Bayh is a good choice for VP

[Renew Deal]

This has nothing to do with Bayh's politics. His DLC chairmanship, original view of the war, and view of DOMA are terrible. But does that make him a bad choice? Not necessarily.

Bayh is very popular in a state that can help Obama. Obama has a shot at Indiana and it will get better with Bayh.

Bayh represents both the Rust Belt AND the Farm Belt. Both regions are important and competitive for Obama.

Rust Belt


Farm Belt


Bayh has an impeccable resume. He was Indiana Secretary of State for 2 years. He was governor for 8 years. And he has been senator for 9 years. He’s on some very important Senate committees (Armed Services, Banking, Small Business, Intelligence, and others).

He has won A Lot in a very red state. He knows how to talk the talk. He talks rust belt and farm politics, as well free trade, and values issues.

And he’s a good speaker. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7JhfkjonYw

I think that some of his positions are nightmarish for Democratic partisans, but I also think that he’s smart, charismatic, has a ton of experience, and would be an asset to Obama. He reminds me a lot of what Gore was for Clinton in 1992. He also has a better resume than almost anyone that the republicans could nominate.

The bottom line… I think Bayh helps Obama and I would be enthusiastic about the ticket.
(Disclaimer: I would be enthusiastic for almost anyone that Obama chose.)

Committee Membership: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Bayh#Committee_Membership

[YOY]

1. Yeah...he really knows what's troubling America

Video games.

Get a real VEEP.

[Hawaii Hiker]

6. Oh no, please tell me he's not one of those politicans

who thinks we need to censor video games, Hollywood, & Howard Stern...I expect this kinda shit from religious conservatives, but not from Democrats..

:banghead: :banghead:

[YOY]

8. DLC.

n/t

[book_worm]

50. Do you remember when Gore was "one of those politicians"?

[cyclezealot]

2. Veeps are not all that influential

He has a strong DLC, pro Nafta background is my impression. That would be a betrayl of the rust belt. Plus the Dems' would loose a Senate seat . The governor is republican.

[Renew Deal]

4. He's from the rust belt

And that hasn't been a problem for him there. Also, the republican isn't going to argue against NAFTA.

[tulip]

37. The Rust Belt will determine the election........

and Bayh is incredibly strong in that region of the country. Republicans and Democrats at every end of their respective parties seem to be impressed by him.

I like Biden and Kaine too and would be happy with either, but I think Bayh would be the best choice of the 3.

[Hutzpa]

39. Rust belt

has to be about divisions isn't it?

we never learn, every elections we
fall into this republican talking point
of dividing America,

besides the Rust belt what does he have?


A DLC insider who is part and parcel of the very
system most of us are against, which has in turn
brought America to its knees.

[cbc5g]

7. Actually he has a strong union support rating...check him out at ontheissues.com

[cyclezealot]

29. I choose Cato's Free trade tracking website

Bayh has a 60 and 64% positive record with Cato. Bayh voted for BH1 visas, The Peru trade deal, and China's most favored trade status. That is not quite good enough. . What good is it to have favorable labor positions, if you a mixed about off shoring. / I'd still not happy to let that Senate seat go GOP. http://www.freetrade.org/congress

[tekisui]

3. Bayh VP would end the possibility of a filibuster-proof majority.

Reason enough to say NO BAYH!

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. I am so worn down by years of surrender and compromise,

that I'm honestly not sure if I can take anymore. After November, I think someone's going to have to give progressives a voice. I'm no longer sure that that's going to happen within the framework of the Democratic party.

[MrScorpio]

9. Bayh is from Indiana

That fact doesn't buy any sympathy points with this Michigander

[Radical Activist]

10. Several problems with your argument.

Obama already represents part of the farm belt and industrial areas. I don't know why your map doesn't include Illinois, which is the #1 soybean producer and #2 corn producer in the country. So Obama already has those strengths.

I think a Midwestern candidate is a good idea because it will help in several states by highlighting Obama's strengths, but it should be one from a state Obama has a better shot at winning. Indiana was where the Klan was reborn, the black legion, and the modern militia movement. Its the most racist state north of the mason-dixon line, if not the most racist in the country. Sorry, but he isn't going to win Indiana.

We don't need another Lieberman.

[Renew Deal]

15. I noticed the map thing too.

And I forgot to mention that he was from the midwest. Still, I'm not sure if Obama can find a better resume unless he picks Gore or Richardson.

