Evan Bayh as the Obama VP?

[RecycleMichael]

I was at a meeting with a high level Obama campaign guy and asked who the VP was going to be.

He thought it was going to be Evan Bayh.

I think he would be a good choice. He is a Senator, but used to be a governor. He serves on the Armed Services and Intelligence committees. He is a past President of the Democratic Leadership Council.

Most important to me, he was one of the strongest supporter of Hillary endorsing her very early and campaigning hard for her.

His selection would be an olive branch to the Hillary folk, would give him a person with strong international knowledge and help Obama compete in a traditionally republican state.

[FOTD]

The devil be damned. I'm starting to think it oughta be Hillary herself.....they looked really good together yesterday in Unity.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

The devil be damned. I'm starting to think it oughta be Hillary herself.....they looked really good together yesterday in Unity.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hillary as VP was a terrible idea last week, it is a terrible idea now, and it will be a terrible idea until the end of time.

I don't know much about Bayh, but I do know he has an unpronounceable last name, which is not a good thing for a national candidate (Remember Paul Tsongas?) but I would support him as VP.  As long as it's not Hillary, and as long as they don't do something stupid like pick a Republican or a wannabe Repub like Lieberman or Zell Miller, then I will most likely support that person.  Personally, I think the best strategy would be to pick a female candidate that is not named Hillary.  Somebody like the AZ or KS governors would be perfect.  That would woo a large chunk of Clinton supporters who supported her for one reason and ONE reason only: her gender.  Put a Sebelius or a Napolitano as VP and you pick up a good chunk of votes automatically.  But there's that unpronounceable last name problem again...

I still like Edwards as VP, but it doesn't look like that one will happen.  I'll settle for him as AG.  I wouldn't mind seeing Al Gore serve another couple of terms, but I think he's better as a filmmaker and spokesperson for the environmental movement than he was as VP.

Or he could take Dave Chappelle's advice, and pick a Mexican VP, for "insurance" as Dave says.

[FOTD]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

The devil be damned. I'm starting to think it oughta be Hillary herself.....they looked really good together yesterday in Unity.

'It's Over, Lady!'



By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: June 29, 2008
UNITY, N.H.

Unity was spared the banality of unanimity.

Carmella Lewis, with her Hillary T-shirt and Hillary placard, came all the way from Denver to make sure there would be plenty of ambiguity, duality and ferocity in Unity.

Just as Hillary was testing out the unfamiliar familiarity "Barack and me" Friday and talking about "his grace and his grit," Carmella began loudly booing and waving her sign.

"We want Hillary!" screamed the 57-year-old retired ad saleswoman and Clinton delegate.

"It's over, lady!" yelled some Obama supporters a few yards away.

Standing between the Sharks and the Jets, David Axelrod took pity on an older friend of Carmella's who was suffering from aridity in the Unity humidity. The chief Obama strategist fetched a glass of water and brought it to the woman, who was wearing five Hillary buttons.

This amenity did not stop the disunity. Carmella and her friends continued to cry, "Nobama!" "We love you, Hillary!" and "We need Hillary!" as Barack Obama sat onstage on a stool behind his former rival, his finger studiously at his lips.

Carmella was not impressed with all the kissing, laughing and whispering that Hill and Bam were diligently doing for the cameras, so that the moment could produce, as Obama press aide Robert Gibbs put it on "Larry King Live," "a great picture."

When it was Obama's turn to speak, Carmella announced loudly, "I wish I had ear plugs." Then, as Obama tried to ingratiate himself with the Hillary partisans in the crowd by saying that because of the New York senator, his daughters "can take for granted that women can do anything that the boys can do and do it better and do it in heels," Carmella put her fingers in her ears.

As Obama tried to curry favor with Hillary, looking over at her sensible, sturdy shoes and marveling, "I still don't know how she does it in heels," Carmella tore up a tissue and stuffed it in her ears.

When Obama pandered with a line about how he wouldn't "perpetuate a system in which women are paid less for the same work as men," she put her hands over her tissue-stuffed ears.

"Maybe she'd like what she heard if she listened," sighed Axelrod.

When Obama talked about moving beyond "all the petty bickering," as Hillary robo-nodded at his side and CNN's Candy Crowley applied pre-broadcast lipstick above her, Carmella glared at people applauding.

Afterward, Carmella got her idol to autograph her sign, telling the smiling Hillary, "You're going to be the next president."

She told The Times that she and her friends were all voting for John McCain and that Hillary was just doing what she had to do.

"But I have a gut feeling," she said with macabre faith, "that something's going to happen so that she becomes the nominee."

Some people were mingling well on unity day.

Hillary's chic body woman Huma Abedin got along great with Obama's charming body man Reggie Love; the two, with their dates, shared a dinner the night before at a Georgetown hot spot.

