Kerry VP Rumor

[The empressof all]

Perhaps I was still asleep but I heard this morning on my news radio station that Chuck Hagel (Rep) is being considered by Kerry team for VP. Report indicated that he was very ambitious, a veteran, and apparently open to the idea. Heard it on 1000 AM in Seattle. I did quick google search for more info but couldn't find a link.
Anyone hear anything more about this.

Not an endorsement on my part-I support Clark

[onehandle]

1. Republican. Not a chance. nt

[Lindsey]

2. I haven't heard...

but I don't know that much about him so I can't even give an opinion.

[Straight Shooter]

3. DU historians -- have we ever in US history had such rampant rumors

of one political party candidate choosing a veep from the other party?

I'm getting a wee bit tired of these rumors. It makes kerry look weak, as if he can't be trusted to make it on his own unless he's buttressed by a big Repub name. It makes the Dem party appear indecisive and nonconfident. There are plenty of great individuals within kerry's party that he can choose from.

[dsc]

4. I would imagine it happened at least once before

Abe Lincoln, a Republican, had Andrew Johnson, a Democrat on his ticket in 1864.

[Straight Shooter]

10. I am not history-savvy. Were the party differences as stark as currently?

Maybe they had more common ground. There is so much rancor between Dems and Repubs, I would prefer that the Dems hold their ground, otherwise it looks like we're throwing the Repubs a really big juicy bone. And if anything happens to kerry, there we are with a Repub in the Oval Office again.

Just my .02.

[dsc]

20. The big difference back then

was the role of African Americans in society. I presume that Johnson was less pro slavery than the majority of Demcorats were in his day but that was a big issue between the parties. When Johnson took office there were constant disputes between he and the Republican Congress over the extent to which the South would have to permit African Americans to participate in citizenship.

[Yupster]

37. As stark as today?

Yeah kind of. When Lincoln, the first Republican president got elected, the southern Democrats said that's it, we're out of here. I guess that would qualify as stark.

[Alerter_]

5. it's either really smart or really stupid

If they are smart, it's positioning Kerry in the center and drawing non-wingnut Republicans away from the Bush regime.

If they aren't smart, it's running the Republican campaign for them and giving GOP stars free good publicity.

Which is it? I guess we'll find out.

[Eric J in MN]

6. I'm not a historian, but there are plenty of good Democrats who

I'm not a historian, but there are plenty of good Democrats who can serve as vp. We don't need a Republican vp in 2005.

We've had a Repbulican vp for 3 1/2 years, and I haven't liked it.

[msanger]

14. It makes him look strong enough to be inclusive n/t

[Vickers]

7. I heard another rumor: Kerry is secretly building a ranch in Crawford, TX

No shit!

I read it on the internet, so it must be true.

[Catch22Dem]

8. I have mixed feelings on these Repuke vp rumors

On one hand, I won't have a repuke VP. No way Jose.

On the other hand, these rumors may serve to lure moderate repukes, who have never considered Kerry, to at least give Kerry the ol' once over. Perhaps when they do, they'll realize Kerry is the better choice. Then Kerry can pick a good Dem as VP and these moderate repukes will already have made their minds up to dump Bush. So, it could be the means to a very nice end.

[koopie57]

17. If these rumors are serving a purpose

fine, but to humiliate all the democrats who he has worked with over the years and who have proven themselves strong, trustworthy, intelligent, by selecting a republican running mate just makes my skin crawl. It seems disloyal and arrogant. In eight years, this republican will be running for president. The democrats can work together and win this if they stay united. For crying out loud, look at what they are running against. Put a teletubby in a good expensive suit and one of them could win. They really don't need to go crawling to the republicans once again. I want to see confidence and a damn backbone or nothing will have changed after all we have been through and fought against. If we want to show nonpartison , start rumors about McCain as secretary of defense or republicans filling certain roles in the administration, but to pick one as a running mate just seems like we don't have enough qualified people on our own side.

[kstewart33]

9. He would be an interesting choice

And could be a winner. I have great respect for Hagel, for his military record, and for his courage in his outspokeness about Bush's foreign policy and Iraq policy. Hagel is a good man. I hope the rumor is true.

[Kahuna]

23. If Hagel switched parties, I think I could get behind him.. Of course..

it would depend on where he has been on Democratic issues, such as Pro Choice, Affirmative Action, Civil Unions, the ecology, etc... If he's on the right side of these issues and switches parties, I could get behind this. He seems to be very on edge about bushco and their policies. Who knows. Maybe he's courting Kerry.

:tinfoilhat:

[TheFarseer]

11. You have to understand I'm from Nebraska

so I would be doing backflips if this turned out to be true. Hagel barely trys to hide the fact that he truely dislikes Bush and would love nothing better than to totally fuck him over. That being said, this would be a huge gamble for Chuck and I'm not sure he would do it.

[Kahuna]

24. You are right. Hagel obviously cannot stand Bush. Any chance..

that he would switch parties to run as V.P?

[stevedeshazer]

12. Why do this?

First McCain, now Hagel?

THEY ARE REPUBLICANS!

It's reported that Hagel dislikes Bush, but that should make us want a Republican just a heartbeat away from the Presidency?

Nonsense.

[Kahuna]

27. What if he became a Democrat? I agree. Absolutely no fusion ticket...

And, McCain is obviously too conservative to be considered. If Kerry selected McCain it would be a huge mistake because it would alienate the progressive base who actually care about the issues. But a moderate (I'm assuming Hagel is, don't know if he is) who would switch parties would be a devasting blow to bushco. Also, Hagel is damned attractive and personable. Wouldn't hurt.

