Who do Monroe County progressives want to see as Obama’s VP?
If you’ve been keeping up with the news at all these past few days, I’m sure you’ve heard that Obama is by all accounts going to pick his running-mate by the end of the week. So I’m interested to know who you, the loyal readers of RT, want to see as Obama’s vice presidential candidate.
Who would be the best pick for New York state? Hillary Clinton probably, if for no other reasons than she has been our Senator for eight years and she is firmly planted in the state. But if the news accounts are correct, she is not really in contention.
So without any home-state politicians to cheer on in the veepstakes, I’m interested to know who you want and who you think will be chosen.
For a long time, I’ve wanted Obama to pick either Wesley Clark or Chuck Hagel. They both bring serious foreign policy credentials to the table and they would both nullify the McCain hero factor. Chuck Hagel would show plainly that Obama is not a business-as-usual politician and he could also be any effective bridge between a President Obama and moderate Republicans in Congress (specifically in the Senate). Although, I doubt that he’ll be picked because of his strong conservative stances on economic and social issues.
Gen. Wesley Clark would be a great choice because he isn’t really a Washington politician like McCain and his ilk, but he does have decades of experience in the military, and having been the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces during the conflict in Kosovo adds a lot of heft to Obama’s policy toward Russia and the former USSR satellite countries like Georgia. He is a strategic and holistic thinker, and there would be a great sigh of relief from the country at-large if and when he takes over for Dick Cheney. I also don’t think that Clark will be picked as the VP because of the controversy over what he said on Face the Nation a few weeks ago and because he ran what many thought was a lackluster presidential campaign in 2004.
And now, I turn to who I think Obama will pick as his running-mate: Joe Biden. He has plenty of experience on Capitol Hill and he is a feisty campaigner. Biden could attack McCain’s terrible policy positions in a way that Obama himself cannot. He can get down in the mud and throw it right back at the Republicans while allowing Obama to stay above the fray. He is very charismatic and his policies, while I disagree with some of them, are well thought out and he can articulate them effectively. But, he voted for the Iraq War Resolution in 2002 and he has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth.
So, now that you know what I think, I want to hear from you. Who do you want it be and who do you think it will be?
Well….I lived in Virginia and worked pretty hard to get Tim Kaine elected, so perhaps I am not impartial, but I would love to see Obama pick Kaine.
I know that Tim Kaine is not popular in many progressive circles, but I can tell you that he is a stand-up guy, has roots in the south and midwest, is not afraid to make tough decisions, and as an added bonus is fluent in Spanish. As a staunch pro-choice person, I admit that his mixed-choice views do give me pause. However, he won me over when he said that he would never sign anything into law that would criminalize abortion. One other point, Obama has said that he wants someone who he can work with, Obama and Kaine seem to get along well (I saw them at a joint appearance in VA when Kaine was running for governor) and Kaine was a very early Obama supporter.
Have I rambled? Oh well, that’s my 2 cents. Thanks for the forum to discuss Veep candidates
I received an e-mail from Michael Moore today in which he is recommending Caroline Kennedy. From the day she was named to the selection committee I thought she would be an amazing choice. I vote for her.
Jim Webb
Howard Dean or Russ Feingold.
Bill Richardson
Though I wasn’t a supporter during the primary, I’d actually be excited by an Obama/Clinton ticket. I’m not sure why - just would.
Schweitzer or Napolitano. Someone with executive experience, which Obama lacks. Also, picking a Democratice senator could cut into any gains we make in that area. Richardson has the resume, but his presidential campaign didn’t impress anyone.
I’ve been figuring Richardson for the SW counter to McCain and the Latino angle, but Schweitzer is an interesting choice. I think Napolitano (or any woman) would cause a problems with the Clinton folks.
Well, I think this is great conversation but given the proposed announcement in Springfield - only Lisa Simpson comes to mind.
I find it interesting that we fall into the unintended exposure of perceived weakness by Obama. Pick this one because of lack of this experience or that one because of that experience. I mean McCain has plenty of experience - the wrong kind. Right now Obama’s weakness, in my opinion, is not focusing on John McCain and shattering the facade of the maverick image.
I agree and I think Biden can do just that. I also agree that the weaknesses are just a perception. But perception, if it is constantly parroted, can go a long way in the 24-cable news world. In that sense, I think picking someone who complements Obama’s strongest qualities is the way to go.