Obama's VP choice

Great Debates
141

[QUOTE=Kevbo]
VERY true. An earlier endorsment would have almost certainly let Obama check NM as a win, (HRC won by a hair thin margin) and would have gotten at least a couple more of the TX delegates if not a win in the election part of the TX primary.

Oh yeah, I lost track of who asked, but how about Condi Rice as a McCain running mate? Twofer if you will.
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Does anyone actually like or respect her at this point? She is a 100% Bushite from what I can tell. I would think she would add very little to McCain’s ticket. I don’t think she would appeal to most blacks and only some women.

142

[QUOTE=Cervaise]
Actually, it does happen. If somebody harbors racist inclinations but recognizes it’s wrong and feels guilty about it, they’re more likely to lie to somebody in person (even a total stranger) to conceal it, and then surrender to those feelings in the private security of the polling booth when they actually cast the vote.
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That person could just say he’s voting for McCain, but deny that race is the reason. I see no reason to concoct the fantasy of voting for the guy he doesn’t want.

143

[QUOTE=I Love Me, Vol. I]
(bolding mine)

Americans won’t vote for someone with the middle name of Hussein. At least not in enough numbers to get him elected president.

So far we have only seen an interested subset of Americans (Democrats, as well as some GOPers and independents) vote for “Hussein”. It remains to be seen if enough Americans would vote for “Hussein” in November.

I submit they won’t.

Obama’s race–as well as, to a lesser degree, his name–will freak out enough of the “in-the-privacy-of-the-voting-booth” racists/xenophobes to keep Barrack from the White House.

Sad, but it seems just a little obvious to me how this will all come out. God Bless the USA!!!
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Why can’t we be like Europe where African candidates win presidencies on a regular basis?

Do you have a prediction for how large a victory McCain is going to pin on Obama in November?

144

[QUOTE=Captain Lance Murdoch]
Do you have a prediction for how large a victory McCain is going to pin on Obama in November?
[/QUOTE]
Don’t really know. My only assertion is that there are just too many Democrats (and others) who won’t “pull the lever” for a black man come election day. Even if “too many” is only 50,000 voters. We all know how tight presidential elections can be.

One can advance the argument that pretty much every voter will always have some group that he/she would never vote for ("I would never vote for a Woman, or “I would never vote for a Catholic”). But IMO, racism is different. In America the subject of race hangs invisibly over everything to one degree or another. Racism is so ingrained in American society* that the aversion of some people to vote for a black man is big enough to tip the balance of this election.

We already know Obama’s not going to get the hardcore, Stormfront vote anyway–almost no Democrat ever could. I’m talking about people who don’t even consider themselves to be racist. You could call them the “Undecideds”–depending on context and situation they might go either way in terms of behaving in some racist manner. A voting booth–where one is alone and needn’t answer to anybody–is one place where some people might find their baser instincts prevailing.

If I had to guess I would venture that McCain’s victory will be pretty slim.

A bit of a hijack to my own post here: I’d like to add a note about my pessimistic prediction for Obama in the November election. I would tend to consider the prediction null and void in the event of outstanding extenuating circumstances. (For example if McCain raped three infants in late October yet somehow wasn’t charged and remained the GOP candidate).

*Obligatory caveat that great progress has been made in racial relations in the USA.

145

Here is a transcript of and link to a news item from WV Public Radio (I got this from another thread that concerns the West Virginia primary-- thanks, the PC apeman). It aptly illustrates the kind of attitudes that I think will be prevalent enough (and not just in WV) to prevent Obama from winning.

Most of the people interviewed in the story give me the impression they are Democrats and vote that way presidentially… usually. This is an interesting story. Give it a listen! (QT audio streaming–good, fast website)

146

I’ve liked Richardson for VP for a long time, for all of the reasons enumerated above. I hadn’t thought of him for Sec. State, but I can definitely see that. I didn’t know a lot about Sibelius or Napolitano prior to this thread, but I like what I see.

I think it’s important for him to pick someone with executive experience, so an older governor or ex-governor fits the bill nicely for me. It provides something of a counter to Obama’s perceived lack of experience, especially if he picks someone that he could clearly have a good working relationship with, not just a good name.

