Just for fun--and because the shelf life on this analysis is almost over, I thought I would blog an email that I sent to Nate Silver, the writer of the fantastic FiveThirtyEight.com blog.
Please note that the following is my analysis--not what I am advocating:
Here's my latest Huffington Post article on the race, posted on Wednesday, August 13:
I don't imagine that Senator Barack Obama's veep vetting team is paying much attention to what I have to say, but I want to make the case for who I think the Land of Lincolner should pick for his running mate.
Since Obama became my party's presumptive nominee on June 3, names like Joe Biden, Tim Kaine, Evan Bayh, and Kathleen Sebelius have dominated the headlines. Jim Webb and Mark Warner took themselves out of consideration earlier this summer, and there's been speculation this week that Hillary Clinton has been asked to deliver the keynote speech at Tuesday night's convention, which pundits say rules out any chance that the junior New York Senator might speak as a Vice Presidential candidate in Denver (never mind that Tuesday, except in 2004, has traditionally been the Vice Presidential nominee's night anyway, which the talking heads seem to overlook).
I was thinking...
Does anyone else find it strange that the man that gave Barack Obama a huge break -- the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention -- endorsed him early along with Ted Kennedy giving him big name credentials before his nomination seemed to be a foregone conclusion, and has spent his own PAC's money to defend Barack against "swiftboat" type attacks does not have a speaking slot at the convention. Of course we're talking about Vietnam War vet Sen. John Kerry. I'm just saying! I can hear the convention speech now, "Four years ago I stood before you and proclaimed 'help is on the way'. Well, today I am hear to proudly say.. help has ARRIVED and HIS NAME IS BARACK OBAMA!"
I've read many detractors of the idea on various posts, but they all seem to be Republicans using lines like "I hope it's him; that will kill Obama." If Republicans don't like it, there must be a reason. I like it (thought I've liked almost all of the picks) for several reasons.
All in all, I think this would be one of the top picks. Right now, though I predicted heavily Clinton, my list of who ought to be veep goes as follows...
1) Wes Clark -- vetran status, military experience, and change to Washington
2) John Kerry -- see above
3) Joe Biden -- many of the above for Kerry, but without the intangibles of just having been in the race four years ago
4) Hillary Clinton -- read other blogs for this one
5) Bill Richardson -- tons of experience, good speaker, good debater, western swing states
All the rest really don't even come close to this top five. I know we want change, but we don't need more inexperience, and we don't need a boring, expected announcement (AKA Bayh).
Just a thought.
Though the recent speculation suggests otherwise, I can't help but be pulled back into thinking Barack will pick Hillary as VP. Despite what some ardent supporters say, the majority of the party, including those who are actually delegates (super or otherwise) want this. Here are some random thoughts brought to the surface by 40 minutes on the treadmill and a shower...
Whomever it is, I'm going to bet Hillary and keep my chips down until I know for a fact otherwise. It seems logical, neccessary, and the kind of overhyped trickery that Obama has become famous for. (No insult there; I'm all for overhype and trickery.) The other trick he could be pulling is naming Webb VP to speak about foreign affairs on Wednesday, meaning that whole overblown letter to Obama (something that never needed to happen, as others just flat out say they don't want the job) a prop to get Webb off the radar so he could be the surprise.
**********************************UPDATE**************************************
Mark Warner has just been named the keynote speaker of the convention and will deliver his speech TUESDAY night. This would make a crowded night, especially when it was being touted as "Hillary's Day" at the convention. This would probably upset Clinton followers as some attention would be diverted from the Hillary butt-kiss fest. THAT IS UNLESS... Hillary will be moved to Wednesday as the VP pick. It even makes more sense now.
For Warner this helps him in his bid for Senate in Virginia. The exposure will get him more turnout, and with Democrats flocking to the polls to get Warner, who is very popular in VA, elected, Obama stands to gain significant votes. This seems to be the plan for winning Virginia, a state he is already close in -- get voters enthusiastic about Warner through a convention speech to gain voters for himself. Appearently, that move means Obama thinks he can win Virginia through more subtle measures than making Kaine, Webb, or Warner the VP.
BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2004
Stephen Romano, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Ecology Corporation (Nasdaq:ECOL), today announced that retired Four Star General Jimmy D. Ross is standing for election to the Company's Board of Directors at its Annual Shareholders Meeting in Chicago, Illinois on May 20, 2004.