The Bamary press corps meshed effortlessly. The Hillary Fox producer nodded to the good old days by passing around a video mashup of the former foes' greatest hits: Hillary mocking Obama, saying, "Enough with the speeches and the big rallies!" and Obama saying, "Shame on her!" after Hillary said, "Shame on you, Barack Obama!"

Reporters and photographers crept toward the front of the plane where the victor and the vanquished sat side by side, trying to analyze every smidgen of body language for amity and jollity.

Endless hours were spent analyzing the shade of her pantsuit and his matching tie. Was it powder blue? Cornflower blue? Peacock blue? Cerulean?

The new political allies engaged in what one Obama aide sanguinely described as "comfortable, jovial small talk." Obama told Hillary about using his Mac to keep in touch with his daughters, and she regaled him with tales of completely unidentifiable dishes you get served on overseas trips. They commiserated about the loss of privacy.

They did not, however, commiserate about Bill Clinton, who is in a self-pitying meltdown about not being Elvis anymore, trying to shake down Obama for more — more apologies for perceived snubs and more help paying off the $22 million Clinton debt.

It's hard to fathom why Obama should be mau-maued into paying off the debt that Hillary and Bill accrued attacking and undermining him, while mismanaging the campaign and their nearly quarter-billion-dollar war chest so horribly that one Hillaryland insider told The New Republic that it bordered on fraud.
But the former president can't stand being a loser, so he's taking it out on the winner. When it comes to Bill, there's a lot of vanity but very little humility in Unity.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/opinion/29dowd.html?th&emc=th

Never mind on her viceness....

I'd like Hagel. It could be an Obamacrat.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael


Most important to me, he was one of the strongest supporter of Hillary endorsing her very early and campaigning hard for her.

I dunno.  I don't think too many Hillary supporters will accept Bayh as a surrogate for her just because he supported her.  Many Hillary supporters don't want a surrogate.

That's a little like the kid at Freckles trying to tell me I really want vanilla instead of strawberry because vanilla is the base for their strawberry custard.  I know weird analogy, but I don't think Bayh will galvanize the rest of the party.  

Unless there's a strategy that being from a neighboring state might bring Ohio more into the Democratic fold, I don't see a strategic gain with Bayh, he doesn't bring a bloc of voters with him, unless he's percieved as being conservative enough by centrist Democrats and Independents to win some swing votes.

Who are VP candidates who could bring large amounts of voters and sentiments with them?

Richardson- Hispanic voters, a very impressive resume from elected office and the bureaucracy.  He's seen as a fiscal moderate to conservative.  IMO- best opportunity to pick up swing votes and the votes of people who would vote against Obama if Hillary were the running mate.

Clinton- Females, and well, the other 1/2 of the Democrat party

Sebelius- someone else mentioned the gov. from Kansas as being a good choice.  Sure there are women voters there, Dem gov. from a red state- might be percieved as more conservative but she doesn't have any name recognition.

Baldacci- Maine gov.  Might lend credibility to Obama's healthcare initiatives, or could drag him down as Maine's intitiative has been very controversial and problematic.  He managed to get Maine to quit operating at a deficit by raising state fees AND cutting spending.

I just don't see Obama picking someone from a neighboring state unless they've got some serious creds and bring a lot of votes to the table.  I don't think Bayh brings a whole lot to the ticket in terms of extra votes.

[bugo]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD
Carmella Lewis, with her Hillary T-shirt and Hillary placard, came all the way from Denver to make sure there would be plenty of ambiguity, duality and ferocity in Unity.

Just as Hillary was testing out the unfamiliar familiarity "Barack and me" Friday and talking about "his grace and his grit," Carmella began loudly booing and waving her sign.

"We want Hillary!" screamed the 57-year-old retired ad saleswoman and Clinton delegate.

(snip)

When it was Obama's turn to speak, Carmella announced loudly, "I wish I had ear plugs." Then, as Obama tried to ingratiate himself with the Hillary partisans in the crowd by saying that because of the New York senator, his daughters "can take for granted that women can do anything that the boys can do and do it better and do it in heels," Carmella put her fingers in her ears.

As Obama tried to curry favor with Hillary, looking over at her sensible, sturdy shoes and marveling, "I still don't know how she does it in heels," Carmella tore up a tissue and stuffed it in her ears.

When Obama pandered with a line about how he wouldn't "perpetuate a system in which women are paid less for the same work as men," she put her hands over her tissue-stuffed ears.

(snip)

Afterward, Carmella got her idol to autograph her sign, telling the smiling Hillary, "You're going to be the next president."

She told The Times that she and her friends were all voting for John McCain and that Hillary was just doing what she had to do.

"But I have a gut feeling," she said with macabre faith, "that something's going to happen so that she becomes the nominee."

This person is a Hillary DELEGATE?  She's throwing tantrums like a 3 year old, voting against her party and her best interests for spiteful reasons, and making veiled, shadowy statements indicating possible prior knowledge about a pending attempt on Obama's life.  If this is the type person that Hillary associates with, then I really hope she doesn't somehow (by hook or by crook) become President.

