Who will be Obama's Vice President? - Page 3 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Tully Mars · 06-10-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtyrascal7

Not sure just how reliable this is, but here's a short list of names Obama's vetters are considering for VP (according to First Read).

Gen. James Jones, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John Edwards, Evan Bayh, Kathleen Sebelius, Ted Strickland, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Jim Webb, Bill Nelson, Jack Reed, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Tom Daschle, and Sam Nunn.

I'm alright with most on the list. Don't know enough on a couple to have much of an option. But...

John Kerry? Seriously? John Kerry? I would have serious misgivings about even putting him on the list, any list.

jorgelito · 06-10-2008, 04:42 PM

It looks like Obama is giving a serious look at military folk including Clark and Webb. It's a smart move I think. Too bad Hillary wasn't a retired General or something; he could get a 2 for 1 there.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/....vp/index.html

Willravel · 06-10-2008, 04:47 PM

General Hillary Clinton? Don't get me wrong, she's a brilliant woman, but I get the feeling she is less qualified than a lot of other people (including many, many women) to be a career military officer.

Tully Mars · 06-10-2008, 04:50 PM

I really like both Clark and Webb. Personally I think Clark might be more qualified, but think Webb is more electable.

ratbastid · 06-10-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I really like both Clark and Webb. Personally I think Clark might be more qualified, but think Webb is more electable.

I don't know about that. Clark with REALLY good coaching could be a KILLER VP candidate.

Tully Mars · 06-10-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

I don't know about that. Clark with REALLY good coaching could be a KILLER VP candidate.

Well, I'm not willing to put any money on it. Actually think he'd do a hell of a job if elected. Just seems any more you need an attack dog in VP spot on the ticket. I think Edwards came up short on this, but again could be wrong. I just don't see Clark filling that slot, sadly his ability to deliver a sound bite might be more important then his actual ability. Life in the 24hr news cycle.

Willravel · 06-10-2008, 06:24 PM

I think we'd be lucky with Clark or Webb, though honestly when Webb stood up to Bush after he remarked on Webb's son (who was deployed)... I think that clinched it for me. I'll back Webb, but I'll be happy either way.

Tully Mars · 06-10-2008, 06:44 PM

In doing some reading I keep getting references to some sexist comments by Webb. Sound years old, I'm not sure what they are or what they were. Alway these vague comments about them.

Any one know anything about these?

guyy · 06-10-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtyrascal7

Not sure just how reliable this is, but here's a short list of names Obama's vetters are considering for VP (according to First Read).

Gen. James Jones, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John Edwards, Evan Bayh, Kathleen Sebelius, Ted Strickland, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Jim Webb, Bill Nelson, Jack Reed, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Tom Daschle, and Sam Nunn.

Some list. It seems too slanted to the right wing of the party. I suspect that's because it's a list of people that the writer or writers would like to see on the ballot. OK, so maybe you want to consider people from Ohio, Virginia, and Florida more than others even if they may be otherwise uninspiring. But why Biden, Dodd, Daschle, Bayh, or Reed? Nunn? Kerry??!! What are you people smoking?

From these, i'd go with Sebelius. Aside from everything else, she was born in Cincinnati.

p.s. Strickland says no way. Which is fine with me. He shouldn't be on that list anyway.

dc_dux · 06-10-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

In doing some reading I keep getting references to some sexist comments by Webb. Sound years old, I'm not sure what they are or what they were. Alway these vague comments about them.

Any one know anything about these?

Jim Webb on the Meet the Press during his Senate campaign in 2006 discussing an article he wrote, "Women Cant Fight" and responding to Tim Russert's question about Webb's comment that the Naval Academy "is a horny woman's dream":

Jim Webb's Baggage (at 2:27 ..... see the embarrassing smile when asked to explain the "horny woman's dream" comment

The comments go back 20 years and I dont think the baggage is that serious, but it would be a temporary distraction on the campaign trail that Obama doesnt need.

I think the far greater reason that he will not be the VP choice is that it would risk losing a Democratic seat in the Senate -- the only other highly rated state-wide Democrat in "red" Virginia is Mark Warner, who is currently running for the other Senate seat held by the retiring Repub John Warner (no relation)

MSD · 06-10-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willravel

As I said, that only refers to Article II:

"Constitutionally ineligible" refers to the whole constitution. It referred only to Article II until the 22nd amendment was passed, rendering two-term presidents constitutionally ineligible to hold the office of president, and therefore Vice President

Willravel · 06-13-2008, 07:44 PM

Clark is clearly chomping at the bit to be VP.

dc_dux · 06-13-2008, 08:02 PM

WesPac is alive and well.

Quote:

Formed by General Wesley K. Clark, WesPAC - Securing America’s Future is founded on the belief that a truly secure America demands sound, wise leadership and a renewed commitment to the values that have made our nation great: service, integrity, and accountability.

Anchored in these ideals, and committed to addressing the threats facing America both at home and abroad, WesPAC has two central objectives:

* Elect Democrats to the White House, Congress, state offices, and local offices in order to implement new policies that will restore our nation’s security and prosperity, comprehensively address the threats facing America and our allies while respecting civil liberties, and replace the current unwise policies established by this Republican Administration and Congress.

* Provide leadership on U.S. national security issues and develop new, innovative solutions to the challenges facing America at home and abroad.

jorgelito · 06-20-2008, 05:40 PM

Update

Obama's Veep could be a Republican which would definitely make things very interesting.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080620/...pr/obama_hagel

Quote:

Hagel says he'd consider VP offer from Obama

By ANNA JO BRATTON, Associated Press Writer 32 minutes ago

OMAHA, Neb. - Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said Friday he would consider serving as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's running mate if asked, but he doesn't expect to be on any ticket.

Hagel's vocal criticism of the Bush administration since the 2003 invasion of Iraq has touched off speculation that if Obama were to pick a Republican running mate, it might be Hagel. Hagel said in an interview with The Associated Press that after devoting much of his life to his country — in the Senate and the U.S. Army — he would have to consider any offer.

"If it would occur, I would have to think about it," Hagel said. "I think anybody, anybody would have to consider it. Doesn't mean you'd do it, doesn't mean you'd accept it, could be too many gaps there, but you'd have to consider it, I mean, it's the only thing you could do. Why wouldn't you?"

In a book published this year, Hagel said that despite holding one of the Senate's strongest records of support for President Bush, his standing as a Republican has been called into question because of his opposition to what he deems "a reckless foreign policy ... that is divorced from a strategic context."

Hagel wrote in "America: Our Next Chapter" that the invasion of Iraq was "the triumph of the so-called neoconservative ideology, as well as Bush administration arrogance and incompetence."

He said Friday that he and Obama also have differences.

"But what this country is going to have to do is come together next year, and the next president is going to have to bring this country together to govern with some consensus," Hagel said.

He hasn't endorsed Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumed Republican nominee, whom he calls a friend. Hagel said Friday he hadn't thought about who to vote for in November.

In a March appearance on ABC's "This Week, he said he and McCain have "some pretty fundamental disagreements on the future of foreign policy," including the Iraq war.

McCain has said his goal is to reduce U.S. casualties, shift security missions to Iraqis and, ultimately, have a noncombat U.S. troop presence in Iraq similar to that in South Korea. He has said that such a presence could last 100 years or more.

Ted Sorensen, a former speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy, said Thursday that Obama should consider Hagel.

Sorensen, a Nebraska native, said Obama should pick a running mate who can help where he's weakest, and Hagel's national security experience makes him a logical candidate. Obama has a team managing the vetting process that includes former first daughter Caroline Kennedy, and Sorensen said he has spoken to her about the selection.

Hagel served as an Army sergeant in Vietnam and was twice wounded in 1968, earning two Purple Hearts.

He was the only member of his party on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to support a nonbinding measure critical of Bush's decision to dispatch an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq.

"There is no strategy. This is a pingpong game with American lives," Hagel said at the time.

The rhetoric drew the public ire of Vice President Dick Cheney, who told Newsweek in January 2007 that Ronald Reagan's mantra to not speak ill of another Republican was sometimes hard to follow "where Chuck Hagel is involved."

If McCain picks up Lieberman, then I guess we would have two mixed tickets and two minority tickets too.

I like the way this race is shaping up, definitely more interesting.

Tully Mars · 06-22-2008, 01:30 PM

Thanks for the info Dux, interesting.

Re: Hagel- I don't see it happening. Not completely opposed to it just don't see it ever being anymore then a talking point. Seems every election there's talk of a cross party ticket, far as I know it's always been just that- talk.

Mongoldeathworm · 06-23-2008, 03:30 PM

Ron Paul and Obama! w00t!!!

echo5delta · 06-28-2008, 06:17 PM

I want to preface by saying that I am politically ignorant, for the most part - at least for US politics. You wanna talk about provincial and local politics in al Anbar? Give me a call!

That being said, I think Obama would be hanging himself to pick either a female or minority VP. To do so would automatically write him off for a good portion of conservative or fence-riding voters.

I don't know much about the potential VPs he's looking at, save one or two.