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

33. "Its the most racist state north of the mason-dixon line"

I would wager that Idaho would argue for that dubious title. :scared:

[bigwillq]

11. Fuck Bayh.

Just another bigot.

[trewsx11]

28. Obama picking Bayh will communicate to undecided and swing voters...

..in swing states that he won't appoint Jesse Jackson and Rev. Jeremiah Wright to cabinet positions under an Obama Adminstration.

And when you think about it, isn't this what all this resistance to Obama stems from? The "unknown" factor on what kind of "change" he will bring.

[bigwillq]

36. Picking Bayh

won't bring about change either. You don't campaign as the change candidate and then pick a DLCer as your running mate.

[TwilightGardener]

12. If Obama selects Bayh, that tells me one thing about Obama:

He wants to win. Period. That would be his pragmatic side talking, not his idealistic side. And I'm fine with that.

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

34. How can he lose to a doddering old corpse like McCain?

Evan Bayh isn't exactly the embodiment of "change", is he?

[Phoonzang]

51. I second this notion.

Winning is what's important right now. There's too much at stake. The Supreme Court, the environment, wars, the economy...basically the future of the country. If it takes picking a DLCer to win, then so be it.

[BeyondGeography]

13. I'd be fine with it

I like that he could tip the scales in Indiana, like the focus on the heartland, which is where I think the election will be won or lost, like that he reaches out to the HillCrowd with this choice, if indeed it is the one.

My only real problem is two incumbent Senators on the ticket; would have preferred a governor, but, if it has to be a Senator, much prefer the reliable, geographically sensible choice of Bayh to the oral crapshoot and geographically redundant choice that is Biden.

[TwilightGardener]

14. Bayh was a two-term Governor--so you ARE getting a Gov on the ticket.

[BeyondGeography]

18. A sitting governor, doncha know

Running against Washington with two incumbent Senators...forget it.

[TwilightGardener]

20. So 8 years of Governor don't count? Because he couldn't run again, and became

a Senator? A Tim Kaine, let's say (2 1/2 years as Gov), is worth more than Bayh, because Kaine happens to be serving NOW? Now, I'd have to disagree there. Bayh's experience slate was not wiped clean when he became a US Senator.

[depakid]

16. As long as you realize that he won't carry Indiana for Obama...

then some of your other arguments are plausible.

[Thrill]

17. He's a bad pick. I'm sorry, I love everything about Obama but I won't be happy with Bayh

as the pick

[BigDDem]

19. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Douglas Carpenter]

21. And Bayh can help reach out and build bridges with the pro-war neoconservatives and others who are

against peace . This is a constituency which liberal and progressives have long neglected.

"Sen Bayh is a past recipient Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Award for Distinguished Service from the neoconservative security think tank JINSA"
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/03/evan_bayh_tough_but_smart.php

The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI) is pleased to welcome Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) as an Honorary Co-Chairman. Bayh becomes the third U.S. Senator to join the committee after Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced their participation on January 28.

The Committee is a neo-con group that was formed to propagandize the country into war. It boasted such illustrious neocon members as Bill Kristol, former CIA director James Woolsey, and even McCain senior foreign policy adviser and Chalabi-bamboozler Randy Scheunemann, whom Josh has been blogging about.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bayh_as_veep_he_cochaired_wing.php

[salonghorn70]

22. Bayh Would Be a Great Choice

He can appeal to Reagan Democrats in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

[On the Road]

23. Don't Know That I've Ever Heard Bayh Speak

but my coworker, who is an 50-50 independent, just saw me looking at an electoral map and said: "You know what Obama needs for a VP? A boring white guy. He doesn't need any more excitement, just someone to give stability to the ticket. Evan Bayh would be a good choice."

[maxsolomon]

24. IF Bayh would tip Indiana for BHO, then OK

but I'm not confident that Jesus himself on the Obama ticket could get brain-dead, corn-syrup-addled, xenophobic, provincial, selfish Hoosiers to vote for a Dem President.

Someone show me a tracking poll that shows Obama within striking distance in Indiana.

[SOS]

30. Bush pummeled Kerry in Indiana 60% - 39% in 2004

21 points!

[Cosmocat]

47. Some have him up, some have him down ...

by a point or two ...

http://www.pollster.com/polls/

They have the trend estimte at McCain 43.0 and BO at 42.4

[Skwmom]

25. Birch Evans Bayh III. Wow, that should really help McCain sell the elitist message.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. Nope.

Just one of many reasons to dislike the fuck:

"I do not support same sex marriage. I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman. That is currently the law in Indiana and is currently the law nationally. I support the Defense of Marriage Act that prohibits federal recognition of same sex marriage and prevents Indiana from being forced to recognize same sex marriages performed in other states.

If you have been told that a judge has struck down Indiana 's law or our nation's law prohibiting same sex marriage, that is simply not true. These laws may never be invalidated. In fact, Indiana 's law prohibiting same sex marriage was recently upheld by our Court of Appeals.

The Constitution should not be amended unless absolutely necessary and should not be amended to deal with situations that are hypothetical and may not come to pass. In a bipartisan vote on June 7, 2006, the Senate agreed and decided not to consider the Constitutional amendment this year because it is premature. I supported that decision.

In the event that the courts do invalidate our state or national laws prohibiting same sex marriage, then a Constitutional amendment should be considered."



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6585421&mesg_id=6586063

[Egnever]

27. Sorry NO

[nsd]

31. I agree that Bayh would be a good choice.

Executive experience, national security experience, appeals to moderates, would play well in the Midwest, might even flip Indiana (or at least make it competitive), former Clinton supporter.

I know this pick would disappoint many progressives, but even so I'd say it's a smart pick.

[Renew Deal]

38. I don't care much who is picked for VP.

I get stressed over the nominee, not the VP. The VP choice is fine with me as long as he/she doesn't cause Obama problems.

[paulk]

32. we'd be giving up a Senate seat in a state where it's hard

for a Dem to win. The governor is a Republican and would appoint a Republican to replace Bayh with...

I don't see this happening.

[Hippo_Tron]

35. Indiana is voting for McCain if there were anybody less competent on the ballot than McCain...

that's who Indiana would be voting for. Despite recent polls I think that unfortunately the wisdom of Toby Ziegler holds true to the real world.

[Hutzpa]

40. Your argument is,

if Bayh does not make the VP slot Indiana would not vote Democrat,
how naive can you get.....imagine that... total blackmail.:wow:

[Solon]

41. Sorry, that's just terrible, first off, I doubt he will carry Indiana for Obama....

Second, he will follow the same directions many past vice-presidents did and run for President in 8 years, no offense, but there is no way in hell I would vote for him for that. Obama needs someone who would represent a change in DIRECTION for the part in the future, not someone who is a conservative asshole.

[trewsx11]

42. The DLC has some pretty awesome Democrats, who cares if Bayh is DLC?

Besides, the vast majority of voters don't give a flying rat's ass about the DLC and probably don't even know what it is.

Gephardt, Chuck Robb, Bill Clinton, Vilsack, Harold Ford, were all DLC chairs. The only douchebag in that bunch was Joe Lieberman.

[Solon]

43. Harold Ford is a douchbag too, don't forget this is the guy who tried...

to use gay baiting to win his seat, and supported a Constitutional Amendment that defines marriage as between One Man and One Woman. He's a homophobic dipshit.

[trewsx11]

44. Harold Ford supported constituional amendment banning gay marriage???

Are you serious? Say it ain't so. :(

Well, if that is indeed true, then make that 2 douchebags and I will never vote for Ford for any office.

Even most DLC centrists like Bayh and Clinton oppose that idiotic amendment.

[Solon]

45. Yep, he supported the Federal Amendment and TN state amendment...

when he was in the HOR. He also opposes any benefits for same sex couples, so opposes civil unions as well.

[Solon]

46. Also Bayh, in the past, has supported DOMA, and said under "certain circumstances"

would support a Federal Marriage Amendment. He's been, I believe, playing both sides on this one, but it doesn't say much for his character.

[Renew Deal]

53. A lot of people believe that Ford lost because he was too right wing.

Democrats didn't feel compelled to vote for him because he was too republican.

[barack the house]

48. I have a good feeling about Bayh they real love him down there.

[SeaLyons]

49. No way....

boring choice...

[Renew Deal]

54. I really don't get the whole "boring" thing.

How is he boring? Is he qualified? Will he do a good job? Will he help Obama? Will he hurt Obama?

We're not looking for a circus act.

[SeaLyons]

55. he generates no enthusiasm....

and I think that hurts Obama at this point.

[Phoonzang]

52. The decision has probably been made one way or the other

All we can do now is wait. Arguing about it here WON'T change Obama's mind. The only choices we have are to accept his decision and vote him into office or to accept another 8 years of Republican rule.

[Milo_Bloom]

56. Good if you want to demotivate the base.

Why doesn't Obama just name McCain to the ticket as co-president and then we are guaranteed to win!