Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has become my number one pick for Obama's VP!

[Danger Mouse]

Who's with me on that one? I feel that he brings nothing but positives to Obama's tickets, and would help him in the West immensely, which I think will be the main battleground of this election.
If you think it will be someone else, feel free to make your case here.

[TwilightGardener]

1. In 2006, he said he might vote for Romney if Romney ran for Prez--

I'm sorry, but that's just a big fat no-no. Beyond the realm of reason.

[Danger Mouse]

2. ROMNEY??

Gah.
...I still like his chances better than Clinton, Kerry, or Edwards.

[TwilightGardener]

3. Somebody posted the interview here the other day--all I could think of was, WTF???

[Danger Mouse]

5. Well, it could be worse. He could've said Huckabee.

Romney isn't so terrible, just a smarmy douchebag whose positions and convictions blow in the wind of whatever he thinks will get him votes.
He's a joke.

[TwilightGardener]

7. True--there ARE worse people than Romney...but still... ick.

AND in that same interview, Schweitzer said he supported McCain in 2000. Why isn't he voting Democrat, I wonder?

[Danger Mouse]

9. While I don't like that either at least in 2000 McCain was still somewhat respectable.

And he earned sympathy points for the filthy campaign that Bush ran against him.
Since then, he's turned into what he fought against.

[TwilightGardener]

12. But here's my problem--Schweitzer was a Democrat, voting AGAINST Democrats.

He was against Al Gore, preferred the Republican in 2000--and he considered going AGAINST Hillary, Obama, Edwards, or whomever our nominee was going to be this year to support a Republican instead--as an elected Dem official! I guess the VP talk made him change his mind and come out for the Dem this year after all, instead of for Romney and McCain? I forgave Jim Webb his prior Republicanism, because once he became a Dem, he supported Dems. Schweitzer to me is another Lieberman.

[John Q. Citizen]

17. So, no link? I think i would have remembered this, if it happened. There was nothing on it

here in the state.

Do you have a link?

[TwilightGardener]

18. Prosense posted it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6466817#6467127

[MercutioATC]

19. Schweitzer is Schweitzer. That's why I really like him.

He's a Democrat who doesn't toe the current party line.

How many loved Pelosi? Wasn't she supposed to be our champion? How has that worked out? She's a Dem...maybe even a historically good Dem...but she was always part of the system.

Schweitzer's not. The far left will always say that he doesn't do enough. He's not a Democratic darling.

He is, however, somebody who talks straight...and his ideals are decidedly Democratic. Like him or not, he's a Democrat in a realist's body. He's exactly what this party needs.

Obama's got my vote. I really like Obama regardless of his VP pick.

...but I love where we could go with an Obama/Schweitzer ticket.

[TwilightGardener]

20. Well, party loyalty does count a little. Sorry. A Democratic governor

should say he'll support the Democratic nominee in 2008. Not Mittens Romney. Not only does it show absolutely no allegiance to the party, but it shows EXTREMELY poor judge of character. We went apoplectic over Lieberman stumping for McCain--how is Schweitzer any different, really? What, he has that tough western independent ranchy guy persona that Holy Joe doesn't, and thus it's suddenly cool that he considered supporting a Repub asshole instead of our nominee? What, does that make him all "independent"? LOL! His appeal is all persona, just like Webb's was--all designed to get a tough burly lookin' guy on the ticket so white dudes won't abandon us this time around. Webb, at least, seems loyal to his newly adopted party.

[MercutioATC]

22. I disagree. I think Schweitzer is what we should all be looking for in a leader.

He really believes what he says. Party politics be damned, Schweitzer REALLY believes in Democratic views...at least the views that I consider to be Democratic.

No, he's not a "Kucinich progressive"...neither are most of us. He's a progressive nonetheless.


If you're looking for a pro-Dem hack that won't be honest when Dems screw up, you're free to dislike Schweitzer.


Schweitzer doesn't support Romney. He stated that he's liked some of Romney's positions in the past, but that the "current" Romney doesn't hold to these views.

[TwilightGardener]

25. Well, we'll have to agree to disagree on his VP suitability.

I don't hate the guy, and I'm actually a conservative Dem myself. But there is something disturbing to me about the motives of a Dem Gov who announces as early as 2006 that he might support the Repub candidate instead of the Dem. Not even Lieberman announced his decision to support McCain that early, even though we all knew it was coming. Generally, it's very hard to announce that you're breaking with your own party on such an important matter--THE most important matter in politics, really--we're talking President. Lieberman is reviled now and has no future with Dems, Colin Powell is hesitant to side publicly with Obama, even though it's clear he does. My own Senator, Hagel, also is finding it hard to break with his party in this election, even though his wife is writing checks to Obama and he's obviously disappointed with McCain--and even though his own party has pretty much disowned him. That's loyalty, and loyalty is usually good politics. Brian needs to find some.

