WP: The new ABB is Anybody But Bayh.

[Occam Bandage]

Just 14 days from now, the vice presidential nominee of the Democratic Party is to take the prime-time stage at the party's convention in Denver and become a key piece of Barack Obama's presidential aspirations and the future of the Democratic Party.

The antiwar left does not want that person to be Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana.

On liberal blogs, on Facebook, and in private, online conclaves, liberal activists are trying to thwart the selection of Bayh, whose support for the invasion of Iraq, mild persona and moderate social politics have raised their fury. They are not wild about the other finalists, either. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden (D-Del.) was a reluctant supporter of the Iraq war resolution, and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has become suspect on the environment for some liberals.

But Bayh has earned their unparalleled animus.

"Now that Joe Lieberman is no longer a Democrat, can't pick anyone in the Democratic Party worse than Evan Bayh," fumed Max Bernstein, whose anti-Bayh Facebook page now has 2,186 members.

That's a far cry from the 100,000 his nascent page is shooting for, but the site is not the only focal point of the burgeoning anti-Bayh movement. Ari Melber at the Washington Independent has been busy chronicling Bayh's demerits, including, principally his co-sponsorship of the 2003 congressional resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq and his co-chairmanship of the pro-invasion Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. Others have pointed to his leadership of efforts to ban so-called partial birth abortion, which they say shows that he is willing to go along with anti-abortion canards to burnish his moderate image. Then there are his blow-dried good looks and aw-shucks demeanor -- hallmarks of a career pol they insist could never help Obama actually win Indiana much less the White House.

The liberal, invitation-only Townhouse e-mail list-serve has been buzzing with anti-Bayh ferment of late, especially since Obama is widely expected to name his running mate early next week. But Obama has also shown he is willing to hold the liberal blogosphere at arms length, most recently by ignoring Internet entreaties to abandon support for a compromise bill on warrantless wiretapping.

Still, the left's Bayh fixation may be having an impact. The Bayh buzz has died down a bit. The new media darling appears to be Biden.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/14/the_new_abb_is_anybody_but_bay.html

Needless to say, I'm hoping Bayh doesn't come anywhere near this ticket. He's one of the most conservative Dems in the Senate, and I'd like to see Obama enter this election with his base remaining far more energized than McCain's. I'd still support the ticket enthusiastically, but I admit Bayh would be a bit of a buzzkill.

[TwilightGardener]

1. How stupid. I hope Obama makes his decision regardless of a few vocal

assholes who apparently have nothing better to do. Tim Kaine's not my first choice, nor Sam Nunn, but I'm not going to try to start a "movement" against them--because they are members in good standing of the Democratic party, and Obama has a right to choose whomever he wants.

[bluethruandthru]

2. Anyone who supports a constitutional amendment

to prevent gay marriage should not be on the Democratic ticket!

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

3. What is this "finalist" bullshit anyway?

Since when does the media determine who the finalists are on the VP list?

[DarthDem]

4. Bayh has no chance

Just a headfake to build up his cred as a surrogate in the fall, the keep McSame playing defense in Indiana.

[nsd]

5. This ABB stuff is overblown.

The Netroots are unusually vocal, but they're not representative of the Democratic party as a whole.

I don't think we should be preemptively tearing down any of the candidates. I trust Obama to have good judgment.

[Faygo Kid]

6. The Washington Post: Front page coverage of the Corsi book today. That's right, A1.

Not the steak sauce.

Screw The Washington Post. I get it every day (significant other wants it), and it is just garbage now.

I fully expect them to endorse McCain. Because endless war is a good thing, right?

No Bayh supporter here; I don't want him on the ticket. But The Washington Post has lost credibility, to say the least.

[salonghorn70]

7. Let Me Make Sure I Understand This

Close to 36,000,000 voters participated in Democratic primaries and caucuses. And this guy has 2186 members on a Face Book page. Let Obama pick who he wants and needs.