Gov Brian Schweitzer for Veep. By default

[ruggerson]

He's also a great guy, don't get me wrong.

Trumanesque, charming, an authentic Western-style rancher (unlike the faux ranchers we've recently seen on the public stage.)

A sensible Montana progressive, he could also help in Colorado and New Mexico.

But, there's also the fact that there's really no one else.

Nunn or Hagel - we'd lose. It would alienate too many people.

Bayh - totally uninspiring. a cautious, weak choice.

Kaine - rightwing on social issues - again, would alienate large groups

Clinton - Bill is the problem, imho. He is not disciplined for the 24 hour news cycle. The media would have a field day.

Biden - terrific, but a Senator. Doesn't go with the anti Washington meme.

Reed - ditto.

Webb - Took himself out of the running.

So we're left with Sibelius and Schweitzer (and Ritter, as a dark horse)

Of the three, Gov Schweitzer has more of a national profile, fits in best with the anti Washington message, and adds gravitas in the Mountain states - a winnable part of the country for us.

I have no idea who Obama is going to pick, but the one who does the least harm, could be President tomorrow, and actually brings some outsider, change oriented heft to the ticket is Governor Brian Schweitzer.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I've had my eye on him for some time...

I would most certainly support this man...

:hi:

[redstate_democrat]

2. If I was a betting woman, I would bet that he has been given the Obamanod.

:D

[MagickMuffin]

3. He also knows Arabic, a bonus for the "war on Terra"

Schweitzer earned his Bachelor of Science degree in international agronomy from Colorado State University in 1978 and a Master of Science in soil science from Montana State University in 1980. Upon finishing school, he worked as an irrigation developer on projects in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. He spent several years working in Libya and Saudi Arabia and speaks Arabic.

Bill Clinton appointed Schweitzer to the United States Department of Agriculture as a member of the Montana USDA Farm Service Agency committee, where he worked for seven years. While working for the USDA, he was appointed to the Montana Rural Development Board (1996) and the National Drought Task Force (1999).

Another big bonus for me: We share the same B'Day. Pretty KEWL.

[Indiana_Dem]

4. Schweitzer is my #1 pick but I think it sounds like Bayh.

I'm a little disappointed and will be if this turns out to be true. I really love Schweitzer and feel like he will be better than my state's Bayh. Schweitzer is all Democrat who's even backed by the NRA. I'd like to see the radical RW attack that!

[leftofcool]

5. I agree

Bayh is about as milk toast as you can get

[Skwmom]

10. Bayh is a corporate Democrat which means the change meme would be a lie.

[Phoonzang]

17. I've always wanted him to be the VP but never expected

that he'd ever be picked. I've pretty much resigned myself to Bayh and am looking towards the positives in that ticket.

I always liked to be surprised though...;-)

[ZombieHorde]

6. He speaks Arabic and has lived in the ME. He would be an asset to the White House.

He has personally taken Montanans to Mexico to help them buy cheap prescriptions.

He has championed Montana's environmental concerns.

He is a farmer.

He is incredibly popular in Montana.

[Kdillard]

7. I really like him too but I thought he wasn't interested in the job. If

Obama picks him I would be very pleasantly surprised.

[Skwmom]

8. By default? He is the best choice Obama could make.

It would energize his base and independents. That is a ticket that the MSM could not destroy.

[ruggerson]

13. Well I was being partly facetious

Given the options, he's Obama's best choice, I agree.

[Skwmom]

15. Given the options? There is no one who comes even close to

Schweitzer.

[saltpoint]

9. Schweitzer would be nectar from Olympus AND a steady hand

at the wheel.

What a refreshing soul.

If Obama chooses Brian Schweitzer, I'll buy Jag doggie treats from now to Christmas.

It would be a sensational choice.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. You forgot about Wes Clark!

[NewJeffCT]

14. I love Clark, but

I think he lost his chance when Republicans got all worked up and generated a massive amount of mock outrage over him saying that McCain being shot down doesn't qualify him to be president. It forced Obama to distance himself from those remarks and, I think, probably got his name crossed off the VP list.

[DFW]

66. I wouldn't be too sure of that

That is one storm that has pretty much blown over, and I were either Wes Clark
or Obama, the best tactic would be not to mention Clark at all and then pop up
with his name at the convention. Clark might not speak Arabic, but he brings
plenty of credentials to the ticket all the same: Southern, military, academic,
experienced, well-traveled, and just as smart as Obama.

[Skwmom]

12. Bayh is NOT a cautious choice. It is a terrible choice b/c it kills

the change, judgment, authenticity message.