[QUOTE=Marley23]
I’m not picking on your for liking him, I’m just saying this is sort of an All-Star Team cabinet idea, and those usually lack cohesion. Politicians pretty much all want to be in the spotlight, and long-time think tank types and civil servants won’t compete with them, so you need those, too.
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I’m going to sound like a rabid Obamaniac for a moment. I’m not, but I do like him a lot. Of Presidential candidates from my memory (I’m 40), Obama seems to me the most likely to be able to do something like what Lincoln did with his cabinet; pull in some respected people (albeit with big egos) and wrangle them into a good team. I admit I don’t have a lot to go on here except some gut feelings, but I really do get a slightly Lincolnesque vibe from Obama in the sense that I think he’d be OK with some members of his Cabinet being of a stature that might eclipse him in their areas of expertise, as long as they play well with the others and further his Presidential agenda.

147

[QUOTE=carlb]

I’m going to sound like a rabid Obamaniac for a moment. I’m not, but I do like him a lot. Of Presidential candidates from my memory (I’m 40), Obama seems to me the most likely to be able to do something like what Lincoln did with his cabinet; pull in some respected people (albeit with big egos) and wrangle them into a good team. I admit I don’t have a lot to go on here except some gut feelings, but I really do get a slightly Lincolnesque vibe from Obama in the sense that I think he’d be OK with some members of his Cabinet being of a stature that might eclipse him in their areas of expertise, as long as they play well with the others and further his Presidential agenda.
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I agree. One of Obama’s biggest strengths is his ability to bring together a good strong team. I see that helping this nation come January 09’

148

It’s a fantastic idea! Not only does it show the voters that McCain isn’t afraid to embrace the Bush legacy, but it also gives him inroads into the crucial black lesbian egghead demographic.

(Hey, it’s no dumber than the “advice” GOP pundits like to give the Democrats.)

149

[QUOTE=DoctorJ]
but it also gives him inroads into the crucial black lesbian egghead demographic.
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According to some people, that’s a key constituency for Obama. So maybe it’s worthwhile.

150

I gotta go with Wesley Clark. He needs a little military assistance.

151

[QUOTE=carlb]
I’m going to sound like a rabid Obamaniac for a moment. I’m not, but I do like him a lot. Of Presidential candidates from my memory (I’m 40), Obama seems to me the most likely to be able to do something like what Lincoln did with his cabinet; pull in some respected people (albeit with big egos) and wrangle them into a good team. I admit I don’t have a lot to go on here except some gut feelings, but I really do get a slightly Lincolnesque vibe from Obama in the sense that I think he’d be OK with some members of his Cabinet being of a stature that might eclipse him in their areas of expertise, as long as they play well with the others and further his Presidential agenda.
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You’re my age; strangely enough there was a President with minimal charisma that yet had Lincoln like appointments to his cabinet.

David M. Kennedy was Nixon’s Secretary of the Treasury & then U.S. Ambassador to NATO but he first worked for two democratic Presidents. John F. Kennedy (no relation) appointed him a member of a private corporation to own and operate the United States’ share of a global satellite communication system. He was elected to the permanent board of directors in 1964.
Johnson in 1969 appointed him chairman of the Commission on Budgetary Concepts.

George P. Shultz was a strong willed personality and was Nixon’s United States Secretary of Labor from 1969 to 1970, and then the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

George W. Romney was of course a Presidential candidate that ran against Nixon and powerful Governor of Michigan. Despite this Nixon had him as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He was a serious contended to Nixon and backed by Nelson Rockefeller against Nixon.

Then there was Henry A. Kissinger, the strongest willed Secretary of State that I can recall. He was more respected than Nixon and possibly more famous.

John Connally of course served as Secretary of the Navy under JFK and then Nixon appointed him Secretary of the Treasury. This after being the Democratic Governor of Texas.

John Anthony Volpe was another that ran against Nixon. He was the Liberal Republican Governor of Massachusetts that signed legislation to ban racial imbalances in education, reorganized the state’s Board of Education, liberalized birth control laws, and increased public housing for low-income families. A strong willed politician and rival, he was appointed United States Secretary of Transportation. (He was also an Italian and Roman Catholic)
This is just a selection from his cabinet of names I recognized. Nixon had a mix of Secretaries from both parties. They also came from many different religious backgrounds showing Nixon to be capable of overcoming his own bigotry. Despite his many flaws, there is also much to admire about Nixon. He is one of the Presidents that did build a cabinet the way it should be built. Theodore Roosevelt did the same, but no one could have a stronger personality than Teddy, so I guess it was not as noticeable. I think FDR also did the same, but that I am not sure about.

I hope you are correct about Obama. Besides, nominating a few Republican Senators from states with Democrat Governors is actually a good strategy for the Democratic Party.

Jim

152

I also think that Obama could manage the egos in an across the aisles big name cabinet. What he’d do well is make sure that each got a fair hearing for their POV’s. Now mind you, I am sure that I will find much to be unhappy about after the birth of this new world in which partisanship takes a bit of a back seat. Things won’t always go the way I’d like them to go.

Maybe some of us will even suffer from post-partisan depression.

Sorry.

153

[QUOTE=What Exit?]
Besides, nominating a few Republican Senators from states with Democrat Governors is actually a good strategy for the Democratic Party.

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Sen. John McCain as White House greeter? We could even chip in with our taxes and get him a nice blue vest.

154

[QUOTE=tds1273]
Sen. John McCain as White House greeter? We could even chip in with our taxes and get him a nice blue vest.
[/QUOTE]

:smiley:

However, maybe he would be a good choice for Secretary of Defense. Could he turn down such an honor? Arizona would then have another Democratic Senator until the special election to replace McCain took place and a good sitting Senator would have an advantage in getting elected.

Jim

155

[QUOTE=DSeid]
…Maybe some of us will even suffer from post-partisan depression.

Sorry.
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We are expecting an indictment for The Hague.

156

[QUOTE=What Exit?]
However, maybe he would be a good choice for Secretary of Defense. Could he turn down such an honor?
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Easily. He’d be working for Obama as opposed to being his own boss, even if he’s one voice in 100, and Obama is going to spend the next six months saying McCain can’t be trusted on matters like that because he’s too hawkish.

157

Nah, I’m telling you the next Sec.Defense is going to be the other distinguished Veteran and Republican maverick…

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel(R-NE)

He is openly and harshly critical of the Bush Administration and their foreign policy. He has a wealth of experience all over the board(do read the link). He has worked closely with all kinds of Dems, notably: Kennedy, Biden, Sestak, Levine and most importantly, while trying to keep us out of Iran, this…

He has the demos to bring in even more voters- Republican, white, male, maverick, Mid-Westerner(Nebraska’s in play), and he has a cool sense of humor…

His social issues are not inline with the Democratic platform so I can’t say he would be a good fit for VP, but he is perfect for Sec.Defense. Like Sebelius is Clinton without the negatives; Hagel is McCain without the negatives.

eta: I just have to lay this potential, and the real dream cabinet out-
**President ** Obama
VP Sebelius
**AG ** Edwards/Napolitano
SecState Richardson
SecDefense Hagel
**UN Amb ** B.Clinton

158

I just wanted to add one more solid quote from Hagel’s wiki page-

159

I just wanted to add one more solid quote from Hagel’s wiki page-

And add a few more picks to my dream administration.
**SecPeace ** Kucinich
**SecEnergy ** Gore
SecTreasury Bloomberg
SecVA Powell

eta: Sorry. Can someone report #158 for deletion?

160

Arizona law requires Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, to appoint someone of McCain’s own party to his Senate vacancy, when and if it arises, so don’t look for a Dem seat pickup there.

Nixon did appoint some heavyweights to his Cabinet, but then he almost totally cut them out of the loop. He ran an extremely centralized government from the White House; even his SecState, William Rogers, with whom he’d served in the Eisenhower Adminstration and was thought to be on generally good terms, didn’t know about the opening to China until it happened.

I’ve said it before: Obama knows he’d be asking too much of the voters to pull the lever for both the first-ever black President and the first-ever female VP. His running mate will be a white guy either from the Midwest or the South, I predict.