I bet Kerry made his VP decision today.

[AP]

He flew into Little Rock today and told Clark his decision, I bet. Either he gave him the courtesy of telling him in person that he wasn't picking him, or he told him he was picking him.

I wouldn't be surprise if he makes the official annoucement tomorrow.

It would be interesting to know where, physically, Kerry and all the major contenders are supposed to be tomorrow morning.

[The Shadow]

1. Wesley Clark !!!!!!

I think Wes would be the best choice for VP.

[liberalitch]

17. I think ROY clark...

would be a good choice.... either that or otis the drunk from the andy griffith show

[JI7]

2. if not clark, then who ?

[SEpatriot]

3. Edwards

I just think he adds more balance. But I'd be perfectly happy w/Clark!

[AP]

5. Does anyone know if Clark got on the plane with Kerry or stayed in

Arkansas?

[JI7]

6. no idea, but why

but why do you think kerry made the choice today ? he has campaigned with edwards, gephardt, and other possible vps before also. so him campaigning with clark (a potential vp pick) isn't really anything new.

as for kerry's decision i think he is trying to figure out who will help him most in terms of winning. and many of the people help in different ways. reasons for picking clark is more clear than edwards. but edwards helps in that much of his support in the primary came from those who are outside of kerry's current support groups but are part of bush's support. so if edwards can bring these voters to kerry's side it not only adds to kerry's support, but takes away from those that would probably vote for bush.

[AP]

8. because I know someone who knows someone who knows someone

and...welll...I just bet he made his decision tonight and told Clark.

But I don't know which way he decided, but I'd like to put together clues if there are any out there.

[MoonRiver]

44. It sounds like an amazingly complex decision.

I don't envy Kerry and his consultants as they make it. For me, it's clear. But for them, a multitude of considerations enter into the equation. All my love and best wishes to the Kerry campaign as they wrestle with this incredibly important choice.
O8)

[democratreformed]

22. Kerry is, in fact, still in Arkansas

He is giving a speech on health care at UAMS today around noon.

[Jai4WKC08]

40. Yep, he sure did (today)

Compliments of LandofLincoln:

from today's THE NOTE:
CLARK FLIES WITH KERRY TO DC: Gen. Wesley Clark boards Kerry's campaign charter from Little Rock, Arkansas en route to Washington, DC ... national campaign chair Jeanne Shaheen, who has been traveling with Kerry all week, also on board, ABC News' Ed O'Keefe reports.

[AP]

41. This could be it.

Would they announce it in DC?

Where did Gore go to announce his choice?

I vaguely remember Clinton going to TN to announce Gore, or maybe they announced it in Little Rock and then flew to TN for a rally right afterward. Or maybe that's my imagination.

I'm pretty sure Dole announced Kemp in DC and then went to Buffalo the next day for a rally.

[RafterMan]

45. Nashville

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/gore080800.html

12. Bob Graham

for about a dozen reasons

[AnnitaR]

4. No way he announces tomorrow or anytime soon.

There is too much stuff out there in the news now.

Kerry's smarter than to try to compete with all the major events happening now.

He's going to wait to get full media attention if at all possible.

Oh and of course I'm hoping like hell it's Clark!

[countmyvote4real]

10. You're right. No point in stealing focus from the current headlines.

n/t

[Bleacher Creature]

11. Absolutely agree

Kerry needs to get every ounce of media attention a VP pick will bring in. I'd be really worried about his judgment if he thought that it was a good idea to do it with everything else that is going on. He should (and probably will) use a fairly slow news time to make the announcement so that it becomes the story of the day, and hopeful week. I don't know when that it is, but it's not now.

[AP]

20. There are a lot of talented people trying to make career decisions based

on the pick, and they can't make them wait much longer, leaving those people on the hook, so they have to make a decision, and when they do, they can't expect to keep it secret, so they'll have to announce it.

This is all hearsay on top of hearsay. It could be total bs.

[TexasSissy]

7. What would Wes bring to the ticket?

I'd be delighted with Clark (as a former Wes Clark supporter), but I wouldn't expect Kerry to pick him as V.P., since I don't really see how Clark would help with the 18 tossup states.

[Bleacher Creature]

13. It's not about geography

if that's what you mean.

If Shrub can't maintain a big lead over Kerry on foreign policy, terrorism, and Iraq, he loses. End of story. He's got nothing else.

That lead is dropping every single day to the point where Kerry is now in striking distance. Two months ago if you had asked most people in the Kerry campaign, they would have been happy just staying close on these issues since he could more than make up for it with the economy.

Kerry still needs to be concerned that his recent gains are not just aberrations, solely the result of the torture scandal -- although I don't see that going away anytime soon. A Clark pick would go a long way toward making those gains permanent. Although I really like Edwards, Clark would be a great choice.