[trewsx11]

28. Looks kinda funny, but I like Schweitzer. I like Bayh, too.

The question is: would he be percieved as a weak choice?

He's only been in office since 2005. Would it be wise to pair him up with a senator who has only been in office for not even 3 years?

I'm thinking Bayh is the stronger choice here.

[mikekohr]

16. Schweitzer is my #1 choice tactically, strategically and personally nt

mike kohr

[Coexist]

18. okay -

actually I'm tired of the speculation - I just want an announcement.

[Demi_Babe]

19. I love this guy

[TwilightGardener]

20. Barf. He puts on an act--he's all about creating a persona for himself.

Plus he publicly announced his support for Mitt Romney before our primaries even began. No thanks, Big Guy, stay in Montana where they lap up your rancher-dude schtick.

[SoxFan]

21. What Weinerdoggie said.

Amen.

[harun]

23. Maybe a little hard on him

He has spent time in many countries working on farming projects. Helping the Saudis with one of their largest farm as well. I think this is very important globally to have a "big picture" farming view. He has this.

So while the rancher-dude schtick certainly has helped him politically (and he knows it), I think he is walking the walk too.

[TwilightGardener]

25. Sorry, but I caught a whiff of "the act", and he reminds me of someone

who is more interested in his own self-promotion than anything else--I think publicly extolling the virtues of Republicans and his possible support for them (McCain, Romney) as an elected Dem official is just more of the act--"look at me, I'm FIERCELY INDEPENDENT, just because I'm a Dem doesn't mean I have to support members of my party!" Look, I'm sure he's a fine gov of Montana, but I don't want to see his schtick on the road with Obama. He's also new and fairly untested on the national stage, which is my problem with Kaine. Too much risk just to have a guy who's got a pick-up and a rifle and a dog. There's all sorts of weird hero worship on DU that I can never figure out--we are too easily bowled over by image and appearances here (Wes Clark, Edwards and Schweitzer, namely) .

[Skwmom]

26. Obama needs substance plus image. Luckily, Schweitzer has both.

All of this he's too new on the national stage crap. Clinton, whose been on the stage for decades, was stupid enough to tell a LIE about sniper fire, a lie that was so easily exposed as a lie.

The last thing Obama needs is a long time Washington Insider.

[TwilightGardener]

27. I don't have a problem with a Washington insider for Obama--

not for VP. That could really come in handy for getting legislation passed--the behind the scenes arm-twisting, backroom deals, etc. It helps if you know the folks in the House and Senate. Obama's poll numbers do NOT allow him much room to take on someone else who's totally unknown--he needs a familiar face and/or an old hand. I think Bayh, Biden, or Jack Reed will fit the bill.

[Skwmom]

30. Rallying the American people is what it is going to take to get something done in

D.C.

Obama picking an insider would kill the change meme and lead to his defeat.

[TwilightGardener]

32. I disagree--having the all-new "inexperience" ticket will lead to his defeat.

[Skwmom]

39. If that was the case, the media would be pushing it 24/7.

[harun]

41. The hero worship isn't as much a DU problem as it is a Joe Sixpack

problem.

Du'rs know Joe Sixpack is a f*cking moron. He votes image and BS and what the media tells him to vote. The "ideal" candidates have been vetted out by the media long ago. We are left, as usual, with our pick of least worst. I would certainly prefer Schweitzer being president someday over Bayh. That comparison isn't even close.

[TwilightGardener]

44. The problem is that we THINK we know what Joe Sixpack will like--

people here think Wes Clark is a shoo-in, a slam-dunk, because he's a military figure. What they DON'T know is that Wes is NOT well-respected by either Republicans or folks in the military. Pairing Obama up with a guy who carefully crafted a "westerny maverick" political image for himself will ring inauthentic, and this guy is just too new and too unfamiliar to take a chance on. That's my take. I was also under the understanding that he didn't endorse Obama until close to Montana's primary (fairly late, in other words), and that he and Obama haven't exactly gravitated towards each other.

[ZombieHorde]

49. link please

[Hippo_Tron]

56. Holy Hotdogs Batman! A politician concerned with his image!!

I've got news for you that's how pretty much every successful politician gets where they are. You don't think Obama has spent a great deal of time manufacturing his image? Or that Bill Clinton didn't put a huge amount of effort into portraying himself as "the boy from hope"? That's how you win elections in this incredibly shallow country of ours.

[Hippo_Tron]

57. He said "If he wins the nomination I may think about possibly supporting him"

Which to me means that he was being nice to the man at a joint appearance that they made together. When Romney actually started running Schweitzer said that he had basically become a total hack.

