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Fair enough.
As to number two, if you have doubts about his character and so forth, there's probably nothing he can do at this point to impress you.
I've seen numerous signals of his character, especially, his leadership style that gives me high hopes that he can achieve greatness, truly rising to the occasion.
There are no guarantees, of course, but my best judgment based on the facts and impressions I have leads me to believe there's a real chance he'll be great. And I started out as a skeptic.
As to number one, choosing Clinton, let's put aside the electoral arguments about whether that would do more to help or hurt.
My particular concern about such a move is frankly, I do not trust the Clintons to not undermine his candidacy and/or his presidency.
On a more ideological level, I'm not keen to keep the legacy of Bill Clinton alive; I find his third way despicable.
I'm sure you disagree, which is fine; the arguments have all been rendered ad nauseum and I'm not looking to engage in that particular argument here; by now, the sides have pretty much ossified and it seems to me there are two general camps: 1) the Reformist camp that coalesced around Nader, Bill Bradley and Howard Dean and 2) the Clinton camp, which (as far as I can discern) basically thinks the 1990s were all right.
Anyway, my basic question to you is, if you were Barack Obama, would you trust Hillary Clinton (and be extension, Bill Clinton) on your ticket?
Have they inspired any confidence that they can be good Number Two type people?
In my view, Hillary Clinton's talents would be wasted in the Oval Office or in the vice-presidency. I do think she would make a fine cabinet secretary or some such post where her job is more technocratic than political.
