Sebelius on a short list

sebelius“She has grown up in an environment of men, and she is very good at being one of the boys.” — Burdett Loomis, a political science professor at the University of Kansas, discussing his former boss, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, in a (London) Times article pondering other contenders to become America’s first woman president. “The list is pretty short,” he noted.

15 Comments

  1. Political_mama
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 7:08 am | Permalink

    I don’t WANT one of the “BOYS” running the country. I want strong men and women who know what they’re doing and remember what America is supposed to be all about.

    Being one of the ‘boys’ is what got us into this mess in the first place.

  2. WSClark
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 8:33 am | Permalink

    While Governor Sebelius has been an excellent governor in most regards, she would add almost nothing to the ticket with Obama, both in terms of the electoral map and in actual governance.

    I like the possibility of Governor Stickland of Ohio or Governor Rindell of Pennsylvania – both Clinton supporters – but neither is a strong foreign policy candidate. Senator Webb of Virginia would be an excellent choice, as he is tough and has great foreign policy and military experience.

    Hillary would be an excellent choice also, in my view, but I don’t see her taking that career path. I believe that she will quietly take her name out of consideration and focus on her Senate career.

    I would like to see Kathleen Sebelius run for Brownback’s Senate seat in 2010. That would be the best of both worlds.

  3. writerdog
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 9:11 am | Permalink

    Clark I will agree that the Governor would be a good choice to replace one of the Senator or the Congressman.

  4. BlueJay
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 10:24 am | Permalink

    As a matter of propriety and astute politics, Senator Clinton should have first refusal of the VP job.

    Beyond that? Obama would serve himself well to make amends with his own party. Sebelius is a lightweight “blue” who manages to get elected in a state that is fire truck red. True, she maintained a good second line of defense and made Kansas a leader in change as to energy matters with her several vetoes of the coal fired plants. But she has her DISMAL State of the Union rebuttal to overcome. That pretty much ended any shot she had on the national stage as far as I am concerned.

  5. lindainks55
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 10:51 am | Permalink

    I hope the choice is not a current Senator, not because I don’t think a few would be good choices but because I want a majority in the Senate in order to move America beyond the dismal point bushco have taken us.

    I also agree that Sebelius might be our best chance of unseating the bush-rubber-stamp Roberts.

  6. WSClark
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 10:59 am | Permalink

    “Obama would serve himself well to make amends with his own party.”

    Make amends…………. for winning the nomination of his Party?

  7. lindainks55
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 11:10 am | Permalink

    I’ve been looking for something that confirms my memory that Sebelius’ Father was an Ohio politician. Anyone know? In this same unfound place I remember reading he still has considerable clout in that state. Ohio is a big prize. Could that be part of her “appeal” as a running mate?

  8. Apophis
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 11:11 am | Permalink

    Linda

    Gov. Sebelius’ father was Gov. of Ohio.

  9. Apophis
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 11:13 am | Permalink

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Gilligan

  10. lindainks55
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 11:13 am | Permalink

    Is he still alive?

  11. lindainks55
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 11:14 am | Permalink

    Thanks Apophis!

  12. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 12:29 pm | Permalink

    “Being one of the ‘boys’ is what got us into this mess in the first place.”

    Pmom, a truer phrase has never been posted here!

    She’s purple at best, very little “blue” about her. She’s been successful in a republican state by being a better republican than the wingnuts.

    With the exception of her success in standing up to neufeld on holcomb, the rest of her term reads like a republican resume.

  13. bth
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 12:59 pm | Permalink

    I still like Richardson. With his chice we don’t lose a senator and we gain foreign policy credentials. As for Senators – I’d look at ’succession’ rules in the particular state. Can we replace a Senator with one in our Party? Of can a Republican governor do a switch. This is a state-by-state rules question.

  14. Regular
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 1:02 pm | Permalink

    The old gray mare won’t get the V.P. slot. Might get some leadership position somewhere. Depends if she wants to give up the power position in Kansas or not.

  15. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted June 8, 2008 at 1:06 pm | Permalink

    I dont think we can spare ONE good senator for the VP slot.

    There’s no indication yet that obama has coattails.

    And until the down ballot races wipe out republicans, democrats might want to put a cork in that smug overconfidence.

    I’ll believe Kansas is changing when the mossbacks leave the ks house and especially the ks senate.

    Sebelius for vp is a bright and shiny object to distract voters from the real issue in this state.

    Bringing sanity to our legislature.

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  1. By loomis on June 21, 2008 at 6:51 am

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