We need a VP strong on foreign policy to debate Cheney

[DaveSZ]

Ok so Kerry or Edwards would probably wipe the floor with W in a debate, but what about against Cheney? He's a brilliant man, though very evil.

[salinen]

1. What debate with Cheney?

Don't hold breath.

[union_maid]

2. Good point

Assuming there is a debate, of course.

[JI7]

3. ted kennedy

[LeinesRed]

4. Wesley Clark

and maybe the moderator wouldn't let Cheney off the hook this go around. Remember when Cheney boldly proclaimed that he "made his living" in the private sector? And...how about some good Halliburton
questions...oil deals with Libya and Iraq...Saudi connections...and my favorite...Mr. Cheney, you had HOW MANY deferrments in the Vietnam War? Exactly what were those priorities you had...

[Octafish]

5. Honest trumps brilliant.

Although brains are important, a firm basis in morality will be the stuff that topples the stiff statue Sneer. The public knows what kind of crook the Haliburton poster boy is.

Remember in 2000, and the moderator asked about how well Sneer had done in business? Lieberman had him dead in his sights, all Joe had to was say "Everything Cheney has accomplished through business is a result of his work in government."

That would have shown the public the facetiousness of Cheney Bush's anti-government schtick. But no, Lieberman called him a great government servant, blah blah. Later we find that Lieberman carried a lot of water for Arthur Andersen and ENRON.

Small world. And a hearty welcome to DU, DaveSZ!

[teryang]

6. Lining the pockets of the energy sector

...and reinstating colonialism is a piss poor excuse for foreign policy. Cheney is so vulnerable on his conflicts of interest and secrecy virtually any democratic candidate could wipe the floor with him. Remember his world tour to drum up support for war in Iraq? A huge failure. His pre-emptive war based upon lies was Machiavellian but is still a failure.

The real challenge is to have a vice president who can sniff out and deter the covert operations shennanigans that take place in the national security establishment, particularly the intelligence agencies. These secretive agencies are virtually beyond oversight, and conduct their own foreign policy regardless of who's president, or what the electorate has stated by its vote. They will deliberately sabotage any sitting President who doesn't adhere to their agenda or who fancies himself a real, "commander in chief." A competent VP will have the national security background to cover the Presidents back effectively so that he can successful pursue a substantial domestic agenda and implement his own foreign policy.

[Bombtrack]

7. Bob Graham would be perfect. He was the ranking dem on intelligence

He sort of blew the wistle so to speak or at least raised the issue of them blacking out the Saudi info on that 9-11 report. Not to mention he's extremely likable. He's the friendly grandpa who happens to be wiping the floor with Cheney, look at that!