Obama/Elenchos '08

Edwards has said several times that he won't accept a Veep nom.

Not that a VP ever matters unless there's an assassination (knock on wood).

NO SENATORS! You want to get 60 plus, don't you?

My top 2 picks are Janet Napolitano and Claire McCaskill.

Oh well, I voted for Sibelius ...

Evan Bayh is the winner pretty much everywhere except geographically. He's got tons of experience -- legislative and executive -- and is a dyed in the wool Clintonista that would effectively reach out to the Hillary crowd without having to go through the discomfort of actually placing her on the ticket. The fact that Bayh is a boring white midwesterner ought not be an issue with smooth-talking Obama as the headliner, plus his centrism might help Obama reach out to swing voters.

Speaking as an undecided voter who doesn't get what's so great about Obama, having Bayh on the ticket would go a long way towards courting my vote. It would certainly alleviate concerns about Obama's inexperience and overly-liberal voting record.

@27 bet he picks KS too. good comp between Hil and a woman.

Well, almost perfect IMHO. Like 18 notes, losing a democrat senate seat from VA is tough. He would be AWESOME as VP, but I can't decide if it would be worth losing that seat. One democrat winning a VA Senate seat is incredible, two in a row would take a miracle.

I like Richardson. I'm pleasantly surprised he is second only to The Hill.

McCaskill would be great too (I voted for her in '06!), but again, we need all the seats we can get...

Particularly when you consider Bill would be back in the White House.

Richardson FTW!

Richardson: No, he'd be better off as Secretary of State. And sorry, 2 minorities will scare off voters in racist swing state (I truly am sorry, but you know it's true).

Webb: We'd lose a senate seat. The nothing gets through. Yay! So we can wait 2 years for full control while Obama gets hosed for "not getting things done". No thanks.

Kathleen whoiswhatsit: All the personality and charisma of Kerry. but worse. And a woman. When she spoke after the state of the union, I was like "omfg shut up you ignorant cow". Sorry but I was. And I love me some Dems.

Ugh. Those are the top? Ya'll realize we can lose right? This isn't in the bag. He needs someone amazing for the VP slot.

John Kerry? Seriously? The man who lost as president against Bush should now be VP? I can't see how this possibly helps Obama in any way. Nor can I see Kerry accepting such a position.

Joe Biden? Who never broke 5% in the primaries? How does this help?

I can see the Hillary temptation, given her legion of followers (give her credit for losing to Obama by less than 1%). But tactically I think this would be a mistake.

Sam Nunn is an unmitigated asswipe. I'll never forgive him for DADT. There are some other really stupid names on that list too.

Obama needs a VP that will shore up votes where he is weak, or that might help carry a critical state him might lose otherwise. The four smartest choices are John Edwards (who has repeatedly said he's not interested), Bill Richardson, Wesley Clark, and Jim Webb.

I will fall over dead if it's an Obama/Bayh ticket.
I've been saying I'd love to see those 2 on the ticket ever since I saw OHB speak at the DNC comvention and he made me cry my eyes out.

Richardson practically fell asleep during the Democratic debates. He'll get something, just not VP.

Edwards already said no.

Kerry has the stink of loser on him.

Evan Bayh looks good, but having both candidates from the same state is too risky.

Biden and Webb are both good choices, but (the risk of) giving up a Democratic seat would hurt.

I'm going to go with Wesley Clark. Experienced, respected, he's got that silver fox thing going on, and he's a teeny-tiny bit Jewish. He covers up all of Obama's weak points. Plus, he'd appeal to the knee-jerk, Fox news watching patriots, what with his chest full of medals.

The state of Florida fucking loves him, and with him on the ticket, I really think it could swing the entire election in our favor.

He's in favor of stem cell research, he's pro-choice, anti-war, and against a constitutional ban on gay marriage.

Yeah, he's done some things I don't agree with, but I really think he's the best choice.

Wow, that must sting ...

Two problems with Webb - he's a loose cannon and a real risk to make a 'mistake' in front media (i.e. being brutally honest) - the other I think is a deal breaker - they can't loose a Senator. I think the Dem strategy is to play it safe in the senate until 2010 when they have a real shot at 60+ in the senate.

(1) Clark. I gave him money last time, but he didn't seem to catch on. If not Clark, then...

(2) Webb. SENATORS DON'T HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR SENATE SEATS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT OR VICE-PRESIDENT. Duh. If not Webb, then...

(3) elenchos

Runners up: Chris Dodd, Sam Nunn, Ed Rendell, Kathy Sebelius, Mark Warner.

Mike Bloomberg, my choice for President, doesn't balance well with Obama on the ticket. Barack should make definitely make him Treasury Secretary and Economic Czar.

Gen. Jones is intriguing but we don't know enough about him yet.

Jim Webb and Brian Schweitzer are great politicians but quirky, prone to weird remarks and behavior that the press would seize on and detract from Obama.

Rule #1 in the veep sweepstakes: Anyone but Hillary! Patty and Chris before Hillary. My sister before Hillary. Maria....well, maybe not Maria.

He'll have to give it up if Obama wins. Although the current governor of Virginia is a D, so, at the very least, Webb's immediate replacement will be a Democrat.

@57,

Unconstitutional.

But truly, Richardson would be an awful choice.

In your opinion. I think he'd be a terrific VP.

Ahhhhhh. Gotcha. Still think a strong addition to the ticket is worth one seat in the Senate. Especially since we will hopefully gain seats this year (suck it, Norm Coleman.)

But I'd rather have Clark. Biden would be good too. I've seen Richardson speak in person, and he's hyper-bright, but he didn't do well in the debates, did he?

I don't think Hills should be the Veep choice. Even with Bill on best behavior, it would be a weird dynamic. With Bill in his latest incarnation, well, it would be catastrophic for Obama.

I'd prefer not a senator, though.

Wes Clark is an HRC supporter, a Fox News commentator, handsome, white, old, & retired military. There is no downside beyond him not having much experience being a junkyard dog on Capitol Hill. That's compensated for by his appeal to straight old white ladies who liked Charlie Rich.

That said, she rocks, and it's a shame a lezz-bean can't be elected.

She has become known as a center of the road legislator fighting for anti ear mark legislation and an accountability office for expenditures on the war. What she is most noticed for is that she has a pulse of the people that comes naturally and speaks out for the people when something is not in their best interest concerning government or important issues. Yes two inspiring candidates who bring out the best in people on the ticket sound real good.

Steven L. Reed
1441 South Estate Ave.
Springfield MO
stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com