Excellent advice from a volunteer in Texas who just registered one thousand new voters! Worth reading, printing, and using as a reference guide.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/23/132922/423/583/555718
Wesley Clark (General-Oklahoma)
Pros:
Cons:
Chances: Low/Moderate. He would be a good choice except for the fact that he's called Obama unfit to be Commander in Chief...kind of a deal breaker. If he can explain himself, however, he might have a chance.
What do you think?
Be sure to check out the other candidates on my short list!
Michael Bloomberg (Mayor-New York City)
Chances: Low. Michael Bloomberg is one of my favorites but while he fits in nicely with the campaign's post-partisan message he doesn't add much else.
Be sure to check out the other candidates on my shortlist!
Chris Dodd (Senator-Conneticut)
Hillary Clinton (Senator-New York)
Chances: Poor. Hillary Clinton's chances has probably always been poor and have grown even more so as the primaries dragged on. Her comments about assassination and her defiance will probably cost her. There is some doubt that she and Bill Clinton will even pass the vetting process due to shady business deals and Bill's affairs. She may very well be the best and the worst choice for Vice President. The Obam campaign has hinted that she wiill probably not be chosen...thank God.
Be sure to check out the other candidates on my short list. Also, more to come later.
Kathleen Sebelius (Governor-Kansas)
Chances: Good. As with Bill Richardson their is a risk with choosing someone from an "oppressed group" for Vice President but her potential strength amongthe three Ws: working class whites, Western States, and women might be more than enough to override that concern.
Be sure to check out the candidates on my short list.
John Edwards (Fmr. Senator-NC)
Chances: Poor. Edwards would make a good choice but he seems genuinely opposed to taking the spot again. He also does very little to bolster Obama's foreign policy credentials or combat his "elitist" image.
Chuck Hagel (Senator-NE)
Chances: Moderate. Do Democrats really want to ensure that a Republican canddiate will have the tie-breaking vote in the Senate? Probably not. It's unkown as to whether Hagel would agree to run as Vice President but if he does, expect to see him near the top of the list.
Be sure to check out the other candidates on my short list.
Bill Richardson(Governor-New Mexico)
Chances: Moderate. Though the thought of two minorities on a ticket might scare some, Obama has already shown that race is not the biggest factor. He would be a good balance to the ticket and help shore up support among Hispanics. He has a shot.
1. Jim Webb (Senator-VA)
Chances:Low. Though Jim Webb is a favorite among many supports I doubt he'll pass the vetting process. His problems among women and the long paper trail of his weird and discordant views are a deal breaker.
Update 6/10: Webb's paper trail gets in the way again. A new article looks at his views towards the Confederacy. http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080610/pl_politico/10994
Is it just me or are a lot of the names being floated around for VP less than thrilling? Obama has recently started his Vice Presidential search but the names being generated aren't generating much excitement as far as I'm concerned. It seems we have bagged the biggest star in the Democratic Party to run for President and we are scraping the barrel to find someone that even comes close as a running mate. I recently read an article about John McCain's search and it would appear that he has plenty of relative young charismatic right-wing religious conservatives from which to shore up his conservative credential and offset fear about his age. Jindal of Louisiana, Crist of Florida, Romney (yeah right), to name a few. I feel less than satisfied with the pool Obama has to pick from and I've come to realize it's because of the odd nature of our primary and our candidates.
We are a party divided. We are a party that has a black candidate. We are a party that has a young relatively inexperienced candidate. We are a party that will undoubtedly upset a lot of women when Hillary Clinton drops out. There has been a lot of talk about Barack Obama choosing a candidate with experience in foreign policy. It seems then the best choice should be Bill Richardson but as much as I believe that our country is ready to elect an African American President; I have not been able to wrap my mind around the idea of Americans electing an African American-Hispanic duo. If he is the best choice, however, than I think Obama shouldn't hesitate to choose him. I'm willing to knock down a few more barriers and glass ceilings.
Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and former Senator Sam Nunn have also been suggested because of their foreign policy experience. The former, however, is a Republican and although he is one of the few in his party to oppose the Iraq War he falls into line when it comes to social issues. It's not going to do a great deal to shore up the woman vote by choosing a pro-life VP. Sam Nunn, though a Democrat, was behind several anti-gay measures and the LGBT community would take up arms if he were chosen. So for the sake of argument let's scratch Richardson, Hagel, and Nunn.
Maybe Barack Obama should choose a woman to somewhat offset the anger brewing over Clinton's defeat. He could choose Clinton...but a lot of his supporters (myself included) wouldn't like that. He might also alienate some of the independents who support him but hate her. And if Barack chooses anyone but Hillary a lot of her supporters will be upset. Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas has been tossed around as a prospect a lot lately. She's Governor of what could become a swing state (though it doesn't account for much as far the Electoral College goes), and she's originally from my state of Ohio, where her Father was Governor. Still she doesn't have that necessary foreign policy exepreince. Neither does Claire McCaskill, the Senator from Missouri.
John Edwards might be a good choice if he dared to run for Vice President again. Yet he is almost just as young and inexperienced as Barack. McCain would have a field day. It seems the best option I've heard so far is Senator Jim Webb of Virginia. He's a former Republican, turned Democrat from the important swing state of Virginia. He's served in the military and his son has served in Iraq. He might also appeal to those working class whites with which Obama allegedly struggles. I don't know much about his views on social issues but as a former Repblican and a well-known moderate I don't hold out much hope.
Lastly, there's Michael Bloomberg, the Democrat, turned Republican, turned Independent Mayor of New York. Usually being a Mayor doesn't provide one with any foreign policy experience...but this is New York after all. He doesn't have much name recognition though and as a Billionaire he doesn't help soften the idea that Obama is somehow elitist.
I've realized that we're not going to find a Vice President that is going to solve all our problems nor should we expect to. Some of us are going to be unhappy no matter who is picked but I urge everyone to remember what we're fighting for...change. As Barack Obama reminds us, in the end this is not about the candidates, it's about us. This seems to have been the campaign of hurt feelings an I hope that no one pouts and stalks off because they didn't feel the right person was chosen for VP. We must all work together for change. I hope everyone keeps that in mind as we move closer to the General Election.
