Who gets to oversee the fumagation and excoricism after ridding the VP quarters of the dark and evil presence that currently lingers there? Hopefully, it is someone that has a copy of the Constitution, some ethics and the name of a good exterminator.
The current VP stakes doesn't have the entire nation or world on the edge of their seats in anticipation - unless, of course, Michael Phelps were in the running. I had thought I'd make predictions for the two VP candidates, but when I went on vacation, I figured the selections would be made by the time I returned. Apparently, they're awaiting my approval. So here goes.
Democrats: For the longest time, I thought for sure it would be Jim Webb. He's a senator from Virginia with military credo. He seemed perfect. He's tough and fiesty. I was convicnced he was the man for Barack Obama. Then Webb pulled himself out of contention.So, I've been unsure ever since. The list of names has been pretty constant lately.
Senator Jack Reed was mentioned briefly. I figure if I hadn't heard of the guy, that can't be good.
Republican Chuck Hagel was mentioned. I don't see that happening, but now that I see the race shaping up as I do, it might not be such a bad move.
Indiana's Evan Bayh has been talked about, but I don't see the benefits. Bayh might help bring Indiana, but he didn't do that convincingly for Hilaray Clinton in the primary. She narrowly edged out Obama. He has some national security, but Bayh is stiffer than Al Gore and twice as boring. He'd be a safe pick, but Obama needs his VP to bring something to the table.
I'd love to see Colin Powell, even if he is linked to the Bush disaster. But, I don't expect Powell to agree to it.
Virginia's Tim Kaine is another leading candidate. A few weeks ago, I thought he was the guy, but I think he's faded. He's a fresh face and brings some of the same essence of change that Obama does, but his weaknesses are the same as Obama. He's lacking in experience, especially in foreign policy. Had this pick been made a few weeks ago, Kaine likely would have been the man. If Obama was comfortably ahead, same thing. But the race has changed in recent weeks. The need for Obama to shore up his national security cred is vital now. That rules Kaine out.
Kansas' Kathleen Sebelius has been mentioned as well. Picking another women besides Hillary would not go over well with Hillary's faithful. So that won't happen.
Al Gore's name has even been tossed about. Yeah, right. He would have won the nomination easily had he run, but he didn't. With that in mind, he's not going to be VP again.
Sam Nunn has been another name suggested. I'm not convinced that it might not be Nunn. He brings the qualities that Obama needs with his foreign policy experience. I think Nunn could be a safer bet than some, but he's also a bit dry and blah.
So, where does that leave us? Even now, I can't help but think that there's somebody else that hasn't been mentioned that Obama will pick, but I can't think of another that fits the bill. Besides, what Obama needs at this point is a name with cred behind it.
I think that brings us to Senator Joe Biden. I didn't like the idea of Biden when I first heard it. Too old and too Washington, I thought. That still rings true. He's not exactly the symbol of the change message that Obama brings. But, the way the campaign has gone lately, McCain has made some headway with his questioning of Obama's experience and leadership. The election is going to be won or lost based on a referendum on Obama. If voters question his readiness and experience, he's doomed. Biden can combat that. Biden brings tremendous foreign policy experience. He's been visable and viable in all global issues. Another thing he'd bring to the ticket is the ability to be an attack dog. Biden does have a bit of foot-in-mouth disease, but his outspokenness and fiery demeanor is just what Obama needs. McCain and the Republicans are going to only get nastier. Obama either doesn't have the stomach to fight that convincingly or wants to appear above that fray. He needs somebody that can fight back for him. Biden can do that.
I think if you imagine who the Republicans might put up and envision a VP debate with Biden and whoever McCain selects, it could be a Biden KO - unless he says something stupid.
Biden won't a safe choice and isn't exactly a bold one either, but I think it is a move that Obama has to make. Kaine fits better in terms of message but Biden fills a gap Obama can't afford to ignore.
Republicans:
McCain needs somebody young, fresh faced and the embodiment of new times and new direction. So, yes, that would be Barrack Obama.
