As rumors swirl, I'm sure we all remember this one from 2004...
"It's Gephardt" for Kerry's Vice President
by Jerome Armstrong, Mon Jul 05, 2004 at 05:05:57 AM EST
Arch Pundit says that "Joyce Aboussie, Gephardt's right hand in the District is being flown out on a private plane. She's telling staffers to be ready for new assignments."
Now, if this tip is right, then to Sam Meyers, who ran Edwards's advance team in the primaries and was just brought on to Kerry's staff to run advance for the preseumptive VP, welcome to your new boss, Joyce Aboussie.
Joyce Aboussie, from the Chris Lehane wing of the Democratic Party consultant world, is the same accused "of threatening retaliation against state employees if two prominent unions assist" Howard Dean in the 2004 Missouri primary, back in December of 2003.
Ah, it makes sense. Afterall, Kerry and Gephardt's team actively worked together behind the scenes to torpedo Howard Dean's candidacy. It's not a stretch to believe that Gephardt, if he couldn't win, brought Dean down in the suicidal manner that he did precisely so that Kerry would win the nomination, and not Dean. Gephardt quickly came out in support Kerry after defeat. Gephardt's top strategy guy, campaign manager Steve Murphy, quickly joined Kerry's team after the defeat. Aboussie & Gephardt to later follow...
Gephardt is perhaps the most tired Democratic candidate in America today. He's lame, he's a loser, he has no future on his own. Kerry choosing Gephardt is the equivalent of Bush having chosen Ashcroft for his administration. Ashcroft was toast, beaten by a dead guy, and Bush resurrected him. Gephardt got 4th in Iowa, where he's been campaigning since 1986, and by all accounts, seemed washed up political history.
But Gephardt is who John Kerry likes. I'm a big believer in that above all, for the VP choice, the only thing that matters is how it clicks, and that people see the Pres/VP as a team that can work together. You know, these guys, Kerry and Gephardt represent the old guard of the Democratic Party. We'll never nominate the likes of them again. So, let them have their last fling with all the covert enthusiasm you can muster.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2004/7/5/5557/36979