[Donna Zen]

9. iirc

There is a fund raiser tonight and a speech tomorrow. Kerry will be in LR tomorrow morning. I rather doubt any deals have gone down...there is no need to rush.

Clark will be headed to Europe soon for a few weeks--Germany and the Netherlands. Then he is headed for the islands. Business.

I wouldn't worry too much about it being Clark.

[juajen]

48. Seems to me that could be

because they need to take a vacation while they can. Not much chance until next year late if Clark will be VP. Lots of ways to look at this information.

[FrenchieCat]

14. How much do you want....

to bet? Let me know....I'll see if it's worth it.

[RafterMan]

15. Interesting

"I'm here today not just to get on board with Wes Clark and the state of Arkansas, I'm here with you to mark the beginning of the end of the Bush Presidency. That's what this is about. "

http://www.arkansasnbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1863719&nav=F8n2N58e

Here's hoping...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. timing not good

all this death and torture now getting the news.

[AP]

18. I still bet that he made it today, even if he doesn't announce it

right away.

[RafterMan]

43. If it's Clark, it might be good timing

some assurance on national security might be just the lifeline Bush-doubters need right now to make the switch.

[WI_DEM]

19. I read that he wasn't making his VP announcement until June

so it might be a little time yet.

[Darkamber]

21. no...bad timing...

This would be be very bad timing for the announcement. Let the Bush Adm. keep sinking and sinking and sinking.

I would put more money that the announcement might come in FL at the big fundraiser they will have there.

Now...let Bush take all the heat and don't take any attention away from it.

[Toucano]

23. Do you know where Edwards is for the next few days?

I saw his schedule about a week ago, but can't find it now.

[spooky3]

27. per an email from his staff today, he's stumping for Senate Dems

"During the month of May, I'm headed out to barnstorm for Inez Tenenbaum in SC, Ken Salazar in CO, Barack Obama in IL, and Erskine Bowles in NC."

No more specifics were provided.

[Darkamber]

29. He was in the Senate and doing Fundraising for the DSCC

Saw him vote yesterday. But will be in NC later in the month. He's also adding his voice to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. They just mailed out a letter signed by Edwards trying to get funds to help get the Senate back to Democratic control.

Here's part of that letter...

"There is too much at stake this election to sit on the sidelines. Remember between now and May 31 -- every dollar you give means two for the DSCC and moves us closer raising the money we need to win back a Democratic majority in the US Senate this fall.

During my presidential campaign, many of you heard me talk about how the Republican-led Congress and Administration have created two Americas. We need to unite our country. A Democratic Senate can lead us to the One America. Help elect a Democratic Senate; unite this country once again!

Best regards,
Senator John Edwards "

If you wish to give to the DSCC...here's a link...

http://action.dscc.org/DSCCSenate/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=2819389

[Jai4WKC08]

24. I have no idea about timing but...

If Kerry HAS decided, then his VP will be Wes Clark.

Aside from all the obvious surrogate duties (state fund-raisers, Dem responses to Bush speeches, etc), just yesterday the Kerry campaign paid for Clark to hold a news teleconference on education.

Kerry has said that he wants Clark in his administration. If he'd already decided that position to be Sec of State or NSA or any other foreign relations/defense post, he wouldn't be having Clark represent him on a purely domestic issue.

There's NO evidence that Kerry has decided against Clark as VP, and plenty of evidence of the exact opposite. If there were private discussions in LR, and staying over the night would indicate there were, it could easily be to confirm the details. Doesn't take long to say, "Sorry, no."

I'm not saying it is decided yet. There's no way to know and it's hardly worth speculating about. But IF Kerry has decided, I'd say his choice is pretty clear.

"I'm here today not just to get on board with Wes Clark and the state of Arkansas, I'm here with you to mark the beginning of the end of the Bush Presidency. That's what this is about."

The beginning of the end may well start in the state where the winning team has formed. Also note that getting on board with Clark was a purpose of the visit, just not the only one. Or as Kerry said back in Wisconsin:

"General Clark is not going to stand behind me anywhere in the course of these next months. He's going to stand beside me and he's going to walk point in this great battle, as we go forward to take back the presidency."

[SangamonTaylor]

25. I'm thinking that was an audition for VP

I'd imagine that Kerry wants to make sure that Clark can hit up the domestic issues just as well as the foreign policy issues.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kerry had Edwards trying out some foreign policy stumping.

I would be very surprised if the VP announcement came any time this month.

[Jai4WKC08]

26. Time will tell

"I'm thinking that was an audition for VP"

Maybe, maybe not. I was only addressing the theory that the decision has already been made. AP asked for "clues" to what the decision might be.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Kerry had Edwards trying out some foreign policy stumping."

