Possible running mates for Obama: Dick Gephardt or Bill Bradley? or Howard Dean?

[book_worm]

Yes, I know they both have been out of office for a while now, but that really doesn't matter--being in Washington isn't always a plus. Besides Cheney wasn't currently anything when Bush "picked" him. Plusses for each man:

Gep: Long-time favorite among organized labor. One of the leading voices against NAFTA. Strong ties among party regulars. Represented in congress for many years in a pivotal border state which Dems would love to pick up and which most polls show right now to be a toss up between either Obama and McCain or HRC and McCain. He would also add years of experience and be a help to Obama among blue collar democrats and independents.

Bradley: Like Obama Bradley has strong ties with independent voters which we would need to win the presidency. He was US Senator from NJ, a state Obama lost in the primaries, but he was born and grew up in Missouri. With his jock background he might appeal to males. He and Obama could play hoops together on election day (Obama's good luck tactic playing hoops on election day). While Bradley spent two (or was it three terms) in Senate he doesn't come across as being an "Washington insider."

On edit:
I added Howard Dean. A sentimental favorite of mine. Not sure HD would add a lot but he would be what Obama isn't--an effective attack dog going after McCain and Bush record. This would allow Obama to be somewhat above the fray and work on getting those independent voters. Dean also has a strong following among progressives. Comes from VT but well win that anyhow. Diffinitely not a Washington insider despite being head of DNC. However, not sure FL and MI would like it.

Okay, that's my three for today. :)

[Alhena]

1. Gephardt is a Hillary superdelegate

[book_worm]

2. That doesn't matter. The party will be united after convention and it might not hurt

to choose somebody who favored Clinton in the primaries.

[Blue_Roses]

12. No Gep...

I admire him, but no.

[Skidmore]

18. No Gephardt.

He and Daschle helped toss the party under a bus regarding the war for political expediency. I don't care who they are for now. Besides, I have a longstanding grudge against Gephardt for the way his campaign comported itself here in Iowa.

[Alexander]

3. Obama should pick Feingold, Boxer, Napolitano, Sebelius or even Biden.

Kerry wouldn't pick Gep 4 years ago because the guy is boring and doesn't inspire people.

Bradley's okay, but Obama really needs someone with executive experience of foreign policy credentials.

[Blue_Roses]

Yes, Boxer would be great...

I don't know that she would be interested though...:shrug:

[slick8790]

13. Nix on Feingold, Boxer, and Biden.

No way two sitting senators will get elected on the same ticket. Only happened once, I believe.

[Alexander]

26. Why? They've all got decades of foreign policy experience.

All three of them are sharp enough to hold their own and not get too long-winded in debates - which is a big problem for senators.

[slick8790]

32. They've also got decades of votes to pick and choose through.

We saw it happen to Kerry, where they took single votes outside of their context and blew them up. We already have that danger with one senator, although he has less to blow up, and I'd rather not risk it again with another.

[elizm]

42. Obama/Boxer....be still my heart! Killer for me!

I have been saying for 4 years now that our first woman President should be Barbara Boxer!

[tridim]

4. No offense, but Ughh..

I'm thinking Biden or Gore.

[book_worm]

10. Biden would be good, but Gore wouldn't do VP again.

[burythehatchet]

11. No Kidding...Gephardt? Hell no. Being from a Northern state

he will likely tap someone from the south or west to balance the ticket.

[book_worm]

14. Missouri is a border state and also a swing state.

[burythehatchet]

23. But Gephartd is a dick, literally. His proud grin standing with Bush in the rose garden

after authorizing the war was the end of his career.

[Alexander]

28. Gep's never won a statewide race in Missouri.

Who knows if he'd carry it in the general election?

[Coexist]

5. I hope he will pick Webb or Zinni

he really needs a military man on the ticket - with a war going on - even if he plans to end it.