[Gaspar]

I don't think Evan Bayh is viable for Obama.  He is very moderate and has sponsored some bills that the hard left have strong feelings about.  

If it's an attempt for Obama to become more centrist as the election draws closer, I can see it as a consideration, but not as the probable outcome.  Much of his young radical following will drop off if he makes that choice.  Bayh introduced too much legislation that is considered conservative.

He has pushed immediate military action against Iran.  He has many of the same beliefs and qualities as Liberman, and they have sponsored numerous pieces of legislation together. Though he tends to tow the party line, he is not the standard Tax N' Spend Democrat.

Most of his more liberal actions were never passed, but his moderate, and (dare I say) conservative flavored actions have been accepted by both parties.  

He also has experience on numerous Congressional committees and would serve as an excellent teacher for Obama.

If the goal is to acquire more moderates, than he is an excellent choice and will be of great assistance in helping Obama through his dreadful lack of basic economic understanding.  Bayh was successful as a governor and therefore understands how to run a business.  He is a huge fan of tax cuts and understands that reduction in tax and spend = increase in GNP and tax revenue.  

With FOTD as the barometer for classic Obama supporters, I am interested on his honest take?  That will let us know what will likely happen to the extreme left with this choice.

I can't think of a better choice!  I think it would be a smart move, therefore the DNC probably will not go for it.  If Bayh had become the Democratic candidate for president, he would have effectively gutted the Republican party in this election.

Perhaps they could switch chairs really quick when no one is looking?  Make it a Bayh, Obama ticket?

[sgrizzle]

Sometimes I think the democratic party is working as hard as they can to elect McCain. If that's truely the goal, I can suggest a perfect VP to pair with Obama.

[Gaspar]

"Be careful, he bite!"

[FOTD]

To think I use to like the guy. Someone should tell Big Disappointment Bill what is ....IS!

Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my donkey' for his support

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2211812/Bill-Clinton-says-Barack-Obama-must-%27kiss-my-donkey%27-for-his-support.html


Do you think Obama knows bitter?

So while she is smiling and trying to put on the cooperative show for the public, her spouse is running around telling people he doesn't think Obama can win. BC is a jerk!!!!

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

To think I use to like the guy. Someone should tell Big Disappointment Bill what is ....IS!

Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my donkey' for his support

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2211812/Bill-Clinton-says-Barack-Obama-must-%27kiss-my-donkey%27-for-his-support.html


Do you think Obama knows bitter?

So while she is smiling and trying to put on the cooperative show for the public, her spouse is running around telling people he doesn't think Obama can win. BC is a jerk!!!!

Why weren't you listening 17 years ago when the rest of us figured that out?

[Gaspar]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

To think I use to like the guy. Someone should tell Big Disappointment Bill what is ....IS!

Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my donkey' for his support

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2211812/Bill-Clinton-says-Barack-Obama-must-%27kiss-my-donkey%27-for-his-support.html


Do you think Obama knows bitter?

So while she is smiling and trying to put on the cooperative show for the public, her spouse is running around telling people he doesn't think Obama can win. BC is a jerk!!!!

Why weren't you listening 17 years ago when the rest of us figured that out?

Wonder what he'll say 17 years from now about Obama?

[FOTD]

I promise I'll say he was a sheet load better than any of The Busheviks. He can't end up being as destructive and as hypocritical as Bushco.

So, he'll be remembered as an improvement no matter what happens the next 8 years.

[FranklinTower]

Never going to happen!  Bayh is wicked!  Gives tax cuts to the rich and views the poor as suckers.

He's been so corrupted by the machine that he's no longer of any use to the new movement.  Remember, we are staging a revolt with a vote.

Obama represents those who labor and toil.  Those who make this country work.  Bayh is nothing more than a Repukelican.  Another useless capitalist pig!

Togather we need to tell the DNC that "Bye to Bayh!"  There are var better choices to help nurture the change we seek.

Get on the DNC website and let them know!

[Gaspar]

quote:Originally posted by FranklinTower

Never going to happen!  Bayh is wicked!  Gives tax cuts to the rich and views the poor as suckers.

He's been so corrupted by the machine that he's no longer of any use to the new movement.  Remember, we are staging a revolt with a vote.

Obama represents those who labor and toil.  Those who make this country work.  Bayh is nothing more than a Repukelican.  Another useless capitalist pig!

Togather we need to tell the DNC that "Bye to Bayh!"  There are var better choices to help nurture the change we seek.

Get on the DNC website and let them know!

No!  As governor he gave tax cuts to everyone!  And is quite involved in government hand-out programs, just not as much as some other senators.

What new movement?  What revolt?  Is someone overthrowing the United States Government?  What machine?  

You don't like capitalists?  Hmm. . . they sign my paycheck.  Guess that makes me a pig too.

Post sounds vaguely socialist to me.