Barack Obama is expected to announce his vice presidential pick Saturday, and the veepstakes talk has reached fever pitch. The media are focusing mostly on Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, Tim Kaine and Kathleen Sebelius, who is staying mum. But is it possible that Obama still has a surprise in store?
Ralph Nader, for one, thinks Obama is planning to pick Hillary Rodham Clinton — and that it would be “dumb” not to. “The polls show 25 percent of her supporters have not gotten on board,” Nader noted.
If Clinton and Obama can get past their personal animosity and primary wounds, the pairing still might make sense, with Clinton bringing undeniable excitement to the ticket and uniting the party in a way that a Biden or Bayh pick couldn’t. Not to mention that she’s a tough, seasoned campaigner.
I wouldn’t count it out.
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Well, as I recall, he did say that his VP pick would be a “surprise”. Adding Hillary to the ticket would certainly “get out the vote”, on both sides. Cannot recall the commentator I read the other day that stated the opinion that if Hillary was on the ticket, the GOP voters would get to the polls any way possible (on foot, by bicycle, scooter, crawl, and other descriptions provided by the commentator as to means of locomotion) to vote; an opinion with which I find myself in general agreement.
I give it a roughly 1 in 4 chance. For the simple reason that, if he was ever considering it, he had to get it off the front pages first, or it would look like he was simply kowtowing to the Clintons.
Not even mentioning her name until now–by agreement–would be a most excellent strategy.
(Replying further to kfg on the “correct” thread). I believe that naming Hillary would help get more GOP voters out there, those who might otherwise not vote at all because they don’t like Sen. McCain, or who might cast a third party vote. This would allow for a “unification of disparate interests” in Sen. McCain’s favor.
Would the addition of the Hillary supporters to the Democratic side offset the unification I hypothesize, and offset the potential defection of the “anyone but Hillary” crowd, whether by staying home or voting GOP (or third party)? That, to me, is the calculus.
Some are saying the Clinton strategy is working for McCain. So this begs the question, IF Clinton were to be named the VP on the Democratic ticket, would that throw a wrench in McCain’s thinking?
giggle
I don’t even know if it is the strategy McCain is using I just thought it was funny.
What I think is we’re all going to need to wait for facts or we can keep up the speculation until we find our the facts. Me, I’m willing to wait.
Oooh, Oooh!
Please, please, pahleeze!! Let it be Hillary!
It would be a three for one! Barry, Bill and the Hildebeast!
I’l put the bumper sticker on my truck the next day:
CLINTON
CLINTON
OBAMA!!
HEHEHEHEH
Hillary would energize the RW. Even though she would unify the dems., and there are more dems. than repubs., I think there would still be the foreign policy weakness attack by the repubs.
And a lot of poor dumb uninsured repubs. still hate Hillary for trying to get them free health care!
Could it still be Hillary?
No.
Next . . .
And a lot of poor dumb uninsured repubs. still hate Hillary for trying to get them free health care!
Those “poor dumb uninsured repubs.” understand what you apparantly don’t: there IS NO SUCH THING as free health care, or anything else.
Naw, they are just stoic in the finest tradition of ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas’. Or, maybe they’ve got the V.A. bennies or Medicare/Medicaid health programs.
This is an interesting case that Obama will lose without Hillary:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-curtis/summer-love-fall-freak-ou_b_119681.html
Not sure I agree, but it was interesting.
I suspect Hillary doesn’t want to be Vice-President. Once Obama is in the Oval Office he’d call the shots and she’ll be more in control of her fate as a powerful Senator.
But I’ll bet ya all the coins and chalk in my pocket that Hillary has veto power over Obama’s choice of a running mate. And that will make the foundation for her speech in front of the convention. She knows (or most certainly know by then — but she knows today and now who Obama’s choice is for Veep) that if she comes off the slightest bit anti-Obama she has a 1/3 chance of being toast among Democrats if Obama wins; a 1/3 chance of being toast if she’s “the reason Obama doesn’t win; or a 1/3 chance of being negated as the carnivore she-wolf staling which ever male who occupies the Oval Office.
I
hopeexpect Senator Clinton to be wise enough to make the best choice.I most certainly haven’t done all the political math, but if I were Barack I’d choose Bill Richardson.
