# Who will/should Obama pick as running mate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 4, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752 "2008-06-04T13:50:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/241 "2008-08-12T11:48:26Z")
[James Jones.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/10/veteran-james-jones-surfa_n_106335.html) > [@](#): > > Ret. Gen. James Jones, the former Marine-turned-NATO Supreme Allied Commander. > > Jones, a Vietnam vet born in Kansas City, MO (swing state alert!), was a career military officer rising to one of the highest posts possible. Now retired, Jones has been critical of the number of troops currently in Afghanistan. Not a bad thought. Honestly, with what’s been going on with Russia, that NATO experience would be nice to have at Obama’s side. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/242 "2008-08-12T12:26:05Z")
Wes Clark, too. Though I always thought he’d be better as SecState or SecDef that in an elected position. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/243 "2008-08-12T13:24:28Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] It could also augur well for Hagel or Jones. [/QUOTE] I’m going drain bead. Who is Jones? (I have the feeling I know this as well as Hillary, and I’m just having a senior moment. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/244 "2008-08-12T16:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] I’m going drain bead. Who is Jones? (I have the feeling I know this as well as Hillary, and I’m just having a senior moment. 🙂 ) [/QUOTE] See my post 241 above. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/245 "2008-08-12T17:29:54Z")
Obama’s campaign is now emailing people to get them to sign up for the text message VP announcement. I say it happens midday Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/246 "2008-08-12T17:59:18Z")
:smack: [QUOTE=DSeid] See my post 241 above. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Thank heavens it wasn’t someone like Edwards or Richardson, who was seriously prominent on the national scene. I can forgive myself for drawing a blank on someone I’ve never heard of outside of your post #241, although perhaps not for not having heard of him. Or for not looking up one post before asking. :smack: :smack: :smack: ETA: I think I might have thought I was on the last page? Or am I grasping at straws? Probably the latter… ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/247 "2008-08-12T18:10:43Z")
This weekend sounds like a good time for the announcement. Edwards is old news and Olympic fatigue will start to set in as Phelps, fake fireworks, and lip synching children move off the front page. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/248 "2008-08-12T18:25:44Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Obama’s campaign is now emailing people to get them to sign up for the text message VP announcement. I say it happens midday Thursday. [/QUOTE] Check post 236. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/249 "2008-08-12T18:46:49Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Check post 236. [/QUOTE] I saw. The email I got was national, not state-specific. The instruction was to text “VP” to the same number you gave. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/250 "2008-08-12T18:52:01Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I saw. The email I got was national, not state-specific. The instruction was to text “VP” to the same number you gave. [/QUOTE] Yes and no. It’ll all get to the same place in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/251 "2008-08-12T19:03:10Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] [Cervaise nailed this a while ago.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9775954&postcount=37) [/QUOTE] Heh, thanks for the callback. In that tradition, I’d like to observe that “Obama-Bayh” sounds like a housing development, or maybe a casino. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/252 "2008-08-12T19:08:45Z")
Only if you pronounce it as if there’s no “h” at the end, like “Obama Bay.” Then it sounds like a resort in Jamaica. ETA: Obama-Bayh (pronounced “Bye”) sounds more like a podunk town in Louisiana to me. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/253 "2008-08-12T19:18:43Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] ETA: Obama-Bayh (pronounced “Bye”) sounds more like a podunk town in Louisiana to me. [/QUOTE] I can’t help hearing “Obama-Bayh, and goodnight…” I feel bad saying this, but Obama Jones sounds like a blaxploitation hero. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/254 "2008-08-12T19:26:59Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I feel bad saying this, but Obama Jones sounds like a blaxploitation hero. [/QUOTE] Oh, God, you’re right. I keep hearing the Movie Voice[SUP]TM[/SUP] saying: “He’s mean, he’s clean; he’s got the Dem machine. Who..Is..Obama.._Jones_?!” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/255 "2008-08-12T22:16:13Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] Only if you pronounce it as if there’s no “h” at the end, like “Obama Bay.” [/QUOTE] It’s not? _– slinks away –_ ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/256 "2008-08-13T00:26:13Z")
[QUOTE=DSeid] [James Jones.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/10/veteran-james-jones-surfa_n_106335.html) Not a bad thought. Honestly, with what’s been going on with Russia, that NATO experience would be nice to have at Obama’s side. [/QUOTE] Except he’s come out in favor of McCain, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/257 "2008-08-13T00:37:29Z")
I think they should both pick Lieberman. That would be fantastic. Even if just McCain picks Lieberman, I will poop with glee. Aurally, I think that one-syllable names blend best with Obama. Clark, Bayh, Webb, Dodd. Visually, though, I think names like Richardson and Sebelius make Obama seem like a much simpler name, though the ticket is a mouthful. Functionally, I am still a big Clark supporter as veep. I think he allows the ticket to really go after McCain on foreign policy as a whole, not just military issues. The ticket needs someone who can slam the hell out of McCain while leaving Obama free to make “Soft Eyes” at everyone. Clark would bring the haymakers and legitimize the ticket on military issues. It’s also a somewhat ballsy choice now that the media has wring their hands over Clark’s “attack on McCain’s military service”. The pick itself would be a signal that the campaign is ready to play rough. Further, Clark clearly has strengths that Hillary does not have. Any pick that brings strengths that conceivably could be brought by Hillary would seem like he was avoiding her. This removes “blue-collar” candidates and women from the equation. But there’s no way she can compete with the strength areas of Clark. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/258 "2008-08-13T01:14:15Z")
[QUOTE=Love Rhombus] Except he’s come out in favor of McCain, I believe. [/QUOTE] Yeah, turns out you’re right. So much for my hard drivin’, hard lovin’ private detective who lives on the edge- and to protect his city, he’ll go over the edge. If there’s anything to the veteran ticket, I guess it’s Edwards or Hagel. CNN mentioned Kerry for some reason, which made me wonder if there was a hole in the space-time continuum. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/259 "2008-08-13T01:26:03Z")
[QUOTE=DSeid] As far as Levin’s Jewishness - it’s not like he’s a Bloomberg. Would be funny if we had Obama-Levin and McCain-Cantor! [/QUOTE] Ick. A Levin _&_ a Cantor? Would the Libertarians run a Cohen, then? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/260 "2008-08-13T01:39:44Z")
[QUOTE=foolsguinea] Ick. A Levin _&_ a Cantor? Would the Libertarians run a Cohen, then? [/QUOTE] That’d be great. They could have a debate at Katz’s deli, and instead of change, Obama could say he was the candidate of Reform. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=14)