's about as old as Mayor McCheese.

[book_worm]

11. yep, he will be 70 in September.

[w4rma]

2. I think it's interesting how conventional wisdom seems to rule out Edwards. Conventional wisdom is

usually wrong. I think it's going to be either former Senator Edwards or Governor Kaine. I would prefer Edwards because I think he helps out the ticket the most, but I admit that Kaine is superficially a strong choice if Obama has ruled out Edwards for some reason.

[book_worm]

5. It won't be Edwards as long as those rumors are flying around about him

I'm not saying they are true, but he probably would need to come out and categorically deny them.

[TexasObserver]

20. Polls seemed to indicate Obama would do best in the most states with Edwards as VP.

It is therefore not surprising that Edwards was targeted by Rupert Murdoch for a scandal or pseudo scandal. However, you're right. Whether it is true or not, it takes Edwards out the game right now.

I no longer think he's even an option, and that's unfortunate, because it might be entirely based upon lies.

[Inuca]

7. Edwards makes no sense to me n/t

[Clark2008]

14. Me, either.

I never understood his following, given how his record is so DLCish, despite all the swooping populism he tried to talk (lie) about.

[Mass]

4. They do not know better than we do. Who knows?

THere are senators that want to change the way to do things in Washington (not a lot, but there are some). There are governors who do not. In fact, two of the names he lists as non senators are senators (Hagel) or ex senator (Nunn). And Hagel has been voting party line as often or more than Biden and Clinton and certainly more than Bayh (not that I support him, just saying).

[Inuca]

8. Agree

they are reading almost the same tea leaves we are.

[grantcart]

18. well the funny thing would be if they were reading our posts lol

It may be that Obama is interested in trying to get change not simply in the types of issues that are being addressed but also in the way that government functions, meaning wanting to get more flexibility in the state/city and federal relationship.

As a community organizer he may have ideas on how to by pass centralized bureacracies to try and get more resources to the end 'clients'. Now much of the resources for social programs are eaten up before it gets to the community.

[Inuca]

6. Aren't Nunn and Hagel senators?

Ex and almost-ex, but still... I have no idea who it might be, no idea even who I would like it to be, but I agree, if Obama really meant these words, it seemd to exclude a "traditional" senator.

[Sensitivity]

17. Chuck Todd used the phrase "SITTING SENATOR" i.e. someone still focused on that role.

[TwilightGardener]

9. That's an interesting analysis. I agree that when he says he wants

someone who will help him fundamentally change how business is done in DC, that pretty much rules out folks like Biden and Dodd and Bayh and Hillary. That means a Washington outsider--probably a Gov.--OR a newer Senator like McCaskill or Sherrod Brown, but everyone would say, "who?" Plus those folks don't have much experience either. It is a puzzle.

[Schema Thing]

12. He said "shares a vision...of ....change"

He didn't say "someone who is outside the system".




Hell, I think Hillary would be anything BUT change, but he could certainly pick her w/o contradicting himself very much. All they'd have to do is say that she shares his vision, and hey, what a huge change from republicans.


Personally, I hope he's really going to move to the "outside" more than that, but I'm just gonna wait and see. He's not tipping his hand on this one.

[Thrill]

13. Schweitzer or Kaine are going to be the pick

[Sensitivity]

15. WRONG! But seems to be a "CHANGE AGENT" he LIKES TO WORK WITH, Senator or not.

[Occam Bandage]

16. Hopefully that means Kaine is leading the pack.

[Cha]

19. There you go again..being

"clueless":P