"General Ross offers an important independent perspective to our Board," Romano stated, adding "We also look forward to his advice and assistance in expanding American Ecology's business serving the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies."
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General Ross was nominated to fill a Board seat being vacated by Roger Hickey, who is not standing for re-election. Six current directors -- David Anderson, Rotchford Barker, Roy Eliff, Edward Heil, Stephen Schutt, and Romano -- join General Ross on the 2004 Board slate.
General Ross retired from the United States Army as Commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command in Virginia. As the Four-Star General in charge of the Army's research, development, testing, acquisition and sustainment program, General Ross managed 95,000 military and civilian personnel in 40 states and six foreign countries. Among his military assignments, General Ross also served as Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Commanding General of the Army's Depot Systems Command. General Ross has served in command assignments worldwide including two combat tours in Vietnam.
Following retirement, General Ross served as Chief Operating Officer for the American Red Cross where he managed overall business operations and a $2.5 billion budget.
Roger Hickey joined the American Ecology Board in 2002. He leaves to devote his energies to other business enterprises, including his work as President of Chicago Partners, LLC.
"American Ecology's successful turnaround plan substantially benefited from Roger's strategic guidance," Romano noted, concluding "We look forward to his continued interest in the Company as a shareholder."
American Ecology Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides radioactive, PCB, hazardous and non-hazardous waste services to commercial and government customers throughout the United States, such as nuclear power plants, steel mills, medical and academic institutions and petro-chemical facilities. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, American Ecology is the oldest radioactive and hazardous waste services Company in the United States.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, beliefs, and assumptions about the industry and markets in which American Ecology Corporation and its subsidiaries operate. Actual results may differ materially from what is expressed herein and no assurance can be given that the company can successfully implement its growth strategy, generate future earnings, or expand its services to the U.S. Department of Defense. For information on factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to American Ecology Corporation's Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Retired four-star general joins Mahoney on campaign trail
October 18, 2006 By MICHELLE SHELDONE | TC Palm
A retired four-star general and former presidential hopeful traveled coast to coast in Florida Tuesday for Democratic congressional candidate Tim Mahoney and promoting national security.
General Wesley Clark, a Vietnam Army captain turned NATO supreme allied commander who had been instrumental in the Dayton peace talks that ended the Bosnian war, said the country is on the brink of a national disaster.
"We didn't have to go to Iraq," Clark said in rallies held in Charlotte and Palm Beach counties Tuesday. "It's a war we chose to go into. And then we didn't put enough troops in. It's a failing mission despite the courage and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform."
Mahoney, at the rallies, called himself one of the first to state publicly that President George W. Bush should rely on diplomacy and multinational forces in Iraq, and replace American peacekeepers with Muslim peacekeepers.
"My new opponent came out and accused me of trashing the president," Mahoney said of Republican congressional Candidate Joe Negron. Bush confidant James Baker in the meantime recently made a suggestion similar to that of Mahoney, the Democratic candidate said.
Clark told of North Korea readying for another nuclear weapons test and Iran's desire for nuclear weapons. United States military forces are overstretched, he said, with some men and women on their third and fourth tours of duty as a result of Iraq.
"As the administration pushes North Korea with coercive sanctions, it should be aware the North Koreans — they don't bluff. When they get backed into a corner, they may lash out. It's a very volatile and dangerous situation."
At the same time, Clark told of how Republicans get "juiced up" about weapon systems, while Democrats get "real excited" about people. His words came as the congressional race entered the national spotlight since disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley resigned and state Rep. Joe Negron was named in his place.
"It's a campaign now where we have a struggle between House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Karl Rove," Mahoney said. "They've marshaled tremendous forces to try to hold on to power by attacking me personally. By lying about my position on Social Security. By lying about my position on taxes.
They handpicked a candidate, a professional politician whose first public statement was that he believed this campaign was going be a referendum on supporting the president. He wants to stay the course. He believes the strategies being employed right now are the correct strategies."
Mahoney said he supports Bush's goals for winning the war on terror, stopping nuclear proliferation, achieving peace in Iraq and making America safe.
But "after 9/11, I think what we can clearly see is we need a new strategy," Mahoney said.
