# 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:** 24
**Author:** ![JohnnieEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@JohnnieEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnieEnigma)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/461 "2008-08-20T20:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I’ve heard this from others, too. I like her very much and think she’s a wonderful human being, a great mom and a talented writer. Her dad would be proud of her. But other than her last name, I just don’t know why she would be qualified to be Vice President of the United States. [/QUOTE] It’s the kind of role that no one is truly qualified for… that’s been my argument for Obama running for president when people accused him of not being experienced enough… The thing is, he has the leadership qualities, character and gravitas to pull it off. And so does Caroline… There is nothing that Obama could not handle, I’m confident of that. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/462 "2008-08-20T21:15:52Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Duff? [/QUOTE] How can you think about beer at a time like this? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/463 "2008-08-20T22:04:21Z")
[QUOTE=E. Thorp] How can you think about beer at a time like this? [/QUOTE] Well, I intend to take Nov. 5th off work this year, because one way or another, I imagine I’ll be doing some drinking the previous night. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/464 "2008-08-20T22:06:37Z")
[QUOTE=Troy McClure SF] Well, I intend to take Nov. 5th off work this year, because one way or another, I imagine I’ll be doing some drinking the previous night. [/QUOTE] That reminds me that I need to put in for the 4th and 5th off. The first to work the polls, and the second to celebrate/mourn and recover. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/465 "2008-08-20T22:19:53Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] That reminds me that I need to put in for the 4th and 5th off. The first to work the polls, and the second to celebrate/mourn and recover. [/QUOTE] I’m taking M-W off that week. I have the feeling I’m going to vomit all day Wednesday. The bastards are going to kick the sand in our face again. ---
**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 21, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/466 "2008-08-21T00:05:55Z")
Why not G. H. W. Bush? There’s your world policy, your reach across to the Republicans…why not? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/467 "2008-08-21T00:36:23Z")
[QUOTE=JohnnieEnigma] It’s the kind of role that no one is truly qualified for… that’s been my argument for Obama running for president when people accused him of not being experienced enough… The thing is, he has the leadership qualities, character and gravitas to pull it off. And so does Caroline… There is nothing that Obama could not handle, I’m confident of that. [/QUOTE] Obama has already been pummeled (unfairly, IMHO) for having a too-short resume. Hers is significantly shorter. Much as I like her, and as nice as “Obama-Kennedy” sounds, it’s not at all a winning ticket. ---
**Author:** ![DynamoX3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@DynamoX3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynamoX3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/468 "2008-08-21T01:16:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Sen. Joe Biden on Tuesday told reporters camped outside his Delaware home that it’s not him. “You got better things to do guys; I’m not the guy,” he said. Asked where he would be on Saturday – when Obama is reportedly scheduled to hold a campaign event in Springfield, Illinois, that may feature his new running mate – Biden replied, “Here,” pointing to his driveway. He better not be in his driveway on Saturday. He’s supposed to be teaching my damn Con Law class. What we’re gonna do if he is the nominee, I haven’t foggiest. Presumably he won’t be available on Saturday’s to teach anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/469 "2008-08-21T01:40:27Z")
[QUOTE=DynamoX3] He better not be in his driveway on Saturday. He’s supposed to be teaching my damn Con Law class. What we’re gonna do if he is the nominee, I haven’t foggiest. Presumably he won’t be available on Saturday’s to teach anymore. [/QUOTE] Biden has been quite good about coming home every night from Washington as a senator thus far, so I wouldn’t be surprised if, with a few disruptions, he would continue on this track for your class. Obviously, if he is The Chosen, this Saturday would be one of the disruptions. Do you think he’d commute as a Vice President? No apostrophe needed in ‘Saturdays,’ btw. ---
**Author:** ![DynamoX3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@DynamoX3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynamoX3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/470 "2008-08-21T01:55:03Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] Biden has been quite good about coming home every night from Washington as a senator thus far, so I wouldn’t be surprised if, with a few disruptions, he would continue on this track for your class. Obviously, if he is The Chosen, this Saturday would be one of the disruptions. Do you think he’d commute as a Vice President? No apostrophe needed in ‘Saturdays,’ btw. [/QUOTE] I’m a law student. I don’t need no fancy correct grammar and punctuation. Anyway, just got email from school stating that if he is the VP candidate he won’t be available to teach the rest of the semester, which we’ll screw me over quite nicely. I doubt his replacement would be worth me rolling out of bed on Saturday at 7 in the morning. I assumed his son, the Delaware AG, might take over. Of course, come to find, he just got redeployed to Iraq. Biden’s apparently quite comical and easy-going in class. For whatever that is worth. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/471 "2008-08-21T02:08:29Z")
[QUOTE=DynamoX3] I’m a law student. I don’t need no fancy correct grammar and punctuation. [/QUOTE] That’s right; you’ll have a secretary and a paralegal to actually write your briefs and such. All you need to write are the invoices to submit to the clients. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/472 "2008-08-21T02:24:53Z")
I can believe he’d be a pretty fun instructor. It was kind of amusing watching him pass out bagels to the reporters staked out in his driveway today. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/473 "2008-08-21T11:23:15Z")
Now I’m almost hoping he doesn’t say anything until this weekend. It might give me time to print up a run of t-shirts and bumperstickers: “Obama-Your Name Goes Here '08.” “Obama-Sweepstakes Winner 2008!” For that matter there’s almost time to do Publishers’ Clearinghouse-style mailings, like “Vice Presidential Candidate or Current Occupant.” ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/474 "2008-08-21T11:38:19Z")
Dude. Can you get him to have class in his driveway? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/475 "2008-08-21T13:19:38Z")
Yeah! With bagels! ---
**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 21, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/476 "2008-08-21T13:50:51Z")
[QUOTE=Asimovian] That reminds me that I need to put in for the 4th and 5th off. The first to work the polls, and the second to celebrate/mourn and recover. [/QUOTE] You know, you could help get people out to vote that day. That’d be a good use of that day off. ---
**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 21, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/477 "2008-08-21T13:52:46Z")
[QUOTE=DynamoX3] I’m a law student. I don’t need no fancy correct grammar and punctuation. \ [/QUOTE] _eye twitch_ ---
**Author:** ![DynamoX3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@DynamoX3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynamoX3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/478 "2008-08-21T17:03:08Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] _eye twitch_ [/QUOTE] As a general proposition, attorneys have the grammatical ability of a three year old lemur. So I have to fit in somehow. I’m not getting by on my good looks and my fancy law talkin’. [QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Yeah! With bagels! [/QUOTE] The first thing I said when I saw that news report was “He better bring the leftovers to class.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/479 "2008-08-21T17:04:31Z")
[QUOTE=DynamoX3] The first thing I said when I saw that news report was “He better bring the leftovers to class.” [/QUOTE] **DynamoX3** , I’ve tried to contact you, but my email bounced back. Would you please contact me by email or provide a different address? ---
**Author:** ![DynamoX3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@DynamoX3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynamoX3)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752/480 "2008-08-21T17:17:05Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] **DynamoX3** , I’ve tried to contact you, but my email bounced back. Would you please contact me by email or provide a different address? [/QUOTE] Try it now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-should-obama-pick-as-running-mate/451752.md?page=25)