[TheZug]

22. I agree--Schweitzer's awesome.

[Douglas Carpenter]

24. ABB Bayh would make me feel relieved. Gov Brian Schweitzer would cause me to rejoice

[trewsx11]

29. Schweitzer assumed office the same time Obama did: 2005

Not a very wise choice for Obama. And besides, brings no national security credentials.

Bayh is looking better and better everyday.

[Skwmom]

31. Yeah, those national security credentials really served Bayh well. The idiot voted for the

Iraq War.

[TwilightGardener]

33. A lot of smart people voted for the Iraq War, for various reasons. That alone

does not make one unfit for the VP office.

[Skwmom]

37. Two reasons: Too stupid or too self-serving. Willing to send American to die to

further their political aspirations/get re-elected.

Voting for the biggest debacle in U.S. history should instantly disqualify someone. Yeah, that's a great person to tell me when I'm wrong about something. I think the average American can understand how utterly absurd that would be.

[TwilightGardener]

40. Was Schweitzer vocally against the war in 2002-2003, as Obama was?

[Skwmom]

46. Yes. And the Democrats also chose him to take Bush on over the Iraq War.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D), who declared his opposition to the Iraq War way back before it ever began, delivered Democrats' national radio address in advance of President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/schweitzer-hammers-bush-o_b_39148.html

[TwilightGardener]

48. Doesn't change my mind about him. I don't like him. I hope Obama doesn't pick him, but

if he does, I'll support the ticket.

[dansolo]

69. It should

Anyone with half a brain knew that the Iraq war was going to be a disaster. In my mind, voting for the Iraq War demonstrates that the candidate has NOT passed the commander-in-chief test. Sending our troops to fight overseas is one of the most important responsibilities that a president has. It should not be taken lightly, and should not have been done for political expediency.

[trewsx11]

34. So did Hillary, Joe Biden, Daschle

All idiots, I agree, but no VP candidate is perfect, unfortunately.

[Skwmom]

38. Big difference between perfect and voting for the BIGGEST DEBACLE in U.S. history.

[Douglas Carpenter]

42. Hillary, Biden and Daschle vote for IWR - Bayh was a cheerleader

Bayh As Veep? But He Co-Chaired Neocon Committee For The Liberation Of Iraq With McCain

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bayh_as_veep_he_cochaired_wing.php

" The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI) is pleased to welcome Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) as an Honorary Co-Chairman. Bayh becomes the third U.S. Senator to join the committee after Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced their participation on January 28."The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI) is pleased to welcome Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) as an Honorary Co-Chairman. Bayh becomes the third U.S. Senator to join the committee after Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced their participation on January 28.

The Committee is a neo-con group that was formed to propagandize the country into war. It boasted such illustrious neocon members as Bill Kristol, former CIA director James Woolsey, and even McCain senior foreign policy adviser and Chalabi-bamboozler Randy Scheunemann, whom Josh has been blogging about."

"Sen Bayh is a past recipient Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Award for Distinguished Service from the neoconservative security think tank JINSA"

-----------

This is a hallmark of Evan Bayh. A former chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and a past recipient Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Award for Distinguished Service from the neoconservative security think tank JINSA, Bayh has been running to the right of his Democratic colleagues on foreign affairs for a while now.

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/03/evan_bayh_tough_but_smart.php

[harun]

43. There is no way in hell it will be Bayh, for exactly the reason you cite (n/t)

[question everything]

35. Agree. Someone from the West and with executive experience

except...

where does he stand on a women's right to privacy?

And then there is Tony Montana

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=163&topic_id=380

[ZombieHorde]

50. Supports "Abortion is a woman's right"

Supports "Abortion is a woman's right"
The Government should not intervene in a woman's right to make health care decisions. Those decisions should be left up to the woman and her doctor.

http://ontheissues.org/Governor/Brian_Schweitzer_Abortion.htm

Is this what you mean?

[question everything]

51. Wonderful. Thanks.

This is the problem that I have with Kaine and, I think, even with Bayh.

Yes, we are all supposed to be pro-choice, but when you have elected officials, like Kerry in 2004, saying that "I personally am against abortion, but" it shows that this topic is being pushed to a lower priority for Democrats. Obama's desire to "reach for evangelicals" is bad enough, since they are not going to compromise on what they claim are "god's words."

And pretty soon you have an administrative directive that birth control pills and IUDs should be treated like abortion.

[tokenlib]

36. Picking Schweitzer would add to the ticket...

Change you can believe in---his dog doesn't like the skunks in Washington... the skunk hide nailed to the wall expressing sistain for lobbyists..

