Who will be Kerry's VEEP? Post suggestions here!

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Orson, Mar 3, 2004.

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  1. Orson

    Orson New Member

    The presumptive Democratic party presidential nominee is thought to have a problem.

    Not too liberal to endanger the so-called Blue states Gore won in 2000 - but too liberal to ensure winning the swing states a Dem needs to win in another close election.

    Therefore, in preparation for posting a poll, who could Kerry pick as a vice presidential candidate to ensure winning a Red state from last time? Who is popular enough?

    Ohio would be best - Florida (Bob Graham?) also. It would be pointless, for example, for Kerry to pick Lieberman of Connecticut - he won't help win a swing state.

    Please post and discuss possibilities below!

    --Orson
     
  2. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Titid's unemployed at the moment...
     
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Oh, I disagree.

    Kerry's Senate voting record is nothing but hard-core liberal. He has voted with Ted Kennedy something like 98% or 99% of the time while in the Senate.

    Don't think the Bush people aren't already crafting commercials with that as the feature theme.

    My opinion....either Edwards, Gephardt, or Hillary Clinton.
     
  4. BLD

    BLD New Member

    JAMES A. TRAFICANT
     
  5. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    Traficant is perfect -- from Mid West. And even a Democrat.

    But I think Jerry Brown or Ralph Nader is needed to bring credibility to the ticket.
     
  6. Guest

    Guest Guest

    It could possibly be John Edwards. Some are pushing Governor Richardson of NM. Kerry might pull a Michael Dukakis and pick a conservative.

    Two things are certain. It won't be Sharpton or Kucinich. :D
     
  7. Jeff Hampton

    Jeff Hampton New Member

    Well, nominally a Democrat.... but I think Traficant is an excellent suggestion.

    Of course, if the ticket won, Kerry's first act as President would have to be to pardon Traficant. You can't be a very effective VP from prison.

    Beam me up, Mr. President!
     
  8. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    Well one thing's for sure...there will be no Howard Dean-esque holding on until the end. From saying "not so fast John Kerry" a few debates ago, to recently attacking Kerry's pro-NAFTA stance, John Edwards has done a complete 180 and is now praising the Senator from Massachusetts. Funny how that works. I guess that's politics.

    Hoping to at least have won Georgia, John Edwards didn't win anything yesterday, and will formally drop out today in North Carolina. Fox News Channel reported that Edwards is considering endorsing Kerry. He might as well, especially if he wants to get on the ticket. With his youthful good looks and charismatic style, Goldilocks could really prop Lurch up in the South. Kerry is reportedly considering choosing a running mate before the convention.

    Aside from Edwards, some of the other names being thrown around include former Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin, former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn and Indiana Senator Evan Bayh. One columnist even suggested Bill Clinton. This is really the only interesting horse race left.
     
  9. Guest

    Guest Guest

    A Kerry/Sharpton ticket?

    One never knows, Jimmy...................
     
  10. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I think Bayh is too moderate and he has been critical of the Democratic left.

    Interesting that Kerry is considered by organizations that chart such as the most liberal Senator in the nation. That's saying a lot considering EMK is still in those hallowed halls.

    The Bill Clinton theory is interesting. Of course if Hillary wants it, it's her. But she wants to be President and, besides, she's already been VP. :D
     
  11. Deb

    Deb New Member

    Graham

    If he goes with Graham he stands a great change of carrying Florida.
     
  12. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Re: Graham

    Maybe, but before Graham announced his retirement, his poll numbers were heading south.
     
  13. leo

    leo Member

    Edwards.
     
  14. Orson

    Orson New Member

    The nomination summary so far:
    Locally popular candidates
    Edwards, Bayh, Gebhardt, Traficant,
    Nunn

    Message candidates
    Hillary, Richardson, Rubin, Brown,
    Nader


    and BOTH
    Bob Kerrey, former Sen of Nebraska
    (apparently thought to be popular
    in Missouri - and thus could
    neutralize Bush's moderate to
    conservative appeal there).

    ANY FURTHER SUGGESTIONS BEFORE we post a survey? (closing tonight.)

    --Orson
     
  15. Jeff Hampton

    Jeff Hampton New Member

    Although I like Bob Kerrey, I don't think he has a chance. A couple of years ago, a member of Kerrey's Vietnam Seal team said that Kerrey directed the team to murder civilians. Kerrey's response was less than reassuring. He said that he could not say that the accuser was wrong, but that was not the way he remembered it. 60 Minutes did a big story on it, and they interviewed people from the village. Even though they had not heard the accusations, their account mirrored them very closely.

    It's a gray area, and I certainly won't condemn Kerrey, but that is baggage that the Democrats do not need, especially since John Kerry has challenged President Bush to a debate on Vietnam.

    Anyway, don't forget Graham on the poll. We know all too well how important Florida is.

    I would also suggest former Senator David Boren of Oklahoma. Boren, currently President of the University of Oklahoma, is a very conservative Democrat who served as the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

    Obviously, the biggest attack on Kerry is going to be that he is the most liberal Senator. Boren might be an excellent choice to "balance" the ticket.

    Oh, and along the same lines, one more possibility -- Wes Clark.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 4, 2004
  16. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I was for Bob Kerrey in 1992 when he ran for the Dem. nom. He gave a spellbinding speech to a group of _________________ (I don't remember.) and I thought he was simply amazing. He reminded me of RFK.

    After that speech he went downhill. He became lackluster, especially in the debates (simply awful) and I thought had he kept his zeal and fire he could have done very well.

    I have never read or heard what happened and why he lost that initial fire and excitement.

    I don't think Nunn will accept. He has been very critical of the Dem. left, especially on defense issues.
     
  17. Jeff Hampton

    Jeff Hampton New Member

    Nunn was always very conservative, particularly on defense. I suspect that if he were asked, he might view it as a way to help steer his party, and more importantly, his country in the right direction.

    Plus, for someone who has "politics in their blood" as Nunn surely does, it would be very, very difficult to turn down your party's VP nomination.
     
  18. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member

    Rush Limbaugh thinks...

    ... that Kerry and John McCain should get together... Rush really doesn't like Senator McCain, does he?

    I'm a registered Democrat, but I don't care who Kerry gives the VP nod -- I'm voting for Bush. I'll still vote for Edwards in the FL primaries next week, but Kerry makes me want to gag. Bush is not much better. In fact, I can't stand either one of them. But at least my taxes won't be going up under Bush.
     
  19. Jeff Hampton

    Jeff Hampton New Member

    Re: Rush Limbaugh thinks...

    Perhaps not. (Of course, that's why many people voted for George "Read My Lips" Bush, Sr.)

    But we are spending far more than we are taking in, and someone has to pay for it. Unless we have a balanced budget, today's tax cuts only shift that tax burden to the next generation (with interest.)
     
  20. How 'bout the gov of Califo...nia

    He wants a consititutional ammendment so he can eventually run for the big office. He's a "republican" officially, but a republican wearing a democratic loincloth. He has the Kennedy connection, albeit watered down.

    Personally, I like John Edwards because he is the only one talking about jobs leaving the USA. A Kerry-Edwards team may be just the ticket to take Dubya out of the Oval Office.

    P.S. Can Dubya select a different VP or is he stuck with the old guy?
     

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