The hot rumor is now that Barack is back to Wes Clark for VP. This is due to the VP's speaking day being Wednesday at the convention, the day themed "Securing America's Future". The day is supposed to be about foreign affairs, protecting the country, and honoring veterans. The talk immediately switched to Kerry, Clark, Bayh, and Beiden. But once the bloggers realized "Securing America's Future" is Wes Clark's PAC, the spotlight moved entirely on Clark.
I know you're saying, didn't Obama reject and denounce Clark for his comments against McCain's military service. But he didn't really. He said that diminishing McCain's heroism, patriotism, and service wouldn't be accepted by anyone. He never mentioned Clark by name -- so, perhaps Obama doesn't feel Clark was doing that with his comments that crashing a helicopter doesn't make you automatically qulified for the job of president. Which, of course, is obviously true and not demeaning to McCain's service at all.
If we look back at his Meet the Press interview that turned to VP considerations, his answers about not trying to bring a state or get a "yes" man, but rather someone who could change Washington (a capital hill outsider), work with him and tell him when he disagrees, and bring a skill set that will be helpful in our challanges ahead, fit Clark to a T. So, do we have our guy? Who the hell knows at this point...I'll wait for an E-mail Sunday night and a rally Monday morning to find out for sure.
As you all probably know, we've been given the chance to know Barack Obama's vice presidential pick before the "general public". I know its exciting, and certainly, I was one of the first to sign up when I received the email. It sounds great -- expecially for those of us who have been chomping at the bit to know who will be joining Barack on our buttons and bumper stickers. The only problem is, it's not going to be THAT big of a deal to get the email or text message.
I'm sure many members of the press will have gotten the information before hand through their contacts and we will probably know a few hours to a day ahead of time. There will probably be headlines like, "Obama expected to text _________________________ is his VP pick today". Even if nothing gets leaked, and it really happens the way they say it will, members of the media will also be on that list and be writing their headlines ASAP. So, unless you are permanently strapped to your cell phone or computer, you're more likely to see the headline on your internet providers main page before you even log into your email.
Either way, it's a genious move. Get some cell numbers to call and bug for money, get some more publicity and buzz as the talking heads spend all week talking about the move, and show how change oriented and computer savvy the campaign is. Can McCain do this? I doubt it. If his people did a similar thing, he'd probably be the last to know who is VP was! It would at least open up the jokes about his age even more.
So, rumors are abound in the blogosphere. Many point to Hillary, saying that the reason Bill wasn't in the official press announcement of speakers for the convention -- it's been stated he will speak Wednesday before the veep -- is because he will really be taking the Tuesday slot reserved for Hillary, and she will be taking the Wednesday speach as VP. There is a lot pointing toward this resolution to Clinton v Obama, but we've had tons of evidence for this veep and that, and still nothing.
The other most popular rumor -- that he had already chosen Feingold and was just jerking us around to make it a surprise -- seems out the door. Feingold praised McCain and got headlines for it. He assured the public that McCain in power would be a maverick and would piss off the conservative right. That may help increase right wing distain for McCain and actually help in the polls, but at the same time reassured independents making it a crappy way to help Obama. So, he must be out.
I read an interesting one about Caroline Kennedy being named to the vetting committee to find someone better than herself -- Obama's first choice according to the rumor -- and she's been unsuccessful, so Obama is going to force her into action. The theory states that she is definately an outsider, brings the Kennedy brand, the Clinton people will understand picking THIS women and not be upset, and that she's really, really, really smart. I'm not buying this one. Of course with my luck lately, it probably will turn out to be true.
The final rumor is Al Gore. Appearently, he's said some things recently that contradicted his "I can do more good outside of government" and indicate he'd be willing to do America's number two job twice. I doubt this as well. This theory states that Gore is hungry for the White House, and a run in 2016 after veeping for Obama for 8 years is his best chance. I don't like that thought. It seems voters, especially Democratic leaders, would look at the ticket wishing it were reversed, killing enthusiasm for Obama.
I'm not hearing much on Kaine. He seems kinda lame and inexperienced, not to mention unliked by Obama's base because of his record on abortion and not fighting the death penalty. Then there's Bayh, who still may be the front runner if you go with conventional wisdom. What Obama keeps showing us, though, is he is NOT the conventional candidate and is not running the conventional campaign. Just look at Monday's convention schedule. Michelle is getting top billing that evening -- highly unusual. It's a good sign to the world that women are not just there to look pretty and hug the president when he's feeling down. She will be a key aid to him as a president, as she should be, and it will set a precedent for future first ladies. Perhaps we may see Michelle in the Senate some day in her own quest to be the first female president. Stranger things have happened.
