My top three for VP. What are yours?

[maxrandb]

I would like to get some DU'ers opinions on the VP stakes. I have a top three with reasons. Who do you pick and why?

1. Bill Richardson (Gov of New Mexico) - Energetic, polished, swing-state, great appeal to Hispanic voters. Could go a long way to defuse the Kerry has no minorities in leadership positions RW talking point. I think Gov Richardson could deliver NM, AZ and make huge inroads into FLA and TX.

2. Mary Landreau (Sen from LA) - Youthful, great speaker, and a tough woman in the Ann Richards mold. She doesn't seem to pull punches and won a state-wide race in normally repuke LA. She could help a great deal with LA and other southern states. Don't want to completely write off the south.

3. William Cohen (former Secretary of Defense under Clinton) - former Republican and extremely moderate. Could reach across party lines to draw moderate repukes and those dis-illusioned with * to the Democratic ticket. Extremely well liked and respected in the military community. I know because I am one. This guy could bring a ton of military votes our way.

Those are my top three.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Cohen is an interesting choice.

If a bi-partisan ticket is ever seriously considered, I could live with this choice. Bill used to be my Rep/Senator and he's always been a straight shooter. I'd be much happier with him than McCain.

[gWbush is Mabus]

16. isn't Cohen a PNACer?

[Old and In the Way]

30. I doubt it.......Bill is Jewish, but I've never heard him expound on the

need for the US to dominate the ME.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Wes Clark, Wes Clark and

Wes Clark.

[wellstone_democrat]

3. Yep, Clark, Clark, Clark

since I don't seem to be allowed to have him for President now...

[JI7]

4. john edwards, mark warner, mary landrieu/john breaux

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Kucinich, Dean, Edwards, McKinney, Richards, Moseley-Braun

Dennis is clearly first place. The ranks of the others.. not so sure. But they are the names that come to mind.

[Warpy]

6. Three DINOs. How nice.

Most of us would prefer to see the ticket balanced by someone who is a competent orator and who did well in primaries, like John Edwards. Wes Clark would also be stellar.

It may come as a shock, but Richardson is not universally admired in his home state. He campaigned on a promise to end the regressive sales tax on food and medical care. What he DID was drop taxes on the rich. That created a shortfall, and he found it necessary to get legislation passed to allow him to dip his paws into the principal of the state emergency fund to give teachers a pittance of a raise.

This year, we did end the tax on food and medical care, but he took great pains to make it "revenue neutral" by raising taxes elsewhere, something he didn't think to do with his giveaway to the rich.

If you want a damn Repuglican, vote for Bush. The rest of us want an alternative.

[maxrandb]

21. I'm not sure if your inferring that the 3 I listed are DINO's

Or what. Cohen is not a PNAC'er. He was respected and trusted enough by the Big Dog to run the Defense Department, and he is very well thought of by military folks.

Are you saying that anyone slightly to the right of Mosley-Braun or Kucinich is a DINO? If that's the case then you are going to ensure that we Democrats are a minority party for at least a few generations.

That is the problem with fringe of both parties and a lot of people in general. If you don't get the "instant gratification" then you throw up your hands and say "he's a DINO".

What is wrong with Richardson changing his mind and being flexible based on reality. The bulldog, "stay the course" no matter what reality is, is evident in Iraq right now. So what if he needed to modify some of his policies? It sounds like he did end the tax and that the teachers got a raise, while at the same time he didn't run his state into the ground like * is doing to the country.

I admire a person that can find ways to get what they want done, even if it means that he has to change his mind, or piss some people off to do it.

[NewJeffCT]

7. My top 3

in alphabetical order

Wesley Clark
Max Cleland
Bill Richardson

[bullimiami]

28. 3

I think Cleland is a very interesting choice which is growing on me.

Edwards or Clark. OK.




alternately

McCain only if he switches parties or goes independent.

Hillary would make the cons go insane, thats fun to think of.

[Rosco T.]

8. edwards, clark, cohen n/m

[Eric J in MN]

9. John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Richard Gephardt (nt)

nt

[wryter2000]

10. In alphabetical order

Wes Clark, John Edwards, Bob Graham

[Neshanic]

11. Another Clark, Clark, and Clark, and just in case Clark

Richardson would not deliver Arizona, Arizona would be on a platter for Clark, or a Nunn type VP.

[Oddman]

12. Mark Warner

Wes Clark

Tom Brokaw

Although I do think cohen is an interesting choice, plus he's married to Janet Langhart who is pretty special.

[truthspeaker]

13. Clark, Clark, and Clark. But if I have to pick three:

1. Wes Clark

2. Henry Waxman

3. John Edwards

[salin]

18. echo but with a fourth (I can't choose three)

Clark, Waxman, (Bob) Graham, Edwards.

