Would you say Biden was "independent?" I don't know what Obama means

[Peregrine Took]

by that but a veteran DC insider like Joe doesn't fit my idea of independent.

Also, "challenging" - once more it doesn't sound like Joe.

But who IS challenging? Hillary is - in terms of being someone who speaks her mind. Does he mean personally a "challenge" for him to be around her or "them?" Definitely her!

She could be president as she almost won the nomination. (Another Nedra Pickler clue)


Good for the economy? Someone who is jobs oriented....maybe pro union? Hillary is always talking about those 250,000 "green jobs" like they have in Germany.

Got any ideas?

[IndianaJones]

1. lieberman. nt.

[JohnnyRingo]

16. Hahahaha... Good one.

Could give the campaign a shot of Joementum.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

2. Bloomberg? n/t

[TwilightGardener]

4. Hmmm....

[Peregrine Took]

8. Good one - he has ideas (windmills) he can speak ,and he has the 911

connection - plus he's Jewish and would nicely offset LIEberman if he is chosen.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Yeah, but he has a huge ego, and ego/fame is supposedly a no-no.

[lolamio]

5. That was my first thought. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

3. Independent--seems to rule out Biden and Bayh, they are old party faithful.

Kaine, might be independent in manner, but only 3 years as gov, not an economic powerhouse yet. Sebelius might be it, and I imagine she would challenge him. Hillary, I don't think of as independent. She spent her whole campaign being led around by her handlers. I really don't know.

[Andy823]

13. Hillary also

Let those "handlers" run her campaign into the ground, not a good qualification for running the country! My view of "independent" would be someone who could stand up to big corporations, lobbyists, and politicians who don't care about this country! As for "challenging" him, I would think that Hillary and Bill would be the real "challenge" for Obama.

[LSK]

6. Barbara Boxer

:D

[Thrill]

7. Biden is independent in the fact that he will say what no other Dem would even think of saying

He's an independent thinker

[TwilightGardener]

11. Yeah, but in another interview yesterday, Obama said he didn't want

somebody who's all about ego and wants to see their name up in lights. That seems to rule out a whole lot of people. Including Biden, Bloomberg, Hillary. Maybe not Kaine or Sebelius. I think Jack Reed would be an independent thinker, and is quiet, does not seek fame, and is good on economic issues (banking committee).

[Peregrine Took]

12. I don't like him since the whole Anita Hill thing. He helped to hang her out

to dry and many middle aged women such as me remember those days VIVIDLY and loathe him.

[Peregrine Took]

15. But what about the economy thing. Bob Rubin? He gets all the credit for

the 1990's boom.

[rucky]

18. Do you remember how he voted against Thomas? n/t

[DevonRex]

9. I would say Wes Clark fills the bill completely. He has a degree in

econ from Oxford. And he always tweaks the democratic message a bit when asked about veterans' issues and foreign policy.

He knows what he's talking about and he has the confidence to speak freely and forcefully. He's not a political insider but he's smart enough to be president.

[Andy823]

17. This was my thought also.

Clark has a lot going for him, especially with the problems between Russia and Georgia. He would trump McCain big time on that issue with his military past.

[merci_me]

21. BINGO! Now if they say he has

bus tire tracks on his jacket, right under all his medals, there ya go.

[MarjorieG]

10. He has an independent judgment and does speak his mind, sometimes too bluntly.

His seniority and years there have given him a perspective that would be useful. Whether we can him paint him as independently as he really is a different challenge.

[Peregrine Took]

19. Not to belabor the point but what is his connection to the economy?

That is a big clue, too.

[MarjorieG]

26. He's a blunt-talking policy wonk, and that bankruptcy bill not great-but

understandable. Senators also play parochial interests. He tried with Lugar and Hagel, Kerry too, to get the Biden Lugar amendment to the IWR.

Obama has wonderful foreign policy instincts, but so far not given the credit in perception.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

20. Bernie Sanders! (At least he's an independent.)

[Peregrine Took]

22. That's who my husband said when I told them the "clues" from Pickler. n/t

[JackORoses]

23. yes. Everyone always talks about how Biden talks too much and makes gaffes

This is exactly what Obama is referring to.

[TheKentuckian]

24. He means an independent thinker

not someone with an (I) next their name and I certainly think all of the potentials are strong enough personalities with established enough views to challenge concepts and views.

As far as economics I see them all as fairly equal. Bayh has a tremendous record of fiscal responsibility in a very conservative state, so that could be packaged nicely.

[Alexander]

25. Clark is independent and has a good grasp of economics.

[democrat2thecore]

27. One MOre Time: Hillary was a corporate Democrat in the senate, a populist ONLY on the campaign trail

[Thrill]

28. This is beginning to sound a lot like Schweitzer

He's independent. Known for working with Montana Repubs. And he'll challenge you