He is able to be insightful on energy and to explain himself without "political speak"

On a cultural level--the gun toting, real rancher as opposed to repukes who simply live on a "ranch." Schweitzer deals with some of the cultural image problems that have plagued democrats.
He could add much to the ticket.

[scheming daemons]

45. You'll be surprised to hear this, but I agree with you on just about all counts...

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

47. Schweitzer seems to have a lot to add to the ticket, while Bayh adds absolutely nothing.

I'd also mention Richardson as a possibility for many of the same reasons as Schweitzer. In fact, his resume is better. But either would be better than Bayh, or most of the other names the media is tossing around.

[question everything]

52. Next question: Is anyone mentioning his name to Obama (and Caroline?) (nt)

[question everything]

53. kick (nt)

[paulk]

54. Brian who?

We don't win by picking up CO and NM. We still need Ohio, Florida, Michigan, PA. How does the Governor from Montana help us there?

ps - I know it's not the story on DU, but most Democrats still see Bill Clinton as the most successful Democratic President of their lifetime. Remember - it's not the Obama faithful that he needs to convince...

[Hippo_Tron]

60. All of the Gore states + Colorado = 270 no Ohio or Florida needed

Add into the mix that Obama is polling statistically even or very close to McCain in North Dakota, Montana, Alaska, and Nevada and you have any number of electoral scenarios that get Obama to 270. Not to mention Virginia which Obama is going to be campaigning like mad in.

For the first time in recent history our candidate will have more money and by that I mean, probably twice as much, as the Republicans. Furthermore our candidate is 47 and theirs is 71. Obama can do basically as many campaign events in a day as they can get him to. McCain can't do that.

Obama can wake up at 4am hop a plane out to Montana or North Dakota for a morning rally and then hop right back on another plane back to the midwest for an afternoon rally in Ohio and then an evening rally in Pennsylvania. McCain doesn't have the physical stamina to go out to Montana or North Dakota unless he plans on spending the entire day there. Not to mention he doesn't have the financial resources to be flying out to places like Alaska, either.

This isn't going to be like the last two elections where it's won or lost in one state. If McCain somehow pulls this thing off, there will be any number of electoral scenarios where Obama could have "almost won" which will be an indicator of something was screwed up with the national message not any particular state.

[paulk]

61. should I be comforted by this?

You're willing to write off states like Florida and Ohio on the off chance that we will pick up Colorado? You seriously suggest that we can win North Dakota, Montana, Alaska, and Nevada? You toss out Virginia, a state we haven't won in fifty years, as a possible pick-up?

Are you serious? Is this the Obama campaign strategy? Is this the "change we can believe in", where three generations of voting patterns just magically become moot?

[Hippo_Tron]

63. Did you read my post?

Particularly the part about how Obama can go out to Montana in the morning and be back in Ohio and Pennsylvania for the afternoon while McCain can't do that.

Obama is going to campaign like hell in the traditional swing states like Ohio and Florida just like everybody else does. But he is also going to campaign in non-traditional swing states where he has the stamina and resources to compete. McCain will have neither the energy nor the resources to go out west and if he does decide to then he will be losing time and resources that he can campaign in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

And frankly way more than three generations of voting patterns became moot with the Nixon/Reagan southern strategy. Trends are showing us that the future of the Democratic Party is out west.

[Rowdyboy]

55. He's also my first choice, though I'd be happy with Sebelius or Richardson....

or Clark or Reed.

[Hippo_Tron]

58. I say Schweitzer or Napolitano

[goodgd_yall]

59. I've come around to Schweitzer

He's be a very good choice. I'm looking at blue-collar appeal too. He's style, I think, would not be a put-off as Bayh's would be.
I'm still OK with Kaine though, but if he would disenchant large numbers of voters (which I don't really think we would) then Schweitzer would be better.

[GoesTo11]

62. He'd help with voters who often vote against their self-interest

When he talks about Democratic programs and positions, he does it in a way that regular guys say "oh yeah, that's right."

He has the credibility to tell farmers that plants don't really crave electrolytes.

[anonymous171]

64. I would love that but I think Schweitzer has plans of his own.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ran for president in 2012 or 2016.

[question everything]

65. Another kick

This is so different and refreshing that it deserves more views...

[vinylsolution]

67. I like Brian Schweitzer a lot, but....

... we need as many Democrat Governors out there spreading common sense, as we can get. Gov. Sibelius of Kansas is another great example.

The only reason Wes Clark's comments about McCain generated such a firestorm, was that Republicans are scared to death of him.

McCain has no ammunition that can take down Clark.

[BlooInBloo]

68. Has been my choice since I started thinking about it....

Well, after I read about him in some ahead-of-the-curve blog somewhere. Mighta been americablog - I can't remember.