Well, looks like we're in for an interesting two weeks. Stay tuned to your email and cell phones.
I read a blog today from someone who claimed to have worked extensively with Obama and also claims to be a personal friend of Hillary Clinton (liar or Senator?) and CLAIMS that they truly are friends. He or she said they both are very competitive and wanted to win, and they both understand that about each other. They have left the primaries behind and are ready to move on (Bill is another question altogether). If this is true, a VP nod may be coming for the Hillster. In their few appearences together since she suspended her campaign, they have looked very chummy together -- good actors or the real deal.
Some speculate that when they took a plane together after Obama met with his VP vetter in his law office, in the company of Caroline Kennedy (another vetter), the deal was done. The rest of this VP tango has been a ruse because he wants it to look like his choice, to be a surprise, and to be considered "defying conventional wisdom" -- an outside the box pick rather than the obvious choice.
Has the entire Democratic party been dragging us along on a magical, mystery ride just to come back to the original "obvious" conclusion. If Hillary's people are moved by her being on the ticket, and Obama's people are satisfied with her praise and the excitement of the convention, this could work out. And I had another thought. For those worried about McCain commercials showing Hillary attacking Obama, what about Obama commercials showing McCain PRAISING Hillary as he did when he was trying to court her supporters. We could probably find enough video of him praising Obama to do a whole string of adds with McCain complementing the entire ticket.
Of course I have also been hearing rumors that Obama had selected Feingold from jump street, and the rest has been a ruse -- from day one. That may be more of a risky pick than we realize. 98 out of 100 on the liberal scale and divorced twice isn't the typical perscription for a Democratic veep. But this hasn't been a typical election cycle. Of course Bayh, Kaine, and Beiden are all still out there looming. The suspense is killing me!
How about this lineup...
As the media continues to predict that Hillary as VP is as good as dead, I think we need to take a closer look. Many who know Obama say he loves to be in control and wants this VP thing to be as secret as possible. He wants us to know nothing until the day HE announces it. So Kaine, Bayh, Beiden -- not so big secrets. There's been more leaks about them then I can count. I think we're being set up for a surprise. Why? Picking Hillary without all this veepstakes circus insanity would look like she forced him into it. Instead, we've been shown that this was a painstaking process done Obama's way to find the person HE, and only he, wants. So, if he comes back to Hillary in the end, it was his decision -- not pressure from her and her supporters. Let's look at the evidence.
One blogger that I read, who claimed to have worked with and around Obama in the past, said she thought Barack was setting us up for a surprise. The only way, according to her, that Obama could keep this whole thing secret from the press would be to lead them astray as much as possible, then drop the bombshell, on his terms. Now, his staff has stated it will not be a surprise. But, with all the speculation about Hillary from "day one", that may be a smart-ass way to say -- no surprise, of course it's Hillary.
Surely, most will disagree, and even be angry at the thought, but I'm just speculating and laying out some evidence. I've done that before incorrectly, though, so why listen to me? Don't. I'm just saying. Either Obama has done a terrible job planning, and his campaign has orchastrated a veep rollout and convention that is going to really piss off the Hillary people, or he's picking her. Keep in mind, the polls show that Barack's slim (and getting slimmer) lead jumps to a 9 or 10 point lead with Hillary on the ticket, fueled by 87% support from Democrats as opposed to 79% by himself. So, as much as you all may say picking Hillary would upset his "base", the stats say something else. Bayh may bring Indiana and Michigan; Kaine may bring Virginia and even North Carolina, but Hillary brings Florida, Ohio, clinches Pennsyvania, and Arkansas -- a total of 74 electoral votes!
Excerpt:
A few months back I wrote a post analyzing the attributes of contenders for the VP spot. The conclusion of that post was that Gen. Wesley Clark was the best pick to be Obama's VP. I mentioned at the time that I had not weighted the different metrics that were used to rank the VP contenders. Given that we know a lot more now about how the general election is going to shape up, it's time to put some weights to the different categories and see if we come up with a different result. Here is my ranking of the metrics: Economic Issues (10 pts) Executive Experience (9 pts) Swing Staters (7 pts) Brand (6 pts) Foreign Policy (5 pts) Women (4 pts) Military Service (3 pts) Hillary Supporters (2 pts) Moderate / Conservative Values (1 pt) The weights are listed in parentheses. Using the categorization that we did in the Veepstakes section for each candidate, here is the ranking of all the VP contenders (it may surprise you)
A few months back I wrote a post analyzing the attributes of contenders for the VP spot. The conclusion of that post was that Gen. Wesley Clark was the best pick to be Obama's VP. I mentioned at the time that I had not weighted the different metrics that were used to rank the VP contenders. Given that we know a lot more now about how the general election is going to shape up, it's time to put some weights to the different categories and see if we come up with a different result. Here is my ranking of the metrics:
Economic Issues (10 pts)
Executive Experience (9 pts)
Swing Staters (7 pts)
Brand (6 pts)
Foreign Policy (5 pts)
Women (4 pts)
Military Service (3 pts)
Hillary Supporters (2 pts)
Moderate / Conservative Values (1 pt)
The full article
After six rounds and more than 77,000 votes cast, Kathleen Sebelius is the winner of the Eyes On Obama Veepstakes. She received 47% (1001 votes) of the votes in the final round. Sebelius was consistently amongst the top 3 vote getters in each round, despite little media coverage. Other contenders shot up but then fizzled away just as quick. Brian Schweitzer came in second place with 41% of the final round. He has also consistently been in the top tier of candidates despite almost no discussion of him in the media. In terms of total votes from all the rounds though, he is actually in 3rd place behind Wesley Clark. So what does it all mean? It's hard to say who Obama will pick from the sea of contenders, but one thing is clear - his supporters on Eyes On Obama are looking for someone outside of Washington. The final round saw two governors and a mayor (Michael Bloomberg), and the round before included Gen. Clark and Sen. McCaskill, who has only been in the senate for 18 months. In case you don't know much about Kathleen Sebelius, she is a two term governor of Kansas. She has forged productive relationships with Republicans in her state, to the point of convincing the former chair of the Republican party to run as a Democrat. She is Catholic, and her father, John Gilligan, was Governor of Ohio. Sebelius delivered this year's Democratic rebuttal to the State of the Union.
After six rounds and more than 77,000 votes cast, Kathleen Sebelius is the winner of the Eyes On Obama Veepstakes. She received 47% (1001 votes) of the votes in the final round. Sebelius was consistently amongst the top 3 vote getters in each round, despite little media coverage. Other contenders shot up but then fizzled away just as quick.
Brian Schweitzer came in second place with 41% of the final round. He has also consistently been in the top tier of candidates despite almost no discussion of him in the media. In terms of total votes from all the rounds though, he is actually in 3rd place behind Wesley Clark.
So what does it all mean? It's hard to say who Obama will pick from the sea of contenders, but one thing is clear - his supporters on Eyes On Obama are looking for someone outside of Washington. The final round saw two governors and a mayor (Michael Bloomberg), and the round before included Gen. Clark and Sen. McCaskill, who has only been in the senate for 18 months.
In case you don't know much about Kathleen Sebelius, she is a two term governor of Kansas. She has forged productive relationships with Republicans in her state, to the point of convincing the former chair of the Republican party to run as a Democrat. She is Catholic, and her father, John Gilligan, was Governor of Ohio. Sebelius delivered this year's Democratic rebuttal to the State of the Union.
This is a summerization of a post from Strategy '08 that shows why I think Kathleen Sebelius is the best choice for Barack Obama's VP. I think that the VP should be someone that the President is both comfortable with and has confidence in their ability to also lead on day one. And with all the talk of Tim Kane and Biden I thought I should raise a little spotlight on someone who is still concidered to be on Obama's FINAL FOUR!
Please ... Just for this one-minute commercial interruption...
I realize you took on John McCain's "challenge" to talk to the generals and the troops on the ground, and I realize you made it clear before you left that you are a Senator and George Bush is still president...for now.
However. because you are a black man, your current stancing in the Middle East is going to be viewed as arrogance. If you were SENATOR McCain, it would be viewed as positive and a good move; but you are not McCain, or any white man of their liking, particularly the American press; therefore, the stance you are taking overseas right now is only going to be viewed as your being "arrogant" and "getting beside yourself" as if you are already in charge.