Hispanic, an executive, solid foreign policy credentials… and he doesn’t take a Democrat out of the Senate.
Hillary already has her eye on the next election, or the one after that. The first term is going to be so challenging following bush, a degree of failure is inevitable.
Doesn’t Hillary have a case of the ass against Richardson? Or, have they made ammends?
Dear Steven,
Do you read that crap from the Huffington post or do you just link in to get a rise out of us?
The Clintons’ gave us the DLC, NAFTA, Defense of Marriage Act, and ironically Monica Lewinsky.
But as I said before, they have D’s after their names and that means they’re better than anybody on the R side.
I hope he did pick Hillary. Obama can’t win without the monumentally peeved older woman vote–the “First Wives Club” I call them–and that’s Hillary’s number one demographic.
Let it be Hillary. And let’s win in November, whatever it takes.
The worst possible choices would be white-bread moderate male Dem like Evan Bayh or Biden, IMHO.
You want a cannon and you get a pop gun.
You know Hillary is secretly praying that McCain wins – so she’ll have one more shot in 2012. To that end, there is no way she’d accept the offer…assuming the offer was ever extended.
If she were 10 years younger, different story.
If it is, the clintons will run things..god help us.
If it happens, I will vote GOP
a case of the ass
Haven’t heard that since I was in the Army.
Oh randy, here I’ve already resigned myself to being thrown under the bus and to withhold my vote- and now you go and do this to me? Sure I have some hope that it will still be Clinton- but I’m not holding my breath. It would truly make me the happiest woman in the world if he did. And give me hope that we WILL win the election afterall.
Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall that we’re not going to back down- he needs us. Oh well, I can hope.
OBAMA/CLINTON
Change you can believe in!
hehehehe
Jack, please, you’re not even a democrat obviously. The Clintons did a great job of running things.
capn? The ‘monumentally peeved older women”?
i’m not that darn old. Just a long time that I’ve been waiting for her. I’m very very concerned that Obama won’t be President long. And we’ll need someone in the number 2 slot to step up to lead.
I’m sorry, but I really do worry about it.
And no, not because I think Hillary will have him knocked off either.
Oh please about those who don’t like Hillary. They’re not going to vote for Obama anyway. Why? Look at what they’re doing to Obama- they’re the same ones who did the swiftboating of Kerry. They don’t care who they step on…when the tough get going they pull far more right. I can’t imagine oh McSame getting any more far right than he has become.
People are not going to vote for Obama on his side no matter what.
However, the Hillary voters, and there are 20 MILLION of us, WILL matter.
“Political_mama” observes –
“… I’m very very concerned that Obama won’t be President long. And we’ll need someone in the number 2 slot to step up to lead.
I’m sorry, but I really do worry about it…”
You’re not alone.
Those of us who were around when RFK was running in ‘68 worry about it, too.
But it’s odd that no one seems to think that 72-year-old John S (for “Senile”) McCain the Third (for Shrub’s 3rd term) is expected (by all actuarial tables) to die with in three years. Do you really want to think about President Mittens? President Jamal? President Lieberman?
It would concern me if Hillary was the VP choice. They would be a stronger ticket than anything else Barack Hussein Obama could pick.
It won’t be her. And I’m glad of it. They could win.
“. . .72-year-old John S (for “Senile”) McCain the Third (for Shrub’s 3rd term) is expected (by all actuarial tables) to die with in three years.”
False statement.
If you are born today, your life expectancy is a little less than 75 years. If you are 72 today, you’ve got about another 15. McCain has plenty of time for two terms!
However, if you are a blackman, from Chicago, former cocain user . . . .
hehehehe
Think you might have to subtract for the melanoma and for POW history.
Maybe, but. . .
He’s in pretty good physical shape overall, plus he will have access to the best health care available in the country.
You might have to add a little.
I believe life expectancy for White men is about 74 years.
For Black men it’s about 68.
What say you?
Group Life expectancy (y)
White male 75.3
Black male 69.0
White female 80.5
Black female 76.1
HLP
Posted August 20, 2008 at 2:00 pm | Permalink
Dear Steven,
Do you read that crap from the Huffington post or do you just link in to get a rise out of us?
*****
Dear Hank,
I read it. I commented that it seemed interesting, though I was not sure I agreed with it. The writer’s position is that underlying racism is a pretty important thing in voters’ decisions. I grew up in an era where I was taught to be ashamed of my racism, but I traveled in circles (doing constrution work in the late 60’s early 70’s while in high school) where people weren’t at all ashamed of it.
I really think my kids don’t carry that burden. And, I think public schools and their social agenda have had a lot to do with that. Now, that was said to get a rise out of you! But it is also true.
Just to clarify “that burden” = the burden of feeling/thinking racism.
the burden of feeling/thinking racism.
What is it with left leaners and pulling the racist card? I swear, every day someone pulls out the racist card.
Just for you fleetwood:
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/table4c6.html
I was pretty close.
Hank, you beat me to it. Oh, well…
Sol,
Are you saying that you don’t think racism is a real thing? That it doesn’t have implications for this election?
Come on down, Hank. One plaque for you!
“fleettwood” offers –
“I believe life expectancy for White men is about 74 years.
For Black men it’s about 68.
What say you?”
In 22 years or so, former-President Barack Obama should be half-concerned.
In 2 years, a nation with John S (for “Senile”) McCain the Third (for Shrub’s 3rd term) should be lying in state in the Capital Building rotunda.
And your POTUS will be wearing magic underwear.
He’s in pretty good physical shape overall
Yah, for a guy who can’t raise his arms. If elected, will he be able to raise his right and take the oath?
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. And if I see one more huggy pic with Dubya, I swear I’ll barf.
In spite of Hillary’s fans, I doubt she’ll accept the VP slot. She thinks a lot of herself (as do all politicians), and second place would be beneath her. Then there’s the Republican Lite aspect. If so many women want to vote for a woman, I wish there was one in the wings other than Hillary. There doesn’t seem to be. If she wants it bad enough, she’ll wait. By then, who knows what we’ll need in the way of President. Who knows what shape our country will be in.
““fleettwood” offers –
“I believe life expectancy for White men is about 74 years.”
I was wrong. Hank posted the table. He was close enough to win the coveted plaque. McCain has another 12+ years before ordering the deep crust Dirt Pizza. Putt Putt…
I don’t know how old you are Sol, but there are plenty of people even older than Hank, who for them, race was and is a big thing. Those people vote more consistently than any other demographic.
“fleettwood” –
Can I print up a bumper sticker for you?
Something like –
McC*nt — He’s not gonna die for 12 years!
Now there’s a campaign slogan!
“race was and is a big thing”
Race is not a big thing anymore. We are judging people on the content of their character.
fleettwood
Posted August 20, 2008 at 3:45 pm | Permalink
“race was and is a big thing”
Race is not a big thing anymore. We are judging people on the content of their character.
*****
Thank you fleettwood, I rest my case…
In case you forgot, fleettwood thinks jokes about black male gentalia is funny, too. A class act. Glad he’s on your side.
Are you saying that you don’t think racism is a real thing?
It is obviously a big thing. I hear about it daily from left leaners on this blog.
I have heard more people say they are going to vote for Obama because he is black rather than vote against him because he is black.
And Steven, I will take fleetwood any day of the week compared to the crap you, MonkeyHawk, Apophis, and others say.
I didn’t even think you knew what class was.
“In case you forgot, fleettwood thinks jokes about black male gentalia is funny, too.”
??? I don’t get that one. What did I do? I think you have me confused with someone else.
Besides, a joke about that doesn’t necessarily make one a racist. Thin skin much?
Those who deny that racism exists are usually the most racist of them all.
Defend, deflect, deny.
My daughter has this saying:
“I reject your reality and accept my own”.
That should be the Republican Campaign slogans this year.
“But I’ll bet ya all the coins and chalk in my pocket that Hillary has veto power over Obama’s choice of a running mate.”
Well she certainly has a key place at the table.
Senators Clinton and Obama are cooking up…something. I don’t know what it is but I’m looking forward to finding out.
Propriety demands that she be offered the VP slot. SO, unless…something…is going on, she would feel beholden to her supporters to be steering Obama to make the offer. But there’s not a whisper since she got her name on the ballot.
They are either really thick into cooking something up or they are not communicating at all. And if they were not communicating at all, it would be noticed.
