The first rule of picking a Veep

[ruggerson]

is that they are fully able and competent to be President should the occasion ever arise.

The second rule is that they do no harm to the ticket.

While the parlor game (of which we're all guilty) of guessing whom Obama will pick is entertaining, in the grand scheme of things, as long as his team sticks religiously to rules 1 and 2, it really doesn't matter who he picks.

Obama will sink or swim on his own merits. Not those of his Veep. Look at Dan Quayle. Possibly the worst pick in the last fifty years. Yet, in the long run, even that egregious display of bad judgement did not harm Bush the Elder.

We can debate endlessly as to who fits the criteria for rules 1 and 2. But, as long as Obama stays within those parameters, I have full confidence we'll be fine.

(and, btw, picking a Republican is a needless and pointless violation of rule #2)

[napi21]

1. So very true. I think all the debate comes in when people see

several candidates fit within rules 1 & 2. Something else has to make the final decision.

[Schema Thing]

2. so Joe Lieberman?

I think Lieberman trumps Quayle for the bad VP veepstakes.

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. To rehabilitate them before they have been punished would be insanity.

They claim to be great believers in accountability. Former Republicans are pushing the envelope by making such overtures, aren't they - even granted the historically excessive docility of Democrats?

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Oh, I thought the first rule of Veep Club

was not talking about Veep Club.

[ruggerson]

5. Well that too

but that's only if you want to be picked :)

[CrispyQ]

6. Yesterday evening on some talking head show they said the first rule was . . .

that your VEEP agrees with the party on abortion. :wow:

I don't think that competency to be President was even on the list. Mind blowing, huh?

[bigwillq]

7. Good points.

Good post.

[PATRICK]

8. Neatlly sums it up

and the fact that the media gasbags can never wrap their heads around any of those clear points doesn't stop them from clouding up the simple truths. On the other hand, when it comes to attacking the eventual Veep nominee they will show sudden appreciation for the main points and try to destroy them by hook and crook, seeking to use tiny false wedges derived from their former perile "Veepstakes" rules.

The falseness thus will continue in targetting the new guy who may be the sole point new vulnerability they can exploit. Therefore the timing of choosing that person should be covered by the focus on Obama, late, perhaps into the convention itself.

[salonghorn70]

9. Maybe Its Old-Fashioned

But I still think that under the right circumstances, a VP candidate can be used to carry a specific state or region. I know, that kind of strategy really hasn't been successful since 1960. BUT it was successful in 1960. Without LBJ, Texas might have gone for Nixon.

[Radical Activist]

15. But LBJ was more than just a guy from Texas.

He was the leader of the Democratic Party in Congress and especially leader of Southern Democrats in both houses. He had the personal relationships with key people throughout the south to really deliver meaningful support. We won't get those kind of results by just picking anyone from the South.

But I agree that a VP can help carry a state. Clinton/Gore is a good example. Gore not only helped in Tennessee but established it as a Southern ticket that ended up winning GA and LA too. But it didn't work with Kerry/Edwards because Kerry was such an unappealing candidate for the South. There are limits to how much a VP can compensate for the weaknesses of the nominee.

I think Obama should follow Clinton's example by picking a VP from the same region to consolidate support. A good Midwestern VP could help in several swing states at once like IA, WI, MO and Ohio.

[Median Democrat]

10. So, Who Is Boring But Competent?

nm

[ruggerson]

11. Kaine and Schweitzer both somewhat fit the bill

Although Schweitzer has a certain western/rancher charm factor, which is not a negative at all.

Neither of them would upstage Obama, which is a good thing.

[lame54]

12. I thought the first rule was - Don't pick a republican - ever

[Radical Activist]

13. McGovern made the worst pick in 50 years.

And number 2 rules out Hillary without a doubt.

[ruggerson]

14. Eagleton was a good man

they just hadn't vetted him properly.

Eagleton was a bad political pick, because it made McGovern look foolish, but Quayle was far worse for the nation.