Letters to the Editor
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Hagel would be an interesting choice BUT
He is anti-choice...and that would be the end. One of the things the Democrats will have going for them in the fall is that McBush will stack the Supremes against a woman's right to chose. Otherwise Hagel might make a good choice..but his anti-choice postion is a huge negative.
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Physician, heal thyself first....
It seems to me Obama needs to repair and "unify" his own party before he sets out to unify the entire nation as he says he will. So, his VP needs to be either a strong Hillary supporter or an Obama supporter who treated Clinton with respect.
To put someone like McCaskill or Richardson on the ticket with him, Mr. Obama would be twisting the knives in Hillary and Bill's backs. I know there are some Obama supporters who genuinely believe we can win the election without most of the "traditional" Democrats like middle-aged women, blue and pink collar workers, and us old farts. I think that's mistaken; I think we need to come together and try to overcome the bitterness and anger within our party.
To do that, it would help a lot if the VP were not someone so vocally anti-Clinton as a McCaskill or Richardson. We need a Clinton supporter who managed not to alienate many Obama supporters, or at the least an Obama supporter who managed not to alienate Clinton supporters.
Wesley Clark fits those criteria pretty well. He's not all that great as a campaigner but will learn quickly, and will happily take on McCain and his buddies on anything military or defence oriented. I think he likes Obama too, which helps. Clinton supporters appreciated his support though he rarely if ever made strong anti-Obama statements of any kind.
Gov Strickland of Ohio would be a great choice too; he's an excellent campaigner, knows how to defeat Republicans in his own state, and would help us win Ohio and PA and probably Michigan.
And here's one other interesting possibility no one has suggested. It's been a long time since a member of the House has run for VP but hey, everything's new this time anyway. Bob Wexler of Florida is relatively young, telegenic and smart, Jewish, liberal but not "excessively" so, and an Obama supporter who kept the primary wars in perspective. He is popular in Florida and could deliver the state for us, whereas Obama himself probably cannot. The talking heads of the MSM love him, and Obama would feel quite comfortable with both his personality and his principles.
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Can we pick a runningmate for Harold Stassen?
I mean, if we can prolong the fantasy about Clinton winning, why stop there? Just because Stassen is dead...
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The experience thing
Although Mark Warner would be a good bet, I'd like to suggest former Rhode Island Republican maverick Lincoln Chaffee, who often demonstrated working across the aisle. He knows--and is respected by--the Senate, and is very statesmanlike.
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Re Hegal, Sebelius, Nunn, Feinstein & Bloomberg
Chuck Hegal has publicly stated that he won't be seeking any elected office in 2008.
Kathleen Sebelius won't be the pick b/c Obama doesn't need to spend his time talking about prison rape, which is what he'd be forced to do given her son's board game, Don't Drop the Soap. See http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/28/dont.drop.soap.ap/index.html
Sam Nunn won't be the pick because you can't argue McCain is old and out of touch and then pick someone for VP who's only two years younger than McCain. Plus, someone like Nunn just emphasizes Obama's lack of experience.
Dianne Feinstein? Are you out of your mind? She's one of the few things that are older than John McCain. Besides, she voted for the AUMF. How can Obama argue that his opposition to the Iraq War in 2002 shows he has the judgment to be President, and then pick someone who voted for the AUMF?
Bloomberg? "Don't you see the rest of the country looks upon New York like we're left-wing, communist, Jewish, homosexual pornographers? I think of us that way sometimes and I live here" (Woody Allen in Annie Hall)
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Richardson
With a Hispanic on the ticket, Obama won't need the "white vote". The two largest minorities plus we "elite whites" (God, I love being counted amongst that group) would constitute a landslide victory for Obama/Richardson. And a landslide is what we're going to need, to overcome the voting machinations the Republicans have perfected over the past 8 years.
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well this has been interesting...
I had some ideas of my own at first...Sebilius, HRC, Clark...and now after reading everyone insights I've added to my list of "ideal VPs"
Well, i originally said Hillary mostly because she already has a loyal support base. I still feel it wouldn't be the worst choice.
BUT
I still like Wesley Clark but now maybe for cabinet position. I now have taken a look at Governor Strickland. I actually think I like Strickland better. We need a governor in there although i wish he had more than just a year or two. He can bring OH, PA and maybe some other swing states. He's got a good look. Not too flashy, comfortable and reassuring to those who are fearful of the unfamiliar.
I don't think Richardson is a good choice. I like him. Too bad he's not a white guy. (Think this primary was about race add Richardson to the ticket and see what happens).
I like Sebilus but i think the very women who supported Hillary will get pissed off (unless Hillary rejects the VP slot).
Wexler is popular in Florida but for those who think Obama cant win Florida please don't be so sure about that. I live here (10 years now) and I can tell you, there are ALOT more than just a bunch of old farts here now. There's a HUGE youth and family contingent here as well an enormous population of African Americans who have generally never been involved in the political process. We have two HUGE universities University of Miami and University of Florida as well as several smaller ones throughout the state. If after he is nominated Obama runs his normal ground game here, FL is up for grabs, trust me.