Seriously, that's the image McCain needs to rectify. McCain has the experience and he has the compelling story. Nobody questions his ability to lead or be forceful in world matters. Thus far, on the campain, however, he's also looked old, confused and lost in his message. He's stated that he's clueless about the economy. A fresh face could shore that up, but it also may mean dipping into a pool of lesser known and lesser experienced candidates.
Condi Rice has been mentioned. That'd be a stupid pick. He's trying to appear as though he's distancing himself from the current chaos on Pennsylvania Avenue. Picking an incompentent just because she's a woman won't help.
Tom Ridge has been mentioned. He'd be a good pick, if he can deliver Pennsylvania, but I'm not sure that he can. Ridge is also pro-choice. Recent reactions from the religious right indicate he'd be doomed if he picked a pro-choice VP.
So, that nixes Joe Liebermann too. I'm not sure he'd be a good pick anyway. He was okay for Al Gore, but he just looks like a bitter old Democrat trying to remain relevant. He's not going to make much difference in the election, unless he can deliver Florida and the Jewish vote. I don't think he'd play well with the religious base (fanatics).
Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty is another name mentioned quite a bit. He seems to be a likely candidate. I frankly don't know squat about him, other than he's a young governor from a swing state. He sounds like a safe pick, and that might suffice for McCain.
But, I think Mitt Romney is the obvious choice for McCain. Romney is fairly young, he has experience with the economy. He could help win Michigan and shore up votes in the Western states. He seems to fit McCain's bill in many ways.
However, I think McCain feels the same about Romney as I do. He's an ego-driven, waffling, rich pretty boy. He's the kind of guy you want to beat the crap out of and give him a wedgy. He's proven he'll say anything to satisfy constituents - like tell the NRA what a hunter he is when can't name anything he's hunted or talk about how he and his father "marched" with Martin Luther King (neither of them ever marched with King). A war hero like McCain would contrast sharply with a coward like Romney, whose sons have served the country well - by working in his failed campaign.
Romney makes sense but the fact that McCain can't stand him, makes me think Romney won't pick him.
Indiana's Evan Bayh has been talked about, but I don't see the benefits. Bayh might help bring Indiana, but he didn't do that convincingly for Hilaray Clinton in the primary. She narrowly edged out Obama. He has some national security, but Bayh is stiffer than Al Gore and twice as boring. He'd be a safe pick, but Obama needs his VP to bring something to the table.
I'd love to see Colin Powell, even if he is linked to the Bush disaster. But, I don't expect Powell to agree to it.
Virginia's Tim Kaine is another leading candidate. A few weeks ago, I thought he was the guy, but I think he's faded. He's a fresh face and brings some of the same essence of change that Obama does, but his weaknesses are the same as Obama. He's lacking in experience, especially in foreign policy. Had this pick been made a few weeks ago, Kaine likely would have been the man. If Obama was comfortably ahead, same thing. But the race has changed in recent weeks. The need for Obama to shore up his national security cred is vital now. That rules Kaine out.
Kansas' Kathleen Sebelius has been mentioned as well. Picking another women besides Hillary would not go over well with Hillary's faithful. So that won't happen.
Al Gore's name has even been tossed about. Yeah, right. He would have won the nomination easily had he run, but he didn't. With that in mind, he's not going to be VP again.
Sam Nunn has been another name suggested. I'm not convinced that it might not be Nunn. He brings the qualities that Obama needs with his foreign policy experience. I think Nunn could be a safer bet than some, but he's also a bit dry and blah.
So, where does that leave us? Even now, I can't help but think that there's somebody else that hasn't been mentioned that Obama will pick, but I can't think of another that fits the bill. Besides, what Obama needs at this point is a name with cred behind it.