[book_worm]

8. I don't think it would be Webb also in his first term in senate.

[Coexist]

15. Webb did a LOT before he entered the Senate

and with a Dem in charge in VA, he would be replaced by a Dem, anyway that is my thinking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb

The US rarely elects Senators, this is a rarity this year to have 3 Senators in this thing.

[book_worm]

21. I will admit it would deliver VA.

[southern_dem]

20. Zinni?

Obviously a great military man, but are his political views known?

[Coexist]

30. he's a Democrat

he was against the war, and believes in Global Warming. He vocally called for Rumsfeld to resign. He will not pass the purity test of many here, but he would be a pragmatic choice - one that backs Obama on the war - and gives him some foreign policy weight vs. McCain.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/21/60minutes/main618896.shtml

(CBS) Retired General Anthony Zinni is one of the most respected and outspoken military leaders of the past two decades.

From 1997 to 2000, he was commander-in-chief of the United States Central Command, in charge of all American troops in the Middle East. That was the same job held by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf before him, and Gen. Tommy Franks after.

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, the Bush administration thought so highly of Zinni that it appointed him to one of its highest diplomatic posts -- special envoy to the Middle East.

But Zinni broke ranks with the administration over the war in Iraq, and now, in his harshest criticism yet, he says senior officials at the Pentagon are guilty of dereliction of duty -- and that the time has come for heads to roll. Correspondent Steve Kroft reports.


http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521888

Zinni, a former peace envoy to the Middle East, has been a vocal critic of the war and did not support invading Iraq in 2003. He has been floated as a potential vice-presidential running-mate for Democratic hopeful Barack Obama, but he said following his speech that he has no plans to endorse Obama or any other presidential candidate.

<snip>
Zinni was also adamant about the need for the U.S. to address global climate change and noted potential security implications if global warming goes unchecked.

“I’m no tree-hugger, but I’m not stupid. I can see the glaciers melting,” Zinni said. “Will we need an Arctic Fleet to compete for resources there? Will new competition for resources elsewhere lead to genocide?”

Audience members said they were impressed with the breadth of Zinni’s knowledge.

“He has a good grasp of the world,” said Daniel G. West ’09, a midshipman in the Marines ROTC. “I liked his idea that we use soft and hard power to achieve foreign policy goals and that you can’t rely solely on a blunt tool like the military.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Zinni

Anthony Charles Zinni (born September 17, 1943) is a retired four-star general in the United States Marine Corps and a former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). In 2002, he was selected to be a special envoy for the United States to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He has been a public critic of the Bush administration and did not support the decision to go to war in Iraq.

[southern_dem]

48. I can live with that

A very strong choice.

[HeraldSquare212]

6. God no, not either.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Richardson would be a better pick. The Dems have a shot at big gains in the Rocky Mountain West,

[no name no slogan]

17. Richardson was vetted in 2004 and found "lacking"

I think he'd be a very good choice, but apparently he's got some unsavory stuff in his background that the Repubs would hammer him over the head with, if he were to be on the ticket.

[Alexander]

29. For starters, Richardson's not very good at debating.

His "homosexuality is a choice" comment coupled with his use of derogatory Spanish slang when referring to gay people would not help Obama with gay voters.

He also supposedly has a drinking and womanizing problem, which is the reason Kerry didn't pick him.

[John Q. Citizen]

38. That was a lame comment,, only Dennis was actually fair on the issue.

If Richardson has a drinking and womanizing problem, that's too bad and it won't work.

[Eurobabe]

9. Gephardt?

Are you kidding? Won't happen, too many midwesterners on one ticket. Obama would be better off with a FP expert.

[NC_Nurse]

16. He needs a military or foreign policy heavyweight.

Richardson, Biden, Gen. Clark, Gen. Zinni....

[book_worm]

19. Biden would be excellent.

[Ichingcarpenter]

22. Howard Dean would be the perfect candidate for me.

He's progressive, can handle the attack dog status and gave us the 50 state strategy.

[book_worm]

27. I could easily support HD, but he probably wouldn't help in MI and FL

but as you say he would be what a VP running mate should be--an effective attack dog.

