Let’s put aside electoral college math, southern strategies, and back room favors. Just for fun, let’s talk about representative government.
If Obama called you up right now, and said that he wanted your advice to choose a VP who had something in common with YOU, who shared your life experiences and your policy priorities and would truly represent you and your needs in government, who would you recommend?
Remember, no electoral calculations. Who’d be best at the job—best at representing you.
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no electoral calculations. Who’d be best at the job—best at representing you.
Fair enough.
Howard Dean.
I’d like Howard Dean, too. But I think I’d really like to see someone actually running for the office. Why not?
only person better than me representing my own self interests is WES CLARK.
but if the question was shortened to just the best at representing you, – I’d have to go with Dennis Kucinich.
Howard Dean — I like him a lot or Kucinich (which won’t happen). I also like Biden, but I’m afraid the MSM will attack him too much.
Me too.
Raplh Nader
Hey Ian.
I’m not so sure I’d want someone who shared the life experiences and such but policy priorities? Bernie Sanders without a doubt.
Barney Franks would also be good on that as well as Maxine Waters and Jerry Nadler.
Dean. By a wide, wide margin.
Russ Feingold
Feingold for me, I think. Though I’d hate to lose him from the Senate.
Knut, one doesn’t start off by saying I’m running for Veep, one is anointed and then runs for the office…!
Oooh, I didn’t think of Bernie. He’d be grand.
Only one answer for a working stiff …
Dennis Kucinich
christy hardin smith
Dodd. He’d fight for the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
Assuming facts not in evidence. No one at the top of the D party pleases me. Want the bench to get bigger so we have some real choice. The major reason I hang out here, other than great friends & company, it the “better” Ds. I’m holding my breath while waiting for them to mature.
Represent moi?
Rachel Maddow!
Tommy Chong
That’s why I like Dean or Clark, I want all the sitting Dem Senators ‘cept Obama to stay in the Senate
my bold
Bernie Sanders.
i don’t care if it’s someone who “shares my life experiences” – that wouldn’t make them qualified for the job.
does it have to be someone available now? i can’t pick a dead person?
Marcy Kaptur.
Nope. The other side already has one running for President.
That’s not an electoral calculation, Suz, in regards to boosting one’s electoral college chances M’dear…!
Lol, go for it. Who’s the best dead VP candidate?
Can we have Darth Cheney offer his advice?
Bobby Kennedy.
McC gets to pick the dead person :)
…although he would qualify as undead instead… Oh dread
my head
somebody stop me
yeap, is who i thought of as best vp candidate who is not available to serve
Barney Franks
FDR!
Barney Frank or Tammy Baldwin.
There is really no substitute for being LGBT when it comes to understanding LGBT people. Empathetic and allied non-LGBTs are wonderful, delightful, strong supporters, but when it comes to understanding my path and truly representing me, no one who isn’t LGBT can do it.
And they are the only two LGBTs currently serving in national office that I can think of who would be remotely qualified. And yes, I understand Barney’s role in iENDA this spring, but he has an incredible grasp of the financial system in our country that would, very likely, be extremely handy to have down the hall in the West Wing should that system implode in the next four years.
Great question, Ian — thanks.
doddster!
hmmmm – i’m kinda surprised no one has mentioned hillary as vp by now.
No. Not at all. Mysogyny. We have moved on from that. If not, all is not worth fighting for.
Everyone probably already knows this, but just in case you missed it, Rachel Maddow is getting her own show for the hour after KO’s show! Yea for Rachel and for us!
She’s looking for a good name for her new show. I think, “Maddow On America”, or something like that.
Okay, going to bed. Nite nite everyone. ;-)
I didn’t choose Barney Franks solely for his LGBT insight. I love the guy. Right now he’s trying to legalize marijuana. Another issue that doesn’t affect me directly but he’s fighting stupidity.
Another Feingold vote!
You wanna pick at that scab, Suz?
“Maddow Unplugged”
Nite Kay.
g’nite kayinmaine
18,000,000 people want HRC.
If it can be any person living, dead, or resurrected then I want the VP nominee to be Jesus Christ, just to see the look on Republican’s faces…
lol. ok. first the dead folks. for everyone who insists we must have a general on the ticket – i choose ike. even a republican.
for me, hmmm… gonna ponder for a bit….
Think the consensus here is that the Clintons are toast. But willing to hear other POV.
Dodd.
or Kucinich.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Webb, if he promised to straighten out our totally fucked up Military Complex.
Who ever it is, I want massive prosecutions and Obama can kiss my ass.
This used to be a nation of laws and not men.
Get after these criminal sonsabitches.
hahahaha
that is forking great – i love it.
JFK, Jr.
hmmmm – i’m kinda surprised no one has mentioned hillary as vp by now.
electoral calculations were excluded, no?
Biden – live
T. Jefferson – dead
Thanks woman. You too!
Almost forgot. VP pick:
George Mitchell (he’s married to a black woman and is a wicked good Mainah)!
Alright fine, his chances are slim. LOL
Not sure. I’m feeling like I can trust Barack’s pick. I’ll find out Friday if I’m right or not!
Nite nite. ;-)
Mary Magdalene
Bingo!!!
In the new age of VPs who get a portfolio, I gotta think about their special first term VP project would be.
C. Hardin Smith for cleaning up DOJ!
Al Gore for overall.
Wesley Clark for foreign affairs.
Yep, convene another Truman Committee and hold Halliburton/KBR, et al, accountable…!
I bet it will be HRC.
Yeah, Russ Feingold would be good for ‘Homeland Security’ and civil rights.
George Carlin would have been faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic, too. LOL
Don’t know about Webb, Busted, otherwise you done said it!
Besides Feingold, can I also suggest the dad of someone disliked around here? And that dad would be Birch Bayh.
Bill Hicks, anyone?
As long as Webb apologized for his misogynistic statements earlier in his career.
No one’s mentioned Gore? Too unrealistic.
Hold anyone accountable. I dispair.
Clinton would be good for social infrastructure.
If she were really on board, would be good for campaign fightin’ and scrappin’ and head takin’ offin’. But that’s thinking about that is against the rules, huh?
I’m hoping Someone can get over themself and make that happen. Better than anyone else, overall, on the list.
JMHO.
I said Gore! Algore for veep! Sounds good to me.
Not if Bill keeps kicking Obama in the shins.
Sure you don’t have Mitchell confused with William Cohen who is married to Janet Langhart?
We definitely need to imbue a sense of urgency in Obama to not let ‘bygones be bygones…’ 8-(
You capitalized “Someone,” so you think Obama really is The One?
Bill Hicks, anyone?
Hunter S. Thompson?
Barbara jordan
Amen! Can I get a witness?
Molly Ivins
Fabulous choice!
Dennis!
Obama pissed me off with his FISA vote, then he turned around and pulled a Pelosi and said he wasn’t interested in finding fault with BushCo and he wasn’t interested in even “looking into” ALL THE ILLEGAL SHIT THAT WE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE.
Gee, I have a problem with that.
I mean the Someone is really both of their bad ass selves.
They both, each, have stuff to get over.
Sarah Silverman
Amen, Molly Ivins!
Rachel Maddow.
Yes.
For those who insist; Smedley Butler
Bradley Whitford?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Whitford
Whoever helps Obama win. At this stage of the game, nothing else matters.
Given the Supreme Court, we can’t afford any more gop slime appointees like Roberts and Alito. Nothing has any chance of improving unless Obama wins.
Not the war. Not the economy. Not the environment. Not energy independence. Not education.
Nothing.
We can’t afford any more Nader nitwits who claim they’re all the same. There’s not enough difference to suit me, either, but, even if it’s only a marginal difference, there’s a difference.
We’re going to be digging ourselves out of this hole for a decade or so. Just like we did the last time the gops controlled all three branches of the Federal Government in the 1920s when they gave us the gift of the Stock Market Crash of ‘29 and the Great Depression. Things are going to be tough enough as it is. We can’t have a gop Supreme Court gumming up the works.
Oh no, i can’t choose between Barbara Jordan and Molly.
Unconditional withdrawal? Exactly who are we supposed to be obtaining “conditions” from? Is McCain going to “negotiate” with al Qaida in Iraq?
Or is this meant as signalling that the Iraqi government is going to have to establish “conditions” for our withdrawal…even if they insist we leave? If so we are truly an occupying power…and Iraqis are our subjects.
OT: NYrs pissed about cameras all over the city:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/….._0819.html
I like Mr. LS’s comment just now, hahahahaha
“GUESS WHAT, THEY WERE IN F’ING AIRPLANES!!!! They need to install Airplane readers not license plate readers!!”
Chris Dodd, to remove torture as the law, policy and practice of the United States and to remove the Bush administration definition of torture from every law, statute and policy of the United States, and to choose an independent investigator to conduct an independent, open and thorough investigation of all of those who wrote the new definition and all those who aided and abetted putting it into the laws, policies and practices of the United States, and to support all charges which are recommended. I would also trust him to close down Gitmo and the dark sites around the world, and ensure that those who are held without charged are charged or released, that fair trials are held, and that those found guilty are held equitably, and those found innocent are returned to their home countries or are given safe haven if they fear torture.
For Dan,
Heather
Rachel and Hillary.
Co-vice Presidents
first name that popped into my head when I read that those that have passed on were also allowed. I would also add Thomas Jefferson to that mix. As far as live person, I have to ponder that a bit more.
I do love Dodd.
al gore, jimmy carter, barbara jordan, mlk, marjorie cohn
“Who Would Represent You Best As VP?”
Wes Clark
If it’s possible to nominate people who are no longer living it should be possible to have two vice presidents. After all, they eat much less than corporeal candidates.
You oughta check out this sad state of affairs…
A ‘mindset shift’ that’s the extent of it…! WTF?
I love Chris Dodd
Um. Cass Sunstein. SCOTUS. I don’t think so.
Is Dodd scheduled to speak?
I’d rather have George Marshall, if we’re looking at dead ex-military.
Living – Dean would do well for me. Or Gore. (Shares my life experiences? ain’t nobody in politics doing that.)
SUZ!
I will next be sending you email. About this Spotlight matter.
–Cleanth
OT: Harriet Miers/Pakistan Lobbiest
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpoi…..bbyist.php
I kinda think it’s gonna be HRC too.
Why float Biden’s name heavily unless you want to get folks used to an inside-the-Beltway politician? And if such a politician is okay, why not go with Hillary?
Is that the same Chris Dodd who promised a filibuster and then flamed out?
Ammo costs money, so do lawsuits.
actually, i take back gore.
i think he would turn back into ’90s gore if he got near elected office again.
Why Dennis because National health care would save lives and save everyone money doing the right thing is often the most profitable thing.
A Dept of Peace that looks at potential trouble spots like Georgia and asks how can we work things out so that we can avoid sending troops in is a good idea.
Plus another Peace Dividend would help our economy. Obama needs cash to pay for his plans to rebuild America’s infrastructure. Obama needs cash to go green power, a peace dividend would help pay for that, as would the long term savings from national healthcare.
I grant you that Obama would still have to borrow money and raise taxes to do this but he would have to raise less money if he and Dennis saw where their ideas dovetail and savings could be found.
and we wouldn’t if we had an opposition party.
Bringing electoral considerations back into the equation, I want somebody who will brook no babble, take no prisoners, kick the shit out of the Repub V.P. candidate at the Veep Debate, and generally get Obama’s back as the slime machine gets ever more vicious as Election Day approaches.
I’m back to Howard Dean again.
It must be habit why I am even here fantasizing .
Goodnight.
I don’t think Bill would continue to talk glowingly about McC if the pick is Hillary.
I think he feels that way too, which is why he ruled it out. Once he got over being mugged, I think he probably felt relieved that he could do whatever he wanted without weighing political consequences.
alright, since somebody said George Carlin (and I agree)
I’m going to say Bill Cosby.
“Noah, I want you to build me an ark…”
g’nite busted
Well, of course. You didn’t think there wouldn’t be kick-backs for the billions we gave them, did you?
dead: Rachel Carson (Judi Bari and Ed Abbey wouldn’t have cared for all the time indoors)
living: Al Gore
(Cabinet? Amory Lovins for Energy Secretary…Sandra Steingraber for EPA…David Brower for Interior)
“A mindset shift must occur in which armed contractors view every contact with Iraqi civilians as friendly until actions clearly prove otherwise,” the rules state.
Ready, Aim, Smile – Fire !!
Be nice if he would quit that even if it isn’t.
I’m okay with HRC, because my old boss worked directly with her when she was trying to get healthcare through in the 90’s. She worked her butt off. We need healthcare, and I think if she gets into office, she’ll get ‘er done.
I wouldn’t like it one bit but I’d still vote for the ticket.
G’night
or my Rep: Jan Schakowsky.
Ian’s upstairs…
McCain’s campaign is all about the shape of the table at the Paris peace talks.
I would like Obama’s chief of staff to be Marcy Wheeler.
Vice President Kucinich or Franks.
Dead head love.. VP Barbara Jordan and Chief Justice Martin Luther King.
I like Dodd too for the reasons you said he has integrity and would certainly please the Netroots, and if Dodd can get Obama to change his mind on FISA Obama might start motivating people again.
The Dem Convention is coming up Obama thinks the Center Dems are the key to popularity lets see how long the Convention bounce lasts.
Busted!
Here I was really appreciating your perspective, saying to myself, “You go! Busted!”, and the next thing I know, you’re leaving.
Anyway, if you must, then, good night, Busted.
ALWAYS appreciate your thoughts. Always.
DWB
nite, Busted.
For that reason I’d choose Jonathan Turley, law professor @ GWU. Very, very supportive of the Rule of Law.
Rachael Maddow would be fine by me too.
Because Hillary is the person who most effectively enrages the Goopers and will encourage even the people who hate McCain to vote for him.
Biden can have a sharp tongue as well. His description of Rudy: “A noun, a verb and 9/11″
Dead: Ann Richards or Barbara Jordan
Alive: Ann Richards or Barbara Jordan act-alikes
Definitely Russ Feingold. Bernie Sanders a very close second.
Word is, though, that the choice will know a minute before I do via text.
So maybe Bill is just being Bill. He is an extremely popular former president. He’ll always have opinions, and always have an audience for them. Regardless of whether his wife is on the ticket, or vice-president.
Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Ann Richards isn’t alive…:(
Nevermind.
but really, Dodd or Leahy, or how about Conyers?
Conyers needed too much in his current oversight role.
But wouldn’t you love to see him taking over Darth’s office?
Given a choice I’d go with Bernie Sanders or Barney Frank—they are both smart as can be and their hearts are in the right place. Neither are a good political pick for obvious reasons. Another one is Stephen Cohen from TN
Having just skimmed through the entire list of House and Senate members, that’s the best I can come up with. Sad.
In fantasy land—no longer with us—Paul Wellstone
In real fantasy land, Josiah Bartlet.
William S. Burroughs, just so I can hear Republicans read quotes aloud from The Naked Lunch.
Conyers isn’t nearly as sharp as he used to be.
same could be said about Darth…
WooHoo, I just saw that Rachel is getting the Abrams time slot on MSNBC!!! YEAH.
It’s the time slot heard ’round the world.
I understand the pick (MSM guess) for Biden.
He has a calibrated “shoot from the lip” style that counters the calculated approach of the Obamans.
Can be a danger, but I love it when he Cheneys Cheney.
If you know what i mean.
We need someone as knowledgeable as Cheney as VP, but will never find someone as ruthless.
Perhaps you know, Teddy, that Mary Magdalene is a saint in the E. Orthodox Church? And in the Coptic tradition, she is reputed to have been a woman of consideraboe means and went canvassing, as it were, explaining the Resurrection of Christ to powerful kings and movers and shakers. She used some very clever analogies and visuals to “explain” these things. In Grace Cathedral in S.F., there is a fine ikon celebrating this, especially written for that cathedral (Anglican/Episcopalian).
Since we’re having fun, how about Raul Grijalva or Ed Pastor. Or consider Nydia Velasquez, Hilda Solis, Luis Gutierez, Xavier Becerra, and Jose Serrano.
Jaango
Michael Phelps
Biden. Someone has to get down in the mud and call McSame out for the corrupt ignorant fool that he is. The high road is bullshit.
Feingold
I’ve been saying this for years and many people here and elsewhere have dderided me as a republican shill and a knuckle-dragging neanderthal. Meanwhile, the high road gets you beat. Can you say John Kerry?
We have to fight like our lives depend on the outcome of this election. Because, believe it or not, they do.
Lieberman
…
hahaha
Russ Feingold
Unfair criteria. The person who would probably represent my experiences best is Willie Nelson. I love Willie, but I wouldn’t want him to be Vice President. My pick would be Wes Clark. No contest.
Ah-Clem!
Alberto Mora
Yes! Chris Dodd to set things aright with regard to the Constitution.
Well, duh, the best person to represent me would be… me.
Another simple answer to a simple question.
By the way, if there is a pool for Obama’s choice, I go for Wes Clarke. I think that their security discipline has been great on this, and I bet the choice will be someone who has been considered ruled out by most of us.
Bill Moyers
Bernie Sanders would be an awesome choice but not likely.
but why ‘awesome’? He knows how to win. I am in Vermont and can speak for his viability….Vermont was a conservative state ’til Bernie came around. He knows politics and has integrity at the same time. Never ran away from his socialist roots but adapted. Co-opted many opponents by being focused, practical and never condescending. As mayor, he was known as ‘Mayor Pot-hole’ not as a sneer, but as a compliment..as he’d get the potholes fixed if a citizen complained about his road. As Rep, and Senator, his constituent services is second to none. And co-option? He took rabid antiCommunist, anti socialist Veterans and turned them around by considering them as blue-collar heroes who needed representing…(unlike many of us on the Left…)
Plain talking, but very intelligent ’socialist’…who’d scare the bejezzus out the “insiders” though ..so,
Joe Biden is not bad. Bayh, who I think is still in the running would lose the Left and we’re still damned important to Obama. We’d just stay home and not put up a defense for his continued lackluster campaign. Still I think a dynamic woman w/o billary would be awesome.
Hadn’t thought of it before reading this, but… Dean is a great dark horse candidate. He and Obama seem to share the 50-state view of winning.
Otherwise… The Webb / Tester / Kaine mould would be good. I’d also be happy to see Clark – I still see his removal from consideration to look an awful lot like DC insiderism that can only hurt Obama.
Generally, a candidate who is strong in a particular region of strategic interest would be good, and may be the most likely choice. But only the Obama campaign can see what they believe to be strategic in that way.
The regional strategic candidate has one very strong thing going – it could be a candidate of lesser importance nationally, which broadens the options – and having a choice that looks unimportant is probably good for a lot of reasons (which also tend to discredit Dean and Hillary as choices).
The fact that Dean’s name hasn’t even come up has me wondering, however.
Russ Feingold or Bill Maher
Okay, I stole this idea from Michael Moore.
Caroline Kennedy
Think about it. She’s a woman. She’s beloved by those of us old enough to remember her dad. And she’s in charge of the nominating committee–sort of sweet justice if she “pulls a Cheney” and nominates herself.
Patrick Fitzgerald
I’m late, I know. But since Maddow come’s after Countdown, how about “Lift Off”
Ah, Michael Moore, hits it out of the park, AGAIN!
Brilliant idea. I’d crawl fifty miles on my hands and knees over broken glass to vote to the Obama/Kennedy’08 ticket!
um.. “to vote FOR”
Edit? Paging Edit function, to the white courtesy phone, please.
wes clark is the best person for VP!
Too bad it’s so late: Rocky Anderson for VP! Wish I’d thunk it before.
18,000,000 is a lot to think about , and you still get Bill.
Kathleen Sebileus. because I’m from Kansas and she knows how to be an effective liberal in a state full of wingnuts.
Live: Dean or Dodd
Dead: Frank Zappa
Dodd.
I lost an ENORMOUS amount of respect and enthusiasm for Obama after his FISA capitulation. Based on his support for the Constitution and the rule of law, Dodd was my first choice during the primaries, and I’d be thrilled to see him on the ticket.
Realistically I know it won’t happen, but the question asked for my choice, all else aside.