“I reject your reality and accept my own”.
That should be the Republican Campaign slogans this year
—————
You know pmom I don’t think there is a republican on the blog that would steal that away from you and your daughter. You see I still remember how the left treated Clarence Thomas and how the Black Caucus treat J C Watts, need I go on.
I reject your reality.
Could it still be Hillary?
Yes – and she might even let Obama be her Vice President!
Predestined
Posted August 20, 2008 at 3:40 pm | Permalink
He’s in pretty good physical shape overall
Yah, for a guy who can’t raise his arms. If elected, will he be able to raise his right and take the oath?
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. And if I see one more huggy pic with Dubya, I swear I’ll barf.
—————-
I guess it is ok for the left to mock a persons disability.
I couldn’t resist either it was just too too funny!!
But can she keep the big dog on the front porch?
I think it would be great for Obama to appear at a rally with ALL if the likely VP candidates and THEN announce. Have them ALL then make speeches supporting the need to terminate the Republic control of our country.
The liberals as “Terminators”?
Naaaah! I can’t see it. I picture you all as whiney crybabies with soprano voices.
Besides, you abhor guns.
AmWay – I am rather experienced with binary chemical devices …
Egads! They are going to kill us smartly!!!
Run Joey run!
I agree with Blue J (R).
Clinton made a very strong showing all through out the nomination process; even at the end when it was clear Obama had the numbers, she still motivated people to turn out for her.
Hillary should be asked. That way she can turn it down if she doesn’t want it, and her supporters can see that it was her decision.
Or she can run with him and win in November.
It’s a gut thing Capn.
These two are just not dancing the dance they should be. Something’s up. People said Bill Clinton was the politician of the ages but Hillary beats him by half again.
If they were fighting, we’d know it. You Obama supporters would know it and we Clinton supporters would have heard of it.
Apparently Hillary has dispatched a crew to drown out the Hillary supporters should they *we* create a disturbance on the floor of the convention.
She’s playing nice. But I don’t feel like it.
Yet.
If Hillary were to be the VP choice, would she give two speeches?
Wow P-Momma, you’ve blown me away with this one. First of all, after all the crap you gave me a while back for hinting that their might have been more to the death of Tim Russert than a simple heart attack, you all but admit, you are looking for someone to knock off Barack Obama the 2nd ( for the 2nd term of Jimmy Carter). And even though you qualify it by saying that you don’t think it will be HRC that has it done, that just tells me that you probably do think she will be behind it.
And how can a mother be proud of a daughter who proclaims that she “rejects your reality and accepts her reality”? Despite what all the new agers and humanists proclaim, there is only one reality. Oh well, perhaps she can try that line on the Lord as she stands before him on judgement day as we all shall do.
Looks like Biden is the party favorite.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080821/ap_on_el_pr/veepstakes_40
Nathaniel
Posted August 20, 2008 at 3:56 pm | Permalink
I have heard more people say they are going to vote for Obama because he is black rather than vote against him because he is black.
And Steven, I will take fleetwood any day of the week compared to the crap you, MonkeyHawk, Apophis, and others say.
I didn’t even think you knew what class was.
*****
Nathan,
I am glad you do not know what class is. Obviously, you do not.
You are one really stupid f*ck who knows pretty much nothing.
Is it true that you have to save your extremely stupid father from us here?
Sorry, boy, time to feed the goats. You really are one very dumb f*ck. Sorry for you, punk.
Well….
That last post certainly shows that steven isn’t playing with a full deck.
Steven,
You have goats?
“Nathaniel” gets excited –
“You have goats?”
Calm down, boy.
They’re probably too young to date.
Oh for god’s sake ChristfreakfromMac- that post was so over the top I cannot even believe it.
My daughter’s phrase is A JOKE. She says it when she’s hearing something she doesn’t like…or made a mistake.
I am not looking for someone to knock off Obama, but there are already death threats, and the Secret Service has already arrested people for threatening it.
So dude, there is a Prairie View right there in your town, I suggest you go.
There’s nothing worse than a wishy-washy candidate. Either stay in and fight to the end or get out and stay out. If Hillary returned, the democrat voters would split into two and McCain would probably win.
I think candidates should run independent. It would give us a better variety of candidates to choose from than just two people.
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