I think that brings us to Senator Joe Biden. I didn't like the idea of Biden when I first heard it. Too old and too Washington, I thought. That still rings true. He's not exactly the symbol of the change message that Obama brings. But, the way the campaign has gone lately, McCain has made some headway with his questioning of Obama's experience and leadership. The election is going to be won or lost based on a referendum on Obama. If voters question his readiness and experience, he's doomed. Biden can combat that. Biden brings tremendous foreign policy experience. He's been visable and viable in all global issues. Another thing he'd bring to the ticket is the ability to be an attack dog. Biden does have a bit of foot-in-mouth disease, but his outspokenness and fiery demeanor is just what Obama needs. McCain and the Republicans are going to only get nastier. Obama either doesn't have the stomach to fight that convincingly or wants to appear above that fray. He needs somebody that can fight back for him. Biden can do that.
I think if you imagine who the Republicans might put up and envision a VP debate with Biden and whoever McCain selects, it could be a Biden KO - unless he says something stupid.
Biden won't a safe choice and isn't exactly a bold one either, but I think it is a move that Obama has to make. Kaine fits better in terms of message but Biden fills a gap Obama can't afford to ignore.
Republicans:McCain needs somebody young, fresh faced and the embodiment of new times and new direction. So, yes, that would be Barrack Obama.
Seriously, that's the image McCain needs to rectify. McCain has the experience and he has the compelling story. Nobody questions his ability to lead or be forceful in world matters. Thus far, on the campain, however, he's also looked old, confused and lost in his message. He's stated that he's clueless about the economy. A fresh face could shore that up, but it also may mean dipping into a pool of lesser known and lesser experienced candidates.
Condi Rice has been mentioned. That'd be a stupid pick. He's trying to appear as though he's distancing himself from the current chaos on Pennsylvania Avenue. Picking an incompentent just because she's a woman won't help.
Tom Ridge has been mentioned. He'd be a good pick, if he can deliver Pennsylvania, but I'm not sure that he can. Ridge is also pro-choice. Recent reactions from the religious right indicate he'd be doomed if he picked a pro-choice VP.
So, that nixes Joe Liebermann too. I'm not sure he'd be a good pick anyway. He was okay for Al Gore, but he just looks like a bitter old Democrat trying to remain relevant. He's not going to make much difference in the election, unless he can deliver Florida and the Jewish vote. I don't think he'd play well with the religious base (fanatics).
Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty is another name mentioned quite a bit. He seems to be a likely candidate. I frankly don't know squat about him, other than he's a young governor from a swing state. He sounds like a safe pick, and that might suffice for McCain.
But, I think Mitt Romney is the obvious choice for McCain. Romney is fairly young, he has experience with the economy. He could help win Michigan and shore up votes in the Western states. He seems to fit McCain's bill in many ways.
However, I think McCain feels the same about Romney as I do. He's an ego-driven, waffling, rich pretty boy. He's the kind of guy you want to beat the crap out of and give him a wedgy. He's proven he'll say anything to satisfy constituents - like tell the NRA what a hunter he is when can't name anything he's hunted or talk about how he and his father "marched" with Martin Luther King (neither of them ever marched with King). A war hero like McCain would contrast sharply with a coward like Romney, whose sons have served the country well - by working in his failed campaign.
Romney makes sense but the fact that McCain can't stand him, makes me think Romney won't pick him.
I was going to say that McCain will pick somebody not on the list of recently mentioned candidates. Whether that's a Mike Bloomberg, Mike Huckabee or Charlie Crist, I don't know. I have a hunch that McCain will go with somebody that's a bit out of the blue - but still a safe bet. But, the more I think about it, it seems as though Pawlenty suits him. He's young, midwestern, a governor and fairly safe. (Even though, I'd bet Biden eats him alive in a debate).
It may even hinge on whom Obama selects. My gut says it will be a name out of the blue, but my head says it will be Pawlenty.
Of course, if Phelps declares his candidacy it could become like the Simpson's episode when both parties frantically court Ralph Wiggum. His campaign ad shows a picture of Ralph sitting on Lincoln's lap at the Lincoln Memorial, with finger planted in nose and the slogan "Pick A Winner."
No comments:
Post a Comment