[Ichingcarpenter]

35. Thanks, he also doesn't cause us to lose a seat

I've seen him debate and he can take on any pundit with ease.

Bill Bradley would work for me too. I don't want a conservative mil toast democrat.

[Smarmie Doofus]

24. No thanks and no thanks.

Gephardt: There were good reasons that Kerry did not pick him in 2004. Had extremely limited electoral appeal in 04. Now his shelf life's expired besides. Hugely charisma challenged. Nice guy; that's about it.

Bradley: Again, check the expiration date. Never was able to articulate a rationale for his challenge to Gore. If Obama can't carry NJ he won't win anyway. Brings no military experience or foreign policy expertise.

I'd look to Webb or Clark if I were Obama. Or perhaps to a woman... in deference to Clinton. Preferably from the west or border state south.

[Thrill]

25. I like Obama/Webb but what about Obama/Brown

Sherrod Brown

[leftstreet]

31. Brian Schweitzer MT Gov nt

[book_worm]

33. He would be interesting.

[sellitman]

34. Still to early for this stuff

It looks like the race won't be decided until the Convension. There is a bunch more politicing left before its all over.

[underpants]

36. Mountain West-THAT is where the GE will be fought

[Hart2008]

37. Daschle is most likely, Hart is also possible...

Daschle has been the solidly behind Obama right from the start and is largely responsible for his fund-raising success. Daschle gave Obama his mailing list.

Hart, the man who predicted the terrorist attacks before 9-11, is the foremost expert on fighting terrorism without destroying our constitution.

Hart also opposed the IWR from the start, famously telling Congressional Dem's not to give Junior an up or done vote on the IWR. He would bring gravitas to the ticket and ease voters concerns about Obama's perceived limited experience.

I know that Obama has been listening to Hart from what in some of Obama's speeches. With Daschle's fund raising skills and Hart's ideas, Obama has gone far!

:applause:

[demon67]

39. Sam Nunn

Why Sam Nunn? First, Nunn has decades of experience which Obama lacks, particularly on national defense matters, thereby neutralizing McCain's greatest perceived strength. Second, Nunn is a moderate with strong bipartisan appeal, thus drawing in independents who might otherwise consider voting for McCain. Third, Nunn is beloved by white southern male voters. Combined with Obama's incredible appeal to African-American voters, an Obama/Nunn ticket could put southern states, particularly Georgia, into play.

[Upfront]

40. I am from Michigan.

I say Howard Dean did the right thing and I stand with him. Our Democratic leadership in Michigan screwed up big time. They will not be forgiven easily.

[zarath]

41. VP: Tim Kaine

I think there's a good chance it will be Virginia governor Tim Kaine.

You heard it here first.

He's a popular white southern moderate. He "balances the ticket" as they say. He was an early Obama endorser. He will help carry a "red" state important to winning the general and may have some influence on voters in nearby red states.

[demon67]

43. Maybe, but . . .

like Obama, he is a first-termer with no foreign policy experience. How about Sam Nunn? Same kind of appeal, but with much more age and experience, to offset Obama's youth and relative inexperience.

[dansolo]

44. FUCK Dick Gephardt

Dick Gephardt is one of the principle architects of the Iraq mess. He sabotaged any efforts by the Democrats to stop the march to war by striking a backdoor deal with the White House. He can go fuck himself. I consider him a worse traitor than Lieberman on that issue.

Besides that, there is no way that the VP will be a Midwesterner, with Obama coming from IL. And while I love Howard Dean, and it would be a good stepping stone for him to become President later, I love the job he has been doing with the DNC.

[book_worm]

45. Is MO midwestern or border?

[dansolo]

46. What about Gary Hart?

I really would like to see Gary Hart in an Obama administration. I can't think of anyone more qualified, and he would dramatically shore up any perceived weaknesses on the foreign policy side.

[Hart2008]

47. Hart could turn Colorado and other Western states blue. n/t

[book_worm]

49. possibly, but I think if we go western Bill Richardson might be a better fit.