[Renew Deal]

14. McCain, Bob Dole, Chuck Hagel

[JI7]

31. HAHHAHA

[ElementaryPenguin]

15. Wes Clark, Wes Clark, William Cohen

Clark is the man - Cohen is a pretty good idea. Even if we had to use a "reformed" McCain in order to get rid of Bushler - I'd support that as well.

[stilladeaniac]

17. Dean, Feingold, Richards

My top three:
1. Howard Dean (Former Gov Vermont) - Who better as an attack dog?
2. Russ Feingold (Sen from WI) - True progressive that doesn't buckle under pressure. Had the courage to vote against the patriot act. Straightshooter with a very interesting personality. The other half to McCain-Feingold.
3. Ann Richards (Former Gov Texas) - Witty Texan. Very aggresive attack dog type that says it like it is. "Poor George, he couldn't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth"

[DustMolecule]

20. Russ Feingold....that's a good thought

and I like him just for the reasons you cited.

My three would be:

Howard Dean
Dennis Kucinich
and
Russ Feingold

[stilladeaniac]

23. Thanks. I also think my picks would best bring...

...life/energy to the campaign. (something the Kerry campaign desperately needs)

...conviction to the Kerry camp, amid accusations of flip-flop after flip-flop. This is something that an Edwards or a Clark would/could not do.

...larger support of progressives (making Nader a non-factor)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

19. Wesley Clark, John Edwards, Marc Warner/Tom Vilsack

[Trailrider1951]

22. Ok, I'll add my 3:

In this order: Max Cleland, John Edwards, and Wes Clark.

Also, that funny Ann Richards quote was about G Bush the first. The appropriate saying for G Bush the second is: "Poor George. He couldn't help it. He was born with a silver spoon up his nose!"

[mzmolly]

24. Edwards/Clark/Richardson? Of course I'm not suggesting Dean because

it won't happen. But, I'd love to see Kerry/Dean!

[stilladeaniac]

26. Why not?

Dean is the BEST attack-dog, the BEST fund-raiser, and the BEST man suited for the job. Who best to say "I told you so" on Iraq?...

It's that exact type of negativity which sent Dean down in the first place.

*Rewinds his VCR and plays an excerpt from the "Dean is not electable" media/ad blitz*

[mzmolly]

32. He is my number one choice, but I don't think he's being considered.

Why, is a good question.

[stilladeaniac]

33. My best guess....

The media doesn't want him as VP because he represents real change so the pundits are not throwing around his name for VP. For example, the very thought of the media conglomerates being broken up makes them cringe.

Kerry has been spending more time with Dean than anyone else lately, and it's possible that Kerry and the DLC realize the potential of a truely progressive VP candidate in a time where the people are yearning for real change.

[mzmolly]

34. Could be? But, I think they formally *vet* considerations, and as far as

I know, Dean's not been vetted?

Welcome to DU BTW!

[stilladeaniac]

37. Thanks. n/t

n/t

[Kurovski]

38. I dunno, Kerry and Dean have spent a lot of time together.

It wouldn't suprise me if he got it.

My picks: Howard, Russ or Wes.

[mzmolly]

39. Sure would be nice!

But ultimately I want to win. I would love to see some polls showing Deans effect as Veep?

[CBHagman]

25. I only have two so far.

I recommend John Edwards for his charisma, idealism, vitality, and crossover appeal. I think he would be a fine candidate all over the country, but it never hurts to have a leg up in the South.

The only problems with Edwards are -- and this is ridiculous, given that he's 50 -- youth and his role as a trial lawyer. The satanic Cheney and Bush will try to make something of that.

My other big candidate is Wesley Clark, who has the high-ranking military experience and also the crossover appeal, plus international experience.

I like a number of other candidates but don't yet have a feel for who would be best. Ideally, it would be someone with executive branch experience. It wouldn't hurt if he/she is telegenic, articulate, and from somewhere other than the Northeast (and I say that as a born Northeasterner).

[Lindsey]

27. Wes Clark, John Edwards, ?

n/t

[DaveSZ]

29. :)

1. Wes Clark

2. John Edwards

3. Bob Kerrey

[VOX]

35. Wes Clark, John Edwards, Dick Gephardt.

And although Dick Gephardt has been a fine public servant, I fear that he would bring virtually no energy to the ticket.

Clark and Edwards comprise my shorter short-list.

[TexasSissy]

36. Doesn't Landrea have a high-pitched, tinny voice?

I think I heard her in the Congress on CSpan giving a speech. If that was her, I think she had an irritating, high pitched, tinny voice. I wouldn't want to hear that voice for four years.

But if that wasn't her, then never mind!