I'm not too sure how much Wes Clark would help the ticket. Yes, he's a good leader with a tone of military cred. He was, however, Chmn. of the JCS during the war (and when it kicked off, IIRC?). For all the shit-slinging people do at Petraeus, Clark was in an even better position to affect the prosecution of the War on Terror or in Iraq. That's probably just me, though.

General Jones? Well, he was a so-so Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the first ever to take another post (Supreme Commander, Europe) after his four years in the Corps' top spot. Good guy, but not a *great* guy - although he's been pretty well-groomed for foreign policy, particularly in Europe.

I like Jim Webb, for many, many, many reasons. He resigned as SecNav under Reagan - the iconic GOP President - over issues of principle. After Jimmy Webb came back from his first Iraq tour (as an enlisted Marine 0311 Rifleman), Jim wore his son's boots every day while campaigning for Senate. And while he was a Marine, Jim Webb won the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star (x 2) in Viet Nam - yet was NOT a career military man.

Dude has shitloads of military cred, as well as DoD and foreign policy insight, but he's not someone who just hung up his stars a year or two ago. He wouldn't have to wash his hands of Iraq because he had nothing to do with shaping policy that drew us there. He's definitely got some skin in that game, though.

Okay, McCain's kid has done a tour in Iraq as well, to be fair. For me, though, the bottom line is that if Obama picks Webb, he gets my vote automatically.

(Although if we vote based strictly on hotness of wives, McCain and the blonde with tits up to her chin win by a landslide!)

Terrell · 06-29-2008, 01:46 PM

Webb, would be a great VP choice IMO, but can the Dems afford to risk Webb's Senate seat in a 49-49 Senate (2 Independents Lieberman and Sanders caucus with the Democrats)? VA would be a tough open seat for a Dem candidate to defend in a special election (though that wouldn't occur immediately I don't think). Maybe if the Dems make some net gains in Senatoral elections elsewhere in the 2008 elections but that is a bit of a gamble. (for those non-US TFP members 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election)

ubertuber · 06-29-2008, 03:21 PM

I think the Dems are widely expected to gain ~ 5 seats in November. Of course, that's predictions, and they mean nothing until the election. So, they'd be risking losing a seat in a climate where they are predicted to get a firm majority but are unlikely to get the magic number of 60%. Not to mention, winning the presidential election will likely be an indicator of picking up a number in the upper range of the Senate seats up for grabs.

In other news, politico.com tells me that Wesley Clark is criticizing McCain's credentials again:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wesley Clarke

“I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”

Out of Clarke and Webb, who do you guys perceive as bringing more "tough guy" legitimacy to the ticket?

Willravel · 06-29-2008, 03:36 PM

They're both tough as nails. I'll admit I'm a bit torn between them right now.

SecretMethod70 · 06-30-2008, 04:35 PM

Clarke is definitely better than Webb, both in terms of credentials and in terms of being a good candidate. That said, I think it's fair to take him out of the running at this point, since Obama has denounced Clarke's (100% correct) remarks.

The really sad thing about the whole Clarke thing is watching the interviewer being astonished at the idea of what Clarke is saying. It's not like Clarke was trying to diminish McCain's past, but being president does not involve flying a jet and being tortured. It's a totally different role, and just because McCain managed one doesn't mean he's fit for the other.

pan6467 · 06-30-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecretMethod70

Clarke is definitely better than Webb, both in terms of credentials and in terms of being a good candidate. That said, I think it's fair to take him out of the running at this point, since Obama has denounced Clarke's (100% correct) remarks.

The really sad thing about the whole Clarke thing is watching the interviewer being astonished at the idea of what Clarke is saying. It's not like Clarke was trying to diminish McCain's past, but being president does not involve flying a jet and being tortured. It's a totally different role, and just because McCain managed one doesn't mean he's fit for the other.

What exactly are Obama's qualifications?

At least McCain shows he is willing to work with the Dems. McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, McCain-Lieberman......... where is Obama-(R)?

I used to be a proud Democrat because the party had shared the same values and ideals I did. But not Obama, not the current crop. The current crop is as far left as the Neo-Cons went right. Does the Democratic Party really want to sell it's beliefs to the far left and go so far left that just as the Neo-Cons chased out their moderates the "Progressives" will chase out theirs?

Obama's VP better be a moderate and wisely chosen. One who is a uniter, not a divider. It probably won't matter as the office is nothing really except a tie breaker in the Senate if need be or a heartbeat away from President.

My prediction: Obama is more of a divider in this country than W and his VP is ruined politically.

Willravel · 06-30-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote: