Pick Hillary - Manage Bill
I have been all over on this. I have been for Hillary, Jim Webb, and Katherine Sebelius; but I am back to Hillary. My opposition to Hillary has been based on two issues, widely discussed by many. First, she is not new. Second, she has this appendage who used to be President and who does not have a lot of self control. Well, she is a battle axe. She is up for the fight. She is ready to bring it to the other side. She has her own army to bring to the fight. Neither Webb nor Sebelius nor any other Democrat has any of that. She also has a boat anchor for a spouse. So? If Barack is going to be POTUS, he needs to be tough enough to handle whatever comes his way. Putin/Medvedev. Ahmadinejad. Chavez. Mugabe, Kim Jong Il, etc. I think he can handle Bill. Better to show it up front. Bill will be there no matter what if Barack wins. Bite the bulet now, and reap the benefits of a powerful ally. Obama-Clinton 2008! Yes We Can!
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She is also damaged goods and the GOP would beat Obama all around the country with her if he picked her.
She has made too many mistakes, told too many lies, been on the wrong side of too many decisions, both in and out of congress, and fails to truly inspire the electorate.
Not to leave out that Bill himself, and his funders, completely remove the prospect of her as VP: she and Bill can't be vetted to an acceptable position.
July 17, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the issue is in your headline... manage Bill.
Do you really want to go into a relationship having to manage part of it?
July 17, 2008 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought I remembered reading that one of the ground rules in Obama's campaign is "no drama". That would be impossible for the Clintons.....it follows them like a bad rash.
July 17, 2008 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gosh this is depressing. I can't think of ONE terrific VP candidate. I love the way Biden takes on the GOP, but his mouth is so unpredictable... Sibelius comes over as so anaemic: I can't visualise her taking on anyone, and nominating her would totally outrage so many Clinton fans. Richardson wouldn't survive the vetting - his womanising - and several times I've seen him be absolutely pathetic under attack. Tim Kaine seems nice & would probably make an admirable VP, but doesn't give the impression he could be much of an attack dog in the campaign. Edwards is a dreadful no.2 - as he showed with Kerry - too stubborn and strong willed to fall in line with what the nominee asks of him, and his message is the opposite of Obama's. (Two Americas, not one.) Schweitzer seems so impressive - but apparently he doesn't like Obama - won't go along with `clean` coal.) Hillary developed into a stunning campaigner and would be a marvellous attack dog - except she'd become create so much gratuitous attack and, as Obama has pointed out, three co-Presidents is two too many. Bayh, with his neo-con background, is simply dreadful and he's a pathetic attack dog.
It all seems to reduce to the least negatives so I opt for Kaine or Biden, but think it's going to be Sibelius and my take is that she's a truly abysmal choice: Hillary's camp will go ape over it and, even apart from that, she's so unimpressive. (Or has been so far.)
July 17, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that Sebelius is too low-key and therefore not a good match with Obama, despite her clean record and hard work.
Can't it be Biden, please?
July 18, 2008 1:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
What's the name of the Texan Congressman that apparently Pelosi recommended?
July 17, 2008 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rep. Chet Edwards... however, her recommendation didn't get a lot of support.
July 17, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
And apparently he's pretty forgettable.
July 17, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is demented. First, picking Hillary alienates most of us who support Obama. Second, why pick a VP who actively hopes for your death? Third, your list of a VP's duties are what is needed in a President, bot his understudy. Third, the choice of VP is going to be marginally significant.
July 17, 2008 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what are you gonna do? Not vote for him?
Get real.
July 17, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mandy, you have listed one of my main reasons for continuing to hold out against Hillary's selection as VP. IMO, her statements referencing Obama's possible assassination tolled the death knell for any consideration of her for the VP slot. She even mentioned it multiple times.
God forbid that any misfortune will befall Obama, but her ascendency to POTUS by that route would be just too convenient. Who would ever actually believe her expressions of condolence? Not to mention the murder conspiracy theories that would follow the Clintons into perpetuity. She should be given another influential position, but not a VP nod.
July 18, 2008 12:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
ohmygod. Get a grip. The government spies on all of us, remember? No one's going to get remotely close to assassinating anyone. When was the last presidential assassination in this country?
July 18, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
OMG! I thought the reason I couldn't come up w/ a good suggestion for VP was because I'm a fairly recent convert and not well versed in Democratic Politics...Now I'm scared...Is Hillary REALLY the only choice? I initially swore I couldn't possibly support an Obama ticket that had her on it (EEEWWWW...the visual is disturbing!) but now I'm convinced that I HAVE to vote for him no matter who is on the ticket...I had hoped I would be able to do it w/o holding my nose...
July 18, 2008 1:53 AM | Reply | Permalink