FLASHBACK: "It's Gephardt" for Kerry's Vice President

[jefferson_dem]

As rumors swirl, I'm sure we all remember this one from 2004...

"It's Gephardt" for Kerry's Vice President
by Jerome Armstrong, Mon Jul 05, 2004 at 05:05:57 AM EST

Arch Pundit says that "Joyce Aboussie, Gephardt's right hand in the District is being flown out on a private plane. She's telling staffers to be ready for new assignments."
Now, if this tip is right, then to Sam Meyers, who ran Edwards's advance team in the primaries and was just brought on to Kerry's staff to run advance for the preseumptive VP, welcome to your new boss, Joyce Aboussie.

Joyce Aboussie, from the Chris Lehane wing of the Democratic Party consultant world, is the same accused "of threatening retaliation against state employees if two prominent unions assist" Howard Dean in the 2004 Missouri primary, back in December of 2003.

Ah, it makes sense. Afterall, Kerry and Gephardt's team actively worked together behind the scenes to torpedo Howard Dean's candidacy. It's not a stretch to believe that Gephardt, if he couldn't win, brought Dean down in the suicidal manner that he did precisely so that Kerry would win the nomination, and not Dean. Gephardt quickly came out in support Kerry after defeat. Gephardt's top strategy guy, campaign manager Steve Murphy, quickly joined Kerry's team after the defeat. Aboussie & Gephardt to later follow...

Gephardt is perhaps the most tired Democratic candidate in America today. He's lame, he's a loser, he has no future on his own. Kerry choosing Gephardt is the equivalent of Bush having chosen Ashcroft for his administration. Ashcroft was toast, beaten by a dead guy, and Bush resurrected him. Gephardt got 4th in Iowa, where he's been campaigning since 1986, and by all accounts, seemed washed up political history.

But Gephardt is who John Kerry likes. I'm a big believer in that above all, for the VP choice, the only thing that matters is how it clicks, and that people see the Pres/VP as a team that can work together. You know, these guys, Kerry and Gephardt represent the old guard of the Democratic Party. We'll never nominate the likes of them again. So, let them have their last fling with all the covert enthusiasm you can muster.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2004/7/5/5557/36979

[Muttocracy]

1. Seems like Obama's sense of humor would enjoy totally tricking the media ;)

[David Dunham]

2. Gephardt would have been a better pick than Edwards, who stunk as a VP nominee

[DarthDem]

3. THANK you

That's why I get so weary of all the love for Edwards - - I personally like the man and his ideas, but he was ABYSMAL as the Veep nominee. Just did nothing.

[Radical Activist]

6. I don't think that was his fault.

Kerry didn't use him well and their styles and message didn't compliment eachother. He would work much better with Obama, but I'm not expecting it.

[Drunken Irishman]

7. I think Edwards would be a good VP pick for Obama.

But I think it'd take a message that works. You know? Right?

Edwards didn't fit with Kerry, but he does a better job of contrasting with Barack H. Obama.

And I'm drunk.

[DarthDem]

8. Both Good Points

I certainly agree that it's possible that Kerry and his awful advisors just "muzzled" (no disrespect intended by the use of a canine metaphor) Edwards. I don't know. As a former resident of North Carolina, it also annoyed me that Edwards was so obviously itching to get out of the Senate almost from the moment that he arrived, giving the state yet another ridiculous do-nothing senator in the legendary Dick Burr. I don't get the same sort of "I must get out of the Senate" vibe from Barack.

I think Edwards is a terrific guy and love his message, but . . . for whatever reason, he was a terrible choice.

[book_worm]

4. I sometimes think Gep might have been the better choice for Kerry

[Occam Bandage]

5. Who knows--maybe Gep would have actually campaigned in '04.

Nowhere near my first choice if we were to get a mulligan, but it's not like the all-or-nothing final result could have been worse.