[John Q. Citizen]

23. I think you miss the point. Montana isn't very big on either party. It's independent.

And saying you supported, in concept, the losing Repo or maybe the maybe 2 years from now Repo is just the kind of thing Schweitzer would say.

He didn't say he voted against any Democrat, though, now did he?

That said, I'm not pushing Schweitzer for VP. I doubt he'd want it or be very good at playing second fiddle.

I'm just saying you are going off on one paragraph in a long article and maybe a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Comparing him to Lieberman is lame, for a whole lot of reasons.

[TwilightGardener]

26. You can have independent thoughts on issues, but when it comes to elections--

you damn well better say you're supporting the Democrat, if you're an elected Democratic official--ESPECIALLY when you don't even know who the Democratic nominee is yet. You don't publicly announce, in that high-profile position, that you're considering turning your back on the party that got you into office during this most crucial election. It's wrong, there's no justification for it.

[John Q. Citizen]

31. It seem to win him elections here. As far as I know, he's never claimed to

vote for the Repo.

In 2000 he wasn't an elected official.

In 2006 he was governor, and he was musing about hypotheticals, maybes and such. He won here with a moderate Repo running is his Lt. Governor. The State Repos have tried to kick the guy out of their party.

You can be as shocked or disapproving as you like. I wouldn't ever say that I'd maybe vote for McCain or for Mitt. But

At the same time, I do say that It's wrong for Obama to support the FISA bill.

I also believe the Dems in Montana (and throughout the West) should use medical marijuana and industrial hemp as a wedge issue against the Repos. Not much support from the Gov on that idea as far as I can tell. Oh well.

Schweitzer is pretty much a shoe in for re-election. It will help Obama.

[dansolo]

29. Bullshit - Schweitzer is nothing like Lieberman

At the time of the quote, it was assumed that Hillary was going to be the Democratic nominee, and McCain was not even on the radar. You make it sound like he made that comment recently. Perhaps he just doesn't really like Hillary. And it never said that he was against Al Gore, only that he supported McCain, presumably against Bush in the primary. You seem to be putting a awful lot of weight behind an obvious hit job against the western Democratic governors.

[Indiana_Dem]

6. He also said he isn't the same Romney he knew before...

I was almost sucked into liking Romney until the day he conceded the primary and did a 180 degree turn in attitude like a Jeckyl & Hyde routine! I couldn't believe my eyes & ears--he turned into Mann Coulter that day! He had me hoodwinked even though I would never have voted for him anyway. I didn't hate him that much until that day.

[Muttocracy]

24. hmm, thanks for that - so much for liking what I'd heard about him so far. nt

[Pirate Smile]

4. I'm thinking Schweitzer and Biden as being top options.

I'd be happy with either.

I'll be fine with whoever is picked.

[Indiana_Dem]

8. I'm with you 100%!! Obama/Schweitzer '08!! nt

[DFLforever]

10. I think he's got too much going for himself in Montana

to want to get embroiled in DC politics. He doesn't sound like he has those types of ambitions either. I've also read a few places that he and Obama don't relate particularly well to each. And mutual trust seems to be very important to Obama.

[John Q. Citizen]

15. I doubt Brian plays second fiddle all that well.

[dansolo]

30. He and Obama don't relate??

Where have you heard that? Clearly they are different personality types, but I can see him getting along with Obama as well as any other Washington politician. They have a very similar approach to governance.

[ruggerson]

11. If anyone is interested in learning more about Schweitzer

here is a good place to start:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=361

[Skwmom]

33. Here's a great article on why Schweitzer should be picked for VP.

http://www.westerndemocrat.com/2008/06/the-case-for-br.html

[John Q. Citizen]

13. Leave our governor alone! After 12 years of Repos, we'd like eight with a Dem, please. Thanks

[MercutioATC]

16. All your Governors are belong to us.

If I was a Montanan, I'd feel the same.

I'm a selfish Ohioan. Give us your Governor!

[MercutioATC]

14. Schweitzer. Absolutely. (link to a Charlie Rose interview with him)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0i9o-ThOPM

I've shown this to co-workers who always vote Republican. They don't like McCain and were planning on sitting this election out. Might not be worth anything in November, but they like Schweitzer and it got them thinking.

I'm going to be clear...I'm to the right of many here. Schweitzer is less of a compromise candidate to me than is Obama...and I really like Obama.

I'm just some random poster on an internet forum...but I believe that Schweitzer would give us a slam-dunk in November. Obama will make his choice, and I'll back the ticket regardless...but I'd love Schweitzer as his VP.

[saltpoint]

21. I can understand why Montanans would fight to keep him.

I can understand why Obama would want to choose him.

He's a damn good man.

[PM7nj]

27. I've been leaning more towards Tim Kaine lately but Schweitzer would be great too. nt

[DFLforever]

28. My money's on Kaine

[Skwmom]

32. After trying to paint Obama as just another phony politician, his

picking Schweitzer would demolish that argument and energize the left, Independents, and Republicans.

I'd love to hear Schweitzer responding to the Republican talking points. That would be priceless!