Besides, until you've been elected, it's not your job to clean up McBush's messes. I know they are treating you over there as if you've already been elected and that's beyond your control at this point, but the folks over here in the USA are the ones at the polls come November.
Tread lightly, sir. It's not your job (yet) to appease the Middle East on either side, or to wipe the Repuglicans' behinds just because the school bully McCain picked a fight and challenged you to a duel. You didn't have to prove anything to him, and you went over there and saw exactly what you already knew was there, because you are a very smart man and should not be taken lightly or underestimated. However, temperance is expedient at this time because these people will make all of this positive press backfire on you and bring you back to earth before you can boil a two-minute egg.
I know the Palestinians are expecting business as usual with you if you are elected, and the Israeli occupiers who have taken over their homeland are expecting that you better side with them if you know what's good for you; but you aren't doing America any favors by doing so, and you certainly would not be currying favor with God if you did so. These Israeli occupiers do nothing for this country except cause problems and cause our citizens to lose their lives and their rights over something that they (and we) shouldn't have been involved in in the first place.
That Israel is not God's Israel -- so please tread lightly.
America should never have taken sides on this in the first place and eventually those "arab" people, or Palestinians, or Muslims, or whatever else these racially divisive Americans are calling them are going to win -- the Bible says so, and it's not going to be up to you or anyone else when all of this comes to a head.
I want to see you win in November, but now isn't the time to be 'acting presidential.' In your case, they will call it "arrogance." If you were at least 90% white, they'd call it assertiveness and a show of strength on your part.
Just like me sir. If I am a strong black woman on my job who knows my business and let people know that I know my business, it will be called "aggressiveness" and having an "attitude problem" and would be painted up as something negative.
However, a white woman with a strong personality at work will be smiled upon and called a "go-getter" who "knows what she wants" and "knows how to get it." I daresay sleeping with the boss will get you called a lot of good things at the job, but I am a person who believes that if I can't get what I want out of life on the strength of my own merits, I probably don't need it anyway and can learn to do without.
Same racism as before - just different times and verbiage. Tread lightly, sir. Please.
Signed,
A Constituent Supporter
By Ryan Luse
In this important and historic election, the guessing game of Barack Obama’s VP choice is as fun and exhilarating as a cosmic version of Fantasy Football. Here would be my top five picks; some I think would help him win, others because I am a Democrat who likes to dream.
5. Joe Bidden
He is sharp, funny and has deep political experience. He is also fiercer than a rabid donkey that makes him a likable but tough counter attack to the Republican’s shenanigans. Pros: Can hit McCain hard on foreign policy. Cons: He tends to hit everyone hard and in eight years he’ll be in his 70’s and we all know that’s too old for President- oh, nevermind.
4. TIE: John Edwards & Bill Richardson
John Edwards
Politics aside, he is just a likable guy and you believe him when he preaches issues he is passionate about like poverty and education. His star only seems to be rising this 2nd time around and just maybe he will truly help this time. Pros: Appeals to everyday Americans despite that $400 haircut. Cons: Been there done that.
Bill Richardson
The Governor has one of most impressive resumes of the party and is like the Don on foreign policy issues. Pros: The Hispanic vote and global respect. Cons: Has our country matured enough to vote for an African American and a Hispanic on the same ticket?
3. Dennis Kucinich
Yes, this Ohio Congressman who believes in UFO’s, is quirky (in a cool way) and his wife is a, well… a beautiful distraction. However, if you listened to his debates or his 35 articles of Bush impeachment reading, his banter is brilliant and brave and often revolutionary. Pros: Smart, green and anti Iraq as they get. Cons: The media portrays him like a weird woodland creature and is more liberal than Obama which = no chance.
2. Hillary Clinton
This is either the dream ticket of all time or a potential apocalypse, some see it threatening Obama’s “change” message but there is no denying she made a few million cracks in that glass ceiling and times were good when her hubby was in charge. Some say Kathleen Sebelius would be a safer bet, but Clinton would no doubt be a braver one. Pros: 18 million happy voters. Cons: A lot of grumpy “yes we can” Obama voters and a spotlight loving husband.
1. Al Gore
There is a better chance of me accidentally attending a Norm Coleman rally than this epic scenario. This Nobel Prize, Oscar winner and legend among the left has transcended politics even if he didn’t really invent the internet. The inconvenient truth however is that if Gore threw himself once again into the harsh political arena his luminous image would be tarnished. Pros: Could electrify and inspire voter turnout. Cons: A million to one odds.
www.myspace.com/epictimes
From: http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/1954/76457.html
Former voting machine exec looking to become America's next Vice President?
Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 9:57 am:
We all need to contact Barack Obama to let him know we will not accept Chuck Hagel as his VP!!!!!
I have been waffling on my idea of what Senator Obama needs to win the nomination, but I've now had an epiphany, and the best candidate is Governor Martin O'Malley of Maryland.
The best decision Bill Clinton made was to choose Al Gore, as his VP, instead of trying to find regional or ideological balance, he chose to solidify the New Southern charm of his ticket and it worked. The same can go for this ticket. A lot of people discuss Obama's need to have a military person or older person on the ticket, but that is not necessary. Senator Obama is more than capable of handling himself in the military realm as we have seen over past few weeks. Pundits have said that he needs Senator Clinton, but she brings nothing to the ticket besides her name recognition, but Barack is going to need to address McCain's support of a failed war policy, and if McCain can just turn around and say your VP supported the war, it will undercut his message of change.
This is how I got to Martin O'Malley, besides the great sound of the big 'O' ticket, but this solidifies the idea of change, youth, and the Washington-outsider. Furthermore, O'Malley has executive experience as Mayor of Baltimore and Governor of Maryland, plus he has the working-class bona fides to help that alleged deficiency on Barack's side.
Martin O'Malley also comes from a below the Mason-Dixon line state that directly borders Virginia and Pennsylvania (two major battleground states). O'Malley is also Irish Catholic, which will definitely help bring PA and NJ. On top of this geographical/biographical balance, O'Malley has major homeland security experience which can help on that side.
Obama-O'Malley 2008: Change We Can Believe In (Think About It)
Take care,
Malik
Now that Senator Obama has clinched the nomination and Senator Clinton is backing down from her threat of a convention fight, we can expect a lot of speculation and advice on potential running mates.
Obviously there has been great discussion of putting Hillary Clinton on a so-called "dream ticket." Others have pointed to the various merits of Senator Jim Webb of Virginia, Governor Kathy Sebelius of Kansas, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and even Mayor Bloomberg of New York.
Those are all fine candidates, and perhaps soon I'll delve into my thoughts on each of them. But for now I'd like to propose what I think would be the perfect ticket. The vice presidential candidate I envision needs the following qualities:
Ladies and gentlemen, there is one candidate I know of who fits all of these criteria. One candidate who would truly make the perfect running mate.
I submit, for your consideration, the following ticket.
Obama/Bettis '08.
Get on the Bus.
I'm sure Barack's waiting with bated breath for these pearls of wisdom...1) hang out with lots of working class white people (duh!)2) explain how helping ordinary Americans economically is consistent with fiscal responsibility
3) emphasize that the Iraqi people want us out and explain how genocide will be avoided
4) signal that health care mandate could be phased in if his current plan doesn't work as well as envisioned (too many young, healthy people opting out, relying on emergency room, and driving up costs for those paying premiums.)
5) Explain long membership at Trinity United Church of Christ as the result of a strong personal connection arising from his 'finding Jesus Christ,' which overrode a long-standing intellectual disconnect, while at the same time emphasizing the most progressive elements of the New Testament. Don't stress as a campaign theme, but every time it comes up, talk in a very personal way about the personal importance of Jesus and his progressive, inclusive, world-engaging ethics to Obama. Change the subject from Wright to Jesus, in a way that strikes the right tone for progressives.
6) Double-down on change: Pick a female governor (or other executive) as a running mate. This may p.o. Hillary (see http://www.americablog.com/2008/06/clinton-campaign-hillarys-not-gonna.html) and even, at first, many of her core supporters, but given a few months to consider someone like Sebelius on her own merits, many of Hillary's female supporters who overlooked her flaws mainly because she met the litmus test of a 'qualified woman' will have reason to reclaim their dream of a woman president in the the not so distant future. Obama has said a) he wants someone who brings expertise he doesn't have b) foreign policy savvy is not one of those personal deficits c) operational management skills may be (remember debate response about being disorganized). Interestingly, Wes Clark reportedly plugged Kathleen Sebelius for VP at a wind energy event in Texas (Reported on Politico (see http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Wes_Clark_floats_ObamaSebelius.html).