[Renew Deal]

28. I think the point is...

uniting the country. I don't know anything about Hagel policy wise, but it's not about him or Kerry. It's about giving the country leadership it can trust and respect. I think this talk is a sign of how desperate people are.

[Renew Deal]

32. He is anti-choice, anti-tax, anti-environment, very pro-defense spending

http://www.vote-smart.org/npat.php?can_id=BC031069

[Kahuna]

33. Ewww. I guess not then..

:shrug:

[Jack Rabbit]

34. Under extraordinary circumstances, this can be supported

The circumstances under which a national unity ticket could be considered are unlikely, but not implausible.

I would not support one at this time. That could change, but it isn't likely to. It is not a bad thing to discuss.

See post 19.

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. Seems to me that the continued Repub VP

look-sees only show a short term vision...that is, to win the election. Since the VP presides as a tie-breaking vote, having a Repub in the chair (even under a Dem President) could be very risky business for passing laws and conducting business of the country.

[The empressof all]

15. not necessarily-but I'm cynical

The VP serves at the pleasure of the President and in true political mode it would not serve his/her interests to vote against White House preference. These folks know which side their bread is buttered and if it were Hagel or any other Republican they would follow the game plan as part of the signing agreement.

[immoderate]

30. "The VP serves at the pleasure of the President "????

I don't think so.

--IMM

[ThomWV]

16. Chuck Hagel? That's Not How You Spell Wes Clark

Our next VP will be Wes Clark.

[JorgeTheGood]

18. Hagel = Diebold n/t

[Kahuna]

29. That would be a plus for us. Yes?

:evilgrin: Reason enough to consider Hagel if he would become a Democrat to run with Kerry.

[Yupster]

38. But why would he do it?

He'd throw away his future in the Republican, and as a pro-life tax cutter, he'd have no future in the Democratic Party. Makes no sense to me.

[Jack Rabbit]

19. I don't think so, but let's keep an open mind

If the convention were to be held today, it is almost certain that Kerry would choose a fellow Democrat as his running mate.

The convention is being held in July.

The Bush junta is full of surprises, almost all unpleasant ones aimed at undermining American democracy. Let's consider a fantastic, extremely unlikely scenario that would be ludicrous from any other administration in American history except this one.

Let's say we catch Bush plotting to circumvent the election and remaining in power in spite of being rejected by voters. Support for Bush would then become untenable, regardless of one's personal ideology. Among the pundits, only the disreputable ones would stand by him. Coulter would support him, maybe Limbaugh and Hannity, but not Will and probably not Novak and definitely not Safire. Among Congressmen, he will get support from DeLay and Inhofe, but moderate Republicans like Chaffee, Snowe, Collins and Christopher Shea and sober conservatives like Hagel and McCain would drop him like a bad habit and openly support Kerry.

Under those circumstances, a national unity ticket with Kerry for President and a sober conservative Republican like Hagel or McCain for Vice President would be an excellent idea. It would do what is really necessary in American politics: restore the balance that yuppie fascists and neo-conservatives have upset. It would make it clear that there is a difference between a conservative, with whom we can have a dialog, and a fascist, who wants to put anybody who disagrees with him behind barbed wire at Gitmo. It would marginalize the fascists once and all.

It would not last. It would not be intended to last. However, it just might heal the wounds that the Bushies have inflicted.

[KC21304]

21. For Sec. of Defense in a minute but not VP

[AntiCoup2K4]

22. Hagel would have one advantage

At least his voting machines wouldn't be programmed to vote for Bush.

[Kahuna]

31. Hel-lo!!!! Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants to bushco?

nt

[Renew Deal]

25. I have heard that before.

I Don't much about Hagel except he is a stand up guy.

[immoderate]

26. I'm putting my foot down!

No Republican VPs for Kerry.

That's it! We shall no longer entertain these thoughts.

--IMM

[Eileen]

35. Hagel - Just like McCain is another PIG

That's PIG meaning Pro Involuntary Gestator.

McCain is one of the sponsors of the - Phantom Procedure Scam - {called 'PBA' by the PIGs in the Anti Abortion Propaganda Industry (AAPI)} and Hagel has spoken in favor of such bans both in his home state and in the Senate. His anti-choice stand for women in the services requiring an abortion is just another unsurmountable negative for him.

The women of this country and in fact this world have had more of these PIGs than they can stand and it will take decades to undo the damage and regain the rights these misogynists have removed and trampled.

Get this straight rumor mill. We want NO FUCKING PIG REPUGNANTS on the ticket.

- Eileen`s always in process page -


Eileen

[Pathwalker]

36. Is it too much to ask for a damn DEMOCRAT for VP?

If I wanted a Republican on the Democratic ticket, I'd just as soon vote Repuke. I WON'T VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN - especially one on the Democratic ticket!!! Got it??

[JI7]

39. "Rumor"

[surfermaw]

40. Republican talk

That is all it is just like McCain people fighting for McCain in my opinion are republicans in sheep clothing.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

41. Another IGNORANT rumor started by someone that understands that...

...quite a few Democrats are gullible as hell.

[kstewart33]

43. I hope the rumor is true

Hagel would make a fine VP. Forget his record. That's not what this is about. This is about isolating the far right, and more importantly, about trying to unite the country behind a bipartisan leadership.

Now that's a concept isn't it? Sounds like a fine one to me.

[fujiyama]

42. It's a silly rumor

and I think Hagel has said he's not interested (though I think he does get along well with Kerry).