Yeah, well, let us know when/if that happens. Hasn't yet, afaik.

One other point I should have made before (and again, applies only IF the decision has been made). You talk to the guy you've chosen BEFORE you talk to the rejects. Just in case he really doesn't want the job, or only wants it conditionally. Of course, we can't know for sure whom Kerry has in fact talked to, but there's no evidence of anyone else, either way.

[Toucano]

28. Edwards covered both domestic and foreign policy

issues at the State Dinner in Columbus, OH last Saturday.

He even spoke about the prison photos and the shame Bush has brought on the country.

He was fantastic!

[Jai4WKC08]

31. Glad to hear it--Edwards is a good speaker

But that wasn't my point.

Clark has covered all sorts of domestic issues when he has subbed for Kerry. I would expect Edwards to do the same. But yesterday Clark was asked to give a teleconference on education alone. That's quite a different thing.

When Edwards gives a speech or does an interview, at Kerry's expense and in his name, on a foreign policy issue alone, I will accept that they are both "auditioning" (as was suggested up-thread).

[Toucano]

33. I understand.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't intend to disagree with your point (which is excellent BTW), but just wanted to avoid people making the assumption that Edwards isn't speaking about foreign policy matters.

I think your observation is dead on.

:hi:

[Larkspur]

30. If Clark is Kerry's VP, the military-industrial complex will be licking

their chops. One of their blood brothers potentially near the oval office.

[Jai4WKC08]

32. A real warmonger that Clark

Just like General Eisenhower. He and Clark even retired out of the same position--Supreme Allied Commander Europe. First and second most decorated officers ever. Both West Point grads--career soldiers. Both led European alliances in wars that succeeded in stopping genocide.

Oh wait. Eisenhower's the one who warned us about the military-industrial complex. Even coined the term.

Sneaky generals.

/sarcasm

[LandOLincoln]

34. Sure they will be--especially since Clark

has vowed to cut the Pentagon budget by 25% if he gets the chance.

His intent: less $$ for hardware, i.e. expensive toys that don't work anyway, and more $$ for people, i.e. the troops and the vets.

Oh, and with all due respect, of course, but you really are a tiresome broken record.

[spooky3]

35. I like that plan, and my friends in the military or recently

retired from it have exactly the same views.

[AP]

36. Aside:

Edwards says the same thing.

IIRC, he said something to the effect of this: the military shouldn't be a device for shifting taxpayer wealth to private manufacturers of weapons systems that don't make us stronger. He'd use the military budget for people, for soldiers.

Another aside, I'd like to note personally that regardless of how one feels about war and militarism, the military is an incredible social device for shifting economic power down to the poorest people in our society. Anyone can (or shoud be able to) go into the military, learn skills, get decent benefits, learn to be disciplined and then come out of it ready to contribute to society in great ways. That was the lesson after WWII.

However, the Republicans have turned the military into a system with incredibly low pay (many soldiers are on food stamps) which is actually making it harder for people to get ahead, and most of the money spent on the military goes to profits for big companies which sell things to the military, rather than into turning soldiers into well-educated valuable participants in society.

Clark and Edwards are right about this issue and it stunned me at DU when I saw people using the military budget as a litmus test for liberalism -- if you didn't want to cut the military budget, you weren't liberal. That's misguided.

[AP]

37. double

post

[robbedvoter]

39. Yup. He opposed the war in Iraq, said we may have to leave.

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[Doosh]

42. I hope he picks Edwards but...

...isn't it a little too early? When did Gore pick Lieberman? mid July?

[wishlist]

46. CNBC said decision will be made before June

based on unnamed sources. CNBC story also claimed today that Edwards is a long shot because supposedly rumors say Kerry doesn't like Edwards. (If anyone can explain this remark, please enlighten me) They discussed that the odds by Vegas bookies give Gephardt the edge. Clark wasn't mentioned in the story at all.

I heard somewhere that Edwards will be joining Kerry somewhere for campaigning this coming week.

[Hippo_Tron]

47. Kerry needs to keep a low profile and let Bush make an ass out of himself

Drawing attention himself does no good right now since he's getting an assload of converts for simply not being Bush. When it gets closer to the election he'll announce a VP, define himself more, be in the media more, etc. But right now Bush is getting so much bad press that Kerry is ahead in the polls with barely any money spent in ads.

[in_cog_ni_to]

49. If he has decided,

I hope he let's the cabal meltdown continue...uninterrupted! :7 If he announces tomorrow, that's ALL the media will talk about until the convention. We just need to let this "prisoner torture" issue fester for a while.

I DO hope he picked Wes Clark!!!! :bounce::bounce::loveya: