Who do you favor for Veep?

[Stinky The Clown]

This post was inspired by Chris The Bloviator Matthews' citing a WaPo article speculating that Jim Webb might become the 'go to' guy for the veep slot on anyone's ticket.

Okay, I could go with Webb. That said, and as much as I like the guy, he's pretty damned conservative. he's good for Virginia and I am thrilled he beat Allen ...... but Veep?

What about Wes Clark? he was the perennial target of Veep speculation ..... until Kerry went with Edwards.

Bill Richardson is another favorite for Veep, even in the face of his (not doing well at all) presidential bid.

Who else is out there? My brain won't engage beyond these three. Further, picking the Veep is in no small measure, different for each candidate. But anyway ........

Who might you favor for Veep? And why?

[Ian David]

1. Barbara Boxer. n/t

[gateley]

9. That would be GREAT! nt

[Canuckistanian]

23. I would vote for Boxer

If I had a vote, that is.

[book_worm]

2. Wes Clark would be the best choice for any of them, imo.

[MNDemNY]

4. I second that!!!

[gateley]

13. Clark said a few things on Bill Maher that made me uncomfortable, so I'm not

as gung-ho for him as I was.

[ceile]

3. Richardson

His experience would benefit any candidate.

[MethuenProgressive]

10. Absolutely agree!

Richardson will be a rock star on the antional stage!
:kick:

[Elidor]

5. Hillary

:evilgrin:

But I'm thinking of the office of the veep in the older form, when Gore had it. Not the Cheney kind of veep.

[Texas_Kat]

6. Yeah, Wes would make it the ****GENERAL**** election, indeed.

[joe1991]

14. The most respected General since Eisenhower...yes!

but i also have thought Webb would be a great choice. Both fighters, both against this quagmire.

[MethuenProgressive]

7. Was Obama. Now back to Wes Clark. Kerry/Clark would've won in '04!

The lack of a strong VP candidate was all that kept us from winning that election.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. I gotta add a strategic element here ..... who runs to succeed in '16?

Before he decided to run on his own, my overwhelming choice was Obama.

Honestly, when it becomes a purely strategic question, I still think he's the gold standard for our Veep.

[OzarkDem]

19. We once thought that about Gore, too

If Gore couldn't successfully fight the vote theft in 2000, how in the world would someone like Obama be able to stand up to the likely theft of another election?

Whoever is chosen as next POTUS and VPOTUS are going to have to be incredibly strong, brave and principled people if they are to have any possibility of actually governing and restoring democracy in the US. They'll have to be strong enough to face taking back control of our military and defense departments, the FBI and the CIA - all incredibly difficult tasks.

Triangulators, appeasers, etc. won't be able to lead or even protect their own job adequately. No offense to Obama or most of the other Dem front - runners, I'm sure they're nice people, but most of them will be trampled.

[Texas_Kat]

24. Just as good to have a VP that isn't intending to compete in '16

Provides fresh opportunities for 'new' faces.

[OzarkDem]

11. None of the above

nor Ted Strickland, either, a rumor the GOP led news media keeps trying to start here in Ohio.

I haven't made a decision about POTUS yet, so it would depend largely on that. If we end up with a POTUS who sincerely plans to work closely with his/her VP, they should choose someone for more than their ability to pick up additional votes in the general, but who also has complementary skills and experience.

Gore was probably one of the best Veeps in recent history. If he were president, it would be possible to bring in a strong woman Veep, perhaps someone like Barbara Boxer.

[soleft]

12. Is there any reason to believe Clark won't be Hillary's running mate?

I thought that was probably a sure thing.

[joe1991]

16. I thought she was eyeing Evan Bayh

eom

[book_worm]

18. except that Bayh wouldn't add anything to the ticket--he couldn't deliver Indiana.

[TwilightGardener]

28. You know that already? I thought Dudley-Do-Nothing was popular there.

[Stinky The Clown]

33. There aren't even rumors of a quid pro quo for his endorsement

That said, we have NO idea if there is or not. But I suspect there'd still be at least a rumor of it. I've heard nothing.

Now ..... since he's on everyone's shortlist of possible veeps, it would not surprise me that, if she wins, he's her veep. However, i would stop short of seeing it as the end play of a quid pro quo; there's simply no proof - or even hint - of that ..... except in some tinfoil headgear world view.

[Truth2Tell]

15. Russ Feingold

:shrug:

[fedupfisherman]

17. Mario Cuomo n/t

[OzarkDem]

21. That would be good. n/t

[ThomWV]

20. Richardson for a much different reason than his experience

The non-coastal-west is just full of people who have never voted before who would welcome the chance to vote for someone with Mexican ancestry. Bill Richardson would bring many new voters to the Party and I suspect they would become and remain a loyal Democratic voting block in much the same way southern blacks and many trade-unionists have become.

[OneGrassRoot]

22. Military experience is key for me

I believe someone who has served is less likely to wage unnecessary war. Not having a military background is my biggest drawback with John Edwards. I support Edwards, therefore I'd like the VP to have a military background to bring that to the table.

I've been very impressed with Chris Dodd of late, who actually served in the reserves. I hope he gets more air time; he has been a valiant defender of our Constitution of late.

I know it's demeaning to pair another candidate with your own choice and imagine them as VP, but it's hard not to think that way.

Sooooooo, I'd be happy with an Edwards/Dodd ticket.

I've always liked Wes Clark, but he wigged me out a big when he was on Real Time this past Friday. I'm trying not to let one "performance" turn me off, but the fact that he is supporting Hillary is enough to do that. I don't dislike her, but I have no doubt it will be more of the same with her.

I like Jim Webb. Thus far, I like him a lot. I'd also like an Edwards/Webb ticket (damn, that looks good having typed it out!


Are there any women who have served in the military who would be Vice Presidential candidate material? THAT would be great, from my own personal preference perspective.

[Didereaux]

25. I'm sorta down on the name Cheney, but most any other might be okay! ;) n/t

[DFW]

26. I wouldn't mind Howard Dean

He would be as good a behind the scenes operative as Al Gore was,
and at least as efficient.

However---Howard is not interested (as of now) and we need him badly
as the effective tireless DNC chairman he has been for a while now.
I'd love to have the "connection," but I think Wes Clark is still every
number one's choice for number two these days.

[TwilightGardener]

27. Webb--I think he might be a bit controversial in his private life

(he's on his third wife now, and she's a young'un with a newborn--shades of Fred Thompson) and the gun incident was a little weird. I also think he'd have trouble acting like a number two guy, and BARELY won against Macaca--maybe not the best campaigner? A VP pick needs, above all, to be subservient, safe and scandal free. Not sure Webb is any of these, although I do like him.

[LSparkle]

29. HELLLLOOOOO -- we don't have a NOMINEE YET the last time I checked

Talk about putting the cart before the horse ... Geez, I get enough of this from other sources; is DU ready to just crown Hillary too???

[Stinky The Clown]

31. Helloooooooo .... the OP says that.

There's no reason for not speculating, though. Or is this sort of discussion a sacred cow that shall not be tipped?

But if you're hellbent on snorting and snarling about Hillary, have fun.

However, your snorting in **this** thread is a bit misplaced .... and ironic in light of this *other* thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3659086

[ileus]

30. Wrangler unlimited...

[Jack Bone]

32. Former Senator Bob Graham (FL)

:patriot:

[saltpoint]

34. Richardson would draw a lot of votes to our ticket, which means the

ballot-long vote would favor city, county, and state Democrats as well. That's a good outcome.

I like Richardson a lot better than Bayh, for example, although that isn't to say that Bayh couldn't make Indiana interesting, and he'd help in Iowa as well, where he and his father remain fairly well known, plus he has that corn-fed scrubbed-for-church aspect that might impress a few disgruntled Repubicans to abandon the unstable Mitt Romney. It seems to work in Indiana.

It would surprise me if Clark, Richardson, and Bayh were not on any nominee's short list.

If the convention can't reach a decision and they give my house a call, I'd tell them to go with Bill Bradley. He's smart, tough, and fair. And he can talk hoops with the sports-lovin' demographic and economics with the academic demographic.

Based on electoral strategy (as opposed to personal preference), and for just tonight, subject to change, I'd choose Bill Bradley as veep for Edwards; Dodd as veep for Richardson; Napolitano as veep for Dodd; Clark as veep for Obama; Bayh as veep for Clinton; Sebelius as veep for Gravel; Alexis Herman as veep for Kucinich; Harkin as veep for Biden; and either Russ Feingold or Robert F. Kenney Jr as veep for Al Gore.

[Stinky The Clown]

35. Wow ...... your closing speculative/strategic picks are pretty interesting pairings.

As you say, its all subject to change, but I like a number of those pairings.

[saltpoint]

36. Hi, Husb2Sparkly. Good thread. Thank you.

:hi: