Coming Soon: The 2008 VP Race!
After el subliminal's post regarding McCain's potential VP choices, I decided to take a stab at projecting Obama's options. And, yes, I know Clinton won last night (by the way, the stunning role race is beginning to play in this process is disturbing, at the least), but she only delays the inevitable. Obama will be the Democratic nominee, and if the party plays its cards right, the next president as well. Of course, leave it to the Democratic party to screw up an election where the opposing party is closely aligned to the least popular executive administration in the history of the United States, but that's another issue.
So, getting to the VP. The names being bandied about include Indiana senator Evan Bayh, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, and of course Senator Clinton herself. I think she would be a disastrous choice, an exceptionally polarizing figure who the Republicans will love to see on the ticket, I'm sure. She does nothing to help Obama. The former two are rising stars in the Democratic party, and both will be discussed as serious options. However, McCain will hammer Obama on national security and his lack of war experience, whatever that means. So, I think the most interesting choice (and one being discussed for McCain, actually) would be former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Powell has been exceptionally coy regarding his endorsement, and he hasn't come out in support of anyone (although he did praise Obama here). Obama has repeatedly talked about forming a coalition across party lines, and how better to do it than nominate a popular figure in the Republican party as his running mate? He would also shore up any concerns folks had about Obama's lack of national security experience, or experience in general. There is the potential race problem, which I still find hard to believe sometimes, and Powell's ties to the Bush Administration, but I think Obama has a real chance to captivate some Republicans less than inspired by the choice of McCain as their nominee.
Of course, Clinton' recent success with older white voters might force him into picking one of her supporters as his VP, if not Senator Clinton herself, so such speculation could soon be rendered moot. Yet Obama has steadfastly stated his desire to go against the grain in Washington, to change the culture, and to eliminate bipartisan bickering. It should be easy given Bush's lack of support even within his own party. And in this current climate, even the Democrats couldn't screw that up.
Right?
So, getting to the VP. The names being bandied about include Indiana senator Evan Bayh, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, and of course Senator Clinton herself. I think she would be a disastrous choice, an exceptionally polarizing figure who the Republicans will love to see on the ticket, I'm sure. She does nothing to help Obama. The former two are rising stars in the Democratic party, and both will be discussed as serious options. However, McCain will hammer Obama on national security and his lack of war experience, whatever that means. So, I think the most interesting choice (and one being discussed for McCain, actually) would be former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Powell has been exceptionally coy regarding his endorsement, and he hasn't come out in support of anyone (although he did praise Obama here). Obama has repeatedly talked about forming a coalition across party lines, and how better to do it than nominate a popular figure in the Republican party as his running mate? He would also shore up any concerns folks had about Obama's lack of national security experience, or experience in general. There is the potential race problem, which I still find hard to believe sometimes, and Powell's ties to the Bush Administration, but I think Obama has a real chance to captivate some Republicans less than inspired by the choice of McCain as their nominee.
Of course, Clinton' recent success with older white voters might force him into picking one of her supporters as his VP, if not Senator Clinton herself, so such speculation could soon be rendered moot. Yet Obama has steadfastly stated his desire to go against the grain in Washington, to change the culture, and to eliminate bipartisan bickering. It should be easy given Bush's lack of support even within his own party. And in this current climate, even the Democrats couldn't screw that up.
Right?
Powell has lied in front of the UN about finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq where none existed, as we all know.
Then of course he later admitted he lied.
No democrat, specially Obama who is running on an anti-war platform will side with Powell.
If he does, as we all know, the repuglican smear campaign will have no hesitation going after one of its own.
It won't happen, of course. But let's face it, the only way any president here can get anything done is by getting bipartisan support, and I think Obama wants to try for it.
I think he might pick Jim Webb (ex. military, rising star, gave the SOTU rebuttal etc.,)