If Obama were nominated in '08--who would you want him to consider for VP? and why

[WI_DEM]

This would be my short list (at least as of today):

Gov. Bill Richardson of NM (unequaled experience and from the west)
Sen. John Kerry of MA (considerable experience/ 59 million votes in '04)
DNC Chair and ex-Gov Howard Dean of VT (If you want a bulldog VP who will go for the jugular while the presidential candidate stays "above the fray" then Dean might be your man).
Gen. Wesley Clark of Ark. (Military/defense background/ southern roots)
Sen. Bill Nelson of Fl (a purely strategic choice given the electoral importance of Fl).

[SteppingRazor]

1. I've long called for what I call the "To Heck With Whitey" ticket:

Obama/Richardson.

While somewhat inexperienced, Obama is best known for domestic policy. Richardson, on the other hand, for foreign policy.
Also, Richardson is from the southwest, the most likely region to switch from red to blue for the '08 election.
Also, Richardson is Hispanic, a demo that it is increasingly foolish to ignore.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

3. Whitey weighing in here...

How about an Obama/Sharpton ticket? That way we'd cover the black/not-black-enough vote. :-)

Not really a fan of Richardson, but if he can garner the Hispanic vote, "bring him on."

[saltpoint]

9. I'd vote for that ticket, with enthusiasm.

Both those guys can stand in front of a crowd of people and communicate the Founders' intent in contemporary language, and do it with zip and pozazz.

Why not? Plus, it would piss off Tom Tancredo.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

17. Hmmmm. I Love Seeing Bigotry On DU.....

Wait.... No I don't.

:eyes:

[SteppingRazor]

19. Hmmmm. I love seeing thin-skinned overly PC silliness on DU....

Wait... No I don't.

:eyes:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

2. I have pointedly stayed out of all '08 threads.

Because I think stopping these bastard Repukes right now in '07, is of much greater import.

But . . . Obama/Clark would kick ass so bad, it ain't funny. They would be an ethical, non-traditional, progressive ticket that could actually change the status quo. They would be a juggernaut.

Now, back to '07.

[karynnj]

4. Kerry has "considerable experience" and

Richardson "unequaled" - I realize that Richardson has had more different jobs - but Kerry's expertise in Foreign policy and on the environment exceed Richardson's.

[WI_DEM]

5. lets not quibble over words, they both have considerable experience it was hardly

a jab at Kerry.

[karynnj]

15. Given the meaning of the two words, it is

[SteppingRazor]

6. I disagree. Richardson's foreign policy experience...

is greater than Kerry's. He was our U.N. Ambassador and has conducted negotiations with North Korea, Sudan, and Saddam Hussein's Iraq as well as visiting every hotspot from Nicaragua to Cuba.

As for as environmental experience, Richardson is also the former Secretary of Energy.

I realize Kerry has had a positive record on both diplomacy and environmental issues in the senate, but as far as real, boots-on-the-ground experience, Richardson's definitely got the edge.

[karynnj]

14. How well did Richardson do as the Secretary of Energy?

The Clinton administration did not have a stellar record on this. Kerry has a much longer record on foreign policy and he is one of the few people who I have heard articulate a coherent alternative to the neo-con view. In fact, Madeline Albright in new latest book on where foreign policy is going opted to quote from a John Kerry speech from 1966(!) when he spoke at Yale. Kerry, the son of a diplomat, has been a serious student of foreign policy for decades. Kerry from Vietnam to the Contras to the Mujhadim, to Clinton's getting arms to Bosnia via Iranian arms merchants has been against American actions of spreading arms to enemies of our enemies.

Also, Kerry was nearly alone in seeing the danger of nonstate terrorism. His final report as his subcommittee that investigated BCCI ended listed as the number thing that needed further investigation was more investigation into how the BCCI funded development of the Pakistani bomb by A Q Khan avoided the non-proliferation controls. This report was written in 1992. None of the Clinton people did anything on this or any of the other 19 items. (including investigating Marc Rich further.) Kerry's book, The New War was extremely prescient on this.

That said, Kerry has committed to running for the Senate. I don't think he will take the VP slot.

[OHdem10]

7. It was just announced on CNN

that California officially moves to Feb 5. Many
other large states will be joining most likely.
This means Super Tuesday becomes the National Primary.
Our Candidate for President will be elected that day.
These large states have large numbers of delegates.

What this does is winnow our pool starting today.
You must have large sums of money to compete in
large states.

Right now it would appear, Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama
and John Edwards are our viable candidates.

I cannot guess who HRC or Edwards would choose as VP.

[Perky]

12. Each other

They are logical running mates

Obama would not be a running mate because he is too charismatic and would likely outshine the nominee.

[saltpoint]

8. WI_DEM, you have some really good people on your shortlist for

a potential Obama nomination run. To your already sound suggestions I might throw in:

Brian Schweitzer, Kathleen Sebelius, Dale Bumpers, and Dick Gephardt.

I'm surprising myself by typing Gephardt's name. But at this point in the scheme of things, a pro-labor Missouri guy with some serious experience on the Hill might serve a President Obama well.

Good post.

[Firespirit]

10. Count out Dean and Kerry.

Dean is doing great work where he is, and it would be a terrible shame for the DNC to lose its top advocate for grassroots politics and giving the party back to the people who compose it.

I love Kerry, but he wouldn't be in the VP slot. If he wanted an Executive position in a 2009-2013 administration, it'd be Secretary of State or Attorney General, most likely.

I'll go with Clark on this one.

[Perky]

11. This has to be a very unBush ticket

Meaning bright and affrimeing at the top and extreme competence in the #2 preferebaly with executive and international eexperience.

Richardson is the obvious choice.

[dkofos]

13. Whoever came in second.

Provided they don't beat up on each other too much!!

[FrenchieCat]

16. It will be whomever the media talks about non stop until

Obama selects a VP.

It won't necessarily be the "best" match to kick some ass in the general election; simply be who the media decides to sell to us and to Obama and his "advisors".

A hint might to see who's been to a bildenberg meeting as of late? It's usually someone who's shown up there and been put throught their test.

That being said, I'm looking forward to a couple of exciting years to watch, since no action I take, including voting will have any effect on anything! :shrug:

Y'all know Gravel has been barred from the New Hampshire Debates? Guess CNN decided that they didn't want him included or something! Guess he might lead the debate in a direction they don't want it to go or something?
http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/3636

[undercutter2006]

18. a white woman?

for the balance?